Chapter 30.
Question: What has the Emperor ever done for me?
Answer: What have you ever done for the Emperor!
There is only the Emperor,
and he is our Shield and Protector.
Book of the Astronomican.
Day Two of Unification China.
The Imperial Guard march. They know the stakes. They know the Xenos. They were told everything. They see the Race. They see the Citadel and their people. They see the Gould. They know no fear. The new see them too. The army units of the Unificationists Chinese see the army of the Gould. Their legions of the enslaved Unas. They see Neoth tell them they must fight harder than ever before.
The army who see this becomes the wall. They will fight for the Emperor who knows the odds and how to fight them. They see the Imperium they are building through blood sweat and possible death. They are not scared anymore.
Battles breaks forth across China and they now fight harder for the Dawn. The captured from each battle of those who survived and or surrendered to the Imperial Guard join. They quickly beg to help. Once cowards are sent to backup work repairing infrastructure and they do so with glee. They understand they cannot be on the wall yet. Civilians join in helping the Guard. Towns with divided loyalty flip on mass. They know this must happen. They block roadsides. And sabotage the infrastructure that the Cabal who has seized full control of the Opposition now directed against the Emperor and his legions.
Mercs gain new purpose. They see the genocide that the Gould do on a regular basis to species that hold a hint of threat to them, and just for fun. They will not fight for money anymore. They merge with regular units and their commanders truly join the Guard. The supernatural flood to join the Guard now and they see the Xenos. They cannot stay silent with the Gould. They will die too if they do nothing. Sun Wu Kong now understands fully. The heavenly court of China understands and now joins the Senate of the Gods on mass.
The Guard fight on. They will not cower.
Several battles break out around the newly created China free state, and they go both ways. Some are lost because of a variety of reasons. Others won. The losses do not discourage the Guard.
The Skies of China fill with Angel cadres both the fallen turning gold now at faster rates and the now reinforced legions from Heaven here.
Issei moves with Ravel and Lint.
Mark 001 new battle China.
The Emperor leads a new force against a now concentrated force of The Cabal. The Cabal urges the conscripts on. They are mostly stable now by party officers and elite units now acting as commissars.
The Guard fires on mass and angels join in. Tanks and new Artillery fresh off the forge join them in response to the Cabal. The rounds from the Earthshakers are mostly non-lethal. They are the same rounds used to knock branded down. The Chinese Guard guns are ordered to hit tanks and anti aircraft units. The Chinese on both sides fight with no hesitation.
Ravel channels her psychic might along with Issei, and they break tanks making pushes on the flanks. They stop for several seconds, and the Guard reinforces the flanks with more of the incoming supernatural and their allies.
The Veil has long since been accepted as fallen. The Chinese government has promised to the Guard passage off world to their troops who want that. Education for those who want to build. Bounties for dead Cabal officers who are enslaving their countrymen. That and more.
Battles now enter new Mark Minutes and the Chinese sons and daughters of true China fight with ever increasing zeal and the desire to see the galaxy. They fight because they cannot do nothing anymore.
Levies from the new Devil houses and from Asmodeus reinforces wavering battles.
The Second day ends with the lines being started to be drawn. The north joins the Cabal. The South splits violently as more generals switch sides on either in response to ever changing circumstances and positions. The West joins in more open Revolts and they will not be stopped now. The Unificationists are extraordinarily strong there. The east is not decisive and the cities there are trading hands by the hour.
The triads split. Many support the Emperor. Just as many support the Cabal. The loyal ones start protecting civilians in their cities that are in danger. The ones supporting the Cabal help break strong points.
Families split across all Chinese society. Many volunteer for the Emperor and those in hostile spaces and situations flee to friendly controlled spaces. The same happens for the Cabal. The hydra of the Alpha Legion moves to aid in what ways they can.
Those still in deep cover fudge reports and make communications of defeats more open and they now broadcast openly. Others sabotaged trains that are carrying new troops to the frontier. The navy splintered as did everyone else. The new imperial navy of the sea hits several Cabal ports in the north. The navy is in many regions in the Unification camp. The middle of the second day makes them the majority. Their captains want to crew the new vessels of the stars.
The Air Force joined overwhelmingly for the Unification Army in the west. They wanted to pilot the star fighters. These turn the tide. Those who support the Cabal are hampered by weather from Gaia. The third day ends with more violence and victories on either side.
The forth brings a new phase. A significant army general is convinced by his son to join the Unification Army. He brings many forces in the south to the Aquilla. He cannot ignore what Sun Wu Kong is sharing. He sees a race the Gould slaughter the adults and then sell the kids into eternal misery and slavery to break the species. He sees his grandsons.
His forces reinforce several villages on the major highways there in danger of falling and that creates the first stable route in the south for Unification. He cannot forget the faces. He convinces several more generals that they have to help the Aquilla.
The north sees the Aquilla fly in defiance against overwhelming opposition and several redoubts are made where forces try to make safe zones for reinforcements. Several fall in hours. They succeeded in three points that control railway lines and that makes the shift begin there.
The fifth day sees more victories for the Cabal then the first four. The shock is slowly becoming more normal. But another point is secured. Ravel leads a force of Phenex levies and Guard that reforms a new redoubt in the north and more units with Alpharius support their namesakes future mother.
The central armies clash in brutal battles where new regiments get their blood wetted on each side. The Imperials gain several strategic advantages and victories that break strong points and reinforce beleaguered hold outs. Antony leads there. As does Asmodeus. The South gets several key victories led by Issei and Skanderbeg. His newly named regiment called the Talons of The Aquilla made up primarily of gear users and more levies this time flying the emblems of Gremory and Sitri push hard. They linked up with more redoubts and secured more highways.
The sixth day begins with new regiments in armored carapace reinforcing the army units that are being slowly rotated out to get their guns and armor. The carapace is saving more lives than the body armor of the Cabal. Factories in the west are retooled to make a slightly weaker las gun on mass. Adeptus Mechcanicus adepts get more comfortable and common in friendly space. The guns earned a new mark designate. They are called the Dragon Model.
