Chapter 235: Let the Battle Begin
While Ramesses was busy showing the denizens of the 40k universe the wonders of psycho-materialization, the evacuation of Pioneer III was in full swing.
The surface launch conditions on Pioneer III were extremely hostile. The constantly changing climate and terrain made space exploration a disaster. But fortunately, the Imperium's powerful terraforming technology compensated for this. The Dawnbreakers, using gravity-traction devices capable of dragging stellar fragments, anchored the continental shelf of a plain, forcibly creating a stable launch site.
The Dawnlight Fleet did not have enough transport ships to accommodate three hundred million people, but the Imperium's terrifying construction technology, which could churn out a Lunar-class cruiser, the Lord Daros, on a feral world in less than eleven years, made up for this. After making hermetic modifications to the various mobile city modules, these "temporary ecumenopolis-ships," detached from the main body of the mobile cities and averaging about two kilometers in length, were sent into outer space via a temporarily constructed space elevator.
Two weeks later.
A record player played soothing music, and the smell of coffee filled the air. People came and went, all craning their necks to look curiously at the universe outside the viewport. For many of them, this was the first time they had observed the planet that had nurtured them from space.
"Is everything ready?" Romulus asked, approaching Russell, who was holding a cup of hot water and staring blankly at the planet ahead.
"Yes. We've abandoned everything we could. The remaining data has all been backed up. Most people are enthusiastic about being able to set foot in the stars," Russell said, composing himself and trying to sound calm.
Romulus looked at the transport ship in the distance, which was only a fifth the size of the Dawnlight. He saw the double-headed Aquila that had just been welded onto the outer sealed steel plates, and for a moment, he was filled with emotion. The Imperium seemed clumsy and backward. Okay, not just "seemed." But in terms of raw numbers and industrial might, the Imperium never had to worry.
"How is the module compatibility?"
"They're compatible. But the Archmagos also advised us not to use the A.I. that originated from the ruins. It's too easily hacked by the other party. Our scientists have also been re-tracing its origins recently. This is the specific research plan the council has just formulated..." Russell was a technocrat, and he knew his science. After speaking, he paused for a moment, then thought of something else and pointed to the transport fleet outside. "Should we rename the mobile cities? Something like New Hope or New Pioneer?"
Your naming sense is worrying. Romulus liked this relaxed atmosphere. It showed that the local human population's living conditions and mental health were in good shape. Like on Macragge. When those people saw an Inquisitor like Aglaia, their first reaction wasn't to run, but to crowd around and observe, as if looking at a rare animal.
"Let's not rush the renaming. If all goes well, your ships will need to be put back," Romulus said, watching as a stellar fragment was towed closer by the relic-class cruiser Silent Vow. The viewport automatically adjusted its tint.
Sometimes it really felt abstract. The Imperium clearly had no A.I., yet it could create glass that could filter light according to the spectrum of different stars, to ensure that the humans inside the warship could always observe the outside. A normal computer probably couldn't even perform such a complex calculation. One could only say that life in the Warhammer universe was full of black technology.
He then shook his head, pushing these thoughts aside. It was time for serious military strategy. "Has the population census been completed?"
"It has."
"Can the transport fleet complete its warp jump in time?" he asked Captain Aurora.
"They need to enter deep space to initiate the jump."
"Then lead the transport fleet away first," Romulus said, explaining to Russell. "The transport fleet will approach the Mandeville Point. Under the Archmagos's command, we will provide fire coverage for the Star God."
A C'tan was not invincible, especially a shard. They were indeed the personification of the laws of the material universe, but their existence was more like the valve of a faucet. The trickle they produced was not necessarily a match for the heavy flow of a ship's cannon. The plasma fragments being towed by the ships were for the purpose of powering the Nova Cannons of the battleships.
Of course, the strength of the shards varied greatly. Take the Tyranid invasion of Baal, for example. The Necron Anrakyr the Traveller had released a shard of the Burning One, Nyadra'zatha, to fight the swarm. That shard had been relatively weak. A single attack could only destroy one Swarmlord. Romulus felt he could have taken it down on his own.
