Warhammer [437-439] (Patreon)

Chapter 437: Custodes, Dark Angels, Executioners

"I support Guilliman's plan, and Father's as well!" Horus, standing aside, nodded and spoke up.

As the former Warmaster of the Imperium, he was naturally familiar with the state of the empire. The Martian Mechanicus was indeed a massive cancer.

These people were nothing like the rest of the Imperium's citizens—they didn't worship the Emperor, but the mythical Omnissiah, the so-called Machine God.

Yet this Machine God didn't even exist in the Warp. They were actually worshipping something else. As one of the Emperor's first primarchs, Horus knew secrets unknown to most.

The Machine God of Mars was probably, at its origin, a shard of the Void Dragon, a being who controlled the laws of machines and creation in the universe.

When Mars was first founded, its earliest beliefs and knowledge may have originated from this entity, until his father—the Emperor—rose to power and defeated it.

Even so, the Emperor couldn't change Mars' devotion to the Machine God. The Imperium's state religion only repackaged the Omnissiah as an aspect of the Emperor.

"But isn't this too ruthless? The Mechanicus has served the Imperium faithfully for ten thousand years. We can't just wipe them out for no reason, with no justification," Vulkan stood his ground.

As the kindest of the primarchs, he couldn't accept the senseless slaughter of technical personnel loyal to the Imperium.

"Lion! Sanguinius, and you too, Rhodes and Elena, say something. We represent the legitimacy of humanity—we can't slaughter Mechanicus members for no reason," Vulkan tried to win over Rhodes, Lion, Elena, and Sanguinius.

Standing beside Rhodes, Elena opened her mouth to speak, but Rhodes held her back. Lion and Sanguinius remained silent.

"Our duty as primarchs is to obey the Emperor's orders. Whatever commands our father, the Emperor, gives, we need only to obey—nothing else. Do you understand, Vulkan?" Lion El'Jonson said.

The primarchs had all been created by the Emperor, and at their first meeting, every one of them had been awed by his charisma and terrifying power.

Vulkan wanted to argue, but his mind drifted back on Nocturne, when the Emperor disguised himself as a stranger and challenged him to a hunting contest—who could catch the biggest salamander. The loser would obey the winner forever.

Vulkan caught the biggest salamander he'd ever seen, but as he was preparing to leave, a volcanic eruption struck. He couldn't escape unless he dropped his prize—and would have to obey the stranger's every order.

Not knowing the stranger was the Emperor, he was naturally unwilling to abandon the salamander. He was trapped on a volcanic cliff, but then the Emperor appeared, carrying an even bigger salamander. Seeing Vulkan trapped, the Emperor didn't hesitate to throw away his larger prize and save him.

Vulkan kept his salamander, while the Emperor lost his. By the rules, the Emperor lost the bet—but Vulkan knew who had truly won. The Emperor only gave up the bigger prize to save him.

Without hesitation, Vulkan swore loyalty to the Emperor, naming his legion after the salamander—a creature of Nocturne that had bonded the two. The other primarchs, each for their own reasons, also lost to the Emperor and willingly accepted him as father. They all swore loyalty. If he disobeyed now, what difference was there between him and the traitors?

At this moment, a hand landed on Vulkan's shoulder.

"First, the Martian Mechanicus never truly submitted to the Emperor—they've always been in a cooperative relationship with the Imperium.

All the Imperium's weapons—be it a battle barge, a Titan, or something as simple as a bolter or lasgun, or power armor—must be ordered and bought from the Mechanicus. They never help unconditionally; everything is transactional.

Second, the Mechanicus has its own army, its own power structure, and controls all the Forge Worlds—a truly enormous force.

The entire industrial might of the Imperium is in their hands, and the Mechanicus has now fallen deeply into corruption. Just look at the secret reports and you'll understand," Rhodes explained.

Rhodes also supported the Emperor's purge. The Mechanicus had become too great a problem to ignore.

Why had Rhodes secretly built his own research base, not on Mars? Why had he sent monster bodyguards to Salome? Because ever since Salome joined the Mechanicus, she'd survived dozens of assassination attempts.

