Warhammer: Black Emperor

Chapter 315 "Machine" Divination Tarasa, Space Shark Invasion

837 October.

The Solar System, Reigns Shadow, Primarch Palace.

“My Lord, the wise man Neto has already declared in Incaladion that the turmoil that began in 790 and lasted for 47 years has come to an end.”

"Of the five battle groups that participated, a total of 5,314 Shadow Order soldiers were killed."

A trace of sadness flashed across Ning Lu's eyes, but at the same time, he felt a little relieved.

Compared to the Fourth Army Corps, which was originally responsible for suppressing the rebellion and suffered approximately 29,000 casualties, almost being completely wiped out, my army suffered approximately 24,000 fewer casualties.

Based on the battle situation, objective factors, and the main factor, were that I launched the campaign six years earlier, resulting in fewer invading aliens, stronger forging temples, and the Titans captured by the rebels not yet being repaired or restored to combat capability.

The subjective factor was that I deployed a stronger armed force, including the "War Griffin" Titan Legion, and I did not employ the Fourth Legion's typical heavy artillery and armored assault tactics to wage a protracted encirclement and attrition war.
Nimrod also thought that unlike the Fourth Army, which gained nothing and whose sacrifices were not even remembered, he felt that the price he paid was worthwhile.

He gained complete control over the Forgeworld and a Titan Legion, though it will take time before he can fully master this power.

Another fortunate thing is that Incaladion, like other foundry worlds, has abundant mineral resources.

Ninglu predicted that the "Tiger Eye" Titan Legion would have more than fifty Titans and be qualified to participate in the war before the outbreak of the "Second Randan War" in 862.

"The 1st and 7th Regiments, which were responsible for the main attack and infiltration operations, suffered the most casualties, with 2,095 and 1,628 casualties respectively."

"The other companies of the First Battle Group, except for the Second Company, have returned to the Osiris Sector for replenishment."

"Katachan's population growth rate has been increasing year by year, and its population has now exceeded 7.5 million. It is expected that the number of casualties will be replenished after the next batch of new recruits joins the war effort in four years."

After reporting on the Legion's situation, the Primarch's attendant continued:

"The 'War Griffin' Titan Legion had twelve Titans destroyed in the war, mostly during attacks on the territories of rebellious knight families."

After listening to Incaladion's briefing, Ninglu asked again:
"The current location of the Ninth Fleet?"

"My lord, they have arrived in the solar system, and the Storm Lord is on his way, expected to arrive in two days."

After the briefing ended, Ninglu "left" the Spear of Dionysus on the table.

Upon returning to his residence, he immediately went to the third level of the "Land of Chaos" and used the Prophecy Dice to divine Tarasa.

Nimrod picked up the prophecy die, his mind quickly processing all the information he knew about Tarasa.

Tarasa, one of the earliest human colonies established in the Milky Way.

Humans have built advanced underwater facilities on the seabed and constructed vast cities with towering spires along the rugged coastline.

Inland regions are centers of agriculture and industry, where they use land reclamation techniques to acquire fertile land, establish stable ecosystems, and set up mining bases to extract rich mineral deposits.

...]

After rapidly reviewing the information about Tarasa in his mind, Ninglu silently recited it to himself.

[Star map of the solar system leading to the Tarasa system.]

[…]
After reciting it silently eleven times, he stretched out his hand and threw the prophecy dice in his hand.

After the triangular cone tumbled several times in the air, it landed in Ning Lu's outstretched hand, and a scene that looked like a holographic projection appeared before his eyes.

After Ninglu noted down the star map, he entered it into the prepared data crystal.

Back in the real world, he looked at John the Super Cat. Ever since becoming a "machine," he had been trying to make use of his abilities.

[Perhaps we should have John perform a divination. Although I know the general situation of Tarasa, I don't know its current state.]
As Nimrod thought of this, a thought struck him, and John, who had established a spiritual connection with him, immediately understood his meaning.

In John's home, his dark eyes suddenly shone.

After becoming an extraordinary person, he was no longer satisfied with his own place and built his own home next to Ninglu's dormitory.

Of course, because his strength was completely suppressed by his older brother Freddy, who was forced to be his elder brother, his territory was only one-third the size of Black Wolf's.

John's house, apart from his bed, contained books containing prophetic knowledge, data boards, data crystals, crystal balls, tarot cards, pendulums, and other divination tools.

He pulled out a piece of parchment with his left paw, and with his right paw he grasped a quill pen, writing swiftly:
[Talassa Main Planet...]

