Accompanied by Douglas and his two companions, Gamma met Admiral Heradus. As a shrewd individual who understood social dynamics, the first thing he did upon meeting was to present a gift. The principle of being beholden to those who give gifts or food remained applicable in the Imperium of Man in 42K.
The high-ranking military officer and the Inquisitor, who had accepted the gift, did not utter the prepared harsh words. Instead, they immediately declared, "Magos Gamma is a good comrade, a promising Magos of the Imperium." While the exact words weren't those, the meaning was clear.
With Douglas and his two companions supporting him, the atmosphere in the room was extremely harmonious.
After achieving his objective, Gamma wanted to abandon the Inquisitor, who was currently useless, and make a run for it.
However, as soon as he showed any intention of departing, Douglas and his two companions cooperatively changed the subject. They kept Gamma occupied, preventing him from speaking, while simultaneously winking at the Admiral—Don't let this ancestor escape!
Heradus immediately understood the hint. A Tech-Priest whom an Astra Militarum General, a Battle Sister Superior, and a Space Marine Chapter Master jointly wished to retain must possess something valuable. Recalling the swiftly departing Gear Boy, his tone immediately shifted. His words, initially about a "good comrade," transformed into, "The peace of the Far East rests on this battle. A good comrade would not stand by idly. Magos Gamma, what are your thoughts?"
Gamma had no choice but to respond: "I, Gamma, am irreconcilable with the Tyranid!"
Thus, the Gear Boy became a member of the combined fleet, and Gamma's desire to abandon the Inquisitor was forcibly thwarted. To be honest, Gamma had absolutely no interest in the Tyranid. He couldn't steal any technology from these bugs, who only knew how to "eat." He had tried it on Thedan; fighting the Tyranid yielded no benefit for him. But now, he had no other option.
Although the assembled Human and Titan Empire fleet was already quite large, they were facing an opponent like the Tyranid. Their current strength was insufficient to defeat the bugs, so Human and Titan Empire warships continued to arrive from various locations to join them.
During the waiting period for both fleets to gather, Gamma had nothing else to do besides working on his "Human Orthodox Gundam Project." That was until Douglas and his two companions approached Gamma again for business. However, they came with high hopes but left disappointed. Gamma, having returned from his exchanges with the Titan Empire, no longer had any interest in their accumulated inventory. In the end, he only offered a friendly price, which greatly disheartened the trio. Nevertheless, this did open up new avenues for Gamma's thinking.
In such a large fleet, there must be many people with valuable items. Moreover, there were Rogue Traders who had caught wind of the war and arrived, hoping to profit. The Gear Boy, which was quickly becoming "too heavy to move," could conveniently lighten its load. Thus, "Gamma's Arms Supermarket" reopened for business.
Admiral Heradus, upon receiving Gamma's "GG," went to take a look out of curiosity. He immediately understood why Douglas and the others wanted to keep this little Tech-Priest—he truly had valuable items. Unfortunately, he was Imperial Navy, and these "gadgets" only helped with a warship's anti-boarding capabilities, not improving its performance.
This left him somewhat disappointed, but every little bit helped. He still bought a batch of new gear and nano-medical pods for his most capable subordinates.
"Gamma's Arms Supermarket" quickly made a name for itself within the fleet. Various factions gathered there began to clear out its stock. As Gamma raked in rare minerals and technological relics, grinning from ear to ear, Inquisitor Finnie's ship arrived.
Surveying the "small board" before him, Gamma felt a growing doubt. He had privately inquired a lot about the Inquisitor. With his identity and his "hard currency," he could access some not-so-secret information about the Inquisition. One such piece of information was that Inquisitors' ships were privately purchased public vessels. One could roughly gauge an Inquisitor's power by the type of ship she commanded.
He felt that given Finnie's age and strength, she didn't seem like someone who could have obtained a Regent's writ. So he asked, "How did you get the Regent's writ?"
A flicker of panic, two parts unease, three parts self-deception, and four parts annoyance flashed in Finnie's eyes upon hearing the question. But she still suppressed her emotions and explained:
"The Regent's order was issued to the Inquisition representative on the High Lords of Terra, who then issued it to the Grand Inquisitor responsible for the Far East Sector, and then he issued it to my mentor."
"Oh, your mentor came to pick you up. Why aren't you hurrying back to your small ship?" Gamma began to shoo her away.
He wanted to annoy the Inquisitor one last time.
Inquisitor Finnie, already unsettled by Gamma's question, flushed when she heard his words. She knew her ship was small, but it carried not only the memories of her life after being rescued by her mentor but also important data and relics passed down through her lineage. Even if her mentor sacrificed herself, she had to ensure this ship and Finnie escaped. This was the most important treasure in her heart, and now the Tech-Priest was insulting it. How could she not be angry?
The fear of an unknown fate, the regret for her reckless actions that led to her mentor's sacrifice, and the anger at the little Tech-Priest's words all erupted at this moment, causing Finnie's heart to give way and her reason to be swallowed. She walked up to Gamma, looked directly into his eyes with an enraged gaze, and roared:
"Apologize! My mentor has already sacrificed herself for the mission. This ship is her precious legacy to me. Our ships are specially built for secret missions. Don't judge it with your Tech-priest' 'clumsy and crude' aesthetics!"
However, upon hearing Finnie's words, the little Tech-Priest realized that his earlier remark was indeed excessive. Whether in the past or present, making light of the deceased, whether intentionally or unintentionally, was always wrong. He quickly motioned with his eyes to stop the approaching guards. Gamma, somewhat flustered, avoided the Inquisitor's angry gaze. After a long silence, Gamma spoke:
"I'm sorry..."
Hearing Gamma's apology, Finnie turned and left without looking back. The offending little Tech-Priest had initially thought of offering gifts as an apology, but the next day, the Inquisitor brought a pile of broken xenos artifacts and technological relics for him to repair. Gamma, being in the wrong, did not refuse.
Gamma also knew that the Inquisitor was taking advantage of his guilt and lack of leverage to exploit his talents. However, the guilty little Tech-Priest could only grumble while repairing. Of course, the xenos artifacts and technological relics the Inquisitor gave him were indeed quite remarkable; he had never seen them before. Especially the xenos technology, its design philosophy and production processes gave Gamma a lot of inspiration. Overall, the gains far outweighed the effort. After finishing the repairs, Gamma even felt he had profited. However, when handing these repaired xenos artifacts back to the Inquisitor, Gamma still added a thought to himself:
"The Alien Tribunal is in league with xenos!"
After the fleet was fully assembled, the first combat meeting was convened, and Gamma also managed to secure a seat as an observer. He had no place to interject in a combat meeting of this level. Being called out of the lab to be part of the atmosphere was annoying enough. However, he had gained a bit of fame in the fleet during this time. Even though he was small and sat in an obscure corner, people kept greeting him, which annoyed Gamma even more.
Just as Gamma was getting exasperated and looking for an excuse to leave, an important figure appeared—Papa Smurf, Calgar. Behind him stood Gamma's old acquaintance, "Trickster Ventris."
