Chapter 176: Russ - The Struggle for Succession Has Always Been Thus
"The Bureau of Celestial Management involves many critical matters. Extensive resources are greatly required to serve humanity's greater destiny," Cawl replied with neither servility nor arrogance, backed by Raven's support.
"I understand, but— " Malcador was about to begin when his words died as Raven tore open a spatial rift and stepped through.
"Yo, Old Mac."
Every protest Malcador had prepared vanished instantly. He feared that the moment he refused, Raven would make his life insufferable. Who didn't know how vindictive Raven could be?
Of course, the word 'vindictive' should never be said in his presence. Otherwise, Raven would show exactly how petty he could become within minutes.
"These requisitions can be approved," Malcador chose a diplomatic path. "But supervisory officials must be assigned to prevent the Bureau from violating protocols, misusing resources, or creating waste."
Cawl could barely hide his smile. He had expected success if the Lord Sigillite approved even half these conditions. Yet the moment Raven appeared, Malcador accepted everything, requiring only supervisory oversight.
Those bureaucratic parasites who knew only scheming and political games, even if public resources were openly stolen before their eyes, probably wouldn't notice.
With Raven's overwhelming support, the Bureau of Celestial Management secured its independent pocket dimension. The establishment went remarkably smoothly.
To celebrate the Bureau's official founding, a small ceremony was arranged. Given the Bureau's classified nature, only a select few could attend.
"The Bureau of Celestial Management's establishment was entirely due to my painstaking efforts," Raven declared, gazing at the magnificent facility with apparent nostalgia.
Cawl, standing beside him: "...!!!"
Your painstaking efforts consist of eating fried strips daily while treating me like a pack animal?
The Emperor, Malcador, Valdor, and Perturabo couldn't help but grimace at this proclamation. What kind of shamelessness let this individual speak such words with such righteousness?
On the path of audacity, Raven sprinted so far ahead that followers couldn't even glimpse his retreating form.
During the celebration, Raven announced Cawl's appointment as Deputy Director of the Bureau of Celestial Management, while he retained the Director position. However, given Raven's lazy nature, Cawl would likely shoulder the entire Bureau's operational burden.
The celebration ended, and the Bureau of Celestial Management quickly became operational.
"Let's begin with conquering a pocket universe to prove we're not idle bureaucrats. Cawl, I'm entrusting this to you; execute it flawlessly."
Raven assigned Cawl a new mission: conquer a pocket universe to demonstrate the Bureau's value.
As the Bureau's inaugural operation, Cawl conducted a thorough analysis of Raven's provided data. Finally, he selected the Azur Lane Universe as their target.
Azur Lane was a small universe, measuring roughly twice the size of their current galaxy. Few species inhabited the Azur Lane Universe, with humanity being dominant. Humanity had eliminated hostile races, and their civilisation had flourished magnificently.
However, an unknown enemy had emerged from the universe's edge, possessing formidable military strength and bizarre physiology. Humanity retreated steadily under their assault, losing most territory.
Eventually, the major factions united, setting aside past grievances to jointly create a third-party military organisation: "Azur Lane."
This universe possessed a unique technological path, enabling perfect integration of machinery and machine spirits, thereby granting transformation capabilities. Acquiring this universe's distinctive technology would greatly benefit the Imperium.
While the Bureau of Celestial Management busily prepared for its first operation, the Blood Angels Legion, led by Sanguinius, had arrived at the galaxy's western rim. There they discovered a massive Dyson Sphere containing terrifying energy fluctuations.
Initial scanning revealed the probable presence of a C'tan within, and a complete one.
Considering the C'tan's devastating power, Sanguinius refrained from independent action, immediately reporting the situation to Terra.
"Is it the Outsider?" Raven asked upon reviewing the report while seeking the Emperor.
Detailed information about this C'tan surfaced immediately in his consciousness.
[The Outsider, Tsara'noga.]
The Outsider was a maddened C'tan whose gaze caused madness and despair wherever it fell. Those in its presence would rather take their own lives than endure its hellish presence. Any being lacking sufficient mental fortitude who approached its sphere of influence would commit suicide rather than directly confront it.
According to Aeldari legends, during the War in Heaven, the Outsider had duelled with the Laughing God. At that time, the Outsider was devouring stars alongside four lesser C'tan when the Laughing God, Cegorach, appeared before it, declaring challenge.
After the battle began, Cegorach employed trickery, projecting illusions onto the other lesser C'tan. The Outsider failed to perceive the deception and devoured its own kin.
However, a fragment of each consumed deity's consciousness remained and plagued the mind of the Outsider. Upon learning the truth, the Outsider shrieked in regret and agony, repeatedly striking its own head and contorting its form until it dimmed.
The consumed C'tan formed echoing presences within its body, chattering ceaselessly day and night, ultimately driving the Outsider to madness.
The Outsider was a true C'tan; more importantly, it had not been shattered like its brethren. It could effortlessly distort physical laws and reshape them according to its will.
Even if the Primarchs received the Imperium's most advanced gene-engines, victory against a complete C'tan remained unlikely.
Temporal, spatial, and conceptual attacks could not harm C'tan. Only weapons containing rule-based power employed in primitive close combat offered any chance of inflicting damage.
"A complete C'tan, if we can capture it, it will sufficiently support the Imperium's current time-anchor network construction. We must secure it," the Emperor declared with absolute resolve.
"Relay the Orders to Horus, Russ, and the other Primarchs to provide assistance. We must capture this C'tan and escort it back to the Sol System at any cost."
The Emperor issued commands to several Primarchs, instructing them to cooperate in securing the C'tan known as the Outsider.
The Primarchs accepted their orders without question, leading their forces to the galaxy's edge to rendezvous with Sanguinius. After formulating a strategy, they launched their assault upon the Outsider.
The Dyson Sphere's shell at the galaxy's edge was welded from black metal plates, each city-sized in scale. Its proportions defied comprehension, floating in the void while its tremendous mass compressed space, generating its own unique gravitational field.
Within the intricate metallic structure, a prime-age star lay imprisoned, its radiance escaping through catastrophic fractures in the core.
Near the Dyson Sphere, countless metal fragments drifted through the void, forming rings of debris. The Human Imperium and the Outsider's forces had engaged in their first conflict in the emptiness between stars. Neither side claimed advantage.
Warships bearing the Imperial golden aquila maintained a safe distance, resting and preparing for renewed assault.
Within the sacred hall of Sanguinius's flagship, the Red Tear, the Primarchs had gathered to discuss their following military action. Fully armed honour guards in exquisite armour stood behind them.
Eight Primarchs had responded to Terra's command, converging with Sanguinius to confront the Outsider.
Horus, the Lupercal, Warmaster of the Sixteenth Legion, stood beneath sculptures of the Emperor and Raven. Horus wore golden armour bearing an eye motif upon the chest. Crowned with a laurel wreath, he occupied the primary position as though he, rather than the Red Tear's master, commanded this assembly.
Leman Russ, the Wolf King, stood opposite him, flanked by an elite veteran guard squad clad in full battle-plate, their faces concealed beneath heavy helms.
The atmosphere between the two Primarchs carried subtle tension; they had long competed in secret for the position of eldest son.
The other Primarchs were well aware of this rivalry but chose not to interfere.
Footsteps echoed as the Great Angel, pure white wings adorning his back, entered the hall through the archway. He offered a slight bow to his Primarch brothers.
"The command bridge received fresh intelligence. I reviewed it before arriving, hence my tardiness."
[End of Chapter]
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