Warhammer: In the Name of the Emperor

The bridge of the Emperor's Dream was brightly lit. It had not been so bright for a long time. The bright lights shone on the marble pillars around the huge dome. The golden threads and the statues on both sides shone under the light. The bright, white marble floor also spreads the glory of the past to the surrounding areas.

On the stepped bridge deck, there are terminal instruments that have been silent for an unknown amount of time. Their edge shells are also flashing under the light. The imperial golden sky eagle decorated and branded on them is also in the light. Sparkling underneath, and equally shining, was the eagle on the captain's throne.

Reina is sitting on the throne. It is a silver throne with a raised back. The top of the back of the chair is divided and extends into several sword-like parts. They stretch out high from the throne and stab the top of the head. 's towering dome.

Golden silk threads are decorated on both sides of the throne's backrest. Those golden threads extend from the lower end, and then follow the raised throne backrest to close to the upper center position, where they converge to form a golden eagle catching lightning. .

On both sides of the throne, squatting two giant silver wolves, those two wolves are different from the roaring ice wolf of the space wolf, and also different from the snarling moon wolf of the shadow wolf. They are two proud white wolves. Giant wolves, they squatted on both sides of the throne.

The one on the right proudly raised his hand, raised his sharp claws, raised his proud head and looked down, staring at all the visitors in front of the throne, his eyes staring at the distant place.

On the other side, the wolf on the left is more low-key. It rests its legs on the ground and sits there with its head hanging down, as if thinking about something.

Two wolves guarded the gold and silver throne. The hard marble throne was not as luxurious and gorgeous as most imperial thrones, especially the golden throne. It could even be said to be a bit too low-key, and overall there was nothing complicated about it. The patterns and carvings are simple, but have an extraordinary temperament.

Because the seemingly inconspicuous throne in front of you was, in the past, known as one of the two thrones that stood side by side with the golden throne on Terra. The empire had two thrones and two kings, one of whom was sitting on the throne. La Shang is in charge of all the authority and future direction of the empire, while the other king steps into the vast galaxy and transforms into the sword and shield of the empire, blocking all the evil spirits and monsters in the galaxy for the newly born human empire.

Reyna still remembered that at that time, in those days that she had almost forgotten, Vito, the supreme military commander of the Imperial Expeditionary Force, and the supreme leader of all the Astartes Legions before the return of the Primarchs, sat here. On the throne between the proud wolves, he received and listened to the seekers from the entire expeditionary force, listened to their words, and made decisions and orders.

Here, it was once known as the Golden Throne of the Emperor in the Palace of Terra, the center of imperial power. Here, Vito exercised power on behalf of the Lord of Humanity. He sat here and commanded an unprecedentedly large military force under his command. Across the galaxy.

But later, with the return of all the Primarchs, especially when Horus became the Warmaster, Vito's power was diluted. Although he himself was quite happy, Vito did not like to sit on this throne all the time. , listening to people from all walks of life coming to my place and beeping.

He would rather pick up a chainsword and a bolter, put on a chic trench coat, jump off the Thunder Eagle, and fight all enemies. Even if he had to command the battle, Vito would prefer to step onto the battlefield himself. Directly command the battle on the spot and fight side by side with his soldiers.

Therefore, for Vito, he did not like this throne that restricted him from letting go and fighting side by side with the Astartes and the mortal auxiliaries on the ground. Therefore, when Horus became After becoming Warmaster, Vitor gave up the throne to Reyna, letting her sit here and command the Emperor's Dream and the expeditionary fleet.

Reina was quite uncomfortable with it at first. She rarely sat on this throne and always felt that it was an act of transgression. But over time, Vito brought thrills and excitement, or in other words, crazy fighting adventures that played with the heartbeat. Finally, Reina would sit on the throne exhausted all of a sudden after giving instructions with tense nerves.

So over time, Reina became accustomed to sitting on the throne. She sat here and commanded countless thrilling space battles, participated in many tragic and almost impossible to win battles, and she witnessed the Great Expedition here. The climax also witnessed the end of the expedition brought about by the Horus Heresy.

Sitting here, she witnessed with her own eyes the betrayal of Isstvaan 5, witnessed the traitor army marching towards the solar system, the galactic heroes, and also experienced the Dark Crusade and the defense of Macragge with it, here with the throne , and witnessed the birth of the Second Empire together with thousands of soldiers.

