Emperor's Bane

Chapter 843: Filial Son Typhon
Typhon certainly knew how ridiculous his suggestion was.

He never expected that Mortarion would fully adopt his ideas.

Yes, he was unlucky. He had the misfortune to be associated with the worst one among the existing 18 Primarchs: Lorgar at least had the eloquence to preach, while Conrad had never boasted too much about his personal abilities.

And Mortarion, pathetic and hateful Mortarion, what merits does he have that are worth being proud of: in what field can he surpass his other brothers?

Tough?

When the word is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is definitely Dorne: Typhon is no exception.

He had seen Dorn and fought alongside the Imperial Fists, so he knew that compared to Dorn's strength, Mortarion was just a brash little rascal.

If the two were left in the same difficult situation, by the time the first crack appeared in the heart of the Lord of the Imperial Fist, the Lord of Death would probably have succumbed a thousand times.

Generally speaking, a few more words are needed to be listed at this point: but Typhon was not surprised to find that he could not pick out other words from his genetic father, nor could he find other advantages, those advantages that would make him stand out among all the Primarchs.

The strength of the arm? Compared with Vulcan, the Lord of Fire Dragons, anyone would only bring shame upon himself.

Unyielding Victory: Although the Captain was not a man well versed in military affairs, Typhon had mocked the Death Guard countless times in his heart for their indifference to other arms and their single-minded focus on heavy infantry.

In his eyes, what qualifications did Mortarion have to ridicule Perturabo: the Death Guard and the Iron Warriors were only legions that could perform miraculously on specific battlefields. While the Fourth Legion bled dry in front of the fortress, the Fourteenth Legion was enduring its best chemical warfare on a battlefield filled with wrecks and poisonous gas.

It's ridiculous: if they are as almighty and powerful as the Ultramarines, the Dark Angels and the Emperor's Children, why would they be so obsessed with so-called chemical warfare? Is it true that anyone could get used to the feeling of their skin burning?

In the final analysis, it was simply because apart from them, no other legions would be foolish enough to rush into the poison gas to fight, nor would they be so destitute as to have no chance to demonstrate their strength except for competing in chemical warfare.

But Mortarion was proud of it.

What was the fundamental difference between him and Perturabo?
As for Mortarion's disdain for psionics?

This is exactly what Typhon despises the most.

Others may not know, but as the first friend of the Lord of Death, how could he not know the secret: what kind of bullshit numerology is this? In the final analysis, it is nothing more than the gods and ghosts talk on Barbarus. Mortarion said that he was anti-spiritual, but he was just against the psychic power other than his own.

In terms of style, he is far inferior to Leman Russ, Magnus and Morgan:

At least Leman Russ packaged the witchcraft of his hometown better, and although Magnus was stupid, he was indeed working for a broader future. Needless to say, the Spider Queen, her great achievements made Typhon a hidden die-hard fan of Morgan.

Yes, Typhon respected Morgan more than his own Primarch, or even other Primarchs including Horus: he once privately fantasized that if he had joined the Dawnbreakers, would he have been able to achieve better results on a better stage?

Perhaps he could not become a captain of the first company, Typhon had this self-knowledge, but he did not have to put up with the fool that was Mortarion: the Lord of Death was doomed to achieve nothing, because he not only lacked sufficient ability, but even insufficient ambition.

Although from Typhon's observation, most of the Primarchs seemed to have this problem: either lack of ability or lack of ambition, which destined them not to become people who would accomplish great things.

Therefore, there are not many leaders among the Primarchs who are truly worth following: perhaps only three or four people.

Morgan is certainly one of them, and she is even the one with the best performance: when the primarchs are obsessed with territory and power, who would really notice that the think tank system run by the Spider Queen has become an integral part of the empire?

Unknowingly, the Librarians and Psykers had taken root in each legion. Even the Nikea Conference, which was specially established for this purpose, failed to shake the foundation of this system. Typhon was one of the few people in the galaxy who realized the ability of the Spider Queen based on this incident.

He even had some doubts: the Captain had carefully read the files of the Empire, because the Primarch did not like to do these things, and someone had to take the responsibility, so, in the entire Death Guard Corps, Typhon was actually the one who was most familiar with various major events of the Empire.

The more he researched, the more certain he became: this seemingly inconspicuous Spider Queen might have already intervened in the most core matters of the Great Crusade, and the power she secretly wielded was more than what bystanders saw.

Typhon had some suspicion that the Spider Queen was the one who secretly pushed the Emperor to enfeoff the various Primarchs, and her role in major events such as the City of Perfection and Nuceria was definitely not as simple as the Emperor's assistant: she must have gained more trust from the Lord of Mankind.

This is a very simple inference.

