Page 126
Page 126
Tiberius glanced at Ortiz beside him, whose expression was blank, but whose eyes betrayed his inner thoughts.
Sure enough, after the formation reached the high platform and roared out their respective battle cries in order, Ortiz approached Tiberius without saying a word, simply standing still.
“Ortis,” Tiberius sneered. “What? Do you think your soldiers are louder than me?”
Tiberius's voice was so low and soft that almost no one, except Ortiz who was close to him, could hear what he was saying.
“I don’t think so,” Ortiz replied. “Lord of Shadows, we are on the same side now, and we will be in the future. Your chapter’s attitude toward the Holy Scripture does displease me, and there are aspects of my chapter that you also dislike, but I hope we can cooperate sincerely.”
He looked at the large square formation in front of him and remained silent for a few seconds.
"I think you should know what the view in front of you represents."
Tiberius fell silent; he stopped talking and turned his attention to the upcoming parade.
The next two groups to appear were the remaining six Astartes Chapters. All of them were chapters that had recently joined the Maelstrom Alliance: Exorcists, Starry Night Shadows, Executioners, Iron Knights, Eagle Warriors, and a chapter that Lynch and the Weeping Ones were particularly interested in.
At the rear of the formation, the warriors clad in red and black power armor stood out conspicuously. Their steps were synchronized, seemingly as steady as a rock, yet they also exuded a strange, inexplicable madness.
The combination of dripping holy blood and gears became their symbol, representing a tragic and infamous name.
The butcher.
Yes, the Flesh Tearer is a member of the Great Vortex Alliance, and according to the brief account, his reason for joining is quite bizarre.
The other party was introduced to the group by a wandering merchant, and on their very first day, they sent a message in Star Language, requesting that the other members of the alliance provide them with ammunition and equipment.
Lynch was speechless. He naturally knew about the Flesh Tearers. The descendants of Saint Gilles were either as unlucky as the original Weeping Ones, or they were under the influence of the curse and had no normal supply channels outside their home planet.
Gabriel Seth.
Lynch's gaze shifted slightly, sweeping over the silent giant not far away with incredible speed.
The current Chapter Master of the Flesh-Tearers, a powerful warrior, an Astartes filled with a sense of honor, and a... fundamentalist thirsting for blood and burning with black fury.
Lynch clearly remembered the excited look on Forros's face when he learned that the other Saint Gilles' offspring had joined the alliance and rushed to provide support. And after the exchange, his once incredibly handsome face became strangely distorted and ashen.
He's also a master of foul mouth in the Milky Way.
Lin Qi thought to himself, then stopped paying attention. The arrival of the Flesh Tearers was entirely in accordance with the rules; their formidable fighting power would be a great asset in tearing apart the enemy, and more importantly...
Perhaps when Kaul arrives, I can help them replenish their ranks.
Thinking of Kaul, Lynch's mood immediately soured. When he asked for help, he had also sent a message to Kaul via Star Language, and Kaul had responded, but now that the military parade had begun, Kaul had not yet arrived.
We can only welcome him during the battle, but there won't be a military parade like we have now.
Lin Qi realized that the military parade was also coming to an end at this time.
After examining all the arrays of Astartes, there was one last array that had not yet been reviewed.
Everyone turned their gaze to the distance, where a black dot slowly began to appear on the distant horizon. At the same time, the earth began to tremble, and the hymns unique to the Mechanicus began to echo in the air. The black dot continued to grow larger, and smaller black dots gradually appeared around it. Finally, when the distance between them had shrunk to a certain point, everyone present could clearly see what the black dot was.
The Heart of the Forge, a Titan legion belonging to the Forging World of Un'Gorostrom.
The lead Titan, a Warrior-class machine, strode forward with heavy steps, each movement resembling a minor tremor. Beside it, smaller Titans and Knight mechs advanced. These divine machines represented supreme power, the strongest force humanity could wield in ground combat.
