Aboard the transport ship, Wojciech Bielek turned to remind Nareth:
"My lord, you must na your new flagship."
"Afterward, we must report it to the Imperial Fleet."
Nareth looked up from the data slate. After a brief mont of thought, he replied:
"The relic-class ship's advantage is its range. Let us call it Void Hunter."
"Like a hunter, it will deliver lethal, precise strikes to enemy vessels."
"Void Hunter," Wojciech repeated, then nodded. "A fitting na."
Nareth noticed a flicker of hesitation in Wojciech's eyes.
"You've got sothing else to say. Go ahead, speak freely."
Wojciech's gaze fird imdiately.
"My king, I wish to undergo Astartes transformation."
"Why?"
"Only after receiving the power you granted did I realize… the world isn't made up of simple 0s and 1s, like the servants of the Omnissiah claid."
There was a spark in Wojciech's eyes, his voice filled with longing.
"I wish to uncover its secrets. I've heard that becoming an Astartes grants not only strength but also longevity. With that ti, I can serve you better and pursue the truth."
Nareth considered that even Astartes legions need Techmarines, and agreed.
"Very well," he said after a pause.
"The shipyard project will be turned over to Rosicky."
"Once you've been transford, you'll travel to the Cult chanicum for Techmarine training."
"Though their knowledge is incomplete, it is still worth learning."
"As you command, my king."
Wojciech smiled brightly.
Nareth turned his gaze to the massive Void Hunter, far larger than the Final Sycthe, a colossal beast drifting through the void.
Shortly after, he arrived at the docking bay and received a report from Howard.
"My lord, fourteen regints have successfully boarded. Five more are currently in transit."
"Do you wish to designate an order for the transformation process?"
Earlier, on the transport ship, Nareth had reviewed the Eleventh Legion's personnel files and had already devised a plan.
There were currently 23 full-fledged Apothecaries and 10 trainees in the legion.
"All regint commanders and Wojciech go first. Then, the first squad of each regint, followed by the rest in order."
The earlier the better, especially for the extraordinary leaders.
Howard glanced at Wojciech beside him and silently guessed what this ant.
"Understood, my lord."
After Howard departed, Nareth contacted Mikael, the Legion's Chief Apothecary, to confirm the location of the dical facilities.
Soon, he was face-to-face with Mikael and the other Apothecaries, their eyes ablaze with zeal.
"Father, we used to watch the Luna Wolves grow rapidly. Now it's finally our turn—"
He caught himself before saying Reapers out of habit, and corrected:
"We, the Shadow of Order."
"Would you like an anesthetic? The extraction won't hurt much, but it could make the process more comfortable."
As he spoke, Mikael raised his left arm.
Mikael raised his left arm. Unlike standard Imperial dicae kits, an Apothecary's dical gear was integrated into his power armor, a complex system affixed to the left arm.
Nareth noticed the syringe in his hand was filled with a gray liquid.
Mikael explained proudly:
"This is my custom anesthetic, derived from the lantern grass of Sevastien, a feral world.One drop can bring down a horse."
"When operating on our brothers, I adjust the dosage to temporarily numb their enhanced physiology."
Looking up at his gene-father, he hesitated.
"Perhaps it can give you a brief mont without pain."
"Unnecessary," Nareth declined.
He hated the feeling of losing control over his body, even for a second.
"Begin."
Imdiately, they moved to remove the upper part of his armor, and Nareth lay down on the custom operating table.
"Father, we're beginning."
With Nareth's nod, Mikael gave the signal.
The Apothecaries raised their left arms and activated the special extractors, piercing the flesh of their gene-father.
Nareth only felt a slight itch, like a mosquito bite.
He frowned slightly, his thoughts drifting.
'Beyonder individuals of Sequences 9, 8, and 7 do not pass on their traits. Those of Sequences 6 and 5 can partially pass them down. High-sequence individuals can choose whether, and how much, to pass on. That's part of what defines the Sequences. Gene extraction falls under this frawork, so I won't pass on my beyonder traits to my gene-sons.'
Mikael's voice brought him back:
"Father, we've finished."
Nareth redonned his armor and gave instructions:
"Ensure the survival of all undergoing surgery. If anything abnormal happens, stop imdiately."
"Understood, Father."
The Apothecaries bowed, and Nareth turned to leave.
On the bridge, he saw Rosicky had already arrived and was coordinating with Wojciech on the shipyard transition.
They both bowed respectfully when they saw him.
After a mont's thought, Nareth said:
"We'll build the shipyard on Gray Ash, Vostroya's satellite, just as Wojciech suggested."
"The plan is sound. Rosicky, follow his design exactly."
After confirming Rosicky's loyalty, Nareth had begun training him as a 'Savant'.
"Rest assured, my monarch. I will give it everything I have and not disappoint you."
Nareth's eyes glead slightly.
"When I play with moonstones from Gray Ash, I can feel the pressure on my mind lift."
Rosicky understood imdiately.
"My king, before construction begins, I'll find every moonstone on Gray Ash and offer them to you."
Nareth left them to continue their work and walked to the command throne, where he sat down.
'Vostroya is my stronghold. It must be garrisoned. And new recruits must be drawn from its children.'
He recalled his etings with various officers.
The one he left behind couldn't be soone cruel like Cezak, that would only plunge his howorld into chaos.
After so thought, he settled on a candidate:
Captain Thomas of the 9th Company, a gene-son who had inherited his father's psychic abilities.
He sent a ssage. Soon, Thomas arrived.
Looking into his bright eyes, Nareth spoke:
"Thomas, will you remain on Vostroya to select promising children?"
"Father, I will stay. Though it ans forfeiting the honor of fighting by your side, I will do what you require."
Thomas didn't hesitate.
"Good." Nareth nodded in satisfaction. "You will have your chance to stand with in battle."
"But for now, you alone are suited for this task. I entrust our howorld to you."
Thomas glowed with joy, like being bathed in sunlight.
"As you will it, my father."
Nareth spent five days discussing details with Thomas, recruitnt criteria, planning, and implentation.
Soon after, he received a report: the officers had repainted their armor as ordered.
He decided it was ti to depart.
A ssage was sent to Horus. The reply ca swiftly, warm and booming:
"Nareth, my brother! Co aboard, we must talk."
...
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu
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