Harnessing Mezoa, the World Forger, to the War Chariot
After clearing dozens of planets from the Cyclops Cluster, the Eleventh Legion's fleet knocked on the gate to the Forge World of Mezoa.
Taking advantage of the opportunity presented by the XIV Legion drawing away Mitu's army, Nimrod ordered the launch of the Battle of Mezoa.
In October 841, the fleet of the Eleventh Legion arrived at Mezoa.
After a long journey, the Ramillies-class Star Fortress has entered the Mezoa system.
The journey was perilous, costing the lives of tens of thousands, including a navigator, but it was all worthwhile.
The Ramillies-class Star Fortress immediately demonstrated its nature as a fleet killer upon entering the system.
In the Forge Temple in Mezoa, five Magos gazed at the near-perfect mechanical creation projected in a holographic image.
They saw the Void Fortress unleash torpedoes, the exact number of which they couldn't discern even through their Eyepiece, engulfing dozens of the Mitu Xenos warships.
The explosion's light, like the chanting of Omnissiah, resonated within their Logic Engine.
The countless mechanical turrets stretched out along the tracks like roaring Great Maw.
The energy cells and plasma capacitors boil, releasing deadly firepower.
The air was filled with the sound of gunfire, like a storm sweeping across a dozen warships.
The ship exploded, and nearly a hundred wounds instantly appeared on the hull of the Mitu warship, with white-hot flames flashing inside.
The Fourth Patriarch's visor gleamed, and he sent out a series of codes of praise.
A powerful Void Bastion.
With its guards, the Mitu would be unable to invade Mezoa.
...]
The Fourth Patriarch's code logic was immediately accepted by the other Magos.
After reviewing the ship's data, the Fifth Patriarch issued his conclusions.
The entire Star Fortress is built in the Gothic style... It was built by humans.
The Second Patriarch, who was in charge of foreign affairs, sent a code indicating his doubts.
[None of the human factions in the entire Coronid Abyss possesses a powerful war fortress.]
As the five Magos communicated via code, warships appeared one after another in the star system.
After reviewing the received data report, the Fifth Patriarch sent the conclusions drawn by the Logic Engine several tens of seconds later.
[First data scan of the black-painted fleet completed / Scan of 132 warships completed.]
The construction style is Gothic, the keel tag style is unknown, but it belongs to the human realm. The styles of the 27 keel tags are confirmed to be similar to those used in this Forge World, with an average similarity of 50.81.
Based on the summary analysis of the readings, the probability that the opposing fleet is a human fleet exceeds 96%.
After a few seconds of silence, the Chief Patriarch sent the command code.
[Communication links should be established with the unknown alien//suspected human fleet.]
[I will execute immediately.] The Second Patriarch walked to the system console, his Mechadendrite rising and reaching into the interface.
After the recognition process is completed, Lingua-technis immediately light up on the screen.
Mezoa's high-power communication array started operating, sending communication information into the void.
The Fourth Patriarch sends a series of codes before the Chief Patriarch issues any orders.
I immediately ordered all the Skitarii to prepare.
The Chief Patriarch understood his suppressed rage; he longed to unleash the fury of the God of All Machines on the blasphemous Xenos.
But his Logic Engine also reminded him that multiple possibilities exist.
[Wait for a communication connection to be established/exchange to take action.]
[Understood.] The Fourth Patriarch walked to the console, and after passing the system verification, used his key to initiate the Attack Protocol.
He could sense the Machine Spirit within the system console, its yearning for feedback.
Every Weapon Array in Mezoa's Machine Spirit yearns for the activation of the attack protocol.
A string of code sent by the Second Patriarch shattered the tranquility of the intellectual realm.
Contact has been made with an unknown human force.
The entity that calls itself the Eleventh Legion /Commander of the "Shadow of Order" is the Primarch Nimrod.
The other party sends a data exchange request / Do we accept it?
As the code flashed, three Magos statements.
The Second Patriarch sent the code: [During the brief communication, my perception array determined that the other party's attitude was friendly.]
[Based on feedback from all Auspex and remote sensing data: This force is more powerful than the Mitu Xenos.] The Fifth Patriarch temporarily withdrew from the alarming data report.
The Fourth Patriarch's mask pulsates with the wrathful flames of the God of All Machines; [They are the messengers of Omnissiah /who can help us/ Purification the Xenos.]
For them, accepting data exchange requests from unknown forces meant danger.
A powerful, unknown force may launch an attack on them, and their data security defense system may not be able to withstand it.
The Chief Patriarch waited a second, but the Third Patriarch still did not express his opinion.
[Activate all security protocols/Accept data exchange request.]
