Chapter 221: Chat
The Raven regarded the shadow the Emperor had indicated. "Tyranids?"
"Tyranids?" The Emperor's tone carried a note of surprise. "You know the origin of that shadow?"
"I picked it up while reading the cosmic aetheric currents. The Tyranids, the Great Devourer, hunger given form. They exist to consume, evolve, and spread without end."
"Their adaptation is terrifying. They devour entire species to integrate advantageous traits, constantly reshaping their genome to improve in combat and survival."
"When they consume a world, nothing's left behind. Not animals, not plants, not even bacteria, just bare stone and dust."
"Their numbers drift through the void between galaxies. Once they confirm a galaxy has enough biomass, they arrive to feed."
"To this day, no one knows how many galaxies they've already consumed."
"That sounds considerably problematic." The Emperor's expression darkened.
"They're a significant threat, yes. The scale is... difficult to conceptualize. What's approaching the galaxy is just one tendril of their greater organism," the Raven said quietly. "If they committed their full strength to this galaxy, we couldn't contain them."
"I intend to deploy Horus, Fulgrim, and Russ to address the Tyranid incursion, while Vulkan will handle the remaining xenos forces in the galaxy and then repair the Eye of Terror."
"And the other Primarchs?" the Raven asked.
"They'll accompany me to another universe," the Emperor stated. "Primus of the Transformers reality has already requested Imperial aid against the Cosmic Emperor Unicron."
"The Transformers reality is simpler than ours, populated exclusively by mechanical life created by Primus and Unicron. Once Unicron falls, that entire universe will become Imperial territory."
"If you're determined to ally with Primus, there's one critical matter you need to address first." Raven paused thoughtfully. "Securing control of that universe's Will."
"The Universal Will can modify fundamental laws and prevent extradimensional incursion. When we traveled through time before, you couldn't manifest your full power because the Universal Will restricted you to prevent reality damage."
"After Unicron's defeat, Primus and the native powers might turn hostile. They could seal the pathways to prevent our continued presence. And then we'd have another war on our hands."
"Do they have such a capability?" The Emperor seemed genuinely surprised. "Why don't they use the Universal Will against Unicron? Or why doesn't Unicron wield it against Primus?"
"They're all woven into that reality's fabric," the Raven explained. "Their conflict is internal—whoever emerges victorious becomes the true sovereign. But we're outsiders. We'd be perceived as invaders."
"That's the difference between civil war and foreign invasion."
The Emperor fell silent for a moment. "How do we secure control of that Will?"
"We can take Several approaches." The Raven gestured absently. "Like defeating key nodes of destiny, destroying guardians of cosmic order, spreading Imperial ideology throughout their populace, or eliminating those who refuse submission while expanding our presence there. All of these can strengthen our authority in that universe."
"I see." The Emperor nodded. "Conquering other realities is more complex than I initially assumed."
"First time feels like exploration, second time becomes expertise. Do it enough, and it becomes routine."
Tap. Tap.
Footsteps echoed from the doorway. Raven turned to see Valdor approaching.
"The young lady from House Kapinus has arrived," Valdor announced.
"Good. Escort her to the adjacent reception chamber. I'll attend to her shortly." The Raven nodded.
"House Kapinus?" The Emperor looked puzzled.
"Malcador arranged it. He says this family's been consistently loyal, and this girl is their last heir. She, for some reason, wants an exclusive interview with me. I'm telling you she was definitely moved by my vast wisdom and charm, no doubt."
"Is that truly the reason?" The Emperor's tone was dry.
The Raven rolled his eyes. "Hmph, obviously. What? Do you think my contributions aren't enough to merit a young woman's interest? Valdor, am I wrong~?"
"Indeed! Lord Raven's achievements have no equal and never shall," Valdor declared with absolute sincerity. "This young lady shows excellent judgment in seeking an audience."
The Raven nodded with satisfaction. "You've matured considerably, Valdor."
"Thank you, Lord Raven."
The Emperor suppressed the urge to grimace. His Captain-General of the Custodian Guard, the legendary Valdor himself, was reduced to this.
"Very well. I'll see the girl," the Raven said, spreading his wings. "Handle the expedition preparations yourself. You have my support regardless."
With that, the Raven tore open a spatial rift and vanished through it.
In the awkward silence of the room, both Emperor and Valdor looked at each other.
"No Equal, huh? Excellent judgment?" Emperor spoke in a flat tone.
