In the huge church of the Scar of Victory Fortress, all the seats, benches and unnecessary furnishings have been moved away, and now the place is filled with more than two thousand Space Marines.
The golden icon of the Emperor towers under the dome, surrounded by countless angels and garlands, overlooking his invincible army. Although this army once numbered millions, it is now only a few thousand, but the will and the legacy they inherited.
The determination has never changed.
Here are not only the warriors of the Suffering Alliance, but also the newly joined First Company of the Imperial Fists and the Ravenwing Company of the Dark Angels. Warriors of different colors and logos line up neatly, standing like sculptures. From a height, it looks like a field made of many
Mosaic grid of colors.
Bahram was just an inconspicuous member of the team. He swallowed and suddenly felt that the back of his neck became dry and itchy. Maybe it was because he hadn't showered for too long and didn't sweat much.
Standing with him was Talos, who stood out in the crowd because he was already a little taller than the average Space Marine. Fortunately, there were also some taller men in other regiments, so he didn't stand out.
Particularly outstanding.
While everyone was waiting, the real owner finally appeared.
Chapter Master of the Astral Knights, Supreme Lord Commander of the Maelstrom Expeditionary Force, Supreme War Commander of the Suffering Alliance, Soshyan Alexey, in the Honor Guard and a group of Chapter Masters, senior officers and other command personnel
, and appeared on stage surrounded by a waiter holding an eagle flag awarded by the high lord.
Soshyan then left the group, walked forward slowly, stood still behind the podium, and looked directly into the eyes of others.
As early as two days ago, all the soldiers knew what happened. Everyone was shocked and couldn't help but started talking about it. Most of them complained about the magical arrangement of the high lord.
However, the Astral Knights are still very proud that their Chapter Master has become the supreme lord commander who is close to the position of Warmaster, because since the Horus Heresy, there have been very few Space Marines in the Empire who can lead this group.
A level of expedition.
The most recent similar event was during the Badab War, when Chapter Master Villante Ordiz of the Red Scorpions temporarily took over the supreme command from Grand Inquisitor Regate Jardis Farion.
For Bahram, being able to participate in such an expedition is both exciting and a little nervous.
"Brothers, warriors."
When Soshyan spoke, his voice was deep and his tone was just right. The two were modified to achieve a perfect balance.
"Soldiers of the Emperor."
These words, amplified by the microphone, echoed like thunder in the church dome, deafening yet calm, full of charm and conviction.
"We are at the beginning of a great war. Soon we will face the enemies who have defied the Emperor's will and plunged much of the human world into the stench of heresy and unbelief. As everyone knows, they have fought against us.
Likewise, the Astartes are loyal to the Emperor and humanity, but due to some selfish and depraved reasons, these traitors attempt to separate themselves! The Astartes' ambition to protect humanity has turned into an infinite desire for power! I
The purpose of this expedition is to crush their last delusions, save the people in the maelstrom, restore order, and bring light to these worlds that have been lost for many years."
Soshiyang paused and looked into the distance, as if he was concentrating on Xie Chong in his speech, looking at the Black Heart King across the distant void.
Of course, the pause at this moment also gives the audience time to chew on what he just said.
Soshyan is not a speaker, but his language is always very persuasive. When others hear him speak, they know that he is convinced of what he is saying, and the listener should also be as strong as he is.
There is something about the belief that focuses the listener's thoughts on his or her goals.
Bahram was also deeply touched by this, and he even found that the cynical soldiers of the 11th Company around him were listening intently to the words of the chapter leader, as if their hope of victory and glory depended on this.
This power far exceeds all priests and is stronger than any political commissar.
Bahram felt that he might not be able to do this in his lifetime.
"Soon! We will take the first step of the expedition! This is a very critical step! If we hesitate, we will fail! If we fail to make up the firm will required to carry out this great task,
We have pronounced the fate of hundreds of billions of our compatriots! This battle will be unprecedentedly cruel, because we are facing the most evil and stubborn group of heretics. Their souls have been completely corrupted and will never be forgiven.
!Can’t look directly at the Emperor’s light!”
Then, suddenly, the atmosphere of the speech changed, and Soshyan switched from a priest giving a sermon to an officer assigning tasks to his subordinates.
In other words, he has become a resolute Chapter Leader of the Astartes.
"But as your commander, your trusted superior and brother, I still have to admit to you that although glory is within reach, the road ahead is full of thorns. The maelstrom is not a good place. It is the separation of subspace from the real universe.
The shallowest zone, where the material and non-material worlds intersect, and if you are not careful, you will fall from reality into the void. Even if there are no heretics like the Red Pirates, the subspace rift that opens at any time will swallow up passing battleships. Occasionally,
The subspace storm set off can turn a solid battleship into a skeleton in a matter of seconds, and the subspace light leaking from the cracks is enough to make the mortals on the entire planet go completely crazy in the blink of an eye... This is
The area where we are going to fight in the future is extremely dangerous and deadly."
Somehow, Bahram felt that these supposedly disturbing statements were made by Soshyan as if they were challenges that a mere man would be lucky enough to overcome——
"War is never a child's play. Every war will bring tragic consequences. Those dying cries are the best proof...Those who start wars must also bear all the consequences. This is my
The first thing I learned after becoming a Chapter Master is that our responsibilities require us not to be afraid of life and death, but I must also be responsible for the lives of all soldiers, so this is a more difficult question - the purpose of war is
What? I know that victory alone is not enough! So what is the result of victory? Or what are the responsibilities after victory? This is why I waited until the end of the exercise before informing everyone that we were about to launch an expedition.
, because I am also thinking about how to defeat the enemy with the minimum cost, and how to let Huron take his head without sacrificing more lives."
Soshyan paused, then laughed, as if he knew no one would agree with his cold joke.
"Of course Huron will not give it to his head, so we have to get it ourselves, but what I want to tell you is that this expedition will not be launched in a hurry. We have a lot of plans and work to do. Everyone will take this time.
We also need to train harder, and our ultimate goal is to let the hundreds of billions of lost souls in the Maelstrom regain the glory of the Emperor!"
Then, he raised his right hand and tapped his chest lightly.
"Finally, all the blood shed will be avenged, and the spirit of Chapter Master Randall is looking forward to comfort."
All the soldiers banged their chests at the same time.
"All blood shed will be avenged!"
And this sentence will become the common slogan of all Maelstrom Expeditionary Forces in the future.