I watched Turakion disappear into the distance through the eyes of a Necron Warrior. The farewell was brief, and although Zabephon's tomb was damaged, resource extraction from the world began for repairs.
However, having a Warp rift open in his tomb made the Necron Lord change his mind about our enemies. In other words, he's livid, or as livid as a Necron could be.
After I paid the hefty compensation for the damage my arrow caused (a few tons of resources that barely made a hole in my wallet, thanks to the mining missions started in Hidrus Quintus), and assisted in destroying Ork spores (I made sure to keep some for myself), Lord Zabephon will join the war effort when he's ready, hopefully before a severe battle.
Simultaneously, I listened to what my Nobles had to say about me, not that they were aware, since a Scarab was right below them in the space between floors, transmitting to me everything that was said in the meeting room, and it was a hodgepodge.
"What a disastrous display! Damaging an ally's tomb in such a shameful way!"
One of the nobles from the radical faction shouted, banging his fist on the circular table, generating a metallic crack.
"But can we blame him?! The anti-teleportation measures weren't activated in time! And Imaterium sorcery was used!"
A noble from the moderate faction said next, pointing an accusing finger at the first noble.
"One cannot foresee everything on the battlefield, and although the outcome could have been better, the mission was a success in the end."
A member of the neutral faction replied, shrugging.
"You're happy to have taken down one of the larger Orks!"
The first noble exclaimed, directing his anger at the last to speak.
"Certainly I am."
I believe the Necron would have smiled if he could.
"Look on the bright side, the Great Sleep may have made our Lord eccentric, but his leadership is improving, probably the dust and rust leaving his systems. Not to mention, of course, that we have more freedom to act now. Or do you prefer how things were in the past?"
The Nobles fell silent, nodding slowly.
"At least something good came from the death of our Phaeron."
Momentarily, everyone looked around, probably expecting me to leap from the shadows ready to punish them for such blasphemy, but when nothing happened, the conversation became more casual, mostly everyone boasting about their accomplishments in Turakion.
Hm… Their opinion of me is improving, but I had no illusions that everything would end well.
It was impossible to please everyone, and my desire to collaborate with humans whenever possible and follow a less destructive path would generate opposition. While I don't doubt I can change the minds of some of the Nobles, I wondered what I should do with those who disagreed with me.
If they don't become aggressive, perhaps I can find something for them to do, like conquering territory taken by Orks and Tyranids. However, if the opposite occurs, well, the Destroyers and Flayed tend to escape and cause trouble, don't they?
"Cruiser to B6."
Sire spoke during our battle simulation.
At the same time as I observed space and spied on my Nobles, I trained strategy and leadership with my ship's Autonomous Spirit.
Right now, part of my consciousness floated on a star map full of ships and planets, with a green sphere watching me from the other side.
"Dreadnought to D5 and initiate the firing sequence of nearby orbital defenses."
A combination of my ship's fire and the defenses of the planet below destroyed the enemy cruiser, which broke apart into green fragments.
"Squadron to M8, initiate advance."
On that same planet, a squadron of soldiers was attempting to take the defenses that kept Sire's ships at bay.
"Defenders to your posts. Squadron Z0 moving in to assist."
Both forces clashed, and the game continued. However, there was one last thing I was doing.
Damn it!
I screamed mentally as I found myself surrounded by four Skorpekh Destroyers. Time slowed and our blades clashed; from my point of view, everything moved slowly, but through the eyes of a nearby scarab, I saw the true speed of our actions.
Green blurs ripped through the air, leaving sparks with each impact. My arms bent at angles impossible for a humanoid body that wasn't mechanical, my feet left marks on the ground, disappearing briefly whenever I repositioned myself, and little by little, the severed arms of the Destroyers flew away as the course of the battle shifted.
When the last one hit the ground, I sent my swords away and manifested my staff, spinning my body and splitting all the Destroyers at the waist with its blade.
Before the bodies even fell, I stepped back and stomped on the tail of an Ophidian Destroyer that failed to knock me down, spinning my staff and smashing its body against the ground after a blow with its ornament.
Immediately I lifted the body and hurled it towards a Hexmark Destroyer, blocking the constant fire from its pistols, and as soon as the dust settled, I locked its arms in my sights.
The cylinders on the handle of my staff spread and spun, each beam hitting its target, exploding in a green light, disarming the destroyer. As a final blow, I fired my Gauss Flayer, opening a hole in its chest.
"It seems the basic units aren't enough for you anymore. Perhaps it's time to face the heavy infantry."
Clandestor commented, floating in a distant corner of the training room.
"I imagine you'll be participating from now on."
"Exactly, don't expect mercy, because there won't be any."
"Hump! I can hardly wait."
I left the training room behind, reuniting with my Royal Wardens and Lychguards, walking towards the ship's command bridge, whose name I only recently discovered, to my shame.
The Executioner Star.
Honestly, the name couldn't be better. As soon as I arrived at my destination, we went through the same procedure as always, nobles and Crypteks bowed, my protectors took their guard positions, and I sat on my command throne, reviewing reports.
As soon as the image of the stretched stars disappeared, we sighted the planet, or the hole it looked like.
