Tierney led his treasure-stealing squad along the outer walls of the steel fortress, searching with patience. His experience told him that a fortress spanning several kilometres in diameter could not be a single monolithic structure.
The entire edifice must consist of multiple modules, mechanically interlocked together.
Tierney's fingers danced nimbly across the metal panels. Having grown up in Vostroya, he possessed an extraordinary grasp of industrial structures.
After leaving the Auxilia to form the treasure-stealing team, he grew increasingly familiar with architectural structures through repeated operations.
After circling the dome twice, Tierney found a recessed seam on the fortress's exterior wall.
He examined it from a "Marauder's" perspective for a moment, then curled his fingers, gently tapping.
'Adamantium alloy. No special alarm connections.'
'Hmm, the Gardinaal wouldn't anticipate someone like us silently infiltrating the dome three hundred meters high to open an entry here. After discovery, confirming the situation would take longer.'
'Melta bombs are too noisy... Got it. Use laser cutting...'
Tierney opened his communicator, summoning the "Marauder" with the most agile fingers.
The "Marauder" adjusted the Yeld-pattern las-emitter guard to cutting mode, aiming at the recessed seam.
The Yeld-pattern Dominum Armor's las-emitter originally only fired laser beams at enemies.
During design, Tierney, considering "Marauder's" needs, requested multi-power output. Forge Lord Rosicky Cech fulfilled this.
He drew inspiration from Squat miner prospector suit designs, enabling small-range output power adjustment.
Squat miners faced various challenges during prospecting. Their prospector suits needed to meet cutting requirements for mining while also serving as viable las weapons.
Tierney didn't perform the task himself because he and some "Swindlers" upgraded to more powerful missile launchers.
A bitter wind swept over the Yeld-pattern Dominum Armor, but the "Marauder" remained unaffected. His movements were swift and precise, like an experienced worker.
Moments later, a breach was cut in the steel fortress's dome.
Tierney retracted his wings, precisely slipping through the breach, then spread them, looking down at the roaring furnaces below.
"Marauders" filed in, then flew in all directions, searching for their target.
The High Lord overseeing all industrial facilities and related castes, Ismael, showed little visible flesh.
Unlike Straken, another High Lord with extensive mechanical augmentation, his body lacked the numerous weapon systems mounted on Sanctum Battleplate. Instead, he possessed a more developed brain and computational processors.
His mechanical prostheses were also more numerous, capable of simultaneous integration with multiple systems.
Within Ismael's sole remaining golden eye, shock mingled with fury.
Ten planets fallen. Countless industrial facilities lost contact.
All mining stations and space elevators had been knocked off orbit, disrupting raw material supplies and causing Gardinar's industrial output to plummet by 13.72%.
Partial rebellions among lower castes, triggered by food shortages, reduced industrial output by a further 5.61%.
Eleven major industrial zones had been occupied, causing a 2.38% decline in industrial output.
Transport systems had been crippled by orbital strikes, resulting in an 8.04% drop in industrial output.
Ismael's expression darkened. In his lengthy 4,315-year lifespan, he had never witnessed such extensive industrial asset losses.
The Shadow of Order's advance proved far swifter and more impactful than his calculations had projected.
Yellow runes flickered, snapping Ismael from his contemplation as he immediately focused on the alert report.
[Breach detected at junction of Dome Sections B-174 and C-581.]
Red alerts flashed in Ismael's consciousness. Wartime demanded different priorities.
He immediately elevated the report to priority, inspecting surrounding monitors. Finding no anomalies, he lowered the risk assessment.
After a moment's thought, Ismael issued orders.
"Technician repair team, proceed to breach for immediate repair."
Under normal circumstances, he would dispatch low-caste labourers for such tasks, but now he required skilled technicians to complete the patching swiftly.
Ismael watched as the technicians boarded the lift and ascended, before returning to his duties.
Not a single alarm rune flickered across the thousand screens surrounding Ismael.
Yet beyond his and the security personnel's sight, hundreds of figures darted through the fortress, searching.
The treasure-stealing team quickly located the High Lord's control chamber, gathering outside the door.
Tierney flew to the control chamber's massive door. Several "Swindlers" clustered there. Their discussion sounded over the comm-channel.
"Door forged from adamantium alloy. Our missile launchers' time to destroy it is impossible to predict."
"Melta bombs can blast the door, but would draw attention. Guard forces would swarm us by then; we can only kill the target, not steal him."
"The door has a mechanical lock, but it's a new type."
Tierney frowned. Although Arsena's orders explicitly stated to kill or capture based on circumstances, and killing Ismael would complete the mission...
Tierney knew Ismael, controlling all Gardinaal industry, could accelerate integration and be more valued by the Black Emperor.
Seeing the ascending repair lift below, Tierney decided to try.
Tierney immediately flew to thegrey gate several metres high. "Swindlers" promptly made way.
The "Cryptologist" stared intently at the mechanical lock. He found the adamantium door's lock was dial-based.
'Rotate the dial, aligning eleven outer symbols with eleven inner symbols to open the door.
But I have only one attempt. Any error would certainly alert Ismael. Then we'd have to open fire and kill.'
The "Cryptologist" thought, eyes fixed intently on the mechanical lock.
After becoming a "Cryptologist," further enhanced "Superior Observation" allowed him to perceive details beyond mere metalwork, details invisible to ordinary eyes.
'Dial markings... Damn...'
'He must be using an irregular method, periodically changing the code.'
'Hmm... some pattern exists.'
The "Cryptologist's" mind raced. Traces flashed rapidly through his thoughts.
Time ticked away as he swiftly made connections and deductions.
As the maintenance lift flashed past the back of his head, Tierney's eyes flickered slightly.
The "Cryptologist" confidently gripped the dial, forcefully rotating it.
The hydraulic transmission sounded. As the door opened, Tierney felt as if a star shattered within him. He knew he had become a true "Cryptologist."
Ismael turned in shock. He didn't see the guard commander or the Industrial Consul.
He changed the door's access code daily, informing only those two afterwards. But neither was present.
In fact, he saw no one.
A heavy blow struck Ismael's head, robbing him of consciousness.
Tierney's wings enveloped Ismael's metallic form.
After extracting the High Lord, Tierney closed the gate. Several "Swindlers" grabbed his body, carrying him afloat.
After repair crews sounded alarms, the guard commander rushed into the control chamber, only to discover, to his horror, their High Lord had vanished into thin air, as if stolen.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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