"I think you might be disregarding the facts, my brother Horus. You are abandoning true wisdom due to the weakness and blindness brought by those so-called emotions within your heart."
"You resent my recent actions, brother Horus, because you consider them an atrocity, a betrayal, a father's slaughter of his own progeny. That is what you believe."
"But I do not see it that way."
"They are not my progeny; their only connection to me is that my gene-seed freed them from the most pitiful mortal coil, allowing them to complete the evolution of their species, to possess further possibilities, to have the fortune of becoming stronger."
"I am not their father, not their kin, nor an object of their reliance or prayer. I am the giver, the guide, the commander, and from a biological perspective, a higher being."
"The knowledge in my mind tells me where they came from, their mission, and their limits. My task is to enable them to exert their full strength and motivation at all times, fulfilling their greatest purpose as tools and cogs."
"I know what they can do. I know their limits better than all of you. Therefore, I have always demanded this of them, and most are always able to achieve the optimal level they should reach."
"Some always believe that their efforts and struggles have brought them to a new height, but this is merely the level they are supposed to reach."
"What he can do, what level he can reach this time, no matter what he paid for it, he must be able to do and reach it next time."
"Because this is just the most basic standard."
"Many call these qualified individuals excellent, but they have only done what they were supposed to do. This is merely fulfilling their duties, yet I am expected to specifically praise their so-called efforts."
"How pathetic."
"But there are always other individuals, absolute failures, fools who use various excuses to obstruct and delay my plans. They will disrupt original schemes and plans for irrelevant mortals, for pitiful creatures unworthy of any effort or value, thereby causing invisible damage and consumption to greater interests."
"Yet they always tell me they have done their best."
"They always tell me these mortals are more important than victory."
"They always tell me this is why the Emperor created them."
"What sorrowful remarks."
"What ignorant thoughts."
"What disloyal rumors."
"So, they deserve to die."
"Don't they?"
"After all, a tool and consumable that cannot even fulfill its user's will, cannot even complete its most basic duty, and cannot even recognize its own place, has only one fate."
"Yes, you heard me right, my brother Horus."
"Tools."
"...Are you angry?"
"Why?"
"I thought you were different from that impatient Perturabo, Horus."
"Silence, my brother."
"Let me tell you."
"Do not view them as too precious or unique, my poor brother. In my mind alone, I can conceive of at least two new species that could replace them. Given the conditions, I can bring these species from the blueprints into existence."
"They are merely tools, a temporary compromise our Father made to quickly reclaim the Galaxy. They are ultimately destined to be eliminated, discarded, and defeated by stronger and more excellent beings. This is the simplest and most inviolable law, Horus."
"Survival of the fittest."
"Only you, I, and our brothers are irreplaceable. We are beings upon whom Father has poured his emotions and hopes. We were born to wield his supreme Power in certain domains."
"The Custodian Guard are nothing more than luxurious toys, and those Immortals merely cling to existence by a thread of luck. As for the Mortals? They are the most pitiful, and the most hateful. These species have dragged our Father down; their foolishness has greatly diminished his greatness and wisdom."
"You ask me why I call them species?"
"..."
"You see them as kinsmen? Hmm? Horus?"
"Stop averting your gaze, my brother. Your first reaction has already told me your answer."
"On this matter, you and I are no different. Stop being stubborn."
"..."
"Do you know?"
"I once came to the Imperium with an almost pilgrim-like reverence. You know, Horus, how much I adored our Father. I was once absolutely convinced that the dominion he shaped would be the most magnificent place, a paradise where science and truth could dance freely, a source of all correct rules in the world, where only the most excellent individuals could attain power and status."
"I once believed that so strongly."
"But do you know what I saw instead?"
"He was dragged down, our Father, our greatest Father, the most perfect being in existence, the living pinnacle of all that truth and science could achieve—he was dragged down."
"By these species called Humans."
"By these wastes who cannot even fulfill their own purpose."
"Dragged down."
"He says it is responsibility, mission, willing love, but I do not understand these things."
"I only know that he is bound by these pitiful things with so-called 'Loyalty' and 'Allegiance.' He should not be like this, he should not endure such suffering, such hardship. How great he is! He should obtain everything, obtain better, not the stench and incompetence emanating from these pitiful species."
"How sorrowful."
"Why does he cling to the pitiful species of Humanity?"
"He clearly knows how to create more excellent beings."
"And now, my brother, even you are like this... Why?"
"You say you love your progeny? As a father?"
"Heh... hehe... hehehehe!"
"Hahahahahahaha!"
"Stop making me laugh, Horus."
"As a father?"
"That is truly a lovely misconception."
"Then let me ask you, my brother."
"As a father, can you recognize every one of your progeny? Hmm? A hundred thousand Shadow Moon Wolves, from the most arrogant officials to the most obscure soldiers—they are all your 'progeny,' and you are the 'father' of each of them."
"But what does that matter?"
"You cannot remember."
"Yes, remembering every single one might be a difficult challenge. So I ask you again, can you treat each of them equally in your heart?"
"Can you treat your beloved Abaddon and a Shadow Moon Wolf you meet for the first time with equal fairness in your heart?"
