After the War Council concluded, Nareth's returned to the Shadow's Sovereignty.
After leaving the runic array maintained by the Astropaths, he returned to his office.
Nareth then proceeded to the "Kingdom of Disorder," confirming the Dice of Prophecy was fully charged. He decided to divine Elysia.
Although he also wanted to seize control of Gardinaal early, on one hand, the Gardinaal War wouldn't erupt until 869.M30; that system hadn't yet entered the Imperium's sight.
On the other hand, Nareth considered that the Emperor might assign the campaign against the Squats to him, making it inadvisable to act against Gardinaal at this time.
He knew Gardinaal had a relatively complete history since the Age of Strife. Over five thousand years, they had countless times repelled invasions by powerful xeno forces, even growing stronger and counter-attacking, exerting influence over several neighboring star systems.
Gardinaal possessed formidable industrial strength, and its ruling class were also warlike and capable military nobles.
In Nareth's memory, although they engaged in negotiations with the Imperium, it was merely a stalling tactic, and war was still likely.
Once war broke out, it would be difficult to preserve the intact industrial facilities while keeping losses under control.
Nareth knew Gardinaal not only possessed STCs for Rhino and Predator variants but could also mass-produce quadrupedal walkers as tall as, but larger than, Warhound Titans.
Each walker could match the Titans of the Legio Atarus, and their numbers overwhelmed the entire Titan Legion.
Gardinaal's top-tier combat power was also considerable. They possessed life-extension technology surpassing the Imperium's, and their trained warriors had rich combat experience.
The most powerful among their psykers could even briefly mentally control Manus himself.
Subsequently, a Gardinaal Lord, over thirty-six hundred years old, an assassin with immensely rich combat experience, launched an assassination attempt against the Primarch.
Combined with the mental control, it momentarily put Manus in a somewhat awkward position.
If it weren't for the Gardinaal Lord's fatal mistake of claiming to know everything about Manus, provoking his towering rage, the conflict might have lasted longer.
'It must be said, the Gardinaal Lord was really bold. Neither the Emperor nor Fulgrim would dare claim to know everything about Manus.'
Nareth chuckled lightly, then reined in his thoughts, returning to Gardinaal itself.
He believed only Ferrus Manus's precisely commanded "Iron Hands" could capture all industrial facilities with minimal losses.
During the Great Crusade, besides conquering industrial worlds, Manus continuously collected various technologies across the galaxy alongside the Mechanicus.
He discovered numerous Dark Age of Technology relics, with forbidden technologies and devices scattered and stored in the Vaults of Mimir across the galaxy.
Possessing such advanced technology and powerful armored forces, the "Iron Hands," under Manus's calculations, could swiftly crush the Gardinaal and ensure none of the countless industrial facilities around the battlefields were damaged.
The Vaults of Mimir were also primary targets Nareth intended to divine after the Heresy.
Although he didn't know their specific locations on which worlds, the squad he had infiltrated into the "Iron Hands" would record the worlds visited by the 52nd Expedition Fleet.
With some information, he could perform divination. Combined with the Dice of Prophecy, Nareth believed he could find at least a few of them.
Roboute Guilliman's computational ability in warfare was inferior to the "Iron Hands," and he lacked the various cutting-edge weapons developed by Manus and provided by the Mechanicum, preventing him from quickly crushing Gardinaal.
He would achieve victory only after paying a heavy price.
The First Legion possessed numerous forbidden weapons given to them by the Emperor, but those weapons were difficult to control, and they wouldn't conduct the comprehensive and meticulous calculations like the "Iron Hands."
After their victory, only vast ruins would remain, and Gardinaal's production capacity would be severely damaged.
'Achieving the preservation of intact industrial facilities like Manus did is no easy task.'
'But I know the situation in Gardinaal and can with my Beyonder sons; it is achievable.'
'Operations against Gardinaal should be conducted before the "Second Rangdan War." Considering post-war recovery and preparations for the war against the Rangdan, it should be initiated at least five years in advance.'
After pondering Gardinaal, Nareth rapidly recalled all known information about Elysia in his mind.
'Elysia is a verdant Civilised World. The star system contains countless barren moons, gas clouds, and asteroid belts....'
Besides being a Warp route with immense profits, the system's complex environment, conducive to hiding, was a major reason pirates infested the region.
After swiftly running through everything he knew about Elysia in his mind, Nareth silently recited his request.
'The star chart from Osiris to Elysia....'
After silently reciting it eleven times, he tossed the Dice of Prophecy in his hand.
The dice tumbled through the air several times before landing in Nareth's open palm. At that moment, a scene like a holographic projection unfolded before his eyes.
After memorizing the star chart, Nareth input it into a data crystal.
Subsequently, he returned to the real world and had the "Robot" John perform a divination.
The gyrinx picked up paper and pen, its claws gripping the quill, scribbling on the parchment.
John silently recited the phrase, recording the information on the paper, over and over again.
After eleven times, John grabbed the parchment and leaned back on his wooden bed.
The "Robot" visualized a sphere of light in his mind, his eyes turning deep black, rapidly entering a meditative state.
The surroundings instantly became ethereal. Above, intangible things and colorful lights seemed to extend, boundless.
The "Robot" let himself fall deeply asleep in this state. His consciousness roamed the Warp, receiving revelations.
Everything began to blur. The "Robot" was half lucid, half dazed.
In the twisted, illusory world, the "Robot" saw countless slender, elegant warships heading towards a verdant planet.
Before John became a "Monster," in his ignorant state, he had vague memories of the Saim-Hann craftworld, often seeing these warships fly by.
Now, possessing intelligence rivaling an Astartes, he could clearly recognize them as Aeldar warships.
Simultaneously, through the psychic link, Nareth saw the images from John's dream divination.
'As expected, Elysia is being raided by Aeldar pirates again.;
'If the timing is right, this could be a good opportunity to win the loyalty of the Elysians.;
Thinking this, Nareth immediately proceeded to the third layer of the space, his spirituality extending towards the golden orb.
He saw Howard Fender seated at a desk, reviewing reports on a data slate in his hand.
Confirming no one was around, Nareth focused his will and pulled Howard into the Kingdom of Disorder.
Black mist rose. Howard found himself swallowed by the black mist. He looked up into the depths of the mist and indeed saw the Black Emperor sitting on a throne high above.
"My Lord."
Nareth nodded slightly. "What is the current situation in Osiris?"
"All eleven systems are stable. The last discovery of an Osirian Psybrid was ten months ago."
Nareth focused his will, using telekinesis to deliver the data crystal to Howard.
"Set course immediately for Elysia. It is a suitable recruitment world for your Chapter."
"The Elysians have accumulated extensive ship-to-ship combat experience through their long history of resisting pirate raids. They will be excellent ship officers and crew."
"Rapid strikes combined with orbital and aerial support are their effective methods against cunning pirates. Your Chapter should absorb talent in this area and form 'Elysian Drop Troops' as Auxilia to accompany the Chapter in operations."
Howard's hand caught the data crystal. He bowed and said, "As you command, My Lord."
After sending Howard back to Osiris, Nareth extended his spirituality again, touching the shimmering blue orb.
He saw Santiago Borgcamp lying in a white medical capsule.
'I tasked him with researching the activation of the Kalium Gate. Was he injured during the mission?'
'Hmm, the Kalium Gate apparently required some effort for Lion to open originally. There might be some danger within that Santiago, a daemology psyker and "Trickmaster," couldn't handle.'
.....
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