Chapter 119: Wait, Are You Guys Staging a Rebellion?
This was never what I wanted.
I never intended to popularize the Primaris Space Marines in this era.
I once promised Lord Guilliman that I would reform the Space Marine surgeries and work tirelessly for his resurrection. I have spent ten thousand years on this.
I have always held immense hope for the future. Even after ten thousand years, even after my own personality has been fractured, I have persisted in fulfilling my duty. Even if these creations might only shine after my own death.
But is this reasonable?
Standing with Romulus on the deserted top of the bridge, Cawl looked at the various modified versions of the Mark X armor displayed on the data-slate. They were even compatible with the original version he had developed; the modular components from their versions could be fitted onto the original.
I've forgotten the beginning, I've forgotten the end, but in short, may those who infringe on copyright burn.
"The credit is still yours, Archmagos," Romulus replied. "No one will forget your contribution, your story, even if you yourself have forgotten it."
Cawl's visit was unexpected. In fact, when the transmigrators had decided to secretly popularize the Primaris Space Marines, they hadn't thought that far ahead. They had simply wanted to spread the Primaris surgery and equipment, and to kick the Codex a couple of times while they were at it. Look at the Crimson Fists. At first, they had demurely stated their intention to abide by the Codex. But after witnessing the powerful performance of the Primaris Marines, they had quickly changed their tune. Now, they were in the "this is actually pretty good" phase.
"..." Cawl let out a breath, then closed his pressure relief valve.
To be honest, talking to Romulus gave him the same chilling feeling he had once felt when facing the Emperor. A being who knew you better than you knew yourself, who understood your future more clearly than you did.
"Your Dark Angel is truly one of a kind," Cawl attributed it all to the elusive Dark Angel. Even during the chaotic battle on Pierdra, he hadn't noticed what the knight was doing. "Sometimes, I suspect he even knows the origin of this very body."
There was no tension between the two of them. It was like two old friends having a casual conversation.
"Hmm?" Romulus looked slightly surprised, then understood what Cawl meant.
So Arthur is taking the fall for this for no reason.
His good friend's daily routine was just monitoring the entire warship, practicing with Ramesses and taking over the bio-research, gathering information on their current location, and also fighting with the various high command to maintain good relations—Cawl was just a hypothetical enemy, not even in the first tier. Who had the time to interfere with his work?
The Armor of Fate had only had its various technologies deciphered. The debugging of the Warp-related components was something even Dantioch couldn't understand. If the Regent really didn't wake up, no one could bear that responsibility.
Romulus thought to himself as he shared a part of his database with Cawl. In fact, most of it had been stolen by Karna. Because no one would ever consider that this Angel, who was so lazy in peacetime and so berserk in wartime, could also be a part-time thief.
At that time, although they could use the keywords they had found to have their daemons diligently search the Warp and directly unlock the relevant technologies, they still didn't have the ability to create a production line from the finished product. It wasn't until Dantioch arrived that the transmigrators' true, formidable power was completely unleashed.
Every one of them was an industrial seed-crystal. Recently, the warships of the various Chapters had been stuffed to the brim with STCs related to Space Marine equipment. Don't ask how. It's a secret.
But it was fine. Arthur was a Dark Angel, after all.
They were all Angels, so no need to be so divisive.
Romulus couldn't help but laugh to himself. The transmigrators' scanning ability was truly terrifying. Combined with the daemons' search capabilities, it really was like a walking super-decryption device. He just didn't know what kind of absurd rumors would spread in the future if this continued.
"Also, change the signature. Don't associate it with me," Cawl said, turning the data on the weapon serial numbers into a jumble of code. He didn't care much for these benefits. If he had pursued benefits, he could have been more powerful than anyone else, even becoming a Fabricator-General was not out of the question. He only cared about a promise and the truth.
"Alright." Romulus nodded, understanding Cawl's meaning.
In short, Cawl didn't want to take the fall for this. Because he really had diverted a large amount of industrial production capacity under the nose of the Adeptus Mechanicus and had built a very complete equipment system, from power armor to vehicles. If it was ever investigated, he wouldn't be able to handle it, so this couldn't be traced back to him. Of course, it wasn't that he was afraid of losing; in fact, the probability of winning was very high. It was simply that both winning and losing would be difficult to clean up.
Just let it be the technology that these old-timers had thrown out. If anyone asked, just say they weren't familiar with the new Imperial system. If you have a problem, go talk to the guys in the crusade fleet. Then it would be convenient for Cawl to operate from the shadows.
As for whether these ancient warriors could withstand an investigation, Cawl wasn't worried in the slightest. He had known them for less than a year and they had already figured him out completely. He didn't think the bureaucrats from the bloated Imperial system could find out anything.
"Why no modifications for the armed vehicles?" Cawl asked, noticing that Romulus's database had very little information on vehicles and large mechs. His tone held a rare hint of relief. Finally, something that hasn't leaked.
"...After testing, Archmagos, your vehicle designs are a bit... imaginative."
Compared to the power armor, the various new man-portable weapons, and the grav-vehicles, Cawl's other designs, like the Victorix-pattern Armored Suit, the elongated Sicaran, and so on, were a bit too imaginative. At first, the transmigrators hadn't believed it. How could the invincible Dora-Cawl come up with something useless? They had taken them for a test run in actual combat, then run simulations, and found that they were only slightly stronger than the current Imperial models, and even then, very limited.
