Warhammer 40k: Shattered Steel Soul

The three main ships that appeared in front of the Iron Warriors fleet were all silver-white, slender and slender, with smooth lines like an oboe, and ended with a slightly open tail as the end of a single ship.

The melody composed of chords rises and falls melodiously in the communication channel, just like different battleships each playing a part in a piece of music, interweaving the melodious major-key tune played by Interex among the stars.

The Iron Warriors' expeditionary fleet faces the Interex battleship in the distance. The incomparable Cheorwon Fortress seems to be being lifted up by thousands of smaller ships, and is surrounded by a larger number of transport and escort ships. It is as if the fleet itself is a set of naturally formed celestial systems, deep in the Tianchuan Galaxy. Shining everywhere.

"It is a pity that you ignored our warning. Some of the losses to visitors from the Human Empire could have been avoided." The Interex people said. When they spoke, it was not just one person who spoke, but a harmonious song woven by everyone. . This should make every word of theirs so magnificent - if they didn't put their joy in their words and send them out.

Perturabo and Morse looked at each other. Morse took the communication instrument without bothering the war blacksmith who was standing at the door today.

"We cannot trust all the unknown races in the galaxy, otherwise mankind will not be able to reach the day when the galaxy is in the palm of our hands, strange... friends." His tone was relaxed, maintaining a high level of politeness within the scope of his personal habits. "Besides, we took care of the giant spider on the Murder Star, didn't we?"

Interx's diplomatic envoys converse quietly, whispering songs of their own.

Perturabo noticed that their own language seemed to originate from the same root as the current language commonly used in the empire. Whether it was the grammatical structure or the rules of pronunciation, the two were quite similar, which caught his attention.

+More retro than Gothic,+Morse commented with great interest in the psychic channel,+The Germanic language system adjusted by the twelve equal laws is also equivalent to a mathematical language. You can crack it and play with it if you are interested. Play. +

+Can be used to update the Iron Warriors translator. +Perturabo replied, while secretly calculating the similarity coefficient between Interex and humans in his mind.

During the Great Crusade, it was not that he had never encountered a civilization that also originated from the old Earth, but had become significantly different from the Imperial people in its subsequent development.

A battle does not have to take place if the other party does not intend to fight them.

Immediately afterwards, Interex gave an unexpectedly friendly answer in Gothic.

"The giant spiders of Urisac were exiled by us because of their danger, but if the Iron Warriors are true to their name, you can undoubtedly defeat this race that is born to be evil." The voice of the Interex man was soothing, The corresponding music also switches to an improvisation in the key of F major. "Interex welcomes the bringers of peace, friends of humanity from the Imperium."

"How do you know our army number?" Perturabo asked, considering a certain war blacksmith's criminal record in the Iron Holy City, a name subconsciously popped up in his mind.

The amount of information transmitted by Interex's signal suddenly increased. Perturabo immediately understood the other party's intention and turned on the holographic imaging.

After dozens of seconds of docking decoding attempts, three Interexians appeared in the Primarch's office on the Cheorwon. They wear different clothes, but generally speaking, they are soft bright-colored robes woven with reflective fabrics, interspersed with elegant patterns of gold threads - undoubtedly a kind of priority that puts beauty first. technological equipment.

The messenger in the middle slapped his broad ears that expanded to resemble the ears of a bat, looked politely at the office in the Cheorwon that had been decorated with data confidentiality, and then bowed gracefully to Perturabo with human courtesy.

At the same time, the musicians on either side of the messenger began to use small instruments that they hung on their chests to accompany the messenger's openings. Music is an integral part of Interrex's language. Perturabo patiently collected the rules of the music scores. He had already figured out some methods of deciphering cryptography.

The messenger smiled and said: "Hello, Iron Warriors, we were fortunate enough to learn of your existence. Two of you messengers once arrived in our realm. It was the darkest time since we left our home on earth and took root again in the stars. For a while. In the tens of millions of years since we left the earth, no one knows whether our kind still exists in the vast galaxy, or whether we are destined to be alone forever."

A signal was silently transferred to the current Odyssey through the internal channel of the Cheorwon - the former small ship was completely stuffed into the ship museum, and Interex's answer made Perturabo dumbfounded. Should I be happy that I made the right guess again?

"Barabas Dantioch, and Zoran Anderson?" asked Perturabo.

Surprise flashed across the messenger's face, which was made thin by his ears: "Yes, it was their visit fifteen hundred years ago that made us sure that outside of the dark world, there is still the brilliance of reason. "

Perturabo nodded slightly: "This is exactly the meaning of the Great Crusade of the Human Empire. If Interrex intends to establish contact with the vast human society, we will give friendly feedback.