"When they simultaneously speak of something with no evidence, will you immediately believe them equally?"
"When they face danger, will you, in the calmest deliberation, save the one with a better chance?"
"When they face death, will you grieve equally?"
"When hundreds of your Shadow Moon Wolves, whose names you can't even remember, die on the battlefield, achieving the greatest victory, will you be steeped in sorrow, or will the joy and pride of victory involuntarily seize your heart?"
"Don't evade it, Horus."
"You say it is because some are familiar to you and others are not; that this is only human nature. Then I ask you."
"Would our Father be like this?"
"And would you, Horus, be like this toward your brothers?"
"When one of our brothers dies in the most glorious victory, do you think our Father, or you yourself, would be immersed in victory, or would you be pained by their passing?"
"Right, as you say, both our Father and you would certainly be deeply grieved, because we are kin."
"Only we are kin, only we are the true objects of your emotions."
"You, I, our brothers, and our Father—in the Galaxy, only these few dozen individuals are our kin, worthy of importance and cherishing."
"The rest, be they Mortals or our so-called 'progeny,' are merely consumables, tools, instruments piled at our feet, waiting to be used in this symphony directed by our Father."
"This Expedition is merely a grand symphony, so grand that each of us must stay in our positions, using mountains of instruments to play every note our Father directs and requires."
"And you, you have merely developed some unnecessary burdensome emotions for a few frequently used instruments, those with excellent color, feel, and tone, making you mistakenly believe this is some kind of father-son affection."
"But an instrument is an instrument. Ultimately, they are just tools, consumables used to achieve our goals, to fulfill our Father's grand endeavor."
"When they are no longer useful, when they defy your will, when they cannot even perform their basic duty and disappoint you."
"You know what you should do."
"Tools are, in the end, just tools."
"They are meant to be replaced and eradicated by superior beings."
——————
"Of course, I know I cannot persuade you, Horus."
"Nor have I ever intended to."
"I will only speak with reality."
"I will do so..."
——————
As the Eleventh Primarch's words rapidly flashed through her mind, Morgana had just pushed open the door to the command center.
Coincidentally, Leman Russ was about to leave.
The Wolf King Primarch looked quite displeased, but evidently, he had no intention of causing any additional unpleasantness at this critical juncture. The Wolf King of Fenris spared Morgana a few glances, and as their eyes met, Leman Russ bared his teeth, forcing an ugly smile.
"I wish our cooperation a pleasant start."
He said, then quickly departed.
Morgana watched the Wolf King's figure disappear, then walked over to Lion El'Jonson's Star Map projector. She spent about a minute recounting everything she had witnessed to the Lion.
Only the psychic power capable of making Morgana flinch, and the 'weapon' formed by countless wails, made the Lion's brow furrow. As for the Randan's vast fleet that obscured the sky, the Lord of Caliban remained unmoved.
"I have seen too many fleets capable of eclipsing the sun; they all died."
[So, the plan remains unchanged?]
"Yes."
Lion El'Jonson stared intently at the Star Map before him, checking the Dark Angels' final arrangements again and again.
"My people are weakening the veil between Tacus V and the Immaterium. The Randan will feel it all: once they try to destroy this world, a warp storm will engulf the entire sector, destroying them from their very foundations."
"They will have no choice but to accept my challenge."
[That is truly impressive technology.]
[Then, what do you intend to do with that Randan ruler I reported to you?]
"Before worrying about it, we need to eliminate an enemy large enough to fill a star system. As for it... leave it to Leman Russ."
[With all due respect, I do not believe Leman Russ can contend with or kill it. This is a terrifying task, and it is highly likely to lead to deaths we cannot accept.]
"No death is unacceptable to the Imperium, Morgana. If you are truly concerned that the death of a Primarch would alter the course of the war, then we can establish another plan."
"When Leman Russ begins his operation, I want you to follow him. I do not doubt my brother's wisdom, but I do doubt the minds of the barbarians he nurtures. The recklessness of those Fenrisians might drag him down, putting his life in danger."
"I need you to follow him, and at the most necessary moment, you will know what to do."
[I understand.]
[But... what about that Randan fellow?]
Lion El'Jonson smiled. He adjusted the Star Map before him, allowing several surrounding star systems to appear clearly.
Morgana could see that in some areas beyond the Tacus System, another large army was gathering. Especially in the vicinity of the Fenris System, the Star Map showed a massive fleet rushing toward the Tacus System without pause.
The symbol on it was the golden Imperial Aquila.
——————
"The Emperor, our Father."
"The Custodian Guard, an entire Chiliad."
"Horus, our brother who is somewhat eager to prove himself, and everyone in his Luna Wolves Legion and fleet."
"And Mortarion, with his Death Guard deployed en masse. Oh, that somewhat exceeded my expectations. I heard his losses at Drune were not small. It seems he does possess some admirable qualities."
"They, all of them, are on their way."
"The outcome of this war is already decided, my kin."
"This isn't even a war; it's just a hunt, an incredibly dangerous and insane Forest Hunt, plunging our blades into the body of a cornered Giant Beast."
"The only thing we need to consider is, before it truly dies."
"How much blood will it shed?"
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