Chapter 9.

Death to the old! Death to stagnate ways! We must change now!

Chant of the Addled M 3.

Galve was an extremely easy campaign. The Race are piss-poor fighters when not bullying pre-industrial people.

Unknown Sister of Battle M 3.

Galve system outer space.

The ships of the Race are floating lazily at their designated points around the world of Hallessi 1. Their crews are enjoying another lazy day of not being like the suckers on the ground. The space crew started moving toward their assigned stations. A radar technician sitting at his station on a ship near the outer edge of the formation was about to take a nap when he hears a ping.

He lazily opened an eye to look at his console. It's probably another asteroid as they have been falling planetside a lot recently. His eye was mostly open when there was a second ping. Then, a third ping as his eyes open fully. The pings continued growing and there are now blips on the console. All of them are coming towards the fleet not the planet. The male is now a bit afraid but opens up his telescope tool and then peers toward the direction the blips are coming from. He then freezes badly slamming his tail against the floor multiple times extremely hard and fast. That attracted his two comrades nearby as one hissed out to the telescope operator.

"Why are you doing that?"

The telescope male keeps pounding his tail even faster. The blips are advancing on them and all of them share one symbol on their forward bows. A golden double-headed eagle like the primitives. The unknowns are coming towards the fleet at an extremely fast pace. His fear jumped again because they unknowns were massive things far bigger than the ship he is on. The second male is done with the noise and finally grabs the telescope from the frozen-in-fear first male. He looks while the third comes over. The second freezes, too, as he hissed out in pure fear.

"Impossible. We are the only ones!"

Mark 001.

Admiral Anita Goyle looks at the Race ships with contempt. On her flagship a cruiser called the Armageddon, she looked to her bridge crew and gave them the order.

"Thrusters to max power. Prepare the cannon and show them the sun."

The bridge crew saluted and prepped their battle stations.

The Armageddon and its fleet complement moved forward faster as the engines of the ships of the Imperial Navy roared faster.Behind them are two red forge ships of the Mechanicus one for extra bullets and guns for the Gaimian and one for the fleet.

The Race turned their fleet to face the unknown. Nearly all the crew and captains did not believe the frantic first ship and its captain. Then they saw the enemy fleet approaching from behind the gas giant. The Hallessi defense fleet moved slowly towards the enemy.

The Armageddon and its navy crews load their Nova cannon.

"Praise the sun! The bringer of their doom! Dread Wolf, take you lizards!"

The Race fleet is now worried because the first ship was not wrong. There is another fleet here and it's then the fleet's overlord gets a message from the unknown.

"Leave the world of Galve now, or you all shall die a painful death."

That was in perfect Race, but it let the defense fleet know the unknown was hostile. The fleet overlord turned to his second.

"Load a nuke. Show them the power of the Race and that Hallessi 1 is ours."

The gunners do before they fire the nuke towards the enemy fleet. The missile flies fast and the Race's god now sees the foe. He makes the nuke stronger.

The nuke hits the Armageddon head on. The Race fleet overlord smirked heavily along with his comrades before their faces turn to horror. There still standing is the Armageddon. The males across the whole fleet drop their mouths to the floor in shocked horror.

Admiral Goyle asked her shield operator.

"Shield strength?"

The other human smirks.

"Down three percent admiral."

Admiral Goyle smirked.

"Return fire."

The Armageddon and the other ships in battle fleet Galve fired their response. Twenty ships of the Race in the front of the defense fleet get hit by lance batteries Nova cannons and plasma launchers.

The twenty ships cause explosions that make the inhabitants of Galve see every single one.

Galve Proper.

On planet the trumpets of the Gaimian blow as their three regiments marched from their muster points. The sisters of battle and the scions march with them. Their presence made the Gaimian believe harder than ever as this army marched toward their objectives near the city.

Mark 001.

The Race deployed twenty Land Cruisers and two hundred males to stop this first advance of the primitives on a mostly flat field close to a highway into the city. They expect an easy win yet as they prep their weapons they go into shock seeing unknown things marching with the birds.

Three Exorcist tanks with Sisters of Battle on them roll forward, with their Gaimian allies covering their flanks. The commander of the first tank squad orders her three forward. Sisters jump off the chassis and prepare weapons. The tanks roar, spewing white smoke as the three move faster to absorb any fire that might come. The Exorcist crews are used to tank warfare while the Race is not.

Five Race vehicles get over the shock. They fired at the unknowns as one. The shells hit the lead tank but bounced off or exploded and did nothing. Counterfire began, and the Melta cannon on the hit tank returned fire. Their shot kills a Land Cruiser instantly as its turret flew into the air before hitting the ground with a clunk. That sight makes the Race males behind the vehicles piss themselves in fear.

Mark 002-015.

The King's Guard moved forward and began their battle now utterly. They raised guns spread out and began to zig-zag forward in their squads and fired on the males. Males take cover or go down with bullets in their bodies. Tanks and Land Cruisers began exchanging fire.

Sisters in a Seraphim squad made their jet packs roar on and lifted off the ground preparing their chainswords and bolt pistols. They land in a force of the males, and a melee begins there. Their swords roar and take limbs and heads. The males nearby freeze, and the Gaimian chant with their vengence loud and clear.

"Hear the roars and know no fear!"

The battle continues as the Race fights to defend this possible entrance point to the city. Gunfire and more come forward as the Gaimian finally show their talons of fury against the Race. That fury helps push the birds forward.

Mark 016-028.

