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Chapter 67: I Am Alpharius
The Emperor gazed upon the dimly lit communication interface, His divine mind exploring possibilities across countless permutations. A rare uncertainty flickered in His golden eyes before, at last, He turned to the Raven.
"When next we traverse the dimensional barriers, it would serve our purposes to visit a reality where infinite energy mastery might be obtained."
The Raven's eyes widened, a ripple of unease passing through him as he studied the Master of Mankind's impassive features, searching for any hint of doubt or reassurance.
"You're becoming quite ambitious, aren't you?"
The Emperor had already acquired mass-energy conversion technologies from the End of Eternity Universe, an achievement marked by both pride and the burden of irreversible consequences.
The ability to transmute energy into matter at will was in itself a feat that could bring a golden age to any civilization.
Now, should he master the technology of infinite energy generation as well, He would gain resources beyond any mortal comprehension.
At such a juncture, even the mightiest Chaos Gods would tremble before His wrath.
"No wonder the Ruinous Powers fear You so much," the Raven mused, its tone laced with a mixture of admiration and palpable apprehension.
It harbored strong suspicions that in the Emperor's original designs, the Webway had never been intended as humanity's final gift.
The Master of Mankind had already accomplished miracles beyond counting, but even these marvels left the Raven unsure if any achievement would ever be enough for him.
Even purging the Warp itself was hardly beyond His capabilities; the Emperor must have included Warp in His Grand Design for Humanity's future.
There existed a sound reason why all four Chaos Gods had united against Him.
Believing the Emperor would content Himself with mere Webway construction was akin to trusting Slaanesh's claims of innocence.
"Is such a thing beyond your capabilities?" the Emperor inquired, a rare note of vulnerability flickering in His tone.
"If so, dismiss the notion. I shall devise alternative methods."
"Beyond my capabilities?" The Raven's voice carried wounded pride.
"You dare suggest that a proud Raven cannot accomplish what You require?"
"Mark this well, you must never again imply I cannot fulfill Your will. I will find the universe you seek, not to prove myself, but because the challenge compels me, though it shall take time. Your patience will be tested."
Infinite energy was the peak of technology across all realities. The Raven considered potential candidate dimensions.
First came the reality chronicled in The Gods Themselvesâa universe containing parallel electron pump technology.
This system exploited differing physical laws between realities, producing limitless energy through dimensional exchange.
Such power, termed para-energy, functioned similarly to gravitational potential in hydroelectric generation.
That dimension would also yield cosmic egg conduit technology, the perfect complement to parallel electron pumps.
While electron pumps destabilized universal constants, cosmic egg technology could correct shifting physical laws by linking to unborn realities.
When pushed to its ultimate expression, cosmic egg conduits could nurture singularities, trigger controlled Big Bangs, and birth entire universes.
The Imperium could then sustain itself by harvesting the primordial energies released during cosmic genesis.
Multiple objectives achieved through a singular action.
"Or," the Raven added, "we enter Marvel's Continuum and claim a Cosmic Cube or Energy Matrix."
The Marvel reality teemed with esoteric technologies and divine relics. Several might serve as infinite energy sources.
The sole complication lay in that universe's abundant population of mighty entities, the Octessence, the Celestial Host, the Living Tribunal.
Mighty beings existed in multitudes, while lesser gods scurried like vermin.
"With your current strength, surviving in Marvel's borders is trivial. Taking those artifacts, thoughâthat's where it gets tricky," the Raven finished, voice taut with anxiety.
The Raven understood clearly that a deified Emperor and His current mortal form represented vastly different capabilities.
As the Dark King Ascendant, the Emperor could annihilate any universe through inexorable consumption.
In His present human state, He could contend with beings such as Odin or the Dimensional Lords as equals.
Yet overwhelming, decisive victory remained beyond His reach, a bitter truth that even the Emperor could not banish from His thoughts.
After extended contemplation, the Raven found no reality where infinite energy could be easily claimed, and wondered if presenting alternatives might elevate its station in the Emperor's favor.
A subtle frustration gnawed at the Raven's thoughts, fueling an unwelcome sense of inadequacy.
Suddenly, an inspiration struck him.
"Hey, Big Guy, for now, the infinite energy proves elusive. Perhaps we should collect the C'tan Shards instead, reassemble them, and utilize the Star Gods as emergency power sources?"