"The two emissaries you have met are among the best and most representative of the Iron Warriors among us. Likewise, the Iron Warriors would like to personally express their gratitude to Interx for their selfless help."

"Of course, my dear Lord of Iron," the Interexian bowed again, already using the common title that was spread throughout the empire. If they had not communicated with the Empire in the recent past, it was because they had stored the news brought by Dantioch in some form for thousands of years.

"If we are willing to give each other a precious trust, Interex will not be a betrayer." The messenger said. "If you are willing, please follow us to the Sentinel Planet to rest. More professional social communication envoys will complete negotiations with the Human Empire. In any case, on behalf of Interex, I extend a peaceful welcome to you."

——

The power system of the heavy armor hummed softly. Barabas Dantioch refused the support of his adjutant and walked down the gangway alone, setting foot on this area he had not seen for a long time.

Three hours ago, in the audience hall of Interex in Zenobia, the War Blacksmith awkwardly completed the ritual thanks and greetings. He returned to his brief stop on the long journey with a certain amount of anticipation, meeting with the Genefather and Interex's envoys and negotiators.

The people of Interx received him warmly, and it was even doubtful whether they used the highest local etiquette to entertain this former human messenger and thank him for the glorious hope he brought to Interx.

Although Dantioch was grateful for their remembrance, he could also feel their sincerity and even a certain degree of awe from the courtesy of the Interex people. But he quickly realized that this was not what he needed.

With the passage of time, Interex's "Dantioch" has long been reduced to a thin noun recorded in books, rather than an actual individual.

He is no longer the white-haired old man sitting side by side with the Interex people in the shade, looking forward to the distant future of the soaring eagle, but a strange guest wrapped in steel, with a natural gift. Noble status, and a symbol of peace for both parties in a political sense.

The War Blacksmith does not mind the change in his identity. Rather, he is proud to be able to use his past experiences to obtain tangible potential benefits for the empire.

Under the control of the Lord of Iron, another younger war blacksmith, twelve outstanding officers under his command who were relatively good at clerical work, more than a hundred mortal clerks, and several Memoirs were responsible for this complex task. The initial negotiation task - the list of reminiscences included Morse, although under the low profile of the imperial craftsmen, the Interex people did not see anything unusual about the man in black robes.

Dantioch, on the other hand, coughed and refused the attempts of these broad-eared humans to stay. With Perturabo's permission, he slowly left the audience hall and took the Thunder Eagle to the outskirts of the city.

The scenery of Zenobia's capital city is very good. The city is rich in natural and cultural resources. The lush temperate plants set off the neat houses with light-colored gold and silver spiers in the city. The buildings follow the curvature of the hillside, with green-gray cobblestones. It is interconnected with the meandering stream, secretly matching a certain unique rhythm of expression.

In order to welcome the arrival of the Iron Warriors, small flags and thin banners that are rich in color but not so bright as to interfere with the view were pulled up by silk ropes and hung appropriately on the towers adjacent to each other, like blooming artificial wild flowers, embellishment of harmony. of urban areas.

It was local dusk, and soft light emitted from the stars that were still in their prime, shrouding Zenobia in a faint orange light, and caressed the forest leaves, houses and buildings in the city with the gentle breeze. Sculptures and springs are accompanied by soft music and soft harmonies everywhere.

Maybe this is the most elegant moment of light and shadow in Zenobia in a day, or maybe this is just the most insignificant one among the countless kinds of scenery and beauty in Interrex.

"You actually have the right to stay in the audience hall, Hindman." Dantioch said slowly, and the mortal preacher Kyril Hindman could follow him without deliberately slowing down his walking speed too much. beside.

At Malcador's suggestion, a special additional department was added to Morse's Chamber of Memories, in which the preachers were responsible for traveling to various parts of the human empire to carry out the work of spreading the truth of the empire.

In a sense, mortals who can serve as preachers are rarer than young people who are qualified to become Astartes-there are many qualified people in terms of physical fitness, especially for the Iron Warriors.

But he is born to stand up and talk in front of any alien or fellow race, keenly focus on different cultural backgrounds, carry out in-depth and simple preaching, and subtly instill the truth of the empire into the hearts of mortals and demi-humans who are full of doubts about the human empire without being ignored. The people who are full of doubts and even on the verge of riot are torn into ten thousand pieces, and further control the heartbeats and thoughts of tens of thousands of people, which further tests a person's innate talent.

