Warhammer: Saving Humanity Begins with the Resurrection of Horus

Page 45

"You were the company commander of Star Claw back then, and you were also a supporter of Huron. I remember you. During the coup, you and your company were a key part of what we needed to control."

Is that so? Is that why you remembered my name?

Leo bit his lip, his heart filled with an indescribable shame and disgust.

"But that's not why I remember your name, nor is it the reason he remembers your name."

Lynch continued, as he walked through the crowd to the Duel Cage and stood in front of Leo.

"The reason we remember your name is simple: you have abandoned darkness for light, you are still his offspring, still a loyal member of the empire, that's all, not for any other reason, Casillas Leo, do you understand?"

"I...I...I understand."

Leo's body trembled slightly. He lowered his head and looked at the short mortal in front of him, but the emotions in his heart drove him to turn his head completely away and not look into those indifferent eyes.

How could I? I have no right to do this. I'm a traitor, I...

"You do not understand."

With a sigh, Lin Qi looked at Leo with a hint of helplessness in his eyes. He turned his head to look at the people below the stage, many of whom were soldiers from the First Company, the most elite veterans in Star Claw, who had etched their glory in countless battles.

They faced the blasphemous eyes of traitors, the savage gaze of orcs, and the mocking eyes of the Eldar.

In the past, when faced with these challenges, none of them chose to avoid them; instead, they all chose to meet them head-on with unwavering resolve.

But now, faced with the indifferent gaze of an ordinary person, they all lowered their heads without exception, not daring to meet his eyes.

"You all don't understand."

Lynch shook his head, then looked at Asford, who had been following behind him.

"Asford".

"I am here, sir."

"Notify Ryan to gather all the soldiers here, regardless of whether they are new recruits or veterans, or whether they are currently on mission. I need to see them in the plaza within one hour. Also, everyone, put on your power armor, but don't carry any weapons."

"The reason, sir?"

"Let's talk about me, or rather, us..."

Lynch looked at Asford, took a deep breath, and then said his last words.

"We have something to say to you."

Chapter 59: Some Historical Issues Regarding the Claw of the Stars

"Is this how you handle things?"

"Yes, that's how I handle it."

Standing on a makeshift platform, Lin Qi looked at the increasingly dense crowd before him and silently echoed Horus's words.

Horus lowered his head and began to ponder Lynch's approach.

The internal conflicts within the Starclaws are not actually that serious right now; they mainly stem from the conflicts between the former Huron faction and others. At first glance, this situation seems similar to the situation when the Legion was first taken over by the Primarchs during the Great Crusade—the conflict between the early Terran members of the Legion and the Primarchs' Motherstar-born members who later joined the Legion.

The Primarchs' approach to such conflicts during the Great Crusade was actually quite simple, generally falling into two categories.

The first option is to use the Primarch's authority and commands to send all Terrans to the most dangerous battlefields. Once all the Terrans are dead, the conflict will naturally be resolved.

The second approach is to use the Primarch's authority and personal charisma to eliminate the barriers between the Starborn and Terran. After all, they all share the same father and are brothers bound by blood, so what conflicts can't they overcome?

However, Lynch didn't intend to use either of these two methods. First, Star Claw wasn't a Legion, and the conflicts were only similar to, not the same as, those during the Legion era. Furthermore...

From Lynch's perspective, both of the above methods rely too heavily on the Primarch. If something happens to the Primarch, the internal conflicts could very well explode on the spot.

However, my next method also relies on the Primarch's personal charisma... but there's no other way, since personal charisma is really important for a qualified leader.

And the Astartes are all for this.

"Just do it your way."

After thinking it over, Horus spoke to Lynch.

"With my endorsement, this method might actually work, and... we do need some changes."

"I will do my best. If any problems arise, I'll need you to step in and save the day. That will be a lot of trouble for you, Horus."

"Yes, no problem, go for it."

With Horus's approval, Lynch gained a significant boost of confidence. Taking a deep breath, he refocused his attention on the Star Claws, who had almost fully assembled below the stage.

Under Huron's leadership, the Star Claws now number 3,224. While this number might not have been significant in the Legion era, it is a truly terrifying number in the current Warband era.

Aside from the small number of warbands that genuinely treat the Holy Scriptures like toilet paper, the rest of the warbands would need around four to barely match the Star Claws in terms of numbers.

Not to mention that all three thousand people have complete equipment and training, unlike the hastily produced Astartes created by Chaos using the demon's womb, who are born without skin and have to find and attach it themselves.

"My lord, the Astartes of Star Claw have all assembled, and the Servo Skull has been connected. You may speak now."

Asford walked over and spoke to Lynch in a low voice.

Lin Qi nodded and responded in a friendly tone.

“Alright, Asford, you did a good job. Go down and stand with your brothers. After all, you're a member of Star Claw, aren't you?”

"But sir, your safety...!"

"Don't worry, my safety is guaranteed."

