Steel & Oil: Warhammer 32K

"By the Omnissiah, I swear every word I speak is true!"

Lifar raised both hands in a gesture of pious sincerity. He directed the Servitors to present the Greenskin specimens that Lin and his companions had captured, while simultaneously transmitting the survey vessel's scan results to every Magos present via data-stream.

"Guided by the Omnissiah, I made my way to Jingang — and found that the Greenskin fleet had already crushed every last pocket of resistance on the planet."

"By the time I arrived, the fleet had departed, but it had left behind approximately ten million Orks on Jingang's surface. Those Orks are breeding at a staggering rate, and by reverse-engineering the wrecked Imperial warships scattered across the surface, they have achieved a decisive technological leap."

"I believe these Greenskins will be capable of constructing a massive Ork fleet on Jingang within less than a month — and from there, launching their WAAAGH! against every world within reach. This Forge World, lying as close to Jingang as it does, will be first in their path!"

"Even with intact wrecks to copy, they would not build warships so quickly."

The Senior Magos responsible for Forge World Cath Maximus's biological disciplines was evidently an expert on Greenskins as well: "Every data-point on record indicates that a Greenskin horde requires no less than three months to advance from a surface-bound state to a voidfaring one. Magos Lifar — where does your estimate of under one month come from?"

"From their demonstrated technology level, of course..."

"Negated. The Mekboy corpses you have provided do not support the conclusion that they possess near-voidfaring technological capability."

Lifar blinked, then cast a helpless look toward Lin. Both the claim about the Mekboy corpses and the one-month estimate had come from Lin. Now that the argument had been refuted, Lifar was completely at a loss.

If they had managed to kill a Warboss from Jingang, these Magi could certainly have read the corpse to gauge the Greenskins' true level. But Lin had no intention of throwing his warriors' lives away just to procure a corpse for the Council's benefit.

Besides — he had other evidence to corroborate his case.

"Magi of Cath Maximus." Lin stepped forward and activated the holographic projector on his person. "The reason these Greenskins can launch a WAAAGH! in under a month is simple: the Orks who arrived at Jingang were no ordinary breed from the start."

"Look, if you will. What attacked Jingang was not a Greenskin fleet at all — it was an armed satellite, converted and crewed entirely by Orks."

The projector displayed the footage Lin's team had recorded the moment they broke from the Warp. The Ork totems radiating their savage, malevolent aura filled nearly the entire frame. As the camera pulled back, the full silhouette of the Battle Moon — its surface boiling with the green tide — came into view before every Magos in the chamber.

Even as a recording, a fully armed moon of that scale was a staggering thing to behold.

"This is an Ork Battle Moon — in essence, a planetoid that the Orks have hollowed out and rebuilt beyond all recognition. It is roughly the same size as a fortress-satellite of the Mechanicus's own arming, but it is capable of independent Warp transit."

Lin addressed the chamber in clear, carrying tones as he explained the Battle Moon, all the while watching the faces of the Cath Maximus Magi on the dais for any shift in reaction.

"On Jingang, this entire moon translated through the Warp and entered orbit directly. The Orks did not even need to fire a shot — the Battle Moon's gravitational field alone triggered catastrophic geological upheaval across the planet's surface."

"Those disasters inflicted devastating casualties on the Imperial forces stationed on Jingang. The Orks who subsequently landed shattered what remained of the Imperial counter-offensive, then dispersed across the surface to consolidate into new warbands."

"The Battle Moon has moved on — but the Orks it left behind on Jingang are the direct descendants of those who built that moon in the first place. That knowledge is baked into their very genetics. They do not need to copy or reverse-engineer anything. The only step standing between them and launching a WAAAGH! is the time it takes to build."

"This is why a Greenskin tide engulfs entire star systems. No world that lies in its path — or even near it — can escape untouched. Not one."

Lifar stared at the footage in open astonishment. This was intelligence Lin had never shown him before. The Magi on the dais began to murmur amongst themselves — though only among those of Magos rank.

Lin noted that the ones exchanging hushed opinions were all directorate-level Magi. The Senior Magi and the Forge Director had not moved, had not spoken, had shown nothing.

The most visible reaction came from Christina of the Titan Congregation. She leaned forward slightly, her vivid blue eyes studying the Battle Moon footage with close attention.

