GATE: Thus The Imperium of Man Fought There

-M29.671-

Ra thrust his Guardian Spear into the chest of the abomination, the creature writhing in agony before disappearing with a quick, decisive pull that ended its existence. The Custodian surveyed the surroundings where the battle had just taken place. The room lay in ruins, with the Immaterium bleeding into reality, gradually eroding the essence of the material universe.

Time and space, already nebulous concepts in the Immaterium, now seemed to exist and not exist simultaneously. Ra glanced around; the battle had ended after several intense minutes. The creatures they faced were abominations not found in any Imperial records, their attacks and nature uniquely alien. However, this posed no problem for the Custodes and the Arcanum Legion. The Custodes were equipped and designed with the most exotic weaponry in the Imperium, capable of fighting anything from both the material and immaterial realms, within or outside the Imperium. Coupled with the specialized Arcanum Legion, the battle had been a one-sided slaughter.

Soon, a movement in the Warp caught their attention, drawing all the transhumans' gaze back to the crystal where the Emperor of Mankind emerged. Everyone immediately knelt.

"My liege," Ra greeted softly.

"How long was I gone?" the Emperor inquired, his eyes locking onto the Custodian.

"Only a few minutes, my lord," Ra replied. "And for you, how long did it seem?"

"Days, a week at most," the Anathema responded with a faint smile before turning his gaze to the other transhumans. "Well done, all of you." 

Ra and the other transhumans observed as the Emperor harnessed the radiant energy, a tangible manifestation of the arcane wisdom he had gleaned. They could feel the power and potential radiating from the orb.

"Old Earth has endured much," the Emperor continued, his tone shifting to one of determination. "But it will serve as the foundation for the future of humanity. From here, we shall build an empire that even beyond the Aeldari could create, united under one banner, free from the shackles of gods and those so-called masters of the material universe."

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-Earth-

When the appointed time arrived, the Gate opened once more. The resplendent forces of the Imperium of Man emerged again with the grandeur of their armor and the aura of their presence. Even though it was their second appearance, the spectacle left the onlookers in awe, their amazement rendering them speechless.

As the Emperor entered the room, the atmosphere froze, the tension skyrocketing. The fate of Earth hung in the balance, awaiting the declaration of the Master of Mankind, whether it would be good or ill.

The Emperor of Mankind surveyed the assembly before him. Everything was unfolding as planned, the preparations and responses of Earth's leaders aligning with what he had foreseen in his vision.

"Emperor of Mankind. We have received your proposal, but we also have a proposal of our own. We want you to consider it." Ross stated firmly, his gaze locked with the Emperor's golden eyes.

"Name it," the Emperor replied.

Ross took a deep breath, steadying himself. "We acknowledge the might and grandeur of the Imperium, and we seek an alliance that respects Earth's sovereignty while allowing us to benefit from your advanced technology and knowledge. We also request that the Imperium provide an embassy for the UN on Terra to formalize relations between Earth and the Imperium of Man," Ross continued.

The declaration by Ross was neither overly demanding nor outrageous. However, the implications of the agreement carried significant weight and dynamics. The Emperor understood this, and with his acceptance, the dominoes began to fall.

"I accept this proposal. The Imperium warmly welcomes this bilateral cooperation," the Emperor said, a smile spreading across his face, instantly lightening the atmosphere in the room.

A formal agreement was drafted, and signatures were placed on the documents presented. Thus, the bilateral relationship between the Imperium of Man and Earth was established. Once the situation was under control, the people on Earth could finally breathe a sigh of relief, despite the wild speculations about the prospects of cooperation with the Imperium. Nonetheless, everything proceeded smoothly.

The news of the agreement spread quickly, stirring mixed reactions among the global population. On one hand, there was hope and excitement about the technological advancements and knowledge the Imperium could bring. On the other hand, there was apprehension about the possible cultural and political impacts of such a powerful entity becoming involved in Earth's affairs.

_________________________________________________________________

-America. Pentagon-

Lothens stood in the deepest archive room within the Pentagon, carefully opening and reading ancient documents, creating digital copies with his WAR-CASTEr. The information stored in the Pentagon had the potential to topple the world's dominoes, although many of the documents contained plans that seemed impractical and rash.

"Humans of this era are truly fascinating and terrible at the same time," Lothens muttered as he turned the pages of a document.

Each document he read revealed a complex web of strategies, conspiracies, and technological ambitions that painted a vivid picture of humanity's relentless drive for progress and power. Despite their flaws and missteps, the ingenuity and determination captured in these pages impressed him.

After storing all the documents in his bionic brain, Lothens glanced at a file that had been gnawing at his mind. It was no secret that the CIA had obtained information about the presence of the Imperium since Italica fell into Imperial hands. However, one detail made him ponder just how reckless humans of this era could be.

