From Titan Corporation to the Empire of Man

Not long after, inside the Phoenix-class supply ship belonging to the 1st Company of the Dark Angels;

"."

Leon was standing outside the Astartes' exclusive medical cabin with his hands crossed in front of his chest and a serious expression. He used the Primarch's power armor to present a hard light screen in front of his eyes, watching two pharmacists performing orderly operations on two company guards who were in a state of suspended animation.

The company guards were in extremely poor condition.

One had his chest pierced, damaging his heart and lungs.

The other had his right arm and half of his shoulder cut off.

Fortunately, the Astartes' hemostatic function was also effective for large wounds, so the company guard did not die from excessive blood loss.

However, due to such injuries, he had to use metal prostheses to replace his original right arm and half of his shoulder.

After the initial operation, a pharmacist reported via helmet communication:

"Father (Leon), the injuries of the two brothers have been completely stabilized and are no longer at risk of death. In a few hours, they should be able to come out of the suspended animation state and regain consciousness."

"it is good."

After listening to the pharmacist's report, Leon responded briefly as usual and turned to leave, walking along the deck corridor towards the nearby rail train station.

Several paladins also remained silent and followed their primarch to leave.

It won't take long.

A group of "people" used the rail train inside the ship to reach the bridge of the Phoenix-class supply ship.

"Sir."

"Father."

As soon as Lion walked into the bridge, the crew members in charge of operating the supply ship saluted their legion's primarch.

Unlike his father, Leon did not say things like "No need to be polite" or "Just go about your own business" with a smile, but instead responded with a slight nod.

then.

Leon had just walked to the center console of the bridge, and before he could discuss with Serin who was also standing next to the center console, the hard light projection generated a holographic image of Galan Clovis.

After the "particles" emitting blue light condensed into a holographic image, Galan raised his right fist, crossed it across his chest, and saluted Leon:

"Father, it was our negligence"

"Don't waste your time on the meaningless past." Leon interrupted Galan's self-blame:

"Ms. Serin speculates that the headless knight who is wreaking havoc on the border towns is probably the Apocalypse Knight War described in the Bible of Universe 13. His individual strength is equivalent to that of the lords and demons of the various levels of hell.

Furthermore, the church successfully summoned supernatural creatures that were supposed to be in the heaven plane through a special sacrificial ritual. This indirectly proves that a certain sacrifice can be used to send the army from the physical universe to the heaven plane. "

As he spoke, Leon glanced at Serin.

Judging from his appearance, he wanted Serin to take over the conversation.

However, before that, Leon still sent a communication request to Athena and Soap.

The next moment, many "particles" emitting blue light appeared on the center console and quickly condensed into a holographic image of Athena and soap.

Seeing this, Leon spoke to Serin:

"Ms. Serin, please explain to us your guess and analysis of how to reach the heavenly plane."

Leon originally wanted the Glory Guard, which he led, and the 1st Company of the Dark Angels to take charge of all the subsequent operations and allow the Dark Angels Legion to win all the "victories".

But after some hesitation, he still chose to let Athena and the Inquisition represented by Soap and the Joint Investigation Force participate in the "final" integrated operation against the "One Three" universe.

After all, he had come for a surprise visit and had "interfered".

If he were to take over the command with a tough attitude and exclude other departments, it would somewhat damage the image and reputation of Leon and the Dark Angels.

Of course, from the perspective of others, Leon sent a communication request to Athena and Soap without any hesitation.

After Athena, wearing golden armor, and Soap, wearing nano-combat suit, "stood" next to the center console using hard light imaging, Serin spoke directly:

“Everyone, through interrogating and torturing the arrested church believers and nuns, we have preliminarily confirmed that the Apocalypse Knights who are wreaking havoc on border towns are creatures from the heavenly plane summoned by the church using 4,400 fanatical believers and nuns who are willing to sacrifice themselves.

If we want to open the portal to the heavenly plane, we need to sacrifice at least 100,000 fanatical believers and nuns."

"One hundred thousand"

After hearing Serin's analysis, Soap looked worried.

