Editing Pallas Eugenesis (section)

===Early Great Crusade===
{{Topquote|I was able to deduce your involvement by observation and logic, the basic tools of a detective. There's just one piece of the puzzle that doesn't fit. Why didn't you push to have Larrey executed?|Uriel Salazar, excerpt from vid-recordings covertly made by the Primarch of the Justicars}}

The rediscovery of [[Arelex Orannis]] in 806.M30, and his dispatch to Mars shortly thereafter, was initially kept secret. However, Pallas's now considerable expertise with the peculiar genetics of the Adeptus Astartes made her privy to this knowledge. As soon as was practical, she traveled to the Red Planet to meet with the new-found Primarch, intending to assess the man and gain samples of his genetics.  Despite a certain degree of frostiness between Luna and Mars, [[Kalkas Tygian]] was a gracious host. Yet that pleasant surprise did little to alleviate Pallas's disappointment with Arelex Orannis. She had hoped for a man similar in type to her husband, a figure whose genetic superiority was obvious at a glance. She had expected at least a worthy sire to her recently-fallen favourite Orend Ymoro, a warrior of noble bearing in his own right. Arelex's stout, battered frame suggested a certain resilience, but he was far from graceful, let alone handsome. Pallas immediately concluded that her long weeks of work striving to repair the Second Legion's genetics had been in vain. The source, not the corruption of rad-weapons, was the reason for their defects. The Eclipse Queen concealed her anger and dealt with Arelex Orannis civilly enough, but she cut short her visit to Mars and made no haste to investigate the genetic samples the Primarch had provided. Pallas was so disgusted by her meeting with Arelex that she even proposed, in private correspondence with Hektor, that the Second Legion should be starved of resources and disbanded. Her husband's conciliatory reply recommended that she transfer responsibility for Arelex Orannis and his gene-sons to the genetors of Mars. Hektor argued that either Lyster Larrey would make something of the Second Legion's genetics to the benefit of the Imperium, or disgrace himself to the benefit of Luna.

Pleased by Hektor's suggestion, Pallas framed a highly diplomatic proposal for the transfer of responsibility. Lyster Larrey was surprised by his old rival's about-face but his delight at getting his hands into the Space Marine Project drove off any suspicion. The success of the Magos in stabilising the Second Legion's gene-seed using Arelex Orannis's genetics did little to impress Pallas, although she concealed her sneering about "at best, a second-rate genetor, doing second-rate work, on a second-rate Legion" to all save her most trusted confidants. Pallas took advantage of her reduced work-load to inspect some of the more civilised worlds newly-conquered by the First Legion, combining a biological survey with political appearances. Many of the planets that she visited renamed cities or landmarks in her honour. But on return from [[Olmer]] in 809.M30, Pallas discovered that her inattention to Solar politics had been costly. Lyster Larrey had been granted a place in the Space Marine Project and would now be supervising the implantation of Adeptus Astartes, including those of her beloved First Legion. The insult stung, but Pallas held her tongue. By now she knew the Emperor's character well enough to understand the consequences of complaining to him directly.

Instead of protesting, Pallas once again called on the services of Delphana. The Selenar assassin had significant experience with Larrey's security and encryption routines, and her powers of transformation could baffle even the close watch put on the Space Marine Project. Delphana quietly infiltrated Larrey's team and began hunting for incriminating evidence. After several years under deep cover, she discovered not mere misdemeanors but an outright crime. Larrey had conducted secret experiments on Space Marine gene-seed, seeking to "improve" on the Emperor's creation. Rather than expose Larrey directly, Pallas ordered Delphana to arrange the discovery of the damning files by a Terran genetor. The plot was a complete success. Larrey was perhaps fortunate only to be dismissed from the Project and returned to Mars in disgrace. With Larrey removed, new-found Primarch [[Uriel Salazar]] was transferred to Pallas's facilities on Luna for the process of enhancing his [[The Justicars|Thirteenth Legion]]'s gene-seed.  Uriel terrified Pallas by confronting her over the plot against her rival, but the Primarch went on to explain that he believed the cause of justice and the Emperor to have been served - even if the Eclipse-Queen had acted for more personal reasons.

As the Great Crusade continued, Pallas played host to the newly-discovered Primarchs in succession. [[Shakya Vardhana]]'s cryptic sayings were a bore, while [[Roman Albrecht]] was a model patient and [[The Voidwatcher]] proved every bit as unsettling as Uriel, though more for his demeanor than his discoveries. Pallas was, however, thoroughly taken by arrival of [[Johannes Vrach]] on Luna. Although the Primarch of the [[Life Bringers|Twelfth Legion]] was quiet and reserved, he was a brilliant biologist in his own right and his tenure was more that of a co-thinker than a subject. Vrach also took on the role of peacemaker, as he had been accompanied to Luna by his caustic brother [[Gaspard Lumey]].