Warhammer: In the Name of Nirvana

"A war, about killing, about thunder, about bloodshed and revenge, about the endless expansion of imperial hegemony, about the end of ancient hatred for generations."

"About Luther."

"Mighty Luther, great Luther."

"Now those soldiers are talking about you like this. They like to put this or similar titles on you because of the things you brought to them: victory, honor, and survival."

These somewhat flowery words of praise come from an Iron Warrior, the son of Perturabo from Olympia.

Dantioch stood in the huge shadow cast by the Heart of Steel, a brand-new battle barge that emerged from the void shipyard closest to Olympia less than five Terran standard years ago. was born, and then used as a prop and an unintentional gift by the Primarch, and was casually handed over to Dantioch's hands.

Although this does not mean how much the Primarch values ​​his descendants, the young Iron Warrior is still accustomed to carefully maintaining the battleship to the highest standards and keeping in contact with it as much as possible: whether it is daily stay Its bridge still stood in the shadow cast by it.

He regarded this battleship as a gift from the father of genes. It was the extravagant wish of every Iron Warrior, but he had never received a true answer to the family love. He looked at this void engine that he had never met before. When he saw this thing that the sons of Perturabo longed for, he carefully protected it until this not-so-obvious secret became known to everyone at the top and middle levels of the entire expedition fleet.

Everyone knows that Lord Dantioch from the Fourth Legion is a very rational and humble warrior. As long as you do not intentionally destroy the battle barge given by his genetic father, he will not Really angry.

In the beginning, this was a tiny secret spread between the Mechanic-Priests and the Iron Warriors, and the Navy crew members only knew this inadvertently, until a terrible routine maintenance caused the heirs of Perturabo to After a rare outburst, this secret became a fact that everyone dared not try.

Of course, not everyone dares to give it a try and use this secret to make a verbal joke: such people are either particularly reckless or have a particularly good relationship with the son of Perturabo.

Luther falls into the latter category, and is, in fact, the first friend Dantioch makes on this trip.

Although when the Lord of the Second Legion arranged Dantioch, the Astartes warrior, as Luther's deputy, it once aroused the concerns of countless people, including the two parties involved, but the two soon proved that Yes, they can be great partners.

Luther's sophistication and calmness are enough to make any true warrior respect him from the bottom of his heart, while Dantioch demonstrated his extraordinary calmness and talent at the fastest speed.

After a battle side by side, they became friends, and after three more battles, they became irreplaceable confidants, and now, they have spent time side by side...

"Is this the thirtieth time? Or the thirty-first time?"

"Who still remembers that this is old Luther's first glorious victory and conquest?"

The playful rhetorical question came from the mouth of the son of Perturabo, making both people on the high platform laugh: the Olympian was safe in the shadow of the battle barge, while the old knight of Caliban touched His humble smile could not cover up the pride radiating in his pupils.

“This is the thirty-third time, my trusty Dantioch, since Lord Morgan handed us this expedition fleet, this is the thirty-third battle we have fought, and the first time we have recovered by force. Twenty-seven planets.”

"Yes, you accomplished all this in less than three years: you penetrated two star sectors, recovered twenty-seven worlds, eliminated dozens of green-skinned bandits and alien pirates, and even had a few beautiful activities to persuade people to surrender.”

"Now, Avalon's flag covers not only the star sector it is located in, but also in the two separate star sectors, most of the galaxies have knelt before the double-headed eagle flag of Holy Terra. Under this, the Lord of the Second Legion can already proudly claim that she owns more than fifty core worlds: There is no doubt that you have contributed to this, isn't it?"

"Perhaps only the 23rd Expeditionary Fleet led by Mr. Morgan himself can surpass you in terms of achievements. Luther, you are now a well-known big shot. Even Ultramar has heard of your reputation."

"It's just a false name. Some of my victories are also due to luck and everyone's support. This part has obviously been blurred by rumors and rumors. It can't explain anything."

Luther was still smiling, smiling humbly, but Dantioch could see the twinkling light in Caliban's pupils. He knew that it was not arrogance or vanity, but the satisfaction of a sense of mission. and the sincere joy brought by the filling of a sense of honor.

In a sense, Luther is a very simple character, so simple that Dantioch saw him clearly early on, and knew what he had done early on: he knew that the Caliban in front of him was because of the war. He was rejuvenated by sandstorms and frequent rejuvenation surgeries. He knew that under Luther's shiny black hair was the inevitable paleness brought about by age. He knew that his body was no longer strong and his strength was no longer strong. No matter how majestic he is, he is just like any commander who has been involved in war for decades or more.

