The Emperor’s Angel of Death

In the Imperium, it seems that strength is always linked to instability, and Sotha didn't have much he could do about it, so he turned to ask:

"Is it difficult to manufacture?"

"Very difficult, and also very time-consuming, but as long as we concentrate our efforts, we can still provide you with 1-2 sets as quickly as possible."

Sotha noticed a question that the other party deliberately avoided, but he guessed it.

"The manufacturing cost of the Sunflare Cannon is very high, isn't it?"

The other party nodded, obviously this wasn't some pie in the sky. Sotha guessed that the other party gave him this gift not only to thank him, but also to use his power to collect a large amount of resources and train their high-end manufacturing team and equipment development team. After all, the appearance of Star Steel had given them hope of prosperity.

"How high?"

"It requires approximately 1892 kinds of rare minerals and 214 kinds of special raw materials, some of which are completely monopolized by individual forge worlds."

Sotha sighed softly.

"In the past, the Adeptus Custodes could mobilize the resources of the entire Imperium to satisfy them with this luxury weapon, but, wise man, I don't have that ability. But thank you for your kindness. How about you come up with a weakened version of the plan first? You can reduce the power a bit, make the heat dissipation system less extreme, and reduce the cost. Then we can discuss whether it is feasible. The most important thing for Alaitoc is to restore its former research and production capacity as soon as possible. As for the original version, if you trust me, you can leave some information, and I will have people study it. If there is a chance in the future, I would also like to see this powerful weapon show its power on the battlefield, but after all, you can't get fat with one bite. My idea is to be steady and make small steps quickly."

"Lord, you are indeed a genius of strategy and planning, and this information was originally given to you."

"Ha, I'm not a genius, I'm just forced by the situation to use my brains in this area."

After the wise man of Alaitoc left, Sotha reached out and pulled the holo-display closer, carefully examining the weapon, and then said:

"Ditrian, come here."

"Yes, Chapter Master."

Soon, Ditrian walked over.

"What are your orders?"

"Take a look at this thing, Alaitoc Sunflare Cannon, the Adeptus Custodes' secret weapon, said to be powerful enough to destroy a Titan with one shot."

Ditrian immediately became interested, inserted a metal tendril into the panel, and after about ten minutes, he said to Sotha:

"A very, very complex weapon. I only roughly understand part of its operating mechanism. If it can be realized, then it will indeed be very powerful, because its energy will go through 26 compression procedures, which is equivalent to forcibly compressing the energy of a ship-borne lance to an incredible threshold, and then releasing it... Before seeing it, I wouldn't believe this, it's almost violating the laws of physics."

"Which is stronger, this or the Eldar D-cannon?"

"Chapter Master, I can't answer, but in my personal opinion, the difference between the two should not be great, but there's still that problem. Eldar weapons hardly have any heat dissipation problems, but I think the heat dissipation of this weapon is not optimistic."

Sotha nodded.

"After all, wraithbone is a non-physical material. You can study this Sunflare Cannon first. After we go back, I'll let the Omnissiah's Collective see if there's a way to optimize it. The biggest problem is that the cost is too high. I estimate that even the Adeptus Custodes don't have many left now."

Then he stretched out his hand, pulled up the star chart again, and then seemed to be looking for a place. Ditrian thought it was nothing to do with him, and turned to leave, but at this time Sotha had found the place he was looking for, and suddenly said:

"Would you like to manage a forge world?"

Sotha's straightforward words caught Ditrian off guard. He turned around and was stunned for two seconds before he said:

"You mean...?"

"It doesn't mean anything, just asking if you want to manage a forge world? You are a talented priest, and you have contributed a lot to the Chapter over the years. I think your talents should have a broader scope for development."

Ditrian looked at the star chart and quickly understood what Sotha meant.

"You want to rebuild Valhalla Prime?"

Sotha shook his head.

"Valhalla Prime is gone. They are just a group of fleeing traitors. I want to build a new forge world here."

"This is... why? Rebuilding a forge world requires an incalculable amount of resources, and it takes a long time..."

He raised his hand to enlarge the star chart, pointing to the central Storm Zone.

"In the past, the distribution of the Iron Belt was very good, connecting from the central Segmentum Pacificus all the way to the central Storm Zone, so that the resources and production capacity of the Adeptus Mechanicus could radiate to the two Segmentums, but now... Look, the main forge worlds of the Storm Zone are distributed on the edge of the Segmentum, so it is very easy for one corner to collapse while other directions are difficult to support. This is also the most fatal problem of the Storm Zone. It is a hollow Segmentum. The prosperous parts are all distributed on the edge of the Segmentum, like an open palm, so when the enemy attacks, it can only slap the opponent at most, and cannot clench its fist to carry out a real counterattack. In the future, if the Tyranids invade on a large scale, humans must have a strong central fulcrum to resist."

Then he moved his hand towards Solstice.

"Now the Allied Suffering has established a stronghold here as a forward support point against the Tyranids, but it is not easy to get support from other forge worlds because they are too far away. This is also why I am considering Valhalla Prime. Of course, there is another reason... Talos often says that you are a talented person. Although your past identity was not very good, and your joining the Astral Knights was relatively accidental, the help you have given to the Chapter over the years is obvious to all."

Saying that, Sotha sighed softly.

"To be honest, in these hundreds of years, I have come into contact with and known more Tech-Priests than fish swimming in the river, but most of them actually have no talent. Fate has never been fair to anyone. No matter how hard people work, how conscientiously, they will eventually find it difficult to offset certain innate things, so it is indeed a waste to continue to bury your talent in the armory."

Ditrian was silent for a moment, and said softly:

"Chapter Master, I was once obsessed with the combination of warp power and machinery, and I also know that this is extremely dangerous, but repentance has never been an easily accepted word in the galaxy. Are you really not worried that I will break away from your control?"

"Having experienced so many events, and you have also come into contact with some secrets that are difficult for ordinary people to accept, I believe you naturally have a scale in your heart."

"Then the Chapter..."

"You are still a member of the Chapter's Armory Department, and on the Chapter's side, the Techmarines have grown up and are able to stand alone. Besides, there is Father Suna."

"Suna..."

Ditrian nodded.

"He is also a genius. Although we have differences in some views, it is undeniable that he will have great achievements in time, especially in the field of combat servitors."

Then he turned around and looked at Valhalla Prime.

"But there is still that problem, Chapter Master. The cost and time required to rebuild a forge world are too long. And how should we explain it to the Imperium? Or do we need to keep it hidden?"