Chapter 11
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In a sense, psycho-indoctrination is a form of dark technology that uses mechanical means to instill specific beliefs in people.
The human brain is fascinating, with different neurons responsible for different areas. There are specific neural areas responsible for discerning right from wrong. For example, consider the proposition that water is poisonous. This proposition requires multiple evaluations, such as what kind of water and what it contains to determine if the water is poisonous. The process of decision making is complex.
However, psycho-indoctrination can bypass these processes and directly arrive at the answer. When certain information enters the brain, by influencing a part of the neural network, it allows the brain to make a judgement without thinking, accepting the information as true.
In other words, once the idea that water is poisonous is imprinted into the mind through psycho-indoctrination, that person will indeed view all water as poison.
Considering the complexity of the Imperium and his unique status, Guilliman decided to employ this technology.
Guilliman didn't have a choice; he had to stand firmly on the side of humanity.
The Emperor stood for humanity, but he might not necessarily stand by Guilliman.
Being a time traveler and endowed with golden fingers, the Emperor could see him as an enemy, a potential threat to humanity, and decide to eliminate him.
If caught on Terra, he would be done for. The Custodian Guard, these homebodies, held strong opinions against Guilliman. If the Emperor ordered, they would take Guilliman down in an instant.
Many conservatives and hardliners were dissatisfied with Guilliman's attempts to alter the Emperor's creations and to reform the bloated structures of the Imperium in the original storyline. Some even rebelled, refusing to obey Terra's commands. These individuals were potential threats.
In addition to these threats, problems such as Chaos invasions were extremely tricky.
It would be terrible if the weapons he created ended up being used by traitors against humanity!!
That would indeed be disastrous.
Guilliman needed a trump card - the application of psycho-indoctrination to the new soldiers.
Make them detest Chaos and everything associated with it. Meanwhile, ensure that his authority is higher than that of the Emperor. In this way, even if the Emperor turned against him, he could at least get away unscathed, avoiding a disastrous end on Terra.
Cawl looked at the smiling Guilliman, his high-speed processing core pausing for a moment.
He had read the contents of the data storage and naturally knew what psycho-indoctrination was.
"Lord Regent, this psycho-indoctrination technology..."
Cawl's voice carried a hint of confusion. Should such technology really be applied?
"You're aware of the current state of the Human Imperium, Cawl. We have nowhere left to retreat. The Imperium has endured for ten thousand years, but it is in constant retreat facing Chaos, growing weaker by the day. The situation is worse than it was during the Great Crusade. Given this state of affairs, how can we confront the ever-more terrifying war? In the long run, humanity will inevitably be thoroughly destroyed by Chaos.
"In times of crisis, extraordinary measures are needed. We require a force utterly loyal to humanity and the Imperium, a reliable force that fully obeys our commands and ideas. You have witnessed the corruption of Terran bureaucrats and the rigidity of the Mechanicus. If we don't instigate change, do you believe we can defeat the dreadful Chaos?"
Guilliman didn't wish to reveal his inner thoughts, so he continued to persuade.
Cawl's brow furrowed, his electronic eye glimmering with a peculiar light. After a moment, he had made his decision.
"I will fulfill your request, Regent," Cawl bowed, his mechanical hum echoing with his movement.
A smile spread across Guilliman's face.
"That's the best outcome. Proceed and complete the task I've assigned. I hope to see this force as soon as possible. I need it to stabilize the current chaotic state of the Human Imperium."
After ending his conversation with the Mechanicum's wise man, Cawl, Guilliman summoned the leaders of the Death Spectres, Ivraine and Yvraine, to have a face-to-face conversation.
The Human Imperium has always been suspicious of aliens, and the people of Ultramar would not trust aliens active in their world. Before he led an army to deal with the remaining Chaos forces in the five hundred worlds of Ultramar, he had to sort out the issue of the Death Spectres, this alien force.
The Death Spectres weren't a formation of the Imperium but a force from the ancient alien race - the Eldar. For some reason, they had chosen to aid Cawl, Celestine, and others in resurrecting Guilliman.
In the task of his resurrection, they had put forth great effort. Guilliman couldn't simply dispose of them; that would be quite inhumane.