Think about it: everyone knows how important the First Legion is to the Emperor, and everyone also knows that Jonson is the sword that the Master of Mankind keeps ready for the worst.

And anyone with a discerning eye could see that, despite being separated by half a galaxy, the Spider Queen's influence on Jonson and the First Legion was already exaggerated: if the Emperor did not trust her, how could the Lord of Mankind allow such a thing to happen?

In the previous hundred years, even though Horus was the recognized candidate for Warmaster, he had no chance to win Jonson over to his side.

But Morgan can: the mystery is enough to be savored.

Therefore, Tiao Tiao's reasoning showed Typhon a greater world: he witnessed with his own eyes how the Spider Queen, relying on her not-so-outstanding origin among the Primarchs, secretly climbed to a higher position step by step, not only dominating the galaxy according to her own will, but also in fact, gaining greater power than other brothers.

So what if Horus is the Warmaster? From the beginning to the end, he was just competing with Jonson, who was pushed forward by the Spider Queen. In other words: the Wolf God was not even qualified to compete with the Lord of Avalon.

At least that's what Typhon thought.

Because of these things, the captain of the Death Guard became more and more adoring of the Spider Queen, whom he had only met a few times. A strange, itchy, inexplicable ambition began to slowly burn in Typhon's heart at some point.

Look at Morgan's achievements.

She had it all: and the foolish masses did not even notice it.

……

So, Typhon: can you also do even a little bit of this cunning Primarch?
He, the son of Barbarus, the first captain of the Fourteenth Legion, actually holds a large amount of resources and a network of relationships, and in fact governs a think tank called Typhon that is completely under his command and obeys his orders: Is it possible to replicate the successful route of the Spider Queen?
Is there anything more exciting than being able to catch up with your idol?
Just as all military dictators would madly worship Napoleon, and just as every emperor would call himself Caesar: when ambitious people see statues that commemorate greatness, they would always replace the statue's face in their hearts with their own face.

Typhon is no exception.

Of course, he knew how big the gap in strength was between himself and the Primarch.

Take Morgan, for example: Typhon has always been a loyal subscriber to the Codex Psionics. He owns every book, journal, setting collection, and pamphlet that the Spider Queen has written since she started writing this series. Even in the Second Legion, few people can do better than him.

Unbeknownst to Morgan, the Captain of the Death Guard had been a devoted student of the Spider Queen's psychic powers, surpassing even every Librarian who had ever attended Ahriman's lectures: completely self-taught, Mortarion's favorite brother actually had quite good psychic skills.

Strictly speaking, his psychic ability level is certainly not as good as Ahriman's, but among more than half of the Astartes Legion, Typhon would undoubtedly be the chief think tank.

At his most arrogant, Typhon had tried to deviate from Morgan's path and find a new path to power: but about forty years ago, countless failures made him realize the status quo.

Of course, it was also because he and Ahriman had finally become pen pals, and he could get hold of more advanced texts through personal connections.

These books are indeed useful.

Ahriman and Morgan: two of the best mentors anyone eager to pursue psychic power could find. They guided Typhon and allowed him to go further in the Warp, not only witnessing scenery that he had once unimagined, but also touching power far beyond his cognition.

He even heard voices for the first time in the Warp: how comical it sounded, how similar they were to the revelations that Mortarion had once expounded upon him, the revelations that existed only in the Primarch's mind.

Just as thick, just as distant, just as vague: but with a charm that makes people want to get closer.

Like a benevolent father, calling for Typhon's arrival from afar.

That was not long ago, about ten years before the Council of Nikaea, and Mortarion was extremely busy during that period, as he had to prepare everything for the great council he dreamed of to end the hegemony of sorcery: naturally, his control over the Legion became lax.

Therefore, Typhon had more time to explore the secrets deep in the Warp, where he encountered that voice, a voice that he had clearly heard for the first time, but which made Typhon inexplicably feel like a long-lost reunion.

It's just like……

It was like the voice that supported Typhon to survive on Barbarus when he was beaten and abused, and could only curl up in a cave alone, suffering in loneliness and tears at night.

At that time, Typhon, a hybrid of an alien and a human mother, what could he desire deep in his heart: just a shadow that was willing to protect him, someone who could embrace him with open arms, and that voice, that voice that seemed to have never existed, seemed to be able to satisfy all of Typhon's wishes.

He seemed like his loving father.

It was as if he...had really existed.

There it was: in the deepest reaches of the Warp that not even the Spider Queen had written about.

His loving Father was calling him.

He was calling out to Typhon, but he was also encouraging him: without his push, Typhon's ambition might always remain just a vain ambition, but now, the captain wanted to do something more concrete.

Some of the things his idol Morgan had done in front of everyone.

