Colonel Kovek had a reason for drilling his troops.
Once the soldiers became accustomed to their modified bodies, he intended to lead them in clearing out the heretical Xenos lurking in the ship's other compartments.
Only then, with those merits to his name, would he have the standing to ask Librarian Ramesses to use astropathic communications and contact the nearest Administratum supply station to replenish his forces.
According to Administratum regulations, the Astra Militarum's operational decisions were not supposed to be interfered with by the Astartes. In theory, an Astra Militarum lord general held a position equal to that of an Astartes Chapter Master.
But regulations were regulations. Their actual implementation depended on reality.
For example, right now, Colonel Kovek felt it was necessary to inform the Angel.
Yet just as he was about to say something, Romulus's sudden question interrupted him.
"?"
Though puzzled, Kovek answered swiftly.
"Absolutely, Lord Romulus."
Cadians naturally received training in operating armored vehicles. As long as supplies were sufficient, any Cadian infantry regiment could transition seamlessly into an armored regiment.
For the Cadian Shock Troops, it had always been men waiting for equipment. When had equipment ever waited for men?
"Come with us. Sister Arabella as well."
Having received his answer, Romulus turned first and led them toward the warship compartment they had cleared not long ago.
As everyone knew, the Astartes' physical capabilities far exceeded those of ordinary mortals.
Thus, in many cases, a battlefield that the Astartes could handle with ease was hell for mortals.
Mortals lacked the reflexes to evade harm, sufficient mobility, and the protection needed to withstand most forms of damage.
So what could allow the Astra Militarum to make up for all those disadvantages and still advance alongside the Astartes on a high-intensity battlefield?
Naturally, sufficient armored strength.
Enough armored strength to equip every single person.
"Emperor above, that's a Stormblade, that's a Falchion? And a Baneblade... and what is that?... By the Emperor! It's a Glaive super-heavy tank. I've only ever seen such a creation in Administratum military manuals."
The Commissar was an old hand who had seen grand spectacles before. After all the monsters and freaks of the First Battle of Armageddon, he could at least keep a straight face.
But the young Colonel Kovek could no longer control his expression. He stared at the super-heavy vehicles in the warehouse, each with its elegant angular lines, and cried out in shock, so overwhelmed that he failed to notice the Leman Russ Executioner in the corner.
Never in his memory had so many relic-grade vehicles appeared together in one place.
"Why are they all Plasma variants?"
Romulus, who had been familiarizing himself with the characteristics of various Imperium units, asked quietly.
"Can't be helped. These gearheads are all from Ryza. Even when you retrieve their codex entries from the Warp, they only lean in that direction. Still, the Plasma variants are stronger than the originals, at least when they're Ryza-made."
Ramesses shrugged.
"Soul Materialization only looks at the component materials, not the technical complexity. At the same mass, it can't possibly pick the inferior option, can it? That would be a huge loss."
Then he pointed at the Glaive super-heavy tanks and the troop transports.
"And it's not like there aren't other options. Look at that Glaive. I just fished its codex entry out of the Warp. Its Volkite Mortar is invincible—one shell, one monstrous unit."
"And that Mastodon troop transport. Activate the Void Shield and charge straight into the enemy position, then a whole pile of Tinboys can come pouring out and butcher the enemy. You could trade twenty Land Raiders for it and still not get anything as reliable as this."
Romulus nodded in agreement.
"This makes it feel like we're still fighting the Great Crusade."
Arthur could not help scratching his head.
Compared to the current Imperium, where everything was either a Land Raider or a Rhino, with their various derivatives making up the rest, and where having a few extra Leman Russ tanks and Chimeras was already considered impressive, the equipment they could field now was simply too extravagant.
Of course, this was also an unavoidable measure in pursuit of combat power. Just as Ramesses had said, with the same money, how could they possibly choose the inferior option?
And once they refitted the Space Marines, a uniform array of Mk.II Crusade and Mk.IV Maximus armor would surely make anyone knowledgeable drool.
That was simply what happened when one could use Soul Materialization.
"Can the Cadians operate these vehicles?"
"Absolutely, my lord," Colonel Kovek replied.
Aside from the Glaive, which only Astartes Chapters possessed in small numbers nowadays, Colonel Kovek had every confidence that his troops could master the rest of the armored vehicles in a short time.
"Good."
Romulus led the way into another compartment, then pointed at the neatly arranged suits of combat armor.
"These are Solar Pattern Void Armor. They can provide soldiers with better protection, and you may each choose one for yourselves."
"This armor?"
Kovek instinctively refused.
"I don't need these. My duty is to command the battlefield from the rear. Give them to the lads on the front lines—they need them more than I do."
"There's enough for everyone, and if any are damaged, they can be replaced."
Romulus pointed again toward the armory storing the weapons.
"Oh, and go over there to collect the corresponding weapons and equipment. Everything, including the vehicles, comes with operating instructions. Remember to read them."
"...My lord."
Kovek looked at Romulus, who seemed to be saying that his equipment was powerful and impressive, and that it was all theirs now. He could not help offering a warning.
"This equipment is far too precious."
His gaze fell upon the Solar-pattern Void Combat Armor. He had only seen similar gear on Adeptus Arbites tax collection squads.
One had to know that those Adeptus Arbites people were top students from the Schola Progenium. Like Commissars, they were superhuman among mortals. Even the Tempestus Scions, known as the pinnacle of the Astra Militarum, were merely inferior students among them.
"No matter how precious it is, someone still has to use it."
Romulus could not help reaching out to touch the full-scale, utterly authentic equipment that he had never been able to obtain in his previous life.
If he'd had this ability in his previous life, he would have driven those two Blackheart companies, Bandai and Games Workshop, into bankruptcy through sheer competition. Damn it, the value per gram of a single model was nearly comparable to precious metals.
Yet in Kovek's eyes, that gesture looked as though Romulus were gazing upon the objects and thinking of those he had lost.
"I understand, my lord!"
"Good, then."
Romulus withdrew his hand and looked with some surprise at Kovek, who seemed to have been filled with some sense of mission.
"Have your troops equip the weapons and gear in the warehouse, then familiarize themselves with the vehicles. We need an armored force capable of providing us with sufficient firepower."
Then he turned to Arabella.
"Sister Arabella, we have also prepared replacement equipment for the sisters of the Order of the Sacred Rose. Before reinforcements arrive, we will jointly eliminate the remaining enemies aboard the vessel, coordinating our tactics with one another."
"Understood, Lord Romulus!"
"Then this place is in your hands."
Having said that, Romulus turned and departed with his comrades.
Their little meeting was not over yet.
Before you continue