Warhammer: Don't Call Me the God of All Machines

Chapter 846 Religious Civil War
Judge Carter's fingers gripped the yellowed parchment tightly, his knuckles drained of color from the excessive force.

Even her heart, hardened and cold from countless storms, was shaken by the information on the paper.

The words on the secret intelligence seemed to burn her fingertips with scalding heat.

“Unbelievable…” Her voice was hoarse, trembling with disbelief, “The State Cult of Terra… how could they have messed up something so important like this?”

"In full view of everyone! Under the noses of millions of believers!" She suddenly raised her head, her eyes burning with excitement, and looked at the crowd on the bridge. "Motalian, a corrupted Primarch, actually... escaped!"

Her words instantly froze the atmosphere in the cabin.

Everyone could recall the arrogance of the State Church when they announced their intention to publicly burn a Primarch in the Judgment Square of Holy Terra, under the Emperor's gaze.

What arrogance and confidence that would be! If they were to succeed, the prestige of the state religion would instantly swell to the point where it could crush the High Lords Council and even make all imperial institutions grovel before it.

If even the emperor's children can be judged and executed, who else can't? What power can be above them?
“This is intelligence obtained by Terra Inquisition agents at the cost of their lives.” Carter’s voice was even lower, carrying a bloody sense of urgency.

“The state religion is now like a venomous snake whose tail has been stepped on, desperately trying to cover up this hole that could ruin their prestige!” She sneered, her fingers unconsciously stroking the rough edge of the parchment.

"But how can you keep a secret forever? Can they silence the hundreds of thousands of mouths on the scene? Or can they silence all the high lords?"

The State Religion's rampant expansion over the years has made countless enemies. Which of those high lords hasn't sharpened their claws, waiting to pounce on the State Religion and tear off a piece of flesh when it falls?

Before long, news of Mortarion's dramatic escape from Judgment Square will spread like a plague through those dark intelligence networks, silently reaching every corner of the galaxy.

Of course, the authorities will vehemently deny it and vehemently "refute the rumors," but that will only make the truth seem more certain in the whispers.

Qi Le slowly rose from the command seat and walked steadily to Carter.

She didn't speak, but simply reached out and silently accepted the parchment that carried the astonishing news.

The moment her fingertips touched the paper, she seemed to be able to feel the lingering shadows of Terra and the stench of blood on it.

“Half an hour ago, the Grey Knights also sent the same message. Loken and Garo have confirmed to me that Mortalian has escaped.” Qi Le’s voice was calm, yet it carried an all-knowing power as her gaze swept over Carter.

She paused, her gaze falling on Carter's face: "Now, with the intelligence from the Inquisition to corroborate this, we can finally confirm that this news is absolutely true."

Qi Le's words instantly froze the subtle joy on Carter's face caused by her gaining intelligence, which she then concealed without making a sound.

She understood the underlying message beneath those calm words—Qile was reminding her, and also reminding her of the vast and complex court system behind her.

The Grey Knights have firmly stood by Qi Le's side, and the support of the Tribunal is not indispensable to Qi Le.

The court's intervention at this moment, besides bringing down Elfreda, a common enemy, likely has a deeper purpose: to seize greater benefits for itself in this upcoming power reshuffle.

Those high lords who vehemently criticized the State Church in the council, weren't they all secretly plotting to replace it if given the chance?
“Although it’s unclear what methods Mortarian used to escape from the State Church’s encirclement,” Carter quickly adjusted his mindset, his voice regaining the calm and analytical tone characteristic of an inquisitor, “as long as he didn’t die at the hands of the State Church, it’s good news for us.”

Given the Pale King's vengeful nature, he will undoubtedly exact a furious revenge on the Terran State Church to wash away this disgrace. In a sense, he is our...invisible ally.

"An ally?" Qi Le shook her head slightly, her gaze passing over the observation window of the bridge, as if she could see Terra, that crowded and fragile planet.

“My only concern is that his revenge will be indiscriminate. Terra is the throne world of humanity, inhabited by hundreds of billions of innocent mortals.”

