Side Story 22: Submit or Die
Ningguang, Keqing, and Yanfei worked hard during Ein's visit to Beidou. Evidently, it showed on Yanfei's comprehensive laws that she passed. Researching a lot about the cultures of their new inhabitants.
There was a scuffle here and there with the eldar and humans. Especially because the elves were a bit too arrogant. But the soldiers are getting better and better, smarter as well.
The space elves can't help but admit that the humans were getting close to their elegance and control. Some relationships even started to bloom and the Hamn empire would be expecting a lot of hybrids in the next few centuries.
They did not know how humans were like cockroaches, able to reproduce so quickly and bolster up their numbers. But as the races started to mingle, the eldar found out that humans really liked to make babies, especially when they were in a stable environment.
The first set of power armors for the soldiers were already done. And they got equipped with the finest of gear. Armed to the teeth, nothing to lose and everything to prove. The soldiers were being led by their elites.
Namely Yelan, Shenhe, Eula, and Lisa. While Rosaria would assassinate the scumbag nobles.
"Hehehe~ this is quite exciting! We're fighting a war! To save those guys from their miserable lives!" Yelan's daredevil tendencies were of course still going strong. And they would show the Imperium their finest soldiers.
"Umu, I cannot wait. They are going to be saved soon. Remember, those who resist gets some." Shenhe smacked her palm with her wrist. Thinking that some POW's who resist were acceptable casualties.
"Fufufu, I can't wait to try using these so called psychic energy and Ein-san's honkai energy." Lisa chuckled, excited to try her new powers. Learning the honkai's role in their home world. And as a researcher, she would love to bend physical laws with her own mind.
"We will be leading squadrons, the elites will spearhead the charge. And when we disable their defenses. The soldiers pour in and take control of the cities." Taldeer wore her armor. Her glaive glowing with energy as her capabilities as a psyker isn't chained down by the influence of the warp.
"Let's go." Eula didn't have many words and their battalions entered the ships. Ready to take over multiple hive worlds and rob the Imperium of manpower under their noses.
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They quickly arrived at a hive world and they could see the toxic atmosphere outside of the hive cities. The planet was basically a massive factory in which the surroundings were sacrificed for more industrial purposes.
And the people living in the cities were miserable. Crime and suicide rates were sky high. People died overworking all the time. Billions of people in each hive live in poverty, forced to eat corpses.
"I'll be swooping in with my squad, expect that the higher ups and those in command to be taken care of in 30 minutes. Then rally the troops and poach the people." Rosaria twirled a knife on her as a squad of assassins were behind her.
They quickly infiltrated the hives and effectively cut off the world's chain of command. They also cannot communicate with the Imperium anymore as Rosaria's squad sabotaged the comms.
The guards of the hive cities saw massive spaceships arrive outside. And the elites who came out surely put them on high alert. As they wore Eldar armor. And the other soldiers have an unfamiliar insignia.
"We are under attack! Reduce their numbers as much as possible!" The imperial guard immediately shot their lasguns at the squads of elites. But they were all psykers and their forcefield was unbreakable.
The eldar elites then rained down lightning and their psychic might on the guards. Zapping their asses or popping their heads with telekinesis.
Lisa altered the atmosphere and created a thunderous applause on their defenses. Disabling artillery and mounted weapons on the cities.
She also released multiple EMP's, effectively shutting down tons of their tech, weapons, and communications.
Hive cities are not that large. And the people started to know what was happening. The city is under attack and the ones on the offensive were announcing that those who surrender will be spared and receive a better life.
Riots immediately started, with hive gangs taking advantage of the chaos. Rebels suddenly pop up and kill the guardsmen. And it was all a massive shitshow because there was no chain of command.
The comms were silent and they could not ask for help against the xenos that invaded the hive world. When the chaos was at its peak, battalions of soldiers decked in power armor stormed the cities.
Lasguns would just bounce off of their armor, rifles could not scratch their shiny suits. Plasma weapons were like water guns that were shot unto tanks.
"Kill those who are causing chaos and unrest, the rebels are identifiable by their insignia and logos. The ones who look like idiots with guns? Kill them all." Yelan gave her orders and the hive gangs were gunned down immediately.
The cities were immediately overrun and taken over. The guardsmen who didn't surrender got taken out.
The leader of the rebels appeared and was negotiating with Yelan and Eula. "We would like to have independence and take control of this hive world. The Imperium left us to suffer here, we will seek other hive worlds and cause a revolution."
"Nuh uh, you can take your little rebel guys. But the populace is ours, you won't get far with how weak you guys are anyways. We need manpower, that's why we raided this planet in the first place." Yelan immediately shot him down.
The leader gritted his teeth and calmed himself down. Having thoughts of encroaching inside their spaceships and strike when the time was right. So they would also have space ships for their cause.
Not really understanding that they were outmatched and outgunned. Thinking that their success was due to the rebels taking care of the military from the inside.
Shenhe immediately noticed his malicious plan and walked up to him. "What? We are going to comply, please lead us to your ships." The leader had a nice poker face and thought that the pretty lady was one of their commanders who didn't fight in the frontlines.
Shenhe lifted the man up with both of her hands and their soldiers immediately surrounded the rebels with their guns aimed right at them.
"You lie, Ein always said that people with malice like you are better off dead." Shenhe popped his head like a watermelon without any reaction and the people went silent.
"Now, now, ladies and gentlemen. This is pretty simple yeah? It's either, you come with us. Or we send you to the afterlife. Capisce?" Yelan sighed and thought that people were really troublesome.
"No! You killed our lead-" A member of the rebels was about to say something, but a soldier smoked them immediately.
"Hah, you guys deaf or something? It's pretty simple, follow us and get a nice warm bed. Or get smoked by one of these bad boys and get some lead in your head." Yelan pointed at their weapons and they finally understood the assignment.