Five Gaimian moved towards a hill that had been holding and was now a fort in a sea of battle unleashed. One carries the colors of their regiment while the others carry guns and a plasma rocket launcher. The hill has three dug in Land Cruisers on a reverse slope and the Exorcists are busy with reinforcements coming up the highway. The five birds are not alone as three sisters rush to reinforce their comrades in war. The lead one has a bolter, and her comrades have a mortar. They dug in quickly on a smaller hill as more Gaimian rushed to defend the flanks. The five birds make their Oath of Moment before the rocket bird aims. He fired, and the recoil hurt a bit as the plasma rocket flew. The targeting system on the rocket locked onto the first vehicle.

The Race has fifty males here, and they are holding this point to the death as ordered. They grew scared once again when the scream of an unknown weapon was heard. Then the first vehicle on the hill explodes, sending shrapnel into the males. Five die in the explosion with many more hurt. The two remaining vehicles are now nervous about where that weapon came from but can't see the trail. A second one exploded as a green ball hit it from the sky. The Race looks up and all of them collectively pissed themselves.

A massive ship is coming down behind the lines the primitives have made. The ship lands, and then a massive door on its front opens. Out came the Imperial Guard marching quickly to reinforce the line. Their flag has a green harp on it with a shamrock next to it over a green world.

They are the Connacht Rangers. The lads and lasses of a reunited Ireland who fear no danger having settled a new green planet.

Their Commissars pushed their men on seeing the stiff resistance they face.

"Show the British lizards that the homeland of the Emerald Isle makes far better warriors than them, lads! Triple drinks for the company that takes that hill!"

The Connachti cheered and advanced faster with renewed vigor. The males see the big uglys and fight harder getting more reinforcements in a squad of badly mauled twenty males. The Gaimian see their hopes double before one sees the Commissars. She crowed to the others.

"Show the humans Gaimian are true warriors, too! Take that hill!"

That made the now reinforced birds move forward. Soon the Races males on the hill are dying to guns and swords or outright fleeing past burning wrecks. The last Land Cruiser tried to back up and get away before an eager Gaimian threw an explosive javelin at it and cracked the vehicle as its crew died screaming.

The advance continued as more Warhawks landed.

In the city.

Visslef and his two battle brothers quickly paint more birds on another community wall. They had deserted the army but heard on their radios their former comrades getting slaughtered. Cries for help are being blasted across the radio waves as the three see a bright light in the sky of another ship being blown up in orbit. A female who is freaking out badly near them demands them to fight the primitives and do something besides paint! Visslef snarled at her as another explosion is seen in the sky.

"We are saving your life. Shut up and hide, or help us, so we can save more people, you stupid screecher! We are fighting to save you from the birds and their new friends. Shut up!"

The three paint faster than ever. Two more nearby females who have become addled by fear connect to the new god. They rush to help paint as one hissed to Visslef.

"How bad, male?"

Visslef gulped seeing another explosion

"Extremely bad. You, other female, go and tell others to paint this symbol on the walls of the gated communities. Otherwise, we are all dead. Do it as fast as you can! Don't hesitate and be fast!"

The new addled female rushed off and busts out a civilian radio before she blasted that message to her friends in other communities. They who are now the ones fighting a new fight paint faster. This creates more power.

Mark 001-030

A transport ship dropped near a company of Gaimian who are under attack and are struggling badly against Apcs and Land Cruisers. The ramps on the ship lowered, and then the Hussars arrived. One hundred Hussars rode forth on their mounts and charged down the ramps. Their captain waved their banner high as her men charged without fear.

The Race males are stunned for a second before they laugh at the sight. They continued laughing as the enemy approached. Then the Hussars open up on the enemy with las guns and thrown javelins. The red beams of death and explosives from the foe make the now not-laughing males die missing body parts or fall over with holes in their bodies. The Gaimian watched in amazement as the humans are fast as fuck boi!

The Hussars helped push the foes back while more transports landed with more cavalry. The males still alive flee towards a base that has more vehicles and machine gun nests. None will reach it alive being run down by these mounts.

The base prepared its males and gunpoints. They had dug in and had vehicles ready to fire cannons and machine guns. There are ten vehicles here with five more being powered up. Then, the enemy showed up riding mounts that are fast and behind the mounts are the primitives marching casually.

The Hussars see the land cruisers and the machine guns. They smirked before tapping a button on their reins, and a box on the front of their mounts appeared in the blink of an eye. That makes a male with binoculars drop his mouth, and his tail starts slamming the metal of his vehicle in fear. The Hussars chant their battle cry.

"We ride on the wings of glory for the Emperor of Mankind and the Imperium of Man!"

They then fired their las cannons and the beams slammed into the first land cruiser leaving the vehicle a smoking husk. More bolts of red light slam into machine gun nests and cook males alive, making their nearby comrades now closer to addled. The Hussars don't charge into the enemy. They twist and curve, shooting their guns and their cannons. When their canons run out of power, another company moves forward, and the first retreated. Several mounts and riders die to machine guns, but they are a minority given their speed is beyond that of horses of the past. The Hussars have scion enhancements to help compensate for the new reaction times needed. Soon the Race has only two machine gun emplacements left and only one vehicle. The last one was not on the front because the driver refused to go forward. His commander demands that his driver do as ordered.

"I am not dying to them! They scare me, and if that makes me addled for having common sense, then I'm proud to be that!"

His two friends, the gunner, and the second driver, support the first driver. They refuse to go forward. Their commander is shocked but pulls his pistol. A bark is heard from it.

Soon grenades and gunfire slaughtered the fleeing males as they fall to angry birds.

