My loyalty is ironclad

Chief Apothecary Situval was run off his feet. Even with several leading biological specialists from the Adeptus Mechanicus helping him, managing a hundred recruits was still difficult. The Techmarine also provided constant technical support, staying close at hand.

Evan, meanwhile... had nothing much to do? He counted as a Chaplain, more or less? No, Commissar was probably the right title.

The two often rolled their eyes at Evan. If he had nothing to do, he could go find some money. Neophyte Transformation consumed so many supplies, and they still needed training afterward. There weren't enough suits of Power Armour in storage, and they were short on Chainswords and Power Swords, too.

If he couldn't bring anything back, what good was he?

The Adeptus Mechanicus recovered the Phenos Stone Serpent, grumbling that quite a few parts had been smashed.

After being fleeced, Evan wanted nothing to do with the Adeptus Mechanicus. He simply pressed his Bolter against their heads. What a joke. He had earned this thing by fulfilling the contract signed by the Shadow Blades. If they wanted to take it back, he would stop fulfilling that contract.

The Tech-Priest from the Adeptus Mechanicus tried to swear at him in binary, only for Evan to yank out one of the data cables attached to his body.

Scared out of his wits, the Tech-Priest hurriedly handed the Phenos Stone Serpent materials to Evan, then turned and fled.

This brat doesn't fight fair. What if he pulls out my lifeline next time?

Evan couldn't keep wandering around the planet, "trafficking" boys, either. Providing a hundred sets of Bio-Organs had already pushed their resources to the limit. Even if some recruits failed, there were no replacement stocks for the three organs consumed in the first stage of transformation.

Well, time to prepare a recruit training plan. Even if we're only helping catch exotic beasts on that Phenos Stone Serpent planet, we still need to develop the recruits' different abilities.

Besides, they couldn't stay on a single planet until their recruit training was over.

There were also Seven Rebel Worlds and two rebel Forge Worlds around Taste that had yet to be reclaimed.

Honestly, Evan thought they could negotiate with those two Forge Worlds, since their reason for rebelling was "belief in the Imperial Truth."

There were also several nearby Xenos planets. They had been judged incapable of spaceflight, and preliminary Auspex scans had revealed no valuable minerals, so they ranked very low on the attack priority list.

They would make good choices for recruit training.

But those were all just plans. What was he supposed to do now?

Write a book, then. Chapter one of the Chapter's history: Neophyte Recruitment.

I'll have to find a way to unify their thinking, too, and prevent any leaks.

The Luna Wolves' gene-seed is bound to cause problems. I'll need to work on their attitudes. What excuse could change their impression of it? I can't label them a Penitent Company the moment they arrive. That would be far too unfair.

A Penitent Company isn't a bad idea, though. The Blood Angels have their Death Company, so I'll make a Penitent Company. Maybe I'll throw Astartes who've done something wrong into it and let them fight their hearts out. Call it the 13th Company?

Astartes created from different gene-seed would inevitably excel at different styles of combat. Should he form them into separate companies, or put them in the same company with different duties?

Honestly, with sons of the White Scars and sons of the Luna Wolves working together again, it felt as though they could recreate the Great Crusade's lightning-fast advances, driving straight through enemy lines to take their leaders' heads.

Add in the defensively gifted sons of the Imperial Fists and the mechanized sons of the Iron Hands, capable of both attack and defense.

Round it all up, and I'm practically the Warmaster. Forget that. Bad luck.

Evan's art of rounding things up had reached perfection. From equating a Power Sword still having a charge with a happy machine spirit, to equating a few successful ambushes with being a company champion, there was nothing he couldn't round away or round into something else.

A lesson from the Orks: I reckon I can win.

Though when I say company champion, I don't mean letting the whole Chapter die until I'm the only one left...

All in all, life had finally gotten back on track.

Six years later, Evan officially became a full-time babysitter—no, a recruit instructor. Though the Techmarine remained worried enough to follow him around.

This batch's Neophyte Transformation success rate was 46%: thirteen sons of the White Scars, twelve sons of the Imperial Fists, ten sons of the Luna Wolves, and eleven sons of the Iron Hands.

Under Evan's relentless muttering, which sounded like whispers from the Warp, everyone who knew about the Sons of Horus gene-seed kept their mouths shut.

Fine, fine. Officers and soldiers are equal, and we should unite every available force. You're loyal, anyway. You don't talk, I don't talk. Happy now? (Gradually turning into Dark Angels.)

