Terra Aeterna: The Rise of Humanity's War Machine

As the Space Marines continued rounding up the remaining Na'vi, a young figure emerged from the rubble—Miles Socorro, the adopted son of Colonel Miles Quaritch. Raised by the Na'vi since infancy, his eyes went wide with horror at the brutal carnage being carried out by these towering armored giants.

Without a second thought, Miles charged straight toward their leader—Khârn the Betrayer—who at that moment was effortlessly choking a Na'vi warrior with one hand, as if he were holding nothing more than a rag doll.

Miles Socorro

"Hey! Let them go, you rusted hunk of scrap metal!"

With a wooden staff clutched in his hands, Miles swung with all the strength his small frame could muster. The blow struck Khârn's adamantium armor with a sharp crack—a sound as hollow and useless as striking a mountain with a twig. The staff shattered instantly.

Khârn slowly turned his head. Behind the blood-splattered faceplate, his gaze wasn't filled with rage—it held something else. Curiosity. He had just snapped the Na'vi's neck and let the body drop limply to the ground without a second glance.

Khârn

"Hmph… A human? A child… living among the Na'vi? Interesting."

He bent down, staring directly into Miles's face. The boy was still standing, even as his knees trembled violently. In a single swift motion, Khârn's massive armored hand grabbed Miles by the neck and lifted him effortlessly off the ground.

Khârn

"Probably just an orphan… Take him. Let's see if he's worth sending to the Caelestis Imperium Academy."

One of the Astartes behind him stepped forward, took the half-unconscious boy from Khârn's grasp, and carried him aboard the waiting Thunderhawk gunship.

Khârn

"Probably just an orphan... Take him. Let's see if he's worth sending to the Caelestis Imperium Academy."

An Astartes behind him stepped forward, seized Miles's limp body, and carried him aboard the waiting Thunderhawk dropship.

The purge concluded in absolute victory. With only fifty Space Marines and a single Dreadnought, the World Eaters had annihilated over a thousand Na'vi—most of them civilians. Hundreds more were taken alive, while the rest scattered into the jungle, broken and terrified.

Khârn

"Turn all captured Na'vi into combat thralls. They'll be useful in the next war."

Back at the central command of Pandora: Emperor's Glory, Kenthelion received Khârn's report and immediately issued the next directive.

Kenthelion

"Next target: the sea clans. Jake Sully is with them. Time is short."

Meanwhile, far across Pandora, Jake Sully had just arrived in the ocean tribe's territory—completely unaware that his home had already been reduced to ash, and his forces crushed beneath the boots of the Emperor's wrath.

---

On the other side of Pandora, a massive fortress rose like a steel monolith from the tropical canopy—a breathtaking fusion of sacred technology, primeval stone, and unyielding metal. Towering high above the lush forest, this structure was known as Emperor's Glory—the central stronghold of the Caelestis Imperium on this alien world.

Inside the Emperor's sanctum, a soft glow emanated from a cluster of holographic displays. Reports streamed in from scientists across the Imperium's many disciplines. One report, marked with the highest priority clearance, flashed into prominence at the top of the data stream.

Kenthelion narrowed his eyes, fixating on a single, unfamiliar word that stood out in bold across the screen:

Tulkun.

He muttered under his breath, "Tulkun? What the hell is that…"

Silence filled the room as fragments of memory stirred within him—remnants of a former life back on Earth. In the film Avatar: The Way of Water, he recalled, the cerebral spinal fluid of this massive oceanic creature had been described as miraculous—capable of drastically slowing the aging process, possibly even halting it.

A flicker of realization lit up his eyes. A new thought began to take shape.

A potential source for biological immortality research?

The discovery couldn't have come at a more perfect time—especially for the women who now formed the heart of his growing harem in Terra Aeterna. They hailed from worlds of chaos, survival, and legend: from Resident Evil, High School of the Dead, and beyond—Ada Wong, Claire Redfield, Alice, Jill Valentine, Yuriko Takagi, Kiriko Miyamoto, Saya Takagi, Rei Miyamoto, Shizuka Marikawa, Rika Minami, Saeko Busujima, Asami Nakaoka… even Bai Yuekui, Ran Bing, Jing Nan, Erica, Fan Di, Penny, and Jessica.

For them, and for the future of his eternal empire, this might be the breakthrough he had been waiting for.

