Upon arriving aboard the Throne of Shadow's Sovereignty, Wilshire felt a faint discomfort the moment he stepped into the palace.
Obsidian blocks leaned at angles that defied structural logic, propping up the dome above.
Twelve metal rods extended down from the dome, each hung with the banner of a different Chapter, three on the left, four on the right, and five in the center, arranged asymmetrically.
Within the grand palace, onyx floor tiles spread out in an asymmetric pattern based on a point-to-point Fibonacci sequence.
'The flagship bears the mark of the Primarch.'
From his mentor and friend, Braedshaw, Wilshire had learned that the Primarch favored the color black and asymmetrical architectural designs.
Even the Legion fortress under construction on his still-unvisited homeworld, Vostroya, followed such a style.
Following the Fibonacci path, Wilshire arrived at the Monarch's Court.
The chamber was divided into two areas, one for the Astartes commanders, the other for fleet officers.
Wilshire walked to the left section and took a seat in the last row.
Braedshaw had reminded him that as a new member of the Honor Guard, he was to listen to everyone's statements but not speak himself.
Looking toward the front of his section, Wilshire saw Chapter Master James of the Second, Chapter Master Sanchez of the Seventh, and Chief Apothecary Mikael seated closest to the Primarch.
On the opposite side, Captain Diana Pauline of the flagship sat nearest to the Primarch's throne.
Fifteen minutes later, the war council began on time.
Arsena raised his control staff, projecting a holographic map of the Wheel of Fire System into the air above the court.
At the same time, nearby displays lit up, each showing a different view.
Arsena began, "After infiltrating the Wheel of Fire System, the Imperial scout ship performed a full-spectrum scan."
"The Ork fleet numbers over a thousand vessels, most of them ramshackle constructs of scrap metal. The Tech-Priests cannot fathom how they even travel through the void."
"Notably, there is an unknown number of capital-class ships among them."
After the Primarch's aide finished his briefing, Nareth spoke.
"The Orks of the Wheel of Fire are vast in number, this is the Eleventh Legion's greatest challenge to date."
"I want to hear your strategic thoughts."
Diana leaned back into her leather chair, slipping into her "Spectator" mode, the detached observation of a bystander, her blue-green eyes turning toward the Astartes opposite her.
She saw James rise first.
"From the aide's report, we can tell the situation in the Wheel of Fire is uncertain," James began.
"Therefore, we should advance steadily, with the Throne of Shadow's Sovereignty as our center."
The "Spectator" noted the Second Chapter Master hesitated for a fraction of a second, a flicker of envy in his eyes, before he continued:
"Using the Void Hunter's range advantage, we strike at the Ork ships. The rabid greenskins, unwilling to be bled slowly, will be forced to attack."
"My chapter flagship will be the Orks' nightmare, delivering them a merciless blow."
Wilshire frowned at this. 'Lord James is too cautious. Against an Ork fleet many times our size, this will cause excessive losses.'
The "Spectator" saw in James's subtle movements a tinge of jealousy, and, knowing the Legion's politics, thought:
'Compared to the glory of Sanchez and others, James's record is lackluster. He wants the Primarch's favor, but lacks creative strategic thinking. His plan is to prove himself and the Second Chapter through direct battle.'
She tilted her head toward the Primarch.
As the Primarch's flagship captain, she was among the few outside his aide and Honor Guard to see Nareth regularly, and thus was more "accustomed" to meeting his gaze.
But after a moment, she gave up, the Primarch's expression was unchanged, betraying nothing.
Diana began recalling the Primarch's past campaigns, relying on her "Spectator's" perfect memory to review everything she had seen.
'Even if I can't read him, James's plan likely doesn't fit Lord Nareth's strategic mind.'
James sat down, and Sanchez rose.
"Ork ships are numerous, but most are of little threat. We should adopt a rapid-strike strategy, targeting their larger vessels for decapitation blows."
"This has the advantage that without their capital ships to anchor them, the smaller wrecks will be far less dangerous."
"If we fight a war of attrition, they will use those large ships to ram us, as I know, Ork vessels favor brutal ramming tactics."
Wilshire's brow eased. He felt Sanchez's plan was superior to his own lord's, though riskier, and the Legion would still suffer significant losses.
As Wilshire pondered alternatives, Diana studied Sanchez.
The "Spectator" saw Fire in his eyes, a fierce will to fight.
'Sanchez has a wager with Enoch Lashiven, Wolf Lord of the Space Wolves, whoever purges a planet of greenskins first wins. The Reaper Lord is eager to strike immediately.'
She recalled Sanchez's past reports; his proposal fit his usual approach.
Again, she looked to the Primarch, more capable now of bearing the mental weight than before.
When Sanchez sat down, Wilshire still had no better idea, and the "Spectator" still read nothing in Nareth's face.
Just as she was about to look away, the Primarch's deep eyes turned toward her, breaking her detached state.
"Diana, what's your plan?"
She rose. "My lord, both lords' strategies have merit. I believe they can be combined."
"Oh?" Nareth tapped his chair's armrest with interest. "Explain."
"The Throne of Shadow's Sovereignty draws the Ork fleet's fire, while the Void Hunter carries out rapid strikes. The second chapter flagship intercept any ramming vessels."
"When the Fifth and Eleventh Chapters arrive, we launch the final encirclement."
Wilshire's eyes lit up, her plan was more complete, with fewer losses. Militarily sound, politically considerate.
'The Primarch knows talent well, no wonder he made her flagship captain.'
As Wilshire thought, Nareth spoke:
"Diana's suggestion is sound, combine James and Sanchez's strategies."
"I order the fleet into three groups…"
"Four light-years from the Wheel of Fire, Arlenis will serve as a supply hub along two routes…"
Nareth issued orders rapidly, and the massive fleet launched under his command.
When the war council ended, Wilshire followed his Second Chapter brothers out.
"Wilshire, let's get you to the mess hall. You've never had Fenris kraken steak, have you?"
"Kraken? What's that?"
"A sea monster, the big ones can be several kilometers long, some even larger than a Gloriana-class battleship."
Though he'd never been to Fenris, Wilshire had heard the tale of the Gene-Father besting another Primarch in a hunt.
"Father and the Wolf King of Fenris held a hunting contest."
"The kraken was the prize, its meat divided among the fleets."
"Five relic-class battleships was even sent some to chapters. Pity ours hasn't gotten any yet."
Wilshire followed the sudden turn in thought. "I know the Wolf King lost to the Gene-Father."
At that same moment, on Arlenis…
Aeldar Autarch Slau Dha gripped the sword forged by Vaul, the Smith-God, and addressed the warriors before him:
"I have received a vision, Chaos will perish alongside mankind."
"The threads of fate now show a new turn: Nareth will gain the Dionysian Spear. He will become the variable in the tapestry of destiny."
"We must kill him at Arlenis before the Wheel of Fire Campaign begins, so the Wolves of Fenris claim it instead."
"To ensure this, I have spent ten years weaving the threads and preparing a complete plan."
"Nareth must die. He cannot be allowed to claim the Dionysian Spear!"
On the ninth week of the voyage, the Throne of Shadow's Sovereignty received a distress signal from Arlenis.
...
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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