Warhammer: Black Emperor

Chapter 224 The Viper of Katachán
While the Second Legion was hunting for prey on the planet Flame Wheel IV, the Seventh Chapter of the Eleventh Legion arrived at the Katachon system in the Limit Starfield.

Sanchez ordered the fleet to conduct a full Auger matrix scan of the main star of Catachan.

The Lord of the Auger Matrix, holding a data tablet, reported to the Lord of the Harvests.

"My lord, according to the scan results, 90.47% of the surface of the main planet Katachon is covered with dense trees. It is a jungle world."

Sanchez looked at the holographic image; the entire planet looked like a green gemstone sphere.

"The results of the Auger matrix scan show that the most concentrated life signals are in these seven locations."

“These areas are flat terrain and should be settlements for local residents.”

As the Auger Matrix Master spoke, white spots appeared on the surface of the bright green spherical gemstone.

Sanchez asked, "How is the defense situation in Catachan?"

"My lord, there are no orbital defense facilities in Katachon, nor are there any signals from ground defense facilities."

Lord Reaper nodded slightly and spoke to Chief Apothecary Mikel beside him.

“The data board, the materials my father distributed mentioned that the Qatari people can be influenced.”

“I have decided to lead my personal guard to their settlement and meet with their leader.”

Mikel nodded in agreement: "That's feasible."

The Reaper Lord then led his royal guard and star speakers aboard stormbirds and flew toward the settlement with the densest life signals.

During the flight, Sanchez looked through the viewing window at the dense forest rushing past below.

The forest stretches to the horizon like a giant painting, with layers of tree canopies pressing together like rolling waves.

Mist rises from the surface of the forest, the canopy of the towering ancient trees is as smooth as a carpet, and the branches at the top intertwine.

Sanchez's eyes were deep, and he keenly sensed that the forest below seemed to be opening its gaping maw, ready to devour anyone who might approach.

The stormbirds swiftly flew over the forest and approached their target.

After surveying the surroundings and confirming that there were no defensive structures on the ground, the Reaper Lord issued his orders.

"landing."

Sanchez led his team down the deck and looked around.

Behind him, the think tank, the "Secret Seeker" Mesut, activated his "Secret Eyes" and surveyed the surroundings.

"The area has been cleared by fire, but vines and lichens are still everywhere."

"The toxic substances in plants can melt the mortar, and the vines can destroy the building."

Sanchez nodded: "The documents my father distributed mentioned that local plants would 'destroy' buildings, and animals would gather together and attack human settlements."

"Compared to the indigenous people, Katachan itself will be a greater challenge for us."

After Sanchez finished speaking, he looked at the indigenous people running towards him from a distance.

By unmodified standards, they were all tall, even taller than the Fenris.

Their clothes resembled camouflage vests, their skin was bronze, their muscles were bulging and knotted, and every tendon was taut like a fully drawn bow.

Their faces were painted with natural dyes, most of them carried primitive weapons such as wooden spears, and a small number used live ammunition such as guns.

Sanchez keenly sensed a threat from the Catachans; they were dangerous hunters no less than Yorin and his ilk.

The Reaper Lord narrowed his eyes slightly and praised.

“Father was right, they are indeed good candidates for hunters.”

"Star Speaker, communicate with them."

“Yes, my lord,” the Star Language Officer said, taking a translator from his waist.

The speaker played synthesized electronic sounds on a loop, with various languages ​​of Terra playing.

Mesut's consciousness spread forward, sensing the minds of the Catachan people.

The Shadows of Order inherited the Primarch's perceptual talents, and most of the think tanks are skilled in psychic abilities. They are also the most likely psionicists in the think tanks to meet the battlefield communication requirements of the Star Speakers.

Moments later, Mesut sensed from the minds of the Katachans that the translator's seventeenth language was similar to the local language.

He immediately switched the language channel to the seventeenth language.

"Fellow countrymen of Katachan, we are not the enemy."

"We come from Terra, the common home of humankind, and we are all human."

"..."

After being played several times, the people of Qatar understood the general meaning of the broadcast.

They slowed their pace, gripped their weapons tightly, and approached the black-armored warriors.