Later, on Vito's orders, Reyna led the Emperor's Dream through the burning galaxy through the warp silent engine, rushing into the solar system from the huge siege of the traitors and the bloody battlefield, where she fought with the Imperial Fist, the Holy The Blood Angels and White Scars, as well as thousands of warriors loyal to the Empire, witnessed the moment when Warmaster Horus arrived on Terra.

Here, this throne almost witnessed the beginning of the entire Great Crusade, and also witnessed the final sad end of that great journey, falling into the burning galaxy where brothers killed each other and compatriots broke apart.

So when Reina sat on this throne, when she sat on this throne again after decades, she leaned on the back of the silver chair with emotion, overlooking the once bustling place below, but now The empty, dead bridge was like the Great Expedition that had long since disappeared from human memory, ushering in its own end.

Reina let out a long sigh and tapped her fingers gently on the wolf head sculptures on the armrests on both sides. Yeta, who was standing beside her with her hands behind her back, turned her head to look at her mother, "Are you comfortable? Yes, too." Are you tired? You've been busy preparing to leave recently."

"No, it's nothing Yeta, I just recalled some things during the expedition and felt a little emotional." Reina leaned her head on the throne and said softly. She sighed silently as she recalled the expedition that had ended, that human being The proudest memories of the Great Crusade.

But Yeta next to her, because she had no idea what was happening outside, was still excited and turned to look at the giant wolves on both sides with her eyes shining brightly. She was very excited that she could finally leave here.

"Soon I will be able to see Terra! The Empire, and the Empire you and Dad, the Marshal and the Emperor have created, just thinking about it makes me excited!"

Reina looked at her excited daughter beside her. She didn't know how to tell Yeta and tell her what the empire outside had become. She didn't want to hurt her, this little girl who was full of yearning and hope for the future and the empire. She had been waiting for that moment for so long, and Reyna didn't want it to be clouded by the same clouds that were clouding her own mood.

But Yeta didn't seem to notice the sadness in her mother's eyes. She looked around excitedly at the empty bridge, strode to the edge of the huge round reception platform in front of the throne, and overlooked the huge stepped bridge space below.

"And not only that, soon I will be able to see with my own eyes how you and the marshal fight! Not from hearing about it in stories, but seeing it with my own eyes! I'm sure it will be impressive."

Reina looked at the little daughter in front of her. Her hand was touching the armrest of the throne. She lowered her eyes and let out a long sigh. Reina's green eyes looked at the wrinkled back of her hand. She put her hand on it. On the armrest, she had forgotten how long it had been since she had done this.

In the past, she always put her hands on the wolf head armrest, firstly because it would give her elbows a support point, which would be much more comfortable, and secondly, because Vito was still sitting on the throne, commanding He would put his hands in the same position when he was leading the expeditionary force.

She put her hands there, as if she was gaining strength from Navito's palm, gaining courage in every battle no matter how difficult and desperate, gaining determination in difficulties, and letting that power guide her and the people beneath her. warships to victory.

But Reina didn't know. She didn't know that she hadn't flown into the sky for decades. As a mother and a settlement leader who worried about harvests, life and complicated matters in this place for decades, she could still control this road like she did back then. A proud ship, a ship given to her by Vito himself.

Reina has imagined countless times what it would be like to sit on this throne again one day and fly to the sky. But now that moment is really coming, Reina is filled with melancholy. She doesn’t know if she will Let down Vito, let down the hope of this ship's people.

She sighed and looked at the back of her withered hands. She put her hands on the wolf head armrest, hoping to gain determination from there as before. She put her hands there, and suddenly, another pair of hands were placed on the back of her hands. superior.

Reina raised her head and looked at the owner of the hand. He stood aside and looked at Reina with a smile. He stared at her with his black eyes, and his smile sent a warmth from the back of Reina's hand into her body. , no more words are needed, he has given Reyna everything she needs.

Reina looked up at Vito with a smile. The two looked at each other and smiled. Yeta in front turned around and noticed Vito. She immediately stood at attention and saluted Vito.

"marshal!"

"How about it, Yeta, are you ready to leave here?" Vito smiled and raised his head and looked at the enthusiastic Yeta in front of him. She looked at Vito with confidence and couldn't help but smile.