Mars had to be purged. If the Emperor didn't do it, Rhodes would have to take action himself in the future.

Now that the Emperor had resolved to act, Rhodes was naturally willing to help.

"This will cause huge losses to the Imperium. If something happens at Mars HQ, it will affect future wars—even this crusade," Sanguinius sighed.

He actually wanted to help Vulkan, who, though fierce in battle, truly loved the Imperium's people.

But Rhodes' words changed his mind. The Mechanicus needed to be cleansed.

"There will be losses, but it's unavoidable. As rulers, we must weigh all factors. A small loss for a greater gain is worth it.

Previously, Rhodes and Guilliman planned this crusade to unify Imperial power. Now the Eldar have opened up the webway, reconnecting the Imperium's worlds.

The Imperial Saints are being reorganized. Once the legions are formed, we need only destroy the enemies invading the Saints to complete our task.

So even if we lose half of Mars, it's acceptable," the Emperor said.

He had thought this through. With Rhodes' scientists, he was confident.

"If needed, I can have Tartarus use his spatial powers to teleport the Void Dragon and us to another battlefield, minimizing losses," Rhodes said.

He'd intended all along to have Tartarus move the Void Dragon to a remote battlefield, ideally near a red giant—so after killing it, they could absorb the star's energy. But the Emperor also wanted to use this as a chance to purge Mars.

In that case, the plan just needed some adjustments.

"Rhodes! You can use special abilities to teleport the Void Dragon, right?" Guilliman's eyes lit up.

That would indeed minimize losses.

"Yes! So, we can make a concrete plan: after releasing the Void Dragon, let it run wild—but not destroy the Titan factories or vital military industries. After causing panic, I'll teleport it away.

Then, during the chaos, we can send our own forces to carry out targeted strikes on Mechanicus members," Rhodes said.

"You mean, deploy the Custodes?" the Emperor asked.

"Yes. Besides the Custodes, my gene-sons can join the battle—eliminating the old conservative factions, leaving only Belisarius Cawl and Salome's followers.

As for Mechanicus members elsewhere, we can deal with them gradually," Rhodes said.

The Custodes were experts at this. Back when the Thunder Warriors were purged, the Custodes led the attack.

"My Dark Angels can handle such tasks too—they're very skilled at this," Lion added.

Giving this job to the Dark Angels was ideal. Some had already been assigned to the Deathwatch for a hundred years, but the Fallen Angels he had pardoned were all ancient veterans, absolutely capable of keeping secrets.

"My army can help too! My gene-sons can work with the Custodes," Rhodes offered.

"No, Rhodes. Your army is too large, and newly formed. Although loyal, there's no guarantee no word will leak. This is the Imperium's darkest secret—a leak would be catastrophic. Leave it to the Custodes," the Emperor decided.

Rhodes' legion was over 700,000 strong, soon to reach 800,000. Over 90% were new recruits—unreliable in such matters.

The other primarchs nodded.

Rhodes gave a wry smile. Did they not trust that his soldiers were the most loyal? Their unique brain cores were the ultimate insurance—after the mission, he could erase their memories, leaving no trace.

But this special brain core was a top-secret technology, known only to Rhodes' own scientists. Publicly, it was said to be a voice modulator. It had even been modified for the Space Wolves and Blood Angels to help them control their powers.

"It's settled. Four thousand Custodes and a contingent of Lion's Dark Angels will handle this.

These fallen Angels were once First Legion, ancient veterans, trustworthy," the Emperor said.

His own units for secret missions were usually Space Wolves and Dark Angels. The Wolves couldn't be used now, but the Dark Angels had plenty of ancient veterans.

"No problem, Father. I'll send the Fallen Angels into battle too," Lion said.

The primarchs and Emperor then discussed the operation's details to ensure the plan's success.

Before the plan began, Rhodes informed Belisarius Cawl and his scientist Salome.

Salome didn't care—she'd only been in the Mechanicus for two years and had less than a thousand apprentices. She didn't get along with the Mechanicus, who'd tried to assassinate her countless times. She was happy to see the purge.