"That was really unnecessary, Yelan." Eula frowned and thought that it was a bit too much. "Stop overthinking things, spindrift knight. This isn't Mondstadt, this world is a lawless jungle that treats lives as less important than farmlands." Rosaria patted her on the shoulder.
"I know..." Eula then sighed and thought that she should be more decisive like Yelan, Rosaria, and Shenhe.
"We're on what you humans call, on a roll. Let's get as many hive worlds as possible. Before the Imperium knows that they've lost multiple of them." Taldeer wanted to continue and they concluded that with just a fraction of their forces, brute forcing them to submission was easy.
So they separated their battalions to 6 legions. With one of them each commanding the group for their operation.
With the help of the webway, transporting hundreds of billions of people was easy. And many hive worlds will fall today.
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Ningguang and Keqing abused the technology Ein provided them with as much as possible. Terraforming planets galore and taking in tons of people.
"We now have a lot of people, our military might would range in the trillions pretty soon after this operation. And every single soldier of ours can match these so called astartes with state of the art armors and weapons that Ein gave us." Ningguang gave a satisfied smile.
The Hamn empire quickly shaped up. They were still relatively simple, but they poached tons of people that were eager to have a good life.
Not to mention that with their power armor, the soldiers that trained for a small amount of time could go toe to toe with Astartes with their AI and superior technology.
For context in a ground war against the Imperium. They outnumber astartes 1000 to 1. The Hamn empire's military might is getting really ridiculous.
But they lack warships and naval fleets right now. Something that Ningguang was fixing immediately as they sent companies to strip the hive worlds they conquered bare of resources.
Already starting mass production of massive starships that would be at the same size of craftworlds. Hundreds of kilometers long and could house billions of people inside comfortably.
Ningguang also thought it would be tactically sound. As the Tyranids, the verse's zergs actually strip the planets bare after they have killed everything and slurped the biomass for their fleets.
Making the Imperium doubtful of what happened, immediately suspecting that the Tyranids have attacked and took everything from the hive worlds.
It would only work once, but they were already racking up numbers. And hundreds of hive worlds will fall when the Imperium notices that something is wrong.
Lilith gasped and could only stare at Ningguang and Keqing. They were stealing her Imperium's resources without mercy and she felt extremely complicated about it.
And their forces were getting scarily strong. She doubts that the Imperium of man could even send a strike force to the Hamn empire's star system. As all of their planets were loaded with interception systems and weapons that could blow up planets with one shot.
"So, Ningguang was it? What is your plan against the Imperium..." Lilith asked the question, wanting to know if they would launch a great crusade against them.
"Hmm, you are worried that we would take over the galaxy and take everything for ourselves? That's too troublesome, miss Lilith. We will only create an empire that could be the haven for any race that seeks shelter. Though hostiles will be eliminated without mercy." Ningguang smiled at her.
"But the Imperium would be hostile when they find out about this..." Lilith then had an understanding and immediately went pale.
"Why yes, they will become hostile. And they will try to attack us in droves, but they will fail. And our empire will demand reparations. Or their galaxy wide nation would be razed to the ground." Ningguang said as a matter of fact.
"I see. Then the Imperium will be forced to submit. Or they would die trying, but they won't pick the former..." Lilith sat down with a heavy sigh and could already see her home get conquered by an empire that hasn't even existed for a decade yet.
"Ohh? We received another shipment of people Tianquan, multiple planets have been terraformed for them already. I will go and check if they are done correctly. Inform Jean that our navy will start production as well." Keqing stood up and went out to work again.
"Oh, have I told you as well? Our navy is under construction now. So give or take, a couple of months is all we need to take down any faction in this world." Ningguang laughed as she informed Jean that the navy should start being made.
"Ugh, who are you people really? This shouldn't be possible." Lilith couldn't believe it and would laugh at anyone that would have told her about this in the past. But she saw what they could do, and they are consolidating power like no other.
"This is just the beginning, miss Lilith. Our Eldar occupants are just starting to regain their strength as well. And in this empire, having weak bodies is not an option. They can also train their abilities as a psyker without worry here. Imagine a legion of alpha-level psykers that are decked in indestructible armor. Pretty neat, right?" Ningguang chuckled and Lilith raised her hands in defeat.
"Alright, you win. I'll tell you everything I know about the Imperium. But please promise me that you'll spare the civilians." Lilith squinted her eyes at Ningguang and she nodded.
"An easy request, we've been doing that now already. You've seen it with your own eyes as well." Ningguang shook hands with the blonde and they discussed the Imperium's inner workings.
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Ein was really satisfied with Ningguang's work. And he is currently helping Ganyu and Yae Miko to promote culture among the humans and Eldar. They were having some other alien species that asked to live there, but they were the minority.
And what better way for them to learn about culture, than entertainment. They were creating movies about the history of the races and also romantic movies of course. Because God knows that everybody's seen tons of real life action already.
"Okay, places everyone! This will be my masterpiece!" Yae was wearing the typical director outfit. A smart casual outfit with a beret and a scarf.
"Do we really need to do this? Won't texts and books be enough?" Taldeer was fidgeting as she was the main heroine and Ein was the leading man. Because why not, the man could act.
They were acting out the role of forbidden lovers. Ein was a god that couldn't be partial to just one person and Taldeer was a mortal that managed to creep into his heart. All that cheesy stuff.
"Eh, It could be worse you know? Yae actually wanted to make some spicy adult films, but every interracial couple denied her. Why though? Do you hate the idea of being with me?" Ein smirked and pinched her cheek.
"No! No, but this is kind of embarrassing. And everybody will watch it too. Because this is some kind of propaganda, right?" Taldeer sighed helplessly.
"Hey! Prepare yourselves okay? Taldeer, you have to look sad and chase after him, confess your burning love then smooch, okay!?" Yae shouted out and she was clearly expecting a lot from the warrior.
