After wrapping up the discussion on the Garden of Beasts, Daniel moved on to learning about other infamous legends and heresies plaguing the Calixis Sector. These included malevolent myths like the Jagged Question Mark, the Tyrant Star, and the Soul Stealer.
Daniel's plan was simple: convert these terrifying legends into dungeons—challenging environments for the players to explore and conquer.
He was eager to see what kind of sparks would fly when these supposedly cruel and cunning heretics went head-to-head with the even more cruel and cunning Fourth Calamity. Considering the sheer ruthlessness of the players, Daniel offered a moment of silence for those heretics in advance.
With the topic of Chaos and heresy wrapped up, the meeting's focus shifted back to the ongoing conflict with the rebels in the Calixis Sector. Following the decisive reclamation of the world of Sintila, the morale of the scattered loyalist forces shot through the roof.
They immediately launched widespread counterattacks that created significant headaches for the rebel forces. Countless battles flared up across the sector once again, plunging various worlds back into the fire of war.
The most critical fight was undeniably the struggle for control of the Forge World of Rath. Rath, situated in the Malfie Subsector, is the most vital manufacturing hub in the whole region.
This Forge World had been permanently ceded to the Adeptus Mechanicus by Grand Marshal Drusus during the Angwyn Expedition, a move intended to firmly bind the resources of Mars to the newly established Sector.
Rath comprises three planets orbiting their star in erratic, non-Keplerian motion. A production boom occurs whenever their orbits intersect, as the gravitational field changes facilitate the smelting of exceptionally rare metals and alloys. After the Colin family initiated their rebellion, many other factions joined their cause, including some elements within the Mechanicus who chose to betray the glory of the Omnissiah and turn traitor.
Initially, the rebels held the high ground, pushing the loyalists to the breaking point. However, the morale boost from retaking Sintila reversed the tide. The loyalists mounted a fierce counteroffensive, actually pushing the rebels back and reclaiming substantial territory.
The battle has now settled into a grinding stalemate. Critical intelligence indicated that the capital world of the rebellious Malfie Subsector—the Malfie Hive World—was planning to dispatch reinforcements. They intended to seize the Forge World outright to dramatically boost weapons and equipment production for the rebel cause.
"We need to deploy forces to support the Rath Forge World," Daniel stated. "It's a crucial manufacturing center, and if the rebels get their hands on it, their strength will spike significantly. We have to nip this in the bud."
"My first move will be to dispatch a team of Saints and diplomatic envoys to assess the situation on Rath, while simultaneously getting the army ready to deploy."
Daniel then announced the new phase of the war plans to the assembled personnel. They intended to send troops to secure the Rath Forge World, aiming to inflict a devastating defeat on the enemy there and further break the spirit of the rebellion.
Daniel assigned duties to each department, tasking them with coordinating propaganda and logistical mobilization efforts. The goal was to ensure all supplies were locked down and ready to roll before the army even moved. With these matters settled, the meeting was adjourned.
After everyone else had cleared out, Daniel handed a data panel to the Farseer Casarius. "I've granted you the authority to issue quests," Daniel explained. "If you have any tasks, you can assign them to the Chosen Ones. As long as the rewards are worthwhile, they won't bat an eye at your identity."
"Also, when you're training or teaching them, remember to charge a fee in Contribution Points. You can do it for free if you want, but I strongly advise against it."
Casarius looked slightly bewildered, but he accepted Daniel's instructions and resolved to follow them.
The reorganized Ministry of Internal Affairs was operating at peak efficiency. Officials at all levels collaborated closely, preparing the necessary war supplies in perfect order. Swarms of cargo ships transported goods from surface factories to the Void Harbors, where laborers loaded them onto Imperial warships.
The reconstruction of the Sintila Hive World was making rapid progress. Foundries and agricultural facilities were already operational, churning out vast quantities of military supplies and food every day.
The Ministry of the Interior also mobilized massive populations and mining guilds to extract resources from the asteroid belt, frontier planets, and gas giants to feed the industrial behemoth's ever-increasing appetite.
A star system can possess resources beyond imagination. Currently, the resources humanity had mined within the Sintila system amounted to less than 0.01% of the system's total.
During this mobilization, starships began arriving at Sintila one after another. These included solitary vessels, battered warships, and remnants of shattered fleets. They carried scattered Imperial Navy and Astra Militarum personnel, as well as civilian survivors and refugees.
Having heard that a Saint was overseeing the world of Sintila, they braved the dangerous Warp storms and followed the beacon of Imperial Glory to make the desperate journey. Daniel instructed his personnel to prepare ample food and provisions for the refugees and soldiers. He also arranged for the refugees and the newly arrived troops to send representatives for a direct meeting with him.
Void Harbor
The battered troop transport, guided by the control tower, eased into its berth. As the hatch ramp lowered, tens of thousands of Astra Militarum soldiers poured out like a tidal wave. The waiting harbor security forces quickly moved to organize the crowd. These guards—the local 'Star Guardians'—ordered the new arrivals to line up, surrender their weapons, and proceed to mandatory physical examinations. Several skirmishes broke out during this chaotic process, but they were all swiftly suppressed and contained.
Pierce and Harry were among the soldiers waiting in the long line. They looked utterly dejected, exhausted, and disheveled, completely burnt out. Their bodies, unwashed for days, still carried a sour, foul stench. Since the rebellion had erupted, their chain of command had utterly collapsed.