"My sincere apologies, my lord." Valdor did not hesitate to apologize immediately.
Emperor sighed, waving his hand, "Leave it, we all know how petty he is."
There was silence for a moment before He turned to Valdor and asked inquiringly, "Also, what is this about the girl from House Kapius?"
Valdor spoke, "Yes, my lord, it seems the young lady is involved in....."
...
Petra-Lani was waiting in the reception chamber, anxiety gnawing at her composure. She paced restlessly, rehearsing her questions. This meeting was critical; poor performance would ruin everything.
She checked her appearance once more. Several servants had frantically presented multiple gowns. She'd settled on an elegant cream-colored dress with an ivory bustier that accentuated her figure, paired with a rose-gold mesh necklace. The ornament wound upward from her throat, terminating beneath a cluster of pearls and sapphires.
(T/N:- Image here->)
"You seem quite nervous."
A voice manifested from nowhere. The Raven emerged from a spatial portal directly above the table, settling gracefully onto its surface.
"Esteemed Lord Raven, great Master of Wisdom." Petra-Lani startled, then quickly offered a respectful bow.
"I smell something remarkably fragrant. Is that for me?"
The Raven's gentle tone eased her tension considerably. She retrieved the fries and ketchup that her family's chef had meticulously prepared.
"Excellent. You've thought this through."
Sampling a single fry, lord Raven's approval made Petra-Lani release a breath she'd been holding. Her gift had succeeded; at least part of her mission was accomplished.
"Now then, what do you want to know?" the Raven asked. "Your time is limited."
'Truly, Such great figures work tirelessly for humanity's welfare,' Petra-Lani thought reverently. The realization almost brought tears to her eyes, 'Lord Raven has truly sacrificed so much.'
Meanwhile, Raven was thinking 'Where should I nap later? No...better to inspect the other laboratories. Hmm, by now they should have developed new flavors.
"My Lord, I wish to know your story with the Emperor," Petra-Lani said carefully, determined to use every precious second.
"My story with the Emperor? That's quite a tale." The Raven settled more comfortably on the table. "Cough, it begins during the Unification Wars. The Emperor learned I possessed wisdom that could save humanity, so He took Malcador and Valdor and searched Terra for me."
"I was in deep sleep then, traversing the spiritual ocean, seeking the origin of existence and the meaning of being."
The actual first meeting on the Ninaveh Peninsula certainly couldn't be recounted accurately; it required... a little makeover.
Otherwise, it would sound like a warp entity deceiving a naive young girl.
"Initially, they heard I slumbered in Kalagann's treasury, ruler of the Ursh Dominion. So they launched a war, annihilated Ursh, but found nothing. Later, word came that I manifested in the Unspeakable King's territory, so they deployed forces again and destroyed him as well."
"After numerous campaigns, the Emperor finally discovered the sculpture I'd become during my sleep upon the Ninaveh Peninsula, and awakened me."
"He asked for my help in saving humanity from extinction and restoring its former glory. I witnessed His infinite love for mankind, and moved by His sincerity, I agreed to help build the Imperium of Man."
'Never trust an influential person's autobiography,' Raven thought silently.
"Haah...haa, Truly such a wonderful tale, my Lord, such a story needs no embellishment; merely by being told, it becomes legendary," Petra-Lani breathed heavily, her face crimson, stars practically gleaming in her eyes.
'Oye, oye, oye, why are you making a face like that, Lady, please, calm down...thankfully no one will see this, ahh my reputation,' Raven thought grimly.
Who would have thought that the great raven would one day be scared of a young, cute girl?
"What happened next? What did you experience together?"
The Raven proceeded to recount his adventures with the Emperor, describing how he guided the Master of Mankind to other universes seeking wisdom and power. He detailed the crises they faced in alien realities and the methods they used to win.
Naturally, many stories remained classified, awaiting the Primarchs' expansion into other universes before being declassified and published in major Imperial networks.
Petra-Lani listened with intense focus, a little too much for Ravens' comfort, her golden memory-stylus recording swiftly across her data-slate. She was terrified of missing a single detail.
She'd never imagined such extraordinary events existed beyond public knowledge.
While Raven entertained his interview, Emperor had summoned Malcador and charged him with organizing the expedition.
"My Immortal King, are you embarking upon another campaign?" Malcador sounded mildly surprised.
"Indeed. I originally intended only to conquer the galaxy, but the Raven has shown me the infinitely vaster domains beyond. I intend to grant humanity an unparalleled gift, dominion over the myriad heavens themselves," the Emperor declared.