The week ends more movement on both sides and now the legions of troops from around Earth flood into Chinese space in both sides. More mercs join the Imperials. They are not afraid to fight without pay and the Cabal lose several companies that are asking for too much. They refused that. The Imperium pays the bills. The stock market has made TSB jump in value to legendary levels not seen before. Elon simply funded more factories for ships and overtime for his growing legion of workers and migrants who are coming in droves.
The Canadian Unification party wins massive majorities in every single Province on Monday. Even Quebec. Where they are the weakest. Oriana is now Prime Minister. She makes people proud immediately by promoting Elon with contracts for ships and commits food and medicine to the Unification army and their controlled territories.
The Dam breaks in Europe. They began to form up in many countries there. Many bishops and cardinals there along with more Protestant ministers preach that they must help the Emperor and that they must stop the Race and the Gould. They must unify or their species face extinction and the annihilation the end of history. This promotes a mass conversion to the cult of Neoth. The angels tell the believers of Christian faiths that they must do this, and that the religion must change to meet the future and adapt. This makes the first gains in Russia.
The world comes to accept that aliens are very real, and they will primarily hate humanity in all forms. The supernatural are very real. Why not Xenos? The naysayers are swiftly shot down when they object. But the new army of the faithful rises and they paint and spread what the Race and the Gould look like and the truth. The faithful point out that the Emperor has laser guns and tanks. Plasma and tanks that do not run on oil and that are bringing new weapons of war against the Cabal and the counter revolutionary movements. Why have that at all if Xenos are not real? Why the ships needed if they are not real? The oppressive governments in Africa now get more hate and bitterness. Their leaders do not remember the colonies and the racism?
The Russians remember the Great Patriotic War. For the Rodina and more makes many units of Russian federation troops break ranks and turn on the Russian government. The East of Siberia gets their own reinforcements where they had been struggling. The Russians get their own version of the las gun. One that is dependable and can stand the ice cold.
The Asia countries not North Korea realized this fast. The North Koreans just shrugged and stay in isolation. The Cabal is trying to get help from them. They are not getting it.
The Americas see the threat and they are not idle in facing it. The United States under the now rapid fire defections of Representatives and Senators from their parties lack of commitment to Unification begins to flood. Barrack promised that he stands by the Emperor and the new global symbol that is the Aquilla. The momentum builds when the study for cancer patients released their findings. Hope blooms and the masses and the media shouts the accomplishment of the drug. Caroline becomes a household name. The drug is cheap and is being made in bulk for people who need it badly. They believe and committed to Unification.
South American countries are now rallying behind the highly likely head of the next church of Neoth. He is winning people over by saying he definitely supported the Emperor and that he has Michael telling with him on open tv that the Xenos are real. The Gaimian are portrayed. Their oppressors are splitting families. They must do something for a species that value family so very much.
The southern continental land mass now finds hard choices need to be made. Do nothing and they betray pillars of their shared culture and the new church quickly forming. Do everything and they will defend themselves and Terra. They decided on mass and protests broke out in every single town and city on the continent. They must help. They must help China and the other humans on their world.
Legions volunteer for the Imperium. Mostly civilian work. But new regiments are formed too. They committed to Unification. The other Europeans nations committed more on mass too. TSB builds three more factories for ships in Germany. The Germans go on the record saying that they will build the Imperium and that they are ready to serve the Emperor and his armies in the field. Germany remilitarized. The European Union started the basic structure for the Senatorum Imperialis.
The Middle East finally does something. Chants of Jihad are made across the Muslim world, and they cry to save Terra. To show that Muslims are not cowards and that they support Heaven, and it is represented people. Unification parties exploded on the scene in a revolt people in the region are calling the Arab spring. They begin the calls to form something with the rest of the Abrahamic faiths and that they must help the Emperor in Jihad in China and every single other place where they need help. Armies of young men signed up for the Guard. Countries in Africa receive desperately needed help.
They had been losing steadily. Egypt swears a hundred thousand to the Imperial Guard and they began moving the new to the holdouts. The Africans get a model of las gun made in many hastily made new forges that is dependable in the various places that can be found on the large land mass. The spirit of Africa now burns brighter in the Unification parties demanding that the corrupt dictatorships step down or this gets worse for them.
Several revolutions take place, and some do fall. South Africa committed its army to Unification, and they began to help the others on their continent. It is a pincer now.
Issei takes to the air, and he swears to honor independence in countries that committed to Unification and that he is willing to protect religions that help the Imperium. He promised that they will hunt terror organizations both mundane and supernatural that threaten the planet.
The Kaos brigade is revealed to the world as like never before. The OSF is shown to be pure blood supremacy oriented and that they view everyone who is not them to be less than dirt makes the Inquisition gain hundreds of new stormtroopers and new potential acolytes. The GKF in the underworld melts when they see that they cannot change fast enough to get the now revealed rest of the world to understand that they are not the OSF.
The Hero Faction is shown to be not heroes at all and that they enslaved many to forcibly serve Cao Cao and that reincarnated heroes who serve him are not that. New heroes are needed. Former branded show their brands on the air to the world and they paint the Inquisition in a better light than ever before. They lose the stigma of the first Inquisition. That they are preparing to fight Xenos and then corruption in the new Imperium makes their lives much easier as they hunt the Brigade.
The Magician faction is shown violently performing rituals that violate the dead and more. This pissed off the actual magician guilds because they do not do that at all, and they have regulations against that. They want more vengeance for doing that to besmirch their legacy and they are tainting their guilds. They will hunt with the Inquisition in new squads led by magicians that are beginning to answer to Levina Reni and Le Fay who has been chosen by the imperial magicians to represent them.
Morgan Pendragon realized he is now a dead man walking. His daughter who he tormented, and his heir have openly denounced him. His magician friends began to desert him. Arthur reaffirmed The Windsors as the ruling family of Great Britain.
Le Fay proudly says that she will marry the Emperor of Man. That he has her favor and that he has others. Sona and Ingvild are pushed forward along with Ravel and they each reaffirmed that. The devils see that they will have say in The Imperium. Humans see that Le Fay represents them. That they will not be ignored either. The OSF see Ingvild and a huge faction of the Leviathans defect on mass because they see that there is a way out for them. Many take it. They declared that they now followed Ingvild and that they are willing to do anything for redemption.
