The Astartes Family's Notebook

745.M41, the first Terran War began, the Ultramarines frantically called for reinforcements, and ultimately managed to defend Macragge.

746.M41, the Sons of Guilliman chapter has run into trouble.

The timing was too perfect; so perfect that even Astartes, who disliked coconut buns, suspected that Calga was trying to sow discord between the Holy Terra and the Holy Terra.

"Um, what does this have to do with the Adalin race?"

"The border development zone is infested with Greenskins and Eldar pirates."

"Um, what does this have to do with that battleship?"

“Nazbar tricked the ship into coming to Balhout from the fleet of the star sector on the other side of the Extreme Star Sector, but Sidrafar intends to leave the ship in the Pacific Star Sector.”

"Uh, what does this have to do with us?"

"The locals are the ones who bear the pressure."

Oh, I get it, Kaz finally understands.

That bastard scammed his own friends and misled himself with half-baked, false information!

In fact, the so-called joint governance task force is just a makeshift organization.

Yes, it's another damn amateur team!

Judge Lai Haven came to collect the gene seed tax while protecting the Wasteland Wings; the Imperial Navy wanted to reclaim the Retribution-class battleship; and the commissioner from Sidrafar was responsible for mediating and reconciling the conflict.

It looked like dark clouds were pressing down on the city, threatening to destroy it, but in reality, the dark clouds themselves were fighting each other.

"Old Chief, it's just a Retribution-class battleship, why make such a big fuss?"

"It shouldn't have been that bad, but you've heard about the Battle of Macragge, right? The alien race wreaked havoc in Ultramar, and I heard the Ultramarines suffered some heavy casualties."

"I've heard about it."

"The Imperial Navy in the Extreme Starfield suffered even greater losses than the Ultramarines."

It's not surprising, after all, it's the first time the Great Devourer has exerted its power, so it's understandable that it might not be very careful.

"More than half of the Imperial Navy's battleships are in the Extreme Starfield. Battleships have a long production cycle, so the sudden loss of so many is something that shouldn't have happened, and we need to think about it carefully."

"so?"

"So Hydrafar delivered the message that the ship must remain in the Pacific Sector. Afterwards, we can appease them, but the Wings of Desolation must take the blame."

It was only after Saladin explained it carefully that Katz realized that his understanding had been flawed.

For Astartes, the Opalon-class battleships were the dream ships, but for the Imperial Navy, the Retribution-class battleships were the vehicles that every admiral longed for.

I wouldn't trade it for an Emperor-class battleship.

Because the Retribution-class is the perfect embodiment of the Imperial warship doctrine, it is one of the very few ships that can achieve a harmonious balance in firepower, armor, and speed. It is the only active battleship in the navy that can keep up with the speed of a cruiser and cooperate in combat without special modifications.

So Nazbal has been infiltrating the imperial bureaucracy for seven hundred years and has made quite a few friends; he even managed to swindle such an important imperial asset.

The ship issue is actually manageable; it's just a matter of stalling. After all, the state religion has taken over the task of purifying the chaotic corruption, and who knows how long it will take to purify it—one or two hundred years?

It won't even take a hundred or two hundred years. In a few decades, once the production capacity of the extreme star field explodes, this matter will be over.

However, the problems of sprouting beans and green skin in the border development zone are what truly give Saladin a headache.

Don't forget that from the moment the Desolation Wings chose Haven as their homeworld, the entire chapter existed as the "guardian" of these five star sectors.

The local gentry, the state church clergy, the core leadership of Sidraf and Sepmundi—all of them invested so much, not so that Desolate Wings could get away with it for nothing.

Tell Old Sa that I want to eat mushrooms.

"Forehead......"

Kaz finally understood why the old commander disliked him so much.

Because of a misalignment of authority.

Originally, it was agreed when the subgroups were split up that the Son of Pure White would take over the group's traditional business in the Pacific Starfield, while the Wings of Desolation would focus on establishing a presence in the border development zone.

As a result, Kaz wanted to avenge Epsilon, so he led his entire army to fight the Sabbat Expedition.

The Pure White Child had a blast in battle, but what about the Wings of Desolation?

One gang member can be used as two Astartes.

As a result, all nine companies of the Wings of Desolation were sent out to work. Now that the border development zone is about to open, it will still be Kars leading the Son of Pure White.

Saladin hasn't had a good fight in over a hundred years, so how can he possibly give Kaz a pleasant look?

"Bullshit! Do you know how complicated and difficult it is to adjust predetermined missions and battle group deployments? Is that something to enjoy in battle?"

