873.M30.
The main forces of Shadows of Order, Iron Warriors, and White Scars, along with task forces from the Thousand Sons, Ultramarines, Emperor's Children, Night Lords, Word Bearers, and War Hounds, gathered in the Kalium Gate zone.
Aboard the Shadow's Sovereignty, Primarch's Office.
After hearing Arsena Dunn's report on the assembly of other Legions, Nareth thought with feeling.
'Those I've "corroded"... hmm, all the task forces under my command will join this war of honor.'
'Only Luther, Zahariel, and the others are absent. Lion, why couldn't you leave someone behind, like Guilliman left Gren?'
As Nareth pondered, his Aide continued.
"All Chapters have completed their tasks, cleansing the xenos within Imperial territory."
"The Sixth, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Chapters have completed assembly as you commanded."
Nareth anticipated three campaigns over the next eight years: the Rangdan Xenocide, a preemptive war against the Hrud, and participation in the Emancipation of Drune in 881 to acquire Enslavers.
He would obtain all the materials for the "Mentor of Disorder" potion.
Considering various factors, Nareth judged the three campaigns to be of similar difficulty.
To avoid excessive attrition of any single Chapter, he decided to rotate them.
Considering the Seventh Chapter's temporary garrison at Dulan, and the Darkness Pathway's suitability against the Hrud, Nareth selected the Chapters for each campaign.
"My Lord, during negotiations with Mars regarding the captured war-moon, the Fabricator-General proposed an interesting offer."
"What?" Nareth leaned back on his throne, listening with interest to the suggestion.
"Mars proposes sending a team to the Fortress of Resilience's orbit to dismantle the fused remains of the Abomination and the war-moon."
"They will repair and modify the Gloriana-class battleship and deliver it to you. They estimate it will be at least an Emperor-class battleship."
"In return, they receive the war-moon's wreckage."
Nareth had originally planned to move the wreckage to Vostroya, where Lian Ramilies was conducting related research.
Considering five war-moons had been captured in the Second Rangdan War, trading with Mars maximized value. He spoke.
"I agree."
"I will convey your decision to Mars," Arsena said.
"Lord Perturabo and Lord Jaghatai will arrive in fifteen standard hours."
"Anacharis Scoria awaits your audience."
Nareth leaned back. "Send him in."
Shortly after his Aide left, a metallic construct composed of countless machines, forced to contract its metal form, barely squeezed through the wide entrance.
The twelve mechandrites on his back contracted like spider legs. His waist and legs had vanished, replaced by sacred mechanization.
Tens of thousands of complex components had replaced his body.
The only remaining flesh was the arm holding the scepter.
Nareth examined Anacharis. The figure before him gradually merged with the memory of the Tyrant of Xana, the Father of Hell-Forges, the ceiling of tech-priest combat prowess.
"My Lord." The metal body emitted a respectful, mechanical voice.
"The Archmagos Intendant, answering Your call for vengeance against the xenos who desecrated Xana's holy land, has committed the entire Legio Cybernetica and House Malinax."
"Because of your influence, I have been appointed commander."
Nareth nodded. Without his support, Anacharis in the Rangdan Xenocide would still have been a young Tech-Priest leading a macro-branch of the Legio Cybernetica on the front lines.
Now, he had advanced to Magos one hundred forty years early and commanded the entire Xana expeditionary force.
"Xana is your stage."
Nareth smiled. Anacharis's Legio Cybernetica was, in his mind, the true main force. This was why he had only committed four Chapters.
He left the stage for Anacharis, helping him gain immense prestige on Xana.
Light danced on Anacharis's face.
"This will make me an Archmagos and make me master of a Forge-Temple."
His metal body, larger than Nareth's, bent without any grating sound. Oil smoothed all its structures.
"I am one step closer to becoming Archmagos Intendant and controlling Xana."
"I will offer it to You."
Nareth nodded slightly. "I have no doubt."
The "Baron of Corruption" activated his Spirit Vision, scrutinizing the scepter in the "Archaeologist's" hand, the weapons on his body, and the machinery.
"You have already mastered the power I bestowed upon you."
"My Lord's insight is correct," the "Archaeologist" replied. "I have excavated fifty-one ruins."
"I have restored a lost ancient weapon, the Vodian Sceptre."
"I have also used other restored weapons to realize my strategium array."
Nareth looked at the twelve mechandrites on Anacharis's back. An ordinary Tech-Priest had one, a few had several.
Anacharis, through his invented strategium array, could simultaneously wield twelve mechandrites in coordination.
"In this process, I gained inspiration from the reliquary armor you allowed me to study."
