Warhammer: Starting as a Planetary Governor-Chapter 284 - 285 – Vashtorr: I Shall Ascend to Godhood!

One Month Later.

Mars. Acid Rain Hive-City.

On the streets, the tech-priests were still basking in euphoria.

That wretched tyrant, Fabricator General Oud Oudia Raskian, had finally been overthrown.

The Mecha Forum had issued a new announcement, thanking all tech-priests for their righteous efforts—

And declared the Forum would officially relaunch in five days.

"Praise the Omnissiah..."

Among the jubilant crowd, Buna clutched a brand-new data slate embedded with sacred Webby insignias, overwhelmed with joy.

To him, this was knowledge and hope.

Following the Trial of Mars, the conservative faction led by Oudia had been completely dismantled.

The mighty Primarch, the Lord Regent, and the joint Mechanicus army issued a joint declaration:

Oudia and his core officials were heretical traitors.

The Mechanicus would judge them in the name of the Omnissiah.

After the trial—

Many conservatives were either punished or exiled from power.

Those like Buna, tech-priests persecuted under Oudia's reign, were rescued and given excellent care.

And best of all?

Buna was finally free.

With the conservatives ousted, their industrial assets were confiscated and made into communal property.

That included the weapons forge where Buna had worked his entire life.

The Mechanicus announced plans to upgrade and restore these facilities—

And the profits would go to public funds supporting research and education for fellow tech-priests.

This initiative came from none other than Genius Kaul, and was unanimously approved.

Alongside that, all ancient, rigid, and decaying contracts were abolished.

"Praise the Omnissiah... Master Kaul truly is a saint—and one of the founders of the Machine Goddess Guild!"

Like many others, Buna was utterly devoted to Kaul.

He had received official notice: the family-bound confidentiality agreement that had shackled them for centuries had now been voided.

He was now free to work or research wherever he wished.

Of course, he could also re-sign a modernized contract and stay at the forge he knew best.

Buna reviewed the new terms—

The Mechanicus had realized that excessive dogma, tight restrictions, and tech-lockdowns only bred stagnation—

And worse, chaos.

After all, many tech-priests had joined the Dark Mechanicum precisely because of these suffocating conditions.

The new rules were far more lenient—

Still respectful of the faith, but no longer strangling curiosity.

Buna loved it.

He chose to stay and dedicate himself to improving machines with his talents.

And he couldn't wait to start.

As he daydreamed of the future, he peeked out onto the street—waiting for something.

The atmosphere, once festive, gradually became tense.

Distant roars of rage echoed closer.

Soon, a heavy-duty hauler rumbled down the avenue, dragging behind it a twisted hunk of blackened metal.

It was Oudia.

Stripped of all weapons and status, beaten beyond recognition by Kaul and the others—

He had been tried by the tech-priests in the name of the Omnissiah.

Now, with all power and honor stripped away, his shattered body was hauled through the streets.

This was his punishment.

A public shaming for his crimes against the faith.

And more importantly—

The tech-priests who had traveled lightyears to get here?

They deserved a few kicks before heading home.

So Kaul proposed a public parade of shame—

Which the entire forum roared in approval.

To ensure it lasted, Oudia was outfitted with medical support to keep him alive—

And endure round after round of carefully administered pain.

It was a message.

A warning to all future tyrants: this is the price of betrayal.

As the hauler pulled forward, speakers blasted Kaul's voice:

"In the name of the Machine God, please line up in an orderly fashion for the beatings.

No lethal weapons, folks—we've got a long queue behind you!"

Upon seeing Oudia, the crowd's rage erupted.

"Bastard!"

"Oudia, you f***ing traitor!"

"101111010101010!!"

Some rushed forward to punch and kick.

Others torched him with flamers or zapped him with EM shockers.

Buna joined in—stomping twice on Oudia's broken form, releasing years of fury.

"You lowly scum! How dare you treat a Fabricator General this way?!

Stop! Do you know who I am?!

I am Oud Oudia Raskian, Fabricator General of Mars! You worms have no right—!"

His screams were delirious.

It wasn't the pain that hurt most—

It was the humiliation.

He'd admitted defeat.

He'd agreed to step down and vanish.

Why weren't they satisfied?

Now, his name had become a joke.

Once the supreme lord of Mars, now the filth beneath its boots.

Even the lowest citizen could spit on him.

It was unbearable.

Time passed.

Oudia finally broke.

"In the name of the Machine God... I was wrong. So, so wrong. I beg your forgiveness...

