Next week there is going to be no update, I'm going to have a lot on my plate so I'll have to postpone chapter thirty-seven until the Thursday after.

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Laying atop the mount within our official common room waiting for something to occur was the worse.

It wasn't like that all the time. The dozen of bioships hadn't joined my fleet but rather I instructed them to fly far off into the black. To keep their distance from me and remained separate so as to avoid creating a big enough psychic prescience to be felt. But they also kept pace with my Cruiser as we flew in a circumference around Calderis to find more ships. Too many vessels flying so close to the planet and any patrol's sensors would be a terrible idea. So we moved slowly until I felt we'd reach a far enough point for my first pulse to cover the same area over unchecked space. I didn't even consider having my flagship continuously emit that signal while we flew. Too many Psykers and especially Librarians with the Blood Ravens for us not to be noticed doing that.

We probably floated around for a couple of days while Tinker gathered what Tyranid Warriors and Lictors from the production ships as they hand. Even if they had those units I still had a few Warriors and Lictors made in my Crusier's spawning pool. As well as a few Termagants and Hormagaunts. I considered Raveners but decided with these tight corridors it was better to have melee units that would block the ranged one's line of fire. Tinker flew the one I wasn't storing down to some remote place on Calderis to drop them off. It was a slow back-and-forth thing with eleven trips in total now. Checking his memories each time to confirm there were no structures where he landed nor did he get chased by any intercepting craft while entering the planet or leaving. Each time that was a no.

"I was right, this feudal world lacks the means to really notice one drop ship flying in and landing at different points." That still didn't mean I wasn't nervous whenever Tinker took a new load. As each time was another chance he'd be found and possibly blow this whole thing.

My fleet had grown from over a dozen vessels to about twenty-six as I felt more organic vessels shattered about. It was a lot more frigates and a few Crusiers with one more production ship. In total, I had about thirteen frigates, eight cruisers and that's not counting my flagship, and four production vessels to build an army. The frigates were mostly the same with five exceptions, all having thinner more narrow-pointed maws. Reminded me of beaks really and they lacked a lot of the plasma batteries and held far closer ranged launchers. That squirted out pods filled with sacs of acid and these ships were apparently faster. More so than the other larger-headed frigates with the far longer ranged plasma batteries and anti-air weaponry. The Crusiers were all the same looking except some had more plasma batteries. Others had a mix between those and the closer ranged acid-sac launchers. Few held more tentacles to allow for better boarding with their troops. The only vessels that truly lacked weaponry were the four FTL ships I kept close.

So there was a time when I needed to wonder just how to manage a fleet with such wildly different armaments between ships. Even if a lot of them looked the same the weapon variety was not evenly spread. Amongst my fleet, there were a lot more close-ranged ships and that was not what I wanted for a seriously limited fleet size. At the end of it all, I decided to wait until I had all the ships across the system before attempting to organize them. Then there was assessing the Biomass the fleet did have and figuring out how much we could burn before problems started arising. As it turns out it was a while unless I had the production ships start pumping out units. Then those vessels would have to start cannibalizing their internals just to stay functioning.

"It's also official that the Chaos invasion and Eldar attacks. Helped prevent the Blood Ravens and Imperial navy from being able to conclusively wipe out the Tyranid menace." I ran a hand over my bald head, it should have been easy to realize how it occurred. It's basically the Imperium in the nutshell, unable to completely commit to the distraction of an adversary or problem they face. I found way too many bioships floating about for that not to be the case here.

It was another thing to occupy my mind with but it too had to end.

Yet even after ship managing was completed, my combat drills finished for that day, and can dodging was done so that everyone else could rest. All I could be left with was sheer boredom. It seemed as if all the work just floated by as if it was nothing and yet doing nothing but lay there and stare into the ceiling was a lot worse. I wanted to work on something... Anything really to occupy the time I spent waiting for something bad to finally happen and I need to deal with it. It sucked as I couldn't take long naps to help blank our a few hours or so, like I could back at the landing zone. Not needing to sleep has had me realize just how much time really get's wasted by people. I had plenty of spare time and yet most of the time I was just laying there being bored out of my mind.

