Arsena raised his control rod, calling up a holographic star chart.
"My Lord, the Legion's current territories are concentrated in the Nebula Sector and the Ultima Segmentum."
As he spoke, the gleaming hologram magnified.
"The sector centered on the Legion's homeworld, Vostroya, within a 330-light-year radius, is taking shape. The area within 185 light-years has been fully explored, containing one hundred ninety-two habitable worlds."
"The sector's other key worlds are the Legion's largest shipyard and naval base, Cypra Mundi, and the Tanist system, comprising five Aeldari maiden worlds."
"Additionally, there is the Islington system, where the Legion's largest training facility is located. Neophytes from all Chapters must undergo training in various environments, including specialized space hulk exercises."
The silver-haired Arsena highlighted two more areas.
"Stable trade routes have been established to the Mordian system, the Third Chapter's recruiting world, and the Vigilus system, home to the Legion's third-most populous system and the production center for defensive technologies."
The image shifted to the northeastern galaxy.
"The Coronid New Zone is currently the Legion's largest territory, covering the northeastern Nebula Sector and the northwestern Ultima Segmentum."
"Five worlds there have been developed into sector hubs. Cyclothrathe and Juya are mature industrial worlds. Abyss Port, Manachia, and Moab are trade route hubs."
"The Cyclops Cluster, after the Rangdan threat was eliminated, began rapid development. You awarded three of its worlds to Lewis von Valancius. The remaining one hundred two are growing rapidly."
Nareth nodded. Though the Coronid New Zone faced no immediate threats, it would be tested during the Heresy.
He remembered that after Horus fired the first shots at Istvaan, he had targeted the Coronid New Zone. The Cyclops Cluster's industrial capacity from over a hundred worlds was precisely what the traitors needed.
'Defenses must be strengthened during the Heresy.'
Though the 6th Chapter was stationed there, supported by allied Forge Worlds Lucius and Mezoa, and House Vyronii, he recalled Horus personally leading his Legion, along with the Death Guard, in the attack.
"The Legion's only territory beyond the Astronomican is Fellwatch Keep, near the Coronid Deeps."
Nareth nodded slightly. Having taken this future Deathwatch fortress early, he was able to give the Rangdan homeworld, also beyond the Astronomican, to Perturabo as a potential refuge.
"The Kalium Gate is currently the Legion's most vital hub. It is the staging area for our fleets deploying to various battlefields."
"Teleportariums have been established in the surrounding area to the Chapters' recruiting worlds and other key systems, allowing the Legion's warriors to reach the Kalium Gate quickly and without interference."
The teleportarium technology from the Araneus Continuity allowed Shadows of Order's fleet to navigate Warp storms.
"One war-moon and five Ramillies-class Starforts form the defensive system there."
The Kalium Gate's defenses were even stronger than Vostroya's.
Nareth did not consider this overkill. The Kalium Gate would surely be attacked during the Heresy.
He recalled that in the original timeline, the Kalium Gate, not fully repaired by the Lion's Dark Angels, had been attacked by Perturabo during the Heresy.
Later, Jaghatai Khan had also tried to use it to return to Terra.
Now, with Daemonologist, the Legion's chief psychic artisan Santiago Borgkamp, leading the Door Pathway beyonders and Techmarines, all the stations had been repaired. This crucial hub would certainly face a more fierce assault.
'Even if Perturabo, because of our relationship, does not lead the attack on the Kalium Gate, another traitor Primarch will.'
"Supporting infrastructure is mature. Starports in the asteroid belt, artificial stations, and other facilities now cover the entire region."
"The families of officers have settled here and are having children."
The children of officers are mostly void-born, raised on ships.
Children on the starports and stations also grow up looking at the stars. They are the 5th Chapter's main source of recruits.
"In the Northwestern Galaxy, beyond the Imperium's sight, in the region You named the Koronus Expanse, we have the Serpent's Cradle and Sondheim VIII, the Fourth Chapter's recruiting world."
