Warhammer, about my years with the Wolfpack

Alpharius, however, showed little interest. His Legion was shattered. His original reason for betraying the Imperium now seemed somewhat ridiculous. After all, he had intended to prevent the Emperor's deification, believing it would be detrimental to civilization. But now the Emperor had become a god, and both the Emperor and the Traveler had sacrificed their lives for human civilization. His own ideas no longer seemed to hold water. Yet, his actions had turned him against his closest brothers, and the Legion he had painstakingly built was shattered. Alpharius felt a deep sense of pain and loss.

"So Emperor, are you interested in meeting your child? Or maybe give him a slap and bring him back." The traveler asked with interest.

"I... To be honest, I don't know how to face him. He is a traitor to the Empire and I should bring him to justice, but he is my son after all. I..." The Emperor hesitated.

"Haha, it's only because the battle situation is better now that you still hesitate." The traveler said in his heart.

"Why don't you go there?" said the emperor.

"It depends," the Traveler said. As for Alpharius, the Traveler greatly admired his talents. His covert combat capabilities, farming skills, and resourcefulness were all excellent. However, admiration was admiration, and according to the Traveler's rules, there was a price to pay for wrongdoing. If the Emperor simply accepted Alpharius, the Traveler would disagree. Even if things were bad, a Penitent Crusade was necessary. Of course, the necessary supplies and personnel would still need to be provided. After all, in the Traveler's view, the purpose of the Penitent Crusade was to conduct the expedition, not to deliberately kill people.

"Please do me a favor." The Emperor spoke again.

"It depends on the situation. Sometimes, it's not good to let someone of too high a level enter the scene directly. Alpharius is arrogant and he hates it when others are in a superior position to communicate with him. If you and I go, he will definitely surrender on the surface, but it's hard to say what he will do in reality, and you don't want to resort to trickery."

"Sometimes, some small people may play a big role, such as the great craftsman Ingvar." said the traveler.

"So confident?" the emperor said with some surprise.

"You have to trust my judgment of people. After all, this is my shrine world, and I choose the manager. Their level can't be bad." Although the traveler didn't think much of faith, he loved farming! He enjoyed the process, and even more so the results.

"That's good." The emperor breathed a sigh of relief. After all, the traveler was reliable and he was at ease.

"Now the fun begins. Alpharius has gone to find Ingvar," the traveler said with a smile. Then, a flash of light appeared before his eyes, and he was in the hangar deck of the Splendid-class battleship, the Border Guardian. It was the battleship that Ingvar had gifted Alpharius. Ingvar was currently outfitting the ship, and Alpharius was incredibly dedicated to his own vessel. As the two of them interacted, they unexpectedly became friends, each impressed by the other's abilities.

Chapter 402 Hydra and the Great Craftsman

"Good morning, Colonel Laros." The great craftsman Ingvar stopped the work at hand and came to Alpharius.

"Good day, Master Craftsman." Alpharius smiled and nodded, and took off his helmet as a sign of respect. Of course, the face Alpharius revealed could not be that of the bald man. It was just a piece of skin.

"The preparation work is going smoothly. The carrier-based aircraft have been assigned, but the flying dragon gunships on it still need to be debugged. These machine spirits are sometimes a bit willful, especially when facing newcomers, they often like to do things on their own. There are also assigned frigates. The Border Guardian battleship is assigned three frigates. There is no problem with the ship, but the gravity hook of the battleship needs to be adjusted." The great craftsman Ingvar first reported the work progress to Alpharius.

"Ingvar, my good friend, you are always so meticulous. I trust you to debug the warship." Alpharius smiled sincerely. During this time, he naturally observed everyone who boarded the warship. Their professionalism and work ethic indeed made Alpharius very satisfied.

He could assert that even within the Legion back then, such a professional technical team was rare, indispensable to every Legion. What surprised Alpharius even more was the vitality, faith, and cohesion he saw in these people. This was something he didn't see in many other Imperial worlds. They viewed their work as a career and a source of value, not just a way to make a living. This mindset surprised Alpharius greatly, and he was deeply intrigued by it.

"Well, now it's time for a break. Are you interested in talking to me about something other than work?" Alpharius said. He didn't just want to chat with the other party, but was considering whether he could take the other party away...

"Of course, as you wish, dear Colonel," said Ingvar.