Serafall gets to brag openly about Sona who will build new schools for the Imperium where education is very inexpensive and that the children of Terra will get grants to learn whatever they want in mixed schools. This builds more hope in Africa where the education level is terrible and gives the Unification armies there more reason to fight harder for their kids.
The three factions of the Bible meet.
They each acknowledge the end of the Great War. Michael started off strong.
"We are willing to let bygones be bygones and are willing to commit fully to Unification. Galen, who is our maker backs this up. He still hates the original Lucifer and his ilk. But you are not him Sirzechs. He willingly acknowledges your right to live. Just so long as humans are respected and any Reincarnated who want freedom from their kings is granted that immediately. You will get new kids thanks to the Emperor who is beloved by all heaven. He has our faith."
Sirzechs smiled. He nods. The other Satans other than Asmodeus back their pledge.
"We acknowledge what the Original Lucifer did was wrong. We accept that fault and the reincarnated in chains will be given the opportunity to be free immediately once the Unification wars grow less violent. We also acknowledge that the Grigori have equal right in the underworld and that our DMZ guards are committed to Unification and that we accept that as long as the border remains open the Satans are with the Emperor who is beloved by the commoners and eventually the nobility."
Michael then reinforced the bridge for the Grigori to return to the fold.
"Galen repeats the offer of reconciliation to the fallen. We will be one eventually anyway. Grigori must understand that they must truly be the watchers of the children of Galen and now the new God Neoth. They must accept that they have done evil like we all have."
Azazel just shrugged non committals. He gets slapped by his daughter Pemb who glares at him, and her wings are out and gold. Azazel sighed.
"Acknowledge everything. We will put our work into the Imperium. He has our support. We are done. I am willing to help. I just want to see Mars. Our deep ties in the mundane are his. Can we just sign the damn treaty already? I want to see the ships."
The three end the Great War and then began to rally more support for Issei. Antony is there to represent the Emperor. His front has settled down enough to be here temporarily.
Ophis is near her rival. They are in the gap. She hates him so very much. They are in human forms. Great Red started his apology.
"Ophis. I am sorry for making noise for you. I did not think my actions were meant to be provocative. I was trying to impress you. I like you a lot. I love your black scales. I am willing to give back the gap and let you get whatever else you want. I cannot die, however. We cannot do that. We are too tied to reality. We kill each other and the tree will break, and we kill everyone. I do not want that. I will move to Terra. I no longer need to hide. You do not either if you want to. Can we settle this without making problems? I am really sorry, and I do want to eventually have something that is not this grudge between us."
Ophis is feeling emotions. Red likes her? He is willing to give the gap and the silence back? He is willing to give her anything but his death. She sees her out open and clear. Red is right. They cannot kill each other. Ophis has seen more of the fabric of reality now being outside the gap. She just sighed. Less work to just agree and she gets silence back and she can sleep without problems. However, she has started her path to becoming human herself. She is flattered that Red likes her like that. She likes her scales too. But he is still an ass. She in her now true form shrugged and emotionlessly said in almost pure that but with hints of the new feelings there.
"Fine. Get out. My gap. The worms lose my support. I want silence now. Stay out. We are over for now. You lose. Fuck you. I am ready to sleep for the first time in years. Your still an ass. Leave now."
Red accepted the demands. He does leave one thing for her. A dream from an alternative her. The one where they have Issei. The other Ophis forms and manifested. She there is almost completely committed to this. She stands with Red and their son. Ophis looks on in wide eyed shock now. The mom Ophis looked at her spoiled other,
"It is over. Let this be the end. The idiot is being truthful. Please stop hating him. Your boy in my tree hates that so very much. The delinquent will never return. The age of earth is over for you too. You have experienced life. You cannot outrun that forever. It will get you too like it did me. Take the opportunity that the Red you have is giving you."
Ophis just looked at her happiness there. Issei just smiled at his other mom and knows she did terrible things. She will eventually have to face that. But he smiled at her. Ophis sees the pride on her other trees' face. The love she has for their son and her still stupid idiot mate there. She began to want that. Not now. But eventually. This Ophis just nodded.
"Whatever. Leave now. Last chance."
Red exited the gap. His appearance over China inspired the Imperial Guard forward. They break a counterattack and then claim three of the generals leading that front. Issei is there. He sees Red join them. The dragon makes more in his full form begin to run as he crushed three tanks and the Guard see the battle turn further. The new regiments cheer for their allies new and the old. Ophis watched with no emotion.
The gap closed and she just curled up and slept. But she feels something. Envy that she is not helping in inspiring awe. Troublesome.
Issei leads the counterattack forward and his blazing sword gets him a new title. The Emperor of Blazing Truth. His armies across the globe now know that title. And the Emperor is beloved by all who see Unification. Revelation cries inside the boy he made into a good man. Ddraig tears up too. The strongest Red Dragon Emperor ever. The welsh red now lets Issei have his full might. Nothing held back. The dragon goes to sleep in a purr of contentment.
The psychic shockwave hits his armies. It hits those who want to help the guard and are afraid to commit. Two million people from pro unification countries decided they want the stars too. They volunteered at that moment for the Imperium and they who know Issei chant his name. Billions of people who have been touched by his presence now marched in his ever growing armies. The calendar hits zero and a new Age begins on Terra. They who believe leave behind the old name. They are no longer on a planet called dirt. They are on Terra. The home world of the human race and its various subspecies live on together. The Great Crusade of discovery and war builds now forever.
I speak now as a humble chronicler and scribe to those who are reading. My family has served the Emperor immortal for a millennium. We started as Alpharius. We never rose past that. We are content with that. I have been in the Mechcanicus for almost thirty five years and we trace our line back to a family who converted to the machine god and the Omnissiah. We were given hope. We serve him on Terra eternal. Our family makes no great names, nor do we have members who serve in our history who are remembered much. But I took this path. I have seen holy Mars. I have seen the Imperium. I have left Sol three times. But I serve in gladden happiness that we fill the cogs of the never ending Great Work. I will return to the tale of the Great Crusade.
China Day one Mark one of the Great Crusade.