Kill me... please... just end this..."

His voice trembled. For the first time, he wept.

The former Fabricator General had bowed his head.

Begged for mercy.

He only wanted this hell to end.

"Huh?!"

Kaul's voice rang from the hauler's loudspeaker:

"Which legend made Oudia cry?! Step up and take a photo!"

The crowd roared again.

The beatings intensified.

And they snapped pics in their most badass poses.

"Kaul, you devil! I curse you! I CURSE YOU!!"

Oudia screamed.

"Aww, I actually prefer you like this—still so proud and loud."

Kaul continued:

"Also, I just uploaded a GIF of Oudia crying to the forum.

Check the emote packs later!"

"LONG LIVE KAUL!!"

The tech-priests cheered for their genius king.

Secretly, many of Kaul's tactics were inspired by his master—the Savior Lord.

"NOOOOO!!"

Oudia's screams tore through the air.

Mind and body utterly shattered.

After the parade ended—

He was hoisted onto the Tower of Penance—which he had once ordered built.

Now he would bake beneath Mars' relentless sun for eternity.

A fitting end for his crimes.

...

Sanctum of the Omnissiah.

The new Council of Mechanicus High Elders gathered for the first time.

The previous council had been puppets of Oudia's conservative faction.

With him gone, nearly every seat was now empty.

The Mechanicus coalition convened to hold elections.

The result?

The previously persecuted moderate leader, Mina, was chosen as the new Fabricator General.

And everyone understood why.

Mina was the closest Mechanicus official to the Primarch.

This entire rebellion had clearly been supported by Guilliman himself.

But nobody said it aloud.

Besides, Mina was qualified—gentle, apolitical, and focused on supporting research and tech-priests.

She openly supported the Mecha Forum.

What were the alternatives?

Hardliners? Xeno-tech weirdos?

Hell no.

Mina's appointment was met with no resistance.

Once in power, she restructured the High Council.

Leaders of the rebellion—like the Stygies VIII Director—were granted seats.

And to everyone's surprise—

Genius Kaul was invited as a non-permanent member.

Today's council meeting?

To decide the Mecha Forum's future.

No more ambiguity.

Unanimously, they declared:

"The Mecha Forum is a sacred and loyal platform.

All Mechanicus members may freely join.

It is a hub for academic exchange and the pursuit of knowledge."

They had tried contacting the Forum's creator to request admin access.

But were firmly rejected.

The Forum insisted that neutrality must be preserved.

No special access. No manipulation.

It would never be politicized.

Mina and the others could only accept this.

The Forum was now untouchable.

Oudia's fate was proof enough.

If the Forum announced a new Mechanicus tomorrow?

Most of the tech-priests would join instantly.

Even Mina and the council would jump ship if needed.

After all—

Could they live without the Mecha Forum?

To a tech-priest, losing it would be like a modern human losing electricity and internet.

Unthinkable.

So, when the Forum promised neutrality?

They just shouted "Praise the Omnissiah!" and rolled with it.

Thus—

The new Fabricator General issued a formal decree recognizing the Mecha Forum's legal status.

Mechanicus rejoiced.

All tech-priests joined.

But at the top of the Imperium?

The High Lords were terrified.

The Forum now practically ruled the Mechanicus.

A massive threat to Imperial authority.

Thankfully—

Guilliman appeared personally.

And publicly endorsed the Forum as a safe, controllable platform—

Under the Emperor's blessing.

That declaration calmed the panic.

But many were shaken.

Was Guilliman... the Forum's true master?

After all, he had conquered the Mechanicus without spilling a drop of blood.

And now controlled half the Imperium.

Suddenly—

Forge Worlds that once dragged their feet on Imperial orders...

Were now bending over backwards to deliver top-grade weapons.

For the Indomitus Crusade.

Why?

Because their biggest fear?

Was that Guilliman might cut off their internet.

Which, let's face it, would be apocalyptic.

...

Mars Shipyards.

A vessel from Urth Mechanicus slowly departed.

Inside, Eden and Kaul reviewed the latest headlines.

They exchanged a glance.

"Yo, are they seriously saying the Lord Regent runs the Mecha Forum?!"

Kaul frowned:

"Savior Lord... should we, uh, clarify things?"

He and the Savior Lord were the true creators of the Forum.

He'd suffered so much staying hidden on Mars.

And now Big G had taken all the credit.

"Clarify? Why would we do that?"

Eden shook his head.

"Isn't this better?