"All Chapters have established themselves on the twelve Aeldari maiden worlds of the Serpent's Cradle."
The Koronus Expanse was the region Nareth intended to place under Perturabo's command, if he won him over, during the Heresy.
The neighboring Calixis Sector would be Shadows of Order's target after the Heresy.
"In the Nebula Sector, we have three other important worlds: Kasai, the Eighth Chapter's recruiting world."
The Kasai, skilled in the Ulvira sword style and the art of forging psychic blades, are the Eighth Chapter's main source of recruits, focused on the Twilight Giant Pathway.
"The Simian World, conquered by You and Lord Horus, is a source of dual-numbered black gold and one of the high-gravity training bases for neophytes."
Dual-numbered black metal is used for various ritual items in the Black Emperor's domain.
"Dulan, Yeny, and other Phallian regions have become shipyards and industrial worlds."
Not only had he gained leverage over Russ, silencing his unfavorable comments about him and Shadows of Order, but he had also preserved most of the Phallian industrial zone.
He also held a favor, which Russ, without violating his principles, could repay for not revealing the existence of Canis Helix-mutated Wolfen.
Arsena raised his control rod. The stars of the northern galaxy shrank, and the image shifted to the east.
"The Legion's largest contiguous territories in the Ultima Segmentum are the eleven systems of the Osiris Sector and the subsector centered on Gardinaal."
"Gardinaal is not only the Second Chapter's recruiting world. The industrial capacity of its eleven worlds is matched only by the Tanist system. Its population of one hundred billion is second only to Necromunda's. As You commanded, it remains hidden from the Imperium's sight."
His silver hair swaying, the image focused on the southern Ultima Segmentum.
"North of Macragge, we have the Veridian and Ganfall systems."
"West of Macragge, we have the Talassar system."
Nareth thought of Guilliman. Of the future Five Hundred Worlds of Ultramar, two core worlds were under his control.
Ganfall would have been named after Guilliman's adoptive father, Konor Guilliman. Along with Calth, it was one of Ultramar's two major shipbuilding centers.
Konor was not only Ultramar's northern core world but also the domain of the Tetrarch of the Northern Marches. Now, Guilliman had to choose another northern core.
Calth in the Veridian system grew into Ultramar's fifth-largest world and third-largest shipyard before the Heresy. It was considered the new development hub, and a new Tetrarch would have been created for it.
For him, it was also the chosen retirement world of Ollanius Persson, the Emperor's first Warmaster, the one who would strike the decisive blow against Horus, the master of the Enuncia.
Talassar was the homeworld of Cato Sicarius, the future Grand Duke of Talassar.
During the Indomitus Crusade, it became the homeworld of the newly formed Void Tridents Chapter.
This ocean world was now also the recruiting world for the Ninth Chapter, focused on the Tyrant Pathway.
The Talassar system was also the development hub of Ultramar's western marches. Its main world would be gifted by the Ultramarines to the Deathwatch as a training and operations base.
Nareth's gaze moved to three other highlighted worlds in the southern Ultima Segmentum.
Macragge was also a world where he had taken Guilliman's sons. It was the future homeworld of the Howling Griffins Chapter.
Due to its high psyker population and because the golden griffins there allowed one to learn the "Griffin's Roar," which was effective against Warp entities, it was now the Librarians' main recruiting world.
The Rynn system was where he had taken Dorn's sons, the Crimson Fists. Rynn would be the Legion's model agri-world. Blackwater was the Legion's first penal world.
The jewel world of Ventrillia, on the edge of the Astronomican's light, was unrelated to 'taking.' It was the homeworld of the future Astra Militarum elite, the Ventrillian Nobles.
The Ventrillian nobles, high-born and fond of battle, along with the Katheri, are the 8th Chapter's two main sources of recruits.
The silver-haired Aide shook his control rod, the image switching to the northern Ultima Segmentum.
"We control few worlds in this area. The four important ones are Catachan, Firestorm, Attila, and Perditus."
