Chapter XVII: Hoarding

I'm gonna try a new way to write inner thoughts, let me know if you like it or if I should stick back like it was before.

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In the dim light that managed to reach the shadows of the warehouse, Gino could make out dozens of small mountains of materials stacked neatly across the space, clearly separated from one another. The piles lay orderly side by side, with a rail running through the middle, where a machine used for moving the objects rested motionless to one side.

Without a moment's hesitation, Gino made his way from the opening where he'd infiltrated, clenching his teeth as he dropped from the formidable height of the place. It wasn't a small drop—nearly five metres from the ceiling to the ground, a considerable distance even for someone of his stature, over two metres tall.

Upon landing with a noisy impact, he rolled across the ground to lessen the strain on his knees and body. When he stood up, his hand was already resting on a ferrosteel plate, feeling under his palm the coldness and unyielding strength of the material. The size and weight were substantial—one metre long by one metre wide. This particular shape was one given by the foundries, as they were generally used in repairs for various structures, saving time in casting and moulding.

Without blinking or hesitating for a moment, he began transporting all the material in front of him into the System's inventory. The plates and ingots began to vanish, one by one, disappearing with an imperceptible silence and filling his inventory with the accumulated weight of the matter. His eyes, filled with a mixture of caution and anxiety, were fixed on the System's tab, which showed the numbers steadily increasing. With each unit stored, a faint pulse of euphoria stirred in his chest: this was happening already. His goals were set to march.

--------[•Inventory•]--------

•[Ferrosteel]

•| A durable alloy used extensively throughout the Imperium of Man, primarily for the construction of armored structures, bulkheads, and heavy vehicle plating. |

•| Current units existing within the inventory <8 tonnes>|

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In just a minute, he had already acquired 8 tonnes of ferrosteel, and he hadn't even finished a sixth of the entire pile before him. With renewed enthusiasm, barely containing the excitement that shook and filled his body, Gino continued transporting all the material into his inventory, touching each piece just long enough for the System to do its work, and the ferrosteel to vanish from tangible reality.

Little by little, the mountain of ferrosteel dwindled until it disappeared entirely, becoming just another figure in his inventory. Gino then moved to another pile of materials, emptying the warehouse with meticulous efficiency and in absolute silence, broken only by the faint crunch of his boots on the ground. It took between two and five minutes to reduce each pile to nothing as his hands touched every single piece on each pile, and so, for a full hour, Gino maintained constant tension, his senses alert to any sound that might signal danger, any shadow that might betray his presence.

In the end, Gino managed to move 12 piles of materials into his inventory—all deemed necessary components by the System.

And although he hadn't found certain materials and components for other types of ships, like the plasma coils and void shield components needed for the [Sword-Class Frigate], Gino felt far from disappointed by the impressive haul he had secured from robbing just a single warehouse.

------------[•Inventory •]------------

•Ferrosteel: <48 tonnes>

•Ferrocrete:<55 tonnes>

•Plasteel:<35 tonnes>

•Plascrete:<31 tonnes>

•Adamantium:<40 tonnes>

•Titanium:<25 tonnes>

•Ceramite:<60 tonnes>

•Duralium:<41 tonnes>

•Gold:<59 tonnes>

•Platinum:<62 tonnes>

•Promethium:<37 tonnes>

•Quartz:<15 tonnes>

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The amount of materials Gino had obtained seemed simply colossal. With such a haul, he could build an entire fleet of Arvus Lighters if he wanted. And all of this he had achieved by looting a single warehouse on level 61, when there were hundreds more scattered around the same building where he now stood.

Looking at what remained in the warehouse, Gino noticed that more than half of the materials had been transported to his inventory, while the rest remained inert and seemingly useless—materials the System had rejected for not being suitable for its specific functions. The sight of what was utilised versus what was discarded made him reflect.

I find it a bit naff and bloody frustrating that I can't consume and make parts of buildings with ferrocrete disappear, he thought with a hint of frustration. It'd be a pretty broken ability to be able to touch a building, ship, platform, or fortress, and have them turn into raw materials to build things with the System. But oh well, after all, it always makes it clear it needs raw materials. He lamented quietly, resigned, accepting the limitations of the power he'd gained.

Gino put those thoughts aside as he verified once more that he indeed couldn't take parts of the building with him. It was time to focus on getting out. He looked around, searching for a way to climb back up to the ceiling from where he'd descended. The darkness now felt more desolate, with the wide space much emptier than it had been minutes ago, but the adrenaline still coursed through him, keeping his wits sharp. Every second counted, as his presence could trigger an alarm.

However, before leaving and attempting to escape the warehouse, Gino cast a brief glance at the door leading to the main building. Surely there's more material in there I could acquire. But I don't know if they've got alarms or some sort of monitoring. Doubt loomed in his mind as he hesitated, wondering if the effort and time it might take were worth it.

