Chapter 36: Boarding the Ship

After Magos Kaminsky left, Nareth awaited Howard's arrival.

"My Lord, I have already begun fully implementing the Hantmann West Dome system in the Underhive. Soon, it will be completely transformed."

After hearing the report, Nareth nodded approvingly.

"Well done. You also need to take charge of forming the Fifth Regiment. Your future is not just as an Arbiter."

"As you command, my Lord."

"Also, keep an eye out for talents in the regiment. We'll need them for the next round of expansion."

Nareth gave the same instruction to every regimental commander. When he returned to Vostroya again, he would launch a new wave of military expansion and fully conquer this world.

"The defense of Tizca is also in your hands. Buksa will assist you in this matter."

The newly subjugated Mazov and Szczecin were both given to Roslov and his First Regiment. The Magdan people, being more literary, lacked a strong sense of resistance.

"My Lord, I will guard Tizca for you and await your return."

After Howard departed, Rosicky arrived with dozens of tech-servitors, bringing Nareth's armor.

The servitors, supported by mechanical limbs, helped Nareth into his black armor.

"King Nareth, does the armor fit you well?"

Rosicky, who still retained most of his human features with only one bionic eye implanted, wisely focused his scanners solely on Nareth's external dimensions and the armor.

Nareth shifted his position, instantly appearing at the palace gates before returning to where he had just stood. The movement was so fast that Rosicky's optical sensors only caught a flicker.

"Very good. It fits."

"My king, Magos Kaminsky has ordered me to accompany you on the expedition against the xeno raiders."

"Go prepare the flyer. We depart in one standard hour."

Tizca only had aircraft suitable for low-altitude travel, not high-orbit vehicles.

One standard hour later, Nareth, accompanied by Maria and two other assassins, boarded the transport ship that Rosicky had summoned from the starport.

Lukevo Hive City, Spire Palace

Nareth first summoned Szczesny for a report.

"My Lord, Thierry has faithfully executed your order to form the Second Regiment."

"He's using his reputation and influence to maintain order alongside Muravsky. I believe his loyalty to you is genuine."

Nareth nodded slightly. If Thierry harbored any disloyalty, the time of Nareth's absence would've been his best chance to act.

"How is the formation of your Fourth Regiment?"

"My Lord, the Fourth Regiment is fully formed. I request permission to join you in the expedition."

"Very well. Immediately lead the Fourth Regiment and board the Piszczek."

Szczesny was overjoyed. Since becoming a "Sailor," he had longed to serve Nareth in battle and repay his trust. Now, his opportunity had come.

"As you wish."

He used a phrase he had just learned from a rhetoric manual.

After Szczesny left, Nareth activated his communicator and messaged Thierry:

"Come to the palace and meet me."

When Thierry arrived, Nareth opened his palm, revealing a red potion.

Thierry hesitated for three seconds.

'If my Lord wanted to kill me, he wouldn't need to go through this much trouble.'

Knowing he had no choice, he gritted his teeth, took the potion, and drank it.

Ten minutes later, his previously well-fitting exosuit armor looked on the verge of bursting. After learning meditation and spirit vision under Nareth's guidance, Thierry carefully knelt.

"My Lord, thank you for your gift."

"I'm heading to the stars to strike against the xenos. You shall defend Lukevo."

Nareth intended to mold Thierry into a true "warrior" to strengthen his most elite fighters.

Unlike the other three remote hives, Lukevo was surrounded by many ambitious rivals, some of whom might act during Nareth's absence.

Although Thierry was disappointed not to be part of the campaign, the responsibility of guarding the largest and most prosperous hive among the four was a sign of deep trust.

"My Lord, I will defend Lukevo with my life and never betray your trust."

The third person Nareth summoned was Wojciech Bielik. Hearing the water sloshing in the crates carried by his tech-acolytes, Nareth already had a guess.

"So, you've had success?"

"My King, I've developed a waterproof adhesive coating. Applied to chainswords and other melee weapons, after four hours of drying, it prevents rust for eight full work cycles."

He opened one of the crates and took out a chainsword.

"Allow me to demonstrate."

"Proceed."

The chainsword roared to life. Water splashed, and Bielik decapitated a steel dummy.

He put down the chainsword and continued:

"For ranged weapons, I've only completed the las rifle modifications."

"The critical component is the power pack. Besides the waterproof coating, I used vacuum-injected resin glue to fully seal it."

"With this method, it can endure submersion for one work cycle. After that, it needs to be re-sealed."

Nareth watched as he pulled a las rifle from the water tank without wiping it and fired it immediately, blasting another dummy's head.

"Excellent. Bring your men and materials to the starport and wait."

The final person Nareth summoned was Muravsky.

"My King, as you commanded, I've distributed the grain that formerly belonged to the Piontkowski family, now yours."

"The Upper Hive is temporarily stable, but this won't last. I estimate we can hold out for one standard month."

"I'm heading out to deal with the xeno raiders. The food issue will be resolved shortly."

Relieved, Muravsky felt a huge burden lifted. He believed that the mighty King Nareth would surely defeat the xeno scums.

"May your campaign be victorious, and may the xenos be utterly crushed!"

After receiving reports from Thierry and Bielik, Nareth brought Maria and the two assassins to the hive spire's landing platform and boarded the transport ship.

The ship slowly ascended, with Lukevo shrinking rapidly below.

There were three starports in Vostroya, all under the control of the servants of the Omnissiah.

Nareth had no intention of provoking the Mechanicum. When he seized three ships, it was only after obtaining the proper access keys.

For now, three ships were enough.

After capturing xeno ships, Nareth believed the Mechanicum would be highly interested in reverse-engineering the xenotech, especially the suspected Aether Cannon, and would agree to co-develop it, and even build him a capital battleship.

Even though the Emperor had signed the Treaty of Olympus with Mars in 739. M30, the Great Crusade fleets had not yet reached Vostroya. The local Mechanicum would not miss this chance.

Since the "Dark Age of Technology," the Cult Mechanicum and warlords across the galaxy had wantonly exploited lost technologies.

Nareth also knew the true cause of the future Schism of Mars: the faction led by Fabricator-General Kelbor-Hal would resist all limitations placed upon them.

The Mechanicum divided the ships of the thirty-three hives among the three starports evenly.

The four hives under Nareth's control were all assigned to Kraków Starport.

Once onboard, Nareth headed straight to the strategium on the bridge.