Warhammer 40k: Shattered Steel Soul

In 823.M30, Sihax's feet landed on the ground of Macragge, and he felt himself being captured by a special gravity.

The Primarch's palace was different from the floor of the ship he had stepped on for more than a month, even though his reason was telling him that the battleship's several layers of solid metal materials and the Empire's top-notch engineering structure were stronger than the stone floor of a border rock planet. More solid, but his body liked the environment here, everything from the air to the ground made him feel stable and happy.

After the fleet of the Thirteenth Legion suddenly received an order to withdraw from the mission to the Osiris Star Cluster to suppress the rebellion, the Sons of War did not hesitate to terminate their planned beheading operation against Sepetus XII. The fleet immediately sank into the warp lane. "We have found the original body", everyone jumped with great joy.

Before the great Primarch Perturabo, who existed only in military reports and rumors, retrieved Robert Guilliman, Syhax, like many others, had experienced decades as a member of the Thirteenth Legion. war. They were victorious, glorious, fighting for the Empire, and content.

However, just as he took one breath when he learned that the original body had returned, a strong sense of loss and pain immediately bit into Sihax's heart - these negative emotions bit a hole, a piece that had been growing for a long time. The broken flesh and blood of expectation and waiting. He realized how insatiable he really was, and he wanted to meet his genetic father immediately, to look at the face that had existed only in his imagination for decades. He turned around and saw Chapter Master Macon Fararis showing the same expression as him.

All regrets ended when Robert Guilliman appeared before the Legion.

They looked at their general, their father, who was the embodiment of perseverance and greatness, a sharp and agile spear. The Astartes of the Thirteenth Legion were overwhelmed with great satisfaction, savoring their new names with joy.

"Ultramarine," a beautiful polysyllabic word that requires an open mouth and just the right single touch of lips.

Everything about them comes irrefutably from Roboute Guilliman. The Ultramarines thanked Robert for spending hours with them sharing his theories and expressing his concern. Every time Syhax thinks of those wise and poignant words, everything about them becomes more alive.

Therefore, after learning that Robert Guilliman requested to meet most of the Ultramarines Captains and above in the Great Library by name, Syhax decided to accept any orders from the Primarch, even if the Primarch decided to act like the man who discovered him. Turabo also made one-tenth of the Legion disappear.

Well, actually it was difficult for him to really imagine that scene: imagining that scene couldn't arouse any anger in him.

Because their original body would not do that, even without being convinced in person by the hair that was as dazzling as gold in the sun, and the azure eyes that seemed to have the blue sky condensed in them, Sihax could know that, Robert Guilliman would not.

"The Thirteenth Legion has demonstrated its power in previous campaigns. This power comes from each of you, and your strength is rooted in the culture of the Legion. In civilization, you rely on each other to construct a community that is greater than any single person. A stronger collective. It’s so powerful, so irresistible.”

Guilliman sat in a chair, and even though Syharx did focus almost all of his attention on the Primarch himself, his brain helped him process the vast amount of information about the interior of the house.

The long oak table, wooden chairs painted with reflective dark gold paint, ten rows of heavy books on the bookshelf at the back, and dozens of paperwork on the table... In Syhax's mind, they were parallel to the original body. The glorious side paved the way for and supported the image of Robert Guilliman.

"But the Ultramarines have not yet demonstrated their power, the foundation for which they were founded, and all that they believe in," Guilliman said. "This is a new transformation, an indispensable evolution. We must break the existing Cocoon, facing the new air and earth.”

Guilliman paused and glanced at his Legion Commander.

Sihax is very happy that there are not many people standing here today, and everyone has enough time to share the gaze of the Gene Father.

But one question plagued Syhax: he was not doubting the Primarch, in fact he was convinced that the Primarch knew them, understood them all. But he did want to know what new decision the Primarch was going to make before he had to take them to a sealed library.

"This will be a completely new mission."

Guilliman went on to say that his voice sounded even better than the energy infusing the ship's best macrocannon when it fired, almost like music.

"A task that no Astartes has ever taken on, and something that Macragge has yet to report to the Empire. Now, I am assigning these tasks to you. I have looked through the files of each of you. You Quick decision-making, excellent ability, and rigorous style. I believe that the Ultramarines can adapt to any situation, and we must do the same.”

The Primarch trusts us. thought Syhax, feeling an undeniable incomprehension and apprehension about this unknown mission. He was almost foreshadowing, or suggesting that they were about to take on a mission that was inconsistent with the Empire's decision-making. This is why Guilliman has assembled a small number of men here.

This is why the Primarch has so much prerequisite reasoning. He wanted to convince them, these warriors who had remained loyal to the Empire for decades. He wanted his heirs to understand him.

Robert Guilliman looked at them, his sharp gaze gradually softening, and his stone-faced face showed an almost gentle brilliance.

In this expression, Sihax's accelerated heartbeat returned to calm, and the tension and doubts melted away in the aura brought by Robert.

Their Primarch could not have alienated themselves from the Imperium, because Robert Guilliman had spent three hours explaining all the ideas with incomparable clarity, and even more because he had accepted them as the Gene-Father.

But he still wanted to know what needed to call a group of soldiers to the library.

"Warriors," Guilliman said, "you will have a second office, one independent of the military system. This office is called Archon."

His hand lightly swept over several documents arranged on the table, and pressed on top of a document nearby.

The Primarch's actions triggered a small wave of confusion among the Space Marines, and the hearts of all warriors present received an extremely unreal impact. Even if they were allowed to return to the battlefield of Osiris with bare hands and continue their interrupted mission, perhaps the Space Marines would not be so surprised - to let the Space Marines intervene in the administrative system of the empire? It was so unheard of, yet surprisingly natural... Yes, since the primarch dared to do this, he must have been sure of it.

