Warhammer 40k: Shattered Steel Soul

Malcador the Marked volunteered to work for the Emperor.

Yes, this is indeed the director of internal affairs of the empire, the first lord of Terra, the master of hundreds of affairs between different data boards in the palace of Terra, who together with the current Emperor of Mankind came from the defense circle of Antarctica. A promise I made silently in my heart when I hit the Caucasus Mountains of Europa.

He was willing to give everything he had for the rise of the Human Empire, and Malcador had indeed done so in the more than a hundred years since the Unification War began.

However, sometimes, under some specific time points and background circumstances, Malcador couldn't help but wonder why he chose the current emperor as the old friend he was pursuing and the master he served.

"The Dusk Raiders are not ready yet," Malcador said, rubbing the area between his eyebrows to get a little respite from the busy business.

"My lord, why couldn't you tell us about this earlier? The Fourteenth Legion has just returned from a complicated battle, and that war took place in another arm of the galaxy... Even if they still Even if you can sneak into the subspace immediately, you can't reach Barbarus quickly."

In the few seconds he waited for the Emperor's answer, dozens more new decrees were transmitted to his data pad.

The iteration of the personnel department, disputes arising from trade agreements, the definition of borders between different star regions, the reshaping of continental plates based on planets, the re-division of the agricultural world and the ocean world, the financial support of the military industry department Application... There are also three military forces with similar functions that were born due to some original problems in the initial stage. They are trying to reduce each other's funding and take that part of the money, personnel and weapons under their own names.

At the same time, the emergency communicator hanging on his collar was sending a request for help from the attendant: "Sir, there is some physical conflict between a Forbidden Army and a soldier of the 20th Legion..."

Alpharius and Omega!

Malcador felt that his old heart was dangerously slowing down under the weight of the entire empire.

The amount of trouble these two Primarchs caused him did not increase exponentially compared to when there was only one Primarch resident in the palace, but climbed rapidly along a steeper curve. Over the years, only Rogal Dorn and Perturabo's presence here could effectively curb the twins' uncanny ability to cause trouble.

Unfortunately, Rogal Dorn's Imperial Fists are fighting in all directions within the Storm Sector, while Perturabo's Iron Warriors are still completing final negotiations with Betagamon's Titan forces.

"Then," the Emperor himself, who was sipping today's tea and a plate of light desserts in the Emperor's Dream, said after some thought, "let Mortarion return to Terra and wait. After that, The Fourteenth Legion will travel to Terra to meet their Primarch."

Malcador was stunned for a moment, reluctantly accepted this new information, and began to prepare for the next task with great concern.

If his old friend had the patience to send out a psychic clone to spend a whole year with Mortarion growing up... plus the craftsman Maul, who was extremely patient with all living things except a limited number of people. Even if he is willing to condescend to squat on the surface of Barbarus and grow vegetables, then maybe Mortarion will still be a good-tempered Primarch.

Good temper, Malcador thought, his immortal mind beginning to feel a twinge of distress. This description is too rare for the Primarch.

"What kind of person is Mortarion?" Malcador asked, "Does he have any habits or taboos? I will ask the attendants to prepare a room for him in the palace."

"Mortarion is not as amazing as Rogal Dorn, nor does he have a soft spot for blood like Konrad Curze."

The Emperor took a sip of tea, leaned back on his ornate golden chair, and observed the patterns of the newly replaced golden tassels in the interior today.

"He will not try to set up a tent indoors and light a bonfire like Ruth, nor will he be hostile to you because of our friendship like Lupekar."

Malcador sighed, "Sounds good? What about your 'but', my lord?"

"Keep his room away from my garden and greenhouse. Before he can better adapt to normal air, there will be a transport boat used to transport Barbarus' light poisonous gas. Remember to change the gas in his room every day."

Malcador hammered his chest, as if smelling poisonous gas, he began to feel suffocated.

"Anything else?" he asked professionally.

"I have not directly disclosed my blood relationship with him," the Emperor said calmly, "although he has confirmed that I am his father. If you tell him frankly about the identity of the Emperor's son, he will show Resistance, soothe him.”

"How to appease him?" Macado couldn't help asking, "Doesn't he want to be your child?"

The Emperor thought longer.

"I don't know," he said at last.

Malcador angrily rejected the palace expansion application of a warlord on the south side of Terra, and approved that the empire was at the moment of expedition and should not engage in extravagance and waste. Violators would be severely warned and even punished.

"I have noted it down." the prime minister replied, wandering in his private cabin, "Does he still have any taboos? For example, he cannot be allowed to discover that in order to achieve rapid conquest, the empire is opening up to some lords and slave owners? "

"Better not," said the Emperor. "Same as with Angron. Besides, he hates sorcery with all his heart."

"Witchcraft," Malcador chewed the word, "What does he consider to be witchcraft?"

"Psychic energy."

"...Do you still remember that I was called the Demon Marked Malcador, my lord?"

"Thank you for your hard work," the Emperor said quickly. "Finally, I need someone to take him back to Terra. Preferably a Primarch."

Malcador slowly covered his face with two old palms that could easily move half a planet with a flash of psychic lightning. He massaged the muscles around his eyes before putting his hands down.

"Horus Lupercal, Robert Guilliman and Magnus are all available," Malcador answered. He knew the movements of each Primarch by heart. "Who should I ask to go?"

——

When his mortal companions reported to him, there were several particularly tall warriors wearing armor with very wide shoulder pads, wandering repeatedly at the entrance of the village, looking across the wooden fence, frequently staring at the high piles in the village. While he was suspected of coveting the harvest of the village, Mortarion was discussing with his close warriors how to completely destroy the small amount of evil remnants and legacy that still existed on the planet after the death of the sorcery overlords. of criminal military reserves.

