Warhammer: Start with a dog.

Chapter 777 Meeting -
Although the Interrex also refer to themselves as a human race that originated from Terra, in reality, the journey from the edge of their territory to the nearest world controlled by the Empire is at least forty weeks.

A bulk carrier returning to Terra from their previous world 63-19 would take forty months with a warp engine.

The location of the murder planet was roughly between the edge of the Interrex territory and the world controlled by the Empire. To the Interrex, the planet was indeed remote, and they rushed there as soon as the warning signal was detected.

These people have successfully multiplied and thrived in their territory for at least three thousand years. Their sphere of influence spans dozens of star systems. They possess a unique method of communication that is completely different from the Star Speakers or signal communication currently used by the Empire. Instead, they have taken a different approach.

Interex relies entirely on professionals known as translation musicians for internal and external communication, translation, and communications. So much so that a group of them undergo surgical modifications and training specifically for this purpose, highlighting its importance.

The Imperial side had seen the distinctive appearance of the interpreters in several advance communications, as they were certain to appear at any occasion where the Interrex were having formal conversations.

These people are no different from their compatriots in terms of physique and appearance. The only striking feature is that their ears have been surgically enlarged to be wide and huge, like the ears of a bat growing out of a human head.

To make their profession easily identifiable, the translator musicians all wore a uniform brocade green robe, with a special instrument for their profession fixed to their chest—a device that combined a digital keyboard, wind instrument, and amplification function.

The principles of translation and sound transmission used in this profession are related to the musical symbols they had previously deciphered. According to the analysis of what Imperial technicians observed, the Interrex seem to be using advanced mathematical principles to weave a kind of basic rhythm, so that the words in communication can be accurately expressed at the level of the fundamental principles of the universe.

"In other words, you could consider this group's technology to be a kind of advanced version of Martian worshippers. Coupled with those beautiful ships that look like enlarged versions of the Enterprise, I bet this group is definitely not the kind of people who rely on physical strength and brute force like the Astartes. They probably look average in stature and have weak defenses. And because of this kind of universal translation, they are almost certainly inclined to try to coexist peacefully with all alien races."

The Lord of Steel made some rather incomprehensible prophecies while having dinner with his two brothers and hosting Imperial generals, technocrats, and Astrologers. The dignitaries present at the time will now be astonished to discover how accurate the Primarch's prophecies have been.

-

The entire hangar in the belly of the Vengeance Souls has now been cleaned and solemnly decorated as a reception area, with hundreds of high-powered lumens illuminating every corner and brightly lighting up the Astartes' newly cleaned and painted power armor.

The entire First Company of Shadowmoon Wolves and Gastalin Squad appeared as the Imperial honor guard for this meeting. More newly repaired military flags, cloaks, honor sashes, and oath parchment scrolls adorned the pearl white and black gleaming ceramic steel surface, and the helmet visors shone like rubies and sapphires.

The First Company soldiers were divided into two groups of pearl-white squares, holding military ceremonial weapons and spreading out like wings behind the Warmaster. Meanwhile, Gastalin's black and gold surrounded Horus Lupecal's majestic body, which was adorned with pearl-white and gold, in the center, highlighting the Primarch's tall and imposing stature.

The Iron Warrior Lord, who had previously appeared aggressive and rude in the strategy room and at banquets, became extremely humble at this ceremony. His initiative to step down to the flank to highlight the warlord's prestige suddenly improved his reputation within the legion.

The Warlord's attendant privately told the Council of the Four Kings, "I really don't understand. If the Lord of Steel can have such a flexible body and agile performance, how could the Fourth Legion have been stuck in such a reputation and situation? Now it seems that we may have to increase the time we fight alongside them in the future."

But when the large, silver-white Interrex shuttle landed nimbly and gracefully in the hangar, everyone's attention was drawn to the figures that emerged from its silently folding belly exit.

