A moment later, Galen’s face appeared on the hololith.
“Chapter Master, you called?”
Huron kept his face stern.
“I received guidance.
The Emperor’s light favors us.
Prepare one gene-seed and the full implantation suite.
Find a Chapter serf with low genetic compatibility but exceptional will.
I believe our next implantation will be…
unusually smooth.”
Galen frowned.
He was not yet the crazed ‘Master of the Warp’ of the Red Corsairs.
He was still a loyal Apothecary, and he disliked experimenting with his brothers’ legacy.
But Huron had earned his respect.
After Chapter Master Amhrad fell to Warboss Garstompa in 715.M41, Huron had led the broken fleet out of the Ork trap and kept the Chapter alive for three years.
He couldn’t directly refuse.
“Understood.
I will prepare.”
But Galen already had an idea.
Since the Chapter Master didn’t specify it had to be fresh Astral Claws seed, perhaps an older reserve from the vaults would be acceptable?
The Astral Claws were once the Tiger Claws.
In 322.M37, after near-destruction, they were re-founded as Astral Claws.
In the deepest vault, there were still a few sealed gene-seed stocks from the Tiger Claws era, almost 400 years old, kept as relics.
For a test subject, Galen would not risk a new generation seed.
An old relic seed was perfect.
And for the subject, he would choose someone whose will could overcome rejection.
That was why Chapter trials were always brutal – strong will could sometimes beat poor compatibility.
While Galen prepared the surgery, Huron studied his system map.
He opened the strategic view and almost spat blood.
Badab was not green.
It was blue.
In HOI4, blue meant puppet, ally, subject – not core territory.
Even worse, the area around it was a mess of blues, all tangled together.
Angstrom, the only Forge World in the Maelstrom Zone, was blue.
It belonged to the faction [Imperium of Man], and also to [Cult of the Omnissiah], which was part of [Adeptus Mechanicus of Ryza] to the west of the Maelstrom.
Ryza belonged to [Mechanicus], which belonged to [Imperium].
The Lamenters and Mantis Warriors were also blue, separate entities.
The three of them – Astral Claws, Lamenters, Mantis Warriors – belonged to [Maelstrom Warders].
But Mantis Warriors also belonged to [White Scars Lineage].
Lamenters belonged to [Blood Angels Lineage].
White Scars, Blood Angels, and other First and Second Foundings belonged to [Adeptus Astartes].
Inside [Adeptus Astartes], the Deathwatch belonged to [Ordo Xenos], which belonged to [Inquisition].
Layers upon layers.
Factions inside factions.
“So this is why the First Legion is called the Dark Angels with their inner circles…”
Huron rubbed his forehead.
“Turns out the entire Imperium is just nested dolls.”
He couldn’t stand seeing Badab blue.
As a puppet, Badab gave reduced factories and no buffs.
If it were a core, he could instantly get 20+ more military factories, even if he had to use troops to suppress rebellions.
But Badab was not truly his.
On the surface, he was Lord of Badab.
In reality, Badab was ruled by dozens of noble houses, merchant guilds, and old hive families who had been there for millennia.
They bowed to the Astral Claws out of fear, but they still held real power.
Without true control, the system did not recognize it as core territory.
So after thinking, Huron chose his next National Focus.
[New Homeland (0/360)]
[Description: We have taken Badab, but only superficially.
Violence makes nobles kneel, but it does not make the people love us.
We must develop Badab properly and make it our true homeworld.]
[Effect: 5-year buff ‘Homeland Development’, civilian factory efficiency +10%, unlocks series of construction and core-ification Decisions.]
This Focus would take a year.
But it was worth it.
The Astral Claws would not fight any major wars in the next few years.
The current forces were enough to maintain the Maelstrom.
Rather than rushing to expand, Huron preferred to turn Badab into a true fortress.
He did not want his home to rebel while he was out fighting.
Just as Huron finished the Focus, Galen sent a message.
“Chapter Master, everything is ready.”
When Huron arrived at the Apothecarion, he saw Galen already in full surgical gear, and a young man lying on the table, his face tense but resolute.
This was not an old governor.
This was a young Chapter serf, muscles taut, eyes burning.
A long scar ran across his left brow, a mark from Ork shrapnel during the evacuation of Badab Secundus.
Huron found his name in his memories: Garrison Odinson.
He was not a planetary governor.
He was a sergeant of the Chapter serfs, born on Badab Primaris itself.
During the Ork invasion, his PDF regiment broke, but he rallied a dozen men and held a hab-block for 72 hours until the Astral Claws arrived.
Huron’s predecessor had seen his talent and taken him as a personal armsman.
He was only 19 years old – one year past the normal implantation age – with extremely low compatibility, practically zero.
Normally, he would never have a chance.
But his will was legendary among the serfs.
Huron had not expected Galen to choose him.
If he failed, the Chapter would lose a promising mortal leader.
But if he succeeded…
“Chapter Master,” Odinson saw Huron and tried to rise, giving the Aquila salute.
The old Huron would have just nodded.
This Huron returned the salute.
“At ease, Odinson.
Today, you may become our battle-brother.”
“It is my honor!” Odinson’s voice trembled with excitement.
After three years as a serf, he thought he had no hope.
Now, he actually had a chance.