Ah yes, yes, I'm sorry, Kaz. Go ahead and curse me, only a coward would talk back.

Today only.

Saladin was so angry he laughed.

"You're all battle group leaders now, can't you be serious for once?"

"In my heart, only Lord Saladin is the true Chapter Master!"

"Stop talking nonsense."

Every word is sincere, every sentence is true!

"Get lost."

"Okay (?ω?)"

As Kaz left, he casually handed a data panel to Saladin.

These are illicit private accounts.

Saladin made a few casual swipes and then quietly put it away.

It seems that Kars hasn't lost his old skills from the Fourth Company.

That's an amount that even a battle commander would find hard to look away from with a smile.

Expeditions are great, we should do them often.

In fact, even Saladin was unaware that the reason why Holy Terra was so nervous about the Second New Terra event was because Constantineus was a member of the Sons of Guilliman's chapter, and this was the second time.

In the current imperial politics, the Astartes are nominally very detached, but in essence, they are in decline.

The only ones truly capable of threatening the Highlords' rule are the Ultramarines, the Imperial Fist, and the Dark Angels.

However, the Dark Angels are adept at handling things, and the Imperial Fist has been targeted for years, making them a potential threat.

The Ultramarines are the only exceptions; they are true feudal lords. Holy Terra may outwardly flatter them, but inwardly they are even more wary than the Black Templars.

If the Black Templars really decide to take up arms and march on Korla, so what? They can just clear the table, replace them with a new group, and they'll still be high lords.

But the Ultra Warriors are different, really different; they truly have the ability to start from scratch.

Abolishing the Highlord Council system is not as difficult as imagined. The real challenge lies in how to effectively govern the Empire after abolishing the Highlord Council system.

Saladin actually quite enjoyed talking to Katz.

There are no fools in Astartes, but for various reasons, not many of the gang members are interested in politics.

It's truly rare to find someone who can instantly understand a conversation simply because Saladin starts it up.

So after Saladin gave Katz a dressing down, he got tired of trying to control him anymore.

This time, Haiwen will take care of the gene seed tax issue directly.

It's similar to America's tax filing system; those in the Imperial New Order who don't understand it think this is Astartes' obligation.

However, in reality, the process is similar to filing taxes; making proper declarations and payments can bring benefits.

When there is no obligation to pay a gene seed tax, it is of course only an obligation; when there is an obligation to pay, it can also be a right.

Just like a navigator and a star talker.

In principle, if the Astartes are lacking these professionals who are monopolized by the Empire, they can submit a report to apply for their services.

But, those who know, know, right?

Applying for three to five years is just going through the process, and applying for thirty to fifty years is also just going through the process. Sorry, the Star Speaker assigned to your battle group has died of old age on the ship. Why don't you apply again?

This kind of thing is really upsetting.

Taking advantage of the window of opportunity presented by the payment of gene seed tax, everyone can enjoy both gene seeds and benefits – wouldn't that be wonderful?

If you're blocking me, then I'll create some uncontrollable factors myself.

The pulling is not the goal, but the pulling itself is meaningful.

Kars, or rather the Pure White Child, is severely lacking in this aspect. Watch carefully and learn from him; the Mother Group is incredibly capable.

Originally, once these matters were sorted out, the Pure White Child and the Wings of Desolation would gradually switch roles and return to the established plan.

It's simply a matter of swapping companies. As long as one company from each of the two battle groups is available for the swap, the scope of operations can be changed within a hundred years.

However, in the purgatory galaxy, plans can never keep up with changes.

Before Katz could even launch a raid on the border development zone, a major event, after years of brewing, finally spread.

813.M41, the Siege of Flax begins.

821.M41, the government of the Misty Starfield realized it couldn't handle the situation and formally requested assistance from Holy Terra.

Having just paid the gene seed tax, Flax's messy affairs didn't hold much appeal for Katz.

However, Sidrafar offered a very tempting deal.

If the Wings of Desolation, representing the Pacific Star Region government, participate in the Siege of Flax and give the people of Sepmundi an explanation, then Hydraf can back down on the matter of that Retribution-class battleship and change the handover to an exchange.

Loyalty itself doesn't need a reward, but loyalists still need to eat.

Replacing the Retribution-class with the Opalon-class is acceptable to both the Navy and the Astartes.

"Lord Saladin, why should we get involved in this?"

"Because the state religion also wants us to go."

"Going to do what?"

"Kill that bishop Savan who instigated the rebellion."