Well, it's been a loooong time, but my muse, the fickle bitch that she is, finally returned to me. I give thanks to a certain lunatic for inspiring me for this. You know who you are. Anyway, this chapter is mostly various snips, showing the reaction of the galaxy to the Imperial offensive as well as setting up things for the future. So, read and enjoy.
I own nothing you recognize from elsewhere. This work is done only for personal enjoyment.
Chapter 37
The mood in the briefing room at the SGC was somber as General Hammond and his staff took the full impact of the news delivered by the Tok'ra, especially the image of the updated galactic map and its major powers.
"This information is accurate?" Hammond spoke after a few moments.
"Pretty accurate. Olokun is wiped out and Bastet and Kali lost most of their territories. A number of minor Goa'uld was also wiped out, leaving the rest divided in two groups. One led by Anubis who has been rather quiet lately, and the other led by Ba'al and Yu." Jacob Carter replied. "With the losses they took in the attack and the counterattack attempts, the System Lords have never been this weak."
"Normally I'd be all for the Goa'uld getting their snaky asses kicked, but if they get wiped out, the Imperium can just go and plant a flag on the galaxy." O'Neill commented.
"I agree with the Colonel. As long as they focus on the Goa'uld they won't be looking for other threats." Carter added.
"How go our own operations Major?" Hammond turned to her this time.
"The Hebridans have begun construction of the orbital facilities necessary with the help of the Earth caste. We estimate we can start producing ships within a month. Resource-wise however, things aren't as good. We don't have the manpower, equipment or operations in place to produce more than two ships a year, and even then nothing bigger than escort classes."
"The Imperium has a big headstart on us in this regard, especially considering they are more experienced in space combat and have better ships." Jacob commented.
"I did discuss the topic with the Earth caste, and their advantage might be even bigger than that. In the Old Imperium, their ships are old, worn down, and often built with inferior techniques and materials. Here, we're facing brand new ships built with top of the line technology. Not just that, but the Mechanicus here has also integrated technological concepts of this galaxy. The addition of naquadah and trinium alone are a huge boost for Imperial technology." Carter sighed.
"Well isn't that just grand. Any other good news?" O'Neill grumbled.
"According to the CIA, the Russians and the Chinese have begun trading with the Imperium. They're shipping soldiers, experts and prisoners in great numbers off-world. We believe they've been given colonies in exchange for prisoners." Hammond added.
"Like that won't come to bite them in the ass." O'Neill smirked.
"It's not our job to discuss foreign affairs here, Colonel. Though this means the Imperium just gained a big influx of cannon fodder as well as a good number of well trained soldiers. I don't think I have to tell you about the competence of Russian and Chinese Special Forces?" Hammond turned to his 2IC.
"Nothing our boys can't handle, but it won't be an easy job." O'Neill commented.
"We also have something to add. This image was taken by one of our agents on Ba'al's homeworld." Jacob cut in and put the picture up on the briefing screen.
"Is that what I think it is?" O'Neill frowned deeply as he stared at the picture depicting Ba'al walking next to a giant figure in blue and gold armor with an Egyptian headdress-like helmet and a staff topped by an eight-pointed star.
"A Chaos sorcerer. Member of the Thousand Sons judging by the armor design and coloring. That's not good. Ba'al is one of the strongest Goa'uld in the galaxy. If Chaos is helping him, things could get ugly." Carter exclaimed.
"We agree. But it's also an opportunity. Whatever plot they're working on, it's most likely to be aimed at the Imperium. While they're too busy fighting each other, it gives us time to strengthen our position." Jacob cut in.
"We shouldn't assume that. Hell, they might be plotting to attack Earth. We should at least share this information with the Imperium." Carter protested.
"The Council has already decided to do so, although with all that has happened recently it might be a while before we can do so. We lost two agents in the Imperial offensive we are fairly sure the Imperium knew were Tok'ra, although we can't prove anything and they're claiming ignorance." Jacob spat.
