9th Month, 863.M30.
Vicidax Thule Sector, Aboard the Shadow's Sovereignty, Primarch's Office.
After hearing Keon's report, Nareth fell into silent contemplation.
'Faced with Perturabo, that Slaugth only thought of running. He didn't have a scepter capable of firing destructive rays, nor numerous constructs to protect him.'
'His regenerative ability was also weak; he was killed by Perturabo's external attacks.'
'He must have been the lowest rank of Slaugth infiltrator.'
Nareth remembered that during the Rangdan War, Alpharius learned that his twin Primarch brother, Omegon, had ended up on Bar'Savor.
He led his men to that planet.
Then, Alpharius furiously discovered that the Slaugth were using their biotechnology in an attempt to enslave Omegon.
In close combat, Alpharius was no match for the Slaugth. The worm-creature's powerful regeneration...
His power lance was knocked away. Worm tentacles coiled around his waist. Necrotic acid corroded his armor.
Ultimately, it was Librarian Rukul who sacrificed his life, unleashing a psychic attack that stunned the Slaugth for one second, allowing his Primarch to find an opening and shove a krak grenade inside the creature, detonating it.
Rukul knew he would die the moment before he attacked. He had used his psychic powers recently, and seconds later had fallen to his knees in agony, convulsing and retching.
He was a powerful Astartes Librarian, his will far exceeding a mortal's, yet the moment he touched the Slaugth's mind, he was countered.
'Even if Perturabo is stronger than Alpharius, he couldn't have so easily killed a Slaugth Overseer, let alone a Destroyer.'
'After all, even with three Primarchs like Lion El'Jonson in the decisive battle at Taxal, the situation was dire to the extreme.'
'The one Perturabo encountered was an Infiltrator.'
Having reached this conclusion, a sudden flash of inspiration struck Nareth.
'Hmm, I could advance the timeline by a few years. Before Alpharius learns of Omegon's location, I could go to Bar'Savor and rescue him myself.'
Nareth was certain the Slaugth wouldn't be gentle with Omegon. If they wanted to enslave him, they would have subjected him to comprehensive study.
'Slaugth science and technology perfectly blurs the line between organic and inorganic. Their bio-synthetic techniques can achieve various functions, all acting in complete obedience to the master's will.'
'A Slaugth laboratory is immensely valuable. Besides research data, there are live samples like blood and skin tissue. These can be used to create mystical objects and to detect infiltrating Alpha Legionnaires.'
A Primarch's blood contains powerful warp energy.
Nareth remembered that the future Great Unclean One, Ku'gath, used a single drop of Guilliman's blood to create a disease called the Godblight.
'Omegon is being tortured terribly by the Slaugth. If I rescue him early, sparing him that suffering and also preventing the Alpha Legion from losing a Librarian and many elites, asking for some live samples in return is only fair. I've earned it.'
'Hmm... I really am a good man, taking on all this trouble and asking for so little!'
Nareth made a mental note of this future arrangement, then turned his attention to the meter-long crystal coffin before him. Within its stasis field floated clusters of worms and a tattered garment.
The "Baron of Corruption" opened his Spirit Vision to examine them.
'A pity. Even an ordinary Infiltrator would be suitable potion material, but this one is damaged. It can only serve as psychic reagent.'
'The burial shroud is the main ingredient for the "Spirit Medium's" subsequent Sequence 6, "Necromancer," but it's also damaged. Only psychic reagent as well.'
But before serving as psychic reagents, they had other uses.
Nareth looked at Marlena. The "Biologist's" tea-brown hair writhed like poisonous snakes.
"Marlena, they are yours."
"Conduct your research first. Then send them to the Forge Lord. He may also have discoveries."
"When the research is finally complete, the worms are yours, and the shroud is his."
"By your will." Marlena raised a hand. Vines spread from her armor, entwining around the crystal coffin.
She turned. The vines, like tentacles, carried the crystal coffin as she walked out through the eleven-meter-wide doors of the Primarch's office.
Seeing the Black Emperor's gaze return to him, Keon continued his briefing.