Cawl was more sentimental. The old guard often hindered him, but with the support of Guilliman, Rhodes, and the Emperor, he was now effectively leader of the Mechanicus.

He'd planned to reform the Mechanicus gradually once in power, but the Emperor was out of patience.

"I understand, Lord Rhodes. Everything is for the Imperium and the Emperor. I'll transfer open-minded Mechanicus members off Mars; please spare the new Titan production lines. The rest is fine," Cawl said.

"Don't worry. Mars won't suffer major losses—especially the infrastructure," Rhodes replied.

…

Three days flew by. 

The Emperor issued various orders; many Mechanicus members were transferred, others returned.

Meanwhile, 4,000 Custodes and over 6,000 Dark Angels—10,000 in all—assembled!

At the heart of the Mechanicus, a seal loosened. A colossal creature burst from Mars' surface.

"ROAR!"

Chapter 438: I Am the Void Dragon, I Am the Omnissiah!

A roar, suppressed for ages! Like a shout of joy after ten thousand years of captivity, the Void Dragon's largest shard broke free from the labyrinth beneath Mars.

Dalia Cythera, the immortal human girl guarding it, was terrified. She never imagined the Void Dragon she'd watched over for millennia would escape. 

In the 5th century BC, a golden-armored warrior wielding a golden sword fought this dragon in a battle that shook the world.

The knight defeated the dragon and sealed it on Mars, then voluntarily underwent the immortality alchemy to become an Eternal, staying in the lightless palace for millennia, guarding the Void Dragon.

She waited silently, for the day when humanity was strong enough to destroy the monster for good.

Now, with the monster loose, how would humanity respond? Were the golden knight and his powerful companions still around?

"Don't panic, Cythera! I released him. This time, I will destroy him and end his threat to humanity," the Emperor's voice echoed through space to her.

She was a girl he'd known before he called himself Emperor or left Earth. She had volunteered for the process and watched over the Void Dragon for millennia. Now her task was finally complete.

"You—who are you, noble knight? It's been over 30,000 years. I've prayed every day for your return to defeat him," Cythera, still appearing as a young girl, said.

"Rest assured! This time the Void Dragon will be destroyed—but it will be my children who strike," the Emperor replied.

"I believe in you, noble golden knight," Cythera said.

"My children will fight this monster. Someone will come to take you away—do not resist," said the Emperor.

The noble golden knight—that was one of his ancient titles from humanity's age of swords. It was nostalgic. Now, everyone just called him the Emperor. No one called him the golden knight anymore.

A flash of light, and Rhodes used teleportation to appear in the palace, nodded to Cythera, and instantly whisked the girl back to the battle barge.

With the guardian rescued, the Void Dragon was now fully exposed to the Mechanicus.

A monster thousands of meters tall, gleaming with metallic light and impossible to describe, appeared on Mars' surface.

"My people! My followers! Your master has come—kneel before me!" the Void Dragon bellowed.

He was the largest and most complete shard, capable of using his laws instinctively, manipulating or creating all technological constructs.

During his 30,000 years of imprisonment, in humanity's golden age, he had shown a glimpse of his powers in dreams to Mars' colonists—showing them true technological wonder.

He even communicated with the Mechanicus' founders 20,000 years ago, demanding they call him the Omnissiah.

His power drew fanatical worship. Though not a Warp god, he gained some power from mankind's faith.

Over 10,000 years ago, the Emperor arrived on Mars again and tricked the Mechanicus into believing the Emperor was the Omnissiah's avatar—maybe even the Omnissiah himself.

The Emperor stole his believers. The Void Dragon hated the golden-armored Emperor, despising him ever since he took the Golden Throne.

Now, free for unknown reasons, he wanted his followers back—to show them who the real Machine God was!

He had many names—Necrons called him the Void Dragon, Eldar called him Mag'ladroth, humans called him the Omnissiah.

As soon as he appeared, every machine on Mars was affected. Machine spirits flickered, programs glitched.

Even highly augmented Mechanicus members felt their bodies weren't their own.

"Who—who are you? What are you?" a senior Magos screamed.

His body was 90% steel and circuitry. In Mechanicus dogma, the more augmented you were, the closer you were to the Omnissiah. 

