Above Tartortaal Majoris, the primary planet in a duo of the settled worlds in Gnatiila, the thunder of macro-cannons and orkoid weaponry shuddered through ships blasting away at their opponents with everything they had, from munitions hastily assembled from one side desperately fighting for the Unborn Daughter of the Emperor as decreed by the Pentarchs deep below, to Gretchins fired in bursts in an endless staccato enable by tellyportas feeding them their endless unwilling munitions.
On the surface of Tartortaal Minoris, Human, Ork, Gretchin, and Squig lay dying in agony from weaponry used by either side, massed lasfire scything through rank after rank of the endless green tide from trenches slowly being bombed into featureless mud and craters. At the same time, Ork shootas fire wildly into the air and occasionally hit one of the aircraft fighting a war to the, sometimes literal in the case of particularly daring Stormboyz', knife. And while each side fights and dies, one desperately trying to hold onto the hope and faith that had been given to them from visions by the God-Emperor on Holy Terra, the other doing so for the sheer love for a scrap with humies that fought back with far more enthusiasm than the others in Itani had done, another side, feathered and many-eyed, watched in glee.
"And one misplaced bolt here," a Lord of Change hummed, a taloned hand plucking a strand of concentration that made an overworked manufactory worker mess up and forget a bolt in an aircraft's secondary engine. "One hasty order here," it continued, ensuring no inspection would commence three days from now, as the plane would be desperately needed in the fight around the capital. "Some dumb luck by one," the Lord of Change cackled, having placed a bullet shaped seventy-four years ago into the shoota of an Ork firing it at the right time at the perfect angle, allowing it to tear through the engine of the plane and let the bolt rip through its delicate innards. "And rotten luck for all," it said, wings fluffing outward as the plane would plummet, plummet, plummet!
And squish a too-cunning Warboss at a moment that shall come in handy three millennia from now.
Yesssss, it thought, grinning malevolently with glee. Fine work here, giving this world another four decades before it was squished and three more before Ubraka would be overwhelmed, and a Green Tide hit Droma and Neumidia.
But speaking of that Droma place...a shift of wings, a beat, and a head turned 180° with its body following after, immaterial flesh, feathers, and organs warping around to spare it the tedium of turning like a Pink Horror. And then there it was, a station glittering in the void of the Materium, bleeding delicious Warp Energies from itself as those within tried to resist the inevitable. But that was okay; their resistance was all according to Keikaku*. Yet there was something far more delicious on board and outside the station and within the system as the Lord of Change turned its head this way and that.
A pleasure slave walking as a magician discovering magic from first principles.
A priest stumbles on his now-dark path with no Deity to illuminate it for him into dusk.
And a Slaaneshi Soul Grinder desperate to escape the bindings of the contract forced upon them by Vashtorr, its essence clinging onto that station with amusing tenacity.
And those were but the least of the strings to pull here! Sometimes...the mortals made it all too easy. But first...a twist of a claw, a shear of a word, and a message sent by ships traveling to Ubraka never reaches the ears of the pesky Inquisitor. This system deserves some time to cook.
The Lord of Change grinned malevolently, settling in above the three stars' reflection in the Warp.
Time to change some ways.
You Have 3 [Three] Actions.
[] [General] Instruct SM-001-A To Investigate The High-Energy Desert
Each has its ups and downs, and each is a challenge. The High-Energy Desert is unlikely to offer more than a look into the system we now reside in, but it will open doors that will not allow others to peek back at us. We have confirmation that the planet has almost all of the copper in the entire system, a resource we are running out of. It is not critical...yet, but our industry would run smoother without having to consider shortages.
(Gain: Knowledge? Warning? Opportunity?)
[] [General] Construct Something
-[] Food Production II
-[] Civilian Infrastructure
-[] Heavy Industry II
-[] Void Industry II
-[] Medical Services
With much of the station freed up, we can begin filling the empty parts again with industry and things we need, from clinics to starch vats feeding us in the void.
(Gain: A district focusing on the chosen option.)
[] [Military] Raise A Specialised [Light/Medium] Infantry Unit - [Choose: Sabotage/Assault/Engineering/Demolition/Ogryn]
With a chosen direction, your Military can now focus on giving the Units you will raise the proper training for the right job. Sabotage Units will focus on raiding and disrupting the enemy with lighting raids and plundering logistics; Assault Units will punch through the enemy in weak points and sow confusion with overwhelming firepower; Engineering Units will focus on creating fortifications and using turrets, mines, and barricades; Demolition Units will be comprised out of heavy weaponry squads with plenty of explosives, from mines to rockets; and Ogryn Units will be Ogryns armored in heavy metals and armed with shields and Beatin' Sticks led by men and women with spiffy hats that will not be disobeyed. Light Units are better for Low-Logistic scenarios, while Medium Units rely more on regular shipments yet strike a good balance between supply consumption and effectiveness.
(Gain: A chosen Specialised Light/Medium Infantry Unit.)
