"Huh? Why is the death angel looking at us?" David Beatty and the Blood Angels stared at each other.
Suddenly, the Blood Angels' large hand gripped his Aom Shield Helmet.
"Ahhh! What's going on? Why are you grabbing me?!" David Beatty cried out.
[Not good, the Bloodthirst is starting!]
"Brother Feslowen! Control your desires!"
Just as Horatio was about to do something, a deep, clear voice came from the hatch near the docking station.
The Blood Angels holding David Beatty stiffened his head back as if waking from a trance, then released David Beatty and looked towards the source of the voice.
Horatio looked at the newcomer, who was a Blood Angels wearing a terrifying skull helmet, wielding a Crozius Arcanum—which was both a weapon and a ritualistic implement.
He was the Blood Angels' battle group chaplain.
Behind him followed an Apothecary with a single white shoulder pad, emblazoned with a winged right spiral symbol, who swiftly advanced to treat the wounded Blood Angels and retrieve the gene-seed of the fallen Blood Angels.
At the battle group chaplain's call, the Blood Angels one after another regained their sanity, bowing their heads to the chaplain.
"Chaplain Voltaire," Captain Afiel, who was gradually suppressing his Bloodthirst, quietly called out.
"Steadfast in duty, resisting wicked desires, the angel once again brought light, dispelling the poisonous mist." The battle group chaplain walked among his battle brothers, reciting the Blood Angels' unique litany.
The censer in his hand swayed with his steps; wherever he passed, Nurgle's mucous fungal carpets instantly turned to water and vanished.
Captain Afiel, looked again at the mortal beside him, who was holding a Chainsword in one hand. He wasn't angry that his battle achievements had been stolen, but Horatio didn't know what kind of expression was behind his helmet.
Although, in reality, Horatio had rushed up and struck the Death Shroud Warrior, whom the Company Commander had pinned down, four times, none of the blows inflicted serious injury, and it was ultimately Captain Afiel, who chopped him up.
"I once thought that the best mortal warriors were in the Solar Auxilia, but today, Imperial Navy warriors, you have performed exceptionally well. What is your designation?"
"Hellspawns," Horatio replied, giving the aquila salute.
"...A good name," Captain Afiel, said after a moment of silence, then led the Blood Angels deeper into the ship's interior.
Horatio watched Captain Afiel's retreating figure disappear into the darkness, then turned and walked over to Roman Roland, who was having his wounds bandaged by the Apothecary, returning the Chainsword to its owner.
"What is your name, Imperial Navy warrior?"
Horatio turned around, and Roman Roland slowly opened his eyes, meeting his gaze.
"Horatio Cochrane."
"You are a good warrior." The pale-faced blond Roman Roland slowly curved his lips.
"You as well," Horatio smiled, "I wish you a speedy recovery, and may the God-Emperor protect you."
Under his gaze, Horatio walked towards the remnants of the Hellspawns squad.
This was a Kill-teams mission that caught everyone by surprise, and it was also the Hellspawns' first official appearance.
Although it came at the heavy cost of five dead and six wounded, the reputation of 'Hellspawns,' this elite Naval special forces unit, would gradually spread throughout the Imperium, and even among Space Marine battle groups, because of this battle.
Rumor has it that these elite mortal Naval warriors can wield a Chainsword, which only Space Marines can handle, with one hand, and even when facing Death Guard Plague Marines, they have the courage to charge into battle.
"He actually killed a Plague Marine and assisted in three others, including even a Death Shroud Warrior. Unbelievable..."
"He must have received the God-Emperor's blessing! Thank the God-Emperor."
"Truly worthy of Admiral Spire's descendant..."
Lord Navy Admiral Venuska Katalia stood with her hands behind her back, majestically watching the recording, analyzing her points of interest.
Horatio's combat record video amazed the fleet's senior officials and was sealed as a top-secret internal file.
—
Although the mission was a complete success, the post-battle purification ritual was far more painful and torturous than entering the plague ship.
All armor, equipment, and weapons involved in this operation were incinerated and destroyed.
When Horatio entered the isolation zone, the stench on him made him nauseous, and he couldn't escape it even if he wanted to.
In the isolation room, he endured three days and three nights of naked medical observation and isolation, suffocating Ecclesiarchy incense for disinfection and deodorization, stomach and lung lavage with holy water tubes, and reciting prayers of purity while enduring the pain of a Battle Sisters scrubbing him almost raw.