He was old, but he didn't want to admit it at all, so he devoted himself more to every war, more fanatical and fearless than any conqueror. He even often charged forward, because no matter the glory of victory, Or a glorious death, in the eyes of Calibans, they are all wonderful gifts brought by war.

Dantioch saw this clearly, so he respected the mortals in front of him more and more, and found his own meaning and value in the position of fleet deputy.

"False fame cannot buy some things. It may buy temporary prosperity or deceive the world, but it cannot buy many things: for example, true glory, the support of soldiers, For example, take this scene happening before your eyes, Luther."

"If the soldiers don't love you, if they don't see you as a hero of victory and a great commander, they won't do this. Look at the cheers in front of you, Luther."

"You deserve it."

Luther blinked. The words of the son of Perturabo were like the most precious drop in the silent spring rain that melted the cold winter: even though he had known and accepted it for a long time, his soul still felt some kind of nourishment. That drop of rain and dew that wipes away the dryness is called friendship and bond, honor and mission.

He has it all, doesn't he?

Looking at the scene in front of him and the magnificence under the high platform, Luther could not deny this sentence.

He took a step forward, trying to get a better look.

Luther stood on the high platform.

Under the high platform, there was a grand military parade, a display of majesty, and a hearty cheer for another great victory.

This newly surrendered world already has a glorious human civilization. They have an ancient road that traverses the world. Its history is the same as the foundation of the hive. There is no place more suitable for showing force than this place.

The noble platform made of black marble and thick granite is on one side of this avenue, facing the highest peak in the world, and on the other end is the capital of the world.

Groups of legions were advancing along this avenue, heading to and from the airport. They passed in front of the high platform where Luther himself stood, shouting cheers and respects. The pillars decorated with the skeletons of the defeated war engines lined the avenue. Scattered around, behind them were braziers filled with smokeless promethium, endlessly illuminating the entire thoroughfare with their blue-white flames.

The first to pass was the small phalanx of the Iron Warriors. They came from a company brought by Dantioch. Although this company also suffered certain losses in the past few years, the blood they shed was far less than What they shed under the command of Gene-Father may have received more honors and praise than the entire Iron Warriors Legion received.

Then came the successive squads of the Catachan Auxiliary Army. These unruly barbarians who were accustomed to wearing oil paint conquered all the commanders in just a few battles. All their unique ways were regarded as In order to demonstrate the overflow of pride and ability, material resources from Avalon are constantly flowing into the emerald green world of death. In contrast, there are now more than 150,000 Catachans in the Second Legion. Fighting under the banner of the Astartes, they have long since earned themselves the same status as the warriors of the Astartes.

When the targets from the dead world passed in front of Luther, the cheers and applause they gave could even lift the sky: Maybe the Calibans and the Catachans did not get along well at the beginning, but they soon became He found the heart and soul that also came from the jungle. After Luther showed enough trust, respect and even indulgence, he got the same thing from the Catachan people.

"I heard that Lord Morgan is signing a further treaty with the Catachans."

"Yes, but it is not going well. You know, Luther, how casual these warriors of the Death World are. They will not even succumb to the light of a Primarch, but the treaty from Avalon It’s completely equal, so it should only be a matter of time before it passes.”

"It's a pity that the death world is too far away. Otherwise, maybe it can be allowed to join the Federation of Avalon, just like the forging world Tigres. It is said that their alliance with the original body has finally been finalized?"

"Luthor, sometimes your words make me suspect that you are an Avalonian."

"This galaxy has never stipulated that there can only be one hometown, right?"

The Calibans raised their hands, responding to the cheers from the phalanx below.

"Then this hometown is a bit too huge."

The son of Perturabo smiled without any malice.

"Let me think about it, how many years has it been since that lady returned from the Five Hundred Worlds, or since she came to Avalon?"

"If we count from the time she came to Avalon, it would be more than three Terran standard years. If we count it from the time she visited the Five Hundred Worlds and brought back hundreds of professional administrators, it would be about two and a half years."

"But our expedition did start three years ago."

"Yes, in the past three years, the rule of the empire has taken root in this remote and remote eastern border of the galaxy. Including us, the four expedition fleets under Lord Morgan have conquered more than sixty galaxies and hundreds of worlds. , although most of them are desolate wastelands without civilization, they still have enough resources to exploit, or are valuable enough to carry out colonial activities."

"From an economic point of view, the Avalon star region and the star regions around it are rare fertile soil. Even the chaos of the Age of Strife rarely affects this place. It's a pity that it is too remote. , the light of Holy Terra is really hard to reach.”