Without stepping onto the passageway, Titan stopped a kilometer outside the plaza. Servo skulls surrounded it, and the footage was transmitted in real time to all the hives on the planet, as well as to the soldiers and officers who couldn't reach the plaza due to space constraints.
Many people looked shocked, their mouths agape, speechless.
After all, most people will never encounter a Titan in their lifetime.
Some people might encounter it once, but they almost never encounter it a second time.
As for whether it's possible to encounter someone a third time after the second encounter......
That's hard to say. It's possible to encounter someone alive twice. Those who know, know how valuable that is.
This concludes the viewing of the array.
Lin Qi took a deep breath, looking at the dense crowd in front of him and the "mountains" in the distance, his expression became calm.
He removed his helmet, revealing a face that had matured considerably from combat and official duties. His voice was amplified and amplified to ensure that everyone present, as well as those not present, could hear him clearly.
"Our strength is great."
He opened his mouth and uttered his first words.
"But I won't say we're guaranteed to win, because we're facing aliens, heretics, and traitors who have accumulated power over countless years in the Great Vortex. And their strength is not to be underestimated. Yes, we have a considerable number of Astartes, God Machines, and the Astral Army. But facing the enemy, we still can't say we're guaranteed to win, because what we have, they also have, and perhaps even more."
At this point, Lin Qi began to scan the crowd below.
Nothing changed; his expression remained the same whether he was wearing a helmet or not. Calm, he awaited Lin Qi's next words.
They clearly knew their fate and chose to accept it.
So who will be responsible for their acceptance?
Lynch knew the answer perfectly well.
The organizers of pre-war parades are never simply statues and speaking machines.
“But we will not back down.” Lynch drew the power sword he had prepared at his waist and pointed it to the sky. “I am with you! The Emperor is with you! Humanity is with you!”
"Let the war begin! From the surface of Badab to the void of the Maelstrom! Let the aliens wail! Let the traitors bleed!"
"In the name of the Emperor! On a distant expedition!"
The silence from the audience began to break. The first voice emerged, and then it grew louder and louder, eventually coalescing into a declaration that resounded throughout the heavens and earth, even piercing through the void.
"In the name of the Emperor! On a distant expedition!"
"In the name of the Emperor! On a distant expedition!"
"In the name of the Emperor! On a distant expedition!"
Chapter 154 Char Aznable
After the initial passion fades, reality always throws a bucket of cold water on you.
The meeting hall where the old prophet had been received now had its empty seats occupied. Mortals, Astartes, and the Imperial Guard were seated in distinct groups, according to their physiques. Regardless of their status, all wore solemn expressions, staring at the holographic projection before them, some frowning in thought, others whispering to their colleagues.
Three minutes passed, and apart from the whispers of private discussions, there was no other sound in the hall. Lin Qi sat in his seat, exchanged a glance with Elena beside him, and nodded slightly to each other.
"Gentlemen," Lynch began, silencing the whispers that filled the room. "You've seen the star map and the location of Galmek, as well as the enemy's defensive deployment we've mapped. Now, I want to ask you—what are your thoughts on the current situation?"
Silence fell over the scene, and the first sound came out ten seconds later.
"Lord Lynch." The voice came from a mortal with short blond hair and azure eyes. He wore a plate-style armor with cables and a miniature data screen. Combined with the uniquely styled helmet placed before him, his identity was self-evident.
This is a knight, one of the dozen or so "Free Blades" who came to provide support this time, and also the representative they chose.
Char Aznabul.
This was the knight's name, and when Lin Qi first heard it, he was truly stunned for quite a while.
"Distinguished delegates, please allow me to express my opinion first."
After conveying his request to speak, Char left his seat and walked to the front platform of the conference hall.
All eyes turned to him, and even Xia, who had fought in the starry sea for many years as a Free Blade, couldn't help but feel a sense of pressure. However, relying on his strong mental fortitude, he successfully suppressed this pressure and began to explain his thoughts.