The homeworlds of the future Astra Militarum elites, the Catachan Jungle Fighters and the Attilan Rough Riders, are the main recruiting worlds for the Seventh Chapter, focused on the Red Priest Pathway.
Firestorm, another world where he had taken Guilliman's sons, the future Aurora Chapter, has production capacity rivaling a Forge World. It supplies the Ninth Chapter with equipment.
Aventinum in the Ultima Segmentum was also a world where he had taken Guilliman's sons. It was the homeworld of the future Brazen Consuls Chapter.
It, along with Vostroya, is a recruiting world for the Eleventh Chapter.
Perditus VI, the resource-rich world he had acquired along with the Tuchulcha engine, taken from the Lion, would have grown into a Forge World under the Mechanicum's development.
Now, along with Perditus II, it is a rapidly growing industrial world.
Nareth examined the Ultima Segmentum star chart, thinking with feeling.
'I've taken quite a few worlds from Guilliman and his sons.'
His territories in the Segmentum Ultima were not limited to directly controlled worlds.
There were also Forge World Incaladion and the surrounding death world of Humara, and Ganfall's moon, which was applying for Forge World status.
His next planned area of conquest, Sak'trada Deeps, also fell within the Segmentum Ultima. But he would not let this region, far from Imperial borders, appear on Imperial charts.
In the future, this sector-sized region would be his largest hidden territory.
As he thought, the image shifted to the Segmentum Solar, the heart of the Imperium.
"In the Segmentum Solar, we also control three key areas: the Necromunda Subsector, centered on the six systems of the Araneus Continuity; Elysia, on a prosperous trade route; and Ar Rija, a beacon of civilization."
Necromunda is the Imperium's largest and most populous hive world. Its population cannot be accurately determined.
Millions are born and die every day. A culture of death predominates. It is the Fourth Chapter's primary recruiting world, focused on the "Reaper" path.
Elysia is the homeworld of the future Astra Militarum elite, the "Elysian Airborne." Along with the Osiris Sector, it is now a recruiting world for the 1st Chapter.
Ar Rija is a culturally advanced civilized world. It is also a recruiting world for the 10th Chapter, focused on the "Hanged Man" path.
"In the Segmentum Pacificus, we have only the nine worlds of the other 'Terra' system and the Tanith system."
Tanith is the homeworld of the "Tanith First," led by the legendary Commissar Ibram Gaunt. It is also the Twelfth Chapter's recruiting world.
Of the five segmentum, only the southern Segmentum Tempestus remained unexplored by him and the Legion.
Arsena raised his head, zooming out the galactic map, and said proudly.
"To date, the Legion controls five hundred thirteen worlds."
Nareth smiled and nodded. When the Great Crusade ended over a century later, Guilliman would have only five hundred worlds. He now had fewer than three hundred.
And four of the most crucial worlds, and sixteen others, were already under his control.
More importantly, many of these key worlds rivaled, or surpassed, the best of the Five Hundred Worlds.
Necromunda's population equaled any hundred of those worlds combined. Gardinaal and Vigil's populations each equaled dozens.
The combined output of Tanist's five worlds and Gardinaal's eleven exceeded any other single system.
Cyclothrathe, Firestorm, Ganfall, Vigilus, Dulan, and Perditus could match Guilliman's Macragge and Calth, Ferrus Manus's Medusa, and Vulkan's Nocturne.
Cypra Mundi's shipyards were unmatched by any Primarch's domain. Only top Forge Worlds.
Vostroya's, Ganfall's, Gantz', and Dulan's shipyards could only be compared to Calth's.
'Guilliman, you've lost the Five Hundred Worlds, yet I have long surpassed your realm.'
'Even in total population and production capacity, I have already exceeded the future Five Hundred Worlds' total.'
'In both quantity and quality, my domain is unquestionably the greatest among the Primarchs.'
Nareth thought with satisfaction. His past efforts had yielded considerable results.
The silver-haired Aide glanced at his data-slate and continued.
"My Lord, I have compiled the numbers for each part of the Legion."
.....
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