The Imperium began to push east and north. The south of China is still highly contested. But the Imperium is receiving reinforcements from India and from Vietnam. These men and women are not afraid anymore. The Unification wars began anew. The fury of the armies of Unification inspired is now unstoppable. The south began to buckle for the Cabal. The psychic shockwave has hit them too. Their armies feel the now beginning crippling fear of time marching against them. The Cabal tried again to get help from the North Koreans, and they received the mother of all shocks that makes the world turn in awe. The North Korean Peoples Republic Red Army openly fly the Aquilla. They are no longer oppressed.
Their army is determined to save Asia. Their country had been Alpharius for so long that they had been waiting for this moment to show the world that they are not cowards and not slaves anymore. Issei had helped in secret install a new government after he learned that Kokabiel had been ready to use the dictatorship as his disposable shock troops. The North Koreans had finally rebelled. They were done with it all.
They now March across the border with the very now hostile Cabal and they take pressure off many fronts as they now open up on their one time allies. They are not scared. They want to leave a legacy that moves past the former. They will get it.
Their army is vastly outdated. They have old guns and tactics. But they are not cowed. They make pushes that help existing redoubts get the help they so desperately need. The NKR move and they open two highways. This allowed Unification mercs and the beginning to arrive new regiments from South Korea to help more. They sail around the DMZ they link up with the NKR armies and they began a new push from the Far East.
Beijing is now in serious trouble. They are being sorely tested and spread thin. The Cabal calls up more reserves and this pissed off the generations who are part of the mustering. Many new regiments of theirs deserted and joined the Unification Army. They were getting tired of this, and this was not even a week into the war here.
Mark 001 Central China.
The Imperium is digging in on several hills. They are tired. This battle group of two regiments and six unification army forces are preparing for a bad fight. The enemy was coming their way. It is a large force too. Many tanks and conscripts fill out this force of the Cabal. But the Imperium has new weapons. Several portals opened and two new levies of devils reinforced the humans they have no fear. They are from Imperial houses. They wish to serve the Emperor and put their money where their mouth is.
The first kills of the mark are made when artillery opens up on The Cabal. They do well and they kill several tanks. The Cabal have learned to hate the earthshakers. Just like they hate many of the tools the Western pig lovers use. The devils increased the pressure with magic. Their balls of flame cook many Cabal units.
Mark 002-025
The Cabal has a new plan. They prepared to dig in too. The artillery they have is not enough here to hit the hills with a creeping barrage. They however do have plenty of tanks and the few imperial tanks are not griffins. They began to counter fire their tanks. They are hammering the defense line well. But a brave soldier of Unification steps up.
Mulan. A descendant of the original sees the tanks. She aimed her new weapon at the tank commander leading a group of five in their attack. She feels nothing but faith. She aimed her new weapon that was made for the infantry.
A plasma rocket flies and hits the lead tank. The commander and his crew cook in plasma. Two more rockets kill two more tanks and the starting tanks back up. Earthshakers are given a new target. Sun Wu Kong shows the leader of this army. He is smug thinking this fight is going to be a victory. The crew of a Chinese earthshaker make a shot. The round should never get there. But Neoth makes it a Hail Mary. The lethal round slammed into the command vehicle and the commander exploded into pieces. The battle line began to waver. The Cabal is shaken by the new weapon. Mulan fires again. She sees her baby brother. Her mother and father.
Her brother would be a man of peace. While she would be a woman of war. The knights of Terra and Mars come through portals, and they shake the Cabal further. There are no longer just two of the walkers. There are now four.
Karlamine sees her purpose at last. Honor for humanity. Not for just Riser. Kiba had been right during their game. She will form a new knight house dedicated to Mars. Her cog pendant feels like a piece of her she never knew existed or was missing is now there. The knight moves like a second skin. She will make her husband proud.
The forth knight is a human man. He is from China. He serves Terra. His house will serve eternal. He sees his people. Not just the Chinese. But all humans. Cawl is now totally on vehicles. Zagreus has a massive forge in the underworld, and he is making the guns and the armor. Knights will be made slowly. Leonardo gets the next forge. Peace is needed just as much as war.
The Cabal breaks and run seeing the Knights. The bastard has mech walkers too! What is next! The conscripts are not going to die fighting those. Many surrendered and or killing their officers who are leading them to certain death.
The Imperials marched forward. Mulan is cheered for. She takes pride. But she is pulled from her unit by a new woman. Mulan is not nervous. She sees that the new is going to make a job offer. There are three other women from the units here.
Jane Shepherd knows now why she and her husband lived during that raid the inquisition did. She saw the hero that would have come from their family. A new generation of hope that comes from her. Her husband is in Australia helping prepare for the next elections. He is the vice minister candidate. Their story has inspired Australia to help further. But Jane is here with the four Chinese women before her.
"You four are wasted here in the Guard. You have potential to be great heroes. One of you is the past. But I would recommend that you join our order. You should become Sisters of Battle. We who will liberate the Gaimian. We who are not afraid of the Gould. The Ordo Xenos needs warriors like us. You can do great things. But it is a choice. Not a conscription."
Mulan sees the fleur-de-lis. The faith. The weapons they will use. She committed.
"I will join. For my brother. For the Emperor who fights along side us. I am of war. But I will fight the Xenos."
The other three nodded too. They have no fear either.
Camp of Light China.
Asia is helping the wounded here in one of the former barracks. Multiple volunteers and doctors aid her. She healed those with her gear. Her wings are outstretched. The Angel of Mercy. The Guard loves her. They are often in pain. But she takes that from them. She is not alone.
The Emperor is here. He talks to each man or woman injured. He learned their names and their stories. The new Guard whispered he was a new god. But he is better than god. He is a man that has surpassed gods. They see that fast. He is with a new Custodian. He watched for his Lord.
The Cabal has tried multiple times to kill the Emperor. They fail each attempt. But they have not stopped trying. Issei takes pain from those who are wounded in the mind. Those who have PTSD. They are reassured that they can still help without being on the field. Asia wished for him more than ever.
Issei gently touched a man who is weeping knowing now his family in the east is safe in one of the Unification held cities. He begs to do anything for his Emperor. Issei just said to him to believe. The man begged to do more. He will give anything.
