Warhammer: Hail to the Void Lords!.

Chapter 1077 09.1076: 'Does this lousy auxiliary army really think they're part of the Astronomical Army?'

One hour ago. Polaberia, Planetary Defense Command.

"Salute to General Dumourier!"

As Charles-François-du-Mourière strides confidently across the red velvet carpet, the colonial guard standard bearers on either side immediately cross their gilded flags, forming a temporary ceremonial aisle.

All the Sintira noble officers present who had joined the colonial defense force stood at attention and gave him the most standard military salute.

This place was originally the planetary defense headquarters of the Wadsław royal court, which commanded the first Tooth Catastrophe. Constructed of sturdy terracotta and thick layers of quick-setting clay, it has now been temporarily requisitioned. Ancient tapestries and oil paintings have been hastily rolled up and replaced by huge electronic maps flashing with tactical red light.

Major General Demourier of the Astronautical Army was not wearing his magnificent general's uniform, a symbol of the Astronautical Army's glory, but instead a brand-new dark green uniform in the same color scheme as the Polaberia Colonial Defense Force. This made him look less like a commander who had "fallen from the sky" and more like one of their own, sharing the same hatred for the enemy.

"Gentlemen!" He walked to the command platform, his voice booming with confidence and power, "Lord Velens, a core member of the Hax Court, has expressed his firmest support for the Polaberia colonial government!"

“These state religion lunatics!” He slammed his fist on the table. “Ever since the great riot, they have been willing to sacrifice the interests and lives of us nobles to satisfy their greed for power! Such a thing must never happen again! Lord Velens has agreed that members of the Sintira Flintlock Regiment may ‘voluntarily’ temporarily leave the Astral Army and join the Polyberia Colonial Defense Force to fight against these thugs!”

He abruptly tossed aside his bright red cloak, and with a sweeping gesture, declared like a protagonist on stage: "I, Charles-François-Dimourie de Orléans, volunteer to lead nine regiments of elite troops to join the Planetary Defense Force of Polaberia, to support your just cause of resisting the mob!"

The 'Lord Velens' that Dumulier spoke of came from one of the most distinguished noble families in Sintira. He possessed considerable wealth in both Tarsus hive and Iron Ash. But these were not the most important factors in making him noteworthy; there were simply too many wealthy people in Sintira.

Most importantly, this enigmatic Lord Velens was a key member of Governor Hax's court. He was increasingly favored by Hax due to his unique and ruthless insights into the political affairs of the other hives of Sintira.

He was too mysterious. Legend had it that he was mature beyond his years, while others said he was an old man on his deathbed. But it seemed that few people had actually seen this most important advisor to Governor Harker. All that was known was that many of Governor Harker's decrees were drafted by him. Sintira, or rather the Harker government, could not do without such a useful and low-profile figure.

Meanwhile, in Horatio Valantis's temporary office.

Horatio was also reading the report about this "mysterious figure." This intelligence came from They's secret channels, having endured several terrible disruptions during subspace communications before finally reaching its destination.

The report reveals that the person who initially proposed to Governor Hax to divert attention from Sintira's internal conflicts by developing Polaberia, and the mastermind behind Polaberia's transformation from a knightly world into a colony, was none other than Lord Velens.

Who exactly is he? Why is he so mysterious? Why is he doing this?
He remained completely unknown and hidden behind the scenes, yet he turned the entire political landscape of Calicut upside down. How did he possess such ability?
For some reason, even though he had never met this person before, just by reading Thei's description, he felt that this person would be a formidable opponent, a formidable adversary shrouded in mystery.

The more I thought about it, the more terrifying it became, as if countless eyes were watching me from the shadows.

He had a premonition that all the setbacks and obstacles he was experiencing in Calicus were being sabotaged by this guy, or rather, by guys like him.

This feeling of the enemy being in the dark while we were in the light successfully disgusted Horatio, who had always hoped to resolve problems openly and honestly.

At that moment, he deeply empathized with a "person." He thought of the regent who, after awakening and returning to imperial politics, was so disgusted by the High Lords' Council that he chose to establish an independent administrative body—Robert Guilliman.

Planetary Defense Command.

After Dumourier delivered his "inspiring" speech, the noble officers present erupted in enthusiastic cheers.

They all drew their swords, symbols of their status, from their waists and raised them high:
"We would like to elect you as our commander-in-chief, sir! With a righteous man like you joining us, victory is assured!"

"Slay those rabble! Glory belongs to Sintira!"

"Make the mob pay for their atrocities!"

With the fate of the Sintira Flintlock Regiment of the Astral Army in the picture, they seemed even more certain of victory—in any case, the combat skills of the Sintira Flintlock soldiers were far superior to those of the Jihad Army's rabble of fanatics and hive scum.

