Just as news of Protoss have begun to take their Home planet spreading across humanity, giving them a breather, Alexander returned to his Territory due to the rising tensions at home.
There was a backlog of invoices that not even the middle management can handle without his permission. And bills of the cost of the occupied territories and the crusades were piled up that he must pay back.
And plan were made in haste as the upcoming conflict is upon them.
In a Room in the capital planet of the Imperium, a discussion was in place to decide the fate of the Galaxy.
Alexander sat in a room that housed a round wooden table as he listen to the issues of the progress of the Imperium.
There was a image of the God Emperor that hovered above his seat and overlooking them were armored statues of ceramites with well oiled swords draping above their head necks.
It was a reminder.
Bureaucracy is not a place for career advancement to profit for your family at the suffering of the masses but the risk of fear and consequences is always close.
The most competent is the ones that sat around the table. And they are fully aware that they were delegated to handle the tasked they were given not for their ego trip.
As there were rumors those statues behind them would simply kill them.
"We are now officially entering Wartime Economy mode" Alexander said casually as the officials that were in the room tasked to handle his absence had their jaws dropped.
"My Lord... Can you repeat that?"
"Look we are now transition to wartime economy mode, Have all replicators created available to the war effort. Any essential materials that is unable to be mined can be created to stabilize the prices, and Agriculture Minister... How is our Granaries storage?"
The muscular man that wore monocular the size of his face placed his glasses upright.
He was picked from the farmlands that held more knowledge and the only civilian that is important in Alexander administration.
"Yes, we have confirmed that the farming and fishing industry output in all of our territories have been a bountiful harvest and two thirds of it have already been canned and processed. Our estimation is that we can last for at least a three hundred years in a highly intensive combats on all front and that's accounting the Food aid to the Dominion. But if you ask of us to increase the canning... We would risk the destruction of the fertile lands and the depletion of soil nutrients."
"Not enough but understandable, have the Administratum allocate the replicators to the canning factories to offset the materials that is needed, the people are my foundation, and I would not want them to die starving at least." Many sighed of relief.
"Archmagos, what is the operational capacity of the Forge worlds?"
"++hmm... Our output of ships is approximately 5600 battleships and 140000 for varied hulls per week and we can outfit 780 regiments of Mechanized Infantry, 20 Astartes legions and 9000 wings per day for every 2 forge worlds, and currently we have approximately 9800 forge worlds.... And if you allow us to have double shift and the said resources and the new blueprints added in the factor... We can double that.++"
"Maintain the current rate, and do the double shift by replacing the workers to improve morale, inform them that if they can handle the shifts, they are paid personally from my pocket. But not to the expense they did before they can spent it."
"++Understood.++"
"Lord, The charter houses are eager to expand the market in the Dominion. What are your thoughts." One of the person in the room spoke.
"Inform them, that the market is not ripe for the taking, and focused only on food and our weapon export. I only request them to pay me 10% of their commission and 9% to the forge worlds to improve productivity, and if there is someone increase the tax even a decimal, they will inform the administration for the increase in taxes.
We need allies and markets to offload our products, but not make them dependent on our products. Competition is a necessity for human survival, why else I kept the Dominion alive where the Kel Morian and the United Earth Directorate do not?"
"I tell the charter houses know your words."
"Okay, Lord Arbiters... Your report?
"My lieges, the Arbiters have completed approximately 80% of making the held territory compliant... We need more men and supplies to be fully compliant."
"Compile a list for me and don't be hasty but ensure the recruits do it thoroughly. We don't want a terrorist attack to stain our images?"
"Understood sir. The resources invoices would be placed in your office "
"Lord admiral and Militant General... Your status?" Alexander looked at the people that sat beside him.
"Both the military is able to handle the strain of the wartime economy. Approximately 70% of the total population is able to be trained in the Militarum and the navy in mere weeks. Recruitment is at a steady pace of 30 regiments per day. It can be increased only if we Introduce conscription laws and galactic draft.. "
"Belay that issue, we can handle the strain, it's volunteering and if we have more people drafted from their homes we definitely need more commissars to be our back, keep the Citizenship for Military service... At least they know the benefits than the whip is more motivation."
Many of them laughed.
The commissary is now regulated as a Non commissioned officer but still have the authority of expressing tactical movement in real time, than being the rear guard to ensure if the people would flee. But they still keep their tradition to shooting someone if someone did deserve it.