Issei holds that man. Telling him to live for them. The man who saw the Emperor there will never forget this moment. Asia finished her current patient the woman had lost an arm to an explosion. But she is being offered a new one. The woman is a new convert to the Mechanicus. She wants a flesh arm.
Asia tapped his shoulder. Issei simply smiled at the other psyker.
"Issei. I would like to talk about something with you. I know it is not very important, but I want to be brave. Now more than ever."
Issei sees the lines. As does Asia. They do need to talk. It is long overdue.
"Of course. I see this might not work. But it could. I will be out in five minutes."
Asia is nervous. She loves him. She wants to be with him. She wants to represent Heaven in the Sigilites. But most of all she wants the girl they could have. Her face. It is the most beautiful thing to Asia. Issei takes a seat next to her near the back of the barracks. They are alone. Asia began.
"I love you. Just like how so many of the other versions of me do. I want to be the sixth. I know you will not be like some of the others. I do not mind the other yous either. Even the perverse ones. You saved me there like I was here. I want you in your entire being. Even the parts that you hate. Neoth is better. But I want to spend my life with you. You who made me and our world better."
Issei stiffened. He will never lose his hate of gods. They who helped kill his family. But Neoth had told Issei that the Shinto have finally agreed to let him see his family again. Neoth was an ass. But Issei had let the first chip of hate leave him over his patron. The fact Neoth was getting harassed by Athame who was extremely down bad for the new human god was funny.
"We can try. Visions should never be taken as fact. The girl might not happen Asia. We might not work. I thought there was a Sigillite in a brave young woman I knew. But she is highly likely for my son. I just want you to know that if we do not work. It is not from lack of trying. But our paths always change. We will see. That is all I can commit."
It was not what Asia wanted. But it was not a refusal. It was a brick. The first one of a possible home.
"Alright. I really want this. You who is on Terra. The beating heart of us all now. I am not afraid to show you this."
She looked at him for permission. Issei smiled and gave Asia a small nod. Asia kissed his cheek. There was definitely something there. Maybe they will work out. But the war needs him again. He is going to an important fight near a major city. Asia sees the line. She pulled out for him her favor. A cross with wings of gold. Issei takes it. He departed. Asia sees this line. He will start to accept her here. She dreamed of the girl. She who might have an army of brothers who love her dearly and would move the galaxy for her.
Canada TSB factories.
Rias saw her ship in person now. Millicas saw it too. The Gremory clan was all here. Even the cousins. They look at the Prometheus. They believe more than ever now. Sirzechs and Grayfia stare at their family and the ship.
The workers are now working overtime to get the Imperial Navy built. The relay needs to be moved. The new captains for the ships have met. One is also an Explorer. The third a grim angel wants to be the brick of the wall in space. His ship is a pure warship. His crew are going to start the first naval academy for future ships.
Canada has pledged money and land for future factories. Oriana and her party have a strong majority. But she does not want the other parties to fade either. She simply says to them that discourse is fine, and that power will not go to their heads. But Terra must always be first. Not provinces or Canada anymore. The other parties nodded. The Gould scared them badly.
Money and resources are pouring into Canada. Unification countries are truly showing that. Great Britain has sent the most. But trade around the world has picked up.
The stock markets are beginning to dream of massive profits that can be made from new worlds and from more resources. But the realists in them realize that they cannot bleed worlds dry. Balance was needed.
The world has now accepted fully that the supernatural was always real. That gods are real. Faith has resurrected itself. Science and faith are not enemies. They are different sides of the same coin. The veil has been destroyed.
The shadows now enter the light. Devils openly take contracts now. Nature spirits are out in the open. Angels not committed to the Unification wars are helping people regardless of their place of Origin. That cat girls are real has inspired a new generation of horny men and equally horny women who want cat boys to try. Old religions who have held humans back like the Olympians are now being seen as something to get rid of.
Baldur spoke to the few Astura believers and said he does not support The Allfather. That he is just a horny bastard. Thor was pissed. But realizes he did betray humanity. He had not been their champion in a long time. He will try to be better. Thor approached the Senate of the Gods. Neoth sees this. Thor humbles himself before the new and the first ones. Baldur smiles at his brother. Thor apologizes.
This began reconciling. Other gods who see the Gould and the Race now understand the barrier. They cannot be the leaches anymore. Sol Invictus of old Rome asked that he be allowed to give Issei his championship. He is near death. He does not ask for Faith. He simply said that there is now a new him. One who is truly the sun.
The Olympians are now worried. They are losing faith. Same with the Norse who are not trying to be better. Odin sees that the brat he tried to make into a mood kindred has a profoundly serious grudge against him in particular. That he has multiple patrons. That he helped kill the parents.
The world moved on. The shock is over for many. But there will always be new things to learn. New things to hope for. To dread.
Kuoh Academy Japan
Sona was swamped with students and others calling her. Jiro was helping as was Rossweiss. She was surprised when many of the SoSsei club offer to help her. That Sona is a supernatural devil does not mean anything to them. The school knows now. Many want to learn magic. Just as many want to help Issei. They believe in him.
Cleria is shocked when the news of what she and her peerage did during the Night of Red Flame comes to the news stations there. The city loves her. That she and her peerage had saved as many as they could. Survivors lose the mind spells they had. They sing their praises. The City Mayor just smiled and on television gave Cleria a medal for her efforts. It is a new award. The Cleria award of excellence.
Japan is changing. Yasaka has openly said on the air that the youkai half of Kyoto is now open for regular humans. Just be respectful and do not stare. The five clans are now in something of a weird position. They cannot kill youkai without pissing off the Shinto. Yasaka has pledged to hunt youkai that hurt humans. That they are not prey. This makes the population of Japan begin to return to their past. Japan saw massive riots when the government was being hesitant to commit to unification. The JDF do not help much. The fact that the Japanese people are learning that the Emperor protected them many times in his grim hunts for things that would hurt them if given the chance. The people are behind him.
Shirone now has a new problem. Horny cat girl lovers. But she is mostly protected by Sona who just remarked that Issei really likes Shirone and that the cat girl likes him a lot. That makes many back off because the videos of Issei in China are scary. Shirone is happy about that. But something has changed. Jiro.