"I think it's time we ended this meeting. Unless anyone else has anything to add?" Hammond said, and after a few moments of silence, dismissed the meeting.
Far away from Earth, on the bridge of a Goa'uld Ha'tak, a sinister figure wearing dark purple armor adorned with spikes, skulls and strips of flayed skin stared at the void beyond the window, with only the occasional twitch of his agoniser gauntlet to indicate the palefleshed figure was even alive.
The figure did not react as the door opened, carrying with it the sounds of agonized screams and the thick stench of death, decay and the overpowering smell of blood.
"I bring good news, dread Archon." A man similarly attired but far less ornately walked in and knelt a few steps behind his leader.
"Then your group was successful?" The Archon's voice was cold as he turned, his face concealed behind the stretched face of the Ha'tak's previous commander.
"We have complete understanding of this vessel's hyperspace engine, and we can transfer it to our own ship." The warrior replied.
"Begin at once. The Imperial mon-keigh have gotten too close once too many times. We require new hunting grounds, and this galaxy is ripe with plunder for the taking. I will not allow the lack of the Webway to hold me back longer than absolutely necessary."
"Understood, dread Archon." The warrior stated.
"Once you're done with the installation, you and your team may take two slaves each from our slave pens for your personal enjoyment." The Archon dismissed him and turned back to the window. Soon, the whole galaxy will know the name of Varhek Xareps and the Kabal of the Venomed Tongue and shiver in terror at its mention.
"That is very interesting. And disconcerting." Ba'al stroked his beard as he heard his new partner tell him of their arrival to this galaxy.
"Indeed. Whatever brought us here is perhaps even more powerful than the Lord of Change, and that is not a comforting thought. Still, since whatever this entity was, it wanted us to come here, it is not a cause of concern. The ones that sealed the breach we came through on the other hand..." The sorcerer paused to let that fact sink in.
"So, there's more than one player on the board." Ba'al frowned. He hated dealing with things stronger than him. They invariably decided they wanted him dead.
"Indeed. And all my attempts to open a breach for the Dark Gods were crushed with utter contempt for my efforts. To overcome this resistance I'd have to perform a ritual on a scale I can scarcely imagine. The planning alone could take decades, and centuries to perform."
"I don't think we have that kind of time at the moment." Ba'al pointed out.
"No, I suppose not. We'll have to take a more direct approach if we want to crush this New Imperium. I am told Magos Interrus has been of great help to your engineers?" The sorcerer commented.
"We are already starting to construct his new designs, but building ships takes a lot of time and effort." Ba'al commented. While the designs were powerful, even he shivered at the callous disregard for other humans the depraved cyborg had. Still, if it allowed him to conquer the galaxy, he wasn't about to complain. And then, he would take care of his new allies before they had a chance to stab him in the back.
As Ba'al walked away, Akhor Menet, sorcerer of the Thousand Sons and servant of Tzeentch reveled in the fact that his life was now unbound from the Architect of Fate, and all that was driving him now was his hatred for the servants of the Corpse Emperor and more importantly, the fact his divinations revealed the existence of the Space Wolves in this galaxy.
As a survivor of Prospero, the very thought of their ancient enemy sent a wave of hatred coursing through him like a wave of fire. Soon enough, his plots will bear fruit, and he would reap a bloody vengeance from his despised foes.
Lightyears away, in orbit over Tollana, former USAF Colonel Ronson, now Admiral Ronson of Battlefleet Beta stood in front of the viewport of the large Mechanicus space station that served as the primary manufacturing and processing facility for the orbital shipyards above the planet. His eyes roamed over the slowly growing skeletons of a pair of new ships being built.
"Magnificent, aren't they?" A familiar voice caused him to turn his head to look at the woman that now stood next to him.
"Lord Admiral Parcy. I didn't know you were here." Ronson greeted her.
"I am here overseeing the repair and refit of our ships after our recent campaign. And I couldn't miss the chance to see my new baby." She smiled.