The assessment was that they were flashy, but inferior to the heavy armor systems of the Great Crusade era. Perhaps the technology and knowledge Cawl had accumulated over the long ages was enough for him to look down on his peers, but he was not, as he believed, a genius in all fields.
"Here is the test report," Romulus said, presenting the data from his simulations and actual combat.
"...Thank you for providing the battlefield feedback," Cawl said, silently accepting the data. He was prepared to halt the production of those vehicles. At the same time, his sense of dread grew stronger and stronger.
Forget how my technology leaked.
How in the hell did these people manage to come up with a plan, produce the finished product, mobilize the Space Marines, and then get all the combat data in such a short amount of time?
"Can you give me a copy of the heavy armored vehicle production line?" he asked again. There was no need to produce any more Mark X. According to the ancient warriors' thinking, in the future, all these Chapters should be able to produce their own basic equipment. He might as well go and build up some more mechanized reserves. These ancient warriors seemed to assume that in the future, the vast majority of Astartes might have to face a situation of being isolated and without support for a long time.
Cawl pondered again. He felt he should also start consolidating and relocating the industrial power scattered across the galaxy.
"No problem. I think there are many directions we can cooperate on regarding STC technology," Romulus nodded. After fleecing the man so much, it was only right to give him some benefits.
"I request technology sharing, at least regarding the Space Marines."
"Done." Romulus's decisiveness made Cawl feel much more comfortable.
"Right, have you thought of a popularization plan for these vehicle forces yet?" Cawl asked again.
"We currently plan to rely on mortal auxiliary forces." Although he was giving gene-seed to the various Chapters and encouraging them to procreate, Romulus was not so radical as to staff the armored forces with Astartes. That would be too radical. Fortunately, the Cadians were reliable. The Commissar had also finally contacted the Munitorum and was applying for reinforcements. Who knew if the Munitorum's efficiency could deliver.
"Good. Give me a few operational case studies." Cawl sighed slightly. He had been thinking of giving the ancient warriors a few of his Primaris Space Marines to drive the tanks. He could see that they were very short on manpower. After all, you never knew what was inside a tin can until you opened it. Now that someone had taken the lead, he could also start inserting his own men into the various Chapters.
Oh right, he had to go check if there were any Chapters that had been wiped out but hadn't been archived yet. He could just rebuild them as Primaris Space Marine Chapters.
"By the way, Archmagos, do you have any shipbuilding facilities in the galactic east of the Ultima Segmentum? Ones that aren't under the control of the Adeptus Mechanicus."
You even know that I'm stealing the Imperium's production capacity?
And what in the hell are you guys planning?
Using your identity to establish connections with various Chapters, using your technological advantage to start exporting armaments, inciting various Chapters to challenge the authority of the Imperium, distributing production lines to provide logistical support, and roping in the Blood Angels to carry out industrial construction and development on Baal to achieve a self-sustaining expansion of military power.
And now you want shipbuilding capabilities?
Oh, and you've roped in the Adeptus Mechanicus.
Thinking of Romulus's attitude, as if he didn't care at all about being questioned, Cawl's hand trembled again.
This is so familiar. So, so familiar.
No matter how you look at it in any period of history, this is a rebellion.
Is the next step to purge the Codex-adherent factions within the Space Marines and then march on Terra?
Can the combination of a Dark Angel and an Ultramarine really produce such a strange chemical reaction?
"Is the future really so dangerous?" Cawl asked tentatively, not really expecting an answer.
"Correct. Not just the enemies from beyond the galaxy. The Great Enemy of Chaos will also no longer be satisfied with the decadent state of the Imperium and is preparing to throw half of the domain into chaos," Romulus nodded decisively. They really weren't planning a rebellion. The Great Rift was going to tear the galaxy apart in two hundred years. The enemies would be as numerous as the mountains and the seas. Who had the time to fight a civil war before then and consume the Imperium's strength? The Imperium's domain was too vast. Romulus was not arrogant enough to think he could conquer the Imperium in two hundred years and then consolidate its power to face Chaos.
If they were going to fight, it would be after the Great Rift, when the situation had stabilized.
"Then I have some," Cawl nodded. "After the campaign to relieve Ultramar is over, and you have established your homeworld, I will begin the transfer."
Of course, he wasn't just transferring the shipbuilding facilities, but also Pierdra, on the edge of the Ghoul Stars. Cawl recalled the planetary computer on Pierdra. He had originally planned to take it over and turn it into a Forge World for his own technological reserves, but now it seemed that transferring it was the safer bet.
These ancient warriors were currently trustworthy. Although they were full of secrets, formed cliques, challenged authority, and attempted to be self-sufficient... they were not tainted by Chaos, nor by xenos. On Romulus, Cawl could not see any trace of a connection to the Warp.
As long as they weren't tainted by that messy stuff, even if Romulus wanted to start another Great Betrayal, Cawl had no interest in stopping him. And now, they should strengthen their ties, even if he had to pay a price.
Cawl looked at the technologies that had originally belonged to him, the deep-seated doubts in his eyes never dissipating.
At the very least, I need to know what they are up to.
The infiltration of the Dark Angels is terrifying.
(End of Chapter)