To avoid revealing anything unnecessary, Lin had kept the recording short — but it was more than sufficient to demonstrate the sheer horror of these Orks. When the footage ended, the Magi on the dais finished exchanging views in kind.

Lin noticed that Augustus's gaze had shifted from the recording to himself. The Forge Director, who had said nothing until this moment, finally spoke.

"Query. Magos Lin, as a Biologis from Forge World Huangquan VIII — what brings you here alongside the Imperial Fists?"

"I had been conducting research on a chromatic beast," Lin answered without missing a beat. "Following its movements brought me to Jingang."

His reply was watertight: "When the Orks appeared, I was forced to make an emergency landing on Jingang's surface. There I formed a mutual assistance pact with the Imperial Fists survivors — they offered a debt of honour in exchange for my cooperation. With my aid, the Imperial Fists held out until Magos Lifar's survey vessel arrived, and they brought us back to Cath Maximus as witnesses."

The truth was nothing of the sort, of course. But sometimes a carefully layered falsehood becomes more convincing than the truth itself.

Forge Director Augustus examined Lin's Magos badge.

Communication across the Warhammer galaxy was primitive at the best of times; Forge Worlds had no means of cross-referencing one another's registers, which meant a badge remained the only reliable proof of identity. The badge recorded that Lin had been registered as a Magos a mere thirty years ago.

Augustus found no sign of forgery — because there was none. The badge was genuine.

Kurande, however, had always assumed the registration date was a cover, since he naturally believed that both Lin's true identity as a Magos and his status as a veteran of the Great Heresy needed to be kept from the Forge World. Without meaning to, he had quietly neutralised a problem that might otherwise have festered into a serious complication.

The footage and the credentials both checked out. Forge Director Augustus fell briefly silent, as though turning something over in his mind. Then he raised his power axe and struck the floor once more, declaring the high-level Forge Council concluded.

"Confirmed. Magos Lifar — your report has been received. The Forge World will conduct its own independent verification of the situation. Until that verification is complete, you are barred from returning to your post and must remain available to answer any summons from the Forge Council."

Lifar's eyes went wide.

"That's not right — this evidence is more than enough to confirm the situation! Fine, you won't reward me, but you're putting me under house arrest? Augustus, you owe me an explanation!"

Forge Director Augustus paid Lifar no attention whatsoever. He turned to leave — and was stopped by Lin.

"Wait — Forge Director Augustus!"

Augustus glanced back.

"The Imperial Fists Chapter has suffered grievous losses. The Chapter requires the Forge World's resources to rebuild."

"Denied. Magos Lin, you arrived here as corroborating evidence. The Forge Acts contain no clause that obliges a Forge World to render aid to its evidence. In all material respects, you and the Greenskin corpses are of equal standing."

"Then consider this a new transaction."

Lin gave Kurande a small nod. Kurande stepped forward and declared in a ringing voice:

"I am Kurande, Chapter Master of the Imperial Fists! I pledge here and now: if Forge World Cath Maximus provides assistance in rebuilding the Imperial Fists Chapter, the Imperial Fists will stand with Cath Maximus when the Greenskin tide reaches this world — and we will cut off the head of the Ork warlord leading it!"

Augustus turned back. His gaze moved between Lin and Kurande, but he said nothing in reply to Kurande's pledge.

Only when Kurande's composure had begun to fray at the edges did he answer, in the same cold, flat cadence he always used:

"Agreed. Submit a manifest. Cath Maximus will supply the minimum necessary provisions."

The lights in the Forge Council chamber dimmed. The Magi followed the Forge Director and vanished into the depths of the palace without a backward glance. Only Christina paused as the darkness closed in around her, turning to fix a long, searching look on Kurande — who stood there, fist clenched at his side.

"Minimum necessary provisions?" Kurande looked at Lin, his expression caught somewhere between fury and disbelief.

"Ha. At least we got something."

A Servitor stepped forward nearby: "Please follow me. I will escort the honoured guests to the quarters designated by the Forge Director."

"Let's go, Kurande." Lin had no desire to linger. "We'll have plenty of time to discuss this — just not here, not now."

— — —

The Forge Council's inner sanctum.

The Magi and Christina who had departed alongside the Forge Director had been dismissed at some point, by means unknown. In this private chamber that belonged to the Forge Director alone, only Augustus and two Senior Magi remained.

