Chapter 408: Ultramarines Chapter Master Guilliman! Nuclear Peace Diplomacy!
Horus raised his hand, motioning for the Space Marines lining the grand hall to settle down.
"The Emperor has approved your request to establish diplomatic relations."
He no longer quibbled with Paul over matters of allegiance—after all, once they reached Terra, the sheer majesty and authority of the Emperor would make subjugating these people a mere formality.
"Next, you'll be returning to Terra with me. There, you will witness the one and only truth of the Imperium of Mankind—the Emperor!"
As he mentioned the Emperor, Horus couldn't help but recall that towering, awe-inspiring figure.
The Great Crusade of the Imperium stretched across the galaxy. Hundreds of powerful fleets swept through the stars. As the son most favored by the Emperor, Horus had long been stationed at the most dangerous frontlines of war.
And now, after so many years, he finally had a chance to return to Terra… and see his father once more.
"We are honored," Paul nodded. It seemed they had the upper hand in this round of negotiations.
"How far back does your history go, exactly?" Horus pressed on. "To the Golden Age of Technology, before AI was outlawed? Or post-Men of Iron rebellion?"
"Our origins date back even earlier," Paul replied with a faint smile.
If one were to trace it to the very beginning, the ancient human civilization from the Halo universe existed during the same era as the Forerunners—the gods of creation in that cosmos.
This gave them a far older lineage and a nobler origin than the humans of the Warhammer universe.
"Earlier than the Golden Age? That's impossible."
Horus furrowed his brow, suspecting Paul was boasting.
But as the conversation continued, Paul gradually rolled out a well-prepared narrative, portraying the Universal Megacorp as a splinter of humanity that had ventured into intergalactic space before the Golden Age began.
Though they had endured countless wars in those foreign galaxies, humanity had nonetheless managed to thrive—building their own civilization and political structure.
This return to their ancestral homeland was, according to Paul, driven by a sincere desire for peaceful diplomacy.
Paul elaborated at length about the Megacorp's encounters—how it fought against Zerg, Beastkin, shapeshifting armored entities, and countless alien races.
Not only had it carved out a vast domain of power, but it had also built a massive interstellar trade network—enslaving numerous alien civilizations to serve their needs.
Using dirt-cheap commodities, they ruthlessly exploited these alien worlds, milking them dry of resources and labor to construct megastructures, colonies, and production zones.
Horus listened in stunned silence. What the Universal Megacorp had done was downright despicable—evil, even.
And yet… he couldn't deny that a part of him enjoyed hearing it.
If only the Imperium of Man could enslave the Orks the same way—force them to fight for humanity, help build its worlds—that would be magnificent.
"Since you've sent an emissary to the Imperium, we should also dispatch our own to meet your supreme leader."
Horus hadn't completely bought Paul's story. Seeing was believing—so he decided to send an envoy to probe the Megacorp's true nature.
"We welcome the Imperium's delegation at any time," Paul replied confidently. "We'll make sure your envoy is well received and gets to meet our highest-ranking official."
The Megacorp had long been prepared for this.
Their central hub in the main universe—the utopian Ideal City—alongside megafactories across the multiverse, and the grand Birch World, were all gleaming examples of advanced human civilization.
Paul was confident these awe-inspiring sights would leave a lasting impression on any Imperium emissary.
"Very well, let's set it for half a month from now," Horus decided after a pause. "We'll send one of our Primarchs along with an Imperial fleet to your world—for a warm diplomatic exchange."
At those words, many of the Astartes around him couldn't help but crack subtle, knowing smiles.
They all understood: given the temperament of the Wolf Lord of the Shadow Wolf Chapter, this so-called diplomatic exchange was likely just a front for a military incursion.
Horus was certainly the mightiest warrior among them—but he was also cunning and calculating.
Paul, however, showed no sign of concern.
Want to stir trouble in Ideal City? You'll have to get through the Sentinels first.
The Ideal City was the Megacorp's ultimate stronghold in the primary universe—and the very heart of their trade empire.