Sanchez, wearing a Rus' wolf helmet, stepped forward from the crowd: "Mesut, translate for me." The Reaper Lord walked up to the Katachon and spoke.

"As the broadcast said, we are fellow human beings."

Although the Katachans could not understand Vostonia, the black-armored giants before them filled them with awe.

The think tank used a translator to relay the words of the Reaper Lord.

The Reaper Lord continued, "I am the Shadow of Order, sent to Katachon by the command of Primarch Nimrod to find my lost human brethren..."

As the Qatari people listened to the audio played through the translator, they gradually understood the purpose of the black-armored warriors' visit.

At the very front of the Catachan people's procession, a burly man covered in tattoos walked a few steps forward and stopped just ten paces from Sanchez.

He spoke aloud in the local language, which was then translated into Vostochny.

"The shadow of order, we are all fellow human beings."

"Conquering the galaxy will not bring the Catachan people more suffering than this world has brought us, and we are proud to answer your call."

“I, Lucas, pledge allegiance to Primarch Nimrod.”

Sanchez took off the Rus's Wolf Helmet and hung it on his waist.

He walked up to Lucas, tore off his gauntlet, and extended his right hand.

"Welcome to join us."

Lucas didn't understand what he said, but he guessed what he meant from his actions.

He held the gun in one hand and extended his fist toward the black-armored warrior.

Sanchez understood, clenched his right hand, and bumped into Lucas.

The Reaper Lord, accompanied by his guards, returned to his tribe with Lucas.

Upon entering the settlement of the Katachan tribe, Sanchez discovered that the Katachan people, regardless of age or gender, were all more robust than their peers.

Everyone had a weapon; even the toddlers held daggers, and some even carried pistols.

Sanchez thought to himself: [The people of Catachan are just as my father said, a nation of soldiers!]
Even children are like this; their way of holding a gun and wielding a dagger is not standard, but it is deadly.

The weapons in their hands are not toys.
Lucas shouted to his curious people, “They are our fellow human beings, the shadow of order, and I have decided to pledge allegiance to their king.”

"Prepare food and treat our compatriots."

After listening to Mesut's translation, Sanchez used a communicator to call the track.

"Send over delicious food and fine wine."

Three hours later, the feast began, with the Katachan people serving steamed Katachan duck, cobra soup, and huge skewers of black-backed venomous snakes...

Legion servants offer Ironscale Kraken Steak, seafood from the Cradle of the Sea.

"what is this?"

Lucas asked curiously about the food he had never seen before, and was astonished to hear that the Kraken was several kilometers long.

The people of Qatar opened their mouths wide and swallowed the delicious seafood.

The Shadows of Order didn't touch the food made from various venomous snakes; they only ate the Catachan ducks, at least these strange ducks with sharp teeth looked more normal.

After Lucas ate more than a dozen Kraken steaks, he noticed that the Black Armor Warriors hadn't touched the snakes.

He swallowed the food in his mouth in large gulps and began to speak.

“Sanchez… Lord, those snakes are truly delicious.”

The Reaper Lord understood the principle of adapting to local customs, and he spoke up.

“Eat up,” he said with a smile. “Even if your stomachs, pebble kidneys and other organs fail, the medicine the pharmacist gives you will help detoxify you.”

Lucas nodded in satisfaction when he saw the Shadows of Order begin to consume the venomous snakes.

After eating twelve black-backed venomous snakes, Mesut suddenly felt hot and cold, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

[The venomous snakes of Katachon are indeed dangerous; they can even poison the superhuman body of the Astartes.]
He slightly turned his body to avoid the gaze of the Qatari, took out a green vial, and inserted it into his arm.

A moment later, Mesut's body temperature returned to normal.

The members of the Shadow of Order who attended the banquet each received at least one injection before the banquet ended.

After the banquet, Lucas led Sanchez to other tribes.

Under his persuasion, other tribes also pledged allegiance to Ninglu.

After winning the support of the Catachans, Sanchez returned to the Shadow of the Throne and prayed to the Black Emperor.

The shadow of the Seventh Chapter's Order begins to encroach upon Catachan on a large scale, and the Chief Pharmacist leads his men into the dangerous forest.

(End of this chapter)