Sirashia was a dead, desert planet, black in color due to its minerals, a shade so dark it camouflaged itself in the void of space, giving the impression of a hole in the middle of a sea of stars.
Unfortunately, it wasn't a planet made entirely of Black Stone, what I wouldn't give to find one.
Currently, it was mined by the Adeptus Mechanicus, its resources extracted by what could only be described as oil rigs on tank tracks, with life support for its workers.
I wonder how many times they passed right by the planet before realizing there was something there. However, my attention was focused on the Chaos ship in the middle of performing a Warp Jump, the portal already open in front of it.
Suddenly, Sire reported that we were receiving a transmission and, after ordering it to be accepted, I stared at the face of the battle sister who caused us so many problems on a holographic screen.
"We meet again…"
"FIRE!"
Her smile vanished, as did her arrogant tone. The image shook with rumblings echoing in the distance.
Clicking her tongue, she ended the transmission, transforming the image into a statistic. Simultaneously, the ship disappeared into the multicolored portal before closing in a blinding flash.
"Sire, scan the planet! I want to know what they did this time! Kamamitet and Ananotek, you will command part of the fleet and a force of Nobles to pursue our enemies! If they continue with the same strategy, they will leave the Immaterium near Hidrus Terceirus! You have my permission to use whatever force you deem necessary to exterminate them!"
With a swift bow and words of gratitude, the nobles left the throne room through the Eternity Gates, heading to their respective ships which became green streaks as they began their faster-than-light journey.
"Lord Akatosahk, I have detected severe seismic activity on the planet, originating from the mining platforms. I have also marked the location of the tomb. Apparently, the Tomb Mind has begun awakening as a countermeasure, releasing a powerful energy signature."
A hologram of the planet appeared before me, with a point glowing in the depths of the earth, with coordinates and depth beside it. However, the two colossal walls approaching its location were the most worrying part.
The tomb was located in the middle of a geological fault between two tectonic plates, and the mining stations are operating at strategic points to move them, intending to crush the ancient structure between them.
"My Crypteks, we have no time to lose! Head towards the stations and disable those damned machines! An orbital bombardment risks collapsing everything on top of our sleeping allies! Sire, instead of what we did at Turakion, would it be possible to fire a focused beam directly downwards, opening a path to the tomb?"
"Yes, Lord Akatosahk, but we risk overloading the generators."
"Do it!"
"As you wish."
The Crypteks disappeared into their respective portals, heading towards their objectives.
Meanwhile, I returned to my throne, anxiously tapping my finger on the armrest, watching my ship's Death Ray fire a powerful white pillar towards the ground.
The sand instantly turned to glass, with a dark tsunami rising in the farthest regions, so I waited, watching the depth of the hole increase and the two countdowns decrease.
The first was how long it would take to reach the tomb: ten minutes. The second was how long it would take for it to be completely crushed: fifteen minutes.
Hmm… A terrible amount of time. Enough to save only what is most valuable.
It wasn't long before the images appeared before me. Haratek, Tholikan, and Koratitan arrived at the first set of mining platforms, defended mostly by workers and controlled techpriests.
Lasfire, bullets, and a little bit of Bolter faced against the Gauss shots; after all, this planet wasn't worthy of heavy defenses, it would be a waste of resources in a dead place.
Eventually, they cut a hole in the sides of the platform, causing the artificial atmosphere inside to leak out, as well as those who weren't wearing suits for the vacuum of space.
On a different screen, I observed the condition of the generators. Everything within acceptable parameters for now, but the temperature and pressure were slowly rising.
I wonde if Jacqueline is alright. I appointed some nobles to help her with the administration of the planet and try to undo the mess that is the imperial bureaucracy.
-Hidrus Quintus-
"HOW, IN THE NAME OF THE STAR GODS, CAN SOMETHING BE LEGAL AND ILLEGAL FOR FIFTEEN DAYS EVERY TWO MONTHS IN ODD YEARS AT FIVE-CENTURY INTERVALS?!"
A Necron Noble specializing in legislation gripped his head in revolt, his artificial voice reverberating off the walls.
"YOU THINK THIS IS BAD?! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW OUTRAGEOUS THE IMPERIAL TITHES ARE?! THE AMOUNT OF FOOD AND MINERALS DEMANDED WILL DRY THE PLANET OF RESOURCES FOR CENTURIES TO COME! IT WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN A STABLE POPULATION THIS WAY! THE WORST PART IS, NO ONE KNOWS WHERE THE TITHES ARE GOING, PROBABLY INTO THE POCKET OF AN INCOMPETENT IMBRED BUREAUCRATOR ON A PRETENDINGLY IMPORTANT PLANET!"
A second nobleman, this one specialized in taxes, cried out in despair upon witnessing such inefficient logistics operation.
Throughout the meeting room in the governor's palace, nobles from various specialties could only scream, overheating their systems as they tried to understand how the faction that controlled the galaxy managed to exist.
This swollen mass of corruption and inefficiency should have collapsed millennia ago, yet it persisted, clinging to life with all its might.