As a "machine," he knew that in this situation where he had certain information but no medium, dream divination was the most appropriate method.

John wrote down the information on the paper, over and over again.

After eleven repetitions, the "machine" picked up the paper and leaned back on his wooden bed.

The machine conjured a ball of light in its mind, its eyes turned deep black, and it quickly entered a meditative state.

The surroundings suddenly became ethereal, and there seemed to be invisible things and colorful light extending endlessly above.

The "machine" allows itself to fall into a deep sleep in this state, letting its consciousness wander in the subspace and gain revelation. Everything begins to blur, and the "machine" is half awake and half dazed.

In a distorted, illusory world, the "machine" sees countless alien creatures with contorted bodies, resembling sharks, raising weapons that look like explosive guns and firing at humans.

At the same moment, Ninglu saw John's dream divination through a telepathic link.

He saw that the alien creature had gills, four webbed limbs, and a long, finned tail.

The alien also has a set of sharp teeth, like a shark that preys on its prey.

Ninglu immediately recognized that the shark-like alien species was a Sahadune.

As the image shattered, he immediately used his memory and the insights he gained from dream divination to deduce the condition of the main star, Tarasa.

I remember that the Sahadurs controlled multiple worlds in the Limitless Starfield. They were a hostile and powerful species with technology roughly equivalent to that of the human empire.

During the Great Expedition, the Space Wolves waged war against them, destroying several Sahaduiin-controlled worlds.

Yes, the Sahadunes are a space species that evolved from sharks. Tarasa is a rich marine world, and once they discover it, they will naturally plunder it.
Thinking of this, Ninglu added the Sahadui people's information to the data crystal.

They stand about 2.2 meters tall in their classic hunched posture, and their army is called the Pisces Warriors, equipped with explosive guns and power swords similar to those of the Empire.

...]

“Well done.” Ninglu praised John’s divination results through a telepathic link.

He was just trying it out, but he didn't expect the "machine" to actually give him valuable insights.

Two days later, Nimrod met Szesni in the palace and handed the data crystal to the Storm Lord.

"I have chosen a recruitment world for the Ninth Warband."

"In the extreme star system of Tarasa, human colonists established a world with advanced agriculture and industry."

"It has great development potential, and once integrated into the human empire, it will immediately become a key node and strategic center of trade routes."

Ninglu recalls that after Robert Guilliman discovered Tarrassa, he immediately recognized its value and developed it into a key node in the western region of the Otrama 500 world.

Even after the Great Rift unfolded, Tarasa was invaded, and the ancient defensive weapons of the "Dark Ages" were activated, destroying the entire planet's environment, he did not abandon Tarasa.

Guilliman established the Void Trident Chapter during the Unyielding Expedition, located in Tarasal in the Tarasal system, with the aim of regaining control of this key strategic node.

I wonder what kind of interesting expression Guilliman would have if he discovered that the western region of his Altera 500 world, the most suitable star system for establishing strategic nodes, was under my control.

That feeling must have been like having a nail stuck right under your nose.
“The Tarasa people were frequently raided by pirates, and in their defense they became warlike warriors.”

"They are fierce, tenacious, and disciplined; you will get excellent recruits."

"Now, Tarasa is under invasion by the Sahadui people. Once you arrive, immediately launch a rescue operation, and you will win their support."

Nimrod believed that the Sahadurs were likely the potion ingredients for the "Tyrant" pathway, so he gave orders to the Stormlord.

“The Sahadui people carry a special water tank on their backs, which is connected to their gills through a tube, enabling them to survive for long periods without water.”

"During the battle, focus your attacks on the water tanks behind them."

“The Sahadui people will soon lose their ability to resist, and I am very interested in them.”

“I understand, Father,” Szesny replied.

Ninglu then looked at the clerk he had summoned and gave him instructions.

“Nicholas, you will accompany the Ninth Chapter and provide assistance.”

"I'll take this opportunity to become a real 'sailor'."

“Yes, Father.” After receiving the order, the think tank sent another thought pulse to Szesny, instructing him on how to build the altar and perform the sacrifice.

Szesny organized the information in his mind, "Yes, my lord."

As one of Nimrod's earliest followers, Szesny had long since pledged his complete loyalty.

To him, the King, Father, and Black Emperor were just three titles.

Nicholas's eyes flashed, and he thought to himself, puzzled.

[The Storm Lord suddenly changed how he addressed his father.]

Why is this?

Is it simply that the Storm Lord prefers to use several different titles to refer to his father?
(End of this chapter)