"Yes, Marshal, I have been preparing for this day for a long time! The departure preparation list, maintenance steps, and the types, quantities and maintenance columns of parts that need to be produced by STC have all been prepared! We are just waiting for your order. It will make this ship fly again!”

She was very enthusiastic, even excited. Vito looked at those radiant eyes and smiled. He turned his head slightly and looked at Reina aside, "Do you know who she reminds me of when I was young?"

"Okay, don't make fun of me. Are you really sure you can solve that electronic demon? I never knew you knew programming technology." Reina said and stood up from the throne. She stood on the back of the throne. Standing up, Vito smiled and stepped back a little, leaning on Silver Wolf on the side of the throne and shrugged.

"I don't understand. I won't be like those oil guys, fighting against a bunch of 0s and 1s every day." "Then how are you going to deal with that electronic demon? Or does she understand?"

Reina stood up and stepped out in front of the throne. She raised her head and signaled to Lilith, who was leaning against a terminal device at the back. She was sitting on the cold instrument with her arms folded.

Yeta also noticed her. The young girl frowned and looked at the annoying woman. Yeta looked at Vito in confusion and raised a finger to Lilith, "What is she doing here?"

"Help me, little girl." Lilith said as she drew out the long knife from her waist. She turned her fingers and deftly placed the back of the knife against her fingers, then gently lifted the long knife in front of her.

"What can she do? She even broke the handle of the knife?" Yeta frowned and looked at the dangerous woman with vigilance. The latter smiled coldly, full of sarcasm and ridicule.

Just before Yeta, who was young and energetic and was about to be irritated by Lilith's smile, started to curse, Vito raised a hand to stop her. Vito smiled and turned his head to look at Lilith on the side, "Lily came here as a second layer of insurance. If I didn't deal with that electronic demon, then Lily would manually cut off the reactor and physically shut down the system to trap that ghost thing." "But she doesn't even know where the reactor is. How can she help? Besides, I can do this for you. There is no need for this woman at all." Yeta put one hand on his waist and looked at Lilith on the other side. The latter turned the knife in her hand and quickly turned it in her palm with her fingers. She didn't say anything, but silently waited for Vito to explain to his "little daughter". And he did so. Vito put his hands behind his back and looked at Yeta who was mumbling on the side. His face was full of eyes looking at a little girl. "Lily is responsible for solving those controlled obstacles when the electronic demon is ready to struggle with all its strength and activate all the automatic defense systems on the ship to prevent the power from being cut off." "And you, Yeta, you are responsible for leading Lily to the reactor and cutting off the power at the last moment." Vito looked at Yeta beside him. Sure enough, she widened her eyes and turned her head to glare at Lilith on the side. "I'll take her?" "Yes, you take her. Reina will be responsible for getting off the ship and helping Peter transport all the raw materials to the STC's automated loading port, and be ready to start work immediately. Only veterans like them and a few technical priests know how to operate the STC casting template, right?"

"And I'll stay here and be responsible for solving the electronic demons. So among all the people present, you're the only one who knows every aspect of this ship, right? So this mission belongs to you."

"But Marshal!"

"Okay, as an excellent captain, you have to learn to adapt, adapt to and understand people you don't like so much. Believe me, you will always need to cooperate with people you don't like. This is the common experience of your mother and I. In this way, I can safely hand over the future to you young people."

Vito walked up and pressed Yeta's shoulder. He spoke with a trusting tone, which made Yeta quite excited and flattered. Yeta also watched the marshal sigh after a mental struggle and chose to compromise.

Since the marshal trusted her, her personal grudges had to be put behind the mission, so that she could be worthy of the marshal's trust. Especially, he said that he would entrust the future to her, and Yeta's excitement was even more difficult to suppress.

"Yes, marshal, I'll take her there now." Yeta walked towards the gate. She walked past Lilith, but she didn't even look at the silver-haired lady beside her. She was thinking about Vito's words just now, with a happy smile on her face.

Lilith looked at her and smiled jokingly, glancing in the direction of Vito. After the latter nodded slightly, Lilith turned the handle of the knife in her hand, held the long knife, stood up and followed Yeta from a distance.