In her seat, Jacqueline observed the situation with a mixture of fear and amusement, but inside, she wept, for she would have to explain to such powerful beings why the Imperium was what it was.
-Sirashia-
Each Cryptek reached the control room of each station, eliminating everyone in their path, and began the process of deactivating the machines. However, our enemies didn't leave without a little surprise—in this case, Daemons possessing the technology.
Corrupted energies coursed through the environment, panels detached from the walls, floor, and ceiling, forming presses to crush and contain. Wires moved like snakes, whipping and spitting electricity, and distorted voices echoed through the environment.
Honestly, I was tired of this trick, but I preferred something I already knew to an unknown element. Sadly, this did nothing to quell the anxiety I felt.
So many things happening at once, countdowns that would decide victory or defeat, part of my fleet out of my control, and the worry of what awaited us on the next planet.
The tapping of my finger on my throne quickened, my leg didn't stop moving as I stomped on the ground. Slowly, my remaining hand moved towards my neck…
Time slowed and my voice ceased. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't scream, my heart wasn't beating and the blood wasn't flowing in my veins.
This body was a blessing and a curse, I missed the warmth and the cold, the food and the drink, I was trapped and I needed to get out.
A damage report appeared in the corner of my vision, about my fingers sinking into my neck. In the midst of all this, I heard a stern and almost emotionless voice.
"Control yourself or I'll do it for you."
In less than a second, I scanned the entire throne room, seeing something that shouldn't exist, because if it were there, my guards would have already torn it to pieces.
It was a tall, humanoid being, resembling a cloud of green smoke filled with lines of code. It walked towards me, ascending the steps of my throne, leaning in until we were face to face.
"I never imagined I would awaken to find someone in my body. An unexpected, but appreciated, development."
I couldn't move while it stared at me. My systems didn't report anything wrong, but the thing was still there.
"Honestly, I find your leadership pathetic. You're a loud, a boisterous womanizer, your emotions and composure easily spiral out of control, your plans are improvised and full of flaws, your combat skills are deplorable, and while your desire for coexistence is admirable, the equality you speak of will never come. We, befriending short-lived organic beings? They must kneel before us, not accept our hand. However, I see potential and I cannot take full control of this body yet, so I will be observing, because despite how incompetent you are, I would love to have what was taken from me in time immemorial."
The corners of my vision darkened and color vanished from the world, running like ink. Shapes curved and distorted, impossible to identify.
Again, there was nothing wrong with my body, yet I felt something crawling within me. In the blink of an eye, I was no longer in my ship, but on an unknown planet, filled with great pyramids and furnaces.
Screams were all I heard; people entered from one side and exited from the other, flesh replaced by metal as their souls ascended to the sky, devoured by beings beyond my comprehension.
The sensation worsened, as if several wires were tightening around something in my chest. The thing in front of me laughed, stopping suddenly, rising and looking at its hands.
"HAHAHA! By the gods, I can feel it! By the gods!"
His joy was short-lived, turning to horror. Soon, he screamed, scratching his own body in panic.
"Oh, by the gods, I can feel it! How much time has passed?! My family?! My children?! Where… Where are they?! So many deaths! What have I done?!"
Slowly, he recoiled, and with that, the thing crawling on my body did the same. I don't know where, but in those last moments, I found the strength to speak.
"I have a question for you. What prevents you from ending up like me? I am a living being trapped in metal, driven mad by the longing for what I had. If you can obtain my soul and fill the void in your chest, what will prevent you from losing your mind when you begin to care and remember? By the time you realize the atrocities you committed, the horrors you witnessed, and the people you lost, it will be too late to repent."
With that said, the figure fell down the stairs, disappearing from my sight. Everything returned to normal as quickly as it had happened, and looking at the countdown, I saw that two minutes had passed and my Crypteks had already departed for the next stations.
"My Lord, are you well?"
I faced Rahkikh and Thaszan, pondering what I should say.
"Tell me, you two, how would you feel if you recovered your souls?"
They stared at each other for a moment before Rahkikh spoke.
"My Lord, is this a test?"
"No, just a question. Answer honestly, there is no right answer or punishment."
They hesitated again before Thaszan spoke this time.
"I believe I would be happy. The emptiness I feel would disappear, and I could feel more emotions."
"I understand, but would you be able to bear everything you've been through and done now that you are able to feel anger, sadness, and regret? Wouldn't it be better to remain insensitive to everything if the pain is too much to bear?"
"Hm… It's as you said, there's no right answer. Everyone will give a different one, but in the end, facing the pain and trying to overcome it is better than ignoring it or running away. As a warrior, I will overcome all challenges or die trying, otherwise I would be corroded from the inside."
"And you, Rahkikh? What's your opinion?"
"I agree with Thaszan. Pain is normal, even though I'm unable to feel it. I can't remember, but I suppose I felt despair in my lifetime. However, one shouldn't cling to the past, thinking about how one could have changed what happened. You must move on at some point."
I remained silent, thinking about their answers. Something so obvious, yet so difficult to accept.
"Thank you both."
The Lychguards bowed in response, and I returned to monitoring the operation, planning what I would say when that thing returned.
END OF CHAPTER