Chapter 4: Another's Presence

-M29 671. Imperium's Prometheus Arcology. Zalvus Hills. Falmart. One week after the opening-

UR-982 is a Ferrous Mind, it was born for one mission and dedication and was created to serve as the first torch in this new world. The arcology was built just mere hours after the Imperium's arrival. Thousands upon thousands of Imperial Citizens are being moved to this arcology.

With enough human resources, UR-982 began operating the entire arcology section. The certain manufactorum started to work by using STC that just had been uploaded to its noosphere.

Various materials within the arcology began to be synthesized. From the strongest metal, Adamantium and even exoteric Auramite manifested from thin air in the material fabricator. Imperium's mastery over matter and the material universe allowed humanity to create matter from dark matter. As long as UR-982 has the complete data about the said material, it could synthesize them.

The Adamantium began to pour within the production line. Various exotic materials started to be put in the construction section.

Various technologies that lesser species would consider sorcery is being utilized by UR-982 in impossible coordination.

Endoskeleton made by Auramite began to manifest from the nano-fabricator. Every inch of the smallest atom is constructed in perfect connection. Alongside the Omniphages, UR-982 directs the nanites to consume the material needed for construction.

The living metal did as the Ferrous Mind dictated. The synthesized materials disappear instantly, moving deep within the Omniphages' stomach.

The Ferrous Mind uses its calculating program to create the entire inner sections of the automata. As it was completed in mere seconds, the mini dark matter reactor and additional plasma reactor were inserted in their chest.

At this point, UR-982 uses another section at the same manufactorum to produce the automata's weaponry.

Volkite Obliterators were simultaneously created in the tens of thousands as their primary weapons. As countless Volkite were completed, the fourth generation of Accelerator Plasma Incenderator was made as another primary weapon for them. Placing every single piece together, thousands of them are created in minutes..

And for additional and heavy weapons, UR-982 created Mk. XVII Conversion Beamers, designed to be a mounted cannon.

As the weapons were completed, the Man of Iron placed them in their sections. It also setting an additional defense mechanism, an Ion Shield mechanism within the automata's internal mechanic.

The last step, the A.I flooded the automata with Omniphages. Using its nano-fabricator, UR-982 molding the entire robot in the tiniest details.

Then, thousands of Dominator Class battle automata were present.

With that, UR-982 began another batch of automata to produce.

As the Ferrous Mind already deepens its sense in the warp on this plane, UR-982 uses its psychic power to activate the time dilatation matrix within the chamber, speeding up the entire production process. The automata and their weapons were made in a separate flow of time within psychic bubbles. Thus, from the outer perspective, the following construction row happens in less than six minutes.

The matrix itself came from Aeldari technology that has been successfully reverse-engineered by the Imperium's brightest mind.

It has been a mystery why Aeldar's psychomatons are seemingly infinite. Now the answer is in Imperium's possession.

But at the same time, UR-982 wondering. Why does the Imperium need such a massive number of soldiers for this Feudal World? Moreover, in other sections of Prometheus Arcology, UR-982 performs other construction on different war machines.

But duty needs to be done.

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At the command room, Raias silently watched the holovid before him with intense eyes. The map was taken from the drones and Ferrous Mind's psychic scan. And this arcology's Man of Iron had already calculated this Empire's entire routes, resources, and terrain. His eyes lay at a single location. It is a hill about thirty kilometers away from Zalvus.

"Alnus Hills, huh." He said to himself.

A vox call came to his helmet.

"This is Colonel Gax. I want you to meet me in the command room." The Colonel said from the other side of the channel.

"Understood, Gax." He replied shortly.

"That's the Raias I know." The Colonel remarked as the Captain ended their communication.

In the hallway, Raias wondered what topic the old Colonel would bring. Various thoughts came into his mind. From the most possible to the nitpick one. Even he considered a scolding about his action against the enemy's general.

After a few minutes worth of walking, he arrived at the teleporter leading directly to the command room. Holding a sigh, Raias stepped into the teleporter.

With a flash, he arrived at the command room, filled with humanoid automata, Men of Stone, and Solar Guardians doing their duties.

Slowly, he scanned the room, seeking Colonel Gax.

"Raias, over here." The man in question called.

"What did you need from me?" Raias asked, walking closer to the Colonel.

"Come close." He replied while his hand waved on the metallic table, activating its mechanism. There, holovids of various data regarding Alnus Hills were presented.

"You should know about Alnus hills, Captain."

"Of course I am. The report to put it simply is... Interesting." Raias said slowly.

"I must agree with you on that. Besides its strategic value, it was a pale comparison to Alnus' most prominent treasure." A tap on the table reveals another picture. "It was taken one day ago."

Raias could not believe his eyes, checking if his device and augmentation were still intact, seeking any malfunction. Yet, he finds none.

"Is that... Something that I think it was?" Raias asked, did not entirely convince by his own vision.

"Nothing except an extreme form of Warp sorcery to fool us, Raias." The older man chuckled, sliding his fingers on the holovids, zooming the picture.