"Motalian's wrath will likely burn them all to ashes." Her voice carried a hint of weariness and sorrow.

This war of faith, sparked by the State Religion of Terra and the Alliance of Light, is tearing humanity apart.

Regardless of which side bleeds, it is ultimately the empire's riddled foundation that suffers the pain.

Qi Le was not a born politician.

Her rise from an unknown chronicler to the Pope of the state religion was largely driven by the will of Macardo and the Emperor.

But the storms of these years have not failed to make her grow. She clearly remembers a truth: mercy to the enemy is cruelty to one's own people.

The only way to free more people from the ravages of war is to end it as quickly as possible with swift and decisive action!
“We are about to arrive in Dimanmar.” Loken’s steady voice broke the brief silence. This former member of the Shadowmoon Wolves Council of Four Kings and now the leader of the Grey Knights has a keen insight into strategy and politics.

"The followers of the state religion there also responded to our call, and they deeply resented the state religion of Terra's exorbitant 'religious tax'."

In fact, even without our initial uprising, the people of Dimanmar had already spontaneously organized to resist the absurd rule of Terra.

"We must unite all forces that can be united!" Qi Le turned around abruptly, her eyes regaining a determined light, and her voice became passionate and powerful, echoing across the bridge.

"We must let those people of the Empire who are groaning under tyranny see our actions, let them understand that we are fighting for their interests and for the future of the Empire!" She clenched her fist, as if to instill her determination into everyone.

"The current state religion of Terra has long since abandoned its original mission."

"Elfreda and her bishops are all bloated and corrupt!"
They squander the taxes paid by believers, who tighten their belts to pay, on meaningless, enormous, and luxurious churches, and on their own extravagant lifestyles!

Her voice was filled with heartache and anger: "As servants of the state religion, we should be the mouthpiece of the emperor's will, the shepherds who guide the lost."

Instead of, as they do now, placing themselves on a pedestal as if they were some great and important figure.

"They forgot!" Qi Le's voice suddenly rose, carrying a deafening sense of power.

"The reason why believers kneel down in devotion and offer their meager wealth is because they have a firm faith in the emperor and believe that the state religion represents the emperor's will. Strip away the veneer of 'divine office,' and they are nothing."

Garo's deep voice carried a hint of the aloofness characteristic of Space Marines.

"Unfortunately, Lady Qile, there are too few mortals like you who are so clear-headed, self-aware, and know how to exercise self-control."

The Astartes are born free from most worldly desires; they do not indulge in culinary pleasures, nor are they driven by the instinct to reproduce.

All they sought was the glory of war, the laurel of victory, and the steadfastness of their beliefs in loyalty.

"When I return to the State Religion," Qi Le's gaze pierced through the void, as if he could already see the dome of the Terra Temple, "I will use the most severe means to completely eradicate those parasites that leech off the body of the State Religion!"

……

Terra, deep within the state temple, in a dimly lit secret chamber.

The air was as heavy as solidified lead, with only a faint smell of blood permeating the air.

Christine, the living saint, knelt on the cold stone ground, her bare back torn and covered with deep, bone-revealing whip marks.

The blood had drained away, congealing into a purplish-black scab that clung to the torn flesh, a horrifying sight.

Pope Alfreda's figure was shrouded in shadow, her voice icy cold and devoid of warmth, like a viper's tongue licking Christine's wounds:
“You have disgraced us, Christine.”

“While Mortarion’s escape is inextricably linked to the vile schemes of those abominable Eldar, that is by no means an excuse for you to shirk your responsibility.” Her voice was flat, yet it carried a pressure more severe than any lash.

“We both know that personal honor and disgrace are as insignificant as dust before the great cause of the God-Emperor.” Elfreda took a step forward, and the shadow moved with her.

"What I care about is not the face of the State Religion being thrown to the ground and trampled on, but that we have missed an opportunity to offer a perfect sacrifice to the God-Emperor, a controllable Primarch!"