They had endured a string of defeats, retreating from one shattered battlefield to the next. The enemy kept advancing, while they kept falling back, leaving behind only the corpses of their comrades. As frontline soldiers, they had no clue about the overall strategic situation.
All they knew was that the high-level command was unbelievably chaotic. Contradictory orders—to charge or to retreat—would often arrive back-to-back. Frontline officers were left caught between a rock and a hard place: face death bravely or preserve their men to fight another day for the Emperor.
Ultimately, the top brass decided to end this meaningless attrition and ordered the remaining troops to be shipped to the Cintira Hive World. After spending over half a month in a dark, cramped, and overcrowded cabin, Pierce and the others had finally arrived.
"Their gear is seriously top-notch," Pierce muttered enviously, watching the patrolling guards clad in exoskeletons. In addition to the power armor, the guards also sported head-mounted drones for tactical support.
Onboard detection equipment sent out sweeping red and green beams, scanning every civilian and soldier arriving at the port. The difference between their equipment and Pierce's meager armor and Lasgun was like comparing night and day.
Pierce and Harry hailed from the mining world of Ragnem and belonged to the Ragnem Regiment. They were known for their expertise in close-quarters combat and tunnel warfare, specializing in light infantry operations—a reputation that was fairly well known throughout the Imperium.
However, the Ragnem mining world was poor and technologically stunted. The only things it could offer the Imperium were its population and its raw minerals. The Ragnem Regiment had no powerful patrons. The gear they received from the Departmento Munitorum was strictly middle-of-the-road—neither exceptional nor terrible.
"Move up, no time to waste," someone barked at them. "In the name of the Emperor, step lively." Those who moved too slowly were shoved or even struck with a whip.
"That's definitely rough," Pierce muttered under his breath.
They followed the line forward, registered with a clerk, and were then instructed to remove all their clothing for mandatory disinfection.
"All of it?" Harry asked, looking dazed. He had enlisted with 35 people from his community; now, he was the only one left. In the trenches, he had watched shells land, turning former friends into masses that could never be identified.
"Yes, all of it," the manager confirmed.
Harry complied numbly. As his Lasgun was removed from his shoulder, it scraped against an untreated wound, making him wince. Having subsisted on military rations and constant campaigning for so long, he was nothing but skin and bones from hunger, his ribs painfully visible.
While Pierce and Harry were complaining and undergoing the examination, a stir arose from the distant crowd.
"It's the Saint!"
"The Magos has arrived!"
The shouts immediately drew their attention. They turned and witnessed a sight they would never forget. A towering figure, clad in exquisite Power Armor and pristine white wings, emerged from a magnificent building and strode into the crowd.
"By the Emperor's teeth, is that a Primarch?" Pierce stammered, his mouth trembling.
A faint glimmer of hope sparked in Harry's otherwise numb eyes. That noble, commanding face instantly inspired an involuntary urge to kneel and offer absolute loyalty.
Daniel didn't stick around; he merely walked past, offering a gesture to the desperate refugees, and then departed. But that small action was enough to send a jolt of excitement through the people.
After he left, many refugees and soldiers were openly weeping. This era was far too dark and hopeless. The appearance of a Magos—a living Saint—was like a bright lighthouse in the endless night, offering them a reason to hope. It gave them the strength to keep enduring the pain and to persevere in the struggle.
Harry was one of those shedding tears. He was still very young. The war had taken so much from him, but it hadn't completely shattered his soul. Daniel's presence revitalized his young body.
"Crying like a little girl after seeing one important guy, how pathetic," Pierce teased.
But Harry was quick to point out that the grizzled veteran's own eyes were suspiciously red.
Pierce promptly claimed he just had dust in his eyes.
This small interlude came to a close.
The refugees and soldiers continued lining up for their screenings. Once all the checks were complete, they received the promised hot water and hot food. Pierce and Harry wolfed down the meal like starving wolves.
It had been an eternity since they had enjoyed a properly cooked meal. After eating, they found their assigned bunks in the designated area. They lay down comfortably and fell into a deep, restful sleep.
When they finally awoke, they felt an unprecedented sense of peace. When you spend that long in hell, even a brief moment of quiet feels like stepping into heaven.
Inside the reception room,
Several fleet commanders, Astra Militarum officers, high-ranking Ministorum ecclesiarchs, Mechanicus priests in crimson robes, and representatives for the refugees were already waiting. Several officials from the Ministry of the Interior were also present. They chatted amongst themselves, discussing the current situation with animation.
When Daniel strode in, they immediately bowed in solemn greeting.
"There's no need for bowing or kneeling," Daniel said. "Time is of the essence; we don't have time for elaborate formalities."
Daniel walked toward the nearest person and asked, "Your name?"
"Quintus, Colonel, representing the Mark Bain Guard. We number 250,000 men in total, all of whom are now at your command."
Daniel's gaze swept over the room, and the others began introducing themselves in turn. Each one solemnly declared their willingness to hand over command to Daniel.
"Very good," Daniel said with a smile. "I will see that you are properly rearmed, and then we can get back to fighting the traitors."
The meeting with the representatives was brief and to the point. Daniel's instruction was simple: they were to reorganize their forces and prepare to return to the front lines, equipped with new gear and under a unified chain of command.
The war would continue until the enemy was utterly reduced to ash.