------

Just like Morgan had secretly intervened in the most important affairs and the most critical power of the Empire, divided the galaxy according to his own will, became the de facto leader among the Primarchs, and the second-in-command in the shadow of the Empire.

Could Typhon do the same?

He guided his Primarch, used words and wisdom to bewitch the foolish Mortarion, turning him into his puppet, and in fact became the master of the Death Guard and the entire southern border of the Empire, becoming one of the Supremes who would no longer be constrained by anyone in the grand system after the Great Crusade.

No one could bully him anymore, no one could laugh at or criticize his fragility anymore.

No one could stand above him anymore.

Even if he is the original body, he is the father of genes.

Mortarion had proven that the Primarch was everything to the Legion.

And now, Typhon wants to prove that with the right means, the Primarch can be sidelined.

When the world turned their confused and angry eyes to Mortarion.

Death Guard, it will be Typhon's.

And with this Legion: The Captain will be able to do some truly great things.

------

of course.

He certainly knew how presumptuous his ambitions sounded.

The Primarch is everything to the Legion, this statement is by no means groundless, even the worst Primarch like Mortari is no exception: it is almost impossible to make the Astartes oppose their Gene-Father. Even Typhon, in many cases, will instinctively have a little worship of the Lord of Death.

No matter how much he hated it.

On the other hand, the First Captain's idea was by no means unfounded: the Astartes' loyalty to their Primarch was not unshakable, as was the case among the Dark Angels and the Raven Guard, and also Typhon himself.

Moreover, if he just wanted to sideline rather than overthrow the incompetent Mortarion, he could actually adopt a gentler approach: if Typhon could do his best, the Lord of Death would even become his scythe in turn, making it impossible for the Astartes loyal to the Primarch to act.

How do you say that word?

Serve the emperor and punish those who are disloyal.

The White Scars always have some ancient wisdom that is unique to them.

Of course, this requires patience, wisdom, courage, and a little bit of luck...

"..."

The Captain of the Fourteenth Legion glanced at the Primarch, who had remained silent.

And a stupid Mortarion.

He was so stupid that he actually thought that Typhon's plan was feasible: even if it was only partially feasible.

This fool, didn't he realize why his own world kept falling to Corax: because the governors felt neglected, because the Lord of Death's constant taxes to Terra were hurting his people badly, and Corax was doing much better. Why of all Primarchs did he have to go with such an asshole?
Typhon clenched his teeth.

And now: Mortarion didn't really think it would be a good idea to build those hives and agri-worlds into poisonous templates of Barbarus, did he?
You know, although the Primarchs have almost absolute rule over their own kingdoms, they are not gods, and Terra still retains the power to rebuke: if Mortarion really dares to act like this, within three months at most, the Imperial Fists and Space Wolves will form a large army and come to hold the Lord of Death accountable.

By then, Typhon, who made this suggestion, would not have a good ending.

There is a high probability that he will be shot, or die in a way that has no military honor. As for Mortarion, who made the decision: Dorn and Leman Russ have no right to deal with him. The most he will do is be scolded by his brothers and Terra, and the reduction of some territory will be the maximum punishment.

It's just so unfair.

When he thought of this, Typhon's expression became distorted with reluctance in his heart.

At the same time, he was terrified: Did that bastard Mortarion really think it was a good idea to infuse all worlds with poison gas?

"grown ups?"

Typhon had to take a step forward: after he finished telling his nonsense plan, the Primarch had been silent for nearly seven minutes, a time so long that the captain felt uneasy.

"How do you...feel?"

"Um……"

The Lord of Death nodded first, then frowned in a pretentious manner.

"Your plan has some merit: but it is radical, Typhon."

“You educate.”

The captain of the first company lowered his head quickly: he couldn't let the primarch see his current expression.

"But then again."

As it turned out, Typhon's worries were a little unnecessary: ​​because Mortarion, who was lost in thought, didn't even look at him, the Primarch just waved his hand casually, and he seemed more interested in another question.

"How did you come up with this plan?"

"Is it for military, political, or people's livelihood and natural environment considerations in each world?"

"Tell me about it, Typhon."

"Do you have any...source of inspiration?"

Bullshit inspiration.

The company commander spat in his heart.

Typhon considered himself to be only relatively good at military affairs. He might have some talent in politics, but he would never pay attention to people's livelihood and nature. However, the captain of the first company was always diligently learning all the above knowledge in order to support his dream in the future.

But there is one thing that Typhon can be proud of no matter what.

He may not understand many things.

But he understood Mortarion too well.

The reason why he proposed this idea was very simple: Typhon knew that deep in Mortarion's mind, the Lord of Death was also thinking about this plan to some extent. He might not like Typhon's extremes, but he would definitely accept a more moderate one.