Gamma wasn't surprised to see a big shot from the Ultramarines. It would be strange if the Ultramarines didn't participate when the Tyranid were causing trouble again near the Ultramar 500 Worlds, which had been invaded by the Tyranid once before. However, he didn't expect it to be Calgar, the Chapter Master of the Ultramarines, and he certainly didn't expect Ventris, who should have been reporting back to the Regent, to be here. This made his heart sink.
This Tyranid invasion seems to be unusual! Gamma's intuition was sounding an alarm.
Ventris also saw Gamma in the corner, sitting in an ill-fitting chair, swinging his feet back and forth boredly.
He hadn't expected to see this little Tech-Priest here either. He showed no outward reaction, but he planned to talk to Gamma properly after the meeting.
Once everyone was present, the combat meeting officially began. However, the meeting was not chaired by Calgar but by Grand Inquisitor Gayss, who was responsible for the Far East Sector of the Alien Tribunal. Gamma was initially a bit confused, but he soon understood why Calgar wasn't chairing it: because the chairman first had to face the questions from people who had come from all over—Why cooperate with xenos!
It was not appropriate for the Ultramarines Chapter Master to explain this issue. Such "incorrect" behavior within the Imperium would be a stain, not to mention that there had always been "criticism" among the Imperium of Man's high command regarding the Regent's attitude towards the xenos issue. The reason was rumored to be related to a certain female Aeldari. Hot-tempered soldiers didn't know what subtlety was; they immediately blurted out: "Those blue-skins are not to be trusted!"
Seeing someone take the lead, others with similar thoughts also began to express their doubts and concerns.
Some even began to personally attack Gayss, questioning his loyalty to the Emperor.
"That's right, why cooperate with xenos? This is a betrayal of the Emperor!"
"Grand Inquisitor, have you forgotten why you are called an Alien Inquisitor?!"
"Alien Inquisitor and xenos, heh!"
The Grand Inquisitor, who had anticipated all this, waited until those who had voiced their questions had fallen silent before calmly stating:
"I can understand your doubts, but I hope you will make your judgment after hearing what I have to say!"
"First, I must tell you that this is not the first time we have cooperated with the Titan Empire to fight the Tyranid."
As soon as the Grand Inquisitor finished speaking, the meeting room immediately erupted in discussion. Gayss tapped on the table to silence the murmurs, then continued:
"And the Tyranid we are facing this time are also the same opponent we fought against in our last cooperation—the Gorgon Hive Fleet!"
"The Gorgon Hive Fleet developed from a Tyranid swarm that fled to the Far East after the main force of the Behemoth Hive Fleet was defeated by the Imperium. They hid in the corners of the Imperium, increasing their biomass by devouring isolated, remote planets. After some time, they entered the Titan Empire's sphere of control."
"Although Gorgon had not recovered to the scale of Behemoth when it entered the Titan Empire, it was already a severe threat. After rapidly devouring several Titan Empire trade planets, the Tau only then became aware of their existence and engaged them in battle."
Upon hearing the news that the Tau had been invaded by the Tyranid, every single extreme xenophobe in the room wore a look of schadenfreude. Several who had suffered losses at the hands of the Tau even burst out laughing. Even the Grand Inquisitor himself subtly curved his lips while speaking, though he quickly suppressed it. He continued in a serious tone:
"According to the intelligence I have, initially, the Tau successfully held back wave after wave of the swarm, but Gorgon showed astonishing adaptability!"
"Upon discovering that regular Hormagaunts could not easily pass through dense forests, Gorgon immediately generated Hormagaunt variants capable of moving through the woods as if on flat ground. And when the Tau dispatched Kroot to defeat the variant Hormagaunts, Hormagaunts specifically targeting Kroot quickly appeared, swarming and devouring those bird-men completely."
Grand Inquisitor Gayss asked with a solemn expression, "How difficult those xenos, who can evolve by devouring flesh and blood, are, is something everyone who has fought them understands clearly."
The Grand Inquisitor's words made the humans who were still gloating frown, but Gayss's next words made their hearts sink to the bottom. The Grand Inquisitor continued:
"Later, Gorgon even evolved specialized Hormagaunts that were almost completely immune to Melta and Plasma weapon damage. The Tau were forced to scour the battlefield for the weapons of fallen Kroot to use. But when the Tau picked up the more primitive Kroot weapons, Gorgon evolved Hormagaunts with optical camouflage!"
"The speed of evolution and adaptive capacity displayed by the Gorgon Hive Fleet is the fastest among all known Tyranid strains!"
Not only were the commanders present struck silent by the Grand Inquisitor, but even Gamma was startled. His mind was now filled with: Immune to Melta and Plasma weapon damage! How? Can even basic units like Hormagaunts generate their own 'shields'?
"Grand Inquisitor Gayss, given the current situation of the Tau, they ultimately defeated the Gorgon Hive Fleet, or at least repelled it. How did they achieve that?" a general inquired.
"The arms race between Gorgon and the Tau lasted for nearly a year, until the Tau commander realized that Gorgon, in its rapid adaptation to battlefield changes, overly relied on producing small, simple bioforms, such as Termagants and Hormagaunts, with very few large synaptic creatures like Hive Tyrants. So he decided to launch a suicidal charge against the swarm, aiming to kill as many synaptic creatures as possible. The Tau's suicidal attack successfully killed a large number of Tyranid synapses, forcing the swarm to withdraw from the planet."
After listening to the Grand Inquisitor's explanation, the atmosphere in the room suddenly lightened. Is there any intelligent species in the galaxy that can execute a "suicidal charge" better than humans? No. A small Gorgon only requires a little "sacrifice"; it's nothing more than a mere trifle. However, the Grand Inquisitor's next words dashed their joy.
"The Titan Empire found a way to deal with the Gorgon Hive Fleet's ground swarms, but it only led to a stalemate with the Tyranid. Just as the stalemate persisted, a massive fleet from the Imperium appeared. This fleet was originally meant to participate in the Damocles Gulf Crusade, but it was delayed by 150 years due to the Warp—"
"Damn it!" This was the thought of everyone present.
"As the Expeditionary Force began its original mission of purging the xenos, the Tau also sent an envoy to explain the situation to the Expeditionary Force. Initially, the Imperial fleet did not trust the xenos, but upon discovering the Gorgon Hive Fleet, and confirming that the Damocles Gulf Crusade had been forced to halt due to the Tyranid invasion of the 500 Worlds of Ultramar—"
Chapter Master Calgar of the Ultramarines immediately became the focus of everyone's gaze, but the Imperial demigod's composure and thoughts were not so easily deciphered by mortals. However, among the group was Gamma, who was proficient in human anatomy and understood the function and state of every muscle in the human body. The Tech-Priest found that Calgar's facial muscles were actually stiff; he was exerting all his effort to maintain a "straight face."
"To prevent the Gorgon Hive Fleet from growing again and becoming another threat to the Imperium, this fleet had no choice but to cooperate with the Tau. Surprisingly, the cooperation between the Imperial and Titan Empire's joint fleet made it impossible for Gorgon to adapt simultaneously to two completely different military systems, whether in space or on the ground, and it was ultimately defeated!"
"This is also what I said just now: this joint fleet is not the first cooperation between humans and the Tau. It is precisely because of the outcome of the last time that this cooperation was prompted. Do you all understand?"
