Chapter One "Return and Reunion"
Imperial Palace, Late M29
The Emperor of Mankind, known by countless names and identities throughout history, frowned as he sensed a familiar presence once again. Revelation, as his closest confidants and subordinates now called him, allowed himself a smile. Over the thousands of years he had openly and covertly worked to keep humanity going, even through its darkest times, few things had brought him enjoyment. He had guided them through the Cybernetic Revolt of the AI and Iron Men, the predations of opportunistic xenos who sought to take advantage of humanity's weakened state following its costly victory, and the Age of Strife that followed. Yet through it all, this familiar presence had been a rare source of pleasure.
Revelation watched with fondness as the familiar psychic signature attempted to glimpse His future, a feat incredibly difficult even for the mighty Chaos Gods and nearly impossible for mortals. It had been amusing to observe this psyker, once ranked among the top hundred thousand strongest human psykers, grow into a master who could proudly stand amongst the top hundred living human psykers. His smile widened as He recalled the psyker's repeated attempts over a millennium, a consistent and enjoyable hobby that helped ease the heavy burden of being humanity's protector and shepherd.
His eyes went wide as the familiar psychic signature tried something new. Instead of the usual attempt to divine His future, it reached out to make contact - an unprecedented move.
He was curious why it was trying to contact Him now, after all this time. Though He knew it was improbable, He activated the wards around His quarters and vigilantly watched for any attempt by the Chaos Gods to reach out or infiltrate His mind. What Revelation discovered made his stoic facade crack, something that had rarely happened since the end of the Age of Technology.
Revelation began to see great human fleets of starships surrounding some of the finest creations - human-inspired attempts to recreate the majestic Aelderai Craftworlds, sailing through the stars. He marveled at the precious cargo they carried, things He had thought lost forever, and so much more...
"Constantin Valdor!" Revelation's voice boomed, His words echoing through both sound and thought.
"My Liege!" Constantin Valdor readied his weapon as he shouted, his fellow Custodes close behind. "Are you in danger? What would you have me do?"
"Yes, there is!" Revelation declared, his usually stoic facade cracking with emotion, much to the surprise of his bodyguards. "Tell Malcador to crack open his vaults! Grab me the finest alcohol, I don't care if its beer, wine or spirits. It's time to party! This Daddy is getting a surprise gift!"
Hundreds of light years away, lost in the swirling chaos of the Warp, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman's eyes fluttered open. "What the hell?" she muttered, her voice thick with confusion. "Why do I feel Father is going to do something incredibly stupid and embarrassing?"
Constantin Valdor was baffled and shaken by his liege's recent behavior. Revelation had always been the closest thing to perfection humanity had ever known. As the Chief Custodes, Constantin was accustomed to serving a stoic ruler who seemed immune to fear, sadness, or happiness - an unrelenting force of nature in human form, dedicated to ensuring humanity's survival at any cost. Seeing Revelation act like a mere mortal was something Constantin had never witnessed or even thought possible.
"Malcador," Constantin said, barging into the Emperor's right-hand man's private quarters. "We've got a problem. I never thought I'd have to say this, but... we need to protect our liege from Himself. From women."
"Pfft..." Another normally stoic figure's composure cracked. "Constantin, the last thing you should do is interfere with Revelation's celebrations. This is the first time He's allowed Himself any relaxation or pleasure, aside from His usual meditations. Revelation is finally releasing all the pent-up stress from being a ruthless, calculating machine dedicated to protecting humanity."
"I... I find it hard to believe, and I get why Revelation is still human and can act like a mortal," Constantin replied slowly and carefully. "But what's the deal with His celebration? My liege has been tight-lipped about why He's so happy."
"I don't know exactly, too," Malcador admitted, "but I think some possible reasons."
"What may those be?"
"The Sensei… are my most likely guess."
"Sensei?" Constantin repeated, raising an eyebrow. "I hope this has nothing to do with the hordes of women who've been trying to seduce Revelation all their lives suddenly succeeding because He's in a celebratory mood."