The Forum gets supreme legitimacy. Guilliman gains power to unite the Imperium.

The Mechanicus gets a safe research hub.

And the tech-priests get to surf in peace.

Everybody wins.

...Except Oudia."

"You've got a point."

Kaul didn't even look up.

He was staring at his rankings again.

Suddenly, he leapt up:

"YES! I'm back at the top! Time to roast that old fart again!"

Eden smirked.

"You're flaming who again?"

He peeked over.

Yup. As expected.

Kaul was flaming Belisarius Cawl.

Eden thought about warning him.

After all, Genius Kaul's insults were legendary.

He had the flamepower of ten thousand forum trolls.

If he ever met the Grand Magos, things might get ugly.

But then he saw Kaul's smug, trash-talking expression...

"Eh... screw it. I kinda wanna see him get smacked around."

He returned to his thoughts.

Guilliman probably already knew the Forum's true origin.

After all, the Forum's servers ran on Mini-Sun energy—something only Eden could provide.

And Guilliman had seen that energy up close.

So—

This whole situation was likely an unspoken collaboration between brothers.

Everyone had gained something.

And hopefully, his brother would be pleased.

Now, the Mecha Forum was on track.

Tech growth would soar.

Even if users didn't upload their research, the Mini-AI Webby would scan and record it all.

With Mechanicus data fueling Webby's mind, its database and intelligence would grow exponentially.

Soon—

Webby's network would spread even further.

And Eden could begin his next plan.

First step? Go home.

WHOOSH—

The ship jumped into the Warp and vanished from Mars' orbit.

...

Calapus Sector.

Guilliman's Indomitus Crusade had reclaimed this long-lost territory from Chaos.

On Calapus itself, the battlefield was cleared, heretics burned.

Preparations for the next campaign were underway.

HUM—

A dropship descended from orbit.

Inside—

Guilliman sat at his desk as always, buried in endless reports.

But this time?

He was smiling.

His brother had sent him a gift.

The treacherous Oudia was dead.

The Mechanicus had become proactive.

Production surged.

Pressure eased across the front.

This was the Mechanicus he wanted—

Not a mob of rusted relic-worshippers.

Why were ancient weapons always stronger?

Because the Mechanicus stopped innovating.

They'd clung to tradition so hard, they'd forgotten how to build.

Many regiments still used gear from the Great Crusade—

Calling it "holy relics."

It nearly made Guilliman puke.

But now?

Thanks to his brother—

The Mechanicus had reawakened.

Soon, better weapons would follow.

"Father... I think I've found that old Great Crusade feeling again..."

He whispered.

Back then, brothers fought together for Mankind.

And now—

He wasn't alone anymore.

The dropship landed.

Guilliman stepped onto Calapus soil.

The sun shone down.

Chants rang out overhead.

Priests blessed the barren land.

Engineers erected new buildings in the distance.

Everything was full of life.

And Guilliman?

Had faith they would win this war for Mankind.

Together with his brother—

They would bring the fire of vengeance to the Dark Gods.

...

Eye of Terror.

Dark Mechanicum Territory.

Lately, the Dark Tech-Priests were in a foul mood.

Because of jealousy.

The Mecha Forum had sparked envy deep within them.

Why?

Why did those damn loyalist freaks get such a beautiful platform?

They had betrayed humanity and fled to the Eye of Terror—

Becoming hideous abominations—

Just for the promise of research freedom.

They'd even sold their souls to Chaos—

Working like slaves in the Warp's soul-forges.

And now?

The loyalist tech-priests were freer than them.

Had more knowledge than them.

Their sacrifice now seemed... pathetic.

They couldn't accept it.

ZZZZZT—

In the void above the Black Forge, a vast, cancerous Chaos machine floated.

For days, they'd slaved away—losing many lives—

To build this horrific device.

They had signed a pact with a demigod.

Who promised to seize the Forum for them.

To claim its infinite database and godlike computational power.

With thunderous machine roars, dark power descended.

Flesh and metal merged into a massive shape—

Vashtorr had arrived.

He gazed at the Chaos machine and grinned.

Now, all the pieces were in place.

He would claim that divine data-being.

And that platform.

And then?

Nothing would stop his ascension to godhood.

BOOOOM—

As dozens of dark priests screamed—

The Chaos machine began to spin, glowing with sickly green light.

Vashtorr spread his arms and floated forward—

His voice a blasphemous hymn of ecstasy:

"I... SHALL... ASCEND!!"

(End of Chapter)

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