After hearing Grand Inquisitor Gayss's words, some still showed dissatisfaction. Since they already knew the weakness of the Hive Fleet, these people saw no need to cooperate with xenos. They were all enemies of the Emperor; it would be better to eliminate them all together!.
Gamma suddenly spoke, "Inquisitor, the Gorgon Hive Fleet returning this time should have new changes, shouldn't it?"
It wasn't that Gamma wanted to show off by asking this; it was because Gamma believed that given the rate of evolution Gorgon had displayed, if it dared to resurface so boldly, it must have found a way to counter the combined forces of humans and the Tau. It would only be more difficult to deal with than last time. If humanity remained unaware, the consequences would be severe. As expected, if it were that simple, there would be no need for this cooperation. Gayss's next words struck a blow to everyone present! The Grand Inquisitor replied:
"Investigations of the fallen planets revealed that this time, the Gorgon Hive Fleet has evolved a special toxic sac organ. These sacs are filled with sentient, microscopic spores that can not only instantly adapt and kill any life form they come into contact with, but also share the most effective toxin formula with the entire Hive Fleet through the synaptic network."
"At the same time, it also demonstrated a diversified ability to use toxins. Gorgon did not attack directly like other Hive Fleets. Instead, it used attacks as a diversion, taking the opportunity to mix its toxic spores into the crops of these worlds. Months later, these planets began to experience a large number of food poisoning incidents caused by unknown reasons, and countless people drowned in their suddenly frothing blood!"
"Hiss!" Everyone gasped.
"How do we fight this?" became the question in everyone's mind. An opponent with a touch-and-die poison, an opponent who would feign attack and poison from behind. When a venomous monster, both fearless in death and insidious, was placed before everyone, how to defeat it was a question everyone had to ponder.
This was no longer an enemy that could be solved by suicidal charges or sacrifice. Gorgon's potent venom rendered humanity's greatest advantage utterly useless.
Neither those who intensely loathed xenos nor those who had suffered greatly at the hands of the Tau spoke out in opposition again. If cooperating with xenos could defeat the Tyranid more easily, no one would object, because they all knew that xenos were enemies, but Tyranid were a natural disaster. They could sacrifice their soldiers, but the Emperor's coin must be spent wisely. They could entirely defeat the Tyranid and then use the "saved" coins to continue fighting the xenos!
Gamma, equally troubled, began to consider whether to sacrifice the Gear Boy, perhaps a short circuit in a warehouse storing flammable and explosive materials. In short, he was utterly unwilling to face such an untouchable opponent.
As everyone at the meeting was discussing how to deal with the Gorgon Hive Fleet, Calgar, who had been silent, finally spoke:
"Everyone, please listen to me!"
"Although Gorgon has evolved to be more dangerous and cunning, it is not invincible. It is a Tyranid creature; we can fully utilize the Tyranid creature's instinct for consumption to defeat it, to kill it!"
Hearing the Chapter Master of the Ultramarines, those present realized that the scion of the Imperial Regent already had a plan to defeat the Gorgon Hive Fleet. Everyone fell silent and looked at Calgar. Ventris, who had been serving as a background prop, now took out a projection device and placed it in the center of the conference hall.
When the holographic projector was activated, a star map appeared before everyone, marking the current location of the Gorgon Hive Fleet and its previous movement trajectory. It also indicated Gorgon's possible future directions of movement. However, Calgar did not speak again; Grand Inquisitor Gayss continued to explain to the crowd:
"Gorgon is influenced by the Tyranid creature's instinct. All of its actions are aimed at acquiring more biomass. We can use this point, using biomass as bait, to lead Gorgon step by step into the trap we have prepared for it."
As soon as Gamma heard this, his brows furrowed immediately. He had a bad feeling.
"Due to the arrival of the Gorgon Hive Fleet, in this area, Gene Stealers sensing its presence have begun to riot. Dozens of Imperial worlds have already experienced Gene Stealer-instigated rebellions. We can fully utilize the Gene Stealers' ability to summon and attract Tyranid, to make Gorgon advance along the path we draw for it!"
As the Grand Inquisitor spoke, he operated the holographic projector. A new route appeared on the star map's holographic image, simultaneously marking the locations of worlds where Gene Stealer rebellions had occurred. Some of these worlds were on this new route, but most were not. Gamma's bad feeling intensified.
Grand Inquisitor Gais pointed to the end of the route on the star map and said, "This is where we've prepared a burial ground for the Gorgon Hive Fleet."
As everyone looked at the location the Grand Inquisitor pointed to, Gamma noticed that the star system at the destination appeared exceptionally empty on the map. It was all alone, unlike other star systems that had nearby 'neighbors.'
"This star system is exceptionally suitable for large-scale fleet operations. There are only three planets orbiting the star, and the number of asteroids within it is extremely small. Its remote location will concentrate Gorgon's tendrils here, so we won't need to divide our forces to attack it simultaneously."
"The distant location from other star systems makes it harder for Tyranid fleets, which rely on planetary gravity for navigation, to escape, providing convenience for us to annihilate its scattered swarms after defeating the Gorgon Hive Fleet!"
"Damn it—" Gamma merely opened his mouth but didn't curse aloud.
Using 'bait' to control Gorgon, what is bait? Gene Stealers and all living creatures on all human planets along the route are the bait!
Using 'bait' to control Gorgon, how to control? Make other Gene Stealers outside the route 'shut up,' leaving only those on the route will naturally allow control!
Reality was just as Gamma had thought. After the meeting, Gamma left without looking back. He had made up his mind to leave immediately! Whoever had an opinion could go talk to Thedan!
Gamma walked back with a gloomy expression, head down, and then a pair of ceramite feet appeared before him. He looked up to see it was Ventris. Annoyed, Gamma immediately blurted out:
"Deceiver, what do you want from me?"
Ventris, who had been smiling, heard this and his face immediately began to twitch. He wanted to slap the little Tech-Priest's butt with his hand, which was twice the size of a mortal's, but the Gaius held back.
When he saw Gamma leave without a moment's delay at the end of the meeting, he knew Gamma was angry.
Based on his understanding of Gamma, he guessed that if he didn't catch up quickly, this little ancestor would definitely leave here as soon as he returned to his ship, which is why he hurried out of the meeting room amidst the strange looks from others and the Chapter Master. He had already anticipated Gamma's attitude.
"Haha, Magos Gamma, seeing an old friend and not even saying hello, how distant you've become!"
"What do you want?" Gamma said unhappily.
"Come on, come on, we haven't seen each other in years, why are you so distant? Come with me, let's chat for a bit. Later, I'll introduce you to our Chapter Master."
"Let go! Let go of my hand, quick!"
Ventris, bent over and pulling Gamma along, just smiled and rambled on enthusiastically, acting like a gracious host, completely ignoring the little Tech-Priest's verbal rejections and physical resistance.
Thus, Gamma was unceremoniously dragged by the shameless Ultramarines Gaius into a cabin that looked like a reception room. Inside, there were a few other fully armored Ultramarines. They were initially surprised to see Ventris dragging in a child dressed as a Tech-Priest, but then immediately realized who it was!
