Chapter 904 - 903: Our Equipment Is No Worse Than the Custodes'

Kalium Gate system, aboard the Deus Ex.

Chapter Master Santiago Borgkamp of the Fifth sat at his console, his eyes gleaming with starlight as he stared out the full viewport at the void.

The region of space his gaze encompassed was about one hundred and sixty kilometers long and ninety kilometers wide.

Compared to the three hundred and eighty by one hundred and sixty kilometer area when the Black Emperor had given him the Deus Ex, it had already shrunk by three-quarters.

He now only needed to complete the final positioning within this narrow area.

Santiago held a brush, its handle made of even-strand black gold, its tip of cold stone, dipped in the spiritual blood of the Saharduin.

Spirituality flowed from his palm, seeping into the brush. Like an "Astrologer," he guided it.

Pale blue lines flowed from the tip, tracing patterns on the paper.

Santiago studied the pale blue patterns, comparing them to the two other drawings on his desk, one made with Fenrisian Kraken blood, the other with Nocturnean Salamander blood.

After a few seconds of scrutiny, his gaze sharpened.

In the upper left area, marked as node X-19, the diameter of the aperture differed between the Salamander's fiery red and the pale blue Saharduin patterns.

The Salamander pattern's diameter was about a fifth larger.

Noting this discrepancy, he turned his attention to the lower right area, comparing the deep blue Kraken pattern and the pale blue Saharduin pattern, finding another anomaly.

The pale blue aperture was about a third smaller.

'The patterns changed while I was drawing them. Something within them stirred my spirituality.' Santiago thought, thoughtfully.

'Two points... still not enough for precise positioning...'

He dipped his brush into the Web-Spinner's spiritual ink and continued tracing lines with his "Astrologer's" perspective.

A third anomaly, a fourth. Santiago's eyes were deep as he studied them, fitting them together.

No matter how he arranged them, the four points would not form a straight line.

After repeatedly confirming he had made no errors, a new idea formed.

"Could this be the Deus Ex?"

He was about to open a "Traveler's Gate" and go directly to the Deus Ex, but as he traced a mystic symbol with his spirituality, he stopped.

'The Deus Ex was gifted to the Black Emperor by the Emperor. The people aboard it must also be those whom He sent. If I use the power bestowed upon me by My Lord, those ignorant of its nature will only see sinful sorcery.'

With that thought, Santiago had to resort to a more conventional method: surround the Deus Ex.

He opened his Chapter's comm channel and began issuing orders.

"Starcaller, turn starboard to three-eight-six, advance at an inclination of seven, advance."

After issuing a series of commands, he switched channels and ordered the helmsman of his flagship, the Starcaller.

"Port turn one-nine-five, incline zero, advance."

The Deus Ex's command center was located on one of the five asteroid-bodies, the aft-most one. The captain stood respectfully beside a golden-armored giant, who held a heavy halberd.

"Lord Graham, the Shadows of Order's fleet is deploying. Their augurs are detecting their void engines accelerating."

"They will complete their encirclement in approximately 5.2 hours. I have ordered the emergency plotting of an evasive course..."

"There is no need." Graham studied the holographic display. "Stop."

He knew that, with the Deus Ex essentially locked down, these mortals could not evade in such a confined space.

When the Master of Mankind had sent him to deliver the Deus Ex to Primarch Nareth,

His command had been: "Your primary objective is to observe whether Nareth uses psychic powers in locating and taking possession of the Deus Ex."

Graham had been created by his master with a gift that made him more perceptive than any other Custodes.

He had sensed no supernatural activity. Graham did not believe Nareth could hide anything from his senses.

Even if there were now rumors that Nareth's mental abilities rivaled Magnus's, his master had assured him that was impossible.

Graham knew the Primarchs were also creations of his master, each given specific talents.

Lord Nareth could not possibly conceal his power from him.

"Lord Graham, the Starcaller is sending a communication request. They wish to board and take possession."

"Request granted."

Thirty-two standard minutes later, a black Aquila Lander launched into the void.

Santiago sat in the comfortable leather seat, staring at the shifting shapes of the asteroids, his obsidian eyes gleaming with interest.

'So the ship is built from meteorites and asteroids?'

'It's somewhat similar to the Orks' Attack Moons, but Ork technology is inscrutable. Ryan has studied it for a long time without much success.'

'The humans of the Dark Age of Technology also mastered this technology. And it seems the five bodies are linked by some arcane technique, allowing for a degree of morphing.'

As he thought, the Aquila Lander descended, following the Deus Ex's guidance signals.

He walked slowly down the ramp, following his intuition to the golden-armored giant with the heavy halberd.

He looked at the Custodes. 'They say the gap between a Custodes and an Astartes is like that between an Astartes and a Solar Auxilia. But I'm not so sure...'

The Custodes, in his intuition, felt less of a threat than a Court Count, even less than some Viscounts.

He appraised the Custodes' golden armor as he walked. 'Each Custodes' armor is worth an entire planet. Naturally, Cataphractii Armor cannot compare. But our armor has the Yeld-pattern suit's adaptive and evolutionary systems. The more we use it, the more its potential is unlocked.'

'I also have my CORV Drones with me, and this armor was personally forged by Malevolus, who forges for the Primarchs. Our armor is no worse than a Custodes'.'

His gaze settled on the Custodes' hands.

On his right hand, he wore three rings on his index, middle, and ring fingers.

Ring-weapons, made by the Jokaeros.

Santiago knew that besides the Black Emperor, only the Emperor could command the Jokaeros to create specific items.

But He seemed to limit it to ring-weapons. Or perhaps the Emperor felt the Custodes only needed ring-weapons.

Though the Custodes had excellent resistance to psychic powers, they couldn't use them. Ring-weapons compensated for their lack of offensive power.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Santiago's lips. 'A Court Viscount can choose any number of ring-weapons, even wearing them on all ten fingers. In this, the Custodes are inferior to us.'

He reached the Custodes.

"I represent my father, Nareth, Monarch of Vostroya, to receive this vessel, a gift from the Emperor."

Graham studied Santiago. The information on the Shadows of Order's Fifth Chapter's Star Lord flashed through his mind: Daemonologist. The Shadows of Order's premier psychic artisan. Lead restorer of the Kalium Gate. These were the three most notable things about him.

Beyond that, he had no notable military achievements.

Graham stared at Santiago, feeling there was more to him than met the eye.

After a long silence, he spoke.

"Santiago Borgkamp, it is yours."

"The Master of Mankind hopes that you and your Primarch understand that reality also holds many wonders. You should not become obsessed with the Warp."

"Remember the Edict of Nikae!"