Warhammer: Beginning with Planetary Governors

Chapter 726 Roger Dorn: Is this still the solar system? Where did my Mountain Array go?!
The new empire was much more civilized, unlike the old empire which would readily kill people in the name of faith.

The premise is that it does not involve alien heresy or rebellion.

Given Dorne's current actions, without involving any alien heresy, the most he could be charged with is disrespecting the Savior.

Moreover, the incident was relatively minor.

After all, those who exist in the unrecovered areas may not know of the existence of the Savior, or may not understand the etiquette of the Empire, so there is room for forgiveness.

However, if one persists in disrespecting the savior after being reminded, then that constitutes a crime.

The disciplinary team will take them away for education, and they can only be released and reformed after they have fully understood the greatness and contributions of the savior.

"Loyalty is not innate. The Savior allows some to refuse to be ruled, but the disloyal can never enjoy all that the loyal have created."

The disloyal should be thankful that the merciful being spared their lives…

Grand Inquisitor Deville once said that he always supported the execution or exile of all those who were blasphemous or disrespectful.

Of course, his opinion was not adopted.

The savior and other high-ranking officials of the empire believed that the new empire should not continue to maintain a high-pressure environment, as that would cause too much killing.

High psychological pressure can actually foster the growth of heretics and corruption.

Of course, alien heretics and rebels pose a threat to human safety and should be executed.

There is no room for negotiation.

However, for those citizens of the empire who can be redeemed, we should still try our best to win them back from their misguided ways.

In short, it's about finding a balance between the brutal suppression of the old empire and the development of civilization in the new empire.

As the savior emphasized—

The empire has entered a new era, and we should gradually promote the rule of law to create a stable order.

Education was one of the measures to win back some of the empire's subjects.

Under the guidance of the savior, the relevant prison facilities were established, but many problems arose when the measure was first implemented.

Because the reform of the prison environment was not based on scientific research, the related educational measures did not achieve the expected results.

The main problem is that the prison environment was so good that some people who had not experienced life in the new empire thought it was a perk.

A prison filled with cement and alloys, without even beds, only a pitiful blanket, where people are forced to work more than ten hours a day, and their food consists only of corpse starch, and they are woken up by being doused with cold water from time to time.

It actually moved the detainee so much that he didn't want to leave?

But from the perspective of the detainees, that's a different story.

The prison guards did not kill anyone; they provided food, clothing, and warm, safe housing, and there was no risk of alien invasion.

They even provided medical care and cured their illnesses.

That's really good.

They had a much harder time working at the Nest City factory, and the mortality rate was much higher.

Unfortunately, in many areas of the old empire, the living conditions of the imperial subjects were probably worse than those of cockroaches. In this apocalyptic world, the main focus was on resilience.

Although reforming prisons ultimately achieved educational results in a roundabout way, it did not align with the original purpose of establishing prisons.

Of course, the problem wasn't with the guidance of a savior, but rather with the relevant departments' execution.

Can we really say that the savior underestimated the prisoners' ability to endure and was too merciful?
That person is so kind and compassionate!

After deep reflection, the relevant departments reported back to the Savior.

They believe that even in education, prisons should look like prisons, and the severity of punishment must be increased.

As long as those who are disrespectful are not punished like heretics or freaks, it will be fine.

Subsequently, relevant departments optimized the education system, dividing it into two stages: education and punishment.

For those who hold old imperialist ideas and do not correctly understand the existence of a savior, education is sufficient; there is no need to imprison them.

Those stubborn elements need to be sent to prison for corporal punishment and labor reform before being released.

Moreover, relevant departments have made additional investments, adjusted the reform of prisons in various places, and spent a lot of money to install environmental control equipment to simulate relatively extreme but not fatal environments.

The goal is to make those stubborn elements feel the "warmth" of reform, so as to achieve the purpose of compulsory education.

Of course, in the eyes of the savior, this is a complete and utter personal dictatorship and thought control.

That was a strict management system.

But placed in this awful latrine, it somehow stands out from the crowd and appears exceptionally civilized.

In any case, the new empire dared not relax its control over faith and ideology, and had to maintain unity and cohesion.

Otherwise, the ever-changing master can play all sorts of tricks on you, ruthlessly moving in and out of human beliefs and thoughts.

That would be the end of it.

Of course, only a very small minority need education; most of the empire's citizens cherish this hard-won life and are grateful to their savior.

They especially despise those who are disrespectful.

For example, Dorn, this big guy, did not bow to the Savior in time in the cathedral square, which was considered disrespectful.

If, after being reminded, he still refuses to perform the salute, he will be immediately taken away by the discipline team for education.

If a tall person fails the test after education, they will need to be sent to a special prison for compulsory rehabilitation.

At this moment, the disciplinary team in the cathedral square, after bowing, had all stood up and looked in this direction.

His gaze was very serious.

The short veteran, growing impatient, urged Dorn again:
"Hey big guy, what are you standing there for? Just learn to bow like us."

He was a little puzzled.