“She could have been the best vessel for the divine emperor’s will to descend to the mortal world, allowing His glory to truly spread to the hearts of every believer.”

“You must use every means to atone for your sins, Christine.”

"This is your only chance to clear your name."

Christine buried her head deeply, her shoulders trembling violently from silent sobs.

Two streams of tears mixed with blood slid down from her tightly closed eyes, spreading out as two glaring dark red patches on the dusty stone ground.

"Qi Le and her damned 'Alliance of Light' are closing in, heading straight for Terra!"

Alfreda's voice was chilling: "We must send the Crusaders, our fleet, to crush them, and capture Qile and all the fools who follow her, and bring them back to Terra to be burned at the stake!"

After saying that, she picked up a simple linen robe and, with an almost condescending gesture, draped it over Christine's scarred back, then symbolically patted her shoulder.

"Go, get ready to depart."

Christine suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with a mixture of pain, humiliation, and a near-fanatical resolve.

She struggled to her feet, the burlap slings rubbing against her wounds, causing a stinging pain, but she was oblivious to it.

"I swear in the name of the God Emperor!" Her voice was hoarse but unusually firm, carrying a kind of desperate madness.

"I will surely shatter Qi Le's delusions! As a living saint of the God Emperor, she has committed this rebellious act, blaspheming divine grace... It is heartbreaking!"

After saying that, she resolutely turned around and disappeared into the shadows of the secret room, covered in wounds and exuding a strong murderous aura.

……

The hazy star field, the Dimanmar system.

At Mandeville Point on the edge of the galaxy, the curtain of the real universe is torn open as if by an invisible giant hand, creating a huge rift.

Immediately afterwards, ships of various shapes and sizes, like steel behemoths breaking free from their restraints, emerged one after another from the rift, carrying the embers of energy from warp travel.

The eerie blue plumes of their engines pierced the silence of the starry sky, announcing the arrival of a massive fleet.

Dimanmar, a small star system that is virtually unknown in the Misty Starfield and even across the entire Empire.

It has no rare mineral deposits, no strategic location, and is just one of the countless ordinary star systems in the Empire, yet it is destined to be written into history because of the arrival of this fleet.

The Light Alliance, led by Qi Le, boasts an astonishingly large fleet.

Qile's fleet continued to expand along the way, and those planets dissatisfied with the tyranny of the Terra state religion would enthusiastically contribute their strength after hearing of Qile's arrival.

Each planet may offer little help, but when these small contributions accumulate, the total can be quite substantial.

Hundreds of warships, from capital ships transferred from the Space Marines to converted merchant gunboats, to giant transport ships crammed with devout believers, converged into a steel torrent, resolutely sailing toward the brownish-green planet at the center of the star system: Demanmar Prime.

At the heart of the fleet is Qile's flagship: the Emperor's Light.

This massive Void Annihilation-class warship underwent emergency modifications and became a symbol of the Light Alliance's indomitable will.

What is most striking is that its massive hull armor is covered with hundreds of different flags and emblems painted and branded.

Each flag represents an imperial world that responds to Qile's call and opposes the tyranny of the Terra state religion.

These markings are not ornate gold leaf or intricately carved reliefs, but rather made with the simplest pigments or even branded with hot metal, silently conveying Qile's philosophy—

Piety needs no ostentation; hardship and pragmatism are the touchstones of faith.

The Emperor's Light adjusted its attitude, its massive physics engine nozzles turning to spew out a steady stream of blue light, propelling the behemoth slowly towards the main planet of Dimanmar.

As the fleet approached, the local garrison of Dimanmar cautiously met it.

A flurry of flashing communication lights conveyed a message from the planet's surface: Sebastian Sol, the supreme leader of the state religion of Dimanmar, was ready to receive them.

"Hopefully, this missionary Thor won't be like the planetary governors we've encountered before, putting on those wasteful and impractical welcoming ceremonies," Qi Le said softly, standing at the front of the bridge and gazing at the planets gradually enlarging outside the porthole.

