In orbit above Heliosa, aboard the Shadow's Sovereignty, in the Primarch's office.
Nareth leaned back against his throne. After listening to Luther's report, he gave his instructions.
"Very good. You have gained new power. Now, return to Caliban immediately and secure the loyalty of Merian and Nereidas."
Nareth was satisfied with the current progress. With Luther and nineteen other Shadows of Order, including Pell Koscheny, having advanced to "Mentor of Disorder," they now controlled the Ark Reach Cluster, excluding Heliosa.
Luther hesitated. He had hoped to participate in the great battle for Heliosa. But since the Black Emperor had commanded it, he could only obey.
"By Your will."
Seeing Luther's reluctance, Nareth offered reassurance: "Be patient. You will have your chance."
After the Heresy, his two major objectives were the Calixis Sector in the Segmentum Obscurus and the region on the edge of the Tempestus Segmentum that would have been named the Orpheus Sector, now named after its discoverer, Rosicky.
"Seraphax lurks in the shadows. I trust you do not wish to lose your homeworld."
He had always suspected that Tzeentch was behind the destruction of Caliban and Seraphax's schemes ten millennia later.
The daemons that had appeared when Caliban shattered bore the unmistakable marks of Tzeentch's mutability.
The Lion's body, ten thousand years later, had aged. But he was still a Primarch. Being bound by ritual chains seemed somewhat odd.
Even with Luther having already gained control over much of Caliban, acquiring the Ouroboros would still be no easy feat.
"My Lord, I understand," Luther said respectfully.
"My Lord," Bukayo then reported, "the Mastodon heavy transport performed admirably in combat."
"With two void shield generators, supported by the Punisher-class reactor, it can withstand weapons fire from laser cannons and similar armaments."
Nareth nodded. Though Malcador had shifted the logistical burden onto him, the Shadows of Order had thereby acquired complete STCs, allowing them to continue production in the future. The Mastodon was a prime example of this benefit.
During the Great Crusade, because they possessed the full STC, various Legions fielded Mastodons in varying numbers.
Vulkan had committed one hundred and fifty Mastodons in a single deployment during the Kharatan Campaign, transporting all six thousand of his Salamanders.
But the damage inflicted by the Heresy had led to the loss of many STCs, the Mastodon among them.
At the time of the Heresy, Legions had committed almost all their Mastodons, hoping to gain an advantage, only to see most of them destroyed in the war.
After the Heresy, only a handful of Chapters could field them; they were rare, relic-grade armored vehicles.
Rosicky Czechk, the Forge Lord, standing before a cogitator, added, "I will work closely with Gabriel and Wojciech to ensure the Legion is equipped with Mastodons."
He then activated the holographic projector, displaying a hologram of the new armor.
Nareth relaxed into his throne, watching the hologram with interest. It already displayed the characteristic features of the power armor that would be common in the 41st Millennium.
It eschewed the separate, overlapping plates of older designs, employing larger, less flexible armored shells linked by flexible joints.
"My Lord, the Mechanicum of Mars has completed the design of a new pattern of power armor," Rosicky announced to the Black Emperor and the eleven Chapter Master.
Pell Koscheny, Chapter Master of the Eleventh, was occupied with the affairs of the other five systems in the Ark Reach Cluster.
"Compared to the Mark II expeditionary pattern, the independent articulation of the arms and legs is slightly reduced. However, due to the incorporation of Aurian technology you provided, the overall weight is reduced, and the overall mobility is greater."
"It is easier to produce and maintain than the Mark II, and its protective capabilities are not diminished."
He manipulated his control rod, zooming in on the helmet.
"Mars has redesigned the helmet. It no longer needs to be fixed to the gorget. It can now move with the wearer's head while maintaining an environmental seal."
Nareth nodded. He understood that this advance signified the Mechanicum's progress in neural connector technology, making the improved mobility and stable tactical displays possible.
Rosicky continued, rotating the power armor to display its back.
"The power conduits on the arms and chest have been moved to the exterior. This is the first armor pattern to achieve this safely."
"The use of new materials has reduced the size and number of cables. The backpack systems have also been miniaturized and made more efficient."
Nareth studied the smaller backpack, its shape now closer to the future Mark VI and Mark VII power armor.
"I have brought fifty-eight sets of the new armor."
"These will be issued to the Fifth Chapter for combat testing at Heliosa."
"By Your will." The Forge Lord acknowledged, then quickly manipulated the cogitator.
The holographic image vanished, replaced by a new set of armor.
"While researching the new power armor, Mars has also designed a new pattern of Terminator armor, based on the Tartaros pattern," Rosicky explained.
"It adopts the pauldron style of the Tartaros pattern, and the torso design of the Contemptor Dreadnought."
"Because they were developed alongside the new power armor, they share many technological and component similarities."
Nareth noted the high-visibility areas on the hologram, the head, vambraces, gauntlets, and greaves, which closely resembled the new power armor.
"The Mechanicum has named this pattern Cataphractii," Rosicky continued, "after the realm of Hades from ancient Greek mythology, the underworld."
"It will grant its enemies the greatest mercy: death."
'Hmm, as I recall, the Cataphractii pattern and the Mark IV power armor were both completed near the end of the Great Crusade. They do share common components.'
As Nareth pondered, Rosicky continued, "The Forge-Hammer has twenty-four sets of the new Terminator armor."
'Adding the Cataphractii to our armory, along with the Saturnine and Tartaros patterns, gives us three patterns to tailor to our Chapter officers. The criteria should be...' Nareth considered briefly, then arrived at a suitable standard.
'Physical augmentation and agility requirements.'
Different pathways provide different degrees of physical enhancement. The Door Pathway, for example, offers none.
Nareth's gaze swept over each Chapter Master, finally settling on Flamini of the Sixth.
"The Tenth Chapter will be responsible for field-testing the new Terminator armor."
He decided to first test their performance in combat, then, based on the dominant pathways of each Chapter, divide them into three broad categories.
Nareth's gaze grew deep. His pre-Heresy armor plan was taking shape:
Mark IV Maximus pattern power armor would be issued to the regular Shadows of Order, replacing the Mark II Expeditionary and Mark III patterns as the Legion's primary armor.
The three Terminator patterns would be the primary equipment for squad sergeants, officers, and Honour Guard members.
Chapter Master and Captains would receive personally tailored armor from Malevolus, incorporating the growth and adaptive systems of the Yeld pattern Dominum Armor.
Librarians would be equipped with the personal cogitators of the Squat Grimnyr, allowing for dual control of psychic power, amplification and suppression.
....
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