But asking soldiers to learn Kumon from scratch?

Sihax stared at the documents, using Astartes' extraordinary eyesight to observe the sides of the documents, counting their pages silently, feeling in a trance.

They had never thought about this problem, how the Space Marines would intervene in the mortal world. Since they were selected, transformed and joined in the endless war as teenagers, this is the first mission without enemies and unwinnable. But he would follow Guilliman, no doubt. Under the Primarch's command, he would not resist any obstacles to his progress.

Wait, civilization, he suddenly had an epiphany. The Primarch really wanted his children to understand him, and he had made it clear and understandable: he wanted the Ultramarines to understand Macragge's culture and become a part of Macragge.

This clear order of change only made Sihax feel relieved - yes, the Ultramarines should adapt to the new environment. They will establish a new sense of identity in Macragge, not to mention that it means that the Ultramarines have found a new home, a port and destination that is unique to them.

In an instant, the whole world became brighter.

"Next, I will report your names. Those who report their names will come to me to receive the corresponding brief introduction to the planet, mission documents and letter of appointment." Guilliman said, "After one day of self-study, at eight o'clock in the morning the day after tomorrow , continue to report to this room. The feasibility of your political plans and future expectations needs to be checked. I know that you know nothing about this, and in order to be responsible to both Macragge's subjects and you, I want to confirm yours. Ability. You will be taught.”

He picked up a document, an action that showed more powerfully than any words that a new and inviolable order had been issued.

When he walked out of the big library with the planetary documents he had been assigned, Sihax was still immersed in an elusive whirlpool until he noticed that his Chapter Master Falalis didn't look happy.

"What's the problem, Ferraris?" he asked.

The Chapter Master shook his head. "What did we do wrong? Throne, I just don't know what we did wrong."

"What does this mean? You think we made a mistake. Where do you draw your conclusion?"

"If we made no mistakes, why did the original body give us this punishment? We are warriors, and even if we are logistics troops, we will not hide behind the battle lines."

Ferraris lifted the document in his hand. There were some creases on the edges of the document. It was obvious that Ferraris had regarded this matter as a tortured unsolved mystery.

Sihax laughed, the two had known each other since they were still on Terra. "It's because of the way your thinking works, Chapter Master. The Primarch has made the matter very clear."

"I don't understand." Ferraris stared at him, "You are too tactful, Captain."

"You'll realize it once you've completed the mission, and it seems like your focus is missing something crucial."

"What?"

"We will be taught this mission."

"right."

"Who has the right to teach us in this star field?"

Now Ferraris looks like he wants to give Syhax a hug. The latter used his keen intuition honed from countless battlefields to cautiously take a step back in advance.

He actually also had a question. That's the question of the Chapter's fighting style.

The Primarch had clearly stated that he did not like their extermination campaign, but Robert Guilliman had yet to say how to adjust to this.

Syharx awaited the Primarch's new ideas, but first, he must begin to learn to be a planetary governor in a day - the throne, these documents were heavier than his bolter.

——

"Perturabo." Morse seemed to have a pair of extra eyes behind his back, waving to him from behind, "What's your problem?"

"Am I not allowed to show up when there are no questions?" asked Perturabo, seeing on the top of the cabinet at Morse's hand one of the several famous wines provided by the Macraggeans disappearing from his room. bottle. "what are you writing?"

"Discuss life with Malcador." Morse raised the specially made pen. Under the joint adjustment of two powerful psykers, this exquisite gadget finally managed to play the role of stabilizing long-distance psychic communication—— It must also be driven by two people in order to pay for the energy required for its complex psychic circuits. "He still overindulged some people."

"I don't think you mean...?" Perturabo omitted a word.

Morse laughed twice and turned his chair to face Perturabo. "So what's your problem again, Lord of Iron?"

Perturabo hesitated, then quickly regained his composure. He had mastered the standard calm expression and serious temperament many years ago, and now he can call up this template at any time.

"Robert Guilliman has entrusted Macragge's actual subordinate planets to his commanders, citing administrative guidance and supervision. The Ultramarines responded positively to his first order after returning to the Empire, using I completed the theoretical study and entered the practical phase at an amazing speed.”

"Well, that's expected. What then?" Morse said, turning the golden pen barrel in his hand. Perturabo often felt that Morse had also mastered a special set of disguised expressions that would not surprise him at any change.

"After they get familiar with each other, Robert plans to start leading them to participate in some battles. He has not yet participated in space operations, and recently he has been reading the unclassified battle reports I provided to him every day and night," Perturabo said, "I I think after a few battles, the date for Robert Guilliman to set sail from this star field will begin to approach."

"Perturabo, don't follow your brother's lead and use common sense as an introduction and background to a long conversation. A fifteen-minute meeting is much better than a three-hour meeting."

"At that time, I will invite him to Olympia." Perturabo said simply, "And Rogal Dorn, Magnus... I will invite all the brothers I know so far, and I will go back to Lokos once ”

"Are you going to invite the Emperor," Mors said, "or leave him out, for I love the factional Iron Lord?"

The craftsman paused and suddenly chuckled. "Oh, I understand, you just miss your home planet."

"The development of Olympia needs me as much as Macragge needs Robert Guilliman."

"It seems that we can consider locating the branch hub of the Webway in Olympia in the future."

"May I?"

"You're actually asking about feasibility. Well, wait until we actually push the technology that far. Greenskin controllability is still a disaster," Morse said. "The Webway Industrial system still needs to Perfect. But don’t rush.”

"I don't see Malcador having a clue about this, Terra."

The craftsman spread his hands: "Isn't my meaning obvious enough? Obviously, there is no point in being anxious."