"I cannot wait to board the lander and achieve a perfect victory." Fulgrim couldn't help but smile at the thought of riding an aircraft matching the Imperial Aquila on his chest.
His good friend, Ferrus Manus, spoke in a voice like poured lead, asking:
"Have you resolved your Legion's issues?"
"Yes," Fulgrim said with a smile, light dancing in his eyes. "The 'Emperor's Children' will once again step into the galaxy. I will set out from Terra, advancing northeast."
"I have heard pirates are harassing the northeastern part of the Segmentum Solar."
Hearing this, a star map of the northeastern Segmentum Solar surfaced in Nareth's mind.
Segmentum Solar, northeast direction, pirates, these three terms triggered Nareth's memory.
Almost instantly, he knew the area Fulgrim referred to was the region around Elysia.
Elysia was not only the homeworld of the future elite Imperial Guard "Elysian Drop Troops" but also located on a major Warp trade route in that region.
Consequently, the area around Elysia was notorious for piracy and served as a haven for both human and Aeldari pirates.
Realizing Fulgrim might discover Elysia, Nareth thought to himself.
'Elysia has a developed commercial sector, which naturally leads to disputes requiring arbitration, making it suitable as a recruitment world for the 1st Chapter.'
'The "Elysian Drop Troops" are also elite Imperial Guard units. Elysia's developed commerce holds significant value.'
'Malcador requested I supply more Aquila Landers; it could serve as a market for them and future products.'
Nareth also considered that currently, the Legion only possessed a dozen or so star systems centered around Necromunda.
Elysia's location was more advantageous and could serve as another foothold.
Thinking this, he decided to use the Dice of Prophecy later to divine Elysia's location.
As Nareth pondered, the Fabricator General of Mars arrived precisely on time, entering the chamber at the twelfth second of the final minute, symbolizing the sacred number of the Omnissiah.
After he took his seat, the psychic projections of the Emperor and Constantin Valdor flashed into existence.
Amidst the salutations from the others, Nareth heard a new, powerful voice addressing the Emperor as "My Lord", that of Lion El'Jonson.
The Emperor scanned the assembly and spoke:
"I have gathered you today to discuss how to handle a newly discovered peculiar species."
"They are willing to trade with the Imperium but refuse to join."
"Over thirty Expeditionary Fleets have reported encountering them residing in vast underground cities. They are a short-statured, hardworking, resilient, yet stubborn and conservative species, named after the first world they were discovered on, Squat."
"Biologis Magi accompanying the fleets have conducted genetic tests, confirming they fall within the human spectrum."
Hearing this, Nareth realized the Emperor was referring to the Squats.
He knew the Squats were a cloned human template created to mine the extreme and dangerous mineral deposits in the galactic core, with its high gravity and radiation environments.
The Squats were dispatched to that hazardous region before the Imperium was founded, hence their limited contact with humans in other regions.
Nareth knew that due to the dangerous environment, few factions ventured into the galactic core until the opening of the Great Rift, when many were drawn into the Cicatrix Maledictum tearing the galaxy apart.
Besides the Leagues of Votann, only the equally tough, highly adaptable Orks operated there.
The Imperium isn't actually located in the physical center of the galaxy.
The galactic center is actually located within the Segmentum Ultima.
For administrative convenience, the Imperium divides the galaxy with Terra at the center. In practice, a larger area is assigned to the Segmentum Ultima.
The future Segmentum Ultima is the largest of the five Segmentums, precisely for this reason.
'I recall that after the Imperium rediscovered the Squats, those on the fringes of the galactic core officially joined the Imperium of Man but retained a high degree of autonomy.'
Nareth knew that while the Squats didn't possess the Imperium's vast scale, they were still a behemoth compared to many xenos races.
There were numerous leagues among them. Some nominally joined the Imperium, others remained completely independent, and some were hostile.
'However, even getting the Squats to nominally join the Imperium came at a significant cost.'
'The Mark III 'Iron' Power Armor was specifically developed after bloody fighting in the underground cities of worlds like Squat.'
Nareth knew that the future Mark III 'Iron' pattern, from design to widespread use, wasn't meant to replace the Mark II 'Crusade' pattern. It was a specially adapted version developed for environments like boarding actions and underground warfare.
It sacrificed some mobility for increased protection, though not to the extreme of Terminator Armor, and of course required far fewer resources to forge, allowing for broader deployment.
