PFC Chapter 678 Meeting in the Hall of Glory
Chapter 678 Meeting in the Hall of Glory
Chapter 678 Meeting in the Hall of Glory
Terra, the Imperial Palace, the Hall of Glory.
There is no better place for a war council than the Hall of Glory. The dome of this hall is over 200 meters wide and over 100 meters high, supported by intersecting columns like a castle tower. The Hall of Glory is said to be the place where Rogal Dorn met his Primarch brothers on the eve of the Siege of Terra.
Wangerlich, the Grand Master of the Assassin's Court, was a little unhappy at the moment because he had to wait in the hall and keep company with several unwelcome high lords, even though this was good for him in some ways - being inconspicuous was the most perfect disguise for an assassin. But he still didn't like this feeling very much.
After the split of the Astartes Legion, the military development and construction of the Human Empire entered a new era. At this time, some people may ask: Among the many existing military sequences in the Human Empire, which one is the most powerful military force?
Without a doubt, the Imperial Navy.
In interstellar wars, space naval battles are the premise of all battles. This statement applies to most of the grand science fiction IPs, whether it is Halo, StarCraft, Star Wars or Warhammer 40K. It is reasonable for the human empire to focus resources on the development of the navy first. Most interstellar empires in science fiction universes do this. The Imperial Navy is of course the most powerful military force of the human empire.
Space Marines have a unique weapon in space naval battles called "boarding", but most of the time the Imperial Navy does not need to rely on boarding to solve problems. They can use lance macro cannons and torpedoes to destroy the enemy before entering boarding distance.
It's just that in the past, during the era of the Legiones Astartes, both the Imperial Guard and the Imperial Navy were military forces commanded by the Space Marines, but now their size is ranked ahead of the Adeptus Astartes, which is really regrettable.
Over the past few weeks, the behavior of Supreme Lord Admiral Lanthon has become increasingly aggressive and undisguised, as other Imperial institutions, or those allied to them, such as the Adeptus Mechanicus, have suddenly realized one by one how much they rely on the benevolent support of the Imperial Navy.
The coming of the Beast and the wave of attacks it unleashed before he devoured the entire galaxy, the Orks arriving in seemingly endless numbers, dozens and hundreds of worlds falling to the attacks, only the Imperial Navy could resist the invaders, only the Imperial Navy could provide protection for the nobles, allowing them to escape before the Green Tide arrived.
Faced with such a dangerous situation, the Supreme Lord Admiral certainly did not sit idly by, and decisively dispatched the fleet to support those in the star field who defected to his camp. As for those who were unwilling to obey, they would gradually find that their outposts and merchant fleets had lost naval protection.
Yes, that's right. Even at this time, even though the orcs' troops were already approaching the capital, the Supreme Lord Admiral Lansong was still trying to use this disaster to expand his sphere of influence. This greedy thinking seemed to have been deeply rooted in every politician.
Wangorichi watched coldly from the side.
The Adeptus Mechanicus also possessed their own warships, and they were essential to the maintenance of Lanthon's fleet and position. Apparently, the Admiral and the Fabricator-General had quietly reached some agreement, with the Lord of Mars happy to watch the Fleet Master take the honors while they secretly divided the spoils.
Wangerich quietly evaluated this in his mind.
“Woohoo…”
The cheers from afar heralded the arrival of the main members of the Imperial Parliament. The Lucifer Black Guards, the Imperial Guards that were responsible for guarding the Imperial Palace and were also the bodyguards for the Imperial officials, formed two lines and walked along the corridor towards the Hall of Glory. Their footsteps were neat and loud.
Wangerich smiled contemptuously at this.
The original Lucifer Black Guards were famous for their loyalty and professionalism during the Unification War and the Horus Heresy, but now these bodyguards named "Black Guards" are just a group of well-trained and gorgeously dressed people. They have long been bought by a political ally of Lansong, General Itolla, who is responsible for the defense of the Solar Sector, like hired mercenaries, with favors and materials.
Each Lucifer Black Guard was dressed in carapace armor covered with thick bulletproof mesh. They walked into the hall, holding shining long-pole weapons, with tall helmets and eyepieces covering their faces. Their presence in such large numbers not only demonstrated the resources that Lansong personally possessed, but also marked the relationship between the Imperial Navy and the Imperial Guard.