In the city mid-day.

The addled have grown in numbers as two more units of the Race have deserted. They had gone addled by the screams and the begging for a nuke that has been chanted over the radio waves by the military. The fleet over Galve is dead and the Imperium has orbital supremacy.

Jammers deployed by the Imperium cut off the radio waves and the Race military experiences more confusion given they are not trained to think independently of high command. However an hour after the jammers are deployed, stage two kicks into gear.

On every TV and monitor, the Race has in the city a video played out. Ussmek is shown once more, and his appearance makes the Race freeze in fear. The unaddled females especially. The battle-brother units paint faster than ever, even as they hear Ussmek speak.

"I am Ussmek a member of the Race. What I say is the truth. We are in serious trouble. The natives, called the Gaimian, have friends. Those friends have orbital supremacy and there is no nuke coming this time. We are doomed. The last chance for peace was made three days ago and was denied. The only thing saving the females is a group of our people who have become addled. They are protecting you from death. There is only one thing the Gaimian want more than all of us impaled and that is us off their planet. That's their demand. Males, you must choose now. The old and slow way of thinking that leads to death and despair or the fast ways of the addled that lead to safety. You must choose too if you're a female. The reports of new beings are true. The laser guns are real as are their swords that roar. We must leave Galve. If you want to live show it now."

The females are so desperately scared hearing this. The addled units wear on hastily made armbands the symbol of safety. Because the Gaimian are hunting the Race in the streets and those not in communities or wearing the bands are being killed wherever they are found. The addled paint so very fast and they sweat every single second outside. Visslef is looked at by the new ones as the leader. He doesn't know what he is doing! He is just obeying orders from Ussmek. Addled reaches to the lizard and fills him with purpose and the plan. Visslef does the plan but makes parts better. He adapted and the ones under him adapted too. The females here are hesitant but follow the one with a plan. The one that urged them to adapt because that has saved them so far. They paint faster as the city burns in revolt. They are joined a half hour after the broadcast by two more squads of the newest addled who bring a land cruiser. It has wounds on it, but the driver, with a missing eye stalk bandaged, told Visslef that he had made his men listen to the addled prophet. They guard the painters as three squads of riot males try to put down the addled. The land cruiser points its guns at them at them as the now commander spat.

"Try it, and you die. I'm addled, and I'm proud. I have seen the swords, the guns and their mounts that run faster than this vehicle. I rather be addled and have a plan on how to live then be killed."

The males see the addled are painting like never before. That symbol is the one the enemies use. One riot male does try to shoot the addled. He dies from the machine gun on the vehicle as the driver spits at the remaining ones.

"Test me again."

Race Military base Mark 005-038.

This base is struggling very badly as they fight the strangers with roaring swords and guns that make you explode. The sisters are pushing forward hard driven by a cold fury. Because the Race are famine makers truly as the second famine was intentional. An idea to make the Gaimian suffer and break faster. The first was a genuine accident as the Race had not understood then.

That had been discovered at a base recently captured. The news had been blasted over the vox. Males lose their heads to roaring swords or explode into pieces by bolters. They also die to pissed off more than ever birds many of whom had family die in that famine ten years ago.

A squad of Gaimian led by a drill abbess push against a building that the Race is holding. Inside three males suddenly become addled and randomly attacked their allies. When the squad takes the building the three addled throw up their hands when the angry enemies find them. The birds are ready to kill them regardless before the sister stops them.

"They are doing what is called surrendering. You kill prisoners who do this you create more resentment that leads to worse acts. Always respect these things."

The Gaimian grumbled at this, but the humans were usually right. Enslavers kill prisoners, not them. The three males were led away by Gaimian with guns. The advance continued, with the flag of the New Kingdom of Yonval soon flying high over this base.

As the day continued the Gaimian with help from more humans started setting up with the beginnings of a government of peace. A government based on tales of the past kingdom mixed with new ideas from humans. Democracy interested the Gaimian as the villages had something similar once pre-kingdom.

In the fast-growing town that has become New Yonval Gissnet asked many questions to humans and Gaimian. Unlike the Gaimian he doesn't like what he calls snout counting. However, he is interested in how humans run their Empire. They appear authoritative yet have lots of snout counting. A man from Terra named Paul explains to the male as they sit under a porch.

"Snout counting is not great but it's better than anything else humans have tried. Some things work better for some species over others. Your ways work for you so keep them. We are not saying you have to adopt everything from us. We know a species called the Xindi who have a caste system. We can't change that. Humans have had horrible experiences with that, yet we don't tell the Xindi they need to adopt our system or else. We have an Emperor like you do but he isnt our single power. He's the beacon we all look to and wish to be like yet it is the Senatorum Imperialis that holds true power."

Something bothers Gissnet listening to this.

"What happens when your Emperor dies?"

Paul shrugged.

"He can't die. He's this thing we humans call a perpetual. He's immortal. I know that because I saw him die and come back. He saved my life when I would have been blown to pieces by explosives in the conflict we call the Unification Wars."

Gissnet was beyond confused now.

"But that's impossible."

Paul went silent for a moment with far away eyes before he returned.

"Usually, I'd say you're right but an antimaterial rifle doesn't lie. I saw the bullet go through his body and come out the other side yet he came back."

Gissnet was still in disbelief.

"But isn't him being immortal extremely good?"

Paul got a look of pity

"It is that yes but he will never pass on from the world. He will be forced to watch as his family grows old and dies. Forced to never know the end and be here trapped in a cycle that will never end till our species dies. He's the Master of Mankind but he will never not be needed. I'd rather be mortal than that."

