From Titan Corporation to the Empire of Man

Chapter 648 "The Spark Never Dies" - Political Assets
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As dusk settled, the new city was bathed in a warm orange glow. Hansen gazed at the vibrant scene before him, momentarily lost in thought.

The children's cheerful laughter echoed in the square, mingling with the harp music played by street performers. The aroma of freshly baked bread and stewed meat wafted from afar, mixed with the fragrance of night-blooming cereus from the fairy flower shop.

What moved her most was the long-lost relaxed expression on the faces of her fellow Agriyans—

Women sat around the fountain sharing weaving techniques, men chatted loudly in the open-air tavern, and even the oldest elderly strolled leisurely on the carpet of light laid out by the intelligent lighting system, supported by their grandchildren.

What's even more remarkable is the genuine affection the public has for the Flame Lizard Warriors.

Over at the restaurant area, several children were surrounding a guard who had removed part of his armor, curiously touching the scale patterns engraved on his power armor.

The bartender poured another soldier a full glass of wine, and a number of civilians gathered around to raise their glasses in greeting.

Such seamless interaction was like a dream in a war-torn star sector.

"Ariel".

The deep, resonant voice startled Hansen from his thoughts.

She looked up and saw that Gao Zan had taken off his helmet, his angular face resembling a bronze sculpture under the streetlights.

The company commander looked down at her, revealing his rare dark red eyes, a dominant trait of the Flame Lizard gene seed.

"You can choose to join the Imperial Biological Department." Gao Zan's voice was less mechanical than usual, carrying a more human warmth. "You will be assigned to a position in the new city."

As he spoke, Gao Zan pointed to a white building not far away that was decorated with a double helix and the Atlas symbol, "That's where the most advanced biological laboratory is located."

Hansen noticed that the company commander deliberately omitted his title and called her by her first name, which was the first time since they had known each other. Her fingers unconsciously tightened the hem of her white coat, and the fabric made a slight rubbing sound.

“Ma Sara has multiple layers of defense here.”

Gao Zan continued, his gaze sweeping over the faintly visible shield mesh in the air, "The probability of alien infiltration is less than 0.003%."

The data in this statement has been precisely calculated, a characteristic persuasive method of the Astartes.

Hansen opened her mouth, and suddenly tasted a metallic flavor on her tongue. She had bitten through the inside of her mouth without realizing it.

The highly-rated proposal is indeed tempting.

A safe laboratory, familiar fellow countrymen—no more facing those terrifying alien creatures.
But when she looked into the company commander's dark red eyes, she suddenly understood the deeper meaning behind the suggestion.

This is not just a job transfer, but also a protective barrier that keeps her out of danger.

The holographic clock on the street corner displayed the local standard time, and in the gaps between the ticking numbers, Hansen seemed to see countless possible futures.

Whether it's living a safe life in the laboratory or being protected by a fire lizard while going to the battlefield to collect alien samples.

Her gaze involuntarily fell on Gao Zan's shoulder armor, on the unrepaired crack.

"Thank you for your kindness, Company Commander Gao."

Finally, she raised her face, a determined smile curving her lips. "But I think my expertise will be more effective on the front lines. I can analyze the alien race samples immediately and provide you with more accurate advice, which should save the Third Company a lot of tactical reaction time."

Gao Zan's pupils contracted slightly, a micro-expression indicating Astartes' surprise.

He silently gazed at the woman before him, whose height barely reached his chest, his eyes sweeping over the dark circles under her eyes—

Those are traces left by continuous analysis of insect swarm data.

Then, the company commander suddenly raised his right hand, and the power armor joint made a slight hydraulic sound.

"Dismissed." His voice regained its usual mechanical quality as he instructed his four brothers behind him: "Take a break."

"Yes."

The four guards immediately saluted, the sound of armor clashing ringing out crisply in the twilight.

Their backs as they turned and walked towards the food street carried a hint of ease, a rare sign of Astartes' relaxed state.

Hansen, however, noticed that Gao Zan remained highly focused.

It wasn't until the distinctive brass horn sound of the dwarf tavern reached them in the distance that the company commander seemed to snap out of his daze.

He put his helmet back on, and the moment the visor lit up, the ever-rational tactical commander seemed to return, saying:

"The biological analysis team on the Unyielding Flame needs an equipment upgrade. The engineering department will install a new quantum processor for you tomorrow morning."