Behind them stood a silent rank of Frateris. The room was thick with the smell of machine oil and scorched metal. Ancient heraldic devices lined every wall.

For the Forge Director, these were the credentials of a life left behind.

Anyone with sufficient knowledge of the Mechanicus who paused to examine them carefully would recognise that the majority of those devices bore the marks of Mars.

"The arrival of the Imperial Fists has disrupted our plans." The Deputy Forge Director, one of the Senior Magi, was the first to speak. "Their presence has put the entire Forge World on alert. How do we proceed?"

The other Senior Magos — responsible for overseeing fabrication — curled his lip with contempt. "We proceed as planned. A band of shattered survivors — are you afraid they'll turn this place upside down?"

Forge Director Augustus took no part in their exchange. He was absorbed in the heraldry on the walls. Only when both Senior Magi turned their eyes toward him did he ask, in his usual unhurried manner:

"Report. Where has the Battle Moon reached?"

"Battle Moon sightings have now been reported in the star system containing Hive World Nding. Accounting for transmission delay, that puts the sighting at approximately one week ago."

"Status. What are Mars's requirements?"

"They require only that we extract the data from key technologies and the Titan Legion... nothing else has been specified."

"Assessment. These Astartes will pose no obstacle to Mars's requirements. The focal point remains the Titan Congregation."

"We cannot simply avoid interfering!" The Deputy Forge Director grew agitated. "Merely satisfying the requirements is not enough! Without sufficient priests and production lines, our standing will—!"

"Your standing," the Fabricator Senior Magos corrected him coolly. "The critical production lines were transferred long ago. The only one whose standing is threatened by any of this is you."

Forge Director Augustus swept his mechanical eyes across both Senior Magi. The two of them fell instantly silent.

"Whatever the case, my only concern is that Mars's requirements are fulfilled without error." The Forge Director issued his final pronouncement, his gaze drifting back to the wall of heraldic devices.

"I have always said: existence is everything. Everything for the sake of existence."

"So long as the knowledge endures, the Omnissiah's glory shall never dim."

He murmured: "The glory of existence belongs to Mars. The faith of existence... belongs to the true Omnissiah."

— — —

After that, a stillness settled over everything.

The Forge Council made no move. Lin and his companions, following the Council's instructions, remained in the quarters assigned to them by the Forge World and made no trouble.

But not everyone could endure the monotony of absolute inaction.

Kurande, whose every thought burned with the need to return to Terra's defence, was not among those who could.

The Imperial Fists' calling pulled at him without mercy, yet he had accomplished nothing. The anguish of drifting further and further from his purpose scorched him from within, and this son of Dorn found his capacity to tolerate the present situation stretched thinner with each passing day.

"I don't understand — I pledged the honour of my Chapter, and all it bought us was the bare minimum!"

Kurande paced back and forth in restless agitation, venting to Lin, who sat nearby tending to some piece of machinery: "I promised to stand against the Orks on their behalf — and they still don't believe in our strength!"

"Some organs and thirty sets of MK V Power Armour? That's not a supply drop — it's alms. It's an insult."

"Take it easy, Kurande. The Chapter's desperate straits have made you far too focused on past glory and other people's opinions. What we actually need is to concentrate on what's directly in front of us."

Lin did not look up from his work.

"Besides — there isn't a complete Power Armour production line on this entire Forge World. Getting thirty suits out of them at all was an unexpected bonus."

"At the very least they should have given us more weapons!" Kurande muttered in dissatisfaction.

The battle-hardened warrior looked, in that moment, as anxious as a young man still wet behind the ears. He slumped down heavily and poured out his troubles to the only person he trusted — the Mechanicus Magos Lin:

"Maybe you're right. But I just... I feel like there's so much I should be doing, and I have no idea what any of it is."

Lin glanced up at him. "What — five days of house arrest and you're already coming apart at the seams?"

"How many five-day stretches do we have left to waste?" Kurande shot back.

"We haven't wasted a single one of those five days. I've been repairing the Power Armour we salvaged on Jingang this entire time. And I've been cultivating the organs."

"You need patience, Kurande. Good outcomes always require preparation. Opportunity only finds those who are ready for it."

Lin set down his tools and rose to his feet. He walked toward the terrace, gesturing for Kurande to follow.

They stood on the terrace and looked out across the Forge World spread before them.

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