"The Force?"
Selene blinked at Sebas' words, raising an eyebrow. "Do you mean that Force?"
"In truth, my lady, this old servant is uncertain of what exactly it is," Sebas replied respectfully. "It is a form of innate energy discovered by one of the Inquisition's exploratory fleets, which accidentally entered an unknown universe."
Watching the fleeting trace of curiosity and contemplation cross Selene's expression, Sebas nodded and placed the sealed, pitch-black cube into her hands.
"It has yet to be assigned a formal designation. Since this was an early-stage expedition, our resource investment was minimal—no permanent base or landing site has yet been established."
Choosing his words carefully, Sebas continued:
"As a precautionary measure, the 23,625th Inquisitorial Expeditionary Detachment refrained from extensive scans or deep incursions into that universe. Upon locating a resource-rich star system suitable for settlement, they began construction of a forward outpost on-site."
"This energy substance was discovered and contained during standard mineral surveys by the fleet's technicians."
"That planet—or rather, the entire star system, perhaps even the universe itself—was permeated by this supernatural yet omnipresent force. Even primitive fauna and microorganisms on the outpost world displayed faint traces of this same energy field. Though weak to the point of near nonexistence, it undeniably was there."
Selene asked, "Oh? And the name 'Force'—where did that come from?"
"It was a bit of initiative taken by several of the fleet's technicians. Using energy solidification devices, they conducted large-scale dissections of predatory fauna on the planet, extracting from their blood symbiotic micro-lifeforms."
"The energy field known as the 'Force' was found to be emitted by these microscopic organisms. After limited-frequency synchronization testing, the technicians unanimously decided to name it The Force—meaning the primordial power of life and the cosmos. It was as if that universe itself had chosen the name."
At that, Sebas turned his head slightly, glancing at one of the oil paintings of the Flügel adorning the study walls, and chuckled softly. "In terms of existence, it is somewhat similar to the Elementals of Recruitment World XVI–121925 (No Game No Life)."
(Note: Elementals—Spirits, third in racial hierarchy—found everywhere across Disboard, though microscopic in scale. They are, to some extent, the essence of magic itself, as all spells are powered by their presence. Without a mana circuit, they cannot be observed—humans, for example, cannot perceive them.)
"So," Selene summarized, "a supernatural energy field influenced and cultivated by predecessors. I see."
She weighed the cube in her palm—it was light as a feather, almost weightless. Unable to resist her curiosity any longer, she opened it on the spot.
Click.
"Hm?"
Selene blinked. Reflected in her crimson eyes was nothing but emptiness—yet, through the microcosmic layers of perception, she saw clearly countless elongated, shimmering fragments struggling and screaming within the collapsing dimensions.
This was the Honkai Dimension.
Separated from their native universe, these faint Force particles were like fragile boats adrift on a boundless, storm-tossed sea. Compared to the corrosive, violent Honkai particles around them, they were utterly out of place—tiny, frail, like a grain of sand lost in a desert.
The Honkai particles, however, were clearly intrigued by this alien presence. They lunged toward it—clawing, gnashing, eager to devour, erase, assimilate, and corrode it.
Aggressive. Dominant. Just like their mistress.
Had Selene not restrained the dense Honkai energy filling the Diligence Hall, those few helpless Force motes would have perished instantly.
Even so, under the faint breath of Honkai, the Force particles quickly withered and faded, unraveling into nothingness once exposed.
Seeing this, Selene released her control of the Honkai energy. In an instant, the colorless, unseen fragments of the Force were consumed by the violet-red tide of luminous particles.
"I see now," she murmured at last, opening her eyes. A faint light of comprehension flickered in their depths.
"It seems Your Majesty already understands," Sebas said quietly.
Sebas inclined his head slightly, a polite, composed smile upon his face.
Selene tossed the now-useless sealed cube aside and fell into thought, her fingers rhythmically tapping against the documents on her desk. "Star Wars... the Force... midi-chlorians..." she murmured under her breath.
