Warhammer 40: Doom

Chapter 259 Welcome to Macurag
The legions cannot stop; the Great Crusade is a race against time with Chaos.

Even while conducting investigations, the Second Legion must continue its expeditions to expand human territory.

The emperor's decision was very rational. The public and high-profile investigation was not intended to obtain any information, but rather to deter those who might try to harm him in the shadows.

The covert investigation was handled by the Alpha Legion, while Hydra, specializing in intelligence warfare, was better suited for espionage operations against the Legion.

Out of consideration for brotherhood, Doom suggested that the Emperor send more censors to each legion.

This move wasted a great deal of human resources, but gave Solas a dignified end.

"When sending out investigators, don't forget the Twenty-First Legion." Doom gave this final instruction, not wanting to become the target of everyone's criticism in this incident.

Sending an investigation team to the country will inevitably breed suspicion; only by treating everyone equally can people's hearts be appeased.

“That’s the way to go.” The Emperor nodded in agreement, finalized the investigation plan, and then asked Doom, “When did you come into contact with Alpharis?”

He asked about "Alphareis" rather than "Alpha Legion," because knowing about the existence of the Shadow Legion meant that he must have come into contact with Alphareis.

Doom smiled and shook his head, indicating he didn't intend to answer the question.

The Emperor had never mentioned the existence of the Alpha Legion to him, which was a secret beyond the bounds of mutual trust.

Seeing that he shook his head and remained silent, the emperor did not press him further.

The secret lies in the power to survive in the Dark Galaxy; every race and individual harbors a dark secret that cannot be revealed to others.

Time passed in silence, and after a brief subspace voyage, the fleet arrived at Guilliman's homeworld.

Located in the Otma Galaxy of the Eastern End Star Region, the world of Macurag already possesses the rudiments of an interstellar empire.

Guilliman stood tall and proud before the window, his pride undisguised: "Welcome to Mackrag!"

Looking in the direction he pointed, beneath the starry sky lay a vibrant and habitable world where blue and green coexisted.

Vulcan exclaimed, "What a beautiful world! I have never seen an ocean, and I cannot imagine a planet that is mostly water."

Compared to the immediately recognizable Makura, Nocturne is like a shy maiden, her face hidden beneath a veil of volcanic ash.

Her surface has no oceans; her rivers are flowing lava, and her lakes are hard, sharp obsidian.

They are better at taking lives than at nurturing them.

Guilliman was speechless for a moment. As the Lord of Macragge, he should have accepted his brother's praise.

But he had never been to Nocturne Star, and all he had heard of it was scorched earth and ashes.

"Nocturne has its own unique vitality."

Just as he was fretting, Doom, who was standing to the side, spoke up. He had been to Nocturne and had the right to speak and comment.

Guilliman secretly breathed a sigh of relief and glanced at his brother to express his gratitude.

“Vitality?” Vulcan tilted his head slightly, his brow furrowing as he pondered, then broke into a bright smile: “I like that description.”

"Whether it's Nocturne or the people living on it, their vitality is indeed very strong."

His brother's words resonated deeply with him; whether it was the turbulent stars or the people who tenaciously lived on them, they all embodied a vibrant life force.

Doom smiled back, turned his gaze from the void, and said to the proud Guilliman, "I think you should go down; they're probably terrified."

He pointed his finger at the sill, and a holographic image appeared.

The oracle transmitted back scan images, showing that the planetary defense system on Macragge was activated and targeting the void fleet.

"It was my oversight!" Guilliman's eyes widened, he lifted his robe and left the garden with a look of urgency, heading towards Macurag.

A hundred warships stormed into the star system, terrifying the people of Macurag, who had never seen such a powerful fleet.

The high command was also uneasy. They withdrew the fleet from the front lines and learned that Macurag was engaged in an skirmish.

The fleet's final order was that the King of Macragge commanded them to leave the war sector and return to Macragge.

A massive fleet stormed in; the warships, displaying their formidable firepower and bearing completely unfamiliar insignia, instilled a sense of dread.

At the Makula Palace, a group of powerful figures emerged from the halls, gazing up at the fleet visible to the naked eye in space, exclaiming in admiration and wonder.

Amid the crowd, Tarasha Yoddon gazed up at the blue sky, her pure eyes reflecting the space fleet.

She leaned against the stone pillar, her fingers unconsciously curling slightly, revealing a deep unease within this resolute and courageous woman.

The appearance of the Void Fleet caused the Court Lord to worry about Macragge's safety, and even more so about Robert Guilliman.

That strong and powerful giant was the source of everyone's inner strength; without him, Macurag lacked a unified will.