"Yae-chan, you're a bit too overbearing." Ganyu gave a wry smile and cheered on Taldeer silently. As Yae wouldn't really stop now.
"3, 2, 1, action!" Yae started the filming and Taldeer took a lot of takes for that scene.
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After a few weeks, the administratum of the Imperium noticed that no messages came from a good number of their hive worlds.
They sent people to investigate and they were shocked out of their minds. Thousands of hive worlds were stripped bare. Right under their noses.
The imperium was already suffering from having insufficient resources. But this was a fatal blow to them, numerous planets. Gone, lost in a blink of an eye. Along with the resources of those hive worlds.
It was quickly reported to Roboute Guilliman. The primarch that returned, giving him intense dread and headaches from the mysterious disappearances of entire hive worlds. (pic)
And not just one, not two, but thousands of them were lost. "This is insane, how can we recover from this?" Guilliman was a specialist in logistics and tactics.
And losing that many people and factories costed them a lot. Guilliman immediately ordered another round of investigations on what the hell happened.
He would try and find out the culprits, but they won't appear until they show themselves. The galaxy is wide, some things can go unnoticed for weeks, months, or even years under their watchful eyes.
But currently, the Imperium is now at their weakest. Hive worlds produce tons of ammo, weapons, and necessary parts so the military and other sectors could continue.
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A couple of months have passed, the Hamn empire turned out to be really solid right now. They had armadas that were decked with tons of weaponry.
They were essentially entire countries that could fare in space and fortified to the maximum. Energy generators that use energy from the warp give them infinite supply.
Cannons the size of mountains were their main battery. Capable of vaporizing entire planetary systems with one shot.
Void shields that bends space, making them unbreachable. And when a psyker or some random dude wanted to teleport inside, they would be ripped to shreds by it.
That was just one of the more vanilla ones, there were also siege types that would release trillions upon trillions of drones and would dismantle the whole planet.
The Trojans that would hover in the atmosphere when the drones destroy planetary defenses and send gigantic pods filled with soldiers. Right at the heart of key areas and back lines.
Training of soldiers were now done too. Turning every single one of them into crazy guys that could shoot flies accurately with an iron sight kilometers away from them.
The galaxy won't know what hit them and they were going to start dominating the milky way.
"Hello everyone, I would like to announce that due to our constant efforts. Our empire has been sufficiently getting stronger. And now is the time to show the galaxy our glorious empire." Ningguang made a speech and the empire was excited.
"This, is what the humans call. Holy Terra." Ningguang showed them planet earth in the Sol system. It was arguably the most fortified planetary system in the milky way Galaxy.
Moons were turned into fortresses that had guns and space interception system for days. Millions of warships patrolled the area.
A massive starship that was the size of the moon called the phalanx would stop invasions. Its docks could harbor a dozen imperial navy cruisers that were 4-6 kilometers long.
Mars, the home world of the Adeptus Mechanics has ridiculous amounts of fortification as well. And when the invaders become a huge threat, after the first line of defense which is located in the kuiper belt. They will fortify the whole star system and congregate forces to protect the imperial palace.
"We will be announcing our empire. Prepare yourselves, all notable nations should show their might, no? That's the only way so they won't pester you." Ningguang ordered the assault in one week.
Ganyu and Ei were sent out. Boarding a nice little space ship that was riddled with void shields that cannot be scratched by even planet destroying weapons.
"So, Ningguang. We just send this declaration to the Imperium? Let me read it." Ganyu started reading the letter and it basically says that the Imperium should submit to the Hamn empire or fatal force will come.
"Okay, so we come in. Slap them on the face and destroy a planet or two when they get angry?" Ei understood the assignment.
"Basically, yes. Destroy something important when they start attacking. And then we will prepare our troops here and show overwhelming force by starting our invasion at the kuiper belt. Bulldoze through all of their defenses like paper." Ningguang had a smile on her face.
"Damn... The imperium would have a rude awakening. At least we will be a vassal state." Lilith got a headache and thought that this might be what would get the imperium out of their funk.
They will flip the imperium of man over and capture Terra. And if they didn't want the imperial palace to go kaboom, then they will have to surrender.
Such a simple plan, but couldn't be more complicated. They just had overwhelming firepower and strength.
Ei and Ganyu started their journey with Lilith. As she was an inquisitor. They will be able to bypass tons of inspections and defenses without much trouble.
They used the webway and appeared nearby the Sol system. They then found a patrolling cruiser and sent them a message. Seeing the lord inquisitor, they quickly asked what she was doing.
"I am Lilith Abfequarn. I helped close the webway portal that lead to craftworld Dolthe. I was able to escape with my companions here, we managed to get a small space ship that could travel through the webway and we popped up here." Lilith tricked them easily. Besides, who would want to argue with an inquisitor from the ordo hereticus?
They did a background check on her and everything checked out. Arguing with an inquisitor that purged heretics regularly would be a quick way for a bullet in your head.
Lilith also guaranteed her companions, one looked like an abhuman and the other one was kinda quiet and weird. Wearing clothes from millennia ago.
"Okay Ganyu, Ei. Go to the imperial palace quickly. That's your destination right? I don't need to say this because you two are monsters, but be careful." Lilith gave a wry smile as she saw what they were capable of. Ei can split entire countries in half with a goddamned sword and Ganyu can freeze cities in a heartbeat. Not to mention that she was a master of Adepti arts, coupled with her ridiculous specs.
She's basically a titan in human form, that has centuries of experience and could use martial arts.
Ei and Ganyu used their Adamantine suits and hid in plain sight. Even the chaos gods cannot find them when they basically control reality and effectively disappear from existence.