[] [Military] A Task For Specialists (Assign Unit/s)
-[] Medium Engineering Unit
-[] Medium Assault Unit
There is war to be had and battle to be made. Send troops to resolve issues and squash opposition to the Star Child and Humanity and all His Protectorates.
(Gain: Military dispatched to put down opposition violently.
Note: For use outside your territory or in support of forces specified within another Action.)
[] [Psykana] Soothe and Commune with the Psykana Experiments
Five of many have not been slain, their paws and maws not stained by the blood of innocents but that of their murderous brethren in construction. Their minds, though primitive and straightforward, hold complexity and depth that belie the animalistic urges bubbling on the front of their minds. And yet, though they turned against the dark within the station and found the light of the Star Child and the Droman Creed with the eagerness of the newly converted, their souls still... flicker. They are no candle in the dark but a hundred, which harms them as they seek to turn away the whispers of the Warp with a disjointed soul. Let the Choir sing them a lullaby of unity so that their souls may become one and indivisible.
(Gain: Mold the Psykana Experiments Souls into a more stable form.)
[] [Psykana] Conduct a Melody (Choose one below.)
The Celestial Choir has been given the means; with time, they shall conduct their songs. They will listen to the Warp and filter out the false whispers from the slumbering guidance of the Star Child. In halting prayer and stumbling humming, the truth will be stripped until nothing but it remains in the hands of those who shall make it anew into power to be wielded by the Choirs to come.
(Secret: Slumber, Silence, and Perception.
Star Child: Hope, Compassion, Humanity, Song, Mercy, Creativity, Health, Unity, Innovation, Machinery, Logic, Progress, Protection II, Justice, Wisdom, The Sun, The Home, Death, Ruthlessness, Brutality, and Fire.
Kil'drabi: Paths, The Void, Struggle, Community, and Family.
Gain: A Melody newly Conducted.)
[] [Psykana] Sing a Song (Choose at least Three below.)
Mere Melodies are not the end of the journey, nor should they be the start. They are the middle, from which all things shall grow and wither.
(Available: Protection I
Gain: A Song.)
[] [Faith] Consecrate the Assembly-Churches
These hallowed halls that assemble the most complicated products and technologies we can create have been almost repaired. However, they have steadily produced many things we required throughout this task. Yet, their once-more completed status deserves to be celebrated and consecrated to ward off any malignant influence from the Machine Spirits within its venerable and newly constructed machines.
(Gain: Your factories are consecrated, granting a manner of protection against Chaos corruption.)
[] [Faith] Souls Artificial and Minds Constructed
With five of the Psykana Experiments revealed to be not ravening monsters that wish to kill all soul-bearing life to devour, but wounded, terrified, and faithful beings seeking aid from the only source of comfort they had ever gained (the Star Child), questions have come up from various corners. Did they have souls? They should; the Celestial Choir said they felt a Song of Mercy sung by the Five-One for their wounds and minds. And yet, what nature does a soul constructed by malevolent monsters into crafted flesh-psykana automata take?
(Gain: Nail down the soul-doctrine aspects of the Cult of the Star Child.)
[] [Faith] Preach To We Who Yet Wander
Having been brought under the gentle embrace of the Star Child and giving tribute to those who fight in its name for a better galaxy, the Kil'drabi represent the first among many Xeno species we shall show an existence beyond fighting for only themselves. Already culturally compatible with the ideals and tenets of the Star Child, focusing on community and cohesion against the dangers of the void and long travels, bringing them fully into the fold would be a boon for all. However, that will likely happen naturally over a century or two, just not as thoroughly as some may like, thanks to their small numbers and frequent contact with us.
(Gain: The Kil'drabi are slowly converted to the Cult of the Star Child and given more resistance to the predations of Chaos.)
[] [Faith] Preach to Droma III - Boogaloo
Aid was given, alms were distributed, food was taken, medicine was supplied, and healing words were spoken to broken and wounded minds and souls. Some have taken them to heart, opening themselves to the truth to come, yet so many remain ignorant of the Creed, the Star Child, and the future that must be built for a united Galaxy. Grant those faithful on Droma III the skills and resources to educate priests from the locals, and this system may yet be ours in a century without further attention! That we will give deals of trade and items of worth to those in power who are against our spread will ensure we are not hindered that way.
(Gain: Deeper entrenchment of the Droman Creed within Droman III society.)
[] [Chapter] Another Start Anew (0.5/2)
After the battles on Droma III, Chapter Master Chyron has deemed the current Neophytes of the Chapter as trained enough to take some of his duties, particularly in training another batch of Neophytes that will be selected and then trained until they meet the absolute minimum standard of the Lamenters to be classed as Scouts. It should only take some thirty years if done without aid by the Candle Keepers.
(Gain: The Lamenters gain another 40 Neophytes.)
[] [Other] Take Care Of [Future Or Current Problems]
(Write-In the problem being addressed.)
(Gain: Turn to address the issue.)
AN: *Keikaku means Plan.