Chapter 83: Let's Go for an Academic Exchange
"No xenos can defeat the Imperium in a war of attrition!" This was only a theory.
The reality was that the Imperium's bloated administrative system had an abysmal efficiency. The instability of warp travel added another layer of uncertainty. The Imperium's grunts were inexhaustible, but they needed weapons and supplies. These two factors directly affected the outcome of any war. Requests for aid going unanswered were common in the Imperium. The need for supplies going unfulfilled was also common. And supply lines being cut in the middle of a war, leading to the collapse of a front, was equally common. Fortunately, the sheer size of the Imperium gave it the resilience to come back again and again.
Omega had initially just wanted to fulfill his little dream of opening a shop and, at the same time, collect some T'au technology. At that time, besides a slight interest in their technology, he hadn't really taken the T'au seriously in his heart. They were just a xenos with a bit of strength. But as his shop's reputation grew and more customers came, Omega discovered that the grunts were not just grunts. They were people. Living, breathing people. People of flesh and blood.
How could he refuse a disabled soldier who had brought a T'au pulse rifle, wanting to exchange it for a bionic limb?
How could he refuse an Astra Militarum grunt who had brought the wreckage of a T'au drone, wanting to save his comrade?
How could he refuse... Omega didn't refuse.
"Emperor, I hate this world—"
(The Emperor: I hate this world too.)
The price of "not refusing" was that the already scarce raw materials on the Cogboy were soon depleted. The Cogboy was not without the ability to mine and produce its own raw materials, but this was a war zone. The risk of being attacked by the T'au Empire was high outside the Imperial defense zone. The only option left for Omega was to leave. He threw this problem to the expeditionary force, to give him a reason to stay.
"Ahem, everyone, this raw material problem must be solved. Otherwise, I will have to leave."
Before they left, the three of them told Omega they would give him an answer in a few days. Regardless of the outcome, they were very grateful for his selfless help. They would never forget this kindness.
After they left, Omega locked himself in his lab, focusing on "restoring" the technological heritage that the T'au had plagiarized from humanity. Rhea and the others, seeing that Omega was in a bad mood, had wanted to comfort him, but they were stopped by Laust. The Magos told them, "This is a necessary part of his growth."
While Omega was in his lab, the three heads of the O'nyl expeditionary force were also brainstorming. They had to find a way to keep the "kind and generous little Magos."
"Has there been any reply from the Far East Command?"
"The astropathic message was just sent. It can't be that fast!"
"Sigh, I'm just anxious. The brothers in the Chapter who haven't gotten their new armor are about to start sleeping outside my door."
"You're the Chapter Master."
"The Chaplain and a few of the Captains are leading the charge. The Chapter Master is useless. Celes, aren't you a Canoness? Aren't you hiding from your sisters now too?"
General Nicholas had no right to speak, as his Astra Militarum were the main consumers of Omega's supplies. He had already been identified by the other two as the main person responsible for the current predicament.
"I have an idea," General Nicholas said, insisting on speaking despite their accusations.
"Speak!"
"What if we try to get something from the former Planetary Governor?"
"Him? Isn't he already in custody, waiting to be executed by white phosphorus?"
"But the list of his family's confiscated assets is mostly immovable property. There are very few supplies."
"Are you saying he hid them?"
"It's possible."
Douglas's eyes lit up. He licked his lips. "Heh heh. I'll reluctantly lend a hand. Let him taste the interrogation techniques passed down by the Sufferer Chapter for thousands of years."
Omega, who was in his lab, enthusiastically "restoring," was called out by the three heads. They said they had found a solution. Omega, who hadn't expected them to be able to solve the raw material problem, was naturally curious as to what their solution was.
The result was the fat man now kneeling before Omega—the former Planetary Governor, who had been imprisoned for colluding with the xenos.
"This?" Omega asked, looking at the fat man with confusion.
"This traitor has a large stockpile of rare minerals and raw materials in T'au territory."
Omega was even more confused. What did a stockpile in T'au territory have to do with them? Were the T'au going to deliver it to them?
"The Inquisitor who interrogated him has a plan. It will allow us to get those minerals and materials."
"Oh? What's the Inquisitor's plan?"
"Inquisitor Fenni wants to board your ship to carry out a mission in the T'au Empire. After you arrive, she'll have this traitor hand over the supplies to you."
"Wait! What did you just say?"
The Cogboy was slowly detaching from the O'nyl spaceport. It was about to embark on an unknown journey with its new passengers. This time, its destination was—the T'au Empire!
Let's rewind to when Omega met the Inquisitor of the Ordo Xenos that Douglas and the others had introduced.
"Inquisitor Fenni, is your plan reliable?" Omega asked the Inquisitor before him.
The Inquisitor, sitting across from Omega, rubbed her temples and explained helplessly, "Magos Omega, rest assured."