"Now... Financier... What's the status?" Alexander looked at the man at the end of the round table. Many eyes turned to the selected figure.
The man stammered a he sweated profusely.
"Mi lord...our Treasury is at a all time high.. and the people is... Sastified with your rule.." the man sweated as one of the man eyes before him suddenly turned into clear blue as if staring down at his soul...
"I gave you a chance... And you blew it..." Alexander sighed as his eye turned into gold..
The man was confused as the statue behind him suddenly drop a sword on his neck and decapitated him.
Many of the people were shock except the Archmagos until one asked out.
"May I ask why?" Asked the Agricultural Minister.
Alexander held out papers and inserted a storage device in the wooden table. And a live feed was shown across the people.
"Tell me, what is the rules of financing, Of Private Equity and usury? In the Imperium?"
"There shall be no Private Equity and Usury? Any of those that join and assist in those two would be subjected to death?" The agricultural minister spoke and he suddenly realized.
Alexander sighed as he spoke.
"I chosen him out of many that showed potential to lead the Imperium people to a brighter future and not only he betrayed, not only me, but the people and the god emperor himself. Seemed like he's only a talent for only 7 years ago... Blinded by money...
I am aware that some of the bureaucrats would call me a muscle head of a leader and made fun behind my back, I ignored it.
But when the very chosen suddenly betrayed me for profit at the expense on suffering of the people.
I don't want suffering of the people to ferment their hatred on the Imperium because what the man before me attempted to do behind my back.
His crime is Illegal money laundering of getting funds from the reconstruction efforts and forced the planetary governors to increase their taxes to hide the missing funds.
And allowed protection of people using Usury and letting them buying up Government and people property for the select few.
Didn't I stated that private equity and usury is the pathway to damnation and the risk of rebellion?
And those very lands I promised to my soldiers and my people is not for sale, if they don't want to work in the farms and mines just inform the administration to repossessed the land with the value that you make. And you get money to have a better future.
It was the God Emperor given right that we all have the taste of the prosperity and I don't mind ambitious people. But if your ambition is leaving corpses of people that served the god emperor as a foundation...
You deserve death.
These data and files is those that is affiliated with the person that is killed before me. The very same people that is planning to partake the forbidden fruit.
Live to show all, whose the one that would ensure that I will be nothing but a puppet as they demand more and more concession from me to bent the knee.
They will attempt to privatized the Imperial Bank, they will ensure that public infrastructure would only obey them and not the citizens and civilians alike.
They will buy your lands and destroyed what you painstakingly paid with your lives in the battlefield, while eating caviar and looked down on the honest to God people working their life.
Then they will have the balls order the Astartes and The Imperial Guards to be their Private armies to play around.
And lastly they will overthrow me by using the people that they stole their future and install a "Democracy" to keep the illusion that you have the power to control your destiny to vote for their picked poison as their politicians that you voted in, hoping for you to get a way out of the nightmare that they created, only lied to be elected and be puppets to obey them till the name of the Celestial Imperium itself rotten from within?
Then they will inflate the prices of what you love buying to sastified the never ending hunger of the Shareholders that made them the unnamed nobility as they ripped every thrones that you paid with your body with hard labor and by the time your children grow up, they would call you a liar and hate you for having a golden age of living under my vision and rule.
Then they will use our religion to hide their sins, debauchery and blasphemous deed under the gaze of our Beloved protector?
We are at the risk of war and these parasite sought to profit and muddy our society?
If these people are in your planets, space stations, your very neighbors, they will have a bounty on their heads at the price of 15 million Golden thrones from my pocket, not taxed from you the taxpayers, but my wealth that I earned, Each head, alive or dead and bring them to the closest Adeptus Arbites Fortress to get your bounty.
I don't lie to the People I sought to defend with my life. And every action I made on the battlefield and in my office is transparent for all to see.
You the people are the foundation of the Imperium ordained by the God Emperor of Mankind, you are the foundation of everything under the sun, moon and the stars.
Without people like you, you that gave your mind, faith and body to keep the Imperium runing, The Celestial Imperium would just be a empire led by corpses refused to let go of their power. And that Empire that is made by you, is just nothing but ashes in your mouth if you let this demons get what they wanted.
And any of those that sought to defend them because of their ideas of democracy and you called them "Human" because they wear the skin as one...
You are complicit of destroying our final bastion against the darkness for illusion of power and petty wealth that would be ashes.
