Warhammer: Black Emperor

Chapter 366 Flamini's Premonition

In the eighth month of 844, Flamini, who had just completed the blood regeneration and organ implantation, used psychic energy to probe his own body.

More than two years have passed since the bone implantation, and his long bones are clearly visible, while his chest cavity has ossified.

His ribs grew into bone plates, intersecting and overlapping each other to form a unified whole, giving him a skeleton far superior to that of his peers, matched by bulging muscles all over his body.

Flamini clenched his fists and walked toward the training deck.

To master the superhuman powers inherited from the father of genes, one must undergo persistent training.

Flamini's mind conjured up the image of his father, whom he had witnessed defeating the enemy in Manachia.

Flamini stopped in front of the weapons rack and picked up a single-edged axe.

Although he foresaw that he would use weapons like scepters in the future, he still needed to have a basic grasp of other weapons.

Flamini swung his axe, and a sharp whooshing sound filled the air.

He then twirled and played with the axe in his hand, the light reflecting off the blade and making it gleam.

Flamini held the axe across his chest, gently stroking the axe with his left hand, as several disjointed images flashed through his mind.

He knew the weapon was made of fine steel, and the distinctive curve of its blade was forged by the craftsmen of Vostonia.

After familiarizing himself with the weapons, Flamini walked toward the training cage.

He pressed the start button, and the metal door opened.

Flamini stepped into the training cage, raised his one-handed battle axe, and assumed a standard fighting stance.

The motionless target dummy immediately came to life, its sharp blade spinning rapidly as it slashed down at him.

Flamini blocked out the hallucinations that flashed through his mind, relying solely on his physical senses to capture the trajectory of the target dummy's weapon swings, and parried with his axe blade.

The training cage echoed with the loud clanging of metal.

Five minutes later, Flamini, having completed his one-handed axe defense practice, used the axe handle to block the blade. Before another blade could strike, he suddenly stepped forward, and the blade slashed at the training dummy.

Two hours later, Flamini, having finished all his training, returned to his cabin.

The cramped cabin contained a large bed that seemed disproportionate to his size.

Flamini picked up the data panel and reviewed the operation briefing.

[Target Planet: Hazy Starfield, Colonid New District, Zhuya.]

The Mitu aliens attacked Zhuya, resulting in the deaths of 174 miners.

In the last two solar months, the Mitu people launched a total of 29 attacks of varying sizes.

...]

Flamini had been a member of the chapter for some time and already knew that the other chapters had all left the area from the Abyss of Colony, which had been renamed the Colony New District.

The Sixth Battle Group was ordered to remain and defend this area.

He also astutely learned that Zhuya's development was carried out at the behest of the warband commander, Pasqual.

Before leaving, the Father of Genetics designated Hurricane Star and Abyss Harbor as development priorities, and their construction became the focus of the development of the new Colony district.

[Zhu Ya was chosen by the warband leader to develop the city; besides the planet's abundant mineral resources, there may be other factors involved.]

Flamini had never met the Chapter Master and knew little about Pasquale, so he put himself in the Chapter Master's shoes.

The new district of Colony is vast, and the commander of the battle group will surely feel the pressure of being given this command.

The best way to prove it is to create a world of your own.

Zhu Ya is the perfect opportunity.

After some speculation, Flamini turned his attention back to the data board.

[Primary task: Your mission in this battle is to familiarize yourself with the battlefield environment under the guidance of your instructor.]

Secondary task: Due to the death of the 13th Company's repairman, you are temporarily assigned to assume his duties.

Flamini put down the data panel, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes. He longed to swing his blade at Mitu and avenge the followers who had died at the hands of the aliens and the hundreds of millions of humans.

But he also knew that since the modification surgery was not yet completed, he could only go to Zhu Ya to experience the atmosphere of the battlefield, and he could not even see the battle scene.

After fifteen ship standard days, the fleet arrived at Zhuya.

Upon arriving in Juya, Flamini, like the others undergoing transformation, was not given the opportunity to go to the surface.

Day 5, the warship's mess hall.

The shadows of the future order lined up to approach the servants who provided food, filling their large bowls with amino porridge.

