I spend the entirety of the trip back to the surface in silent contemplation. While the mission to remove the threat posed by the imposter and prevent them from corrupting the Yggdrasill STC construct was technically a success. I'm not quite sure calling that construct an STC is the right term as it was using so many fragments and melding them together. Regardless, the loss of such a wondrous and awe-inspiring act of artifice.… It hurts. I replay the encounter over and over, and wonder how the sorcerer managed to avoid detection. The data I have holds no answers. One moment, he wasn't there, and the next, he was. The Auspex readout is quite clear. Even if I was recovering from the data surge, one of the others should have noticed. Not even Brother Silverwalker's armor noticed. I regret not grabbing more of the imposter's corpse but perhaps his brain will have some answers. If the goal had been to corrupt the STC, why hadn't they planned for the defense mechanism within? There are several discrepancies I can't fathom. Warp-induced madness? He didn't spit out a daemon when he died so it wasn't possession. I shake my head free of those thoughts. Trying to puzzle out the whims of a minion of the Deceiver Mollusk is the path to madness. I wince as I take stock of what I have on me. Two… and a half… STC wafer fragments out of forty-two. I have the two viable world tree seeds and the data I copied from the tree. I cringe under my helmet, it's way too much data to keep in my implants. The data I managed to extract from the construct seems to be a dumbed-down version of an operator's manual and it's still taking up a ludicrous amount of my storage capacity. I will need to upload it to the ship ASAP. My retinue seems to have taken note of my dour mood and is sitting silently. The Skitarii forces that had accompanied us are discussing the mission in the noosphere. The Hellbores surface outside the city limits a short distance from Vesuvius and the allied forces. I exit the vehicle, my automata and retinue falling in behind me as I put my hood up and start walking. Master Doll is standing outside Vesuvius, Magos Zeta 9-Kane, and the Magi flanking him. I stop just a few meters away from Master Doll, dust blowing past making our robes flutter weakly in the wind. "Princeps Cavalerio reporting. Mission Primary Objective Secure the STC: Failure. I have failed." I transmit with my head bowed. "So you have." Doll replies with a hint of disappointment in his tone but he seems to have expected this outcome "Status of Secondary Objectives?" "Enemy leader: Deceased. Head recovered." "Project Yggdrasill status: Self-terminated before corruption could set in. The remaining STC fragments are unrecoverable at this time. The likelihood of a full repair, full recovery, or recreation of the project is infinitesimal. Project Status determined: Unique." "Resources and data recovered. Value… to be determined." There is some shuffling and muttering amongst the magi and some of the nearby Tech Priests. "We of the Mechanicus must convene to discuss these results and we must examine the findings thoroughly." Master Doll announces. "I request permission to return to orbit. Before the conclave is held." I say refusing to look up. "It is unacceptable for a Psyker to lose control of their emotions. I am experiencing emotional distress." I admit while engaging in some meditative breathing exercises. "Oh? You believe you are at risk of an outburst?" Doll says as he stares down at me. "Affirmative." I hiss softly. "I grant you temporary permission to vent such emotions and expel this outburst. Please do so without injuring friendly material." Doll tells me and I finally look up slightly incredulous. Brother Astrovas breaks into an immediate sprint and practically teleports from the Hellbores to our position "Archmagos I do not believe that is wholly appropriate! Given the setting and number of witnesses." "I think it is appropriate." Doll replies calmly as he places his arms behind his back. "Look there is a wreck of an enemy tank right over there." My grip tightens on my Axe and I bow, "I hear and obey Archmagos." I take a moment to pass most of my equipment off to one of the Scyllax before I turn on my heel and approach the wreck. Once I get to the wreck, I let my implants activate. I close my eyes, and rather than suppressing all the emotions, I simply let them flow through me. I don't know what to do with all the energy. None of the techniques I know seem appropriate. So, as I start to draw from the warp, I use it instinctively. My Axe crackles with power and the energy swirls around my body reinforcing my limbs as I let out a small scream. The axe cleaves through the wrecked armor like a knife through butter. I swing again and again barely noting the resistance. "How dare he!" I howl in binaric. I get a notification from my implants but ignore it. The emotional maelstrom of seething rage, aching regret, and cold merciless spite flow out of me as the air crackles with energy. The wreck in front of me starts to glow as errant discharges in the form of electrical energy arc out from my body. I drop my axe and just focus on letting everything out. All the stress I've accumulated since I woke up in this new life. I hear the sound of metal renting and screeching as I flex some telekinetic might. When I finally start to run dry of emotions I feel the power fade from my limbs as I sink to my knees and finally open my eyes. I relish the feeling, my mind like a placid lake calm and settled. The wrecked tank is utterly gone, all that remains of it are some flecks of molten slag. Standing in its place, the rest of the metal has been melted, warped, bent, and reshaped into a sculpture of a tree. I reach down and scoop up my Axe before I turn back to face Master Doll and the gathered crowd. "If you are finished, apprentice. I believe we should retreat. The… roots are expanding under the city and we owe the governor an explanation before our conclave." Doll turns to address the crowd. "We have lost a wondrous object to the Archenemy today. A loss of an ancient miracle of The Machine God. I believe this outcome was unavoidable." Doll announced with a hint of sadness "All of you just felt a minute fraction of the rage, regret, and guilt the Princeps experienced. Is there