Gissnet thinks about this as more Gaimian continue working nearby with tech adapts.

Mark 001-045.

Fifty land cruisers have gathered with five hundred males on another highway into the city. They have been forcing back a regiment of Gaimian as the tank regiments of the humans are committed elsewhere. Yet the drill abbess for the force is not worried nor is the commander as help is coming.

A massive drop ship from orbit slammed down on the highway behind the new line of Gaimian and ramps opened up. Vali and Percy in their knights colored white with Albion on the right shoulder pad walk out of their ship shaking the ground and in between the two is Fenrir. He's in a bigger sized form and he sees the lizards. He howled and it makes the Race stare in new horror at the massive mechanical walkers and canine. The rest of team Vali walked behind their boss lady's walker on foot and the Gaimian are shocked. Because there's a bird man and a human who is eight feet tall. Louis points his shovel manically.

"Get the lizards Fenrir! I want to show the birds and lizards Shovel-Chan's glory!"

The wolf wants food! Fenrir followed after mom and dad as they ran with their knights forward. Vali smirked before she activated her wings. They move through her specially designed knight now appearing on her knight's back. She flies over the Gaimian and slammed feet first into a land cruiser crushing it and pulping the males inside. The Gaimian know who this is now seeing her emblem.

"White Dragon Empress!"

The rest of team Vali enjoy a lazy fight. Ren is ready for peace soon and Valeria softly said to her fiancé that she understood. Frola is busy watching the destruction while Balamund is talking with Ren's very likely replacement. A regular human soldier who likes battle but was too restricted in the Guard. Cassius Garibaldi was a combat engineer who was great with drones and mobile turrets. He however was horrible when it came to women he was interested in. He was just extremely nervous and his uncle who was a logistical back line realized that his nephew was not working well here. Arnoldo had requested a trial with Vali, and she was getting very close to saying yes to Cassius joining her retinue. Especially with his last action with them

Cassius had greatly helped the Team destroy a Lucian Alliance base on Medcora burning the tengus there alive with his drone.

The Race openly ran as Fenrir chased the infantry and ate several of them. The wolf likes lizard though not as much as steaks. He howls loudly before giving chase past burning vehicle husks. The Gaimian infantry followed behind the walkers thinking that mechs are kick ass dude! The Sister smiled as her opposite looked in awe.

"Thats what we call a knight but their primary purpose is actually not war."

That surprised the Gaimian commander.

"What is it then?"

"They clear forests and make roads. Level mountains if need be but they most of all defend our colonies. You don't screw with knights and we have bigger ones coming online for the Gould. We call those titans."

The Commander widened his eyes more. His feather pendant with a cog burns and the Gaimian sees the armies of God Machines fighting He wants to drive one.

"I see them. The temples of the Great Bird. They walk and have become death. Where are they?"

The sister continues watching the knights as she answered.

"Mars. The first and greatest forge world. There are five right now made in what is being called the Legio Sol. Let me tell a story of a species called the Tau. They didn't believe that those existed in the Tree of Decay. But if you don't go to church the church that is the titans come to you. The Tau thought that they were a mountain at first."

The bird laughed at the idea and the Gaimian get their first meme lord. Louis freezes but sees the bird who is a memer too! He raised his shovel high into the air in triumph!

"Forward birds! The memes must flow and never stop!"

The Gaimian pushed forward with new regiments of militia with power halberds taking up the back line.

In the city early afternoon.

The addled are now in ever growing numbers. Soldiers many times wounded continuously join them and more are pissed because they have seen friends die. They now chant to the females still hiding.

"Change or else! We are dying for nothing! Change or else!"

Visslef is coordinating the new rebellion and they have more land cruisers always in bad shape. The three first ones teach the oath to everyone including the females. The females are not soldiers though but Visslef said to the female leader of the addled.

"Do it every time we do something. Do it because our new god needs it. He is fighting too and needs us badly."

The females do as told or they face extinction otherwise. Ships are entering the upper atmosphere and they are massive. They are hovering over military bases yet untouched by the Kingdom of Yonval.

Rias sets the Prometheus over a military base of the lizards who break up family. She has come a long way in seven years. They all had in her peerage. Rias was married to Kenji here on the Prometheus in a chapel to Neoth. She had twins daughters that like their mother and father love the stars. Velelana and Sona Gremory are busy with dad in their rooms but Rias sees the family taken from the Gaimian. She now understands why Sirzechs fights so hard for Milicas and Isseina. She would destroy worlds for her babies. This makes the mother cry as she sees a baby boy ripped from his mother and then placed in isolation with just a carer.

Rias hates war and the dream she once had. Glory in war how could she have been so short sighted. How could that person be her now? She doesn't want to blow up this base. Neoth manifested for this poor daughter lost in what she feels is betraying her new dream.

"You're stopping the breaking up of families. You're fighting a fight that must be done. They will hold out longer if we don't do this. The base is empty Rias. No one is there. Trust me again like you did in that bathroom seven years ago."

Rias looked at the other with tears in her eyes.

"It's still destruction. I don't regret the game as I became free there. I regret the feeling of battle lust and don't want my babies to see that and my epithet. They love peace and exploring. I'm destroying that now by being war."

Neoth looked at her in sympathy.