The two quickly arrived at the heavily guarded imperial palace and saw 10 foot soldiers that were fashioned in golden armor. (pic)
Ganyu and Ei appeared a few meters away from the golden banana boy and struck up a conversation. "Hello, good sir. If I recall correctly, you are one of the Adeptus custodes. Right?" Ganyu greeted with a wave of her hand and the man was shocked.
But true to his training and prestige. He knew they weren't normal at all. Nobody can ever enter the imperial palace by just popping out of nowhere.
"Who are you? Answer, immediately." The custode pointed his spear at them and support is on the way immediately as they detected two presences that weren't supposed to be there.
"I am Ganyu and this is Ei. We hail from the Hamn empire, you can say that we are ambassadors. Here, I would like you to convey this message to the highlords of Terra." Ganyu walked up to him and the custodian was surprised, not sensing any malice from Ganyu nor fear upon his form. As he was twice the height of the girl.
Ganyu gave him the letter and he dumbfoundedly accepted it. He then started reading it and frowned immediately.
"So you are sending a declaration of war?" The custodian thought it was a ridiculous joke. But someone that went through the trouble of entering the palace undetected was alarming.
"Umu, that's basically it. Submit, or die a dog's death." Ei announced and the custodian tensed up. "What's stopping us from killing you right here and then?" The emperor's finest asked with hostility.
Multiple custodians and sisters of silence surrounded them immediately. The bald women were there to overwhelm their psychic powers if they decided to use it.
"Hmph, it's simple. You can't." Ei started to draw her sword from her chest and lightning crackled in the surroundings. Ganyu sighed and thought that Ei was too hasty. But she still prepared and the air around them became frigid.
"You are a strong mortal indeed, but I can cut down this whole palace in a heartbeat. Do you dare to try?" Ei's eyes shone and they knew she wasn't bluffing.
The sisters of silence can't stop their powers, the custodes immediately concluded that they were not psykers. And were using otherworldly abilities.
The custodes raised their hands and made a decision to let them go. They could not risk it, Ei and Ganyu were someone that they haven't ever seen before. And that was saying a lot, as they've witnessed tons of shit in the galaxy.
"A wise choice." Ei sheathed her sword back and they were escorted by the custodes to leave the palace.
"We will give you exactly 24 hours. Our forces will appear at the kuiper belt. Do make the correct choice, just like what you did here." Ei patted the custodian on the back and they disappeared like they weren't even there in the first place.
"Quickly, bolster our forces and contact the lord primarch Roboute Guilliman. I have a feeling that they were the ones responsible for the disappearances of our hive cities." The custodes ran around immediately. They were the imperium of man. Surrendering isn't an option.
Ganyu and Ei quickly located Lilith and snatched her from the inquisitors that were asking her questions about the craftworld Dolthe.
They boarded their spaceship and teleported back to their star system. Informing Ningguang that they have sent the message.
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After exactly 24 hours. The kuiper belt was bolstered to the max. Pluto and Uranus were pumped up with weapons. Their naval fleets, ready to unleash their payloads.
And one Roboute Guilliman continued to monitor the kuiper belt. Wishing that whatever the custodes told him was just a prank from somebody.
But it was wishful thinking. As massive starships the size of craftworlds appeared. Their numbers were in the thousands. Accompanied by smaller battleships and cruisers that were still juggernauts in comparison to their naval ships.
Guilliman had a frown on his face and his whole body became tense. "Where did this Hamn empire suddenly come from!? And how are they capable of creating ships the size of craftworlds?" Guilliman believed that the imperium was going to fight its greatest adversary.
Not even the Horus heresy could compare to the military might they will face this day. They then received a comm from the flagship.
"We come to know if you wish to surrender or not. Please do give us your answer, if you obey and become a vassal of ours. Then your empire will flourish, if not. Then do struggle with all your might. It will not really change anything." Ningguang announced and their armada stopped outside the asteroid belt.
"My loyal soldiers, today. We will fight off an unknown enemy. Bearing upon their full weight upon us, but we are the emperor's people. Our light, our guidance. We will not succumb! The emperor protects!" Guilliman ordered the orbital weapon systems to fire.
Space got lit up and uncountable numbers of weapons, shells, missiles, lasers, artillery. Everything under the sun were fired and hit the massive flagship.
The imperium cheered and gave a warcry. But when they got a clear view of the armada. They were unscathed, an unbreakable barrier protected them and the fleet continued to sail.
"Fire! Don't let up, their energy shields don't have infinite up time!" Guilliman ordered and their terrible barrage of orbital strikes continued.
A swarm of drones then started to get released. They were like locusts that got released on a field. And every single one of them were on a mission to disassemble anything.
The billions of traps in the kuiper belt got disarmed and Ningguang's ships were preparing for battle.
The naval ships of the imperium started their barrage when they went in range. But all they can take down are some of the drones. Millions were lost, but it was only a fraction of their numbers.
Ningguang ordered the escorts to fire their main batteries because their weapons would wipe out the Sol system if they used it.
The crews of smaller ships began unloading their weapons on the naval fleets of the imperium. AP rounds the size of destroyers coming in hot at thousands of kilometers per second.
"Wow, space warfare is insane." Childe watched on as explosions, rounds, and beams that would decimate entire planetary systems kept flying around.
"Ahhh, you haven't seen such weapons before Childe?" Taldeer asked curiously. "Of course not, we came from a world where the guns that the people use there are primitive compared to ones here..." Childe could only shiver, thinking if civilizations back in their home advanced like this.
"The most destructive war in our home was the archon war. Where gods fought for supremacy. This is on a whole new level. I can cut down planets right now with my full strength, but I will inevitably fall against their numbers and weaponry." Ei was awed with how technology could achieve this much.
"F-for real?" Taldeer was surprised that Ei could slice planets with her blade. Making her sweat, no mortal would be able to withstand Ei's attacks.