The big guy in front of me was a bit stunned. He might not have realized it before, but I had already reminded him, so there was no reason why he wouldn't understand.

After all, even the honest and simple Oglin people in the empire know to bow and express their gratitude to His Majesty the Savior.

"It seems the savior has already seized power, and the empire is practically becoming his personal fiefdom..."

Dorn sensed the people's emotions and thought to himself.

Not only pilgrims, but also state priests, technical priests, and the Imperial Guard were under the rule of the Savior.

That meant the Senate established by the Empire was completely out of control, and the savior was not subject to any restrictions.

Such overwhelming power is exactly the same as that of the previous emperors, his own father!
"How exactly is my father? Is he under some kind of restriction?"

Dorn was deeply worried.

He knew that the emperor, his own father, was trapped on the golden throne, his body gradually decaying and withering, and he had no ability to resist attacks from the outside world.

He had tried to contact his father before, but received no response.

Now that the Lord of the Mountain Formation has realized the threat posed by the Savior, he is even more worried about the Emperor's predicament.

The external crisis from the alien heretics isn't so terrible, but the crisis originates from the core of the Empire—how can we defend against it?!

If something were to happen, it would be a far more dangerous catastrophe than the Horus Rebellion!

Dorn quickly realized something:
Even if the savior's ambitions are fully exposed and no one is there to restrain him, he will not be able to easily threaten his father, who is deep inside the palace.

"Shouldn't the Imperial Guards be able to protect Father well?"

The Imperial Guard is the empire's most loyal and elite guard, and they will certainly protect my father and will not be interfered with by the authority of the savior.

Dorn felt a little more at ease after thinking about this.

He made a decision:

“I must tell my father about this.”

If the Savior has truly concealed all of this, then with my father's permission, I can mobilize the Imperial Guard to stop him..."

In any case, the emperor, his own father, was the sole ruler of the empire; the savior couldn't overturn the heavens.

"Savior, I am Roger Dorn, the last bastion of the Empire, and I will not allow you to do as you please!"

Dorn thought to himself, his resolute face growing even more determined, his momentum rising until it became uncontrollable.

He then knelt down with a thud and bowed to the savior.

Out of the corner of Dorn's eye, he could already see the Discipline Team approaching, looking as if they were about to arrest him on the spot and drag him away for education.

He also had to secretly reach the palace and tell his father the truth about the savior, without revealing his identity at this time, lest he suddenly trigger a crisis.

If the savior truly harbored ulterior motives, he feared that the other party might take risks and instigate a war of division.

It would be best to operate in secrecy, understand the truth, and then decide whether to seize the savior with overwhelming force!
"My father was too kind and too trusting of others."

Dorn was somewhat moved.

Back then, my father entrusted all the affairs of the empire to Makado and most of the empire's army to Horus, giving him almost all of his trust.

They never considered that someone might betray them.

Now, the father has handed over the reins of the empire to the savior, causing his authority to be gradually eroded.

"No matter what, I am my father's most loyal son. As long as I am not completely dead, no one can hurt my father."

"Whether it's a savior, an alien heretic rebel, or anyone else!" Dorn bowed his head and swore silently.

Now, he is probably the only person his father can trust.

Ten thousand years...

The thought of finally returning to his father's side after ten thousand years and seeing him again brought tears to his eyes.

"I knew this big guy was just honest and a little slow to react, but he's incredibly loyal!"

The short veteran muttered as he looked at Dorn.

By this time, people had come to accept the loyalty of the big man, Dorn.

After all, in their eyes, this big guy was just a beat slow to react, but then he suddenly knelt down, almost breaking the marble floor, and tears streamed down his face.

This is not disrespect, it's simply the act of a loyal warrior of the empire!
The short veteran suspected that the tall man had been too excited to kneel down and salute in time.

That happens frequently, and some people even faint from excessive excitement.

Seeing Dorn's state, the discipline team nodded in satisfaction and quietly retreated to continue their duties.

They would keep an eye on the scene, looking for any disrespectful behavior, and then add it to a list.

The short veteran clenched his fist and pressed it to his chest.

Amid the enthusiastic atmosphere, his gratitude towards the savior and emperor surged, and tears welled up in his eyes.

The virtual image of that being was so radiant, as if emanating an invisible heat, inspiring gratitude in people's hearts.

Some pilgrims couldn't control their emotions, raising their hands and wailing.

They lived through dark times, their lives were as worthless as grass, and they had never received such attention and glory in their lives.

"Damn it, what a disgrace..." Dorn was not paying much attention to the outside world at the moment.

He raised his hand to wipe away his tears, feeling ashamed of his act of kneeling before the statue of the Savior.

Fortunately, he was currently in a disguise, a kind-hearted big guy, and no one would know about this extremely shameful thing.

In mid-air, the mechanical cherubim silently flew among the colorful flags, recording this touching scene.

These touching and inspiring images will become promotional materials and will be disseminated in the relevant areas.

Soon, the sacred speech ceremony ended, and the virtual image of the savior slowly faded away.