Lynch spoke to Asford, who at that moment also noticed the golden figure standing in the shadows not far away.

Has that Imperial Guard retrieved his equipment yet?

Asford was somewhat unwilling, but he didn't refuse Lynch's request again. He knew that for a fully equipped Imperial Guard, a distance of only a few dozen meters was practically negligible.

With safety not an issue, he had no reason to continue standing behind Lynch for the time being.

Asford stepped down from the platform, and with his return, the Astartes of Star Claw were fully assembled. The silver-white power armor converged, resembling an ocean of that color, reflected on Lynch's retina.

Standing on the high platform, Lin Qi felt the 3,224 gazes gathering around him. He straightened his back, then slowly lowered his head, meeting their eyes one by one without fear.

Some people, after realizing his gaze, straightened their posture even more, radiating a strong sense of confidence. Others, while not reacting much upon realizing it, Lin Qi clearly sensed their aura suddenly drop significantly.

Furthermore, the crowd below was also vaguely divided into two parts. Judging from the composition of the people among them, Lin Qi also discovered that this was the division between the former Huron faction and others.

It's urgent! If we drag this out, it could turn into some kind of bomb. If it becomes like the First Legion, that would be a huge disaster.

Then, the next moment, Lin Qi spoke.

The servo skull next to him started working, and its amplification system amplified Lynch's voice several times, so that even Astartes, located at the very edge of the square, could hear what he was saying clearly.

“I speak to the Claw of the Stars.”

Lin Qi's tone was calm, but every word he spoke was like a heavy hammer, striking the hearts of every soldier present.

“I have accepted your father’s will, so I can assure you that every word I say next represents your father’s will and is what your father wants me to convey to you.”

"First of all, I must tell you something: after learning some things, your father is very disappointed with your current performance."

There was no sound, and Lynch couldn't see the changes in the faces of the helmeted Astartes, but he knew clearly that his words had undoubtedly dealt a devastating blow to them.

As for the reason...

Because they are the sons of Horus, and his words represent the will of Horus, that alone is enough.

To disappoint one's father, the creator of Astartes, is perhaps the most painful and resentful punishment in the world.

"There have been divisions and rifts within you because of some things that happened in the past. We all know the reasons for these things, and we also know that these things cannot be blamed on these soldiers."

"But estrangement and gaps still arose. Why? I don't know, after all, I'm just a mortal. But I believe you all know, everyone here knows, including your genetic father. That's why he was disappointed, even more disappointed in himself than in you."

"So now... I want to ask everyone here a question, not as a representative of the will of your Father of Genetics, but simply in my own name."

Lin Qi gazed at the crowd below the stage, his voice becoming serious and heavy, but if one listened carefully, one could also discern the sincerity beneath that seriousness and heaviness.

"Are you willing to let your genetic father feel disappointed in you? Are you willing to let him feel disappointed in himself?"

A long silence followed, until the first person spoke up, and only then did responses gradually emerge regarding the question.

"Do not."

Lynch looked in the direction of the sound and, through the markings on the power armor and Horus's reminder, successfully recognized the person's identity.

The Star Claw Company Commander, Casillas Leo, who was just in the training field.

"never!"

The sounds grew louder and louder, eventually converging into a unified whole, no longer chaotic but orderly, forming a deafening roar that echoed throughout the Thorn Court.

“Very good. You are willing to change for your genetic father. That would be even better.”

Lin Qi nodded and raised one hand. Upon seeing this gesture, the crowd gradually fell silent, returning to their previous stillness.

"Then let's have a chat, of course, just a chat, about some historical issues related to the Claw of the Stars."

Chapter 60: Writer's block

I'm stuck in writer's block. The dorm is as hot as a sauna, unbearably stuffy, and I just can't seem to get anything out of it.

(I wrote two thousand words that were utter garbage; even I couldn't stand reading them, let alone you guys...)

(I'll make up for today's content tomorrow. Sorry, not that I'm kidding, I just really can't write it.)

Chapter 61: Loyalty that is not absolute is absolute disloyalty.

"The Astartes Codex records how an Astartes should live and how he should face his loyal brothers."

Lynch stood on the high platform. His voice wasn't loud, but through the amplification device in the servo skull, it could be clearly transmitted to the ears of every Astartes present.

"But now, cracks have appeared within us. Some of you may think that such cracks are normal, after all, in your view... if loyalty is not absolute, then it is absolutely disloyal."

A commotion broke out among the Astartes below the stage. They broke their silence and began whispering and discussing what Lynch had just said.

Loyalty that is not absolute is absolute disloyalty.

Offstage, Leo pondered these words in his mind, and three seconds later, a bitter smile appeared on his face.

Yes, he's right. Following Huron's past is like a stain on a blank sheet of paper. No matter how glorious or honorable his later life may be, no matter how many times he proves his loyalty to the Primarch and the Emperor in battle, when others mention him...

This person once followed a traitor of the empire.