"Ms. Celine." Athena asked with a frown:

"To serve as a living sacrifice to open the portal, one must also maintain a fanatical belief and worship of heaven and God, right?"

"That's the theory." Serin did not deny it and continued to explain:

"If sacrificing 100,000 or even more humans from Universe 1 and 3 can open a portal to the heavenly plane, then the Hell Lords and Hell Demons would have already extended their hands and feet to heaven."

"Hmm" Soap's face remained solemn:

"This is indeed a question. If we find 100,000 fanatics and sacrifice them, would that go against the ideals of the Human Empire?"

"."

Hearing this, Athena fell silent.

"What's the violation?" Leon asked bluntly:

“The so-called fanatical believers, in terms of the subspace incident, are heretics bewitched by the evil god.

If they still have their own thoughts and the ability to think independently, they should know that revenge against border towns is a big mistake. "

Leon paused, raised his voice slightly, and continued:

“They saw that the border towns were becoming more prosperous under the governance of the empire, and people were living happier lives, which made them realize that the overall situation on Earth 13 was slipping out of their control.

Power, money, pleasure and indulgence are gradually moving away from them as the empire interferes, so they will certainly bind themselves more closely to God and heaven.

As for those fanatical believers, they have already dedicated their bodies and minds to the so-called God. Keeping them will not cause any harm to the empire, but it will be a disaster for the human race.

Rather than killing them directly, it is better to make use of them!"

When Leon finished speaking, his eyes and expression also revealed that he could not be questioned.

To him, all "traitors" should be killed!

It would be better to kill them all without leaving any alive.

The fact that he was able to put aside his pride and allow Athena and Soap to participate in the discussion of subsequent actions was actually just a disguised notification.

Then, without waiting for Athena and Soap to respond, Leon ordered Galan Clovis:

"Notify the fleet and all soldiers of the First Company to prepare for orbital airdrop. I want to be standing in front of the church in Vienna in forty minutes."

"Yes, father."

After receiving the order from the Primarch, Galan saluted Lion again and then directly dissipated his own holographic image.

At this moment, Leon instructed Athena:

"Ms. Athena, please tell Ms. Hera to assist us Dark Angels in selecting the scum who have been thoroughly brainwashed by the Church from among the captives."

"That's good."

Athena hesitated for a moment, but finally chose to follow Leon's command.

Finally, Leon said to Soap:

“Colonel McTavish, I also ask your advance team, investigators, and elite guards to temporarily act as sheriffs after we, the Dark Angels, take control of Vienna, the capital of the Holy Roman Empire.

At the same time, the renovation and reconstruction of the engineering team will also need your assistance."

"No problem, leave it to us."

Soap had no objection to Leon's order.

As a veteran employee of Atlas, Soap also agrees with Leon's point of view.

The main reason is that the advance team has seen too much of the ugly side of human nature.

As for those who have been brainwashed by the church and have a crazy belief in God and heaven, even if the empire is kind enough to spare their lives, they will not remember the empire's kindness, but will only continue to plot revenge and destruction, which is truly a scourge.

Rather than keeping it as a threat to residents who want to live a normal life, causing distress to them and even causing the loss of their lives and relatives, it is better to "make use of the waste".

Sacrificing them is the best solution.

As the holographic images of Athena and Soap dissipated one after another, the scene outside the bridge observation window also changed from the sky above the border town to the dark and silent outer space.

The atmosphere, which is reflected and scattered by direct sunlight, is visible below the bridge observation window.

At this moment.

Leon turned around and prepared to leave the bridge and head to the drop dock of the Phoenix-class supply ship, and said to Serin:

"Ms. Serin, if the Dark Angels successfully open the portal, please assist us in going to the Heavenly Plane to serve as a wartime advisor."

"Ok."

Serin responded with a faint smile.

More than ten minutes later;

Vienna, located in central Europe on the 13th, was enjoying a rare sunny and clear day at noon in recent months.

The chilly autumn wind blew away the mist of heavy industrial pollution, allowing the sun's light to shine over the entire land.

Vienna was the capital of the Holy Roman Empire.