She recalled that along her journey, many of those who responded to the call, while opposing the state religion and heavy taxes, were still keen on using grand parades and lavish displays to prove their "piety" and "power," which made her feel extremely helpless.

The Emperor Light is steadily docked in near-Earth orbit around the primary planet of Demanmar.

Qile, Locken, Inquisitor Carter, and a squad of elite Grey Knights crossed the thin atmosphere aboard Stormbird gunships and landed on the planet's surface.

However, the scene before her stirred a slight emotion in Qi Le, a hint of unexpected joy welling up within her. There were no cheering crowds that had emptied the streets, no red carpets covered in flowers, and no triumphal arch soaring into the clouds.

Despite the arrival of the fleet, the city of Dimanmar maintained a calm and orderly atmosphere.

The planet's prosperity level could only be considered below average, but its overall spirit gave Qi Le a long-lost sense of comfort.

The city lacks those expensively constructed religious wonders, such as colossal statues of emperors, popes of state religions, or living saints, as well as glittering, magnificent cathedrals.

As far as the eye can see, there are large areas of neatly arranged, simple yet sturdy and practical low-rise houses.

Through the open windows, one can see ordinary people working quietly in their homes or small workshops.

The streets were clean, and although the materials were ordinary, there was no sign of dilapidation or dirtiness. A pragmatic and focused atmosphere permeated the air.

The National Education personnel who came to greet us were surprisingly simply dressed.

Their robes were faded from washing, with neat patches in many places, and their faces bore the marks of wind and sun, yet their eyes were clear and resolute.

“Lord Qile, welcome to Dimanmar.” A missionary who looked to be over sixty years old, with a kind face but weathered by time, stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Take me for a walk around the city," Qi Le said, her voice much gentler as she pointed into the distance.

"When we landed and looked down at the city, we didn't seem to see any trace of slums?" Qi Le asked tentatively.

In most parts of the Empire's world, slums are a persistent problem, regardless of wealth. After all, slums are an inevitable product of multiple factors, including population pressure, resource scarcity, and incompetent governance.

Dimanmar is not a wealthy place, so it would be even stranger if it didn't have slums.

“Yes, sir,” the old missionary replied calmly, a hint of pride in his voice.

“In Dimanmar, we have completely eliminated the existence of slums.” He paused, his gaze sweeping over the simple houses.

"All Dimanmar people are loyal followers of the Emperor. We advocate that believers emulate the Emperor's spirit of sacrifice and dedication, and take self-reflection and self-discipline as the cornerstone of their practice."

His voice became solemn: "Under the emperor's glory, no form of exploitation or oppression should exist. We pursue equality. If there are still people suffering at the bottom, it only proves that... our cultivation is far from sufficient."

Qi Le's gaze fell on the old missionary's face, her eyes revealing undisguised deep admiration.

“If every bishop of the state church could be like you, not pursuing extravagance, but instead devoting himself to studying the true meaning of the emperor…” she exclaimed, “How much less blood would be shed in the galaxy, how much less conflict would arise.”

"I am truly unworthy of your praise," the old missionary said humbly, bowing his head.

Qi Le did not believe it easily; she insisted on going to the most remote corners of the city.

She walked into the residential areas far from the main street and saw that although people lived in poverty, their houses were clean, and they had access to basic food and clean water. The children's faces were not pale.

She found a small church on the outskirts of the city, converted from an ordinary house. There was no splendor, no marble pillars, and even the statues of emperors were roughly carved from the most ordinary stones, with simple lines that exuded a sense of resilience and strength.

When Qi Le quietly entered, several elderly people with white hair were praying devoutly. Their movements may not have been perfect, but their focused expressions and heartfelt whispers made Qi Le truly feel the warmth of faith.

In the few buildings in the city that looked relatively "respectable," the inhabitants were not bishops or wealthy merchants.

Looking through the window, Qi Le saw the children studying intently in the bright classroom.

The curriculum is not limited to imperial pronouncements; it also includes basic history, arithmetic, physics, and more. The light of knowledge shines quietly in these simple classrooms.

