The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Those past “failures” were also why Sosihtian agreed to take these “old antiques.” Although the Cardinal-class was outdated, the potential for modification could be seen from the Styx-class's performance. Moreover, he vaguely guessed that the technology for improving the Cardinal-class lance might have come from the Aeldari's Star Lance, because the Cardinal lance's flaws clearly stemmed from energy supply efficiency and crystal heat dissipation issues, and the Aeldari just happened to be the race most skilled in this type of technology.

Considering the forge world that might possess this technology, Sosihtian immediately judged that the Styx-class must be related to the Aeldari.

Wasn't this just what he needed?

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This might just be the beginning, because as one of the main cruiser models, the Cardinal-class had a large number in service back then. Even after the ravages of the Great Heresy, Sosihtian guessed that there should still be 200-300 ships of this type in the entire Imperium until it was completely retired. Most of these ships were sealed in the ship graveyards or naval base reserves of various Imperial forge worlds. If these ships could be “dug out” in large quantities and then sent to a secret place for “slight” improvement and renovation, wouldn't it be more time-saving and labor-saving than building them directly? It would also save costs to the greatest extent.

The second place went to Ryza. This forge world also obtained 14 STCs. They were also surprised by Sosihtian's “harvest” in the Maelstrom. After all, Ryza's exploration fleet had been digging in the Maelstrom for some time. It couldn't be said that they had no gains, but it could only be said that they still needed to work hard.

Ryza's offer was to waive all subsequent fees that Sosihtian had to pay for ordering the Ryza-class battle barge, and also provided 45 Stormsword super-heavy tanks and 40 sets of Indomitus-pattern Terminator armor. However, Sosihtian was not satisfied with this offer, because he had actually paid one-third of the construction cost of the Ryza-class. The subsequent two-thirds could not be worth the value of these STCs, even if he had a good relationship with Ryza, the accounts still had to be settled clearly.

After some back-and-forth, Ryza finally took out 4 Cardinal-class heavy cruisers from some unknown secret warehouse.

In fact, they also wondered what Sosihtian wanted these old things for, because Ryza's ship graveyard originally had 31 Cardinal-class ships, but most of them had been dismantled over thousands of years. Now there were only these 4 ships left. Although the Imperium had regulations to preserve reserve ships, in the eyes of the Ryza people, they were no longer the darlings of the Omnissiah but recyclable garbage. Instead of leaving them there to waste, it was better to recycle the remaining value for more important things.

Sosihtian really felt very sorry about this. The Imperium had a thick foundation, but it shouldn't be so wasteful.

The remaining STCs were divided up by various forge worlds in a piecemeal manner. Griffe IV only obtained 8 STC templates. Their sage was very dissatisfied but helpless. After all, they had a great influence in the Storm Nebula, but they couldn't influence this Lord Governor alone.

Within ten years after the STC auction, the Undying Legion's fleet would increase by 2 Retribution-class grand cruisers, 1 Mars-class battlecruiser, 2 Styx-class heavy cruisers, 13 Cardinal-class heavy cruisers, 3 Tyrant-class cruisers, 9 Dauntless-class light cruisers, 21 Nova-class frigates, and 18 Goliath-class forge ships.

On the contrary, there was not much increase in infantry equipment, just some Terminators and ground vehicles, which were almost negligible for the current Undying Legion's armory.

But the auction did not end there. The next day, Sosihtian secretly summoned some sages to a more secret place.

However, this time it was not STCs that appeared.

“.Not long ago, the Chapter encountered these enemies while supporting a world near the Orpheus Sector. It seemed that the local Genestealer uprising had awakened them. After a brief engagement with them, we decided to evacuate the surviving residents and then—”

Under the spotlight in the dim conference room, Sosihtian, with a smile on his face, raised his hand and made an explosion gesture.

Around him, the extreme sages in red robes, each with a unique style, were looking back and forth at the Necron remains and their weapons and various equipment placed on the glowing table.

The ones from Yellow Springs Eight were almost lying on a Necron Lord's remains, wishing they could take this thing away now. After all, at present, Necrons were still very unfamiliar aliens to the Imperium, and the Adeptus Mechanicus's understanding of them was basically based on grave robbing.

“Of course, I also know that many scholars have been studying this kind of abomination-like intelligence. These things are not very rare, but the Chapter collected a lot of relatively complete remains when cleaning up the battlefield. Instead of throwing them into the incinerator, I think.”

At this moment, the sage from Ryza suddenly turned around and said in a dry voice:

“This is a forbidden alien study, Lord Sosihtian.”

Sosihtian smiled slightly.

“What counts as alien research? Does studying a gun count? Gauss weapons are not only used by Necrons. Does studying the energy system count? Then what kind of energy does not count as the scope of ‘alien technology’? Since I have invited everyone, I think you and the world you represent should be open-minded and know what humanity needs now.”

The sage from Yellow Springs Eight raised his head and said in a hoarse voice with a code-filled tone:

“That's right! Short-sighted fools will only hinder the progress of mankind! Fearing witchcraft can be understood as caution, but fearing even the operating principle of the enemy's weapons is utter cowardice.”

The unorthodox faction of Yellow Springs Eight had always been known for its radicalism, and other sages were not surprised by this.

“I am showing these to you not because I want to get anything. It's just that everyone knows the past of the Star Phantoms. It was these damned Necron bastards who pushed us to the brink of extinction. I have always believed that these things will be a great threat to mankind, but unfortunately, most people in the Imperium have no feeling about this and are even completely ignorant of the enemy. I hope to change all of this. Now the Chapter has stood up again. It is time for us to avenge these alien bastards. The future goal of the Star Phantoms is to eliminate all of these garbage and prevent them from ever threatening humanity again. And all of this begins with understanding them and studying them.”

Sosihtian's words made some sages nod slightly. They seemed to understand his behavior as a radical means driven by revenge, which was also very much in line with the common impression of Astartes as “revenge above all else.”

“Yes, I agree with Chapter Master's point of view.”

The sage from Ryza also nodded.

“Understanding the enemy is the most basic scientific logic to destroy the enemy, but I think Chapter Master, you should not only want to carry out alien research projects, right?”