The rebuilding of the Legiones Astartes was proceeding in an orderly fashion.
As for their progress?
New Folder.JPG.
Bona had spent the past few days working on the Astartes' genetic modification procedures.
Training a qualified Space Marine required starting in childhood.
Chapters usually selected children aged eight to fourteen as candidates to become genetically enhanced warriors.
After nineteen genetic modification procedures passed down from the Emperor, an ordinary human could become a demigod with two hearts and three lungs.
Under normal circumstances, one major factor limiting Astartes numbers was the shortage of a vital organ known as "gene-seed."
Every candidate would be implanted with gene-seed. This small organ, packed with vital genetic material, was the most important possession of any Space Marine Chapter. It carried the combat experience of their predecessors, helping Astartes quickly become qualified warriors. Every Astartes would produce another gene-seed upon reaching maturity, allowing them to "reproduce."
But...
It was too slow.
Not everyone possessed the compatible genes and powerful will needed to endure the lengthy genetic modification procedures. Combined with the Astartes' constant deployment on the front lines, this meant passing down gene-seed was far from straightforward.
For a rebel Imperium that possessed only a single barren sector, the current method simply could not support the creation of a Legiones Astartes force built to Great Crusade standards.
And Bona was conducting an experiment to address precisely that.
With the help of two Adeptus Mechanicus sages, a simple but fully equipped genetics laboratory had been constructed.
"So, how do you intend to modify these genetic procedures? One wrong step could undo everything," Horus asked, sitting on a crate nearby as he watched Bona work.
"I've performed genetic modification procedures on Thunder Warriors before. As long as I don't touch the core organs, this isn't nearly as difficult