The Bizarre Adventures of the Oil Man, but Starting with Warhammer 32K

With the assistance of these specialized Inquisitors, the Astartes and Assassins began to arrest those worshippers of the Four Gods who had begun to emerge on Terra during the unrest.

After about a week of bloody slaughter, the unrest in the hives of Terra subsided. Starch and protein bars shipped from Mars by Forge General Kubik also alleviated the famine and stabilized the situation.

Only here was the mess left by the previous High Lords' Council finally cleaned up, and the new High Lords were finally able to sit down and discuss the issues.

A new Council of Twelve convened, chaired by the new Regent Guilliman Hayes.

"You look out of place in this blue armor."

Leon looked at Hayes and commented, "Don't let the Ultramarines see their 'father' look like this."

Hayes knew the Ultramarines' character well: "They can't see. I don't know how many battle moons there are in the Macragge Sector, but if there weren't any, they wouldn't come."

"Are you so sure?"

"Unless you can slap a distress telegram in their face, of course."

"Indeed, any Ultramarines that have come to the rescue may need to have their gene-seed checked to see if it actually belongs to Guilliman."

After teasing his sons and grandsons, Leon turned his attention to the twelve-member council that had already taken its seat.

There are twelve people, but only a few of them can actually discuss matters.

The new Pope of the Ecclesiarchy is a puppet controlled by Wangoric. Representatives of the Astronomican Order, the Navigators, and the Astropaths are all substitutes controlled by the assassin Callidus.

The three organizations have noticed something amiss from their representatives' unusual behavior and their long-term absence due to illness.

However, if they delayed for a while longer, even if the three families discovered it, nothing would change. Even if they elected new representatives, it would not change the overall situation of the High Lords' Council being controlled by forces outside of them.

Admiral Lanson sat at his desk, his face serious. The public trial of Vero had deeply shaken him, and now, incredibly thankful to have chosen the right side on Mars, he had no intention of expressing any opinion, remaining a mere puppet for the time being.

Kubik was mired in the Martian Civil War and had been unable to attend the High Lords' Council. Although the Mechanicum still represented the Imperial Double-Headed Eagle, Kubik was being marginalized from the decision-making process.

The only ones who are truly qualified to make decisions are Hayes, Wangerich and Veritus.

Hayes is in charge of the current military deployment power, Wangerich is responsible for handling the internal affairs of the empire, and Veritus is responsible for reviewing and assisting with proposals.

Before the Beast War is over, the entire High Lords Council may transition under their three-fold separation of powers.

It's worth noting that Kurland is here today.

This was not a violation of the Astartes' prohibition on interfering in government affairs, but rather what the High Lords were going to discuss today was related to Kurland and even all the Imperial Fist groups gathered on Terra.

Hayes stepped forward, his eyes lingering on Kurland for a moment, and then he gave an opening speech for the meeting.

"Ladies and gentlemen, there is only one important issue we will discuss today. That is the fate of the final wall."

He lowered his hand, looked around at each high lord, and asked: "Should it be disbanded, or will it continue to exist?"

Veritus stood up first. The old man who had just returned from the brink of death was now extremely imposing.

"Disband! It must be disbanded! What is the Final Wall? It is nothing more than reassembling the Chapters that were split apart by the Codex Astartes into Legions! This goes against the Emperor's will and is a threat to the safety of the Imperium!"

Wangorich questioned: "Is it the Emperor's will, or yours?"

"The Inquisition is the expression of the Emperor's will."

Veritus did not show any weakness.

"Go and tell the Imperial Guards about this."

After scolding Veritus, Wangorichi ignored him and pointed at the battle moon still hanging on Terra, emphasizing to everyone present:

"Two thousand Astartes slew the Battle Moon of Terra, and that's only three percent of the strength of the Imperial Fists at their peak. Imagine the victories we could achieve if the Imperial Fists were reunited as Legions? Perhaps this Beast Crisis wouldn't have come in the first place!"

"Legion?"

Veritus was unconvinced. "When was the last time so many Astartes gathered on Terra, Wangorich? Is the only thing you've learned since becoming Minister of the Interior the way to tick documents?"

The atmosphere in the parliament suddenly became solemn.

Although there was no mention of the Great Rebellion, everyone knew what Veritus was referring to.

Wangoliqi's face darkened. "What are you implying?"

"I didn't hint at that."

Veritus looked him straight in the eye. "I am simply reminding everyone here that history repeats itself."

