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

Chapter 908 The Secret Cult's Imminent Calamity

While the two Guillimans were arguing, Rosie wisely stepped aside and did not choose to interrupt.

This is an internal conflict within the Guilliman "family," and his best option is to stand by and watch, avoiding getting caught in the crossfire.

Compared to the clone Horus he had just seen, and the remnant soul of the original Horus, the two Guillimans in front of him, who were more than 99% similar, were much more interesting to him.

If Ruth, Lane, and the other Primarchs hadn't immediately returned to their homeworlds after coming back from Comoros to deal with internal issues within their respective legions, Lothie would definitely have called them over to see what was going on.

Ryan, in particular, had a lot of opinions about Guilliman, but he almost never won a verbal battle against Guilliman without resorting to physical violence.

If he could see Guilliman arguing with himself, he would definitely be able to enjoy it for years to come.

However, just as Loshi was feeling regretful, Clone and Ruth seemed to be on the same wavelength, following the scent and arriving at the Regent's office.

"Keep quiet and let them handle it themselves."

Clone Lane was clearly worried about Clone Guilliman. From his perspective, if his original self saw his clone, he probably wouldn't be very happy.

The lions of Caliban have always been solitary creatures; for wild beasts, solitude is the norm.

If a wild beast just like yourself suddenly appears, it's a clear signal of provocation and a call to fight.

Both he and Ruth were worried that Guilliman's original body might be detrimental to the clones, and if that were the case, they could lend a hand.

Clones are naturally on the same side; they must unite.

Although he thought this way, Clone Ryan didn't show it on his face at all. He kept a cold expression and, like Loxi, just watched the show from the sidelines.

Cloned Guilliman's chest heaved violently as he stared intently at his original form.

He had already noticed Ryan and Ruth's arrival, but he didn't have time to greet them right now.

He longed to save his mother himself; that was his strongest impulse at that moment. But he also understood that what the original body said made more sense.

His own strength and experience were indeed more suited to this task, and if his insistence caused the task to fail, he would never be able to forgive himself.

After a suffocatingly long standoff, the emotional flame in Clones Guilliman's eyes was gradually replaced by a heavy rationality.

He closed his eyes with difficulty, took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, and slowly said:

"...Okay. You're right."

He opened his eyes, his gaze becoming calm yet resolute.

"You're going to wipe out the cult and seize the technology for artificial immortals, while I'll stay in Terra and do my best to maintain stability here."

He practically gritted his teeth as he uttered the last few words, which meant that he not only had to bear the worry for his mother's safety, but also had to take on the endless political affairs that he had desperately wanted to escape.

The empire of today actually has few important political affairs that determine its fate.

Everything was proceeding smoothly and in an orderly manner, and the most important task of the Imperial Regent was to approve the vast amount of government affairs.

Even if a planet only has one task to send to Terra every ten years, the human empire that occupies the entire galaxy would still generate an immeasurable amount of work.

In handling these non-critical administrative matters, there isn't actually much difference between the clone Guilliman and the original Guilliman.

As Guilliman looked at the complex expression in the clone's eyes, a mixture of worry and compromise, his tense expression eased.

He nodded, his tone regaining its usual composure: "Thank you for your understanding. I assure you, I will bring back the technology and save my mother."

Just then, there was another knock on the office door.

After receiving permission, the gate opened, and clones of Saint Gilles, Chagatai, and even Angron and Mortarion stood at the entrance.

They rushed over because they were worried about Guilliman, but as soon as they entered the room, they sensed the unusual tense atmosphere that had been there earlier.

“What happened, Robout?” Clone Saint Gilles asked with concern, his gaze sweeping over the two Guillimans.

Guilliman briefly told them about Lady Yoton and esoteric techniques.

As soon as he finished speaking, Klonchagatai Khan crossed his arms and a look of eager anticipation appeared on his lips.

"Sect cult? Sounds like a bunch of rats hiding in the shadows. Perfect, staying in Terra as a tourist is boring, we need to get some exercise, count me in."

Clone Angron surprisingly spoke up.

"The mistakes my original body made in the five hundred worlds may be impossible for me to make up for alone, but I will try my best to make amends."

"This is what I owe him."

All the Primarch clones immediately looked at Angron.

To be honest, among all the Primarch clones, only Angron underwent the most significant changes.

