Chapter 19: I Am the Other Head of the Empire
"The Moravec Vault contains forbidden knowledge that humanity must never possess," the Emperor declared with absolute finality. "It shall remain sealed for all time."
Fabricator-General Kelbor-Hal and his fellow Tech-Priests recoiled as though struck. "We seek only to study the Sage's technological legacy," Kelbor-Hal protested, his vox-grille crackling with barely suppressed anguish. "We can swear binding oaths never to misuse the knowledge within."
"Do you dare question the Machine-Spirit's will?" The Emperor's tone brooked no dissent, His golden radiance intensifying with divine authority.
The assembled Magos felt rage and bitter disappointment coursing through their augmented forms.
Yet facing One whom all Mars acknowledged as the Omnissiah incarnate, they possessed no means of resistance.
"The Moravec Vault must never be opened," the Emperor commanded. "You are forbidden from retaining any navigational data leading to this place. Should any among you attempt to breach these seals, such action shall be deemed heresy against the Machine-Spirit—and heresy permits no mercy."
'How can this be? 'Kelbor-Hal's thoughts churned with frustrated ambition. 'To bring us to the threshold of ultimate knowledge, then deny us entry—what cruelty is this?'
The Emperor approached the ancient portal and placed His hand upon its runic surface. Eldritch energies flowed from His fingertips, weaving protective seals that no mortal technology could breach. The vault would remain inviolate until the end of time itself.
When they returned to the surface, Kelbor-Hal immediately accessed his cartographic data-stores, intending to organize secret expeditions to claim Moravec's legacy.
His optical sensors registered only meaningless static—every route marker, every navigational reference had been reduced to incomprehensible code.
'Is this truly the Omnissiah?' Doubt gnawed at the Fabricator-General's mind. 'Or merely a false god seeking to prevent humanity's technological ascension?'
Yet the Emperor had indeed located the legendary vault. No mortal being could have achieved such a feat. Mars had no choice but to acknowledge His divine nature and submit to Imperial rule.
Malcador the Sigillite descended to Mars' surface, accompanied by a full administrative cadre from Terra. The negotiations that followed would determine the red planet's integration into the nascent Imperium.
The Imperium offered comprehensive protection to the Tech-Priests, granting them rights to maintain independent military forces, prioritized access to archaeological sites, and exclusive authority over Standard Template Construct recovery operations.
Administrative control of Mars and all Forge Worlds would remain with the Adeptus Mechanicus.
They could preserve their faith in the Machine-God and maintain their sacred rituals without Imperial interference.
Six Navigator Houses would be assigned to Martian service, replacing the long-extinct psyker-navigators who had once guided their vessels through the Warp's treacherous currents.
The Fabricator-General of Mars would gain a seat upon the War Council, participating directly in Imperial strategic planning.
In exchange, the Adeptus Mechanicus would serve as the Imperium's manufacturing arm—providing continuous materiel support, constructing the massive fleet required for galactic conquest, and equipping the legions for the coming Great Crusade.
Originally, the Emperor had intended to formalize this arrangement through an alliance treaty, with the Imperial banner bearing a two-headed aquila—one head representing the Imperium, the other the Adeptus Mechanicus.
In His initial calculations, Mars' monopoly on Golden Age technology and STC patterns made such equality necessary.
Only through their cooperation could the Great Crusade succeed.
Yet the Raven's arrival had fundamentally altered these considerations. Access to Super Gene technologies and the promise of additional multiversal knowledge had diminished Mars' strategic value considerably.
The Adeptus Mechanicus no longer merited equal partnership in the Imperium's destiny.
Instead, Mars would be incorporated as a specialized Imperial department—powerful and autonomous, yet ultimately subordinate to Terra's authority.
This reduction in status sparked considerable resentment among senior Tech-Priests. The Emperor's prohibition against research into artificial intelligence and archaeotech, deemed "sorcerous," only deepened their dissatisfaction.
Whispers of secession began circulating through the forge-cities and temple-complexes.
Such seditious talk ceased abruptly when a Custodian Guardian—enhanced with the Empire's first-generation Gene-Engine—demonstrated the futility of resistance.
His guardian spear cleaved a fifteen-meter Knight Titan cleanly in half, reducing the ancient war-engine to smoking wreckage with contemptuous ease.
Recognizing that the Legio Custodes could purge every forge on Mars within solar hours, Kelbor-Hal and his faction abandoned all thoughts of rebellion.
Mars submitted to Imperial rule without further protest.
Terra, Imperial Palace
The Imperium's four most powerful figures gathered in council to discuss their completed conquest.
"It appears our prepared Aquila banners shall go unused after all," Malcador observed with mild regret.
"The Imperial design remains unchanged," the Emperor replied. "The two-headed aquila shall still serve as Our symbol."