As soon as the Master of Mankind finished speaking, the Fabricator General of Mars eagerly stated the Mechanicus's demand:
"Their technology is unique, differing significantly from what we currently possess."
"Assessed as high value. We must acquire their technology."
"Since the Biologis have confirmed they are human, we should adopt a more moderate approach." Vulkan appreciated the resilient Squats. He could see shadows of the Nocturne people in these short-statured humans.
Similarly resilient and hardworking, though the Nocturnes were tall, and the Squats were short.
"Moreover, their willingness to trade indicates we can engage with them."
Leman Russ curled his lip. Speaking from a hunter's perspective, he said:
"These dwarfs resist joining the Imperium. Only blood and fire will make them face reality."
"We should dispatch envoys again, attempt to use diplomacy to bring them into the Imperium." Malcador's voice came from beneath his hooded robe.
Subsequently, the various Primarchs voiced their opinions, all supporting Malcador's proposal.
The Emperor then made a decision: "Magnus, your Thousand Sons are relatively close. You shall be responsible for the negotiations."
Nareth knew the "Thousand Sons" were often dispatched as diplomatic envoys.
Because they delighted in collecting knowledge from various civilizations, their attitude when engaging with other factions was relatively moderate.
More crucially, they used psychic abilities to make the other party accept terms.
The "Thousand Sons," along with the aesthetically pleasing "Emperor's Children," Horus's "Luna Wolves" who sought to project a perfect image beyond just being war leaders, and the politically and diplomatically adept "Ultramarines," handled almost all diplomatic activities during the Great Crusade.
'But the Emperor miscalculated this time. The Squats are strong-willed and have some resistance to psychic powers. The Thousand Sons will also find it difficult to persuade them.'
'This diplomatic mission by the Thousand Sons will fail, just like at Gardinaal.'
As Nareth pondered, his gaze swept over Ferrus Manus.
'Gardinaal' was Manus's glorious victory, and it was also the campaign where he recognized himself as a pure conqueror, unsuited to be Warmaster.'
After the war, he personally told his friend Fulgrim: "I want you to know that person will not be me, and whoever ultimately takes that position, I will support."
Nareth knew Manus had close ties with the Mechanicum. During the Great Crusade, he conquered mostly industrial worlds.
Each was an industrial world meeting Forge World standards, with many even directly colonized by the Mechanicus.
Measured by individual worlds, their scale and output were comparable to only a few worlds in the Ultramar Five Hundred, like Cos.
However, their overall number was smaller, and just like Medusa, Manus didn't directly rule them, only extracting resources and production capacity.
This was also why the "Iron Hands" armored forces consistently topped all Legions.
'The many worlds I control, Vostroya, Triken, Cypra Mundi in the Segmentum Obscurus, and Calth, Ganfall in the Segmentum Ultima, are no worse than Manus's.'
'Gardinaal is undoubtedly the brightest pearl conquered by Manus during the Great Crusade. I can seize control of it early, incorporating the system's eleven developed industrial worlds and hundreds of billions of people into my domain.'
Nareth reined in his thoughts and returned his attention to the Squats, speaking up.
"The Squats have already refused once. Persuading them to join the Imperium might not be easy."
"We should prepare in advance. I was just in the underground caves of Calth..." Nareth glanced almost imperceptibly at Guilliman, then continued.
"...fighting xenos called Gorgon Serpents. I found that due to the lack of cover, underground combat requires stronger protection."
He looked at the Fabricator General of Mars. "Can Mars provide new equipment for this?"
Nareth suspected the Emperor would likely deploy his Pegasus, and he himself might commit forces to the fight against the Squats.
To gain some advantage and reduce losses in underground warfare, he made the request to the Fabricator General.
Nareth believed Mars, eager to acquire Squat technology, would be willing to provide assistance.
"Nareth, Mars certainly has the capability to provide more suitable equipment for underground warfare."
"Even before the Great Crusade began, research on armor with better defensive properties was underway. When Magos Malevolus participated in the forging of the Armour of Manus, this project advanced."
"Terminator Armour, designated the 'Cataphractii' pattern, is now ready for deployment. Mars will prioritize supplying Legions participating in combat against the Squats."
Nareth nodded. He knew the Cataphractii pattern, as the first deployed Terminator Armour, was continuously adjusted based on feedback from actual combat after being equipped in the Legiones Astartes.
By the time of the Heresy, the Cataphractii pattern was quite mature and equipped in significant numbers across many Legions, with the "Luna Wolves" and "Iron Hands" deploying them on a large scale.
.....
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