Chapter 99: Ascension Arrangements
The promotion to Magos was, in Joric's strategic blueprint, merely a necessary key to the next critical phase.
His true objective was to acquire a personal Forge Ship.
This was not a whim, but a calculated strategic imperative.
He did not aim for the legendary leviathans—the Ark Mechanicus. Those colossal vessels, merging mobile foundry, holy temple, and ultimate fortress, were the symbols of power for the highest Archmagi. Their construction costs were astronomical, their maintenance a bottomless pit of resources—a burden impossible for a newly-promoted Magos to bear.
Even if he bankrupted himself for a stripped-down version, it would make him an instant target for every ambitious faction in the sector, directly contradicting his core principle of maintaining a low profile to focus on research.
His sights were set on a more pragmatic, less conspicuous option: a Cruiser-class Forge Ship.
These vessels were typically retrofitted Lunar-class Cruisers of the Imperial Navy, or older, sturdy hulls. They possessed ample internal volume to house his large-scale comprehensive laboratories, small-scale refining facilities, and basic manufactorums. They could also transport a significant contingent of Skitarii and the necessary Tech-Priest support staff.
While their raw firepower and armor could not match a dedicated battleship, their versatility, self-sufficiency, and relatively modest operational costs perfectly aligned with Joric's current needs.
He planned to establish his core research hub on such a mobile platform. He would securely install the Dimensional Sextant within its heart, and transfer Ignis, his loyal Skitarii maniple, and his years of accumulated technical data and samples aboard.
A Cruiser-class Forge Ship, customized with reinforced power cores, enhanced life-support, and expanded laboratory modules—with hardpoints left open for future weapon upgrades—would become his ideal mobile base and cross-sector research platform.
With such a ship, he would achieve true strategic mobility.
He could carry the bulk of his assets with him, traversing the stars at will. Whether conducting "legitimate" archaeological expeditions within Imperial space as a cover, or secretly traveling to unknown worlds via the Dimensional Sextant, his operations would shift from theoretical concepts to sustainable, routine actions.
This critical step would free him from reliance on fixed planetary bases, opening the door to a far wider stage.
All these careful plans now hinged on the report currently traversing the Warp to his Forge World.
Ignis had confirmed the data-packet was received and forwarded by the frigate. But astropathic communication was notoriously unreliable. The message had to survive the tumultuous tides of the Immaterium, and upon arrival, navigate the labyrinthine decoding and bureaucratic approval processes of the Mechanicus.
From the Fabricator-General's review to the promotion ceremony, to the requisition process for a Forge Ship, every step required time.
Joric estimated it would be weeks, perhaps months, before he received a definitive response from Nexum.
For now, his only task was to ensure the safe retrieval of Maine's crew in seventy-two hours, concluding this phase of the mission.
On the afternoon of the second day of Maine's crew's stay on the Death World, Ignis returned.
She was not empty-handed. She brought several small, target-drones, clearly designed for training.
"By the Magos's decree, you are permitted to conduct minimal weapon-system acclimatization maintenance within a designated zone. However, all forms of adversarial combat drills or tests causing significant environmental damage are prohibited," her voice remained level, devoid of emotion. "This is for security and secrecy protocols."
This was the greatest "concession" they had received in two days.
Rebecca immediately hefted her Heavy Bolter, firing several short bursts at the targets. The deafening roar echoed through the camp, drawing glances from distant Skitarii, but they did not intervene. Rebecca watched with satisfaction as the targets were deformed and shattered by the bolter impacts.
Pilar tested his Flamer, short bursts of Promethium heating another target until it glowed cherry-red, parts of it beginning to melt.
Maine, Dorio, and Moiré conducted more restrained functional tests, primarily acclimating their enhanced bodies to the local gravity and environmental feedback.
Sasha and Kiwi attempted to deploy a low-power, localized electronic warfare field to test its effect on camp equipment. They discovered that the seemingly crude devices were shielded by an invisible barrier; their interference was negligible.
Ignis observed it all silently, her optical lenses recording every data point. Occasionally, she would ask a technical question about weapon performance via her servo-skull, her tone more like an academic inquiry than an interrogation. Maine's team answered cautiously, maintaining a fragile, professional balance.
Throughout the process, there was no direct communication from Joric. Everything seemed to run on pre-set programs dictated by Ignis and the servo-skull.
By the third day, the waiting became agonizing.
Speculation about their unknown mission, worry about the return trip, and uncertainty about Joric's ultimate goal filled the cramped barracks. They pored over the limited information provided by the servo-skull, debating possibilities, but without key data, their guesses were castles in the air.
Isolated from everything they knew, their only link to "home" was the silent servo-skull, waiting to initiate the retrieval protocol.
As the third day drew to a close and the crew's anxiety peaked, Ignis appeared again.
This time, her posture carried a subtle, almost imperceptible solemnity.
"The seventy-two-hour standard survival-observation cycle is concluding," she announced. "Prepare for retrieval-protocol execution. In accordance with the Magos's decree, you will carry designated data upon your return."
She produced a data-storage unit branded with the Cog Mechanicum and handed it to the hovering servo-skull.
Maine watched the exchange, realizing this might be one of the core "harvests" of their journey. He nodded gravely. "Understood."
Ignis said no more. She led them back to the cavern, gesturing for them to step onto the rune-inscribed circular platform once again.
Maine and his crew exchanged glances. Carrying the confusion and oppression accumulated over three days, and accompanied by the servo-skull bearing the critical data, they stepped onto the platform.
(End of Chapter)