Ultimately, he decided that what he had was enough. After all, he had comfortably achieved what he'd set out to do—falling into greed could lead him to make a mistake he hadn't made yet.

Better make the most of what I have, which is plenty, rather than go after things that could cost me my life if I'm careless. Saying these words to himself as reassurance, Gino began to climb the warehouse walls with surprising agility for someone of his height and build, making far more noise than he'd have liked initially.

Even so, his movements and prolonged presence in that place seemed to go unnoticed. There were no guards or anyone waiting at the entrance when he finally managed to escape through the same gap in the roofing he had entered. Watching the streets from the rooftop with trepidation and a racing heart, Gino began planning his escape route.

Seeing that I haven't alerted anyone, I suppose I should stick to plan A. Deciding this, Gino began descending from the rooftop after waiting two minutes for two figures to move away from the street.

In his mind, there were no thoughts or distractions—he had mentally prepared and focused entirely on achieving his goal without allowing himself to be sidetracked by even the smallest thing. His senses were fully engaged, attentive to any noise, movement, smell, or event that might indicate he had been discovered.

Like a spectre through the streets, he moved with a sense of urgency while being careful to maintain appearances, avoiding running like a madman. He kept a safe distance from the frequent patrols of men dressed in armour, helmets, and carrying rifles. He even avoided breathing heavily as they scrutinised everyone passing through the streets of level 61.

One might think that, at first glance, Gino's appearance—with his mask and bluish-toned clothes, which seemed to blend into the nightscape of Vandalor—would make him stand out and appear suspicious, but the reality was different. He was neither the first nor the only one dressed in such a manner.

Workers, mere pawns of certain individuals with more outlandish and extravagant appearances, were common on that level. These individuals, whose faces had been entirely modified by implants, displayed features carved with a strange beauty. Meanwhile, their workers concealed their appearances as much as possible, with some even wearing exoskeletons.

This made Gino's passage that night less conspicuous. Although his height certainly drew more than a few glances—he was far too thin to be an Ogryn. An abhuman belonging to the Imperium, Ogryns were known for their great height, physical prowess, and an appearance that harkened back to old tales of ogres from European folklore on Terra.

However, they generally accompanied others, as Ogryns were also well-known for their low intelligence and complete inability to act civilised on their own. Moreover, Gino lacked the thick, bony limbs they typically had, not to mention that his head matched his physique, appearing like that of an ordinary human.

With few eyes and witnesses to recall seeing him pass through those streets, Gino finally arrived at the entrance to the labyrinthine drainage tunnel. Keeping calm and ensuring that no one saw him, he descended into the dark, mouldy, and oppressive tunnels, retrieving his backpack that had remained there for two hours, and began the final but most crucial part of his plan.

Now all that's left is to walk between the different levels all night, so I don't leave a clear trail. The more chaos I create in these tunnels and the more confusing it becomes, the better. With this in mind, Gino prepared to spend the next several hours walking down and up through each level, resisting the urge to head straight down to level 03 and build his first Arvus Lighter.

The anticipation of seeing the ship's construction and being a witness to his first creation was the burning motivation that kept him going as he trudged wearily through the kilometres of tunnels.

Ignoring the pain in his joints, the soles and toes of his feet, and the cramps that plagued him, he slowly descended the levels.

Eventually, when he reached level 30, he changed his clothes and mask, burning the first set in the sewer tunnels while pouring alcohol over the pieces and watching them burn.

Once only ashes remained, he broke apart what was left of the respirator components in the mask and continued his journey to the outskirts of level 30.

His intention here was to leave evidence that he had been in that level and then disappear into one of the districts. Even though he didn't know if anything could track all his movements, Gino didn't want to take any risks.

Thus, once he reached an area with plenty of exits and movement, Gino found a secluded corner and changed into his last set of clothes, burning the remaining mask along with the used outfit. Wearing his personal mask, illuminated by the glow of the fire consuming his remnants, he stood still and patient for almost fifteen minutes, confirming once more that only ashes and broken, burnt materials from his mask were left.

Now, I guess it's time to head home once again, though I'll first make my way to an abandoned area. I need to see what happens when I build my first ship. With a body brimming with anticipation and trembling from contained excitement, Gino left that place and headed for the lifts to finally descend.

A few rays of sunlight filtering through the domes and Gothic skyscrapers of Vandalor indicated that several hours had passed since he stole the materials. He had little time left to see what awaited him with the System when building his first ship, and to prepare for meeting Beatrix.

Opening the System in his mind as he descended alongside others in the lift, Gino carefully examined the requirements for the [Arvus Lighter], as well as those for the other ship the System allowed him to construct: the [Thunderhawk].