anyone among you that believes if you had been in her place you could have done better? When she, the Astartes, and some of our very best failed?" Doll looks around the entire field and the surrounding crowd is stunned to silence. Having made his point he nods, "We have been given an opportunity by the grace of the Omnissiah to learn. We shall ensure the quest for knowledge continues! The Archenemy will pay for this blasphemy! Ave Deus Machina!" Just as he finishes speaking the massive lander that has come to collect Vissuvius comes down in the distance. Every Mechanicus priest and Skitarii within range hear him yell their agreement. They all return to their duties with purpose in their limbs with vigor and vengeance in their hearts. —---------------------------------------------------------------------- I walk into the chamber and take my seat at the central dias, looking around as every high-ranking member of the Mechanicus on Ur-Haven has gathered here save for master Xor who is processing the head and preparing it with Venatori techniques for extraction up on the Argent Drake. I thankfully had time to rest, take a bath, and offload the data manual for the World Tree seeds before coming back to Halo Alphos while the conclave gathered. This time in just my robes without my carapace armor. Master Doll gestures and the doors are sealed by the Skitarii. "This conclave of the Mechanicus has gathered here to go over what was recovered. If you are in this room then you are deemed worthy of this sacred knowledge." He takes his seat and nods towards me. I stand up and take a breath. "The first item to bring attention to is the simplified manual I extracted from the construct. The data within explains the life cycle of the seeds, and how to plant them. The total file size is… daunting. Please keep in mind this is but a fraction of a percent of the total data that had been involved in the construction of the seeds. This brings us to the second item or rather items. We recovered two intact seeds." I pause as whispers erupt throughout the chamber and I let them go on for a few moments. "These seeds have a shelf life of roughly five hundred years. One is currently growing and will subsume the Cycladon hive. The world tree's benefits are innumerable. However, the issue remains that the seeds themselves are inherently unstable and have micro stasis generators built into their very structures, thus they cannot be stored in stasis or even teleported." I take out the two cases and set them on the table gently. "We have three hundred years on this seed… this second seed has only a hundred and fifty years remaining before it must be used. These trees are capable of totally terraforming a planet and ensuring it is habitable for human life." I look around but no one seems to understand. "For an example. If we planted this seed at the base of Olympus Mons. In a matter of years, Mars would be green and all radioactive and hazardous waste products would be cleansed from the surface." This gets a much larger response. People start shouting or digging into the files to confirm my words for themselves. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings. "Silence!" Doll's voice cuts through the chatter. "We shall discuss the ideal deployment of these tactical assets later. Princeps, continue." "In addition to the seeds and the manual. We have recovered two and a half STC fragment repositories. These are copies and not the originals, stored in more fragile crystal wafer forms." I take the first out and place it down on the table. "The first is a genetic repository for all of Earth's perennial flora, primarily focused on how to produce viable seeds for every form of tree for a variety of environments and biomes." I take out the second wafer. "The second fragment contains designs for air purification and life-sustaining systems." I say with a small smile. "These systems show great promise and nearly rival the ancient life-sustaining systems on the Argent Drake. They are not a pattern currently known and while the designs are only for macro versions for large facilities or voidcraft the production specifications could be met by most forge worlds." Doll says proudly. This text is hosted at NovєlFіre.net "Lastly we have the damaged fragment. This fragment contains a heavy environmental suit. I believe it might be for industrial use or mining. Portions of the data are missing, and it's the smallest of the three fragments." I say as I carefully set down the cracked and chipped wafer. "In addition to these items, we recovered the destroyed molecular printer. While it no longer functions it is worth studying. The Astartes recovered the archeotech battery from the base's reactor which is still producing energy." I say before sitting back down. Doll nods, interlacing his mechanical fingers as he looks around the chamber, "I will now open the floor for discussion." "I would like a copy of the purifiers if that is permissible, Archmagos. I believe the infrastructure for their manufacture can be arranged for use in the Isolde Clippers we produce on the Halo." Zeta-9 politely inquires. "Granted." Doll agrees easily, willing to share the contents of the three fragments. When it comes to discussing the deployment of the seeds things get far more heated. A large fraction proposes that a seed should be sent to Mars while the other portion believes that they should select the most desolate or damaged planets and deploy them immediately. "I believe we should take the time to inform the Governor just what he should expect as the new owner of a World Tree. Perhaps we can also give him access to the genetic database, as someone who owns a vineyard and an orchard I believe he will appreciate it. He has been cooperative and we are about to make his life much more difficult." I suggest getting a few amused looks from the Magi. "Agreed. We shall table the decision for the deployment of the seeds and distribute copies of the data to those who inquired. We will store the seeds and fragments on the Argent Drake. Those who wish to do so can submit their suggestions for potential locations and your reasoning which will be compiled and considered at a later time." Doll speaks magnanimously and while not everyone there was satisfied with tabling the discussion the vast