The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Leading an expeditionary force is no easy task; all responsibilities fall upon his shoulders. He must not only resolve the turmoil caused by enemy pillaging and attacks, ensure the logistics and replenishment of the expeditionary army, but also seek a delicate balance between star systems constantly under threat and those occupied by the attacking enemy. History is not a responsibility that any single man or woman can bear alone, yet some are always summoned by history to face its unique challenges. They all possess the same qualities: faith, humility, steadfastness, and fearlessness. Only such individuals can excellently fulfill their duties. But that's not all. As the hero Macardo famously said, 'Almost anyone can endure adversity to some extent, but if you want to test a person's true character, give them real power, because power is the sweetest honey that can lead one astray.'→

Only a true hero can face immense power without complacency or arrogance, and only those who can remain calm in the face of power can lead such a great expedition. So, ladies and gentlemen, let us welcome the reconqueror of the Maelstrom, the destroyer of the Red Corsairs, the true hero, Chapter Master Sorskyan Aleksey!

In an instant, everyone stood up, facing Sorskyan, and applause thundered.

Then a lectern rose from the floor in front of Sorskyan, thankfully he had prepared a speech, though it wasn't very long.

As the applause gradually subsided, Sorskyan spoke with a calm expression:

"Honorable Prime Minister, esteemed High Lords, ladies and gentlemen, as a faithful warrior and servant of the Emperor, I am deeply honored to come to holy Terra and the sacred Senate. At the moment of receiving the expedition order, my first feeling was trepidation, not fear of the enemy, but fear of failing the Throne and the mission. As an Astartes, in my hundred-plus years of service, every moment has been dedicated to serving the Throne. Eliminating heretics, aliens, and traitors is our natural mission; our existence means battle. But I never thought I could bear such an important responsibility. However, whether I am ready or not, I must accept this responsibility, as our Astartes maxim states, 'Death is the end of duty.' We have no reason or excuse to shirk the mission given to us.→

The enemy is cunning. They were once our brethren, but they betrayed everything they were supposed to protect. Huron, a name that should be cursed ten thousand times, is the most evil and degenerate traitor. Yet, he is also very familiar with us because he was once one of us, in a sense, even the best of us. This expedition is destined not to be smooth. We must fight them in the void, on the ground, on the front lines, in the rear, and even within the expeditionary force. By the Emperor's grace, evil ultimately fell before justice. But I never believe this expedition to be another victory for me personally, or for the Astartes. The most heroic sacrifices came from the men and women of the Maelstrom, and the greatest contributions were made by every loyal subject of the Maelstrom. It is their courage, dedication, and fearlessness that allowed this expedition to defeat the enemy in such a short time. Their will is the root of the Empire's unwavering strength."

Saying this, Sorskyan picked up the bundle of office.

"Now, I have completed the mission entrusted to me by the Throne and the Council, and the Maelstrom Expeditionary Force has completely ended its journey. Under the authorization of the Imperial Council, I have served as the supreme lord commander for a long time. Out of respect for the sacred Astartes scripture, I will return to a position that belongs to an Astartes. I hereby relinquish all commissions and resign from all my public offices."

Soon, an aide came over, and Sorskyan turned and placed the bundle of office on the red silk cushion. Tirean then announced loudly:

"Chapter Master Sorskyan Aleksey, you defended the Emperor's sacred territory in the Maelstrom, you saved countless people oppressed by heretics, and you dealt a fatal blow to the traitors. Although the Maelstrom expedition has ended, you still have more battles and missions to accomplish. Your glorious virtues and great deeds will not disappear with your position; they will continue to inspire the sons and daughters of the human Empire, and your statue, like countless heroes, will stand beside the Gate Eternal."

Then, Imperial Prime Minister Tirean raised both hands.

"Everyone, let us once again pay the highest tribute to the great reconqueror of the Maelstrom, Chapter Master Sorskyan Aleksey."

Immediately, everyone stood up and applauded.

After about ten seconds, the applause stopped, and everyone sat down again. Tirean also sat back in his chair.

Now it was time for the High Lords to speak.

The first to stand up was Itu Hamotaleon, the Director-General of the Department of Internal Affairs, the first among equals of the High Lords, and the most powerful man in the Empire. He gazed at Sorskyan with his cold eyes. His face was long, and his skin was pale white, the result of a lack of sunlight. His eyes were set deep in their sockets. He was dressed in heavy, ornate robes, with countless medals pinned to his chest. The bronze, black, and gold robes were adorned with gold threads from Martian technology.

In other eras, the Empire should be managed by those who can directly participate in the war, but now it is an era of rampant bureaucracy. Great power is suppressed by unfathomable complex rules and procedures, which has led to the fact that the controllers of the bureaucratic system have actually become the true masters of the human Empire, a rather ironic reality.

In other words, Itu Hamotaleon is, in a sense, the real 'Master of Mankind' now.

According to Tirean, this man is considered the most intelligent of the High Lords, and a master of word games and political procedures, but also a stern conservative who advocates a static political doctrine of non-interference, believing that the Empire is in a perfect, established state, and any attempt to reform is a betrayal of the Empire.

More importantly, he is a very assertive person who values first-mover advantage.

"I, on behalf of the High Lords Council, pay tribute to the great heroes of the expedition. It is your heroic dedication and sacrifice that has brought back long-term stability to the Maelstrom region and allowed us to once again banish the hateful traitor."

Sorskyan simply replied indifferently:

"All as the Emperor wills."

"And I personally must thank you for your efforts. It is the victory in the Maelstrom war zone that has allowed the long-congested and slow tithe routes to be cleared."

Hamotaleon continued, looking at Sorskyan with a sarcastic gaze.

"For ten thousand years, Imperial law has maintained the balance of our power. This is all from the teachings of the Primarch Regent Roboute Guilliman, and it is he who has imposed the Codex Astartes on all Space Marine battle-brothers, which has maintained the fragile balance between the Space Marines and Terra. However, there will always be Space Marines who try to break this balance. Huron is a very typical example. His transgression ultimately turned into the most shameful betrayal, and he became a slave to destructive forces. From this, we should learn enough lessons, such as all of Huron's treacherous acts initially came from his 'necessary' and 'expedient' measures under the pretext of war, as well as arbitrary interference and modification of the Empire's systems and laws. This is the seed of all betrayal."

The expressionless Sorskyan said nothing, but quietly clenched his fist.