Indeed, the Macragge Red Tea brewed by the Ultramarines tasted just like his adoptive father's. Gamma thought this as he drank the red tea personally brewed and served by the Imperium's demigod.
Looking at Ventris opposite him, whose teapot never left his hand, ready to refill his cup at any moment, and the Ultramarines beside them, trying to force out 'kind' smiles that would scare children, Gamma knew they had something to ask of him. He set down the exquisite tea set and spoke:
"Alright, what do you want?"
A fleeting hint of awkwardness flashed across Ventris's face as he said, "This resurgence of the Gorgon Hive Fleet is no small matter."
"Hmm, I know. Wasn't I at the meeting?"
"Making such a plan was also out of necessity."
Gamma looked up at Ventris for a few seconds, then returned his gaze to the red tea in front of him, and said softly, "I just don't like it, not that I don't understand it. But still, thank you for explaining it specifically to me."
"It's good that you understand."
The silence in the reception room lasted for a while before Gamma's voice broke it:
"I don't want to be an executioner or a butcher, even if there are the most righteous, most unavoidable reasons. I don't have the courage to face all of this like you do. I'm a coward, which is why I choose to escape."
"You've already done enough!"
Ventris, who had witnessed Thedan's drastic transformation, spoke these words without a hint of falsehood. He understood that this little Magos, who called himself a 'coward,' was only 'cowardly' because of his kindness. He continued:
"This is our duty, not your responsibility. Stay, your help is needed here."
Gamma felt that the weapons and medical equipment he sold would have little to no impact on such a massive fleet, a mere drop in the ocean. He asked, somewhat puzzled:
"My staying here won't do much. Even if I dismantle the Gear Boy, it wouldn't support even a small war. What use could I be here?"
"Yes, of course there is, for example—"
"For example, what?"
"For example, 'borrow' me some equipment!" Ventris squeezed out his purpose for seeking Gamma, word by word.
Shameless! That was Gamma's only thought upon hearing it. He couldn't believe that for a moment he had actually thought Ventris wanted to comfort him. It turned out he was trying to 'get something for nothing.' What did he mean by 'borrow'? The Deceiver wasn't deceiving demons anymore, but Tech-priest, was he!
"Borrow?" Sarcastic Gamma online.
"Hahaha, hahaha—"
Ventris laughed to cover his embarrassment.
The other Ultramarines, who were part of the atmosphere, also showed surprised expressions. They had initially thought Ventris intended to buy some good items at cost for his battle brothers from this 'magical little Tech-Priest' he often mentioned. Now they realized Ventris's new nickname was not wrong.
"How dare you say 'borrow'? Will there be interest?" Gamma continued sarcastically.
"Interest can be arranged!"
"I'm thinking about your interest, and you're thinking about my principal, right!"
"How could that be? I am an Ultramarine, a son of Guilliman."
Upon hearing Ventris's words, the Ultramarines present all turned their heads away. Although they knew the Gaius was doing this so his battle brothers could have more powerful and 'waaaagh' gear to face the Tyranid, using the name of their gene-father for such a deed was truly too much. But they were also beneficiaries of Ventris's shameless behavior, so they chose selective deafness.
Ventris's shamelessness left Gamma speechless. He said, "Commander, I remember you left Thedan with 50 master-crafted power swords and 50 Iron Halos. Has it really come to this after only a few years?"
"Heh, has it really—"
Ventris then recounted his experiences over the past few years. After he left Thedan and entered the Warp, he encountered a Warp storm. According to the original plan, he was supposed to report back to the Regent and give Guilliman a detailed account of Thedan's situation. But when he finally managed to break free from the Warp storm and exit the Warp, he found that several years had passed.
Because Ventris's vessel exited the Warp not far from Macragge, Ventris received a message from Calgar about the Gorgon Hive Fleet. He decided to first deliver Gamma's thank-you gifts to the Chapter. With these items, the battle brothers could better face the Tyranid swarms.
After successfully arriving at Macragge, he intended to hand these gifts over to Calgar and then depart again. But at this point, he received a notification from Guilliman, stating that he already knew about Thedan's fate and that Ventris didn't need to rush to report to him in detail. Instead, he should first help Calgar deal with the Gorgon threat and coordinate cooperation with the Titan Empire.
Therefore, Ventris stayed on Macragge. But when he handed the gifts to Calgar, Calgar said that these gifts were from Gamma to thank him, and that he should distribute them as he saw fit.
Upon hearing the Chapter Master's words, Ventris's first action was to touch the 'Blade of Ventanus' at his waist, reminding Calgar—I saved your life, you can't screw me over like this!
The Ultramarines Chapter Master looked at the Chapter's wall of honor, then at his own position, hinting to Ventris—the Chapter is full of diligent and capable warriors. These items are not sacred relics with special meaning to the Chapter, so it's not appropriate for me, as Chapter Master, to distribute them. Do this well, and you might have a chance to be promoted to First Company Commander in the future. When I gloriously pass on, the Chapter Master's position will be yours.
Ventris, understanding that his Chapter Master was determined to dump this task on him, shivered on the spot. The reason was simple: not only were he and Calgar present, but also many battle brothers who had come to welcome him. These brothers looked at him with such intense gazes that even power armor couldn't block them.
Although Ventris had tried his best to 'spread the wealth evenly,' the result was that everyone who received something was not entirely satisfied, not to mention those who received nothing. Furthermore, the 'Grudge Demons' in the Warp had been spreading his name at all costs over the past few years. The Ultramarines were already aware of Ventris's new nickname and all believed that Ventris, this sly fellow who disliked adhering to the Codex Astartes, must still have good stuff. "So you're planning to trick another batch of equipment from me to shut your brothers up?" Gamma said, rolling his eyes.
Ventris chuckled apologetically, "How can you say 'trick'? It's a loan! A loan!"
"Then when do you plan to return it?"
"Uh—."
The black-hearted Tech-Priest, holding core technology and mastering mass production techniques, lied without batting an eye, "Don't even think about it. Do you know how rare the materials for a power sword are?"
Seeing Gamma refuse, Ventris became anxious. He quickly said, "I'll return it, definitely! I'll return it with interest when I become Chapter Master!"
You actually swallowed the pie Calgar drew for you! With you like this, you still want to be Chapter Master, huh!
Just as Gamma was looking at Ventris, who still wanted to haggle, the door of the reception room opened, and in came Chapter Master Calgar and Grand Inquisitor Gais.
"Oh, this must be Magos Gamma, the one Ventris often mentions. A pleasure to meet you."
Magos Gamma rose and bowed to the Chapter Master of the Ultramarines, "It is an honor to meet you, esteemed Chapter Master Calgar."
Then, he greeted the Grand Inquisitor beside Calgar, "It is equally an honor to meet you, Grand Inquisitor Gayss. May the Emperor's light forever shine upon your soul!"
Gayss heard Magos Gamma's seemingly flawless but subtly pointed greeting. Considering the young Magos's reaction after the meeting and the intelligence he had gathered, he said with a wry smile, "It seems Magos Gamma is quite displeased with the plan from the meeting."