Angron with Butcher's Nail and Angron without Butcher's Nail are completely different people.

“And it’s not just because of that,” Angron turned his face slightly, feeling a little embarrassed by being stared at by so many brothers, “I also admire Ms. Yoton very much.”

"Although I don't particularly like Guilliman, I admit that he has indeed become very good under Ms. Euton's tutelage."

"You know, without that damned nail tormenting me, my mind is much calmer and clearer." Angron pointed to his head; the abominable Butcher's Nail was gone.

"I can look back on the past more objectively and do things that I wouldn't have done or couldn't have done before."

Ruth patted Angron on the shoulder, his face full of joy.

"The only good thing that Fabius did was not to have Butcher's Nails put on him by Angron."

Although Lemanrus appears carefree, rough, and savage, he is a Primarch who is extremely meticulous and values ​​emotions highly.

Ruth felt deeply sorry for Angron's tragic fate, and he was genuinely happy that Angron was now free from the nightmare.

Angron's psionic energy constantly transmits the emotions of those around him, and he can clearly sense that Ruth's emotions are absolutely genuine.

He and Ruth had once fought a bloody battle, leaving unpleasant memories between them. Now, under the influence of Ruth's emotions, the resentment in Angron's heart has completely disappeared.

Clone Mortalian stared at Guilliman with a strange look, a hint of envy in his eyes.

"Guilliman's mother, that's something most of us brothers don't have... It's a pity I didn't have such a foster mother, only a damn alien..."

The Barbarosians seemed to realize something and abruptly cut off what they were about to say.

"The alien cult possesses forbidden technologies that can be used on humans, and countless humans have become the experimental subjects of these damned aliens."

“In Barbalus, the alien psionic overlord who once ruled the planet used to capture humans everywhere, and I hate that the most.”

"As long as you're fighting the aliens, I have to come and lend a hand!"

Clone Sanguires spoke with the same gentle yet firm tone: "To save such a beloved elder is a just cause, and I am willing to go with him."

As the commotion they caused grew louder, even other Primarch clones who were strolling around Terra Palace came over.

All the Primarchs except for the clone Horus were gathered together, and these towering giants even made Guilliman's Regency office seem somewhat crowded.

Looking at his excited clone brothers, the original Guilliman and the clone Guilliman exchanged a glance.

The clone Guilliman saw a hint of envy in the eyes of his original self.

The original Guilliman did indeed possess many things that his clones lacked: greater strength, richer experience, and a more resilient will...

However, there is one thing in which the original is inferior to the clone.

That was the genuine brotherhood between the original clones, one that had not yet been tainted.

Despite their awkward identities, these clone brothers were surprisingly united and even willing to stand up for his family, which warmed Guilliman's cold and rational heart with their pure support.

These original beings had already fought tooth and nail in the great rebellion, tearing their bonds of friendship to shreds.

After a long and bloody battle, some died, some are still fighting against humanity, and some left this universe for humanity...

Even clones Angron and Mortalian offered Guilliman a helping hand, something the original Guilliman could never have imagined.

Ultimately, Guilliman nodded and agreed to the Primarch's proposal for these clones.

“…Very well,” the Imperial Regent finally nodded, breaking the brief silence. His gaze swept over each of the Primarch clones who had volunteered for the mission. “Since your determination is so strong, then let us go together.”

"But remember, this operation is primarily a precision strike, not a large-scale battle, and you must absolutely obey orders."

He turned to his clone and instructed, "While I am away, you will temporarily take over the daily administration of Terra. If there are any decisions that you cannot make easily, you may consult with the Sealholder, Macardo, the Commander of the Imperial Guard, Waldo, and Loshi."

This is both trust and an invisible test.

If the clone Guilliman performs his mission well enough, the original Guilliman will surely keep him by his side and fight together for the great cause of human revival.

After arranging the affairs of Terra, Guilliman immediately demonstrated his powerful authority as regent.

He sent a top-priority order directly to the distant Ghoul Cluster via an encrypted communication link.

"Order: The Deathwatch Hybrid Chapter, led by its Chapter Master Zoe, shall immediately proceed to the Orbit of Holy Terra via the nearest Webway node and Spacebridge network to await orders."

"Mission Level: Top Secret (Red)"

"Objective: Destroy the alien organization Cult and seize the technology for artificial immortals."