"Despite the intelligence You provided and Lord Perturabo's meticulous planning, the Iron Warriors still paid a considerable price."
"To my knowledge, casualties in the Campinas system campaign reached seven thousand four hundred and ninety. Casualties on other fronts total over five thousand."
"The Iron Warriors also lost over two hundred ships, no fewer than seventy of which were capital ships. About a third were destroyed by the drone swarms from the artificial war satellite."
During Keon's pause, the Arsena spoke, his tone carrying a hint of concern.
"My Lord, our own Legions also suffered considerable losses in the two campaigns, liberating Xana and the Vicidax Thule Sector."
"Five thousand eight hundred and forty Shadows of Order have been killed. Due to the widespread participation of Librarians specifically tasked with countering the neural collars, the casualty rate among them is far higher than in the past. One hundred and thirty have fallen."
Nareth nodded slightly. This was expected. However, the Dice of Prophecy still had over a year left on its cooldown, so he couldn't perform divination on this now.
"I will address this issue soon."
Hearing the Black Emperor say this, Arsena's concerns faded.
"The Nineteenth Legion, in gratitude for Your earlier rescue, has dispatched a fleet to deliver gifts to You."
"Balsar has received his Legion battle-brother. They are waiting outside."
"Let them in," Nareth instructed.
Arsena and Keon saluted and then departed.
Arsena ushered Balsar and the other inside, then busied himself instructing attendants for the imminent visit of Lord Perturabo.
Moments later, Alastor, his heart pounding with excitement, entered the Primarch's vast office.
The office, crafted from obsidian, was so spacious that Alastor, recently promoted to Sergeant by the Shadow Lord, felt his entire squad could maneuver freely within it.
He respectfully performed the Aquila salute to the Primarch and spoke.
"Lord Nareth, Alastor Rushal, of the Nineteenth Legion's 89th Company salutes You."
"By order of the Shadow Lord, I present to You three hundred and eighty-one xenos Queens captured during the war with the Q'orl, and twenty-five planetary way-markers. We hope they please You."
"I am very pleased with this gift," Nareth said with a smile.
Alastor exchanged a glance with Librarian Balsar Kurthuri, drawing courage from the latter's eyes.
"My Lord, the Shadow Lord hopes I might remain by Your side for a time, to serve You and learn from the experience."
The "Baron of Corruption" spoke amiably, a smile in his voice.
"Alastor, welcome."
"I am very happy to accept your service."
Alastor, following the Shadow Lord' order to make this request, hadn't expected it to be so smoothly accepted.
Filled with anticipation, he became one of the Primarch's Aide attendants.
Nareth had Balsar take Alastor to get settled. He then went to his private storage chamber and moved the Q'orl Queens and planetary way-markers, one by one, into the Kingdom of Disorder.
Before his final trip, he sent a message to the Flagship Captain, Diana Paulin, instructing her to come to his office in five minutes.
Then, he went to the first layer of the Kingdom of Disorder and ordered the space simian to concoct the Sequence 6 "Hypnotist" potion using the Q'orl Queen and mind grub.
Diana entered the Primarch's office ten seconds ahead of schedule.
"Drink this."
Diana, with exicetment took the vial from the Primarch's hand. She looked at the transparent, colorless, viscous liquid.
It undulated in her hand, with tiny, silent vortices seeming to spin just beneath its surface.
She tilted her head back and downed it in one gulp. A layer of scales immediately rippled across her skin.
Moments later, the newly promoted "Hypnotist" had reined in the overflowing power of the potion. The "Dragon Scales" on her body vanished. She sensed the changes within.
She felt her physical capabilities had been considerably enhanced. Her strength and agility now exceeded ordinary human levels.
'The defense of the "Dragon Scales," combined with "Battle Hypnotism." From now on, I possess true combat capability.'
'My combat effectiveness should be no less than an average psyker.'
She looked gratefully at Lord Nareth. When she had been selected as flagship commander, she never imagined she would come to possess such wondrous abilities.
Three solar days later, the battle-scarred Iron Blood arrived. Perturabo, accompanied by his Trident, took an Aquila Lander to the Shadow's Sovereignty.
.....
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