Warhammer: The Time Traveler

Chapter 396 The Problem of Rapid Conscription (Second Update)

Roger Dorn stared silently at the star map. Chen Yu's analysis of the Charter Fleet undoubtedly hit a crucial yet often overlooked key point.

However, the Primarch did not engage in a deeper discussion with Chen Yu about this topic, which involved the fundamental operating structure of the Empire.

He nodded slightly, acknowledging Chen Yu's suggestion of phased and focused promotion, but then quickly steered the conversation back to technical details and the production arrangements for the Crescent-class aircraft, no longer touching on macro-level strategic allocations.

This contains Roger Dorn's deeper considerations.

He admired Chen Yu's technical abilities and valued the potential for change he brought, but he also maintained the most basic political vigilance of a Genetic Primarch.

Regardless of his personal wishes, Chen Yu was ultimately a sage of the Cult of Mechanics, a technical authority who was gaining increasing influence within the cult.

The symbol of the Empire is a double-headed eagle, one head representing the secular Empire and the other head representing Mechanicus.

The symbolism became more complex after the Great Rebellion, but the essence of the Cult of Mechanics as an independent political entity remained unchanged.

Even after the Horus Rebellion, when Mars was severely damaged and forced to integrate more deeply into the Imperial system, the Mechanicus was never a simple department or vassal of the Empire.

It is a "state within a state," with its own legal, religious, military, and almost independent economic system.

Roger Dorn may not be good at or fond of those sophisticated political maneuvers, but he is by no means ignorant of politics.

He understood the principle that power needs to be checked and balanced.

Allowing a sage of the Cult of Mechanics, especially one like Chen Yu who possesses core technologies, to excessively influence or even dominate the empire's core logistics lifeline is tantamount to handing over the empire's economic lifeline to the Cult of Mechanics.

This is not a matter of distrust towards Chen Yu personally, but rather an instinctive and necessary check on the massive entity that is the Mechanicus.

He had to ensure a delicate balance between the secular power of the Empire and the technological theocracy of Mechanicus, as the overexpansion of either side could have disastrous consequences.

Therefore, he could adopt Chen Yu's technical suggestions and promote the application of the warp drive, but the decision-making power on how to allocate this "power" must be firmly in the hands of the highest level of the Empire, in the hands of him, Rogue Dorn, and (theoretically) the High Lords Council of Terra.

Chen Yu can provide options, but the final decision cannot be made by him.

"I will coordinate the production and initial deployment plans for the Crescent-class destroyers with the Ministry of Military Affairs and the Naval Command." Dorn's voice returned to its usual coldness, concluding the summons. "Your next task is to continue refining the warp drive technology and ensure the 'Eternal Seeker' is in optimal condition. The Empire... may soon need it."

This statement is both an affirmation of Chen Yu's work and a clear distinction—technology is technology, and strategy is strategy.

Chen Yu got the follow-up direction he wanted and also clearly felt that invisible red line.

He bowed slightly to indicate that he had accepted the order, and said no more.

He had no intention of getting too involved in the power structure of the empire.

His goal has always been knowledge itself, and using knowledge to seek a better future for humanity.

As long as it doesn't jeopardize this fundamental goal, he'd be happy to see Roger Dorn deal with those complex political trade-offs.
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Roger Dorn quickly changed the subject, shifting the discussion from macro-strategy to a more specific issue, one that resonated more deeply with his own concerns. His massive frame turned to Chen Yu, a barely perceptible weight in his sharp eyes. “Chen Yu, there is another issue concerning the future of my offspring,” Dorn’s voice was low. “In the later stages of the Great Rebellion, manpower was depleted. To quickly replenish our forces, the Imperial Fist… like many other legions, had to adopt a ‘rapid conscription’ model.”

He pulled up a series of complex biological data charts, pointing to two items that were highlighted and marked "omitted": "In order to accelerate the maturation and adaptation process of new recruits, I ordered the omission of two of the nineteen modification surgeries—the Suan meninges and the Beon salivary glands."

Chen Yu's database immediately retrieved the relevant information.

The Suan meninges, implanted beneath the cerebral cortex, can induce a protective state of suspended animation when a Space Marine suffers a fatal injury, buying precious time for rescue. The Beon salivary glands secrete a potent corrosive toxin and strengthen the oral cavity and teeth, making them a last resort in extreme situations, even capable of biting and destroying lightweight metal barriers.

These two are not core organs that directly determine combat effectiveness, but they are part of the Emperor's design to provide Space Marines with crucial survival guarantees and adaptability to extreme environments.

“Omitting them was a last resort at the time,” Dorn continued, his tone carrying the responsibility of a Primarch towards his offspring, “but it was not without its costs.”

The loss of these two organs not only deprived the soldiers of their ability to survive, but also caused a long-term imbalance in the regulation of other glands and the nervous system in their bodies.

It might even trigger some underlying psychological problems, such as being more prone to uncontrollable rage, or lacking necessary physiological protective mechanisms in the event of serious injury.

The emergency measures taken during the Great Rebellion have become a historical legacy that plagues the Imperial Fist and other loyalist legions that have taken similar measures.

Gradually replacing these soldiers is a long process, and it is not the most humane option for these veterans who survived the war.

“If I could,” Dorn said, his gaze fixed on Chen Yu, “I would like to fill in the missing parts of them. To make them… truly complete Astartes.”

He paused briefly and explained his reasons for choosing Chen Yu: "You were one of the people who participated in that initial plan, and you are the only survivor who understands the original technical route and complete design of the Emperor and Lady Astartes."

Modern mechanical cults may be able to replicate organs, but they may not understand their original design logic and the delicate balance within the entire enhancement system.

You are the best person to solve this problem.

This is undoubtedly a difficult and sensitive task.

It involves the Space Marines' most core bio-engineering technology, and its importance is no less than that of the warp drive.

Dorn's entrustment of this task to Chen Yu reflects both absolute trust in his ancient knowledge and biotechnology abilities and an implicit expectation that this "outsider" will correct a deep-seated flaw within the Fist of the Empire.

Chen Yu's optical lens flickered slightly as he rapidly accessed a vast, long-forgotten database of information about the original Space Marine modification program.

After a moment, he responded, his synthesized voice still steady, yet carrying a hint of absolute focus on precision technology: "I understand, Primarch. The implantation of Suan's meninges and Beon's salivary glands is not an independent organ replacement, but involves the recalibration and integration of the entire neuroendocrine network."

I need to conduct a specific sampling analysis of the current physiological state of the Imperial Fist warriors in order to develop a safe and effective reverse replantation plan.

This will take time, and it will also require your authorization so that I can reach out to and study the soldiers affected by this issue.

(End of this chapter)