Chapter 211: How to Solve Internal Problems
"That's why we have to break the monopoly," Karna said, nodding in agreement. He understood the gravity of the situation. Resources, technology, military power—every single one was firmly in the hands of a few factions. They had to tear open a breach.
"If you think it's okay, then I'll sign it."
"Non-military diplomatic matters go to Romulus," Arthur replied.
"I've already asked them all."
"Then it's settled."
"Good. While there are a lot of pilgrim ships here, I'll go ahead and close out the first few orders."
Without the support of a dedicated production world, they had to find another way. Psycho-materialization had become the most convenient alternative for now. Although it was more expensive than setting up production lines and manufacturing items over time, it could at least solve their immediate needs. Thanks to the Ecclesiarchy's immense wealth, the equipment they currently required was all high-end, such as haptic feedback armour. The quality of psycho-materialized items was acceptable for such orders. If the Imperial Navy or a Rogue Trader fleet came knocking, they'd be out of luck. The cost of materializing that much inefficient mass was too high.
But these were problems that could be solved later. Once they had officially taken control of their sector, everything would get on the right track. The four of them were walking industrial mother-constructs. As long as they could train enough skilled workers, ramping up production was just a matter of time.
"Also, the conference has confirmed that our base of operations will be in the central Ultima Segmentum, in what is now called the Dawnlight Sector," Karna said, pulling out another document. It was a partial consensus on the Mechanicus issue reached between Romulus and the High Lords' representatives. "The Mechanicus is probably going to give us trouble over there."
The galaxy had long suffered under the Adeptus Mechanicus. Although the High Lords' council had backed down, the Ecclesiarchy's leanings sent a clear message. At the very least, the Ecclesiarchy hoped the four Primarchs would win this contest. Of course, they were also confident that they could afford to lose. After all, they were the only organization on the High Council to have ever caused a large-scale Imperial civil war. During the Age of Apostasy, Goge Vandire had seized absolute power and thrown the Imperium into chaos, causing destruction that far surpassed Abaddon's first twelve Black Crusades. Yet, not only had the Ecclesiarchy not declined, but its position had become even more solid.
As for why the Ecclesiarchy could always maintain its grip on important Imperial departments through all its ups and downs, the reason was simple. In this damned universe, the vast majority of Imperial citizens truly could only survive on faith.
But the Ecclesiarchy was not idle. As per Romulus's request, they had already begun to relocate the convents in the Ultima Segmentum that trained Dialogus and Famulous sisters to the shrine worlds of the Dawnlight Sector. These sisters, having undergone rigorous education and loyalty training, were the best possible candidates for grassroots civil service.
"As expected," Arthur said, running through various contingency plans in his mind. If they wanted to develop independently of the Mechanicus, then conflict in the future was inevitable. The Dawnbreakers would not accept a techno-warlord within their territory, and the Mechanicus would not allow its increasingly solid position, held for ten thousand years, to be challenged.
And the High Lords were fanning the flames. On one hand, they hoped the Primarchs could tear a hole in the Mechanicus's monopoly. On the other hand, because the Imperium was now reliant on the Mechanicus in almost every aspect, they could only provide all support except actual, material support. Oh, they could provide people. The Imperium had so many people that the High Lords had never really valued them.
Karna took the opportunity to flip through the various plans. After all, he would be the one leading the troops when the time came. After reading, he couldn't help but suck in a cold breath. "Are we going to be farming or fighting?"
"We'll do both," Arthur replied flatly.
"I feel like you're losing your sense of humor."
"The humor module is currently occupied by the work-system module," Arthur said, closing the coded text. The metal clasp made a sharp click. He looked up at Karna, his face a mask of indifference. "I am very busy. I have no time for humor."
"That deadpan delivery of a dry joke is still pretty potent," Karna said. He knew the pressure Arthur was under. He had always been the one to provide the safety net, and now he had to lead the scattered remnants of the First Legion and prepare for a potential showdown with the Mechanicus.
"Ah, the First Legion..." Karna's tone was tinged with a hint of mockery. For ten thousand years, those hands, both seen and unseen, that had spread with the Imperium's expansion, had been greedily seizing the wealth that belonged to all of humanity. The Dark Angels had been given an important mission by the Emperor, to be the Sword of Damocles hanging over the head of the Mechanicus. But they had broken it themselves after only a few swings. The current Dark Angels, aside from knowing how to use the forbidden technology in their vaults and hunting the Fallen across the galaxy, had to send their own Techmarines to Mars for training. They had completely forgotten their mission.
They had, however, successfully completed the Imperium's transition from "rarely" to "never" cracking down on the privileged class, to "protecting" and even "condoning" it. This had allowed this cancer to grow rapidly on its own body. If the Lion had made just one right move during the entire Great Heresy, they would not be facing this situation now.