--------

"I've been to many Imperial worlds, including industrial worlds and forge worlds, but I've rarely seen one like Hyrule V. Your people are full of hope and work hard to do everything well. Everyone lives a good life. The hierarchical, chaotic, and dirty situation in the Hive Cities doesn't exist on this planet. I'm very envious. Even in Ultramar, your rule is quite excellent. Can you share your experience?" Alpharius said.

"Fairness, reason, and faith," Ingvar said. "In my homeland, there are no aristocrats. Everyone deserves equal opportunities and resources. We believe in the Traveler and in reason. We believe all believers are equal in character, only in ability. The Traveler has taught us and shown us the way. We have a greater goal. Striving for power and profit is simply not worth mentioning in the revival and development of human civilization."

"But people are selfish after all. On various planets, there are many people who claim to be working for the empire and for humanity, but in fact they are fighting for power and levying heavy taxes. How do you deal with them? Rules cannot solve all problems. Rules are made by people, and people are selfish, and people can always find loopholes in the rules made by people." Alpharius said.

"So we must have faith. This kind of faith is not something we say, but something we do. Only when everyone agrees on a goal and everyone's dignity and development are guaranteed, will everyone uphold this belief and maintain this system," said Ingvar.

"I'm afraid that many people in Ultramar will not agree with your theory. After all, other planets are ruled by nobles and local wealthy families." Alpharius said with a smile.

"The great Lord of Ultramar does not object to our actions. The great traveler is even more generous and protects us. As for some minor troubles, we can handle them ourselves." Ingvar said.

"I believe that," Alpharius nodded. Actually, if it weren't for the problem with the sealed relic of Khorne, and if it weren't for their inexperience in dealing with demons, the Word Bearers' fleet wouldn't have been much of a threat. Even with guns and cannons, they couldn't defeat these tech-savvy creatures.

In reality, Hyrule-5's situation is similar to that of the Mechanicus's Forge Worlds: both possess their own technology and industry, and are imbued with a strong sense of martial virtue. Unless it's a particularly powerful force, like the Legion, even a combined force of several ordinary worlds would be no match for Hyrule-5. Furthermore, as a shrine world, it's rumored, though not certain, that it may house artifacts and knowledge left behind by travelers before their ascension to godhood.

So if something were to go wrong, the other worlds that believed in the Traveler faith would definitely lend a hand, if they could. The Traveler sect was very cohesive, because they had a true God! With the true God above them, who would dare to fool around all day? Giving up? The Traveler might not care about faith, but if someone used His name to deceive others, they would never let it go.

"You pursue rationality, yet at the same time believe in the true God. There's always a sense of contradiction here," Alpharius said, voicing his inner doubts. That is, does the pursuit of science and rationality conflict with belief in the true God?

"Is there any problem?" Ingvar asked.

"In my opinion, gods themselves are not rational because they cannot be explained by science."

"But gods do exist, and that's rationality. If we turn a blind eye to them, we're violating the principles of objectivity and rationality. We may not be able to understand psychic powers, or the power of gods, but that's because we're not good enough, not because it's unscientific. In fact, there are too many technologies and powers in the galaxy that we don't understand. Can we ignore them just because we can't understand them?" Ingvar asked.

"But the gods are too powerful. A single thought of theirs could bring about a catastrophic disaster. Their minds are difficult to fathom. If it is said that believing in gods will give believers power, I believe it. But who can guarantee that gods will not become shackles on civilization or use the entire civilization as their own nourishment?" Alpharius asked the question that worried him the most.

"In the history we are familiar with, there are very few gods. Too many beings use the name of gods to deceive people. Some of them are indeed powerful, but in the end it is just a scam. I don't know why you are wary of gods. Have you seen the kind of gods you mentioned, which were born in civilization but are also called shackles of civilization?" Ingvar asked.

"I haven't seen it, but I have heard of it. I can tell you a story. A very old, vague, but very true story." Alpharius said, and then he simply told some stories about the Eldar gods he had heard, including the battle between Val and Khaine.

"Stories about the Eldar? I've heard some of that," Ingvar said. "And what you say is very likely true. But have you heard of the Fall of the Eldar?"

"I've heard some." Alpharius nodded.

"So what do you think is the root cause of the Eldar's fall?" Ingvar asked.

