The Astartes Family's Notebook

The orcs are choosing a new Grand Commander, the Empire is waiting for the weather control device to recharge, Motor Sich is building relationships and doing business, and Kaz is agonizing over his second stage of development.

The Astartes modification surgery is only the first step in the Imperial Superman's extraordinary transformation. After being assigned to a company, the acquisition of a large amount of combat experience and high-intensity daily training, coupled with reasonable dietary conditioning, will result in most Astartes recruits experiencing a slight increase in height and physique.

They are typically two to three centimeters tall and weigh fifteen to twenty kilograms.

As the old saying goes, "If you swallow porridge made from caustic steel, your bones will harden and your muscles will grow."

Tyrant is stronger than Katz largely because his bones are harder, and stronger bones can naturally support more powerful muscle groups.

Therefore, during normal secondary development of the Astartes, the power armor's adaptive system can self-adjust, without requiring technical sergeants to drastically alter the size for their combat comrades.

But Katz is different. He is too proactive in his fitness training. How can a rookie who is like the Nine Dragons Pulling a Coffin be a good person for disciplined fitness?

With an added height of 5.3 centimeters and a weight of 33.8 kilograms, if Katz's power armor isn't modified, its lifespan will probably only be half of the warranty period.

In this era, Belisarius Caul had not yet made significant upgrades to Astartes' equipment. The electronic muscle bundles were still integrated inside the power armor. The drastic changes in height and weight meant that the power armor, which should have been a huge help, instead became a limiter for Katz.

This isn't something that can be done by hammering away with a sheet metal hammer; it means that the entire servo system of the power armor needs to be adjusted and replaced.

This is a huge project!

During wartime, the technical sergeants spend all day maintaining the company's weaponry, and they get less than two hours of sleep a day. Where would they find the time to do this kind of systematic power armor modification and upgrade for Katz?

You don't have armor penetration, so just hang on the ship. It's not like the Fourth Company can't fight without you, Kars.

Kaz spoke to the company commander about this, but Mada Sich showed no emotion, only telling Kaz to be understanding of the company's technical sergeants, or to go ask other veterans.

Other veterans?

Ingus was moved but refused, and suggested that Kaz take the opportunity to exchange the reward of the carved breastplate for the right to use the Terminator Armor.

Oh, conjunctivitis.

Tyrant almost burst out laughing, saying that the company had plenty of training armor, and Kaz could wear two extra layers to make do.

Ha, you bastard.

I asked all the veterans I was on good terms with, but none of them were reliable.

Finally, the company chaplain told Kaz that he could ask the ship's builders.

What truly defines the cornerstone of a company is His Excellency Hammurabi.

But why didn't you tell me that the engineer's conversion of the power armor took so long?

Now, the comrades on the ship who have gotten to know each other love to stare at Kaz's pectoral muscles whenever they have free time, deliberately making weird "hehehe" laughs; they're just plain crazy.

Chapter 81 Daily Life

Capitalists will sell the rope that hangs them, and Astartes will make a promise that will exhaust them to death.

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The world of Anwizland is too urbanized, and the direct consequence is that there is no flowing water on the planet's surface, and industrial and agricultural production relies entirely on the groundwater circulation system.

The weather controller is almost 80% charged, but there is not enough surface water. To form a massive rainstorm, the energy required to extract groundwater is enough to recharge the weather controller three more times.

This is neither reasonable nor economical.

Therefore, the solution proposed by the Mechanics Association is to capture enough mass of ice crystal meteorites from the asteroid belt to replenish the atmospheric water cycle in Awaseland.

The technology of the empire truly highlights a kind of beauty that is devoid of brainstem.

The governor and the nobles of the hive city were naturally happy to do so. Only the Mechanicus and the Imperial Navy possessed such large engineering ships and could do this. Ordinary planets could not accumulate enough resources to light up this technology tree.

I never expected this Greenskin invasion to have such an unexpected bonus.

Wow, that's awesome!

But what could they do? No matter how unwilling the Imperial Navy and the Wastewing were, they could only send one cruiser each to work alongside the Mechanicus's engineering ships as laborers.