A complete plan for invasion and even political coercion was outlined within. A strategy that, if executed and fruitful, could trigger a war between the Imperium and Old Earth.

"Too paranoid to be a superpower and too arrogant to be the world's police. They're blind even to de-dollarization," Lothens remarked, walking out of the archive room.

Lothens then glanced down a particular corridor. His destination was none other than the server room. Thanks to a virus he had planted on the internet, he could easily access all electronic devices connected to it. However, there were still some electronics beyond his reach, one of which was the target he intended to access now.

The Assassin opened the server room. It was filled with dozens, if not hundreds, of servers systematically linked to one another. The sight reminded Lothens of a minor archive room on Mars, albeit smaller and simpler, consisting solely of Logitator Cubes. These cubes could store data millions of times more than the total data stored on the internet.

Lothens stood directly in front of his target—a server machine designed to be isolated and inaccessible via the internet, requiring direct access. Primitive in functionality, but effective in the modern world. He placed his hand on the server and forced his Noosphere to penetrate it. In an instant, all the data within was perfectly copied.

"Interesting. They're even willing to kill their allies to close the Gate. Hmm... This is..." Lothens murmured before withdrawing his hand. "Time to execute Plan B, then."

Lothens opened his connection to the most secure channel on his list. It didn't take long for the line to connect.

"Grandmaster, I have a report," Lothens began with utmost respect.

"Report," the Grandmaster's curt, inhuman response was enough to send a chill down Lothens' spine.

"I'm sending the data now. I request you to forward it to Lord Malcador." Lothens transmitted the files, and instantly, the Grandmaster responded.

"Are you certain about this?" The Grandmaster's tone shifted, a subtle worry detectable only by another transhuman.

"I'm afraid so, my lord." Lothens answered briefly, though his tone was neutral and devoid of any emotion. Despite this, the Assassin felt an overwhelming pressure enveloping his mind. The weight of the situation bore down on him, a constant reminder of the gravity of his mission.

"Very well. I will send it to Lord Malcador." With that, the call ended, leaving Lothens momentarily silent before he finally walked out of the room.

____________________________________________________________________________

-Falmart. Capital Sadera-

Raias was sorting through various documents to finalize the establishment of the Imperium's embassy in the capital. Despite being a noble well-versed in the political machinations of the Imperium, this was the first time he experienced such mental exhaustion. The sheer stupidity of the politicians in Sadera forced Raias to work overtime, calibrating his logic to comprehend the Saderans' way of thinking. While this effort helped, it was barely sufficient.

"What kind of Emperor's forsaken people is this?" Raias murmured in frustation. He had read tens of thousands of books about Terra's ancient history. Indeed, humanity is a stubborn and yet indomitable species to begin with. Ignorance is also among the common themes in ancient times, but those are stories of old, and now he is facing the truth.

"Lord Raias, is there something bothering you?" Raias snapped from his relentless thoughts. It was Pina's voice that caused his transhuman muscles to tense.

"Lady Pina," Raias addressed her, returning to his initial facade. "My apologies for not addressing you quickly."

"No need for such trivialities, Lord Raias. You are my guardian and my friend. Please, cease that teasing when we are alone," Pina sighed in exasperation.

Despite his helmet, Pina's expression was enough to convince the transhuman that she knew he was smirking underneath.

"Very well then," Raias accepted the request.

"Something clouding your mind?" Pina asked as she slowly placed documents in her hand on the table. The transhuman took one to read.

"Another problem, another dead-end noble," Raias said sarcastically. "I do wonder if Sadera is filled with these kinds of people. Well, at least some of them are tolerable."

Although she found the remark insulting, Pina could not help but admit there was some truth in his words. Sadera was created by the culture of holy Romulus and his teachings, albeit after the Emperor's revelations, it was misled by many of her ancestors. Nonetheless, Saderans prided themselves among all others; moreover, since the Arctic War, their pride flew higher than anything she had anticipated.

"I can't say that I disagree with you, Lord Raias," Pina said, her voice carrying an amused chuckle.

Raias felt the heartfelt characteristic of the princess, which eased the centuries-old mind of the Solar Guardian. Honestly speaking, Raias only found amusement in other Solar Guardians, not mortals.

"What do you suggest for us to convince them?" Raias asked, his hand starting to fill his glass with wine.

Pina fell into silence as the moment passed by. Raias could read by her expression that even with all of her knowledge, she struggled to find a suitable answer. However, he was aware that her struggle did not come from her lack of knowledge of her own people, but from the sheer pressure Raias had put on her. To his surprise, the princess slowly made a smile.

"Sadera has never, in its history, offered its land for the sake of its enemies, allowing their ambassadors to approach its very doorstep. The Japanese approach might work for us as well. However, I think it would befit us even more," Pina explained, earning a slight tilt of the head from the transhuman.

