Warhammer 40: Starting as a Rogue Trader

Chapter 350 The Three Navigator Families

Gao Yi also wanted a relatively smooth transition, but this touched on fundamental interests and there was absolutely no room for coordination.

Before Abathur obtained the genes of the cunning chieftain Tiberius, Gao Yi didn't have any good solutions. Originally, the people parasitized by the infected were so dull that their abnormalities could be easily seen, and they were mostly just cannon fodder.

It's even more impossible for them to remain hidden and infiltrate for a long time.

However, the infected individuals have acquired new genetic mutations due to Abathur's modifications.

They possessed abilities similar to gene-stealers, but not entirely the same.

The parasites released by the infected insects, which can parasitize biological nerves, can now make the parasitized subject submit to Kerrigan's will without changing their appearance or habits.

While it can't iterate through reproduction like the cunning Tyrannosaurus, the advantage is that it won't turn into Zerg or lose its mind, its spread is reduced, and its stealth is better.

They are not driven by animalistic instincts or the urge to reproduce.

It can almost perfectly replicate the state before it was parasitized.

This actually suits Gao Yi's needs better, because without a thorough full-body examination, no abnormalities can be detected.

If they successfully parasitize the patriarchs of those navigator families, are their descendants truly qualified to examine these leaders?

Before discussing the Navigator issue with Guilliman, Gao Yi's Montgomery dynasty had already begun to experience the problems caused by the Navigator family.

Some bloodshed even broke out in secret.

The Montgomery dynasty is now so large that it is highly unusual that such a large dynasty does not need the help of the Navigator family.

Not only the Navigator family, but also the imperial forces outside the alliance are speculating about how the Montgomery dynasty broke away from the Navigators.

However, some speculate whether the Montgomery dynasty actually possessed the technology to escape the warp.

Under normal circumstances, a sufficiently powerful force will inevitably sign a contract with a sufficiently powerful navigator family.

Even the original chapters would choose a navigator family to protect in exchange for them providing navigation for their warships.

As the Montgomery dynasty continued to expand, all the major navigator families in the expanded region and the Calissis sector attempted to establish a pact with the Montgomery dynasty, but all of them were rejected.

The Montgomery dynasty's rapidly maneuvering fleet and its occasional unusual modes of transport also aroused suspicion among many.

As the operation expands and the number of personnel increases, it's inevitable that some information will be leaked.

The navigator families who were rejected had already begun probing the Montgomery dynasty long ago.

Although they have not yet received definitive intelligence.

However, many things do not require evidence; a mere suspicion can lead to serious consequences.

According to Gao Yi's intelligence department, some of the navigator families have already joined forces and are secretly plotting something.

Although these families' armed forces could not shake the rule of the Montgomery dynasty, these guys had a lot of businesses in all sectors of the empire.

This will inevitably lead to social unrest.

Moreover, while the Navigators were attempting to gather intelligence on the Montgomery dynasty, the Inquisition, led by Ian, was also secretly investigating them, and there were indications that servants of Chaos were beginning to appear within these Navigator families.

Gao Yi also informed Guilliman of these circumstances. "Lord Gao Yi, your proposal is indeed somewhat heretical."

“Guilliman, I don’t think I have much time to give you to consider. How about this, let’s start with an experiment in our expansion zone. In our name, let’s gather the major navigator families in the expansion zone. Anyway, your Ultramarines’ fleet modification still needs time.”

After hearing Gao Yi's suggestion, Guilliman pondered for a moment and then agreed.

He could also use this opportunity to confirm whether any serious problems would arise if these people were controlled according to Gao Yi's methods.

“Alright, make a list of those you need to summon, and I will summon them in the name of the Regent.”
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Meanwhile, Gao Yi and Guilliman were carrying out their own plans.

The three major navigator giants in the expanded area have now come together.

The Vischer family, the Ortelius family, and the Cassini family.

The Visher family is the oldest and wealthiest navigator family in the entire expansion; they even have a magnificent palace on Holy Terra.

The entire family possesses a vast amount of accurate star maps, including some that are unknown to others. In addition to signing contracts with traveling merchants, ronin, and the Imperial Navy, they have accumulated their wealth by sending agents to infiltrate various factions and steal new routes and intelligence.

Although their activities were exposed, the precision of their navigation forced people to forget their actions, including their close cooperation with the Wensterkel dynasty, which Gao Yi had destroyed.

The entire family's habits also made the Vescher family the most proactive in trying to gather information about Gao Yi.

The wealth of the Ottalius family is equally astonishing, almost on par with that of the Veschel family. In addition to their vast assets in the expansion region, they also have a large number of assets in the Calissis sector, which is now also part of the High Will territory, in contrast to the Veschel family's low profile.

The name of the Ottelius family is known even to the common people of the Expansion District and the Calissis Sector.

However, this family seems to be under some kind of curse. Their bloodline is becoming increasingly diluted, and they are even starting to be unable to produce enough descendants with the qualifications of a navigator.

This has led to a proactive reduction of their influence in the past two years.

The Cassini family, the last of the two, is quite young compared to the previous two families.

Their wealth is incomparable, but it is precisely because of this youth that the Cassini family has the most radical style.

Their agents are spread throughout the Expansion Zone and the Calicus Sector.

The family also has the largest open armed force among the three families.

They even secretly threatened to stop providing navigation services, while openly uniting with other forces to try to force the Montgomery dynasty to accept the navigators' services again and provide them with sufficient compensation.

After all, most of the ships in the expanded region and the Calissis sector still require the assistance of these navigators.
Some people succumbed to their threats.

However, Rebecca did not tolerate them. Since they secretly encouraged and concealed their identities to carry out these actions, they were enemies of the great High Lord Gao Yi and traitors to the Empire.

Under the Rangers' bloody suppression, the Cassini family eventually abandoned this path.

The wealth accumulated by the three families over countless years is indeed a terrifying figure. If they were to recall all their navigators within the Empire, it would be possible to paralyze at least half of the ships in the Calissis sector and its expansion, rendering them unable to travel across star systems.

Moreover, it would be enough to assemble an elite army, and with money, one could carry out mechanical and genetic modifications.

Aside from lacking sufficient warships, their ground forces are no weaker than any Imperial Star Force.

The three families have gathered today to discuss how to respond to Gao Yi and Guilliman's invitation.

The three men had differing opinions regarding the Great Primarch's visit to the expansion area and his summons of them.
(End of this chapter)