The Eldar were slender, their appearance not much different from humans, except for their ears, which were notably pointed.
Unusually handsome, they possessed a quality unattainable by humans.
The Visarch and Yvraine entered from the main gate, bowing slightly.
It was their sign of respect to the human Regent.
Guilliman watched the two, and despite living in an age of beauty, he had to admit that the Eldar were indeed attractive.
Their waists were so thin that Guilliman doubted whether they could bear the weight of their armor.
"No need for formalities. Speak openly, for I have many puzzles that need your answers."
Guilliman gestured for them to stand straight, his gaze fixed on them.
It's worth mentioning that the Eldar played a significant role in inciting Slaanesh, one of the four Chaos Gods.
The Eldar are an ancient race, said to have participated in the War in Heaven.
During the War in Heaven, their creators were destroyed, and the opposing Necrons fell into a slumber.
They attained the position of Galactic overlords, entering their most prosperous phase.
In their prosperity, they gradually fell into corruption, plummeting into the abyss of endless desire.
The entire race indulged themselves, freely expressing their hedonism.
Their indulgent thoughts and souls resonated in the warp, creating a massive echo, awakening and nurturing an ancient and terrifying entity.
The birth of Slaanesh sparked a horrifying psychic storm, leading to the direct collapse of the vast Eldar Imperium.
The material universe was torn apart by the newborn chaos god's scream, forming the Eye of Terror that bridged the Warp and the material world.
Countless Eldar had their life force and psychic energy sucked out, becoming the nourishment for Slaanesh.
Even the gods they once worshipped faced a crisis in this terrifying disaster, either being destroyed or imprisoned.
Only those Eldar who had foresight and did not participate in the society's downfall, and those who escaped into the Webway in time, survived.
The souls of the Eldar are always watched by Slaanesh. Once they die, they fall into Slaanesh's hands, tormented and turned into part of its sustenance, living on the edge of annihilation.
Yet their technology and psychic powers remain formidable, and they are a force not to be underestimated in the galaxy.
The Ynnari, led by Yvraine and Visarch, even helped Cawl and others escape from the pursuing forces of Chaos, allowing them to successfully reach Macragge from Cadia.
'The stars have been torn apart, and the galaxy is on the brink of the worst disaster. If the powers of Chaos break out of the warp, the galaxy will descend into its end times. I am pleased that our races could form this alliance to resist this crisis together.'
Guilliman nodded, 'I am delighted with this alliance too. It is a great honor for the Imperium to receive your help.'
'We are about to depart, but there are some things I must warn you about. Cawl's technology is indeed strong, healing your physical body, but the true wound is on your soul. What enables you to walk among the living is the power of the Ynnari. If you value your life, from now on, never remove your armor. Do not worry, the resilience of this armor exceeds your expectations.'
'I don't wish to delve into this matter, nor investigate what hidden forces awakened me!! But I do want to warn you, if you need humanity's friendship, you must treat us sincerely. Any underhanded tactics will only erode humanity's kindness and trust in you. I do not want us to meet on the battlefield one day, drawing our swords against each other.'
Guilliman smiled a little. He didn't want to investigate this matter. Now that he has resurrected, any schemes the Eldar might have are no longer important.
With the help of the databases and dominus templates, he could easily handle anything."
He wanted to give Yvraine a warning; if they resort to manipulations, the Harlequin army would surely regret it in the future.
Despite being his savior, when choosing between his life and the existence of humanity, he wouldn't hesitate to draw his sword against the Aeldari.
"We'll bear your warning in mind. We hope our next encounter will still be as friends, not enemies," he said.
After paying him the due respect, Yvraine turned to leave.
"Well then, may your banner fly high, and show our common enemies a bit of color."
"May you be blessed with great military fortune, Roboute Guilliman," Yvraine said. "The eyes of the Gods, and your traitorous brothers, are upon you. Do your best to survive."
After saying that, she turned and walked away. Visarch, who had remained silent, gave Guilliman a warrior's salute and followed her.
A frown creased Guilliman's brow. He felt suddenly weary.
This universe is full of monsters!
Every single one of them is sharp, hard to fool!
Once he was done with the Eldar, Guilliman pressed the communicator, "Let the long-waiting planetary governors and guild masters in. I have something to say to them."