They also gained nine Combat Servitors. These fortunate yet unfortunate children had failed to become fully fledged Astartes, but had moved beyond the bounds of ordinary humanity.

In Evan's opinion, becoming junior leaders in the Imperialis Militia would suit them well enough. There was no need to insist on following the Astartes around.

Three years earlier, the Crimson Tide Chapter's Battle Barge had arrived at Phenos, the Phenos Stone Serpent Homeworld, to work alongside the Adeptus Mechanicus.

The earliest recruits had already spent two years training at Evan's side. Combat was essential, but he still hated putting them at risk. Every recruit was precious now, and losing even one would be an enormous blow.

The desert planet Phenos was a high-gravity world. Here, the Astartes recruits could build their physiques and accelerate hormone release from their glands. He just didn't know whether staying too long would turn them into Squats.

Initially, all their training took place on this desert planet. Their main exercise was to use the Adeptus Mechanicus's Seismic Machines to lure out Phenos Stone Serpents. Evan would engage them head-on while the recruits attacked the joints between the giant serpents' segments from the flanks. For recruits at their current level, those at least counted as weak points.

Phenos Stone Serpents were fiercely territorial. Usually, one Seismic Machine could only lure out a single serpent, though an especially unlucky young couple would occasionally emerge together.

Once they had dealt with the serpents, the Adeptus Mechanicus would come to collect the materials.

Within an area cleared by Evan and his men, the Adeptus Mechanicus kept excavating and building downward, attempting to construct a high-gravity Alloy Foundry and a Phenos Stone Serpent Materials Processing Center.

The underground installations' rock-like metal outer walls could leave any Phenos Stone Serpent that rammed them questioning its entire existence.

Meanwhile, a magnificent mixed fleet emerged from the Mandeville Point. Officials from the Department of Internal Affairs Inspection and the Adeptus Arbites in Segmentum Obscurus paid an unexpected visit to this desolate frontier of Segmentum Pacificus.

Why had they left their own jurisdiction to come here? They had the Dawn Angels' booming, segmentum-wide announcement to thank. Now, any human official of sufficient rank knew about the "great victory" here. (Me, trying my best to lie low and develop, and my loudmouthed idiot teammates.)

An Inquisition vessel accompanied them, coming to verify the region's "loyalty."

The fleet arrived at the planet hosting the provisional Segmentum Pacificus Second Council, and Otist scrambled out of bed that night to receive them.

They might have come from the neighboring segmentum, but even an official one rank higher could crush him. These people were many, many ranks above him.

Officially, the largest administrative division was a segmentum, comparable to a province, with subsectors beneath it, equivalent to cities. The provisional Segmentum Pacificus Second Council that Otist represented was essentially a handful of village chiefs discussing how to run things. Then an imperial inspector suddenly arrived. How could that not scare them senseless?

The visitors identified themselves immediately upon arrival. He could still argue a little with the Department of the Interior, but could he really bluff his way past the Inquisition and the Adeptus Arbites?

In an instant, Otist reviewed every crime he had ever committed, from murdering political rivals to swiping a handkerchief belonging to a Handmaid in Duke William's household.

Where had things gone wrong? Tax collection shouldn't have been their responsibility, and there should have been no need to bring the Adeptus Arbites along.

The operation's principal official was Weixing of the Department of the Interior, the highest-ranking man present. Originally, his fleet's sole duty had been to travel around the Imperium collecting taxes, then transport them to designated locations. These were usually specified Imperial Depots established in the star systems containing subsector or segmentum capitals. Only special supplies needed to be shipped back to Terra or elsewhere.

But no sooner had he set out than Abaddon, undefeated in a hundred battles, stirred up trouble again. That had left him stranded outside.

After the Horus Heresy launched by Warmaster Horus, personally appointed by the Emperor, ended in failure, the defeated traitor legions fled hastily into the Eye of Terror. They had lost their leader, Horus, but Abaddon, Horus's First Company Captain in the Sons of Horus, stepped forward. He recovered Horus's "corpse" and weapons. After returning to the Eye of Terror, he spent years consolidating his forces and waging wars of intimidation, successfully rallying the rebels who had once been routed.

Because the Emperor had utterly annihilated Horus on the level of the Warp, even the clone of Horus someone later created remained a mindless walking corpse.

