Having completed the initial equipment upgrades and the macro-planning for the forge ship, Osiris was not in a hurry to leave Neksum Forge World.
The title of Archmagos not only signified authority and resources but also brought with it a series of unavoidable responsibilities and social obligations.
Within the Adeptus Mechanicus' rigidly hierarchical and intricately networked society, and even within the sub-sector it influenced, the emergence of a newly promoted Archmagos undoubtedly cast a significant stone into the previously calm waters of power, stirring up ripples.
As a newly promoted Exploration Archmagos, Osiris first needed to spend a great deal of time familiarizing himself with and consolidating the authority he had just acquired.
This was not merely a simple update of database access keys but involved a deeper integration into the system.
He needed to understand the specific operational procedures of various departments within the Forge World, the unwritten rules of resource allocation, and the delicate balance between different research factions.
Sekhmet, as his loyal subordinate, handled a large volume of daily affairs and initial liaisons, but in some situations, he, as the Archmagos, still needed to appear in person.
On the other hand, as Fabricator-General Vox emphasized, Neksum Forge World and the surrounding sub-sector it served were deeply feeling the structural pains brought by the "Second Founding" policy.
This frontier stellar region, originally pioneered by the Seventh Legion, the Imperial Fists, during the Great Crusade, was already at the fringes of the Imperium's expansion, with a relatively weak developmental foundation.
As the once stable, massive orders from Legion-level entities sharply dwindled, the lack of internal market demand and external competitive pressure from other established Forge Worlds became prominent.
The infrastructure development of many surrounding Imperial worlds, the daily supply of industrial consumables, the equipment updates for various planetary governor's guard forces, and even the weapon replenishment for Imperial Guard garrison units—their supply chains mostly ultimately pointed to Neksum's furnaces and assembly lines.
Osiris' promotion, and his agreement with Archmagos Vox regarding the application and profit distribution of that "Ancient Logic Core" technology, was like a giant rock thrown into relatively calm waters.
This clearly signified that there would be new flows in the internal resource allocation of the Forge World, and it also hinted at potential technological dividends that could spread to related fields.
For a time, the requests for visits and communications sent to Osiris' newly established office and research area were incessant.
For the vast majority of low-level administrative officials, merchant guild representatives, or envoys from minor noble families from surrounding Imperial worlds, Osiris did not respond at all.
In his view, such trivial social interactions would only needlessly encroach upon his precious research time, and their output efficiency was unacceptably low.
Typically, these visitors could only be received by junior Tech-Apprentices or ordinary Priests from the Forge World.
If the visitor's identity was somewhat special, or if their presented "sincerity" was enough to pique interest, perhaps Sekhmet might appear to liaise.
In the strict hierarchy and value system of the Adeptus Mechanicus, an Archmagos's time was a highly optimized strategic resource, far from something easily obtained by ordinary characters from these external worlds.
However, there were two categories of visitors whose identities and the forces they represented were closely linked to the core military composition of the Forge World and Osiris' long-term future plans, making it necessary for him to take time out from his busy research and planning to meet them personally.
They respectively represented two extremes in the Forge World's armed forces spectrum: one end being the Titan Legions, like mobile fortresses, symbolizing absolute power; the other end being the Knight Houses, like precise daggers, possessing both flexibility and assault capabilities.
—
First to arrive was a representative of the Steel-Hound Legion, affiliated with the local Titan Collegia and stationed on Neksum.
Titan Legions hold a unique position within the Adeptus Mechanicus; their Princeps families have passed down the art and glory of piloting these sacred war machines for generations.
They are the most powerful symbols of secular military might under the omnissiah's faith, and every qualified Princeps undergoes rigorous genetic screening and neural modification to ensure perfect synchronization with their Titan war machines.
The meeting was arranged in a standard reception room within Osiris' side hall.
The interior adhered to the structural proportions common in Adeptus Mechanicus architecture, with regularly arranged load-bearing structures and data conduits visible beneath the towering ceiling.
The walls were assembled from standard alloy plates, their surfaces etched with intricate binary prayers.
Several data panels embedded in the walls displayed constantly updating technical parameters and energy flow readings.
A sturdy alloy square table was placed in the center of the room, its surface polished, with the standard Adeptus Mechanicus cogwheel emblem visible at the edges.
Several chairs of the same material surrounded the table, their height and angle precisely calculated to accommodate users with varying degrees of mechanical augmentation.
The entire room was devoid of any superfluous decoration; every element strictly adhered to the unity of form and function, showcasing the unique Adeptus Mechanicus aesthetic that integrated practicality with ritualistic solemnity.
The representative of the Steel-Hound Legion was Miller, an experienced Titan Princeps.
Unlike Osiris' augmentation path, which focused on scientific research, Miller's body modifications were entirely dedicated to the demands of piloting a Titan.
He had additional support structures in his shoulder and spinal regions, and neural interface ports were subtly visible at the back of his neck.
Although he wore a formal Legion uniform, the reinforced muscle tissue and mechanical joints beneath the fabric still outlined a distinct silhouette.
His gaze was steady, a unique demeanor cultivated from long periods of overseeing battlefields from within a Titan cockpit.
"Archmagos Osiris." Miller's voice carried a suitable degree of respect, maintaining both his status and necessary etiquette: "On behalf of commander Gorgon Miller, Duke of the Steel-Hound Legion, I congratulate you on receiving the honor of Exploration Archmagos."
Osiris' synthesized voice responded steadily: "Thank you for the Duke's congratulations. The Steel-Hound Legion's renown in the frontier stellar region, I have heard of it long ago during my previous exploratory journeys."
He made a concise gesture, and a servo-skull silently glided to the table, presenting two drinks.
"You are too modest." Miller took the drink, his gaze lingering on Osiris' newly equipped power armor for a moment: "The duties of an Exploration Archmagos are immense, facing the unknown, and recovering lost technological heritage for the Machine God.
In contrast, our Legion has been stationed in this stellar region for a long time; although we are always prepared to respond to threats, opportunities for actual combat are indeed limited."
His tone was steady, but a keen listener could detect the implicit expectation within it.
Osiris' logic core rapidly analyzed the deeper meaning of these words.
As a strategic military force, the deployment of Titan Legions required a matching level of threat.
In this relatively stable stellar region, they lacked suitable enemies and opportunities to acquire new Titans.
Aside from waiting for the Forge World's slow production schedule, individuals like the Exploration Archmagos, who frequently ventured into dangerous ruins, were an important channel for them to obtain new war machines and combat opportunities.