Warhammer: In the Name of Nirvana

Ⅰ

My name is C, and I am a member of the ancient and powerful Dawnbreaker Legion, currently attached to Captain Cortez's Third Company: This year is my one hundred and forty-fifth year of service in this legion, therefore, I He can be considered a veteran.

Of course, I am actually not sure whether I am a veteran. After all, in my impression, the first military operation I participated in was inevitably a bit shabby: we followed the Lord of Mankind to level a building. A place called [Thunder Stone Church], and this resume seems a bit mediocre among the legions.

However, I don’t care much about these false names: as a Terran warrior, I have seen too much, from the Unification War to the glory of the Great Crusade, from the conquest of the moon to the successive returns of the emperor’s children. I have witnessed with my own eyes how the existence called the Human Empire was created with blood and war, and now, I am happy to sit in its shadow and become an ordinary member.

Now, like most of my old friends, I am in a state of semi-retirement, and matters related to glory, status and power are still left to the new recruits who have just served for more than a hundred years. Bar.

I am just an ordinary veteran of the Dawnbreakers: an ordinary veteran who has witnessed the fighting form of the Thunder Warriors, witnessed the magnificent conquest of Mars by the Double-Headed Eagle, and witnessed the reunion between Horus and the Emperor. .

In the Dawnbreaker Legion, these experiences of mine are nothing.

Ⅱ

Today's weather is very good on [Dawn Goddess].

Sunny, with a maximum temperature of 25 degrees Celsius and a minimum temperature of 21 degrees Celsius. The subspace breeze blowing from the engine room is level 2 to level 3, with Conrad in some areas.

Overall, it is a good weather suitable for indoor sports and weddings and funerals.

And at the beginning of this beautiful day, Captain Cortez came to me and thrust two newcomers into my hands: In the name of the great mother of genes, I actually don’t want these two talents. The little boy has just served for decades, but there is no way, the shortage of manpower is an objective reality.

After all, even an old guy like me who doesn’t care about worldly affairs knows that the current Dawnbreaker Legion is in a very embarrassing situation: on the one hand, the Lord Primarch’s continuous hard work on legion affairs has begun to bear fruit; The Second Legion is booming in all areas, but on the other hand...

This means we are even more short of people.

The team I originally led was disintegrated under such circumstances: except for me, who was the captain, all four of my old buddies were promoted to the team captains of the new company, bringing with them new soldiers and new blood, one team at a time. The team that had been fighting for fifty years just disappeared.

Very helpless, but there is nothing we can do.

But even so, I don't want to just send new blood so casually.

After all, the team I am in is a [Dulahan].

Ⅲ

The so-called [Dulahan] refers to the Destroyer Squad in the Dawnbreaker Legion. This nickname is said to come from the Celtic myth of Holy Terra in ancient times, and it also has a more famous derivative name: the Headless Horseman. .

As a member of [Dulahan], we will only appear on the most desperate, terrifying, and most needless battlefields. Our presence often means only one thing: our great genetic mother has lost everything. of patience.

All along, no matter who our opponents are, their endings will only be extremely miserable: but I believe that those primarchs who can make us merciful have lost their patience and must be dead.

After all, as the Destroyer Squad in the Legion, what we are most worried about is not appearing on those terrible battlefields, but worrying that our bodhisattva-hearted Primarch will be merciful and be exploited by those despicable enemies: although this kind of thing sounds like Ridiculous, but actually not funny at all.

Those battle brothers from other legions, such as the Iron Warriors or the Luna Wolves, have laughed at us for this, but no Dawnbreaker will be angry with them: after all, they don't even have their own genetic mother, and How is it possible to understand our heartfelt concerns?

On the contrary, the Ultramarines have a subtle empathy with us in this regard, although their empathy is a bit strange: compared to our passionate support for our mother, the feelings shown by Guilliman's children are somewhat...

aged?

Ⅳ

However, if you exclude these insignificant parts, [Dulahan] is definitely one of the most terrifying forces in the entire Dawnbreaker Legion. I have absolute confidence in this.

After all, more than a hundred years ago, we [Dulahan]’s partners and competitors were the [Dread Wings] in the Dark Angel Legion, and even the [Murderers] among the Dread Wings. , and now, our Gene Mother is also reorganizing those of us who hold the power of destruction based on what she saw and heard among the Dark Angels in the past.

It is still unknown who is stronger between us Dullahan Destroyers and Dreadwings, but one thing is confirmed, that is, we [Dulahan] are healthier: after all, as early as genes, In the first year after her mother returned to the legion, she stopped all use of [radiation weapons] in the legion.