By seeing with her own eyes and measuring with her own feet, Qi Le gradually found the answer in her heart.

This missionary, Sebastian Saul, truly transformed Dimanmar into a haven of peace amidst the storm.

The economy here may not be developed, but the people are peaceful and spiritually rich. The shadow of corruption seems to have been dispelled by the sunshine here.

“Please take us to see Missionary Thor,” Qile said with genuine respect. “I wholeheartedly agree with his ideas, and perhaps… all the worlds under the rule of the Light Alliance should take him as their model.”

The old missionary was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, and then a gentle, slightly apologetic smile appeared on his face.

“Lord Qile,” he bowed slightly, “I apologize for not introducing myself at the beginning. I am Sebastian Saul.”

Qi Le was stunned.

Loken, Garo, Carter, and the others behind her all showed expressions of surprise.

Who would have thought that the most revered religious leader on this planet would so humbly accompany her on a tour of most of the city as an ordinary guide?
Qile reached out and grasped tightly the rough, calloused, and cracked hands of Missionary Saul. Those hands conveyed the real marks of labor and were a silent testament to his dedication.

……

After exchanging pleasantries, Qi Le and Missionary Sol went together to the largest state church in Dimanmar—a simple building no more than 100 meters high, which would probably only be considered a small town in other religious worlds.

“Every brick and tile here comes from the sincere dedication of the people of Dimanmar,” Sol said calmly, pointing to the church’s simple stone walls.

"Everyone was struggling financially, but they all did their best to give their best, just to express their gratitude for the Emperor's protection."

Qi Le looked up at the building, which appeared particularly solemn in the setting sun, and was filled with emotion.

Compared to those luxurious wonders built with exorbitant religious taxes, the simple church before her, a testament to sincerity and hard work, made her feel the profound weight of faith.

True piety never needs to be adorned with ostentatious material things.

"Preacher Thor, I am delighted to see the sights of Demanmar, but I regret to inform you that our final battle against the State Church of Terra is very likely to break out in the Demanmar system."

"According to reliable intelligence, a crusaders from Terra are rushing here at full speed, and a large-scale bloody war is inevitable between us."

The panic or anger that Qi Le had anticipated did not appear on Missionary Saul's face. His eyes remained calm, even carrying a sense of knowing he had foreseen it all along.

“We had anticipated this, so there’s no need to think we were completely ignorant, sir.”

"The current state religion of Terra has become corrupt and degenerate from the inside out. They have deviated from their original ideals and become a different kind of entity."

Dimanmar's existence is like a grain of sand in their eyes; they will inevitably come, attempting to destroy the order and peace we have painstakingly built.

The missionary straightened his hunched back and glanced at the peaceful city outside the window.

"The people of Dimanmar love peace, but they are never afraid of war. If our sacrifice can bring the state religion back to the right path, then every Dimanmar person is willing to shed their last drop of blood."

The missionary's words, with a martyr's calm and resolute tone, struck Qile's heart deeply, moving her and making her feel the burden on her shoulders grow even heavier.

“In that case,” Qi Le’s voice became incredibly firm as she grasped Thor’s weathered hands once more.

"We will build the strongest defenses in the Dimanmar system, and we will protect every devout believer. We are with you."

“Yes,” Thor grasped Qile’s hand in return, his grip not strong, but unusually steady, “We are together.”

With the arrival of Qile's fleet, the Dimanmar system was transformed into a giant war fortress in a very short time.

Many Astartes legions sent technical sergeants and skilled engineers to support the Alliance of Light. For these Astartes, who were born for war, building fortifications and countering enemy attacks was an instinct ingrained in their very bones.

These professionals will assist the Dimanmar garrison in reinforcing orbital defense platforms, laying asteroid minefields, and digging deep fortifications on the planet's surface, among other things.

In Qi Le's heart, she did not want the Astartes, apart from the Grey Knights, to be directly involved in this human civil war.

Unlike other Astartes legions, the Grey Knights are unique in nature and more deeply bound to the Imperial Central Government, so their intervention would not have a significant impact.