At the mention of the Force, the phrase "May the Force be with you" immediately stirred memories long buried in Selene's mind.
The Force could be said to be the central concept of the Star Wars universe.
And the midi-chlorians—they were almost a necessary medium for life to access that power.
Known also as "Force symbionts" or "Force cells," midi-chlorians were biological microorganisms present within all living beings in that universe—a natural bridge that connected living creatures to the cosmic energy field known as the Force.
Although the Force existed within nearly all forms of life, only a small fraction could be considered Force-sensitive. Even non-sentient creatures could interact with it to some degree, but very few could consciously wield it.
The animals slaughtered by the exploratory fleet as "fresh research specimens" had contained trace amounts of midi-chlorians—faint, but detectable.
The sensitivity of a lifeform to the Force was directly correlated with the concentration of these symbiotic organisms in its bloodstream. The higher the count, the greater the potential to harness and cultivate the Force.
To Selene, the Force was a highly inclusive energy—broad, adaptive, and all-encompassing.
As for Jedi Knights and Sith Lords, their interpretations of the Force were merely reflections of differing philosophies. The so-called Light Side, Dark Side, Unifying Force, and Living Force were simply divergent expressions of understanding.
The first two represented moral opposites.
The Jedi's Light Side of the Force embodied the aspect of wisdom and knowledge, founded upon serenity and self-discipline. It sought inner peace and harmony, granting powers of protection and defense.
The Sith's Dark Side of the Force embodied the aspect of power and passion, fueled by emotions such as anger, fear, hatred, jealousy, pride—even arrogance. The Dark Side empowered aggression, domination, and destruction.
The latter two concepts came from more progressive Jedi philosophies.
The Unifying Force rejected binary moral distinctions, claiming that the Force was a complete, neutral entity—neither light nor dark, but an integral whole. The bias lay not in the Force, but in the minds of those who wielded it.
The Living Force emphasized that the Force was the manifestation of life itself, perceivable through all living things.
To Selene, all of these interpretations were simultaneously correct—and wrong.
It simply depended on what she needed the Force to be.
She smirked. "I suppose I'm something of a 'fourfold conduit' genius myself."
What's the point of theorizing about the Force this or the Force that? she thought amusedly. Give me time, and I'll be the Force itself.
Or rather—the Honkai Force.
The Jedi Order would surely not see it that way. If they were to witness the true essence of Selene's power, they would probably scream about the end of the world and the arrival of the ultimate darkness.
Of course, none of that was the point. What Selene was really thinking about was this—what was the Star Wars universe most abundant in?
Endless life-bearing planets and diverse alien species? Incalculable untapped resources? The countless Imperial stormtroopers in their gleaming white armor? Or the myriad colorful kyber crystal lightsabers and Force users?
None of those.
It was the boundless stars themselves—where not a single law-abiding citizen could be found! A galaxy in perpetual war, where heroes and rebels alike rose to challenge empires, and everywhere, everywhere, there were insurgents!
Ahem. Perhaps that was a bit of an exaggeration—but Selene couldn't think of a better way to describe it.
She had a feeling that even when the Sacred Selene Empire's crusading legions had long replaced old regimes, there would still be wars to fight—pacification campaigns, anti-insurgency operations, endless battles to quell the defiant masses.
This was not a question of whether the Imperial Army would act with leniency or cunning—so long as the Jedi Order and those who upheld its ideals were not completely annihilated, rebellion against Selene's absolute rule would never vanish.
After all, during the era of the Old Galactic Republic, the Jedi Order had served for tens of thousands of years as peacekeepers and crisis responders. They had saved the Republic from destruction more than once, and the influence of the Jedi Temple had long since permeated the hearts of countless species across the stars. Such deep-rooted reverence could not be undone overnight.
Was it not so that the Sith Lord's Galactic Empire had been fighting uprisings since the day it was founded? No matter how many rebels were crushed, more rose to take their place—until the Empire itself finally fell.
The Sacred Selene Empire would be no exception.
