-M.29.671. Prometheus Arcology-
Gax eyed the giant holovids at the center of the command room. A follow-up attack plan for the Reckoning had been systematically formulated, aiming to secure all strategic points in Sadera.
The list had been drawn up and prioritized based on population concentration, resource scarcity, and strategic location along trade routes. With Zorzal's declaration of war and purge, coupled with the successful rescue of various noble families and pro-peace senators—creating legitimacy for their next move—they now needed Pina's approval.
"What have we learned from our informants in Zorzal's circle?" Gax asked, his voice echoing throughout the chamber.
"Our intelligence indicates that with the disappearance of the opposition senators, Zorzal has launched a major mobilization. He is using the royal treasury to bribe and pay numerous mercenaries and the most powerful mages he can find. He is also expanding his military infrastructure. His intentions are clear: total war," replied a Solar Guardian beside him.
"I want deepstrike deployments at all crucial crossing points in Sadera. With the senators' allegiance, we can use it as leverage to force their surrender," Gax declared. "But if anything goes wrong, I want a swift decapitation strike, with minimal loss of life."
Immediately, all Solar Guardians directly connected to UR-982 used various instruments linked to their WAR-CASTERs to prepare contingencies and coordinate strategic and logistical flows. Meanwhile, the Ferrous Mind began an impossible calibration of its entire physical structure, constructing adequate infrastructure for the coming battle. Its sensors scanned across the entire expanse of Falmart's immaterial and material structure. This planet's fall into the Warp was considered low enough to avoid unwanted destruction. Albeit now, time and space dilatation had fallen into instability.
"Colonel," UR-982 called to him directly within his mind. "I am detecting several space-time anomalies bordering our deepstrike coordinates. Preventative action required."
As it finished, the Ferrous Mind sent Gax a blueprint of its proposal. The transhuman read it with impossible speed, analyzing and synthesizing an entirely new, methodically sound course of action.
"Very well," Gax replied. "Do we have our heavies ready?"
"Three dozen Armiger-class titans stand ready for immediate deployment. Multiple locations selected for deepstrike insertion. Additional reality anchors required." UR-982 assessed, sharing its findings and data across the Noosphere, making them accessible to all within the command center. Every coordinate, precaution, countless possible actions, and every synthetic solution were presented with cold, factual precision.
"Contact our assets in the field," Gax commanded.
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-Frontline. Eastern Sadera-
Doulson, Solar Guardian Captain of the 12th Falmartian Company, scanned the vast expanse of forest before him. In recent days he had recorded massive deforestation across this region. Following deliberate infiltration via his drones, it was revealed that acres upon acres of land were being used by Zorzal for war infrastructure—steelworks and war machines.
A small city had been erected months prior, funded by a dozen warmongering senators who held Zorzal's back. His grudge against the Japanese and the Imperium ran deep, which fell precisely within the logic mechanisms devised by his superiors. Doulson spotted a dozen ogres and thousands of heavily armored men guarding that city. Moreover, his psychic readings detected several mages stationed near highly concentrated magical items and weapon stores.
After transmitting his findings, Gax instructed him to monitor every logistical movement of Zorzal's army. Within his helmet, he could see every front he must seize should the order arrive. However, their policy dictated restrained firepower on feudal worlds or below.
"Execute Protocol 311." A command from the Ferrous Mind entered his mind.
"Compliance." Thus he transmitted the command protocol to every unit under his command, be they flesh or steel. Countless data surged through the Noosphere, exchanging war procedures and confirmations.
"Light them up." With that, a second sun was born beneath the daylight.
Plasma and Adrathic light erupted across the location, burning and disintegrating all in their path. With inhuman precision, they fired their weapons. None were spared. They left the place a barren land of molten stone and forest ash.
"Target eliminated. Proceed with next phase." After confirming his success, the Prometheus command center transmitted another set of invasion protocols and matrices.
"I have detected high temporal instability concentration here. I recommend planting a reality anchor," suggested a member of the Arcant Praefator. His human tone made clear that he had spent his early years within the organization.