Until that damned dust cloud dissipates, the fleet can't fire accurately. Indiscriminate bombardment is a tactic of the Extinction Order. Anwizland's value is undeniable, and the Empire has the upper hand in ground offensives. There's no reason to do it this way.

So holding back your super weapon and not using it is even more frustrating than your opponent disconnecting and surrendering.

Let's keep waiting.

Given the scale of the orc invasion and the extent of the battle, both the Desolwing and the Astral Army have achieved a respectable level of damage and results.

For the first time, Motor Sich truly felt that Judge Odach was indeed somewhat useful.

A general unwritten rule of the Imperial Inquisition is that once one judge has taken on a troublesome matter, the other judges should not interfere.

Because while the Empire theoretically had one million Astartes, it could not count one hundred thousand officially appointed judges.

One hundred thousand seems like quite a lot. The Empire nominally only has one million planets. One Inquisitor is in charge of ten worlds. Isn't that a pretty easy job?

Those who have this idea should review the Matthew effect.

In important worlds of the Empire, it's not uncommon for Inquisitors to be plentiful. Holy Terra alone has an estimated number of Inquisitors. With the Sun Starfield consuming a large amount of Inquisitor resources, the number of Inquisitors allocated to the other four starfields is never enough.

Don't just look at how the judges cause trouble; they actually do the work and they're quick to claim credit.

When Anwizland was under attack by the Greenskins and the situation was critical, no Inquisitors were available. But when the Desolwings arrived and the situation improved, the guy who wanted to argue for the title of author appeared.

I can't afford to mess with that old bastard Leorus, but do you think I can't mess with you, little brat Odachi?

Sorry, but with the four leaders of the Wasteland Wings backing him up, in Anwislan, Odachi is practically an emperor on par with the planetary governor.

Motor Sich was indifferent to Odachi's self-serving and favor-selling activities, as long as he could stop those fools who wanted to take credit and give irresponsible orders.

Throne agents don't care much about civilian casualties; it's hardly surprising that they urge the Astragalus to ignore the Orcs' Waaaagh energy field and launch a strong attack just to make their own record look better.

So, having Odachi, an insider, to fight against his colleagues was a good thing for Madasich.

The tide of battle was turning in favor of the empire, and the established tactics were not wrong. What a stupid thing to do was to use the blood of the soldiers to stain one's official hat and plume.

The commander of the Astral Army and the company commander of Astartes both agreed that the current battle plan was Odachi's greatest asset, the credit for his teacher's careful selection, and he would never allow the inquisitors from other factions to take it away.

So what if it's the Alien Tribunal? What do you mean by "green skin invasion"? That's your business.

So what if it's the Inquisition? If you want to investigate heresy, go do it yourself. In wartime, military law will handle it. If you don't like me, go sue me in Holy Terra. I'll show you what it means to be the true master of Terra.

Didn't you see that the orcs have summoned their two gods, the Goma and the Goma? These are no ordinary orcs; we, the Demon Inquisition, must strike hard!

It's really comfortable to fight a war when you have a judge who dares to take responsibility and challenge others.

Odachi's light cruiser was a symbol of status and power, so he could only persuade his fellow escorts to voluntarily withdraw from the battle for credit in Anwislan. It was no wonder that old scoundrel Fleyousos had gone to great lengths to get it for his disciple.

However, knowing that Odachi was backed by the veteran Inquisitor Leothers, anyone who still dared to interfere must be no ordinary person.

Motor Sich doesn't mind supporting Odachi at crucial moments, but he's also unwilling to actively jump into the infighting among the judges.

Life goes on day by day like this.

It's unclear when Katz's suffering will end.

I was so stupid, really. If I had known it would turn out like this, I would have been better off waiting in line for the technical sergeant position.

Kars is dreaming if he thinks he can seduce engineers with just the genuine Martian power armor.

While I'm eager to see the latest manufacturing processes on Mars, a complete overhaul of the power armor is by no means an easy task.

Therefore, the craftsman proposed a condition for the exchange.

That means he can help Katz modify his armor, and Katz must perform the daily maintenance work on the Victory Balance for him.

Katz was too young and naive. He thought that maintaining a warship was a technical job he couldn't do, and he could only help out.

