"Your will, my lord."
Captain Aurora grew even more surprised.
The Dawn's Machine Spirit had always been aloof. When had it ever responded so proactively? It would have been good enough if it had not thrown a tantrum over being renamed. Why was it acting like this?
With that lingering surprise in her heart, Aurora led Romulus and his party, guided by the attendants, to the bridge steeped in Adeptus Mechanicus style.
"My lord, these are the files on the representatives for every position aboard the ship, along with their work records. Please review them and see whether any adjustments are needed."
After inviting the Angels of the Emperor to take the seats of honor, Captain Aurora handed over a detailed list, a faint unease in her eyes.
Romulus accepted the documents. His superhuman memory absorbed their contents as he turned the pages far faster than an ordinary person could.
"No need. Keep the positions as they are. However, afterward, provide me with detailed information on the ship's functions, along with the relevant personnel files."
Romulus spoke.
He had only just come aboard. There was no need to meddle with positions people were already handling well.
"Understood, my lord."
Captain Aurora let out a breath of relief.
Although the angel clearly intended to involve himself in the ship's personnel matters, it was far better that he was willing to learn the specifics first.
"However, I do have several requirements."
"Please speak, my lord."
There was less unease in the captain's reply now, and more confidence.
"We will see them carried out."
A change in the ship's ownership would inevitably bring changes to its systems. Aurora had prepared herself for that.
"First, our Chapter will establish new standards for the food provided to the ship's personnel. Here is the list. The Chapter will install new food-production modules aboard the ship. You may have the priests of the Machine God verify their viability."
Romulus handed over a form he had prepared long ago.
"Second, the Chapter will distribute a medicine capable of curing the vast majority of occupational illnesses caused by Warp travel. It may be submitted to the medical department for safety certification beforehand. Make sure it reaches every person."
Aurora carefully examined the categories on the form. The notes stated that the food would be processed from highly concentrated nutrient solution through conversion modules.
She knew the Imperium possessed food-conversion technology capable of transforming Corpse-starch or nutrient solution into foods whose taste, texture, and physical form were indistinguishable from the real thing.
But such technology was extremely expensive. Even a module intended for a single person cost a fortune.
True nobles had abundant organic food to enjoy. If they wanted something to eat, they could simply purchase living animals. The remaining commoners had no conditions to be picky. Being able to drink a mouthful of unexpired nutrient solution was already enough for them to thank the Emperor.
At most, a few senior Navy officers might try to acquire such modules, so there was no way to spread them throughout the Imperium.
Then there were the occupational illnesses of void travel. To be honest, those were also things the Imperium found unnecessary.
Senior officers had dedicated medical departments to provide comprehensive healthcare. The lives of slave laborers and technicians were not worth much, and every time the ship passed through a starport, its stores held at least several hundred million replacements.
Rather than worry about that, it was better to worry whether the defense forces would have their weapons ready when those people rebelled next.
"Thank you for your mercy, my lord!"
Seeing the requirements on the paper, Aurora could not help feeling happy for those low-ranking technicians.
These were hardly requirements. They were benefits being delivered to them.
Naturally, Aurora was pleased. If the workers at the bottom lived better lives, they would naturally stop thinking about rebellion. Then managers like her would not have to take on extra work either.
Whenever these people rebelled, especially when they did so in the Warp, nearly everyone aboard the ship would be left trembling with fear.
"Then please assign dedicated personnel. The equipment is in the cargo craft. Our warriors will accompany them during transport, installation, and distribution."
Romulus raised a hand in indication, and two Space Marines stepped out from the group behind him.
"Understood."
Aurora immediately dispatched the relevant personnel to accompany them.
Fortunately, the Adeptus Mechanicus sages usually valued efficiency, and they adapted well to this pace.
"Now come the requirements."
Romulus produced another rather detailed document.
"I hope you can organize a group of workers to designate an area and build a chapel, spreading the Ecclesiarchy faith. The design blueprints are included. You may alter them according to the actual circumstances, but you must ensure that every area can fulfill its intended function."
Romulus had considered this long ago. He had previously reviewed a great deal of Imperial material and laid out several different plans.
However, after inspecting both the Carcharodons and Adeptus Mechanicus fleets in succession, Romulus ultimately chose the more conservative plan. He settled on the framework of a church school. With Sisters overseeing it, it should be able to operate steadily.
After all, the Imperium was certainly unreliable. The Age of Apostasy alone showed that Terra's ability to mobilize the lower classes was not even a fraction of the Ecclesiarchy's.
As for faith, according to Ramesses, if it had been ten thousand years ago, bringing up the Ecclesiarchy would have been a death sentence. The Emperor could truly lead a fleet in person and wipe out all those demons and monsters.
But this was 40k now. The Emperor was welded to the toilet and could not get off. Ecclesiarchy faith was the only means by which the Emperor could protect humanity. Anyone who still believed in the Imperial Truth had something wrong with their head.
Aurora accepted the blueprints, marveling at the chapel's design. Then she noticed the worker benefits included within and could not help clicking her tongue.
"Also, the supply of materials for Servitors will be handled by us from now on. No Servitor conversion will be permitted without our consent."
It seemed these lords cared greatly about ordinary people.
"I understand, my lord."
Aurora felt it necessary to convey this signal, lest some idiot who failed to see the current situation ruin the Angels' demands.
"The Canoness will accompany them."
Romulus then said to Arabella.
"Sister Arabella, I hope the Sisters can compile statistics on all children aboard the ship under the age of twelve, then establish parish cafeterias where those children can eat on schedule while being taught the Ecclesiarchy faith."
The Imperium's construction standards and efficiency were exceptionally high, especially aboard Adeptus Mechanicus vessels. So long as there were sufficient raw materials, a day was more than enough to thoroughly overhaul an area.
This bizarre nation always existed in a superposition of advancement and backwardness.
"Yes, my lord."
Arabella understood that they could offer little help in battle. They had to handle these small matters properly for the holy ones.
"I will make the preparations personally. Canoness, please come with me."
Aurora promptly took her leave, inviting Canoness Arabella to depart with her.
Romulus then dismissed the officials of every rank and went with Ramesses to the front hall of the bridge.
From here, they could survey the entire star system through the bridge. Looking down, they could also see on the monitors the exhausted crowds still slowly writhing onward.
Romulus naturally wanted to improve the conditions aboard this warship. After all, the Imperium's average working hours were so outrageous that even colonial-era Britain would call them insane.
But since he had not yet conducted a detailed investigation, he would not rashly alter the ship's entire ecological structure. For now, he could only try to improve the living standards aboard the vessel.
Of course, even if the investigation revealed all manner of difficulties, Romulus would not give up.
Because he understood well the principle that if one could not sweep one's own room, how could one sweep the world?
If they could not even set a Tyrant-class Cruiser and its ten thousand or so people in order, then they should forget about ever setting an entire planet—or an Imperium—right.
Before you continue