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Chapter 145: The Weight of Brothers
There's an old saying: When an enemy falls, you make sure they never get back up.
Even if these so-called Aetherials couldn't find the T'au, they'd just help other alien races instead. Better to kill them quickly before their influence spreads like poison.
"Understood," Valdor replied, then turned to carry out his orders.
"Milestone of All Races, the Way of greater good, the benevolent wayâfor fuck's sake, does this cursed universe really have puppet masters behind every faction?" Raven muttered, feeling a headache coming on.
After thinking about it, this kind of mess seemed inevitable. With countless civilizations born across the galaxy and the Warp's constant influence, advanced tech and horrible practices were bound to spread everywhere.
They just hadn't discovered how bad the corruption really was yet.
....
Primarch Return Ceremony
The homecoming ceremony of Jaghatai Khan was held with all the respect the Primarch deserved.
The Emperor and Raven, along with the other gene-sons and high-ranking fleet officers, gathered to welcome the Khan home.
The transport shuttle's boarding ramp lowered with a hiss of air pressure.
A noble figure stepped out. Long black hair was tied in a traditional topknot, the loose ends flowing like banners in an invisible wind.
Before them stood the Fifth Primarch: Jaghatai Khan, the Warhawk of Chogoris, Master of the Lightning-Swift Attack.
The crowd burst into cheers that mixed with ceremonial music.
Warriors of the Fifth Legion who'd stayed with the First Expeditionary Fleet formed perfect ranks. The moment Jaghatai appeared, they struck their chest plates with clenched fists. Their faces glowed with joy.
They were celebrating their gene-father's homecoming.
One by one, the Primarchs stepped forward to introduce themselves and hug their newly returned brother.
Only Perturabo kept his distance. He offered just a brief handshake after quick introductions, showing no interest in getting closer.
"You don't need to hide behind walls you've built yourself," Jaghatai said. He pulled the Iron Lord into a hug despite his resistance. "We're blood-brothers. I hope that someday, I can trust you to watch my back."
The Warhawk had an amazing ability to see into people's hearts. He glimpsed the deep need for acceptance buried in the Master of Iron's soul.
Perturabo stood frozen for a moment, clearly caught off guard by such direct warmth. In all his years, few people had offered him real affection without wanting something in return.
"You can count on it," Perturabo said softly, clearly surprised by this unexpected kindness.
Jaghatai released his brother with a knowing smile. Then he turned to bow respectfully to the Emperor and Raven.
"Little Warhawk, want to take a ride and get some fries?" Raven landed on Jaghatai's shoulder with casual familiarity.
"It would be my honor," the Khan replied, his eyes twinkling with amusement at the odd request.
The Emperor approached like a golden figure wrapped in sacred light. If gods truly walked among mortals, the Master of Mankind surely ranked among them.
Jaghatai humbly bowed his head. "Father."
"I'm pleased to see you return, my Fifth son. I trust the Custodians already explained your role during your journey to us."
"Yes, Father."
"Then will you accept your burden and dedicate yourself completely to humanity's cause alongside me?"
"I will, Father."
The Emperor's approval showed in a satisfied smile.
They started the celebration feast honoring the Fifth Primarch's return with proper ceremony.
The Emperor and Raven made their required appearances during the opening rituals. Then they left the festivities in the Primarchs' capable hands.
They returned to the laboratory complex to check on the Second Primarch's condition.
Inside the sterile chambers, Hobar lay motionless on a massive examination table. His form was covered with countless biosensor arrays.
Holographic displays flickered around the Emperor and Raven, streaming endless waterfalls of data and code.
After running comprehensive tests, the Emperor's expression grew darker and darker.
"The Second Primarch's corruption runs deeper than we expected," He said with serious gravity.
"Long exposure to psychic conditioning has caused subtle but major changes in his frontal cortex, insular regions, and higher brain structures. His emotional patterns have been completely rebuilt. He now has absolute faith in the Supreme Benevolent Way, supporting universal peace and the complete ban on violence."
The Emperor paused, His golden features shadowed with something that might have been grief.
"We could use psychic reconditioning to reverse this ideological contamination forcibly. But I'm afraid the clash between opposing belief systems would shatter his sanity completely."
Primarchs weren't ordinary mortals. Their bodies served as vessels for Warp-essence refined through thousands of years of preparation. They had perfect memory and mental function, able to resist even the most sneaky Warp corruption.
This very strength had become their biggest weakness.
Forcing the Second Primarch to change through psychic intervention carried extreme risks. It could introduce errors into his perfect memory and thinking, driving him to madness or uncontrollable rage.
"A Warhammer version of absolute pacifism?" Raven mused. "No wonder even Chaos refuses to acknowledge his existence."
If the Second Primarch successfully spread the Milestone of All Races and the Supreme Benevolent Way throughout the galaxy, the results would be catastrophic for both sides.
No warfare between species, no schemes or conspiracies, no indulgence in excess, every being practicing perfect moral conduct.
The Chaos Gods would find their very existence meaningless.
But the Emperor could never accept defeating Chaos through the complete enslavement of human free will. He challenged the Dark Gods for humanity's survival and freedom, not their enslavement.
If the Ruinous Powers posed no threat to mankind, the Master of Mankind wouldn't spare them a second thought.
"What do you recommend?" Raven asked.
"First, we'll put the Second Primarch's consciousness inside a constructed reality. We'll try to guide his ideological reformation through controlled experiences."