"I heard you decided on the Dominator class. A bold choice." Ronson commented.
"While you decided to stick with a Lunar class. I had a feeling you'd go with that. You do like playing it safe." She smiled.
"True enough. How are we holding, though?" Ronson's smile vanished as his face took a more serious look.
"No losses fortunately, even though several ships took enough damage to require some drydock time. Casualties were light, thank the Emperor. Most of the crew losses were servitors. I shudder to think how we would have fared if we had to rely on human crews like the Old Imperium." She replied with a shiver.
"Fortunately for us, we don't. And with these two new ships, and the four ones being built next to them, we'll be even stronger."
"Until that time though, we're stretched thin. It's only thanks to our sensors and hyperdrives that we can manage any effective patrols at all. The sooner the cogboys finish my new ships the better." Parcy laughed a bit.
"I'll drink to that. Care to join me in my quarters for a glass of single-malt, Lord Admiral?" Ronson gestured with his hand.
"I think I'll take you up on that, Admiral. Lead the way." Parcy smiled and the two leaders of the Imperial Navy walked away from the viewport showing the growing might of their fleets.
The world of Jing was an interesting planet, both for it's history, and recent events. In the Imperial offensive, Jing was the only world to be taken from Yu without a single shot fired. This unusual fact came to be due to its unusual history.
Placed on the furthest edge of Lord Yu's territory, for thousands of years this mining world served as the dumping ground of all undesirable non-Goa'uld servants that were still useful enough to leave alive. As such, the people living there had a significant amount of animosity towards Yu's underlords, and in fact, four of them were assassinated on this very planet. Knowing that going to Jing was usually a death sentence, the Goa'uld responsible for it was happy to stay away as long as the naquadah deliveries were on time and in the required amount. This led to a planet that hasn't been visited by a Goa'uld in over a thousand years, and run for the most part by a human administrator and a Jaffa garrison of around six hundred men.
Not bothered by the Goa'uld, the human population had exploded and by the time the Imperium came along, there were nearly two million people living there.
Marked for conquest by the Imperium due to it's population, mineral wealth and strategic location, the Imperial Guard dispatched eight Valkyrie dropships packed with soldiers and vehicles, namely four Chimeras and four Hellhounds, and everyone expected to face heavy fighting in Jing's urban sprawl.
Instead, the soldiers found everyone huddled together in their homes, the few people they did encounter outside falling down and pressing their faces to the ground until they passed. Outside the capitol city palace, on the wide square used by the Goa'uld lords to address the populace long ago, the Guardsmen found the entire Jaffa garrison standing at attention, completely disarmed. At the head of the crowd stood a small group of men dressed in the traditional Chinese administrative outfits next to a very old Jaffa, wearing his hair in a classic topknot with carefully styled beard and moustaches.
"We surrender, unconditionally. All I ask is fair treatment for my men." The old Jaffa master spoke once they were surrounded.
"I am Captain Otan of the Tollan 1st Regiment. I accept your surrender, master…?" The Tollan man paused.
"I am Pai Mei, once First Prime of Lord Yu, now leader of these men." The Jaffa replied.
"I didn't expect to seize this world this easily to be honest, master Pai Mei." Otan admitted.
"When the observer above this world detected your fleet, I knew that resisting you will only lead to our deaths, and I am too old and tired to watch myself and my men die in the name of a god that would discard me after two hundred years of loyal service." Pai Mei replied bitterly.
"I can understand that. You and your men will be treated well, you have my word on that. We will require you all destroy your prim'ta, but we will deliver you the needed amount of Libertas drug to ensure you and your men remain healthy. Should any of you wish to renounce the Goa'uld and swear fealthy to the God-Emperor of Mankind, our Undying Lord, you will be allowed to do so. Lieutenant, setup an internment camp and request the equipment and personal to process these men." Otan turned to the man next to him who saluted and started bellowing orders to the various men around him, and slowly the Jaffa began to move towards the outskirts.