The main force under Qi Le's command consists of mortal believers from various worlds and some mortal auxiliary troops from the Astartes Legion.

Compared to the previous devastating war that destroyed the orcish empire, this internal war of faith within the empire will be much less intense.

Lothie and the Primarchs did not directly intervene. In their view, Qile was fully capable of managing the war, and the State Expeditionary Force lacked an elite core capable of truly changing the course of the war.

Those Star Guardians and Imperial Navy personnel who were forcibly conscripted by the Pope harbored deep resentment towards this dishonorable civil war of faith.

In previous small-scale conflicts, Qi Le astutely observed that a considerable number of people in the opposing camp were "loafing around" and exhibiting a passive attitude towards combat.

Therefore, the battle formation in this war is already very clear: division and disintegration.

Instead of targeting all enemies, they should win over those imperial troops who do not actually want to go to war and concentrate their efforts on striking the loyalist forces of the state religion.

Just ten Terra standard days later, the Crusader fleet from Terra, carrying the energy remnants of warp travel, leaped into the cold void of the Demanmar system like an ominous shadow.

"They're coming."

"They came with the so-called trial of heretics."

In the underground command center of Dimanmar, Qile stood in front of a huge tactical holographic projection, carefully observing how many expeditionary fleets the Cult of Terra had dispatched.

“We all know that this is nothing more than their dying struggle to defend their corrupt power and crumbling position.”

Beside her, missionary Sebastian Saul calmly gazed at the red dot representing the enemy ship on the star map, his cloudy eyes gleaming with a clear understanding of the world.

They are ready; now all they need to do is wait for the final result.

Loken and Garo's Grey Knight squad are already waiting in the teleportation room to strike the cruiser "Silver Oath".

As an elite force capable of high-speed mobility, the Grey Knights cannot be directly deployed to the battlefield, but rather are to strike swiftly when necessary.

Relying on her powerful spiritual senses, Qi Le detected a familiar yet unsettling fluctuation in the void.

That spiritual energy shared the same origin as the Emperor's, yet it possessed a completely different aura.

"The Cult of Terra has sent their crusaders, and the living saint Christine is on the enemy flagship. She is the key to this war."

"Galo!" Her command was transmitted directly to the Gray Knight cruiser via an encrypted channel: "Lead your squadron, target the enemy flagship, and execute a boarding strike."

"Attention all warships!" Qi Le's voice was clearly transmitted to every ship of the Light Alliance through the fleet's broadcast system.

"The enemy has arrived. Prepare for battle according to the plan. The Emperor is watching us!"

The morale of the warriors in the Light Alliance fleet was instantly ignited.

Countless gunners gripped the control levers, adjusting the systems of various equipment, their eyes burning with the flames of fighting for their faith and the future.

Meanwhile, aboard the Hammer of Wrath, the flagship of the Crusader fleet adorned with numerous religious reliefs and resembling a mobile church, the living saint Christine also issued her orders.

She wore sophisticated power armor, which still bore dark red bloodstains from her torture in Terra that had not been completely washed away.

The anxiety of being ordered by the Pope to atone for her sins gnawed at her heart like a venomous snake, making her increasingly extreme in her actions.

"Let our main fleet engage the heretical fleet in space naval warfare, entangle them as much as possible, and create opportunities for us."

Christine said coldly.

"The Battle Nun will charge with me to the surface of the main planet Dimanmar. I will personally capture Qile and drag her back to Terra to face divine punishment with chains."

“Remember!” Her voice suddenly rose, “Have no mercy on heretics. Destroy their warships, crush their soldiers. If necessary, our lives will be the last bullet fired into the enemy’s heart!”

Having said that, the living saint looked at no one and strode toward the assault boat hangar behind the bridge.

The massive engines of the Hammer of Wrath suddenly erupted with blinding light, breaking away from the fleet formation and hurtling towards the azure atmosphere of the main planet Demanmar like a burning meteorite with a desperate frenzy.

(End of this chapter)