"Christina, just how many... T'au have you processed?"
"About a billion."
"A billion! Did you wipe out their entire species?"
"Do you have any idea how effective your policies are?"
The T'au had spent roughly ninety Terran years under Evan's rule. Much like the country he had lived in before transmigrating, in its early years after founding, their population had grown at the terrifying rate of doubling every thirty years. The Ethereals even hypnotized the T'au in their territories to encourage reproduction and please the Astartes.
T'au beyond a certain age even fanatically volunteered to "become points," sacrificing themselves for their people to accumulate enough points to "redeem a new colony planet."
The T'au had formed a perfect closed loop: the young worked to manufacture basic products for tribute, while the elderly came to die. Their meninges became anti-psyker products, and their flesh became food bars.
"So... how many Anti-psyker Bolter rounds do we have now?"
From deep within her mechanical body, Christina uttered two words: "More than enough."
"You really are my Belisarius Cawl."
"No, I'm not. He couldn't protect you with his own flesh."
"???"
"That's right! The two spots over your hearts on your chest are my hands. Anyone who wants to hurt you has to hurt little old me first."
Evan fell silent, mainly because he felt a little... groped? Those two hands of hers were right over his chest...
"Will that compromise your safety?"
"No. Have you ever seen a disabled Sister of Silence corrupted by Chaos?"
"Good. I'm out of here."
Once he had confirmed that this deranged archbishop was safe, Evan left. If she hadn't reminded him, he would have almost forgotten to take his shield.
The fleet set sail! Bring the armour back to our home!
Inside the ships, the Primaris Warriors