A moment later, Garreon’s face appeared on the vox-plate.
“Chapter Master, you summoned me?”
Huron maintained a stoic expression.
“I have received a revelation from the Emperor.
We shall receive His blessing.
Go and retrieve a set of gene-seed and the accompanying transformation organs.
Select a Chapter serf who possesses low genetic compatibility but excels in all other areas.
I have a premonition that our neophyte transformation surgery will be remarkably successful.”
Garreon frowned at the words.
At this point in time, he was not yet the deranged “Corpse Master” of the Red Corsairs.
Naturally, he felt a deep distaste for the idea of experimenting with a Battle-brother’s sacred heritage.
However, Huron had successfully led the remnants of the Chapter in a breakout after the previous Chapter Master was slain, and had since demonstrated extraordinary command talent in subsequent battles.
His prestige within the Chapter was immense, making it difficult for Garreon to openly object.
Thus, he could only nod.
“Understood.
I will see to it immediately.”
But a thought had already formed in his mind.
Since the Chapter Master hadn’t explicitly stated it *had* to be Astral Claws gene-seed, using the gene-seed of the Tiger Claws shouldn’t be a problem, right?
As for why the Astral Claws possessed the gene-seed of their successor chapter, the Tiger Claws—well, don’t ask.
It was a little secret.
Of course, Garreon wasn’t one to sabotage his own teammates.
He planned to select a battle-hardened Chapter serf with an exceptionally steadfast will.
During the transformation surgeries, a determined will could help resist rejection reactions.
This was precisely why the selection process for most Chapters involved various grueling and torturous trials.
While waiting for Garreon to prepare the surgery, Huron continued to study his system.
Opening the map interface, Huron discovered that Badab was not colored green—which would represent directly controlled territory—but rather blue, representing allies and puppet states.
What made it even harder for him to keep a straight face was that the surrounding area wasn’t a unified block either, but a cluster of large and small blue allies.
In fact, these allies were further organized into various overlapping factions.
For instance, Angstrom, the only Forge World in the Maelstrom zone, was an ally belonging to the “Imperium of Man” faction alongside the Astral Claws.
Simultaneously, it belonged to the “Cult of the Omnissiah” faction together with the Forge World Ryza to the west of the Maelstrom.
Ryza, in turn, belonged to the “Adeptus Mechanicus” faction, and the “Adeptus Mechanicus” was within the same broader faction as the “Imperium of Man.”
One could argue that the Mechanicus did indeed cooperate with the Imperium, but why were other forces, like the Lamenters and the Mantis Warriors, listed as two separate entities?
Furthermore, the Astral Claws, Lamenters, and Mantis Warriors all belonged to the “Wardens of the Maelstrom” faction.
Yet, the Mantis Warriors also belonged to the “White Scars” faction, while the Lamenters belonged to the “Blood Angels” faction.
Meanwhile, the White Scars, Blood Angels, and other First Founding Chapters simultaneously belonged to the “Astartes” faction.
Within the “Astartes” faction, the Deathwatch Chapter also belonged to the “Ordo Xenos” faction, which in turn belonged to the “Inquisition” faction.
Layer upon layer, the mechanic of big factions containing small factions made Huron’s head spin.
He felt it was no less convoluted than the Inner Circle hierarchy of the Dark Angels.
No wonder the Dark Angels were the First Legion; apparently, wheels within wheels was the fundamental operating system of the Imperium of Man.
Regardless of the other powers, Huron found the blue tint over Badab increasingly eyesore.
The puppet state mechanic not only reduced the number of factories provided by the territory but also missed out on many buffs.
If Badab were under direct control, he could immediately scale military industry up to twenty factories or more.
Even if it meant deploying troops to suppress rebellions and maintain stability, it would be worth it.
But this wasn’t something Huron could decide on a whim.
Badab itself was a nest of wheels within wheels; the local nobility had formed various alliances and power-sharing agreements that even the Astral Claws couldn’t easily interfere with.
For now, they could only cooperate.
Without actual administrative power, the system would not recognize it as his controlled territory.
Therefore, Huron pondered for a moment and selected his second National Focus.
[New Home (0/360)]
[Description: We have occupied Badab, but it is merely superficial.
Fear born of violence can make the nobility bow their heads, but it cannot earn the sincere loyalty of the people.
We must properly build Badab and make it our true home.]
[Effect: Grants the “Home Construction” buff for 5 years, increasing Civilian Factory efficiency by 10% and unlocking a series of construction and Coring decisions.]
This focus would take a year to complete, but for Huron, it was worth the wait.
The Astral Claws wouldn’t be involved in many large-scale wars in the near future, and their existing strength was sufficient to maintain the status quo.
Rather than rushing to expand the army, Huron preferred to turn Badab into a genuine rear base.
He didn’t want his home base exploding in rebellion every time he went out to fight.
Once Huron finished selecting his focus, Garreon sent word that everything was ready.
When Huron arrived at the operating theater, he saw Garreon already clad in surgical gear, and a Chapter serf lying on the operating table with a tense expression.
The man was a classic tough guy with tight, bulging muscles and a scar running across his left eye socket.
The original bionic eye had been removed, leaving only a hollow, dark void.
Huron found the man’s name in his memories: Garrison Odinson.
Originally a Planetary Governor, Odinson had stepped in as the PDF Commander after an Ork invasion, leading the planet’s resistance for a considerable time.
When the Astral Claws arrived to reinforce them, they recognized his talent and took him away to serve as a Chapter serf.
Now, he not only managed the Chapter’s mundane internal affairs but also commanded the serf units in battle.
He was an exceptionally versatile and useful talent.
Years of diligent service had earned him a status within the Chapter higher than that of some Astartes neophytes.
Unfortunately, his compatibility with gene-seed was extremely low—virtually zero—otherwise, he would have become a Battle-brother long ago.
Huron hadn’t expected Garreon to choose Odinson as the subject.
If such a useful subordinate died, both Huron and his predecessor would have felt the sting of regret for quite some time.
On second thought, however, Odinson was indeed the perfect choice.
His genetic compatibility was abysmal, and at over three hundred years old, he had already undergone one rejuvenation surgery.
If he could succeed, then practically any human could.
Furthermore, Huron had been worrying about the lack of a suitable candidate to play mind games with the nobility.
He certainly couldn’t go in as a total amateur himself.
A successfully transformed Odinson would be ideal.
He would have the prestigious status of an “Astartes” backed by the Astral Claws, combined with his extensive experience as a noble.
It was a match made in heaven.
“Chapter Master.” Odinson hadn’t expected Huron to visit him personally.
He hurriedly formed the Aquila across his chest.
The original Huron might have just given a curt nod and moved on, but this Huron returned the Aquila salute.
“Congratulations, Odinson.
You are about to become our Battle-brother.”
“It is my honor!” Odinson’s grit-teethed face could not hide his excitement.
After decades of life as a Chapter serf, he thought he had long since lost all hope.
He never imagined he would have another chance.