The cadet seminary hall was packed full today as the greatest hero of the Fringe, aning , was sharing a few lessons with the aspiring officers.
But first, I flicked a throne coin right at Valerian's ear, waking him up from his psyker trance. Valerian might be Finona's son, but not even he was exempt from being respectful.
"Now that we are all paying attention. Direct your eyes above my head. Tell what you see. You!" I demanded pointing at a teenage girl enrolled for piloting classes.
"... It's the Aquila, Lord Lancefire. The symbol of the Imperium and the Imperial Creed." she answered a bit timidly, seeing the brass ornant but ignoring its aning, just like nearly everyone.
"Excellent answer, cadet! But wrong. You!" I exclaid and pointed at another girl. A daughter of mine nad Ramona, blonde and pretty as an angel.
"It is the symbol of the Imperium, Lord Lancefire. The Imperial Creed also uses it." Ramona muttered a bit confused.
"Good. There is a great distinction here. If there was just an eagle, it wouldn't matter at all. But this Aquila has two heads. Why?" I asked pointing at another cadet.
The young man, glanced at the eagle and frowned. "It is how the Imperium was ford, sir. The Emperor and the techpriests from Mars, joining together to start the Great Crusade."
I nodded in agreent. "So this Imperial Creed worships Mars and the Emperor then? You!" I asked another cadet.
"No, Sir. Only the Emperor." the asian-looking boy answered calmly and patted his chest where the sa Aquila was stamped.
I sighed inward and gestured at the holoscreen behind .
"You all better rember this clearly. The Imperium is the Emperor and the Forge. Other Imperial institutions that ford afterwards, like the Ecclesiarchy and even the Inquisition, are not ant to be part of the Imperium. Not the Adeptas Sororitas, nor the Officio Assassinorum and the many Imperial Dealth Cults. Those are all vultures, praying on the citizens of the Imperium. Questions?" I asked in a loud voice.
"My lord, the techpriests are heretics! And while the Creed indeed ford after the God-Emperor laid down on the Golden Throne, it is fundantally important for the salvation of the human race!" A devout believer yelled at holding his Aquila as a shield.
"Faith is important. Again, a big distinction here, cadet. We know the Emperor protects, and safeguards our souls in the afterlife. Now, does humanity need bishops and cathedrals to be saved? I personally don't need anyone to tell what to believe, because the blood of Sanguinius flows through my veins. Four tis in my life, an Angel sent by the Emperor ca to my aid. But perhaps for those with weak souls, and feeble faith, they do need to be led into prayer by a bishop. It is also the only reason I even allow cathedrals and Sisters in my Dynasty. I also allow techpriests. Why?" I asked pointing at Valerian.
"They make ships and tanks. Why else?" Valerian muttered in disgust.
"You say that, and seem displeased, cadet. Are you saying the Emperor was in error to sign the Olympus treaty? What other errors in our Emperor's conduct would you like to point out for your fellow cadets?" I asked rhetorically.
A thousand eyes stared accusingly at the poor boy, although they shared his views even so.
"You!" I demanded pointing at another cadet.
"The Emperor surely had good reasons, sir. But it was possibly a temporary asure, until the galaxy was united..." the boy claid in a doubtful voice.
"Of course. What other temporary asures then? The Astronomican? The Adeptus Astartes? The Silent Sisters? Shall we just destroy everything the Emperor did, and claim it was rely a temporary asure? Already the High Lords of Terra have exiled the Silent Sisters from the Imperial Palace. Let's turn off the Astronomican next. Correct?" I wondered with a wry voice.
A single month of losing the light of the Astronomican would paralyze the Imperium. Turning it off would be a deathblow.
They all knew it, even here in the Fringe.
I had already pointed the beacon of the Pharos at and any nearby races with advanced technology.
It seed a new round of heavy trading was needed, sending all available ships and captains to Ultima Segntum Forge Worlds, and a few just beyond, like Gryphonne IV in the south and Lucius in the north, plus the big Forges like Ryza and Graia.
They could carry Dark Eldar and Necron artifacts, plus few Tau and Eldar weapons. The STC templates would need to be customized for every Forge to make them more attractive and valuable, plus targeting data on nearby Necron or Ork worlds.
Did I shalessly ask for all-female regints and any Blanks or Pariah they could provide? I sure did.
Did I ask Forge Ryza for 200 Catachan regints to pacify the Fringe? Yes, I did.
But I also earmarked a transport of 40000 Ard Sentinels and Tarantula turrets and a billion multi-spectrum vaccines doses to be donated to Catachan's citizens. I may drain their manpower, but I'll not leave them defenseless on that Death World.
Combat Walkers were powerful force multipliers, and dication for an entire planet even more.
I was also pretty sure that Finona and her Catachan husband will be able to induce an immigration drive for my domains, even if it would be only kids and won, sent to the paradise worlds filled with untad forests and savage Orks in the Eastern Fringe.
Perhaps send a million adamantium swords as well...and flak armor with blackstone armor plates? Sure, why not?
The Catachans were not stupid, even if forced to live in near servitude on a jungle planet where everything could kill you.
Plans made, I raised my eyes to look at Dreadnought Chyron, who just entered my quarters. "Yes, Brother?"
"We have a problem, Chapter Master. A dozen Apothecaries have defected while pretending to search for new herbs. I fear your Blank won escorting them have..." He rumbled in a cold voice.
I sighed inward and stood up. "Co with then. Any clues on why they would turn traitor?" I asked while heading towards the docking bay.
The Apothecaries and the Sanguinary priests, plus a few techmarines and various support personnel are the remains of the original (cursed) Lanters, which of course implies all the Chaos fuckery possible. Like a minor plant collection expedition turning traitor when away from their base and my watchful gaze.
"I suspect it was the failures of the Blood Ravens gene-seed, my Lord. Others have also voiced displeasure at using such corrupted gene-seed, that even poisons Blanks." Chyron said in a level voice, possibly agreeing with the defectors then.
"It would happen even with Primarch's Khan or Sanguinius gene-seed, my friend. That's why I demanded test recruits from eleven different fathers, not just my own sons. The three recruits that survived, all have my genes or my children's genes. I am the reason, not the gene-seed." I whispered as we reached the docking bay.
I looked at the airlock door, to find Hestia and Fidelia already ard for war.
"They have the right to avenge their Sisters, Captain." I heard Rafen murmur on the Manifold.
Allright! The more the rrier. Plus I could use the Sisters to relax on the way to the Pharos. Damn crazy universe!
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