Unaugmented? 

You were a heretic!

But the being before him, in his presence, made his machine body feel beyond his control—as if this being was truly the god he worshipped.

The same feeling swept countless Magi, Tech-priests, and even mindless servitors—all paralyzed in awe.

"I am your god—I am the Omnissiah! I am the Void Dragon! I am Mag'ladroth, master of science and machinery!" the Void Dragon roared, using words humans could understand. Humans were useful, at least as temporary servants to help him collect his other shards. Once reunited, he could control all machines in realspace—he would be the Machine God!

"This—this can't be. You—you're the Omnissiah?"

"I have no time for lies. Feel my power! All technology is under my control. I am the Machine God!" the Void Dragon proclaimed.

He unleashed his power, affecting every machine on Mars. Compared to when he was first sealed 30,000 years ago, he was now even stronger.

He commanded a law of physics—science and machinery—the very thing humanity worshipped. Many workers on Forge Worlds gave some faith to the Emperor and some to the Void Dragon.

Among the Mechanicus, 40% of faith was his, 30% to the Emperor, 30% to an unknown Warp entity.

In truth, the Omnissiah's faith belonged to all three, but the other two were mere usurpers. The inspiration and even the description of the Omnissiah's form came from him.

Many Mechanicus now looked delighted—the being before them matched their sacred texts exactly.

"Omnissiah! Praise the Machine God! You—you have truly descended!"

"This is a miracle! Our god has come to his faithful at last!"

"Yes, my servants. I will grant you greater technology. I will reveal the true laws of the cosmos—teach you to command black holes, control stars, and transform you into immortal metal beings," the Void Dragon promised.

He repeated the old lies he'd told the Necrons—now to humanity.

Most humans would never want to become metal, but the tech-priests were the exception.

Contrary to the Emperor and Rhodes' expectations, the Void Dragon didn't rampage through the Mechanicus—he began subjugating them with his own powers.

His technological mastery let him command all machines, even some Titans built by Rhodes.

Anything made of metal was vulnerable to his power. Only his incomplete state prevented him from seizing control of every tech device, even including Holy Terra.

Even as a fragment, he could destroy dozens of human worlds.

…

"Things aren't as we expected, Father. The Void Dragon isn't rampaging—he's subjugating the Mechanicus," Sanguinius said in shock.

"That's why I've always feared him. I thought the seal would weaken him—but it made him stronger. I shouldn't have encouraged Mechanicus worship of the Omnissiah," the Emperor said helplessly.

Chapter 439: Who Is Loyal to the Emperor? Who Is the Traitor? The Strengths of the Imperial Cult

Thirty thousand years ago, humanity had no science—just swords. When the Void Dragon escaped, the Emperor and his immortal companions defeated and sealed it on Mars.

Back then, the Void Dragon wasn't anywhere near as massive or powerful as now. The mere appearance of this fragment stopped all machinery on Mars.

Ninety years ago (912.M41), the Void Dragon accidentally escaped its labyrinth and attacked the Necron Sautekh Dynasty, destroying dozens of tomb worlds—before being sealed again. But this time, the fragment was fully unleashed.

"Get ready. We'll move it elsewhere," Rhodes said.

He had Tartarus select a suitable system—600 light-years from Terra, home to a super red giant.

"Maybe we should wait and see if the Mechanicus will submit to this so-called Machine God," Guilliman suggested.

The Mechanicus had served humanity for 10,000 years. Though some sided with Chaos and Horus during the Heresy, most remained loyal to the Emperor—especially the lower ranks and many tech-priests.

"Rhodes, prepare for teleportation. I need to see which Mechanicus members truly submit to the Void Dragon—those must be purged," the Emperor said.

Thanks to Rhodes, all the primarchs had fused with cosmic beasts—their psychic powers now near demigod level. Even from the Imperial Palace, they could observe events on Mars.

Rhodes nodded, and, with the Emperor and other primarchs, continued watching.

Most Tech-priests, Magi, and High Magi knelt before the Omnissiah—the moment they'd dreamed of. The entire Mechanicus worshipped the Omnissiah.