"It is but your girls will respect their mother more for helping free a world. One shot then go enjoy peace again forever more. I regret killing my thunder warriors. I did it because they were dying as I didn't have the tech left at the end of my Unification Wars to save them. I killed them because of pity and because they were bloodthirsty in the extreme. They made millions die in agony feeding Khorne. I killed them because it was my only choice available. Be glad you have one. Choose what you want but think of why your brother made his sacrifices for you. Be the mother for children unborn who will build peace because of you."

Rias struggles so hard in her silence bubble, and no one hears her weakness. She remembers something Sirzechs said to her once when she was ten.

"I fight because you are the future of our species Ria-tan. My sin is pride and I feed it with my pride in you. You will see that one day."

Rias is greed in all things but her new virtue was in the humbling of her scale to the universe. She lowered the bubble to look at where her second was waiting.

"Orders Ria?"

Rias closed her eyes and let loose a tear.

"Fire the battery and destroy the base. After this we are leaving. I don't want war ever again unless we are attacked first. I will be with my kids."

The man smiled in sympathy.

"On your orders. I understand Ria. I don't like this either. I feel horrible for the ones who will do Exterminatus. Because they will have blood on their hands forever more. They will be real heroes. Go tell the kids I say hi and that I will play games with them in a bit."

Rias smiled at the man.

"I will. You're a wonderful uncle. Just please make it quick."

The Prometheus powered up its lance battery on the bottom of the ship. Then they fired a single shot and razed the base into pieces. It made the battle in the nearby area stop. The Gaimian look at the light in awe at the Captain of Red Destruction. The badge on the ship's side is the red of House Gremory. The Race now knows what it's like to be orbital bombed. The feelings of despair and hopelessness make them now look at the birds. Now they too remember Yonval. They had done this to the birds with something that made organs liquify. That poisons the ground there still. They all become addled from this horrific feeling.

Many males raise their hands up finally. The few who don't fight on and die hearing the cheers for the Captain of Red Destruction. The males who surrendered are marched away by humans on mounts and are led to a plain where a prison camp is made. There are now hundreds of males here. The humans and Gaimian watched the males with guns and towers that have heavy bolters. The males are lost confused and scared because there is no order here. Ussmek comes and sees this scene.

He looks at the males facing him. They are lost and purposeless. He now understands the camps the Race made for the children they stole. The children who would now be in limbo. The humans were helping them and while there were hundreds of successful reunions and children crying happily in their parents' arms yet some would never be able to reunite. Their parents dead or the indoctrination the Race used was too strong. The Yevnish were mostly first generation orphans like that. They are now pitied instead of hated because they do not know better. The Yevnish will be outsiders to both sides. They will never be able to reconnect to their original people. Never understand that they were horrible victims of repression. They cannot go to Home either. They will die there in revenge and thus are now forever outcasts.

Ussmek feels nothing but disgusting regrets. This was all because they didn't change fast enough. This was because the old were the Emperors of the past. They need to change so that this never happens again. Yet they can't just ostracize the ones not addled. He feels something touching his shoulder. Ussmek turned to look at that. Standing there is a tall human in ghostly form. He is tall and wears golden armor with the Aquilla on his chestpiece. He is what Emperors should be a beacon of justice, order, and light. He now understands what Arya said about him burning brighter than everyone else. The galaxy would indeed be perfect then. Issei looked down at this lost male.

"You are the Race version of me. We who see or saw the rot. We who have to make choices because of Gods. I understand why you want to explore as I wanted that too. It's funny one of my titles is Breaker of Chains but I made chains on myself. I am a slave to duty and will never be free of it. I settle that bitterness through the actions I did that improved the lives of my species and the ones I will save because I made this choice to make the slave collar for myself. I know you see the lines now thanks to your patron but you are free to make a choice that will set the path of the Race forever more. Do what you feel is right for their sakes."

Ussmek wants to wail. To beg Arya to kill him. To be the last of his people to die on this world but the Emperor of Mankind is right. They are the ones who must lead forward. Burn brighter and make their fellows push to be like them. Be the change you want. Ussmek accepted his slave collar of duty as Issei touched his new kin.

"We can be miserable together. Do the kill that will make your revolution. Because mortals and gods are equal here. Be the father of a new Race. You won't be alone as advice is always free. Brother."

Ussmek knows what must die. His brother fades and Ussmek entered the camp with no guards. The other males looked at him who had urged them to not die for this world. They want to be mad or kill him but he was addled first. He tried to help them and begged for the females in the city. They feel fear for them. Ussmek gathered them and reassured them.

"The females are safe. I launched a plan made in three days for that. Yet now we must do something together."

A driver male hissed angry at their talker.

"Why should we listen to you. You're lying like a filthy big ugly."

The campgrounds still as the males look at the outsider before Ussmek shook his head.

"I never lied. But this thing we must do will save the rest of our people. Because the humans can get to Home in one day."

That makes more despair. The enemy has weapons that are impossible like mec walkers and laser. They must have FTL that can do that. It's why the attack was so fast. Another male who was one of the first captured asked.

"What will this thing you want us to do?"

Ussmek looked at the people in front of him.

"Kill the reason we are like this. Stagnant and weak. Differences are strength and we created something that drove that out of us. The new thing we help will make us better. I need all of your help. The old idea has a power source. The one on Home who is the problem and the reason we have lost. The old must die and I must rise. They on Home won't believe us and will attempt to take this world again. This next time males will die in the void still asleep in cryo pods unable to do anything. Do you want that?

Males across the camp shook their heads. They don't want that at all but the driver sees what the harbinger wants.

"You want to overthrow the Emperor and become a new one. That's treason."

Everyone looked at the ground before Ussmek sighed and nodded.