This statement is both an acknowledgment of her decision and another form of "acceptance," implying that Ariel Hansen will follow the Three Company's long-term operations.

The streetlights then came on fully, and the intelligent lighting system adjusted the beam angle based on the positions of the two people.

Hansen's shadow intertwined with the Terminator's silhouette on the ground, like some kind of unwavering covenant.

On the other side of the square, a choir from Agriya was singing the colonial classic, "The Stars Never Die," its melodious strains floating in the lively night air.

On the central side of the new city stands a pure white building in the style of the Parthenon, with forty Doric giant stone columns supporting a triangular pediment.

Each column is carved with intricate spiral patterns, shimmering with a mother-of-pearl-like luster under the illumination.

The temple's bronze doors are inlaid with reliefs depicting the Trojan War, and the lintel is inscribed with the words "Temple of Wisdom and Courage" in both ancient Greek and Chinese.

Two Greek deities, each over three meters tall, stood guard on either side of the entrance. Their ancient Greek heavy armor was covered with dents that looked like they had been left by mythological battles, and their multifaceted spears reflected a cold light under the lamplight.

Stepping inside the temple, simple living quarters are arranged on both sides of the high-ceilinged hall.

Each unit entrance is adorned with emblems representing different minor gods, clearly indicating that these were residences provided for Greek minor gods.

The smooth marble wall is engraved with the articles of the Code of Humanity, and the golden Chinese characters gleam brightly through the light refracted by the stained glass.

At the end of the corridor, in the pool, several silver-scaled fish from Mount Olympus swam among the water lilies, their scales changing color with the time of day.

Ascending the lapis lazuli steps to the second floor, the private chambers of the Goddess of War present an atmosphere completely different from the lower levels.

A starry sky is painted on the twelve-meter-high dome, with several constellations highlighted in red.

That is a famous battle story that Athena participated in.

On the weapon rack on the east side of the palace, the Aegis leans against the wall, its center adorned with Medusa's relief eyes, inlaid with gems that change with the light.

On the shelf next to her are seven spears from different periods, all used by Athena, ranging from the most primitive bronze spears to the newest and strongest spears of victory, telling the story of the war goddess's ever-evolving fighting style.

The reading area on the west side is piled with holographic data boards and ancient parchment scrolls, and a smart projector is automatically playing the latest battlefield analysis report.

Scattered on a specially made tactical table are game pieces, with the black fleet surrounded by the red team's ingenious formation. In a small shrine in the corner are a few personal items: a bronze ring from an ancient Spartan warrior, an epaulette from a Roman general, and the skeleton of a Greek god encased in a transparent force field.

Ten war maidens, all Greek minor gods, dressed in cream-colored Pepros robes, were busy in the palace.

Their movements were as coordinated as if they were precisely programmed; they wiped down even the fingerprints when cleaning weapons and aligned even the edges of parchment when arranging scrolls.

Two of them were adjusting the regulators on the giant bed in the center of the bedroom—

This is a rest facility specially designed for people with "divine" physiques. The mattress is made of special materials and can automatically adjust the support according to the user's weight.

At this moment, Athena has shed her golden armor and put on a moon-white Hedon dress.

The thin fabric was embroidered with almost invisible defensive runes that occasionally flashed silver light as she moved.

The goddess sat on the edge of the bed, her slender fingers gently patting Sui Meng's back. The young original body's small hand was still clutching a strand of the goddess's golden hair.

~~
"Sleep well, little soldier."

Athena hummed an ancient Greek nursery rhyme, her voice a thousand times softer than it had been on the battlefield.

A faint golden light emanated from her fingertips, forming a subtle spiritual barrier around the child. "When the morning light rises, I will show you a new sword technique."

The holographic projector by the bedside automatically dimmed and played a soothing harp melody.

The goddess looked up at the holographic clock; there were still about eighteen hours before the fleet set off.

In this brief moment of peace, the former Olympian goddess of war temporarily shed her divinity, leaving only the most primal tenderness of a "mother".

Sui Meng's breathing gradually became long and even, and he finally let go of Athena's golden hair.

The young Primarch offspring curled up in the gravity blanket, his eyelashes fluttering slightly in his sleep, as if still savoring the ancient ballads sung by the goddess.

His face looked exceptionally peaceful in his sleep, and his features, which were identical to those of an emperor, were now as soft as those of an ordinary human child.