"Heh, you should see what my dear husband can do. He could end this universe by just thinking of it. He just gave this world to us for a challenge. Because if we succeed in making an empire here, we could manage anything back home." Ei shrugged and Ningguang nodded.
"Umu, he doesn't want to see our tactical genius and strength. Beidou just informed me earlier, one of his maids in training can cause Armageddon against a world of gods and magic. He's training us to manage whole worlds." Ningguang concluded and shrugged.
"I... I see. And that's only a maid in training? How strong are his actual maids then?" Taldeer has never heard something so ridiculous before. So she had to know.
"We've never met her, but our friend Beidou is also in an expedition in another world. And one of her crew members grew close to Tohru, the maid in training. She apparently said that his head maid, Rita could reverse time on whole universes without limits with just a snap of her fingers." Ningguang informed them and shivered.
"B-but... We're only in the milky way Galaxy right? How many galaxies are there in a universe again?" Ganyu chuckled nervously as she asked.
"A couple of trillion due to estimates... And at the peak of our empire, we couldn't even expand ourselves to other galaxies. How monstrous is his household then?" Taldeer went pale and now knew that Ein was an even greater personage than she thought.
"His wives are stronger than Rita, that's for sure. Not to mention his kids." Childe concluded and everybody went into contemplation. Trying to unravel his mystery.
"Anyways, we're going to dismantle their every force. We will land in Titan, the home world of the Grey knights. Kill every single one of them, they will resist anyways. We don't need space Marines in our empire." Ningguang gave her orders and their drop ships were nearby Saturn already.
Massive pods were being dropped on the bases of Saturn and Titan. The grey knights were all ready to rumble. With the support of Mars and the major forge worlds. Titan legions were prepared to unleash their weapons and billions of soldiers are stationed to stop their advance.
The soldiers exited the pods and they could already notice the line that were the obstacle for their crusade.
"Calling in air support, titan legions and the whole chapter of the grey knights are on standby." The captains of the regiments called on for support.
"Roger that, standby for Titanfall." After a few minutes, mechs the size of sky scrapers started falling down from the sky. Balled up and glowing a bright blue because of energy shields.
Like a meteor, they shaked the lands and morale was sky high. The mechs that were hundreds of meters tall stood up and whirred.
"Hostiles located, approximately 20 kilometers north. High explosive rounds engaged." The body of the mechs opened up and numerous guns, rockets, and artillery were shown.
"Squads! Deploy energy shields! The first salvo will be fired!" The captains immediately ordered and they scrambled to protect themselves as the mechs finished with their targeting systems.
"Target locked, weapons firing in 3, 2, 1." Massive shockwaves were released from their guns. The ground trembled from the salvo of oversized weapons.
The titan legions of the imperium deployed their shields, but the high explosive rounds the size of houses exploded and decimated their ranks.
After the first salvo, the sky twinkled. Artillery that flew like a parabola descended like the wrath of a god.
Taldeer and the other executives sucked in a cold breath. Seeing the utter destruction and chaos the mechs could bring. And they weren't even done, they began using their automatic weapons, gigantic bullets that were pillars of metal rained down on the enemies.
"This is overkill, I kinda feel bad against them." Taldeer sighed and thought it was too easy. Ningguang agreed, so she issued new orders.
"We will proceed with only ground warfare now, using these against these poor bastards is too much. They're too pitiful." Ningguang wanted them to at least fight, not that they would win anyway.
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"Lord Guilliman. The enemies have already broken through Saturn and the grey knights..." A messenger delivered terrible news and Guilliman underestimated their military might.
"We can't give up! Jupiter can't reroute them, our naval fleets are useless against their ships... All units return to Terra and Mars. Luna will try to slow them down or even decrease their numbers. But this day is a dark day for the imperium. Prepare yourselves."
Guilliman gave a frown and they could only concentrate their forces in Terra. As it was presumably the goal of the invading enemies. Anything they throw at them were ineffective, a last stand is what was essentially going to happen.
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The resistance of the enemies stopped and they only tried harassing the fleet. "So they've already holed up in their base and would spring up a trap?" Jean noticed the various forces that retreated and with their advanced scans. They could see tons of orbital weapons on the moon of earth.
"Heh? They're concentrating their forces on earth. This is getting pretty interesting." Childe could feel that they would enter combat soon. And she was interested in fighting those guys in golden armor.
They were getting really close to holy Terra. Mars was the home world of the Adeptus Mechanicus. The engineers of the imperium. But they knew they were outmatched and just sent their legions to Terra.
The leaders of the combat squads teleported to the surface of Terra along with the elite troops of Yelan, Shenhe, and Rosaria
Tons of drop pods filled with soldiers landed behind them and their battalions were ready to march forward.
Rosaria and her assassins disappeared like mist and were tasked on taking out the high lords of Terra. Nobles with sticks up their asses weren't needed for their vassal state after all.
They then went near enough to the enemy legions and trillions of soldiers will hold the line against them. Along with an approximate number of 1 million astartes. The 10000 Adeptus custodes, titan legions. Imperator titans the size of skyscrapers, massive walking churches.
Ei got a megaphone from Ganyu and she stepped up. "Is this thing on? Ahhh, hello mortals. I am Raiden Ei, the chief guardian of the Hamn empire. We will give you one minute to throw down your weapons, or my hand will be forced." Ei took out her sword and defeaning thunderclaps resounded as lightning rained down from the skies.
The soldiers then counted out loudly and the Imperium's troops tensed up. Guilliman faced their greatest foe yet. The Imperium was not prepared at all and they just appeared from nowhere.
The countdown finished and Ei brandished her sword that came from Makoto. "Hmph, I do not see any dropped weapons. Then so be it, you forced my hand."
Ei floated in the air and space shattered behind her. Obscene amounts of energy gathered at her sword by using as much as she wanted, courtesy of Ein.