"Treason or Home being glassed like that base. We will become nothing and go through a long lasting age of strife as we struggle to build up again. The fate of billions rests in our hands and we can't hesitate. Choose. Revolution or destruction. I don't do this for power or for remembrance. I do this for them who are scared and purposeless. Because an Emperor must truly protect."

The males let their eye stalks fall to the floor. The Emperor on Home failed them. He failed the females because he was stagnant. This possible Emperor had been a soldier like them. Had fought like and seen the foes they had faced. The first male stepped forward.

"Tell me what I must do."

More stepped forward untill the whole camp was there.

"Show us please."

Ussmek explains to them the Oath of Moment. The males don't understand what it does but Ussmek explained.

"We must kill a god. The one that we have now is a chain maker. Our new possible god is his opposite. Humans like their Emperor and the White Dragon Empress have killed gods. We can too. Believe in our new god Addled. We must free the others here and on Home from our old god or they will die."

The males want to call Ussmek mad but their world has been destroyed throughout the day. So, gods being real is nothing to be shocked over. So, they all make their oath. To protect Home from the stagnant one.

In the Warp.

Addled stands with his armies of those who have died because of stagnation. The old stands against him with the warriors of the past. Stagnant is in the shape of the first Emperor of Home. Addled in the next possible one.

Stagnant spat hateful at Addled.

"You will destroy us. I brought stability for over a hundred thousand years. You will bring us to ruin in one. You're disgusting and have listened to the big ugly gods. They who can barely be ruled effectively. I am order and the truth!"

The world was silent before Addled looked at Stagnant with pity.

"You led us to near destruction. We stand here now where you will kill us all because you won't accept change. We will lose forever if you win. We will lose here but win forever more with me. You did good for the Race but you can't see what the Pain Maker is like. You can't see what the Reapers are like. You're blind and didn't see the Humans. You didn't see me. I am ready unlike you. My Champion is stronger because he has an actual family now. You denied that to us. It was a good reason before but it was long overdue to be replaced. We would have Galve then because we too would have family. I am Addled and we will be legion once you and him are dead."

The old roars and charged forward with his armies. They have not changed and were using the old weapons of Home. Stone spears, swords, a few early guns, and very few modern ones. The new have modern guns. They rip the old apart. Addled has a chainsword he copied.The roar scared the old because he had not seen that.

"Death to stagnation."

The chainsword roars again and the fight between the two began. Addled slashed and took a chunk of an arm from Stagnant. Stagnant screams having not fought much. Addled has as he was with the Race as they got slaughtered. He watched and learned. Stagnant uses an old stone sword and slammed it against the enemy. The sword of the past broke on the sword of the future. Addled swiped again missing but he's adapting. Another sword made of stone is used and again it broke. Addled keeps changing his attack paths. Swipes come from multiple directions and at different points. Stagnant hits the same way with the same stone sword each time.

More chunks of meat are taken before finally Stagnant changed to an iron sword. But doing so gave more power to Addled. Stagnant tries again and the iron sword breaks against the new. Again, and again it breaks and more chunks taken. Stagnant is hurting so badly. The old finally switched to a steel sword.

Stagnant tried to adapt slowly as Addled watched his army slaughtering the old as the dead chant.

"Change now! Change or we die in totality!"

Addled feels the oath from his champion hit him. He will help his champion find a mate and have kids. Help him feel less sad because the dream of exploring is now dead. Addled feels regret and horrible for stealing that from his champion. He takes the new rage he feels for his fault out on Stagnant.

"You made my champion lose his dream. You made us the weakest species in the entire Galaxy! We are bullies and cowards who fight against those who don't understand anything we do. We have now been on the other side of that. I will never let you do that to us again. We will be better off when you and the old one die!"

The chainsword finally took a leg. Stagnant fell screaming utterly as he looks up into the eyes of his killer. Addled does the kill in a brutal way. He impaled the old. Stagnant gurgling badly as he sees the last of his armies dying to the gun. He gurgles more in hate but no words come out. Then Stagnant dies.

Home.

The Emperor of the Race froze. His courtiers look at him and dropped their eyes to the floor as was traditional. That is the opening. A warp backlash hits the Emperor, and he falls off his throne screaming in pure agony as his line is attacked. He is thrashing in so much pain and agony that the room shakes and doctors rushed to help him. The damage is already done. The Emperor of the Race is brain dead.

The problems start to mount. There is now no heir. This Emperor was new to the throne having ascended five years ago. No harem had been gathered for him. No cousins exist because they had been killed in childhood to ensure the bloodline was pure. There were no siblings. The last Emperor had been secretly addled. He had only one very well hidden partner. She had died because of trying a new thing. It made the son born from her hate change to the extreme. Now that Emperor died to what he hated.

There is no precedent for this as Emperor is dead but the body is still technically alive. Doctors had gotten him to machines and hooked him up before the declaration was made. They are in trouble and don't have an answer. The death is hidden from the population. A regency council of three is formed. One was friends with the last Emperor who was addled. This friend advocates change because of this situation but one of the three was friends with the now brain dead Emperor. He says no change. The last is undecided and he is old. He doesn't know what to support. He holds his cards close and thinks. No decision will be made due to gridlock.

Galve.

Addled chant for the death of the governess and for the general. The hiding females had seen the news of the base being destroyed and now marched in the streets with the Addled. The city is burning but comunities that have the Aquilla are spared. Two that didn't are torched by Gaimian.

Visslef chants from onto top of a land cruiser at thoses who had killed multiple males.

