Morningstar, planetary capital Calaena, the library.
This ancient structure served as Magnus's temporary office.
Hathor Maat entered, seeing Ankhu Anen, guardian of the Prospero Grand Library in red robes, leading subordinates scanning and copying ancient precious texts.
Anen turned, giving Hathor a friendly nod.
Hathor then approached the gene-father clad in golden battle plate, crafted by Terra's finest artisans.
Curving horns, sculpted musculature, and most delicate script strokes highlighted customization for the Thousand Sons Primarch.
A leather kilt reached his knees. A curved blade of Prosperan silk-steel hung at his waist, Perturabo's gifted plasma gun on the other side.
Hathor's gaze was drawn to an exceptionally massive tome hanging at his side, filled with psychic knowledge, large even by Astartes standards.
He knew that book contained what the Primarch considered the most precious part of all knowledge he'd acquired.
Future knowledge from countless worlds would be inscribed within. The Book of Magnus would be an unprecedented work.
"Father." Hathor spoke with a psychic voice. As a Thousand Son who'd crossed the threshold, he mastered other four cults' arts, though not as adept as his primary Pavoni arts.
Magnus's eyes today were green. He detached from the psychic apparatus.
Hathor recognized several flashing runes on the device were those he obtained from his Lord and contributed to the gene-father. He thought contemplatively.
'So, after arriving on Morningstar, Father immersed himself here, constructing a Warp device requiring vast Warp energy.'
"Hathor," Magnus's jade eyes settled upon him. "What brings you?"
"Father, I captured a local cultists group the Sons of Shai-Tan and obtained important intelligence from them." Hathor spoke psychically.
"They are called Sons of Shai-Tan, related to the colony ship that brought them to Morningstar. That ship is called Shai-Tan."
"A colony ship remains?" Magnus's thoughts held a hint of surprise.
"My brother Perturabo already entered the massive colony ship at Calaena's center. He discovered Steadfast Light, though millennia old, remains operational."
"Steadfast Light is central to his evacuation plan. It can carry far more than Legion warships designed for war."
"But he certainly didn't anticipate another colony ship."
"Father, the area where Shai-Tan is located suffers raging electromagnetic storms. Imperial detection equipment is being interfered." After explaining, Hathor continued.
"More crucially, during its voyage, the colony ship experienced the Old Night's psychic awakening."
"A tragic story." Magnus wore a sardonic smile. From Terran texts, he read about witch purges, hearing Imperial suspicion toward psykers, especially Thousand Sons, far exceeded that toward Shadows of Order and Blood Angels.
"…" Hathor recounted the process his Lord told him. He didn't mention the source, letting his gene-father assume it came from interrogating Sons of Shai-Tan.
In truth, those who fled Shai-Tan had memories erased. Morningstar's recorded history was fabricated.
Every word the "Psychiatrist" uttered was carefully weighed in his mind.
Unless the "Psychiatrist" harbored other motives, extracting secrets from him was difficult, even for powerful Corvidae Cult members.
But the gene-father and Lord Nareth were exceptions. Their powerful telepathy could obtain anything desired.
The "Psychiatrist" knew each statement must be plausible, not arousing Magnus's suspicion.
As a full-fledged "Telephatist" he knew how. The Sons of Shai-Tan were his constructed plausible intelligence source.
Now, feeling no consciousness probing his mind, his carefully weighed words had won the gene-father's trust.
The "Psychiatrist" carefully continued: "The machines drained the psykers' lives. Shai-Tan was born in the Warp."
"Morningstar's destruction stems from the death-worshipping cult constructing machines, causing magnetic reversal."
"My interrogation results: the local planetary defense force, Red Dragons, its high-ranking members are also Sons of Shai-Tan."
Hathor reported another intelligence from his Lord, hoping to draw the gene-father's attention.
Magnus's smile vanished. His expression turning grave.
"Never mention Warp entities before others. This contradicts my father's Imperial Truth."
After warning his son, he remained silent momentarily, then issued orders.
"Based on intelligence from Sons of Shai-Tan, Shai-Tan and its cultists are a significant threat."
"If they lurk among refugees, spreading dangerous beliefs to other worlds, it would be spreading a major threat."
Hearing Magnus's thought-pulse, Hathor thought to himself.
'As my Lord said, once the gene-father recognizes the Sons of Shai-Tan threat, he'll exterminate all Morningstar's people.'
'He doesn't yet know they are generationally entangled by Shai-Tan's curse.'
As Hathor pondered, Magnus's thought-pulse continued echoing in his mind.
"I must immediately seek Perturabo, inform him of Shai-Tan's threat, urge him to revise plans. But this won't be easy."
Hathor instinctively nodded. He recalled his Lord's assessment of Perturabo.
"He is a genius, possessing enormous pride."
"He is unwilling to admit his mistake. When circumstances change, he won't acknowledge factors he didn't consider. He'll stubbornly execute his plan."
As Hathor reflected, Magnus continued issuing orders.
"You and Atharva shall immediately proceed to the Shai-Tan. Investigate. Report at all times."
Hathor's brows furrowed. From his Lord words, he knew even most Primarchs couldn't contend with Shai-Tan. Going there would be suicidal.
Just as he intended to send a thought-pulse, Magnus's voice again echoed in his mind.
"The Warp device I originally designed aimed to provide protection for the evacuation fleet, ensuring safe navigation through the to reach a new world."
"Now, it requires some adjustments to aid me in controlling that Shai-Tan. I suspect the Sons of Shai-Tan's disruption of Morningtar's magnetic field conceals a grand conspiracy."
"Before entering the magnetic storm zone, report to me. Once device modifications are complete, I shall depart immediately."
Hearing this, Hathor felt relief. Half his objective was achieved, drawing the gene-father's sufficient attention.
Though not departing immediately, he still had to risk entering the Shai-Tan, but it was a good start.
'I hope Father won't be late.'
.....
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