Under the gray sky, the yellow-brown earth is filled with dust.
Under the sun, a large army stood in formation, with a corridor open in the middle. Rows of ninety fully armed soldiers stood at attention in a row. Various flags and banners danced in the wind. Tanks and armored personnel carriers were raised high. The barrels saluted, and the horns of the Titan legions echoed in the morning wind.
The drums beat without pause, and the Titans of the Iron Skull Legion formed a tall backdrop, illuminated by the rising sun.
Overhead, the sky became increasingly gloomy, the wind mixed with volcanic ash merged into a lizard-like roar, and the roar of war drums almost drowned out the noise of the hive ten kilometers away.
Planet Governor Hermann von Strab is wearing golden armor, with ostrich feather rings around his head. Behind him, several slaves are holding up the ten-meter-long peacock tail feather cloak. The makeup artist carefully applied it on The golden paint on his face solidified into a thin mask.
He held a ceremonial weapon in each hand. The countless jewels inlaid on the scepter and thorn blade reflected the dim sunlight. Various medals and ornaments covered his entire upper body.
The guards surrounded him, swords unsheathed, maintaining stiff and ritualistic defensive postures. A huge mastiff lay in the dust at the feet of the governor, licking its fur and looking at it with lowered eyes without interest. Staring at the hot earth
This beast belongs to one of the countless extinct species in ancient Terra. It was traced back by the Martian sages with the help of DNA samples, and it is extremely precious.
Titan captain Kurtz Mannheim, wearing a bronze battle armor, red robe and silver helmet, stood on the right hand side of the Planet Governor, holding a ceremonial sword, and next to him was the supreme commander of the hive Vulganus, Eko. ·General Harold is also the former commander of the Iron Legion of Armageddon. The rubies and emeralds on his platinum armor sparkle, and the mechanical prosthetic eyes shine with a faint green light behind the white plastic steel mask.
Behind him, a soldier personally held the banner of the Iron Legion of Armageddon. The four-meter-high flagpole was inlaid with diamonds at the end and the pure gold Sky Eagle emblem at the top.
On the left side of Hermann von Strab stood the director of the Armageddon Astrology Hall. The congenital dwarf wore a stone gray robe and a titanium alloy headband. He was short and circled around the planet. He has enormous influence and a place on the power ladder.
The Mechanicus Bishop of the planet stood on a suspended disk half a meter above the ground. The edges of his robes were cut into the shape of gears, and he was carried by several blind servitors.
The closest to him was the planet's representative of legal combat psykers, Lady Hiatt Sanford - she was wearing a crimson robe and was surrounded by thirteen psykers.
Hundreds of servitors held the white canopy blowing in the wind above the officers' heads, blocking the falling ashes.
Then, one Thunderhawk in silver gray paint and one in white paint descended from the clear blue sky, whizzed past everyone's heads, and landed at the end of the queue amidst the roar of the reverse thrusters.
The drums and trumpets ceased. Except for the soft sound of the canopy blowing in the wind and the unstoppable bustle of the hive, there was silence.
As the hatches of the two Thunderhawks opened at the same time, two figures appeared in front of everyone, walking along the queue towards the commanders who had been waiting for a long time. Behind them were ten Terminators each, holding high the banners of the battle group. banner.
Then Hermann von Strab nodded, and suddenly the huge army saluted in unison, with all kinds of flags tilted down in respect.
The two tall figures gradually approached, crossing the sand between the queues, nodding respectfully to the soldiers bowing on both sides from time to time.
One man wore gray terminator armor with silver trim. He was twice as tall as the tallest soldier in the team, and the other man wore white ceremonial armor.
The crowd fell into stunned silence as it took almost eight minutes for the Astartes to make their way down the entire procession to the Planetary Governor.
During this eternity, except for the Astartes, only the wind-swept banners and the slowly moving clouds in the sky made any movement.
Ten meters away from the planet governor and other commanders, the Astartes team stopped. Then the one wearing the Terminator took off his helmet first, revealing a noble and powerful face. His skin was light. White, with jet black hair, and eyes as bright as the blue sky.
After that, the white-armored warrior also took off his helmet, revealing his scarred face and calm eyes.
"Dear two Chapter Masters."
The governor lowered his head and said:
"You represent the will of the beloved and sacred Emperor. On behalf of the people of Armageddon, I welcome you with great honor. May we work together to defeat the powerful enemy."
Then, he asked the guards to take over his weapons, and one of them also took off the golden glove on the governor's right hand. The servants also loosened the peacock tail feather cloak, letting it float in the air with the breeze.
"I am the Chapter Master of the Astral Knights Chapter, Soshyan Alexey."
"I am Randall Blanchard, Chapter Master of the White Templars."
The two shook hands (finger) with the governor one after another, and then Soshyan said loudly:
"I have waited here only to annihilate the great enemy of the Empire. This is the eternal oath we have made, for the Emperor."
"For the Emperor!!"
Everyone praised in unison.
Afterwards, there was a grand reception dinner, which was attended by not only the military officers but also almost all the upper class people in Armageddon. Soshyan had to change his Terminator for this.
It was not until late at night on the Armageddon subcontinent that the crowds attending the grand welcome ceremony had gradually dispersed. The planetary governor arranged for someone to lead Soshyan and other space warriors and other senior officers to his military situation room for detailed talks.
The military situation room was very large, more than 400 square meters, with a huge long table in the middle and rows of shiny mahogany chairs on both sides. The officers had been waiting for more than half an hour, including those from the two battle groups. The same goes for the command hierarchy.
"this way please."
Suddenly, the smiling voice of Planet Governor Hermann von Strab came from the door, and everyone stood up immediately.
Outside the door, Herman, who had already changed into a marshal's uniform, led two regiment commanders, Soshyan and Randall, into the military situation room.
"Everyone, the two chapter leaders have just attended the banquet. I originally wanted them to take a rest, but they must talk to everyone."
After speaking, he smiled and raised his hand.
"please."
The two people's positions were closest to the governor's left, but when they walked over, Randall suddenly smiled and said:
"Armagedon is already the front line, and we have to act according to the front line's sense of time."
Hermann von Strab's expression froze for a few seconds when he heard this sentence, but he immediately returned to his original state.
"That's right, that's right, everyone, sit down, everyone, sit down."
After everyone sat down, Herman was naturally the first to speak. He was still smiling, but his voice was cooler.
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