863.M30.
Segmentum Pacificus, Vicidax Thule Sector, Aboard the Shadow's Sovereignty, Primarch's Office.
"Lord Nareth, as you commanded, I have secured control of the Gilders system."
"Following comprehensive scanning, it has been confirmed that the mineral wealth of Gilders Prime exceeds even the combined total of Xana II and Xana V."
"After reporting this to Holy Synod of the Lord Magos, I was rewarded and elevated to the rank of Magos."
Nareth nodded slightly upon hearing this. It was within his expectations. With his resource support, Anacharis Scoria was rapidly growing.
'I recall that in the original timeline, Anacharis became a Magos thirty years before the Heresy.'
'Now, with my help, he has been elevated to Magos over a century early.'
'Then, the future Tyrant of Xana, the ceiling of tech-priest combat prowess, will certainly become even stronger.'
Nareth said with satisfaction, "Well done."
"Not only that, my Lord. I directly received the title of Magos Dominus."
Not knowing if Lord Nareth was familiar with the Mechanicum's internal organizational structure, Anacharis explained.
"Magos Dominus is a high-ranking Magos title, governing a large number of Artisans."
"I even have the authority to organize the Artisans into military formations and lead them onto the battlefield."
"Truly excellent news. Congratulations, Anacharis." Nareth had a certain understanding of Magos Dominus. Within the Legio Cybernetica's hierarchy, it was one of the highest titles, and the authority they wielded was matched by few across an entire Forge World.
Artisans were originally responsible for manufacturing weapons and equipment. Only a few Magi had the authority to mobilize them as armed forces on the battlefield.
The armor they crafted for themselves far exceeded Astartes standards, each suit custom-made.
The weapons they used were not mass-produced, standard issue. Master-crafted power axes were standard equipment. Grav-guns and plasma guns were also standard issue, and each would bring their own auxiliary combat servitors along.
"It is You who enabled me to possess all of this."
"I, Anacharis Scoria, shall follow in Your footsteps for eternity."
The "Baron of Corruption's" eyes were suddenly filled with threads of law.
Every mechanical system on Anacharis, cybernetic eye, armor, weapons, all transformed into threads of law.
Something within him boiled, rapidly disintegrating, shattering, dissipating.
His psychic energy became lively. The potion was agitated, accelerating its digestion.
'Anacharis has been "corroded" by me. Only the final step remains until the "Baron of Corruption" is fully digested.'
'Indeed, progress is as I anticipated. Once I corrupt Balsar Kurthuri or another similar individual, I will complete the digestion.'
"I accept your oath of fealty. I shall bestow power upon you. Wait in the reception area for five minutes."
With Anacharis "corroded" and completely loyal to him, Nareth would provide him with even more resources.
Moments later, Anacharis drank a golden potion.
His mind exploded into a cosmic blast. Every data crystal he had ever studied, every data slate he had ever examined, all the information contained within flashed through his mind at tremendous speed.
A stream of dead code flashed through Anacharis's data-engines. He felt them on the verge of crashing.
Simultaneously, he felt his logic engines running at full capacity. He was generating entirely new understandings of knowledge.
Anacharis mobilized his databases, storing the new information.
He grasped that some of these understandings, some of this information automatically derived and extrapolated by his logic-engines, were precisely the answers that had recently plagued him: how to further increase the number of mechandrites and enable them to operate jointly.
Moments later, under Nareth's instruction, Anacharis reined in the overflowing power of the potion, becoming a "Savamt."
"My Lord, I thank You for Your gift."
"I will surely use the power You have granted me well, and seize Xana."
"I will present Xana to You."
Nareth nodded slightly. "I believe you can do it. Do not act hastily. I will inform you when the time is right."
"Go now to the Forge Lord. Request to study the Reliquary War-Suit."
"It is the culmination of three thousand six hundred years of mechanical augmentation. It is integrated with the entire body, capable of wielding dozens of weapon systems simultaneously. I believe you will gain inspiration from it."
Anacharis's quadruple electro-optical cybernetic eye gleamed. "My Lord, I will not disappoint You."
After Anacharis departed, Nareth's communication bead buzzed. Arsena Dunn's voice sounded.
"My Lord, I have received a report. The negotiation team sent to Mars has reached agreements with several Forge Worlds. I wish to report to you now."
"Good." Nareth approved the Primarch's Aide's request.
Six minutes later, Arsena entered the Primarch's office. After a respectful bow, he began his report.
"My Lord, we have reached an agreement with the Forge World Ryza. We have authorized the STC construction template for the Land Raider main battle tank to them."
"In return, Ryza has agreed to sign a treaty with us, providing supplies, and to provide us with their renowned plasma weapons and vehicles equipped with plasma weapons."
"Due to the Ork threat they face, they are unable to dispatch a Titan Legion for combined operations. However, they are willing to provide their newly developed Stormblade super-heavy tank."
Arsena operated the control rod, projecting a hololithic image of the Stormblade before Nareth.
"To my knowledge, not every Forge World possesses the standard template to build the Shadowsword. Some have found ways to manufacture substitutes," Arsena remarked admiringly.
"Ryza is different from those conservative, hidebound Forge Worlds. It is one of the rare Forge Worlds that delights in invention and innovation," Nareth agreed.
"To Mars, Ryza is, in a sense, heretical. But they have no choice. They constantly face the Ork threat."
"Indeed. It is precisely because of the continued Ork Waaagh! that they developed the Stormblade to counter the Gargants," Arsena continued.
"It can also be used against Osseivoress."
'And Titans, of course,' Nareth added silently.
He knew both the Shadowsword and the Stormblade were classified as Titan-killers.
Of course, due to their slow rate of fire, one or even a few such Titan-killer weapons posed little threat to a Warlord-class Titan.
It would take at least a squadron of Titan-killers to pose a real threat to a Titan.
"I accept their terms," Nareth said.
"The Forge World Metalica wishes to obtain authorization for the Land Speeder STC construction template."
"They are willing to sign a treaty with the Legion, provide supplies, and furnish the Legion with Castellax battle-automata."
"They are also willing to dispatch forty-one Titans from their Legio Metalica to joint operations with the Legion."
"I accept their terms." Nareth's gaze was deep, thinking to himself.
'Previously, I have reached various degrees of agreement with Mars, Stygies VIII, Lucius, Graia, and Gryphonne IV.'
'Counting Ryza and Metalica, who are about to reach agreements, of the eight largest future Forge Worlds, aside from the not-yet-established Agripinaa, all have reached varying degrees of alliance with me.'
'Hmm, Xana's production capacity is not inferior to these eight major Forge Worlds. It's just that originally, it would have turned traitor and become a Hell-Forge.'
.....
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