Shadow's Sovereignty, Primarch's Palace.
The third day after Perturabo's arrival in the Xana system.
Perturabo's eyes shifted away from the hololithic display, covered in star-like runes and data-symbols. He looked at Nareth.
"Tactical simulations have validated our plan."
Nareth glanced at the neat stacks of data before Forrix and the other two. He had given Perturabo the opportunity to prove himself.
Perturabo had led the process of formulating the plan to attack the Vicidax Thule Sector, meticulously examining all data and methodically completing the planning.
He had detailed the Imperial fleet's route, the precise time to initiate the attack, the estimated conclusion time of the battle, and the supply of food and ammunition for each batch of troop ships and landing craft at every transfer point.
Nareth scrutinized the entire operational plan. It appeared perfect, but he keenly sensed a shadow lurking within that perfection, not easily detectible.
He looked at the gleaming eyes. "Our understanding of the Rangdan remains limited. The plan should retain flexibility."
"Everything is under control. No factor can disrupt the operational plan."
"Even the xenos you mentioned, the Osseivores. I will manufacture weapons to strike them."
Nareth looked at the stubborn Perturabo and said no more.
He trusted Perturabo's technological creativity; Malevolus himself could not compare. He could develop target weapons. But his understanding of the xenos was based solely on intelligence gathered by Nareth's own Legion.
Despite having engaged the Rangdan at Advex-Mors and Xana, Nareth did not believe their understanding was sufficient.
Besides the two major species, the Cerabvores and Osseivores, the Rangdan's true ruling race, the mysterious Slaugth, had not yet appeared.
Nareth knew the Rangdan were also called the Slaugth's murder-minds.
Even he knew little of the Slaugth, only that they were worm-creatures.
"Keon, Captain of the Fifth Company, Fourth Chapter, will accompany your Legion to facilitate communication between us."
"Good." Perturabo nodded in agreement, then departed with his Trident.
Nareth gazed at the Vicidax Thule Sector. Perturabo had assigned him the Campinas system, where the war-moon had appeared.
He shifted his gaze to the Gilders system, the merit he had prepared for Anacharis Scoria.
Nareth remembered that during the Heresy, Xana, having sided with Horus Lupercal, took the offensive and attacked Imperial worlds. The only world they successfully seized was Gilders Prime.
This indicated that among all neighboring regions within hundreds of light-years, Gilders Prime held the highest value for Xana.
By conquering Gilders, Anacharis would prove his ability, gain immense prestige, and control this resource-rich world.
"Tell Wilshire to deploy the tripod walkers to assist Anacharis in seizing Gilders."
After the High Lords of Gadianaal surrendered, the remaining one hundred fifty-two tripod walkers had also capitulated.
The main forces of Xana's two Titan Legions, the Gore Crows Legio Vulturum, and the Death Cry Legio Kydianos, were engaged with the Expeditionary fleet. Most of the remaining Titans had been destroyed by Osseivores during the invasion. Those left were barely sufficient for defense and could not support their Legio Cybernetica.
Rather than requisitioning allied Titan Legions, Nareth preferred to commit the Gadianaal tripods.
The older model tripods, with limited modifications, should be tested in battle to gather more data for future new models.
Nareth's Gadianaal would no longer manufacture a single outdated tripod walker, like a walking morgue.
"By your will."
The Second and Fourth Chapters of Shadows of Order, upon receiving the gene-son's orders, transited through the Kalium Gate and deployed to the Vicidax Thule Sector in just five weeks.
Two weeks later, the Mechanicum and Iron Warriors fleet, departing from Xana II, finally reached their targets.
Gilders system.
When Anacharis Scoria led his macro-branch to Gilders Prime, the Second Chapter's fleet had already routed the invading xenos fleet.
Anacharis immediately initiated the planetary assault. Disembarking from the landing craft, he stood upon a massive mechanical platform.
The platform's upper section housed a complex operating system: a primary cogitator in the center, three consoles on the left, and three viewscreens on the right.
Two Tech-Priests and four acolytes stood on either side, serving the one they were sworn to.
The platform's lower half, besides the base, was covered with cable bundles like pythons.
Each interface was connected to a weapon system.
Rotary gatlings, Maxim bolt guns...
Connected to each side of the base were servo-skulls, projecting green light into the surroundings.
Anacharis, not yet a Magos, not only commanded a macro-branch, a force normally led by an Archmagos, but also possessed his own Abeyant throne.
From the center of his Abeyant, Anacharis's cybernetic eye flashed orange light, surveying the cargo being unloaded from the landing craft, the tripod walkers.
The servo-skulls, like striking pythons, sprang from the throne, their 'heads' raised, intently focused on the enormous machines with black livery.
The walkers were similar in height to Warhound Titans, but broader.
Each walker carried five weapon systems, deployed irregularly.
Comprehensive scan results aggregated in Anacharis's data engines after twelve seconds.
Evaluation completed in three seconds. His initial focus was on the weapon systems.
'Each walker has three or four energy weapons, vastly different from standard Imperial specifications. The remaining weapons appear to be later additions.'
'The original design likely featured four weapon systems. The walkers with only three probably had one damaged in battle.'
'Preliminary assessment: firepower exceeds that of a Warhound Titan. However, the retrofitted systems may exhibit coordination issues in combat.'
Based on this identified defect, Anacharis proceeded to analyze the pilots.
'Their biological signatures are very strange... Designed solely to fulfill piloting tasks?'
'A platform like a morgue. The pilots' limbs have been amputated to save internal space. They exist, efficiently but incompletely, sustained by life support systems.'
'Only the body parts necessary for piloting and combat tasks are preserved. Death woulod be a release for them.'
The two servo-skulls retracted. Anacharis stored the data on the tripod walkers in his databases.
Despite the defects in their design, their weapon systems, especially the energy weapons, possessed unique merits.
The power reactor's specifications were lower than Imperial standards, indicating a more efficient energy supply system to sustain four energy weapons.
Anacharis updated his twelve prepared battle plans. Energy was the most effective way to breach xenos personal energy shields.
'With the fifty-two walkers Lord Nareth has assigned to me, even if we encounter an Osseivores, we can destroy it swiftly.'
'Lord Nareth has invested massive resources in me, their value already exceeding twenty-nine large forge complexes. I will not disappoint Him.'
.....
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