The skink watched as the beasts filed into the stables, some without issue, others hissing and screeching at the skinks that were herding them. Most calmed when they saw the food awaiting them in the pens, though some still expressed disapproval of the cold bloods that were their handlers.

The strange warmblood had landed in another universe, this one filled with beasts unlike any in the Old or New Wold. In particular, saurian creatures had been surprisingly common in this land, and that had given the skinks ideas. Ideas that the Saurus had been willing to back, and surprisingly, the Slaan had allowed these plans to be enacted.

Whilst the Old Ones had ensured that there would be enough creatures from their world to supply all the myriad races that had entered the reservoir with mounts, draft animals, and livestock to sustain both their current forces and allow for growth should they be unable to return to their homelands (which was pretty much guaranteed given their involvement with a progenitor commander), they would inevitably need to develop new ways to do all tasks - farming, building, and, as always, waging war.

The dwarfs would've likely found this difficult, if not impossible, given their aversion to change, but the Old Ones had, fortunately, planned for that. They had arranged an agreement with a minor Dwarf Hold such that, as repayment for assistance in defeating a Greenskin incursion (which would be taken as fulfillment of a debt), the Dawi would send the forces of the hold to the Repository after many millennia had passed, allowing the Dwarfs to have forces from a more modern time with them, and ensure they weren't too out of date in the coming battle.

That aside, adaptation was still a necessity. Advances in weaponry and engineering would be needed to weather the coming storm. The humans had already been working their forges and smiths, such that new firearms and blades would be at their disposal. The elves, though still arrogant as ever, were willing to swallow heir pride and begin studying the other races' advancements to improve themselves, though using black-powder weapons and smoke belching industries were things they still refused to do. Even the Servants of the Old Ones were forced to adopt new methods and devices to ensure they saw their mission through.

Unknown to the Warmblood Commander, the Old Ones had provided their servants with a great many remnants of their technology - arcane machinery that would make even the Ruininous Powers tremble in fear. Officially, they were supposed to offer tokens of it to the Commander if he asked for it.

That did not mean they had to tell him they had it to begin with.

Technology notwithstanding, the Lizardmen also needed to adapt to the myraid environments they were now entering. This meant acquiring new beasts to ride into battle. Already, the creatures known as Fanged and Bird Wyverns had been herded up, so that those blessed by Itzl and Conalxa would have the opportunity to tame them under more favorable circumstances. Brute Wyverns had also been herded, and already, a Saurus had managed to break one that enjoyed rolling in mud.

Wingdrakes, meanwhile, had proven easier to tame. Already, skinks were complementing their Terradon and Ripperdactyl riders with the fliers, taking advantag of the many breeds to develop different cohorts for different environments. Finding a usage for the ones that lived in the colder lands, however, would be problematic.

XXXXXXXXXX

The Huntsman General looked on as his men hoisted their quarry in triumph.

It had been a hard hunt, but the reward was well worth it - the basilisk was slain, and now the spoils could be used to aid the Empire.

The Empire was no stranger to giant beasts - spiders, wolves, manticores, griffons, all dwelled in the old world. That their had been new beasts to hunt had hardly been a surprise, though the fact that many of these new beasts were named after creatures familiar to the inhabitants of the Empire was puzzling. Still, no matter how mighty, horrifying, or downright weird a monster proved to be, it could felled with faith, steel, and gunpowder.

Now came the most difficult part of the hunt - dividing up the spoils. Alchemists were already clamoring for a sample of the basilisk's toxin, as were healers - one group desired it for medicine, the other for poison. Fortunately, there was enough venom to go around, and those who had asked for samples would all receive what they needed.

More valuable still was the beast's hide - to made for a fine leather, one that reportedly was used for making fine shoes and the bags and purses of ladies. The general had claimed that for himself - he had been born a tanner's son, and he always saw new hides as a challenge. Once the skin had been turned to leather, it would be sold off to tailors and cobblers - his field of expertise was turning the hide into leather, not the leather into finery.

XXXXXXXX

Mechadendrites moved with unsurpassed efficiency as the Tech Adept dismantled the specimen. Limbs were removed from the main body with pinpoint precision, whilst the metallic jaws were held up to a set of lenses, already under careful examination by a servo-skull.

Adept Promethea Coppernicus had barely been initiated into the Legio Cybernetic when she had been tasked with entering the Repository. Now, awakened at last from thousands of years of suspended animation, she was eager to advance the Quest for Knowledge. Joining with a human who had forcibly been inserted into a holy machine was a surprise for her, but the benefits had been tremendous. Already, so much knowledge had been acquired, and there was so much more to find!

And with it, came new allies to further advance the quest.

"Have you acquired all the information you can from this specimen?"

The Adept turned to face her companion. "Yes, but more would always be appreciated."

"Indeed," replied the glowing orange figure. "There will always be more room in the sanctuary for creatures to be rescued."

Adept Copperniucs had only known Cephalon Simaris for roughly a year, but in that time, she and her fellow tech adepts had been utterly astounded by him. He was, quite simply, the Holy Grail of Mechanicus research - an Apotheosis of Human and Machine. Such a feat had been deemed impossible by some Archmagos...and yet here was proof. And Simaris was not the only example of his kind. So many more Cephalons existed, and one had even united others to form a group dedicated to the preservation of knowledge. This one, Suda, had gladly shared her databanks with the Adepts in exchange for their knowledge.

Now, once again, the Tech Adept had found herself in an interesting situation. In the universe this machine had come from, mankind had been destroyed by a Silica Animus...yet it had also been saved by one. Mankind had created an Abominable Intelligence dedicated to preserving his species...and it had worked. Against all expectations, the thinking machine had done exactly what was tasked of it. In fact, if the knowledge available in this universe was correct, even the cause of the current evils plaguing this world was not due to a thinking machine turning against mankind, but because someone else had activated one when it was not needed.

Yet that was beyond her concern at the moment. For now, she had robots to disassemble.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

The machine watched as its drones observed the blast zone. So far, they had yet to find any remains of the Commander...and that was rather worrisome. With these ones, you had to be sure that you found the body, burnt out their computers, and obliterated their soul, lest they rise again from beyond the grave. IF his body was not here, then he had not suffered any meaningful loss.

Perhaps using a drone meant as a suicide weapon had not been the best way to attempt to kill him. A sniper bot would have accomplished the same feat, with less margin for error.

More worrisome, however, was the Commander's companion. Her power was unlike any the machine had encountered yet...and it did not know what she was.

...He needed to track the Commander down quickly. Best to eliminate the threat now before it had time to take root.

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AN: Read and Review! This is Flameal15k, signing off!