Chapter 22: The Primarch Genetic Mother, Rod the Grand Deceiver Comes Online

"But I haven't observed any traces of genetic modification surgery on you. If you claim to be a perfect copy, just how perfect is this copy?" the Captain of the Polar Warriors asked.

He acknowledged that the man before him possessed formidable physical prowess, but in a world of power armor, chainswords, and bolters, any Astartes fighting at full capacity should be able to kill him with ease.

"How much do you really know about the Primarchs?" Rhode countered.

"The great Primarchs are the sons of God, created by the immortal Emperor of Mankind through the modification and synthesis of His own genes," a Battle Sister interjected.

This was the account preserved in the records of the Ecclesiarchy and the history textbooks of humanity.

"That statement is false. In truth, the Primarchs had a genetic mother! Beyond using His own genetic material, the great Emperor also utilized that of another human woman—an immortal named Erda," Rhode stated.

Of course, this was merely the method used to forge the physical vessels of the Primarchs. What truly defined the Primarchs was their Warp-based essence; they were minor deities birthed from the Immaterium. Each Primarch possessed unique abilities that reflected their true nature within the Warp, and the various genetic flaws within the Astartes Legions were a direct consequence of this. For instance, the Red Thirst of the Blood Angels or the Wulfen curse of the Space Wolves were secrets guarded by their respective Chapters, yet as a transmigrator, Rhode knew them all too well.

"Heretic! Villain! The great Primarchs are the sons of the God-Emperor, the sons of God! They are miracles that only the great God-Emperor could create! I have never even heard of this 'Erda' creature," one of the Battle Sisters declared, raising her chainsword toward Rhode.

The other sisters stirred, ready to strike. Over ten thousand years, the Emperor had been thoroughly mythologized, elevated to the status of the God of the Ecclesiarchy and the God of Mankind. To them, the Primarchs were creations of the God-Emperor alone. To suggest they had a mother—a mortal immortal woman named Erda—was an affront they could not accept. The Emperor had no queen.

"Everything I say is fact. And tell me, why do you think the Primarchs were scattered across the galaxy after their creation instead of being raised by the Emperor's side? According to the Emperor's original plan, the Primarchs were to be tutored by Him personally. It was because the genetic mother, Erda, betrayed the Emperor, lured by the Chaos Gods, and triggered a Warp storm. That is why they were cast onto various worlds across the galaxy, and why it took the Emperor such a long time to recover them all," Rhode explained.

The Polar Warrior Captain sighed helplessly. As members of a successor chapter to the Ultramarines, they were the scions of the great Primarch Roboute Guilliman. As a Captain, he knew something of the Great Crusade, the history of the Emperor, and the records left by the Primarchs themselves. Because they were descendants of Guilliman, they received chaplains from the parent Chapter who imparted the culture, knowledge, and combat doctrines of the Ultramarines, granting him access to certain classified information.

He knew it was true that the Primarchs had a mother—a matter kept under the strictest secrecy. However, he only knew of her existence; he did not know her name, her location, or who she truly was. Perhaps Chapter Master Calgar or their gene-father Guilliman knew the truth, but their great father had been slumbering in a stasis field for ten thousand years. Only Calgar could answer this question now.

"I will provisionally believe your words. How were you born? And what is your purpose in appearing before us now?" The Captain gestured for the Battle Sisters to lower their weapons, turning his gaze toward Rhode.

"This is vital intelligence. To be honest, you are not qualified to know the details. This matter concerns the great Emperor, the Primarchs, and even the future of humanity. My birth carries a great mission. I can only tell you this much: I must ensure few people know of this to prevent leaks," Rhode replied.

*Who created me? How was I sent here? What is my great mission? Go ahead and speculate! Everything is for the sake of the Imperium; if they ask, just tell them they aren't qualified to know, and tie it to the Emperor—that always works!*

"I understand. I will find a way to send you to the Ultramarines' home world. Chapter Master Calgar will personally verify your claims. If you dare to lie, if you have deceived us..." The Captain locked eyes with Rhode. "Believe me, the Ultramarines will defend the dignity of the Emperor and the dignity of the Primarchs."

Given how deeply this involved the Primarchs, he accepted that he was not cleared for such information. Moreover, the stranger clearly possessed classified knowledge that commoners—or even the archenemies of Chaos—would not know, let alone the secret of Erda. The Ultramarines possessed a powerful Librarius, and their Librarians were not just Space Marines, but some of the most potent psykers in existence. They could even foresee the future and discern truth from lies with ease. Once he reached the Ultramarines' home world, the truth would be laid bare.

"The escape pod can only hold two people. Who are we abandoning?" the senior Battle Sister asked.

Which of the two sisters would be sacrificed? The Lexicanum Sister or the Hospitaller? The Hospitaller was merely a passenger, while the Lexicanum Sister was tasked with recording the details of the war, including the report on the Primarch-related intelligence and the Titan-class beast discovered on this planet. The Battle Sisters had already come to a silent consensus: the Hospitaller would be left behind.

"I give you my word that I will see you off this planet," the Captain said to Rhode. He would record a video, draft a detailed report of the situation, and then place Rhode in the escape pod. While the pod could not travel far, it would maintain orbit in the local system and continuously broadcast a distress signal, awaiting the arrival of the Imperial fleet. He firmly believed his Chapter Master would send a rescue force.

"You misunderstand me," Rhode said. "I intend to save all of you."

If he wanted to leave alone, he wouldn't have needed to meet with them at all—he could have simply had King Red cause a few "accidents" to clear the way.