Warhammer: Primarch's Life from the Beginning

"Sir, the personnel of all departments on the ship are basically in place, and the route to the warning planet has been determined."

Catherine stood in the center of the bridge, the data panel in her hand already switched to the flight path projection.

Everything is ready.

Leo nodded, his gaze slowly sweeping across the bridge.

The people operating the various instruments here were all busy at their respective posts. Every now and then, someone would steal a glance at him, then quickly look away.

He keenly sensed the tension and unease that permeated the air.

Many of these crew members were newly recruited technicians, quick and efficient, but most had only ever worked on commercial routes, dealing with mechanical malfunctions at most, and had never experienced real warfare. Many others were civilians transferred from Terra's hive. Their destination, however, was the edge of the Great Rift, and faced with those unknown terrors, they still appeared incredibly fragile and insignificant.

Leo looked at them, his heart suddenly filled with mixed feelings.

Yes, this is where human vulnerability lies. It seems that ideological work is also very important.

He remained silent for a moment, then raised his hand and gestured to the sound array master who was in charge of the Star Speakers on the ship.

The elderly man, whose head was covered in cables, immediately bent down, turned to the control panel, and started full-band broadcasting.

"Listen up, everyone on the warship!"

Leo's calm and authoritative voice was clearly transmitted to the ears of every crew member through the loudspeakers that were located in every corner of the massive warship.

"I am your supreme commander, Primarch Leo."

"I know some of you are even leaving Terra for the first time. You have just experienced the Nightfall and witnessed the horrors of demons. It is normal for you to feel awe and even fear now."

The nuns on the ship stopped what they were doing and looked at the somewhat timid civilians around them. They saw that some people's hands were sweating as they held wrenches, and some people were secretly making the Eagle salute to their chests.

Leo continued.

"The universe is not merciful. Along our destination lies the firepower of aliens and traitors. But look around you. The warship you are on is a powerful Opalon-class battleship. Its armor is incredibly thick, and its massive cannons are capable of shattering stars."

An old sailor from the boiler room, upon hearing this, gave a smug snort, wiping his greasy hands on his trousers. He had spent his entire life on these kinds of large ships. This was a battleship, after all; the Primarch was right.

"You have an unbreakable shield, deadly weapons, and a large number of fearless fighting nuns."

Leo paused, his tone becoming lower and more forceful.

"And I'm right here with you."

"As long as you stay at your posts, fulfill your duties, and ensure that every screw on this ship is in its proper place, I assure you, neither the claws of the aliens nor the storms of the warp will easily take your lives!"

The broadcast has ended.

The bridge was quiet for a moment, then seemed to come alive again. The operators' hands returned to the buttons, the servitors continued to move along the tracks, and the oppressive feeling that had been pressing down on them seemed to have been quietly lifted.

"Your speech was very persuasive, Your Highness." Catherine turned to Leo. "Now I understand how those people in the State Church feel."

Leo shrugged.

"I'm not joking at all."

Kara stood beside the command seat, her right hand on her chest, and bowed deeply to Leo.

"I too will pave the way to victory for you with blood and fire."

Leo glanced at her and leaned back in his chair.

"Set sail, Captain."

Once the order was given, the entire ship responded swiftly.

Inside a chapel aboard the warship, the Church of England priests stood before the altar, holding holy scriptures and offering prayers for the voyage. Incense slowly rose into the air, and hymns mingled with the low rumble of the engines warming up.

At the same time, Catherine's instructions were transmitted to the receivers of every technical priest and machine servant, who sang in unison a binary hymn praising the god of machines and pulled the heavy metal levers.

A continuous, low rumble came from the stern of the warship.

The behemoth finally awoke. Its massive propulsion engines spewed out plasma tail flames, the powerful thrust causing the ship to tremble slightly.

The Holy Commandment departed from the port of call on Terra Orbit.

Outside the observation window, the defense platforms and space station slowly receded, like building blocks being pushed back. The Holy Commandment traced an elegant arc, slowly adjusting its course. It aimed its bow, adorned with a giant eagle, at the vicinity of Uranus at the edge of the solar system, near the Mandeville Point, also known as the Gate of Elysium, the safe gateway into subspace.

.

.

Time passed slowly, and the scenery of the solar system was left behind. They flew past Mars' orbit, passed through the asteroid belt, and finally arrived at this relatively empty edge of the world, free from the gravitational interference of any large celestial bodies.

After listening to the report from the Sage of the Mechanicus, Leo leaned back in his command seat and issued orders to the entire ship.

"Initiating subspace jump."

With a heavy hydraulic sound, a layer of armor plating several meters thick was lowered outside all the observation windows and portholes of the Holy Commandment, preventing ordinary people from seeing what they shouldn't see. The interior of the warship relied entirely on the lighting system and holographic projection to provide visual information.

The subspace engine is activated, and the Geller Field, which protects the warship from subspace energy interference, begins operation.

The Holy Commandment warship slowly and steadily entered the cracked subspace passage, disappearing into that indescribable dimension.

Inside the upper navigation tower, the navigator's third eye slowly opens, beginning to capture the beacon representing the starlight, planning the safest path for the upcoming voyage.

When the holographic projection on the bridge showed that the Holy Commandment was in a stable sailing state, Leo could feel that the emotions of the people around him had calmed down.

Catherine finally let out a long breath. She raised her hand and tucked a strand of hair that had fallen by her ear back. The tension on her face eased considerably, showing that being the Primarch's captain was no easy task.

"The first jump went very smoothly; it seems we've had good luck. The Mechanic Priests sent a message saying that the ship's spirit has been in a pleasant state since you boarded."

Leo got up from the seat platform, stretched his shoulders, and his power armor joints made a low creaking sound.

"That's good. I hope it continues to do so and doesn't throw a tantrum halfway through."

"Get back to your posts."

The crew on the bridge immediately obeyed and dispersed.

Leo turned and left the bridge, Kara quickly following behind, her black power armor clad on the deck. Two teams of battle nuns silently merged and followed the Primarch as the two passed by.

"Where are you going, Your Highness?"

"Training ground."