"You have returned, Pef Lancefire" the C'tan observed in a slightly astonished tone.
I just nodded, since so facts didn't really need dwelling upon. I was obviously here.
"Tell about the Pariah Nexus." I asked instead. A new Hive World and the Evraad Forge World. We will deploy squads of thirty Aspirants and 12 regints at each of these threatened planets, with 100 Aspirants and 100 Auxilia regints to hold off the larger Ork Waaghs until reinforcents arrive. But if they don't, you will have to win by yourselves. A hundred of House Lancefire Knights and a few Warhound Titans will make landfall with our larger units." I explained while assigning the roles on the galactic map, along with the necessary fleet units and transport ships.
"What about us, the techmarines?" a new Lanter wondered with a wide smile.
"There are 2644 techmarines in the Lanters. 444 of you will remain on Illevar to continue training and provide security. 200 techmarines will remain in my main fleet to support the assault on the T'au, while the rest will deploy in the Red Scar Sector to support the Blood Angels and our Primarch. You will also receive 200 Auxilia regints and 200 Knights, although they will be fresh and inexperienced. Captain Chyron will take command of the Baal strike force." I answered while marking down the Indomitus Fleet as the main space elent with a carrier and three battleships at the strike force's core.
An Apothecary Lanter raised a hand, a bit hesitantly. Truth to be told, I did keep the original Lanters locked up inside the Starfort, with an escort of Silent Sisters trailing their movents. It was hard to trust the originals, since a few of them went mad and ate my daughter.
"Yes, Brother Iulian?" I asked curious.
"Surely, so of us can help. Even if simply providing healing or advice." he asked in a timid voice.
"Eager to join the Rembrance Hall then? There are several forr Apothecaries in there, their brains served as palpable lessons in hubris." I warned the Apothecary with a frown.
A shiver crossed the gathering, just as I intended. It was one thing to give in to a mad impulse and perhaps get killed for it, and another to be nailed to the wall and have your brains served to new Space Marines as an object lesson in the perils of treason. And not being allowed to die for a thousand years.
"We are Lanters too, Master Lancefire. If we the Apothecaries are not trusted, just kill us!" Brother Iulian demanded in a loud voice. I was almost ready to do that, but it would lower morale for no reason. Perhaps another lesson would serve better.
"All right then. Thirty Apothecaries may deploy with our troops and help. As for trust...I only trust Blanks. This is the harsh reality of this universe. Everyone else is exposed to the Warp and may fall at any ti. Every decade we hear about another Astartes Chapter that betrayed their vows and plunged into treason." I replied in a stern voice, while marking the Apothecaries at random to be sent to war, spread among the strike forces.
It was an almost statistical certainty that so of them will crack. The sons of Sanguinius were deeply flawed, as proved by the Death Companies present in every Chapter of our gene-seed.
Soon after that, I teleported onto the planet to speak with my Noble subjects and address various issues, everything from trading rights and export licenses to immigration quotas and protests about too much surveillance.
"The price of being alive in this galaxy is increased security. And seeing there had been no more genestealer cults or heretic revolts, I say it's working. Now, we have over 3000 planets awaiting colonization. Which Noble House wants to send their scions to benefit from exploring and exploiting these new worlds?" I asked the gathered Nobles.
A myriad of hands raised all over the conference room, practically everyone except my close family like Lady Serena or my Blank children.
I scanned the assembly while parsing their backgrounds and blood connections to my House, then selected 300 Blank Nobles that had been born while I was away.
"Excellent. We will begin by naming 300 new Governors from those of you which posses the Blank genes and are thus considered qualified for such a giant endeavor. After a week of preparation aboard the Starfort in orbit, they will depart to their new posts in the Fringe and enjoy the duties and privileges of becoming a Planetary Governor for House Lancefire. Their children will also get the chance to beco Astartes or Silent Sisters, should they be born with this precious gene." I proclaid in a generous voice.
"Lord Lancefire, I have two daughters! Perhaps you can consider taking them as concubines?" an upstart rchant with his own private fleet of star galleons asked loudly, while gesturing grandly towards a pair of won with huge lungs.
I was almost certain so kind of augntation was done to them, as those breasts almost reached the physical limits of a female body. It will be nice to explore those peaks soday, if Serena approved of them.
A second later, hundreds of voices joined the chorus to propose themselves or their aunts, mothers and sisters as potential concubines that may one day raise their Houses to a Governor's status.
"Lady Serena will analyze your proposals starting from tomorrow. Right now we have family business to discuss." I ordered in a clear voice.
In a minute, the conference hall was emptied of greedy Nobles and rchants, while Serena sat in my lap and drew into a long kiss.
"We all missed you, my lord. I hope your new body can deal with all your existing wives and concubines, before you consider taking new ones." Serena whispered as she ca out for air, and then bit my ear in a suggestive way.
A second later, we teleported on my bed already naked. I did want to test my new body, especially after Isha has unlocked my genes.
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