It was then the only remaining distraction, to keep my head away from wondering when things will go to pot. Took up position beside me and offered a can of wet fruit, I eagerly accepted the chance to taste something new. Eating too had become yet another diversion from the blank thoughts that have begun to occupy myself with.

size"Norma," I nodded, her thoughts and feelings connecting with my mind soon after. "So you were telling me about the optimal way to cut down trees in their entirety?" Yeah, apparently there was a couple of ways to be efficient depending on the species and of the tree. All had to be cut slightly differently to make full use of what they could offer. It was the best way to maximize profit as she mentioned and without that people would look into replacing the overseer there.

"The Schinopsis are quite standard sized trees with thick bases yet not quite at tall as most on Typhon." She began as someone always did when they knew a lot about a topic. Get deeply engrossed on talking about it you almost zone out into it. "It's quite sturdy and can withstand pressures up to four thousand and eight hundred pounds of force. They're sought after for their strength in making tables, desks, and couches on Meridian."

Norma held a pleased smile at my enjoyment in listening. She was one of those people who like to have someone. Anybody really, to pass the information she's learned over the years, to finally offload and discuss with someone else who didn't just tune her out. That was basically me trying to discuss 40K lore with anyone not deep into it. It was that interest alone that had me asking about wood cutting. It was great to have her expressing something other than blind admiration for me.

"Plus I think I'm starting to like this topic..." It was mainly because it kept me distracted that I paid attention. Not that it was just that interesting because lord knows I couldn't even lie about that to Norma...

Between mouthfuls of fruit, she described the process of getting as low as they could to the roots. Then sawing through with a manual blade. When I inquired why they couldn't just use a motorized saw she said it was to keep as much of the wood as clean-cut as possible.

"If not the woodworkers for noble men aren't likely to pick something that lacks much smoothness. They're quite picky and despite how uncommon it is to have Schinopsis, there is still enough for competition. A bit more effort is required on-site for it to sell on the market." She explained before taking a moment to slurp up the excess juices from the can. Norma and the rest were taking this rationing to make full use of what we had quite seriously.

"After we've gotten the bark peeled off the wood smooth. It's dressed with a chemical to kill any insects that could dig through and ruin the wood." Thoughts of an older woman with a few distinct facial differences moaning about the work crews failing to spray the stuff filled my mind. It was Norma's mother and she remained sitting on a nearby crate, listening intently as to earn a sweet from a carefully concealed stash.

"Huh, yeah I supposed that would suck if all that work went down the plug hole. Just because someone didn't keep the bugs out." In all the 40K books and games I've read I rarely get to see what the average person is doing on the planets. Cause usually there's some battle to prevent some horror from being unleashed on it or stopping a horror already unleashed. It was refreshing to be reminded that even in the Grimdarkness of the 41st millennium a lot of people don't really have a whole lot going on. It was business as usual with them and at one point it was the same across the Sub-sector.

Norma shifted her body up and next to mine, the empty tin still being held as she leaned into me. Proximity to me was dependent on how far down the generations the Hybrids were and their ranking in the hierarchical pyramid. Her snuggling up this close was nice, the physical proximity as well as the synaptic link brought on fond memories of resting on the beach. A large blanket lay beneath my family as the sun seemed to dip into the seas, and a fire pit seemed to burn brighter as it became the best source of visibility and warmth. Marshmallows one metal poles and gram crackers and chocolate waiting for use. Nostalgia filled my mind of that night and I couldn't help but close my mind just to picture the moment better. To try and fill the silence around me with the cracking of burning wood and the smell of roasted sugar. That last part was harder to do as everything in this ship, especially all the Hybrids gained distinct musk. It was a living organism and its internals were quite warm for us so sweating was something I got used to.

There was no real way for us to wash ourselves though. My heightened sense of smell only meant I needed to work extra hard to try and ignore it. Something I could deal with when I decided to head to Calderis but it's not as I any of them could follow suit. It sucked that's what was ruining the moment, overall it was fine and I started to enjoy being connected with all the Hybrids. Even if it was a little bit with most of them and mainly Norma who I tended to locked sensations with. Even going as far as to share the memories of my younger days to have her feel pleasant thoughts as well. Not just ones of the brood and survival. It felt far with what she tended to share with me.

"I regret not doing the same with Absalom now..." I kept the sadness flowing through me away from them. Nobody else needed to experience this feeling especially after they all had their moment to mourn the loss of one of their own.

