Howard Finde, lost in contemplation for over a dozen seconds, vividly recalled the moment when he adjudicated the death of a heretic.
"My lord, I have fully mastered the abilities you bestowed upon me."
"Excellent."
Nimrod nodded with approval. Howard was the first among his subordinates to completely digest a Sequence 9 potion, a testament to his prowess as a Beyonder. Nimrod resolved to compound a "Sheriff" potion for him soon but first turned to another matter.
"Have you identified any talent within your regiment?"
"My lord, thus far, I have discovered only one individual of note: Yasin. At the tender age of eleven, he took up his ailing father's mantle, laboring in a factory under the Finde family's dominion. He rose from foreman to factory overseer."
"Not only does he excel in organization and logistics, but he remains calm under pressure and willingly shoulders responsibility. He currently serves as a company commander, and when I am occupied with other duties, I entrust the Fifth Regiment's leadership to him."
Nimrod, upon hearing this, spoke decisively.
"In the forthcoming siege battles, his company shall fight at my side."
One work cycle later, within the palace of Świdnica, Nimrod addressed Howard, now elevated to "Sheriff."
"To become a true 'Sheriff,' you must govern your 'jurisdiction' with wisdom and authority."
"I shall entrust the Sonchisandchiga Hive to you. In that breeding ground of heresy, you must ferret out the skulking vermin."
Howard felt the weight of his responsibilities intensify. Not only was he tasked with promulgating the new dome system across Vostonia's underhives and commanding the Fifth Regiment, but now he faced the daunting challenge of rooting out hidden heretics in a hive notorious as a crucible of dissent.
"You must make prudent use of this time to nurture your subordinates and devise strategies for Sonchisandchiga in advance."
Sensing Howard's burden, Nimrod offered encouragement to his most favored subordinate.
"I entrust these tasks to you because I have faith in your capabilities. Do not disappoint me."
"As you command, my lord," Howard replied, his resolve bolstered by Nimrod's trust. The confidence instilled in him surged through his veins, filling him with vigor.
"Order Yasin to remain and form the Ninth Regiment."
As Howard departed, Nimrod received a vox-transmission from Wojciech Bielik.
"My king, regarding the data crystal you entrusted to me, I wish to report on my research progress."
"I am in the palace. Come at once."
Moments later, the "Savant," clutching the data crystal, stood before Nimrod and saluted.
"My king, I have labored to decipher this data crystal. I found that its patterns and symbols constitute ninety-six point six nine percent of its textual data volume. Thus, I employed symbolic and contextual analysis to interpret it."
"Over this period, I have decoded nineteen percent of its contents, confirming that the crystal explores the mysteries of harnessing aetheric energy."
"I attempted further analysis, but lacking aptitude in this domain, my progress has stalled at twenty-nine point one nine percent. I believe continued study will yield diminishing returns."
Nimrod understood that the "Savant" pathway, and indeed its entire sequence, leaned heavily toward practical knowledge of the material realm, with only a rudimentary grasp of the occult. To press Wojciech further would be an exercise in futility.
"Submit all your research findings to me."
The data was transferred via a hardline to Nimrod's personal dataslate. He then produced another data crystal.
"This crystal contains partial knowledge concerning aetheric cannons. I have already deciphered thirty-six point two five percent of its contents."
"Build upon this foundation and continue your decryption efforts."
"When the Adeptus Mechanicus tows the Fra'ow battlecruiser to Sopot, I shall dispatch you to the shipyard to collaborate on research, per our agreement."
Sopot, a planet within the Vostonia system, was not habitable but abounded in mineral wealth, particularly adamantine grit, ideal for shipbuilding.
The Adeptus Mechanicus, adapting to local conditions, had established a shipyard on Sopot for the construction, maintenance, and refitting of voidships.
"You must observe every detail of the shipyard keenly. Upon your return, you shall bear the responsibility of constructing our own shipyard."
Voidships, indispensable for interstellar travel for the foreseeable future, were a resource Nimrod would not leave solely in the hands of the Adeptus Mechanicus.
If no suitable mining planet was at hand, he would seek one. If shipbuilding expertise was lacking, he would begin with assault boats.
"As you command, my king. I shall not fail you."
After Wojciech's departure, Nimrod activated his communicator, sending a message to Marlena Skala.
"Come to the palace to meet me."
After a dozen seconds, Marlena's magnetic voice responded.
"This is my first time using a communicator. It took some fumbling to figure out," the female Shaman explained before continuing, "I shall come immediately."
Three standard minutes later, the tall, statuesque Marlena entered the palace, her staff in hand. She noticed a dozen staves arrayed beside Nimrod.
"Your staves, regarding psychic energy…"
Nimrod paused, struggling to recall the term used by the Sicilians.
"I believe you mean this energy."
Marlena extended her pale arm, her palm conjuring a fist-sized orb of crackling electricity.
"Precisely. The dozen staves on the table, all crafted by the Fra'ow, are renowned for their mastery in this field."
"My gratitude for your generosity."
Marlena dismissed the electric orb with a flick of her hand and approached the table, selecting a staff.
Nimrod nodded inwardly, pleased that Marlena, as he had anticipated, did not let her enmity toward the alien invaders deter her from seizing an opportunity to enhance her strength.
He observed silently as the female Shaman infused each staff with psychic energy, attuning herself to their resonance to identify the one most suited to her.
After testing each, Marlena chose a staff topped with a ruby and fashioned from silver.
"This one shall be mine. My thanks for your gift."
Marlena bowed, expressing her gratitude once more.
Nimrod inclined his head slightly. "If I am not mistaken, your psychic talents lie primarily in foresight and the manipulation of biological energy."
He knew that psykers varied not only in their innate gifts but also in their specialized domains.
Even among the transhuman Thousand Sons, there were five distinct schools of psychic mastery.
Marlena's use of bio-psychic spells clearly marked her expertise in this area.
Her prior performance at the Cradle of the Sea, and her recent unmasking of a Tzeentchian cultist, suggested she relied on more than mere knowledge of flesh and blood.
"Your insight is keen, as ever. I do, at times, glimpse fragments of the future, though I cannot control it."
Nimrod nodded, aware that prophetic psykers, unlike their counterparts, depended heavily on innate talent and were often passive in their visions.
Dreams, fleeting phantasms, whispers from the Warp…
Marlena, dwelling on her island, had only the Mother of the Sea—a divine entity born of worship—to guide her, lacking the means to master her precognitive gifts.
Nimrod opened his palm. "The Fra'ow refer to psychic energy as aetheric energy. Their aetheric masters excel in precognition."
"This data crystal contains their knowledge and insights in this field. It should offer you some assistance."
Marlena accepted the crystal, her face alight with a radiant smile.
"My thanks for your gift."
After a work cycle of respite, Nimrod led the Fifth Regiment to conquer the hives housing Altars Eight and Nine.
In the palace of Sonchisandchiga, Nimrod listened to Howard's proposed strategies, granting his approval. The "Sheriff" then withdrew to govern his "jurisdiction."
Thereafter, Nimrod turned his attention to the priest Rosicky, who sought an audience.