Looking at the growth history of all the original offspring, Sui Meng's "backing" can be described as unprecedented and unparalleled.

Alexia Ashford, the foster mother of Primarchs such as Guilliman, Saint Gilles, and Leon, nurtured them using the most sophisticated scientific methods as the Empire's chief researcher.

Primarchs of the "Mesozoic" and even "Post-Mesozoic" generations, such as Perturabo, Mortalian, and Corax, were raised by the Elven Queen Tinas Lothrian, learning ancient wisdom in the tranquil forest.

The factions represented by these foster mothers had long since woven a complex political network among the Primarchs—

Especially after Dorn married Aoui Lothrian, the support of the Elven race for the Imperial Fist and legions such as the Iron Warriors, Dawn Raiders, and Ravenguards was an open secret among the Imperial high command.

Sui Meng's experience was completely different.

Athena, as the universally recognized goddess of war in human empires, saw her divine power grow in direct proportion to the empire's territory.

As daily battle reports arrived from the front lines, more and more auxiliary troops of the legion began to pray not only to the Human Emperor Suiyang, but also to the Goddess of War during the war.

These devout beliefs, like invisible nourishment, allowed Athena's psychic projection to continuously grow stronger within the heavenly realm constructed by Sui Yang.

Initially, she was "just" a powerful transcendent being in the physical universe, but she has gradually risen to become an existence akin to a demon in the warp—

However, under the influence of pure psionic energy, her divine realm represents order and protection, rather than chaos and corruption.

At this moment, the goddess gently tucked the blanket around Sui Meng, and left an almost invisible golden rune between the child's eyebrows with her fingertips.

This simple gesture caused the war maids standing nearby to exchange glances.

In the past, even the most beloved demigod heroes of Olympus rarely received such an honor.

As Athena turned and walked toward the balcony of her palace, the moonlight outlined her perfect curves and muscle lines, faintly visible beneath her long dress, as if she were ready to transform from a gentle mother back into the embodiment of war at any moment.

From a political perspective, Sui Meng's future potential is astonishing.

All the surviving Greek minor gods, without Athena's command, would proactively show goodwill to this young Primarch.

When Sui Meng comes of age and forms his own legion, the support from these ancient pantheons will be an immeasurable political asset, not to mention Athena's influence on military decision-making and the close relationship between the goddess and the emperor himself.

Outside the balcony, the lights of the new city stretch out like a galaxy.

Athena's gaze pierced through the shield enveloping Mara Sara and fell upon the fleet that had assembled in orbit.

Her fingertips unconsciously traced the battle markings etched on the railing, which recorded every major battle she had participated in.

The goddess's lips curled up slightly—

Sui Meng not only inherited the qualities of a warrior that she admired most, but also, more remarkably, retained a pure heart.

Inside the palace, Sui Meng, who was fast asleep, turned over, and the weighted blanket automatically adjusted its support.

Moonlight streamed through the stained glass, casting dappled patterns of light on his face.

The Primarch, whose appearance most closely resembled the Emperor, still wore a sweet smile on his face, as if he were fighting alongside his foster mother in a dream.

On a nearby weapons rack, the Medusa relief on the surface of the Aegis gleamed with slightly gleaming eyes, as if guarding this dream that could change the future of the Empire.

hum~
Suddenly, the hard light holographic instrument in the palace emitted a faint hum and released a large number of particles with a tangible feel.

"."

Upon seeing this, the war maids in the palace left on their own.

Soon, the hard light particles generated an image of Sui Yang wearing a black robe and whose height "restored" to about two meters.

The human emperor of the main universe empire walked slowly to the bedside, seemingly taking some time out of his busy schedule to observe his sleeping offspring up close.

Meanwhile, Athena, the goddess of war, left the balcony, returned to her chambers, and stood quietly beside Sui Yang.

After a while, Sui Yang broke the silence and said:
"It seems you're about to launch a full-scale attack on the Zerg's lair in this universe, isn't that right?"

“That’s right.” Athena did not deny it. “Hopefully, this battle will lure out Amon, or any other Xel'Naga.”

"Mm." Sui Yang nodded in response and added:
"Everything is proceeding according to your plan. In addition, we also have spies in the Terran Empire. I expect that it won't be long before the Terran Empire is in turmoil."

"Yes."

"By the way, don't spoil this child too much."

After giving his final instructions, Sui Yang dispelled his hard light image, leaving the palace as silent as ever.
(End of this chapter)