As for why Typhon took the initiative to propose such an extreme plan: it was to allow Mortarion to refute him, and then propose a more moderate plan, so that the Primarch would think that it was his own credit, and it would be easier to implement it at that time.

The company commander smiled: he knew things would develop as he wished.

really.

"I just feel that the legion's manpower problem is indeed urgent."

“It’s a big problem indeed.”

The Primarch nodded haughtily.

"But you shouldn't be so extreme."

"But you are right about one thing. At least in our land, only in an environment like Barbarus can true legion warriors emerge. Soldiers who have not experienced hardships are not worth mentioning in war. They are not worthy of the name of the Fourteenth Legion."

"Therefore, those hive worlds that are sinking in wealth, the industrial world that is full of logic and profit relations, and the agricultural world that works like pigs in the fields, they are all unable to become qualified sources of soldiers: they do not have the suffering and noble spirit of Barbaros."

"You are right, my Lord."

Typhon covered his contemptuous snort with a flattering compliment.

It's the same thing again.

Mortarion has respected the philosophy of suffering since a hundred years ago: in his eyes, suffering is the real wealth, and those who have not experienced suffering are not worthy of being called noble. It is for this reason that he despises other Primarchs because of his own miserable childhood.

In short: Even if there is no hardship, you have to endure it.

Not only did he eat it himself: he also required everyone he could control to eat it as well.

Weird, right?

But think about it again, he is a Primarch: isn't this normal?

Isn't that what the Primarch does?

At least Typhon was used to that: what he really looked forward to was what Mortarion would say next.

"It's an extreme idea to transform all worlds into Barbarus, but your idea does have merit: we should recruit soldiers from worlds like Barbarus. Only here will we have the right source of soldiers."

"So, although I cannot transform the entire southern border of the empire into Barbarus, we can create a few more Barbarus: select a few pure barbaric worlds, transform them into melting pots like Barbarus, and then migrate carefully selected populations there, where they will grow into new recruits for the legion."

"That will solve our immediate problem: Terra won't say anything either."

"Your wisdom, my Lord."

Typhon grinned.

"So what do you think? Should we cluster these worlds together, or should we evenly distribute our barracks throughout the Barbarus Autonomous Region?"

"..."

The primarch thought for a moment.

"What do you think, Typhon?"

"I think……"

For a moment, Typhon really wanted to suggest to the Primarch that all such conscript worlds be gathered together in a cloud: but he knew that another solution would be more valuable in the long run.

Then, he changed the subject.

"This matter can be linked to the redefinition you have been thinking about."

"you mean……"

Mortarion looked over, color gradually flashing in his pale pupils.

"That's right, sir. You have decided to divide the outside world among our seven captains. Then each captain can have several Barbarus barracks like the one I just mentioned in his jurisdiction, and let them train new soldiers."

"We can build these future poison gas worlds at the necessary transportation hubs that connect the various worlds. In this way, it will be convenient to transport soldiers there, and the various barracks worlds can also maintain communication: this will be conducive to healthy competition between each other."

competition.

Nothing caught Mortarion's eye more than that word.

"You are right, Typhon."

This time, the Lord of Death did not hesitate for too long.

“We should keep competing: that’s what drives progress.”

"but……"

Suddenly, the Lord of Death paused again.

"What you just said about the redivision reminded me of something, Typhon."

"Speaking?"

"Do you remember that we have launched several expeditions to the outer darkness in the south before? There are also large tracts of territory there, which are now under the rule of Barbarus. But they are too far away and are largely equivalent to enclaves."

"But on the other hand, the territory of this enclave is too vast. It is almost impossible for me to let someone take charge of it. There must be a company commander who is responsible for managing it. He will become a vassal with almost complete autonomy. This person must have absolute ability and loyalty because he will be outside the legion's system."

“So I’ve been hesitating.”

"What do you think?"

"..."

I think?
Typhon almost laughed out loud.

But despite this, he remained silent for a long time, as if he was unwilling to express his opinion on this issue.

"You can say it at your own will, Typhon."

"Okay, my lord."

The company commander seemed to be sighing.

"But if you ask me: an enclave completely independent of Barbarossa?"

"A dark place outside the empire that is almost separated from the empire and will also be separated from the Barbarus culture that we will promote in the future?"

"If we want to guard this place, is there a more suitable choice than Lord Garo from Terra and the Terra veterans under his command?"

"after all……"

Typhon lowered his voice.

He spoke only one word: a word that Mortarion was also saying in his heart, a word that the Lord of Death would surely agree with, a word that would eliminate his greatest rival.

"We all know: Garo and his people will never be Barbarus."

(End of this chapter)