Warhammer: The Worst Start There Is (40k) - Chapter 15: Declaration

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“The Raven Guard stand firmly by your side, my lord,” replied Verano. “We ask for nothing more than to crush the chaos and exterminate the Xenos creatures. The Raven Guard have no other desires.”

“Besides what you’ve mentioned, I ask nothing more of you, Captain. I’m glad you stand steadfastly with me,” responded Guilliman with a smile, looking towards the other Chapter Masters, his gaze filled with anticipation.

“The Salamanders have always been humanity’s most loyal defenders. Anyone who opposes humanity is our friend. I’m willing to join your side, so long as you don’t mind,” said a Salamander Space Marine, his skin dark, his face stern, clad in green power armor.

“The Space Wolves never miss a battle against the force of chaos and the Xenos, Lord Regent. The wolf pack will be the sharpest sword in your hand.”

The representative of the Space Wolves, adorned with a wolf-head decoration, spoke resolutely.

“I long to wield this sword for victory,” Guilliman humorously looked at the Space Wolves’ representative.

All the representatives of the Chapters pledged their allegiance to the Regent and promised to cooperate in eliminating the chaos forces in Ultramar and using Ultramar as a base to launch attacks on other regions of the Imperium, preventing the destruction of the Imperium of Man.

After confirming the attitudes of these Chapters, Guilliman let them rest and told them to wait for the day of deployment.

A new war was about to begin, and humanity would wield their swords against chaos and Xenos.

After bidding farewell to his last group of visitors, Guilliman pondered for a moment in the reception hall before stepping out.

Calgar, Sicarius, and some others were waiting outside.

These were the top-notch Space Marine of the Ultramarines Chapter, the Imperial heroes with unparalleled honor, who had shattered countless wars launched by chaos and Xenos against humanity.

Calgar saluted Guilliman, “My lord.”

“You don’t need to be so formal, Calgar,” Guilliman shook his head. “Accompany me to take a look at the state of Macragge City and how the reconstruction is progressing. We can also discuss some matters about the future along the way.”

A hovercraft soon landed in front of Guilliman. It was a tourist aircraft used for sightseeing.

Macragge, as the homeland of the Ultramarines and the capital planet of the five hundred planets, naturally held great significance and attracted numerous tourists every year who came to admire the homeland of the Ultramarines.

Such tourist hovercraft were common in Macragge and were civilian equipment.

However, with the onslaught of the chaos army, these hovercraft had undergone militarization.

The one in front of them had also been modified for combat, evident from the thick steel plates embedded in its shell and traces of welding marks, with weapon mounts yet to be dismantled.

Guilliman didn’t nitpick about the hovercraft; he just wanted to see the current state of Macragge City.

The scars left by the war were still painfully evident.

Those who survived the destructive attacks of chaos were rebuilding their homes with the assistance of the Mechanical Faith.

Many Imperial Knights had to put down their weapons and take up tools for construction, aiding in the swift recovery of normal life.

Mechanicus with six mechanical legs shuttled back and forth, transporting supplies and repairing the dilapidated buildings.

The entire Macragge City appeared to be thriving.

Of course, behind all of this, there were also some discordant voices.

As Guilliman surveyed Macragge City, the deafening sound of an explosion suddenly rang out.

Several Thunderhawk gunships swooped through the sky, heading towards the explosion site to launch a barrage against the enemy responsible for the planned explosion.

According to Calgar, it was the remnants of the cultists causing trouble.

While the forces of chaos had been eradicated, these traitors had not all been captured. They lurked in the shadows and occasionally launched attacks in an attempt to disrupt the reconstruction efforts in Macragge.

People wore smiles on their faces, and it wasn’t just because they had driven away the chaos army and defended their homeland. More importantly, Guilliman’s awakening had shown them the possibility of redemption amid endless darkness.

Guilliman stood silently on the hovercraft, not commenting on the sudden events. He simply surveyed this ancient, well-hidden city that had undergone multiple reconstructions.

He had easily defeated the chaos army; that was undeniable and a cause for celebration. However, memories of his first time on the battlefield continued to echo in his mind, reminding him of the brutality of the war between humans and chaos.

After the war, Macragge was left as nothing more than a charred, fragile ruin, with swamps formed by the remains of the dead scattered everywhere.

In space, wreckage floated everywhere, a testament to the countless Imperial soldiers who had sacrificed themselves for victory.

That scene was something he would never forget.

After looking around, Guilliman turned to Calgar. “You are the most trustworthy subordinate I have, Calgar.”

“To receive your praise fills me with gratitude,” Calgar replied with joy.

“I have an extremely important task to entrust to you, Calgar. Besides you, I can hardly imagine anyone else capable of taking on this task.”

“Soon, I will assemble our forces to launch a cleansing war against the entire Ultramar, completely eradicating the enemies of the five hundred planets. However, Macragge leaves me uneasy. It has just endured the baptism of war, and if it were to face another assault by chaos, the blow to the morale of the Imperium would be unimaginable. I need someone absolutely reliable to stay in Macragge and ensure that this world won’t be attacked again.”

Guilliman looked at Calgar with a gaze filled with anticipation and hope.

A look of astonishment appeared on Calgar’s face. He had thought that he would be entrusted with the vanguard role in the upcoming war, becoming a fearsome blade in the hands of the Primarch.

However, he had not expected the Primarch to request him to stay in Macragge for defense, vigilant against chaos attacks.

