Crimson Valley City.
Situated on the great plains of Aurelian's northern hemisphere, this sprawling agricultural hub was currently basking in warm, golden sunlight. Endless fields of crops rolled like ocean waves in the gentle breeze. The farmlands were meticulously zoned out, each plot numbered and dedicated to a specific harvest.
Potatoes, wheat, corn, soybeans, leafy greens. Crops of all kinds thrived under the sun, filling the air with the earthy, sweet scent of damp soil and fresh vegetation.
An intricate grid of irrigation canals crisscrossed the fields, the crystal-clear water bubbling and flowing with a soothing rhythm. In the distance, the massive blades of a dozen wind turbines spun lazily, completing a picture-perfect, idyllic landscape set against the blue sky and fluffy white clouds.
Farmers were hard at work in small groups along the dirt trails. They wore matching dark gray coveralls, sporting genuine, relaxed smiles. Some were weeding, some were laying down fertilizer, and others were just checking the harvest yields.
When the massive armada roared overhead, they paused to look up, squinting curiously at the iron storm cloud crossing the sky. But not a single Aurelian citizen panicked. They knew those jets belonged to the Dawn Defense Force. They were the shield that kept their peaceful lives safe.
At the end of one of the trails, a group of figures stood on a slightly elevated dirt ridge.
Guilliman stood at the front of the pack, his imposing cobalt-blue power armor gleaming majestically in the sunlight. He watched the distant fleet burn across the horizon, a faint, almost imperceptible trace of shock flickering in his icy blue eyes.
Sure, this level of military hardware is a drop in the bucket compared to the might of the 13th Ultramarines Legion. But isolated on this lone planet, it's still an aerial force completely capable of dominating the entire globe.
Sanguinius stood right beside him, a breathtaking sight in his golden power armor and pristine white wings. His eyes tracked the jets as well, a deeply thoughtful expression resting on his flawless face.
Behind them, Marius Gage, Azkaellon, Nassir Amit, and the rest of the Legion's high command were also staring up at the sky.
Shock was written all over Amit's rugged face. He opened his mouth to say something, but ultimately kept quiet, settling for a hard, silent gulp.
A thousand aircraft. And judging by their chassis and flight performance, they definitely weren't standard-issue Imperial models. The tech on these fighters was at least on par with elite Imperial Auxilia standards. Maybe even higher.
A backwater planet in a fringe system, governed by an organization that had only been around for twenty-four years... How the hell did they field an air force of this scale?
Cogboy stood beside the two Primarchs, watching the fleet burn toward the horizon. His face wore that same, unshakeable calm smile.
Guilliman slowly tore his gaze away from the sky and turned to Cogboy. His icy blue eyes were entirely analytical. "Governor Cage."
His voice was calm, yet carried the crushing authority of a Primarch. "Where are those fighters going?"
Cogboy chuckled. There wasn't a hint of panic in his smile—just pure, unapologetic confidence.
"Lord Guilliman, Lord Sanguinius, there is no need to worry." His voice was steady and even, like he was simply bringing up the weather. "Some space debris is caught in Aurelian's gravity well."
He paused, meeting both Primarchs right in the eyes. "To prevent any irreversible damage to the surface, the Defense Force is just moving up to intercept the trash before it hits. Shall we continue the tour?"
Guilliman stared at him in silence for a solid two seconds. Then, he gave a curt nod and dropped the subject.
Sanguinius also pulled his gaze away, sweeping it across the lush, emerald farmlands instead. The two Primarchs started walking again, continuing down the dirt trail.
Behind them, the Legion high command exchanged a few meaningful glances before burying their suspicions and following suit.
Out in the fields bordering the trail, the farmers paused their work as the massive entourage passed by. There was no panic or fear—just natural curiosity as they checked out these lavishly armored, intimidating outsiders.
One young woman even waved at Amit, flashing him a bright, sunny smile.
Amit froze. For a brief second, a rare look of absolute bewilderment flickered across his brutally scarred face.
The trail opened up into a massive threshing and drying yard, currently carpeted in a fresh potato harvest. The spuds were uniformly sized, their smooth skins catching a pale golden hue in the sunlight. A few farmers were crouched at the edge of the yard, sifting and sorting the crop by hand. They worked with quick, practiced ease, wearing deeply satisfied smiles.
Guilliman stopped right at the edge of the yard. He stared down at the potatoes for a moment before lifting his gaze to the endless expanse of farmland around them.
In the distance were rolling hills carpeted in dense forests. Up close lay meticulously organized fields and crystal-clear irrigation canals. Overhead was a vibrant blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds. The air was thick with the rich, earthy scent of damp soil and blooming crops.