This order was once pushed back by the Legion Council: Although those battle brothers who use [radiation weapons] often have to face bionic transformation after decades of fighting, or be buried in the Dreadnought. However, the combat effectiveness of [Radiation Weapon] itself is something that the legion cannot abandon.

However, after the Legion Council and us, the Destroyer Squad, joined hands and opposed the request of the original body three times in a row.

She got angry.

Ⅴ

It's so scary when she gets angry.

Ⅵ

Therefore, we had to reluctantly give all the radiation weapons to the visitors of the Iron Warriors for free.

The sons of Perturabo were very moved: most of them said that this was the first gift they had received since becoming Astartes warriors, and that this gift was so practical and reliable.

…

To be honest, the joy on their faces even made me feel a little guilty.

Ⅶ

When I gave my radiation weapons to the Iron Warrior who had fought alongside me, in a state of mind that I couldn't explain myself, I whispered to him the dangers these weapons carried. As for his reaction? …

"Decades?"

He was stunned for a moment, and then he smiled so calmly that it surprised me.

"It's okay, friend: I probably won't live that long."

Ⅷ

…

There are no words to describe my mood at that time.

Ⅸ

After this complicated conversation, perhaps out of curiosity, the Iron Warrior once asked me why he fired these radiation weapons.

I didn’t hide it from him, and told him everything in detail: In fact, the matter itself is not complicated, but the mother of our genes puts our health above the pursuit of victory and glory. .

Frankly speaking, as an Astartes warrior, I feel that this idea is not very correct, and is even a bit negative: If our lives are more important than victory, then why should we be called warriors? ?

But I can't disobey her: who calls her the mother of our genes?

I confided these minor complaints to my Iron Warrior friend one by one, and then I found that the way he looked at me became a little complicated: there was emotion in it, but there was also some inexplicable color. .

how to say……

I remember that I once looked at Lord Ahriman in the arena with this kind of gaze.

…

It’s really confusing.

Ⅹ

Overall, I had a pleasant time with my Iron Warrior friend, and he said goodbye to me in a thoughtful state.

When we met the next day, I noticed something was wrong, because his gray power armor seemed to be glowing with some strange silver light.

This is undoubtedly a very clever painting technique: when he stands in the queue of Iron Warriors, he looks no different from other Iron Warriors, but when he stands in the queue of Dawnbreaker, he looks different Like a somewhat special Dawnbreaker.

He told me that this was the result of internal deliberations among the delegation of the Fourth Army, because such a painting would be conducive to joint operations: the Army Council seemed to agree with this.

But compared to these, I am curious about another thing.

"How the hell did you paint your power armor that color."

I asked him.

He was silent for a long time: I have never seen him silent for so long since we met, and it was not until finally that he gave me a very blunt answer.

"Um……"

"Practice makes perfect."

ⅩⅠ

The association with the Iron Warriors is just a fun little thing: in fact, compared to the somewhat arrogant Luna Wolves and the Ultramarines who always like to steal something from us, Perturabo The descendants of are undoubtedly our most popular allies.

After ten years of fighting side by side, this company has been regarded as a member of the Dawnbreaker Legion by many battle brothers. Not only do they fight bravely and work hard, but they also actively integrate into the Dawnbreaker Legion and overcome many hardships. They performed brilliantly in the battle.

The Fourth Army is also sending more delegations one after another. Over the years, almost 500 Iron Warriors have served as expatriates here, and 82 of them have served bravely in the past ten years. Sacrifice and become a member of the heroic soul world in the Avalon galaxy.

…

To be honest, if I had the freedom to choose, I would rather have two Iron Warriors replenish my squad than have me bring in two new recruits from scratch.

But obviously, my complaints cannot reverse the fact: the Iron Warriors are the Iron Warriors after all, and they belong to Perturabo's Iron Warriors, not Morgan's.

Even though our genetic mother and the Lord of Olympia have a well-known friendship, this cannot change the belonging of these Iron Warriors.

After all, not everyone is the proud son of Horus. He has a father who can pamper him infinitely, allowing him to lead different warriors as a mere primarch.

ⅩⅡ

To be honest, I look down on people who are pampered by their elders.

Even if he is the original body.

ⅩⅢ

…

I don’t know why: whenever I have this thought, I always feel a pang of conscience.

Maybe it's an illusion.