"They indulged in pleasure, killing and atrocities, and they themselves degenerated. This led to the collapse of the entire civilization." Alpharius was not surprised that Ingvar knew this.

Because the Traveler is generous with his knowledge. Some things he tells you are true. Ultramar and the Eldar have a good relationship. The Eldar Death Army even has an office on Calth. Both sides are currently discussing whether the Eldar Death Army can establish a liaison office on Macragge. The Eldar are now less secretive about their past corruption. As they say, facing the past is the only way to face the future.

Although Alpharius disliked the Eldar, after all, these long-eared guys actually participated in the siege of his own legion. But no matter what, this statement was still well-made.

"These are only superficial symptoms, or part of the reason. The fundamental reason is that the Eldar society has lost order and faith," Ingvar said. "This is an unbearable burden for any civilization and is the core reason for its collapse."

"This statement..." Alpharius was stunned. He had not thought of this.

"The Eldar's development wasn't all smooth sailing. They experienced setbacks and even catastrophic events like the War in Heaven. But regardless, the Eldar had their own beliefs, a sense of cohesion, and a top-down order to ensure the functioning of civilization. This is how the Eldar persevered through these disasters. But in the end, when the Eldar lost their faith in their gods, when they were dominated by chaos and recklessness, when order was lost, when violence was rampant, and when kind people perished without reason, the entire Eldar civilization collapsed from within."

"The world is in a process of increasing entropy, a process of transformation from order to chaos. Chaos will increase the rate of entropy, causing civilization to become fragmented, and then be exploited by enemies both internal and external. You once asked me what I thought of the brutal rule of some world rulers in the Empire. Do you want to change the various chaos in the Empire?"

"I didn't answer you then. Now, I can give you an answer. We do need a change, but we can't overturn the entire table just because one dish doesn't suit our taste. After all, the Emperor has less than 200 years to unify humanity. This time is too short, and we can't accomplish everything perfectly. We need to solve some problems, but we must pay attention to the methods and means."

"As for the issue of faith. I think this is the best way to unite people. Many people do not believe in the Traveler, including Lord Guilliman, the Lord of Ultramar. He just respects but does not believe. He believes more in rationality and science. In this regard, your views are very similar to his." After the Great Craftsman Ingvar finished speaking, he paused for a moment and looked at Alpharius.

"Yes, I think believing in science, reason and morality is far better than believing in a god." Alpharius couldn't help feeling ashamed after saying this. After all, what he did was really not moral.

"Believe in science? I feel I have more say. I'm 500 years old, older than any Space Marine," Ingvar said. "I'm a highly skilled craftsman, even the Glory Master Caster of the Steel Ball Casting World. Everything you say is so empty. Science is a tool, rationality is a way of thinking, but these are all too abstract. Morality, on the other hand, is a personal aspiration. And because of different perspectives and standpoints, different people have different morals."

"You cannot win with just one tool, one idea, and one broad morality. Scientific and rational criticism cannot represent criticism of weapons and strength. We cannot convince certain people with just words. And we cannot rely solely on these empty things to unite people's hearts. As the saying goes, dust will not go away unless it is swept. We can have lofty ideas to guide us, but they are just a guide," said Ingvar.

"Then the gods will do?" Alpharius asked.

"Of course, at least the Traveler is a very responsible deity. He spreads knowledge, making it accessible to ordinary people. This shows respect for science. He is reasonable and fair, and he teaches us how to think and look at problems. This is rationality. As for morality, you've seen that the people on our planet are full of hope and pride. They live a happy life. They can gain wealth and social recognition through their own efforts. That's enough!"

"If someone or some alien comes to trouble us, the traveler doesn't mind us using extraordinary means to retaliate. Of course, we must pay attention to the methods and techniques."

"Some people accuse the Traveler of conspiracy theories, believing we've been bewitched. Please, I've lived for 500 years. I've experienced humanity's darkest hour, witnessed its resurgence, and witnessed our current glory. The Emperor and the Traveler have done a great job. Those guys are incredibly arrogant. They can't even create a blueprint for a battleship or complete the repair and maintenance of a Titan, yet they believe they possess the truth. Ridiculous, isn't it? This world is materialistic. Psychic energy and gods also operate according to certain rules, we just don't understand them."

