156: pilot

"Reshaping Crucible Pilot System—Newborn Granary. Mandatory genetic screening coverage has reached 92%," the Chief Technologist reported. The holographic display showed a lush (post-terraforming) agricultural planet where countless residents were lining up in an orderly fashion for injections and chip implants. "The first round of genetic optimizer distribution is complete. The reported side-effect rate is below the expected 0.3%, primarily consisting of mild allergies and metabolic fluctuations, which have been brought under control. Cognitive Correction Network coverage has reached 87%, and daily mandatory study time has been increased to six standard hours."

On the star map, the point of light representing Newborn Granary was slowly but steadily shifting from the pale gold common in the Segmentum Obscurus toward the Human Federation's signature dark gold.

"Social restructuring progress: the old Planetary Governor's Palace and Ecclesiarchy cathedrals have been converted into administrative centers and Citizen Enlightenment Halls. The original local defense forces have been disbanded and integrated with Human Federation-dispatched militia instructors to form the Planetary Defense Production Corps, operating under semi-military management."

"Resistance incidents total 317, all of which were swiftly suppressed by Purifiers, with the ringleaders publicly dealt with. Preliminary (guided) public opinion surveys show that adaptation and satisfaction with the Human Federation's lifestyle are steadily rising among the younger demographic."

Under bloody suppression and gentle guidance, the transformation was like molten iron, forcibly injected into every social pore of the planet. Old memories were being overwritten; new habits were being formed.

Real-time analysis of the pilot's data stream by the adjudicator showed that the Reshaping Crucible model's initial operational efficiency was at 89% of the expected value.

"Primary bottlenecks: resistance to deep cognitive change among the adult population is higher than expected, particularly concerning emotional connections to the Emperor and family traditions; the compatibility of some genetic optimizers with certain rare genotypes is insufficient, potentially leading to long-term latent health risks."

"Recommendations: Increase the resonance intensity during cognitive correction; develop optimizer variants targeting different genetic subtypes; simultaneously, increase investment in 'purity education' for the new generation (especially children), as they are the key to the transformation's success."

"Optimization plan approved," Han Zhe said. "Expand the pilot scope to five star systems for parameter comparison testing. adjudicator, continue monitoring. Ensure that within two generations, the degree of Human Federationization in these pilot systems is raised to over 70% of the keystone core area standards."

"Understood."

At the galactic frontier, the site of the first execution of the Exterminatus Order against aliens—the Broken Tooth Asteroid Belt, a gathering place for the remnants of the bone crusher Orks.

This was not a fortress from the Orks' heyday, but a lair crudely cobbled together from scrap and madness by surviving Mekboyz and spores that had fled here after the destruction of the bone crusher Great Tribe at the Vorglen Ship Graveyard, relying on several asteroids rich in rare metals. A crude Waaagh! energy permeated the area, but it no longer possessed its former fury; it was more like a dying, chaotic hum.

"The Extermination Fleet has arrived at its attack positions." Alpha-01's voice rang out through the command channel of the flagship the judgement (new titan-class iii), cold as iron. The fleet was not large but extremely elite: one titan-class iii, three arbiter-class iii, and ten Exterminator-class specialized ships carrying Biomass Purification Bombs and environmental modification viruses.

"adjudicator analysis of target weaknesses complete," the tactical officer reported. "Confirmed energy signals for three major Ork gathering points, as well as the locations of their crude gravity generators (used to maintain asteroid structure) and Spore Ejection Towers (used for reproduction and dispersal). Recommendation: Use Concept Disintegration Cannon to first destroy their gravity generators, triggering the collapse of the asteroid structures; subsequently, Exterminator vessels will deploy spore extermination viruses and Biomass Decomposition Enzyme Clouds for regional purification; finally, capital ship fire will cover the area to clear any remnants."

"Execute," Alpha-01 commanded.

Dark gold cannon fire tore through the void. Precise Concept Disintegration pulses struck the gravity generators, which had been haphazardly constructed from ship engines and rusted metal.

The roars of Ork Mekboyz came through the cluttered communication channels, but were soon drowned out by the thunderous sounds of metal twisting and snapping. The asteroid belt, losing its gravitational cohesion, began to collapse and collide irregularly. Countless Ork Boyz, along with their scrap-metal bunkers, were sucked into space or pulverized in the impacts.

Immediately afterward, countless inconspicuous warheads were launched from the Exterminator vessels, bursting above the remaining Ork gathering points and releasing an invisible, lethal mist specifically targeting greenskin spores and biological tissue. Spore towers rapidly withered and rotted, and developing Ork embryos dissolved in slime. Exposed Ork individuals began to claw at their skin in agony as their tough green flesh began to soften and liquefy from the inside out.

