Warhammer 40k: Shattered Steel Soul

"In their fanatical disrespect, they are keen to expose their crimes." - "The Book of Lorgar"

An Iron Ring Robot hurriedly moved along the corridor of the Spirit of Vengeance. Even without the anti-gravity module installed, it almost floated at a steady speed, passing through the blockades and quickly arrived at the briefing room of the Spirit of Vengeance.

This place has become the latest strategic information collection center. The Primarchs gave up letting the senior commanders and military advisers in the Space Marines screen the intelligence, but read all the intelligence documents that had been initially screened and translated by loyal mortal clerks directly in order to obtain more comprehensive original information, so as to better understand the clues in the ongoing war.

Perturabo had already upgraded the basic holographic projection equipment, even though he privately began to think that this should actually be the field that Ferrus Manus excels in.

The efficient projection equipment unfolded thousands of documents one by one on the surround surfaces at different levels, avoiding the overlap of texts in the perspective, and scrolling at a relatively fast speed that the Primarchs could capture and understand, and pausing and zooming in when any Primarch or Space Marine officer present needed it for further discussion.

When the Iron Ring Mecha entered the briefing room, the picture captured and identified by the camera module was such a complex picture where everything was running in a tense movement:

The floating documents were flying all over the sky like a blizzard, and the bright and dense beams of light were interwoven into a complex silk net. Each end of the silk thread involved the lives of several regiments, hundreds of Space Marines, and even more mortal assistants - almost one-fifth of the power of the Imperial Expeditionary Force depended on Randan, and at this moment, one end of this giant net involving countless lives had lost balance and was drooping from the metaphysical level.

"Any results?" a Luna Wolf asked. The Iron Ring mecha identified the other party's identity: Cyjanus, a Space Marine highly regarded by Horus Lupercal, had a close relationship with most of the other Space Marines present, and after quantification by digital evaluation, they all received high scores.

According to the pre-set regulations, the Iron Ring allocated a part of the monitoring channel to that corner. It quickly identified that what Cyjanus and another Luna Wolf were discussing was about the progress of several battles within the Luna Wolf Legion.

After internal logical screening, the Iron Ring classified the whispered discussions around it into different tracks one by one and continued to perform the tasks it was assigned.

"You are here," Lorgar Aurelion saw it first, and the golden-skinned Primarch immediately turned around and stretched out his hand to the Iron Ring. In order to keep his movements convenient, he changed his usual robe into a long coat with sleeves close to his arms.

The iron ring moved its mechanical arm within a limited range. When it was first created, it was not just for fighting. The region that had the greatest impact on its birth might be Macragge. Under this premise, it is not difficult to guess what kind of tendency the functions of the iron ring robot will show.

A data tablet was handed over to the fast-moving Primarch. Aurelion took the data tablet and projected the message that Perturabo wanted to convey with Horus beside him.

"Terra timing, on the evening of the 29th, the Silver Angel reappeared over the 38th system. At the same time, the rangers and raiders of this family began to fire at the Imperial Fleet for one hour and thirty minutes. We immediately retreated to avoid further losses..."

The iron ring turned the camera near the shoulder blade mechanical bone and pointed it at Horus Lupercal's serious face.

Since the Dark Angels' Legion Master led the Flamewing and the Silver Angels into close combat and disappeared in that group of base-like planetary systems, the remaining three fleets have fallen into a further state of tension, and the most worried one among them is Horus Lupercal.

The commander of the war, the first Moon Wolf to return... The Emperor's trust is on his shoulders, and his own emotions and desires also resist the possibility that the Second Primarch may not be the only Primarch who will encounter an accident in Randan.

After Suye's meditation, the Lord of the Shadow Moon Wolf regained the initial urgency after entering the inner side of the Randan outpost. One team after another was transported by airdrop pods to the surface of the planet that has been confirmed to be a large-scale flesh and blood structure, looking for the footprints left by the lion.

And Lorgar Aurelion, his lips sometimes moved gently when he didn't need to speak, silently praying for the lion.