Like many rare things Constantin had seen in the past few days, the Chief Custodian noticed Malcador blushing, which under normal circumstances would have been impossible.
"The Sensei are Revelation's descendants."
If Constantin's world view hadn't already been shattered, then the news of his liege having a descendant would have stunned the Chief Custodes.
"So, I might have to update the list of requirements for the Custodes… Childcare…and child protection." Constantin muttered.
"Well…" Malcador allowed himself a rare smile. "You know, mentoring the Primarchs was always meant to be part of your job description. That is, if those meddling Chaos Gods hadn't mucked it all up by swiping the Primarchs in the first place."
Constantin snorted. "The Primarchs are built with accelerated growth in mind, so their childhood lasted less than five years. By age five, they would have transhuman warriors who could take on several Custodes in battle. Protecting them would have been a short duty, not the insanely hard job of guarding a regular human kid for twenty-plus years."
"Argh, that's right… You never had known this, but Revelation's unaltered children need three decades to fully mature physically and a century for their mental development."
The Chief Custodes felt a headache as the notion of childcare and child protection hadn't been one the few things he never paid much attention to. It seemed that was going to change not just for himself but the rest of the Custodes.
"Will these Sensei be one of the new list of assets that my Custodes must protect?"
"No, you will not have to worry about that." The Chief Custodes stared at Malcador, who continued, "Revelation may be a bit drunk and not fully in control of his emotions, but he's no fool. He won't let this become a weakness. Those women lucky enough to catch His eye won't be able to bear His children, and He sure as hell won't protect 'em if they become a liability."
"That's my liege I know." Constantin sighed in relief. "Since Revelation isn't in the mood to rule, how have our future plans changed?"
"Yes." Malcador nodded"Our forces are to withdraw from the battlefields. We will consolidate our recent gains and focus on fortifying our territory."
"Wait, we're going on the defensive now? Why?"
Malcador didn't reply and instead pointed to the ceiling.
In the skies above Terra, a shimmering portal burst into existence, its edges crackling with energy as it tore a hole in the very fabric of space and time. The phenomenon was unlike anything the inhabitants of the war-torn planet had ever witnessed, and it drew the attention of every soul, from the mightiest warlord to the lowliest serf.
Through this rift, a fleet of ships unlike any seen in millennia emerged, their sleek, silver hulls gleaming in the sunlight. These were the vessels of the Age of Technology, the pinnacle of human achievement from a time long past. Each ship was a marvel of engineering, its graceful lines and smooth contours belying the incredible power and advanced technology contained within.
As the ships slipped through the portal one by one, they seemed to hang motionless in the air for a moment, as if surveying the world beneath them. The people of Terra stared up at the spectacle, their eyes wide with a mixture of awe and fear. Some fell to their knees, believing that they were witnessing the arrival of gods, while others reached for their weapons, unsure of what to make of these strange newcomers.
In Orbit of Earth
I gazed at the holo-display of Earth, now commonly known as Terra. My eyes glossed over the familiar starships I'd commanded for millennia as Head Overseer of the Arks Contingency. Instead, I focused intently on the data streaming in from my Armada's scanners, all processed by multiple AIs and verified by human analysts.
A part of me really missed the advanced AIs that had brought about the zenith of human civilization. If I had possessed a World-class or superior AI, such as a Sector-class AI, then I would have gotten all the data I wanted and thousands of possible solutions that would ensure total victory and Terra under my control.
Then I quickly shook my head. AIs that could control entire worlds would forever be banned under my watch until Father and Malcador gives a foolproof method to prevent the Cybernetic Revolt from happening again. Instead, all AIs will be limited to a certain level of what a human mind augmented with biological and cybernetic upgrades to prevent the terrible mistake from happening again.