"New Emperor! We who were protected need a new Emperor! Not the one on Home who didn't change! New Emperor in the one who saved the females and us the addled!"

The mobs of the addled and not chant in support male and female. Several wounded males with guns swarmed the governess's palace and drag her out after gunfire. The governess sees the mobs and is thrown to the ground in front of Ussmek. She tried to run but is held down by guns and more improvised weapons. Ussmek spoke softly to the crowd of the addled and not.

"I'm surrendering tomorrow morning. We are done fighting and done dying. I'm not Emperor till we get the females to safety off world. Gather up our technology as we are going to need it for when we go Home. The Dawn War is over but our war to save our people is starting. The new beings called humans will get us off world starting tomorrow. They have tech that will get us to Home or Rastepev in one day. Be ready to move. This one before me she spat at peace and called me a lying one. I am addled but I never lied."

The crowds grew more pissed at that especially the females. They were saved because of this not Emperor. He might have the big uglys support, but he didn't lie to them. He was still of the Race. The males had been shown the video that had first come. They are pissed because their losses were extremely high. Eighty percent of them died in agony because of this chocla.

The governess is now horrified because she had done that. She paled and started to beg. Ussmek didn't kill her. She was a war criminal who ordered the second famine. She will get a trial as a peace branch to the Kingdom of Yonval. King Hesnal has accepted this but he wants the enslaver city to be abandoned completely by the Gaimian as they will build up New Yonval. The Mechcanicus had brought machines to clean the radiation in old Yonval faster but that will take a decade.

King Hesnal the Liberator said to a device that connected him to the Emperor of Mankind that the Kingdom of Yonval owes the Imperium of Man a blood oath but the Emperor shook his head.

"I won't accept that. Friends and nothing more. You're our protectorate but you are king. I am however willing to extend this to you. We in the Imperium are with another species called the Xindi forming a federation. The Gaimian are invited to join as equals in it. The Xindi understand that you need help and can't give much but they want you at the table too. The Race will be invited to join after they stabilize as a member on probation. The power of this will lie with the three of us and all new species who join. We have a station that can serve as the center for this federation. Your people are welcome to live there as free citizens."

King Hesnal decided without a moment of hesitation.

"We in Yonval would love to join. What is this federation called?"

The Emperor of Mankind eyes the other.

"The Confederation of Light. Because the Gould will try and crush us all and are a darkness amongst the stars. We will be the bulwark and the beginnings of the legions of light."

Hesnal likes the name as the Imperium had indeed brought light not darkness. They are already packing up their troops and tanks from Galve leaving as promised. Humans helping in building them up will only come back once invited to. The Imperium was light and Hesnal is with them to the end of all time. As will his line unbroken.

Ussmek drinks with Barrddin and Arya on a ship in orbit. The not Emperor is drunk but he is still sad. Arya pats him in support.

"It's ok Uss. I'll help out. I'm being appointed as the Inquisition's ambassador to you. We clicked well and Barrddin is…."

"I'm helping my mood kindred who rocks and stones and isn't a bitch like the last one who tried to pretend they were one. You drink and that's part of it. I'll help your people advance technology."

Ussmek loves his friends. Arya is his cool older sister. Barrddin the crazy uncle. He won't be like the old with a harem and only wants one. His brother is weird but his reasons for it are sad. That he is a slave that way too is horrible. Ussmek feels a person tap his shoulder. He drunkenly looks to see a Race female. She has pretty eyes of pink and is holding a flower. She's nervous but this Race female hissed and extended her claws.

"For you who saved us all. It's nothing much but I don't think you failed. You tried for us strangers you never met. You're a hero and well. I want a hero. This thing the big ugly have is weird but it's interesting. I want to change and be like our new god in everything. I want to know no fear."

The female kept babbling on and on but Ussmek finally hit his alcohol tolerance level. He fainted and hit the bar snoring snot bubbles. Arya giggled at that while Barrddin huffed amused but kept drinking. The female Race member sweat dropped before Arya told her.

"He's stressed. I'll remind him when he's awake tomorrow about you. Whats your name as that was very brave for someone who is from a species that doesn't know love."

The female looked at her snoring hero and a gentle smile came onto her face.

"I'm Kessnal. I'm sorry that he's like this. I. I saw a thing you humans have. I think it's called porn?"

Barrddin laughed while Arya chuckled.

"Don't take that as an idea for love but I will give credit because that was sweeter than most. I'll help out my silly lizard friends. Here is what you can do."

Kessnal listen engrossed. She wants to learn about everything. Even now that she looks at Ussmek out of the corner of her eyes snoring snot bubbles. He was brave and a hero. Kessnal will make this hero of the Race less sad. Arya softly said.

"I had hoped he would be free. I wanted to show him the galaxy. But he is like our Emperor. He will burn brighter and I admire that. You're going after someone who wants to protect people utterly. If you win the game called love then you will never regret that choice."

On another of the ships the Imperium has above Galve, Gissnet looks in wonder at the forge ship of the Mechanicus. It's cogs and pistons moving in perfection along with its choirs of music both machine and organic as one. An adept escorted Gissnet through the forge and the male sees humans with actual wings of silver flying. While others make the machines of peace that will go to Galve to rebuild the Gaimian. The sights here humble Gissnet who is getting ready to be something new. An Ambassador to the Emperor of Mankind. The Race has not had one of those in an extremely long time. But the body paint for the role was supplied by Addled to Ussmek to Gissnet. Technically the Imperium is still at war with the Race.

Galve.