"I am Sai Jikang Captain Otan. I have the dubious honor of being the administrator of this world." One of the bureaucrats spoke.
"You instructed the people to stay out of our way?" Otan commented.
"Yes, Captain. I felt it was the best decision to avoid unneeded casualties." The man paused, his smooth shaven face tightening. "May I ask what your superiors intend to do with Jing?"
"That's above my paygrade, administrator. My mission was to secure this world and pacify any resistance. Now that's done, what happens next is up to the adepts of the Administratum and the missionaries of the Ecclesiarchy. They will arrive via Stargate within a few days at most once I report this world is secure." Otan replied.
"May I instruct my people that they may return to their normal lives now, Captain?" Jikang asked, and Otan simply nodded.
True enough, a few days later, the adepts of the Administratum and the Ecclesiarchy arrived, along with members of the Mechanicus who then proceeded to account all available resources of the world while the missionaries began to preach the Imperial Cult amongst the populace. After a brief analysis of the history of the world, Sai Jikang was proclaimed governor of Jing, to rule it in the God-Emperor's name.
At the same time, master Pai Mei and his Jaffa were moved to one of the worlds under control of the Jaffa rebellion, where the legendary old master was greeted with nearly reverent admiration by the rebels, many of whom grew up hearing legends about one of the most skilled Jaffa that has ever lived.
A few weeks after the smoke from the offensive died down, on New Cadia Buffy and Harry sat in Harry's office, talking with Willow who was on Tollana via communicator.
"Well, we're finally more or less finished with the surveys of the newly acquired worlds, and we have started over a dozen new mining operations or expanded the existing ones. With the added resources and manpower, we're looking at roughly four hundred percent increase in manufacturing capacity, with the potential for further growth as we modernize the more primitive worlds." Willow began.
"Excellent news, Willow. What about the genetic surveys?" Harry asked.
"We have roughly two hundred candidates for the Space Marines, along with five hundred more for the old method. I expect that a half of these will be successfully augmented. I have something special for you to look at though." Willow sent them a list of nine names.
"What's so special about these? I only recognize the first. Rya'c of Chulak, isn't that Teal'c son?" Harry frowned.
"Yes. These all possess the unique genetic markers that signify the potential for psychic ability. Rya'c also is compatible with the new Space Marine enhancement method." Willow replied. "Well, except the last one. She's different."
"Eight psykers, one of which can become a Space Marine. I think Xander will be happy to have another Grey Knight by his side. What about the last one? What's so special about her?" Buffy commented.
"She's one inactive gene away from being a full Omega-Minus. Even as she is now, being in her presence leaves you very uneasy."
"Great. A fucking pariah. Has she been retrieved?" Buffy sighed.
"Not yet. Her father is understandably anxious to hand her over, but he'll most likely cooperate with the Inqusition. I am told his world is rather pious." Willow commented.
"I'll retrieve her. If we're facing Chaos sorcerers, we'll need the Culexus temple." Harry stood up.
"One last thing. There's some thing I want to discuss with you in person. Can you both come to Tollana tomorrow?" Willow asked, and once the pair nodded, ended the transmission.
Haadric was a simple man, all he ever knew was the forge, ever since his father placed his first hammer in his hand, his life had been the forge. It was a hard life, but he was happy. All that changed ten years ago, when he lost a wife but gained a daughter. Ella was a quiet child, and for some reason, anyone that came close to her began to feel increasingly uneasy. May said that she was a cursed child, and that she should be killed before she brought the wrath of the gods upon them, but Haadric would not hear of it, and as the village smith, he was too crucial to their livelihood to anger by going behind his back.
When the Imperium liberated their world, several men pointed Ella out to the missionaries as a witch. To Haadric's relief, the man testing her proclaimed her free of taint to the best of his knowledge, but he said that he would pass this case to his superiors just in case. Since then, Haadric lived in fear of the day the Imperium would come to kill his only child.
