Chương 182: Chapter One Hundred and Eighty-Two

"It is a tragedy to hear you were punished for performing your duties. Is this the main reason why you wished to meet with me? Why should I trade with you, and not the Lathes?" Talliel-Iota-5 finally swaps to a private vox channel.

"It is, Magos. I am reaching the end of my life and wished to take a gamble on you. I do hope you can forgive my bold request."

"I do not mind such things, so long as I am not hounded to give up every secret by the greedy and undeserving. What did you have in mind?"

"I do not have anything that you cannot get from the Lathes, but I am willing to trade with you now. There is no guarantee that you will be granted the same courtesy by the Lathe Worlds. I possess the maintenance STCs for Luminen shields and barriers."

"Give me a demonstration" Talliel-Iota-5 voxes instructions to his Skitarii. One of them detaches a buckler from their waist and tosses it into the air, where it begins to hover. A yellow, almost white, curved two point five metre barrier appears. A second Skitarii shoots the barrier with a las pistol, creating a forking, lightning-like scatter of energy at the point of impact. Next, the same Skitarii strikes the barrier with a vibroblade, creating the same effect.

After thirty seconds, the barrier ceases and the first Skitarii recovers the floating buckler. At first glance, the Luminen Barrier is an electro-static shield that can deflect physical and energy based attacks for a brief period of time. It clearly isn't as strong as a conversion shield, or a void shield, but it also doesn't require the Warp to function at the cost of a much higher power consumption.

That means it's not vulnerable to the Warp penetrating bullets of the Officio Assassinorum, though it is debatable if a Luminen Barrier can stop such a powerful round anyway. Not only that, but this technology clearly hides a secret as the barrier should not have been able to stop those attacks. From such a brief look, I am not sure what it is, only that it is not the warp, but I am rather curious. Before I can formulate a response another Tech-Priest arrives, followed by an entourage of eight squat figures.

The squat individuals push aside the apprentices and adepts with unpowered shock mauls. What's more surprising is the choice of clothing. These Kin are all wearing open red jackets and no shirts, showing off their dense and toned musculature. Walking in the middle of them is a young looking woman, equal to me in height. She wears an open red robe, tight yellow shorts and a green, almost black sports bra. Unlike everyone else, she does not bother with a rebreather.

Six mechadendrites sway above her head like thin, striking scorpion tails and her impressive physique is on display to all.

"JK-404, what brings you to my domain uninvited?" says Talliel-Iota-5. JK-404 ignores Talliel-Iota-5 and approaches me, "I am Magos Biologis JK-404. It is a pleasure to meet another peer so far from civilization." Talliel-Iota-5 tuts but does not interfere.

"Good day to you, JK-404. I am Magos Issengrund. Talliel-Iota-5 were in the middle of an important exchange. Would you be willing to wait a moment while we conclude our business?" JK-404 laughs.

"I saw his little display. Did he mention that he's a Luminen Priest, a variant of an Electoo Priest? He hasn't shown you the good stuff yet and I assure you I have far more to offer than you can pry from his death grip."

"Troublesome child," says Talliel-Iota-5, "Must you ruin everything you touch?" I say, "I take it you two do not always see eye to eye." JK-404 looks up at the tall Enginseer, "Well, he would have to bring himself down to my level first."

"Even as my flesh fails, I will not bow."

"No surprises there, considering how much junk you stuffed inside yourself. It's no wonder you are so stiff." I say, "I did not come all this way to hear you both bicker. I doubt you did either, JK-404. State your request."

"I want you to purchase me." I gape for a moment, "That is going to require a lengthier explanation."

"I want off this ship and away from Hamiz's meddling grip."

"That's not a proper reason." JK-404 glances at Talliel-Iota-5, "Talliel-Iota-5 and I are both prisoners of sorts. Being in each other's presence is like having our failings look back at us. I work for Inquisitor Hamiz because he pulled me out of a near lynching, though I've always thought he was the one to orchestrate it. I just don't have any proof."

"What did you do?" Talliel-Iota-5 says, "She is a heretek!"

"Oh please, the Lathes are forever changing their stance on how much alteration of our blessed genome is permitted. I was just unlucky enough to be caught while everyone was still in a snit about Umbra Malygris after the Malygrisian Tech-Heresy that ran from 742 to 770 M41. How was I supposed to know they would suddenly outlaw the production of gland warriors in 804 M41 while I was in the middle of an order for a secretive individual?"

"That debate had been running in the Nidus Omega for twenty years!"

"Exactly. My order was only going to take six months. I was busy with it when your oh so great Crimson Guard blew up my lab with me still inside!" If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Enough," I say.

"While I do want to hear more of the history of the Lathes, it can wait for a calmer setting. Give me your best offer, JK-404."

"Give me a proper lab and a budget, but otherwise left alone to pursue my research, and I will dedicate twenty-five percent of my time to work on the projects you request of me. Our contract will last twenty years, after which we may renew it or part ways." If she is as good as she thinks she is, that's actually a really good deal. Her body, at least, is a work of art, with more subtle modifications than I can detect without extensive, ill-mannered scans.

I can, at least, detect that her bones are exceptional and ideal for high gravity environments. It is possible they are on par with a Black Skeleton. I say, "If our interests overlap, what then?"

"You get a better deal."

