Over a month later, Li Qinwu's fleet emerged from the Warp and arrived in the next star system.
However, after reaching the new system, he did not rush to the target planet. Instead, he did three things.
The first was to modify the T'au Warship, converting its automated navigation system into a manual one.
T'au warships were highly automated, with a ship-grade Planetary Computer installed within.
But when the T'au designed their warships, they had accounted for AI failure and retained mechanical control systems.
In other words, by manually shutting down the T'au Warship's automated systems and assigning enough crew to operate the mechanical systems, one could sail the vessel away.
Li Qinwu poached half the skilled crew from the Explorer, added personnel from several other ships, and fully staffed the T'au Warship he had scammed into acquiring.
He named the T'au Warship the Mario, assigned it ten Navigators, and sent them directly into the Eldar Webway to explore.
Had Li Qinwu not previously obtained a partial map of the Eldar Webway? He had discovered that a Webway entrance lay near the Mandeville Point of the next target planet.
Perfect. He had long wanted to map out the Webway so he could use it himself in the future.
Besides, the T'au Warship was far too conspicuous. It was best to send it away quickly, and dispatching it into the Webway for exploration was just right.
Li Qinwu hoped the Plumber could chart a route to Macragge. He had discovered this by comparing the Eldar Webway map against human star charts.
There was actually a Webway exit near Macragge!
Macragge was the homeworld of Guilliman, the current ruler of the Imperium, a god among men, and a Gene-Primarch.
After Guilliman had just been created by his father, the God-Emperor, a Warp