Warhammer 40k : Starting as a Primarch

After finishing his conversation with Guilliman, Dukel returned to the Mechanicum Workshop under the escort of the Psychic Guard.

"Gris, how is the preparation of the power armor for the Second Legion progressing?" The Primarch inquired through the noospheric link.

"It is complete, my lord."

Hearing this, Dukel's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

During the previous combat trials of his Legion, Doom had been wearing standard power armor, but now, the unique warplate of the Second Legion was finally ready.

Through rigorous surgical enhancements, an entire company of Primaris Space Marines had been created for the Second Legion. Their organization adhered to the structure of the Great Crusade-era Expeditionary Fleets, with squads consisting of 22 Astartes each.

This deviation from the traditional Chapter structure of the Adeptus Astartes might have raised eyebrows among the High Lords of Terra. But in the current Imperium, only the Emperor himself could challenge Dukel's decisions. Anyone else who dared to question him would be branded a heretic—an accusation Dukel had no tolerance for.

As the firstborn of their Gene-Sire, the inaugural warriors of the Second Legion were swiftly pressed into service. The moment they emerged from the apothecarion's transformation bays, they were assigned to the Mechanicum's assembly lines, laboring ceaselessly alongside the tech-priests.

Had they not assisted, Dukel might not have found the time to consult with Guilliman at all.

Engineering a transformation of gene-seeds into psychic engines was no simple task. It demanded intricate modifications, precise calibrations, and the utilization of their Primarch's unique genetic capabilities.

Now, however, the burden had shifted. With his sons at work, Dukel could finally afford a moment of respite.

Returning to the forge, he surveyed his warriors, toiling with mechanical precision. Seeing them diligently completing their assigned tasks filled him with pride. Shutting down the massive fabricator engines, he called out to them.

"Come, my sons. It is time to don your new armor!"

At the sound of their Primarch's voice, the warriors slowly lifted their heads. Eyes dulled by relentless labor flickered with renewed vigor.

The promise of new armor sent a surge of excitement through them. Initially, their father had assured them that their service on the assembly line would last only three days. Yet, three days had turned into three more, then three more after that. Trapped within the unyielding rhythm of the forge, they had lost all sense of time.

"Yes, Gene-Father!" they responded in unison, following Dukel as he led them away from the workshop.

They proceeded to the armory aboard the Inner Fire. Passing through layers of security protocols and gene-scans, they arrived at a sanctum reserved solely for the Second Legion.

Here, the Magos and their cybernetic attendants awaited. Dozens of tech-priests, their flesh long since replaced with mechanical augmentations, offered the Imperial salute to Dukel and his sons.

Behind them stood the newly forged power armor of the Second Legion. After extensive research and development, it had been refined and perfected.

Given that the majority of the Second Legion's warriors hailed from the Death Korps of Krieg, Dukel had opted for a color scheme that mirrored their former uniforms—black and green.

Before embarking on this campaign, both Dukel and Gris had personally overseen enhancements to the armor. While the warplate retained the superior qualities of traditional Mark X armor, it now boasted two unique augmentations.

The Psychic Sensor

This device was an unintentional byproduct of Dukel's experiments with the mind-engine. It would soon be distributed to all warriors linked to the noospheric network.

The function of the psychic sensor was simple—it facilitated a direct neural connection.

If the noosphere was likened to the Imperium's information network, then this device served as its conduit.

Dukel envisioned an entire arsenal of psychic-series wargear, systematically replacing all conventional weapons still in use by the Expeditionary Fleets.

These weapons, seamlessly integrated with the noosphere, would revolutionize warfare. Moreover, Dukel was laying the groundwork for a Psychic Webway. Once completed, this network would house a Mind Arsenal, where vast stockpiles of Psychoactive World-Destroying weaponry could be stored within the empyrean itself.

Through the psychic sensor, these weapons could be deployed instantaneously to any warrior in need, ensuring that no soldier of the Second Legion would ever lack firepower.

For now, however, the Webway project remained a distant dream. Dukel lacked the resources, manpower, and technological breakthroughs necessary to bring it to fruition.

But while the psychic sensor was a glimpse into the future, the second device was a necessity of the present.

The Argentum Energy Backpack

Unlike the sensor, which represented ambition, the energy backpack addressed a critical flaw in Dukel's forces.

Due to a genetic anomaly, both Dukel and his warriors were heavily reliant on the noospheric link to manage their extreme emotional states.

The noosphere was their greatest strength—but also their most dangerous vulnerability.

Should they ever face a catastrophic battlefield defeat—one that resulted in mass casualties among their linked brethren—the overwhelming psychic backlash could drive Dukel and his warriors into uncontrollable berserk fury.

Dukel had long foreseen this risk. That was why, when he realized he was being lured into a Chaos trap, he had made the grim decision to destroy the City of Light and send his expeditionary force away.

It was not merely an act of mercy to spare his warriors from the horrors of daemonic slaughter. It was a calculated move to prevent an apocalyptic psychic collapse should they all be caught in the same snare.

The Argentum Energy Backpack provided a safeguard against this fatal flaw.

It was a modified version of the standard power armor energy pack, linked directly to the noosphere and mind-engine. When a warrior slew an enemy, the device would harvest a portion of their psychic essence, converting it into raw power.

This harvested energy could serve as a high-yield power source under normal conditions. More importantly, if the noospheric link was severed, the stored energy could be redirected back into the warrior's mind-engine, stabilizing their psyche and preventing catastrophic emotional collapse.

Its effectiveness depended on the number of enemies slain. In theory, as long as the battle raged and enemies fell, the Second Legion could maintain their stability indefinitely.

As Dukel's thoughts lingered on these innovations, his warriors had already donned their new armor.

He regarded them in silence for a moment before giving a single command.

"Go forth, my sons."

With no need for further instructions, Dukel transmitted their mission directives directly into their minds.

"By your will, Gene-Father!" they responded, eyes blazing with fervor.

At long last, they were free of the assembly lines. The true war was about to begin.

...

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