It was a jarring contrast to what he had experienced on this planet over twenty years ago.
Guilliman finally spoke. His voice was calm, but threaded with a deep sense of reflection. "Governor Cage." He turned to look at Cogboy. "I believe this makes four cities on our tour."
His eyes drifted across the fields. "From Dawn City as the planetary capital, to the heavy architectural industry of Crimson Peak City, to the booming livestock trade of Crimson Genesis City, and now the agricultural powerhouse of Crimson Valley City..."
His gaze returned to Cogboy, a flicker of genuine approval in his icy blue eyes. "You clearly have a good understanding of urban planning and infrastructure development. More than that, you know how to adapt your industries to the local environment rather than destroying it."
He paused, his thoughts drifting back to the jets. "And judging by the sheer volume of aircraft you just launched, your military technology is no laughing matter either."
Sanguinius picked up the thread, his voice equally gentle but carrying a razor-sharp edge in his pale golden eyes. "Governor Cage, I have reviewed your organization's files in great detail."
"The official report you submitted to the Iron Hands claimed that you unearthed an ancient technological cache." He stared right into Cogboy's face, his gaze penetrating. "But from what I'm seeing today, there is much more to this than just digging up some lost tech, isn't there?"
The atmosphere instantly shifted. Azkaellon's gaze sharpened. Marius Gage furrowed his brow. Nassir Amit just smirked, looking like a man ready to enjoy a good show.
Cogboy looked right back at Sanguinius, meeting that piercing stare head-on. He smiled. Again, not a trace of panic—just complete, open honesty.
"Of course it's not that simple."
Sanguinius raised an eyebrow, a flash of genuine surprise crossing his pale golden eyes. He had fully expected this mortal governor to panic, to backpedal, to spin some elaborate lie to cover his tracks. But instead... the man just admitted it?
The corners of Sanguinius's mouth curled upward in deep amusement. "Oh?" he asked, his tone laced with intrigue. "What else is there, then?"
"Because we don't just rely on ancient relics," Cogboy continued. He paused, his gaze sweeping over the endless fields, the hardworking farmers, and the rolling hills in the distance. "We rely on the people of the Crimson Dawn, and every citizen of Aurelian. We rely on their diligence. Their grit. Their labor, their sweat, their sacrifices, and their integrity."
His voice rose a fraction, ringing with undeniable pride. "Because we fundamentally believe that nothing in this universe is impossible for a people with enough willpower."
He locked eyes with Sanguinius, the blue optics of his mechanical eyes glowing brightly. "As long as we have the drive to build, as long as we're willing to bleed and sweat and sacrifice for it... Even if we didn't have a single scrap of ancient technology, we would have still built Aurelian into what it is today."
"Sure, it might have taken us a little longer to figure the science out ourselves, but we would have gotten there eventually. After all, isn't that how humanity clawed its way out of the mud to begin with? From nothing, step by agonizing step?"
"From simple wooden rafts to your Gloriana-class battleships. From rudimentary genetic engineering to your flawless Astartes Legions. Pulling all of that out of the void—from a raft to a dreadnought, from a baseline human to the perfect Space Marine... How much blood, sweat, and sacrifice do you think the Emperor himself had to give to make that happen?"
Sanguinius fell silent.
Cogboy held Sanguinius's gaze. His mechanical optics flared with a soft blue light. "Lord Sanguinius, it's just like what we told you twenty-three years ago in Kent Hive, back when we were watching the fireworks light up the night sky..."
His voice softened, drifting off as if pulling the memory from a distant past. "We were born in the dark. We spent our lives searching the pitch-black for a single ray of dawn. We have seen the absolute worst of the darkness. Because of that... we refuse to become a part of it."
"What we want is for all of humanity to see the dawn. The Crimson Dawn doesn't exist to hoard power or monopolize the planet's wealth like some totalitarian cartel. We exist to guide the people of Aurelian out of the dark and into the light."
He paused, slowly raising his right fist and thumping it against his chest in a crisp salute. "We made a promise to you, Lord Guilliman, and to Lord Ferrus. We swore that the Crimson Dawn would not betray the trust you placed in us. We swore that we would give the people of Aurelian a brighter future."
He swept his hand outward, gesturing to the sprawling farmlands, the pristine cities in the distance, and the faint contrails of the fighter fleet fading into the sky. "So, I leave the judgment to you and Lord Guilliman." He met the eyes of the demigods. "Did we deliver on that promise?"
--
Bonus chapter at only 350 Powerstones!
OR
If you wanna read ahead right now?! Join Patreon.com/AHumanMadeMOFO to read 20+ chapters ahead for the price of a single happy meal and support me if you wish.