At the Starport of Rostov II, a Space Marine strike cruiser was docking.
The Starport of Rostov II had been rebuilt and transformed from a single Starport into a small, integrated space station.
Inheriting the Empire's consistent square-shaped space station design, the Rostov II Starport itself was divided into four areas.
Although not divided into four independent quadrants like the Ramirez-class Starforts, the four areas of the Rostov II Starport each served different functions.
The East District, as the original part of the Starport, still served as the port, and most ships arriving at the Starport docked here.
However, to facilitate the docking of Imperial Navy patrol fleets and to cope with the increasingly busy operations of the Starport, the berths in this area were expanded.
Currently, it could accommodate four cruisers and various other types of vessels, and although it might still be a bit small for a busy port, it was sufficient for now.
The North District was the small Forge Alex had purchased. Although this forging furnace was not large, after upgrading and expansion, it could also be used as a small space factory.
It was currently the main industrial center of Rostov II, where the weapons and equipment for the Defense Force and Battle Sisters were produced, and most of the industrial goods needed on the planet also relied on its production capacity.
To protect the natural environment of Rostov II, Alex did not allow factories to be built on the planet's surface. He even planned to relocate the original industrial capacity and protein factories.
The West District of the Starport was prepared for this, but it was still in planning and had not been implemented due to time constraints.
The Ecclesiarchy greatly praised this; they were now very concerned about everything on Rostov II, especially environmental issues.
Although the Empire often overfished and over-industrialized many worlds, this did not mean that the Empire did not understand the relationship between environmental protection and agricultural production.
For the Ecclesiarchy, they urgently hoped to maintain the natural environment of Rostov II, so that Alex could plant more grapes and brew more sanctus wine.
To ensure the production of sanctus wine and to replenish the Battle Sisters' losses from previous battles, the Ecclesiarchy of the Mariupol Sector almost scoured all the monasteries and schola progenia within the Sector, gathering three thousand prospective Battle Sisters and sending them to Alex on a Dictator-class cruiser.
As for the accompanying weapons and equipment, Alex didn't even have to ask; they were sent along with the ship, and there were even two drop pod monasteries included.
These prospective Battle Sisters were clearly the personnel the Ecclesiarchy intended to use to expand the grape-growing area on Rostov II.
Of course, due to the special nature of the Battle Sisters, they also served as armed security forces.
As for the Orbital Ring Alex had previously hoped the Ecclesiarchy would fund, the Sector Ecclesiastical Council was currently discussing the proposal, and the possibility of it passing was very high.
And while they were discussing this issue, the Sector Ecclesiastical Council had already funded the purchase of a small outpost and dragged it to the Rostov System, where it was currently anchored near the Mandeville Point to bolster the system's defenses.
As for the Adeptus Mechanicus, they were more concentrated in the South District of the Starport, as it had been converted into a small repair drydock, currently providing maintenance and servicing for frigates and destroyers.
With its further expansion, it would be able to accommodate cruiser-class vessels for maintenance and even complete the final assembly of cruiser-class vessels if needed.
However, currently, due to various reasons such as manpower and construction, both the South and West Districts of the Starport had not yet reached their optimal design state.
As for the central area of the Starport, it was converted into a small commercial district to accommodate Imperial Navy fleets and other docking ships.
After all, even Imperial Navy crewmen, sailors, and the large number of lower and mid-ranking officers had a need to go ashore and relax.
Thanks to the Starport's expansion, the port's berths and space were much larger than before. Even with a Dictator-class cruiser already docked, the Space Marine strike cruiser could still smoothly enter and dock.
This prevented the previous embarrassment of ships arriving with no place to dock.
"Governor, what is the origin of this Space Marine Chapter?" Rachel, the Chamberlain, asked curiously beside Alex.
For ordinary Imperial Worlds, the Emperor's Angels, the Astartes, were a legend, and even a large number of Imperial citizens regarded them as a religious myth, not real people.
Typically, an Imperial World without an apocalyptic crisis might not see an Astartes for hundreds of years.
Even the Astra Militarum might have only heard of the Astartes and rarely seen them with their own eyes.
Rachel was naturally very curious about this.
In response to Rachel's question, Alex simply replied, "They are some old acquaintances of mine. During a past Inquisition xenos extermination mission, I met Captain Ston of the Ash Knights, and he owed me a favor.
When we started fighting the Necrons this time, I sent them a distress signal, but I didn't expect the war to end faster than I anticipated, and they arrived a bit late."
"It seems I missed a splendid battle." A Space Marine wearing silver-grey Power Armor and a red helmet walked up to Alex, removed his helmet, and greeted Alex, "Chapter Master Shi Dong ordered us to come immediately after receiving the distress signal, but it seems the delay in the Warp still made us miss the battle."
"Captain Ston was promoted to Chapter Master? When did this happen?" Alex appeared somewhat surprised.
The Space Marine in front of him explained, "It was after the last incident. Thanks to your help, Inquisitor, we successfully retrieved the body of the previous Chapter Master, who had fallen in battle.
After the previous Chapter Master was buried according to the Chapter's traditions, Captain Ston became the new Chapter Master after internal discussions within the Chapter."
"That's truly wonderful news! No wonder so many of you came. It seems Chapter Master Shi Dong still remembers his old friend." Alex showed a happy expression, looking at the other Space Marines walking down from the warship behind the Space Marine.
The Space Marine nodded slightly, then said to Alex, "Chapter Master Shi Dong said that the Ash Knights owe you a debt of honor. If we had arrived for the battle, it would have been considered repaid.
But if we didn't make it, the Chapter Master gave you two choices: first, to keep this debt of honor, and we will leave immediately.
Second, we will be stationed on your planet for fifty years, which will count as repaying this debt."
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