"My old friend, I'll be absent from Terra for a considerable time. The Imperium is entrusted to your care."
The relevant orders reached each Primarch's fleet with remarkable speed.
Aside from Vulkan, Russ, Horus, and Fulgrim, all other Primarchs brought their Legions to Terra in answer to the Emperor's summons.
A grand expedition was proclaimed, news spreading rapidly throughout the Imperial network and generating tremendous fervor. Vast armies mustered, creating a magnificent spectacle that thrilled the entire Imperium.
Magnificent war engines appeared, and the tide of conquest became unstoppable. Every Imperial soldier burned with zealous devotion, eagerly anticipating humanity's territorial expansion.
The entire Imperium would march as one, military might directed toward other universes. Wherever the Imperial fleets journeyed, the double-headed Aquila would fly.
...
Magnificent Celestial-class warships hovered in the boundless void, their immense mass generating unique gravitational fields. The vessels were constructed entirely of metal, incorporating cutting-edge technologies from different universes alongside ancient knowledge inherited from the Old Ones and humanity's ancestors.
The Celestial-class surfaces bristled with towering steel structures, their indicator lights flickering in rhythmic patterns. The station-keeping engines rose tens of thousands of meters into the air, resembling majestic steel mountains. The propulsion flames from maneuvering stretched for hundreds of kilometers, illuminating the void with incandescent fury.
Surrounding them floated vast numbers of Imperial Second, Third, and numerous other warship classes.
These vessels were equally colossal, resembling immense cities suspended in the void. Each incorporated the Imperium's most advanced technology, their military power sufficient to conquer entire worlds or determine the outcome of sector-wide campaigns.
The crews residing within numbered sufficiently to seed human civilization throughout other universes, establishing footholds and flourishing, developing from nothing into advanced cultures.
At this moment, these colossal ships hung silently like slumbering steel behemoths sprawled across the boundless void.
Even the Emperor's Grand Design and other Imperial ship-girls manifested their true forms today, participating in this grand ceremony alongside the assembled fleets.
The crews aboard, Astartes, Knights, mortal sailors, Navigators, and countless others, awaited the ceremony's commencement with palpable excitement.
The Imperial Network blazed with activity, public discourse reaching a fever pitch due to overwhelming propaganda. Even with Celestial-class cogitators serving as regional servers, the network occasionally buckled under the sheer volume of information.
Thanks to the widespread real-time communication infrastructure, Imperial citizens tens of thousands of light-years distant could witness this historic ceremony.
@SteelFaith221: "To restore Humanity's glory is our sacred duty." (｀・ω・´)ゞ
@HiveWorker998: "The Imperium's ascension is inevitable! We'll burn the stars themselves if the Emperor wills it!" (ง🔥Д🔥)ง
@ArchivistPrimus: "Careful. The Administratum reminds all citizens: resource allocations must remain balanced." (¬_¬)
@SaintFriesFan: "PRAISE THE EMPEROR! PRAISE THE RAVEN! PRAISE THE GOD OF FRIES AND KETCHUP!!" (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧
@Caliban_MortarGuy: "If tithes aren't spent on weapons, they should fund bigger guns! Kill! Kill! Kill!" (╬ಠ益ಠ)
@PeacekeeperDelta: "Though the Imperium is strong, endless conquest brings ruin..." (._.)
@Caliban_MortarGuy replied: "HERESY DETECTED (╬ Ò﹏Ó) Deploy purity seals immediately!"
@MechanicusPriest404: "+++ GLORY TO THE OMNISSIAH +++ also, please stop spamming fries emojis in Mechanicus channels." (￣ロ￣;)
@SaintFriesFan replied: "YES!! The Raven leads us to infinite fries and glory!!" (≧▽≦)/
@PeacekeeperDelta: "You're all insane…" (´-﹏-`;)
@CommissarBot: "Post flagged. Citizen under review for potential defeatism." ⚠️
@Cadian_MortarGuy: "(￣ー￣)ゞ The Emperor protects!"
@SaintFriesFan: "All xenos must kneel and sing 'Conquer!'" (ง'̀-'́)ง🎶
@ArchivistPrimus: "Thread locked for excessive zealotry and memetic contamination."
Agri World - Garden World (lush agri-world)
@GoldenHarvest_Farmer22: "The fleet's departure is grand, but who picks the ripe grain this harvest? (´Д｀) We voted for extra tithes, but we need our food stores!"
