Warhammer 40k: Reborn as the second Primarch

Orion sat on the throne, still immersed in the stench of death and corruption from the former governor, whose lifeless body lay motionless at his feet. Beside him, Dantheom, who had already completed his interrogation in record time, stood silently like a marble statue, arms crossed over his chest, watching his lord with respect. The throne room, though hastily cleaned by terrified servants, still held an air of decay and rot. It was a perfect reflection of the state of the entire planet Valir. 

Orion gazed at the corpse for a moment longer before rising, exuding authority with every movement. With a calm that was almost intimidating, he extended his right hand forward and let his power flow. As a Primarch, his connection to the Warp and his psychic abilities were unparalleled. A golden light began to envelop him, illuminating the room and filling it with a solemn warmth that seemed to come directly from the God-Emperor. 

"It is time to establish my rule," Orion thought, and with a deep breath, he began to speak. His voice, amplified by his powers, resonated across every corner of the planet. From the highest towers of the hive cities to the dark underground tunnels where the desperate fought to survive, every soul on Valir heard his words as if Orion were right beside them, whispering in their ears. 

"Citizens of Valir. I am Orion, the second Primarch of the God-Emperor, reborn to bring justice, order, and hope to this world. From this moment on, I assume command as your regent. This planet, corrupted by selfishness, decadence, and betrayal, will be purified. I will tolerate no corruption nor heresy. Those who serve the Emperor with loyalty and faith will be rewarded. Those who defy His will, and mine, will be destroyed. Let this day mark the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Valir. In the name of the God-Emperor, I swear to protect this world, restore its glory, and lead you to a future worthy of His light." 

His voice trailed off, leaving an overwhelming silence. Dantheom, at his side, watched with a mixture of pride and anticipation. Orion closed his eyes, feeling the reactions of the millions who had listened. As Primarch, he could sense the emotions of the population through his connection to the Faith.

In the towers of the hive cities closest to the governor's palace, the reaction was immediate. Thousands fell to their knees, raising their arms to the sky, praising the God-Emperor for sending them a Primarch in their darkest hour. The chants and prayers began to fill the upper levels of the hives, a chorus of devotion spreading like wildfire across a dry field. 

In the lower sectors, where despair and chaos reigned, the responses were more varied. Some, desperate for a spark of hope, also knelt and prayed, tears of relief running down their dirty, hungry faces. Others were skeptical, murmuring amongst themselves, wondering if this "Primarch" was just another tyrant seeking to exploit the people. 

In the dark corners where the heretics hid, the reactions were quite different. Many of them openly mocked, though cautiously. "A Primarch? Please, what nonsense," whispered a heretic leader in a secret meeting, as his followers chuckled quietly. "Another charlatan trying to play with the superstitions of the people. The God-Emperor doesn't send saviors. This world is already lost to Him." 

Other heretics, however, felt uneasy. There was something in Orion's voice, something that resonated even in the hearts most hardened by corruption and hatred. It was a power they could not ignore, even if they refused to accept it. 

In the streets of the hives, the announcement left the citizens in a whirlwind of emotions. Merchants closed their stalls, workers stopped in their tracks, and families gathered to discuss what this meant. Most common citizens, accustomed to centuries of neglect and misery, didn't know whether to feel hopeful or fearful. 

In the higher hives, where the nobles and administrators lived in relative comfort, reactions ranged from panic to disbelief. Some feared the new regent would turn on them for their privileges, while others began to plot how they might ingratiate themselves with him to preserve their status. 

Orion, meanwhile, slowly opened his eyes, feeling how the emotions of millions surrounded him. He remained unmoved by either the praises or the scorn. He had expected all of this, and saw it as a reflection of Valir's decadent state. 

He took a step forward, moving away from the throne and descending the marble stairs that led to the governor's corpse. His boots resonated with a firm and constant sound, filling the throne room with palpable tension. With a gesture of his hand, he pointed to a pair of guards who had remained petrified in the shadows. 

"Take this waste of flesh out of my sight. Let it serve as food for the dogs in the dungeons. It does not deserve a proper burial," he commanded, his voice now much more restrained, but still imposing. The guards exchanged nervous glances before hastily obeying. 

Orion turned to Dantheom and spoke calmly. "The next step will be to gather the leaders of the Astra Militarum forces and the local militias. I need to know exactly what resources I have at my disposal. And they should prepare for an immediate purge. This planet will be purified, with blood if necessary." 

"Yes, my lord," Dantheom replied, bowing deeply before leaving the room to carry out the orders. 

As the throne stood empty for the first time in centuries of corruption, Orion allowed himself a moment to gaze out through the windows of the throne room. From there, he could see the flickering lights of the hive extending to the horizon, a sight that should have inspired awe, but only filled him with determination. 

"Valir will be the beginning," he murmured to himself. "A restored world. A beacon in the midst of darkness. And let the heretics tremble, for they will have no place in this new order." 

-------- 

The throne room had been completely cleaned. The traces of the previous governor, including his corpse, had been swiftly removed by the cleaning teams. The sumptuous velvet curtains, now stained with blood and grease accumulated over years of corruption, had been replaced with simple but clean ones, reflecting the austerity that Orion intended to impose on Valir. 