One hundred and twenty seconds later, the torrent of filtered data surged into the Forge Temple, dancing in the Thought Space of the five Magos.
The Eleventh Legion, the Monarch of Vostonia...
Amidst a deluge of dazzling information, the five Magos rapidly increased their understanding of the unknown forces.
In an instant, they reached a consensus.
[Counterattack! Drive out the Mitu Xenos!]
The collective resolution of the Council of Patriarchs of Mezoa, the highest level of joint authorization, was passed through certification procedures at all levels.
Mezoa's Weapon Array protocol has been fully activated.
Forty-nine warships sailed out of the starport and opened fire on Mitu's spherical warship.
The Mitu, caught off guard by the attack, were already accustomed to Mezoa's subservience.
Since their decisive victory centuries ago, Mezoa has never dared to resist.
Mezoa controlled the size of the Voidship, and they also opened the gates to the Mitu, allowing them to smoothly carry out their purge policy.
At the center of the Mitu fleet's spherical flagship, in the command cabin, stands the commander, a sea anemone-shaped figure, his body shimmering with an angry red light.
His four seaweed-shaped legs swung rapidly, pounding against the control panel.
Commander Mitu halted when he gave the order to attack; the black fleet attacking Mitu posed a greater threat than Mezoa's small fleet.
He calmed his anger, and the red on his body faded rapidly, but a faint red glow still lingered.
Commander Mitu turned his attention back to the black enemy fleet, noticing that the gleaming insignia of his own ships had dropped to a dangerous double digit.
The enemy's fortress, which best suited his aesthetic preferences and was also the most terrifying, was still advancing.
"Retreat!"
Commander Mitu gave the order, and the Mitu fleet, which had already been defeated by the "Shadow of Order" Expeditionary Fleet, retreated from Mezoa in disarray.
At the Voidport of Mezoa, the Second Patriarch's party welcomed the Liberator, Lord Nimrod.
The Skitarii stood in neat formation and fired a salute.
The Second Patriarch approached the giant in black armor. "Lord Nimrod, welcome."
A huge cheer erupted from the crowd, and the flesh and blood of the people screamed that it was Nimrod's arrival that had stopped the Mitu's slaughter.
Amid cheers, Nimrod entered the Forge Temple and met the other four Magos.
He recalled the volcanic lava he saw when the Stormbird landed, and after confirming that Mezoa, as he remembered, was unable to establish Titan Base, he became even more confident about his plan to conquer this large-scale Forge World.
The Chief Patriarch, on behalf of all the members of Parliament, expressed his gratitude.
"Lord Nimrod, you are the liberator of Mezoa."
"You will always be Mezoa's friend."
Nimrod nodded slightly, a smile on his face, and threw out the bait.
"Magos, Mezoa has suffered from the long-term invasion of the Mitu Xenos. Would you like to have weapons to protect yourselves?"
"What weapon?" the Fourth Patriarch asked first, an image of a powerful Void Bastion flashing through his mind.
"Ramillies-class Star Fortress."
When Nimrod spoke, the Tech Sergeant used Lingua-technis to explain to the five Magos what he meant.
The five Magos' masks gleamed as they exchanged ideas in the Lingua-technis.
[Five Ramillies-class Star Fortress / capable of constructing a complete defensive system / even the Mitu fleet cannot harm Mezoa.] The Fourth Patriarch stated his conclusion.
[Nimrod must have something to ask.] The Second Patriarch recognized his thoughts.
After exchanging ideas, the Chief Patriarch spoke on behalf of Parliament.
"Lord Nimrod, of course we want to acquire a powerful Star Fortress to protect Mezoa."
What are your requirements?
"Mezoa has allied with 'Shadow of Order,' the Skitarii have been conscripted, and the weapons they manufacture will be supplied to my legions first, with the supply of any remaining products designated by my representatives..."
After listening to Nimrod's fifteen demands, the Chief Patriarch realized that if he agreed, Mezoa would be completely bound to the Chariot of "Shadow of Order," and he hesitated before speaking.
"My lord, it's merely a Star Fortress, not commensurate with your terms, even if you rescued Mezoa."
"I will provide you with the construction technology for the Ramillies-class Star Fortress." Nimrod's words caused the five Magos' armor to gleam.
"Of course, I will decide the deployment area for the completed Star Fortress."
After the five Magos for a moment, the Chief Patriarch spoke.
"Sir, I accept your request in principle."
They couldn't resist the temptation.
After three stellar weeks of negotiations between the Second Patriarch of Mezoa and the team led by Arsena Dunn, Nimrod signed a covenant with the Magos Council.