'Doubt breeds heresy, heresy breeds heretics.'
During the purification, he was not allowed to have any thoughts of his own; he had to wholeheartedly praise the might of the God-Emperor, otherwise, there was a risk of being corrupted by Nurgle. Minor cases resulted in brainwashing, severe cases in execution, and two individuals met such a fate.
After all the ordeal, when he finally emerged, he was whiter and cleaner than when he was born.
But it was all worth it.
During the subsequent isolation period, with the mindset of 'idle hands are the devil's workshop,' he applied for early exams.
After scoring perfect marks in all subjects, which stunned the chief officer of the Naval Loyal Succession Department, the official had no choice but to honor the promise of calculating his score at 500 points per subject.
In the end, Horatio surpassed 6000 points, combined with his previously accumulated and current mission academic credits.
His rank soared to Imperial Navy Trainee Sergeant Major, surpassing Henry Harvey, becoming the fastest promoted and shortest-time-to-enter first-place, on par with Storm Sergeant Majors, and only one rank below Valina, a senior Storm Sergeant Major.
"All cadets, salute the Imperial Navy warriors who participated in this operation!"
Under the solemn and reverent gaze of all cadets, Horatio donned the void-blue beret symbolizing an Imperial Navy Trainee Sergeant Major.
All Hellspawns who participated in this operation received a "Loyal Skull" medal, and the four Hellspawns squads were awarded the "Skyhawk Sash" team honor, commending their fearlessness in sacrifice and steadfast combat, saving a fallen cruiser for the Imperial Navy.
The Imperial Navy specially awarded Horatio a "Valiant Skyhawk" medal, commending his calm demeanor in a situation where evacuation was impossible, and his bold decision to lead the action team to shut down the Warp jump engine. Her Excellency, Lord Navy Admiral Venuska Katalia, Commander-in-Chief of the Gothic Fleet, personally pinned it to his chest.
This is the Burning Galaxy of the 41st millennium; whether Space Marines or mortals, everyone is bleeding, fighting for the survival of humanity.
Death and battle form the bridge between mortals and demigods; all who fight for the dawn of humanity are protagonists on the galactic stage.
Inside the Fleet Military Intelligence Headquarters office, Rear Admiral Hood, Rear Admiral Edward, and Lieutenant Commander Elphinstone sat together. The newly promoted Imperial Navy Sergeant Louise saluted them.
"What is your assessment of Horatio Cochrane?"
"He is exceptionally outstanding, quick-witted, bold and innovative, very resourceful, and possesses strong willpower, maintaining a positive and optimistic outlook no matter how desperate the situation," Louise's lips moved slightly, "Therefore, I believe he is capable of leading the Hellspawns unit!" Louise's eyes gleamed, and her tone was powerful.
The three senior officers nodded.
After Louise left, the next to enter was Sergeant David Beatty von Ravensburg.
They asked the same question.
"Well, he's much more formidable than I imagined," David Beatty's eyes darted around, "Alright, he's an excellent person, and though I really don't want to admit it, he truly performed outstandingly."
The next to enter was Junior Sergeant Major Henry Harvey.
"He's a good man; he rescued me from the rubble during the operation, and I admit, I lost my fighting spirit at my most desperate moment—I thought we were doomed—but he didn't. He continued to fight steadfastly, encouraging us to counterattack the enemy." Henry Harvey sighed deeply.
"It seems we owe him another 'Crimson Skull' medal (to commend heroic acts of saving lives and aiding the wounded)," Rear Admiral Edward chuckled.
Finally, Rear Admiral Hood put down his quill, and the approval document read:
"The Fleet Military Intelligence Headquarters appoints Horatio Cochrane as the first Chief Commander of the Hellspawns, with other squad leaders to be held by the highest-ranking member of their respective teams, filling in sequentially."
—
"The plan to spread the plague has failed; the Gothic Fleet regularly destroys plague ship wreckage, making it difficult to repeat the tactic in the short term," a Silent Sister wrote tremblingly on the paper.
"The red angel has appeared, and my master demands that I launch the most ferocious attack; He craves the bloodletter of angels."
"Foolish, our goal is to weaken the Gothic Fleet; your impulsiveness and recklessness will ruin our plan."
"Only the weak worry about not being able to have both; when Abyss Port runs red with bloodletter, the master's warriors and servants will descend upon this planet."
"The angels will berth and resupply on this planet, expected to depart in three weeks."
"Let chaos descend, let Abyss Port burn."
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