I had spent so much time with him and yet only ever used this link to communicate and little else. What deep feelings he had and might have held we're unknown to me how. Unlike Norma who gave me a clear picture of her past and inner thoughts through the link. Not its intended use but I was still human enough to know the value of repurposing it like this. The hybrids here were all lazing about much like cats, I realized, enjoying their time mainly through the mental connection. Whole conversations occurred and games were played without ever needing to get up and do much. Which wasn't to say no one did when they were well rested and up at what was vaguely the afternoon. Wonder in about and staring at the glowing walls of the ship or just changing their lounging position, like cats do when their naps are done.

"The poorly made analogy aside. These guys are greatly differing from the Hybrid humans in 40K books I've read."

Sure they had the bald heads with an oval back getting longer with each generation down the line. Another arm or two with extremely points and sharpened claws and muscle mass with carapace-made plates dotted about. But these guys were like a family at this point. All interconnect, having causal conversations about their past lives and experiences. Even the later-born generations were piping in and acting more human than drones. The only exceptions were the ones born nearly a full Genestealers. As they lacked any humanity left besides parts of their bodies. Yet as nice it was to see and feel all this. There could be Hybrids on Calderis wasting time trying to subvert Imperial authority instead of actually using their curse to have some great connections with one another.

They weren't going to be drones as soon as I located them and had Tinker touch down to whisk everyone off this dust ball.

"As soon as I figure out how the transport them off..." I wasn't going to presume things were going to be as simple as getting then on the Aquila transport. As much as I would love that to happen. I wouldn't let myself be surprised by Tinker getting killed or the ship being seen then shot down at the eleventh hour.

Norma yawned but I could feel the dreariness steadily seeping in long before the psychical action occurred. The need to sleep took over. There was something I guess the brood mind couldn't completely control. Such as the natural process by which the human brain changed out chemicals and sorts through any internal problems. So I pulled my prescience from her mind she had constantly been keeping me company. It was about time for her to get some mandatory rest and she yawned once more too. I sighed as she did so as it was going to be a long while until I could make any landfall on Calderis.

"Once we've made a halfway trip around the system, the scouting on Calderis should have progressed enough for me to head down there." I was a bit eager to do so, getting into the open air of a world once more even if it was in a desert. Be nice to have some of that fresh air down there, a bit dry I'm sure but not enjoyable to have. The contrast aboard the ship was only noticeable when I spent enough time on the green Maiden World. "Then I'll have plenty to occupy myself within the sands of that place..."

It would also mean I'll be on hostile territory trying to secretly rouse the Orks into attacking Imperial bases. While being in hostile territory...

"Yeah, I guess this is one of those 'grass is always greener on the other side type of things." I thought while reflecting on how I viewed the hours upon hours I hated laying here. With all the Hybrids unconscious and my mind truly blank from the lack of synaptic traffic.

I certainly didn't enjoy the long hours of staring into the pulsating luminescent walls. But I would regret losing this calm routine once I was occupied with agitating Orks around and moving groups of Hybrids. This shall give me a greater fleet to command and protect all of us, even if it was going to be a real pain in the ass to do...


More waiting, more floating, more laying casually on the mound, and more pleasant conversations about a limber mill and what could have been days later. Although with my routine mostly blended together which led me to easily forget the loosely defined timetable I made to keep track of. Tinker had made his last trip some time ago, not because I felt there were enough scouts but I realized the transport was burning fuel. Something I should have considered before but being with an organic fleet meant the idea of utilizing a consumable such as that... Well, it made me forget about it! We had flown close to halfway around the edge of the system for the time being. It was a long time indeed and my fleet had slightly grown to include a few more of the nimble frigates and a more few of the FTL vessels I'd need to get this force traveling between the stares. In total, I had gathered a fleet numbering thirty-one now. Yet somehow I knew it wasn't going to be enough if push came to shove and I had to deal with a serious Eldar strike fleet.

"There vessels are insanely fast and have a field that makes even seeing them a dam near impossibility. Much less actually hitting them with slow-moving projectiles." It was an unsettling thought, to have a large enough fleet zip by and unleash a mass of boarding craft with me being unable to repel it. That's while I had the ship still make units to store in cases I ever needed to make a stand. Without a real force aboard the bioship, I might as well open all the doors and let the Eldar come to me.