"Suggestion accepted."
Upon the scorched earth, an automaton placed an intricate machine upon four legs, crowned with a shimmering blue crystal. At a single command, it activated, emitting a hum that vibrated the very fabric of space and time around it.
"I have marked it as a hotpoint should the Downfall Scenario occur," the Arcant Praefator stated.
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Overius was currently coordinating his army to sabotage a mining operation at Lomus Mountain. It was where Zorzal and his men extracted their mithril ore. Research conducted by the Psycant Astra had revealed that mithril held warp qualities within it.
"As we predicted." A psyker near him spoke. "This mine, deep underground, bears a significant presence of the Immaterium. It seems a tear in reality exists down there."
"Let us investigate, then. Form a group. We descend."
It did not take them long before arriving at a dead end.
"A high concentration of Immaterial energy lies beyond. Detecting a naturally sealed cave within." The psyker stated, his voice neutral.
"Open it." With a gentle touch from the psyker, the stones and rocks before him disintegrated, forging a path for them to enter.
Before them lay pulsating purple cracks; however, their condition sparked questions among the squad. Their nature as a gap in reality was undeniable. Yet their state was unnaturally stable.
"No further contamination detected. Our readings indicate it has fused with the entire mine." The details of the anomaly before him spread across his HUD in thousands of data sections. None of them indicated anything beyond his capability, for his knowledge of the Great Ocean and the reality matrix imbued into his body allowed him to read even the most chaotic warp incursion upon the Materium.
"Do as our protocol dictates. This mine must be isolated until further command." Overius stated.
"Compliance." They answered in unison.
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-Prometheus Arcology. Temporary Saderan Residence-
Raias walked along the adamantium corridors, humming with the subtle thrum of machinery that indicated the arcology's construction remained incomplete. He reached a corridor facing the outer world. As he tilted his head, Raias beheld what had been a vast expanse of dirt and grass for tens of kilometers now sheathed in layers of adamantium and black steel, forging a new surface. The industries and power plants that fueled all operations and the population of Prometheus lay beneath that skin. Hundreds of meters of iron pillars towered into the sky, adorned with design enhancements that rendered all structures upon Prometheus not merely efficient, but beautiful and pleasing to the eye. The gardens, civil works, and art infrastructure that housed them had been calculated with exacting precision—psychologically and architecturally.
Raias smiled faintly at the lively activity below. Soon he arrived at a large, circular chamber of multiple levels. Each section had been designed specifically to reflect the architecture of Saderan culture.
"Good morning, Captain Raias," Pina greeted him from nearby.
"Princess," Raias replied with a nod.
"How fares my body double?" the princess asked.
"All proceeds according to plan. His movements follow protocol, and your brother's response falls within our expectations. Now comes the time to convince the public," Raias explained, his eyes fixed upon the senators below. Thanks to his transhuman ears, he had heard every word of their conversation.
They were discussing the opportunities the Imperium offered them. They were also seeking whatever profits they might extract. As expected of a pre-industrial society. Furthermore, the matter of how Pina should be crowned Empress had to be considered, given Sadera's male-centered culture.
"Thank the gods," Pina said, rousing Raias from his eavesdropping. "My brother tends to act unpredictably. You know the saying?"
"That predicting a fool is far harder than predicting even the greatest genius?" Raias guessed, his tone light.
"Exactly." Pina chimed in, a sly smirk upon her face. "Now, we require legitimacy."
"I am certain our next phase of Operation Reckoning shall shatter Zorzal's forces and logistics. It shall require time, however." Silently, Raias read dozens of reports within his helmet. Records from the front lines streamed into his mind while his transhuman consciousness instantly synthesized his next move. In but a nanosecond, he returned to reality.
"Princess Pina. Lord Raias." A senator greeted them.
"Senator Nerva." Pina returned the greeting, bowing her head slightly in courtesy.
"When does our next session begin?" he asked.
"Perfect timing. I am here to inform you that our next session commences in two hours," Raias informed him.
"Very well." The senator replied, nodding. "I shall gather my peers."