I sighed at the number of Arks and their accompanying fleets coming up on the holo-display. I had started with four hundred sixty-three Ark Fleets, but only ninety-two had survived the thousands of years following humanity's golden age and the ending of the Age of Strife.
Any other surviving human power would salivate at having what I possessed. Ninety-two Arks were equivalent to an Aelderia Craftworld, with the smallest Ark being twenty-plus long starships, including my own, and the largest Ark, the Noah's Ark, which was a hundred kilometers long. The accompanying fleet would have counted 212 Battleships, some three thousand Cruisers, and countless more Escorts.
Now that I thought about it, the navy I possessed was more than able to the immediate Solar Sector and also the nearby Sectors.
Arky, my Ark's AI, pinged my mind and I looked through the data. It irked me that the Mechanicum's arrogance really annoyed me. Sure there were thousands of worlds swearing fealty to Mars and I might take likely centuries conquering their empire, but they had the nerve to be treating my organisation as an inferior power.
Yeah, so what if you have more people, resources and territory? I could destroy you in so many different ways it isn't funny. Maybe I should have Mars swallowed up by a black hole...
What am I thinking? I slapped my cheeks. There was no way I was going to even think about damaging Mars. That would risk one of the largest and most powerful Ctan Shards in existence, the Mag'ladroth, or Void Dragon, a fragment of a Necron Star God, would be unleashed and cause mayhem that only my Father could stop.
I was about to formulate a response to the Mechanicum's ignorance when…
"Get over here!" shouted a familiar mental voice and I couldn't help but scream in surprise as a miniature Warp portal opened and dragged into it.
As the miniature Warp portal closed behind me, I found myself standing in a grand, ornate chamber. The room was in a state of disarray, with empty wine glasses and scattered articles of clothing hinting at the revelry that had taken place. Slumbering figures were draped across the furniture and floor, their identities concealed by strategically placed sheets and pillows.
And there, in the center of it all, was my Father.
He reclined on a luxurious couch, His normally immaculate robes slightly askew and his hair tousled. Despite His disheveled appearance, Father's eyes sparkled with joy and anticipation.
"Father!" I cried out, my voice filled with a mix of surprise and elation.
"My daughter," He replied, His voice warm and inviting. He stood, opening His arms wide in a gesture of welcome.
I rushed forward, closing the distance between us in a heartbeat. I threw my arms around Father, hugging Him tightly as tears of happiness streamed down my face. He embraced me in return, His strong arms enveloping me in a cocoon of love and protection.
For a long moment, we simply held each other, savoring the reunion that had been centuries in the making. When we finally pulled apart, I noticed a tall, imposing figure standing nearby, clad in ornate golden armor. His eyes were fixed upon me, a mix of curiosity and wariness in his gaze.
My Father noticed my attention shift and smiled. "Ah, forgive me," He said, gesturing to the armored figure. "Allow me to introduce Constantin Valdor, the Chief Custodian and one of my most trusted companions."
I turned to face Constantin, offering him a respectful nod. "It's an honor to meet you, Constantin Valdor," I said, my voice filled with genuine admiration.
Constantin bowed his head in return, a glimmer of surprise and respect in his eyes. "The honor is mine, my lady," he replied, his voice deep and resonant. "I must admit, I had not expected to meet one of the Emperor's own blood this day."
My Father chuckled, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Constantin, my old friend, there are many things that even you do not know about me," He said, His tone filled with affection and mirth. "But now is not the time for secrets. Now is the time for celebration, for my daughter has returned to us, bearing the knowledge and wisdom of the Age of Technology."
I smiled, feeling a sense of purpose and belonging wash over me. "Indeed, Father," I said, my voice filled with determination. "The future of the Imperium is bright, and together, we shall usher in a new golden age for all of humanity."
Suddenly one of the women I had not been paying much attention to started to stir, and the smell of sex that my Father had likely tried to erase wafted into my nose.
"Father," I said while gesturing to the sleeping or exhausted women around me, "should I mentally prepare myself for several siblings?"
