While Menelau slowly inserted himself into the good graces of the abandoned cogitator, I began to sift through the wealth of artifacts left behind by the dead dwarves.

An entire squad of 5 dwarves wearing Exo-armour suits, each with a different main weapon and two types of melee weapons as well, from two Heavy_Plasma_Axe and three models of a Concussion_Weapon called Concussion_Gauntlet . They all had a Shield_Crest on the armor, which didn't even require psyker powers to use!

The armor suits will need to be swiped clean of organic remains, but they appeared functional.

But the most interesting find was a working Volkanite_Disintegrator weapon, something not even Custodes had for their protection of the Emperor.

'Find the Volkanite tech in the database!' I sent to my Librarian son, who was getting lost among millions of data files and old records inside the mind-maze of the Gnostari Fane.

I should send one of the exosuits to the Emperor, surely he could reverse engineer the tech with a working model, and make them much larger to fit his Custodes inside.

As for the rest, I would have three priceless relics from the Dark Age of Technology to trade with a major Forge or three, while the last one I will keep for Speranza. My friendly neighborhood AI partner, who should be able to also reproduce a working design for the old times. I did remember a few scraps of knowledge about Speranza, which is how I managed to locate and retrieve the Ark itself from Palomar, with the help of Explorer Magos Gyron.

And while thinking of him, a buried memory surfaced about the Spirit_of_Eternity , another ancient vessel that contained a large STC database. There might be another such ship called The_Blade_of_Infinity , which vanished some 20000 years ago in the Warp.

Speranza should know more about this subject, and perhaps be able to locate them and convince them to join.

'It wants to adopt me as its Kin first?' Menelau asked a bit wary.

'Of course. We will protect it, and it will help us grow. But you have to be its Grimnyr.' I explained with a smirk.

When I created my first Librarians, they had only the basic tech learning as every Blank received. It was expected they would deal with psykers and deamons and Nurgle plagues, not ancient cogitators filled with STCs.

The Inquisitors had helped train them in mental powers and controlling the Warp, something much safer for the students in their case, as they had the Blank protection to survive minor mishaps.

'Done! I am now a Grimnyr of the Lancefire Kin!' Menelau announced proudly with a data-packet on the mind impulse implant. .

Poor boy. Now he will have to spend 3 whole days inside the time field and learn all he could about technology. About 100 years of brain-scraping magi-tech theory, with some real science as well from the Retribution University's curriculum.

'Good! Found the Volkite guns yet?' I asked hopeful.

'There is a Volkite pistol and a rifle schematic... Father! This is an original STC!' he exclaimed loudly in my mind, so I drew him out from the Gnostari Fane prayer platform.

Even the Gnostari were worshiping at the altar of technology, like Mechanicus Adepts, but at least they did have some better STCs and well maintained ships.

"I will send you in my labyrinth to learn more about technology. There are some Tech-marines there to help. See you in three days! " I announced as I sent young Menelau in a cruel time-prison.

At least he won't be as lonely as I was, beside his Brothers.

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Canis glanced at my glove then whined softly. I know buddy, but not now. There were some trades to be made with Forge World Goth, and I was known for keeping a wolf at my side.

"Goth Exploratory Fleet! You may approach and investigate the Grail. Maintain all Gellar fields at all times." I spoke on my vox bead, letting the Mechanicus vultures descend on their prey to dismantle and analyze any useful tech they could find on the planet or in orbit. I had already obtained more than I even hoped for.

"Compliance achieved, Lord Lancefire. You may proceed towards Forge Goth and complete your Favor with the Fabricator!" the Exloratory Magos sent back, then simply ignored my Fortress and sped forward for his loot.

'I wish to return closer to the Pharos. We are beyond my brother's overwatch here.' Lash said in a shy tone. Maybe worried.

'But I never been to this sector! And I hear there is a Hellforge called Cyclothrathe somewhere around. Can't have a Crusade and not even demolish a single planet.' I replied with an inner smirk.

I did need to have some results to show for, and not simply fly around with a suspicious fleet of 100 capital ships and a giant Blackstone Fortress.

Plus my Blank Lamenter Marines did need more real practice. As did the Primaris Mourners hidden in the tesseract. At accelerated speed, the Mourners could complete their Astartes training and even achieve some competence with weapons or tactics, but only war was the true test.

'You want to de-fang me again!' Lash realized with a startled voice.

'Can't make a Phase blade any other way. But I would be glad if you have the STC for more Phase blades. You could keep your teeth!' I proposed in a relaxed tone.

'...Damn primitives! Your ancestors had decent technology, but how far you've fallen. How many teeth, this time?' Lash asked in a disgusted voice. So there wasn't a C'tan STC for such a blade, not that I expected it.

'How many wasp souls did you feed on here at Grail? Billions?' I asked instead.

'Grrrr! Fine, half a million more blades. And get me more food!' the C'tan literally growled at me, which was oddly appropriate given his wolf shape.

Then he began spitting more Phase blades, by transmuting his wolf teeth into lethal green swords.

'And a dozen more etheric detectors. The Captains and Forge Master of the Mourners plus their Chapter Master.' I demanded shamelessly.

His eyes glinted with deadly intent for a second. 'Much more food!' he demanded in return.

"All ships! Form up on the Black Lament. We'll visit Forge Goth next." I ordered on the vox, then sat down to collect my thoughts and pile more xenos blades in my inventory.

I had already started to equip the Auxilia Armed Sentinels with Phase blades, but the Mourners would also need such weapons for their own Auxilia. The Primaris were easy enough to equip, from my own armory, but I did just commanded a large replacement order for the Sentinel losses at Stygius and Moebius.

Three days later, Menelau came out of the tesseract along with the time-worn Tech-Marines and Apothecaries, while my inventory was now richer with 500000 C'tan Phase blades.

"Let's not do this again!" my son muttered with a tired voice.

"We'll soon arrive at Forge Goth. Go and prepare for urban deployment. We can clean up the place while we're there." I ordered with a level voice.

"Yes, Chapter Master!" the entire group yelled a bit excited at the prospect of combat, and release from boring lessons.

Menelau stopped for a second to stare at me and Canis, then focused on Lash at the end. 'Still a Rogue Trader at heart, father.' he spoke gently on the implant, then ran after his Brothers.

'He knows?' I asked Lash curious.

'Your psyker son suspects something. I guess I still don't feel like a real wolf.' Lash said while glancing curious after Menelau.

'His mother is Ordo Xenos. And with all the tech learning he just had...' I added cautiously.

'I'll keep my eye on him. Now, when do I get to snack on some juicy souls?' The C'tan demanded hungrily.

'Today, I guess' I said with a grimace.

Surely, Forge Goth won't mind if we cleansed their underhives of cultists and genestealers. They were basically present everywhere in the Imperium.

Maybe drawing so many Tyranids into the Garden of Nurgle hasn't been the wisest move. If their Hive Mind gained a bit of a domain in the Warp...mistakes happen?