Chapter 29 — A Long and Arduous Journey
Long before humanity crawled from the cradle of Terra, the galaxy had already burned.
In an age lost to myth, the Ancient Ones waged war against the Star Gods of the material universe. Entire star systems were annihilated. Suns were extinguished. Reality itself fractured beneath the scale of the conflict.
In the end, the Star Gods were shattered, and the Ancient Ones vanished.
Their greatest creations endured.
Among them were the Eldar.
Using the remnants of Ancient One technology, the Eldar forged a civilization of unimaginable power. Their empire spanned the stars and ruled the galaxy unchallenged.
They resembled humans in form — but not in nature.
Their bodies were stronger.
Their minds sharper.
Their souls blazed in the Warp like bonfires.
Where a human soul flickered like a dim ember, an Eldar soul burned like a beacon.
Freed from labor by advanced technology, they pursued sensation, art, pleasure, and experience without restraint. Over millennia, indulgence became obsession. Obsession became excess. Excess became depravity.
Violence, spectacle, and sensation replaced restraint.
The psychic resonance of their excess echoed within the Warp.
Desire accumulated.
Ecstasy and agony coiled together.
Something began to stir.
At last, with a psychic scream that echoed through the minds of every Eldar across the galaxy, the Dark Prince was born.
Slaanesh.
In that instant, reality itself tore open at the heart of the Eldar Empire. Warp rifts devoured entire worlds. Countless Eldar souls were dragged screaming into the newborn god's hunger.
The empire collapsed overnight.
A handful survived.
They would forever flee the gaze of She Who Thirsts.
For humanity, the birth of Slaanesh brought unintended salvation.
The Warp storms that had isolated human worlds for millennia dissipated.
The pathways between stars reopened.
The Emperor's fleets stood ready.
The Starlight beacon burned within the Warp.
And in His name, the Great Crusade began.
Into the Void
The Imperial Wing cut through the darkness between stars, escorted by battle barges and strike cruisers.
Because Yuki's Legion was small, the Emperor had granted her exceptional authority:
unrestricted recruitment rights
operational command flexibility
authority to coordinate multi-Legion deployments
Within the flagship, however, the atmosphere was… unusual.
A Lesson in Diplomacy
"All right, turn to page sixteen," Yuki said, tapping the board.
"Don't Lose Because You Can't Express Yourself."
Three hundred Astartes sat in orderly rows like students.
"Children," she continued, "your diplomatic conduct two days ago disappointed your mother greatly."
Two days earlier, the fleet had reached a human-ruled world.
While Yuki remained in orbit, she dispatched a small Astartes delegation to conduct negotiations.
The negotiations escalated into a firefight.
Company Captain Kadis stood.
"Mother, they said they coexist peacefully with aliens and refuse to exterminate them. That is unacceptable. We argued. Then we fought."
The rest nodded vigorously.
"We did nothing wrong."
Yuki pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Could you not have de-escalated first? Explained Imperial doctrine? Called for reinforcement?"
She exhaled.
"If they had possessed stronger technology, I might have lost you."
Hundreds of guilt-ridden eyes stared back at her.
She waved a hand.
"Class dismissed. Just… be more careful."
"LONG LIVE MOM! ≧▽≦"
The Astartes rushed out like students released for holiday.
They were headed for the athletic deck.
The Rising Sun Angels maintained far more leisure activities than other Legions.
A ball match was about to begin.
The Vice-Emperor's Burden
Yuki returned to her quarters.
It was the largest chamber aboard the Imperial Wing.
Yet it contained only:
a bed
a table
floor-to-ceiling bookshelves
Books filled every wall.
This was not scholarly enthusiasm.
This was punishment.
The Emperor had entrusted her with a task few Primarchs would envy:
designing the administrative, economic, and legal framework of the Imperium.
The Crusade conquered worlds daily.
Conquest was simple.
Governance was not.
At present, compliance often meant:
plant the Aquila
collect tribute
leave a garrison
move on
Local economies, legal systems, and cultures remained incompatible.
Unsustainable.
"If this continues," Yuki muttered, writing furiously, "trade will collapse before unity begins."
She was working to:
standardize currency across compliant worlds
establish interoperable taxation systems
develop administrative frameworks adaptable to local cultures
prevent economic fragmentation
Victory in war was immediate.
Victory in governance required centuries.
A knock sounded.
"Mom?"
Eusonis stepped inside.
"Why aren't you at the game?" Yuki asked.
He shook his head.
"No need to watch. We already know who will win."
The Rising Sun Angels were organized into four companies of 120, plus a 20-man Primordial Guard. Their small size made internal competitions… predictable.
Eusonis picked up a book and sat quietly on her bed.
He had once idolized the Princess from afar.
Now he understood her burden.
His admiration had only deepened.
He could not help her.
So he stayed.
Silently.
Time passed.
Pages turned.
Ink dried.
"Eusonis," she said at last, taking the book gently from his hands, "time to rest."
"Are you resting too, Mother?"
"Of course. Tomorrow we attack an alien world. Sleep well so we can claim it for the Empire."
"Goodnight, Mom."
He closed the door softly.
Yuki immediately opened another book.
"A long and arduous journey…" she murmured.
The Crusade Advances
The Imperial war machine rolled onward.
World after world fell into compliance.
Human polities submitted.
Xenos empires were destroyed.
Trade routes reopened.
The Imperium expanded like a rising tide.
One day, while Yuki negotiated with a human federation, a psychic signal pierced her thoughts.
The Emperor.
"Come to the coordinates I am sending," His voice said.
"Return to Terra with me."
A pause.
"I have found one of your brothers."