Because they haven't received pre-implanted stomach implants, the amino porridge is diluted, resulting in significantly lower calories and nutrients compared to the instructors' meals. The daily diet of the Shadow Order members differs slightly from that of many Legion catering machines.

Flamini believes this was intentional on the part of the Father of Genetics, ensuring that the Shadows of Order would not be separated from ordinary people and that they would gain a better understanding of them.

He scrutinized the company's servants, noticing a distinct pride in the cook.

The chef smiled and called out, "Ladies and gentlemen, today we have mango salad for your meal."

"The merchant ship Lewis von Valentius brings fresh fruit to the sons of the king."

Flamini discovered the respect that the cooks and other servants held for him and others.

As he was observing the chapter's servants, a modified being from Manachia, who was also familiar with Flamini, asked him a question.

"Flamini, any new news?"

When can we go to the surface?

Compared to the others, Flamini was well-informed. He took on some of the responsibilities of a compiler, and therefore revised the reports submitted by the Company Order Shadows every day.

Since others dared not question the strict instructor, they naturally made him their target.

Everyone around turned their attention to Flamini, hoping to get information from him.

"I think it will take some more time."

"We will probably wait until the surface conditions stabilize and are assessed before we are allowed to go up to the surface."

Upon hearing this, the crowd was somewhat disappointed, and the person who had asked him the question pressed on with further inquiry.

"How much longer? Give me a rough estimate."

Flamini was about to refuse when a picture suddenly flashed through his mind: he was walking onto the flight deck with a timer above his head.

"Fifteen days later."

"That's great!" Flamini's words drew enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.

They only stopped shouting when they noticed the instructor's sharp gaze fixed on them.

Flamini sensed the probing intent in the instructor's gaze.

[The instructors are unaware of this information yet.]
A moment later, Flamini scooped up the juice with a spoon and put it in his mouth along with the pulp.

The ripe mango flesh is as soft and juicy as honey, melting in your mouth, and paired with crumbly nuts for a multi-layered taste experience.

Flamini's eyes narrowed slightly, revealing an expression of enjoyment.

He lived in exile in the sewers and fed on fungal rats.

Only after becoming a candidate for the Shadow of Order can one occasionally eat vegetables, fruits, and other foods.

Fifteen days later, the landing gear was lowered, and Flamini stepped off the landing craft and followed his instructors toward the mining area.

Based on the company's tactical briefing, he knew that this mining area was a newly opened mine by Zhu Yaxin, and compared to areas where attacks would yield greater results, the possibility of this area being attacked was lower.

Moreover, this place is located behind the front line, and the company has obviously assessed it as having a low risk, so only five instructors and veterans were assigned to guard it.

As Flamini pondered, a rumbling sound rang out, and a dozen metal machines emerged from the ground.

A giant drill pierced the earth's surface, and countless elliptical spheres enveloped in flames pulverized the rock.

A Terran instructor looked around at them and began to introduce them.

"That's a termite excavator, usually used for digging tunnels."

“The phase shield generators allow them to drill underground, and the thermal cutters crush the rocks.”

He paused for a moment, then continued:
"It can also be used to launch surprise attacks on the enemy's rear, appearing directly behind the enemy."

"During the Empire's 'Unification Wars,' the 'Salamanders'..."

"Yes, back then they were called the Eighteenth Army Corps. During the 'Storm Corridor' campaign, they used termite tunneling machines to launch a surprise attack on the governor's mansion in the Caucasus wilderness."

He paused here, his expression turning serious, and said:
"They encountered a large number of Sentinel robots in the underground corridor. Although they completed their mission, only 1,000 out of 20,000 people survived."

"While this is not a failure, it serves as a reminder that we must consider all aspects more carefully when using any tactic."

After listening to the instructor's words, everyone fell into deep thought.

Flamini suddenly had an image flash through his mind, and then he spoke:
"Instructor, the Mitu people have launched a surprise attack along the tunnels they've opened."

　PS: I had something to do yesterday, so I didn't finish writing the second chapter. I will post it at 12:33.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)