"It's like someone who sees a tiny part of the sky through a tube and thinks he knows everything. Isn't that ridiculous?"

"Of course, the most important point is that the Traveler is a real, high-ranking being, not an imaginary one. He can indeed help us solve problems, and he does us no harm. We are not speculators parasitic on this belief. We are completely different from some charlatans. After all, believing in the Traveler does have its benefits. And once the Traveler is offended, there will be punishment. Clear rewards and punishments are key to the success of a civilization. That's enough. Anything more is beyond my consideration."

"Colonel Laros, you are an ambitious and thoughtful person, but I can be sure that you are proficient in combat but do not know how to govern a planet. If you think your ideas are correct, then you can try to govern a planet, a galaxy, and then a secondary star region first." Ingvar said.

"I'm just a colonel," Alpharius chuckled. He had to admit, after today's conversation with the master craftsman, Alpharius had truly learned a lot. Many of his ideas were unique and insightful, and, more importantly, practical. Some of his own previous ideas had been problematic, such as the idea of ​​using violence to resist the Emperor in order to build a better human civilization.

But now, thinking about it, regardless of whether he could succeed, even if Alpharius was given a place to work on his own, he'd probably be lucky to conquer a few star systems. If there were a top-tier forge world like Steel Sphere within his own star system, Alpharius wouldn't know how to handle it. It's not like Alpharius hasn't run simulations before, but after much deliberation and numerous simulations, Alpharius's conclusion was that they should just make do for now...

After all, the Emperor wasn't incapable of defeating Mars, but he ultimately chose to ally with Mars. What the Emperor couldn't solve, Alpharius certainly couldn't! After a series of twists and turns, Alpharius realized that, in many cases, his choices ultimately didn't differ much from the Emperor's. Thus, Alpharius was surprised to discover that even if his plans succeeded, he couldn't seem to do better. He then remembered the saying: Those who do nothing always complain the most.

"The evil gods and the rebels are about to launch an offensive against Ultramar, and my fleet will also set out on the expedition. So, would you be willing to accompany me on the expedition? To protect Ultramar and to protect human civilization." Alpharius said.

"I'm sorry, I have decided to join the Ultramar 2nd Regiment fleet. They will arrive at Hyrule 5 soon, and I will act with his fleet." Ingvar said apologetically.

"That's a shame," Alpharius said. The exchange ended there. Alpharius realized it was time to leave. He really didn't want to attack his friend, and Ingvar had made it clear that an Ultramarines would be arriving soon, and his exposure would increase. If he didn't leave now, it would be difficult later.

--------

"Alpharius's mental defenses have been weakened. What are you going to do?" asked the Emperor.

"I'm going to play a game where we're all Alpharius," the Traveler laughed. Why is it that only Alpharius can infiltrate other legions, but not the other way around?

"So, you are going to use the mask?" The Emperor thought of one of the Emperor's attendants.

"Yes, I can arrange for him to go there soon and replace someone around Alpharius," said the Traveler.

"Aren't you afraid of being discovered?" The emperor's eyebrows twitched.

"I'm different from you. I've been around for tens of thousands of years, so even the skills I'm least good at are no match for a 200-year-old kid. Just wait and see, the game begins," said the traveler.

Chapter 403 We are all Alpharius!

"Who are you?" A captain of the Alpha Corps looked at the robed figure that suddenly appeared before him and instinctively drew his weapon. He was all too familiar with this robe: the standard-issue uniform of the Emperor's retainers and a powerful tool for prestige! The golden pattern exuded majesty, while the blue trimmings evoked a sense of mystery. The captain had never expected to encounter an Emperor's retainer here. Even more surprising, he couldn't see the man's face.

The captain of the Alpha Legion wanted to resist, but he couldn't move. He saw the emperor's servant, whose face could not be seen clearly, walked up to him and covered his face with his palm. A moment later, the other person's face appeared on the masked face, and his memories were basically transplanted over.

"Okay, that's it." The masked man said easily after finishing the work at hand, then put a psychic lock on the guy and threw him into a corner.

"Ramon, Prime Minister of Ultramar, the target has been controlled. Find your people and take this guy away immediately." The masked man used psychic power to contact his colleagues, and did not forget to tease them.

"Very good, I'll do it right away," said Ramon.