Kenthelion, whose body had long since transcended the frailty of time, refused to accept a future where those he loved would age and die before him. He would not become a monster—an immortal wretch wandering the stars alone, drowning his solitude in the blood of alien civilizations simply because nothing else mattered anymore.

It didn't take long for the Tech-Priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus to recognize the potential of this discovery. While they had no interest in biological immortality—believing instead in eternal life through machines and mind-uploading into sacred mechanized shells—they couldn't help but feel disturbed as scientists from the Star Wars, Mass Effect, Gundam, StarCraft, and Stellaris divisions began to dominate the field of bio-innovation.

A new scientific arms race ignited—not merely a contest of research, but of pride, supremacy, and the power to redefine the limits of existence itself.

Kenthelion studied the growing mountain of reports with a discerning eye. Each file brimmed with complex bio-terminology and daring experimentation proposals. Some scientists even proposed breeding Tulkun in artificial habitats—constructing massive orbital marine colonies or synthetic deep-sea biospheres to extract their cerebrospinal fluid ethically and sustainably.

The Emperor of Terra Aeterna merely scoffed.

Kenthelion:

"If something does not belong to humanity... then it belongs to no one."

A decision was made. If the oceans of Pandora held resources that could elevate mankind to the next stage of evolution, then they would be conquered—or annihilated.

With calm precision, Kenthelion activated the primary communications channel from the throne room's command console. A soft blue light pulsed from the holographic screen, revealing the image of a high-ranking officer from the Celestial Imperium's Naval Air Armada.

Imperium Officer:

"Your Majesty, your command?"

Kenthelion:

"Deploy Leviathan-class strike fighters and Atlas-class orbital cruisers. Drop depth charges across every ocean region inhabited by those colossal sea creatures. Force them out of hiding."

Officer:

"As you command, Your Majesty."

Kenthelion rose from his throne and fixed his gaze on the tactical map of Pandora, now hovering midair in brilliant holographic detail. His focus locked on the vast expanse of deep blue waters southwest of the main continent—the known habitat of the Tulkun.

Kenthelion:

"Flush them out. Capture as many as possible—alive. Their medical value is far too great to ignore."

---

Meanwhile, in the main mess hall of the Celestial Imperium…

A stormtrooper, slouched lazily on a metal bench, glanced toward the hallway and hissed under his breath.

Stormtrooper 1:

"Why the hell does that thing look like a loaf of bread?"

Several others turned to follow his gaze, watching as Fearless—a battered old cyborg forged from the fused tech of Mars and the Earth Federation—marched stiffly through the mess hall.

Stormtrooper 2 (carrying a food tray):

"More like a walking fridge, right? Look at that shape..."

Stormtrooper 3 (cutting in as he sat down):

"Shut it! You idiots, he's older than all of us combined. Show some damn respect."

For a moment, the table fell into a hushed silence. Only the faint clatter of utensils and scattered conversations from the far corners of the hall could be heard.

But peace never lasted long in a place like this.

Stormtrooper 1 (glancing toward another table):

"Check out those Catachans. Arms like tree trunks, but I bet they still can't beat my grip strength."

Without warning, a massive, muscle-bound man—a Catachan Jungle Fighter—appeared behind him. With an icy stare and a single, effortless motion, he lifted the stormtrooper one-handed.

Catachan Soldier:

"Come back in a few years—after you've trained hard enough to survive ten minutes on our planet... with that twig of a body?"

Loud laughter and raucous cheers erupted from the nearby Catachan warriors. The stormtrooper, his face flushed red and his pride in ruins, could only stand there in stunned silence.

One crucial lesson for anyone in the Imperium Caelestis—never underestimate someone from a death world.

---

Metkayina Reef Village Shore — Dusk

Jack arrived at the Metkayina village, his face weary, his skin still covered in dust and wounds from a long and brutal escape. The sea people quickly gathered around him, instantly recognizing who he was—a member of the forest-dwelling Omaticaya.

With a heavy voice, Jack told them everything. The first arrival of the Imperium Caelestis on Pandora. The burning of the Omaticaya's sacred forest. The hopeless resistance. Even how he was forced to kill his own daughter—used by the Imperium as a pilot for the Patient Engine—just to end her suffering.

Silence blanketed the village like a thick mist.

Tonowari

"Jack... is everything you said true? The Sky People... they've returned?"

Tonowari, the leader of the Metkayina, looked at Jack with sharp eyes filled with empathy.

Jack Sully

"Yes. They killed my family... But this isn't just about revenge. Their return isn't just a threat to the Omaticaya—it's a threat to all of Pandora. We have to stop them. Now."

