Chapter 215: Genes (1/2)
”You have returned, Pef Lancefire” the C'tan observed in a slightly astonished tone.
I just nodded, since some facts didn't really need dwelling upon. I was obviously here.
”Tell me about the Pariah Nexus.” I asked instead. A new War_in_the_Pariah_Nexus should not come to happen, especially since my efforts were aimed at turning Trazyn and his Dynasty into proper allies, someday. But if an entire Sector got cut off from the Imperium, the rulers of the Imperium would react with their usual methods, throwing billions of guardsmen and thousands of ships at the problem, instead of figuring out a mutually advantageous solution.
Zarhulash frowned at my demand, then glanced towards Canis for a second. It couldn't be a coincidence, that every powerful being I met was wary of my wolfish friend. Perhaps something the Emperor did to my wolf?
”Your Necron friend is very crafty. But, one of my shards is locked inside the vault under the world of Tredica Ardaxis. I do have some insider information into their plans.” the C'tan said in a level voice.
I measured the giant humanoid, while I scratched Canis furry head. ”Woo!” the wolf advised me in a short bark.
Perhaps Zarhulash was truthful.
”I am the one in charge, Mighty Zarhulash. But, I need a clear demand to make a decision.” I explained with a frown.
”Fine! I want my freedom, not just for this shard, but for all the captured shards. I want to become whole again.” the C'tan answered in a thunderous voice, while he yanked his living rock chains that bound him to the Pharos.
As expected, Zarhulash wasn't very different from any other creature.
”The Pharos is too important, both strategically and otherwise. Without this installation, the freedom of trillions of humans in the Eastern Fringe and the entire Segmentum would be placed in great peril. Although three of the Chaos Gods were killed since we last met, the most dangerous one is still out there, plotting to take over all reality.” I mused, mostly to myself.
While speaking with Zarhulash, I was also scanning the galaxy with the Pharos, updating my mental map with realtime hot spots and invasions. From San Leor in the south to the Nephilim Sector where the Nexus debacle was taking place, to the Red_Scar Sector, where a major Tyranid tendril of Hive Leviathan was heading. Thousands of smaller crises, from genestealer cults to Ork invasions, a flare of pirate activity in the regions surrounding the Maelstrom and lastly the newest emergence of the Startide_Nexus which allowed the T'au to expand deep into Imperial space, bypassing the Fortress Worlds via a Warp Gate.
I wasn't in a position to stop all these events, but my Fringe kingdom has not been idle in my absence.
The Catachan settlers had multiplied thirty times, and were not only able to defend their colony worlds but were actually expanding and colonizing new planets, with the support of cheap vehicles such as Weasels and Sentinels and fleets of corvettes produced in my two established Forge Worlds. Two minor Forge Worlds had also been set up at the forefront of the expansion wave to produce critical munitions or infrastructure materials such as ferroconcrete and fusion powerplants.
I could raise a thousand new Auxilia regiments without even making a large dent into future population growth. However, no matter how well armed or good genes or training they had, without tesseract support I couldn't be sure of victory.
Plenty Imperial Guard armies had been lost in similar circumstances, despite brilliant commanders or Astartes backup. When fighting Tyranids or Necrons, normal soldiers were over matched by orders of magnitude, while Chaos forces had other advantages that would turn your troops into traitors.
A plan formed in my mind, pathing a years-long campaign to intervene in the most dangerous crises while also conserving troops and providing them with combat experience and better equipment.
I will need the Sisters of Battle to form the vanguard for the Lamenter Auxilia forces, while a full Titan Legion and an expanded Knight House would take care of the larger enemies.
With a mental flick, I retrieved two of the Ork Space Hulks that I've captured at Cadia to provide the Machine Forge techpriests with extra metal for new ships and vehicles, then stepped through the Pharos right into the Starfort over Illevar.
”Dad!” Victor shouted in joy and rushed from his command center to embrace me.
”You look well, son.” I observed with a chuckle. He had put on plenty muscle and even had a warrior demeanor about him, a sign of constant training.
”Heh. I do have all these Lamenters training rooms and neural chairs for my use. Plus the Sanguinary Priests were quite glad to beat me up everyday.” Victor quipped in a light voice, with a gesture towards the support Lamenters left behind to protect Illevar.
”Master Lancefire. You have Astartes organs now?” the leading priest spoke with a serious voice, while measuring my taller and bulkier body with expert eyes.
”Some of them, yes. The Emperor himself was kind enough to upgrade me to some extent. Mostly, so I would be able to pilot a Titan.” I answered with a level tone.
In a few minutes, all the Lamenters left behind gathered in our reception hall, including the newer techmarines and the reserve Aspirants being prepared for gene-seed implantation.
Instead of boasting and giving a grand speech, I connected with the Starfort's Machine Spirit and uploaded the galaxy's map with the ongoing crises. ”This is our galaxy. By colors, we have incoming threats that endanger humanity in our area of operations. Tyranids, Orks, Necrons, and other races or factions believe humanity is soft and ripe for picking. We shall prove them wrong.”