A gigantic sword made of lightning appeared and she specifically targeted the regiments of space Marines. Slashing at them mercilessly as they disintegrated. Gone, reduced to atoms.
"Chaaaaarge!" Childe spearheaded the attack and created sonic booms as she ran like a maniac. Shenhe stomped on the ground and uprooted a huge boulder. She then threw it like a meteor right at the heart of the enemy lines.
Yelan supercharged her arrow with energy and released a tsunami of water to her enemies. Ei and Lisa released chain lightning that slithered around like a snake.
Eula and Shenhe then froze the surroundings so their environment would be hard to fight on except for their own troops.
Ei then followed suit as she turned into lightning. Arriving with Childe, Ei showcased her divine prowess with martial arts and swordsmanship.
Childe's new and improved dynamic vision let her dodge the majority of projectiles on her. While the ones that did almost hit got intercepted by orbiting balls of dense water around her that acted as her armor.
She engaged the most dangerous enemies at once. Fighting the Adeptus custodes with just a bow in hand. A surreal scene to be sure. Especially when the custodes were hulking men that wore armor far more durable than a tank.
"How durable are your golden armors I wonder?" Childe gave a grin and decked a custodian with her bare hands.
Childe held back, but the custodian's chest plate shattered and he flew away like a kid that got kicked by an adult.
Meanwhile, Ei was surrounded by the augmented soldiers. She parried their massive spears easily and took them out of the fight with her body. Deciding to spare the ones in golden armor as they would be pretty good guardians for their vassal state.
Vindicare assassins, the greatest snipers of the imperium shot at the two while they were on combat.
Ei dodged the bullets with just minimum movements of her body and caught the last one between her index and middle finger. Staring at the assassin that just fired his shot.
She then threw it back at the enemy with more speed. Hitting the assassin right at the center of his forehead with deadly accuracy.
"Hmph, paltry tricks humans. Too bad, that does not work against me." Ei slowly, but steadily walked towards the custodes that were regrouping.
Childe intercepted the bullets with her dense water armor and continued her dance in the battlefield. Switching from weapon to weapon on dealing with the tall men in golden armor.
Bolter rounds barely scratched her skin. Melta beams and Adrathic weapons that could unravel atomic bonds were blocked by her dense water.
She gave a bloodthirsty grin and laughed like a maniac. "Yes! YES! Struggle more for your empire!" Childe rushed towards them and her thirst for battle was at an all time high.
The roaring cannons and gunfire at the surroundings made her ears ring. Vibrations and shockwaves from combustion hit her body, giving her the feeling that she was in a true battle. A war that she has never been in before.
"Come at me!" She just dispatched a group of custodes, knocking them on the ground. Though they had broken limbs that was bent unnaturally. Taking them out of the fight.
Shenhe quickly arrived at the scene as well and she just stared at the enemies while they shoot at her. Soldiers screamed a warcry and the roaring guns kept on unleashing their wrath.
But they all just bounced off of her skin like it was made out of pure Adamantium. Shenhe then walked up to an Astartes, eating bolter rounds like they were firing nerf guns at her face.
And it might not hurt, but it was annoying as hell. "Hey, stop that. It's annoying." Shenhe took the heavy bolter from the Astartes and smacked him on the face with it. Bending his neck 180° as the guardsmen gasped at her brutality.
"What? It was getting really annoying. Now drop your weapons or I won't kill you." Shenhe warned them, but the commisar raised morale and ordered to continue shooting.
"Hah, humans don't learn. Wait, I am a human too." Shenhe shook her head, ridding herself of useless thoughts. So she ripped off the arm of an Astartes and used it as a club, hitting enemies with ferocity.
Letting go of her restraints on her murderous tendencies. With a straight face, Shenhe bashed skulls and bones like a wild berserker.
Jean went with the battalion of soldiers behind her. The alpha-level psykers creating a bubble of energy shields that protected the regiments. Not that they needed it. It just put their minds at ease, as a lot of them were just new soldiers.
The elites operated with the motto of one shot, one kill. Millions of guardsmen that had even the smallest parts of them poking out were shot dead immediately.
The forces of the Imperium is dwindling down at an alarming rate. "Use the Psi-titans! We need to whittle down their numbers as much as possible!" Guilliman ordered the ordo sinister, elite titan legions that used the immaterium in their weapons.
Dozens of warlord class titans that used terrible weapons whirred. They aimed at their enemies and opened warp rifts upon them. Opening portals and vortices to the immaterium.
Creating massive storms of psychic energy and exposing them to the horrors of the warp. But with Ein's blessing, the soldiers held on to their sanity and the numerous Eldar troops that were naturally proficient as a psyker, kept the rifts at bay.
"Holy moly, these guys are insane! Look at their troops, they're going crazy over there." Yelan was shocked, but not surprised that the imperium would use crazy shit to fight.
Their guardsmen were getting affected by the warp rifts and some of them started even turning into daemons. Their ranks immediately went to chaos and they ironically shot themselves on the foot with their attack.
"We can't let those bastards take advantage of the situation. Call in our daemon exterminators, let them kill all the daemonic enemies and then they'll follow them in the warp." Ningguang ordered to Jean and pretty soon, what looked like meteorites started burning in the atmosphere.
Guilliman was getting overwhelmed as their troops were slaughtered mercilessly, but he was surprised that they actually didn't hurt any of the guardsmen that surrendered.
But chaos started to infiltrate their ranks and daemons poured out of the warp rifts that the psi titans created. He then squinted his eyes at the hundreds of meteorites that ignited the air. About to landfall in the battlefield.
And when he took a closer look with a scope. They were actually soldiers in green power armor, at least 12-15 meters tall. Making his blood run cold, thinking that the kill teams were now entering the battle.
Sonic booms resounded as the Krorks entered the atmosphere. They impacted the ground at 15 kilometers per second. Causing tremors at the battlefield and ruptured eardrums on those who didn't wear protection for their ears.