The C'tan represented the most formidable non-psychic entities in existence, true gods manifest within material reality. Their alliance had enabled the Necron victory during the War in Heaven.
If their scattered fragments could be gathered and the Star Gods restored to wholeness, they might serve as colossal batteries to power temporal field generators.
Feed them stellar matter while exploiting their energiesâa perfect arrangement, the Raven mused, imagining ways to make these gods toil for eternity without paying a single dime
'Ha-ha-ha, Work for me my future slaves.'.
What? Are you concerned about human and labor rights? C'tan were not human, therefore possessed no claim to human consideration.
"The C'tan⌠intriguing," mused the Emperor. "But their power is formidable."
"What methods could bind them and ensure their compliance as energy sources?"
The Star Gods consumed stellar matter for sustenance and wielded the most devastating forces in physical reality.
Had they not exhausted themselves battling the Old Ones while simultaneously warring amongst themselves during the War in Heaven, the Necrons could never have successfully ambushed them.
Reconstructing and enslaving them would prove extraordinarily challenging.
The Raven had dared suggest this course because a solution already existed within his thoughts.
"We shall construct a Pocket Dimension to serve as their prison. C'tan power depends upon reality's fundamental constants. By modifying the Pocket Dimension's physical laws, we can severely limit their abilities and contain their exotic capabilities."
"Then, by establishing conduits between the Pocket Dimension and our temporal anchor systems, we can continuously drain energy from the imprisoned Star Gods to power our chronostabilization arrays."
The Emperor found merit in these words.
"Your counsel has value. Malcador's recent reports indicate Pocket Dimension construction has entered the planning stages. Once completed, modification for this purpose becomes feasible."
The Raven's expression turned predatory, resembling a scheming villain more than a trusted advisor.
"Following our 'Synthesize Imperial Primarch' mission, the 'Synthesize Star God' project now receives official authorization."
"The Imperial military must add another objective to their upcoming Great Crusade: locating dormant Necron tomb worlds and seizing C'tan fragments or intelligence regarding their locations."
The Emperor nodded gravely.
"I shall inform all expedition fleets that reclaiming human colonies must include searching for Star God remnants."
"However, infinite energy acquisition cannot be abandoned. Multiple contingency plans will increase our probability of success."
The Imperial Palace
A vast corridor stretched before them.
Angron and Leman Russ walked side by side, their transhuman strides covering ground with mechanical precision.
Palace personnel genuflected as they passed, offering reverence to the gene-sons of the Master of Mankind.
Both Primarchs ignored the displays, their conversation continuing unabated.
"Russ, surely you support the abolition of slavery throughout our father's domains."
The Wolf King's expression radiated long-suffering patience.
"I support your cause, Angron, but could you cease this constant discourse? I have endured this same conversation eight hundred times. My ears grow weary of repetition."
Angron produced a data-slate. "Sign this petition and add your name to mine. I shall then grant you silence."
"For every enslaved soul whoâ"
Angron halted mid-sentence, his attention fixed upon a shadow-draped alcove.
A towering Astartes stood motionless within.
"What troubles you?"
Russ observed Angron's sudden stillness, his predatory focus locked upon the warrior's position.
"He is not what he appears," Angron growled. "That is no true battle-brother."
The Primarch of the World Eaters possessed enhanced psychic sensitivity, allowing him to perceive the subtle wrongness emanating from the disguised figure.
Hearing this assessment, Russ immediately drew his blade, its disruption field crackling to life.
Without hesitation or parley, the Wolf King charged.
He trusted Angron's judgment implicitly in such matters.
Angron's battle cry echoed through the corridor as he joined the assault.
The disguised Astartes reacted with superhuman reflexes. Realizing his deception had failed, he activated his weapon to deflect Russ's strike.
Yet he could not avoid Angron's massive fist, which struck his abdomen with bone-crushing force.
The tremendous impact hurled him backward, his armored form crashing into the corridor wall with a thunderous boom.
As both Primarchs prepared to continue their assault, the figure raised his hands.
"Hold! I am your brother!"
Skeptical but cautious, Russ approached and removed the warrior's helm, revealing an unfamiliar yet undeniably noble visage.
"Identify yourself," Angron demanded, his psychic senses confirming the stranger's Primarch nature, despite having never encountered him before.
"I am called Alpharius," the figure replied with quiet dignity. "I am the Twentieth Primarch."
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