"Have you performed cross-examination on their design?" This time, Raias asked more seriously, narrowing his eyes beneath his helmet.

"Well, the higher-up did that. And the answer is like what you think." The Colonel paused, considering his following words. "It came from M2. To be precise, Old Earth's Japan."

This revelation causes the Captain to momentarily lose his capability to breathe. The picture he could not leave his sight is another Gate, standing tall on the said holy place. And around it, various buildings are being constructed, and dozens of military assets are forming a perimeter.

"I must say. It was something that made this world worth keeping its value." Raias pointed, crossing his arm.

"Those High Lords always step ahead of us." The Colonel sighed in a surrendering manner.

"Isn't that their duty?" Again, the younger Solar guardian pointed, silently smirking.

"Why are you always ruining my mood like that, Raias. Try another way, and I might be considering your promotion." Gex glanced at the Captain.

"I will try." The man only shrugged.

"Why I couldn't believe those words," Gax mumbled dryly.

"You must try to believe it then," Raias retorted.

"Try me." Gax returned his gaze back to his table. Then, a message popped out from his holovids. Opening it, Gax widens his eyes.

Raias noticed the sudden change. "Something happened?"

"I will say this is excellent news. But, it will put the weight of this situation one of the direst." The Colonel said sternly. Never leave his sight from the holovid.

"Want to explain?" His demeanor changed drastically, changing into his Solar Guardian persona.

"It's about our General assigned to monitor this entire operation," Grax said with a tone of professionalism that only most veteran Guardian capable of.

"Who?"

"It's Lord General Sol Agral Velhico." That was the bombshell. The stern gesture of Raias shattered by shock.

"... I can't say anything about that." The answer was enough to render the two Solar Guardians silent and pensive.

The name has its own weight. The title itself Lord Sol. It means that man has absolute authority over Solar Guardian and their armadas within the Sol System and its surrounding system, serving as overseers in the Imperium's heart. One of the highest orders of the Imperial army, only eclipsed by Lord Commander himself.

And what makes it even more earth-shattering news is the name. Agral Velhico, a Solar Guardian who lived since the third galactic war. A legendary figure who lived more than two thousand years.

"What is the worst-case scenario?" Raias asked bluntly.

"I don't know." The rest was silent. No one dared to speak. The quiet was perpetual as both of them tried to measure the weight of that said person to come here.

"Anyway. I have another reason to call you here." Finally, Gax is the one who breaks the silence with his voice.

"What?" Raias asked, newly snapped from his train of thoughts.

"A reconnaissance mission." As Gax was speaking, data was transferred to Raias' helmet.

"Hmmm... You want me to spy on the Japanese?" He asked.

"To be honest with you. It is just a simple data-gathering mission. Nothing less, nothing more." His superior said with a shrug. Which made Raias doubtful about this mission.

"Data-gathering but peering into their network and stealing their operational data. Sounds like Valus Assassin." Raias said, facepalmed.

"Please. Don't make a transparent line between the Assassins and us. Assume it is a joint information-gathering mission. And also, if you scroll down again. It would also be a mission of Immaterial tracking." The Captain began scrolling and found the secondary objective's details.

"It seems we cannot pinpoint the teleportation coordinate correctly." He concluded.

"Even though the Warp in this plane is... Mostly calm. But the tide is different. So blind teleportation would result in the wrong coordinate." The Colonel admitted, shooking his head in tiredness.

"So that was the reason why we did not perform any teleportation. Very well, I accept." Raias nodded.

"Good. I hope the best from you, Captain Raias."

"Yes, Gax." He saluted, which Gax saluted in return.

"Did you always call me like that, even in the command room?" Gax asked, feeling slightly offended.

"Maybe." Thus, the armored Captain left the room.

"Why is it always me?" He murmured to himself.

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Raias is ready. Armed with Mk VII Glavius Plasma Rifle. Setting the rifle into semi-auto, the Solar Guardian put it on the back of his armor. The suit's Omniphages absorbed it into its molecular form and stored the gun in the compartment within his armor.

Placing a Volkite pistol on his waist, which was also absorbed by the Omniphages. Thus, stored it in the compartment in his thigh.

Rebooting the entire system of his Nano suit, Raias is more than ready to carry out his duty. But he still waiting for his teammates.

Did not take a long time to wait. Four Solar Guardians appeared from the teleportarium. They are helmetless, so Raias could see their face. Three of them are men, and one of them is a woman.

"Terran born, huh," Raias muttered, using a silence mode on his helmet to prevent his voice was heard by them.

"Reporting for duty, sir." The black-haired man with bronze eyes said, saluting Raias with respect. The other followed, giving Raias no other choice except to salute them in return.

"Sir!" The crimson-haired woman said, stern like a soldier. Yet, she is still green in Raias' eyes.

Another one is a tanned bald man with a stern face. As Raias directed his eyes to the last man, Raias only saw a veteran like him. A man that had witnessed terror and innocent blood. A man with a scar on his face, blonde with a couple of sapphire eyes.