majority were content to privately examine the data granted to them. —----------------------------------------------------------------------- POV: Governor Cornelius Aarark Cornelius looked at the intimidating number of high-ranking Mechanicus filling the meeting chamber. In the center of the room was a real-time holographi display of Cycladon. The central spire of the city was covered in highlighted growths that were working their way up from the base. "I beg your pardon? Did you just say a tree is going to subsume Cycladon?" He asked, disbelief obvious in his voice as he looked towards the Princeps. "That is correct. The seed has entered stage two of its life cycle. For a week it will expand rapidly. How far it grows during this stage depends on the availability of the natural resources at its disposal. Considering the ample chemical energy in the sinkhole it should be quite far. After the week it should enter stage three which will see it slowly grow over the next few years until it can deploy its branches and the canopy into high orbit." "Can we... stop it?" Cornelius asked and was met with chortling and laughter from the various adepts. "No. While the tree is vulnerable in this stage it is in your best interests to evacuate and rebuild the hive after the tree is done growing." Doll says softly. "Normally we would restrict this information but in light of your planet growing the tree we elected to inform you of the great boon you have been given." "Governor. I do not believe we have covered the benefits the World Tree will bring. The barren zone between the cities will disappear and be replaced. All the toxic substances in the ground will be extracted and purified. The air quality will jump several grades. All mineral and metal natural resources within range of the roots, which will slowly dig to Ur-Haven's mantle, will be extracted and deposited along the trunk for easy retrieval. After the canopy stage, it will deploy solar energy collectors in the upper atmosphere which will channel the energy it collects through its structure, and deploy Gellar protections. You will be able to build a second spaceport in the canopy and a second orbital elevator supported by the trunk. Once fully grown the tree will produce enough high-quality food to feed approximately two hundred billion people." Nicole says, gesturing at the projection as she sits next to Doll. Cornelius blinked slowly, this all sounded way too good to be true. "What's the downside? Forgive me, but this all seems far too good to be true." "The downside is Cycladon will effectively vanish for the next few years. You grow trees at your vineyard do you not? Well, the tree will use the main hive spire of Cycladon as a support stake. Most of the raw materials in the city will be absorbed to fuel its growth. Overall the long-term benefits of the tree cannot even be quantified as long as it reaches the final stage. It will likely quintuple your economic capacity." Doll explains as the display on the table shifts showing the projected growth of the titanic tree. "We understand the loss of the hive is an inconvenience. To make up for this we have elected to provide you a gift. One of the data fragments we recovered contains a genetic repository containing every fruit-bearing plant humanity has ever grown." Nicole says with a small smile. Cornelius froze in his seat and after he cleared his throat and licked his lips he spoke even as his thoughts raced "Well… That is… quite generous of you. I will gracefully accept. Now I believe we got slightly off topic. What were your recommendations for Cycladon again?" —------------------------------------------------------------------- POV: Tank Commander Nova van Grimm Evacuating a hive city of a twenty billion people is no easy prospect. Especially when each individual needs to be checked and screened for corruption. Luckily the guard was up to the task. A billion skilled laborers would relocate to Halo Alphos. The tracks between the hives had already been repaired and the trains were running at full capacity. Another two billion would be taken and spread to the smaller city settlements. A few hundred million were going up to the Halo, another hundred million were being conscripted to work on the various voidships or sent off planet. Three billion souls would be relocated to temporary housing around the base of the new world tree to work on the large preparatory construction projects. Nova flicked through the dataslate. Almost half a billion dead, what remained of the guard would be absorbed into their regiments, anyone not currently screening or transporting was working to extract vehicles and materials from the city before the roots got to them. "What a mess" She grumbled as she debated what they would do with the remaining individuals that had crawled out from the underhive. That was after the most egregious mutants were purged. Some would no doubt remain in the city, most that did would likely be killed when the structures collapsed or get trapped and absorbed by the tree. "Good news commander! Current estimates put the evacuation completion at just four months away!" Greg declared as he walked over. "Greg why the hell are you so chipper about that?" She asked, narrowing her eyes at the driver. "Didn't you hear? We're getting double pay! Also anything left in the city after the evacuation is free game!" Greg grinned "The Astartes have already pulled out of the city. Most of the Mechanicus other than our Enginseers have returned to the capital or orbit. A lot of the local nobility didn't make it and while most of their tangible assets have been taken…" He trailed off and gave her a look. "It's hard to get everything done in such a short time frame." She finished with a sigh. Reaching up to massage the bridge of her nose "Greg, I don't care about your side schemes you really shouldn't have said anything. I already approved your temporary leave." She said, fixing him with a glare. "You did? Sweet. Don't worry we'll be in and out! A short little adventure into the upper spires. Won't even know we were gone!" He chuckled nervously under her intense stare. "Don't linger Greg, I've got a nagging feeling we missed something." She said while looking out into the sea of white tents that had been set up around the staging areas.