After confirming that the Emperor's Children's fleet had left the Perdus Anomaly, Nareth immediately ordered their return to the Kalium Gate.
With the Heresy approaching, and the situation in the Perdus Anomaly unlikely to change, he decided not to expand in that region for now.
For one thing, he knew that the decline of the Aeldars would not reverse itself over the next ten thousand years. Ulthwé possessed vast territories but lacked the strength, especially the population, to develop all those Maiden Worlds.
For another, fighting Ulthwé before the Craftworld Aeldar obtained spirit stones would not be worthwhile. Once they had spirit stones, the difficulty of war would not increase much, but the amount of potion materials he could harvest would rise considerably. For that, He was willing to wait patiently for another three thousand years.
Aboard the Shadow's Sovereignty, the Primarch's office.
"My Lord, following Your command, I have compiled the current status of every world under the Legion's control."
Arsena raised his control rod, zooming in on the northern region of the galaxy.
"The Segmentum Obscurus is the Legion's foundation. Centered on Vostroya, a sector three hundred and thirty light-years in diameter has been fully explored, containing three hundred and fifty-nine habitable worlds."
"The key worlds in this sector include: the Legion's homeworld, Vostroya; the largest shipyard and fleet base, Cypra Mundi; the most industrially productive system, Triken; the Third Chapter's primary recruiting world, the eternal night world of Mordian; and the largest training base, Islington."
Arsena moved his control rod, shifting the holographic display to the galactic northeast.
"The Coronid New Zone is the Legion's second largest territory, with three hundred and eighteen developed worlds."
"The Fate Lord's achievements in the Cyclops Cluster are remarkable. The industrial complex formed by one hundred and five industrial worlds is the most densely productive region at the cluster scale. In the entire Imperium, only Horus's early achievement, the Akum-Sothos Cluster, can compare."
"The Fate Lord has formally submitted a proposal to the Imperium to establish a new sector, the Gothic Sector. The Council of Terra has not yet approved it."
"It won't be approved anytime soon. Malcador has no time to deal with such matters." Nareth said.
'He is running out of time.'
Arsena understood that the storm the Black Emperor had foretold was about to erupt. "You will lead us to stand firm in the storm and set sail through it."
He continued: "The Legion's other key holdings in the northern regions include: the navigational hub and the Fifth Chapter's primary recruiting world, the Kalium Gate; the Vigilus system, the third largest in population and defensive technology; the Eight Chapter's primary recruiting world, Kassai; the Feral World of Vessor, the primary source of Blanks; the Fashi Expanse, centered on Dulan, the Legion's third largest shipbuilding base and a key industrial zone; the Simian system, a major source of double-number black gold and a high-gravity training center; and the Felwatch Keep, the only foothold and training base beyond the Astronomican's light."
Compared to 899.M30, the only new key world in the Segmentum Obscurus was Vessor, but it was the one Nareth valued most.
The warriors nurtured on the Moon of Dusk would become the foundation for the Custodes-like force he intended to create for himself in the future.
"The Legion's hidden major worlds in the Segmentum Obscurus are the Fourth Chapter's recruiting world, Sodhiem VIII, and the twelve maiden worlds of the Serpents Cradle."
Nareth nodded. The galactic northwest was his primary target after the Heresy.
His plan was to conquer the side of the Great Maw adjacent to Imperial territory, establishing the Calixis Sector.
After securing Perturabo's loyalty, he would have the Iron Lord, as a traitor to the Imperium, continue his great work on the other side, isolated by the Warp storms, establishing the Koronus Expanse.
He would have the opportunity to realize his own vision and build according to his own designs.
The silver-haired attendant moved his control rod to the galactic east.
"The Legion also has extensive territories in the galactic east. The hidden sub-sector centered on Gardinaal is the Legion's second largest industrial region and the primary producer of tripedal walkers. Its population of billions is second only to Necromunda's."
"The eleven star systems of the Osiris Cluster have also recovered from the enslavement of the Osirian Psybrids."
He swung the control rod, zooming in on the southern Ultima Segmentum.
"North of Macragge, the Legion controls the Veridian and Ganfall systems. West of Macragge, we control the Talassar system."
Nareth stared at Tarentus. Gren Vostho, the former 13th Legion Master he had "corroded," now commanded this agri-world.
In the future, Titus, who would possess maximum Warp resistance and twice crush Warp energy sources with his bare hands, would be born on this world.
"The Legion has five other important worlds in this region: the Death World of Catachan, the Prairie World of Attila, the Feudal World of Mancora, the Agri-World of Rynn, and the Jewel World of Ventrilia."
His gaze swept over Mancora, the future homeworld of the Howling Griffons Chapter and the location of the Shadows of Order's Librarius. He had also swindled this world from Guilliman.
Rynn, swindled from Dorn, would be the future homeworld of the Crimson Fists Chapter.
Ventrilia was the homeworld of the Ventrilian Noble Auxilia, and one of the Eight Chapter's three primary recruiting worlds.
Catachan and Attila were the Seventh Chapter's primary recruiting worlds, home to the Catachan Jungle Fighters and Attilan Rough Riders Auxilias.
Arsena's narrow eyes shifted, pulling the holographic display to the northern Segmentum Ultima.
