After extracting the data, Iax had its ships cast the thoroughly analyzed Dwarfs vessel down onto the surface. Whether it survived would be up to the ancestors.
The mechanical troops guarding the surface outpost did not slaughter the remaining Dwarfs. Instead, they loaded all the metal ores stored in the camp warehouses onto transports and began withdrawing.
Only half of the Fortress that had crashed onto the surface remained. Once the Mechanicus Weaver at the Starport was rebuilt, Iax could begin dismantling it for materials at full capacity.
The remaining ships could be built underway, so that would not pose much of a problem.
From the star charts obtained from the mining vessel, Iax had found not only several Planets that might house the Ancestor Cores it sought, but also a large number of Mineral Planets belonging to the Leagues of Votann.
Iax planned to visit a few of these Planets first, expanding its fleet and forces before advancing further.
After all, most of the Planets containing Ancestor Cores lay deep within Dwarfs territory. Sufficient firepower would ensure its operations went unhindered, while conducting exhaustive searches of entire Planets would require large numbers of troops.
According to the information obtained so far, the Dwarfs were exceptionally skilled at constructing all manner of underground Fortress.
Twenty-four Terran hours later, the mining vessel's loss of contact finally drew the League's attention.
A small fleet arrived at the Planet, which lay on the outskirts of the Galactic Core, at the edge of the Far Void.
After visiting the forward camp on the surface, the Dwarfs found an enormous wound in the Planet and the crashed mining vessel on its far side.
After successfully rescuing more than a dozen battered and terrified Hearthkyn, they painstakingly reconstructed what had happened.
Yet they still could