Hearing the Chief's conclusion, Lox did not know whether to laugh or cry.
The Chief understood him too well. He had even prepared a response for thoughts Lox might possibly have.
If Lox chose to flee, taking the Red Alert as a seed of human civilization to wander the galaxy, then the Chief would not appear again to interfere with his choice.
Because that man knew that if he voiced opposition to Lox's escapist inclinations, Lox would truly abandon the thought of fleeing.
Then it would no longer be Lox's choice.
Lox vaguely felt that the Chief favored the second path: joining the game currently unfolding across the galaxy and using the Red Alert's technological strength to bring about more change.
He had not said so outright, but the appearance of this recording was proof enough.
"I think you should understand by now that the STC templates carried aboard the Red Alert, those technologies from our era, are not the pinnacle."
"Whether it is humanity in the era after ours, the Necrons, or those Aeldari who know only indulgence and depravity, they are all stronger than the humans of the Dark Age of Technology."
"Just as I believe, there is no absolute perfection, only an endless approach toward perfection. The deeper we delve into the laws of the universe, the more we feel our own ignorance."
Although the Chief before him was merely a projection created by a Cogitator, his bearing was no different from the man in Lox's memories.
Those who called themselves the Gold Men had grown increasingly frenzied in modifying and refining humanity's genes. Born from humanity, they had nevertheless been swept up by arrogance and conceit, believing themselves a species superior to humans.
As the most outstanding scientist, the Chief could have become the leader of