Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 396 The Silver Blade
The drawing room of the Rostov Governor's Palace was bathed in the light of the stars streaming through the huge arched windows. It was solemn and understated, and the unpretentious decorations showcased the practical aesthetics of imperial authority.

The polished stone walls reflected warm light, illuminating the high-flying imperial double-headed eagle banner and the emblem symbolizing the planetary governor's power.

The air is filled with the rich aroma of fine wood, the scent of ink from ancient parchment scrolls, and a faint, calming fragrance.

Governor Chen Xi sat behind a heavy, solid wood desk. To maintain sufficient dignity when receiving guests, he specially wore his uniform as a lord's judge and hung the court's rose knot on his body.

Alongside the roses were the various medals awarded to him by the Empire as the supreme commander of the Rostov Expedition.

Although Chen Xi didn't have a habit of awarding himself medals, as the supreme commander of the expeditionary force, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Military Affairs still sent him a reward for the victory of this expedition, and also gave Chen Xi a few more individual shields.

A high-level medal is like a personal energy shield. Although it can't withstand powerful weapons, it's still impenetrable to ordinary personal equipment.

So from a certain perspective, this is also a form of security protection.

On the table, several data panels shimmering with a faint light and a projector displaying a star map of the sub-sector silently testify to his dual responsibilities as both planetary governor and supreme commander of the expeditionary force.

The heavy doors slid open silently, and a massive figure stepped into the hall.

Company Commander Salken, commander of the First Company of the Silver Blade Chapter, entered with a slightly heavy yet agile gait, clad in power armor.

His power armor was battle-hardened, with repaired rivets and re-welded plates clearly visible at the joints. Only the silver blade-shaped battle insignia on his shoulder armor looked brand new, as if it had been repainted.

He stood still, like a moving fortress, then slammed his right fist into his left breastplate, producing a powerful metallic clang, and gave the governor a standard Space Marine salute.

“Greetings, Your Excellency.” His voice was deep and resonant, like muffled thunder: “Salken, Commander of the First Company of the Silver Blade Chapter, answers your call.”

Chen Xi's gaze was sharp and steady as he swept over the warrior from the Starry Sky Fortress and nodded slightly.

After he stood up, he gave Company Commander Salken a hawk salute.

“Welcome, Company Commander Salken.” His voice was steady and powerful, carrying the authority characteristic of someone long accustomed to a position of power: “Rostov will forever remember the sacrifices and achievements of the Silver Blade.”

He gestured for the other person to sit down; the metal chair, specially designed for Astartes' physique, gleamed coldly under the lights.

"Two full-strength companies went on the expedition, and now only more than 160 brothers have returned..." Chen Xi began in a slightly low voice, praising the sacrifices made by the Silver Blade for the expedition: "The weight of this sacrifice and the glory of this honor will be recorded in the history of the expeditionary force."

Salken's armored servo system hummed softly as he slowly sat down, the specially designed chair feeling cramped under his massive frame.

"To die for the Emperor is the destiny of the Astartes." His voice was like thunder from the depths of the earth, carrying the unique fortitude of a Space Marine: "We were originally stationed in the vicinity of Mariupol, but after receiving the Inquisition's call, we immediately dispatched two companies to participate in this glorious expedition."

In the battle to conquer the Necropolis world, we lost seventy-three brothers.

But their sacrifice brought them the glorious moment of slaying the Necromancer Lord and destroyed the rebirth protocol of the Tomb World.

"It was this decapitation strike that cleared the biggest obstacle for the expeditionary force to conquer the entire star system." Chen Xi's eyes flashed with approval. "As far as I know, the Mechanicus has specially rewarded you with a batch of precious equipment for this?" "Yes, Governor! Three sets of Centurion armor, five sets of Terminator armor, and twenty brand-new power armors." Salken's tone rarely revealed a hint of pride. "Although it can't compare to the arsenal of a newly formed chapter, it is still a rare and generous gift for the Silver Blades."

Chen Xi's gaze slowly swept over the armor plates on the company commander's body, which were covered with repair marks. The rough welding points and the re-riveted armor plates silently told the story of the hardships the battle group had endured.

He nodded slightly, tapping his fingertips lightly on the table, and chose the most appropriate way to put it: "These rewards are invaluable to any warband, especially a warband like the Silver Blade that focuses more on practical combat than equipment."

Salken's armored servo system emitted a low hum, as if in response to this assessment.

He let out a soft, metallic chuckle, raised his armored arm to show off the newly replaced nail plates at his elbows, and frankly admitted, "You're being too kind, Governor. We are indeed a poor bunch."

But the Emperor is above all else, that doesn't prevent us from being loyal to the Empire, and at least now the recruits can wear full power armor.

He readily accepted the assessment, his power armor's shoulder armor tilting slightly, revealing a warrior's straightforwardness: "Your Excellency is wise. The Silver Blade is not a renowned and powerful group, and the sector where our recruiting world is located is not wealthy."

Chen Xi noticed that when the company commander said this, his body under his power armor involuntarily tensed up for a moment.

“The equipment is barely adequate,” Salken continued, his fingers unconsciously tracing a deep scratch on his breastplate. His voice suddenly became heavy. “The veterans can still gather parts from older models, but the power armor for recruits and ordinary soldiers… is mostly pieced together from the belongings of fallen comrades.”

The lights in the reception room seemed to dim a little at this moment, and the starlight outside the window was blocked by the passing clouds, casting mottled shadows on the stone floor.

A solemn atmosphere filled the air, and even the subtle hum of the machine tools seemed to have stopped.

But then, Salken straightened up, the metal joints of his armor clanging with a clear, metallic sound that echoed in the quiet reception room.

His nail-covered fingers unconsciously rubbed his knees, a rare hint of anticipation in his eyes: "But this does not diminish our resolve to serve the Emperor."

His voice was deep and firm, each word carrying the metallic quality unique to Space Marines.

“But…” He leaned forward slightly, the armor’s servo system humming softly, “If we can get more support, we can fulfill our sacred duty with greater strength.”

He spoke slowly and solemnly, as if every word had been carefully considered.

Chen Xi nodded slightly and tapped the table lightly with his fingertips: "The high command of the expeditionary force deeply sympathizes with the losses suffered by the Silver Blade, and supplies have been distributed."

He paused meaningfully, looking directly at Salken's face: "I've heard that its abundance even made you think you were going to jump onto the Throne World or the Battle Moon?"

A bitter smile appeared on Salken's face, followed by a self-deprecating laugh.

The spacious dome of the reception room gave the laughter a peculiar echo, reverberating long after it reached the stone walls.

(End of this chapter)