Chapter 96: Hive World Barratt
"This planet is in good condition."
"Hmm, not bad. It looks like the harvest will be plentiful this time."
Omega, hearing the conversation of the cog-heads beside him, grinned wryly. He was currently on the spine of the Cogboy, in the massive observation dome composed of rhombic panes and armored glass, observing the target planet with the rest of the ship's cog-heads. They had arrived at the starting point of the trap route—the Hive World of Barratt.
Looking at this "unhealthy" colored planet, Omega felt that he really couldn't fit in with the "joy of the coming harvest" atmosphere of the cog-heads around him. His current thought was: When it comes to ruining nature, humanity really is talented.
But this was only his own thought. The cog-heads' view was completely different. The heavier the pollution, the greater the harvest. The two were directly proportional. The reason was simple. Although hive worlds gave the impression of a huge population and a harsh environment, no one would be bored enough to find a planet with a harsh environment, build a steel forest on it, and then cram it full of people.
Usually, after a new world is colonized, if conditions permit, it will develop into an industrial world, and eventually into a hive world. A hive is not only a city for human survival, but also a huge complex of factories, providing important military materials, refined minerals and fuels, and various commodities to other human worlds in its vicinity.
The heavier the pollution, the higher the degree of industrialization of the hive world. The higher the degree of industrialization, the more excited the cog-heads. This meant that the more knowledge they could find here. Moreover, each hive was a fairly independent little kingdom. Noble families ruled their own mini-kingdoms for generations. They might be the parasites of the Imperium, but they were definitely not fools. To make their rule last forever, they would use any means to collect all kinds of technology and treasures.
Now, such technology and treasures were ownerless, for the cog-heads to pick. How could they not be happy?
After a couple of glances, Omega's curiosity waned, and he left the observation dome. The Deathwatch who were monitoring this place had already come looking for him. He needed to meet them, explain his intentions, and at the same time, get a better understanding of the specific situation on Barratt.
Omega's perception of the Deathwatch was that they were a group of "xenos-killing experts." But when he actually met the legendary Deathwatch, he found that these Space Marines were probably the most unruly and pragmatic of all. Otherwise, how would they dare to openly carry "glowing green choppas" and "swords with Eldar souls embedded in them" in front of a cog-head?
I want one... was the heretical little cog-head's current thought.
The squad leader, unaware of the little cog-head's true thoughts, after seeing Omega staring at his weapon, even gave it a little shake. He wanted to use this to annoy this little dwarf who had caused him trouble.
"Captain Hoffman," Fenni secretly reminded the impatient and provocative black-armored captain, "this is Magos Omega. He has joined this operation against Gorgon at the invitation of Grand Inquisitor Gaius."
"What the—oh, so it's Magos Omega. I've heard so much about you."
Hoffman, who had no idea who Omega was, understood Fenni's meaning. He understood that this little cog-head was not simple. His expression immediately changed, all the provocation gone. He began to flatter Omega. Omega also came back to his senses and replied politely, "Forgive my sudden visit, I've caused you all trouble. These are some small gifts. I hope you will accept them."
Hoffman did not stand on ceremony. He took the gifts that the apprentice had pushed over and, without any hesitation, opened them to see what they were. Seeing a full case of master-crafted bolter rounds, his joy was evident. A Space Marine would never complain about having too much ammunition, let alone more powerful master-crafted ammunition.
Having received the gift, Hoffman's attitude towards Omega was very enthusiastic. Not only did he invite Omega to be a guest on their ship, but he also said that Omega could ask whatever he wanted, and he would not hide anything he knew.
"So, Magos Omega, you came to us because you were separated from the fleet?"
"Yes. The fleet's position is constantly changing after it dispersed. There's little point in me chasing after them."
"Then what is Magos Omega's purpose in coming here?" Hoffman, though his posture and expression were still boorish and casual, his eyes never left Omega's face.
"I have nowhere else to go. I'll just wait here for the fleet to reassemble, and do some treasure hunting in the meantime."
Hoffman obviously hadn't expected such a casual answer. He also couldn't smell any lies on the other party. In his centuries of life, this was the first time he had met a cog-head with no clear purpose. But as long as Omega would not affect the mission, it was enough. "Then I wish Magos Omega a fruitful harvest in advance."
"Thank you. What is the specific situation on Barratt now, Captain Hoffman?"
Since there was no conflict, Hoffman didn't mind doing Omega a favor. He said truthfully, "The Genestealers have already taken over all the hives. Besides a few survivors who are in hiding, this place has completely fallen."