Malcador's confusion was evident. "Yet the Imperium no longer allies with Mars as an equal partner. Why retain the dual-headed design?"
The Emperor's gaze turned to the Raven, and for once, a genuine smile touched His features. "One head represents the Imperium of Man. The other represents our ally in this endeavor. The Adeptus Mechanicus has proven unworthy of such honor—but you, Raven, have not."
Captain-General Valdor and the Sigillite followed the Emperor's gaze to where the corvid was enthusiastically sampling various fried tubers.
The Raven paused mid-bite: "..."
'No, Big Guy—isn't this just somewhat excessive?'
"If it concerns the Raven, he certainly possesses the necessary qualifications," Valdor acknowledged with characteristic stoicism.
'A being capable of traversing infinite realities, yet content to spend eternity perfecting fried potato recipes. Better such an ally than the oil-drinking Tech-Priests with their dreams of independence.'
"Everything follows His will," Malcador agreed readily.
The Raven's contributions had already transformed their civilization beyond measure. His desires remained refreshingly modest—merely superior cuisine and proper condiments.
"Then it is decided," the Emperor declared. "The Imperium of Man shall bear the two-headed aquila as a symbol of our eternal compact. Raven—do you consent to this arrangement?"
The corvid studied his companion for a long moment before nodding. "Objections? Pff Of course, no objections. Oh, can only imagine our tales being told for ages, coming ha-ha-ha haha it's SUBARASHI"
Thus was the Imperium of Man truly born—symbolized by the two-headed aquila representing its indispensable components: the Emperor and His multiversal ally.
Beyond the ceremonial changes, the Emperor instructed Malcador to organize trusted Tech-Priests into a clandestine organization: the Unification Compact.
Their initial project would be the construction of the Imperium's first astropathic cogitator.
The celestial computers witnessed in the Super God reality possessed limited self-awareness but tremendous computational capacity.
The greatest among them—the Big Clock left by the Shenhe Civilization—had demonstrated capabilities beyond current Imperial technology.
Given the Iron Men's rebellion during the Age of Strife, the Emperor could no longer trust fully sentient artificial intelligences. The Super God computers offered an ideal alternative.
"All human endeavors begin from Terra," the Emperor declared. "Therefore, our first astropathic cogitator shall bear the name Terra."
One week after Mars' incorporation, the Emperor departed the red planet to continue preparations for the Great Crusade.
Super Gene Universe - Earth
Despite the Emperor's intervention saving Angel King Keisha from death on Emerald Star, Death God Karl had prepared contingency protocols for such failure.
Using void technologies and the Big Clock's computational matrix, he launched a secondary assault that left Keisha severely wounded and comatose, her sacred form entering extended regenerative stasis.
Under Morgana's interference, Earth's Angel forces lost contact with Merlot Heavenly Court. Multiple civilizations descended upon the embattled world, igniting fresh conflicts across every continent.
The Xiong Bing Company had been transferred to North Star for the capital's final defense—humanity's last bastion against extinction.
Demon, Taotie, Greedy Wolf, and other civilizations launched continuous assaults under Karl's coordination, seeking Earth's complete subjugation.
The adaptive Gene Engine left by the Emperor enabled Earth to continuously replenish its Gene soldier ranks, offsetting battlefield casualties through technological advantage.
Angel allies provided nuclear fusion, dark dimension manipulation, and wormhole technologies.
The United Earth's industrial capacity allowed rapid assimilation of these gifts, enabling it to single-handedly resist multiple alien civilizations.
"Incoming artillery strike—all units withdraw!" General Dukao's command echoed through the defenders' comm networks.
The super-soldiers retreated in good order, carrying their fallen comrades back within the protective barriers surrounding North Star. Angel-provided energy shields maintained constant protection against orbital bombardment as long as power reserves held.
With Angel's assistance, Han Sen had integrated void and anti-void technologies, developing his Qiankun Combat Configuration and dramatically increasing his capabilities.
Yet against such overwhelming alien forces, even his enhanced abilities proved insufficient—concentrated enemy fire had left him unconscious.
"If Boss were still here, this war wouldn't be such a struggle," Rose observed wearily, her armor stained with blood and battle damage.
Her words carried nostalgic longing for the man who had once made their entire academy submit to his authority. If that figure still walked among them, surely he would find some path through their current predicament.
"Do you think he really died on Emerald Star?" Liu Chuang asked while dragging the unconscious Ge Xiaolun to safety.
Rose shook her head uncertainly. "I don't know. Keisha was the only one who knew the truth, and she remains comatose. Leina won't even see us because of her guilt over what happened."
"But I believe he's definitely not dead—just... somewhere else. One day, he'll return and crush every alien civilization that dares threaten humanity."
The war for Earth's survival continued, while across the dimensional barriers, the Emperor prepared to launch humanity's greatest crusade among the stars.