A Monster in Hell: A 40K Story

Chapter-23

"Supreme Leader," spoke the deep baritone of Spire, emotionless. "I hear you are the new leader of the Imperium?"

"Yes. I am. What of it, High Lord-Admiral? You have returned, I believe. And that is a great boost of hope to the Imperium." I replied.

"I am surprised to hear that eight hundred years have passed since my fleets crossed into the Warp, since the Battlefleet Gothic was lost."

"It was. We were quite... saddened."

"Saddened, I do not think so. You are supposedly a leader of the trillions. I am quite unaware of how you became leader. I will not call you my Lord until I have learned how: if so it is, I will rather die with a smile on my lips than to call a person I have not known of, my Leader. There has not been single, remarkable leader since the age of Drakan Vangorich and Goge Vandire. I am quite well-aware of how both ended."

"I am not leader by want but by necessity," It was a lie, but anyway: "The corruption of our Faith and our Inquisition was the final straw. The influence of the Tyrant called Lord-Inquisitor Fyodor Karamazov, and his cohorts, had reached a position where the Great Sundering and the War of the Hydra were inevitable. They practiced the same heights of despotism in the name of faith as the Tyrants you so name." I looked at him directly for dramatic effect, my eyes deadened, "There has been a lot going on since you left. And in this single year, we have done a lot more than what you might think. A Warboss has fallen at Cadia. Macharia has fallen to a Daemon attack. Abaddon was vanquished permanently in the Thirteenth Black Crusade a week previously. The elusive Jericho Reach was decisively claimed. And there is more, but I should give you time to process."

Even the hardened naval officer looked shocked. His bionic eye flashed, and his natural one widened as his fingers twitched. He turned slowly to look me in the face. His own was coated in disbelief.

"Surely, Supreme Leader, you do not jest. How much have I missed?"

"A great deal. I would recommend you converse with Lord-Admiral Heinz, one of your successors, regarding the state of current affairs. He will update you. He is precise, unbiased, and loyal. He will be perfect for securing me the state of our current affairs. For now, I require you to do one major thing for me."

"And what is it, Supreme Leader?" Spire's voice was weak, he was trying and failing to process everything: "What is it that I must do?"

"Among the officers stationed below the Rank of Admiral, you will scour the galaxy for twelve humans. Twelve of unquestionable merit and unwavering loyalty, of unshakeable courage and unlimited iron in their will. Forged in the fires of war, eager to make change. You will find them across the galaxy, and you will bring them to me. You, and they, will be my key to remaking the Navy into a formidable force in ways hitherto undreamt of. You are now my personal representative in this matter, responsible to none else."

"Supreme Leader, it could take years, perhaps decades, to find these individuals."

"Then years and decades it will take. I would rather have it done late than never at all. You have the Inquisitors at your beck and call, even some of the Custodians. Use them well. All resources you ask for, all records and officials, or wealth or any unorthodox methods you require for the assignment will be provided. Just complete the parameters of the mission. Failure is not an option."

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After Spire's departure to get updated with Heinz, I affirmed and signed my approval to several proposed legislative decrees, which were quite acceptable. Some were for the tithes, some by the Tech-Priests, several came from the military, two were for industrial productivity, one for the Faith, and the rest were administrative. 

I had given the Moffs a lot of power and a lot of responsibility, which meant they were asking me for approval to their various new laws they were passing to stabilize their systems/ sectors/ Segmentums. There were also a multitude of other documents to be filled out, including the issue of various orders on my side, approval/denial to appropriate resources to some system, military issues, and reports that I needed to stamp. In some ways I had in fact increased the amount of paperwork so much that I knew that Malcador the Lord-Sigillite would be proud.

The Custodian Kitten had become my new Secretary after Kesh was dispatched to Terra to put into action my instructions for the Golden Giants. He was a great help, as he had taken sympathy on my mounting pile of paperwork and was roughly reading and sorting things out.

"Request for approval for appropriation of entire Battlefleet for invasion of a tendril of Hive Fleet Leviathan." Kitten read out, "I would ask to grant this, my Lord."

"Yes. That Hive Fleet is a large pain in our collective behinds." I stamped and signed it, "Next!"

"Request for Inquisitorial Order to amass resources for cordoning off Primagenesis system. The reports attached state that the system is a place where a long war of attrition is likely. Potential reports of Alpha Legionnaires---"

"Grant them double what they want. Wait a moment, I will write a personal note." I cut in.

"You are sure, my Lord?" Kitten looked surprised: he knew that I was not one to make hasty decisions.

"Yes," I replied firmly. "If the Alpha Legion is involved anywhere, you make sure to cordon them off. Yes, such an use of resources is apt. Next!"

"Proposal entailing a reorganization of several Star Forts around the Segmentum Solar, between Voss Prime and Gehenna. The creation of a new Route that can involve passing right through the Sol System, and Terra itself---"

"My Lord! My Lord!" An urgent knocking arrived at the door, "I have urgent news!"

"Come in." 

Freeman Dyson burst in, making even the hardened kitten jump. He carried nothing with him, but from his face I could decipher that he had news beyond the original. 

"My Lord, we have secured a message from AP. Whatever Operation you have entrusted him with... it has met, to quote: complete and resounding success, without reservation. And most importantly, General Veers also send you a message: the Hundred are ready for war. Is it something important?"

"High Lord Dyson, thank you for the information." 

This was perfect. UR-025 was cooperative and the Castigator Legions were ready for war. Dyson nodded slowly and withdrew.

"My Lord, what was it?" Kitten asked.

"Nothing too important. The usual... mostly."

(A/N: 1. Spire is doing something for the future of the Navy, apparently? Look, the man is a zealot of the highest degree, of course he would be suspicious of a man taking power out of nowhere. I guess the revelations broke him enough.

2. UR-025 and our favorite Castigator are due to entering this story. Hmm... perhaps things are adding up. And little Kitten is his secretary! You would recognize that little bottom anywhere!)