It was while thinking about all this did I get a pulse and jolted up from my spot on the mound. Everyone was sleeping no there weren't any quick reactions to my sudden surprise. At first, I presumed it was one of my scouting teams with news they felt I should hear but the pulse was sent out again and it was loud. As if someone was telepathically shouting 'Hey over here! Looky here! You gonna come over here and check this out!'.

It was off-putting but nevertheless, I realized what it was a few seconds later. "This is a bunch of Genestealers and their cult attempting to call the fleet floating around!"

For this to be a thing there must be a lot of them down there. Or more likely just enough concentrated in one area to have the strength to sense my larger synaptic presence. Then interpret it as the Hivemind and shout out for their lords to come down and 'enlighten' the masses. I panicked and called right back to them to plead to keep it down or more likely just stop. If I could hear their message then a powerful enough Psyker or a Librarian could pick up on it too. With things being too soon after a Tyranid invasion they'll figure out what it is and that it means a fleet is nearby and precipitate the need for me to flee early.

"Hell it could already be too late and I'll need to haul outta here right now!" I forced down those thoughts and kept trying to force those Genstealers and Hybrids on the surface to shut up. At first, there was an increase in the intensity of the message as the ones transmitting realized they'd been heard. Then no doubt presumed being louder was naturally what I wanted to find them.

"I certainly wanted to find their den but not have anyone else do the same." Being more firm did the trick though and the signal stopped. I was right of course... I did miss the lonely claim I had if this much anxiety was generated by something happening.

It was time to focus my attention on the fact that there was a significant Hybrid presence on Calderis. One that could be in trouble soon because of this action. So, even with the idea of leaving the ship to complete its journey and fleet recruitment too early. I left standing orders to do what I had been doing with any discovered vessels and had Tinker fire up the engines for the Aquila. This might be a no-returns flight as the thing was low on gas or whatever passed for fuel for these things. I didn't let Tinker know that as his Ork powers of belief in thinking it wasn't out might come in handy. If it works that was... I had no guarantees in that department.

I made for one of the cargo containers and picked up a large thin metal box. Used to hold the food cans but were now empty, I made my way over to the glowing Spiritstones. I might as well bring them along for the trip, as Calderis was the first world I was going to and it lessened the chance of some Eldar seer divining I had them aboard.

"This is not an idea set it circumstances but I shall make do as I always have then things start going to pot like now..."

My claws made it kinda hard to get under and carry the small handles. So I just stabbed them into either side and hauled the thing off. They added their own distinct illumination to the dark corner from which they sat so even if I somehow forgot where they were, relocating was simple. Each and every stone remained undisturbed as I ordered them to be. Tossing them into the crate, one that was the smallest one I could fine but too large for the stones to do anything but lay at the bottom. I turned and there stood Norma, a hand against one of the sides as if she propping herself up. Yet the expression she wore was one of curiosity and not discovery.

"Great Carrier, are you leaving so soon? Is it truly time to land on Calderis and bring war on the Imperium?"

"No, but I have received a message from the sands." I approached her, stepping over metal crates and trash from previous meals. "There are more of us that need me down there now before something bad happens."

"Really!" Her eyes lit up like a child on Christmas morning, joy erupted out from her and I could feel more Hybrids stir awake at the sensation washing over their collective concousness. "More of our kin await the great gods above! This is truly a joyious day!" She threw her hands into the air and I swear looked as if she was going to jump up and down if I hadn't reached her and placed a hand on her shoulder. Still holding the crate with my claw one-handed.

"Yes..." I stared into the warm comforting eyes and headed off the question- no the idea before it could even manifest. "No you cannot come with me, nobody can, I shall rescure our brood mates on the surface with the forces I have deployed." Norma moved to inquire further but I wasn't about to have any attempted repeat of Absalom.

"You will stay here and keep yourself company until I get back. If food runs out head to the hibernation chamber there shall be a tube there to be fed." I could see my glowing red eyes reflected in hers and I knew using my influence was the best thing to do here. It still sucked to do as Norma's eye bore into mine without the emotion from before.

"Yes, Great Carrier." She said bankly.


As I said at the beginning, next week there will be no update. I'll be too busy to write then. So I'm gonna have to postpone chapter thirty-seven until the Thursday after.