"You are Haadric I presume?" He heard a voice as he was working on a new plough. He turned and his face paled in fear as standing before him, framed by two women in ornate armor was a man bearing the mark of the Holy Inquisition. At once, Haadric knelt down, keeping his head down.
"I'll take that as a yes. I am Inqusitor Maybourne. I have come to retrieve your daughter." Harry continued.
"Will it be quick, milord?" Haadric whispered.
"She is not to be killed, my friend. Her gift, while unpleasant, is far too valuable to the Imperium to kill her. She will have a glorious purpose in service of the Emperor, I can assure you of that." Harry answered him. "Now, please retrieve her. I don't mean to be rude, but my time is rather valuable."
"At once my lord." The man rushed away, returning with a little girl wearing a simple sundress and clutching a ragdoll.
"Should I pack some of her belongings?" Haadric asked.
"She will be provided with all she needs." Harry replied.
"Just like we talked, Ella. Be brave for daddy." Haadric hugged her, and stood silently with tears streaming down his cheeks as his daughter was taken away.
"Do we mindwipe her milord?" The Mechanicus adept asked as two novices escorted the girl to her new home.
"No. She's young enough to be unnecessary. Besides, those memories might offer her an added incentive to fight for the Imperium." Harry replied.
The next day the two Inquisitors were on Tollana, walking next to Willow towards her inner sanctum.
"You've been busy, Willow." Buffy commented in awe at the sights before them.
"Thanks. Now that the Adeptus Mechanicus is large enough to manage itself, my duties are largely about the large-scale decisions. I can leave most of the day-to-day stuff to the Archmagi. This left me a lot of free time to pursue other goals. I have been busy collating all the knowledge we have into a single database. After all these years, we finally understand how almost all our technology works. Not just that, but we can now improve it, recreate lost designs, redesign technologies long forgotten. In time we might once again reach the technological level lost since the Dark Age of Technology." Willow babbled excitedly.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. You didn't ask us here just to tell us that." Buffy smiled at her friend's antics.
"Sorry. It's just so exciting. I've managed to figure out a lot of new stuff. Weapons and other technologies once deemed too complex or poorly understood are now open to us. But the most exciting stuff is my latest project. I have been studying gene-seeds, trying to determine ways to better improve the augmentation methods, and then, I stumbled upon it." Willow turned to them with sparks in her eyes.
"Stumbled upon what?" Harry asked cautiously.
"The gene-seeds are encoded with the genetic structure of the Primarch from which they were cultivated. It's burried deep down, but it's there, and let me tell you, I don't know how the Emperor did it, but there's no way something like that should have been that stable. The Primarchs should have degenerated into mutants as their genetic code collapsed within years of creation. I presume this is where his psychic abilities came into play." Willow sighed.
"Where are you going with this, Willow?" Buffy asked.
"The Primarchs are the Emperor's greatest creation, the pinnacle of genetic manipulation. Just studying the structure gave me insights on genetics you wouldn't be able to even imagine. Still, this instability gnawed at me. How did the Emperor fix it? I couldn't let it go. I ran thousands of simulations, worked through everything I know and learned about genetics, and I finally found it. How to stabilize and keep stable the genetic structure of a Primarch without the use of the Emperor's god-like psychic powers." Willow concluded as they stopped in front of a large, thick security door. She pressed her hand to a panel and leaned her eye to a scanner. A long stream of binary exited her vocoder, and finally, the door opened.
"What is…?" Harry whispered as they saw the contents of the room. The place was slightly bigger than an average room, and the sole object inside it was a large transparent tube, inside which, floating in the liquid was a small boy around three.
"What have you done Willow?" Buffy turned to her friend in shock, for the moment unable to comprehend the sight before her. "Is that…?"
"It is a perfect genetic copy of the Primarch Sanguinius." Willow replied, and as if to confirm it, the child shifted in the tank, showing two feathery nubs growing from his shoulders.