After the Eleventh Legion cleared dozens of planets in the Cyclops Cluster, they opened the gateway to the Forge World zoa.
Using the opportunity created by the Fourteenth Legion's diversion of the Mitu main forces, Nareth ordered the comncent of the zoa Campaign.
By October, 841, the fleets of the Eleventh Legion arrived in the zoa system.
The Ramilies-class star fortress, after a long voyage, entered the system.
The journey ca at a heavy price, over ten thousand dead, including one Navigator, but it was worth it.
As soon as the Ramilies-class fortress entered the system, it revealed its true nature as a fleet killer.
In zoa's forgeshrines, the five Patriarchs of the ruling council gazed at the holo-projection of this near-perfect machine-construct.
They watched as the fortress unleashed a storm of torpedoes so nurous that even their augtic optics could not count them, drowning dozens of Mitu vessels in fiery death.
The flashes of detonation were like the Omnissiah's own hymn, resonating through their logic engines.
The fortress's countless gun turrets extended along their tracks like roaring maws.
Energy cells and plasma capacitors boiled, releasing torrents of deadly firepower.
The void filled with gunfire, waves of explosions swept through scores of warships.
The Mitu vessels ruptured; hulls were torn apart by hundreds of wounds as white-hot flas flared from within.
Light flickered across the Fourth Patriarch's mask as he sent a string of awed binaric code:
[A mighty void fortress.
If we possessed such a guardian, the Mitu could never invade zoa…]
His logic chain was quickly echoed by the others.
After scanning the data, the Fifth Patriarch transmitted his analysis:
[The fortress is constructed in the Gothic style… it is of human design.]
The Deputy Patriarch, responsible for diplomacy, transmitted his uncertainty:
[No known human power in the Coronid Deeps possesses a fortress of such magnitude.]
As the five exchanged code, more warships appeared in-system.
After analyzing the incoming data for several dozen seconds, the Fifth Patriarch transmitted his conclusion:
[Initial scan of black-painted fleet complete, 132 vessels analyzed.
Construction: Gothic. Keel markings: unknown, but within human range.
Twenty-seven share stylistic similarities with zoan designs, 50.81% average resemblance.
…
Probability that the fleet is human: 96%.]
The Chief Patriarch paused for several seconds, then issued an instruction:
[Attempt to establish communication with the unknown, possibly human, fleet.]
[Executing imdiately.]
The Deputy Patriarch approached the control dais; chadendrites extended into the data ports.
After the recognition protocols completed, lines of Tech-Cant illuminated the screen.
zoa's high-power comms arrays activated, transmitting into the void.
Before the Chief could issue further orders, the Fourth Patriarch sent a burst of code:
[I will ready all Skitarii and defense forces.]
The Chief understood his restrained fury, the Fourth longed to unleash the Omnissiah's wrath upon the blasphemous xenos, yet his logic engine warned of uncertainty.
[Wait until contact is confird and dialogue established, then act.]
[Understood.]
The Fourth Patriarch initiated the Attack Readiness Protocol, feeling the machine-spirits' eagerness for release.
Then the Deputy Patriarch broke the silence with new code:
[Contact established with the unknown human force.
They identify themselves as the Eleventh Legion, commanded by Primarch Nareth, master of the Shadow of Order.
They request a data exchange, do we accept?]
Three Patriarchs responded imdiately.
[In brief communication, my sensory arrays register the other party as friendly.], the Deputy reported.
[All augury and remote readings indicate their power exceeds that of the Mitu xenos.], added the Fifth.
[They are the Omnissiah's emissaries, they can aid us in purging the xenos!], declared the Fourth, his mask flickering with the fla of the Machine God's zeal.
To accept a data exchange from such a power was risky, their security systems might not withstand intrusion, but after one second's pause, the Chief Patriarch commanded:
[Activate all security protocols. Accept data exchange.]
After 120 seconds, a flood of filtered data poured into the forgeshrine, flashing through the minds of all five Patriarchs.
The Eleventh Legion. The King of Vostonia…
In a mont, their understanding of the unknown power expanded exponentially.
Within that sa instant, they reached consensus:
[Counterattack! Drive out the Mitu xenos!]
The Patriarchal Council's collective decision, the highest level of joint authorization, passed through all layers of approval.
zoa's defense arrays ca fully online.
Forty-nine warships launched from their ports and opened fire upon the spherical Mitu vessels.
The Mitu, long accustod to zoa's submission, were caught completely off guard.
For centuries since their decisive victory, zoa had never dared rebel, they had even opened their docks to the Mitu, allowing them to conduct their "cleansings."
In the command core of a Mitu flagship, the anemone-like commander's body flared angrily red.
Four tendril-legs drumd frantically against the controls, then halted.
The black-armored human fleet was a far greater threat than zoa's handful of ships.
His body's coloration dimd to a wary pale red as he ordered:
"Retreat!"
The Mitu fleet, shattered by the Shadow of Order's expeditionary armada, fled zoa in disarray.
At zoa's void-docks, the Deputy Patriarch led the welcoming procession for their liberator, Lord Nareth.
Skitarii ranks saluted as artillery bood in honor.
The Deputy Patriarch approached the towering, black-armored giant.
"Lord Nareth, zoa welcos you."
A roar of flesh-and-blood voices erupted, it was Nareth's arrival that had stayed the Mitu's slaughter.
Amidst the cheers, Nareth entered the forgeshrine and t the other four Patriarchs.
He recalled the molten landscape seen upon descent, confirming zoa's volcanic surface still prevented the construction of Titan legions, and felt even more confident that he could bind this world of great productivity to his cause.
The Chief Patriarch, speaking for the council, expressed gratitude.
"Lord Nareth, you are zoa's liberator, our eternal friend."
Nareth nodded slightly and smiled, then cast the bait.
"Patriarchs, zoa has suffered long under the Mitu. Surely you wish for weapons capable of defending yourselves?"
"What kind of weapons?" asked the Fourth eagerly, the image of that colossal fortress flashing through his mind.
"The Ramilies-class star fortress."
As Nareth spoke, his tech-adepts transmitted binaric schematics so the Patriarchs would understand precisely what he ant.
Light pulsed across their masks as they conversed in code:
[Five Ramilies-class fortresses could form a perfect defensive network, even the Mitu fleet could not breach zoa.], reasoned the Fourth.
[Nareth must have demands.], noted the Deputy.
After a short exchange, the Chief Patriarch addressed Nareth:
"Of course, Lord Nareth. We desire such fortresses to defend zoa. What do you ask in return?"
Nareth listed his terms:
"zoa shall ally with the Shadow of Order; your Skitarii will answer my call to arms; your forges will prioritize production for my Legion; all surplus output will go to my appointed representatives…"
By the ti Nareth finished listing fifteen conditions, the Chief Patriarch realized, if accepted, zoa would be firmly chained to Nareth's war-chariot.
He hesitated.
"My lord… one fortress hardly balances such demands, even considering your rescue of zoa."
"I will also grant you the blueprints for constructing Ramilies-class fortresses," Nareth replied, and at once, the Patriarchs' masks shone bright.
"Of course," Nareth added, "the completed fortresses will be deployed at locations of my choosing."
After brief consultation, the Chief Patriarch spoke:
"My lord, I accept your terms in principle."
They could not resist the temptation.
Thus, represented by the Deputy Patriarch, zoa negotiated with Arsena Dunn's delegation for three stellar weeks, and finally, Nareth and the Patriarchal Council of zoa signed an alliance pact.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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