They have talked a lot now. They both like rap. They both like so much of the same stuff. Shirone does not know what to feel. She wants Issei. But Jiro is kind. He does not stare at her tail and ears. They are closer in age. There is chemistry here. Jiro gets that.
"I read up on nekoshou. You like strong mates. I would like a cat girlfriend, but I know it is an uphill battle for me. I would like to get to know you more. But Issei is there, and I get that he is what you want."
Jiro did ask for a date. Shirone knows that he is going to try. She will consider it. Jiro is not bad looking and while he is slothful it is only on special occasions. He has promised to get stronger for her. That is flattering. She will try.
The school is raising money for the Unification army in China. Kiryuu has resigned from the school. She wants the sexy men and women. Gasper actually picked her up as his agent. The little guy is now up and about openly in the school. The cult of Neoth spreads to the students and faculty. They want to help. And if believing will do that. That is enough.
Inquisition headquarters Underworld.
The Unification wars hurt several plans. But they have accelerated others. Xenovia is still playing the game. She wants to be in China. But this is important too. Plus, Liara is so damn cute. The Ordos have received hundreds of new people. One of the new Ordo Xenos Inquisitors is also playing the game. She is named Anastasia. She is from Russia, and she too is down bad for Liara.
Dohnaseek is down bad for Ashley. Diego is not interested in that. But admits he likes Shiala the consort. Now the four are joined by off duty stormtroopers who look at this version of a tree in utter amazement. That there are Xenos humanity can have a good relationship with. That brings hope. Plus, many want to see the Citadel. But the four players now know the lie. Diego had finished the game. So had Xenovia. Dohnaseek knows the truth and Anastasia caught on fast.
The Reapers. The relays are a death trap. They lock civilization down into set ways. The citadel is a mouse trap. And civilizations before have all fallen to it hook line and sink. Xenovia began their meeting.
"We must find a way to destroy the relays. They need to be destroyed whenever we find them in our space. We will need to help the citadel develop new Ftl systems. But they will not believe us. I think there is a device on the station that puts out an Indoctrination wave that makes them not question their civilization."
Diego nodded. As did Dohn and Anastasia. They thought the same thing. Anna had in her career before been a ballerina. That had translated well to her power rapier. She nodded.
"Agreed. We do have avenues into Citadel space however. The Turians are like us in many ways. They are realistic and they do not easily ignore threats. The problem will be the Asari. They are truly stagnant. They will not be convinced easily and the Salarians are their closest friends. They will out vote the Turians."
Dohnaseek agrees with that assessment.
"Absolutely. We will be fighting uphill. But what else is new? We might have more luck with the Quarians. They are outsiders. They are pariahs like the Krogan. They want their home world back. Maybe we can help there? But I think there is more to the Geth than we know. We are being shown a very clear bias. Not what might be unwritten for us yet."
The four nodded. They will be getting a new Inquisitor soon. A youkai man who was deeply fascinated with Xenos. He will play too. Diego did have good news.
"We will be given the next ships from Germany. We will use that for the beginning of our personal navy. They are warships and they will help the Gaimian. Elon has promised a second company that will be run by Leonardo he will build peace ships. TSB will make the warships and explorers vessels. We are now going up so that is good. What is the Lord Inquisitor doing? I have not heard from him in three days."
Akeno was so very eager for what was to come. They were alone and Akio was about to have some fun. They had taken three days off for this vacation and Akeno did not want to go back to work. A crack of leather rings. They both will enjoy this.
Dohnaseek shrugged.
"No idea. Better we do not know in fairness. He is approving the Ordo Shadow Broker. Gasper has been told it is his when he is ready. The Ordo will be in good hands. Do not like his pervert first acolyte but she seems ok when she has someone to direct it towards. Why do we get the weirdos?"
The Ordo Xenos all shrugged they were mostly normal. Xenovia was the odd one but that was just because she had custom ordered a Liara body pillow. That was it. Xenovia was down bad for Asari in general now, but the Turians also made her feel weird things.
They agreed to prepare for the second game and then the four went off to do extra reading.
Team Vali somewhere in Central Asia.
Kuroka felt something happening. She was worried. Worried for Issei. He was in China fighting. Kuroka feels more than just lust now for him. She has seen the speeches he gives to the Guard. Thanks to Neoth she sees him helping his soldiers. She sees him in private show doubts. She wants to soothe that.
The second night with the storm trooper did not happen. The man was disappointed, but he now has something better. A nekomata woman that joined the Inquisition from China and that nice human are now together. And it looks like it will be permanent. The welsh man had thanked Kuroka.
"Did not know I liked cat girls. I liked the night. But Yuma is better. We clicked and she said to tell you thanks."
Kuroka had told him thanks too. She has a new kink. Humans. They were great. Le Fay just watched Kuroka. She now thinks Kuroka might have a chance with her knight. She is also worried for him. But she knows he will win.
Team Vali has a new teammate. A tengu young man named Ren. He is a psyker. A combat one. He makes cool lightning. Vali likes him because he is also not too talkative, and they have formed a bond by grunting and squawks. Le Fay knows why Ren is really here. He had been open to her.
"My senpai wants you safe. I owe him so much. He made me realize that I have gifts and that I was not alone. He helped build the control. I am technically your bodyguard in that you can talk to him more easily. He misses you all."
Le Fay knows that Issei does. He respects her combat skills. He just wants her safe too. Ren is nice. He and Kuroka are at odds but that is a cat and bird thing. Arthur just pats his sister. He knows she misses him.
The Team has been hunting the OSF. The rosette is now known worldwide, and their storm bird is only asked a few questions. That is really it. Greg just tells the countries they operate in that they are hunting Brigade bases and they will be fast.
The Inquisition had launched three satellites and they were loaded with the ward scheme. They now know most bases of the OSF and the idiots do not consider tech and magic working together. The Unification wars had made governments understand that the inquisition was not challenging their sovereignty. It was to clean scum who will hurt people. Thus, why they are here.
The OSF has a big base here. The good news was that it was isolated from others. The bad was that the Inquisition could no longer pull guard or scions and vehicles. The Stormtroopers are the only ones now available. That should change when the first warship comes online and then they can consider more moves.