Magos Gamma offered no explanation or response. He simply sat down in silence, picked up the teacup on the table, and began to drink. Calgar and Gayss exchanged glances, then both shook their heads slightly in resignation. At this moment, Ventris proactively explained on behalf of Magos Gamma:
"Magos Gamma understands your difficulties, my lord. He is just young and temporarily unable to accept it."
Grand Inquisitor Gayss waved his hand, indicating he didn't mind. After sitting on the sofa, he said, "It's fine. If the current me were to meet my younger self, my younger self would surely shoot me dead."
Everyone present, except for Magos Gamma, empathized with the Grand Inquisitor's words. Their bodies and minds had been changed too much by time; only their loyalty to the Emperor remained unchanged.
"Ventris, why did I hear you say 'when I become Chapter Master' outside the door just now? You have quite the ambition," Calgar said playfully, skillfully pouring himself a cup of tea with his power gauntlet while drinking.
The Gaius, caught red-handed by his Chapter Master, gave a few dry laughs. However, Magos Gamma did not let go of this imperial demigod who wanted to "gain something for nothing." He said:
"Ventris wants to borrow from me, with an interest rate of nine out of thirteen, promising to return the principal and interest once he becomes Chapter Master."
As soon as Magos Gamma finished speaking, Calgar, who hadn't swallowed his tea, spat it out. He first looked at Ventris in disbelief, as if he were looking at a prodigal son, and then realized that Magos Gamma's words were problematic. Nevertheless, he asked in an exasperated tone:
"Tell me, what's going on?"
Ventris's face first turned red, then black, and finally returned to normal before he spoke: "Chapter Master, I just wanted to ask Magos Gamma to help the brothers in the Chapter borrow some power swords and other equipment."
Calgar, who knew he had put Ventris in a difficult spot, impassively took another sip of tea and said nothing more. At the same time, his mind began to stir, wondering how high the possibility of "borrowing" was. It wasn't that the Ultramarines were poor and couldn't afford supplies; it was mainly that their large scale meant large expenses. Every time he signed a material allocation document, he wanted to smash someone with his power gauntlet. Another point was that the "wireless power swords" Ventris brought back were truly effective; just activate the disintegration field and start chopping.
Magos Gamma noticed Calgar's gaze also subtly turning towards him, almost making him laugh in exasperation. Did Lord Regent Guilliman know that his eldest son was so shameless?
Fortunately, the Ultramarines Chapter Master hadn't personally lowered himself to "borrow," so Magos Gamma pretended he knew nothing, as he was already preparing to leave.
Just as Magos Gamma was about to bid farewell, Grand Inquisitor Gayss suddenly asked, "I hear Magos Gamma has a decent relationship with the Tau. Is that true?"
The young Tech-Priest's face changed dramatically upon hearing this, and he blurted out, "Slander! This is slander against me! I am irreconcilably opposed to Xenos!"
The Grand Inquisitor merely chuckled and said, "Magos Gamma, please don't misunderstand. I have no other meaning. It's just that if we can get the Tau fleet to cooperate with us on some matters, those planets that are about to be subjected to Exterminatus might still have a chance to be saved!"
"How so?" Magos Gamma asked directly.
"The reason we directly execute Exterminatus on rebellious planets not on the route is to complete the trap before the Gorgon Hive Fleet reaches the starting point of the route. If we can delay Gorgon's advance, then we will have time to divide our forces and suppress those Gene Stealers."
Magos Gamma's eyes lit up, and then he heard Gayss say, "As long as the Tau are willing to intercept Gorgon,
the success rate of this plan is still quite high. Even if we can't completely suppress them, many fewer worlds will be destroyed!"
"Why not directly make such a request to the Tau fleet? Since you've already cooperated, they shouldn't refuse?" Magos Gamma asked.
"First, if we propose the idea of intercepting Gorgon, the Tau will certainly demand that we act together. They will not agree to intercept Gorgon alone."
Magos Gamma understood the Grand Inquisitor's meaning. The Tau feared humans stabbing them in the back, and the Empire had no moral qualms about stabbing Xenos in the back, even praising such actions. If he were a Tau, he wouldn't trust them either.
"Second, once the Titan Empire knows our plan, they will certainly use it as leverage to force concessions from us, which is unacceptable to the Empire."
"The Grand Inquisitor means that we haven't yet discussed how to deal with Gorgon with the Titan Empire, and the plan from the meeting was just for the worst-case scenario?" Magos Gamma asked with bright eyes.
Magos Gamma had been holed up in the laboratory recently, oblivious to outside affairs, so much so that he didn't even know Calgar had arrived, let alone such secretive matters.
The Grand Inquisitor shook his head and said, "Not yet. We need to unify our internal consensus before we can discuss with the Titan Empire. Otherwise, given the situation at the meeting just now, a meeting with the Tau could even turn into a bloody conflict."
Magos Gamma recalled the recent situation and felt the Grand Inquisitor's concerns were completely reasonable. But how could they get the Tau to contribute? The problem was that Gorgon Hive Fleet's current trajectory did not include any Titan Empire homeworlds!
What to do? What should be done? Poison the Tau's homeworlds? Unrealistic. Given the Tau's social environment, universal genetic testing would be no challenge for them. Trying to contaminate a homeworld through Gene Stealer infection would be too difficult and too slow, not to mention that with Gorgon's existence, the Titan Empire couldn't possibly not guard against Gene Stealers.
Wait! The world at the end of the trap was not infected by Gene Stealers, which means the Grand Inquisitor must have a way to attract the Tyranid! Thinking of this, Magos Gamma looked at Grand Inquisitor Gayss and then said:
"Grand Inquisitor and Chapter Master, you two came here specifically to find me, didn't you?"
Gayss directly admitted, "Yes, even if Magos Gamma wasn't here, we would have gone to your ship to find you."
"What do you want me to do?"
"I hope Magos Gamma will preside over our negotiations with the Tau. This will greatly reduce the Tau's vigilance towards us."
"Uh—"
Magos Gamma now wanted to slap himself. Let you be greedy for small advantages! Let you be greedy for small advantages! Did you really have to earn "that little bit" of shipping fees?! Now, it's like mud in your pants—no, now it's like yellow mud in your pants, whether it's shit or not, it looks like shit.
But Magos Gamma still explained, "I went to the Titan Empire on a secret order from Lord Regent Guilliman!"
After speaking, he looked innocently at the Ultramarines Chapter Master, who had been drinking tea. Calgar continued to drink tea.
Seeing Magos Gamma looking at him, he finally said, "Don't worry, we know about these things."
"Magos Gamma, you don't need to worry too much. Our Alien Tribunal is not as extreme as the Daemon Inquisition," Grand Inquisitor Gayss said.
Why didn't you say so earlier... Magos Gamma thought to himself.
"You don't just want me to preside, do you?"
"Yes, I also want to request Thedan's help."
Magos Gamma asked in confusion, "Huh? Thedan is so far from here. Even if I called for help now, it would be too late?"
The Grand Inquisitor continued to explain to Magos Gamma, "To be precise, I am requesting your help, Magos Gamma. I need to borrow your identity."
"My identity?"
"Yes, only the heir of Thedan can make those Rogue Traders willingly be driven."