Finally, the judgement and other capital ships conducted saturated orbital bombardment. Energy beams and missiles completely transformed the collapsing asteroid fragments and remaining Ork traces into a dead zone filled with radioactive dust and metallic slag.

"Broken Tooth Asteroid Belt: Ork life signals zeroed. Biomass contamination index dropped below the safety threshold."

"Scouting units report: purification complete."

There were no cheers, only the cold confirmation of mission completion. An extermination directed at sentient life was executed as efficiently and thoroughly as clearing a landfill infested with harmful bacteria.

"The extermination operation against the Leviathan flank-devouring sub-swarm Stinger-7 will commence in seventy-two hours." Alpha-01 looked at the next operational plan; the target was larger in scale and required the mobilization of more Exterminatus Order weapon reserves. "Reconnaissance of the Aether Swarm silicon-based civilization is complete; its collective consciousness network nodes have been located, and the extermination plan is undergoing final optimization by the adjudicator."

Extermination had become one of the Human Federation's standardized procedures for external expansion and purification.

Extragalactic galaxy, The Other Shore-1 Governor's District, the outpost of the Astral Seeding Fleet.

"The first colony of the Abundant Star Belt, Hope Town, has been initially completed." Governor Lei Huan sent a report from the distant Extragalactic region. The footage showed a town of geometric beauty, composed of prefabricated alloy modules and transparent domes, standing on a terraformed plain covered in neat moss. A miniaturized Purification Dome generator pulsed with dark gold light in the center of the town.

"The first batch of fifty million Human Federation residents has moved in. The basic ecological recycling system is operating normally, and mining and refining facilities have begun production. Resource feedback data is satisfying, especially several rare isotopes that are scarce in the Milky Way."

Human Federation residents, dressed in uniform work clothes, busied themselves with the assistance of automated machinery. Their eyes were filled with a sense of purpose, maintaining alertness toward the strange and dangerous environment, but deeper within was a firm commitment to carrying out the seeding mission.

Observation of the Crystal Hive and Aidilus Biomass Body war zones continued. Lei Huan switched the screen to show that still-dazzling and deadly Crystal-Flesh Nebula. The intensity of the war had slightly decreased; both sides seemed to be showing signs of fatigue. "adjudicator remote analysis suggests that the Crystal Hive's core consciousness may be showing signs of information overload due to long-term, high-intensity calculation and command."

"Meanwhile, the reproduction speed of the Aidilus Biomass Body has also begun to slow down due to resource consumption and environmental degradation. The window for intervention may appear within the next three to six months."

"Continue observation, maintain concealment," Han Zhe instructed. "The experience from the Hope Town colony must be summarized quickly for the construction of subsequent colonies. The Extragalactic region is the foundation of our future; we must proceed steadily."

"Understood."

Keystone-1 Command Center, Supreme Strategic Situation Map.

Three screens unfolded side-by-side in front of Han Zhe:

On the left, under the Reshaping Crucible, human compatriots were being slowly but firmly re-forged. Social structures were torn apart and restructured, and individual memories were overwritten, aligning toward a preset purity template.

In the middle, under the Exterminatus Order, non-human civilizations were turned into cosmic dust by precise and merciless firepower. Their existence was completely erased, solely to make living space for humanity.

On the right, under Astral Seeding, the seeds of civilization were taking root with difficulty in the desolation of the Extragalactic galaxy, attempting to replicate the Milky Way's model and establish new pure territories.

These three lines together wove the Human Federation's extreme, cold, yet exceptionally clear blueprint for development.

"Everything we are doing now," Han Zhe spoke slowly, his voice echoing in the empty Command Center, "whether it is reshaping our compatriots, exterminating alien races, or seeding deep space, is for one goal: to ensure that humanity can survive in this cruel universe without threat, and expand and evolve infinitely according to our will."

"This path has no warmth, no compromise, no lingering attachment to the past, and no pity for others."

"There is only iron will, cold efficiency, and a paranoid pursuit of an absolutely pure future."

"We may become demons in the eyes of other civilizations, become the heretics of history, and perhaps even eventually turn ourselves into some kind of non-human existence."

"But as long as we are still human, as long as the flag of the Human Federation still flies, as long as the light of order still illuminates the path ahead..."

"All of this will be worth it."

He closed the holographic display and turned to look out the window at the starlight belonging to the Human Federation, dotted with the lights of countless keystones and fleets.