"That's that?" Mortarion immediately turned to look at the mortal Fath sitting next to him, with a mixture of anticipation and resistance in his heart.

The Emperor had told him that generals from other human empires would come to Barbarus in the near future to take him back to the center of the empire, the throne world of Terra.

Under Morse's hint, Mortarion soon understood that the person visiting Barbarus would be one or more of the twenty biological brothers who were connected to him by blood.

He was a bit apprehensive about this, unsure if he was ready.

The Emperor has helped him eradicate the parasitic cancer on Barbarus, and he has also recognized the Emperor's ideals and pursuits - not that much, just a little respect for those who are also fighting against witchcraft. Just resonance.

Now, then, it was time for him to fulfill his promise, leave Barbarus, go to the galaxy, and conduct an expedition for the Emperor.

Although the land of Barbarus is barren and difficult, and the planet is haunted by sinister memories, the water and soil here actually nourished him.

The outside world is extremely vast, with many things to do, and it breeds countless new possibilities.

Fighting, harvesting, conquering, hundreds of billions of stars are enough to carry all the dreams and imaginations a farmer can have. Just imagining how many lush forests, how many strange lakes there are in the outside world, how many megatons of wheat can be harvested in a year, It had already dazzled Mortarion.

But that wasn't his Barbarus.

Besides, Mortarion thought, what would his brothers think of him? They are mature generals, experienced politicians, and conquerors who command thousands of armies. What do they think of themselves who grew up in Barbarus?

How would the soldiers under his brother react to his comrades, Karas, Lasker, Skoval, and others?

The mortal Fath patted his hand, or to be precise, after returning to his mortal form, Fath patted one of his fingers.

"That is the Legion Master of the Sixteenth Legion, the Luna Wolf, Horus Luperkar." Faas said, "Go and meet him, he is my first son."

Thousands of entanglements finally converged into a simple idea: if they are really good to us, we should also respond to them with the best things; if they are disdainful or hostile, Barbarus may not have no swords and guns at his disposal.

Mortarion said goodbye to the people in the thatched cottage conference room and walked along the village's dirt road towards the entrance of the small village. The closer he got, the more he felt a strange connection lurking inside his body, pulsing softly, creating the embryonic form of anticipation.

And when the noble giant chatting with his warriors with a smile appeared on the edge of his vision, his heart began to beat faster.

When Mortarion saw the other party, Horus Luperkar, who was always paying attention to this side, immediately turned his head.

As soon as he saw him, Horus opened his arms, his face illuminated by the light brightened, and his thick furs flowed back from his shoulders.

"Are you Mortarion?" Horus shouted, his voice as mellow and pleasant as fine wine. "I am Horus Luperkar! Can I enter your village?"

Mortarion came to the village gate with an expressionless face.

"Come in," he said dryly, "Horus Luperkar."

Horus' face showed joy.

He waved behind him and walked forward with four warriors, stepping into the village. Even before Mortarion gave his permission, the village's door never closed.

"I brought four warriors, Ezekiel, Hastur, Tarik and Horus." Horus smiled and patted the four warriors on the shoulders one by one. "You can also call him Xiao He. Ruth, he has the same name as me.”

"My warriors say you have stared at our corn heaps for a long time." Mortarion tried to find a suitable opening.

"Because we have never seen so much wheat on Corsonia." Horus said nonchalantly, "Not every planet inhabited by humans has the conditions for natural cultivation, and your Barbarus happens to be one of them. There's one, Mortarion."

He sincerely stretched out a hand. When Mortarion carefully put his hand into Horus's, Horus suddenly stretched out his other arm and took the opportunity to wrap his arms around Mortarion, hugging him gently but firmly. glanced at his brother.

The moment their chests were close, that vague feeling of connection immediately surged up in Mortarion's chest, like a clear light flowing through his riddled soul.

Before Mortarion could react, the Wolf God let go of the stunned Son of Death and shrugged. The soft and thick mane of the wolfskin on his shoulders swayed slightly like spring grass.

"I'm sorry, Mortarion, I'm so excited!" Horus said cheerfully, "I heard the story of your conquest of Barbarus when we were on the ship. This was not an easy thing. And I You look so thin, you really deserve a hug - I hope I didn't offend you? I'm so sorry."

"I'm... fine." Mortarion replied, "Thank you. Let's go in and talk."

Horus nodded, followed Mortarion, and looked at Mortarion's existence openly and appreciatively.

"I heard that my father has been with you for more than a full year," Horus said. "Have you heard of the Great Crusade?"

"I know something."

"That's good," Horus continued, "Let me introduce myself first. I am the Primarch of the 16th Legion, the Luna Wolves, and the first Primarch to return to the Empire. However, you are the Primarch of the 16th Legion. Four Primarchs, if you follow this order, you are my brother. Alas, my number is too late."

"No, no need..." Mortarion was a little at a loss. The smile in Horus's words made him feel close to him, but they had just met, and Mortarion decided to show a little bit of Barbarus's unshakable tenacity. of integrity. "We might as well be on a first-name basis."

"Okay, Mortarion." Horus said, with a lively temperament in him that Barbarus did not have. "In short, I have been in the Empire for these years, and I understand the Human Empire and the Emperor. If you have any questions, just ask me—"

Suddenly, a loud noise hit the plain in the distance, and billowing smoke immediately rose into the sky.

It seemed to be a giant airdrop pod or transport boat that encountered an unknown accident when landing. At this moment, it was falling upside down into the depths of the wilderness, burning bright but unfortunate red flames.

"Oh..." Horus raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Isn't that an important place?"

"That's the swamp," Mortarion said, confused.

Horus breathed a sigh of relief. "It's good that I didn't break anything of yours. If I guess correctly, that should be the fifteenth Primarch, Magnus the Red, another one of your brothers."