---------[•Blueprints•]---------

[•Arvus Lighter - Tier I Civilian cargo]

[•For the construction of the Arvus Lighter, the Forge System will require 4.5 tonnes of raw materials. Breakdown of raw material estimates:

• Ferrosteel: 2.0 tonnes (for frame and hull)

• Plasteel: 0.7 tonnes (internal supports)

• Ceramite: 0.3 tonnes (armor and heat resistance)

• Adamantium: 0.1 tonnes (for reinforcing critical areas)

• Polymer Composites: 0.2 tonnes (for insulation and wiring)

• Quartz/Glass: 0.05 tonnes (for cockpit and visual sensors)

• Rare Earth Metals: 0.05 tonnes (for electronics and sensor arrays) <Tap to see the more detailed section>

• Promethium (Fuel): 0.1 tonnes (for initial power requirements)]

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[• Thunderhawk Gunship - Tier I Military Craft]

•| "The Thunderhawk Gunship is a formidable orbital dropship, revered by the Adeptus Astartes for its robust performance and exceptional versatility in various battlefield roles. This advanced model provided by the system boasts an enhanced electronic systems governed by the M33.5 "Cygnus Plus"-class Machine Spirit, featuring a cognition speed of 50,000 co/sec and a contemplation capacity of 15,000 kilobrains, surpassing even those found in Reaver-class Titans. This high-performance machine spirit ensures optimal mission execution and adaptability in combat scenarios.|

•| "The craft is capable of transporting up to 36 power-armoured Space Marines, or 18 in Terminator Armour, alongside heavy equipment or vehicles such as a Dreadnought or an Assault Bike squadron. Upon landing, it deploys troops under the cover of its forward-mounted Heavy Bolters, allowing for tactical insertions in hostile environments.|

•| "Enhanced features by the system include a void-hardened hull for increased protection during prolonged void operations, alembic shielding arrays for added defense against energy-based attacks, and optional armoured cockpits for crew safety. The Thunderhawk can be outfitted with a wide range of weaponry tailored to specific mission profiles, showcasing its adaptability and lethality on the battlefield.|

[•Specifications: •Type: Orbital Dropship - •World of Origin: Mars

•Max Speed: 2,800 kph (approx.)

•Operational Ceiling: N/A •Range: 35,000 km <in atmosphere>

●Dimensions: •Length: 28.5 meters • Wingspan: 28.5 meters •Height: 10.5 meters

•Weight: 121 tonnes.

•Hull Thickness: 75 millimeters

•Crew: -1 Pilot - 1 Co-Pilot - 1 Gunner - 1 Navigator

•Transport Capacity: 60 infantry - 36 Space Marines -18 Terminator Marines

•Main Armament: -1x Dorsal-mounted Thunderhawk Cannon (or Turbo-Laser Destructor)

-2x Wing-mounted twin-linked Lascannons

-2x Front fuselage-mounted twin-linked Heavy Bolters

-2x Wing-mounted twin-linked Heavy Bolters

•Secondary Armament: -8 Hellstrike Missiles (optional)

-24 Bombs (via triple bomb pylons)

[● Special Features provided by the system on this basic version:

•Void-hardened Hull: Enhanced protection during void operations, especially effective against enemy fire.

•Aetheric Feeding Coils and Phlogiston Feed Coils: For improved energy efficiency and power management.

•Alembic Shielding Arrays: Provides additional defense against energy weapons.

• Flare Shield: Similar to present-day Imperial Void Shield technology, effective on a smaller scale.

•Advanced Cargo Management Systems: For quick deployment of troops and equipment under fire.]

---------------<• >----------------

[• Construction Requirements for the Thunderhawk Gunship: The Forge System will require 36 tonnes of raw materials. Breakdown of raw material estimates:

•Adamantium: 6 tonnes (for frame armor and critical components)

•Plasteel: 9 tonnes (for hull and internal structures)

•Ceramite: 3 tonnes(for armor and heat resistance)

•Ferrosteel: 6 tonnes (for structural integrity)

•Titanium Alloy: 2 tonnes (for reinforced areas)

•Copper, Gold, and Rare Metals: 2 tonnes (for electronics)

•Exotic Alloys and Crystals: 3 tonnes (for advanced systems)

•Promethium (Fuel): 5 tonnes (for initial power requirements)

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Seeing that he had more than enough materials to even build several [Thunderhawk], Gino finally broke into a wide grin, doing his best to avoid laughing and drawing the attention of those around him.

Now, all that's left is to build them and see these beauties with my own eyes. With a mind overflowing with joy, Gino planned to witness the materialisation of the fruits of his heist as soon as he reached Level 03 and found a quiet spot.

At last, he would have his own ship and could embark on a far more advantageous path, leaving behind the life of a mere hive rat as he currently was.

His moment had arrived.