Let one of your broodbrothers take him as a cultist.

A thought flashes through your brain, via telepathic passageways. It would seem one of your broodbrothers wants a cultist of his own.

Well, now is the most crucial moment of your rise as Patriarch. When there are hardly any cultists, and the Patriarch-ascendant is yet to recieve the powers associated with his role, that's when the Patriarch is most often ursurped, another broodbrother aquiring more cultists and so beginning to change into a Patriarch themselves.

But it's a male, so it's less of a risk then letting him implant a female. Females can be impregnated and therefore produce more cultists, males can't.

As the door clicks open, you broadcast your answer.

Yes. Yes he may take this male as his first cultist.

Artimer steps inside, autogun in his hands but not ready. Not at your speed, anyway. Your broodbrother leaps from the shadows, two claws twisting the gun away from him, two claws grabbing the human by the throat. He screams and pulls the trigger. You duck back, away from the bullets and shrapnel.

And then everything is still again. Artimer groans softly, eyes glazing over. Your broodbrother steps back from his newest cultist, who promptly collapse to the floor.

Well, he's out of it, but what about all the other soldiers?