The Interrex delegation consisted of envoys, interpreters, musicians, and guards. Although everyone except the leader wore helmets, their professions could be distinguished by their different clothing. Almost everyone looked tall and slender, except for the armored soldiers at the back of the group who surrounded some intricate four-legged machines and looked more robust and sturdy.

Horus was not wearing a helmet, and the clearly human-like head and face revealed under the lights immediately softened the expression of the other leader.

Then, the delegation of over a hundred people slowly walked down the slope, while the war commander, under the watchful eyes of everyone, slowly approached the other side at the same solemn pace.

The hems of their clothes and capes were billowing in the airflow from the shuttle's engines. Red rose petals, secretly arranged by the Lord of Steel, began to fall from the top of the Iron Dome, creating a unique, magnificent, and epic atmosphere in conjunction with the slanting golden lumens. The narrators exclaimed in surprise and picked up their cameras or sketchbooks to begin their work.

As both sides stopped, the Shadowmoon Wolves stomped their feet simultaneously as ordered, making a loud clanging sound, and then saluted the envoys in unison.

Then the general… causing all the officials of etiquette and nobles present to gasp in shock—in an extremely rude and arrogant manner, he extended only one hand towards the other side. But the leader of the other envoy did not get angry at all; instead, he began to smile and nod.

Then they saw the envoy also extend a hand and shake hands with the warlord's broad palm.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Ambassador. On behalf of the beloved Emperor and in the name of the Terran Empire, I extend my greetings to you."

"On behalf of my fellow Interrex citizens and society, I accept your greetings, Your Highness, and return the greetings to you and your father."

As they spoke, the interpreters beside them immediately began to translate their conversation with strange yet gentle rhythms through playing and humming.

The commander seemed completely unaffected, which earned everyone's admiration and surprised the other party slightly.

“Truly impressive, Your Highness. Before I begin my official duties, please allow me a brief remark. Such a classic ancient welcoming ceremony… reminds me of the records about ancient Terra in our library. I used to think that was something only used in myths and legends.”

“I’m glad my brother’s arrangement has brought back memories of Terra for us. Your library must have a long history. I hope I can visit it someday.”

"Of course, if you have the time, we will certainly arrange a trip for you. Before that, please allow me to formally introduce myself again. I am the General Representative, Diaz Shehan."

"I am Horus Lupecal, son of the Emperor, and Warmaster of the Empire."

The word "warrior" caused a few discordant, slightly off-beat rhythms in the rhythmic resonance of the translators.

"War Marshal?" The chief representative frowned slightly. "Isn't it a bit too belligerent and aggressive as a diplomatic title?"

The General Representative's words made the Imperial members who overheard the conversation instinctively tense up, when suddenly a melodious and exquisite tune, as pleasant as an eagle's cry or a dragon's roar, joined their conversation.

"Hmm...this brings us to its background. Perhaps we could sit down, go inside, have a cup of tea, and discuss it?"

The chief representative opened his eyes wide in surprise, the rest of the delegation immediately began to whisper among themselves, and the translators' music became filled with astonishment and disbelief.

"Oh." The war commander revealed a proud and reserved expression. "Let me introduce you to my brother, Peturabo. It was he who deciphered your alarm, preventing the situation from becoming more serious."

“I did not know that there were people in Terra who could pronounce the mathematical rhythms of the translator musicians using only their own voices… You have a true genius brother, Your Highness. It is gratifying that our compatriots have not been lost in the long night of darkness, but have been reunited with the Interrex after thousands of years.”

"It's just the mathematical principles of natural science," the Iron Lord said, blinking as he stepped forward.

"This time, we come for peace," Horus said, gesturing with his hand as the Astartes removed their helmets, revealing human faces.

Beneath the helmets of the Interrex delegation, in addition to the human faces of those of the chief representative, the faces of a second species were also visible.

The soldiers, whose physiques were the most robust and varied, removed their helmets, revealing faces with high-arched eyebrows, deep-set eyes, bright pupils, and bluish-black skin covered with fine orange-red down—or, in Ramizam's view, "after all that mystery, they're just space-age Sumatran orangutans."

(End of this chapter)