Vito and Reina laughed together as they watched the two people go away. Reina turned her head and looked at Vito, who was much taller than her. She stood in front of him and looked up into his eyes. "Do you really have a way to solve the electronic demon? I know you never understand programming."

"Someone will help me."

"Someone? I don't see a third person here. Vito, what are you talking about?"

Reina stopped talking before she finished. Her words were interrupted by the blue light. Reina looked at the shining blue light in front of her with wide eyes.

The light came from a silver optical disc. After the border of the optical disc was opened, it emitted a shining halo. The blue light particles flew in the air and gradually gathered into a human figure. It was a blue woman. She slowly stood up from the optical disc.

Reina looked at the small figure in Vito's hand in astonishment. The short-haired woman made of light stood on Vito's palm. Reina looked at her with wide eyes, and raised her face illuminated by blue light to look at Vito in disbelief, "She is." "Artificial intelligence, yes, her name is Helen, she is my sorry, I can't tell you this story now, it's a very long story." Vito raised his head slightly, looked at the lightning eagle logo on the throne in front of him and smiled, that was his own logo, which had been following his own logo since the Roman era. "I'll tell you when I have time, but it will take a long time to tell." "No, Vito, why do you wait, you have an artificial intelligence? Why didn't you tell me? Didn't tell anyone?" Reina raised her head and looked at Vito in front of her and asked in surprise. She looked at the man's face, tilted her head slightly to think for a moment, then turned her head to look at him and wanted to say something, but her face was held by his hand.

Reina looked at those black eyes, those tired and weather-beaten eyes. He was still smiling, but he looked very tired, "I said, it's a long, long story. I can't read it two or three times." I’ll tell you everything, Reyna, but I just want you to believe me and forgive me for concealing and deceiving.”

"Believe me, I didn't mean to hide it from you. He and I didn't mean it. We thought that hiding it would save you from having to do bad things again. But in fact, we were both wrong. Just rely on Hiding never solves anything."

"There are too many secrets. I have hidden them for more than 10,000 years. I don't want to hide them anymore, but I must continue to hide them and bury those dangerous secrets in my heart forever until the right time. You know if I make it public How much trouble will this kind of secret in my hands cause?"

Reina looked at Vito in front of her. She stared at those black eyes for a long time. There were too many things hidden in those eyes, too many things that he didn't want to remember, but he still remembered, Because there are some things that only he can remember in the present universe. In these ten thousand years of vicissitudes, only he can remember them.

The man in front of her is the only one in the galaxy, other than the immortal God Emperor sitting on the throne, who still remembers the origin of human civilization, the first cry, the first time he set foot on the earth, and sailed to He is the only one who, at the end of the Great Crusade, is the last person to remember what mankind once was.

He is the last and only person who remembers and knows the whole process of the rise, germination, prosperity and gradual progression of human beings into darkness. He also knows what kind of peaks human beings can reach. People in the dark galaxy will not believe it and dare not The last person to believe in that future.

Human beings in this dark empire have never seen the sun since they were born. They are like a group of disaster immigrants living underground. They have never seen the blue sky, never smelled the air that does not require wearing gas masks, and have never heard the sound of birds. Singing, never seen the sea.

And he, the man in front of Reina has seen it all. He is like the last flickering flame in the darkness, waiting for the moment that can finally ignite the light of the underground world. Besides that hope, he also Carrying the memory of the dark years, I used the moment when the flame ignited the light to tell people how to prevent the darkness from returning.

He is the last guardian, the last inheritor. No one can share his burden, and no one can understand everything he says. The reason is simple. You can't ask a group of people who grew up in darkness to believe him. , I believe that the only person who has seen the sun tells them that there is sunshine in this world.

Reyna looked at the man with a tired smile. She was not angry because of the deception. Just like Magnus, Horus and other traitors, she thought that they might not have the chance to stand with him like herself. Standing in front of these last guardians, looking into their eyes and feeling their fatigue and pain.

"Then why do you tell me now? Let Yeta leave, let Lilith leave, and just tell me?" Reina looked into his eyes, and the man in front of her showed a smile, and he gently touched her Face.

"Because you are one of the last friends I have seen the sun with and have lived for thousands of years, so I want to tell you about the last flame of the sun in the darkness. If I will die one day, then, You can also pass it on so that there are still people in this galaxy who remember the scene when the sun rose from the horizon and pierced the dark galaxy."