Nareth looked at the scepter, then at Anacharis approvingly.
'Not bad. Anacharis has early acquired his signature weapon, the Vodian Scepter.'
'Now, ordinary Astartes... even a squad would be blasted to pieces by his concentrated fire.'
'Even top-tier warriors like Akurduana would have no chance of victory without luck.'
He thought of Akurduana, newly promoted to Sequence 7 "Weapon Master."
'Hmm... that was the old Akurduana.'
'Now, the outcome between them is uncertain.'
'Anacharis has overwhelming firepower. Akurduana has unparalleled skill.'
"Wait outside. Return in ten minutes."
"By your will." Anacharis carefully withdrew from the Primarch's Office, avoiding any contact between his machinery and the decorations.
Nareth went to the Kingdom of Disorder and ordered the space simian to concoct the Sequence 7 "Identifier" potion.
Instead of waiting, he went to the third layer and picked up the Dice of Prophecy.
Information about the Rangdan flashed through Nareth's mind.
'North of the galaxy, beyond the Astronomican's reach.'
'One of the halo stars.'
The Rangdan xenos homeworld...'
After the information flashed through his mind, he silently intoned.
'Star chart from the Kalium Gate to the Rangdan homeworld...'
After intoning it eleven times, he tossed the dice.
Nareth recorded the star chart shown by the onto a data crystal.
Moments later, he slid the golden potion before Anacharis.
Anacharis extended his organic arm, took the potion, and drank.
The liquid flowed down the biotube. Massive amounts of information surged into the data modules of his strategium array.
Ten seconds later, the newly promoted "Appraiser" bowed, his head stopping just above the desk.
"My Lord, I thank You for Your gift."
Fourteen standard ship hours later, in the war council hall, Nareth received the salutes of task force commanders like Gren Vosotho, then directed them to their seats.
Then, Perturabo entered with his Trident. The asymmetrical architecture didn't affect his pace.
"Nareth." Perturabo's expression was calm, but his sons knew their father had long awaited this reunion.
During the voyage, an officer's mistake had not even been reprimanded.
"Perturabo." Nareth smiled.
As they spoke, a tall figure in a cloak trimmed with white fur entered the hall.
Jaghatai's lean frame was as sharp as a bird of prey. He quietly observed the tilted, disordered architecture, defying the laws of physics.
He stared at the twelve metal rods hanging from the ceiling and the banners arranged asymmetrically: three on the left, four on the right, five in the center.
A flicker of approval crossed Jaghatai's eyes. He walked forward. Stormseer Togudai Yisugei followed.
"Nareth, I am ready for the hunt."
After greeting his ally, he looked at Perturabo with his "readlocks.
"Perturabo."
"Jaghatai." Perturabo's tone was indifferent.
"Jaghatai, welcome."
After the greetings, the three took their seats.
Arsena raised his control rod, projecting a green hololith above the hall.
A planet was magnified, highlighted.
"This is our target: the xenos homeworld, Rangda."
"I will formulate the battle plan."
Perturabo had just spoken when Jaghatai's gentle, indifferent voice sounded.
"I have my own ways."
"You don't know them." Perturabo's rock-like voice rang out in the hall.
Jaghatai shook his head, looking at Perturabo.
"My companies fought the xenos at Xana. My sons hunt them on the frontier. I know the prey."
"Perturabo, we should respect Jaghatai's ways."
"We will give him the plan. He will know how to coordinate with us."
Perturabo was silent for a moment, then spoke. "Only part."
"That is enough."
With Nareth's coordination, Perturabo and Jaghatai, whose ways differed, neither hostile nor cordial, reached a limited consensus.
Three days later, Jaghatai was the first to depart. Perturabo came to Nareth.
"Nareth, I have completed the weapon you asked me to build, working with Magos Tzurin Four."
"It's loaded on a transport ship, already delivered to your vessel."
"Only you could complete its construction in such a short time, based only on my description." Nareth said admiringly.
Perturabo had, as expected, completed the anti-Hrud weapon. Nareth could proceed with his planned campaign.
Nareth knew Perturabo didn't mind building weapons; he built them in his spare time. But he hated being tasked with nothing else.
"Have you completed your grand theater?"
"I look forward to seeing your work and making it reality."
Perturabo's ice-blue eyes gleamed. "It is almost complete."
"I want to make it even more perfect."
....
Name Correction
Zulin-4 -> Tzurin Four
Also, as it turns out, Arsena is still in sequence 7 "Detective", got confused because author used the other name of the sequence "Knowledge Keeper".
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu