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"We have full control of these locations, but no one has any idea how to operate one of those machines," Mason said while repairing something on his gauss rifle.
"What do you think of this weapon?" I asked, tossing him a lasgun.
"Pff… hard to say. The design is simple and I assume cheap. Depends on the laser. It's useless against thermal-control armor like our CMC suits. Well, that thermal layer is meant for solar radiation in space, but if a section is exposed, sure… the laser can hurt. It's not impossible for them to punch a weak point. But as long as we're not fighting hundreds of thousands in open field, they shouldn't stand a chance using this." Mason tossed the weapon aside.
"Let's ignore the fact that these terrans prefer to fight to the death. They charged us with bayonets… bayonets. I've never seen an army do something so stupid. I'm shocked they have advanced tech while using primitive tactics. These same laser weapons would be useful against their suicidal charges. They can't penetrate CMC armor, but they cut through human flesh just fine," Kazimir said, staring at the pile of corpses.
"What did you find?" Kurt asked over comms.
"A society with feudal traits… authoritarian… theocratic," I answered, unsure how to best describe the Imperium.
"A theocracy… that explains their insanity," Kazimir said, his heavy armor echoing down the captured fortress corridor. "Makes sense they showed so much bravery even when they were doomed. Fanaticism explains everything."
"Yes… a God-Emperor," I replied.
The Royal Guard commanders went silent, stunned.
"What kind of stupidity is deifying an emperor…? Whatever. Should be easy to wipe them out. Where's their next settlement?" Mason asked.
"four light years away. Their empire spans millions of planets."
Everyone froze.
"You're joking," Kurt said.
"I wish. But no. The minds of the local leaders showed absolute devotion to a God-Emperor ruling millions of worlds. What we did here… this is a scratch. Nothing. Just imagining the size of that empire makes me realize how insignificant we are," I said, staring at the ceiling.
"We need to abandon the sector right now. Their response could arrive in hours or a day at best," Kurt said, losing his usual calm.
"I don't think so. The Imperium is unbelievably inefficient. Example: this planet had millions in resources ready to be shipped as taxes, overdue for about eighty years… and the tax collectors still haven't shown up. Imagine how useless their bureaucracy must be to delay taxes for eighty years."
The commanders relaxed a bit, though the tension remained.
"Eighty years? Impossible. Are you sure their empire hasn't collapsed into civil war or something? No one skips taxes for eighty years," Kurt growled — more angry at their inefficiency than anything else.
"It's what I read. They still had comms with other planets, all worshiping this God-Emperor. So I assume they're still united under him. We have to operate with that assumption," I replied.
"What a pile of shit we're in… How can there be an empire that huge near the Koprulu Sector and they haven't clashed with the zerg or protoss? Those bastards have tech that looks like magic. They must know something. Didn't we capture tal'darim and daelam prisoners?" Mason asked.
"Nothing," I replied immediately.
"You're sure you read their minds correctly?" Kurt asked.
"Are you seriously asking whether I did the one thing I do better than anyone?" I said with a grimace, though he kept talking from orbit.
"You never know. Instead of saying 'nothing' so fast, you could read them again. They must know something about such a massive, advanced empire."
"I've combed through protoss minds for years. They're the best mental training machine that exists. Any secret the protoss hold, I know it. So I can tell you with absolute certainty: no, Kurt. There is nothing in their minds about this Imperium. Nothing. We just have to exploit the situation and see what we can do before they send a response."
"Do we have SCVs?" Mason asked, unusually thoughtful.
"We have some, but we lost most. The ship carrying the exosuits deserted days ago, and we only have prototype frames, not the full machine," Kurt answered, since he knew our inventory by heart.
"We need to start building a forward operations base. Maybe we can hit other planets, steal their stored tax shipments, and see if we can rebuild the fleet," I said.
"So we basically settle here? How many years just to build a spaceport and start producing battlecruisers again?" Kazimir asked.
"A couple years. Should be doable. The planet's population is unknown, but we can… put it to use. Their agricultural methods are garbage. We can lower the battlecruisers' hydroponic bays and start mass agriculture to sustain ourselves. Then put all workers in the mines and resource extraction," I answered.
"Anyone have a better idea?" Kurt asked. but no one respond. "Then we do what you said. i will start towing the most damaged cruisers into low orbit so we can strip them completely. Dismantle labs, break down all hydroponics from the ships, and begin agriculture using the soil here."
We nodded and began dividing tasks.
I'd like to say that after a planetary conquest you'd find a more obedient population — considering we slaughtered anyone capable of resisting the new government — but the locals began resisting quickly. It didn't take long before they armed themselves with wooden spears, kitchen tools, anything they could use as a weapon. Among the fifteen million people on this feudal world, resistance was immediate… because the Ecclesiarchy had begun to move.