Its defenses were manned by elite warriors, carefully selected from across various multiversal civilizations.
If Horus really dared send his "envoy fleet," the Megacorp would make sure they received a memorable surprise.
"No problem. We await your emissary's arrival."
Paul accepted without a moment's hesitation.
Horus was pleased by Paul's quick response. This made him think that perhaps, just perhaps, the Imperium could take control of this extragalactic civilization with minimal effort.
Were these people simply naïve, unaware of the Imperium's universal ambition?
Or were they just arrogant fools who underestimated the might of the Imperial military?
"Then it's settled. In half a month, I'll dispatch an emissary fleet to your homeworld. You should also prepare yourselves to visit Terra and meet our Emperor."
With that, Paul and his team were escorted away to await further instructions.
Not long after, they received word on who the Imperium had selected as their emissary:
Roboute Guilliman, Primarch of the Ultramarines.
According to the Megacorp's databanks, Guilliman was regarded as the most politically astute and capable of all the Primarchs.
The future Lord Regent of the Imperium—a chosen leader worthy of inheriting the Emperor's mantle and governing the Imperium at the highest level.
During the Emperor's first Great Crusade, it was Guilliman's Ultramarines who conquered and reclaimed the most territory.
Though his military feats weren't as dazzling as those of the, Space Wolves, or the Dark Angels, the worlds under Guilliman's rule were the most developed and stable.
That alone showcased his incredible leadership potential.
According to Warhammer, after the Horus Heresy, it was Guilliman who launched the Indomitus Crusade—leading the Ultramarines to rekindle humanity's fading hope and restore the glory of the Imperium.
Amid a galaxy full of madmen, Guilliman was a rare gem—a leader who could both fight and govern.
And that, precisely, was why Horus had chosen him to lead the diplomatic mission to the Megacorp's homeworld.
A choice full of hidden meaning.
Guilliman's ability to command was second to none, and his governance was equally impressive. If the Universal Megacorp's territory fell into Imperial hands, he would be more than capable of immediately taking control and administering its human population.
Even if the mission failed to seize territory, Guilliman's sharp political mind would still allow him to negotiate effectively with the Megacorp's representatives.
At that moment, news of the upcoming diplomatic mission had already reached the upper ranks of the Megacorp. The executives gathered to discuss the implications.
"Horus certainly isn't careless—sending a Primarch like Guilliman as a diplomatic envoy," Morgan Blackhand mused. "But in a way, that's for the best. If it had been one of the other lunatics, a war would've broken out on the spot."
But since it was Guilliman, the odds of genuine diplomacy were higher.
Among all the Primarchs under the Emperor's command, Guilliman had the most stable upbringing. He was raised on Macragge, a well-developed human world with a strong emphasis on civilization and order.
From a young age, Guilliman received a comprehensive education. He was instilled with a deep respect for law, governance, and structure—making him one of the most intelligent and rational of his kind.
Upon learning that Guilliman would be the Empire's envoy, Li Ang himself grew intrigued.
Guilliman's political prowess made him a uniquely valuable asset. Li Ang even entertained the notion of recruiting the Primarch into the Megacorp's ranks—perhaps even having him serve their interests.
"Prep the welcoming units," Li Ang ordered, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Since Guilliman was coming with a diplomatic mission, it was only right to show a bit of strength—just enough to demonstrate the Megacorp's capabilities.
There was no need to mobilize the entire navy. A display of a few thousand elite battle groups would be sufficient.
Groups like the Legion of the War Moon, the Inheritor's Mantle, the Wanderer-class Dreadnought Fleet, the Infinity-Class Armada, and the Long Night Fleet would do just fine.
Li Ang knew full well: while Horus had called it a diplomatic envoy, the fact that it was being led by a Primarch and backed by a full fleet gave it the political weight of an act of war.
On the advice of senior expansion executives like V, Morgan Blackhand, and David Martinez, the Megacorp began full-scale war readiness preparations.
