Warhammer [498-499] (Patreon)

Chapter 498: The End of Phase One of the Unyielding Crusade, 10 Years Later

On Rhodes' side, the battles that followed could be described as a string of swift victories. Upon arriving at each planet, Rhodes would dispatch an emissary to investigate.

First, they asked whether the planet still swore loyalty to the Emperor and to the Imperium. If the answer was yes,

then a survey team—organized by Guilliman—would be sent to conduct a full audit of the world.

Rhodes' expeditionary force carried many such survey teams. Their duties were to check for signs of Chaos corruption, xenos infestation, and any acts of treachery against the Imperium. Once a planet was confirmed safe and loyal, Rhodes would leave behind one survey team; they would convert into administrators to assist the planet's governor.

If a planetary governor committed crimes, abused their authority, or oppressed the populace, the survey team would submit a request to Rhodes for armed intervention.

Mortal auxiliary regiments would be deployed alongside Adeptus Astartes to sweep in, depose the governor on the spot, and execute all local nobles.

A new planetary governor would then be selected, administrative personnel stationed to manage the world, and a line of communication established with Holy Terra.

As for planets seized by xenos or corrupted by Chaos, Rhodes showed no mercy either, sending his forces to exterminate the xenos or Chaos presence.

The armies led by Sanguinius, Rogal Dorn, and Vulkan acted in much the same way. Dorn's methods were stricter, while the Fire-born Legion was more lenient.

As for Sanguinius, the Great Angel, he proved the most beloved—his mere arrival on a world would bring immediate cheers from the people.

A pair of golden wings, even more stirring and compelling than his former white ones.

On the Imperium Nihilus side, the Lion, Lion El'Jonson, led his First Legion; together with Horus's 16th Legion, the Shadow-Moon Direwolves, they steadily consolidated Imperial power.

With the help of Aeldari Webway routes, the new-era Astartes technology spread to Horus's side. Leveraging the power of cosmic beast, they could even purify some Chaos Astartes from the Astral Imperium.

Those who could be saved were restored to normal humanity; those too far gone Horus refused to accept, granting them the greatest mercy—an honorable death in Chaos's wars.

 Returning to the Golden Throne, their souls redeemed—this was the best end they could hope for.

Across the Sanctified Marches of the Imperium, every star system belonging to the Imperium was reclaimed by Rhodes' forces one by one.

The Unyielding Crusade achieved unprecedented results. Tyranids, Orks, even Necrons—anything that stood in the way was trampled under Imperial might.

For a full ten years, Rhodes lived aboard his flagship, waging a grand crusade. His and Elena's second child was born aboard the ship—a healthy boy—giving Stark a younger brother.

Rhodes joked the child was a son of the void, born on a starship—just not in the warp.

Also guarded by a cosmic beast like his brother, the newborn bore within him a nascent beast of his own—a giant bird.

The child did not inherit both ice and fire like his brother, but fully inherited Rhodes' flame aspect.

He possessed the Fire of Rebirth and the devastating Flame of Annihilation. Rhodes named him Sterne, signifying a child born while journeying among the stars.

In terms of aptitude, the child matched his brother—an innate super-lifeform with immense potential. His gene-seed could likewise found an Astartes legion.

His birth sent the entire expeditionary fleet into celebration. The mortal troops cheered.

They had witnessed history—a crusade to rival the Great Crusade of ten thousand years ago—and the birth of a Primarch.

Clergy of the Imperial Cult and Sisters, including Battle Sisters and others, issued proclamations to all worlds Rhodes had conquered.

All worlds taken by Rhodes or the other Primarchs, along with the rest of the Imperium, sent their congratulations. Even the Emperor on Holy Terra and Guilliman sent their well-wishes.

Rhodes answered them all—every congratulation received a reply. Even ordinary planetary governors got an eldritch-voice response penned by his secretary on his behalf.

During this conquest, Rhodes granted resource-rich worlds to various Chapters within his legion.

These would serve as recruiting homeworlds. Solely relying on his own domain for recruits was unrealistic, so he split off his legion's Chapters.

These Chapters would garrison their assigned worlds. If summoned, they would deploy at once; otherwise, they would hold their posts.

Every ten worlds' worth of Chapters formed a Brigade, overseen by a Brigadier. The Brigadier, in turn, was appointed from Rhodes' Deputy Legion Commander.

By now, Rhodes' gene-sons numbered over 1.5 million, surpassing even Roboute Guilliman's former lead. (Even without the reforged Astartes, the Thirteenth's combined progeny across all forces exceeded a million; some 75% of the Imperium's Chapters trace their gene-seed to Guilliman.)

Rhodes' firstborn, Stark, turned eighteen in the twelfth year of the Unyielding Crusade—now a two-meter-tall young man.

Working in tandem with his cosmic beast, he could transform into a four-meter Primarch state, or a sixty-meter giant super-lifeform.

