Warhammer 40: Starting as a Rogue Trader

Chapter 222 Arrival in Macurag
On Macurag.

The Ultramarines did not neglect the arrival of the Imperial Guard and the renowned Sage of the Mechanicus, and immediately dispatched troops to greet them.

In the core region of Alteramar, within the star system directly controlled by the Ultramarines, the wealthy Ultramarines possess their own navy, whose size rivals that of any fleet within the Empire.

Accompanied by the Thunderhawk gunships provided by the Ultramarines, the group headed towards the landing site in Macragge.

However, the entire planet exudes a chilling aura, and it has already entered a state of alert.

Transport ships were constantly shuttling back and forth between the warships on orbit at an unprecedented frequency, carrying various supplies.

When Gao Yi arrived, he also discovered that the Ultramarines' warships had left the starport and were ready for battle, with the fixed star fortresses and orbital defense platforms operating at full power.

Through the cockpit window, Gao Yi looked down at the Ultramarines' home planet. The towering buildings represented the world's abundance, and the fertile farmland, magnificent natural landscapes, manufacturing centers, and industrial and military supply complexes all existed in this world, demonstrating that Guilliman's descendants had inherited his wisdom in management.

He really wants it all: politics, economics, culture, and industry.

They have successfully enabled industry and ecology to coexist on this planet.

The vast world around them supplies Macurag.

Macurag is one of only two planets that Gao Yi has seen that can rival his current planet, Argasus.

The Primarch's homeworld also grants it special tax exemptions from the Empire, which is one of the key reasons why it has been able to develop so well.

The legitimate imperial capital is in Altramor, while the capital of the Second Empire is in Macragge. It seems this joke isn't just idle talk.
It's estimated that the entire empire would have a hard time finding a place more suitable for ordinary mortals to live than Alteramar.

If Gao Yi really had to choose, he wouldn't choose the three-bedroom apartment in Terra that's rumored to be worth an entire planet. In Terra, you'd have a very hard time getting ahead in your entire life, but in Altera, you could really achieve upward mobility.

The Ultramarines limited the number of Chapter members according to the Astartes Sanctum as compiled by the Father of Genesis. This also led the Ultramarines to relinquish control of many of the 500 worlds to mortals, and their control was limited to a few planets around Macragge.

However, the Ultramarines still maintain their influence in the 500 worlds; it can be said that every planet in Ultramar is a recruitment planet for the Ultramarines.

These planets have numerous military academies that train reserve forces for the Ultra Warriors.

In worlds directly controlled by the Ultramarines, the social functioning of the entire planet is relatively stable, and this stable social environment makes large-scale rebellions rare on these planets.

Ultramarines believe that mortals deserve protection and respect.

Therefore, people also believe in the Ultra Warriors and believe that their lives will be better under their leadership. The Ultra Warriors' habits also influence ordinary humans on these planets. They believe in the importance of honest labor and that power should be handed over to capable people.

If any family produces an Ultra Warrior, the family will consider it an eternal honor, and the entire family will benefit from it. On many planets, statues will even be erected for those who successfully join the Ultra Warriors.

Countless families send their best offspring to the Ultramarines for the selection process. Unlike many warbands whose selection process is extremely brutal and has a high mortality rate, the Ultramarines selection is also very dangerous. However, the warband's apothecaries will still treat the injured and those with potential during the selection process, even if they fail.

Even after returning to their planet, they can still stand out among ordinary people based on their experiences and past learning. They can choose to become squires of a warband or members of the glorious Altarama Auxiliary Army.

These losers are not lacking in talent; it's just that there are people more talented than them, each an average of the planet's top scorers in both arts and sciences, plus physical education.

Stable recruitment methods and stable genetic seeds are also important factors that allow Ultra Warriors to mass-produce troops.

As Gao Yi stepped out of the Thunder Eagle, he saw the well-equipped Otlama auxiliary troops near the landing site. Some of them were even almost as big as Astartes. Gao Yi suspected that the Ultra Warriors should lower their standards a bit.

These people could also be transformed into the Smurfs from the Astartes era. There aren't just 25, but 25 forever. Horus has driven them crazy. How come they can't be killed off?
The descendants of Lan are endless.

Gao Yi looked ahead and saw an Astartes dressed as a think tank member waiting for them not far away, along with two other Ultramarines veterans. Gao Yi even recognized the laurel wreaths and iconic visors on them.

Their weapons consist of a massive and exquisitely crafted storm shield and a power sword.

"Am I going to... the Ultramarines' honor stretcher team?"

Without these Smurfs known as the Honor Guard, Guilliman or Calgar, the ICU war god, would probably be long gone.

As for the think tank that could be protected by two honor guards, Gao Yi felt he had already guessed the other party's identity.

The huge metal box containing the Armor of Destiny was also transported down from the Thunderhawk by Kaul.

It includes not only the Destiny Armor, a divine artifact, but also a complete set of wearable equipment.

“Lord Digglis, it really is the Imperial Guard.”

It was not Calgar who went to greet Gao Yi and the others, but Diggris, the curator of the Ultra Warriors' think tank.

Looking at the six Imperial Guards and the great sage Caul before him, Digglis's expression was also solemn.

"The Imperial Guard has actually emerged from Terra? What exactly has happened within the Empire? What are the intentions of the Great Sage of the Mechanicus and the traveling merchant who is a living saint, who are suddenly visiting Macragge?"

Diggris pondered to himself.

The recent cult unrest that has suddenly emerged in various parts of Alteramar, and even in Macurag, gave Digglis a bad feeling.

A massive Chaos fleet, accompanied by alien pirates, suddenly appeared near Alteramar, attacking resource planets and small settlements.

They also discovered the identities of these intruders, and the name of the Red Pirates made the Ultramarines nervous.

They knew that the enemies invading Alterama were no nobodys, but rather came from a massive Chaos Warband.

The sudden attack has nearly breached some of the most poorly defended planets.

The Dark Mechanicus of Vashtor proved somewhat ineffective against the High Priests, but the Chaos Codes still proved powerful against the Empire's regular fleet.

Not to mention that Vashtor personally intervened this time.

The chaotic code he personally created was enough to cripple the Empire's warships' firepower systems and defense platforms.

Conventional methods are almost impossible to counter.

This made the breakthrough of Chaos seem like an uncharted territory for a time.

The emergence of the traitorous Astartes and the existence of this warp sub-god forced the Ultramarines to deploy the power of their chapters to protect these worlds.

The oaths the Ultramarines made with these worlds prevented them from standing idly by.

The reports in Star Language from various locations also made the Ultramarines realize that this invasion was no ordinary event.

The report of Vashtor's appearance prompted Karga to personally leave Macurag and go there to try to banish this lesser evil god.

(End of this chapter)