Chapter 19The Ursh Empire
"Sigh… if not for the Emperor's appointment, I might still be a minor functionary in some provincial bureau. Not that such a life would be terrible… but serving as Imperial Chancellor offers far more freedom — and far greater burdens…"
Now bearing the newly granted title of Vice-Emperor, Yuki found herself under Malcador's relentless tutelage in matters of governance.
She stared at the towering stacks of parchment slates and data-scrolls, her vision swimming.
"Uncle Ma… are these all the matters that need to be handled today?"
Malcador did not even look up.
"No. That is only the index. You must retrieve the corresponding files from the archive chamber before you begin."
"…Waaah…"
This was the cost of ruling a pre-galactic empire.
Petitions, compliance reports, grain tallies, labor levies, reconstruction plans, tithe projections — all arrived in physical form. Every decree required authentication seals. Every requisition required verification. Nothing could simply be delegated to an autonomous cogitator network; the Imperium's administrative machine was still in its infancy.
Yuki could not begin to imagine the bureaucratic weight of an empire spanning the stars.
Lacking the Emperor's prodigious mental partitioning or Malcador's psychic multitasking, she labored for three consecutive days.
On the fourth day, she was carried out of the Hall of Governance, muttering incomprehensible syllables while scribes and attendants exchanged worried glances.
The Emperor's face remained stern throughout.
Malcador alone could tell he was suppressing amusement.
"My lord," a Custodian announced, entering the chamber clad in auramite plate, "the western frontier has been struck by forces of the Ursh hegemony. Our troops repelled the incursion, but reconnaissance indicates significant troop concentrations. A renewed offensive is likely."
The Emperor's eyes hardened.
"Summon the First Legion of the Legiones Astartes. Recall all Thunder Warrior cohorts not engaged in eastern pacification. I will take command personally."
The Ursh Empire remained the most troublesome power on Terra.
They possessed little of the relic technology hoarded by other techno-barbarian states. Yet their immense manpower reserves and the widespread deployment of crude but effective psi-amplification engines had inflicted repeated casualties upon Imperial forces.
Previous clashes had ended in stalemate.
Now the Imperium had grown strong enough.
This thorn would be removed.
"And when the Princess has recovered," the Emperor added, "send her to the front."
Yuki: Am I a draft animal now?
Emperor: Not that kind.
Inside the command pavilion, Yuki studied intelligence scrolls.
"Well?" the Emperor asked, examining the defensive map.
"Father, do you want an aggressive strategy… or a conservative one?"
"Present both."
"The aggressive one is you conquering them alone. The conservative one is you bringing an army while you do it."
A faint pulse throbbed at the Emperor's temple.
Yuki felt her proposal was entirely reasonable. Why leave a living apocalypse unused while soldiers bled?
"Dad, the intelligence is incomplete. We need probing assaults to expose their real strength. But we lack the numbers to pressure them. To force their hand, we must deploy elite assets."
She looked up.
"Tell me — do you possess any combat asset more decisive than yourself?"
Silence.
"Logically, shouldn't you be the final hammer? And you want to use that hammer for reconnaissance?"
Silence.
"…Should I assign Uncle Waldo?"
The Emperor simply looked at her.
"…Haha. You want me to do it?"
Silence.
"…If you keep doing this, you'll lose me."
Silence.
"…Fine! I'll go!" (╥﹏╥)
At the front, Yuki stood upon an elevated ridge, gazing across the vast mustering grounds of the Ursh host.
Their numbers dwarfed even the Iron Man legions of the Pacific conflict. Yet their forces were mortal infantry supported by primitive armored columns and psi-resonance projectors. Aside from sheer mass and disruptive psychic discharges, they lacked decisive technological superiority.
Yuki drew her twin blades, inspecting her new wargear.
The Emperor's newly forged armor was superior in every aspect.
It was lighter yet stronger, contoured to her frame, engraved with the twin-headed aquila. Instead of a traditional power pack, its reactors were layered through the armor's structure. Damage to any single section would not cripple its output. The rear assembly accommodated the articulation of her three pairs of wings.
Her swords pleased her most.
Each blade hummed within a disruption field capable of severing molecular bonds. They could cleave ceramite, plasteel, or bone with equal indifference. More importantly, they would not shatter under her strength.
If she were not in such a foul mood, she would already be testing them.
"Heartless old man… I hope you step in something unpleasant."
The Custodians behind her froze.
Was that… permissible speech?
After brief consideration, they decided it was.
The Emperor's regard for Yuki was… exceptional.
Who else could jest with Him?
Who else could scold Him without reprisal?
Who else had been named Vice-Emperor?
Clearly, this fell outside standard reporting parameters.
After Lady Astartes' previous outburst, the Emperor had dispatched ten Custodians to accompany Yuki. She remained unconvinced whether they were assigned to protect her… or the enemy from her.
"Come," Yuki said. "Let's review the battle plan."
She suddenly reached into the shadows and caught the wrist of an Astartes attempting to remain unseen.
"Mom gave me a new snack. You can try it."
Alpharius experienced both joy and existential dread.
The joy: no matter what identity he assumed, his sister always recognized him. She would draw him aside, speak gently, press food into his hands — treats from the mother he had never known.
Those small moments were the warmest in his life.
Malcador was demanding.
The Emperor was distant.
Duty required silence.
Only Yuki treated him like family.
The dread: he was an intelligence operative. Every identity he wore was fabricated. Yet the Vice-Emperor repeatedly chose him from among thousands.
Now officers across the legion were investigating this unknown warrior favored by the Princess.
But the identities were false. Investigation meant exposure.
He had already changed identities dozens of times.
Perhaps it would be safer to avoid her.
Perhaps.
Yet somehow he always found himself near her.
A snack in his hand.
Her voice in his ear.
Warmth in a life of shadows.
He looked up at her bright smile.
…This is enough.
This is enough.