Warhammer: Empire Reboot

“Residents of Albitel”.

"I know you're scared."

"The fake broadcasts from external warlords have misled many into believing that rescue is imminent. But governing a planet cannot rely on fantasy, and hunger cannot be filled by a slogan."

Some people in the crowd cursed.

Gunshots rang out immediately.

A man fell down.

Melchior's projection did not stop.

"The Empire has been out of contact for three years. The Star Governor has not responded, the Navy has not responded, the Ministry of the Interior has not responded, and the Ministry of Justice has even tried to destroy our last vestige of order with foolish dogma."

"It was I who saved Albitel."

"It was I who kept the upper reactor running."

"It was I who prevented the orbital defense network from falling into the hands of thugs."

Ellen felt a chill run down her spine.

He knows how the Ministry of Justice died.

Everyone in the middle management knows this.

Three years ago, the Ministry of Justice demanded that the Governor-General reinstate Imperial tax and conscription registration. Two days later, a "chaotic infiltration incident" occurred at the Ministry of Justice fortress. The entire fortress was breached by railgun fire, and all survivors were burned by the Governor-General's office under the guise of "epidemic prevention."

From that day on, Albitel changed.

Melchior, projected on screen, continued:

"Now, in order to preserve the spark of civilization on this planet, a portion of the population will be transferred to an external labor fleet in exchange for food, fuel, medicine, and protection of shipping lanes."

"This is a sacrifice."

"It's also a form of repayment."

A woman screamed, "You're going to sell us to pirates!"

The civil defense troops rushed over and pinned her down.

Savik stood in the shadow of the platform, watching the scene as if it were a poorly executed but effective play.

“Begin the selection,” he told the slave overseers.

The Red Pirates' crowd segmentation is very professional.

They used sonic blasts to disperse the crowd, and then used the civil defense team's familiarity with the terrain to carve out passages.

Skilled workers are identified by their time cards, young people are grouped by physique, and children are marked separately.

The elderly, the seriously ill, and the disabled were herded to a corner of the square.

Ellen handed the toolbox to Leah.

"Take your brother with you."

Leah's face turned deathly pale.

"Father?"

"listen to me."

Ellen crouched down, quickly opened the toolbox's hidden clasp, and stuffed Tom inside. Tom was so small and thin that he didn't even fill the entire space when he curled up inside.

Mi stretched out her hand to cover her mouth, tears welling up, but she didn't make a sound.

Ellen covered Tom with the pressure tester and a roll of insulating tape, then closed the tool bag halfway, leaving a small gap.

"Lia, carry it on your back."

"I can't carry it."

"You can carry it."

Ellen slung the tool bag strap over her shoulder and whispered, "Your brother is now a water purifier. Everyone asks."

Leah nodded.

There was no crying or fussing on her face like a child would.

The only fear is being forced to grow up prematurely.

Mira was suddenly grabbed by the arm.

A civil defense officer glanced at her, then looked at the identification sign.

"Former clerk at the supply depot. Go to the right, logistics worker."

Ellen grabbed the other person's wrist.

Civil defense officers raised their guns and pressed them against his chest.

"Let go."

Mira looked at Ellen.

She didn't cry out, but quickly said, "Don't let them take the child away."

Ellen's hand loosened little by little.

As Mira was being dragged away, Tom made a slight movement in his toolbox.

Leah bit her lip hard.

In the chaos, a Red Pirate overseer noticed her.

"You, come here."

Leah froze.

The man approached and reached out to grab the tool bag.

Ellen stood in front of her daughter.

"I am a pipeline repairman, and these are my tools."

The regulator looked at him and suddenly smiled.

“You middle-level rats love to hide your children in toolboxes, sewage bins, and body bags.”

He kicked Ellen in the knee.

Ellen knelt down.

Leah took a half step back, and her shoulder strap slipped down.

The toolbox fell to the ground.

From inside came Tom's suppressed sobs.

The regulator grinned.

"found it."

He reached for the tool bag.

Ellen lunged forward and grabbed his leg.

The regulator raised his gun butt and smashed it on Ellen's head.

a bit.

Two times.

The third blow cracked his brow bone.

Ellen still wouldn't let go.

Leah screamed and lunged forward, but was caught by another civil defense member.

The metal piece in her sleeve fell out.

The Red Pirate overseer picked up the piece of bent metal.

A sentence was crookedly carved on it.

The Empire has not forgotten you.

The regulator read it aloud and laughed loudly.

"Has the Empire forgotten you?"

He threw the metal sheet on the ground and bent it by stepping on it with the sole of his boot.

"Isn't this just a rumor spread by your governor?"

He bent down and approached Leah, a sour, hot breath emanating from his metal respirator.

"Rumors can't save people, little girl."

Leah's tears finally fell.

Just then, the projection above the square suddenly flickered.

Melchior's face froze for a moment.

Then, a dull thud echoed from the loudspeakers throughout the square.

It looked like some huge object had crashed into the track from high above.

On the high platform, Savik's communicator screamed.

"Captain! The orbital cargo hold has lost contact!"

"A boarding torpedo has appeared above the ninth elevator shaft!"

"The orbital defense network has not fired!"

Savik's expression changed drastically.

"What do you mean by 'not firing'?"

A chaotic sound came from the other end of the communication.

"Turret access is locked! The Ministry of Justice's old identification code has been reactivated! Someone has taken over the trial channel!"