They respected the Emperor, but mostly as the Omnissiah's avatar or messenger.

The Omnissiah was the only officially recognized god in the Imperium.

Now, the god they'd worshipped for millennia was real, standing before them—ecstatic devotion swept Mars.

But some hesitated—remembering the event 90 years ago, when the Necrons invaded and the Void Dragon was revealed. Since then, Inquisitors and senior Mechanicus members investigated and concluded the Omnissiah might be the Void Dragon.

His accidental release of scientific knowledge, and the machine spirit, created the Mechanicus.

Now, with the real Void Dragon manifest, what choice would they make?

"My servants! Here is my first command: from now on, all of humanity must worship only me, the Omnissiah. No other gods!" the Void Dragon decreed.

After 30,000 years of imprisonment, he'd watched as Mars' colonists absorbed his unconscious emanations, began to worship him, and augmented their bodies into machines.

All machine spirit rituals praised him.

If he were whole, all machine spirits would be his—and he would rule all technology in the cosmos.

Humans were curious—no less gifted than the Necrons. The trick he used on the Necrons worked on them too. The Mechanicus had already converted over 90% of their bodies; what difference did the rest make?

"Great Omnissiah, are you the Emperor's avatar?" a young Tech-priest, only half-augmented, dared to ask.

The question stunned all nearby Mechanicus members.

Indeed, if the Omnissiah appeared, what did that make the Emperor?

"The Emperor is not my avatar, nor my messenger. He stole my faith. Humanity could have been so much more! You could become immortal machines and conquer the galaxy as my servants," the Void Dragon declared.

He bore the Emperor a deep grudge, but now was not the time for revenge—he had to conquer Mars.

Once he owned Mars, he would control the Imperium's industry.

"Heretic abomination—liar!" someone spat.

A Sister of Battle, over two meters tall, raised her bolter and fired at the Void Dragon. Though her shots did nothing, she was the first to attack.

Besides the Mechanicus and their Skitarii, there were many Astartes and Sisters on Mars for training as tech-sergeants.

The Void Dragon could control the tech-priests, but not the Sisters or Astartes—especially not the Emperor's daughters.

All Sisters now had fanatical faith in the Emperor—once fervent, now utterly zealous.

"You're the Void Dragon, a fragment of a C'tan! Everything you say is a lie. You want to turn us into Necrons—grotesque monsters. You'll never succeed!"

Some Astartes trainees joined in. They were from various chapters, training with the Mechanicus before returning to their legions.

With the Sisters and Astartes attacking, the Skitarii turned their guns on them.

"Are you betraying the Imperium?" an Astartes demanded.

"We are loyal to the Omnissiah," some Skitarii replied.

"No, we are loyal to the Emperor! But our bodies are not under our control," others, still conscious, shouted.

Though they venerated the Omnissiah, thanks to the Imperial Cult, most lower-ranking members still believed in the Emperor.

Those Mechanicus members still loyal to the Emperor began to resist—including some High Magi.

"You filthy xenos! How dare you control the Emperor's warriors! Stand firm, soldiers—break free with the Emperor's power," the Sisters exhorted.

"May the Emperor protect us!"

"Faith and loyalty!"

Sometimes zealots really do work miracles. The Sisters' faith shone gold, and some Skitarii broke free, joining the Sisters and Astartes.

Fierce fighting erupted. The Mechanicus split—some loyal to the Emperor, some to the Omnissiah.

"Looks like the Imperial Cult isn't entirely useless. Lorgar's writings are still useful after ten thousand years," Rhodes commented.

Indeed, the Imperial Cult's scriptures were written by their heretic founder, who truly worshipped the Emperor as a god. Though slow to spread, worlds converted by Lorgar and his Word Bearers were the most loyal—almost immune to betrayal, thanks to religious control.

Until the day the Emperor destroyed the Monarchia, shattering Lorgar's faith, leading him to Chaos—but not to the Four, instead becoming a Chaos Undivided Daemon Prince.

Rhodes' remark darkened the mood among the primarchs.

To them, Lorgar was the most loathsome after Horus—the first to betray the Emperor and the real cause of the Heresy.