"Necessary supplies, travel permits, security checks—everything must be done urgently and swiftly. This is the Imperial Regent's order."

Deathwatch was a special unit proposed and formed by Roshi, Guilliman, and others after the devastating war that quelled the "Ghoul Orc Empire."

Unlike other Astartes chapters, which are composed of a single genetic seed, it is composed of experts selected from all loyal Astartes legions, who are best at fighting aliens.

They are proficient in various tactics, weapons, and countermeasures against Xenomorphs using Xenomorph technology, and their Chapter Leader Zoe is the former curator and leader of the Ash Claws Chapter.

Zoe promised Guilliman that she would travel across the vast Ghoul Stars with the Ash Claws to ensure that no new hostile force capable of threatening the human Empire would rise here.

Now, Guilliman needs them to accomplish other, more pressing tasks.

After the order was issued, Guilliman and the others did not wait.

He knew that time was of the essence and that he could not wait for the watchmen of death to arrive before making any other preparations.

He also summoned a special ally who could be of great help through the Eldar ambassador—Eldrad Uslan, the prophet of the Usvi Ark. Uslan had always been a long-time friend of humanity, and his influence was evident in the alliances between humans and the Eldar.

This Eldar prophet's understanding of the cult may exceed all human imagination. Uslan has always regarded these cult members hiding in the shadows as a threat to the universe and has tried every means to eliminate them.

For Guilliman and his group, having Uslan's help would be a huge boon, making things much easier.

A few days later, Uslan's tall and elegant figure quietly walked out of the net gate inside Terra Palace and appeared in the Regent's private meeting room.

His arrival did not attract much attention; only Guilliman, Roche, and a few Primarch clones knew about it.

“Regent, Lord Loshi.” Uslan’s voice carried a unique ethereal magnetism characteristic of the Eldar, inspiring goodwill and trust in those around him.

The Primarchs watched Uslan warily, not daring to be careless. This seemingly gentle and harmless Eldar prophet was actually a super psyker with the ability to destroy planets.

If it were the old Eldar, the first thing they would do upon seeing this Eldar would be to snap his neck and crush his head to ensure that his psychic energy is not released.

However, since these were external aids invited by Guilliman himself, they couldn't say much and could only gradually adapt to this era of cooperation and alliance between humans and Eldar.

“It is an honor to receive your summons. As an ally, Aida will always respond!” Uslan’s gaze swept over the many Primarch clones present.

He sensed that the Primarchs' attitudes were not particularly friendly, but they still treated everyone with the utmost respect, especially Forgrim.

Although the Eldar did not receive prior information about the cloning of the Primarch, Fabius's laboratory was able to isolate psychic prophecies and keep the secret to the greatest extent possible.

However, as the Primarchs awoke and went out of control, escaping the Eye of Terror, the Eldaring realized what had happened immediately; their prophetic abilities proved quite useful at times.

The Jesters even planned more than one rescue operation at the behest of the Laughing God, but the Primarch clones were taken to Istvan III by an unknown force, causing the Eldar reinforcements to miss their chance.

Uslan was exceptionally friendly to Forgrim, who bore a cross-shaped scar on his face. He knew that this was the very same demon prince who had severely wounded Slaanesh, indirectly helping countless Eldar to exact their revenge.

Since Fugrim ascended to the demonic path, far too many Ida warriors and innocent Ida civilians have been murdered and had their souls devoured by him. This hatred will not fade with time.

Although Forgrim did not know what his feat meant to the Eldar, the Eldar would never forget this kindness.

“I am very pleased that you have finally brought the cult, which has been lurking in the shadows of the galaxy, into the open. Without a doubt, it is an extremely dangerous sect, and they are more ancient and mysterious than most of the enemies you have ever faced.”

“They existed long before the Spirit Empire stood atop the galaxy, and just like now, they have been hiding in the shadows ever since, waging what is called ‘the struggle against the forces of chaos’.”

“Aside from knowing that the cult possesses artificial immortals, we know very little else, Prophet,” Guilliman said in a deep voice. “We need the technology they possess. Tell us everything you know.”

Uslan nodded slightly, his fingertips tracing patterns in the air, and a hazy psionic image appeared, displaying a variety of bizarre and fantastical totems and symbols that blended different alien styles.