"We shall await you here," Pina interjected, casting a quick glance at the transhuman.
Nerva withdrew from their presence, returning to the rest of the Saderan senators. Their conversations were cut abruptly as they retired to their chambers to dress.
"This meeting." Pina probed. "This is the final one, is it not?"
"Yes." His answer was simple, yet its implications ran deeper than anything in Pina's life.
"Despite it being objectively Sadera's best choice." She left her final words unspoken. Her eyes lowered, unable to meet the Solar Guardian's gaze.
"Do not let that demeanor be witnessed by your subjects." Raias reminded her. It had already been months since she had taken a central role in the Reckoning. Yet her mind still struggled to catch up with the swift reality shifting toward Imperial culture and favor.
"I know." She replied dryly.
Not long after, Nerva and all the Senators gathered before them.
"We are ready," he declared.
As they walked to the meeting chamber, the Saderan Senators still struggled to fit themselves into Imperial culture. Whenever they received gifts and explored Prometheus, wonder and greed ever lurked in their hearts, masked by a veneer of loyalty. The younger generations, however, largely held a different view. When they arrived, the preaching of the Imperium's journey was sometimes styled to suit the younger ones' perception. This had gradually captivated them. At least this relieved Pina of a portion of her mental strain.
They entered the meeting chamber where a dozen members of the Prometheus Council awaited them. Agral had taken his seat at the center, scanning the Saderan delegation with an unreadable expression. Several representatives from the demi-human communities were also present.
"Take ease. This shall be our final session before formalizing our accord." Agral began. Once all was set, the Dominator rose from his seat.
"In our last meeting, we discussed Falmart's purpose within our Imperium. It is intended to become our bastion in this new reality. Therefore, various arcologies shall be constructed within each of your fiefdoms, fully administered by the Imperium and local populations." A hologram materialized above the circular table. It displayed the entirety of Falmart's planetary surface. A dozen massive dots manifested across several locations; designations had been set and named, their purposes defined. Beyond the independent functions assigned to each—such as the Prometheus Arcology, which would serve as the industrial center and the planet's Noosphere—dozens of other arcologies would function as research centers, military strongholds, singularity generators, dimensional fabricators, and Warp-temporal engines. Thus, the planet Falmart would become a vast production hub, serving as the primary pioneer for venturing into the most perilous unknowns.
While development could occur instantaneously, given Falmart's feudal nature, such rapid change posed a significant challenge. With this in mind, SR-type Ferrous Minds were designated a priority once the conquest was secured. With a stable system and equitable distribution of resources, much of the nobility's wealth and slaves would be confiscated and freed. Bearing this in mind, the Imperium granted them positions within a rehabilitation program aimed at integrating the Saderan nobility into their new reality—a program that had already been fully implemented in Italica and across all spheres of society.
Witnessing the exemplary development in Italica, thousands of models and millions of scenarios had been estimated in the designs that had been developed, sufficient to integrate all the human cultures and customs of each region in Falmart.
The nobles' positions would be oriented toward a Garter-style technocratic structure, designed to integrate the former feudal nobility as mediators and cultural anchors of the planet. As for the demi-humans, they would be treated as abhumans within the Imperium, granted full citizen rights with all attendant benefits.
Now, the section under discussion was the division of administrative power.
"Today's session concerns how we shall secure Princess Pina's legitimacy. We possess intelligence that Emperor Molt yet lives, secured by our agents within Sadera, concealed from Zorzal and his hounds." Agral explained, while holovids before them displayed Emperor Molt's vital signs. Though stable, his readings were weak—comparable to one in a coma.
"I had thought the Emperor dead?" Senator Tyueli asked.
"We intervened at a critical moment. Through our capabilities, Zorzal and the Japanese believe the Emperor truly perished. We may use this to our advantage," Agral replied.
"What of the Japanese?" Nerva inquired.
"Based upon reports from our Ambassador and our assets, we have determined their intelligence remains severely limited. Our sustained attacks upon Zorzal's faction shall continue for at least another month. However, once we possess Emperor Molt, we may expect a swift response from Old Earth." This time, another spoke.