Either they wouldn't fight at all—or, if they did, they'd go all in. They'd unleash Divine Armament, Neutron Warstars, or even Xeelee Nightfighters to obliterate the Imperial fleet.
Humanity, as a species, feared force more than reason. Unless they were hurt, they wouldn't learn their lesson.
Of course, the executives' suggestion to avoid deploying massive fleets wasn't just about restraint—it was because the Megacorp had already entered the Law-Grade Weaponry era.
In this new age, the number of warships, production speed, and manufacturing capacity no longer dictated the outcome of war.
With Li Ang's approval, the Megacorp could wipe out an enemy fleet in the blink of an eye—or even destroy an entire star system with a mere thought.
Even if the enemy tried to hide in higher-dimensional space, the Megacorp had ways to track and eliminate them.
As preparations continued, and the Megacorp's departments moved into high alert, Guilliman, in the Warhammer universe, had just completed a major campaign.
He was preparing to return to Terra with Horus and report the results of the Great Crusade when he received the diplomatic assignment—personally commissioned by both the Emperor and Horus.
Guilliman accepted without hesitation.
Soon, he handpicked a fifty-thousand-strong Ultramarines task force to form the Empire's diplomatic mission, and set course for the rendezvous point designated by the Megacorp.
Upon arrival, Guilliman was met with a surprising sight: only a handful of modest battleships awaited him.
To the casual observer, the Megacorp's naval forces appeared laughably weak.
Still, Guilliman didn't lower his guard. Seated in his towering command throne, clad in his iconic blue power armor, he issued orders with calm precision.
"Send a transmission—I want to speak to their leader."
Everything about Guilliman exuded poise, reason, and unshakable composure—a stark contrast to Horus's proud silence.
The Ultramarines quickly patched through the comms line to the Megacorp's fleet.
Moments later, Guilliman's commanding voice echoed through the bridge of the Megacorp's warship:
> "I am Roboute Guilliman, Primarch of the Thirteenth Legion, the Ultramarines.
By the divine order of the Emperor of Mankind, I have come here to meet with you!"
His declaration resonated throughout the Megacorp's command center.
Not long after, a voice responded on the other end:
> "Lord Guilliman, the Stargate is about to activate. Please stand by and remain calm during the transit process."
The word Stargate gave Guilliman pause.
As one of the most erudite and curious of the Primarchs, Guilliman was well aware of what a Stargate implied.
It was a technology capable of facilitating ultra-long-range space travel, relying on unique interactions between energy systems and the fabric of realspace—or even the Warp.
Operating one required immense resources, often including stellar energy, exotic elements, or psychic power to keep it stable.
In the vastness of the galaxy, only a handful of long-lost civilizations were rumored to possess such advanced travel tech.
And yet here was this extragalactic human civilization—apparently wielding the same power.
Considering their origin traced back to before the Golden Age, Guilliman's curiosity about the Megacorp deepened.
The Golden Age of Technology had long since faded into myth. Even for a Primarch, knowledge of that era was scarce—limited to fragmented, ancient texts.
It was said that during that glorious time, humanity had risen to near-divine heights—traversing the cosmos as effortlessly as walking across land.
Guilliman couldn't help but wonder: what kind of civilization could evolve without ever experiencing the collapse and chaos of the Age of Strife?
Could the Universal Megacorp really match even half the splendor of that lost golden age?
"Report!"
Suddenly, a panicked Ultramarine officer cried out: "We're detecting massive Warp fluctuations! All ships are now on high alert!"
Guilliman shot to his feet. Turning to his warriors, he barked an order:
> "Sound the alarm. Everyone to battle readiness!"
Unexplained Warp activity typically meant one thing—daemonic incursion.
They had encountered such horrors many times before.
No matter what, this was a pivotal moment in the Imperium's first contact with extragalactic humanity.
Guilliman would not allow the foul spawn of the Warp to interfere.
If daemons dared show their faces—
he would see them cut down where they stood.
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