"Name," Raias commanded.

"Third Lieutenant Mal Eisobar, Apothecary Auxilia." The black haired immediately answered, saluting Raias with passion.

"First Lieutenant Nathaniel Varus, a Devastator Specialist." The bald Solar Guard answered softly, saluting like his peers.

"Lexius-Lieutenant Maiya Jacillev, Demolisher specialized." The woman proudly said.

"Lexius-Lieutenant, a Demolisher?" Raias asked to make sure he heard it correctly. Yet, to test the determination of the said woman.

"Yes, sir!" She said clearly.

It would explain why her armor is different from the rest of them. It was bulky and armored, designed to store more weapons and heavy weaponry. And her title, Lexius-Lieutenant, is solid proof of her achievement.

Glancing at the last man, Raias narrowed his eyes beneath his helmet.

"Raphael Trax. Sniper Specialist. First Lieutenant." He replied slowly, and each word held its own weight and means.

Raias approached. "Which Solar Guardian regiment you came, Lieutenant?"

"302nd The Steelwatch Solar Guardian. Acardia Sector. Segmentum Obscurus." Raphael answered emotionlessly.

Raias only silent, staring at the man's eyes directly. Sighing in silent mode, Raias let various emotions flow from his head.

"Very well." Raias withdraw. "Our mission is reconnaissance to Alnus Hills, designated 5th Recon Team. And I think all of you know what's hidden between those rocks. Yes, we will meet our ancestors."

Even they could mask their expression. Only Raphael, with his stoic face, managed to hide his surprise.

"So it was true," Maiya muttered in amazement.

"Now, I'm already sending you the entire data. Read it and when it's done, follow me to the teleportarium." Raias left them, making his way out of the armory.

Because of their transhuman brain, they read the entire report in seconds. Thus, with determination, they followed their Captain.

Noticing they have finished reading the data, Raias let himself smile. Entering the teleportarium, they see the five teleportation chambers have been activated. With a mental command, their heads are enclosed by Omniphages, instantly forming helmets. The 5th Recon Team is being teleported.

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Instantly, they arrive on rocky plains. Raias frowned, glancing at his HUD.

"It seems we missed our initial location by two hundred and thirty meters." He said to his squad, zooming the map in his helmet.

"Huh, great," Mal commented sarcastically, scanning his surrounding with his 3D scanner.

"At least we did not teleport deep into the enemy's territory." Nathaniel retorted, taping his arms to open a specific holo menu.

"Greetings, 5th Recon Team." A male gender voice came to their ears. Recognizing the voice, Raias is the first to reply.

"UR-982, we missed our coordination."

"My apologies, Captain Raias. The Warp is the primary cause of this. Even though we have a precise pinpoint in that range, this plane's nature still needs to be fully understood. But don't worry. I will accompany the 5th Recon Team for this operation." It said plainly.

"Welcome aboard, UR-982," Raias said welcomely.

"Please. Call me 82." the Ferrous Mind said warmly, trying to be friendly with its new team.

"Very well, 82." Raias said.

"Alright. I will transmit the Materium Mark to your nano suit's system. It will be slightly tingling because of the sheer amount of data. So Bear with it." UR-982 said in a sign of apologetic manner.

"Don't mind. Just do it." With that agreement, the 5th Recon Team felt their nerves electrocuted, staggering the entire solar Guardians. Their suit put an emergency message in their HUD.

As the bar of transmission is completed, the Solar Guardians regain their feet.

"Slightly tingling, eh?" Mal scoffed.

"It seems I failed to accurately calculate the effect. My apologies." The Man of Iron said without any trace of emotion.

"You must take some amusement by that, 82," Mal said, annoyed.

"I'm an A.I, Lieutenant." The Ferrous Mind rebutted.

"Enough. 82, I've been working with Materium Mark in my three hundred years of duty. But that was different. Care to explain?" Raias take the situation with him, asking the Man of Iron bluntly.

"It was a new variant. Entirely created for this planet. Don't worry, as it still operates like the other." UR-982 said reassuringly.

"Information accepted, 82. Let's not waste more of our time. 5th Recon Team, cloak engage!" Raias' armor activates its Reflective Shields. Hybrid of material science and Warp sorcery, this technology bent the reality around the user, fooling all sense of material detection and its psychic counterpart. And from the naked eye, Raias only disappeared. Even his shadow was nowhere to be seen.

The rest of the team followed their leader.

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-Imperial Capital. Saderan. Falmart. Throne Room-

"That was my report, your majesty." One of the Generals said, kneeling before his Emperor.

"I don't care if those rumors were true. Rumors were just rumors. Every single fighting force in the world could not move if there were no supplies. And when the scorched earth is finished, they can't attack deep into our territory." Emperor Molt Sol Agustus smirked on his throne.

The two forces occupying Alnus and Zalvus made the situation dire. But, as this policy is enforced. The enemies will supposedly stop their movement.

"To the victory!" The Emperor raises his hand.

"To the victory." The rest roared in pride and spirit.