The long way home was different from what I imagined. Then again, we travelled via Macharius FTL engines, avoiding most of the unpleasant side effects of long galactic journeys. On the other hand, both me and the Blade were mildly horrified as more strange and powerful weapons were discovered in the data-vaults I obtained at Boros.
The Terran Federation did have apocalyptic weapons in their arsenal, and while the Yoctoparticulate Crucible template was quite damaged and far beyond my expertise to repair, the missile-launched Ark of Oblivion was mostly intact. Just make sure the warhead reached a far away distance, before enormous contramolecular shockwaves would propagate like waves in a pond, and vibrate anything made of matter into sludge and slurry.
'These Oblivion weapons are far beyond your Nova Cannons' radius and potential damage. I expect that even Tomb Ships would melt if caught in the blast area. Very possibly the strategic-grade version of the Yoctoparticulate Crucible.' the Blade revealed as the weapon's predicted radius and damage outmatched a Nova Shell by five orders of magnitude. Quite enough to destroy an entire Hive Fleet in two or three blasts.
This kind of weapon was exactly what I imagined the Men of Iron used in their rebellion, and the data-vault cogitator was by no means fully explored.
'Yes, very possible. And this Shivarik's Constellation?' I asked with mild curiosity.
'You already have Vortex torpedoes. Now imagine 25 advanced satellites, releasing even stronger Vortex warheads at the same time, while under cloak.' the AI answered with a shiver in her voice.
I didn't need to imagine what will happen. I already saw a Warp Breach occur at Forge World Gryphonne IV, even with a single Vortex Torpedo exploding in the wrong place. It was a stupid weapon, which would doom both the defender and the attacker, and likely release a trillion daemons into realspace through a fully formed Warp Rift.
Even so, this universe was cruel enough that I couldn't deny that I might deploy the Constellation one day. Strong weapons like that were meant for strong enemies, but this galaxy had plenty of those as well.
For now, I did have lighter weapons like the Cyclophox Determination bomb, which only covered a single planet in a wave of phosphex fire-acid. Guaranteed Exterminatus, yet without destroying the atmosphere like my regular Atmospheric Incendiary Torpedoes used at Sotha and many other places. The STC template even came with a duration timer for the Cyclophox bomb, anything from 1 hour to 1 year. Hard to imagine why someone would need to cook a planet for an entire year, but obviously the Federation thought it wise to have the option.
'The Cyclophox Determination seems quite suitable for my needs in the Fringe. Let's make about 40000 of them, for rapid expansion of my domain.' I decided with a casual tone. Clean new slates, devoid of Ork spores and Tyranid bioforms and perhaps other vermin like those Nagi worms inducted in the Tau Empire.
'Captain Lancefire! I could argue 40000 reasons against using the Cyclophox as a terraforming tool. Destroying the ecosystem is the least of them.' the Blade argued with a tenacious voice.
I knew better, though. 'You will see, Blade Lancefire. The Fringe of the galaxy is filled with xenos of all kinds, and I value my bloodline too much to waste them in exterminations Crusades like the Emperor did.'
Stolen story; please report.
Despite her misgivings, the Blade still helped me construct the Lancefire Arsenal, while Lash grinned with hungry teeth at the prospect of future xenocides.
Soon enough, we passed through the Zone Mortalis then entered the range of the Pharos, and I began to receive data from my Obsidian Auguries spread all over the Ultima Segmentum. The galaxy went to shit while I was missing in the Warp, and a dozen Forge Worlds had fallen to various invasions, Necrons and Tyranids at the top, then a pair of Ork Waaghs and even a Chaos incursion threatening Forge Metalica.
At the same time, my domain has grown so much as to support 40 new Forge Worlds, with Forge Rhine and Forge Danube becoming famous as centers of learning and advanced weaponry.
The newest Forge Volga was under siege by a New Hive Fleet called Arachnae, using new bioforms with multiple legs to swarm the defenses and climb the Hive City walls like spiders. Ah, this is what the Starchild warned me about. And kinda told me to deal with it too.
Not only that, but the Novokh_Dynasty was taking part in the Arachnae War as well, kidnapping anything alive to conduct blood rituals, in some kind of demented quest to cleanse the galaxy of all life. That they also did that to Tyranids and Chaos cultists was mildly ironic, though.
Oh well, I did gain a few new weapons recently, and lacked a proper target to test them on.
'Lash, be so kind and accelerate us towards Forge Volga. You will get to feed on the new spiders...' I enticed the C'tan who grinned even wider, then phased into the engine room to boost our speed 100 times.
'I told the others to leave the Eldar for later. You do provide the best feasts in the galaxy, Pef Lancefire.' Lash answered in a hungry voice.
'Yeah, what did happen with the Eldar fleet and Craftworlds?' I asked a bit curious just as Lady Valyene showed up to see why we were moving so fast suddenly, with Joan in her arms.
'They only broke a second Craftworld before the fleet entered the Webway and the Eldar Gods showed up to protect their offspring. Nightwolf was badly injured and then eaten by the Nightreaper. The pack went on, to find more Shards and liberate them.' Lash disclosed with a sad voice.
'Sounds like a new War in Heaven is coming.' I mused with a thoughtful voice.
'It kinda does. And don't forget who struck first, this time.' Lash noted with some anger.
'It is the Eldar way, after all. They foresee a disaster in the future, then act on it to create that disaster. Nothing new.' I said with mild amusement.
'ETA to Forge Volga, 9.3 hours. You should get some sleep, Captain. Don't faint on me again...' the C'tan advised me with a sarcastic tone.
I smiled at my wife, then kissed the little miracle in her arms. "Come, my lady. We have an hour to spend, before we sleep. In 9 hours, we get to fight more Tyranids, isn't it great?"
The Inquisitor smiled back, and read the holoscreen with our course plotted down. "Forge World Volga? A new one?"
"Time moves on, even if we don't notice. I'll make sure to capture some spider bioforms, for you to play with later." I whispered in her ear, making her blush.
"You always say the right words to get me in the mood, husband. Let me lay Joan to sleep, and I'll join you in the shower." she answered with a horny voice.
The huge Custodes stood guard over my bed, but I have learned to ignore my transhuman bodyguards and get on with my business. If the Emperor wanted a record of my bed prowess, I was quite happy to provide.