"The Sak'trada Deeps are the Legion's largest territory in this region, at sector scale."
"The region is rich in minerals, but remote and difficult to colonize, resulting in slow development."
"To date, only fifty-two worlds have been developed, all with populations under a million, designated as mining worlds."
Nareth had expected this. To keep the Sak'trada Deeps hidden, immigration would inevitably be limited, and slow development was predictable.
"The Legion also has two large hidden territories in this region: the Ark Reach Cluster and the Olamic Quietude."
The Ark Reach Cluster had originally been discovered by the Word Bearers, who, after requesting aid from the Space Wolves and Thousand Sons, had conquered it with the combined might of three Legions.
The Olamic Quietude was the achievement of the Space Wolves' 3rd Great Company. Nareth's greatest gain from taking it was the complete cultural archive.
"The Legion also has seven other important territories in this region: the Perditus system; the industrial world of Firestorm; the Ice World of Valhalla; the Feudal World of Aventinum; the Ocean World of Naktis; and the Hive Worlds of Praedis Zeta and Novaris on the eastern galactic edge."
He had taken the Tuchulcha Engine from the Lion on Perditus VI. Both it and the system's second planet were now industrial worlds; the former rivaled a secondary Forge World in output, while the latter was relatively advanced among industrial worlds.
He had swindled four worlds from Guilliman: Firestorm, Aventinum, Praedis Zeta, and Novalis, which would have become the homeworlds of the Aurora Chapter, Brazen Consuls, Soul Drinkers, and Silver Templars Chapters, respectively.
He had also swindled a future world from Vulkan; Naktis would have been the homeworld of the Dark Krakens.
Valhalla was the homeworld of the Valhallan Ice Warriors and is now the Fourth Chapter's primary recruiting world.
Arsena moved his control rod, shifting the display to the galactic center.
"The Legion also controls three key regions in the Segmentum Solar: the Necromundan Sub-sector, centered on the six systems of the Araneus Continuity; Elysia, on a prosperous trade route; and the civilized world of Ar rija."
"Aureus has been largely integrated into the Legion's system. Its output is comparable to any Forge World, and it possesses a considerable number of unique STCs."
He moved the control rod to the galactic south.
"The Legion's only territory in the Segmentum Tempestus is the Rosicky."
In Nareth's memory, this region had been named Orpheus, after its discoverer, Rogue Trader Alika Orpheus.
He had sent Rosicky Cezch, the Forge Lord, to discover the region, and it had been named after him.
Rosicky had also, following his orders, found the Orpheus Key, which had once belonged to the Archons of Orpheus, significantly enhancing the Techmarines' capabilities.
The source of the Orpheus Key was a fragment of the Void Dragon at the level of a Transcendent C'tan. He would retrieve it when he was able.
After the Heresy, he would launch a conquest of the surrounding regions, establishing the Rosicky Sector, the Orpheus Sector of his memory.
Though Nareth only had one planet in the Segmentum Tempestus, his allies, the Forge Worlds of Graia and Gryphonne IV, were in this region.
Valia-Maximal was also one of his four allied Forge Worlds.
Among his four allied Forge Worlds, Incaladion in the Segmentum Ultima was entirely under his control. Mezoa in the Segmentum Obscurus relied on him for defense.
Anacharis Scoria was competing for the position of Fabricator General on Xana in the Segmentum Pacificus. He now had a considerable degree of control over the Forge World, and its ties to the Shadows of Order were even stronger than Valia-Maximal's.
"The Legion's territories in the Segmentum Pacificus include the nine planets of the "Terra" system and the Twelfth Chapter's primary recruiting world, Tanith."
"To date, the Legion controls eight hundred and nineteen worlds."
Nareth nodded. 'Russ was right; my Legion's pace has slowed. In the past century, we've added just over three hundred worlds.'
He knew there were three reasons for this:
First, the Legion had repeatedly used Vostroya as a base to explore the surrounding regions, establishing a complete sector. This inevitably meant revisiting known worlds, but the time spent was worthwhile. The unknown regions had gradually become clearer, and new, intersecting Warp routes had been established.
Second, many Chapters had been focused on developing their territories, rather than expanding.
The Sixth Chapter, in particular, had been almost entirely focused on the Coronid New Zone, developing the Cyclops Cluster, except when he had deployed them.
Third, campaigns like the Sak'trada Deeps and the Khrave wars were distant and time-consuming.
The Khrave homeworld, in particular, had no development value aside from its wraiths; all its resources had been drained by the Khrave over tens of millions of years.
'Hmm, the origin space and the psychic Wyvachs' habitat are also my territories. Especially the origin space, though I can't use it yet; it's a potential inter-dimensional hub for the future.'
Nareth reviewed all his worlds and pocket dimensions. 'I've swindled quite a few people. Just among the Primarchs, there's: The Lion, Hannibal, Perturabo, Russ, Dorn, Ferrus, Guilliman, Horus, Lorgar, Vulkan, hmm, and the Baalite Predator, Sanguinius counts as well. That's eleven.'
'A good portion of my eight hundred and twenty-one territories was built on swindling eleven Primarchs.'
As Nareth thought, Arsena put away his datapad.
"My Lord, Horus has issued a command: you are to bring the resisting Gordian League into compliance."
....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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