“The Cult,” Uslan began to recount the information he knew, “is less an objective organization and more an aggregate of ideas, a mad alliance of top alien scientists, powerful psionicists, and unknown conspirators.”

"They have no fixed territory, because their base is itself a large ship—its size is comparable to a human city-state, and it can hide itself with concealment methods far exceeding the limits of human detection technology."

The psionic image coalesced into the silhouette of a massive, breathtaking warship.

Its shape is a fairly conventional flat disc, and its massive size, like a hive city, makes it stand out from all other human warships.

"This hive warship incorporates the highest technologies of at least a dozen known or unknown alien races, and even stole and modified some of the technologies of humans and Eldar."

It is capable of making subspace jumps over extremely long distances, without even needing to pass through the Mandeville point. It can remain hidden for extended periods in the shadowy crevices of the real universe or in barren galaxies, making it extremely difficult to find.

The image of Uslan switched to a star map of the Milky Way, with points of light twinkling in a region of the Pacific Sector.

"According to the latest intelligence obtained at the cost of several members of the Clown Troupe, the most recent relatively accurate energy signal overflow from the cult's hive warships appeared near the Aktash sector of the Pacific Starfield."

However, the exact location remains unclear; the area is filled with shattered world debris and warp currents, making the environment exceptionally complex.

He looked at Guilliman and Losi: "I can try to contact one of the professional mercenaries I recruited. He's an expert on esoteric Buddhism, and we've been working together for a long time."

“But his whereabouts are always elusive. We need to reach the Pacific Star Region first before he can answer my call.”

Although the information provided by Uslan was still vague, at least it gave them a starting point.

Guilliman decisively ordered, "That's enough. We'll start the search from the Aktash sector. You're ready to contact your cult expert."

Three Terra days later, a small fleet, specially modified with a somber matte black exterior and adorned with the Deathwatch's unique skull and star emblem, quietly entered the high-altitude orbit of Holy Terra.

The Deathwatch Hybrid from the Ghoul Cluster arrived on time.

In an era not so long ago when only subspace travel was possible to cross the galaxy, such "punctuality" would have been virtually impossible.

The instability of subspace makes arriving early, arriving late, or never arriving at all commonplace, causing immense suffering for humanity.

Zoe, the chapter leader of Deathwatch and former curator of the Ash Claws' think tank, wears a jet-black, finely crafted power armor. The right shoulder retains the Ash Claws' insignia, while the left shoulder has been replaced with the Deathwatch's seal.

This ingenious power armor marking signifies that they abandoned their original philosophy and embarked on a path of complete pragmatism.

Regardless of which Astartes Legion they come from, or even a legion betrayed by their parent legion, once they join Deathwatch, they must learn from the strengths of other legions and become as still as an Emperor's Fist, as swift as a White Scar, as aggressive as a Wild Wolf, and as serene as a Dark Raven.

Zoe led a battle-hardened squad of killers, landing in the designated area of ​​the palace via a Thunderhawk gunship.

Compared to when they parted, Zoe now has several new scars on her face, and her eyes bear a more weathered look.

His eyes were sharp as an eagle's, and his steps were steady. Even when the Imperial Guards on duty along the way cast suspicious and scrutinizing glances at his heart, he remained unmoved.

In the audience hall, he gave the Imperial Regent Robert Guilliman and Loch the most standard Astartes salute.

"Your Excellency, Deathwatch has come at your summons."

"Three thousand elite troops have been assembled and are ready to be deployed at your command. Please give your instructions."

Zoe held his helmet in his left hand, his hoarse voice echoing through the hall.

Guilliman nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over Zoe and the warriors behind her, who came from different legions and had different genetic seeds, but were united by their common mission to fight against the Xenomorphs.

"Welcome to Terra, Chapter Commander Zoe. You have received the mission briefing en route. Time is of the essence; we are about to head to the Pacific Sector. I need your expertise and combat capabilities."

"For the Emperor, for humanity, Deathwatch will crush all alien threats," Zoe replied succinctly and powerfully.

Upon Deathwatch's arrival on Terra, the Advanced Technology Community immediately provided them with some of their newly developed anti-Xenomorph weapons to upgrade their equipment.

