Warhammer Survival Guide

Chapter 124 Safe Journey

Lowe opened the top hatch and crawled out most of his body.

In the cold wind and rain, he held up a high-powered megaphone.

He looked around at the numb faces.

These people had empty, lifeless eyes, like a herd of livestock waiting to be slaughtered.

"Lift your head up!"

Lo Wei's voice, amplified by the loudspeaker, drowned out the sound of rain and resounded throughout the assembly area.

"Look at the state you've become!"

"Like what? Like a bunch of abandoned garbage? Or a bunch of rotting flesh waiting to mold?"

A commotion broke out in the crowd.

Countless eyes were fixed on the young man standing on the chariot.

Most of them didn't know Lowe, but they recognized the agricultural consultant's uniform.

"I know what you're thinking."

"Love shouted incitement."

"You feel that the empire has abandoned you."

"You think going to the front lines is just suicide."

"You are wrong."

Rowe gestured for them to look at the "Terra Negative".

"Look at this ship, it has traveled 15,000 light-years to get here."

"It took away the food, it took away the fuel, and it took you all."

Why?

"Because the Empire needs Abundance II! Because the front lines need Abundance II!"

As Rowe delivered his speech, the chimera chariots sped past one formation after another.

Inside the car, Father Alpha had just locked onto his fifth target.

"You're not consumables," Rowe roared in the rain.

"You are money."

"It's the empire's strongest and most expensive currency!"

"In the trenches of Amighiddon, on the crumbling walls."

"When you pull the trigger, when you plunge your bayonets into the enemy's chest."

"You do not represent yourselves."

"You represent the dignity of this planet!"

Lowe's speech became somber and solemn.

"A hundred years from now, the people on this planet will talk about this conscription today."

"They'll say it was the people from Plenty II who held the line!"

"As long as you stand, Abundance II will not yield."

"As long as you continue fighting on the front lines, this planet will forever be the Empire's breadbasket, and will never be looked down upon!"

Rainwater streamed down Rowe's cheeks.

He did not promise them they would come back alive.

Because such a promise is very hypocritical.

But he gave them something else.

significance.

One is as a "person".

Rather than its meaning as a "number".

Even if it's death, it should be a meaningful one.

Before this, the laborers struggled to get enough to eat, and no one had ever told them these things.

The previously quiet atmosphere among the crowd began to loosen.

People's originally hunched backs gradually straightened.

A faint light ignited in the laborer's empty eyes.

This is the fervor that comes from being given a sense of mission.

"For the Emperor!"

I don't know who shouted it first.

Immediately afterwards, a wave of sound erupted like a tidal wave.

"For the Emperor!"

"For Abundance II!"

The shouts of 20,000 people thundered across the steel platform, momentarily drowning out the roar of the transport ship's engines.

Lovi, perched on the roof of the car, surveyed the frenzied crowd.

His expression was serious, yet also tinged with compassion.

This is a necessary form of "deception".

It is also a cruel form of kindness.

At the same time, Father Alpha inside the car slammed down the last Enter key.

"The tenth one."

The priest breathed a sigh of relief.

"List confirmed."

The inspection is over.

The workers, guided by the arbitrators, began to board the transport ship in an orderly manner.

The previous chaotic and sluggish scene has disappeared.

A poignant sense of order emerged.

Marquez, standing under the canopy at the boarding gate, witnessed the entire scene.

When Rowe jumped down from the chimera chariot and walked up to him, the tax collector, unusually, let out a sigh of admiration.

"An impressive speech, Advisor Lowe."

"I've recruited soldiers in many parts of the world. Most of them were treated like livestock, needing to be herded with stun guns and shot with explosives."

"And your people, they now look like a qualified 'product'."

Márquez then added, "Your act of forcing your way in was a serious violation and extremely reckless. For the sake of the outcome, I will not record this intrusion."

"Also, please tell Governor Alicia that I will take good care of these properties. I will ensure that their damage rate is minimized before they reach their destination."

Luo Wei straightened his soaked trench coat.

He pulled a black data panel from his pocket.

This data board has undergone triple encryption.

The outer shell is also printed with the gear emblem of the Mechanicus.

