Warhammer: Empire Reboot

"The idea of ​​decapitation is sound."

Lawson analyzed, "Kill Gulgar, kill the wizards, smash the demon engine. Once the chain of command is broken, those plague walkers will be nothing but a bunch of headless flies, and it's only a matter of time before they are wiped out."

Quintus stared at him: "What do you plan to do? Take your... troops and push forward head-on?"

"The ground push is too slow."

The metal wings behind Lawson opened and closed slightly: "I'll go twist the head off later."

Quintus wanted to say something, but swallowed it back.

He had participated in too many joint operations and seen too many people who patted their chests and guaranteed "I'll handle it" and then never came back.

But the person in front of him seemed different, along with those four living saints.

But he has another question.

“Lord Lawson,” Quintus chose a respectful title, “I need to know one thing.”

"explain."

"Your teleportation technology." Quintus's gaze fell on the 100,000 engineers still working on the construction site behind the position.

He carefully considered his words.

"Can the Extreme Battle Group possess it?"

Lawson looked at Quintus and smiled slightly: "Yes, but it's expensive."

Quintus's eyes flickered.

"The core material of this transmission technology is living metal."

Lawson lied without batting an eye: "You should know what that is, the core material of the Space Necromancer. Each teleportation consumes a large amount of living metal. The 100,000 people you just saw burned a significant portion of my reserves."

Quintus's expression changed.

Living metal, necromancy.

In the Empire's view, the Necromancers of the Space are one of the three ultimate threats, alongside Chaos and Tyrannosaurus.

Their technology surpasses the limits of human understanding, and living metal is one of the most precious and dangerous substances in the universe.

"So this isn't the Emperor's new technology?" Quintus asked.

“The Emperor granted me the authority to use it.” Lawson’s answer was just right, ambiguous: “As for the specifics, you know I can’t say too much.”

Quintus nodded slowly; the explanation was convincing enough.

It's entirely possible that the Emperor possesses some form of necromancy technology, given the rumors that he himself fought against the undead in ancient times and even made some kind of deal with them. The existence of the four living saints in Lawson is the best proof of the Emperor's endorsement.

"If the Extreme Chapter can provide enough living metal,"

Lawson continued, "I can set up similar teleportation nodes for you. Of course, they will be much smaller, but they will be sufficient for tactical-level rapid response."

Quintus's eyes lit up for a moment, then dimmed again.

“Living metal… Every time we kill a necromancer, those metal corpses are teleported away within seconds, back to their tombs. In the past two hundred years, I have personally killed forty-seven necromancer warriors, and not once have I kept their corpses.”

"That's why I said it's expensive."

Lawson shrugged: "Where do you think I got all this from? I've been saving it up for who knows how many years. I practically emptied my coffers to come and rescue you this time."

When he said this, his expression was extremely sincere, the kind of expression that said, "I've given everything for you."

The swarm intelligence monitored the micro-movements of Quintus's 64 facial muscle groups in real time, confirming that the other party had fully accepted the rhetoric.

Quintus was silent for a moment, then solemnly gave Lawson a salute.

"Whatever the cost of this technology, you saved the Fifth Company and eight hundred Astral Army soldiers today. The Ultra Limits will never forget this kindness."

Lawson leaned back against the bunker wall and tilted his head.

"Company commander, I'm not one to take compliments. To put it bluntly, compliments won't get you ammunition."

Quintus was taken aback.

“Your Extreme Combat Team is a large and powerful organization.”

Lawson held up one finger: "How many active Space Marines are there? There must be hundreds of thousands of power armor sets in stock, right?"

Quintus's expression gradually became subtle.

"Give me a thousand sets of power armor."

Lawson sincerely said, "MK VII is fine, I don't care about the model. MK X would be even better."

"..."

Quintus nearly jumped up: "A thousand? Lord Lawson, do you know what a thousand power armors mean? That's the entire equipment of ten standard companies..."

“I saved your fourteen brothers and eight hundred Astral Army soldiers, plus twenty-eight million civilians in the city. A thousand bodies is not excessive.”

Lawson counted on his fingers: "Do the math. How much is one Astartes brother's life worth in your chapter? Let's say one life is worth ten suits of armor, then fourteen brothers would be one hundred and forty suits. The Astragalus are a bit cheaper, so they'd give you a discount of eight hundred... and another discount for twenty-eight million civilians..."

"You can't calculate it that way."

"Then how do you suggest we calculate it?"

Quintus took a deep breath.

He had fought the Zerg, the Orks, and the Chaos traitors, but he had never dealt with this kind of Imperial representative who haggled like an Imperial merchant.

"I can't make that decision."

Quintus's tone was serious: "A thousand power armors? Even if I were the company commander, I wouldn't have that kind of authority. It would require reporting to the chapter commander, and possibly even to Makuragi."