ⅩⅣ

But all of this can't change what I'm doing now: after receiving these two recruits who couldn't even use the plasma incineration gun and vortex weapon, I decided to take them to have breakfast first: today's three Cafeteria No. 2 has my favorite creamy bacon pasta and fried cheese and ham sandwich.

And just when we walked to the door of Canteen No. 3, my eyes suddenly noticed something wrong: something seemed to be flickering in the shadow near the ventilation duct.

I have a hunch...

The next second, amidst the shouts of the two recruits, just as I expected, a slender humanoid silhouette appeared in the shadow.

A Conrad-Curze grew.

…

And this doesn't surprise me at all.

In fact, except for the two new recruits behind me who have never seen the world, even the mortal assistants who have served on the Dawn Goddess for a period of time have not the slightest concern about the appearance of this Primarch. fear.

Except those in the logistics department.

Even some of the more courageous mortal assistants would smile and greet the primarch who had lived on the battleship for more than ten years: This friendly gesture seemed to discourage Lord Conrad. Trying to be scary, but with little success.

I understand this: after all, fear is maintained by killing, and these mortal helpers cannot see the blood and horror of Conrad on the battlefield, so they will not be like us who can witness the dawn of it all. By.

We are afraid of him.

In other words: respect.

"Good morning, my lord."

I also stepped forward to salute him: this behavior attracted the admiration of the two newcomers, but I had to do it, after all, he saved my life in a previous combat operation, even if it was just an instinctive It was so easy that he hardly thought about it.

The original body seemed to recognize me and nodded in response to my greetings. His memory has improved visibly over the years, and he can even remember every Dawnbreaker on the Dawn Goddess.

At the time, I didn't realize what his response meant.

It wasn't until five minutes later, when I was carrying my breakfast and taking my two juniors to share the table with several mortal friends, that I found that Lord Conrad was also carrying his breakfast and squeezed into the table where I was. This table.

…

The original body master didn't seem to have a very accurate understanding of his body shape.

Although this table is large enough for me to take a nap on it, the weight of three Dawnbreakers, five mortal assistants and one Primarch is still too much for it to bear.

I had to get very close to Lord Conrad: believe me, feeling the cold breath of Nostramo at such a close distance is definitely not a good thing to be thankful for. I even suspected that he just wanted to listen to our conversation.

Unfortunately, my mortal friends did, without realizing it, discuss something remarkable: in voices that Conrad could easily hear.

They were discussing Nostramo.

ⅩⅤ

Oh ho, it’s over.

ⅩⅥ

In fact, I have heard about Nostramo before: after all, this world that fell on the southern border of the ghoul stars is too close to the Far Eastern border. Although out of suspicion, Avalon's rule has always been It has not expanded in its direction, but the trade between the two sides has never been interrupted.

Until now, Nostramo has been Avalon's most important source of fine gold. Huge trade fleets will regularly visit the world of eternal night: rumors first spread among these trade fleets.

According to the captains and sailors, Nostramo now seems to have become a bit strange: it is prosperous again, but it has taken on a disturbing air of emptiness that some crew members found in that world. Many newly built gold-selling caves were opened, and some crew members even disappeared in that world.

Ten years ago, all of this was unimaginable: obviously, there are some quiet changes that are slowly appearing, or reviving, on Nostramo.

The most obvious sign is that the Nostramo officials responsible for negotiating business with Avalon have unknowingly been replaced by another group of people, and the old faces that have not been replaced have also appeared. There is an unpleasant color of greed.

…

I listened with fear to my mortal friends discussing these news, and the butter bacon pasta in my mouth became tasteless: but contrary to my expectation, Conrad seemed to have no more reaction to these news?

He looked very calm: as if all this did not exceed his expectations?

He even saw my worry, that deep voice carrying words that only the two of us could hear, squeezed out of his pale throat.

"Don't worry, my friend."

The Primarch was polite.

"A few years ago, I would have been furious because of this: but it's different now. I understand a lot of things and the inevitability of this situation."

"I didn't think well enough."

"But it doesn't matter."

He seemed to be talking to himself, smiling that intimidating smile.

"I'll take care of it."

"Use a...appropriate method."

ⅩⅦ

The Primarch was indeed calm: just as he said.

In fact, Lord Conrad seems to be more interested in another news than the news about Nostramo: that is a case coming from Avalon, and its rumor is that it is related to a new batch of supplies. The fleet arrived together.

