Arsena, holding his data slate, reported methodically.
"My Lord, I have compiled the Legion's status. To date, there are two hundred seventy-nine thousand six hundred thirty Shadows of Order."
"The Legion's total strength is approaching its pre-Second Rangdan War peak in 861."
Nareth nodded. In his memory, at this time, the largest Legion was the Ultramarines, with one hundred sixty-six thousand, including some from the 2nd Legion.
Now, the Ultramarines had not absorbed Astartes from the 2nd Legion and had participated in the decisive battle of Taxal. Their numbers were less than one hundred fifty thousand.
'Hmm, among them are those I 'recruited', Gren Vosotho and the Terran-born he influenced, who are not favored by Guilliman.'
'Of the over twenty thousand, the three thousand five hundred with 'corroded' gene-seed are the most loyal.'
The Dark Angels, not having been the main force in the Rangdan War, numbered about one hundred eighty to one hundred ninety thousand.
This figure came from Luther. Though exiled, he was still nominally the Legion's second-in-command.
This matched Nareth's expectations. The Dark Angels had still participated in the Taxal decisive battle and other campaigns, suffering over fifty thousand casualties, and had taken significant losses in subsequent anti-xenos operations.
'I have at least ninety thousand more than any other Legion. I will certainly be a target for Horus during the Heresy.'
'He will use his Warmaster authority to force me into a trap.'
He remembered Horus telling his close friend Sanguinius that the Nephilim were not extinct and could cure the Blood Angels' genetic flaw, setting a trap. He knew Horus would not spare him after his fall.
He also remembered Horus using the Night Lords to tie down the Dark Angels in a two-year guerrilla campaign, preventing the Lion from achieving a decisive victory, until the Lion used the Tuchulcha engine.
The Word Bearers had launched a surprise attack, retaliating against Guilliman for destroying the Perfect City, inflicting heavy losses on the Ultramarines.
He also thought of the Coronid New Zone's industrial capacity and its strategic value as a rear area, defended only by the Sixth Chapter.
And the Kalium Gate's value for Warp travel, defended only by the Fifth Chapter.
'I should appear weak to the enemy, let Horus underestimate my strength, so I can surprise him and reduce losses.'
With this thought, he instructed his Aide.
"Relay my command: all Chapters are to conceal their strength."
Most Legions could not largely conceal their strength, as they relied on the Mechanicum for equipment.
But Nareth, even without Mechanicum Forge Worlds, could fully supply his Legion from his own industrial worlds. And he had many Forge World allies.
"My Lord, You mean..." The full-fledged "Detective," thinking of how the Black Emperor had concealed his achievements and hidden conquered territories, understood.
"In a century, a great rebellion will erupt in the Imperium. We must prepare."
"My Legion is too large. I need to hide its strength a century early."
"In the battle reports submitted to the War Council, exaggerate losses. Correspondingly, underreport new recruits."
Arsena's long, narrow pupils widened in shock. But thinking of how the Emperor and Malcador supported the nobles against the Primarchs, and of the deep conflicts among the Primarchs, he was not entirely surprised.
"By Your will."
Nareth's plans for the Heresy relied not only on Shadows of Order, but also on his hidden assets. They would be a crucial, unexpected force.
'The neophytes trained by Luther, and the Dark Angels influenced by Urian Vendraig through his prestige and beyonder abilities among the Terran-born exiled by the Lion, together number over thirty thousand.'
'Of these, the six thousand one hundred forty neophytes raised from 'corroded' gene-seed are the most loyal.'
He knew that among the Terran-born, some followed Seraphax.
"Sheriff" Urian could only detect some of those, influenced by Tzeentch and resentful of their exile, especially Dark Angels outside his direct command in the Eighth Chapter.
Leaning back on his throne, he thought of the men he had 'recruited' from other Legions. Excluding the Dark Angels and Ultramarines, there were about forty-eight thousand two hundred.
The largest and most loyal group were the Terran-born warriors led by Arkhas Fal, Legion Master of the 19th Legion.
When Corvus Corax returned, he would exile most of the Terran-born.
'Hmm, I will also acquire a genuine relic then, the Shrieking Void, entrusted to Arkhas by the Emperor.'
The remaining Terran-born would be exiled after the Battle of Gate Forty-two to form the Ashen Claw Chapter.
The vast majority of the Terran-born Raven Guard would be under his complete control by Corax's return in 922 and the early 31st Millennium.
The two future sources of growth were the World Eaters, whom he would divide through the Butcher's Nails, and Lucius, promoted to Captain of the Emperor's Children's 13th Company.
