The Emperor’s Angel of Death

991.M41, Standard Terra Calendar, Storm Nebula, Orpheus Sector, Alamar System, Amara Prime

“Today is a great day, a glorious day, and also a day of mourning.”

About fifty kilometers from New Vasburg, banners fluttered and lights blazed. It was night, and dozens of shuttles hovered overhead, casting light on the ground. Sorsaryan's magnificent holographic image appeared at a height of one hundred meters, visible from afar.

The night was chosen because Amara's sun is too scorching during the day. The Astartes might not care, but the mortal soldiers would find it unbearable.

More importantly, the holographic image is clearer at night.

Soldiers in various uniforms and armor formed silent squares, standing on either side of a black avenue. There were four such avenues, all made of shattered Necron obelisks and blackstone from their ships, leading from the four cardinal directions to one place.

A massive plaza built in a matter of months.

The plaza was square, paved with whole slabs of marble. At each of the four corners stood a huge circular column over eighty meters high and six meters in diameter. These columns were all cast from steel, mixed with the skulls and bodies of the annihilated Necrons. They were embedded in the black steel surface like reliefs, like bone pillars, showing everyone the fate of the invaders.

In the center of the plaza was a circular platform with 48 steps, topped by a tetrahedral monument 180 meters high and 30 meters wide at the base. Its surface was inlaid with helmets from fallen warriors of the three chapters, as well as helmets from various human forces, including the Krieg Death Korps, the Necromunda Spider Guard, and the Adeptus Mechanicus Protectorate Guard. On all four sides were engraved the words: – In honor of the Guardians of Amara.

Around the monument were also smaller statues, including the symbols of the Astral Knights, Minotaurs, and Marauders chapters, as well as symbols of the Ecclesiarchy, Adeptus Mechanicus, Astra Militarum, and a series of participating forces.

Sorsaryan's lectern was in front of the monument, closest to the Astartes and the senior commanders of various units, senior officials below the sector governor, and even representatives from various star systems in the sector.

However, Asterion was not among them, although the rest of the Minotaurs were present. He gave no explanation.

Sorsaryan, clad in Falling Star armor, was surrounded by communications equipment, lights, and holographic devices, projecting his image and voice high above, and into every hive city, and even every warship in orbit.

“.All the people of Amara and Orpheus, I sincerely rejoice in the victory we have achieved, but at the same time we should not forget those warriors who sacrificed their lives on the battlefield for the survival of Orpheus! They fought for the throne and humanity, they bore the greatest sacrifice and suffering, they experienced a hell that no one can imagine, and here, we should take a moment to look back at this vast army... among them are the Guardsmen and Guardian Fleets from the sector capital and various parts of the sector, soldiers from the Krieg Corps and Necromunda Corps, and Mechanicus Magi and Protectorate Guard soldiers from Zhao-Akad, Alatimoss, and Ekworia, as well as Astartes Space Marines from the Astral Knights, Minotaurs, and Marauders chapters and their affiliated armed forces and fleets. This brutal war began with the xenos’ dishonorable and vile sneak attack. In the bloody hundred days, from the Tharis Fortress to the Drurrila Prime, countless souls were lost in the darkness, countless planets were turned into ruins, no matter rural or urban, no matter officials, nobles or civilians, no matter what duty, they all suffered similar hardships.”

“.The enemy thought that this would overwhelm humanity! That it would make us fear! Make us surrender! But the fact proves that they are wrong! And terribly wrong! The tenacious soldiers and civilians of Orpheus used their determination to tell those ugly xenos that as long as there is one Orpheus person alive, this pearl of the dark outer reaches will never fall! In the stinking trenches, on the desolate battlefields, soldiers from different worlds fought side by side, fighting the enemy on a few meters of land. In the endless void, every captain performed his duties to the best of his ability and never retreated. Many people lost their lives, and more were disfigured, blinded, and amputated, all they did was to protect this land! Protect the heart of Orpheus! Protect human dignity and glory! I can see that the most difficult battles took place on this heroic land. The traces of this war will not disappear from the land of Amara, nor will they ever disappear from people's memories... Let us remember! We must not forget! The memory of these sacrifices constantly reminds us to be worthy of those who sacrificed for us. It is because of their sacrifices that we can live freely! Let us remember the pure, ideal, and lofty principles that the Emperor taught us, which gave us enough strength and courage in those dark moments to win the most difficult battle!”

“.But the war is not over, and there will be more difficulties and obstacles in the future. We must recover the lost land, and the defeated enemy is licking its wounds, waiting to make a comeback, preparing to continue its work of creating chaos and death. They will not give up continuing to threaten the legacy of peace that the martyrs exchanged with blood! Someone once asked me: If one day Orpheus faces another xenos invasion, will I lead the army again to resist the invaders? My answer is! If war breaks out again, I, Sorsaryan Aleksey, will respond to the call of war! Because it is my duty, it is the oath I made to the Golden Throne, as long as our enemies are still coveting our land and prosperity, then I will never stop!”

“.However, this war may become very long. If we want to ensure that our land will never be invaded by foreign enemies, I think we must complete the following things. We need all departments and organizations that are loyal to the Emperor to stop suspecting and antagonizing each other. We need to be more firm and pure in our faith. We need to have stronger armed forces. We need more fleets, more cannons and tanks! None of these can be accomplished overnight. It may take several generations, or even dozens of generations to complete, but I am full of confidence in this, because I have seen the strength shown by the heroic sons and daughters of Orpheus and the Empire! And this Victory Square is to encourage and warn our descendants, so that they will always remember the sacrifices and merits of their predecessors, and also warn those xenos that any hostile actions they take will only bring destruction and shame to themselves!”

Sorsaryan clenched his fist and raised his right arm high.

“Finally, let us shout for the victims and heroes! Long live Orpheus!”

The speech reached its climax amidst the thunderous shouts of the crowd.