They then stood up and the glowing red lenses scanned the area like an eagle. Steam escaped from vents in their power armors and the Krorks cracked their bones.
"Boys, it looks like a mighty fine battle is upon us." Their general that was 20 meters tall shouted out, being heard by everyone as he put his massive battle axe on his shoulders.
The behemoths in power armor locked on to their daemonic targets and started to run. Their size didn't make them any slower. Tremors would shake the ground with their steps and the Imperium lost tons of morale.
Their will, shaken. Anybody that saw warriors 3 storeys tall, decked in power armor would surely lose determination.
The Krorks though, didn't really touch the humans. Just pinpointing daemons and using their gestalt psychic powers to close the warp rifts.
Slaughtering the daemonic entities like blades of grass. The Krorks roared and swung their fists, axes, hammers. Popping daemons left and right.
They then forcibly opened up the warp again and would take the fight to them. Unleashing thick pillars of flames and psychic lightning at the rift before they charged inside.
Guilliman was confused, but he suddenly noticed that he was the only one left. The custodes and other executives that were with him disappeared.
He turned around and saw a pale nun with a spear on her hand. "Roboute Guilliman I presume? You're a pretty smart guy according to our research aren't you?" Rosaria twirled a knife in her hand and Guilliman frowned heavily, equipping his helmet as he tightened his grip on his sword and bolter.
"What's your true purpose? I can't possibly surrender the Imperium to you people without knowing your motives." Guilliman gritted his teeth, but what can they do? Their enemies were untouchable, their weapons superior, and the woman that was wielding a sword could kill anyone of them in a split second.
"Here, read this." Rosaria threw a piece of paper to him and he stared at the nun for a bit before he started reading. Noticing that she wasn't showing any intent on trying to fight with him.
"Your empire is a haven for the races? How can I believe this?" Guilliman was of course skeptical. But Rosaria just rolled her eyes and pointed at the battle.
"Look at those Eldar, we've got multiple craftworlds coming to us because they seek a haven for their race. Look at how numerous they are, you haven't seen so many of them in your entire life, or am I wrong?" Rosaria raised a point and Guilliman thought that was true.
"So, how would this work?" He couldn't trust them and thought that the Imperium would be their slave race for their empire.
"Wait let me bring my boss." Rosaria disappeared from his view and he lost strength as a migraine started to plague his head.
"Hello, Guilliman. You are wise indeed, unlike your rotting Imperium and father." Ningguang appeared behind him and she was already sitting on a table while holding a cup of tea with Yanfei.
"Hmmm, to make things short. You just continue what you were doing, but the Imperium has to improve the quality of life of their worlds. You also have to follow our laws of course. Do not worry, we will give our vassal state enough land and food." Yanfei took out a thick book and gave it to Guilliman.
It was the comprehensive laws of the Hamn empire. It also already included the culture of the humans in the Imperium. They knew they can capture Terra after all. So Yanfei wrote their laws with the assumption that the imperium of man would be their vassal state.
Guilliman was having a hard time internalizing all the information. His soldiers were dying like moths to a flame, Terra was about to be breached and they were even holding back.
"Can you promise me that the Imperium will rise to a new age?" Guilliman stared at Ningguang and studied her every move. Trying to see if she would honor the promise she would give.
"Well of course, we can't possibly treat our workers poorly. That's just going to lead to less efficiency." Ningguang shrugged and looked at Guilliman like he was an idiot. Sighing at the fact that the Imperium would already be much more effective if they just lived better lives.
"We've killed every single noble that's troublesome in this planet. We only left a couple of few, things will start to change. And the first one would be to stop creating more Astartes, they're unnecessary. Look at our soldiers that we've only trained for a few months. They're still winning." Ningguang pointed at their soldiers and Guilliman gave a dry laugh.
"Were you the ones responsible for taking hive worlds?" Guilliman started to piece the puzzle and the two nodded. "Yeah, they were pretty eager to live in our star system. There's tons of food and beautiful landscapes after all. And we screen people too, so no crazy people enter. They're taken care of really quickly." Ningguang explained.
Guilliman thought they were more brutal than he thought. But it was effective, a functional society doesn't need cancerous individuals after all. You can have weird quirks and are free to do anything you wanted. But cross the line and you'll be sent to the shadow realm.
"I see... Can you tell your forces to stop the invasion? Tons of soldiers are still dying." Guilliman tried tricking Ningguang as he didn't really confirm that they've surrendered.
Ningguang just sipped her tea and pushed a button on her phone. They doubled down on their attacks and would wipe out the space marine legions if they continued.
"Please stop, forgive me for my insolence. I hereby declare that the Imperium of man will be the vassal state of the Hamn empire." Guilliman of course didn't want to, but what can he do.
"Alright, that was on video and the whole Imperium will know of this. Now how about we go to your so called emperor?" Ningguang called for Ein that was visiting Beidou.
Guilliman wasn't sure why they even wanted to meet the emperor that could only respond using psychic powers as he was a rotting corpse on the golden throne.
"Yo, what's up? Ohhhh, you guys already sieged Terra? I'm so proud of you." Ein patted Ningguang's head and gave her a kiss.
"Not in public, Ein... The leader of our vassal state is right there." Ningguang rolled her eyes but she was happy with his praise. Even though he's treating her like a kid.
"So? You guys already took care of the strongest faction in this galaxy besides the Tyranids and Necrons, what do you need me for?" He was curious and Ningguang haven't asked for help from the very start of their little empire.
"Yeah, and we've got one problem you see? The imperium of man is, forgive me for my words. A shit hole at best. Just look at the civilians here in their home planet. Almost everybody is living miserable lives." Ningguang gave Guilliman a pitiful look.
"What? You can easily change that though? You can terraform tons of planets and have enough space, food, and landscapes for all the people?" Ein still didn't know what she was getting at.
