(Sarfort-system:)

-Haran (Forge World)= 43.745.710.540 [0 Resources] (0,0)

-Kald (Mining World)= 6.723.642.930 [0 Resources] (0,0)

-Ironhaven (Mining World)= 8.463.905.270 [0 Resources] (0,0)

The Sarfort-system holds Three Planets, the Forge World of Haran, and the Mining Worlds of Kald and Ironhaven, which combined would add more than Fifty-eight Billion People to your growing Empire. And given that your arrival in Sarfort will bless Haran with several STC-patterns as well as the opportunity to gain more of them through hard Labor and Loyalty in the future, you can't help but be confident that you would be able to persuade the Tech-priests into joining your Nation in no Time at all.

While you look forward to meeting your soon-to-be Vassals your Fleet is greeted by a Detachment of Four Ironclad Grand Cruisers and their Escorts, said Fleet begins to merge with your existing Formation in quick order. Seeing as Harans Fleet decides against opening fire upon you, you realize after a moment of confusion, that your Forces were most likely not perceived to be hostile in the first place, meaning the sending of those most marvelous of War-Machines can be interpreted as a great Honor to any Emissary.

Stepping on-board the Ship that will carry you for the next Week you decide to grasp the opportunity and take in the presence of the Lord Varatis, and the presence that greets you is one of bestiality. It's the Aura of a Ship that served Humanity throughout the Ages, with Millennia of Service-years to it's Name, and truly, it makes clear what an existence this Ship is meant to be, a Ship forged to win in even the most savage Combat. A Grand Cruiser of Eight Kilometers designed to require minimal Maintenance while being all but impervious to Ramming-maneuvers and Torpedo-salvos.

Looking at it in another way, nearly any Weapon or Tactic that requires affecting the Ship from within to do damage will be countered automatically as long as the Armour consisting of Hundreds of meters of Adamantite isn't broken by mentioned Weapon or Tactic. So while vulnerable to some Enemies of Humanity, One can say that Ships like the Lord Varatis are a literal Hard-counter against usually resilient Xenos-races such as the Orks, who would laugh at the mere Thought of evading a Ramming-maneuver.

While you are still thinking about the benefits of a possible revival of the Adamantite and Ironclad production early on, you and your Entourage make it to your Rooms. When you see your Advisors separate to find their Lodgings your Mind returns to the present, leading you to quickly grab yourself the Arm of Björn, and explain to him that despite the former Agreement to the Contrary, the free Capacities of Camfort can't be sold this time around.

While the production of Adamantium on a scale sufficient to build Grand Cruisers isn't in sight, sufficient production for Tank construction is achievable. Every time you look back at Hyperion it becomes clear just how severely your Ground-forces were and still are lacking in Strength to compete in the current Galaxy, and while the problem is quite solvable by simply creating new Tank Regiments, you had honestly hoped that a few Titan Legions could provide you with the needed large-scale Improvement without having to invest much into the Ground-forces this early on, a hope dashed quite thoroughly it seems.

You were quite disappointed that you could feel only Sixty-nine Titans on Haran with the largest of them being of the Warlord-class, additionally, as if to add Insult to Injury they are split into Three different Titan-Legions so under-strength even your Knight-houses still in the Tras-system could defeat them. Naturally, it could be worse, you still can just reinforce the Immortal Hammer, Voltisaeor and Mettalum Venator Legions, of course only One Titan at a time to spare their feelings.

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It seems that even before officially meeting you, the Commander of the Fleet realized that something was different about his newest Guests, you in specific must have seemed off to him. Given that the Magos Dominus going under the Name of Sonek and Admiral of Harans greatest Fleet decides to invite you into his own Quarters to hold a pleasant Exchange with you.

Sonek (POV)

''You claim to be the Lord's Avatar, do you comprehend why this can't be accepted without proof?''

M.(A) ''It seems you have misunderstood, I don't claim to be the Avatar of the Machine God.''

M.(A) ''I am the Machine God, and you are merely speaking to this Avatar of mine.''

'That doesn't change that I can't accept this without any proof through.'

'All in all there were more claims in this Conversation than anything so far.'

M.(A) ''I am aware that this claim isn't acceptable without proof either, but seeing as we have quite some time until we arrive at Haran being precise in such Points seems to be the right way to resolve your Doubts, and don't worry too much, the assigning of a task of Repentance later on will mainly be demanded to clear your Mind for work of higher Priority.''

M.(A) ''I will expand my list of claims a bit more, after I'm done with it, you will select a Machine of your own choosing, and I will create an STC for said Machine with the Resources at your Planets disposal in Mind to prove my Status.''

M.(A) ''After your Doubts are cleared you will have the task to get Harans compliance even before my actual arrival, I promise the Legions of Immortal Hammer, Mettalum Venator and Voltisaeor One Warlord-class Titan each, you are a Magos Dominus, if you can't gain me the Sarfort-system with the support of the Legions influence you and your People will be discarded.''

'Fine, if you can do it that is.'

''Acceptable.''

You can feel every inner reaction the Magos before you makes, and it shows that no normal person could gain the Title of Magos Dominus. The Will to gain an STC of his choosing is simply overriding his displeasure of hearing claims of the Artifitial Intelligences being innocent or the truth about the Machine-spirits, who while being linked to you still exist as separate Entities. After you finish the Magos makes his choice, out of a desire to refute your claims while also not wasting a potential Opportunity Sonek chooses the Lord Varatis herself, which is a good while predictable and easily fulfilled choice.

Descending from the Orbit of Haran you admire the Cityscape of Leck, and truly, the Forge Worlds Capital crowned with its Seven Spires reaching into the Purple Sky makes for a beautiful sight, to sad that Lecks Inhabitants most likely lack the sense to appreciate such beauty, something that would need to change in the future, that is if Sonek makes good on his promises, and you don't have to rip the World apart before you can improve upon it.

(Sarfort-system:)

-Haran (Forge World)= 43.745.710.540 [555.570.523.858 Resources] (12,7)

Hive Leck (Capital)= State: ???

-Kald (Mining World)= 6.723.642.930 [6.723.642.930 Resources] (1,0)

-Ironhaven (Mining World)= 8.463.905.270 [10.156.686.324 Resources] (1,2)