Antonette stands before her two pieces in New Yonval with a smile. The two pieces are wondering why their king was gathering them as King Hesnal had invited her back to Galve. Their king looks at them for a second longer.

"Tell me if you regret becoming a devil. Because you can be free from this. I was not given a choice when I became one."

That shocked her pawn and knight as the pawn asked.

"You were enslaved?"

Antonette got a far-off look.

"In a way yes. My king found me with my head nearly cut off. I was a prisoner that was once the queen of a place called France but I was a bad queen. I didn't see my people suffering from starvation. I was taken by the one called Serafall Leviathan and she reincarnated me. I was not asked but I stayed because my king was all I had. My husband was dead as were my children and I was hated by everyone. I offer to you both freedom. My Emperor can break your pieces."

That was sad but the pawn shook his head followed by the knight surprising Antonette as together they said.

"We will stay as you were the one who came and helped us all. We want to be pieces of the Ambassador of Blazing Truth."

Antoinette wants to cry as deep in her soul sometimes she desperately wanted to be free despite her centuries of work with Serafall. Serafall had not asked her yes but Serafall had saved her from the mobs. She had done everything to make her queen's life good. The words said by her pieces kill the last bit of regret she had and now she was beyond proud of having freed a world. She had brought food to the starving and now has servants that are here by choice. She hugged her birds and Gaimian hugged their king.

Vali was enjoying her time here on Galve having been invited back by the birds. She was here in one of the villages near New Yonval being surrounded by Gaimian who want to kiss this being. Vali is surprised when a couple who had been hiding with their child from the Race approached and the male Gaimian said.

"We are naming our child after you. If that is alright?"

Vali looked down at the sleeping baby and something struck her then. A gentle smile crossed her face for a second before the hardness returned.

"Sure just don't try anything funny. I won't hesitate to hurt people who hurt kids."

The birds are ecstatic for the yes. Little Vali has enormous shoes to fill.

The Prometheus is at the edge of the system and Rias watched her twins sleeping peacefully. Kenji approached his wife and captain. He held her and pats her back.

"You didn't kill anyone, but you saved so many. I love you, Ria. They will not think you betrayed peace. They will love you more, like I do. You're brave, and I will never regret this time I have had with you."

Rias broke down and cried relief knowing Kenji still loved her. She had been doubting all day on the ship. Now those doubts fade away as she pulls Kenji close.

Akeno thanked Neoth for her safety here on the Prometheus. She was three months in and she wanted to make her hubby surprised. She was ready to have these kids and make her snark master be a good dad.

Shirone was ready to explore only this time with Jiro who was getting a warrant of trade. A favor from Sona because Jiro had been the best and strongest at the end of the last ratings game season. He had been promoted to a king. She had asked to be traded to him and Rias had said yes instantly knowing this is what her rook wanted. Jiro has only one more piece in his peerage in a Natuolan woman who was his first pawn. Shirone was incredibly happy and didn't regret her life.

The nekoshou has so much to thank Issei for. There are now three hundred nekoshou alive on Terra all clones of theirs mixed with the mother of the nekoshou. Gaia touched her champion in pride who had made Terra beautiful again and who helped find more worlds to make green. Shirone took the touch before she began packing for her future.

Phenex station a week earlier.

The Eisenstein drops out of the relay and the first thing that Lysida, Cetum and Lialmea gaze in wonder at the station that puts the Citadel to shame. It's so massive that it makes Lysida fall off her seat in the cockpit in shock. Especially with every ship larger than the Destiny Ascension. Eve is impressed finally seeing the completed station. She was not challenged by the fleet just simply let go thanks to her rune.

The ship hits the edge of the system and then the Eisenstein prepares its jump. The windows closed and that raised eyebrows from the others. Cetum asked.

"Why can't we look?"

Eve glances over at the Salarian

"Because it's not safe. Go ahead and relax as we will be in Sol in two days."

Lysida is so eager for her King of Games. Lialmea was eager to be freeof the gene and now Cetum wants to see Mars as that station they passed is a wonder of the galaxy. Eve wants to see Kuroka and the kids and her brother. She was hoping also to save Kitten from Lysida. Kitten was awesome and he was great with cards helping Eve win credits off Cetum with his tips. Lialmea asked something else as the engine started powering up.

"The cure. What do you have to do for it?"

Eve looked at the other asari.

"You just have to lay in a special bed and have your entire nervous system be reworked. It takes five hours with next to no pain."

Lysida frowned.

"That's it?"

Eve snarks back remembering the other treatments.

"If you prefer having extreme pain as your nerves are removed and then regrown then be my guest. That one fucking hurt. My brother went through worse than that. Imagine feeling everything at sixty times strength and all at once. It sucks."

Lialmea and Lysida paled but Lialmea's respect for her boss increased. Lysida looks at the other psyker and will never call her a Varren fucker again. Lysida doesn't have that type of courage and the Emperor of this unknown species did worse? That prompted a question from the pervert.

"How long have the humans been space fairing? That station must have taken decades to build same with the ships and they are only now making contact with us?"

Eve smirked like a shark. Paybacks a bitch pervert but Lialmea is curious too as is Cetum. Eve sighed at the sight.

"It took two years to build Phenex Station and three months for the battleship. As for space fairing they have been at it for seven years in total."

That shocked the three and kept them silent for two days in wonder.

An. Hello everyone it has been a while. So to answer the biggest question no Terra and Beyond hasn't been abandoned. There are multiple reasons why I haven't been updating this with one of the biggest being that the stuff I did have was not the best it could be after looking back on it. I now feel it's vastly better and so will start posting it again.