"Then write me a note."

Lawson pulled a data pad from his waist: "Write this: 'Commander of the 5th Ultramarines, Servilus Quintus, promises that the Ultramarines Chapter will pay one thousand MK Series Space Marine Power Armor as compensation for Lord Lawson's battlefield rescue. Date, Signature.'"

"Are you serious?"

"nonsense."

“This number…” Quintus sighed, “Even if the chapter master agrees, it will still take a thousand to raise.”

"I'm not in a hurry."

Lawson waved his hand generously: "I can give you all the power armor within ten years. But if you think there's too much power armor, you can exchange it for an equal amount of living metal, but the price will have to be recalculated. Living metal is more expensive than power armor, about... well, thirty kilograms of living metal is equivalent to one suit of armor. Thirty tons of living metal will settle your debt of one thousand suits."

Quintus nearly choked on his saliva. Thirty tons of living metal? He couldn't even scrape together three kilograms of it by turning into mercury.

“Lord Lawson,” Quintus said with utter helplessness, “you’re trying to extort me.”

"Company commander, I do not accept this evaluation."

Lawson dropped his joking grin and looked calmly at the scarred veteran Ultramariner: "These thousand suits of armor aren't for me personally. My troops are fighting in the shadows of the Empire, without logistical lines or supply depots. You've seen my soldiers; they can fight, but they're not wearing power armor. How many more people can a thousand suits save? How many more plagues can they withstand? You do the math."

Quintus' Adam's apple bobbed.

Lawson was telling the truth; at least his soldiers weren't wearing power armor. Most were only wearing reinforced light armor. If they had a thousand Space Marine-grade power armor...

“I’ll write,” Quintus said softly.

He took the data panel, switched the fingertips of his left power armor to inscription mode, and carefully inscribed Imperial High Gothic script on the screen:

"I, Servilus Quintus, Commander of the 5th Ultramarines Company, hereby confirm that, in light of the battlefield rescue operation carried out by Lord Lawson and his forces on Klein-IX against the 5th Company, the Company hereby undertakes to convey the following request to Chapter Command: to provide one thousand MK Series Standard Space Marine Power Armor, or equivalent supplies, as compensation to Lord Lawson. I guarantee the truthfulness of this promise in the name of the Emperor and in the honor of the Ultramarines."

Signature, signature, and the war group's seal.

Quintus handed the data panel back to Lawson, then added, "I want to clarify that this is merely my personal guarantee and a conveyance of a commitment. The final decision rests with the Chapter Master and the Makuragi Council. If they reject it..."

"They won't veto it."

Lawson took the data panel, examined it carefully, and then put it away with satisfaction: "Lord Guilliman is a reasonable man. When I have the chance to meet him, I will personally take this note to have a chat with him."

Quintus twitched under his visor.

"You're planning to take my IOU and go to the Primarch to collect the debt?"

"Is there a problem?" Lawson asked in return.

Quintus took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

"No, there's no problem at all."

Lawson patted Quintus's shoulder armor.

"Alright, Company Commander, the important business is done."

Lawson turned around, his living metal wings unfolding behind him: "You keep an eye on this defensive line for me. You know the terrain here better than I do. You decide how to dig the trenches and how to set up the firing positions. My men will cooperate with all your orders."

Quintus nodded. This was something he excelled at.

“Let the nuns take care of your Astral Army wounded,” Lawson said, pointing to Katarina and Sera, who were busy in the wounded soldiers’ quarters.

"Their purifying aura is highly effective against plague infection. You might be able to bring back a few of your soldiers who are half-corrupted."

In the Empire's medical system, the plague was virtually incurable; once the tainted pathogens seeped into a wound, the only treatment was amputation. But the purifying light of the Living Saint…

"Thank you." Quintus's gratitude this time came from the bottom of his heart.

Lawson stomped on the ground, and the living metal wings vibrated, lifting him off the ground.

"Oh, by the way," Lawson said, having risen ten meters into the air, glancing down at Quintus. "Have your soldiers eaten?"

"...The canned meat you gave me earlier."

“That’s the Spark-3.” Lawson’s lips curled into a slight smile. “Is it delicious?”

Quintus recalled those thick, minced meat cans.

“It’s delicious.” He admitted, “There was a sergeant from the Star Force who cried while eating it.”

“Then eat more.” Lawson’s smile became somewhat meaningful: “Just don’t ask what the meat inside is made of.”

Before Quintus could ask any further questions, he suddenly flapped his wings and soared toward the southern horizon.

Chapter 137 Go back after killing!

Lawson's speed far exceeded the limits of the power armor.

His living metal wings vibrated at a frequency of forty times per second, pushing his body to the edge of the sound barrier.

Two dogs and three dogs have been trapped in the static force field and can be released at any time.