Sitting in a chair that seemed more designed to show authority than for comfort, Orion reviewed the first reports of his new domain. His face, marked by an expression of concentration, remained impassive as his eyes scanned the statistics that painted a bleak picture. 

Ninety billion. That was the number still echoing in his head. 

Valir, the hive world, housed an impressive population divided into eighteen main hives. Each of these gigantic towers was a microcosm of misery, desperation, and, to his disgust, a perfect breeding ground for chaos. There was not enough water, not enough food, and the makeshift solutions — such as starch made from recycled corpses — barely kept a population on the brink of collapse alive. 

"Why here? Why me?" he thought, momentarily closing the file he was holding. His gaze drifted to the ceiling of the hall, as if searching for an answer in the heavens that he knew would never come. 

He had been reborn in the Cicatrix Maledictum, the worst place possible for anyone, let alone a Primarch. Separated from the light of the Astronomican, surrounded by the forces of chaos, and with xenos lurking in every shadow, Orion felt like a man trapped in a death trap. In his past life, he had been a mere office worker, working nine to five in a cubicle. Now, the universe had played a cosmic joke on him: it had reborn him as a Primarch... only for him to become an office worker again. 

"Less air conditioning, more responsibilities, and a list of problems that would make an Administratum clerk cry," he thought bitterly, as he signed the report on potable water distribution in Hive Beta-7. 

In front of him, Grand Commander Dantheom stood silently. His armor, adorned with golden and white tones reflecting the chapter's aesthetic, seemed to shine even in the dim light of the hall. Finally, he broke the silence. 

"The assistants have spoken, my lord. Their cooperation was... variable." 

Orion raised his gaze from the papers with an arched eyebrow. 

"And what did you learn?" 

Dantheom tossed a bundle of documents onto the desk. The papers fell like autumn leaves, scattering across the dark wooden surface. 

"That they're all incompetent." 

Orion sighed, closing his eyes for a moment. It was hard to blame Dantheom for his attitude. The remnants of the previous governor's administration were a group of decadent parasites, more concerned with lining their own pockets than with governing. Even so, the lack of alternatives meant he would have to find a way to get something useful from them. 

"You could try not wasting paper every time you want to make a point, Dantheom." He picked up one of the documents at random and skimmed it before putting it back on the desk. "Although I admit you're right." 

The Grand Commander smiled slightly, a rare gesture from him. 

"Thank you, my lord. It's always nice to be recognized." 

Orion refocused his attention on the reports. The statistics painted a grim picture. The majority of Valir's inhabitants were barely surviving. Crime and corruption rates were so high that it was a miracle the planet hadn't sunk into total anarchy. Worse still, vital resources such as water and food were only six months away from running out completely. 

"I don't even have an empire, and I'm already bankrupt," he thought with a bitter smile. 

He had twelve Space Marines. Twelve elite warriors, genetically enhanced and trained to be living weapons. But twelve were not enough to protect a planet with 90 billion souls. 

He let the report he had in his hands drop and leaned back, massaging his temples. His mind was working at full speed, searching for solutions. He knew he was facing two main problems: resources and heresy. 

The first was more urgent. Without enough water and food, Valir would collapse in a matter of months. Solving that would be his initial priority. 

The second problem, while less immediate, was equally vital. Corruption and heresy were deeply ingrained in the hives. If he wanted to stabilize Valir, he would have to purge the heretics and mutants that had infiltrated every level of society. 

A plan began to form in his mind. First, he would tackle the resource problem. He needed to explore the warp for technology from the Dark Age of Technology. Perhaps advanced hydroponic farms or water purification systems could provide a short-term solution. 

Second, he would initiate a systematic purge of heretics and mutants. He could count on Dantheom and the Space Marines to lead the initial efforts. The PDF could be useful as cannon fodder, provided they received the right training and morale. 

"Dantheom, how many men can we gather in two weeks?" 

The Astartes commander responded without hesitation. 

"From the Astra Militarum, maybe fifty thousand, but they'll need a month of intensive training before they're even remotely useful. From the PDF, we could gather several million, but I don't expect them to survive long." 

Orion nodded. 

"That will do for now. Train the Astra Militarum men as best you can. The PDF will be cannon fodder until we can make them something better." 

Dantheom bowed his head in agreement. 

"And us, my lord?" 

Orion smiled, though the expression didn't reach his eyes. 

"We will be the tip of the spear." 

As Dantheom left the room to organize the preparations, Orion stared at the holographic map showing the hives of Valir. He knew he was taking a huge risk, but he had no other choice. 

"If fate meant for me to be the only Primarch in the Cicatrix Maledictum, then I'll have to live up to the circumstances," he thought, clenching his fist. 

"Because if I don't, all these 90 billion souls will be doomed." 

Although, since we're in the world of Warhammer 40k, it's likely that sooner or later the planet will be invaded by Orks or Tyranids. The trick is to prepare them a grand welcome that they won't leave unscathed, Orion thought with resignation.