Now, they were all sure that Lion El'Jonson's understanding of the Silver Angels must be better than any of them, and the current counterattack of this group, compared with the entire time span, can also be deduced that it was once very likely to be an assistant of the Dark Angels - a mystery that was destined to never be made public since it was discovered.

But the two sides have entered a destined confrontation, and it is meaningless to pursue the earlier issues, not to mention that Horus Lupercal himself did not oppose Lion's decision to use the aliens.

All past conflicts were eliminated in the concern for blood brothers, even if the impact it once brought will exist forever.

In any case, they look forward to the return of Lion El'Jonson.

The Iron Ring Mecha automatically walked to the wall of the briefing room that would not block anyone, and sent everything that happened here to Perturabo on the Iron Origin through different cameras and audio.

After the Iron Lord returned to his desk again, he sat down for several days without getting up.

With multiple legions and multiple enemies, this battle was more energy-consuming than the Battle of Satrada Abyss a few years ago. Perturabo was immersed in the torrent of command, leading the four fleets to respond to the attack. Their rear lines defended themselves against various attacks to ensure that the Imperial soldiers deep in Randan had the opportunity to concentrate on their most urgent mission at hand, namely the recovery of Leon El'Jonson.

This forced him to transfer the battle command of the Silver Angels to Horus and Lorgar, and leave more other work to his war blacksmiths - if there was insufficient manpower, let the Iron Ring do it.

"Team 55 was attacked," said a Dark Angel next to Sejanus, who was wearing full armor and had his back to the iron ring, interfering with the iron ring's automatic recognition system. "Unable to contact us at the moment."

"...Prepare to compile the death list," the Luna Wolf whispered, as if as long as they did not raise their voices, they would not alert anyone or symbolize any possibility of misfortune.

"On the 28th, Ran Dan Angel, numbered 596, launched two fierce attacks on the eastern flank, but failed to break through our defense line..."

"On the same day, Provisional Combined Force No. 27, which included War Blacksmith Nador and the Third Battalion, the Word Bearers Bones Chapter, and Luna Wolves Squads 77 to 79, annihilated the family numbered 462. The last remnant of Ran Dan’s angels, but at the same time it also suffered a violent attack, and more than a quarter of the Bone Holy Seat was lost..."

"After the 33rd Dalian Company repelled fifteen attacks on the space defense front on the 27th, the front was breached on the IW-554 block, and the two planets were lost one after another. The Ran Dan aliens immediately went to the ground. Carry out reproduction and replenishment, request extermination weapons..."

The meditator module built into the iron ring automatically starts to perform simple calculations and counting, and the statistics of personnel losses are being updated in real time in this hall.

The two Primarchs began to discuss some tactical details. Perhaps a certain piece of information scrolling across the screen gave them a new association. The specific content cannot be deduced by the cogitator array of the iron ring machine, and no machine, no matter how sophisticated, can match the brain of the Primarch.

"Perturabo," Lorgar Aurelion called the name of the hoop's owner, and the hoop drove the steel structure toward the primarch. "Contact him for us, okay?"

The iron ring connected the line, and the request was approved immediately. The robot's eyes lit up with the same green light as the Cheorwon's power supply core - the latest modification, symbolizing that Perturabo was listening.

"Here, in the area occupied by the Silver Angels, the advance team has opened a gap large enough to allow more Space Marine groups to enter: the regional clearing of the flesh and blood structures has been completed, and the temporary camp has laid the foundation of our power. Now. It’s the best time for a rescue attack.”

Luojia said, pulling a star map on the holographic screen in front of the iron ring, pointing upward with his fingers, as if holding up one of the planets, "Until he is found, no more damaging weapons are allowed to be used."

Horus continued: "We should send more troops and quickly shift to attack the mountains with the highest concentration of biomass on the planet's surface before the Silver Angels can destroy our fortresses and fortresses again."

The sound-producing organ of the hoop begins to operate, and the incoming neural signals are decoded into digital signals, which are then emitted through synthesized mechanical sounds.

"I agree," Perturabo said, "Let the Eighth Battalion join the battle. When will the regional general offensive be launched?"