Moreover, the main force of the planetary defense forces of Polaria is an elite mercenary force provided by the colony security company, and the combat skills of these people should not be underestimated.

But none of this was the real reason why the nobles were so complacent.

What reassured them most was that the Polaberia food-producing region, which accounted for more than half of the world's food production, was now under their control. Whether the Jihadist army besieged it for 10 years or 50 years, this food would be enough for the Sintira people on the planet to continue to survive.

Whether the state religion could support the millions of rabble was none of their concern. They were happy to see these "mobs" starve to death outside the city.

Dumourier's office.

However, not everyone was happy about Dumourie's arrival.

For example, Luisa-Antoine de Sai de Vigo, the battalion commander of the 10th Battalion of the 17th Flintlock Regiment of Sintira.

The appointment ceremony concluded, and Dumourier was elected supreme commander of the colonial defense forces with almost unanimous votes.

The first thing he did after taking office was to meet with the only officer who had not voted in favor of the position in his temporarily requisitioned, extremely luxurious office.

With a solemn expression, Desai walked through the gate guarded by haughty guards and into the smoke-filled office.

"Battalion Commander Desai de Vigu".

Dumourier was sitting with his legs crossed, his back to her, admiring the view outside the window. He didn't even turn to look at her. "I heard... you're a descendant of the Sintira nobles, born and raised in Polaberia?"

"Yes, Major General," she replied indifferently, her voice as cold as ice.

“Very good.” Dumouri slowly turned his chair around. “I want you and your troops to leave the Sintira Flintlock Regiment and be incorporated into the Planetary Defense Force. On the front lines, use your familiarity with the terrain to hunt down those mobs and carry out… any missions we assign you.”

This wasn't a meeting; it was just him unilaterally announcing his plans for her.

"Wait...what?" Desai thought he had misheard. "You...you're going to remove us from the Star Force?"

"Expelled? Ha." Dumurier sneered, his laughter filled with undisguised contempt. "A bunch of auxiliary soldiers, do they really think they're part of the Astronomical Army?"

He turned his face, and his eye, the one whose socket had been ruptured by Horatio and whose white was still bloodshot, stared viciously at the female officer before him:
“I’m not asking for your consent, I’m giving an order. Otherwise, you and your bunch of scum will be stripped of their clothes right now, get out of the city, and fend for yourselves. You choose.”

A flash of anger crossed Desai's eyes. She took a deep breath, her chest heaving beneath her armor, before calming down with a long exhale.

She knew she had no choice. The lockdown was about to take effect, and now that the 10th Leap Battalion had been disbanded, there was absolutely no way she could board the train to leave the lockdown area.

[These men...] She thought of the men in her own camp, [Although some of them are not very honest, at least they can be kept in check.]

Once disbanded and freed from the constraints of the army and discipline... in this situation, one either has to become an outlaw to survive, or simply wait to die.
Desai's noble honor would never allow him to become a bandit who robs and plunders.

Therefore, she only had one choice—to die.

"10."

"9."

Dumourié crossed his legs, leisurely looking at the data board in his hand, and began the countdown.

"8."

"7."

"6."

……

"3."

"2."

He took a deep breath and exhaled with feigned regret.

"1."

"I'm sorry, Battalion Commander Desai, I gave you a choice, but unfortunately, you..."

“I… am leaving the Astral Army.” She bit her lower lip, the metallic taste of blood filling her mouth.

She forced out the words through gritted teeth, “...join the planetary defense forces.”

She raised her head, and if the gaze in her eyes could materialize, it would have pierced through the arrogant man before her.

"What I hate most is people who only think of taking off their pants when they're about to shit themselves." Dumoulier didn't care that the person in front of him was a female officer, and he used an extremely vulgar metaphor to humiliate her.

He stood up, walked up to her, and looked down at her, scrutinizing her.

“Now, you and your men go to the front lines to scout, and then hunt down those particularly active mobs…”

As Dumourier finished speaking, his eyes darted around, and some wicked idea popped into his head.

“Ah, I’ve got it.” He gave a wicked smile. “I happen to have a ‘high-value target’ here that you need to solve. Don’t feel embarrassed, Battalion Commander Desai, hehe.”

He stood up, walked over to the female officer who only reached his shoulder, and patted her left shoulder heavily on the single shoulder board, like a master driving a millstone. "If you have to blame someone, blame yourself and your people... that's all the value you have."

“I will remember the insult to my honor you have done today, Major General,” Desai said unexpectedly.

"Oh?" Dumoulier looked at the female officer in front of him with disdain, expecting her to utter some harsh words.

But Desai was clearly not one for quick arguments; her eyes burned with anger, and she simply said:
"I must go to fulfill my duties. Farewell, Major General!"

(End of this chapter)