The Emperor’s Angel of Death

In response to the new arrangements for the diocese proposed by Thoth Sothar, Talos thought for a moment and nodded.

"I don't think there's a big problem. There are too many Tyranids, and I'm afraid they won't be completely cleaned up in a short time. After this battle, the personnel and fleet are exhausted and the losses are also very heavy. It will be difficult to organize a new offensive in a short time, so we can only switch to passive defense."

Then he put on a meaningful smile.

"But your goal is more than that, right?"

"The diocese is isolated on the edge of the Storm Region and is the gateway barrier to Zhao-Arcadia. If it is lost, then this forge world will be difficult to protect. Therefore, it must be militarized. At the same time, perhaps others will misunderstand, but I think you should understand that I must prepare a way out for the legion."

After saying that, Thoth Sothar let out a long breath.

"Talos, have you heard of the Ashen Claws?"

Talos tilted his head and thought for a while, and said:

"I seem to have a little impression... Is it from the Ghoul Stars?"

"That's right. Someone attacked Bayeux before, saying they were Space Marines without markings. I sent Rangers to investigate. At that time, I guessed that this group of people was most likely, but last time, when I returned to the Royal Court, Dorar reported that it was probably not this group of people, because they didn't have that many people, and their equipment was not good. More importantly, they have not left the Ghoul Stars recently. I read the detailed report and didn't expect that they were actually former Terra-born warriors exiled by Corax. For ten thousand years, they have still adhered to their own path, and even lived with mortals."

As he spoke, Thoth Sothar rubbed his face.

"Every day I think about what will happen to the legion in the future? Where will things develop? Is ash marrow a power or a disaster? What arrangements do They and the pseudo-Macados have for the legion? These questions are swirling in my mind all the time. I have thought about the best and worst situations... Fate is unpredictable, and the future is unpredictable. I can only try my best to make some arrangements within my ability."

Talos lowered his head, seemingly staring at his shadow, and said slowly:

"With your current strength, you don't need to worry so much."

"Yes, of course, even the so-called demon primarch is just a small character in front of me, but as I said, Thoth Sothar is Thoth Sothar."

Thoth Sothar also lowered his head and looked at his palm.

"I'm not fearless. I still have fear in my heart. I'm afraid of the contemptuous and hostile gazes of those who call me brothers. I'm afraid of staining my hands with blood that I shouldn't stain. I'm afraid that the warriors I regard as children will curse me as a traitor and point their weapons at me. Does it sound hypocritical? I have already reached this point today, but I am starting to be timid."

Saying that, he gave a dry laugh.

"I suddenly understand why the pseudo-Macado arranged so many 'tasks' and 'routes' for me. While letting me taste the sweet charm of fame and fortune, he also let me swallow the bone-biting taste of fame and fortune. He is really an old thing who knows human nature and likes to play with people's hearts. Once a person is put on a shelf, they can't get down... I am a highly anticipated hero of the Empire, so how can I be the husband of the Eldar Queen? I am an Astartes general star admired by countless people, so how can I be a monster who manipulates the power of the star god? I should be a bloodless, tearless, and ruthless war machine, how can I linger in a woman's arms?"

The next moment, he suddenly clenched his fist.

"So, brother, if I kill him, will all these problems be solved?"

Talos raised his head and shook his head again.

"It can't be solved."

Thoth Sothar sighed softly, and his fist also loosened.

"Yes, it can't be solved."

"You can't bear the price, and they can't bear it either."

"So I didn't fall out with him, and I didn't obey him, but as time goes by, I have a feeling that this game will soon reach the prisoner's dilemma."

Talos stepped forward and put his hands on his shoulders.

"On the contrary, I think it is Veronica's existence that has allowed you to jump out of the circle that you couldn't jump out of originally. When you feel that the road in front of you is blocked, then change your identity and change your position, because people will think about problems based on their own position and role. This is a way to adapt to the social structure and organizational operation. I'm not saying that it's wrong for the ass to determine the head, but your situation is special, and you must have a grasp in your heart."

"I know all this, but there are some things that I really can't say to others, only you."

Saying that, Thoth Sothar crossed his arms and held the hands on his shoulders, and said very seriously:

"Brother, you will always be by my side, right?"

Talos nodded.

"I will always be there, brother, whether in life or death."

In the face of each other, Thoth Sothar suddenly felt a warmth in his eyelids, and then two teardrops fell on the armored knees, shattering into pieces.

He was stunned for a moment, then wiped his face with the back of his hand, and then smiled bitterly.

"Am I already so sentimental now..."

Talos, with a sad face, straightened up.

"If there's nothing else, I'll go take a look at those little bastards."

"Yeah, go and do your work."

When Talos walked towards the exit, Thoth Sothar, who was facing away, did not notice that the other party's shadow suddenly became very long and distorted into a thin and hunched shape, and tilted at a strange angle, reaching out towards Thoth Sothar's direction, as if to touch something.

As the door opened and all the lights turned on, the shadow disappeared without a trace, leaving only Thoth Sothar alone to press a button on the conference table, and data panels rose up one by one.

He still had a lot of affairs to deal with, various combat reports that needed his personal approval, specific statistics of personnel, ammunition, and equipment losses, promotion lists of new officers in the auxiliary army, commendation orders for outstanding knights, lists of opinions on dreadnought transformation for seriously injured Space Marines, etc. There was not much time for personal matters.

And one of the problems that Thoth Sothar was most concerned about was the casualties of the auxiliary army. In this war in the Westeros galaxy, the number of auxiliary army deaths was as high as 340,000, and the number of seriously injured was 110,000, of which a quarter were Pushbandi, and the rest were Vashti. If you count the previous series of wars, then the number of auxiliary army casualties has reached a huge 620,000. You must know that before the war, there were only 2.5 million auxiliary troops. Many regiments were wiped out. These people are the pillars of a family, playing the role of father, son, and brother, but now they are all buried in the fangs and claws of aliens, and even their bodies cannot be found.

The only thing Thoth Sothar can do is to give their relatives enough compensation and a dry death notice and condolence letter.

As for the casualties of the militia, due to the large number, it is even impossible to count the detailed figures, but it is six times that of the auxiliary army, and this is still an estimate. Thoth Sothar guessed that the actual number should be about ten times.

These people leave no names and no serial numbers. Thoth Sothar has no way of knowing what they did. All that is left is a vague and cold number, and even a little compensation cannot be given, because the personnel list is lost and the errors are very serious, and most of their relatives are scattered. They can only give the relatives of the militia who can be found as much extra food rations as possible according to the existing list, and then make arrangements after returning to the hinterland of the diocese.

The warp navigation did not last too long. When the fleet returned to the material universe without any accidents, they were already on the edge of the system where the Cardinal World was located.

However, as soon as he established communication with the Cardinal World, Thoth Sothar received a very urgent message from Ustad, but it was not related to the war here, but from the distant Covenant of Suffering—

The monastery fortress of the Penitent Crusade was attacked by Eldar, and the Chapter Master Mazhar was seriously injured!