The Hall of Honor of the Military Department of Sagan Prime is a huge and weird space made of steel and gold. Countless flags hang from the dome, stirring up the circulating air. The golden thread echoes the sunlight outside the arched observation window. It is Baroque style. Delicate murals cover the entire wall, forged with paint, plaster, and gold leaf, and can be seen at Badab, Endymion, Angstrom, and a dozen other battlefields.
Arni might once have been proud to see this, standing here admiring the many victorious deeds of the expedition, but now, he feels a little heavy.
Because he thought of his soldiers.
Whether they are excellent or cowardly, they all fight until the last moment.
In fact, when the bomb hit his left chest near his heart, he truly felt the fear of death for the first time. In the end, it was the Hunter Armor that saved his life.
But his soldier was not so lucky. He didn't know whether his decision to stick to the final was right or wrong, but Suhrab told him that since it was all about fighting for this reason, he should stick to it to the end, so that he could get Bada. Governor Bu's chances will be greater.
"I've never seen this level of gathering,"
Hearing the voice coming from his friend, Arni, who was wearing a crisp uniform, looked around and saw strange expressions on everyone else's faces.
Among them, the one that concerned him more was a stocky Cadian, wearing a gray officer's uniform, with his military rank displayed by a white collar and wristbands. He was waiting with his hands folded on his chest. He had heard of this man's name. , Creed from the 2nd Cadian Regiment is also a defender of the Destruction Moon. It is said that he is tenacious and smart, holding the position with low casualties, and is an excellent commander.
Fortunately, he is not a native of the Maelstrom, otherwise he should be the one who might get the position of Governor of Badab.
Realizing that Arnie was looking at him, Creed just nodded politely at him.
"The Space Marines are coming too."
There were not only senior officers of the Astra Militarum in the entire hall, Arni also saw exquisitely dressed nobles, Ecclesiarchs surrounded by cherubs splashing incense, officials and political commissars, and a group of rickets wearing uniforms. The Mechanicus priests in robes move with insect-like limbs, but the most eye-catching ones are undoubtedly the Space Marines wearing various armors and even Terminators, who seem to stand out from the crowd.
And they are not ordinary Space Marines, at least they are at the level of company commanders, and there are many chapter leaders among them.
It seems that every force that served in the Maelstrom Crusade has representatives here.
Arni can still feel that there are not only victories and fighting spirit around him now, but also
Puzzled
Soon, a horn was blown at the end of the hall. Everyone in the hall paid attention to the source of the sound, and Arni did the same thing as them.
Accompanied by heavy footsteps, Soshyan Alexey, the supreme lord commander of the expeditionary force, was escorted towards the podium by two guards wearing gorgeous Terminators. No one made any sound. The heavy footsteps were like A beating heart.
Soshyan wore custom-made ornate ceremonial armor, a laurel wreath on his head, and a golden sash hanging on his chest. It was a proof of honor and faith. A guard behind him held high the expedition flag from Terra.
"Loyal souls."
After standing still, Soshiyang's voice passed through the crowd clearly.
"It has been seven standard Terran years since the Maelstrom Expedition was launched."
He looked at the crowd, and there were thousands of people there.
"The Maelstrom was once the glorious place of the empire, the place of glory, and the place of wealth. It used to be extremely peaceful and prosperous, and it was one of the most powerful blood supply hearts of the empire. Until its former guardian betrayed it, Lu Fort Huron, the traitor who deserves to be cast into the fire, seeks to claim this realm for himself."
There were whispers, curses and prayers from the crowd.
"He corrupted his unsuspecting comrades. He stole everything sworn to the Emperor and gave them to the heretics and their masters. He claimed that he protected this place and therefore should own it. What stupid logic! That's it! It’s as ridiculous as a dragon slayer thinking he should have the power of a dragon!”
Everyone in the hall was staring at Soshyan, waiting for him to issue the order to send them out to completely eliminate the Hurons. They were eager for that order, which could be seen in their unblinking eyes.
"He failed under the empire's crusade. This was inevitable. However, after his failure, he dedicated everything to the darkness, gained the opportunity to survive and resurrect, and once again attempted to get involved in the Maelstrom! This is the root of this expedition. , cut off the greedy head of this traitor, cut off his depraved head, and take back the world polluted by him, and this will require great sacrifice and blood!"
Then, Soshyan looked at the carved and painted walls.
"Like destroying the impregnable heretic fortress at Badab, like crushing the heretical fleet at Angstrom, like surviving the fire of Endymion."
Soshyan's eyes looked at them again, but this time his gaze was even colder.
"We are victorious, the empire is victorious, and Huron hides back in his lair, bruised and bruised, and remembers the lesson of this time. If he has the guts to stretch out his claws from his cave again, there will be another one. A legend waiting to be written came along and shattered him, and the honor of that legend could belong to anyone present."
Arni suddenly realized that this was not just a medal ceremony, but also a victory speech.
This maelstrom expedition is indeed over.
Soshyan then drew his sword and raised it above his head.
"For the Maelstrom!"
He cheered loudly for everyone to hear, and then everyone performed an eagle salute in unison.
"For the Emperor!!!"
Then came the awarding ceremony. Various camera equipment operated by the priests of the Mechanicus turned to the main stage, and the officers and outstanding soldiers waiting for the award were already lined up.
In the passionate tune of the traditional imperial military music "The Immortal Throne", the first ones to take the stage were the recipients of the Order of the Scarlet Skull, which is usually given to soldiers who successfully saved the lives of others in battle. It is usually obtained by field medical soldiers, but this time Soshyan also specially added medical nuns. Thousands of medical nuns joined the expeditionary force in this expedition. They may not have personally participated in the brutal battle, but they were Difficult work was also carried out in the slaughterhouse-like field hospital at the rear, and dozens of medical nuns even died due to overwork.
Soon, more than two hundred field medics and medical sisters walked onto the stage.
(End of chapter)
