Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 486 Courtroom Inquiry
Although the number of Astartes mobilized in this operation was not extremely large, the very act of deploying such a large number of Astartes was already a rather troublesome matter.

It should be noted that although the Ash Knights Chapter has experienced rapid development over the past decade and now has nearly four thousand Astartes, Chen Xi would never be able to deploy all of these thousands of Astartes into the battlefield at this stage.

In fact, even when considering deploying more Ash Knights than usual at once, Chen Xi had to make careful and thorough considerations to ensure that it would not arouse excessive attention and vigilance from the Empire.

He knew all too well that in the vast and sensitive machine of the empire, power was both a shield to defend the territory and a lightning rod to attract suspicion.

After all, the lessons of the Badab Wars were still fresh in everyone's minds, and the Empire had always maintained a high degree of vigilance regarding the size and operations of the Astartes Chapters.

Although the Rostov Expedition could serve as a powerful pretext and cover, allowing the issue of a small overstaffing of the Ash Knights to be temporarily tacitly accepted or shelved by all parties, this by no means meant that Chen Xi could directly deploy thousands of Astartes monks dressed in uniform attire onto the battlefield.

Such a move could hardly be interpreted in any other way than leading the imperial high command to believe that he had ulterior motives.

Even a powerful Black Templar Chapter with thousands of Astartes has always split the entire chapter into numerous small expeditionary forces operating separately, and has never appeared in a concentrated manner exceeding the size of a standard chapter.

In fact, under the current Imperial conditions, the simultaneous appearance of more than several hundred Astartes from the same warband on the battlefield is a signal that is enough to strongly alarm the High Lords Council and the Inquisition.

Because usually, only in major wars that affect an entire planet or even an entire galaxy can one witness so many Astartes fighting side by side.

If a large-scale war of this magnitude were not to break out, why would hundreds of Astartes be deployed at the same time?
What do you want to do? Replay the Battle of Badab, or are you trying to carry out a so-called "purging of the court of corrupt officials" in Holy Terra?
It should be noted that, under normal circumstances, it is already quite remarkable to see Astartes deploying for missions at the company level.

If it weren't for the grand backdrop of the Rostov Expedition, Chen Xi, as the supreme commander of the expeditionary force, would have needed to expend considerable political wisdom and negotiation skills to explain to the Empire the true intentions and necessity of the Ash Knights' Chapter's deployment of five or six hundred Astartes at once.

Although the forces deployed so far only account for about one-eighth of the total strength of the Ash Knights Chapter.

But this was already a huge test of the limits of tolerance of the Imperial Inquisition and the High Lords Council.

In fact, just as Chen Xi began mobilizing the Ash Knights to prepare for the "Tempering Project," the Sector Inquisition immediately sent a cautiously worded but sharp inquiry letter, demanding that Chen Xi explain the strategic purpose of mobilizing so many Astartes.

This document, like a pebble thrown into water, foreshadows potential turbulent waves.

For a court that is known for its tough stance, this was a rather restrained and lenient response.

If it were any other commander, the judge would probably have already come to their door to demand a "loyalty test".

Fortunately, Chen Xi is the lord inquisitor of the Exile Order of the Inquisition, and he has the legitimate power to mobilize the Astartes. In addition, he is currently the supreme commander of the Rostov Expedition. This dual identity constitutes his unique talisman and room for maneuver.

He could simply explain to the Sector Inquisition that this was a military operation against orcs and cultists, and that would temporarily clear things up.

This still served as a reminder to Chen Xi that operating within the rusty machine of the Empire meant that any hasty action could be bogged down by its rigid joints, requiring extra caution in strategy. Therefore, he approached Hathor, clearly explaining the situation and asking if she had any better solutions.

What he needs is not just a technical answer, but a wise strategy to cleverly navigate the labyrinth of imperial rules.

After listening to Chen Xi's well-organized presentation, a trace of obvious impatience flashed deep in Hathor Lupeka's molten gold eyes, like a commander whose strategic planning had been interrupted by mundane matters.

She put down the data tablet in her hand, her fingertips unconsciously tapping on the cold table, making a dull knocking sound.

"The Tribunal? The High Lords Council?" Her voice was low, carrying an almost instinctive contempt from the depths of ancient memory. "A bunch of bureaucrats who have never set foot on the real front lines, who have never faced the deepest darkness of the galaxy!"

What right do they have to criticize a commander who commands a large army and bears the responsibility of turning the tide in the eye of the storm?

Her question carried the weight of the Legion era.

Her thoughts inevitably drifted to the depths of Horus's memory—those tax collectors in their magnificent robes, those Terran nobles who reaped the fruits of conquest yet remained indifferent to the sacrifices on the front lines, and... that man sitting beneath the throne, who dared to erase the Primarch's existence!

A chilling rage churned silently in her chest.

However, this hatred stemming from the past collided and compressed violently in her eyes like churning clouds, but was ultimately suppressed by her strong willpower, turning into a low groan filled with restraint and displeasure.

She took a deep breath, and the storm in her golden pupils gradually subsided, allowing her to refocus on the real predicament brought about by Chen Xi.

“In the Great Crusade,” Hathor’s voice carried the unquestionable authority of a Warmaster, but his tone had become more calm and analytical, “when a Primarch mobilizes his legions to conquer the world and crush powerful enemies, no one dares to question its necessity!”
Power is the natural privilege of conquerors and the cornerstone of maintaining order.

Those mortals... they are only fit to provide flesh and ore to keep the war machine running on the land that warriors have carved out with blood and fire.

Interrogation? Questioning? This is a desecration of power, an interference with duty!

Despite her efforts to control it, her deep-seated contempt for ordinary people and the elite still lingered on the edges of her words.

Chen Xi calmly watched the golden light in her eyes surge and then forcefully subside. He could clearly feel that the profound disdain for mortal power, which originated from Horus's memories, was being suppressed by her willpower.

Instead of directly refuting this value system from another era, he calmly pushed a data panel labeled "Large Rift Prediction Model" in front of her.

This action itself is a form of silent guidance.

(End of this chapter)