@Irrigation_Sergeant: "Fear not! The Emperor protects our fields. o7 Let the xenos starve while we reap!"
@YoungHeir: "Daddy says the new Primarch fleet will keep the solar winds from droughts… hope he's right. (･ω･)"
@PastorOfTheHarvest: "Pray for the Raven's blessing. May our soils yield more than oblivion. ✧(>o<)ﾉ✧"
@CriticalThinkerGleaner: "We must expand, yes, but please allocate mechanized plows before more boots on distant worlds… (._.)"
Cyberpunk Hive-City World
@HiveRunner-0345: "Brother, the vox-net's hopping. 'For the Imperium!!' then someone counter-posts 'Excess aggression ruins us'. (¬‿¬) lol."
@NeonCommsGuy: "Streaming the fleet's launch live on herodrones. 50G everywhere. Fries and ketchup memes everywhere, too. (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧"
@SkyScraperKid: "Xenos should kneel… right after I finish my holo-game. (≧▽≦)/ #Priorities."
@SysAdmin_Zero: "Thread locked for excessive zealotry and memetic contamination. (ಠ_ಠ) #VocNetMod"\
@ConcernedCitizen: "What about the local sectors? Expanding everywhere sounds cool, but what about here? (´-﹏-`)"
....
@HiveNobleHead// Necromunda Hive:
"So… the girl from House Kapinus actually got an audience with Lord Raven? (⊙_⊙;) Big deal for a little noble brat~."
@ParadiseFarmer77 // Cytherea Agri-World:
"I heard she brought… fries? ಠ‿ಠ Who gifts fries to a demigod-level being? Brave or insane… probably both. ✧(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧"
@HiveCitizen303 // Necromunda Lower Hive:
"Honestly… I'd faint if someone told me I was getting an audience with Lord Raven. Respect to her nerves (⊙_⊙;)."
@SnackPriest_03 // Terra Cult of Fries:
"Praise be! At least someone appreciates the sanctity of processed potatoes! (ง•̀_•́)ง"
@UpperSpireGossip // Terra Noble Quarter:
"An exclusive interview? Hmph. Next, they'll let her rewrite the Imperial census… as if vox-scribes weren't already chaos incarnate. (¬‿¬)"
@AgriSage_07 // Hive Paradise World:
"Imagine being a farm kid and suddenly having all of Terra watching your every move… I'd faint mid-transport. (✖╭╮✖)"
@Recruit_19th // Training Bastion:
"Wait wait, she's writing an article? Is this for the Fries Appreciation Society magazine? (°ロ°)"
@MachanicumCadet_11 // Training Bastion
"Fleet leaving for… another Crusade? And people are hyped about fries? Humans are confusing. (°ロ°)"
@PacifistDog_88 // Mechanicum Sanctum:
"I dunno… fries might actually improve morale. Very tactical. (¬‿¬) +1 for edible diplomacy."
@VoxObserver_9000 // Orbiting Luna:
"Does anyone else think her memory-stylus is OP? Recording thoughts directly? ✧٩(•́⌄•́๑)و✧ Soon she'll be writing better than the Administratum…"
@XenoHunter_42 // Mechanicum Kill-Team:
"Meanwhile, I'm still waiting for news on the Xeno tombs we fought… and people are hyped about fries. Priorities… ✧(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧"
@ImperialStudent_09 // Terra Upper Spire Academy
"Petra-Lani: future star head confirmed. Raven approval is basically a golden stamp of genius (⌒‿⌒)."
@CensorBot_004 // Administratum Feed Control:
"Reminder: Personal opinions about young nobles are allowed, but derogatory comments toward Imperial officials will be flagged. ಠ_ಠ"
@ParadiseFarmer77 // Cytherea Agri-World:
"They're taking our soldiers… and possibly our crops 😭 But fries for the people, of course. Priorities!"
@MechanicumAcolyte_77 // Mars Forge:
"Every ship bristling with engines, lasers, and ancient tech… and yet some mortals here are arguing over food and decorations on the bridge. Typical humans. (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻"
@AgriSage_09 // Cytherea Agri-World: "Too much conquest will destroy human potential… but I also want fries 🍟(╥﹏╥)"
@PacifistDog_88 // Mechanicum Sanctum (trolling acct.): "Shut up, traitor, you can only bark pacifist dog!!" (ง°ل͜°)ง
....
....
.....
[End of Chapter]