'Overall, I can currently deploy about three hundred seventy-eight thousand hidden Astartes. That's over two hundred twenty thousand more than the Lion's actual command of one hundred fifty to one hundred sixty thousand.'
'That is, I can deploy at least two hundred twenty thousand more Astartes than any other Legion.'
'Attacking me will have consequences.' He thought, both smiling and cold.
Of course, he would not use his hidden assets until needed.
'After all, having other Primarchs' sons obey my orders would be too conspicuous. They are best kept hidden, to be used when needed for maximum effect.'
He thought of Zadkiel, who would command an Abyss-class battleship during the Heresy; the Ultramarines' Terran-born Nemesis Chapter, which would receive the Gloriana-class Chronicle of Ashes...
And especially, Akurduana and Lucius at Fulgrim's side.
And Gahlan Surlak at Angron's side, and the planned 9th Company Captain Dreagher and former Chief Librarian Variss.
They would allow him to control the ascension timing of potential targets for "Earl of the Fallen."
As he thought, Arsena continued.
"Of the Chapters, the Eleventh is the largest, with thirty thousand one hundred."
"The Twelfth has twenty-one thousand six hundred."
"The smallest is the Tenth, with twenty thousand four hundred."
Chapter size correlated strongly with the number of dedicated recruiting worlds and cultural fit.
The Eleventh Chapter, having participated in almost every campaign and suffering the greatest losses, was still the largest, recruiting from the Legion's homeworld and the valiant nobles of Aventinum.
The Twelfth had only Tanith. Ar Rija, the Tenth's recruiting world, was not a perfect fit for the Hanged Man Pathway.
"The Legion currently has two thousand nine hundred thirty full Librarians and six hundred ten Librarian aspirants."
Though Shadows of Order had the second-largest Librarius, the gap with the largest, the Thousand Sons, was enormous.
Though not all Thousand Sons were psykers, the proportion was nearly forty percent.
With the flesh-change "resolved," the five cults now had nearly eight thousand Librarians.
'Hathor Maat, as Chief Librarian, Magister Templi of the Pavoni Cult, and Captain of the 2nd Fellowship, now promoted to 1st Fellowship, controls about two thousand, of which five hundred ninety are "corroded."'
'Adding Librarians from other Legions, I actually control about five thousand four hundred Librarians. Magnus has about six thousand. Not a huge difference.'
'However, in the eyes of other Primarchs, with beyonders hidden among the Librarians, my Legion appears to have tens of thousands of psykers. That's why Russ targeted me before.'
Court membership is now one hundred one thousand six hundred, exceeding the previously set target of one-third.
Over half are Sequence 9, with minor enhancements but unique abilities. They form the core of each squad, defining its tactics.
There are thirty-two thousand eight hundred Sequence 8 beyonders, with moderate ability increases. They serve as squad leaders, standard-bearers, and other officers.
There are seventeen thousand nine hundred Sequence 7 beyonders, with clearly enhanced abilities. Most hold positions as Liutenants, Apothecaries, Techmarines, and other specialized roles.
Those who have reached mid-sequence have undergone qualitative changes and are the Legion's core.
There are six thousand four hundred ordinary beyonders: three thousand eight hundred "Assassins" and two thousand three hundred "Marauders."
Arsena leads a team of "Readers," "Students of Ratiocination," and "Keepers of Knowledge."
Nareth thought with feeling.
'Since the Dulan Campaign, Russ has targeted Magnus. Mortarion, more restrained, has also focused on Magnus.'
'Since Angron's return, he has indiscriminately targeted us, Sanguinius, and Jaghatai Khan.'
'And Tzeentch has always focused on Magnus, the most perfect Primarch in its eyes. Magnus is rather tragic.'
As he thought, Arsena continued.
"As commanded, the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Eighth, and Eleventh Chapters have assembled at the Kalium Gate."
"I understand." Nareth nodded, concluding the meeting on the Legion's current status.
"The Knight Lord awaits outside, as You commanded."
Nareth had originally planned for Thierry Viera to perform an offering ritual and grant him the "Guardian" potion to advance to Sequence 5.
But later, he realized the Dice of Prophecy would be recharged exactly one and a half years after Thierry's vow. He decided to divine a recruiting world for the Eighth Chapter.
He had ordered him to assemble at the Kalium Gate.
After his Aide withdrew, he went to the Kingdom of Disorder and picked up the recharged dice.
'My Legion's current strength owes much to 'recruiting.''
'Now, it's time to 'recruit' again.'
.....
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