"Does Lord Guilliman know that Alpharius is coming here?" asked the masked man.

"I understand, but this time, the Lord of the Extreme Legion is very calm." Ramon said.

"Haha, very good, Guilliman has made progress. Then I will go to work." The masked man said with a smile.

"I wish you all the best." Ramon said with a smile.

Then, Mask changed his body shape to make himself fully adapt to the power armor. After putting it on and getting ready, Mask said with a smile, "We are all Alpharius!"

---------

"My lord, the Primarch wishes to see you." Mask received a call from one of the Primarch's attendants after completing the onboard inspections. The Alpha Legion remained cautious. Upon leaving port, all personnel were required to undergo testing, even the Legionnaires underwent genetic testing. Pretending to draw some blood from his own body was easy for Mask, after all, he possessed the blood of a Hydra scion.

The Mask's target selection was meticulous, choosing a captain responsible for complex logistics, technology, and supply operations. Because of this unique position, he might not stand out from other Hydra captains, but he possessed the best overview of the fleet's situation. Alpharius also needed to communicate with the Mask's disguise, often in private.

As for the reason? Imagine this scenario. Before receiving supplies, when the Hydra Supreme asks the other captains about the fleet's remaining supplies, the captain has no choice but to lie, otherwise it would shake the morale of the troops... Therefore, for this reason, Alpharius needs to communicate privately with Captain Bass, who is responsible for the fleet's logistics and technology.

"Sir." The masked man came in front of Alpharius.

"Captain Bass, I saw the data you compiled. Your work is still so efficient and accurate." Alpharius said to his men. At this time, he did not realize that the person in front of him had been replaced. Never mind the Primarch's intuition and blood connection, because the Warhammer universe has psychic powers, and when it comes to playing with psychic powers, Masked is not as talented as Ahriman, who is also a servant of the Emperor, but he is better than Alpharius.

"This is what I should do." said the mask.

"Now we need to consider our next course of action. The Legion has been dispersed, and the hidden supply points, fortresses, and recruitment stations we previously set up have all been destroyed. We no longer even have a secure foothold. And the galaxy is in such turmoil and unrest." Honestly, Alpharius was torn. What he had envisioned and pursued now seemed a joke. More seriously, he had been fooled by those xenos. Perhaps his father's deification was a good thing. It seemed more meaningful for human civilization for him to side with the Empire.

Perhaps Alpharius was indeed resentful of Guilliman's accusations of his actions. But considering the impending Khorne tidal wave, it seemed he should have a broader perspective. Alpharius's perspective had changed somewhat, not to mention the Legion's dire situation.

The legion that had originally joined him in his rebellion against the Empire numbered over 8 men, but by now, only about a third remained. He himself only had 8000 men. Calling himself a legion? Alpharius felt ashamed, especially since the Empire had been able to easily locate his troops and ambush them recently.

Alpharius had conducted countless technical checks, believing his actions to be sufficiently cautious, yet he was still beaten. Recalling the rumors of the War of the Gods, Alpharius could only sigh to the heavens, "The power of the gods is truly incredible!" He even believed that if the Chaos Gods hadn't been the primary enemy, the Traveler would have reached him.

"Are you planning to leave the Ultramar sector or stay here?" asked the Masked Man.

"I want to stay here. The original intention of the Legion is to create a better future for mankind. I still believe that we are part of humanity, and we should not avoid the evil in the warp." Alpharius said.

When morale is low, building consensus is paramount. Otherwise, if external pressures become overwhelming and internal unity is lost, disintegration can occur in an instant. Alpharius has realized that a two-front war would result in being attacked by both the Imperium and Chaos. Furthermore, Alpharius is conflicted about fighting the Emperor, but fighting Chaos is undoubtedly the right move.

"Sir, you made a wise choice." Masked Man said with a slight bow.

"Do you also think we should temporarily abandon our offensive against the Empire?" Alpharius looked at his "offspring," his words filled with scrutiny.

Alpharius could admit in his heart that he was wrong, but he would never allow his subordinates and descendants to question him, otherwise, that would be the beginning of the disintegration of the Legion. After all, the Alpha Legion is different from other legions. Perhaps because of their unique legion culture and mission, they are more likely to go to extremes.

