894.M30.
Kalium Gate Zone, Bridge of the Shadow's Sovereignty.
Nareth gazed at the star chart on the hololithic table. Planet markers, route vectors, and dotted trajectories formed an incomplete map.
It was the result of the last two divinations with the Dice of Prophecy.
He had performed two divinations: in the 2nd standard month of 888, 'Star chart from the Kalium Gate to the Serpent's Cradle'; in the 3rd standard month of 891, 'Star chart for the 'Maw' route between the future Calixis Sector and the Koronus Expanse.'
Through multiple divinations, he confirmed that after divining the uniqueness, the dice's recovery time had permanently increased by one month.
The next divination would be in the 4th standard month of this year.
He had already chosen the subject: a world in the Koronus Expanse, filled with specters, suitable for the Fourth Chapter.
After estimating the time needed to cleanse the Slaaneshi daemon world in the Serpent's Cradle, he had chosen this time for the expedition.
"My Lord, the main forces of the Second and Fourth Chapters, along with two companies of the Fifth Chapter, have completed assembly."
After Arsena's report, Chief Librarian Thomas spoke.
"My Lord, all Librarians who have mastered the 'Griffin's Roar' have assembled aboard the Shadow's Sovereignty. There are five thousand nine hundred thirty-six."
Besides the Second Chapter, primarily on the Sun Pathway, as the main force for purifying daemons, and the Fourth Chapter, going to its future recruiting world, Nareth had also chosen the Sixth Chapter, primarily on the Door Pathway.
They were suited for navigating unknown regions, could accumulate knowledge and experience of the stars, and had opportunities for "Astrologer" roleplay.
Nareth raised a finger and tapped a gleaming region.
"Set sail. Head for the Serpent's Cradle."
He had already established a "link" with the Tuchulcha engine. All was ready. It was time to go to the Serpent's Cradle to obtain the materials for converting Perpetuals.
Thirteen standard ship days later, in the Librarius of the Shadow's Sovereignty, Thomas heard a cacophony from another world.
A hissing, like countless serpents slithering.
The mentalist psyker felt sticky gazes, cold, fixed on his body.
Ethan, the resilient psyker, perceived a giant serpent climbing a mountain.
Nikolaus, the tempestuous psyker, saw countless sea serpents surging into the Sea of Souls.
Okafor, the telephatist. Miguel, the technomancer...
The Warp manifestations of many Librarians underwent bizarre changes.
The temperature in the Librarius plummeted. Cold mist rose from shelves laden with data-slates and books. Frost formed on the rune-inscribed floor.
Thomas extended his consciousness, touching the minds of the Librarians.
"Ascend to the Thelema mindstate."
Following the telepathic instruction, the Librarians proficiently ascended to the third level of the Thelema mindstate.
The hissing faded. The frost dissipated.
On the bridge, light flickered in Nareth's eyes. As the Shadow's Sovereignty approached the realspace transition point from the Warp, he sensed evil and twisted the ship.
Even with the Jokaero field, deployed by the Jokaeros, covering the entire Gloriana-class battleship, their power briefly penetrated the areas where the psykers were gathered.
Nareth was alert, ready to counter them.
He watched with satisfaction as each area excluded the interference.
The Navigators and Astropaths accompanying the expedition were chosen from allied families for their Strong Will and had signed confidentiality "Contracts" with the "Notary."
As the slimy tentacles tugging at the ship loosened, Nareth knew the fleet had arrived at the Serpent's Cradle in the Northwestern Galaxy.
A region the Imperium would not reach until the 40th Millennium.
"My Lord." Arsena, recovering from the brief discomfort, quickly reviewed the reports from various departments.
"Transition to realspace complete."
"The Master of the Astropath reports his choir has completely lost communication. All transmissions are blocked."
"There were brief psychic phenomena in the Librarius and the Navigator Sanctum. No actual damage."
Nareth nodded. He rose and walked to the hololithic strategic table.
"Auspex to full power. Scan the entire system."
The empty hololith gradually lit up.
Like a painter at work, planets of different colors, orbital lines in black, appeared on the green canvas.
His Aide reviewed the reports and spoke.
"My Lord, as You said, this system has two blue stars."
As Arsena spoke, Serpentis Alpha and Serpentis Beta transformed from burning blue gems in the void into distinct colors.
"Techmarines in the Simulus Chamber have calculated that the system's twelve planets orbit in a unique double helix pattern."
"They will all pass between the twin stars."
Nareth nodded. "That is why this system is called the 'Cradle.'"
Arsena said admiringly: "When each planet passes between the stars, every part of its surface receives intense radiation."
"Yet, as You said, and the auspex matrix confirms, each world teems with life, with its own unique ecosystem."
"The Aeldari's mastery of combining technology and psychic power is truly impressive."
Though he had already seen the five maiden worlds of the Terrican system, Arsena was still in awe of the twelve worlds of the Serpent's Cradle.
His body trembled slightly. Twelve immensely valuable worlds were an unparalleled discovery.
Aeldari maiden worlds combined the beauty of paradise worlds, the agricultural bounty of Agri-Worlds, and the vast mineral wealth of Mining Worlds.
Twelve unparalleled worlds would become the Black Emperor's domain, beyond the Imperium's sight.
As his silver hair swayed, Arsena's gaze moved to the surrounding viewscreens.
He saw images from the probes. The sixth planet, which had just passed between the twin stars, flickered with a faint purple light. His agitated emotions calmed.
"My Lord, the latest scans show that as the planets pass between the twin stars, they absorb radiation and energy."
"I believe, as you said, there are massive collectors underground, gathering this energy."
After hearing his Aide's report, Nareth raised a finger and tapped a cluster of rocks on the system's periphery.
"Spread the fleet. Your team will fully engage the Simulus Chamber, working with the adjutants and Techmarines to chart a course through this hazardous asteroid field."
"The Court Barons of the Fifth Chapter will serve as the core, guiding the ships through the belt."
Nareth knew that countless passing ships would be lost in this belt in the future.
Their luck: they would die in the cold void before becoming daemon food.
"By Your will."
At Nareth's command, the Simulus Chamber across the entire fleet activated at full capacity.
Shadows of Order's Simulus Chamber was not identical to the Iron Hands'. Techmarines were essential components.
The central figure in each Sanctum was the White Tower Pathway adjutant, responsible for formulating battle plans.
But this time was different. The "Astrologers" of the Fifth Chapter would be the core, leading this perilous journey.
At the viewports, "Astrologers" reviewed information from the Astartes "Knowledge Keeper" adjutants and "Student of Ratiocination" aides, rapidly marking the screens.
The trajectories of rocks in each adjacent region were marked in earth brown. Their own ships were marked with black runes.
One hand on their crystal balls, they used styluses to trace routes in the dim light.
"Reader" aides stood beside them, transmitting the marked routes to the data network through the Simulus Chamber's terminals.
The black void leviathans moved nimbly, weaving through the dense asteroid field, entering the Serpent's Cradle.
.....
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