And for lucky Administration next week, there will be a post for the Financial Ministry of the Celestial Imperium and there's a emergency galactic wide test for those that want to help the people you cared to not end up in poverty and under the scum that sought to control you.
Basically you have a chance to ascend your ranks that comes with your responsibility.
I hope that you will not end up like the one before you that muddied his hands with the blood of my people, Good morning, Good evening and Good night."
Alexander spoke as he felt the rage of the Imperium against the people that sought their destruction.
There was a small riots and vigilantism across the imperium and the Police and Arbites didn't stop the passionate people as they dragged out the people that fed them lies, either out of fear or for the money blinded them.
The ones that poisoned the mind of the late finance minister were on the run, and they were not hunted by the people, but also the government system itself that they took for granted, as the military also joined the hunt as they had a military martial law on every space port and their rage of having nothing, but ashes to give for their children hunted the deviants down.
Some were pious as the image of debauchery committed by the devils is more fueling their vengeance, but there were some in it for the money. 15 million Golden thrones is a lot of money. Enough for them to live retirement comfortably for at least 95 generations if they don't spent it all and left it on fixed deposit.
A simple word brought a simple purge and by the end of the week, the heads piled up and as promised.
Those that participated had their bank accounts filled with money and those that assisted the vigilante by reporting the location and being informants were given money.
Alexander also pinned some of the Mobius foundation that hidden themselves in the Imperium as the targets as well.
Their only mistake was to bribe a core member of the Imperium and hoped he didn't noticed them.
Valerian heard of it but as stated. He have no say of the rogue elements that pretended to use his name to commit heinous acts behind his back.
With this, the Mobius Security that would be the vanguard to create harvoc for the false god is crippled and both nation is focused on the external forces.
Alexander weekly discussion ended in a sour note.
He returned to his quarters in the administration bureau hallway, he didn't want wealth to signify his position as most of the items were mundane and just made from the local Craftsmen, with his mundanity his spending is so low that most of what wealth generated for him to enjoy is just invested back into the infrastructure and more job openings.
He didn't mind the heavy losses of the item
As he headed to his room, he felt something was with him in the hallway.
In the far end of the corner several figures shimmering in the darkness.
"Hmm.. Dominion Spectres... Acturus... Or Tosh?" Alexander spoke to the group before him.
"We don't follow the bastard Tosh or that failed Emperor, we serve a higher being and he demanded your corpse. We are here to kill you personally." The leader of the group hissed.
"Good... Your deaths will be quick." Alexander held a gesture of a thumb raise up for all to see and plunged it down as several shots rained around the invaders. From every hidden hallways and the ceiling, assassin of different ordo came down upon the intruder.
The Spectre never faced the Imperium Assassin and their madness.
They thought they had the information within the Imperium buildings schematics that housed the High Lord and the localized Patrols from the deceased Finance minister.
But they failed to take account of the assassination that occured daily that Alexander simply gave the invaders a chance to prove their worth by his hands or die by the Hands of Assassin's that knew war.
Their psycho indoctrination and elite training was not enough to fight monsters clad in human skins and indoctrination down to their very bones and soul.
Gauss rifles danced with the illusion of the reapers.
One of them was kept alive.
The person limbs ripped asunder and cauterized to prevent them from bleeding out.
"Thank you for your service... Your talents haven't gotten rusty ever since you just guard me daily." Alexander thanks the assassination squad.
"May I play with the last?"
"Yes, have the corpses sent to the Mechanicum for their brain are a valuable resource, even in death, they are not safe, sorry for taking your night." Alexander nodded as he headed to his room.
A maid greeted him as she made way for him to reside in.
It was not a grandeur room, just a cramped room that is barely a 800 by 800 meter room, there was his desk for his personal work and a bed with a bedside table with a coffee maker.
He laid in a mattress as he muttered many things on his checklist.
"A joint training with the Dominion to showcase our power to our human opposition, a relief effort for earthquakes stricken planet, the coming dark god and the chances of the Protoss being controlled by the dark god... Just can't take a break..." Alexander slept.
For a few minutes passed until he heard a rapid pace to his bedroom there was a nose outside and a officer stepped in.
"You are not allowed to disturb the high lord resting"
"Ma'am this is very important. I need to see the Lord."
"Let him in." Alex spoke.
"Sir.... We got a problem!?" The officer paled as he saw the man groggily sat up.
"This had better be good..."
