Warhammer: Starting with Industrial Revolution

Ronin immediately sent people to invite Victor and Father Moraes to the operations command center. As the highest representatives of the Mechanicus and the state religion on this planet, the two were absolutely indispensable key figures in this exploration of the ancient ruins.

The holographic projection shows a map of the ruins environment transmitted back by a servo-controlled skull scan.

It was a huge domed structure. Although it had been dilapidated by tens of thousands of years of wind and sand erosion and most of it was buried by yellow sand, the regular outline of the man-made structure could still be clearly seen. It was definitely not a naturally formed landform.

"Lord Victor, what do you think?"

Luo Ning turned his head and looked at the chief priest of the Mechanicus beside him, who was arguably the most knowledgeable person on the planet.

Viktor's prosthetic eye gleamed with obvious excitement. "Congratulations, Lord Ronin. This is very likely the ruins of a colony from the Dark Ages. What's inside could very well completely change the fate of this planet."

His voice even trembled uncontrollably.

Luo Ning also knew that in this universe, most of the black technologies that could change the fate of the human empire came from the ancient ruins of these dark ages.

Even if they're unlucky and can't find a complete STC database, they can at least unearth a large amount of industrial raw materials and the remains of advanced equipment, which would be an immeasurable treasure for their barren, marginal planet.

But Father Moraes on the other side showed no joy, only deep worry.

"Lord Luo Ning, it is best to be careful in everything you do."

He reminded him in a deep voice, word by word.

"These ruins, sealed for tens of thousands of years, are far more dangerous than you can imagine. They may have long since become death traps, or even... been contaminated by the filth of chaos."

He spoke each word carefully, clearly reminding Luo Ning to be careful.

Luo Ning nodded solemnly, his fingertips quickly tracing across the holographic map, and swiftly finalized the battle plan.

The ruins are a full two hundred kilometers away from the main hive, separated not only by the dead forest surrounding the hive, but also by a vast desert teeming with radiation and mutated creatures.

Under Victor's control, the scanning path of the servo skull was quickly adjusted, and a detailed full-area scan of the ruins within a ten-kilometer radius began.

The area surrounding the ruins was not only a desert filled with deadly radiation, but the servo skull also detected activity signals from a large number of mutated creatures.

Inside the ruins, the signal is instantly lost as soon as the servo skull gets within 100 meters, clearly indicating that something has already taken over the area.

Although the servo skull detected the energy signal, the signal source was deep underground, and the outer defense devices should have been shut down.

Without the slightest hesitation, Luo Ning immediately ordered the selection of elite troops from the defense forces to form a vanguard team of 100 elite soldiers.

Their mission was crucial and destined to confront the most deadly threat: to infiltrate the area surrounding the ruins and transmit firsthand intelligence from the scene. Their core objective was to shut down the still-operating, unknown defense system.

The defensive firepower of these Dark Age colonies is often unimaginably powerful, often far exceeding the total firepower of the main hive.

If a large force were to approach without prior warning, the entire team would be torn to shreds in an instant.

Moreover, the unknown enemy entrenched in the ruins is likely armed with more advanced and powerful ancient weapons. Only the most resilient warriors can complete this perilous mission.

Garland completed the personnel screening as quickly as possible, and an hour later, all 100 elite soldiers had assembled at the Starport.

Father Moraes presented each soldier with the Emperor's emblem and holy water for blessing. Victor also brought a full set of radiation detection and environmental scanning equipment, and specially selected two experienced low-ranking mechanical priests to accompany the advance team.

Standing at the front of the column, Luo Ning could clearly feel the soldiers' tense emotions.

Most of them knew that this was a mission with a slim chance of survival, so morale was not high, and many people were already gripped by fear.

They accepted the mission only because their fear of military law and their superiors outweighed their fear of death.

But he immediately spotted Kuzma, the young soldier he had trained with in combat. Kuzma stood at the front of the line, his back ramrod straight, his eyes showing no sign of retreat, only a yearning for honor and loyalty, a stark contrast to the soldiers around him.

Luo Ning took a deep breath, strode to the front of the formation, his gaze sweeping over the hundred soldiers before him. His voice was steady and powerful, clearly reaching the ears of everyone present:

"Soldiers! I know you are aware of how dangerous this mission is. You are going to an unknown land that has been sealed for tens of thousands of years. There is radiation, traps, monsters that devour lives, and enemies lurking in the shadows."

"But I tell you, the step you have taken today is for the glory of the Emperor, for the billions of people of Vatos VII! You are the pioneers paving the way for this planet, the Emperor's most loyal warriors!"

"Each of you who manages to return alive from the ruins will receive a first-class merit award from the Governor's Office: 10 acres of private land, and a direct promotion of one rank in the military!"

"And those brave warriors who sacrificed themselves for the Emperor and for this planet, your names will be engraved on the Monument of Loyalty in the Hive, remembered for generations to come! Your families will receive double compensation and be forever protected by the Governor's Office!"

The moment his words fell, he subtly activated a trace of Slaanesh power that was almost imperceptible to any psychic.

That force was like a gentle breeze, amplifying the soldiers' desire for glory and their expectation of being rewarded for their merits, while suppressing the fear that lingered in their hearts.

The previously subdued atmosphere in the team was instantly ignited with flames.

A hundred soldiers raised their weapons in unison and roared, "For the Emperor! For Vatos VII!"

The previously low morale was completely ignited at this moment.

Luo Ning raised his hand in a standard military salute, watching the soldiers board the transport plane one by one.

The Vulture transport plane slowly took off amidst the roar of its engines, breaking through the dome of the nest city and flying towards the desert ruins two hundred kilometers away.

In the command center, Ronin stood in front of the holographic projection, staring intently at the real-time location and video transmission of the transport plane. Garland, Victor, and Father Moraes stood beside him, and the atmosphere was so quiet that only the low hum of the instruments could be heard.

Just as the transport plane's location reached the perimeter of the ruins, the holographic image suddenly began to shake violently, and the piercing air raid sirens, explosions, and soldiers' screams burst forth from the communicator.

"Report! We are under heavy fire! The left wing engine is damaged! We are falling!"

The screams in the communication stopped abruptly, and the transport plane's signal went out instantly on the holographic map.

A deathly silence fell over the command room.

Luo Ning stared at the extinguished signal on the map, slowly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, there was no trace of emotion in his eyes, only a cold determination.