Kyril Hindman's age is unknown, even if it doesn't matter to Imperial Technology. He is thin and tall, with gray hair but full of energy. His voice is rich and provocative, and when he speaks, he naturally has a calm resonance and the echo of a holy word.

"The first thing the preacher needs to understand is the consciousness of a civilized society." The preacher said. "If I stay in the audience hall, sir, I may need to distinguish Interlake from seventy-two hours of continuous talks." But if we can follow you on the streets, maybe all we need is a street walk."

He paused for two seconds, "This is also the reason why I left the 63rd Expeditionary Fleet."

"Because the Luna Wolves are going to fight the orcs, and the orcs don't need preaching?" Dantioch said. "It's a long road, Hindman."

"For the Empire," Hindman laughed.

"Perhaps the Luna Wolves need the World Eaters' help," Dantioch smiled back, even though no one could see him in his helmet.

Hindman was about to ask why when he heard the sound of a celebration parade in the distance.

Dantioch retreated into the forest with him, watching the riders dressed as centaurs, wrapped in smooth metal armor that reflected the light, holding their heads high, carrying fluttering ribbons and fragrant local seasonal flowers, da He walked away from the middle of the road.

"Their bows can penetrate Space Marine armor," Dantioch shared his knowledge. It was like this 1,500 years ago. I'm afraid today, Interex's seemingly retro and backward bow has become sharper. "If there really is a place that has not changed its urban layout for fifteen hundred years...then perhaps their armament center lies ahead."

Hindman nodded and followed Dantioch along the parade path.

Dantioch guessed half of it right. The direction of the parade was still the place where the Interex people placed their weapons, but it had now been transformed into a pure memorial venue to remember the lives of these wandering people in the Age of Darkness. The hardships and wars that our fellow humans outside have experienced.

Dantioch merely stated that he was an Iron Warriors warsmith, rather than revealing his full identity.

The hosts at the Memorial Hall welcomed him with joy - in fact, Dantioch believed him to be a military sergeant of Interex rather than a mere clerk.

He could vaguely recognize familiar traits in the sergeant's upright posture, solemn demeanor and restrained attitude.

"We put weapons in museums and preserve them with stasis technology," the sergeant said, music drifting leisurely from speakers hidden around him, "to commemorate wars we no longer need, and the sacrifices and sacrifices that came with them. Death. This is the curator, Ashlot."

Hindman was slightly surprised by the curator's appearance. He was undoubtedly a genuine alien, and was definitely not of the same origin as humans. But its humble expression is particularly similar to that of the Interex people. Although its speech is not as clear as humans due to physiological conditions, the modified music perfectly makes up for this shortcoming.

Hindman raised his head and looked at Dantioch's iron face. Perhaps this was the unique indifference of the Iron Warriors, he thought. The appearance of the alien was not enough to waver the War Blacksmith for a moment.

The curator, non-commissioned officers, and some translators and musicians led the two people to view their collection. Even though there were very few visitors, Interex did not neglect them at all. Their good temper was impressive. It is said that Fulgrim sometimes said that music is enough to cultivate the sentiment of a nation, and Interex confirmed Phoenix's approval of art.

They passed by pieces of ancient and rare weapons, different ancient cold weapons, as well as more technological laser guns, energy whips, or elegant weapons with the characteristics of Intertex, like musical instruments. They are all stagnant in the cold-toned luster, as if frozen by a glacier.

The last time he visited Interex, Dantioch did not have permission to enter the weapons depot, so this was the first time he saw these sealed weapons. He stopped beside a set of slender and strange daggers, and was attracted by the small words carved on the edge of the display case.

Most of these exhibits use concise vocabulary to describe the functions and principles of weapons, such as "laser carbine", "composite plasma-charged short bow", "precision light armor parts" and so on. But there was only this set of blades. After reading their names, Dantioch was still confused.

“These knives,” the Warsmith asked thoughtfully, “why are they called ‘Enemy Blades’?”

The sergeant wanted to use Gothic, but after searching for the word for a while without success, he chose Interex's own language and asked the translator and musician to help communicate.

"They can be targeted," the sergeant said. "Once the target is identified, it will cause unparalleled damage to its old enemy, hence its name. Their forging method has long been lost, and these may be the only remaining old enemies. blade."

Dantioch and Hindman looked at each other in surprise, guessing that this might be some kind of ancient psychic creation.

"Thank you for the introduction," Hindman said. "In some ways, perhaps this is the most dangerous weapon here, and keeping it sealed is a testament to Interx's intelligence."

"Thank you for your compliments, guest of the Human Empire." The sergeant nodded.