"The Protoss is attacking us, they are attacking our territories in the fringe world?!" The officer spoke.
"Hah?" Alexander eyes widen.
It was already midnight in Mars Sara when it happened. Almost everyone grumbled as they held a emergency meeting and the topic woke their stupor out.
"Why would the Protoss attacked us? Didn't they already stated their territories?" One of the diplomat spoke
"So it has begun... Way too fast." Alexander spoke.
Many turned to him.
"What are you saying?"
"They are like a semi Hivemind by using their braids c9nnect them and something or someone managed to hijack the entire species."
"So we are facing their golden armada?"
"Tell me, what the current planet that's being attacked? What's the closest forces available?"
"Inputting commands... It's New Haven and... Necron forces is there assisting the defenders, local imperial forces will arrive in a hour... We find some sorts of life forms that doesn't comply with the Protoss database"
"Then the planet is saved, raised all alarms across the surroundings affected sectors and is the wartime economy in effect?"
"Already done, the war machine is now oiled and ready."
"What about the Xenos artifact that we requested from the Dominion?" Alexander hoped that he would retrieve the artifact from Korhal before casualties mounted.
"Sir, Our forces is under attack by the Mobius Security in Korhal, they are pinned down. The artifact is currently lost during the handover."
"Gentlemen, the final war is coming. Have all assets activated."
[New Haven Pov]
To the people of the refugee planet, the news of the Dominion fall was like a news shook of the old timers that lived under Acturus, but after seeing the planet had their autonomy and little taxes they were glad as it become a trading point of the Protoss and humanity.
Their people were trained by the Imperium and their creed and a Planetary defense force were raised in their colors to defend their home.
But what was just a normal day, the Protoss suddenly attacked them.
There was not a message of destruction as the silent killers above the skies launched their weaponry upon the planet colonies.
They were not even methodically targeting by logic,more like beast put for blood.
The defense fleet clash with the Protoss, thou they were trained by the Imperial standards of Pirate hunting, their training is barely keeping up with the pace of their real experience of a force that is out for extermination.
It lasted for at least five hours before the fleet was breach and the majority of the Protoss fleet already landed their troops to finish the survivors.
Surviving flak weapons and orbital guns kept the Protoss at bay.
But these Protoss didn't care as they landed abomination beyond understanding.
Behemoth of flesh and bones of humans landed in craters with the protoss that accompanied their monsters as they began to devour humans.
Trazyn that was heading into the territory of the Protoss to pilfer their technology and culture once more decided to assist the beleaguered forces.
From his hands, armies of silver skeletons sprang forth and met the blitz of the protoss and their monstrous ilk.
The Protoss never even met these new come foes. In their corrupted minds that filled with blood and gore, they looked down on the Necrons. Unaware of the bloody history of the necrons between the Imperium and thought they were just robots just made by the Imperium...
Until they reach the range of the Necrons Gauss Rifle.
Beams of sickly green lashed out and the Protoss shields shattered before their comprehension and their bodies were disintegrated to ashes. Fields of silver and rustling of tiny scarabs rushed across the battlefield and passed by the defenders of the planet.
If one had the perception of a hawk, they would noticed a very tiny scarab in the sea of silver, screeching something.
The skies were filled with Necron and Imperial interceptors that clash with the Protoss carriers.
The task force of the golden armada of the Protoss was beaten back.
And the people looked at the new found saviours and thankful for their support, by the time the Imperium arrived they saw the green trails of Necron engines leaving the system as they begun to assist the planet defenses.
It was one of many planets under attack by the possessed Protoss. And they attacked haphazardly without plan or purpose.
And despite Alexander and Valerian efforts to curb the fanatics in human control space using legality. Riots and chaos occured across the Dominion space. And unknown weaponry spread across the Dominion that had the power to punch energy shields of the local militia.
Alex took a available fleet to assist the Korhal defenses.
He knows what the Xelnaga artifact that is still there, that the late Acturus attempted to weaponize it. And so do Zerathul with his prophecy. Though he was unclear that Zerathul lived or not.
If he survived, a welcome ally. If not... He hopes he does not cross that bridge when the time comes.
But if there's something that actually made his garrisons have a hard time, he had to assist them...
The chess pieces is In place and the fate of the galaxy lies on the people that is aware of their path.
For a galaxy to be truly freed of galactic war of proportion beyond human understanding or a galaxy drown in neverending darkness of a deranged god that grew envious of his weakness.