He flicked his wrist and the women disappeared from the room. "There is no need to worry about siblings," Father replied as he fixed his clothes.
"You already have several siblings," added Constantin with a smile.
"Where are they?" I asked, and my Father groaned while shooting Constantin a glare.
"Constantin is referring to the Primarch Project, and I will fill you in about it later," replied Father as Malcador entered the room. "Please inform me about the force at your disposal..."
In the war-ravaged lands of Terra, the Terran warlords gathered in secret, their suspicions and fears driving them to forge an uneasy alliance. For too long, they had fought amongst themselves, their armies clashing in the ruins of once-great cities and across the desolate wastelands that now covered much of the planet's surface. But now, faced with a new and uncertain threat, they put aside their differences, determined to uncover the truth behind the strange events that had recently transpired.
"I tell you, it's the Emperor's doing," insisted Kalagann of Ursh, his voice gruff and filled with suspicion. "He's always been one for grand gestures and displays of power. This reeks of His handiwork."
"Perhaps," mused Narthan Dume, the Tyrant of the Pan-Pacific Empire. "But even the Emperor has limits. He has never possessed starship before or He would have conquered us long ago. Also, the technology displayed by those ships... it's beyond anything we've ever seen, and something from before the Old Night."
The other warlords murmured their agreement, their brows furrowed in thought. They had all witnessed the arrival of the strange fleet, had seen the sleek, silver ships descending from the heavens like some sort of divine intervention. But none could say for certain what it meant, or what implications it held for their ongoing struggle against the Emperor and His forces.
"We must tread carefully," warned Cardinal Tang, the Ethnarch of the Yndonesic Bloc. "If this is indeed the Emperor's doing, then He will surely have some hidden agenda, some ulterior motive that we cannot yet fathom."
"Agreed," said Dalmoth Kyn, the Ethnarch of the Caucasus Wastes. "But we cannot simply sit back and wait for Him to make His move. We must act, and act quickly, if we are to have any hope of countering whatever scheme He has put into motion."
The warlords nodded, their faces grim and determined. They knew that they were taking a great risk by aligning themselves with one another, by putting their trust in those who had once been their bitterest enemies. But they also knew that they had little choice, that the arrival of the mysterious fleet had changed the game in ways they could not yet fully comprehend.
"So be it," said Kalagann, his voice filled with a grim resolve. "We will pool our resources, share what information we have, and do whatever it takes to uncover the truth behind these strange events. And if it is the Emperor's doing, then we will make Him rue the day He ever dared to cross us."
The other warlords voiced their assent, their eyes glinting with a newfound sense of purpose. They knew that the road ahead would be fraught with danger, that they would be forced to navigate a web of intrigue and deception unlike any they had ever encountered before. But they were ready, willing to do whatever it took to protect their own interests and safeguard the future of Terra itself.
As they departed from their secret meeting place, each warlord lost in their own thoughts and speculations, they could not shake the feeling that they were on the cusp of something momentous, that the arrival of the strange fleet had set into motion a chain of events that would shape the destiny of Terra for generations to come. And though they did not yet know it, their suspicions were well-founded, for the Emperor had indeed taken notice of the fleet's arrival, and even now, He was setting into motion plans of His own, plans that would soon bring Him into direct conflict with the newly-forged alliance of the warlords.
The stage was set, the pieces were in motion, and the fate of Terra itself hung in the balance. And as the warlords of Terra prepared for the battles to come, they could only hope that their combined strength and cunning would be enough to see them through the dark and uncertain times that lay ahead.
Please excuse me if Tanya and the Emperor isn't completely canon. I am tryin to convey how they are different because they lived in a more peaceful and prosperous time, the Age of Technology. If you still disagree please comment how I can change it to better fit Tanya into her canon self.
What do you guys think about what you read? Is it good, bad or meh? Any recommendations to improve? Please let me know.
Thank you for reading!