The Emperor turned to face his companion. "Also, when selecting future universes for exploration, prioritise not just energy acquisition but technologies that can safely modify Primarch brain structures."
"Understood. Mission accepted."
"You may go. I need more time for in-depth analysis before implementing the consciousness transfer."
As Raven prepared to leave, the Emperor spoke once more.
"Tell Guilliman and the others to prepare for deployment to their respective Legions."
"Acknowledged."
Raven watched the Master of Mankind, now lost in chaotic data streams and complex calculations, before flying from the laboratory.
When he left, he found Guilliman, Sanguinius, and several other Primarchs gathered in the corridor outside.
They clustered in small groups, having hushed conversations with obvious tension.
Despite Raven's immediate security classifications about the Second Primarch, the gene-sons had picked up subtle clues. Through Custodian movements and operational patterns, they'd figured out another brother had returned.
"Something feels wrong," Guilliman confided to his brothers. "The Second Primarch hasn't contacted us."
"Maybe Father assigned him special duties," Mortarion suggested.
"No," the Lord of Macragge shook his head firmly. "Jaghatai joined us immediately when he returned. Even if Father needed the Second Primarch for unique tasks, protocol demands initial brotherly introductions. I'm afraid something happened to our brother."
Real fear crossed Guilliman's features. For all his tactical brilliance, the thought of losing another brother clearly shook him.
"Guilliman's concerns make sense," Sanguinius added, his noble features creased with worry. "Father created us to fight threats that normal humanity can't handle."
"You've seen Father's mightâself-proclaimed gods crumble under His righteous fury like dust in the wind."
"Enemies that can give even Father pause must have unimaginable power. Think about what it means if the Second Primarch fell victim to such corruption during his absence."
"What happened to our brother?" Lorgar's expression mirrored their concern. "Why won't Father tell us?"
"Because the Second Primarch dislikes fries," Raven announced, appearing on Sanguinius's shoulder with his usual irreverence. "So we're planning certain modifications to his dietary preferences."
Guilliman pulled out an assortment of exotic fries with various condiments. He offered them with obvious desperation. "Master Raven, please stop joking and give us real information. Uncertainty breeds paranoia, and paranoia births chaos."
Raven looked at the offered food, then studied the assembled Primarchs with a heavy sigh.
The weight of truth settled on his small shoulders like a lead blanket. These were good sons, loyal sons. They deserved better than lies, but sometimes truth was more burden than gift.
"The Second Primarch faces complications. You won't see him until these issues get properly resolved."
"You have wisdom beyond mortal and divine understanding," Sanguinius replied in a more diplomatic tone. "What kind of problem could possibly confuse beings of your capabilities?"
Raven's tone shifted to unusual seriousness. "This universe harbors incredibly dangerous entities. Neither your Father nor I can claim absolute certainty of victory against them all."
"When we transported you to alternate realities, you never faced those universes' most powerful inhabitants. When you eventually conquer this galaxy and venture beyond, you'll encounter truly apocalyptic enemies."
The Primarchs exchanged uneasy glances. To hear such an admission from Raven, who had always seemed supremely confident, sent chills through their enhanced nervous systems.
"I've talked with your Father about your futures. Guilliman, Sanguinius, you who have received Gene Engine implantation, understand the Great Crusade's importance. Staying with the First Fleet no longer helps your development."
"Prepare for frontline deployment with your respective Legions. We must achieve galactic, no, universal, unification as fast as possible."
"As for the Second Primarch, forget your concerns entirely. With your beloved Raven watching over him, no harm will come to him. Go now, attend to your preparations for the coming great war."
"Galactic conquest is assured, but far more brutal conflicts await beyond. I sense their approach grows near."
The Primarchs ultimately got no satisfactory answers about their missing brother's fate.
But they lacked time for further investigation, as departure dates arrived quickly.
Guilliman's journey to rejoin his Legion brought unwelcome news.
After saying goodbye to his gene-brothers, Guilliman boarded his assigned battleship. He set off toward the Osiris Cluster, where the Thirteenth Legion's main forces were conducting active campaigns.
The parting had been harder than expected. Each farewell felt weighted with unspoken fears about what lay ahead.
However, the future Lord of Ultramar received troubling intelligence even before reaching his Legion.
Marius Gage, Legion Master of the Thirteenth and recipient of Gene Engine enhancement, had died while accepting surrender negotiations from the Sepehris system.
The diplomatic envoy had detonated a hidden antimatter device during the ceremony.
Over three hundred Astartes suffered casualties, with Marius Gage, positioned at the negotiation's front, completely obliterated.
The Thirteenth Legion's command hierarchy took devastating losses.
Guilliman's hands clenched into fists as he read the report. Marius had been more than a subordinate, he'd been a friend, a trusted advisor, one of the few who could speak freely with the Primarch.
Currently, Captain Marius Gage commanded the remaining forces.
Additionally, during the Imperial withdrawal, alien infiltrators had compromised several weak-willed Naval officers. They'd manipulated them into firing on friendly vessels.
By the time the Thirteenth Legion completed their evacuation and counted losses, they'd suffered casualties exceeding one-third of their total strength.
"Most terrible news indeed," Guilliman muttered, his expression darkening with each detail of the catastrophic reports.
The weight of command had never felt heavier. His Legion was bleeding, his trusted lieutenant was dead, and somewhere in the galaxy, his brother faced horrors too terrible to name.
The war had only just begun, and already the cost was higher than anyone had imagined.
[End of Chapter]
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