For example, in the Ultramarines, Auguston could point out Guilliman's mistakes to his face. Instead of blaming him, Guilliman would reward him. In the Luna Wolves, the Council of Four Kings was solely responsible for advising the Primarch. In the background, even when the Horus Faction of the White Scars rebelled, the Khan simply beheaded a few of the leaders and sent the rest to the Sinners' Camp.

But within the Alpha Legion, a group of spies and secret agents, versed in deception and conspiracy, once a disagreement arises on a major issue, there's no basis for trust or camaraderie. After all, a group of agents who value favors? That's a bit of a luxury. The most likely outcome is a direct confrontation. The clash between loyal and traitorous Alphas is the true nature of Hydra: cold and bloody!

"The fleet must stop in Ultramar. A catastrophe is imminent here. Only by muddying the waters can we survive. Furthermore, only Ultramar has sufficient resources to sustain our Legion. When the Chaos Gods, the Emperor, and the Traveler's divine powers collide and interfere, we can hide." The Masked Man acted completely concerned for the Legion's benefit. He didn't expect to convince the Hydra Lord with a few words, nor did he consider taking him down.

The Mask's plan was simple. How he dealt with the Primarch, whether to persuade him with words or with fists, was unimportant to the Mask. His sole purpose was to keep Alpharius out of trouble, then gather the fleet to fight Chaos. The Supreme would handle the rest. Didn't Alpharius enjoy scheming and using others' weapons to gain his loyalty? The Mask employed the same tactics, trying to coax Alpharius into a "circumvented" loyalty.

The Mask's reasoning was quite sound. Although Alpharius's fleet was shattered, it still had 8000 men and a considerable number of warships. Replenishing such a fleet was clearly not easy. A world that was easy to plunder might still be a loss, with a single trip not enough to cover the gas. A world that wasn't a loss might be impossible to plunder. Furthermore, there were still a lot of people chasing after them.

But Ultramar was different. War was about to break out there, and Guilliman was already overwhelmed. Furthermore, the worlds here were relatively prosperous, so he could find a place to hang on for a while. And with the gods gone, the pressure from higher dimensions would be lessened, at least in Alpharius's opinion. But Mask, the Emperor's attendant, saw that as a possibility. After all, if two elephants fought in the grass, who would be the biggest loser? Generally speaking, it would probably be the grass...

"Our current strength is not enough to engage in front-line combat," said Alpharius.

"Yes, so my suggestion is that after the Chaos army sweeps through the front line, we will attack the worlds they control and the logistics supply lines. On the one hand, we can obtain enough supplies, and on the other hand, we can reduce the possibility of exposure. It will not attract the attention of the Empire." said the masked man.

"A good idea, then?" asked Alpharius.

"Then we must reunite the Legion," the Mask said. "The Legion has been scattered, and now it's slipping away from your control. Some will continue to follow your teachings, but others will succumb to the Empire, and worse still, some will surrender to Chaos. There's a lack of trust between our officers and soldiers, sir. So we must reunite."

"Reunite? Then what will happen after we reunite?" Alpharius said a little confused.

"We can reach even more remote regions and establish our own kingdom, my lord." The masked man's tone was a touch excited, perfectly conveying his desire. "We can establish our base in the outer reaches of the galaxy. Build a paradise for humanity according to your vision. Far from the heart of the Empire, we will be safe, and we can handle minor troubles. We can reorganize our legions and establish a kingdom. If you can meet Master Omegan again in the future, you can prove your actions are right. You can tell Guilliman that you are more capable of governing the world than he is."

The Alpha Legion, dispersed, is actually quite troublesome. With an Empire this vast, it's easy to hide a few. So, regardless of how Alpharius handles things in the future, let him gather everyone together first. Then, whether to kill them all or persuade them to surrender will be easier. Masked is a true Imperial retainer, expert in covert operations. He always sees things from Alpharius' perspective and acts for the Empire. As for the idea of ​​reaching the edge of the Star Principle after the war, it's not a far-fetched statement.

In fact, Macragge itself is far from the Empire. Not far northeast of Macragge, there was a famous alien empire in later generations, the famous little cockroach Tau... A little further east, a region also became famous in later generations, known as the Scourge Sector. The fundamental reason Tau wasn't wiped out by the Empire was that it was beyond the reach of the Star Matrix, making it difficult to attack.