For Wangorich, this was a dangerous signal, and he was surprised that the High Lords would allow such a thing to happen. In the past, such blatant cooperation was almost unthinkable - the Astartes Legion was split into pieces to prevent the emergence of a powerful force with both navy and army. The Imperial Guard has an army but no warships, and the Imperial Navy has warships but no army. This is a kind of check and balance.
Now, Lansong has ignored all these regulations, using the invasion of the Orcs as an excuse to overturn past objections and amass such a powerful military force.
The Grand Master of the Assassin's Court raised his fingers again.
Four hundred tall and strong Lucifer Black Guards spread out and formed a circle in the hall, leaving only a gap at the door. They raised their weapons high and crossed them like an arch to show the honor of the senator who was about to enter the hall.
The High Lord Admiral was the last to arrive.
The constant beating of drums and the high-pitched sound of trumpets announced his arrival. Amid the smoke of incense filling the dome, a chandelier carved into an infant angel holding a torch suddenly lit up, dispelling the gloom that had previously lingered in the room.
Lan Song stepped into the splendid venue, with medals on his broad chest and brocade across his chest glittering. Although still obese, his huge physique was obviously slowly eroded by the recent hard work, his double chin was slightly relaxed, and the fat hidden under the shaking chin was obviously reduced.
Wangerich roughly estimated that Lanson had lost about fifteen kilograms in the past few weeks. Maybe twenty kilograms? He wanted to know the specific reason for this. Whatever the reason, the weight loss could not be ignored. Certain compounds, stimulants and sedatives must be administered in precise doses related to the target weight. If the upcoming meeting agenda did not achieve his expectations, the Assassin's Court Grand Master would have to take this into consideration and take further necessary measures.
It was no accident that Lanthon chose the Hall of Glory to make his announcement - half of the names carved into the memorials around the hall belonged to space battleships. For a star empire, this is the nature of war. Similarly, Rogal Dorn's meeting with his primarch brother here is also a memory that can be used.
The High Lord Admiral waved his ringed hand and invited his fellow High Lords to take a seat at the ornate table. Wangorich sat at the other end of the table, far away from Lanson, between several lower-ranking councilors.
Surprisingly, Lanson did not sit directly at the first seat as Wangerich had expected, but sat between the Minister of the Interior Tobris and the spokesperson for the merchant fleet Yuskina. The two of them were very close to the first seat, showing their prominence, but no one dared to occupy the empty first seat that once belonged to the seal holder Malcador or Rog Dorn.
Thinking carefully, Lansong's arrangement of positions was very reasonable. Wangorich knew that the Imperial Navy Commander was about to announce a new offensive against the Orks approaching the Solar Sector - all the high lords must have known this, which would require a large amount of supplies and logistical support. Lansong placed the leaders of the Ministry of the Interior and the Merchant Fleet by his side, raising these two institutions to a new status.
Lanson did not pretend to be modest and let the Imperial Commander Udo or the Minister of the Interior make the opening remarks. This was his parliament. He stood up and pounded his fists on the table, his eyes moving back and forth along the edge of the table. With the humming sound of the operation, the servoskull began to record the speech, and other recorders were recording this scene for future generations. The light of High Gothic reflected on the stone pillars and walls.
“In every age of humanity there comes a time when we will face our greatest challenges.”
Lan Song spoke slowly.
The voice was calm and sincere.
"I ask the great Imperial Senate, which defines this era, to allow me to make a proposal and humbly present to you the intelligence information I have currently gathered on all the problems that currently plague us."
Wangorich wanted to laugh after hearing this. Lansong's words were not modest at all. But he remained calm and silent. He seemed to be paying attention to the admiral's words, but in fact he was secretly observing the reactions of other high lords present with the corner of his eyes.
"We were shocked by the Ork invasion, as we had thought them to be weak, divided, and insignificant like the other xenos. Like so many others, I allowed the desire for peace to overwhelm my duty. Their might caught us off guard - even the Imperial Fists, the glorious Guardians of Terra, were not enough to deal with the threat."
Several councillors took a deep breath when they heard this - Lan Song looked like he was going to openly criticize a startup regiment?
"We must not be intimidated by the sudden appearance of Ork armed space stations behind our lines. If they are to infiltrate our lines, then we must also actively infiltrate their lines in certain areas. This will put both sides in great danger, but if the Imperial Guard and the Imperial Navy can respond properly - as I believe they will, if the Imperial Navy can continue to use their talents in recovery and counterattack, and if the Imperial Guard can show the tenacious endurance and tenacity of fighting spirit as they have shown in the past, then the offensive and defensive situation will be changed!"