"Vito, don't say that, you." Reina raised her hand and touched Vito's face, and the latter smiled and held her extended hand, "The Emperor has already sat on the throne, hanging half alive. He is facing this endgame, and now, the pendulum of fate has made him decide to end this game and start a new one. "

Vito looked at Reina in front of him, he stroked her face and looked into those green eyes, "Rena, when that moment finally comes, when the chess game of the Galaxy comes to an end, I will hold up that fan. The door to the new world allows you and them to go there with the fire of civilization, and let the dawn of civilization finally pierce the night and rise from the earth. "

"What are you talking about? Vito, I don't understand. Broken chess game? New world? I don't understand what you mean." Reina actually hasn't understood what Vito is talking about yet. Like I said, no one will. Understanding what Vito said, he couldn't let them understand, because at that moment, there were destined to be many sacrifices, many sacrifices that he could not stop even if he burned them all.

All he can do is make the sacrifice less, that's all.

Vito smiled and stroked her face, "One day you will understand, you will all understand. Now, you only need to know that this secret artificial intelligence Helen in my hand is the last one with the strongest computing power in the galaxy. With her superior artificial intelligence, she can kill the electronic demon."

Vito lowered his head and looked at Helen in front of him, who also looked at the many strange data flashing in his eyes. Helen lowered her eyes and was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly in affirmation.

"Vito."

"Don't worry, she's not one of those people who hates intelligence and won't turn this ship into a killing toy, or at least, not a killing toy for humans."

"No, Vito, what I'm asking is, why are you telling me? Just me? You can tell everyone openly, the crew, they are all people who survived the Great Crusade era, why are you telling only me? I What on earth is there.”

"Because I love you, it's as simple as that, so I believe you know how to treat this secret well." Vito smiled and approached the surprised Reina. They stood in front of two silver giant wolf statues, Vito stood with her, They stayed close to each other and listened to all the words and concealments.

The two looked at each other, their green and black eyes looking at each other. Suddenly Reina leaned forward and kissed Vito unexpectedly. She stood in front of Vito, hugged his neck and buried her head in thought. Fan, "Vito, although I don't know what you mean by this, please promise me not to play stupid hero games of self-sacrifice, okay?"

"If the new world you said is true, then we will go there together. No matter what we have to face, I will sail in that direction with you, just like now."

Vito looked at Reina in front of him. After a moment of silence, he held her head with one hand and gently leaned his forehead against hers. "That old bastard always said that I still maintain the useless Human nature, walking among mortals is a waste of time and stupidity, now look who is the fool."

"A good girl like you makes it worth me to maintain this broken situation for ten thousand years. For you, it's all worth it." Vito said, holding up Reina's face with his fingers. He looked at Reina in front of him and smiled. With.

"Go on, Peter still needs your help. After I get all this done, I have to look for you to plan another crazy trip."

Reina looked at him in silence for a moment, then nodded and turned towards the exit of the bridge. She stopped at the door and pressed one hand on the door frame. She turned her back to Vito and fell silent. After a few seconds, he slowly spoke, "Vito, promise me, don't do stupid things, don't give so many reasons and excuses, just promise me."

Vito stood in front of the throne, holding Helen in his hand and turned his head to look in the direction of the bridge ahead. He tilted his head and was silent for a while before slowly speaking, "I promise you."

"That's enough." Reyna said and walked out of the bridge. Helen, who was standing on Vito's hand, looked at Reyna who was walking away. She lowered her eyes and thought for a moment before looking at Vito beside her, and he But still holding Helen in his hand, he walked to the throne.

Vito looked at the throne that once belonged to him, the throne that belonged to Vito Constantine as the Supreme Marshal, the burning throne of the last guardian.

The Emperor has sat on another such throne, fulfilling the oath he once swore, and now, perhaps, the moment will come when Vitor will fulfill that final oath.

He raised his head and looked up at the giant wolf symbol in front of him. The proud wolf overlooked all living beings, staring at the earth alone in the high cold wind, alert to all dangers approaching from all sides. The wolf would not be alone. As it ages, it will die alone, just like the wolf on the other side of it.

Vito turned around and sat on the cold throne. In the silent and lonely bridge, the last guardian sat on the throne that belonged to him.