"But it does have unlimited potential, doesn't it? There is still a large unexplored star field to the east, and the trade with the Five Hundred Worlds has built a lifeline from the south. Reza in the west is said to be very important to the relationship with Morgan. I am satisfied with your agreement, and we have even become accustomed to fighting alongside the Militant Titan Legion."

"They were truly great and unforgettable comrades."

Luther squinted his eyes, and he saw in the layers of fog in the distance, in the gray-white curtain raised by the industrial waste gas of this world, several magnificent divine machines walking in the fog. They also embarked on the journey back. Their number is very rare, but they look more spectacular than an entire army. In the past few years, they have been Luther's most relied on and respected comrades, even this The old knight of Caliban had never had the experience of fighting side by side with the powerful Titan Legion before, let alone thought that one day he would have the power to command these most powerful Iron Knights.

But the facts are always unpredictable: the female tyrant of Avalon, as a ruthless performance measuring machine, naturally regards the actual situation as more important than the illusory honor. When Luther proved himself with clean victories one after another, ability and value. He naturally became the second person in the Avalon Federation, besides Morgan himself, to be able to command the Titan Legion.

Even among the Dawnbreakers who are the descendants of Morgan, no one has ever received this honor and important task.

Before that, Luther's army already included the Dark Angels, the Iron Warriors, Ryza's Skitarii, the Catachan auxiliary army, and various mortal legions from Avalon, and even Some of the Dawnbreakers and the occasional Luna Wolves who came to help.

Plus today's Titan Legion. As a mortal commander. His current status and power seem unimaginable.

"It's all about the Primarch's trust, isn't it?"

"It's also because of your abilities, Luther."

The son of Perturabo snorted lightly, making no secret of his praise for his best friend.

"Those of us who are always far away from the main force of the Second Legion understand that the ruler of Avalon is a person who puts the actual situation above all personal thoughts, and she loves and respects herself so much Legion, and for an outstanding mortal like you, she will also love and care for you as her heir."

"Yes, Lady Morgan always knows what kind of people to put in what positions, so she can achieve success and victory at an admirable speed, right?"

"Like Abaddon?"

"Like Abaddon."

"Mr. Morgan did not put the Luna Wolf in any long-range fleet, but allowed him and his warriors to roam the battle lines at will, choosing any battle they thought appropriate to join: I didn't know she was like this I don’t know if there is any deep meaning in doing this, but I think Abaddon personally likes this arrangement."

"Yes, that descendant of Horus always seems to like to be at the front."

Caliban smiled.

Luther kept waving his hands, greeting every phalanx that passed in front of him. Although his somewhat old body had long been overwhelmed, and although his muscles and bones were hearing painful retorts, he He still insists on giving a return gift to every soldier who cheers for him. In his understanding, this is the responsibility that a commander must fulfill, and it is precisely because he keeps this in mind at all times that he wins the favor of everyone under his command. recognition and respect.

Just got all this.

Luther narrowed his eyes.

He saw it, he saw the endless army stretching from one end of his pupils to the other. Among them were mortals, Astartes warriors, and Titan legions. They sang his name, they shouted Following his victory, they praised Luther's qualifications and greatness as a conductor, and they used their own ways to give back and sing odes that moved Luther.

The cheers of the soldiers resounded throughout the sky, and the Titan Legion raised their heads and cannon heads to pay respect to this great commander, and beside him, Dantioch patted his shoulder. , while smiling, he pointed to the highest peak in the world in the distance.

"That's a good place to photograph a fort, my friend."

"I think I will take people to the foot of the mountain there right away and build a fortress: it is simply a natural pass. It is enough to suppress an entire nest and wilderness. As long as we hollow out the mountain, we can build a fortress inside Store survival supplies for ten years or more.”

Dantioch was always like this, Luther thought, and he had even become accustomed to similar words and actions from the son of Perturabo.

Whenever Caliban's old knights commanded armies to reclaim a world, the sons of Horus would occasionally join in as hounds of honor who charged into battle, and Dantioch, while not obsessed with honor in war, Instead, he was obsessed with building a great war fortress on every world he recovered, and then engraved it with the names of his genetic father and his legions.

This pattern has happened countless times in the past few years: Luther gained the authority and honor of commanding battles, the descendants of Horus gained the pleasure and simplicity of fighting, and Olympian warriors sometimes served as war agents. The backbone was praised, and sometimes in their rare free time, they would carefully carve out one after another more and more perfect steel fortresses as the traces they left in Avalon.

Everyone is content with their lives.

At least Luther does.