But Omega still looked suspiciously at the female Inquisitor in her xenos-style attire. Her outfit alone was enough to get her executed.
"But your plan sounds unreliable," Omega said again.
"Err—"
Inquisitor Fenni was having a headache trying to explain to this "Fabricator-General's biological son," this "red-blooded cog-head," that some heretek Tech-Priests would secretly deal with the T'au. If she told him directly, wouldn't this orthodox Magos blow a gasket? She had chosen to cooperate with him because of his tireless efforts in helping the Imperium fight the xenos. If it had been any other Tech-Priest, she wouldn't have trusted them. Now, the problem had become how to make this Magos Omega trust her.
It was a beautiful misunderstanding. The Inquisitor did not know that the one before her was no orthodox cog-head, but a heretek himself. After much thought, Inquisitor Fenni decided to tell Omega the truth, tactfully. "Magos Omega, you should know that some illicit merchants trade with the xenos."
"Hmm, like that governor. I know."
"There are inevitably some technical personnel on these merchants' ships. After a long time—"
After a moment of silence, Omega asked, "But we are an explorator vessel?"
"It's the same," the Inquisitor confirmed.
"Hiss..."
This was a little unexpected for Omega. But then he thought about it. For a cog-head who would stop at nothing to pursue technology, it was entirely possible. He couldn't be the only one who wanted to "restore" xenos technology.
"So that's why you brought those thousand-plus prisoners. To gain the T'au's goodwill."
"Yes. To be precise, for you to gain the T'au's goodwill."
"Me?" Omega said, surprised.
"Yes, you. You are the protagonist of this plan. During your stay in O'nyl, you developed an interest in T'au technology. After learning that the former governor had a large stockpile of precious minerals in the T'au's world, you made a secret deal with the expeditionary force commanders."
Inquisitor Fenni glanced at Omega's face. After confirming that the little Magos was not showing any signs of rage, she continued, "You saved the governor's life, in exchange for his hidden minerals and supplies. At the same time, you also saved the captured T'au personnel, because your goal is not just these things. You are interested in T'au technology, so you also want to have an academic exchange with them. These prisoners are your gesture of goodwill to the T'au, in the hope that they will allow you to dock in their world. Wealth and knowledge are your goals."
Academic exchange! ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) (Let's have an exchange!)
"Has anyone done this before?"
"Often!" the Inquisitor admitted.
...
His family's dirty laundry having been aired by an outsider, Omega could only respond with silence.
Is Emei Peak going online again? Last time it was heretics, this time it's xenos? Omega was starting to feel a little excited. But he still forced himself to calm down. "This will put me and my exploration team in danger. And I must tell you, I only have 10,000 priests and 40,000 apprentices on my ship. My armed forces are very weak."
"That is precisely what we can use. Only if you are not a threat will the T'au be at ease."
"And you?" Omega pointed at the Inquisitor.
"Me? My identity is your guide and intermediary."
"I'm asking about your purpose in boarding my ship to go to the T'au Empire. Don't tell me that as an Inquisitor of the Ordo Xenos, one of the three great Inquisitorial Ordos of the Imperium, you can't even find a ship. With your power, finding a merchant ship with ties to the xenos should be easy."
"Magos Omega, I need to borrow your identity."
Omega was confused again. "My identity? What identity could I have with the xenos?"
When answering this question, the Inquisitor used a respectful tone. "You may not know this yet, but your anti-stealth technology has caused a great deal of trouble for the xenos. Intelligence about you is already on the desks of the T'au high command."
(>_>): Then if I go, won't I be a sheep entering a tiger's den? This woman is no good!
Omega had already rejected the plan in his heart. He decided to refuse tactfully. "But Inquisitor, let's not talk about the past. This is a time of war. The Imperium is in a bitter fight with the xenos. The risks of us going to the T'au Empire now are not comparable to before."
Inquisitor Fenni could see that Omega was about to back out. She was having another headache. Theoretically, as long as she had sufficient reason and evidence, she had the authority to mobilize all Imperial forces. But that was only in theory. In reality, it depended on the person. Cog-heads were the kind that couldn't be mobilized, let alone one who had a connection to the Regent.
"Magos Omega, the galaxy is vast. War is not everything. Even now, our underwater trade with the T'au Empire is still ongoing. In fact, it is precisely because of the war that the volume of this underwater trade has greatly increased."
"The more they fight, the more rampant the smuggling is. These damn traitors! This is aiding the enemy!" Omega, thinking of the soldiers sacrificing themselves on the front lines every moment, his cowlick stood up in anger.
"That's right. But there's no way to stop it."
Omega didn't want to beat around the bush anymore. "But how can you guarantee my safety?"
"The T'au are also involved in this plan. A friend of mine from the Water Caste wants to broker a peace agreement between our two sides. She will guarantee our safety. The purpose of my trip is to meet with the T'au high command."
(>_<;)... Run... "Someone, arrest this traitor for me!"