The pilgrims gradually calmed down and continued their victory celebrations, their faces beaming with smiles.

After paying homage to the savior, the pilgrimage ship slowly started up and set off again, soon arriving at the core star system of the Empire.

solar system.

As the pilgrimage ship entered the solar system, Dorn's mood grew increasingly heavy, for he was about to reveal a terrible truth to the Emperor and the Empire.

That will spark a fierce struggle.

If he could, he hoped it was all just his own misjudgment, and not that the savior really wanted to replace his father.

From any perspective, the Savior was an excellent ruler of the empire, even better than Macado.

If the savior were to be lost, it would be a tremendous loss for the empire.

"Then we'll see what Father decides..."

Dorn thought to himself.

He followed the short veteran and others to the main deck of the ship.

From here, you can clearly see the solar system, and even vaguely see the heart of the Empire—Holy Terra.

Of course, within the field of vision, it appears as a slightly brighter star.

Dorn came to the main deck, feeling a touch of melancholy.

He also wanted to see Terra, which he hadn't seen for ten thousand years; his father was on that human home planet.

However, when Dorn looked up in the direction of Terra, he was immediately stunned, his pupils dilating suddenly.

???

He saw something unimaginable—what the hell was that?!
"My God, the Savior is above!"
"The solar system is truly awe-inspiring! No wonder those guys all want to come here on pilgrimage. How holy His Majesty the Savior is!"

At that moment, the short veteran next to him also saw the scene on the other side of Holy Terra.

He opened his mouth wide, sighed involuntarily, then suddenly straightened up and bowed slightly.

Not only the veterans, but also other pilgrims were all deeply moved by the scene before them.

In everyone's sight—

The image of the savior appeared above the stars, seemingly as large as the solar system, overlooking the endless stars and his empire.

It even faintly emitted a golden light.

This is a galactic spectacle specially created by the new empire.

The Mechanics Church spent vast resources researching and developing related technologies. The light emitted from numerous mechanical outposts placed throughout the solar system refracted into the void, projecting the majestic image of the savior.

Once the ships enter the solar system, they can see the Savior no matter which direction they look at Holy Terra.

The majestic figure of that being was like a galactic giant that blotted out the sky, utterly awe-inspiring.

Moreover, this scene can be seen through the telescopes of the dome from any region that can observe the solar system.

It's just that it's not as immersive as what you see in the solar system.

In short, the savior used advanced technology to "stamp" the solar system and the galaxy, attaching his own majestic image to them.

No one can ignore it.

"Wow, you can do that?"

The savior's dazzling maneuver stunned Dorn, leaving him speechless for a long time.

He took a deep breath, his worry growing.

The savior's actions were utterly lawless, showing no regard whatsoever for the emperor or the ruler of mankind.

Then, Dorn discovered an even more serious problem.

Ten thousand years ago, he led the Imperial Fist to establish a space defense array covering the entire solar system for the Empire.

Hundreds of space fortresses, along with arrays of defensive turrets, have forged a wall of space around the solar system.

That was one of the reasons he felt at ease staying in the chaotic subspace.

"Where is my solar system space fortress defense array?"
"Wasn't it still here more than two hundred years ago? How come we can't see it anymore?!"

The Dornish people froze.

He learned about the solar system more than two hundred years ago from a lost Space Marine captain.

The Imperial Fist continues to carry out the orders left by its father, the Genetic Father, maintaining the space fortress defense array and firmly guarding the solar system.

But now, everything is gone. What happened?

Dorn looked at the familiar airspace and finally realized why: the savior's newly built special mechanical outpost had replaced the original fortress.

The savior actually dismantled the space defense array he left behind in order to project his virtual image across the galaxy?!

This is actually true.

The relevant departments felt that the previous space defense array facilities were too old and the technology was outdated.

More importantly, it hinders the installation of the savior's void projection facility, affecting the overall environment of the solar system.

Therefore, after discussion and approval, it was completely dismantled, and then a new and more comprehensive defense system was secretly designed according to the empire's next development plan.

To prevent enemy attacks.

Dorn looked at the empty airspace and almost laughed in exasperation.

Then, as if remembering something, he hurriedly looked towards another area.

It was also deserted there; the former space dock was gone, not to mention the giant fortress that once guarded the solar system and the fist of the empire.

Even after using special machinery to search the fortress, he found no signal.

Under normal circumstances, as long as the Mountain Array is in this star system, it is impossible not to detect its signal fluctuations.

"Where's the Mountain Formation?!"

Dorn almost cried out, utterly incredulous.

Is this still the solar system? Where did my Mountain Array go? Where are my Imperial Fist minions?!

"What formation number is this?"

The short veteran scratched his head in confusion when he heard the tall man's voice.

He suddenly remembered something and took out the data tablet again:
"Big guy."

You're talking about that Mountain Array, right? It's a huge fortress. I remember there was news about it before; the Mechanicus sent a lot of ships there, saying it was too old..."

Upon hearing this, Dorn had a bad feeling.

(End of this chapter)