Hoffman's answer made Omega frown. He hadn't expected there to be any survivors. Fenni and Hoffman both noticed the change in Omega. Unlike Hoffman, who was puzzled, Fenni understood why Omega was like this. She consoled him, "There is no extra strength to save those survivors. The price of saving them is to sacrifice more people!"
"Hmph..." Omega let out a breath and smiled at Fenni. "It's fine. I know." He understood that although he could easily destroy this world, to find and rescue these survivors in a hive full of Genestealers was an impossible task. Unless he ignored the joint fleet's plan and killed all the Genestealers on Barratt. But then what? Let Hive Fleet Gorgon freely devour other planets?
No longer thinking about these frustrating things, Omega asked Hoffman the question he was most concerned about: "Captain Hoffman, the orbital defense weapons on Hive World Barratt have not fallen into the hands of the Genestealers, have they?" He asked this question because he was well aware of the power of those ground-based orbital defense weapons, which did not have to consider weight and volume. Even the enhanced void shields of the Cogboy could not withstand a few hits before overloading. This was a matter of life and death for the entire crew. He had to be sure.
"No. After discovering that the situation on Barratt was irreversible, the Inquisitor who was in charge here at the time decisively destroyed the planetary defense cannons and space elevators on several hives. Unfortunately, he himself was sacrificed in the action."
"A respectable sacrifice. May his soul return to the Golden Throne."
"The spirit of a warrior will surely drink the mead of victory at the Allfather's side."
After confirming that Omega would not affect their mission, the Deathwatch quickly left. Their mission here was to ensure that no Genestealers escaped from this planet, and at the same time, to ensure that this world was not bombed by a passing, uninformed Imperial warship, which would affect the plan.
Although he had Hoffman's assurance, Omega still asked Fenni to help him get the records about Barratt from the Deathwatch. He would not be at ease until he had personally verified this matter. The Inquisitor did not refuse. Distrusting others was an occupational hazard for all Inquisitors, even for a new one.
After Fenni had left with the Deathwatch, Omega officially notified all the cog-heads to get ready. Everyone on the ship, including the apprentices, shouted with excitement. No cog-head who dared to join a Mechanicus explorator fleet was a coward. They knew very well what awaited them after leaving Teyedan. To venture into the uncharted, barbaric sectors of humanity, and the regions on the edge of the Astronomican's light and beyond, to fight countless ferocious xenos and fallen heretics, to defend and excavate the lost sacred knowledge of the Omnissiah—this was the entire meaning of their future lives.
Although Magos Omega's generosity had satisfied their thirst for knowledge, their desire to destroy the enemies of the Omnissiah had never been satisfied. Now, they could finally let the xenos know the wrath of the Omnissiah!
Omega didn't know that the cog-heads and apprentices under him had all gone bad. After giving the order, he himself began to have second thoughts. He didn't want the people who followed him to lose their lives because of his casual decision. After much thought, he decided to play a trump card. "Out with the old, in with the new. With my talent, am I afraid of not having a trump card?"
Omega, alone, came to the Cogboy's hidden treasury. Muttering to himself, he performed a series of operations on the anti-theft lock he had designed. After a while, the door to the treasury, which had not been opened since the trump card had been stored inside, slowly opened on its own. Sensing their master's presence, the sealed killing machines all woke up.
When Fenni, who had sorted through all the data about Barratt from the Deathwatch, returned to the Cogboy, she found that all the cog-heads on the ship were doing the same perverted thing: groping the Battle Automata beside them. The robots, in addition to issuing warnings, would also occasionally release an electric current, electrocuting the cog-heads who had stuck their tentacles into their bodies, trying to have a negative-distance contact with them, until they foamed at the mouth.
"Warning. Your actions have exceeded the authority granted to you by Magos Omega. Please cease immediately, or you will be punished."
"Heh heh heh, my little treasure, your priest has come."
"ZAP—"
"Aaaaah—... ah—... that's the stuff—"
Passing by another electrocuted "pervert" cog-head, Fenni fought back the urge to kick him and left. She had to find Omega immediately. Fenni, who had been ordered by Grand Inquisitor Gaius to brush up on her intelligence about the Adeptus Mechanicus, was no longer the half-ignorant person she once was. She now knew very well what she was seeing. These were Battle Automata. This was the Cybernetica Cohort of the Adeptus Mechanicus