Chapter 110: Sector Expansion
Pritchard Sage stepped forward and handed a dataslate to Omega. "When the Data Repository was interfacing with the Forge World's archives, there was unexpected information in the transmissions, a request from a planetary government in another star sector to join the Alpha Star Sector!"
Omega took the dataslate and scanned through it. "Join the Alpha Star Sector? There's such a thing?"
After reviewing the details, his expression shifted.
The reason was simple enough: the star sectors where Astartes Legions were stationed often became more technologically advanced. The Legions had sufficient strength and resources to promote rapid development within their sectors.
Because the Legions were stationed in both the Alpha Star Sector and Ultramar, Primarch Omega and Roboute Guilliman had invested considerable energy and time into developing the planets under their command.
Ultramar had initially been a scattered set of worlds, each managing its own affairs.
As Roboute Guilliman developed the star systems around Macragge and made them prosperous, planets in the surrounding sectors grew eager to join the system governed by the Ultramarines.
The realm had grown from dozens of planets to seven or eight hundred worlds. Roboute Guilliman's domain of Ultramar was vast.
The situation in the Alpha Star Sector mirrored that trajectory now.
Rogue Traders from surrounding sectors had visited this region for trade to assess its potential. The introduction of hundreds of millions of prisoners for development in the Metias Sector had attracted attention across the Imperium.
The more people on surrounding planets learned about the Alpha Star Sector, the more they hoped to establish contact and develop trade relationships.
Some planets even wished to join the sector's administration formally.
For nearly two hundred years of the Great Crusade, except for a very few star sectors that were carefully managed and developed, most other planets had maintained the status quo. Some were on the verge of collapse from having to provide logistical resources for thousands of Expeditionary Fleet vessels.
Omega knew from Alpharius that Malcador the Sigillite had too many responsibilities to manage and simply lacked the capacity to develop each planet individually.
This led to a paradox across the Imperium: most human populations on planets lived in miserable conditions.
Yet the people in the Alpha Star Sector lived well and enviably, making surrounding populations eager to join once they heard the news.
Countless people in neighboring sectors, seeing how the Alpha Star Sector was developing, naturally wanted to join and improve their lives.
The Alpha Sector was entering a phase of continuous integration and expansion, similar to Ultramar.
"What are Alpharius' thoughts?" Primarch Omega asked.
"He said to let you decide. My Lord"
Omega recalled their earlier disagreement. He had wanted to focus on developing his own region and leave Imperial affairs to the Emperor.
He hadn't expected that, after so much time, conditions in many surrounding sectors would remain miserable, without meaningful change.
The number of planets applying to join had reached over a hundred, and many more hoped to establish friendly relations and trade exchanges.
These were just the formal applications. There were likely many more with the intention to join.
Once the precedent was set, most planets in nearby sectors would choose to join, and the Alpha Star Sector would become as vast as Ultramar.
While this was beneficial, it also violated the taboos of the Imperial government and was one reason Roboute Guilliman faced considerable criticism.
No great empire would allow anyone within its territory to carve out their own fiefdoms and create power blocs.
This wasn't a matter of the Emperor's or Malcador's ideology, but a necessity for stability in administering a vast empire.
Omega thought for a moment and said firmly, "Bring the Isidore Star Sector in. For other sectors, only engage in trade and exchange, don't interfere too much. Our most important task now is the Great Crusade."
Pritchard nodded, then quietly asked, "Why not absorb a few more sectors? With your wisdom, I believe you could manage it."
Omega scoffed. "That's Malcador's responsibility, not mine. Even managing one more sector, I fear I'd be willing but unable, and worried about failing the expectations and hopes of countless people."
"How is Forge World Metis developing now? Does that sector need to be pacified?"
Pritchard's heart lifted, and he spoke seriously, "Metis is developing very well. The Forge World can already provide large quantities of ammunition and heavy weapons. The production line for space battleships has been established and can provide large numbers of system ships and one-kilometer transport vessels."
"The sector is developing well, and there have been no rebellions. It seems the attempt to change the subject has failed."
Omega's expression brightened slightly upon hearing this. Sustaining a massive Legion of 30 million from a single sector was feasible.
But once war intensity escalated, tensions would arise, and the sector might struggle to sustain operations if not careful.
Except for a few powerful and difficult-to-conquer xenos planets, there was no need to deploy the entire Legion's strength for every campaign.
The optimal choice was to divide into three fleets, which would significantly increase combat efficiency.
Currently, there are three sectors, allowing for the formation of three fleets. Once these three sectors developed over time, the Legion's strength could steadily increase.
After Alpharius returned, everyone discussed and approved the plan. Albert volunteered to serve as Chief Forge Master in the Isidore Star Sector.
Omega then proposed visiting Forge World Metis in the Metias Sector. Alpharius nodded in agreement.
In the corridor, Omega caught up with Albert, who was clad in red robes.
When Omega inquired, the Albert looked at him and said, "Establishing a Forge World in the Isidore Star Sector to manage countless Mechanicum members requires a Sage of high standing. The other Sages all have their own duties, so I am the most suitable."
"Oh, yes, you, My Lord Omega's wisdom is also sufficient to serve as a Sage. You could do even more than we."
"Uhh...No, no, I'll be fine, I'll be worked to death if I took one more job!" Primarch Omega said quickly, seeing his peculiar suggestion.
Albert's mechanical eye whirred as he chuckled. "Actually, the current situation of the Mechanicum within the Imperium is somewhat delicate. After nearly two hundred years of the Great Crusade, not only has the Imperium become much stronger, but the Mechanicum has gained many more members and numerous branches and factions."
"If you have any needs, just ask. I will do my best to help you."
"Thank you." Omega knew that after Julius the Wise's death, the relationships among the Sages had become somewhat tense. Albert clearly intended to retreat to the rear, and he was a Tech-Priest who clearly chose to stand on Omega's side.
When an organization becomes very large, power struggles are inevitable.
Even if Primarch Omega and Alpharius didn't care about such matters, their subordinates did.
Albert looked at him deeply, nodded in acknowledgment, and turned to leave.
Everyone has preferences. As a Sage who joined later, he could feel Primarch Alpharius's wariness, but he felt sincerity and trust from Primarch Omega.
Albert also disliked Alpharius's secretive methods.
Watching Albert the Wise depart, Primarch Omega turned his attention to his next matter.
Sage Russell had no objection when he heard about building a space fortress over thirty kilometers long to serve as a base for the Data Repository. He readily agreed. Company Commander Bright was excited for an entire day upon hearing this news.
Omega warped with a thousand warships to Macragge, where he had a long-awaited reunion with Rex and Hermo.
Macragge was covered in steel foundries. The ceaseless clang of hammers echoed, and Rex had established the framework of the Forge World over the past twenty-plus years.
Aside from not yet being able to produce medium to large space battleships, any ammunition supply could be easily met.
Primarch Omega's fleet made full use of the opportunity, receiving a continuous stream of war materials.
A million new recruits were enlisted from the Hive World, signifying that the Metias Sector was officially on track and could provide robust logistics for the war.
Inside the enormous steel fortress of the Chief Forge Master, Primarch Omega looked at the magnificent and intricately designed mechanical dome, unable to help but praise it.
The Metias Sector's population now approached five billion, including a large influx from transport ships and significant births over the years, with each planet having nearly fifty million people.
With such a large population on a planet engaged in division of labor, many engineering and construction projects were developing rapidly, and it had acquired the characteristics of a thriving human civilization.
[End of Chapter]
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