Warhammer: Black Emperor

Chapter 467 The Different Agricultural World Standards Shaped by the "Harvest Priests"
帝国官方编号为33-305的世界，在“秩序阴影”内部编号为11-12-21，它是第十二战团征服的第二十一个世界。

The 12th Regiment named this world Barnett, and the 2nd Regiment conducted a comprehensive scan of the world after taking over.

Barnett is similar in size to the agricultural world standard set by the Department of the Interior, located in a similar galactic orbit, and is illuminated by a specific stellar radiation spectrum.

Its soil contains strictly defined components and is close to the main supply world, so it was unsurprisingly classified as an agricultural world.

However, unlike other agricultural worlds designed and planned according to templates, Barnett's transformation was not led by the Mechanicus, but by the "Harvest Priests".

Kerry reviewed the usual proposals submitted by Mars:
For the first fifty years, land was remodeled according to conventional methods, and all previously existing life was eliminated through controlled devouring viruses or air-dropped incendiary bombs.

First, a giant processor is deployed, then it is operated through command node devices, and the rainfall is controlled by low-orbit satellites and a fleet of spacecraft to achieve timed and controllable operation.

...]

Kerry frowned; she knew that Barnett's normal climate was about to disappear.

She clicked on the holographic image to examine the achievements of the Mechanicus in transforming the world.

On a plain, high-yield crops sway in the wind.

Kerry noticed that the entire plain had no obvious features.

As an experienced "cultivator," she knew that the first planting season would completely deplete the soil's nutrients, thus requiring a constant supply of more nitrates and phosphates, which would be delivered by transport ships from other worlds.

Pollution emissions from fertilizer plants can turn the air orange, making it unbreathable without filtration.

The entire world will be scorched by chemical residues from the crisscrossing drainage pipes, and the topsoil will continuously degrade into an ever-thinning layer of dust.

The experience she gained from being a "farmer" allowed her to foresee that the quality of crops would steadily decline, but the quantity could be maintained almost indefinitely.

Of course, this is on the premise that the supply chain is maintained and imports remain stable.

If a planet doesn't suffer a cataclysmic event that would destroy the entire world, it will eventually collapse and become a dead world thousands of years later, using this method—Kerry uses a neutral term to describe the Empire's methods.

From the moment she left the Cradle of the Sea and joined the Empire with Malena Skala, she knew that the Empire was not a gentle ruler, and that the Cult of Mechanics only considered efficiency and productivity. She continued to examine the plans sent by the Sage.

The land will be divided into huge production zones, with tracks laid out and pest traps patrolling everywhere.

Four million 180,000 machine servants will serve as laborers; they will have a minimum level of cognitive function, and their labor capacity will be enhanced through bioengineering.

Two hundred and fifty thousand people...

Kerry discovered the first bright spot in the report: this agricultural world could be maintained with a population smaller than that of a single dome in a medium-sized hive city.

[...will control the inventory of semi-autonomous vehicles and monitor the grid of weather control nodes.]

This location requires three garrison points, housing 410 ordinary soldiers, constructing a Star Tower, a basic orbital defense grid, a naval station, and offices for subordinate administrative departments.

After reviewing the standard construction data submitted by the Mechanical Engineering Department, Kerry put down the data board and spoke to the five "cultivators" beside him.

"Lady Ninglu and Lady Malena do not want this kind of world. We need to design a sustainable and stable solution based on Barnet's situation."

When Lord Ninglu bestowed upon her new powers, he hoped that she would explore the standards of the agricultural world in the eastern part of the galaxy.

To establish a set of standards that can be referenced for worlds where conditions are generally suitable but require some transformation.

Kerry's ideal world is like Triken, a world with abundant agricultural output, rich mineral resources, and beauty.

But she knew it was the result of the Eldar combining psionic energy with technology, and the Legion had acquired a portion of the technology.

Fortunately, she doesn't need to rebuild Triken and doesn't need to worry about mineral resources.

She possesses both the extraordinary abilities of a "Harvest Priestess" and the experimental results obtained in Katachon recorded in the data crystal given to her by Lady Malena.

Kerry knew from her research that not only extraordinary strength was needed, but also psychic abilities, she told the “cultivator” beside her.

"Send a message to Lord Wilshire, requesting that the lord dispatch the think tank to assist."

A month later in Terra, the Relic-class battleship Radiant arrived in Barnet.

