I am the Emperor of Humanity across the Multiverse

The Courageous-class super heavy cruiser. According to the Halo universe timeline of the year 2511, this behemoth has only been in service for 18 years. 

As the latest generation of smart AI developed by the UNSC, Ap possesses extremely high clearance, granting Atlas access to a wealth of data from the Martian shipyards. Through this, Atlas obtained detailed information on most of the UNSC's fleet. 

Furthermore, Atlas enhanced the defensive systems and firepower output of the Courageous-class. Thanks to Ap, the reverse engineering work on Reaper civilization technology, which would have originally taken months or even years, was completed in just a month and a half. The breakthrough was in unlocking the secrets of their representative technology—the energy shield.

Using the immense power provided by nuclear fusion reactors and confining this energy within a strong magnetic field, they created a visible physical barrier. After the science division developed a shield generator the size of a Luna-class transport ship, the engineering division installed it inside the first Courageous-class vessel. 

Although the shield generator was still a prototype and hadn't undergone extensive testing, the tense situation in the Halo universe forced Atlas to test it in actual combat. Additionally, the engineering team embedded magnetic field displacement devices into the outer armor of the Courageous-class, which provided another layer of defense in case the energy shield failed due to overload.

As for firepower, the Courageous-class was equipped with two 500-meter-long electromagnetic cannons that could accelerate 2.8-ton tungsten needle projectiles to 0.02% of light speed. It also boasted 16 linked plasma secondary guns, over 100 rotary Gauss close-in defense guns, vertical missile launchers, and more—its firepower surpassing that of the Fides-class by at least five times.

The Courageous-class hangar could house 20 Luna-class transport ships, 120 Ghost III fighters, White Falcon scouts, and a large number of assault boats. For ground operations, it had a full array of vehicles such as Titan and Slayer mechs and combat walkers.

If compared to traditional naval vessels, the Courageous-class was akin to an aircraft carrier, though the true carriers of the UNSC had even more terrifying capabilities. 

To date, Atlas had produced three Courageous-class cruisers. Two of them were docked at the orbital station of the Halo universe's Harvest planet, while the third was constructed and assembled at the Pandora shipyards, serving as the flagship of the Zero-Two Earth fleet.

Besides the Courageous-class, Atlas went into overdrive over the next six months, investing significant manpower and resources to produce 14 Paris-class frigates, 22 Fides-class cruisers, and 30 Selene-class ships. 

Most of these newly launched ships were deployed in low orbit around Harvest and nearby space to prepare for any interstellar conflict that might break out at any moment. The remainder were allocated to the integration of Zero-Two humans. 

Although the Zero-Two humans' space power was relatively "backward," they were the ones who helped Atlas ascend, so they deserved special attention.

At this moment, in the command chamber of the Courageous-class ship Sky Vault:

"Commander, the ground forces are about to complete their boarding process. The fleet is expected to enter slipspace in 30 minutes. Additionally, the scouts sent ahead to Zero-Two Earth have sent back their latest intelligence. It appears the Zero-Two humans' military is also preoccupied with suppressing colonial rebellions, making the timing of this unification operation very favorable for the company."

A civilian officer's holographic projection appeared beside the central control platform, swiftly reporting to Horus, who was acting as the overall commander. The primarch, dressed in powered armor, remained silent, his gaze fixed on the real-time data displayed in front of him.

After the officer finished his report, Horus nodded and said, "Understood. If any unexpected situations arise, report them immediately."

"Yes, sir."

The officer's hologram quickly vanished, restoring the command chamber to its previous state of controlled chaos. The personnel at their respective stations were intently focused on their tasks, keeping communication to a minimum to maintain peak efficiency.

Horus surveyed the crew before adjusting the central console, bringing up a 3D map of Zero-Two Earth. Its atmosphere still reflected a pale blue hue, but the entire planet seemed shrouded in a grimy haze, murky and desolate. 

Desertification had severely impacted the land, and much of the greenery had disappeared, replaced by human-made steel cities that had overrun the once lush forests and grasslands. 

It appeared that the Zero-Two humans had recklessly exploited their resources, driving their homeworld to the brink of exhaustion and "extinction." However, Earth itself would not perish; it was the humans and the animals and plants inhabiting it that would face extinction.

This desperation to escape their dying homeworld and find a new home was why Zero-Two humans had set their sights on Pandora, with its thick atmosphere and powerful magnetic field. 

If not for the delay in communication and the 10-year travel time between planets, compounded by their own colonial rebellion issues, the ruling elite would have long ago devoted all their resources to relocating and abandoning 99% of the population to fend for themselves on Earth.

To "know thyself and know thy enemy," Horus had dispatched a Selene-class ship fitted with a Shaw-Tengchuan engine, loaded with elite investigators, to Zero-Two Earth for reconnaissance soon after the ship was assembled at Pandora's shipyard.

With FTL travel technology, Atlas could now perform faster-than-light journeys and avoid worrying about extended communication delays. Based on preliminary investigations and joint intelligence predictions from the Intelligence and Investigation Departments, a military conflict with the Zero-Two humans was inevitable. 

Atlas had no influence on Zero-Two Earth, and no civilian support. From the beginning, Horus had never considered peaceful negotiations, planning instead to rely on overwhelming firepower and the element of surprise to crush any resistance.

Mindful of innocent civilians, Horus aimed to avoid orbital bombardments as much as possible, opting instead for precision airstrikes and targeted eliminations.

Additionally, over 7,000 Astartes aspirants implanted with gene seeds had been dispatched to Pandora for wilderness survival training under Leon's orders. Horus decided to "borrow" these recruits. After all, nothing trained soldiers better than real combat. These 7,000 recruits, whose physical abilities matched Atlas's elite, would significantly bolster the fleet's ground forces and help maintain order in occupied territories.

Once Horus confirmed that everything was proceeding as planned, he waved his hand, dispersing the holographic map of Zero-Two Earth, and prepared to review the list of aspirants once more. He also pondered whether, after this unification campaign, he should apply to visit the Halo universe (Universe 08). It had been a while since he last spoke face-to-face with his father, and he now had two younger brothers he had yet to meet.

"Commander," a staff member interrupted at that moment, "the aerial squad carrying the recruits is about to arrive at this ship's hangar."

Pulled from his thoughts, Horus nodded and added, "Don't forget to arrange proper quarters for those kids."

"Understood."

With that order given, Horus refocused on the unification matters at hand, no longer letting his thoughts wander. Referring to the aspirants as "kids" made sense, considering that as a primarch, he couldn't be judged by ordinary human standards. If calculated in human terms, Horus, born in 1995, was physically and mentally around 30 years old and in his prime.

Barring any unforeseen events, his body would never weaken or age, only growing stronger as Samuel Young continued to gain power.

In the Halo universe.

In a dense forest surrounding the forward base, beside a crystal-clear pond: 

"Tweet! Tweet!" 

A flock of local birds, resembling Earth's white wagtails but with pale blue beaks, fluttered to the pond's eastern bank, enjoying a drink and playfully flapping about. Various other species had gathered there too, peacefully quenching their thirst. 

Nearby, hidden in the grass, two boys who appeared to be about three or four years old lay prone, intently observing the local wildlife and their habits. 

The boy on the left wore light green shorts and a pale white T-shirt. He was thin but showed no signs of malnutrition. The boy on the right was dressed in black, with long hair and a handsome, fair-skinned face. 

Their features indicated that they were the sons of Atlas holders, none other than Mortarion and Corax.

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