But the battle between the Mechanicus and the Necrons in the Orphean Sector was terrifying. Both sides had used their trump cards. You bring a Transcendent C'tan shard, I bring a black hole bomb. All sorts of ultimate weapons were thrown at each other, and the impact zone had covered nearly an entire sector.
"Excuse me, can we send representatives to observe?" Russell asked cautiously. The atmosphere within the Dawnlight Fleet was quite good. And Romulus had not hidden their technology. The officers who were piloting the ships had not shown any refusal to be observed by the Human Federation's scientists.
"Of course," Romulus nodded. "Ramesses." He then contacted his companion, who was below, formulating a plan with the Preservers.
"I'm done on my end. I expect to be in a ready-response phase in thirteen hours," he said.
"No problem on my end either," Ramesses replied, who was currently having Trazyn show him how to use the 'Poké Ball.' "Prepare a three-cubic-kilometer empty area. I will send the Preservers up after the mission begins."
"Good." Between the question and answer, Romulus already had a rough outline in his mind. He calculated the time, and estimated all possible futures.
Even the Dawnbreakers, who had their own biases towards the various races, felt nothing but pure disgust for the C'tan. The Necrons were also a piece of work, but that race was a tragedy from its very inception. Their home star was 'poisonous' because a C'tan had taken up residence there. This poison was deep in their bones. Even after leaving their homeworld and seeking the help of the Old Ones, it could not be changed. In the end, it had driven them down a path that would lead to the extinction of both themselves and their enemies.
And the C'tan... they messed with the universe for no reason of their own. They just thought it was fun. For example, souls. They were actually useless to them, but they ate them because they thought they tasted good. From this perspective, they were even worse than the four stinking piles in the warp.
So in the Dawnbreakers' view, the C'tan, the Four Gods, and the current decaying Imperium were all enemies. It was just a matter of priority.
The existence of the Human Federation had already proven that the humans of this universe had hope. Perhaps right now, in the countless hive cities, in the minds of countless humans, there was a spark of pioneering spirit, waiting for someone to ignite it. But the warp would not allow it to exist. Those monsters and demons would not allow it to exist. Whether for survival, for plunder, or simply for fun, they would pour their malice equally on all life, and make everyone sink deeper and deeper into the universe's malice.
If the Dawnbreakers wanted to change all this, but did not have the ability to protect this flame of hope, what right did they have to seek the support of humanity, to criticize humanity for having lost hope? So we need more power. We need the power to contend with all the monsters and demons. Because the weapon of criticism can never replace the criticism of weapons.
The warp had a ready-made, fully viable case study. Karna's path, aside from the worry of having his personality taken over, was not much to worry about. Next was the material universe. And there was no being that could better represent the power of the material universe than a C'tan. But there were no examples. The C'tan were very unique. They were the only beings in this universe that had no warp-projection, yet still possessed consciousness. Just like the Dawnbreakers, who relied on pure bio-electrical activity and, aside from their derivatives, had no connection between their life itself and the warp.
So trying to seize the power of the material universe was very dangerous. Because there were no examples, and it was not certain if it would succeed. But the plan was complete, and the final safety net was in place. This opportunity was too good to miss.
Next, it all depended on Arthur. Or rather, them—whether they could kill a Star God, whether they could master the power of a Star God.
Time passed, second by second. Romulus watched the ever-changing planet before him, communicating with Ramesses, the calculations in his mind never stopping. He did not know if this attempt would succeed. But he had to be cautious, to use everything he had to ensure the plan was carried out completely. He would do his best.
When the trail of the transport fleet had disappeared at the edge of the star system, a resonant voice rang out.
"Drakus."
"Here!" The Invictarus Suzerain, who had been on standby, closed in.
Romulus looked at Drakus and ordered, "Get me the Archmagos."
An invisible wave of energy went out. In the clear da-da-da sound, free from warp interference, he glanced one last time at the designated strike marker. As the tremor of the charging Nova Cannon began, he couldn't help but clench his fists.
Let's see if we are worthy.
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