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Origins
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The Master of Mankind stirred out of his slumber. Slowly, painfully so, he shook of the last vestiges of sleep and looked down from the Golden Throne. He had no love for the device, but recognized how crucial it was for him to remain upon it. It had been the only structure that could have been re-made into something that would help him heal his wounds.
However, it did not make sitting for long periods of time any more comfortable.
Serenity stood in front of him, worried and sad. It had been ages since she greeted him with a smile. His daughter was an honest creature and hiding her worry from her loved ones was not a part of her nature.
"Father?" she asked, and he smiled at her.
"I'm fine," he said, "as fine as I can be under the circumstances, at least."
She shook her head and smiled sadly. "I wish I could-"
"Some things take time," the Emperor cut in. He knew her regrets and knew she needed comfort, to know that he was indeed slowly getting better.
"Like getting Leman to admit Magnus can be right sometimes?" she laughed softly.
He chuckled, his mind already searching for the topics he needed to address. He woke up far too rarely and as much as he wanted to he couldn't simply spend this period on small talk and jokes with his daughter. Unwillingly, he said, "There are matters you need to share."
Serenity sighed heavily, before beginning to inform him about the newest happenings. There was less upheaval in her narrative, less conflicts and more everyday problems related to running a political and administrative entity as large as the Imperium. The Elder, to his surprise, have proven to be loyal allies and apparently one Craftworld had petitioned to join the Imperium, trading the services of the Eldar for protection. Horus was still negotiating the fine points of the treaty.
Yet, there were still planets under the control of Chaos cults and the renegade Marines kept appearing, raiding Imperial worlds and leading the nearest Chapter on long chases. The opportunistic Dark Eldar tended to use this to jump to a system furthest from the strike force and steal as many as slaves as they could. The orks, invariably, sought war and destruction.
"I have… an idea for a new defence system," he said finally. "We shall need your crystal."
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AN: Here is the start, as written by Bloody Mary.