“My lord, I hope to…”

Calgar’s words were interrupted by Guilliman.

“In this chaotic universe, I do not deny the strength of Celestine and Amalrich. They have led the armies of the Imperium of Man in numerous battles against chaos and Xenos, achieving victory time and time again. These Imperial heroes each have their unique brilliance, but they lack sufficient strategic insight, Calgar. I am not at ease leaving Macragge, which is so crucial, in their hands. I must entrust it to someone with intelligence, strength, and the ability to ensure victory.”

“Macragge is not just the capital planet; it is also the key to humanity’s future redemption. The Mechanicus holds several critically important technologies. Under my authorization, he is attempting to spread them, which will determine the balance of the future battlefield. Calgar, if any problems arise, all our efforts will be in vain.”

Guilliman knew what Calgar wanted to say. War was what every Space Marine yearned for. However, now Guilliman had to ensure the safety of his rear.

Cawl’s technologies were of utmost importance, capable of effectively bolstering the military power of the Imperium of Man, sweeping away past defeats, and providing the strength to confront daemons and traitors head-on.

Leaving Calgar to guard Macragge was the best choice.

“I will not disappoint your expectations,” Calgar nodded in obedience when he heard this.

However, there was also a tinge of disappointment in his heart. He had fought bloody battles for the Imperium, winning countless honors for the Ultramarines Chapter. Yet now, he was excluded from the Indomitus Crusade led by the Primarch.

Guilliman seemed to see through his thoughts and continued, “During this time, you can prepare a suitable army. Once Ultramar is completely cleared, and Macragge is no longer under threat, you can command this army as the vanguard, leading the way in the Indomitus Crusade to open the way for the following forces to eradicate chaos and Xenos throughout the Imperium. You wouldn’t want to see a Primarch without even a personal guard unit, resorting to assistance from other forces, would you?”

“My lord, do you mean I can establish a new army?”

“Yes, Calgar, a brand-new army, with entirely new soldiers, new ships, and new ideology. This expedition is not just about driving out chaos and clearing enemies; it’s about cleaning the deep-seated maladies of the Imperium. Members of the Reform Council will accompany you on the journey, spreading the new Imperial ideology and system to various regions, pushing for reform. When necessary, those stubborn conservatives can be treated as enemies.”

Guilliman spoke with a solemn tone. “I can’t entrust this task to anyone else, Calgar. Only you are worthy of my trust.”

“I will do my utmost to fulfill it, my lord,” Calgar’s tone brightened, and Guilliman’s trust brought him joy.

“Do not disappoint me, Calgar,” Guilliman said firmly. “You are guarding not only Macragge but also the future of humanity. Any mistake would be the greatest betrayal and harm to humanity.”

“I understand, my lord. You will not be disappointed.”

In the days that followed, Guilliman received visitors from various factions, listened to their thoughts and opinions, and made his decisions.

One week later, an army composed of various factions such as the Imperial Navy, Adeptus Mechanicus, Adepta Sororitas, Knight Families, Titans, and the Inquisition was assembled by Guilliman.

The issue of Ultramar had to be resolved quickly, and then they could march to various parts of space, eradicating chaos forces, quelling rebellions, and reshaping the Imperium of Man.

Standing on the bridge of the Gloriana-class Battleship “Macragge’s Honour,” Guilliman opened the communication channel for the entire army.

His voice resounded through every ship, echoing in the ears of every person.

“I am delighted to fight alongside all of you, my brothers and sisters, my flesh and blood. The Chaos Gods thought that we, humans, would be their playthings, forever trapped and unable to break free. They destroyed our homes, hunted our siblings, and demanded that we submit to their dark and terrifying rule. But that is nothing but a delusion. From this day forth, humanity will launch a full-scale counterattack against those damned chaos forces and the Xenos. We will use our swords to tell them that humanity will never yield.”

Guilliman raised his voice, resonating like thunder, shaking the hearts of everyone, echoing in every corner.

“Humanity will never yield! Long live humanity! Long live the Emperor!”

With Guilliman’s roar, the ship’s crew, soldiers, knights, Space Marines, judges, and devotees all erupted into deafening cheers, responding to Guilliman with fervor.

“Humanity will never yield! Long live humanity! Long live the Emperor!”

Everyone was in a frenzy, their faces flushed, shouting madly.

Even on the surface of Macragge, the cheers echoed, and everyone shouted the same slogan.

Their emotional fluctuations converged and formed a powerful spiritual current in the Warp near Macragge. It fiercely struck the raging Warp storm, dispersing it and drawing the attention of the gods.

Amalrich, Celestine, and others felt all of this, and their hearts were also in turmoil, unable to remain calm.

With a leader like this, how could the Imperium possibly fail?

Calgar stood on the surface, looking up at the sky. In front of him, behind him, to his left and right, countless people shouted along with their Genefather. It was a terrifying charisma and infectious energy.

“Set sail! Let us sound the death knell for those enemies of the Imperium. This time, we fight for the Imperium, for humanity, for the God Emperor of Mankind!”

Guilliman’s shout became even more impassioned, rallying everyone and igniting an infinite strength within them.

Amidst the cheers, one by one, the warships set sail, tearing through the fabric of reality and entering the Warp.

The flames of war reignited, and humanity would never yield to that terrifying dark fate.

Even when drawing their swords to challenge the Chaos gods, the many heroes of the Imperium felt no fear.