Lan Song said loudly, pumping his fist vigorously.
These words further aroused Wangorich's curiosity. There had been rumors that Lanson would use the fleet he had assembled on Lepidus Prime to launch a new offensive against the Orcs, but would he really publicly guarantee that this would turn the tide of the war?
The Supreme Lord Admiral's impassioned speech continued, but the Grand Master of the Assassin's Court was distracted. He was thinking silently... He suddenly realized that Lan Song was now asking for a return for his promise, and in contrast, his "creditors" in political resources also needed a return.
However, for other councillors, especially Wangorich, it is still too early to accuse Lanson of overstepping his authority. In short, unless the Supreme Lord Admiral can prove that his actions can indeed resist the Orks, his supporters and followers will leave one by one.
It looked like a pre-war speech, but it was actually full of codewords. This was Lanson conveying a message to other political allies, and his current speech marked his transition from promise to actual action. Wangerich didn't know what role others would play in the next events, and what the exchange conditions would be in exchange for their support... but he could probably guess.
First the Imperial Navy would triumph, then Lanthon would send in the Imperial Guard. Once both had added a few victories to their roll of honor, their status as the protectors of the Empire would last for a thousand years. History would not forget the leader who saved the Empire from the beast, and an alien invasion crisis would become a great political opportunity.
Everything is so perfect.
"In the meantime, let's not waste our breath on blaming each other."
Lansong curled up his fat fingers, nodded and gestured to the recorders.
"Common interests still exist between the Imperium and the Adeptus Mechanicus, the sacred covenant still exists, and the unavoidable responsibility still exists. Out of the urgent need to fight against the 'beast' and its creations, we must try to free ourselves from the backward system so that Mars can fully support the naval fleet."
This is a reference to the Mechanicus.
Wangorich knew it clearly.
"Let us look to the future. Today is the seventeenth of September, and it is only three weeks since the Feast of the Emperor's Ascension. The armies of the Empire marched solemnly along the Avenue of the Imperial Palace a month ago, while the ships of the Navy flew overhead. Who can foresee what will happen during the rest of the year?"
The Supreme Admiral then looked at the Ecclesiarch, Meslin, and the two exchanged glances with a smile, conveying a message to those around them: Lanson had the support of the Emperor's most devout servants. In return, Wangorich guessed that the Ecclesiarch's preachers would have unimpeded access to the ships of the Imperial Navy.
"As we stand in awe before the scrolls upon which the destiny of mankind is written, faith sustains and comforts us. My faith is that some of us will live to see the great and glorious anniversary of the Emperor's Ascension celebrated once again, and that some will once again rise to the occasion for the rights of all mankind. When the dawn breaks, as it will surely, the understanding and goodwill of all mankind will be bestowed upon those men and women who, wherever they may be, have not given up, even in the Imperium's darkest days."
Lan Song's voice changed from low to high:
"But let us not speak of the Darkest Hours, let us call them 'Grim Hours'. These are not the Darkest Hours, these are the Great Hours, the greatest Hours we have ever experienced, and we must be grateful to the Emperor for allowing us, each in our own way, to make these special days a memorable part of the history of our race."
The admiral paused, waiting for the applause to start. The first to applaud was the Minister of the Interior, and the rest of the people followed suit, including Wangorich. When the applause gradually died down, Lanson sat down, raised one hand and shook it, saying:
"Thank you, thank you. I should applaud you for allowing me to express the thoughts of the entire parliament."
Wangerich quickly reviewed the entire speech and concluded that although Lanson had spoken for so long, he had said nothing. He only made promises and compromises in secret to certain people who were waiting to hear certain words. The Grand Master of the Assassin Court could only understand a limited amount of things, and Lanson did not give more details about the Navy's plan, some substantive description.
The Imperial Guard, the Adeptus Mechanicus, the Merchant Fleet, the Ministry of the Interior, the State Religion... Wangerich counted the major imperial forces that Lansong had won over one by one. In fact, these institutions all had the "poison" infiltrated by the Grand Master of the Assassin's Court, but he did not activate it. In a sense, Wangerich believed that the Empire did need this kind of "unity" now to deal with the orcs.
"I look forward to your success, Lansong."
Wangoliqi said silently in his heart.
"It's better not to let me down."
…………