"Grand Inquisitor, you want the Rogue Traders to help transport troops to suppress the rebellious planets?"
"Yes."
"An Inquisitor can mobilize Imperial troops as long as the reason is legitimate. Can't they mobilize those merchants?"
Gayss explained helplessly, "Legally, that's true, but Inquisitors who act recklessly almost always die in obscure ways. We can make demands, but the other party can also find reasons to refuse. Even if they cooperate under the authority of the Inquisition, they can still put in minimal effort. Persuasion, enticement, bribery, deception, threats, intimidation, and assassination are all means by which we achieve our goals, just as I am doing now."
After hearing Grand Inquisitor Gayss's words, Magos Gamma's expression became a bit strange. The Inquisitor's standing in his mind dropped significantly, because due to his past memories, he had always held Inquisitors in awe. Now, with the Grand Inquisitor asking for his help in a negotiating tone, this "bullying the weak and fearing the strong" demeanor gave Magos Gamma a sense of disillusionment.
"Sir Gayss, I am not refusing you, but you should know that my father is the Fabricator-General of Thedan. Even if I make promises to those merchants, if it significantly damages Thedan's interests, my father will also refuse," Magos Gamma said cautiously.
Upon hearing Magos Gamma say this, Gayss and Calgar's faces showed expressions of joy. At the same time, they also realized that this young Magos had no understanding of the meaning of his identity and the power behind it.
Grand Inquisitor Gayss thought for a moment and decided it would be better to explain to Magos Gamma. So he said, "Magos Gamma, you don't need to make any promises. You just need to host a banquet on your ship and invite the merchants from the fleet. Then, as long as I appear by your side, they will naturally understand what you mean."
"That's it?" Magos Gamma asked in surprise.
"Yes, Magos Gamma, your friendship is what they desire most."
"But they come to my ship for supplies every day and have already met me?"
"A formal invitation has a completely different meaning!"
Gamma carefully weighed the matter of the Grand Inquisitor using his name, and after consulting Magos Lauster for his opinion, he finally agreed to host a banquet on the Gear Boy in the name of Thedan's heir.
It was through this banquet that Gamma himself realized how unattainable his identity was to the common people of the Imperium. However, even though he understood, he didn't like this feeling at all.
Gamma hated groveling himself, and he also hated others groveling to him. Especially when he first seriously observed the merchants who greeted him and saw the genuine humility in their eyes, his disgust was already noticeable to those around him.
"What's wrong, Gamma?" Leia, who was diligently eating, asked when she noticed Gamma's unusual behavior.
The "Oil Girl," dragged out of the laboratory, was already enchanted by the food, forgetting the important task Magos Lauster had given her: to watch over the Omnissiah cub and prevent it from being led astray by merchants. Fortunately, she wasn't the only one assigned this task; Miss Calliree, the Navigator, was also there.
"Nothing, just a bit stuffy," Gamma gulped down a large mouthful of iced fruit juice to perk himself up.
Calliree, from a prominent family, skillfully helped Gamma deal with the merchant who had just approached to curry favor. Returning to her seat, she happened to overhear Gamma and Leia's conversation. She smiled helplessly at the diligently eating Tech-priest Girl and the impatient Tech-priest. During her time on the ship, she had already understood how low the emotional intelligence of these Omnissiah Priests was, but remembering her mission, she still reminded him:
"Magos Gamma, watch your expression; it's too obvious."
"Is it?"
Hearing Calliree's reminder, Gamma quickly rubbed his face vigorously with his hands. The lives on dozens of planets now depended entirely on his face, so he couldn't mess up at a time like this. Inquisitor Finnie, who had been assigned a similar task by the Grand Inquisitor, saw this and, uncharacteristically, took the initiative to refill Gamma's fruit juice.
However, as she looked up, she saw the little Gear Kid looking at her with a taunting gaze, which made the Inquisitor clench her teeth in anger, yet she was helpless. Ever since returning from her meeting with the Grand Inquisitor, this little Gear Kid had become reckless. The Inquisitor, whose disguise had been seen through, could no longer "intimidate" him.
"If you look at me like that again, I'll make you my primary target!"
"Hmph, an Imperial worm misusing public office," Gamma retorted fearlessly.
"You!"
The flamboyant super "second-generation machine" arrogantly declared, "What about me? Show some respect, little Inquisitor. My father is the Fabricator-General, Lord Regent Guilliman's capable subordinate."
...
This confrontation ended with Gamma's victory. The Inquisitor chose to temporarily avoid the conflict and fight another day. The busiest person at this banquet was not Gamma, but Grand Inquisitor Gayss. He was currently moving among the Rogue Traders, probing each of them, identifying those who might affect the plan. He had other methods to deal with such individuals.
Time returned to when Gamma had repaired Finnie's mentor's relic. The "Inquisitor" had already prepared to leave after receiving the relic. She wanted to "escape"; there were some things she didn't want to face, nor did she know how to face them. But the person she least wanted to face still appeared before her.
"When your mentor sacrificed herself, you dared to unilaterally decide to continue her mission instead of returning to the Brass Fortress with the Regent's secret orders. This alone is enough for me to execute you!"
Grand Inquisitor Gayss's voice was as biting as the Fenrisian winds and as cold as the ice of Valhalla, making Finnie, who always held her chin high in front of Gamma, now hug her arms and shiver in fear. She understood that even if her Inquisitor identity was publicly acknowledged to cover up, it meant nothing in front of this Grand Inquisitor. Moreover, it was Gayss who had cleaned up the mess from her reckless actions.
"Fortunately, you ultimately completed your mentor's mission. You proved with facts that you are worthy of truly possessing it."
The Grand Inquisitor said, taking out a rosary with a triple-I mark from his embrace and handing it to Finnie. Tremblingly, she took the rosary from Gayss's hand, removed her mentor's rosary and put it into her bosom, then placed her own rosary around her neck. Only after a long sigh did she realize that cold sweat had already soaked her undergarments.
"Thank you for your forgiveness, Grand Inquisitor, sir."
"I have not forgiven you. You must remember this matter for the rest of your life!" Gayss's voice remained cold, making Finnie shiver again involuntarily.
"Yes, Grand Inquisitor, sir!"
"Thank the Emperor for blessing you to complete the mission, so I didn't have to personally execute an old friend's student. I still remember the joy on her face when she told me she had found an apprentice with excellent psychic talent."
Gayss's voice was no longer cold but deep and full of remembrance, like a eulogy recited for a deceased friend at a funeral. Finnie, who could now truly be called an Inquisitor, also recalled her mentor's voice and appearance with the sound. She also understood that if it weren't for her mentor's connection, what awaited her might not have been a rosary, but a bullet.
"Finnie, you were too impulsive this time. Such emotions should not appear in an Inquisitor."
"Yes."
"Finnie, to be honest, your mindset, ability, personality, and experience are all far from sufficient for an Inquisitor!"
Finnie looked up and saw the Grand Inquisitor's scrutinizing and warning gaze, then quickly responded, "Yes!"
"What do you think of Magos Gamma?"
"Huh?" Finnie looked at the Grand Inquisitor with some confusion, not quite understanding why Gayss suddenly asked about the little Gear Kid.