The vast rebel host, centered on the Sons of Horus and calling itself the Black Legion, launched repeated crusades against the Imperium. Of course, so far, all of them had "failed."

Abaddon had also received considerable aid from Chaos. As soon as this crusade began, the hateful Dark Gods of the Warp once again raised a tremendous storm within it, cutting the Imperium in two.

When Weixing of the Department of the Interior saw that contact with Terra had been lost, he simply headed for the capital of Segmentum Obscurus. Such things had long since become commonplace in the Imperium's lengthy history. (Completely numb to it.)

Every region activated its emergency plan. Vast numbers of mothballed warships were brought into service, and practically every place the government could command mobilized to increase vigilance against Chaos.

The official in charge of Segmentum Obscurus took one look and said, "Things are dangerous now, Weixing. Your fleet doesn't have enough escorts. Why don't you travel with the Adeptus Arbites and the Inquisition?"

When the taxes came in, send the Department of the Interior. When they didn't, send the Adeptus Arbites.

And so the fleets of Kusak from the Adeptus Arbites and Inquisitor Letcher joined them.

As they traveled, they stopped at a planet to collect taxes and happened to meet the Dawn Angels Chapter, humming merrily on its way home.

Inquisitors were stubborn, fearless people. Most were powerful psykers, like Letcher, while a minority were exceptionally capable mortal fighters accompanied by psyker deputies.

They even dared-and possessed the ability-to investigate Space Marine Chapters they suspected, wielding tremendous authority.

Inquisitor Letcher immediately opened communications with the Dawn Angels. Bursting to talk, the Dawn Angels promptly spilled the entire story of the Taste campaign, throwing in footage from a tactical helmet generously supplied by the Shadow Blades' Techmarine, along with their own warship's records.

Weixing of the Department of the Interior wanted nothing to do with any of that. His concern was simple: "Are there any Department of the Interior tax ships at those five worlds?"

"No."

Excellent. Everyone, move out. Let's go take a look.

When Otist heard they had come to collect the Imperial Tithe, he was delighted. Although everyone had been uneasy lately, the tithe had still been collected diligently.

The Adeptus Arbites and the Inquisition kept asking about the Crimson Tide Chapter, leaving Otist drenched in cold sweat. Unauthorized approval of a new Chapter's founding was a major problem. The Imperium did have contingency provisions for self-government in territories isolated for extended periods-the provisional Segmentum Pacificus Second Council, for example, had been established entirely according to the rules.

But there were no such provisions for Space Marine Chapters.

Otist slapped his forehead. He had to protect Evan at all costs. This was his greatest bodyguard. Could they really expect an Inquisitor to protect them? Did these people know the scale of the enemy they had faced?

And so money changed hands, gifts were offered, and everything served one purpose: these Astartes had to stay and protect this region.

Doing this under the noses of the Adeptus Arbites and an Inquisitor was no easy task. Fortunately, Weixing was extremely cooperative and sent the other two departments off himself.

With nothing to do, those two departments went down to inspect the planet. Upon landing, they found everyone discussing the Astartes' great victory and recruitment. Looking farther, they saw an immense statue of the Emperor standing in the desert's center, so large it was visible from space.

This was a loyal, vibrant planet.

Bored, the Inquisitor took his people to investigate corruption among the officials, while the Adeptus Arbites, who should have been handling that task, remained busy arguing with Otist and Weixing.

Ultimately, through Otist's "masterful" political maneuvering, the provisional Segmentum Pacificus Second Council's responsibility in the affair was reduced to a negligible amount. The application to establish the Crimson Tide Chapter would be sent to the capital of Segmentum Obscurus for review by Department of the Interior personnel there.

Realistically, approval was almost certain. This new Chapter had a flagship and recruits, reasonably adequate equipment and supplies, and a high degree of "self-sufficiency." There was no reason to dissolve it. Even if they did, three members of each of the original three Chapters had survived, and each probably had recruits now. Were they supposed to provide supplies for three Chapters? Or abolish their organizations altogether and take them away from here?

There was no point. The vast Imperial fleet headed toward Phenos. As long as the Crimson Tide Chapter was loyal, there was no real problem. It merely needed a century or two of approvals from the various departments.

"What? The Department of the Interior is coming? With fleets from the Adeptus Arbites and an Inquisitor?"

Evan froze for a moment. He hadn't even started his plan, and they were already here?