The mechanical calmness covered up all his emotions, but if he were here today, the two primarchs would be surprised to find that the genetic primarch of the Iron Warriors is exactly what he is called at this moment, and he has maintained astonishing power in the terrible reason. , mechanical calmness.

"In three days," Horus replied, "assemble at the space station."

"I agree," Perturabo said again, and the communication was interrupted.

Horus and Lorgar looked at each other. After getting Perturabo's approval, such a decision that was approved by the three people almost became the best choice that the Imperial Fleet could confirm.

The Shepherd God sighed, walked to his seat, picked up the data pen, and began to plan the next battle plan.

Countless data and files were swirling around in the time it took him to write. Messages in different colors fell variegatedly along the vertical direction of the holographic screen. The marks of deep red and black gray were like blood flowing alongside the embers. A constant flow of whispers and exchanges.

After some time, the report that was sent to Perturabo's desk was completed.

"Take it, iron ring," the Wolf Shepherd pressed his temples and murmured something in Cosonia. This time, judging from the tone, it was not a declaration of war as he had emphasized before, but almost a tired prayer. "Bring it to Perturabo."

Reaching Luperkar's side was not easy given the size of the Iron Ring Marine. Aurelion took the work of the Wolf God and handed it over to the iron ring.

“The faithful will be saved,” solemnly said the True Worder, his voice as light as a hymn, and every syllable seemed to be lubricated with ointment, frankincense, and blood. “He has given us an army and a willing spirit to sustain us. Our hearts will rejoice in Him because we have always relied on His holy name.”

——

Jack is not a person who dwells on the past, not to mention that continuous high-intensity battles are enough to make people forget most of the emotions that have nothing to do with the war itself.

Soon after he returned to the Moon Wolves and fought in the group, he was promoted to a small position - because his captain died in a battle, and his upper body was blown away by the alien's light spear, and scattered everywhere.

In the following years, the people who began to die became his team members, not too often, but all in all, half of the team had changed blood.

Therefore, Jack decided to cherish his current vice-captain, Gregory, the first reason is that Gregory is an excellent fighter, and the second reason is that this is the best chat partner he can find recently.

"Lion," Jack muttered, before the transporter took off from orbit, repeating the Dark Angels' lost Primarch in the war, "Lion, Lion El'Jonson..."

"Why do you call him so affectionately?" Gregory asked, "He's not your father."

"That's our uncle too," Jack shrugged, "I wonder why it's him."

"It's simple, because only the First Primarch is on the front line," another Moon Wolf replied, "Those silver things can't rush to the back and grab our father from behind the table in the cafeteria."

"No, I wonder... why he is on the front line," Jack said, "Or, why he is in a hurry to fight with one-twelfth of an angel's wing... Well, I can't explain it. I'm just curious."

"You pay attention to him, really." Gregory said, while studying the scratched paint on his grenade launcher.

"I've seen him," Jack replied.

"Oh?" The Moon Wolf shouted in surprise, and all the helmets turned around.

"Tell me more about it, Jack." Gregory was in a good mood and reached out to touch Jack's arm. "Why have you never mentioned it? Did you see him from a few kilometers away, so there is nothing to say?"

"Oh, I talked to him." Jack slapped Gregory's hand back, "Close up. But I don't want to talk about that incident, it's not very interesting."

"Is he as strict as the rumors say, so strict that he scared our captain?" Gregory asked inquiringly, trying to feel the mood of his fighting brother through the helmet, "Okay, then we won't ask about your sad things, dear Jack."

"It's nothing, Lord Lion El'Jonson is actually quite good, but he is strict with aliens, which is also fine... All traitors who are involved in heresy will be burned in the fire." Jack laughed and deliberately drew an exaggerated cross on his chest.

"Ah, it's the Word Bearers again—" Gregory said with a smile, and the hatch suddenly opened with the sound of airflow. He changed the subject, "Has our partner arrived?"

In the open door, an iconic shoulder armor with a steel skull and yellow and black stripes was revealed in the light. Without any words, the identity of this legion was clear.