Chapter 905 - 904: Malcador: The Influence of Nareth in the Council of Terra Must Be Curtailed

Aboard the Shadow's Sovereignty, in the Primarch's office.

"My Lord, Santiago has successfully taken possession of the Deus Ex," Arsena reported to the Black Emperor, who leaned back against his throne.

Nareth nodded. Among the unique Dark Age of Technology vessels unearthed during the Great Crusade, besides Dorn's Phalanx and Typhon's Terminus Est, he had now acquired two others: the Fifth Chapter's new flagship, the Deus Ex, and the Carcharodons' flagship, the Nicor.

As Nareth pondered, the silver-haired Primarch's attendant continued.

"The Warmaster has announced to the Imperium that he is renaming his Legion the Sons of Horus."

Nareth smiled, leaning back in his throne.

"He finally accepted the Emperor's and Sanguinius's advice, setting aside his modesty to proclaim his own glory."

"Earlier than I expected."

'Earlier than in my memory.'

'Hmm... it's time to secure the Lexicon of Enuncia. I hope Ollanius Persson, as in my memory, retired to Calth.'

"I need the records of all retired Solar Auxilia soldiers settled on Calth in the last fifty years."

Though Nareth knew Ollanius had submitted his retirement application after the Kerysova Campaign in 989.M30, given his own interference and the subsequent changes, he prudently requested the last fifty years.

There was no need to go further. To avoid detection by the Emperor, Ollanius wouldn't use the same identity for long.

An ordinary veteran living another fifty years after retirement would be too conspicuous.

"By Your will." Though puzzled, Arsena didn't question the order, immediately turning to execute the Black Emperor's command.

As the Primarch's attendant gathered the records of retired soldiers settled on Calth, a taxation meeting at the Lord Regent's Palace inevitably touched upon Nareth.

"Honorable Lords, I believe we should impose taxes on Lord Nareth's domains," Senator Foden declared, standing in the center of the chamber.

"The Osiris Cluster, though only eleven star systems, has become, under Howard Fender's governance, a region comparable to the most developed sub-sectors of the Segmentum Solar."

"Elysia is a vital node on the Fifth Core Route from the Segmentum Obscurus to the Segmentum Solar, and also a key intersection for thirty-five major trade routes and eighty-one secondary routes."

A hundred senators' eyes gleamed.

Under Howard Fender's stewardship, Elysia had become one of the Imperium's largest trade hubs, rivaled only by sixteen worlds, including Cypra Mundi in the Vostroyan Sector of the Segmentum Obscurus and Abyss Port in the Coronid New Zone.

But no one dared to propose taxing Cypra Mundi or Abyss Port. The Regent's promise never to tax the Vostroyan Sector and the Coronid New Zone was one reason, but the name Bloody Monarch was another. No one dared touch Nareth's two largest domains.

Moreover, Elysia, second only to Necromunda, was the largest producer of Aquila Landers and the largest sales market for non-military high-end aerospace craft.

"And Necromunda is the most populous hive world in the Imperium, even surpassing Holy Terra itself."

"It also has immense industrial capacity, rivaling our newly established Forge Worlds."

"Taxing the Necromundan Sub-sector, which encompasses the six systems of the Araneus Continuity centered on Necromunda, would significantly ease the strain on our supply lines."

Senator Foden surveyed the surrounding senators, finally looking at the fourteen Lords on the dais.

"Honorable lords and ladies, I have concluded my remarks."

He walked back to his seat, his head held high. Having already offended Nareth at the Nikaea, there was no turning back.

He had already contacted House Belisarius, meeting with them and the Wolf King's representative, Wolfblade, on Terra.

He had secured the protection of the Space Wolves.

Malcador, cloaked in his hood, gripped his staff, looking down.

If Foden's proposal passed, taxing the Osiris Cluster, the Necromundan Sub-sector, and Elysia would greatly relieve the financial pressure, perhaps even funding the creation of at least five new Expedition Fleets.

But Nareth's reaction had to be considered. Though Malcador didn't believe he would openly rebel after accepting his master's ruling at Nikaea, he might employ various obstructive tactics:

Assassinating Imperial tax collectors, even inciting local rebellions...

As Malcador pondered, Senator Oberon rose and walked to the center of the chamber.

"Honorable Lords, I was raised in the fires of Saturn."

"The nobles who have waged war for generations all believe in one principle: we make the rules, and we maintain them."

"Soldiers fight for us, defending those rules."

Oberon's family controlled the Saturnine 2nd Regiment.

When the Solar Auxilia was first established in the early days of the Great Crusade, the first ten cohorts were called the Saturnyne Rams.

They originated from the Void Hoplites of the Saturnyne Ordo, who had voluntarily united with Terra.

"Necromunda is a primary recruiting world for the Shadows of Order's Fourth Chapter. Elysia is a primary recruiting world for the First Chapter."

"Taxing them will directly impact the Shadows of Order, and more importantly, slow the pace of the Great Crusade."

"Such worlds, Catachan for the Seventh Chapter, Talassar for the 9th, and others, should be treated the same."

Oberon, his uniform heavy with medals, swept his sharp gaze over the senators and returned to his seat.

'Just as I thought. Oberon, having sided with Nareth at Nikaea, has become a member of his camp.' Malcador was unsurprised. Since its founding, the Saturnyne Rams had been rivals of the Cthonian Headhunters.

The disciplined Saturnyne Rams and the gangster-recruited Cthonian Headhunters had a deep cultural rift, though their combat records were similar.

With Horus as Warmaster, the Saturnyne Rams would naturally gravitate towards the other candidate, Nareth.

"I concur."

All eyes turned to the speaker, revealing the representative of the Hessen Cartel, Harriman of House Hessen.

The Hessen Cartel was the largest trading organization on Jupiter, and the rivalry between the Jovian void-families and the Saturnine regiments was ancient, predating humanity's exodus from Terra.

Though their alliance under the Emperor in the last two centuries had lessened the animosity, it had not erased it entirely. They still competed.

Petronella Vivar of House Carpinus had intended to be the first to agree, but Hessen had beaten her to it. She frowned, puzzled.

Her gaze flickered between the two men, then she remembered they had both supported Lord Nareth at Nikaea.

'They weren't followers of Lord Nareth before... their sudden support surprised many nobles… Could it be?'

Petronella raised her chin. 'My biography of Lord Nareth showed them a more complete, more authentic picture of him. And they made the same choice.'

Petronella lifted her skirts, nearly forgetting the etiquette she had been taught since the age of three.

"I concur."

"I as well-"

Malcador watched as nearly a hundred senators and three Lords, Nemo Zhi-Meng, Lauren Visccher, and Barton Drake, voiced their support. He knew Foden's proposal would not pass.

"I also agree."

Hearing the Regent's voice, his five appointed Lords, Simion Pentasian, Harr Rantal, Ossian, Sidat Yaseen Tharcher, and Jemm Marison, all voiced their approval.

The Council of Terra passed two resolutions: The recruiting worlds of Nareth's Chapters would never be taxed.

The Osiris Cluster, the Necromundan Sub-sector, and Elysia would remain under the governance of the Shadows of Order, and would never be taxed.

'There is still a chance to tax worlds like Calth and the Firestorm system… but before that, the influence of Nareth in the Council of Terra must be curtailed.'

....

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