One of the members of the God-Emperor's clergy had already begun ordering the population to rise up against the "xeno" oppression.
Apparently these idiots thought we were some kind of aliens who had overthrown their rightful lords—at least that's what the clergy believed—and they were trying to launch assaults on our fortifications using waves of zealots armed with nothing but faith.
This, of course, fell under my jurisdiction: crushing rebellions before they began… otherwise it would pass into Harlan's territory, and he would burn them all the moment I unleashed the Prometheus Company from the battlecruisers.
For now, the uprisings had remained mostly nonviolent. They had tried several times to march toward the fortresses, but the Ecclesiarchy's momentum died the moment they saw hundreds of armed men… and then saw their own people carrying wooden plows.
So I arranged a meeting with their priest.
I waited for him in what had been his church, full of Imperial eagles. It was empty now, because all the other members of the clergy were busy trying to stir the faithful into taking over the government.
"You took your time," I said, sitting in his chair, having extinguished every candle and incense stick to let the darkness help me.
"Stop there. Do not hide your face from the light of the God-Emperor. Only the pure walk unafraid. Only the faithful show the blessed flesh He gave us. If you cover your face, what do you seek to conceal? Are you a servant of Humanity, or a twisted creature born beyond His grace?," the priest declared, trying to intimidate me at the sight of my helmet.
The hiss of my helmet unlocking filled the room as I removed it, revealing my face.
"I'm human like you, priest… so I fail to see this hysteria about 'xenos.' Every man you've seen here is human—Terran. So, priest, explain why you accuse us of the offense of being… aliens," I said calmly, reading his mind to prepare the best answers.
"So you finally show your face. I see human flesh, not the corruption of a xeno. But do not believe that this absolves your actions. The Emperor sees more than the origin of your blood. Tell me why you raised your hand against the rightful governor of this world.... Speak plainly. Did you obey a heretical order, or did pride drive you to defy the order the Imperium has decreed?.... Do not stay silent. Truth weighs less than guilt, and both already rest upon your shoulders," the priest said.
"Because I serve a state different from the Imperium, rather… the Terran Dominion… another human state, and although we recognize the religious authority of the Divine Emperor, not His material authority," I replied.
"A state distinct from the Imperium. A human power outside His mandate. I hear your words and find only danger. You acknowledge the sacred authority of the God Emperor, but you deny His authority in worldly matters. That is rebellion, even if you disguise it as partial loyalty. There is no human dominion separate from the Imperium. There is no legitimate government outside His order. No human can divide their obedience. Either you serve the God Emperor in full, or you set yourself against Him. Explain why you follow that supposed dominion and why you believe your cause can stand before the judgment of faith."
"I don't owe you any explanation… this world is part of the Terran Dominion. It was conquered. Now the question is: do you want to keep living? Do you want your followers to keep living? Or should I give the order that next time they try to rise against the occupation, my men will fire and leave no one alive?" I said calmly.
"You dare speak threats upon soil that still breathes under the Emperor's name. Your calm tone does not make your words less grave. Listen well: faith does not bend before blade or fire. If you think you can subdue this world with weapons, then you do not understand Humanity—"
The priest kept talking. And talking.
"Bah… I'm bored. Of all possibilities, I get the truly fanatical one… LISTEN TO MY ORDERS," I said, activating my powers and seizing control of his mind. His face went blank as soon as I took his brain.
"From now on, my orders are absolute… understood?" I tightened the psychic grip.
"Yes…" he breathed, struggling.
"You will accept the authority of the Terran Dominion. We will leave the Ecclesiarchy alone as long as they respect Dominion law. And you will personally ensure that anyone who tries to challenge our authority… disappears."
The priest nodded, eyes empty.
"You will make an announcement. You will say that you saw the Emperor's light… that you witnessed we are human, and that the Emperor blesses our occupation of this planet. Those are your orders," I said, severing the psychic link.
"A-ah… what…? Ah…" the priest murmured as he regained control of his body.
"Good. Now that you've accepted the Terran Dominion's authority, carry out your orders… and make sure no one dares defy the Dominion."
"Of course… yes…" the priest muttered, still struggling to breathe normally.
Not long after our conversation, in the middle of the night the priest began preaching that the Holy Emperor on Terra had granted him a vision: that we were truly human and part of His grand plan against the xenos.
And overnight, all local resistance ended.
We had seized control of the planet's entire moral and social command structure at the perfect time—just as materials from the battlecruisers were being unloaded and laboratories and factories were being raised for civil machinery production.
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If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know.
Leave a comment; support is always appreciated.
I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.
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