Caliban breathed deeply.

The smoke after the battlefield seemed a little too strong, and the sunlight above his head seemed a little too dazzling. Luther could feel a teardrop slipping out of his eyes and streaking across his eyes and cheeks. , low on his stubbled chin.

He couldn't hear what the distant warriors were shouting. He couldn't see the smile on Dantioch's face next to him. He couldn't even remember what he had done in the past few years. How many battles had he experienced, how many honors had he won, and how many times had he realized everything he had dreamed of in the forest of Caliban?

It's like a dream, isn't it?

It's like a dream that he didn't dare to imagine a few years ago: Who would have thought that a knight who wielded a sword in the forests of Caliban in his early years could now be the commander of such a huge fleet? Use the stars and the Milky Way as your battlefield to rebuke Fang Qiu.

Even the greatest and most exaggerated murals in the Knights may not be able to describe the countless journeys he has taken at this time.

Even if he spends every year, every decade, or even longer in Caliban's increasingly rare ancient forest, it can't compare to every second he is experiencing now.

The stubborn teardrop was dragged along by gravity, passing through his somewhat mottled armor, and blew all the way to the high platform next to the boots, but Luther no longer cared about it, he was indulged in a different kind of greatness , he indulged in a regret-free life written by mission and glory.

…

Maybe, at this moment.

He is happy.

——————

"Perhaps at this moment, you are the happiest person in the entire galaxy, aren't you?"

Hawthorne specially came from Avalon, the home planet of the Second Legion. He specially came from the round table of the Mortal Parliament, which was becoming increasingly mature and larger. A precious world of endless help, he came here specially.

"The centuries-old wish of our ancestors has been fulfilled today. Your family and your surname have once again become the masters of this world, and will continue forever under the powerful protection of the empire. Compared with this, The commitment and price we ask you to pay are really insignificant, aren't they?"

The tea in his hand is a rare quality product in Terra, and the paintings on the wall are also pleasing decorations. Even the mortal words that answered his words are enough to make any ruler feel elated. Flattery, but Hawthorne's already dark and shiny heart was not shaken in the slightest by this. He knew very well what the purpose of his arrival was, and he knew very well that he would not and should not give in even a little bit.

"Do you want to regret it, Your Excellency?"

Faced with the mortal's hesitation, Dawnbreaker blinked, and his pupils exuded a dangerous light that belonged exclusively to Terran veterans. This was enough to make the mortal across the table have their hair stand on end, and they immediately swore to God that they would never break their promise.

"That's right, Your Excellency."

The warm smile was as if the small words and attention just now did not exist at all.

"How could I be worried that you would break your promise? After all, there are so many promises in this galaxy, just like the tolerance and compassion provided by our genetic mother.

"You must know, Your Excellency, before you met us, you and your followers were just a bandit in the star field. They were struggling to survive under the pressure of those alien counterparts. The most precious thing in your hands is nothing more than this. An ancient claim to the world, but that was centuries ago.

"Since your family declined and fled during the internal strife, all your ancestors can only regret returning to glory, passing away generation after generation, until you get our help and once again will belong to your throne. Pocket it.”

"From today on, this world, this huge industrial area in the world, its precious population resources, and its important geographical location will belong to you, to the empire, and will forever belong to the mother of our genes."

The words that had been modified in many ways could not wipe away the sorrowful look on the face of the mortal ruler across the table. After hesitating for a long time, he made a humble request to the figure in front of him who could represent a large army.

"There is no problem with taxation and the immediate recruitment of Astartes warriors among the people. I just want to ask for one thing. Can all my heirs not be drafted away?"

"You know, sir, during my long career in the void, my family has been in a state of increasingly depleted population. I only have four sons and three daughters. Counting all the collateral blood relatives, I have only four sons and three daughters. There are less than a hundred people, and although Lord Morgan's agreement is indeed very kind and fair, she requires all her sons to participate in the selection, and even her daughters must participate in the selection, even the most powerful ones among the collateral lines. An outstanding heir is also one of the candidates."

"A thin bloodline is not conducive to the empire's long-term rule here."

"Look at what you said, Your Excellency."

Hawthorne smiled. He slowly tasted the fine wine in the cup. He took out a roll of drawings from his side, spread it out on the table, and told the new speaker of the World Parliament opposite him the kindness that came from his genetic mother. .

"First of all, there is a concept that you need to understand clearly. Your Excellency, our selection is not based on the ancient feudal dynasty's disregard of human life. Our selection is for the selection of the noble Emperor's Angels and Astartes warriors. You must know that in Avalon, how many families are willing to fight each other for such an opportunity, and your family will receive such honor and luck. Under the care of each generation of your family, They will all join in the selection of the Legiones Astartes."