Guilliman was still not at ease, so he separated a portion of his elite guards and temporarily incorporated them into the Deathwatch team to enhance their melee and assault capabilities.

Meanwhile, he contacted the Grey Knight Grand Mentor Gavial Loken, who, after learning of the situation, joined the secret mission along with Clone Horus and a Grey Knight squad.

With the personnel assembled, the number of members in this mission team has increased many times compared to the original plan.

After Guilliman himself, all the Primarch clones, the Deathwatch Chapter, some Ultramarines Honor Guard, the Grey Knight squads, and Eldar prophet Uslan were ready, they began their journey to the distant Pacific region through the artificial net gate in the palace.

There is no direct network between Terra and the Aktash sector, so this expeditionary force had to use space bridges to connect the interrupted routes, but this still saved a lot of time compared to warp travel.

Pacific Star Region, Aktash Sector.

In near-Earth orbit of an uninhabited planet, the net passage slowly opened, and the expeditionary fleet quietly glided out, concealing itself behind a dense asteroid belt.

The Aktash sector is a chilling sight; this star system seems to be a forgotten corner of some ancient civilization, filled with broken planetary debris that, under the influence of gravity, has formed an unusually dense asteroid belt.

Occasionally, eerie pinkish-purple beams of energy flicker like auroras among the asteroids, a sign that the veil here is relatively thin, allowing subspace energy to easily break through the barrier and invade the real universe.

The light emitted by the stars appears dim and distorted here, like the final murmurs and struggles of something dying.

"This is it."

Uslan stood before the observation window on the bridge, his deep eyes gazing into the void, as if searching for some invisible trace.

"The last reliable signal from the cult's nest ship came from deep within this area, but the spatial structure here is extremely unstable, and conventional scanning is almost ineffective."

"Now, I need to try to contact Bassato Narek. He's like a keen-nosed hound, always able to find clues about the cult."

After Uslan finished speaking, he walked to a quiet corner, sat down cross-legged, placed his hands on his knees, and powerful spiritual energy began to gather around him.

His consciousness, like an invisible ripple, penetrated the barriers of physical space and subspace, sending information toward a predetermined psionic frequency.

The wait wasn't long; about an hour later, Uslan slowly opened his eyes.

"He received it, and he gave a coordinate, located on the shadow side of the broken desert planet designated AS-771 ahead."

He will be waiting for us there, but he requests to see only me and a high-ranking representative who can make decisions, and he demands that the fleet remain concealed and leave no trace.

Guilliman nodded in agreement: "Yes, I'll go myself. Commander Zoe, keep the fleet on combat alert."

"We want to go too, you can't abandon us!"

When the clone Riemann Ruston was clamoring, the other clones made the same noise.

“We want to play our part and contribute to the Empire and humanity, rather than just going through the motions like a tourist group.”

“Your life is more important than ours. Having a clone Guilliman take your place in Terra is already an extremely risky thing. Don’t forget that you promised him you would ensure your safety.”

Guilliman paused, a warm feeling welling up inside him.

"It was my fault. Luckily, you guys were there to remind me."

Guilliman knew he had a tendency to be impulsive and easily swayed by emotions. Although he could usually control himself with reason, it was often those few times that he was most dangerous.

In the past, he had people like Hill and Loshi to advise him, but after becoming the regent of the empire, almost no one dared to voice any dissenting opinions.

Seeing that Guilliman listened to his advice, Kronus casually put his arm around his shoulder, showing no sign of formality.

"That's more like it. Since we're all teammates, we should naturally help each other."

"But if you value this mission so much, why not bring Rosie along? His psionic abilities are far superior to Magnus'."

Guilliman's nose was immediately filled with the distinctive wolfish smell emanating from Lemanrus, which made his heart skip a beat.

"He also has important things to take care of, so I won't bother him with my personal matters."

As the small barge carrying Guilliman and his crew pierced the atmosphere like a fiery meteor descending upon the target planet, a figure hidden atop a mountain slowly lowered the ultra-long-range optical sight in his hand.

He wore a heavily worn dark gray power armor, on which the insignia of the Word Bearers Legion was still faintly visible, but it had been deliberately scratched.

He wasn't wearing a helmet, revealing a weathered face with sharp, piercing eyes filled with unwavering hatred.

“It seems… the end of Tantric Buddhism has come,” Narek said.

(End of this chapter)