Seeing this, the Grand Inquisitor began to doubt whether he was swayed by emotion and had given the rosary too early. He rubbed his brow and asked:
"Don't you know his identity?"
"The son of Archmagos Thedan," Finnie stated what she knew.
"And what else?"
"Um—the owner of the Gear Boy?"
Gayss now confirmed that he had indeed been too hasty this time. He looked at Finnie with a headache and then said, "You've been on his ship for so long, and you haven't felt anything unusual?"
"Haven't you noticed how excessively respectful the Tech-priest on the ship are towards Magos Gamma? How unusual it is for him to be called a Magos at his age? Can these things be achieved simply by being the son of a Archmagos? They are the Adeptus Mechanicus!"
...
The Grand Inquisitor's questions were a bit difficult for the former Inquisitor apprentice, who had spent most of her life in training and psychic exercises. At that time, her mind was entirely focused on how to complete the mission for her sacrificed mentor; she had even put her own life and death aside, so how could she have the leisure to pay attention to these things?
"You know, when I learned you were on an Adeptus Mechanicus exploration ship, I already considered the mission a failure. When I received news that you were still alive and had made contact with the Tau, I even thought it was false information released by heretics."
"Uh—" Finnie, who didn't know how dangerous the Tech-priest were, looked very confused.
"Emperor!"
As Grand Inquisitor Gayss called out to the Emperor, his eyes were already on the rosary Finnie wore around her neck. Finnie, realizing Gayss's intention, quickly tucked the rosary into her chest.
"Do you know what it means to be a publicly acknowledged heir to a Forge World?"
"I don't know," Inquisitor Finnie answered honestly.
"This means that Magos Gamma has already conquered Thedan with his talent, and it means that those Tech-priest, who only recognize technical knowledge, believe that Magos Gamma can completely replace the current Fabricator-General!"
"No Forge World has ever publicly announced a legal heir while the Archmagos is still alive and kicking! Do you understand?!"
Finnie, who didn't quite understand the Adeptus Mechanicus and the Tech-priest, understood from the Grand Inquisitor's attitude that Gamma was very special. She was alive and had completed the mission entirely thanks to Gamma's kindness and tolerance. To save herself and prevent the rosary from being taken back, she said:
"Grand Inquisitor Gayss, Gamma, Magos Gamma is a kind person."
"Hmm, your being alive is the best proof."
"He cares deeply about life, is approachable, and has a rather rebellious—mischievous—personality!"
"Oh, very good, this information is very important."
Before leaving, Grand Inquisitor Gayss asked Finnie many questions about Gamma's habits, preferences, and so on. Finally, he gave her a mission: to stay by Magos Gamma's side, gather more intelligence about him, and simultaneously protect his safety!
After Gayss left, Finnie finally calmed down and began to recall how she, not wanting her mentor to have sacrificed in vain, had stubbornly left with the secret orders and had her crew fly the ship elsewhere to provide cover for her. Eun'er had originally intended to obtain the secret method to travel to the Titan Empire by interrogating the former planetary governor. After learning that the governor had hidden assets in the Titan Empire, she had a sudden idea to seek out the little Gear Kid.
And everything that happened afterward, it turned out, was the result of two greenhorns who didn't understand themselves or each other, yet somehow managed to complete the mission. Thinking about it, it was truly incredible.
Having understood the whole story, Finnie had intended to apologize and express her gratitude for Gamma's indulgence and kindness towards her throughout their journey. However, she ran into Gamma, who had just been begged by the Grand Inquisitor to "borrow his face" and was full of himself. This made Finnie's apologies vanish completely, and she realized one thing: she couldn't be too polite to this little Gear Kid who got cocky with a little bit of sunshine; he deserved a beating!
Negotiations with the Tau also officially began shortly thereafter. Magos Gamma, serving as the mediator, was given a simple request by Calgar and Gayss: be 'fair.' His role was merely to remain impartial and address matters objectively, demonstrating humanity's sincerity in seeking cooperation with the Tau by choosing a mediator connected to them and known for impartiality.
Before the negotiations commenced, Rogue Traders had already set sail with the Astra Militarum aboard their ships, accompanied by Space Marine and an Inquisitor. They were tasked with assisting the Astra Militarum in suppressing the Gene Stealers, while also ensuring that if the objective wasn't met within the stipulated timeframe, the target planet would face an 'Exterminatus'!
"Bang! Bang!"
Magos Gamma used the wooden hammer in his hand to stop the argument between the humans and the Tau. This was one of his roles as mediator: to prevent the escalation of conflict. Laying down the hammer, Magos Gamma spoke:
"Commander Shadowsun, further arguing will yield no results. May I offer a suggestion?"
"Alright, Magos Gamma." Shadowsun, the supreme commander of the Titan Empire's Fifth Expansion Fleet, nodded. She had no reason to refuse Magos Gamma's request, as this human Magos had always demonstrated impartiality in similar situations before.
"Esteemed adults of the Titan Empire, even if you are unwilling, you must acknowledge that humanity sacrificed several planets to create an opportunity for the allied fleet to defeat the Gorgon Hive Fleet. This will save you countless lives. Therefore, demanding compensation is a reasonable request."
"Even if these planets experienced Gene Stealer rebellions, the Imperium of Man was not without means to suppress them. If you still refuse to make concessions and continue this stalemate, we will need several tentacles of the Gorgon Hive Fleet to fight simultaneously, and under conditions where it can replenish its biomass at any time. Even if we ultimately defeat it, you are well aware of the immense cost."
"Most importantly, this current Gorgon Hive Fleet developed from the stragglers that escaped the last Gorgon Hive Fleet. If we allow it to escape again like last time, we will be forced to face an even more formidable Gorgon Hive Fleet in a few decades!"
Another purpose of Magos Gamma was to provide a reason for those unwilling to make concessions. Their reluctance wasn't due to ignorance of the underlying principles, but because their positions prevented them from speaking such words. This applied equally to the Tau and to humans. Magos Gamma had also used this method to induce concessions from humans, so the Tau could find no fault with him.
Despite this, the negotiations remained deadlocked. The Titan Empire's scale was too small, and the interests represented by a few habitable planets were too significant for them. Unfortunately, the despicable humans had an underhanded tactic: a Grand Inquisitor possessed a method to attract the Tyranid. He lured a tentacle of the Gorgon Hive Fleet towards the Tau's homeworld, forcing the Tau to make concessions.
Magos Gamma was quite curious about the Grand Inquisitor's method. He specifically asked Gayss if it was convenient to reveal some details. The reply he received was that the method and principle were very simple, but the 'ingredients' were difficult to obtain. The Grand Inquisitor had accumulated enough for only two uses in his entire life.
"The person who thought of stringing up Genestealer Patriarchs like firewood is a true genius!"
"Uh, why does that sound so familiar? Hmm!"
After the human and Tau negotiations and war council concluded, the combined fleet set off in a mighty procession. In the Far East Sector, no force other than the Tyranid could contend with this fleet. They would scorch every tentacle of the Gorgon Hive Fleet like a blazing torch, guiding this monster step by step along the predetermined path to destruction.