Yes, even though we are currently on an expedition to the northwest frontier of the galaxy, the supply fleet sailing from Avalon has never been interrupted. They are loyal and continuously send us some supplies that can only be produced from Avalon. special supplies, such as a new batch of Dawnbreaker warriors.

Speaking of which, we have to boast about our genetic mother: one of the greatest achievements of the original body in the more than ten years since she returned to the Legion is to create an astonishing logistics transportation network. She has fully absorbed and mobilized the production capacity of the entire Far Eastern Frontier, allowing the Dawnbreaker Legion to have the largest and most capable logistics fleet in the entire empire, five to eight times that of other Astartes Legions.

Since her return, situations such as insufficient supplies or frugality have completely disappeared from the legion. Although we still maintain the habit of being diligent and thrifty, the huge supply fleet allows us to have a better life in battle and life. Plenty of choices: For example, the food level is superior to all legions.

Is this good?

This is good.

ⅩⅧ

Lord Conrad was eating a plate of tomato egg rolls and custard toast for ten people in front of him while listening to the case that caused an uproar in the city.

The case itself is not complicated, and even has the color of a classic tragedy: a man went to steal in order to keep his two children who were about to starve to death, and in the struggle after being exposed, he accidentally pushed the shopkeeper down, resulting in How should the sentence be given to a single father who died of a heart attack?

This case itself did not happen on Avalon, but on a backward world that had just been conquered: if this kind of thing happened on Avalon, it would cause the primarch's anger and storm. .

I have no interest in this kind of thing, but Mr. Conrad seemed to be listening particularly carefully. While listening and thinking, it seemed that he was really engaged in a long self-argument in his mind.

Until we finished breakfast and left one after another, he was still holding his bowl of quinoa, asparagus, shrimp, red grapefruit salad, chewing slowly and thinking deeply.

I'm not surprised by this: in recent years, listening to various things and showing a thinking attitude seems to have become the norm for Lord Conrad, and what we, the Dawnbreakers, need to do is to listen to all kinds of things while he is thinking. Take a detour when needed.

By the way, I dismissed the mortal helpers who took the photos: politely, of course.

ⅩⅨ

After finishing breakfast, I began to lead my two juniors to have a rough understanding of the mysteries of being a [Dulahan]: This is not a simple thing. After all, we people are, in a sense, It represents the last trump card and dignity protection of the Primarch, and the face of the Primarch is far more important than the lives of our descendants.

Of course, this kind of thing can be said in private: if you say it in public or in front of the original body, you will be reprimanded. After all, among the preaching sergeants responsible for the public opinion atmosphere within the legion, there are only some dedicated people to keep an eye on this kind of thing. [Inefficient words of sacrifice].

When I say this, I want to laugh: those preaching sergeants who can meet the Primarch regularly worship the Primarch much more than we do. They even put the Primarch's name on the Emperor. Before.

That is to say, I failed to hold the ring for ten consecutive times in the arena and lost to that old monster who had served for at least two hundred years. Otherwise, I would have to hold the position of preaching sergeant.

ⅩⅩ

In the explanation of becoming a real [Dulahan], I first answered a question from the recruits: That is why in the Dawnbreaker Legion, the status of mortal assistants can be so high.

Many recruits have this problem: although they do not reject maintaining good relations with mortal assistants and even becoming friends, they are still very confused about this in their hearts.

After all, although the Ultramarines, Salamanders, and Emperor's Children also have good intentions towards their mortals, that kind of kindness is more like a protective mentality and the mercy of a superior, unlike us: the Dawnbreaker Legion We respect every mortal helper from the bottom of our hearts. Our goodwill towards mortals is an almost equal respect.

Even among all the Astartes Legions, this attitude is unique.

Therefore, of course, the recruits will have a confused mentality about this: This is not surprising, after all, I have been curious about this issue before being taught by those preaching sergeants.

And now, I know.

ⅩⅩⅠ

“Actually, in the final analysis, this kind of respect just comes from one sentence.”

“With great power comes great responsibility.”

That's what I told them.

"I believe you all know that due to some unknown reasons, the number of Dawnbreaker Legion will be in a sluggish state for a long time. However, our tactics pay attention to flexibility and three-dimensional strikes, which is doomed that our battle lines are often It will be spread out and focus most of its forces on those breakthrough points."

"Therefore, in order to prevent each heavy army group from being defeated by the enemy, we must have a powerful mortal auxiliary army: they have to take on many responsibilities, from the most basic filling and maintaining the front line, to real-time follow-up of us who are breaking the dawn The attacker’s offensive trend and ensuring uninterrupted strikes must all be involved.”