As soon as a shuttle descended from the sky and stopped in the palace square, the palace security immediately rushed up and surrounded the shuttle.

Amidst the uneasy gazes of the crowd, a familiar giant emerged from the cabin, a smile on his face, raising a hand to reassure them. The guards knelt on one knee, their bodies no longer trembling; Macragge's pillar of strength had finally returned.

The elders were overjoyed, their worried expressions eased, and they all stepped forward to surround King Makurag.

Guilliman pushed his way through the crowd and walked straight to Ms. Euton, a big smile on his face: "I'm sorry to have worried you."

He needed to kneel on one knee and bend down, but he still couldn't make her look at him at eye level.

Guilliman took the woman's hand in his large hand, bent his index finger, and gently rubbed the back of his finger against the corner of Yoton's eye, lightly wiping away her slightly reddened eyes.

But the woman's strength surprised the original body; the tears in her eyes subsided, and she did not let them fall.

Yoton touched Guilliman's large hand, his voice trembling slightly: "What happened? We are very worried about your safety."

Reflecting on his recent experiences, Guilliman couldn't help but sigh, feeling as if he had been separated from his adoptive mother for a lifetime when they met again.

He offered no explanation for the moment, his expression hardening again. He rose from in front of the woman, surveyed the surroundings, and growled out his command:

"I need a ceremony, an unprecedented, grand ceremony of the highest caliber, to welcome our distinguished guests from afar!"

King Macragge's words relieved everyone, proving that the fleet hanging overhead was not the enemy.

The elders beamed with joy, bowed to Guilliman, and then left to prepare for the welcoming ceremony.

Ms. Euton asked, "Whom are you going to greet?"

She pointed to the space fleet and asked gently in a low voice, trying to figure out the key points.

Since his adopted son came to power, he has always emphasized frugality and never been extravagant.

The first thing he did upon his return was to prepare an extravagant ceremony to welcome the guests from afar.

Guilliman looked up and saw the Emperor Dream shining brightly in the void, reflecting the light from the stars.

His expression was complicated as he bowed to Mrs. Euton and said, "Father and brother."

"Ah?" Yoton exclaimed in surprise, covering his red lips with his hand, his blue eyes filled with astonishment.

She had long suspected that Guilliman might come from the depths of the void, a child of the stars who had fallen into Macurag.

Because the soil and water of Makula cannot nurture such extraordinary beings.

The woman firmly believed that Guilliman's father or mother would come looking for their son.

The moment had finally arrived, and Yoddon was overjoyed, astonished by the relatives Guilliman had found.

“This is a momentous occasion that Macurag should celebrate,” she said, her joy genuine and heartfelt. “I need to prepare for it myself.”

As the Queen of the Palace, Yodon was indeed in charge of palace affairs, and she was eager to demonstrate the hospitality of the Macurag.

“It must be grand,” Guilliman emphasized again. “There can be no slightest impropriety.”

Having witnessed the impeccable etiquette of the servants aboard the Royal Majesty, he naturally knew that his brother's background was definitely extraordinary.

In this respect, Guilliman did not want to be outdone.

“I understand.” Yoton saw the competitive spirit in Guilliman’s eyes, narrowed her eyes, and a smile appeared on her face.

Her son, who was always a boy, had a friendly appearance but also a strange sense of pride.

An unprecedentedly grand ceremony, planned by Guilliman and personally organized by Ms. Euton, began.

After Guilliman landed on thirteen Terra, a communication came from the ground that he could enter Macurag.

The Emperor landed in Macurag aboard a golden landing craft, with Doom and Vulcan on the same vessel.

This planet rotates slowly, and one day on it is equivalent to three days on Terra.

The streets of Macurag were deserted as people gathered at the spaceport to welcome the distinguished guests.

A golden landing ship descended from the sky, its hull adorned with two gleaming eagles, its splendor reaching its zenith.

People are captivated by its dazzling brilliance, which reflects hope and glory, as if illuminating a bright future.

puff~
The airlock doors slowly opened, and amidst eager anticipation, two teams of tall, imposing golden-armored warriors emerged from the cabin.

Their golden armor gleamed, and the formation was solemn and imposing. The leader held a banner embroidered with a golden double-headed eagle.

The golden-armored warriors' figures moved the people of Macurag to sigh; they could feel their power.

The soldiers walked on both sides of the blue carpet, turned around with a whoosh, and faced each other neatly.

The Imperial Guards, supporting themselves with their halberds, knelt on one knee and shouted in unison, "We beseech our Lord—the Lord of Mankind!"

(End of this chapter)