"Your Excellency, Tax Official."

Luo Wei handed over the data panel with both hands, saying sincerely, "Although we had some disagreements and disputes regarding certain procedures in the past, please believe that I have always maintained the utmost respect for you and for the Ministry of the Interior, which we both belong to."

"It is because of our operation that the empire has been able to stand firm."

Marquez nodded and took the data panel. The scanner on the robotic gripper scanned the interface.

"What is this?"

"This is a compilation by Father Alpha, supplementing the observations and data on postoperative rejection reactions from previous Astartes surgeries."

Lowering his voice, Luo Wei said, "As you know, surgical data of this level is an invaluable asset to any pharmacist."

"Father Alpha's identity is sensitive, so direct contact is inconvenient. He hopes you can pass this on to Pharmacist Garan."

"This is our humble tribute to the Astral Archon Chapter."

A red light flashed in Márquez's electronic eye.

The value of the technical data in his logic library is immeasurable.

Especially the medical technology data involving Astartes and the gene seed, which is considered top secret within the Cult of Mechanics.

"I will pass it on."

Marquez solemnly inserted the data plate into the core security box on his breastplate.

"Once the spaceship takes off, I will personally hand it over to Lord Garan as soon as possible."

"Thank you, Your Excellency Tax Officer. Have a safe journey."

Marquez turned and boarded the shuttle.

As the last hatch closed, the "Terra Negative" began to slowly ascend.

The anti-gravity engine, spewing out blue flames, pushed aside the thick layer of acid rain clouds.

The perspective is shifted upwards.

The line of sight pierced through the murky atmosphere of the Plenty II satellite, passing over the silent defense platform in near-Earth orbit.

In the silent, cold void.

The large armed transport ship "Terra Nexus," fully loaded with 20,000 laborers and food, was slowly adjusting its course as it entered the warp, spewing blue plasma tail flames.

On the upper deck of the warship.

Inside a private cabin that has undergone the highest level of purification.

This place is completely different from the cramped and smelly lower decks.

The air was filled with the fragrance of incense.

On the surrounding walls hung scrolls of prayers from the Astral Archon Chapter.

This is a temporary medical sanctuary belonging to Astartes.

Galan, the chief apothecary of the Astral Archon, stands before the holographic operating table.

At that moment, a servo skull flew in, with the black data plate on its tray.

"A handover from the tax collector, Márquez."

The servant's voice was mechanical and monotonous.

"They said it was supplementary technical documentation provided by Father Alpha."

Galan removed her white medical gloves.

He picked up the data panel and entered the decryption key.

The screen lights up.

However, what emerged was neither a complex surgical curve nor genetic data.

It is a list.

A simple table with only ten names.

Each line lists the number and physical characteristics in detail.

At the very bottom of the list, there was a message written in High Gothic: "Dear Lord Garan:"

"Tests revealed that these ten biological units carried recessive heterogeneous gene contamination (fourth-generation hybrids)."

"They are lurking psionic signal relay stations, intending to corrupt this sacred tithe."

"To ensure the purity of the Emperor's assets, and to avoid causing any additional trouble to the front lines."

"We implore you to grant them a divine judgment during your voyage."

Your humble servant, Lovi.

As Galan looked at the signature, his eyebrows twitched slightly.

"Love————"

He remembered the young man.

Previously, he boarded the ship as Father Alpha's assistant: just now, in the rain, he was again the agricultural advisor, passionately roaring at 20,000 laborers.

Márquez clearly stated that this was technical data provided by Father Alpha, but upon opening it, it turned out to be an "execution list" signed by this mortal.

Garan's resolute face, covered in scars, showed no anger at being used by mortals.

Instead, he stared at the screen, a slight smile of appreciation on his lips.

"Using someone else to do the dirty work."

Garan murmured to himself, his voice deep and resonant.

"He also conveniently transformed the rigid tax collector of Márquez into an unsuspecting knife handler."

Garan instantly understood Luo Wei's intentions.

Why didn't Loewe just tell Márquez about this?

Because as an official of the Ministry of the Interior, the core of Márquez's logic was the rigid "Imperial Administrative Code".