Jack's voice was firm, leaving no room for doubt. He looked Tonowari straight in the eyes, then turned his gaze to the rest of the sea clan gathered around.

Tonowari

"Jack... I want to help you. But as a leader, I must—"

Before Tonowari could finish his sentence, the earth and sea seemed to tremble. The wind stopped blowing. The waves froze for a moment.

???

"And I... will stand with you."

A grand yet gentle voice echoed from the depths of the sea. The water began to swirl into a strange vortex. Then slowly, rising from the ocean floor, came a colossal humanoid figure—formed of water, coral, and marine life. Thousands of glowing sacred fish, the tulkun, swam around it in reverence, illuminating the sea like stars in the deep.

No one moved. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.

Jack & Tonowari

"Eywa..."

They spoke her name in near unison, reverent and awestruck. The members of the Sea Clan either knelt or bowed deeply, realizing that what stood before them was no mere force of nature.

Eywa

"I will aid you, Jack. Though much of my power is now under the enemy's control... I still possess a sliver of strength. Lead them to the sea. Lure their ships. And I... shall rise as a wave that devours them all."

Eywa's voice echoed across the sky and through the ocean floor, vibrating in every soul present. In an instant, the atmosphere shifted. Grief gave way to hope. Fear hardened into resolve.

The Metkayina cheered. Their spirits ignited. It was a sign—Pandora had not given up.

Tonowari

"Jack... now, go get some rest. When you're ready, I want you to train to ride a skimwing. We're going to need it for the battles ahead."

Jack gave a slow nod, the weight of what lay ahead pressing on him. He knew—this was the beginning of a war that would decide the fate of their world.

---

Imperium Caelestis Military Base — Emperor's Glory Command Center

In a heavily guarded meeting room, a long-separated father and son finally stood face to face.

Colonel Miles Quaritch

"Miles Socorro."

His voice was gravelly, layered with emotions too tangled to name. His appearance was nearly unchanged—his new body was the result of advanced reconstruction by the Imperium Caelestis research division. Not only did it mirror his original form, but it had been enhanced, brought to physical perfection.

But the boy standing before him was no longer the son he once knew.

Miles Socorro

"Who the hell are you, old man!? Why did you bring me here?!"

Miles stood rigid, tense like a cornered beast. His eyes were sharp, filled with suspicion and unresolved fury. He stared directly at Quaritch, as if the man before him was a stranger, not the father he once had.

Behind a wall of reinforced plasma glass, Emperor Kenthelion observed the scene with an unreadable expression. Clad in his signature black-and-gold imperial robes, he stood with hands clasped behind his back. Without turning, he addressed the officer beside him.

Kenthelion

"Did he hit his head or something? You're sure there were no... complications during transfer?"

His tone was casual, yet there was an undercurrent of tension behind every word. Standing beside him was none other than Primarch Angron—his massive frame exuding an almost suffocating pressure, though far calmer now than in the days of old.

Angron

"I trust my sons. They are not creatures who inflict pain without reason."

His voice was low but firm, his eyes sweeping over the ranks of World Eaters standing behind him. Although their fierce battle spirit still burned, they had changed—ever since the Butcher's Nails were removed. No longer were they mindless engines of slaughter.

Kenthelion gave a slow nod of agreement, acknowledging the truth in Angron's words. He turned to the nearby tech officer and issued his command.

Kenthelion

"No problem. Contact the Tech-Priests. Have them run another full scan of his brain. If that doesn't bring anything up, prepare him for physical reconditioning instead."

He paused, then turned to face the strategic map projected in front of him—a rotating three-dimensional image of the coastal regions inhabited by the Sea Clan.

Kenthelion

"Prepare for an assault on the Sea Clan. I want them to witness their home reduced to ash before their very eyes."

Imperial Officer

"Understood, Your Majesty."

Kenthelion had no interest in dwelling on the broken emotional ties between father and son. His mind was already moving on to the next step. This time, he would not be giving orders from the shadows.

Kenthelion

"I will lead the charge myself. Let all of Pandora bear witness. I will use this planet's own fate—its own will—to deliver a message to the traitors: this is the price of defying humanity."

His words echoed with metaphysical weight, and Aetherion energy began to shimmer around his body. In the stillness of the command room, a faint sound of reality cracking could be heard as he slowly channeled his power—exerting his will upon the very essence of Pandora itself.