So he patted his chest and readily agreed.

Very good, the big animals at home can finally take a break. Kaz, go grind the grain.

Ok?

The comrades on the ship accidentally found out about this.

Katz, the sewer is clogged.

Katz, the showerhead is broken.

Katz, the lock on the isolation compartment door is rusted.

Katz, the gun ports on the battle barge have been cleared.

Katz...

Katz...

Katz.........

Hey, don't go too far! Even I, Kaz, have a temper.

In the end, Hammurabi felt sorry for Qaz and let him come to the prayer hall to copy the scriptures.

But Lord Hammurabi, please forgive my rudeness, I, Karz, am not the same type of Astartes as you. I would rather clean the outer armor plating of the warship!

The Wings of Desolation had some wealth, and there were spare power armors in the fourth warehouse. After changing into a less-than-fitting set, Kaz, carrying a promethium canister and a flamethrower, climbed from the maintenance passage to the outer layer of the Victory Balance. Using his magnetic boots to attach to the hull, he walked step by step toward the area marked in red on his helmet display.

Space travel inevitably involves contamination, and cleaning up such contaminants is a high-risk operation for ordinary crew members. For Astartes to do this job would be considered a form of punishment.

It's a rare opportunity to encounter a chosen one like Kaz who has come to us so readily; not making good use of him would be a grave crime.

Katz switched his tactical helmet to natural light mode, revealing the vast universe before him.

Lonely and quiet, yet possessing a unique tranquility and beauty.

Apart from the faint whooshing sound of the nozzle vibration, all that could be heard was the throbbing of my own heart.

For the first time in a long time, Kaz abandoned multitasking and focused solely on the task at hand.

It's just like......

I went to war at fifteen, and returned home at sixty; my hair has turned white and my accent has changed, and new green onions have been planted in the old courtyard.

Chapter 82 Everyone has a side hustle

The rain outside the window is pattering down, and it's been falling for three days and three nights, just like you, my dearest, who hasn't answered my phone for three days and three nights.

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The empire's industrial capacity is not under the jurisdiction of science; it belongs to the realm of metaphysics.

Among the many legacies left by the dark age of technology, the importance of nano incense burners remains paramount.

Why a nano incense burner instead of a nano forging furnace?

Because you have to kowtow.

Kowtowing to a forge is feudal superstition, while kowtowing to an incense burner is a prayer for the dual protection of the God Emperor and Omnesia. We should believe in science.

Each Nano Incense Burner is priceless. Although most people would choose a light cruiser over a Nano Incense Burner, light cruisers are valuable while Nano Incense Burners are rare. In terms of rarity, Nano Incense Burners are much rarer.

Ever since Motor Sich accidentally mentioned that there was a nano incense burner in the Mechanics Cult's base in Anwislan, the bandits of the Fourth Company have been eyeing it.

Back in the day, following Saint Markarius, I lived a life of luxury and had seen all sorts of rare and wonderful things. What was this nano incense burner? It was just a gadget that a tech geek used to repair tiny cracks. Printing a bomb gun would take decades. It was just a toy for engineering students.

What?! A nano incense burner the size of half a Leman Russ!

Company Commander, you're so foolish! How could you come back empty-handed?

Katz didn't quite understand why the veterans of the Fourth Company had been acting so mysteriously lately, as if they were secretly plotting something.

However, the strange smiles on everyone's faces didn't seem to be directed at Company Commander Motor Sich, so Kaz, not understanding, went to Ingus to ask for information.

“You’re still young. This isn’t a sin you should bear at your age. Let us veterans do it.”

Even the company champion who lived past 300 years old started to fall ill?

Or is it just chuunibyou (middle school syndrome)?

If Ingus is unreliable, then go ask Tyrant.

Can you keep a secret?

Hey, I'll change my name to Dio from now on, since you've made me look so cool.

He turned and left, Kaz going to report to the company commander.

Madsich patted Kaz on the shoulder affectionately.

"Young Astartes should observe and learn more, think and ask less. It's alright, everything in the company is under my control."

No, we, the Desolation Wings, aren't exactly a devout holy order, so what's wrong with everyone here?