"According to the code, once Márquez became aware of the situation, he had to immediately stop the engine and seal off all supplies on the spot."

"Next, we await the Black Ship of the Tribunal to conduct genetic screening on 20,000 people over a period of several months."

Even if it were for safety reasons, requesting the execution of all the ship's laborers would still take a long time to complete within the vast administrative machinery of the empire.

"In this way, the 'Terra Negative' will be imprisoned indefinitely in the cold void."

"And the soldiers on the front lines, who are counting on this food to save their lives, will face the collapse of their defenses amidst desperate hunger."

Lowe clearly saw through this.

So he deceived Márquez, using the tax collector's "secrecy level" to send the list directly to Astartes, the only person on the ship with "extrajudicial power" who also cared more about the outcome of the war.

"To prevent rigid bureaucratic procedures from hindering supplies to the front lines, they were willing to risk deceiving the Ministry of the Interior and use me to complete this surgical purge—"

Galan closed the data panel, his eyes filled with even greater admiration.

"This mortal understands better than the Ministry of the Interior what the 'priority of war' means."

"It has both the cunning of a mortal and the decisiveness of a warrior."

"No wonder Instructor Alpha kept that chapter commemorative badge on this person for safekeeping."

"He will definitely take good care of his mentor."

"Then I can rest assured."

For Astartes, eliminating a few alien hybrids requires neither trial nor procedure.

Suspicion alone is enough to convict.

Galan turned and walked to the medicine cabinet.

He didn't go to get the bomb gun.

Using bomb guns inside the spaceship is too noisy and wasteful.

He picked up a row of injections labeled "euthanasia".

This is a high concentration of neurotoxin.

It can cause a person to die of cardiac arrest in their sleep.

"Since you've saved the front lines a lot of trouble, I'll skip all the red tape too."

Galanz filled the injection into the Nalte hand guards.

"For the sake of the Emperor's purity."

He walked out of the medical room.

That's the direction leading to the workers' hold.

More than twenty minutes later.

Garan returned to the bridge.

He gazed out the distorted starry sky from the observation window.

The fleet has begun to accelerate, preparing to enter subspace.

The heavy footsteps of the powered armor broke the silence of the medical room.

A member of the battle group walked up behind Garan and asked in confusion, "Apothecary, is everything ready?"

"Is this supply shipment really worth wasting four whole days of our time in this remote world?"

Garan gazed outside at the rapidly receding stars.

His gaze was deep and calm.

It was as if they had pierced through the chaotic mists of the subspace and directly seen the end of the route:

Amigidoton.

A world completely engulfed by the roar of green-skinned orcs and the flames of war.

The outer defenses of the empire there have collapsed.

The orders the Astral Archon Chapter received for this mission were only two simple words:

Stubbornly.

There is no evacuation plan.

Further support is unknown.

Galan looked down at the deck beneath her feet.

The ship's hull contained food and ammunition.

And then there were those 20,000 ordinary laborers, whose fervent fighting spirit had just been ignited by Lo Wei.

They were not reinforcements, much less soldiers.

They are just fuel.

It is a piece of firewood thrown into the furnace.

They went there to burn.

To hold out for one more hour on the crumbling defense.

To keep the Empire's double-headed eagle banner flying over the ruins for just one more second.

"Worth it, brother."

Galan's answer was calm and firm.

It contains an ancient and tragic sense of destiny.

"We didn't go there to come back alive."

"We go there so that we may die a worthy death."

Eight minutes later, the plasma engine of the Terra Negative spewed out a dazzling blue flame that stretched for several kilometers.

This enormous ship is like a knight who has no regrets.

Carrying a ship full of supplies, it crashed headlong into the cold, dark depths of space.

It took away food and labor.

They took away the "cleanup list" that Lo Wei had given to Galan.

It also took away humanity's most sublime and resolute courage in this dark universe.

Although everyone was rushing to the battlefield for a slim chance of victory.

However, on the eve of the fleet's departure.

The warband's think tank director had already revealed the omens of the stars to Garan in meditation.

That was the only outcome of this journey amidst the endless war at Armageddon, including the Ascendant Chapter:

completely annihilated.