Let them come, then. I haven't done anything yet. There's no evidence.

Evan carefully instructed everyone to keep their secrets, told the Chief Apothecary to conceal the gene-seed properly, then personally received the important Imperial officials.

"Welcome, distinguished servants of the Imperium, who have traveled so far."

It was an ordinary opening greeting. Inquisitor Letcher pursed his lips. Primaris Space Marines were very unlikely to turn traitor. Their additional surgeries implanted the Ave Maria organ, also known as the chorionic gland. This organ not only promoted greater size and sharper thinking in Astartes, but also imposed certain restrictions on their thoughts.

Behind Evan stood the travel-worn Astartes recruits, who had just finished training and returned to the Battle Barge. Now they formed neat ranks to welcome the visitors. Given the Crimson Tide's current circumstances, this was already the highest level of reception they could offer.

After all, if Chief Apothecary Situval and Techmarine Annos came out to welcome them too, they might as well conduct the meeting at the door. Everyone would already be there.

After exchanging a few routine pleasantries, they proceeded together to the Battle Barge's large conference hall to meet the two technical specialists.

The important figures took their seats. Only then did the real business begin.

Weixing of the Department of the Interior opened the discussion. "Greetings, honored Astartes warrior. I apologize for not addressing you as Chapter Master, but this Chapter's establishment has not followed the proper procedure."

"I submitted my application to the highest-ranking Imperial official I could contact. If there are other procedural issues, we can discuss them in detail and submit a new application. Alternatively, we can revert to our original three Chapters. Borrowing some equipment from other Chapters to transform recruits shouldn't violate any regulations, should it?"

It was more than merely permissible. Such circumstances were rare, and they had powerful backing besides. Ultimately, as long as they remained loyal to the Emperor, ordinary humans had no authority over Astartes orders. The Ultramarines taking the lead in following the Codex Astartes did not mean the other ancient Chapters would pay them any attention, especially Chapters such as the White Scars and their successors, whose Gene-Father was confirmed to still be alive.

Weixing talked around the issue at length. His general point was that their Chapter was effectively established, but Imperial approval would take many, many years. During that time, they would receive no official military supplies.

Deregistering three Chapters was remarkably quick, while establishing a new one took ages. Put plainly, it saved a great deal in military supplies.

Evan was happy enough with that. The less these people visited, the better. Still, he had to fight for their interests, especially perfectly reasonable ones.

The Department of the Interior issued an authorization on the spot, ordering the Forge World Stolov to devote its full efforts to helping the Crimson Tide Chapter restore its numbers "free of charge." Archmagos Phinnis's sour expression was easy to imagine.

No, they weren't actually losing anything. This was work they should have been doing anyway.

Inquisitor Letcher then proposed an investigation into possible Chaos corruption. To his surprise, Evan agreed completely. Although Letcher's powerful Psyker Power could forcibly examine mortal memories, attempting that on a Primaris Space Marine was wishful thinking. Afterward, he conducted a token investigation of the personnel. All the mortals had come from the Dawn Angels Chapter, so investigating them was entirely pointless.

They then discussed the origins of the warships. The account matched the Dawn Angels' explanation perfectly, leaving nothing suspicious.

Finally, Weixing suggested that they watch the records of that brutal battle.

Kusak of the Adeptus Arbites and Inquisitor Letcher straightened in their seats.

This was the main purpose of their visit.

The savage battle played across the Hololithic Projection. Then the image froze. By the time it started moving again, the fighting was already over.

"The Imperium will forever remember its great and valiant warriors. However, I have a few rather impolite questions, and I hope you can provide answers."

"Why did the image freeze, and what were you doing during that time?"

Evan's expression did not change. Even the Inquisitor detected nothing unusual.

"At the time, our helmets were nothing but a burden. If possible, I would even have preferred to remove all my Power Armour in exchange for quicker reactions. Only after we killed the Greater Daemon did we have time to put the battlefield in order."

Evan and Situval explained what had happened while the helmet footage remained frozen.

This was already an extraordinarily cooperative attitude. After all, most Space Marine Chapters considered it a courtesy merely to send someone their final battle report.

The Inquisitor continued his questioning. "Your report states that the enemy appeared to be protecting something. Did you never find it?"

Silence settled over the room. The Inquisitor's eyes shone intently. Situval and Annos remained silent, waiting for Evan to speak.

Heh. So that's what you came for.