Chapter 32: Discipline
Omega tossed the instruction manual onto the crate containing the poison gas bombs. His movements were casual, but tension coiled beneath the surface, annoyance at Typhus, yes, but something deeper than that.
He walked to a nearby chair and sat, resting his chin on one hand. The crate sat before him like an accusation.
Russell and Alpharex watched from the shadows alongside the other sages, curious to see how the Primarch would handle this.
"Russell, don't you find this kind of thing boring?" Omega said.
"Life presents us with countless choices, My Lord," Russell replied. "This one has fallen to you."
"This choice is Boring."
Omega stared at the crate. He wouldn't use poison gas bombs, that much was certain.
But Typhus had sent them for a reason. The Death Guard First Captain wanted him to grow accustomed to their convenience, to let strategy and tactics fade in favor of simple extermination. It was like tempting someone to commit their first crime.
The whole picture disgusted him.
"Typhus comes in profile as a monster, Russell," Omega said, his expression shocked. "It's unbelievable how many madmen keep appearing in the Astartes."
"There are still normal people in the Astartes," Russell said quickly, noting the Primarch's growing distrust of the Space Marines. "They are the Emperor's angels...Though I would agree madness is a long companion of armies."
Omega looked at Russell, noting his words.
Omega had been impressed by the Astartes' strength at first. Now he was wary of the other Legions. The poison gas bombs were like Fulgrim's secret experiments with alien genetics, uncontrollable forces. These men believed they could master death and life through arrogance alone.
'Weakness and ignorance are not obstacles to survival; arrogance is.' The woman's words echoed in his mind.
He lowered his perspective. Not as a Primarch. Not as an Astartes commander. As an ordinary person facing an impossible choice, I am searching for the right answer based on principle rather than privilege.
An hour passed in silence before Omega spoke again.
"Leave it to the legal department. Report the situation truthfully."
Russell blinked. "Yes? The Ministry of Justice? Really?" The answer caught him off guard.
"I did not Stutter." Omega stood and returned to his quarters without another word.
Not long after, Alpharius emerged from a side corridor in full power armor. He approached the crate and glanced at the instruction manual. He paused, considering his brother's choice.
"Do as he says," Alpharius said. "Hand it over to the legal department. The Alpha Legion neither accepts dirty work nor is afraid of any confrontation."
...
The following day, officials from the Adeptus Arbites stared in horror at the massive stock of highly restricted Hazardous gas bombs displayed in the lobby of the government building.
They held the brochure and instructions delivered by the Alpha Legion, speechless.
The Ministry executives saw it differently. This demonstrated the Astartes' trust and loyalty to Imperial law. They would safeguard and dispose of these weapons to prevent harm to innocents.
The poison gas bomb case caused a stir. When word reached Mortarion, Primarch of the Death Guard, he expressed his anger. The Alpha Legion had disrespectfully handled his friend's gift.
While the Alpha Legion remained silent. Other Legions took notice of them.
Inside the Thirteenth Legion's fortress, Roboute Guilliman examined case files in the main hall. His company commanders watched expectantly as their Primarch smiled.
"I have to admit that poison gas bombs are definitely not a good gift. I wouldn't accept them either. But I must commend the Alpha Legion for their choice. Among countless options, that warrior chose the legal department...Interesting."
A company commander asked, "Does Your Excellency mean that the Alpha warrior, after considering many options, felt that Imperial law was the best way to handle this matter? Rather than handling it privately? Why did they make this choice?"
Guilliman spoke carefully. "The way an individual deals with evil is different from how the law deals with evil. Astartes are no exception. It's a pity the Alpha Legion has always been so secretive. They made the right choice, yet no one knows the name of this warrior. What a shame."
The others smiled helplessly. Different Legions had different cultures; they couldn't force change. But they were interested in learning more about an Alpha warrior who thought this way.
The poison gas bomb incident was a minor matter compared to what came next.
Terra formally welcomed Primarch XIX, Corvus Corax, with a special ceremony at the Lion Gate.
Omega and Alpharius watched from the rooftops of nearby buildings as numerous Primarchs made their appearance, from the Dark Angels of the First Legion to the Alpha Legion of the Twentieth, converging on the palace.
Neither of them attended the ceremony. After a grand welcoming inside, the Emperor announced the return of the nineteenth Primarch and the formation of the Raven Guard Legion under his command.
On the rooftop, Alpharius observed the distant commotion in tranquil silence. He murmured softly, "It won't be easy for Corax to take control of the Raven Guard. Horus has infiltrated and controlled them for years. In people's eyes, Horus, the Emperor's favorite son, is not a fair and just person."
Omega hadn't expected problems in the Sons of Horus after hearing about issues in the Death Guard. He analyzed, "Horus took advantage of Corax's absence to gain control and establish a presence in the Raven Guard. Given the considerable trust many Legions place in Horus, this is far too greedy."
Alpharius sneered. "Greed doesn't stop there. The Raven Guard have been constantly used by the Sons of Horus to draw fire and suffer heavy losses. The Iron Warriors of the Fourth Legion suffer the same fate, not to mention the countless mortal auxiliary troops."
"Horus appears to have good relationships with Imperial Army officers, but in reality, he's been using the Imperial Army to draw fire away from his own Legion."
"Is the Eleventh Legion like this, too?" A chill ran through Omega. Horus, this two-faced Primarch, was genuinely terrifying; this papa's boy just wanted too much.
Alpharius nodded. "As the Primarchs gradually returned, Horus, the Emperor's most beloved son, worried that his brothers would steal his father's love and attention. So he subconsciously consumed the Legion members who hadn't yet found their Primarchs."
"Send the Raven Guard to act as shields for the Sons of Horus. Let the Eleventh Legion charge forward to wear down enemy firepower in bloody battles. Let the Iron Warriors assault heavily fortified positions."
Omega fell silent.
The poison gas bomb incident, combined with his decade of research into political systems and law, had taught him that evil needs restraint. A nation's system needs the rationality of law.
Omega had shifted from trusting human self-discipline to trusting human law. He'd heard too much about the unpredictability of human nature from the Astartes. Rule by man is unreliable over time. Rule by law can withstand the test of time.
With so many Primarchs experiencing psychological problems and acting beyond reason, beyond law, with perverts and criminals emerging among the Astartes, Omega had a bad premonition.
Internal strife would inevitably break out in the Imperium; the Emperor's actions were not omniscient and omnipotent. He was playing with fire.
...
The battle against the Rangdan Xenomorphs had reached the most critical moment of the final war. The Emperor did not spend much time with Corax. Instead, he used the opportunity to issue orders for a general offensive to annihilate the Rangdan threat completely.
All Primarchs must immediately return to their respective Legions to execute the Imperium's general offensive plan.
[End of Chapter]