This was a conflict of ideology. Even if Selene were to grant the Republic an unprecedented level of autonomy—requiring only annual tributes, military service quotas, and formal allegiance—many Jedi and their followers would refuse to submit.
To them, acceptance would mean betraying the very core of their Light Side philosophy.
The Jedi's duty was to protect, not to serve tyranny or become its hounds.
Besides, with Selene's temperament, such compromise was impossible. The Imperial Administrative Headquarters would never approve it either. In the Empire, autonomy existed only in form, not in name—and never the other way around.
"Titles," she thought coldly, "cannot be granted lightly." It was a matter of legitimacy and authority.
To resolve the issue completely—
There was only one way.
To kill. Kill, kill, and kill again—until nothing remained. To erase 90% the Republic's life across the galaxy, obliterating every trace of Jedi heritage and philosophy.
Or perhaps, Selene could take another route—by stealing the minds of every living being in the Republic, binding their will to her own.
But Selene refused.
Her rebellious nature surged instantly.
"No," she thought fiercely. "If you will not yield, then you will perish—body and belief alike!"
Selene would not enslave their minds. She would crush their resolve with sheer, unstoppable force.
She would send her legions across the galaxy, planet by planet, city by city, street by street—purging and burning without pause.
Not by subversion, not by mind control, but by the iron fist of conquest.
She would grind every last hope beneath her heel until they knelt—willingly.
"With so many heads to claim and titles to earn," she mused, smiling with a chilling sweetness, "the Star Wars colonies will never lack for garrison assignments. Perhaps the competition for postings will even spark a few internal brawls among the military."
"This will be an excellent training ground."
With that dangerous glimmer of satisfaction, Selene reached for a document on the nearby shelf—Minutes of the Discussion and Revised Draft on the Reorganization and Settlement Policy for A–13 Grand Sector Space Marine Chapters.
"Training?" Sebas echoed, watching her with realization dawning. Seeing the unfinished draft in her hand, his furrowed brow finally eased. "Ah, I see. A world rich in supernatural energy fields and also a highly developed technological civilization that has entered the interstellar age?"
"Precisely," Selene replied with a faint smile. "A civilization that has not merely entered the interstellar age, but has thrived in it for millennia—mature, ancient, and diverse beyond measure. As for the myriad petty nations scattered across the stars? They are beneath notice."
Her gaze drifted for a moment, contemplative. "Though I wonder... will it be the Old Galactic Federation era—or the time of the Empire?"
Sebas asked, "Have you chosen the forces to dispatch? Based on your stated standard of equivalence, the Inquisition's military power alone may prove insufficient. Overcommitting forces from other expansion fronts could compromise those campaigns. Are you planning to assign one of the Adeptus Astartes Legions to this war?"
The Inquisition, after all, was not a military body—it specialized in internal affairs, purges, security, and intelligence. Its fleets and exploratory arms were only auxiliary.
They could handle small systems or local uprisings, but to fight a galactic-scale campaign of conquest and occupation? That required a very different hand.
Selene's lips curved upward, her crimson eyes gleaming with cunning. "No. I do not intend to deploy my Legions. I intend to deploy my Chapters."
"Reorganize while we fight," she said softly, "and refit in sequence."
Breaking apart over a thousand Space Marine Chapters for large-scale restructuring was cumbersome and wasteful. It would erode their brotherhood, disrupt established doctrines, and demand retraining from scratch.
By the 41st Millennium, the Space Marines had long forgotten the tactics of their Legion ancestors. They excelled not in grand formations but in elite, rapid-strike operations.
"Sebas," Selene continued, "send those thousand-odd Chapters to support your Inquisition's expansion fleets. As for auxiliary and servant garrisons, I will allocate portions accordingly. The reformation of the former Imperial Navy's void forces cannot be allowed to stagnate. They will rotate in and out—training as they fight."
"And as for the one to oversee and anchor the campaign..."
Her smile deepened into something beautiful—and terrifying.
"I will send the Imperial Guard."
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