"But I heard..."

"But you have heard that the selection of Astartes warriors is very cruel, Your Excellency?"

"Oh, fathers like you who worry about the lives of their heirs are really rare in the galaxy today, but please don't worry. We will use our credibility to guarantee that we will respect the lives of every candidate. After all, the fact that they can participate in this selection proves their excellence, and it also shows that they are not people who will be ignored or squandered."

"I can assure you in my own name, Your Excellency, that among the descendants you will participate in the selection, those who are the best will become Lord Morgan's warriors and become the angels of the great emperor, while those who have shown talents but have not reached the level of Ah Stat warriors are standard, and they will not be wasted. They will join the great loyal heir academy and be assigned appropriate education and training based on their abilities and personalities. They may become a qualified Imperial The governor, or law enforcement personnel from the Ministry of Justice, or only mid-level technical officials who are not brilliant but important enough."

"Of course, your daughters will also receive the same attention. Lady Morgan is working hard to create a unique army of mortal women. She has even designed a power armor specifically for this army. If your daughters can pass the test, She will also become a warrior fighting for the empire and gain glory and life that ordinary people cannot imagine."

"Of course, we will not sit back and watch loyal bloodlines like yours be cut off. Those heirs who were too unlucky in the selection, or the most mature and stable ones, will come back to you again, and they will become your rights. As the successor of glory, inherit your family, inherit the identity of Speaker, as long as your bloodline continues in this world, the Speaker of this World Parliament will still belong to your family. This is the guarantee from the Empire and Lord Morgan. ."

"Similarly, in order to reward you for your hard work for the empire, those worlds that are explored and suitable for colonization in the distant stars, in another galaxy or even another star region, will be given priority. If you are willing, you can send outstanding descendants of your family to give them help and support and let them establish branches outside the distant star field."

"Of course, just like your sons who have successfully been promoted, it may be difficult for them to meet you again. After all, the stars are so far away, but I think the continuation of the family must be better than these little indifferent and alienated ones. More important, isn’t it?”

"And let's not mention the bloodline that became the Astartes warriors. If your heir is lucky enough to become a governor, law enforcement officer or technocrat, he will not be active near his hometown. You know , it’s just the most basic hedging.”

"But if their work is good enough, they will be rewarded by the Primarch, and their lifespan will be long enough to meet you again. Of course, you must also work hard enough. If you are shrewd and cunning, If your smoothness and smoothness can make all of us shine, we will absorb you into the higher-level sector council, where there are countless elders of the world ruler family who are as good as you. You will discuss the most important things in the Avalon Federation. We will discuss important issues and obtain adequate life-extending surgery and protection."

"Think about it, Your Excellency, from now on, your family is so lucky. You yourself have the possibility of rising to greatness. Each generation of your bloodline will kiss greatness, and your family will always become the representative of this world parliament. President, you will always be admired. As long as you can remain loyal to Lord Morgan, as long as you can faithfully complete every order from Avalon, your legacy will continue forever.

"Of course, I know that this will cause some minor troubles. For example, the scarcity of blood may lead to insufficient governance, but please rest assured that Lord Morgan has already thought of all this for you."

"We will send governors who have graduated from Chungse Academy in this world and place them in the legal department directly under Avalon. The governor will bring professional and supporting technocrats to solve your administrative troubles. The legal department will ensure that this world Operating in a fair manner, of course, in the past few years they may be Ultramarians, but in the future, they will gradually be replaced by elites graduated from Zhongsi Academy."

"With them here, you don't need to worry about your descendants being troubled by complicated government affairs. You only need to enjoy the benefits and wealth that the empire brings to you as a matter of course. At the same time, our auxiliary army is stationed not far from here. It’s not far away, and the outpost of our Astartes warriors can complete the support within one Terran standard month. Your family’s safety is nothing to worry about.”

"Just be the Speaker. You don't need to worry about anything more. Whether it's daily administrative governance, the selection of soldiers and new students of Zhongji College, or the execution of justice, we will take care of it."

"Of course, the parliament you lead also has the power to legislate. After obtaining the governor's approval, you can promulgate some laws that apply to this world."

"You must know, Your Excellency, whether it is the supporting governor or the directly affiliated legal department, now they are benefits that only the core world can enjoy. The ordinary world cannot enjoy such care from the Primarch."

"Then finally, let me congratulate you again."

"Welcome to Avalon."

"Welcome to Morgan's country."