In the past, when he had read various works of literature, he could always find excuses for the characters, to say that it was for the sake of the plot, to complain that the author didn't understand reality. But now, he was really in the story. Looking at these tangled messes that you couldn't cut, that threatened to strangle you, sometimes he really wanted to just throttle the demigods who had caused it all. This mess wasn't supposed to be their responsibility. And now, after fighting the bugs, they had to start clearing mines within the Imperium.
"It will get better," Arthur said, standing up. After Calgar and the representatives of the various successor chapters had submitted their opinions, he presented another document. On the Establishment of a Training Framework for Librarians, Apothecaries, Techmarines, and Other Specialist Units.
"Er, my Lord," Calgar said, flipping through the series of tables. "Isn't this a bit... too obvious?"
What's the difference between this and just slapping the Mechanicus in the face?
"They do not care if I am subtle or not. They only care if I am strong," Arthur replied. How else am I supposed to get this violent institution of the Space Marines on my side? If a Primarch doesn't even try to win over the Space Marines, the extension of their own will, why would they be willing to fight for you?
Arthur continued to give the various Chapters a chance to discuss, and to gather their opinions. The Astartes communicated with each other with their usual efficiency. The main point was for Arthur to explain the details of the training process. For example, whether Techmarines who had been trained on Mars and believed in the Omnissiah would be allowed to undergo re-training, or whether there were any faith requirements for the trainees.
The Dawnbreakers believed in teaching all who came, regardless of their background. As long as they would fight for humanity and remained loyal, they were welcome.
'I hope Zahariel and the others can be ready soon,' Arthur thought to himself. He had always felt that using the Astartes purely as weapons was a great waste. And to use the First Legion as a weapon was a waste of a waste. The First Legion was a truly comprehensive template. There was so much they could do. Genetics, industry, research.
Starting with the Space Marines, the faction they could most easily win over, the Dawnbreakers had to facilitate a complete decoupling of the forces under their control from the Adeptus Mechanicus.
In the conference hall, Romulus observed the expressions of the delegates. They all showed surprise, as if they were shocked by the Dawnbreakers' plan to completely disregard the Mechanicus.
They're all going to feel the iron fist sooner or later. The Mechanicus, the local nobles, and most of the institutions within the Imperium. These monopolies must be brought under the control of a strong government to play the role they are supposed to play.
Romulus recalled the faces of the children, and a smile touched his lips.
'I knew it,' Huron thought, looking at the series of training plans. It was a clear intention to liberate the Space Marines, and indeed all of humanity, from the shackles of a single monopoly and place them under the centralized management of a Primarch-level power. He couldn't help but smile.
Centralization. What a beautiful word. Countless ambitious men had tried and failed. And now, the Primarchs were exploring, combining the existing conditions, constantly searching for a new path.
What was his little scheme in comparison? This was the work of truly great men.
"It seems it will be some time before it can be practically applied."
Inside a towering metal structure, the Grand Master of the Dark Angels' Ironwing, Zahariel, stared at the massive engine before him. The engine took up almost the entire aft storage section of a battleship.
"It will be completed, no matter how long it takes," Cawl said, calculating the engine's data.
The T'au Empire's Slipstream Module, developed with guidance from the Squats, was still in its infancy. Although there was a theoretical prototype based on the principles, it was still a long way from practical application. He looked at the engine, and a strange feeling told him that he was creating something new. Ten years? Ten thousand years? You never know how long it will take. True exploration is not bound by time. As the ancient sages said, the journey itself is the reward.
But his colleagues in the priesthood had long forgotten this. They feared innovation and were obsessed with replication, yet they constantly made mistakes in the process of replication. They had only a partial understanding of what they were copying, but they never thought to create something new.
'But I create,' the thought echoed in his complex thought-process. Anything can be improved. If it cannot be improved, then something better should be created. This should be the primary driving force of human technology. His colleagues were always lamenting lost knowledge, spending their entire lives excavating the relics of the past. But they did not understand. In the long dark ages, the most precious thing humanity had lost was not STC templates or ancient technology, but the spirit of exploration and research. Without it, science ceases to exist.
Those ignorant priests would never understand this, and would kill him for saying so. But there were always those who were different. Cawl's gaze swept over the complex energy conduits on the engine's surface, where a faint blue fluorescence pulsed.
At the other end of this iron temple, the first batch of specialist-training Space Marines, along with the most outstanding technical workers from within the Dawnlight Fleet, were gathering. Under the systematic organization of the Dark Angels, they were beginning a long-term training program. And on more ships, the ever-improving educational system that had been in place since their first meeting was still running smoothly, continuously producing high-quality personnel for the fleet.
The four Primarchs were forging a new order.
If, at the beginning, Cawl had held some resentment towards the Dawnbreakers as technology thieves, he had now let it go. Because everything he created would not gather dust in their hands, would not be lost with his death.
'They, too, are creating.'
Cawl's mechanical eye contracted slightly, permanently recording this moment in his core memory. This would be the beginning. And in the future, from the moment they once again stepped out into the stars, there would be continuous challenges. Would the iron fist of the conservatives continue to control the Imperium, or would these innovative souls be able to forge a new path?
Let him see who would win this time.
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