Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 610 Summoning the Sub-Group
"The possibility always exists."

Chen Xi interrupted again, his voice calm yet containing a power that compelled one to believe and even inspire awe.

"But the Emperor's will will not change in the slightest because of our desires or inferences. What we can do, and must do, is to be prepared—to meet with unwavering faith any hope that may arise, whether it be the return of more Primarchs, or... the coming of a darker, more terrifying era."

He placed his hands behind his back, slowly walked to the huge star map, stared at the flickering points of light within it, and continued:

"Lady Felus's return is not about answering past questions or healing historical wounds. She returns to guide the future, to raise the torch in the impending ultimate darkness. She is rebuilding the Tenth Legion, not simply to replicate the Legion's glory of the Great Crusade, but to forge a more resilient and flexible weapon to meet any future threat. If you are truly loyal to the Emperor, loyal to the Empire of Man, you should shift your gaze from the mysteries of the past to the present—Medusa's steel is being reforged, and the Empire's defenses are being strengthened. This is the core issue that we most urgently need to focus on and invest in right now."

Galadron and Mephisto exchanged a complicated look.

The judges' arguments were logically sound, consistently attributing everything to the emperor's unfathomable will, leaving them no room for further rational questioning.

However, their deepest feelings and longing for the father of genetics did not dissipate as a result; rather, they were forcibly suppressed and transformed into a heavier, almost repressive sense of responsibility.

“We… understand,” Galadon finally said, his voice carrying a hint of cautious compromise.

"The Fist of the Empire will remain vigilant, but we also recognize the urgency of the situation. We are willing to join hands with the reborn Steel Hand to address future threats."

Mephisto nodded, the psionic flames in his eyes dimming slightly, transforming into a deeper resolve:

"The same goes for the Holy Blood Angels. We will return to Baal with this... hope and these questions. We pray... that the future Emperor will bestow more revelations and answers."

Chen Xi nodded slightly:

"The answer will be revealed when the Emperor deems it appropriate. And right now, what we need most is unwavering conviction, and... decisive action."

The two representatives bowed again, then turned and left.

The heavy footsteps gradually faded into the distance, eventually disappearing at the end of the corridor.

Chen Xi returned to the star map alone and remained motionless for a long time, his face shrouded in shadow.

He knew this was merely the calm before the storm.

The road ahead is fraught with thorns, and the political vortex, suspicion, and undercurrents within the Empire will not cease to surge with the return of a Primarch.

——————————————————————————————————

As the representatives of the Imperial Fist and the Holy Blood Angels departed the Medusa system with complex thoughts, Felus Manus had already devoted her iron will to the great cause of rebuilding the Tenth Legion.

Ignoring the suspicious glances that might come from Terra or Mars, she poured all her energy and wisdom into making the Steel Hand stronger and better suited to that dark future. In the deepest recesses of the Karada Fortress, within a strategic chamber protected by multiple void shields and anti-psychic fields, a high-level military conference that had lasted for several days had just concluded.

The holographic projector had not yet completely cooled down, and there was still a faint smell of ozone and overheated electronic components in the air.

On the huge tactical table, the star map and data streams, whose light and shadow had not yet completely dissipated, seemed to tell the story of the intense discussions and decisions that had just taken place.

Ferrus Manus's imposing figure stood at the head of the table, her liquid metal arms—"Gorgon Skin"—flowing slightly unconsciously, reflecting a cold luster.

"The revised Gorgon Directive has been distributed via data link to every company in the corps, as well as all responding regiments,"

Felus's voice echoed in the room, cold and clear, carrying the unquestionable authority of the Primarch.

"The Steel Hand of the past, in its pursuit of absolute rationality and mechanical enhancement, went to extremes, even alienating its own essence and forgetting the innate sense of responsibility and protective instinct bestowed upon us by the Emperor when he created us. This is not enhancement, but incompleteness. From now on, the 'Oath of Protection' will stand alongside 'Efficient Destruction' as the core tenets of our army. We wield steel to protect those Imperial citizens who cannot protect themselves, to safeguard the flame of human civilization, not merely to pursue the ultimate efficiency of destruction."

She waved her metal arm, bringing up a live combat video that had just been transmitted back from the skull of the frontline reconnaissance servo.

In the scene, a team of Iron Hand warriors, while retaking a refinery in Vulcan Hammer that had been occupied by orcs, unusually adopted a cover posture, prioritizing the safe evacuation of a group of trapped technical slaves, and demonstrating flexible tactical adjustments and humane judgment based on the actual situation.

"Look, this is not weakness, nor inefficiency, but a higher level of strategic rationality and value assessment. Only a living, functioning world can continuously provide the Empire with resources, manpower, and faith. Cold calculations are important, but they must never come at the cost of sacrificing the very foundation of the Empire's existence. Destruction is for better protection."

In order to accelerate the integration of the mother group and all the subgroups that responded to the call, Felus personally signed and issued the "Medusa Reorganization Decree".

The decree, granted by the Primarch's authority, transcended the barriers of the chapter's organizational structure, reaching every Astartes with the blood of the Tenth Legion flowing through their veins.

After the decree was issued, the fleets of representatives from the Steel Hands sub-groups from all over the galaxy arrived in the Medusa system one after another, like iron eagles returning to their nests.

Bloodclaw Legion's assault cruisers, Sons of Medusa's heavily armored ships, Ironfist's fast strike ships, Iron Lords' ancient battle barges... These ships, each with its own style and slightly different paint schemes, all carried the uniquely cold and hard temperament of the Tenth Legion as they entered Medusa's orbital dock for identity verification and navigation guidance.

The audience ceremony was held in the "Hall of Ten Thousand Forges" at the Karada Fortress.

Inside the vast hall, torches and cold lights intertwined, illuminating the ancient legionary maxims and Medusa serpent reliefs on the walls.

Representatives of the regimental commanders and company commanders from each sub-regiment, dressed in their respective regimental ceremonial armor, entered the hall.

This was the first time any of them had ever seen the original gene in person. Even with their highly modified faces and calm, logical thinking, they could not completely suppress the tremor and awe that originated from the depths of the gene seed.

(End of this chapter)