"Care to elaborate why?" Raias asked, his interest piqued.

"It's simple. Even though His Majesty has not officially declared my next role, his actions have made it clear," Pina said without hesitation. In the Imperium, such directness was rare; none dared speak so boldly about themselves to the Emperor. Yet, Pina's words were undeniably factual.

By making her one of the most protected women in Falmart—and perhaps the Imperium—it was logical to deduce that she would become the Planetary Governor of this world.

"I see your point. But can you elaborate further?" Raias pressed, taking a glass into his hand.

"I want to ensure they fully understand the nature of the overlord they will bow to. Despite their agreement, the pro-peace senators are still skeptical about your nation, Lord Raias. I also want to consolidate my power as their new leader." Pina's tone was unwavering, filled with a determination that made Raias chuckle.

"I am your protector, and with your title as Primum Presidium, I possess a small connection to His Majesty's court. Perhaps I can help?" Raias offered, his tone teasing.

"Just a small favor: the use of Omniphages and gold," Pina stated sheepishly.

With those words, Raias' mind almost instantly mapped out how Pina would direct her actions with such a request.

"So, you want to buy a piece of land and then build an embassy using Omniphages?" Raias asked, using a mental command to open his helmet's mouthpiece and drink the wine.

"Correct, Lord Raias. It not only shows them the wealth of the Imperium but also its might. I heard Lord Formal's story when he witnessed the construction of the Prometheus Arcology firsthand. It will be suitable to demonstrate the same ability to my father's stubborn vassals," she stated, her intention clear despite the wry smile on her face, quickly replaced by a determined gaze directed at the transhuman.

"I will see what I can do," Raias replied simply, closing his helmet.

"Then I will be in your debt."

_________________________________________________________________________________

-Prometheus Arcoloy-

Gax could only sigh at the monstrous amount of paperwork before him. Despite his transhuman mind, the task required a herculean effort to complete. With the news that His Majesty had reached an agreement with Old Earth, the next phase of the operation was set to commence.

Since the beginning of the second phase—revealing themselves to the outside world—thousands of refugees had flocked to the arcology, seeking a safe haven. This commotion served the Imperium's plan well; the increasing number of refugees made it easier to spread rumors about the Imperium's presence.

After the agreement with Old Earth was solidified, the Imperium eventually invaded a quarter of the Empire's territory. This is where Gax had been positioned, serving as the field leader for the invasion of the southern territory. Based on the invasion map, Lord Agral aimed to secure pivotal routes across the continent.

Fortunately, this world is a Feudal World, and the strategy and logistics required were infinitesimally small compared to his daily military campaigns.

Then, a notification appeared at the corner of his holovids. He opened it, revealing a hundred-page document. By connecting to his Noosphere, the Colonel absorbed the information in less than a second.

"Raias?" he murmured. The early pages of the document listed the princess' request: gold and Omniphages. A few pages below, it detailed the reason behind this peculiar request.

It seemed the princess wanted to create a good impression on her future subjects. All her requests fell well within the Imperium's resources, almost laughably easy to fulfill. At the end of the report, Lord Agral had added a few pages, discussing the red-haired girl's request.

It was an orchestration of the Saderan Civil War. Gax knew it would happen, whether the Imperium pulled the strings or not. However, this new command indicated that the civil war would escalate into a full-scale revolt across the land.

Gax smirked, using his mental command to send the agreement. Despite Raias' new status as guardian of the Primum Presidium, the Colonel was still his overseer. Besides, his frontlines were only a few hundred kilometers away from the Saderan capital.

"Lord General is quite ruthless towards these barbarians," he murmured, beginning to crosscheck Raias' report with the Lord General's invasion planning.

There were strict limitations in Imperial laws regarding contact with primitive civilizations. Breaching this law could result in severe condemnation and possibly the death penalty, as such actions would be considered one of the greatest shames in Imperial history.

Moreover, Falmart's unusual conditions made a quick conquest nearly impossible. Ignoring the fact that the Saderan people were as stubborn as stones, the campaign would be prolonged. However, the new plan to accelerate the civil war would expedite matters.

Gax glanced back at his document before sorting it and placing it where it belonged. With a single mental tap, the document was sent. A few moments later, another document arrived at his station.

"Falchion X... Damn. I hope those diplomats on Old Earth are capable of defusing the situation there," Gax mused.

When he scanned further through the list of soldiers and war machines under his command, the sheer scale of the operation became evident. It was a tremendously massive force, especially for dealing with a primitive world. Yet, this overwhelming show of power would be enough to demonstrate the might of the Imperium far beyond this feudal world.

"Operation Reckoning... an amusing name," Gax remarked, a smirk forming on his lips.