One hour before the Curian Hour, the twenty-three noble families of Tetzvok Hive converged upon the spire, five among them lords of their own towering bastions.
A man, his jaw and vocal cords augmented with gleaming implants, clad in a crimson robe embroidered with golden filigree, addressed a woman before him with trepidation.
She was adorned in a flowing scarlet gown, her forehead embedded with an ornate, decorative augmetic that shimmered with intricate craftsmanship.
"Countess Lysara, do you know the origins of this new king?"
"At the Hour of Baenys, many families were assailed, their blood staining the hive scarlet. Even the millennia-old House Simanski's spire fell. Could this be a trap?"
"Kozubal, do not let fear cloud your intellect."
Lysara's response was delivered with a poised smile, her tone resolute and assured.
"Surveillance pict-feeds reveal this new king's martial might is formidable, yet his forces are scant—under two thousand armed men. Even with the influx of workers into the hive, his numbers fall short of ten thousand, insufficient to dominate the entire spire."
Her gaze swept over the assembly, noting the heavily armed gang enforcers who scrutinized the crowd with menacing glares. She lowered her voice, her words deliberate.
"Moreover, his followers may be adept brawlers, perhaps even competent warriors, but they are ill-equipped to govern. Employing the crude methods of the Underhive to manage the Lower Hive's workforce will only incite unrest."
"Unless this new king is a lunatic, he will leverage existing powers to stabilize the situation, restoring Tetzvok's production capacity swiftly. Only thus will he secure the endorsement of the Omnissiah's servants."
"Tonight's coronation ritual, issued under the authority of Sage Kamina and mediated by the new Lord Howard of House Finder, signifies his alliance with the Martian priesthood."
Lysara's piercing blue eyes fixed upon the Baron of House Skorupski, a man deficient in political acumen.
Yet, his family's coal and mineral extraction enterprises were indispensable to House Kovalenko, her own lineage, and could not be jeopard kindled.
"Kozubal, regardless of the new king's nature, you and I must pledge our loyalty to him immediately."
"He lacks vassals now. Those who swear fealty first shall reap the greatest benefits. Do you understand?"
"As you command, my lady Countess."
Kozubal acquiesced with heartfelt conviction, taking his place behind Lysara with newfound assurance.
Half an hour into the Custody Hour, Howard Finder returned from the Adeptus Mechanicus' spire, the sanctified Altar of Vocation, Number 25 in Vostoria system.
He reported to Nimrod that Sage Kamina had consented to craft bespoke equipment for him.
Then, Howard proceeded to the grand hall, fielding inquiries from the assembled patriarchs of the noble houses with diplomatic aplomb.
Nimrod accepted a crate of gavels presented by Bukayo, casting a cursory glance at the contents before setting it upon the industrial-forged, metallic long-table behind him.
Manipulating his data-slate, he summoned a strategic holo-map of the Vostorian system, posing a question to the golden-haired youth.
"Bukayo, if I aim to conquer all of Vostoria, what should be my next target?"
"My lord, allow me a moment to deliberate."
Bukayo, refraining from an immediate reply, requested time for contemplation, his eyes locked onto the holo-map as his mind raced with calculations.
Five minutes elapsed before the youth spoke.
"My lord, I propose Lukov Hive."
"Why Lukov? Mazov and Szczecin are nearer."
"My lord, I base my judgment on your operational paradigm. Striking Lukov aligns with your modus operandi."
Nimrod nodded subtly, a smile gracing his features.
"Elaborate."
"In your first week at Hanliman, you subdued two gangs. In the second, you seized a forge. Rather than targeting smaller manufactories, you stormed the dome's largest, the Magnito Metallum Forge, leveraging its control to annex others."
"After securing Hanliman's dome, you bypassed other domes, leading a direct assault on the Boleslav Clan's spire, the heart of Tetzvok's dominion."
Bukayo's voice was measured, his reasoning lucid, as he delineated Nimrod's strategic trajectory, articulating the Primarch's guiding philosophy.
"My lord, I infer your approach is to seize critical nexus points, then methodically address peripheral nodes."
Nimrod, hearing Bukayo's cogent summary, regarded the youth with approval. Bukayo had indeed grasped his intent, though the boy could not have anticipated that consuming the "Barbarian" potion would awaken his Primarch gene-seed, altering his initial plan to fortify the Upper Hive before escalating.
"Why is Lukov a critical node?"
"My lord, Tetzvok, Mazov, and Szczecin are all too remote from Vostoria's power epicenter."
"The Adeptus Mechanicus' Altar of Vocation, Primarch I, is the true fulcrum of authority. Lukov's shrine, hosting Vocation Altar III, is the nearest core altar to Tetzvok. By claiming it, you compel the Mechanicus to recognize your ambitions."
Bukayo shrugged, a hint of self-deprecation in his tone.
"Not merely the altar. The Muscovites and Magdhaans of Mazov and Szczecin are cultural outliers in Vostoria's tapestry, unlike the Sosvovolodians of Lukov."
"It is akin to our ancestral home, Terra's holy city of Warsaw and…"
He faltered, seeking a marginal city's name, but the annals of House Arshavin held scant records of Terra. Warsaw was his sole known toponym, the sacred origin and hearth of Vostoria's people.
"Well, like the distinction between a central capital and a border outpost."
Bukayo's voice rang with devout certainty. "I am convinced that once you conquer Lukov, the sages will acknowledge your destiny as Vostoria's lord, rallying to your banner."
"Well said."
Nimrod commended, his approval evident. Bukayo's "Sleepless" potion had not augmented his intellect, yet his sagacity far outstripped Rawlslev's.
Though the Emperor fashioned him as a blade of slaughter, Nimrod rejected the belief, like Corax's, that carnage and dread could sculpt Vostoria's radiant future.
To conquer Vostonia, he must define the Adeptus Mechanicus' role.
Designating them foes would render all Vostonia his enemy, given their sway even among the Underhive's faithful, where countless souls worshipped the Machine God.
He would not reduce this industrial colossus to rubble, only to rebuild it anew, a folly akin to colonizing a polluted world littered with industrial detritus.
Instead, he would coerce Mechanicus cooperation, harnessing their technology to expand, while cultivating Beyonders and loyalists, gradually reforming Vostonia—his grand stratagem.
[Perhaps this is why the "Nation of Disorder" chose me for the Black Emperor's path.
Exploiting rules and resources to forge a new order is my creed.]
Nimrod regarded Bukayo. "I have a task for you."
"My lord, your will."
"Post-coronation, take the gear Howard prepared, and infiltrate Lukov for reconnaissance."
"As you decree, my lord."
Nimrod's vox-comm hummed to life. He answered, and Howard's hushed voice emerged.
"My lord, Sage Kamina has arrived at the ceremonial hall."
"Your coronation is one standard minute hence."
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🤦 : Oops! You've reached the limit for today. But just for your power stone and recommendation I might— no I would add additional Chapter.
20PS — 1 additional Chapter
40PS — 2 additional Chapter and special mention if you've contributed 3 or more PS.
That's all. Enjoy Reading!