Kenthelion on Planet Vortex Primus
Kenthelion walked slowly through the temporary city on Planet Vortex Primus. Behind him, Kahn followed loyally, flanked by Great Mentors and assassins from the Secret Tribunal, who silently kept watch.
"Humans... are remarkably resilient," Kenthelion murmured as he observed children playing at the roadside.
They laughed without a care, unaware of the danger and darkness beyond their little world. Kenthelion sighed. Humans may be fragile-easily broken, easily wounded-but within that fragility lay something no other race possessed: intellect, wisdom, and unmatched courage. The hymn of mankind... is the hymn of bravery.
Now, all the slaves that had been rescued were relocated to Vortex Primus. Life on the planet was progressing according to plan. Stormtroopers occasionally took on the role of police, while the Inquisition maintained order among the human population. Everything was moving in a promising direction.
The Loyal Academy had been established as a center for elite education. Most of its graduates would go on to serve the Imperium Caelestis division-as Political Commissars, Stormtroopers, or other essential roles.
Orphans who had been mutilated by alien forces were now given the opportunity to become the first batch of students in this second universe Kenthelion had opened. Here, they would be taught how to wield weapons and behead heretics and xenos who dared threaten humanity.
However, one challenge still weighed heavily: state religion.
Since Kenthelion had begun summoning forces from various universes, he attempted to build a semi-idealistic religious system. Yet, the more he tried to replicate the model of the Imperium of Man, the more it resembled a heretical cult.
In the end, Kenthelion had little choice but to allocate plots of land in every conquered universe, so that these institutions could operate independently.
Now, all that remained was to finalize plans to strike at the capital of the Bloodmaw Empire and sever the head of its emperor.
The one thing a war maniac like Kenthelion could never do... was wait.
Humanity's living space was now too narrow.
They needed more room to live.
The Emperor of the Fleet Prepares for War
The Emperor of the Fleet was preparing for a great war. Battle plans were being drawn up by the Supreme Commander, Castellan Ursarkar E. Creed, alongside his three trusted admirals: Speyer, Jim Raynor, and Matt Horner.
Castellan stood tall in the war room, facing Kenthelion as he spoke:
"Your Majesty, the four of us propose that we first seize this planet-and the surrounding systems."
With a motion of his hand, the Castellan activated the star map. A grim, fortified planet appeared as a holographic projection above the conference table.
"This is Zhurmok-an industrial world under the Bloodmaw Empire, housing trillions of their troops. Once the war begins, if we can't cut off their supply lines and weapon shipments from this planet, we risk being dragged into a prolonged conflict. That is our assessment, Your Majesty."
His report was brief, sharp, and deadly.
Kenthelion understood that a drawn-out war was humanity's greatest weakness. Human bodies were too frail to endure endless battles. If he wanted to destroy the Bloodmaw Empire completely, then the Zhurmok star system had to be captured-and annihilated.
"Castellan, deploy the forces. Issue an extermination order for Planet Zhurmok. Admiral Speyer will lead the operation," Kenthelion commanded firmly.
"And Raynor," he continued, "focus your troops on rescuing any surviving humans on Zhurmok and in nearby systems. Prioritize evacuation."
After weighing all factors, Kenthelion made his final decision.
To destroy Planet Zhurmok entirely was the safest-and most cost-effective-choice for now.
The Castellan bowed respectfully.
"Understood, Your Majesty the Emperor."