Ten squads of stormtroopers are here in four storm birds. There is now no shortage of pilots. Olivia is now the big captain. Patrick was now her second and his lads made up three squads. The Irish really like killing devil bastards.
They make their oath of moment and Vali cracked her power fist. Percy is guarding her happy. Ren has a staff with the Aquilla, and he is muttering a battle mantra.
"In life pride. In war shame. In life duty. In war sacrifice."
The others do not get that, especially Vali. But Ren supplies them with an answer.
"A new mantra for a dead world who never lost sight of its species. They are these."
The visions of the Death Korp of Krieg. Team Vali is still getting used to that thing. But Le Fay sees the clones. They who fought with no fear. Who had long earned redemption. She understood.
"They were brave. You honor Krieg. But let us not join them in sacrifice."
Ren nodded. But he muttered the mantra again. Biwko is close to a thought. He will join the Ten Thousand. Sun Wu Kong had encouraged that. He knew Biwko wanted to leave his own legacy. This was it. Agamemnon was now a devout Neoth worshipper. He had listened to a sermon, and he clicked. Le Fay was now an Atheist. She was like Issei in that.
Gods are real but she denied them. The Shinto had been the death nail. Their cruelty to her knight had destroyed her faith. That the bastards had given in was good. But should have been easy to just let one visit. That is all he wanted.
The storm birds prepared their drop. Le Fay tightened her hand on his favor. Kuroka sees that and will ask later. The black cat will try to be better.
Mark 001
The OSF were nervous. They have been having a rough week. The world knows of them now. The entire planet. They have lost bases. They are losing bodies. The Emperor has declared them kill on sight. The world has changed and become bigger.
The Leviathans run this base. Their leader is here. She is pissed at the bitch half breed for taking a good chunk of her banners. But she has a plan. The veil is gone so they can launch more attacks on the false Satans and their ilk. The OSF was close to making a deal with the Cabal and the Russian government. They need to change, and this could be the first step.
Enemies must become friends if they are to kill the Emperor and his allies. The humans were hesitant but were close enough to forming their contracts.
They need bodies. And humans dying is preferable to devils. The OSF is preparing a ritual. The goal is simple. Find the location of and then release Trihexia. They have been looking for a while. Rizevim hopes that this will be the coup de gra.
Three devils are patrolling the skies. And they have an enslaved eagle with them. It is late and they just want coffee and maybe a chance to kill some humans. But they are worried. A devil woman hears a loud noise and she just sighed. They are here. She just accepted the bolter round that hits her and she explodes. Her comrades try to run, and they die too.
Mark 002-008
The open courtyard for this base now has many holes in the grounds. Devil parts are in many places. The survivors are not having fun. The Patrick stars are cheering again, and they have been promised more drinks. The new troopers like that and join in too. Olivia is simply happy that two of the squads are also dour Québécois and they are the ones pushing. Team Vali has killed three golems and ten enslaved familiars that had been acting as tanks. Kuroka now feels new fury and purpose because she is not doing lust anymore. She is fighting for him. Kittens are important but he is equally important.
Le Fay hits the imperial forces with a new reinvigorating spell and the stars finally break a particularly strong group of devils. A squad of troopers made up of youkai and nymphs throw krak grenades and they are now the most loyal of men and women. They entered the melee, and they break the center.
The three survivors left run and they now wished that they followed the banners that swore to the half breed. They would live longer.
Mark 009-016
The devils cannot stop the pushing imperials. The nymphs have found a newly discovered love for melee. The youkai just cover the now blood thirsty spirits. Vali cheers on the nymphs. Kuroka is preparing a spell. A massive steel rhino forms and it barrels down a hallway. The defenders are almost ready to just throw their arms up or just die.
Biwko had summoned ten clones and they have cleared a computer room. Arthur is bringing his blade down on a devil scientist and the man loses his head. Le Fay has a las pistol, and she fired a single shot into a Devil who ambushed her. The red hot round exits the devil, and he collapses without a heart.
Vali has with Agg and Percy moved with Patrick and the lads to kill the head bitch. They find her.
Katerea Leviathan was with ten elite devils. She was not amused. The brown haired woman has her staff ready, and she cannot run. If she does more banners will run too. Her guards are also grim. They know they will likely die here.
Two squads of the lads are drawn into melee combat with other devils and have to clean them up. Vali just grunts at Patrick when he apologizes for that. The Irish man gets her.
Vali grins more when she sees Katerea. This bitch had helped her dad sometimes torture her. This job gets better and better. But she really wants to meet her mood kindred. He is awesome. Ren gave her a vision of the Krogan. She will dedicate this kill for him.
Urdnot Wrex freezes. Then let us out a body laugh. It scares the Salarian he is guarding for this job. The Krogan wants to meet his mood kindred now. They are dedicating a kill for him. They must be awesome.
Vali cracks her power fist. She should get another. Then it will be fisting time. The crack of lightning plus Agg getting his thunder hammer charged. Percy has a power spear. It cracks too. Katerea is not impressed. But her guards shake a bit more. But Katerea sees a single white hair on Vali. She knows that color.
"So, the rat has joined the human. I am eager to kill you in fairness. You have pissed off your betters. Will be fun to kill you. I will imagine it is Serafall when I kill you. You do not scare me half breed. I remember our last session. You screamed when I broke your hand then jabbed it in hot water. Was a good night."
Percy gets ultra pissed. Vali just grunts. Agg wants to gut the bitch. Vali just cracked her fist again.
"I remember it too. You are still the bully you were then. I am going to enjoy painting the wall with your blood."
Katerea just casts a spell. Her guards move forward.
Mark 017-025
The spell was a strong electric shock, and it hits Percy. He yelped but his carapace mitigated most of the damage. Vali is now pissed. No one but her can make her hoplite yelp! She extended her white wings and flies towards Katerea. Agg wants to crush some skulls. His hammer comes down and kills a devil by doing just that.
The stormtroopers open up and kill two more guards. Katerea gets a kill, however. She summoned an ice bolt and impales a male trooper through the guts. He flies back against the wall next to the door. His comrades are now pissed. That was a lad! Patrick is busy with the other squads. But the sergeant for this one snarled.