Seeing the tension between the two, Hayes, who had already communicated with Leon and the final high wall, coughed lightly, interrupting the argument.

"You two, we are not discussing history, but determining the future. The fate of the Imperial Fists cannot be determined simply by our discussions. The opinions of the Sons of Dorn are equally important."

Wangerich stopped arguing with Veritus. They looked at Kurland, who was listening.

Kurland knew it was his time to play.

He walked steadily to the front of the stage and looked at the high lords below, but what came to his mind was the long talk he had with Thorne and Leon all night long.

Rebuilding the Legion was indeed a dangerous signal. He had to admit that.

"Eventually the wall won't remain."

"The Emperor raised us above mortal men," Kurland declared to all, "but He never intended us to rule over them. We will not forget that. For if we do, the Imperium will perish."

PS: Although the Navigator and the Astropath are just background characters, they are actually a small group of Mechanicus, just more dependent on the Empire. They don't have any lofty goals, just want to be rich and famous.

The Navigators, in particular, stayed out of the Heresy because they felt that no matter whether the Warmaster or the Emperor won, they would still be needed to navigate in the end, and it would not affect their status and wealth.

Later, when they learned that Yellowskin was creating the webway, they panicked and did something as shocking as the Magic Pony.

They joined forces with the Astropaths and used psychic powers to guide the traitors and demons to the location of the Webway, hoping that the traitors and demons could destroy the Webway and preserve their own transcendent status.

In the end, the Webway failed, so they naturally became "loyal to the Empire" again.

So, a simple change in leadership wouldn't have much of a reaction from them, but if they were to be presented with a technology that wouldn't be needed in the future, the Empire would likely be plunged into the man-made rift created by the Navigators and Astropaths the next day.

Chapter 230: This Death Watch, is he right?

Veritus almost stood up and shouted, "Yes, that's what I wanted to say!", but some intuition made him suppress the impulse.

This isn't right.

How could the Astartes, who were pursuing their former glory, agree to voluntarily split the legion?

He looked at Wangorichi and found that the Assassin's Grand Master's face was also full of shock.

Even Wangorichi, who supported the Legion, was unaware of this, which made Veritus even more confused.

As a representative of the Inquisition, he maintained a necessary skepticism about everything, which forced him to believe that these Astartes had ulterior motives.

If even Wangorich didn't know that Kurland would say this, then what exactly are these Astartes planning?

What exactly does Kurland want to do?

Everyone's eyes were focused on Kurland, waiting for his explanation.

Kurland didn't rush to speak. He was lost in thought, his thoughts drifting back to the night before, when he had a long and thorough talk with Leon and Thorne.

-

Everyone knew that the ultimate survival of the wall would be a crucial issue. Kurland called in Leon and Thorne to discuss countermeasures with them in advance.

"We must unite. The threat of the orcs cannot be resolved by a few warbands fighting on their own."

Kurland said, looking at Leon.

"Wangorichi will support us, right?"

Wangorichi alone holds more than half of the seats of the current High Lords. As long as he supports the continued existence of the Final Wall, this matter will be a foregone conclusion.

"Perhaps Wangorichi will support it."

Li Ang remained noncommittal. "But I don't think so."

Kurland was puzzled.

In the end, most of the Canonists within the walls were eliminated or transformed along with Zeberion's defection, and the internal resistance is now minimal.

He had imagined that allowing the final high wall to continue to exist would lead to difficulties with the high lords or other problems, but he did not expect that the first objection would come from Leon, who had always shared their honor and disgrace.

"Then what is our purpose in changing the High Lords' Council? We chose to cooperate with Wangorich to better resolve the orc crisis, but in the end we still have to disband the Last Wall?"

"Perhaps Thorne can answer part of your question."

Leon gestured to Kurland to look at Thorne, who had been stroking the hilt of the power sword and did not participate in the discussion.

Realizing that everyone present was looking at him, Thorne, lost in his memories, sighed and placed the holy relic handed down from the Great Heresy on the table.

Despite feeling an indescribable urgency and special feelings about returning to the Imperial Fists, this veteran was once a supporter of splitting the Legion: "Kurland, do you know why I support splitting the Legion?"

Kurland shook his head.

"I'm not a supporter of the Codex, but splitting the Legion was a necessary step in the later stages of the Heresy. To quickly replenish its forces, the Legion began recruiting new soldiers from different worlds. This wave of recruits even included Cthonia, the homeworld of the Sons of Horus... They brought their own traditions and hatreds, but were forced into the same Legion and united under the same banner, but their hearts were not united."

