Chapter 326: The God of Productivity
"We should head to Talon Prime," Qin Mo gestured toward a platform adjacent to the landing pad.
Guilliman and Qin Mo stepped onto the platform. As their feet touched the surface, a shimmering blue barrier enveloped the entire area. In the next instant, they were transported into the Warp. When they emerged back into real space, they found themselves on Talon Prime, standing atop a colossal spire situated near the planet's southern pole.
From space, Talon Prime appeared as a vast, spherical city—a stark contrast to the chaotic hive worlds of the Imperium. Here, order reigned supreme. The surface was dotted with circular habitation zones, their glowing lights visible even from orbit.
Each zone was split into two hemispheres. The northern half housed residential quarters, featuring modular housing blocks, artificial gardens, and even simulated natural landscapes. The southern half was devoted to industry, bustling with activity. The zones were interconnected by a massive transport network converging on the central cross-shaped thoroughfare, with the towering spire serving as its nexus.
Guilliman observed the cityscape with a strategist's eye. The planet had clearly been reshaped to align with someone's vision, molded into this meticulously planned urban world.
"How do people entertain themselves here? Are there recreational areas?" Guilliman inquired suddenly.
Qin Mo thought for a moment before replying, "They used to gather beneath the churches. Each church had private chambers equipped with holo-projectors where people could relax and play games…"
"Governor…" Anreida, clearly uncomfortable, hesitated before softly interjecting, "Holo-projectors have been widely adopted for home use now. Two major corporations dominate the market, constantly competing with each other. People no longer use the churches for entertainment."
"Ah, I see," Qin Mo said with a slight smile, recalling how he had personally designed the first holo-projection devices. He hadn't realized how far the technology had evolved since then.
Hearing about the churches' previous use, Guilliman couldn't help but smirk. At least they were put to some practical purpose. After all, in a region where even priests succumbed to the Plague of Unbelief, what better use could such structures serve?
"There are also three resort worlds within the sector," Qin Mo continued. "Every citizen gets scheduled time off to unwind there."
"Scheduled vacations? Even commoners have access to these resort worlds?" Guilliman asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Of course. It helps alleviate the psychological strain from labor and war," Qin Mo affirmed.
Guilliman's smile broadened as he gazed at the thriving world below. This was a society that not only recognized human needs but actively sought to address them, without hiding behind hollow proclamations of faith or duty.
But a thought struck him. He turned to Qin Mo with a probing look. "Is there a department that oversees these schedules? How do you prevent corruption—say, someone assigning themselves a year-long vacation?"
Qin Mo didn't respond immediately. Instead, he glanced over his shoulder at his honor guard, who exchanged knowing smiles.
The truth, understood by every Talon official, was that the sector heavily relied on artificial intelligence. Tasks like managing vacation schedules were entrusted to planetary AIs, ensuring absolute fairness. These systems even used regular psychological evaluations to prioritize leave for those most in need.
But this was a truth better left unspoken before an Imperial Primarch.
Guilliman's suspicions were confirmed by Qin Mo's reaction. Talon was undoubtedly employing AI on a significant scale. He wanted to warn Qin Mo—the Imperium's ban on AI was not without cause.
"Let's drop the subject," Qin Mo said with a chuckle, waving off the tension. He turned to Grei and asked, "Is everything ready for the ceremony?"
"All prepared," Grei replied. "We can begin at any time."
The ceremony in question was a military parade—a centerpiece of the highest-level diplomatic protocol.
The troops that had disembarked from the orbital transports had assembled on Talon Prime's steel plains. Marching in perfect formation, they paraded down the straight thoroughfares before the towering spire.
Above them, the Talon Navy's warships formed a majestic procession in the planet's upper atmosphere. Their immense silhouettes were clearly visible from the ground, a testament to their sheer size.
Standing at the edge of the spire, Guilliman watched the spectacle below. As he had heard, every soldier in Talon's army was outfitted with power armor. Some battalions even included hulking warriors resembling Dreadnoughts, their heavy, lumbering steps betraying the presence of Ogryns within.
There were also squads of diminutive sharpshooters wielding rifles longer than their own bodies—Leithling ratmen, without a doubt.
While others might marvel at Talon's wealth, Guilliman saw something far more profound: their unparalleled productivity. This was a force that didn't need to weigh the cost or complexity of advanced equipment. They simply produced it in abundance, equipping their entire army without hesitation.
The orbital defense rings and the metal-clad planet were also clear manifestations of this industrial might. Guilliman reflected on how, during the Great Crusade, the Ultramarines had possessed only a single war moon as a celestial weapon. Here, Talon had constructed an entire weaponized planet and its two defensive satellites in less than a decade.
The sheer scale of their production was staggering.
Standing beside Guilliman, Yvraine quietly attached a small psycho-reactive device to his arm, enabling mental communication between them.
"Previously, I speculated there might be a C'tan in this sector," she said directly into his thoughts. "Now I am certain of it."
Guilliman responded mentally, "And this C'tan's identity? The Void Dragon?"
On their journey to Talon, Yvraine had briefed Guilliman extensively on the Star Gods. Based on what he had seen, the Void Dragon—known for its dominion over technology and machines—seemed a plausible candidate.
But Yvraine shook her head. "A C'tan with mastery over technology would wield far more advanced innovations than what we've observed. I believe this one's domain is…manufacturing, sheer productivity."
Guilliman nodded slowly, his gaze drifting to Qin Mo.
The Governor of Talon stood proudly at the spire's edge, overlooking the grand display below. His expression radiated satisfaction and pride, a man thoroughly pleased with the empire he had built.
And the fact that he displayed all this so openly, with no attempt at subterfuge, suggested one thing: he had no intention of hiding his true nature.