"Yeah, but they're religious zealots. And we need the man they worship to correct it himself." Yanfei said with a sigh.
"Hmmm, Bob huh? Well I can do that. Might as well close his failed webway project." Ein shrugged and thought that Ningguang and the others won't be able to do anything about that. And it's a major risk, sending the Krorks could solve that problem. But why complicate things.
Ein teleported with the others to the golden throne and they saw the corpse emperor, unmoving. "What's up Bob? You looking mighty fine today, might even be able to move a finger." Ein chuckled and his companions deadpanned at him.
"So he tried creating a webway? That's reckless, stupid at worst." Ningguang knew that the webway is something that cannot be created by just trying really hard.
"Yes, it was stupid. Should've tried it on another planet that's not important or something. But no, he got to keep it secret. That's why this guy's brothers got their panties in a twist. He didn't trust them really." Ein shrugged and Guilliman hung his head in shame.
So Ein did his magic and took out a suppository. "Hey, why not be a good son and heal up your father eh? It's not that hard, you just have to stick this up his bum." Ein gave the suppository to Guilliman and he looked at him incredulously.
"I what? Do not play around!" Guilliman was obviously upset and Ningguang sighed at his antics. "Guilliman, that guy over there will mess with you. But what he said isn't a lie. I promise you that." Ningguang sighed and Yanfei held in a chuckle.
Guilliman glared at Ein. Promising that he would fight to the death if it didn't work. The primarch then started going up to the throne and carefully positioned his father so he could give it to him.
"Don't worry, the gate to the failed webway is closed now. And detaching him from the throne won't kill him instantly anyway." Ein reassured him and gave a thumbs up.
Guilliman grumbled and gave the suppository to the Emperor. He then waited and was getting impatient, thinking that he was tricked.
"Don't be too hasty, big guy. Medicines need time to be absorbed, even though suppositories work quickly." Ein rolled his eyes and thought he was too hot headed.
After a few minutes, the rotting corpse of the emperor started regenerating and a massive psychic pulse escaped from his mind. His presence was felt by even non psykers and the more religiously fanatic ones started to kneel and pray.
The emperor of man opened his eyes and looked at his visitors. Noting that he could not use his psychic powers on them. He intended to gather information, but he failed.
He then remembered the presence in the warp that appeared suddenly a few months ago. Silencing the immaterium with brute force with his mere presence.
"You are that God. I never thought I would meet one that was a true omnipotent being." Bob the emperor noted that Ein cannot be compared to the chaos gods at all.
"Well, yeah? I am a true one after all. True gods aren't gods because people believe in them. They're just like that from the very start or after their ascension." Ein shrugged and the emperor was intrigued in him.
"Ahem, sorry to butt in. But I need you to sign this, you're our vassal state now. And you need to fix the Imperium. Everyone worships you and it's all a huge dumpster fire." Ningguang presented a contract and the emperor read it quickly.
He then sighed and thought once again that the primarchs were a failed project that cost his Imperium a lot. And his people has suffered for millennia because of it.
"You know, this wouldn't have happened if you trusted in them more. Or you didn't act like you were a god or something. You created them and demanded obedience. But you forgot one thing, tools need maintenance. Think, Bob, think! They're unstable little shits, of course they needed care." Ein facepalmed and the emperor was ashamed to forget something so simple.
"Why do you have such a hard on for turning humans into the master race anyway? I would understand if everything is out to kill you. But things don't work that way, it seems like it does. But it doesn't, everything is out to get everyone." Ein doesn't get him.
"Anyways, thanks for this Ein. We'll take it from here. This guy needs to fix tons of things, we'll help. But your imperium needs a major overhaul. Guilliman already has the new laws you guys need to operate on." Ningguang informed them and she rallied the troops to retreat.
"Guilliman, tell me. What exactly happened when they started sieging Terra. I could not see from the warp, they are protected heavily by that man." The emperor wanted the damage report.
"They bulldozed through the entire sol system. Earlier, they sent a message through their envoy that demanded us to surrender. But of course we did not know that they would bring this much destruction." Guilliman gave the emperor a quick rundown of what happened.
"I see. They can fight against the custodes with their bare hands. But how can such power come from their bodies? They look fragile..." The emperor couldn't wrap his head around the fact that the ones who lead their armies looked like your next door neighbor, beautiful sister.
Able to shatter the power armor of the custodes and throw boulders the size of titans. "They're an enigma. Psychic powers also do not work on them directly. I am afraid that any of you would lose against them on a confrontation. Their physical might is absurd."
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Ein started a party for their successful raid and it landed them the imperium of man. They also weren't worried about the emperor as Ein was a great deterrent. He won't have any funny ideas for as long as he lives.
And after cooking up a ton of sea kings for the soldiers. He stepped out for a second because he received a message from his kids. They are only 5 years old because he slowed down their time whenever he was away.
They look like they're in the prime of their lives too. But of course, kids will be kids. Especially because they were daddy's girls. Ana told him that they were getting bored and wanted to do something with him and their moms.
"Hmmm. A family excursion? They quickly got bored in Naruto when they learned everything. Maybe a world with puzzles or something? Or more exploration?" Ein was thinking of what world to go to so the kids will have a good time for longer.
"A place where they can explore a lot. And they should be able to do it in a group, aha! A world with a huge ass dungeon should suffice. But they're pretty socially awkward. Their temper is pretty volatile." Ein would like to give them more experience in socializing. So they won't lash out on annoying people.
"Kukuku~ I got just the right place for them." Ein rubbed his palms together and planned his next destination where he could make them more sociable.
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Thanks for reading, I already realized this some time ago. But the lore of Warhammer is too deep and a lot of people won't understand it besides space Marines. So I ended it prematurely and would focus on the kids next. Anyways, ciao.