"Fair warning, I will know if you lie. I will also need to see a list of your accomplishments, and proof thereof, before I confirm anything. A big enough sample of your research so that I can tell you know what you are worth your price, for example." JK-404 shrugs, "I just want to be free."

"Then send me your data and I will speak to Inquisitor Hamiz. He really shouldn't leave unless I repair his Gellar Field, so purchasing your contract is at least possible. Do not make me regret this."

"Thank you."

"Why do you have Kin following you about?" I say. JK-404 points at her guards, "You mean these guys, the Lathemasters?"

"Is that what you call them? That isn't what they are, or where they are from."

"Lathemasters were the original inhabitants of the Lathe Worlds," says Talliel-Iota-5.

"They were grubbing in the dirt when we found them, or so our history would have us believe. Lathemasters are workers without peer and rather rare. Is there something more to these Abhumans?"

"For your sakes, I hope you have treated them well. The Leagues of Votann are not to be messed with. They are known to hold a grudge or two and uphold agreements with the same fervour as we pray to the Omnissiah."

"I have no idea who the Leagues of Votann are," says Talliel-Iota-5. I say, "An offshoot of Humanity near the galactic core. They are formidable. They call themselves Kin, but have also been known by other names, like the Demiurge."

"Thank you, Magos," says Talliel-Iota-5.

"I have heard of the Demiurge."

"So have I." JK-404 winces, "There may have been a few incidents. I've made considerable progress in unravelling their genome to replicate their fantastic physiques, but not everyone is as discrete and gentle as I when gathering samples or running experiments. The last time too many Lathemasters disappeared there was a one-sided rebellion and now few Lathemasters remain.

It was a horrible waste of resources and studying Lathemasters is almost outlawed, yet still there are many cries to permit experimentation once again."

"Then I suggest you bring them with you."

"Inquisitor Hamiz acquired them for me." I sigh, "Very well. I will contact you again once I have spoken with Inquisitor Hamiz."

"I look forward to your good news," says JK-404. JK-404 departs. I can't help but wonder what the Kin thought of our conversation, yet they never said a word. I did spot implanted vox beads though, so I know they could hear us.

"Now, Talliel-Iota-5. Shall we resume our negotiations?"

"Agreed." Our negotiations go back and forth for over an hour and while I finish healing his petitioners. Rather cheekily, a line of them begins to form as we chat, but I fix them up anyway and send them on their way with the correct instructions. Talliel-Iota-5 is pleased with my offer of manufacturing STCs for the Leman Russ E and promethium NN, but I am unwilling to trade them for two maintenance grade STCs as unlike a manufacturing Grade STC, replication is not guaranteed.

All I would have is a drawing of all the parts, the tolerances required, and if I'm lucky, possible alloy mixes and a copy of the Machine-Spirit. My healing of Talliel-Iota-5 and the ready supply of maintenance STCs I'm giving out for free actually helps me as it demonstrates how little value I put in what he is offering. Talliel-Iota-5 doesn't need to know that I am creating them as we chat though. Performing what amounts to heresy without anyone noticing keeps me inwardly chuckling throughout the negotiations.

Eventually, Talliel-Iota-5 admits that while he does not have proper manufacturing STCs for Luminen Technology, he does have his own notes and has already done the work to build his own, hence the bucklers. The originals are actually a type of implant that can be a shield, barrier, ranged blast, or touch based attack. Talliel-Iota-5 agrees to hand over working samples of all versions of the technology in their original form, the two maintenance STCs, and his own notes in exchange for my two STCs.

He is also thoughtful enough to provide a list of other Lathe World specialities that I should look into trading for, from reliable plasma rifles and railguns to superior carapace armour and suppressive gravity weapons. His primer on the history of the Lathe Worlds and its many factions, as well as trustworthy contacts, is also of great value to me.

In exchange for his extra data, I use my biokinesis and nanties to reverse his age somewhat, turning him into a healthy looking sixty year old, rather than the failing eighty year old that he was before. As for his actual age I do not ask, nor do I bother inquiring why he has not sought rejuvenat treatment from JK-404. They clearly do not get along and Talliel-Iota-5 would appear incompetent were JK-404 refuse to treat him, which she almost certainly would.

During my stay on Petitor Veritas, I continue to take breaks and wander the vessel. My explorations almost always end up with me setting up shop in a random corner and fixing a group of people and leaving before I can be mobbed. It doesn't take long for people to start carrying around symbols of the Iron Foundation, at which point I decide to stop before everything gets horribly out of hand. Quaani and Annette's wedding goes well.

Attendance is limited to family, navigators, captains, executive officers, Stellar Fleet Command, the Space Marine officer contingent, and the Inquisition. It sounds like a lot, but keeping an Imperial state wedding under one hundred and fifty guests is quite the feat! I even saw the navigators from Red Knoll, the Space Marine strike cruiser, for the first time. They were clearly there to network with House Ortellius, but they showered Quaani and Annette with archeotech and artworks, so I didn't really mind.

House Lafiel, the House I subsumed as part of the Torchbearer deal also managed to present some impressive gifts, including a few treasure maps, that while rather impractical, entertained Quaani and Annette greatly and livened up the discussion during the after ceremony party. Apparently there are many treasure maps, especially for the Righteous Path as it is a rather famous treasure ship, but almost all of them are fake and traps set by Pirates.

It's the navigator equivalent of a gag gift, which House Lafiel, or rather House Issengrund which they are now a part of, emphasised several times.