If you are a resident of the main universe, your first reaction when hearing the word Vienna would be "the Danube River".

"World Music Capital",

"Vienna Woods" etc.

It is a famous tourist destination with a rich cultural heritage and many protected buildings.

Many residents from post-war reconstruction universes, such as those from the Doom and Pacific Rim universes, list Vienna as one of their main targets for traveling to the main universe.

But in the Trench Crusader universe numbered "13", Vienna does not have the so-called beautiful riverside or quiet forest.

The Danube River has become extremely polluted due to pollution from heavy industry, and there is not much natural green vegetation around the city, let alone the so-called "quiet forest".

The city is divided into several "ring levels".

The outermost layer is a concentration of poor people and slaves responsible for farming and labor. At the same time, there are towering city walls and huge cannons, and a large number of elite soldiers, as well as knights of the Knights Templar and nuns of the church are stationed there.

Further inland, there are gathering areas for civilians and light and heavy factories, which are also the most serious source of pollution to the entire city and its surrounding areas.

Further inward were the residential areas for nobles, royal families, and high-ranking officials and generals of the Roman Empire and the Church.

There is a relatively good living environment here, with green belts and quiet gardens.

The most central buildings are St. Peter's Basilica, which is bathed in "holy light" during the day, and the Imperial Palace of the Holy Roman Empire.

Even if there is no interference from the human empire of the main universe, facing the forces of hell that threaten the survival of the entire human race, the powerful people of the "One and Three" universes still enjoy special treatment, and their daily lives are even better than those of people in some parallel universes.

Perhaps it was the thousand-year-long confrontation that caused the powerful to relax their vigilance and focus only on enjoying the present moment.

In their subconscious, they would think, "Anyway, the army of hell will not break through the capital and Europe will not fall during my tenure and responsibility, so why should I be so hard on myself?"

However, when they learned that the border towns were attacked by the army of hell, and then most of the border towns fell into the control of the human empire, they began to panic.

What they fear is not the army of hell, but the human empire that has the goal of "liberating all mankind" and has the corresponding strength.

Therefore, the top leaders of the Roman Empire voted unanimously in favor of the church's proposal to summon the Horsemen of the Apocalypse without even a second thought.

Only when they completely obtain God's favor and assistance can they rest assured.

now.

The Pope and the bishops were in the cathedral, discussing whether to continue sacrificing fanatical believers to God in order to obtain more help from heaven.

but--

Boom. Boom——!!!

However, the sudden violent shaking interrupted the meeting.

Some bishops even stumbled and fell, spilling wine all over themselves.

The shaking lasted for more than ten seconds before gradually stopping. At the same time, there was a "howling wind" outside, as if the legendary doomsday had come.

? ? ! !

"what happened?!"

"Guard! Guard!"

The Pope and the bishops immediately forgot about the content of the meeting and called for the church guards who were well-armored and well-equipped, wanting to escape from the cathedral and even Vienna.

It was only when they ran out of the church and came outside that they discovered.

The city of Vienna seemed to have suffered a high-altitude bombing, with smoke everywhere, and thousands of "meteorites" appeared in the clear sky, rapidly approaching the surface.

Boom~Boom~——!

Before they could react, 90% of the thousands of "meteorites" began to slow down in stages, while the remaining 10% fell directly into the core area of ​​Vienna.

Bang~bang!

Then there was a crisp sound, which seemed to be the sound of the warehouse door being opened, and then these guys heard the sound of gunfire that made them shudder.

Clang! Clang!

Ri~咻——!

The sound of bolt guns and small-caliber plasma cannons firing spread directly throughout the city.

The remaining 90% of "meteorites", or individual soldiers and medium and large airdrop pods carrying the Legion's Hell Paratroopers, also fell in and around Vienna.

Buzz~——Woo——!!

Only now did Vienna sound the air raid sirens.

However, the Dark Angels and Hell's Paratroopers were quickly deployed through orbital airdrops, and a comprehensive sweep has begun.

What made the Vienna defenders feel most desperate was that Leon, the Primarch of the Dark Angels, was also a member of the first airborne troops.