"We going to gut you pig like you did Phil!"
Two troopers pull chainswords and they charge. Katerea has noticed that ice does slightly more harm. She sends another ice bolt and this one takes a charger in the head. The bolt kills a female trooper. The other is just more pissed now. As is Vali. The trooper was cool and drank well. Vali brings her fist and pulped two guards that had thrown themselves in front of Katerea. Percy is big mad too. He moved to cover for his now girlfriend.
The troopers go for more kills. They will drink for their comrades! Vali and the remaining chainsword user both make moves. The chainsword roars and then hits the staff. The reinforced metal blocks the sword and just barely holds together. Katerea simply summoned an ice sword and takes the trooper's arm holding the sword.
The man screams and then proceeds to fall. The hypothermia hits and the man gets bad ice burns. Vali saves his life by kicking him backwards and the man is helped by a newly arrived youkai. Vali cracked her fist and makes her first punch.
The staff breaks and metal flies. Katerea just summoned a second ice weapon. This time it is an ice pick. Vali is saved a blow by Percy bringing his shield up and the ice sword is deflected. Vali comes from the right and Percy the left.
The spear hits Katerea on her kidney. She gasped in pain but blocked a punch by Vali. The ice sword breaks. Katerea summons a new weapon in an axe. She sees the weakness of the carapace. Blunt does not do anything. But piercing weapons will kill.
Agg slammed his hammer into a devil and the woman flies and screams. A trooper puts her down. The last devils are fighting to the death.
Vali likes Percy more now. His shield stopped the sword. She punched again. Her fist breaks the arm that holds the axe. Katerea does not scream. But brings the ice pick up and then down and the edge hits Vali on her right arm. But it is not bad. Then the killer comes.
Ren had entered the room and throws a warp ball at Katerea from his staff. The ball of unreality hits Katerea and she feels the warp. She bounced back a few steps and Vali takes the opening. Ren is also a true member of her team.
The power fist comes down with a punch and hits the ice bitch. The organs in Katerea pulp and then Percy stabs with his spear. The Leviathan dies seeing the human dealing the kill. Her last thoughts are of shame for dying to a human. And regrets for not taking the offer Serafall had given her during the civil war. The chance to be given pardon. They had been close. Exceptionally good friends. And maybe something more.
Katerea dropped to the floor. The stab had been through her throat. The troopers fired at the last two devils, and they drop seeing their lady die. Patrick comes and sees his lads. He made the Aquilla for the two dead. The trooper who Vali saved has been stabilized and he grunted that he wants a kick ass arm like the Flower.
The troopers take the humor. But they probably need to see a mentalist. Vali grunts In thanks to Ren. He just trills back. Percy hurts from where the ice weapon hit his hand. But it is not bad. The Mark ends and the imperials do clean up operations. Vali technically got the kill. But Percy gets the credit. Katerea would have died in half a minute.
Le Fay sees the two bodies of the troopers. She knew them. The woman was understanding of Le Fay's situation. She had something similar with her husband before the divorce. She had no children with the man. But her nephew would get her ticket to Mars that she had gotten for him. The boy was only fifteen. But his aunt died for Unification. He will remember her. His future daughter will be named after his aunt.
The storm birds level the base after they have everything. Olivia helped the wounded trooper. Kuroka sees that the man is the welsh man. But he just smiled at his friend.
"Do not tell Yuma much. She worries. She can purr over my new arm. She likes machines."
That is weird. But Kuroka is happy he is in good spirits. She saw Issei thanks to Neoth take a wound that had been bad. It was a hand. The hand is back but Kuroka just wanted to hold him and purr his pain away. She sees that she needs to be more than just lust. For him. She sees that Shirone has a new suitor. Hopes that the new devil gets her sister and gives her a strong mate.
The morning rises again as the storm birds lift off. They quickly made way and they are informed about something. The country they are in has decided to swear to the Aquilla. Central Asia has bad history with Russia. Many want payback for the Soviet Union. They will send troops to help Unification. They do ask that they get guns for their army, but they also understand that they are of a lower priority at the current moment. Kuroka helps by informing her wanted other.
The country wakes the next morning with guns and new allies. The Sisters of Battle form up with the new army and their power armor and their bolt guns inspire the new army being mustered. There are only three hundred sisters. But Jeanne and Irina lead here. Jane is the leader for the third part. Mulan is her new second. They will open a new front.
An. Yes more done. More implications and more personal theories of mine with the Citadel. All I can say is that the Council is very stupid. Thus, why I think there is some part of the Citadel that does the whole disbelief thing. I am probably banned in China with the past stuff and North Korea, but I want them happier. So tough. I did enjoy the RP about my tree version. He is ok and I am like always a mechcanicus simp. He does not do great deeds and he knows that. This history he is writing is not complete and he has bias that has built up in his lifetime. But he acknowledges that. He is just a lowly scribe, and he did not have ancestry who fought in the Unification wars. His family came later. But life happens.
And finally, the biggest threat so far. The Gould. Surprise. Yes they are here too. They, however, have a very weird social structure. They found tech and like the leech's they are they use it. The Unas were enslaved so thoroughly that they are just extended Gould at this point. They do not have a Tealc. I love StarGate especially the movie that started it all. I did not like it as a kid but I rewatched it later and the premise is sweet. Do not like how Amazon is not doing anything with that. There are still stories to tell in the universe. I just wish they did more with it. As for the gates themselves it is kinda linked to the web way. In that the Gould do not really understand it. They use it but they are also using a hyperspace drive in addition to the gates. Also looted from a now very dead species. The Tau are actually in a weird galactic position and they while not close to the Gould space wise are still technically in the power projection area of the System Lords. Poor blue goats. But the Tau do have a few advantages. The have a god too. It is ok and it has done something similar to Neoth. They are still pre space flight, and they do not have the tech yet. But they will one day. hope this makes you happy especially you stargate fan and mr canadian. you both saw the hints and probably more did too but i was excited seeing your review and username made me grin heavily. and thanks everyone again especially for getting us to 130 reviews and closer to 150 favorites. As for the Citadel and being screwed. Yes and no. doesnt elaborate further.