The Orbital Ring, which Alex had planned early on, has now been completed. Although Wise One Christen was very interested in the Necrons ruins in the Rostov Sub-Sector, she and her team had to return to Griya after the Orbital Ring's construction was finished.
Wise One Christen stood on the observation platform of the Orbital Ring, data streams flickering with reluctance in her mechanical eye.
She knew that unless she could find a sufficiently compelling reason—one that could persuade Archmagos Cawl and leave the Mariupol Forge World speechless—she would have to take her research team back to Griya.
The subtle struggle between the three major Adeptus Mechanicus factions quietly unfolded amidst data streams and contractual documents.
The Tech-Priest of the Mars faction constantly emphasized their legitimate inheritance rights, their logic engines deducing various ancient legal provisions in an attempt to prove that all Necrons ruins should be under Mars' jurisdiction.
The Griya Forge World was relatively weaker, as they had only been invited to construct the Orbital Ring. Now that the ring was complete, Cawl was fully leveraging this point to make the Griya Forge World leave.
As for future Orbital Ring orders, Cawl stated that Mars also had considerable achievements in this area, and if Alex had a need, Cawl could connect him with Mars' construction team.
Amidst this undercurrent of contention, the Mariupol Forge World adopted a completely different strategy.
They did not participate in the struggle between Mars and Griya, but instead quietly solidified their control over the core worlds they had already occupied.
While representatives from Mars and Griya argued endlessly in virtual conference spaces, Mariupol's mechanical servitors had already completed the physical blockade of the target ruins.
They only uploaded a brief statement to the other two parties, indicating their willingness to relinquish jurisdiction over all other disputed areas.
This seemingly yielding move actually concealed a deeper strategy.
While the two major factions were busy vying for more ruins, the Tech-Priest of Mariupol had concentrated all their resources on a single target.
The encrypted firewalls and independent energy networks they established turned this core world into an independent kingdom that could not be remotely interfered with.
When Mars and Griya finally realized this, Mariupol had already completed the thorough control of the ruins' basic infrastructure.
Under these circumstances, neither Mars nor Griya could risk pushing the Mariupol Forge World into the opposing camp just to seize their interests.
So, while seemingly giving up a lot of benefits, the Mariupol Forge World instead maintained its independent status and gains in the struggle between the Mars and Griya factions.
At the same time, Cawl's clone had already contacted his main body via an encrypted data link.
A massive Adeptus Mechanicus fleet had already arrived in the Rostov Sub-Sector. This fleet not only brought the promised Titan Legion but also carried the Mars faction's ambition for Necrons technology.
The withdrawal of the Rust Blade Legion was proceeding in an orderly manner.
Massive Titan bodies stood silently in the hangars, as Adeptus Mechanicus Priests led technical servitors in performing the final maintenance work.
Sacred oils were carefully extracted and preserved, and precision repair equipment, after being subjected to sacred purification rituals, was loaded into specially designed transport crates.
Members of the pilot crews meticulously checked their respective equipment, carefully packing away operation manuals and personal belongings that had accompanied them for years.
Some Princeps even engaged in final communications with their Titans, softly reciting farewell prayers.
The entire withdrawal process was filled with ritual, every step strictly adhering to Adeptus Mechanicus traditions.
Meanwhile, the newly arrived Titan forces were planning the layout of their permanent base on the Rostov III planet.
Their arrival marked a new chapter in the Rostov Sub-Sector's defensive capabilities. Although the handover between the two Legions would still take some time, the Rust Blade Legion's return journey had entered its countdown.
Ever since Alex banished the Necrons' throne world along with the Orks' battle moon into Khorne's daemon realm, this protracted expedition had come to an end.
The remaining Necrons forces, having lost their core command system, were like a beheaded giant beast; though they could still struggle, they no longer posed a substantial threat.
Against this backdrop, the full-strength Rust Blade Legion seemed overqualified.
In fact, during the period when Alex returned to the real world, the Expeditionary Force command had already broken down this powerful Titan force into smaller combat groups, deploying them to different battlefields.
It was astonishing that even when operating in small teams, these Titans remained invincible, easily crushing the remaining Necrons defenders on various planets.
Now, with several key core worlds having fallen, the remaining cleanup work didn't even require the Rust Blade Legion's intervention—the few Titans Alex controlled early on were sufficient.
Therefore, the Rust Blade Legion's crews had completed their combat missions and were now just waiting for Alex's official approval to complete the handover with the newly arrived Titan Legion and embark on their journey back to their garrison.
The new Titan Legion dispatched by Mars was ready to be stationed, with their garrison chosen on the planet Rostov III.
This initially developed industrial world possessed unique advantages—the basic infrastructure of the No. 32 Forge Complex was largely complete, the geothermal energy network had been laid, and there were existing plasma reactors available for use.
Although it couldn't compare to the sacred Forge Temples of Mars itself, it was more than sufficient as a frontline garrison.
However, the scale of this Legion was certainly not massive: three majestic Warlord-Class Titans like mobile fortresses, twelve agile Warlord-Class Titans forming a quick reaction force, plus two Predator-class Titans specifically for fire support.
It's worth noting that one of the Warhound-class, three Warhound-class, and two Predator-class Titans were all 'new blood' that arrived with the fleet this time.
Each Titan was equipped with a complete pilot crew—descendants of the Divine Machine Families who had served the Machine Spirit for generations were already in position.
They could pilot the Divine Machines into battle at any time, but logistical support appeared somewhat stretched.
The soldiers of the Titan Guard were still adapting to the new garrison's gravity environment, while the accompanying Tech-Priest were busy debugging equipment in temporarily erected sanctuaries.
This was not due to any intentional neglect from Mars.
In fact, the transport ships carrying precision maintenance equipment had only just finished unloading.
Building a standard-compliant Titan maintenance workshop was no easy task—it required laying sacred mechanical flooring, installing gravity stabilization devices, and setting up a complete set of consecrated altars.
Fortunately, the war was nearing its end, and these steel giants had plenty of time to settle down slowly.
The Tech-Priest estimated that by the time they were fully prepared, even the last few Necrons strongholds would likely have been cleared.
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