With his coming of age, phase one of the Unyielding Crusade officially concluded. The Sanctified Marches were completely reclaimed by Rhodes and the other Primarchs.

All planets and worlds returned to the Imperium's embrace, linked by the Astronomican's light from Holy Terra.

In the Sanctified Marches, all xenos forces, Chaos incursions, and embattled worlds received reinforcements; new flashpoints would be addressed by the garrisoned Chapters nearby.

Across the Imperium, a standing contingent of Astartes was still necessary. Without guardians, worlds were vulnerable to Chaos attack.

In truth, if fully developed, even a single habitable planet in a star system could sustain a Chapter.

With phase one complete, Rhodes took time to bring his son back to Holy Terra.

 The Emperor was to invest three new Primarchs—two of them Rhodes' sons.

The second son, raised aboard ship, had now turned thirteen; phase one of the Unyielding Crusade had taken Rhodes fourteen full years.

"Father! Is that Holy Terra?" asked the thirteen-year-old Sterne, seated beside Rhodes.

Born into the stars, he had spent his childhood aboard a starship or on other Imperial worlds.

At each world, his father and mother took him planetside to tour. He saw countless Imperial worlds—agri-worlds, forge worlds, hive worlds, shrine worlds, even death worlds.

He had also seen many xenos foes; those hateful enemies of mankind were slain by his father's gene-sons.

"That's right. This time, you two will go together to Holy Terra. You'll be invested as a new Primarch, and your brother will receive his own Astartes Legion," Rhodes said, ruffling his second son's hair.

The main purpose of this investiture was to found an Astartes Legion for his son.

His eldest, Stark, had fully matured genetically; his gene-seed could be extracted immediately to found his own Legion.

Guilliman had already prepared a cohort of youthful candidates aged between 10 and 15.

"When will I get my own Astartes and march to war like my brother?" Sterne asked.

"Not long. You're already thirteen. In five years, you can have your own Astartes Legion—by then your genes will be fully stable," the elder brother, Stark, answered.

When his brother turned eighteen, he too would found his Legion.

 Following their father into battle these past years, Stark had donned power armor at sixteen—two years earlier—under his father's orders,

fighting alongside his father's gene-sons and taking part in multiple engagements.

He had long yearned to one day lead his own gene-sons in battle for the Imperium of Man, making his father proud.

 That day had finally come: on Holy Terra, he would receive his own Astartes.

"Father, aside from me and my brother, has any other Primarch just come of age? I heard there will be three Primarchs invested this time," Sterne asked.

"That is classified. You don't need to know the details yet. Just know that two years after your brother was born,

the Emperor created another new Primarch. He turns sixteen this year and will also found his own Astartes," Rhodes said.

The one being invested alongside his two sons was none other than the Aeldari war god.

Under the Emperor's tutelage, the Aeldari war god had grown, and could now appear publicly as a Primarch.

It was almost comical: the Emperor had poached the Aeldari's champion—turning their war god into his own son, and an Imperial Primarch besides.

Chapter 499: The Investiture of the New Primarchs

"Father! I have a question. Why can this new Primarch

 receive his Astartes Legion at sixteen, while my brother and I must wait until eighteen?" Sterne asked Rhodes.

He cared deeply about this. If sixteen were sufficient, then after returning to Holy Terra now, he'd only need to wait three years.

He could even join his father for phase two of the Unyielding Crusade.

Stark, standing to the side, also glanced over curiously.

"You can blame your father for that! As for the other Primarch, that involves Imperial state secrets, so we can't tell you," Elena said.

After more than a decade in the armies, the two boys were thoroughly enamored with war. In a martial Imperium, their questions were unsurprising.

But you two are not like that Aeldari war god. His body wasn't innately a super-lifeform; it was cloned, and the Emperor used the Primarch-creation process to modify him.

Like the other Primarchs, at the moment of creation his genome was already stable, so gene-seed could be extracted to create his own Astartes.

You two, children of Rhodes and me, inherited exceptional genes—you're super-lifeforms by nature. Because of human biology, you reach adulthood at eighteen.

After eighteen years, your genes reach a stable phase; only then can extractions yield proper gene-seed."

"We could tell you, but it's classified. If I did, I'd be punished by the Emperor and the Regent. Are you sure you want to hear it?" Rhodes said with a smile.

"Father, if it involves Imperial secrets, ordered sealed by the Emperor and the Regent, then we must not listen.

We are curious, but we will obey," Stark replied with a nod.

After two years with the Imperial military, he understood what one should and should not ask.

Sterne nodded as well. As Primarchs, their minds far exceeded the norm—they knew what to hear and what to leave alone.

"You're good children. Then I'll share what I can.

The new Primarch was made the old way—not born naturally like you two.

So, in theory, his gene-seed isn't superior to yours. Like the other Primarchs, he can found an Astartes Legion immediately upon birth.