"This determines that our mortal auxiliary army cannot simply fill or even consume like other legions. They must shoulder more responsibilities and have stronger strength and subjective initiative. In the legion's In tactics, these battle-hardened mortals will not be consumables, but a very important part, even one of the core of tactics."

"Without their help, even if our attack can tear through the enemy's defense line, it will not be possible to kill the opponent quickly: just like a needle tip is sharper than a machete, but it will definitely give way to the latter in a bloody fight .”

"For us, these mortal assistants are very important, very important: and this is the most basic reason why we respect them, not because of the so-called legion culture and mercy, but because they have the power themselves, relying on Their hard work and dedication.”

"There's no such thing as gratuitous respect."

"So, respect those mortal auxiliaries, little guys, they deserve our respect from the bottom of our hearts, because it was obtained with their own sweat, consciousness and blood. Avalon just provided them with a stage .”

"If you look at the whole galaxy, there probably won't be another stage."

ⅩⅩⅡ

I don't know if my two descendants listened to my words. Anyway, it took me several months to learn to respect rather than pity these mortals: and the mortal assistants obviously also prefer the former.

My first mortal friend was made at the moment I truly learned how to respect him.

And it wasn't until during a critical battle that he and his team appeared in that crucial position beyond my expectations, bringing the entire battle to a quick end, that I truly understood the meaning of this sentence. It also truly confirmed the benefits of this sentence to the Legion.

In this case, I have to let it continue to spread. This is my responsibility.

ⅩⅩⅢ

When I took my two juniors to the Legion's Library No. 12 to borrow books, I discovered another rare species named Conrad.

This didn’t surprise me: Within Conrad’s habitat, the canteen and the library are the two places he frequents most frequently. He seems to have a special liking for a certain canteen’s specialties, and he likes the food in the library very much. A tight space (for him).

For a period of time, he insisted on bringing lunch to the library to eat together. As a result, every time we saw him, we would find clothes stained by juice: until one day, our primarch rarely took Kang Lord Ladd was dragged into the lower deck.

They disappeared all afternoon.

No one knows what happened.

Later that day, Lord Conrad suddenly appeared in the laundry room, and with horrified eyes borrowed a hard wooden basin of the largest size, an extended washboard, and powerful laundry detergent for fifty people.

From that day on, His Excellency Conrad's daily attire was a model of cleanliness.

ⅩⅩⅣ

However, even though rumors like this are very interesting, and even though Lord Conrad will still smile and say hello to me, it is still impossible for me to look at him with a purely friendly attitude like those mortals.

As a veteran who has been licking blood on the tip of a knife for more than a hundred years, I can swear by my thirteen struggles from death: Conrad Coates is still dangerous today.

His savagery, his bloodthirst, and his bone-deep madness have not changed at all: it's just that, through some kind of acquired guidance and education, he seems to have learned to recognize and suppress the existence of these instincts.

He also learned elegance: a thug-in-suit elegance that manifested itself in daily biting sarcasm, mocking smiles, and sung Nostramo eulogies as he disemboweled his enemies on the battlefield. .

To put it simply: he is still crazy, but at least he has learned to control his madness, or in other words, he chooses to only show his crazy side to certain people or groups of people?

I don’t want to speculate on the fate of those unlucky people: this kind of suppressed madness will definitely lead to more terrifying outbreaks. The more calm and gentle Conrad behaves on weekdays, the more terrifying he will be when he reveals his madness.

Fortunately, neither the Dawnbreakers nor our mortal auxiliaries will be the Primarch's target.

This is the greatest good news.

ⅩⅩⅤ

Having witnessed the performance of this midnight ghost on the battlefield, I can only cheer in my heart for the powerful power of our genetic mother: cheering that she can suppress this natural beast and make him at least know how to fight when necessary. In the meantime, he restrained his fangs.

ⅩⅩⅥ

But sometimes, I also think about it.

Maybe: Our genetic mother can actually completely change Conrad, allowing his elegant side to completely take over, instead of letting elegance and madness occupy the midnight ghost at the same time as he does now, making him a more contradictory and contradictory person. concrete existence.

A real...ordinary person?

…

Was our Primarch an accident, or a deliberate act?

ⅩⅩⅦ

I know.

I'm not in a position to think about that.

I'm not very interested in the answer to this question either.

After all, the midnight ghost is just a visitor.

And Morgan...

He is the eternal master of the Dawnbreaker Legion.