"The enemy we face is extremely powerful, a view shared by Lord Lynch and me." Xia Ya pointed to the projected star map. "However, I don't believe the enemy has the strength to contend with us as Lord Lynch claims. For one thing, including myself, there are sixteen battle-hardened Imperial Knights present. Not to mention, there's also a Titan Legion from Angorostrum."
“Those orcs have a numerical advantage, but that’s all.” Xia’s hand clenched tightly, as if he were crushing the enemy’s heart. “With the firepower of the knights and titans, we can completely make up for the numerical disadvantage. We can easily tear open gaps in the enemy’s lines, and based on these gaps, expand our gains and finally achieve complete victory.”
The remaining knights stood tall, clearly agreeing with Char's statement.
The Titan Legion's representative, the captain of a Warlord-class Titan, remained silent. He made no comment through his actions or words, but using his powerful dynamic senses, Lin Qi still managed to detect an extremely subtle nod from the other party.
However, what they said was indeed correct.
As the strongest firepower that the human empire can deploy on the planet's surface, the appearance of knights and titans often signifies victory.
Of course, this is on the premise that the enemy does not have war machines comparable to these behemoths.
But what if the enemy also has knights, titans, or similar units...?
The brutality of the battlefield would then exceed everyone's imagination.
“Titus,” Lynch sighed. “Come out and tell the gentlemen about the intelligence your squad has gathered.”
Footsteps sounded, and Titus stepped out from behind the curtain of the hall.
Upon seeing the distinctly Deathwatch attire on Titus, everyone present glanced at him slightly. Several of the Astartes even narrowed their eyes, seemingly lost in thought.
"I am Titus from Deathwatch." Without any formalities, Titus introduced himself directly. "I just returned from the depths of the Maelstrom a few days ago. My squad and I conducted reconnaissance of the Maelstrom's interior and obtained the most comprehensive intelligence we have been able to obtain so far regarding its inner workings."
Xia looked at Titus and narrowed his eyes.
“Lord Titanus,” the Imperial knight spoke, his tone indifferent. “You mean, during your reconnaissance you discovered the enemy, possessing creations comparable to our knights and Titans?”
Titus nodded, while Char changed his tone, his voice becoming sharper.
"Then, Lord Titus, I have a question for you."
"...If everyone here doesn't mind taking up too much time, then please ask your questions."
"If the enemy possesses blasphemous creations on par with knights and titans, how did you and your squad manage to return from the depths of the Maelstrom? Putting aside everything else, even just breaking through the outer orcs with a small squad would be incredibly difficult, let alone the planet inhabited by traitors deep within."
Char looked at Titus with a scrutinizing gaze.
"Excuse me, how did you gather information? And how did you get back? Where are your teammates?"
Three questions in a row sent a strong sense of distrust through Titus. He had felt this way long ago, from his brother and the inquisitor who had imprisoned him in the stasis field.
I never imagined that one day I would actually feel something from a Free Blade.
Never mind, I'll explain it to him to avoid any problems later...
"Char Aznabul".
Lynch's voice rang out.
"Your question is a bit too pointed."
If people had only glanced at Tytus of Deathwatch just moments before, then the moment Lynch spoke up and offered him protection, many immediately elevated his importance considerably.
"Sergeant Titus and his squad risked their lives deep within the Great Vortex to successfully retrieve the intelligence." Lynch stood up and walked to the Imperial Knight, who, despite being over eighty years old, still looked like he was in his thirties thanks to life-extending surgery. "Except for Titus, all the other members of his squad perished on the Golden Throne. The reason he was able to leave the depths of the Great Vortex was because the five Sword-class escort ships sent by Star Claws volunteered to be bait to lure the enemy."
At this point, even the most scathing judge would be speechless.
However, despite being the one being refuted, Xia did not become angry or embarrassed. His eyes narrowed slightly, and his expression changed from scrutiny to solemn respect in a mere second.
“Please allow me to apologize, Sergeant Titus,” he said. “I simply wanted to verify the information. I had no intention of insulting the fallen.”
allendalepharm