You two are different. Your potential is greater. Your genes are continuously refining themselves, and your inner cosmic beast evolve alongside you.

At eighteen, your genes will fully stabilize. Only then can we extract seed to manufacture gene-seed. Your gene-sons will wield elemental powers.

For example, Stark: your frost-fire dragon allows your gene-sons to command ice or flame.

Sterne: your Flame of Annihilation and Flame of Rebirth will be inherited by your descendants. Your Legions will stand shoulder to shoulder with mine, and with your mother's Legion.

Stronger than a standard Astartes Legion—so you two surpass that other Primarch. Understand?" Rhodes said.

He had to instill confidence: they were stronger than the old-era products. Even if that old-era product also had a cosmic beast and was an Aeldari war god, they must not falter.

Moreover, the Emperor still harbored reservations about the war god and would not fully trust him.

"We understand, Father!" the two sons answered in unison.

Only Elena shook her head helplessly. In terms of raw potential, that Aeldari war god likely outstripped her two sons—but their father outclassed the war god.

So the ceiling remained uncertain. And she had faith in her boys.

The two bowed to Rhodes and left the bridge.

"When are Sister Yvraine and Lelith due?" Elena asked.

Amusingly, none of her man's three Aeldari offspring had been born yet.

In matters of reproduction, humans had the edge—only a few decades per generation.

"They should be soon. After our sons' investiture, I plan to return to the Cosmic Beast World—call it a family vacation," Rhodes said.

It was time for his two sons to meet their aunties. They had already met the Aeldari goddess of life and quietly accepted her identity.

These were no ordinary teenagers; their minds were Primarch-tier.

They should be able to accept their two Aeldari stepmothers. Rhodes kept them close so they wouldn't be consumed by the Imperium's xenophobic dogma.

After all, Rhodes commanded no small number of xenos—and the highest-tier combatants were mostly xenos, all powerful monsters summoned by his system.

"I'd rather our sons not get along with those two," Elena said.

Her boys were clever; even knowing the situation, they likely wouldn't complain—as long as Rhodes treated her fairly, they would keep their peace.

"All right, don't fuss. I haven't set foot on the Cosmic Beast World in over a decade—I've been with you the whole time," Rhodes said, drawing Elena into his arms.

Over forty and still jealous!

 That said, even among Astartes, Elena's current age made her a youngster.

And with her ascension to a super-lifeform, her appearance would hardly change.

After soothing his wife, Rhodes returned to the bridge to contact Guilliman via psychic link.

The Ultramar region had been unsettled of late. Rhodes kept a close eye on it, since the Plague Wars would begin there.

By the timeline, with phase one of the Unyielding Crusade complete, the Plague Wars were about to ignite.

But this time, Nurgle might take the field personally—meaning the devastation would likely spread beyond Macragge and the Five Hundred Worlds of Ultramar.

His own domains, other Imperial sectors, even the Imperium Nihilus could be scourged by Nurgle's pandemics.

Rhodes had several counters in mind, one being the Aeldari life goddess—an old rival of Nurgle's.

Any plague Nurgle brewed, once she sampled it, she could devise a cure—even those stewed over centuries.

He also had Zog, the finest scientists, and after more than a decade, FTL drives had

been installed across the expeditionary main force. The Imperium's mobility had markedly improved.

"Rhodes! What did you need?" Guilliman entered the warp to speak once he received Rhodes' psychic call.

"I have a question. Around the Imperium, have there been major outbreaks of plague, or assaults by Nurgle's daemons?" Rhodes asked.

"I've been monitoring exactly that: the Solar Segmentum, Obscurus, Ultima, and the Eastern Fringe.

I've had the Lion and Horus watching parts of the Imperium Nihilus as well. So far, no major Nurgle incursions or catastrophic plagues," Guilliman said.

He had long prepared for war with Nurgle. With phase one complete, even if Nurgle struck now, they were confident—they weren't fighting alone anymore; he had brothers.

"Understood. After the Terra duties, I'll return to my domain on the Cosmic Beast World for a while.

If anything urgent happens, I'll come at once," Rhodes said.

"You're the fastest responder in the Imperium—I'll certainly call you. The others will be ready too. Father is investing three new Primarchs to boost morale," Guilliman said.

Three new Primarchs appearing together was a major event for the Imperium.

"How many recruits are you preparing for my son?" Rhodes asked.

"I've prepared one hundred thousand. Once he reaches Terra,

we can extract his gene-seed and begin Astartes surgeries on the candidates," Guilliman said.

"What about the other one—the Aeldari war god?"

"Father and I discussed it. We'll provide thirty thousand initially, and cap his Legion around one hundred thousand—no more, no less," Guilliman said.

The Emperor wished to make use of the war god, but would keep safeguards.

"Got it. I'll arrive on Terra tomorrow. See you there," Rhodes said, cutting the warp-link.