940.M30.
In the third layer of the Kingdom of Disorder, Nareth picked up the Dice of Prophecy, contemplating what to divine next.
After a brief thought, he set aside preparations for the Koronus Expanse for the time being.
"I'll first divine the location of Aureus, which would have been destroyed by the corrupted Horus."
As Nareth spoke quietly, all the information he knew about Aureus flashed through his mind.
'The planet Aureus has preserved the complete set of standard construction templates brought from Terra.'
'They have fortresses built with ancient technology, able to retrieve methods from their databases to counter threats.'
'Their soldiers are equipped with boltguns similar to standard patterns, wear gleaming power armor, and possess portable solar generators sufficient to meet the power needs of the Epsilon-5 forge complex.'
After the known information about Aureus rapidly passed through Nareth's mind, he silently intoned:
'The star chart from the Kalium Gate to Aureus.'
'...'
After intoning it eleven times, he tossed the Dice of Prophecy.
The triangular prism tumbled through the air several times before projecting a vision like a hologram before him.
After memorizing the star chart, Nareth input it into a data crystal.
He then stepped into the fourth layer of space.
Seated high upon his throne, Nareth extended his spirituality, touching the essences of Tierney, who led the "Marauders," and Maria Kulnikova of the "Assassins," and commanded:
"Board the Shadow's Sovereignty."
For this mission, Nareth would rely on ordinary beyonder beings, not the Shadows of Order.
In his memory, when the Imperium of Man made contact with Aureus, the polity had immediately shown goodwill and joyfully joined.
The corroded Horus Lupercal, however, had cast aside his previous diplomatic approach, shooting the forge consul of the tech-civilization in the head.
Subsequently, before Aureus was destroyed by the Sons of Horus, they destroyed their complete set of STCs.
Horus had only obtained two STCs, for the new power armor and the portable solar generators, using them as leverage to secure the loyalty of the then-Fabricator General of Mars, Kelbor-Hal.
Nareth wanted the complete set of STC templates from Aureus.
Although it didn't contain every STC in human history, it was a fully independent, functional STC system, on an entirely different level from previously discovered fragments.
The Ramilles-class Starfort surpassed Aureus in the dimension of space fortresses.
But in terms of quantity and certain fields, the Aureus cache was the richest in his memory.
Only Mars's databases and the Hope, a relic of the Dark Age of Technology, surpassed it in volume. It might even be richer than the one that would eventually crash on Necromunda, acquired by House van Saar.
Nareth then stepped back into the realspace.
....
First standard month, 941.M30.
Aureus held a grand, magnificent ceremony, warmly welcoming their long-lost human kin.
The black Aquila Lander descended slowly. The newly appointed Legion Standard Bearer, Gurjur, was the first down the ramp.
In his hands, he held high the Shadow of Order's battle standard, forged by the Emperor's artisans and gifted to Nareth by the Emperor, the Banner of Vostroya.
The newly elevated "Guardian" had sworn an oath a year prior: to protect the Banner of Vostroya unto death, ensuring the inscribed name of the Black Emperor was never defiled.
His position as Captain of the 2nd Company of the Eighth Chapter was succeeded by Joe Watara, from the Ventrilian ruling family.
He was half a head shorter than Knight Lord Thierry Vierra, a third of a head shorter than Pierre Wright, the Cather "Guardian," and the third tallest Shadow of Order after Buka.
Nareth then descended the ramp, his gaze sweeping over the welcoming soldiers lined up on either side.
They wore gleaming silver power armor and carried weapons very similar to standard-pattern boltguns, but their magazines had been removed, signifying their welcome to the visitors.
Were it not for their partially mechanized bodies, still somewhat shorter than an average Astartes, they could be considered mirror images of Astartes.
A herald in a red robe, leaning on a golden staff topped with a gear, stood waiting.
His face was half flesh, half machine. His eyes were two gleaming emeralds.
His appearance, his attire, all recalled the Tech-Priests of the Martian Mechanicum.
The Aurean herald's face beamed with a smile as he bowed to the towering figure approaching him.
"What a profound honor. Are you Lord Nareth, the Primarch of the Shadow of Order?"
"Yes and your name?" Nareth returned the smile.
"I am Amory Salinac, Forge Consul of the Aurean Technocracy."
"On behalf of my people, I welcome you to our world."
Nareth gave Amory's mechanized body an appraising look.
'A partially mechanized body. No wonder he survived for over sixty years.
'The unfortunate soul whose head the corroded Horus blew off, the first sign of his change in character.'
'Hmm... if Horus hadn't fallen, given his preference for diplomacy, he would have treated you as an honored guest, proof of the Great Crusade's purpose: lost kin of the galaxy reunited.'
He collected his thoughts. 'Your fate, and that of Aureus, has changed!'
Nareth smiled. "Amory, permit me to address you by your name."
"May I present Lady Maria Kournikova. Her family governs Vostroya for me."
The "Pleasure" stepped forward in a black lace dress, feeling the restrained, burning gazes of the soldiers upon her.
Compared to her time on Terra, Maria had adapted more naturally to the role of an aristocratic lady. Her tall, lithe figure moved with a graceful sway, her smile reserved.
"Lady Kournikova, welcome."
The "Mentor of Disorder" watched Amory kiss Maria's hand. He and Maria would exert their charms on different levels to influence Aureus's high command.
After welcoming the beautiful blonde lady, Amory turned respectfully to the statue-like giant.
"Lord Nareth, permit me to escort you. The Chief Consul and the other consuls await your arrival in the Forge Grand Hall."
"Consul Amory, the honor is mine." Nareth followed Amory into the ranks of the silver-armored soldiers.
"They are the pillars of Aureus, the elite of our military," Amory said, pride evident on his face, honored to be escorted by the Brotherhood.
Maria, her body altered, looked over the silver-armored soldiers. At over two meters tall, her height was similar to theirs when armored.
"They wear armor very similar to the Shadows of Order's."
"As it should be," Amory replied with a smile. "The construction machines our ancestors brought from Terra remain the core of our entire society, providing us with the blessings of technology."
"No matter how long we are separated, our products will tend towards similar forms."
Nareth's eyes lit up.
Construction machines for the STC.
That was his target.
Despite the positive atmosphere, convincing the entire Aurean high command to submit and obtaining the complete STC set would still take considerable time. Tierney's operation was still necessary.
Nareth boarded the vehicle prepared for him by the Aureans. It resembled a Rhino transport.
Although the Aureans had prepared a spacious ceremonial vehicle, he still found it somewhat cramped.
Amidst a Terra-like celebratory atmosphere, the vehicle's engine roared to life, heading towards the steel fortress.
Nareth smiled and waved to the enthusiastic Aurean populace.
He gazed at the approaching steel fortress, his eyes lighting up.
The entire fortress was embedded in the bedrock layer, its gun batteries bristling with howitzers.
The massive gates slowly opened, revealing two rows of silver-armored soldiers standing in precise formation.
A crimson image of Kharn flashed through Nareth's mind, the World Eaters, for their Warmaster, destroying this fortress and butchering the Aurean populace.
....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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