Everqueen Reclamation - 50

"-with the fall of Sedna, the Unification of Sol is complete.”

The Emperor smiled, leaning back in his chair. “Excellent. And how goes the construction of our new fleet in the Jovian shipyards?”

“It is well underway,” Malcador confirmed. “It will take time, but between Mars and Jupiter, we should have a fleet ready to launch the Great Crusade by the time you return.”

“And we are still ahead of schedule, despite the best attempts of Chaos to sabotage us,” The Emperor mused. Sol should not have been conquered by their original timetable for another ten years. 

“Indeed,” Malcador said. “Furthermore, with the absorption of the Saturnyne Ordo, we have begun an overhaul of the Imperial Army, to improve their doctrine, training and equipment.”

“What of the mass production of the Saturnine Void Armour for every Imperial soldier? Is there any issue with Mars on that front?”

“Some, but nothing unmanageable,” Malcador said, waving a hand dismissively. "The damage done by Be'lakor is not yet completely undone, but a great deal has been repaired, and Temples such as the Magma City have proven eager and willing to oblige our needs. For those more reluctant to serve us…well, that is what the Elucidators and the Fourth and Tenth Legions are for.”

The Emperor nodded. Stationing two entire Legions on Mars had been a controversial decision at the time, but the Mechanicum needed to be kept in line somehow.

"What of the Rogue Trader project?”

While their conquests would have to wait for now, the Emperor had thought it best to begin mapping and exploring the galaxy. He had offered various rewards, both financial and otherwise, to anyone willing to go forth and begin charting the galaxy beyond Sol. Terran Noble houses, Martian Explorators, Jovian ship captains and more had eagerly jumped at the chance, building ships and sending out traders.

“It is going well,” Malcador confirmed. "We have valuable information flowing in concerning the entirety of the Sol Sector, such as the various polities that surround us. Trade links are being established, which makes Chancellor Dravagor happy.”

The Emperor snorted slightly at the mention of the chief of the Imperium’s finances. “Good for him,” He said. “In any case, it appears everything is well in hand. I will depart aboard the Bucephalus as soon as Isha returns from Neptune.”

Malcador's lips thinned at the mention of the Eldar Goddess, but he kept his tone and expression neutral. “How is that going?”

“Well enough,” The Emperor replied. “Isha's last message indicated that she has stabilized the Neptunian genome, and they have responded favourably to her overtures. Integrating them into the Imperium should be fairly easy once she is done.”

Malcador tapped a long, withered finger against his staff. “It would make things simpler if she would simply transform them back into baseline humans.”

The Emperor gave his friend an exasperated look. “Perhaps it would, but we both know she will agree to do no such thing.”

It was an old argument by now. Malcador thought that the integration and assimilation of abhumans and mutants would be simplest if they were simply made into baseline humans, while Isha took offense to the idea that there was anything fundamentally wrong with those offshoots of the human species in the first place.

The Emperor personally thought Malcador was probably correct, but he also knew that Isha was far too stubborn to ever concede such an argument. 

Malcador grumbled. “I just think implementing all these laws and having to run these programs to encourage discrimination is a waste of time and resources when we could simply eliminate the problem entirely.”

The Emperor sighed. “Yes, I am aware. But the point is moot unless you know how to change Isha's mind about this.”

Malcador scowled but didn't argue further.

“In any case, I am trusting you to manage the Imperium as Regent while I am gone, Malcador. I will leave half of myself behind, but the further I go from Sol, that half of me will be…diminished, incomplete compared to how you know me” The Emperor continued. “Do not fail me. The fate of mankind depends on our success.”

“I will not, old friend,” Malcador promised. “I vow it.”

"I know you will not. Now, there are some other matters to which I must tend…”

***

When the Emperor found Horus, his son was sitting on the balcony of his private chambers, looking out at the night sky. The stars glimmered overhead, and George took a moment to admire them. It still felt surreal to be able to see the stars from Terra once more, but it was good.

Then, he turned back to Horus, who was peering through a telescope, one that George had personally crafted and gifted to him not long ago.

“Enjoying yourself, my son?” George asked. He probably derived far too much joy from Horus's jump of surprise, but startling his children was something he had enjoyed in most lives.

“Father!” Horus said, straightening up. His son had reached full physical maturity now. The last vestiges of his baby fat had fallen away, and he was now taller and broader than even Valdor. He had taken to shaving his head as well, leaving it smooth and clear.

It saddened George, a little. It was easy to see the leader of a gang of children he had found on Chthonia, or the enthusiastic young boy still learning to be a soldier. It had only been a few years, after all. Horus, for all that he looked older, was not yet twenty.

But it was by the Emperor's own design that the Primarchs grew so quickly, and it was necessary.

“I was just…” Horus trailed off, and George raised a curious eyebrow, puzzled by his son's reticence.

Horus was never shy about his stargazing before and had enjoyed learning about the various constellations, especially the Zodiac and its many variants.

Why was he-

Ah.

“Thinking about your brothers?” George asked gently.

Horus jolted but gave a stilted nod. 

“I just…don't know what to expect from them,” Horus admitted. “I mean, I've met Magnus, but…I hope they're not all like him.”

It took not inconsiderable effort on George's part not to snort. While Horus and Magnus had met briefly a few times with George facilitating the astral communication, neither had made a particularly good impression on the other.

They were both more than a little jealous whenever the other had his attention.