Magos Gamma, who chose to continue with the fleet, was currently being pestered by Ventris. He hadn't given up on his plan to 'borrow' something. Magos Gamma wasn't truly concerned about such trivialities; he had already hinted to Ventris to offer some compensation. He absolutely could not set such a precedent, or he would be 'borrowed' into bankruptcy. Yet, Ventris acted as if he didn't understand, determined to get it for free.
"You're not willing to pay anything?"
"Truly not."
"What did Chapter Master Calgar tell you?"
"Uh—"
On a dark and windy night, a certain Chapter Master sought out his promising junior, confiding in him the hardships of being a Chapter Master and the difficulties of maintaining the Chapter's outward glory to uphold their predecessors' reputation. Deep in emotion, he could only raise his head, not wanting his junior to see his distressed side. As he left, he didn't forget to say to his junior in a hoarse voice:
"Understanding how to manage a household is the mark of a qualified Chapter Master. Work hard, young man, the future is yours!"
Finally, with no other choice, Magos Gamma had Ventris 'pay' with his body—making him a new product test subject. The Gaius initially thought this would be a good assignment. He didn't even ask Magos Gamma for an advance on his 'salary' to feed his waiting battle-brothers, believing the 'new product' would be even more potent!
But when he received Magos Gamma's 'new product,' he realized he had been rash, because 'new products' aren't necessarily more potent; they might also be more heretical! What proper power sword grows a mouth?
"Magos Gamma, this sword?"
"It's a creation from a few years ago, when I was still on Thedan. Its performance and cost are undeniable, but its design wasn't popular, so it was put into storage. I believe that for this fight against the Gorgon Hive Fleet, which can counter energy weapons, we need a large number of high-performance melee weapons, so I've reactivated this project. Your task is to carry this sword with you, train with it, spar with your brothers, and then write a hundred-thousand-word review report for me."
"Uh, I…"
"Oh, and don't forget to feed it. If it starves to death, your salary will be docked."
After speaking, Magos Gamma left in a hurry. He had more important projects; this project, completed years ago, wasn't worth his attention. If the testing went well, he could arrange for the mother organism to begin laying eggs.
Ventris remained in place, one hand holding the 'sword' and the other clutching the data Magos Gamma had given him. His expression was hard to describe: three parts twisted, three parts helpless, three parts regret, and one part self-abandonment. After standing there for half an hour, he finally carried the 'sword' back to the Ultramarines' battle barge.
As soon as he boarded, he was surrounded by his brothers, who already knew what he had been up to. In such moments, brotherly affection was temporarily set aside; it was all about first come, first served.
"Oh, isn't this my beloved brother, Ventris? This is… huh?! What the hell is this?!"
"I want to know too, damn it!" Ventris finally exploded.
"Uh, that little Magos gave it to you?"
"Yes!"
"Its appearance can no longer be described as merely heretical; it's sacrilege!"
Ventris's new sword quickly drew the attention of the other Ultramarines. Their reactions upon seeing the sword were largely similar. A few extreme individuals even declared that dying by this sword would be a form of blasphemy.
Although they detested the sword's appearance, the Ultramarines were still curious about what exactly it was and began to study the product data Magos Gamma had given Ventris: the Weapon-Bug.
The inspiration for this "Weapon-Bug" arose when Magos Gamma, bored one day, had a sudden whim to try the "joy of riding." He went to a "Grox farm" that remained after the war and asked the supervisor in charge of the Grox beasts to pick out the most docile Grox cub for him.
Thus, a scene unfolded: Magos Gamma, riding a "Luo Tu" (a playful name for the Grox) under his control, "galloped" through the farm, pursued by the supervisor and workers who didn't want to be "artillery-executed."
Fortunately, Magos Gamma only broke his leg in the end, sparing the workers from being dragged out and executed by the enraged Archmagos and Tech-priest. However, Magos Gamma was confined for a month due to this incident.
Lying in bed recovering, Magos Gamma, in his boredom and idle thoughts, suddenly had an idea: the history of animals as weapons of war is almost as long as human history. In 42K, there are also Krieg biochemical warhorses, but they are only used as vehicles. Why not design a 'biological weapon' that can be held in hand to fill a void!
With this idea, Magos Gamma began to ponder the feasibility of the plan. He discovered that "large-scale farming" itself was a manifestation of industrialization, and once successful, the greatest advantage of "biological weapons" would be their low cost. They wouldn't require precious rare materials, only feeding, a cost advantage that even a lasgun couldn't match.
The very next day, Magos Gamma, able to move around freely, immediately initiated the "Living Weapon Project." At the same time, he chose Tyranid organisms as his imitation target.
Tyranid melee symbiotic weapons are products of genetic programming, like the bone swords used by Warrior-Bugs. They possess a small brain themselves, making the bone sword essentially a type of Tyranid organism. This allows it to continuously grow, extend, repair its own damage, and maintain a deadly monomolecular blade during combat. Simultaneously, it can transmit powerful psychic currents through its internal neural synapses, generating a psychic field around the blade, thereby becoming a bio-engineered force weapon.
Compared to the Tyranid biological force weapons, ceramite was no different from parchment. Therefore, in Magos Gamma's view, there was no better imitation target than Tyranid symbiotic weapons.
Of course, he wasn't trying to create Tyranid. What he needed were the genetic fragments of these symbiotic weapons, which he would then combine with genetic fragments from other organisms to create a creature that matched his vision.
For Magos Gamma, who had received direct instruction from the Emperor himself through observing Gene-Seeds, this presented no difficulty. It was far, far easier than enhancing human genes, which was like a 'shit-code mountain.' It was akin to how restoring an ancient artifact costs more time and resources than building a new one. Moreover, Magos Gamma didn't need to consider the 'house layout' for rationality; as long as it was sturdy and had the functions he desired, it was sufficient.
Even so, Magos Gamma spent a considerable amount of time and went through hundreds of failures before finally creating the creature he desired:
A creature combining the genes of Tyranid organisms, symbiotic organisms, shelled mollusks, social insects, and psychic organisms—the Weapon-Bug.
The mother organism of this Weapon-Bug can lay eggs continuously like an ant queen. By injecting it with hormones, its output can be controlled to produce either mother eggs or soldier eggs. Mother eggs hatch into mother organisms, while soldier eggs hatch into Weapon-Bugs.
The Weapon-Bug is a soft-bodied organism with no fixed appearance. To create one, the egg and a nest made of monomolecular material are placed together in a nutrient solution. Upon hatching, the Weapon-Bug will grow along the pre-allocated space within the nest, eventually enveloping it and forming a diamond-like chitinous shell on the nest's surface. This shell has a monomolecular structure and can self-repair.
Once the Weapon-Bug matures, it can be removed from the culture solution. At this point, it can be used as a sharp monomolecular warblade. By simply modifying the handle position and connecting electrodes to the Weapon-Bug's brain, stimulating its psychic abilities through electrical impulses, a power weapon is complete.
Furthermore, a mature Weapon-Bug can adapt to most extreme environments, surviving for long periods in space. It also possesses the long lifespan and characteristics of shellfish. The thickness of its chitinous shell and the strength of its force field will grow with the Weapon-Bug's age.