At this point, Thorne smiled bitterly.

"When the Primarch was still here, none of this was a problem. But what about after our father's departure? The Iron Knights, the Black Templars, the Crimson Fists... these successor chapters had already formed their own groups long before the Heresy. It was like piling up powder kegs, all it took was a spark."

Kurland understood Thorne's meaning: "So, splitting up the Legion actually gave the Legion era a final dose of dignity?"

"At least now they will still maintain the necessary respect for the parent group and respond to the call of the parent group, right?"

So what would happen if they were brought back together? What kind of conflict would ensue between the various chapters?

Kurland recalled the previous dispute between the Iron Knights and the Black Templars. If Magnarik had not suddenly gone silent, perhaps the final split of the High Wall would have begun from that moment.

The High Lord, their common "enemy," allowed the sons of Dorne to temporarily put aside their conflict and unite as one. But when a similar problem arises again, what will they do?

Internal meetings and decisions by the Chapter Masters alone are not enough.

Leon took over the conversation: "Let's assume that the high wall can ultimately solve all problems and continue to exist. If this scenario is realized, the other loyalist chapters will never be willing to be inferior to us. Whether they support us or oppose us, they will follow our example and expand our strength."

"Even if we resolve the Greenskin crisis, we can't disband?"

Kurland felt unwilling.

"Before disbanding, the ambitious Ultramarines could certainly muster tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of warriors. The Salamanders, Iron Hands, and Raven Guard had smaller numbers, but the Blood Angels could also muster tens of thousands. Without the backbone of a Primarch, could these legions, with their differing philosophies, obey a leader so different from their own? Even if they all swore to serve the Emperor, civil war would have broken out among them."

The competition and independence between Chapters brought about by the Codex Astartes was not only intended to weaken the Astartes, but also to avoid infighting among the Legions after the Primarch left.

In this respect, Guilliman had indeed made a great sacrifice – the 300,000 Ultramarines he had recruited from the Five Hundred Worlds were the most ideologically unified, and renowned for their strict discipline, making them the least likely to engage in internal strife. Yet, Guilliman still personally dismantled his own Legion.

Of course, this doesn't stop everyone from thinking he's ambitious.

Leon's words convinced Kurland, and he gave up the idea of ​​maintaining the final high wall.

Inevitably, he felt discouraged.

"The threat of the orcs requires the power of the Legion, but we don't have the power to wield it now. What exactly can we do to defeat these greenskins and ensure the continuation of the Empire? Do we have to expand the army indefinitely within the framework of a single chapter, like Grand Marshal Bosimonde did?"

"There can only be one Black Templar."

Leon replied, and facing the frustrated Kurland, he changed the subject: "Don't worry, we can let the legion survive in another way."

"Another way...?"

"Yes, a way to save the future of mankind without betraying tradition."

-

Kurland's thoughts returned to the present.

His long silence made Wangerlich a little anxious. If the wall could no longer exist, he felt that half the meaning of his achievements would be lost.

"If the High Wall is finally dismantled, how will we fight the orcs rampaging across the Empire? How will we sever the source of the Green Tide? Captain Kurland, do not bow to pressure! The entire High Lords' Council will be your strongest backing!"

"This is not out of pressure, but for the whole, for the future."

"That--"

“But we’ll solve this problem another way.”

Kurland interrupted him, "A safer way."

Wangerlichi realized that things were not that simple: "What do you mean?"

"We will establish a brand new chapter dedicated to dealing with the alien threat. This chapter will not only become the main force against the current orc crisis, but will also continue to shine in the future and be committed to dealing with any alien threat."

The High Lords looked at each other in bewilderment. Apart from Hayes, who had known about this in part in advance, no one had expected the Imperial Fists to come up with such an idea.

Lan Song coughed lightly, realizing that he couldn't be a complete outsider. He raised a question that everyone was concerned about:

"How can a new chapter with no combat experience become experts in fighting xenos?"

"The new Chapter will not recruit new soldiers. It will be composed of veterans drawn from various Chapters - warriors who have fought the xenos for decades, experts who understand the Orks, the Eldar, and any other xenos. They will all become part of this new Chapter. Each Chapter will contribute its own experience and tactics, and it will become a sharp blade against the xenos."