“Don't speak of your brother that way,” George scolded gently once he had his amusement under control. “He means well.”

Horus huffed. “I know.”

“In any case, your brothers will all be different,” George said, changing the subject before his son could start grumbling about Magnus. “I made you all to be unique in your own fashion,” Not strictly true, he had designed the Primarchs with more than a little redundancy in mind, not to mention his experiments with the Twentieth. But it was true enough for this conversation “Furthermore, they will all have landed on different worlds, each of them unique in their own right.”

Horus chewed his lip, mulling that over. It would be an adjustment for him, George knew. He had been an only child so far, and it was never easy to go from that to suddenly having siblings.

Never mind so many of them.

But he had faith his son would adapt and learn, and serve as an example to his brothers yet to be found.

“I expect you to help them learn and integrate, so that they may eventually take their rightful place in the Imperium alongside you,” George continued, placing a hand on the boy's shoulders. “I am counting on you, Horus.”

At that, his son's spine straightened and he gave a nod. “I will, father.”

“Excellent,” George said with a smile. “Now, you were stargazing were you not? Let me tell you of a few more Zodiacs that humanity had developed across the ages…”

***

“You cannot come with me, my children.”

Isha’s words with gentle but firm, unyieldingly resolute.

The High Council of Iyanden, however, all looked collectively mutinuous, for once not swayed by her simple words.

“Mother…” Cadaith said pleadingly. “We cannot simply leave you alone with a b-, foreign god.”

“You can and you will,” Isha said sternly. “It is quite literally not safe for you. Iyanden cannot safely traverse the warp currents, to do so would be so suicide. And I have no intention of opening the Webway for the Emperor.”

“The entire Craftworld going with you is unrealistic,” Mehlendri agreed reluctantly, the Fleetmaster of Iyanden today presenting as a man, his long silver hair pulled back into a long braid. “However, surely we can leave some with guards with you.”

Isha’s lips quirked into an amused smile, edged with condescension. “I appreciate your protectiveness, but I assure you, there is nothing that any guards could do to protect me which I cannot do myself. Being blunt, they would only be a burden, for if a true threat did arise, I would have to dedicate attention to protecting them as well as myself.”

A grumble spread through the Council though no one dared dispute it.

“Must you accompany the Emperor on this voyage for his son?” Dreamspinner said beseechingly. “Your Serenity, I understand the importance of your agreement with him, but he is leaving an avatar behind in any case. Surely he can locate his children himself.”

“It is important,” Isha affirmed. “He has asked me, and it is important we maintain good relations. Furthermore, as he and I travel across the galaxy, we will no doubt encounter other Eldar Craftworlds, ones whom I can offer solace and aid as I have for you. This trip is as much to my benefit as his.”

“But-”

“Enough,” Isha said, steel now lacing her words. “You need not worry for me safety. The pact that the Emperor and I forged obligates him to protect me as long as I do not break our agreement, which I have no intention of doing.”

The Council fell silent, clearly unhappy but unable to argue.

Isha sighed. She felt for her children, she truly did, but this was the best way.

“In any case, I have a quest for you, my children,” Isha broke the silence once more. “It is one of critical importance, and one you must tend to while I am gone.”

“What is it, Your Serenity?” Sernalla asked.

“You must locate my brother’s greatest works,” Isha replied. With a flick of her wrist, sparkles of light appeared in the air, coalescing into into six separate but identical images of star-shaped fortress vessels. “Find me Talismans of Vaul.”

Truth be told, Isha was not enthusiastic about doing this. Iyanden had recovered and grown since she had found it, but this was still dangerous. But she dared not reveal the existence of the Talismans to the Emperor, and she could not go look for them herself without telling him. 

“The Talismans,” Dreamspinner breathed, his eyes fixed on the gently revolving projections. “They would be a great aid indeed to us. But will they have survived? The Fall was…cataclysmic.”

“My brother was the finest craftsman in the galaxy,” Isha responded, steepling her fingers. “No doubt the Talismans will be damaged, but they will have survived, I am certain of it.”

“But what of the command codes?” Sernalla asked. “Only the highest echelons of the Dominion knew how to activate these fortresses.”

Isha chuckled. “Worry not. I have the original command codes, deeply embedded in the Talismans. Nobody except my brother could remove them.”

She extend a palm, green light crystallizing into a small white statue of herself. “This is a piece of my essence, an extension of myself,” Isha said quietly. “Not quite a full-fledged avatar, that would expose my plan to the Emperor. But it is a link to me. Bring it a Talisman, and I will act through it to activate the vessel and bring it under my control.”

“The Fortresses should be somewhere near the edge of Dominion territory still,” Isha continued. “My statue will help you with that, for it will be able to sense the power my brother imbued in the Talismans and guide you towards them through the Webway.”

Isha paused for a moment, letting it sink in. “This will be an extremely dangerous mission, one which will expose you to the dangers of Chaos once more. I do not believe any of the Talismans are in the Eye of Terror itself, but even so. If any of you wish to refuse, I understand.”

“No!” There was an immediate chorus of replies.

“Your Serenity, we would be honoured,” Dreamspinner said with an unusually fierce expression. “To serve you and to act to ensure the survival of our race. Please, let us do this.”

“Very well,” Isha said. Dreamspinner stepped forward, taking the figurine with reverent hands. “Be careful, my children.”

Isha prayed she wasn’t making a mistake.