After Wilshire's Skyhawk shuttle landed on the ground, he immediately went to the command node established at the equator.

After taking over the secondary sector centered on Gadinal, his biggest challenge was food.

The generally improved food conditions have quickly won over the hearts of people in Gardiner, but the slight increase in food supply for a population of nearly 90 billion poses a severe challenge.

Food supplies from Triken, Cradle of the Sea, and Tarasa are sufficient to meet their needs. However, the Lords of Light do not wish to rely on supplies from other territories indefinitely, as this also poses a potential strategic security risk.

With a hissing sound, the door slowly opened, and Wilshire walked into the office. He nodded slightly to everyone and then asked a question.

“Kerry, tell me your plan.”

“My lord,” Kerry, with his bronze skin, began, “I will lead my followers and guide the farmers to complete the cultivation. Compared to the Mechanicus’s plan, I need a larger population, approximately 520,000.”

"Although the number of people needed has doubled, the quality of Barnet food will not decline accordingly, which is in line with Lord Nimrod's concept of sustainable development."

"Of course, this requires the help of the think tank team."

Wilshire looked at the think tank beside him, and the "peeping to the secrets" replied.

“My lord, the psionic array that ‘Thousand Sons’ set up in Tizka is more effective than that of the Mechanicus, and it can control the weather.”

"The head of the think tank brought back some data from Tizka, which Hathor Matt helped us fill in the missing data when he was seconded to the Legion."

"He also brought a method for building psionic hydroponic arrays in small areas such as cities and mountains."

Wilshire nodded slightly; he knew more than the think tank.

From the authority granted to Hathor by the Black Emperor and the attitude of the curator of the "Thousand Sons" think tank, he knew that the relationship between this son of Magnus and the Legion was not as simple as the close relationship that arose from a temporary transfer.

As Wilshire pondered, the "Harvest Priest" spoke confidently.

"Combining Lady Malena's knowledge of the Eldar's secrets in creating virgin worlds, and with the assistance of the think tank, I am capable of creating a world of abundant resources and sustainable development."

"How long will it take? What is the expected output?" Wilshire asked the question that concerned him most.

“The first phase of the transformation can be completed in three years, with production capacity sufficient to meet the needs of thirteen million people.” Kerry’s words made Wilshire’s eyes light up.

The entire subsector, excluding Gadinal, is projected to have a maximum population of approximately ten million.

"To meet the food needs of a population of hundreds of billions, we will need to go through five more stages, which will take about 23 years to develop."

Wilshire nodded; he was satisfied with the timeframe, three years less than half the time required by the Cult of Mechanics.

“My plan does not use mechanical methods to modify the land and the weather,” Kerry explained in detail.

“My solution is based on the soil conditions in Barnet and involves transformation, so it takes less time. The progress depends on the capabilities of the think tank and my team.”

“Barnet’s northern hemisphere is a single plain with soil suitable for producing fifteen kinds of nutrient-rich crops.”

As Kerry spoke, his fingers flew across the screen, highlighting the entire area.

Wilshire observed that there were fifteen different colored crops in the area, with the two largest patches being yellow for corn and pale yellow for wheat.

Each crop is grown in more than one region; the corn cultivation area alone has fifty-eight plots. Clearly, Kerry has found the most suitable land for each crop.

The colorful planting area is like a mirror that shines with colorful light.

After introducing all the regions of the Southern Hemisphere, Kerry continued.

"The southern continent is only a quarter the size of the northern continent. The surrounding seas are suitable for fisheries. The continent's terrain is mainly grassland, so I suggest developing animal husbandry."

"I suggest introducing Oviega from Attila, the livestock world of the new district of Colonid, which has already achieved good results."

Wilshire nodded in satisfaction after hearing the plans for the northern hemisphere's seas and grasslands.

"I am very satisfied with your plan, so we will proceed according to it."

"I will communicate with Sanchez and bring in Oviega."

“My lord, I will certainly not let you down,” the “Harvest Priest” said excitedly.

Previously, she had taken over Triken, where Lady Malena had already laid the foundation. This was her first time leading the construction of the agricultural world, and it was also her requirement to fulfill Lady Nimrod's task of establishing standards for the agricultural world.

Upon returning to the Radiant, Wilshire immediately ordered the Chapter's intelligence to fully cooperate with Kerry.

As the Relic-class warship set sail for Gardiner, black fog engulfed Wilshire.

He came to his senses and found himself in a mysterious land.

(End of this chapter)