His jet-black armor and the skull ornament upon his shoulder marked him clearly as a member of the Assassinorum. The Senators had not yet sensed the full extent of their terror, but Pina had—a cold sweat breaking upon her palms.
"Thus, we shall deliberately disseminate intelligence regarding the Imperium's intervention when the hour comes," Nerva spoke sharply.
"Controlled information facilitates the transition of power," the Assassin continued. "We have also designed various protocols to ensure a single, central path."
At a subtle command from the Noosphere, in but a nanosecond, the hologram shifted to a depiction of a data tree containing every protocol that formed a singular, central flow. Each protocol corresponding to its respective role was displayed to all within the chamber.
"You intend to expand Japan's territory here," Pina said, frowning.
"Correct. Granting them greater access within Falmart shall satisfy them for at least a few years. Furthermore, we shall open mass collaboration to all nations of Old Earth. Moreover, the planned integration program shall prioritize their interests alongside those of the Imperium." Agral added, employing the Noosphere to demonstrate each point.
"Regarding those who oppose my legitimacy... Excommunicate Traitoris. How deep must the purge go?" Pina asked, her tone low yet heavy.
"A decree directly from the highest echelons of the Imperium. So long as they stand with Zorzal, pardon is a non-existent option." The Dominator replied firmly, leaving no room for retort.
Raias, who had remained silent until now, continued to analyze the conditions of the chamber and the expressions and gestures of all within. Simultaneously, his transhuman mind dissected every section of Agral's proposal. Transitional integration, however he examined it, was geared entirely toward indoctrination and organic attachment. Yet judging by its boldness, Raias was convinced something moved behind the scenes.
"Any further questions?" Agral raised. After a few seconds, none answered. "Good. This accord shall now be formalized. Governor Pina Co Lada, you may stand and make your blood oath."
Pina rose from her seat, steeling herself to weather whatever storm lay before her.
Adjusting to her new title, she sighed slightly before standing and walking toward the transhuman. The millions of Omniphages that formed the table slowly dissolved into the ground, transforming into a large, expansive podium before all assembled. When Pina arrived, Agral produced a long sheet of parchment and placed it upon the surface, followed by a knife laid beside it.
"Use the knife. Spill your blood upon it," Agral declared.
Strengthening her resolve, Pina sliced her palm until blood slowly dripped onto the parchment. As the droplet settled, a string of her full name, alongside the names of her mother and father, manifested upon it.
Raias, watching, frowned. Blood oaths were not unheard of in the Imperium. Yet their use was reserved solely for absolute operations that would not abide failure. He remembered that intimately.
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Pina sighed as she set a glass of cold wine upon her head. The weight of the world yet rested upon her shoulders, making her chest feel tight. She could still feel the pain in her palm; though healed, the phantom ache lingered within her flesh.
"Do not think over-hard upon it. It is ill for your health." Raias arrived bearing a glass of Pina's favored wine, a golden Amasec distilled by Arikas.
"Thank you." She accepted the glass and drained it at once. "That agreement... do you know something of it?"
Pina's tired, sincere tone made Raias raise an eyebrow. He paused, weighing all possible answers, and then, in a flash, chose to speak.
"A blood oath is binding upon the psychic level. It is not so terrible; I have witnessed far more binding contracts." Raias watched Pina sigh with relief. "However, this contract shall slowly and consciously guide you toward the agreed-upon content. It is subtle enough, and if you pay heed, you shall not feel forced."
In that instant, Pina's calm vanished, replaced by a slowly flushing face.
"Is there aught else I should know?" Pina said in a trembling voice.
"Fear not. The Imperium does not harm those loyal to it," Raias replied.
A silence fell between them.
"You know," Pina began, "you are very familiar with this contract. I thank you, Raias."
"Aye," Raias replied quietly. "My father bore one before. Perhaps a worse form."
"I am sorry."
"There is no need," Raias said gently. "What matters now is to focus upon whatever lies ahead."
"Thank you." Pina raised her glass. "To a better future."
"To a better future." Raias nodded.