It only a day for Axis and Kasha to work together to brainwash the entire fleet's personnel and the humans on the planet
The agri-world's population was not large to begin with.
Due to the war, only a few hundred thousand remained, which made it very easy for Kasha to cleanse their mories.
As for the people aboard several starships, they only needed to be told that this was an Imperial secret, that part of their mories would have to be erased, and then have them willingly cooperate in the brainwashing process.
Even the Rune Priest, Mader, whose psychic power was second only to Kasha's, had part of his mory erased.
The man even volunteered to open his soul completely to Axis, allowing Kasha to successfully carry out the purge.
Otherwise, if the Rune Priest had resisted with all his might, even Axis and Kasha together might not have been able to forcibly rewrite his mories.
Once the mory modifications were complete, Axis imdiately ordered the Solus Pri to initiate optical stealth and remain hidden in the outer reaches of the star system until summoned.
Now, the only ones who knew of the existence of this Star Destroyer were Axis, Kasha, and the Saiban loyal to him.
"Axis, paper can't wrap fire forever. This Star Destroyer will be exposed sooner or later. You'd better prepare a proper explanation for her," Kasha said.
"I've already thought of one. First, you'll need to obtain the title of Imperial High Princess, while I'll secure recognition as a Primarch of the Imperium.
"When we are both firmly established at the highest levels of the Imperium, we will 'discover' her during an expedition, finding, in so ancient star system. We'll explainher away a relic from Dark Age of Technology built by humanity," Axis said.
Sotis, the simplest way to explain the origin of a new tech was through exploration.
After all, humanity's scientific capability was not advancing but regressing.
Archaeotech relics would naturally appear far more advanced than anything the Imperium could produce in the present day.
"A relic?" Kasha asked.
"That's right. Not bad, right?" Axis replied.
He had considered every angle.
The Solus Pri could transform her internal layout, making it more human-compatible, with crew quarters for humans, for example.
Every detail would point to her being a human-built warship, conveniently unearthed through his 'Eploration.'
This would completely wash away her suspicious origins.
"That could work, as long as we find the right opportunity. In the Great Crusade, the Imperium hasn't explored every corner of the galaxy yet," Kasha nodded in agreent, but she doubted if it could withstand her old man's scrutiny.
If an ordinary Imperial commander or an Astartes company captain discovered such a massive warship, the Adeptus chanicus on Mars would surely intervene. But if a Primarch and the Imperial High Princess found it, it would be a different story entirely.
It would be just like the Macragge's Honour. At that point, the ship could appear openly in the Imperium.
And knowing his father's nature, the Emperor would likely turn a blind eye, as long as it was confird that the vessel did not house an Abominable Intelligence.
Axis's strength and status were what truly mattered.
"Then it's settled. Send over. I'll have the Solus Pri cloak herself and quietly follow our fleet from a safe distance," Axis said.
Kasha nodded and imdiately used psychic sorcery to teleport Axis aboard the Star Destroyer.
"Father, you're here!" The Solus Pri's holographic projection appeared in the captain's chamber the mont Axis arrived.
"Solus Pri, for the ti being, you must remain hidden at all costs. No enemy, nor the Imperium itself, can discover you."
"Father… am I a burden to you?" the Solus Pri asked, a bit disappointed for so reason.
She had hoped to openly join the Imperium this ti. Instead, she was to remain in the shadows. Just how deep was humanity's fear of artificial intelligences?
She wasn't even an true AI anymore, she had transcended into a far greater Machine Spirit.
"This is complicated, but trust , you won't be hidden for long.
"Once I am officially recognized as a Primarch, you will serve as my flagship. I will say you are a Dark Age of Technology super warship discovered during an exploration," Axis explained.
"I understand!
"Then, I'll find an ancient star system, disguise myself as a human-built warship, and wait for you to 'discover' ," the Solus Pri replied.
She could fabricate a derelict starport's ruins on a suitable planet, dock there, and await Axis's staged recovery.
"I knew you were smart. Also, refit your internal systems, adjust your operating interfaces and language to be more human-friendly. I'll upload schematics for Gloriana-class battleships, Retribution-class battleships, Dauntless--class battleships, and Sword-class frigates into your databanks for reference," Axis said.
"Understood, Father. I will not fail."
After a brief exchange with his 'daughter', Axis returned to his flagship and had Kasha open contact with the Lion, Lion El'Jonson.
He gave a detailed account of the battle, destroying 200 Rangda warships and reclaiming two Imperial worlds.
The agri-world remained largely intact, but the hive world's entire population had been slaughtered by the Rangda.
The Imperial Navy would need to bring in settlers from elsewhere.
"Axis, you certainly move fast," the Lion remarked.
Faster than he had expected.
If it had been only a single Rangda fleet, Axis could have finished even sooner, but with two Imperial worlds under attack, it had taken more ti.
"Can you confirm that every last Rangda in those worlds and the star system has been eliminated?"
"Rest assured, all the Rangda on both planets are gone, and the local garrisons have regained morale," Axis replied.
On the hive world, he had personally gone down to ensure every xenos was purged.
"You've done well. We also encountered a Rangda fleet and have gained the upper hand. I'll soon be moving to reinforce another system," the Lion said.
He had issued a death order to the Dark Angels to go all-out in order to gain that advantage.
The Rangda's technology was extrely advanced, arguably beyond the Imperium's own, so extre asures were necessary.
"I have one more report. In this war, I encountered a Rangda warship the size of a moon," Axis said.
"A… celestial-class warship? You ran into one of their War moons?" The Lion's expression darkened.
The Dark Angels' archives recorded that in their first battle against the Rangda, they had faced such a weapon, forcing their Supre Grand Master to ram it with a Gloriana-class battleship.
Such war machines dwarfed every known Imperial vessel.
Facing one was no easy matter.
"If not for this ship, I could have ended the battle in three days. It was incredibly powerful, not only did it have void shields, but also an energy barrier. Its main cannon could blast away one-fifth the mass of a planet. Its destructive power exceeded that of an Exterminatus fleet," Axis said.
"Good thing it was you who encountered it. If it had been or Russ, our losses would have been catastrophic," the Lion admitted.
He knew full well the threat posed by such a weapon.
The fact that Axis had destroyed it while also preserving two Imperial worlds was a remarkable feat.
"Honestly, I was just curious at first and gathered intelligence on the ship. I also worried about collateral damage to the two worlds. Otherwise, I could have blown it apart the mont we t," Axis said.
"I see. But don't get complacent, Axis. Since your task is complete, move to reinforce the next system. I'm sending you the coordinates.
"Several more Imperial worlds are still being been invaded by the Rangda," the Lion ordered.
The scale of the Rangda incursion was unprecedented, its reach far greater than in the First Rangda War.
In just over ten days, five more Imperial systems had co under attack.
This war would be far from easy.
The Lion and Russ were even considering splitting their forces. If their main fleets didn't arrive in ti, the invaded Imperial worlds would be lost.
Axis nodded, accepted the coordinates, and imdiately ordered his fleet to set sail, forwarding the data to the Solus Pri.
His fleet jumped toward the next star system.
[tl/n: By popular request, the star destroyer, morning star of dawn had been renad Solus Pri. If soone has any objections, please feel free to comnt!]
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