"Well said. A Son of the Emperor should indeed be hands-on in all matters, meticulous in every detail."
"...But why do I get the feeling that you're hiding something?"
Arcur's swordsman's intuition was often extremely effective.
Her sharp gaze stared at Kasjia, making him afraid to even breathe.
But gradually, her expression softened.
"But in any case, I'm still willing to trust your judgment."
"Thank you."
Kasjia replied with a smile.
"Huff..."
"This is really... torturous..."
The crystal on the surface of the Silent Star was extremely hard.
Even with the large machinery of the Mechanicum, it would take a considerable amount of time to build defensive fortifications.
Coupled with the large amount of toxic gas on the surface, the airtight systems of their power armor could never be opened for ventilation.
Although it had an internal respiratory purification function, under the extremely heavy construction task, it was still a bit stuffy.
It was difficult to breathe fresh air.
"Damn it! Why are we building useless defensive fortifications here!"
"I want to go to the front lines and kill the enemy, to slay the Father's foes!"
The complaints from the elite First Company against Kasjia grew more and more frequent.
They were the noble Emperor's Children!
Their mission was to Slay the Father's Foes.
Not to Mix the Father's Concrete!
They were the Emperor's sharpest blades, and also the most magnificent and artistic Astartes (another name for Space Marines)!
Their destiny should be to die on the battlefield or return in glory.
Not to build some futile Maginot Line in this godforsaken place!
When had these old Terran veterans ever suffered such an indignity!
First Captain Kaesoron looked up at the sky, which was obscured by poison clouds.
The fierce battle for the Dalinite Nebula must have already begun by now.
And he, First Captain Julius Kaesoron, if Horus hadn't moved them to the rear to accommodate that idiot Kasjia...
...he would surely be, as usual, leading a boarding party onto the strongest and most powerful enemy xenos flagship, holding his Xana-pattern saber, and engaging in a one-on-one duel with their most formidable leader!
"Come, coward, draw your weapon!"
"Our duel will be recorded in the annals of history!"
And just like that, the valiant Kaesoron would turn the tide of battle by successfully beheading the enemy leader!
Upon his triumphant return, he would be received and greatly praised by the god-like Primarch Horus!
At that time, even Fulgrim would marvel at his formidable combat ability and regret her own lack of judgment, for having given command to an incompetent and untalented fool like Kasjia.
And not to him, this talented and virtuous First Captain!
And then, and then to reward his glorious military achievements—
Fulgrim would personally forge him a suit of perfect armor and a weapon, just like Kasjia's!!!
Wow!
How awesome would that be!
Hehehehehe...
At that time, he would definitely wear this radiant and magnificent armor and look down on that incompetent fool named Kasjia with utter contempt!
Hmph!
Thirty years on the east side of the river (galaxy), thirty years on the west!
Don't underestimate a poor veteran!
"Captain, your scheduled one Terran hour of rest time is over."
But unfortunately, Kaesoron was not able to savor his enemy's frustration.
It was all the fault of this servitor beside him, cutting him off at the most critical moment.
He shook his head and looked around at the simple tent they had set up.
The dream was over.
"...I'm coming."
Time to get back to mixing concrete.
Sigh, why is Kasjia so bad!
"Report!"
Before Kaesoron could curse a few more times in his heart, a mortal officer came running from a distance.
The other person had the height of a normal human, was wearing the standard-issue uniform brought from Chemos, and looked quite tall and handsome.
This was the commander of their Third Legion's mortal auxiliary force, chosen by Fulgrim and Kasjia from the security forces of Chemos to join the crusade.
"Lord Kaesoron."
"If needed, Commander Kasjia has dispatched us to assist in the construction of the defensive fortifications."
Unlike the Space Marines in their power armor, this mortal auxiliary sergeant major only had a gas mask that could filter the air.
The climate of the Silent Star was hot and humid, even at the pole.
Even from a distance, Kaesoron could see the sweat-soaked shirt of the other person.
"You?"
"Aren't the mortal auxiliaries also supposed to be building fortifications? Don't you have your own?"
"Reporting, sir. The outermost defensive fortifications we were assigned have been basically completed."
"According to Commander Kasjia's request, we will be providing support for the unfinished defensive fortifications in the encampment."
As he spoke, he fumbled for a moment and handed Kaesoron a pair of binoculars.
In the distance through the lens, countless mortals were still working hard around the central heavy fortress made of refined steel.
Looking at their construction progress, it was estimated that they would be finished soon.
So fast?
The experienced First Captain Kaesoron was a little surprised.
To be honest, these overlooked mortal auxiliaries were generally used as the first wave of cannon fodder for them, the Space Marines, on the battlefield.
On the one hand, they could probe the enemy's tactical deployment and advantages, and on the other hand, they could preserve the precious Space Marines.
Furthermore, with the Great Crusade connecting so many Imperial worlds and hive cities, the number of troops that could be levied was almost endless.
Therefore, this cannon fodder tactic was generally very effective.
But the trade-off was that the mortality rate of the mortal auxiliaries was extremely high, and their morale was very low.
Cannon fodder is cannon fodder, as long as it's useful.
Under these circumstances, unless they were the kind of crazed religious fanatics who secretly believed in the underground "Emperor-worshipping cult"...
...it was already considered a high-level unit if these mortal auxiliaries didn't slack off.
Not to mention them coming to assist after completing their own tasks under such harsh climatic conditions.
Kaesoron felt a little ashamed.
The mortal auxiliaries, without the support of power armor, could still do so much, while he, a self-proclaimed noble Son of the Emperor, was disdaining the work as lowly and was unwilling to act. It was truly a bit shameful.
But why could the mortal auxiliaries have such high morale?
Kasjia must have brainwashed them!
Looking at the Chemosian-style uniform on him, Kaesoron gradually came to an answer in his heart.
Kasjia, you seem to be a little... not very Imperial Truth-y!
In his many battles, he had often encountered this situation: among the enemies of certain human pocket empires, there were often such religious fanatics.
Shouting about some god or emperor, they would launch frenzied suicide charges, dedicating their all for the god they spoke of.
Just so they could return to their false god's side after death.
So ridiculous.
Unlike the Imperium of Man, where the Imperial Truth spread throughout the galaxy...
...such fanatical religious ideas could never survive under the official authority of the Imperium.
"...In the end, why do you listen to that guy Kasjia?"
"It's one thing for Lady Fulgrim to like him, but why are you willing to die for him to this extent?"
"Captain Kaesoron, on our Chemos, almost everyone is asked this question."
The mortal auxiliary sergeant major replied with a smile, as if he had long expected this question.
"I think perhaps when the xenos invade, our actions in battle will be more convincing than dry words."
"Do you really believe there will be a xenos invasion here?"
Kaesoron pointed in confusion at the warp gate that had been dormant for hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of years.
"How could something like this possibly—"
Just as he was about to refute this bunch of Kasjia's fanatics in a fit of rage...
...that gate lit up.
-------
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