Warhammer, but Emperor's Chosen

Page 162

"Do you want to start now?"

Sarpedon said slowly:

"If you need time to prepare the evidence, I can wait."

"Not all are here yet," said Lysander.

"Who?"

"Everyone."

Lysander stressed, "All successor chapters of the Imperial Fists."

Sarpedon thought for a long time, then he said slowly:

"I want to see Danny Ast."

"Yes." Lysander nodded.

-----------------

The room that the Imperial Fists arranged for Noah was at the outermost edge, allowing Noah to see the planet through the observation window of the room.

That's Terra.

Holy Terra, High Terra.

The cradle world, the throne world, the Emperor's watchtower, the jewel in the crown, the eye of the heavens.

Humans have many different names for her, and billions of pilgrims come to her every day.

But for Noah, her most important identity from beginning to end is only one——

Mother planet!

Noah had been in Warhammer for a long time and had traveled to Macragge many times, but this was his first time on Terra.

But it was completely different from the blue planet in people’s impression. It was a misty bronze sphere inlaid with silver orbital docks.

Noah could see the palace, it stretched across the entire mountain range, thousands of kilometers across the surface of the throne world.

The spires of the Imperial Palace and its spaceport pierced the clouds, rising into the void like the spine of some luminous beast. Its foundations stretched deep into Terra's sacred bedrock, in places reaching depths of hundreds of kilometers below the surface.

"How ugly." Noah murmured.

For pilgrims, they will be struck by the grandeur of the Terra Palace.

But Noah, he just thought it was ridiculous.

The old emperor is a pragmatist, but the high lord is not.

Over the next ten thousand years, the palace's former asceticism was buried beneath the ornate decoration of the Gothic style and the cruel grandeur of imperial worship.

The once bright and majestic building now became vast and low, like a hunchbacked monster holding its weapon, challenging the dark and terrifying void, just like the empire today.

Damn it! How did the earth become like this?

Cassia said softly:

"In fact, we can go down and take a look. We still have time."

Even she could see Noah's complicated and special feelings for Terra.

Noah shook his head:

"That's not necessary."

What are you doing in Terra?

The Terra Palace was not worth visiting, so why did he go there? To see up close what humans had done to their home planet? Or was he just going to see the old man on the throne?

Noah still remembered that the last time they met, the old man told him not to see him.

Noah didn't know whether this was related to the old man Huang's plan, but he knew that now was not the time.

If the old emperor wanted to see him, naturally a bald man, a member of the Imperial Guard who was only slightly higher than the other Imperial Guards and who did not dare to show his face without the 100,000 Astartes, would come to him.

Moreover, given the current complicated situation of the Phalanx, Noah couldn't leave even if he wanted to.

Noah sighed softly and looked at the column for the thickness of the veil:

Vivian is in Terra, and she is going back to the Inquisition to report on her work.

Ajetta and Nono stayed on the boat, they were responsible for guarding against possible attacks.

-----------------

Sarpedon stared at the man in the cell, a Dreadnought with a dark purple paint job and the emblem of a Soul Drinker.

Due to lack of care and maintenance, the Dreadnought's armor became pitted and dented over the years.

Its weapons had long been removed and it posed no threat.

But even so, there is always a squad of Imperial Fists on guard here, and their missile launchers can blow through the Dreadnoughts at close range.

The Dreadnought turned around, its sarcophagus half open.

Sarpedon could glimpse the pale, broken flesh inside, and a pair of filmy eyes flickered in the shadows, meeting Sarpedon's gaze.

"My brother." Fearless spoke slowly.

Sarpedon interrupted him rudely and said coldly:

"I'm not your brother, Danyast, what have you done? Tell me the truth!"

He should have died thousands of years ago, yet here he is in an Imperial Fists prison, revealing the 'crimes' of his Chapter!

Daniyast smiled:

"Soul Drinkers are traitors, that's the truth!"

"The trial will begin soon. If you are innocent, what are you afraid of?"

-----------------

"Is everyone here?" asked Vladimir Pug.

Lysander nodded:

"All Imperial Fists successors have sent representatives, with the Crimson Fists being the last."

"This is a trial." Vladimir Pugh's eyes were somewhat complicated.

Lysander frowned.

"You said no before."

Vladimir Puig shook his head:

“But now it is.”

Lysander was puzzled. He understood that the chapter master had found new evidence, but why?

He didn't even believe Daniyast's accusations, so what other reason could there be for them to judge the Soul Drinker?

Vladimir Pugh instructed the regiment servants:

"Calling everyone, all successor chapters of the Imperial Fists should be here to witness."

-----------------

Noah walked into the hall alone. Just like the magnificent exterior of the Phalanx, the hall's corridors, walls, and even every floor and ceiling were gold-plated and inlaid with diamonds and rubies in the shape of constellations.

"Mr. von Valancius."

The Chapter Servant said respectfully, "Please follow me."

He led Noah to the side gallery, which was surrounded by space warriors.

From their colorful paint jobs, it is not difficult to identify them:

Black Templar, Accuser, Executioner, Crimson Fist, Death Assault, Fire Lord, Hammer of Dorn...

Dozens of Chapters gathered here to take part in the trial of their brother Chapters.

Sarpedon stood in the center of the hall, facing the sight of many warbands, waiting quietly.

at last.

Vladimir Pugh walked into the hall and ascended the judge's seat at the front of the hall under the gaze of everyone.

Vladimir said:

"Scout Orfus, describe to the court what you witnessed in Serraka?"

A new recruit made his way through the Imperial Fists ranks and stood before them all.

Facing the gazes of dozens of regiment commanders and company commanders, Orfus spoke nervously:

"Under the orders of Sergeant Borakis, my squad and I were sent on a reconnaissance mission to the surface of Selaka. There, I discovered a tomb deep underground containing a Dreadnought. As I approached him, he was awakened by some mechanism."

"What did he tell you?" Vladimir asked.

"He told me his name, Danny Ast. And..."

Orfus took a deep breath, "Soul Drinkers are traitors!"

The whole audience was suddenly in an uproar. Many of them only knew that this was a trial before they arrived, but they didn't know the specific details.

Hearing the Imperial Fists' sudden accusation against the Soul Drinkers was undoubtedly beyond the expectations of many people.

Vladimir looked at Sarpedon:

"Captain Sarpedon, do you have anything to explain?"

Sarpedon said in a deep voice:

"The Soul Drinkers' archives state that the last Dreadnought was destroyed more than six thousand years ago. I swear I never heard of Selaka, and I never knew Daniast was still alive!"

Noah listened quietly to the accusations and arguments from both sides, waiting for the ** to come.

In the original history, the Soul Drinkers were declared traitors because their Soul Spear was stolen by the Mechanicus. In the process of evading the Empire's pursuit, they had many conflicts with the Imperial Fists' subsidiary group, the Scarlet Fists, and other chapters.

This created blood feuds between them and several Chapters, who would all accuse the Soul Drinkers of treachery in court.

however.

None of this has happened now, and Danyast's accusation alone is not enough to prove the Soul Drinker's treachery.

Therefore, the Imperial Fists must have decisive evidence.

Vladimir was not surprised by Sarpedon's explanation, and he continued to ask:

"Dani Ast provided us with evidence. Do you have any impression of the book 'Military Questions and Answers'?"

Sarpedon took a deep breath:

"It has been the holy book of the Soul Drinkers for thousands of years."

He must be absolutely honest, even if it means endangering the honor of the Chapter. This is the Chapter's only chance to prove its innocence.

Any concealment will leave an indelible stain on the regiment.

Vladimir asked:

"You think it's holy?"