Pre-battle Deployment

"Lord Horus, I have some doubts regarding this."

Patting Torgaddon on the shoulder to keep him from speaking out of turn, Fourth Company Captain Saiyannus stepped forward to offer his rebuttal.

He was not a member of the Council of Four Kings.

At least, not yet.

"Oh?"

Horus looked mildly surprised by the gesture.

In his memory, this taciturn captain rarely disagreed with him, let alone suggested that a commander as clearly inexperienced as Kasgar could be incapable of combat operations.

"Fourth Company Captain, are you trying to say that perhaps Kasgar participated in command during his time on his home world, and therefore might actually be capable of leading?"

"No, Saiyannus. True interstellar-scale warfare is far more treacherous than the petty squabbles on our home worlds."

"When I was just a street urchin on the planet Khorosnia, my understanding of combat was limited to gang feuds."

Horus smiled, as if recalling the past. "Back then, whoever had the bigger guns and more men, whoever was more ferocious, was the winner."

But war, especially war between the stars, was an entirely different concept.

It required the tempering of blood and fire.

It meant being forged repeatedly in the heat of endless slaughter and drawing experience from the roar of artillery.

In this universe, there had never been a Warmaster who achieved greatness overnight.

He concluded with a pun, showing a glimmer of his sense of humor.

"Lord Horus, you are correct."

Saiyannus nodded in agreement.

"But I still believe Kasgar is far more unfathomable than we anticipated."

"Interesting, Saiyannus. And how did you arrive at that conclusion?"

"A hunch."

He gave a slight nod.

"This is the place."

"All Auxilia personnel and the First and Second Companies of the Emperor's Children, follow me onto the Stormbirds to Silent Star. We are to survey the surface geology and construct Defensive Fortifications."

Gazing at the planet outside the window, shrouded in layers of toxic clouds, Kasgar issued his orders.

The star gate they were tasked with guarding was located at the pole of a planet known as Silent Star.

Silent Star was a world composed of crystalline deposits, its surface covered in thick, acidic toxic fog.

Given such a hostile environment and the lack of mineral resources, the planet had been deemed uninhabitable and worthless the moment the Expeditionary Fleet arrived.

Apart from the Tech-Priests who were constantly studying the mechanical structure of the Portal at the pole, no one—no living creature—ever visited this place.

Yet, Kasgar insisted on designing three layers of inner and outer Defensive Fortifications, adhering to the legion's highest standards for enemy assault.

Who was he defending against?

"The planet's surface geology consists of extremely hard crystals."

"Coupled with the interference from the massive amounts of toxic gas in the atmosphere, the difficulty of constructing our Defensive Fortifications will increase exponentially."

"Furthermore, we lack the necessity for constructing large-scale defensive facilities. If we force the order to begin, many of the Terran-born veterans will likely become resentful."

"Many veterans have already reported to me, expressing their hope that we might lower the tier of the defensive facilities and build light defensive barriers instead."

Saul Tarvitz, a soldier under Kasgar's Tactical Squad and a junior peer under the tutelage of Sword Saint Aqua, proposed.

"Sergeant Tarvitz, your suggestion has merit."

He nodded in agreement.

The biggest problem Kasgar faced at the moment was the prideful Terran-born veterans of the Third Legion.

Because the Third Legion's recruits in the early stages of the Great Crusade were all drawn from ancient noble families on Terra, it ensured the quality of the troops but also brought immense management difficulties.

These Terran masters were, quite simply, masters.

Even if Primarch Fulgrim were to come and command in person, it would be one thing, but how could these battle-hardened veterans tolerate a newcomer with little prestige like Kasgar directing their operations?

Not to mention that he was an outsider from a backwater place like Chemos.

Defying his orders while appearing to comply was, for the most part, a foregone conclusion.

"But for that, I have my own methods."

Kasgar smiled to reassure him.

"What is that brat up to now?"

Julius Cassalon, the First Company Captain of the Emperor's Children, sneered at Kasgar's orders.

As a member of the Emperor's Children and one of the two hundred surviving veterans, it wasn't that he lacked the skill to build Defensive Fortifications.

Or rather, every Space Marine of the Sons of the Emperor could alter their tactical style according to the needs of the battlefield.

From masters of close-quarters combat to perfect designers of defensive fortifications, and even to the oversaturation of long-range artillery fire, the Sons of the Emperor could achieve it all on command.

But that was only on the condition that the order came from a competent commander!

"The Tech-Priests have said it themselves: no living thing has passed through this portal for countless years!"

"On what grounds does this armchair strategist insist on spending massive resources to build top-tier heavy fortresses?"

The probability of Xenos appearing here was lower than the Warmaster betraying the Emperor!

The fact that Kasgar had forced the Third Legion to remain in the rear, preventing him from charging into the fray, was enough to make his blood boil.

What was even more infuriating was that he had to perform grunt work in the rear!

And it was completely unnecessary grunt work at that!

Even if they spent all their effort building it, there would be no credit or reward!

Caslon was furious.

He felt as if he were forged of steel inside and out.

"So, Company Commander, are we actually going to follow Lord Kasgar's instructions?"

The veterans beside him exchanged glances.

Those who could serve in the First Company were all battle-hardened, elite Terran-born veterans.

Compared to that wet-behind-the-ears Kasgar, they were far more willing to trust the orders of Company Commander Caslon.

Even though he was just a sword-obsessed man who knew nothing of command, he was still more trustworthy than a nepotism hire like Kasgar.

"Just build the basic defensive fortifications and outposts."

"It is our misfortune to be saddled with such a pretentious fool who has no real talent."

Caslon curled his lip in dissatisfaction.

"Exactly! It drives me mad; every time I see that sword of his, I crave it."

"Why should a rookie get to use such a fine Power Sword!"

"Sigh, there's no helping it; that's just the fate of us poor folks."

Every time he saw that this guy, despite being a recruit, could wear such exquisite weapons and armor, he couldn't help but feel incredibly envious!

Even though they were all nobles.

It seemed some nobles were just more noble than others.

"The Company Commander seems somewhat dissatisfied with your orders."

Sword Saint Aqua Duna stood beside Kasgar, watching the discrepancy in the progress of the construction below.

As the eldest daughter of Fulgrim, she served as Kasgar's bodyguard and protector during this operation.

Of course, one could use a more pleasant title that fit the Warhammer style—Kasgar's Champion.

"Do you need me to step in and remind them?"

Aqua narrowed her eyes.

Company Commander Caslon was, after all, her student as well.

If he was going to be this arrogant and ignore orders, perhaps it was time to teach him a lesson.

"No need."

"Once the Xenos Army actually passes through the portal and begins their bombardment, he will realize his mistake."

"Are you so confident that a Xenos invasion will definitely occur?"

Aqua was somewhat surprised.

"Where does such confidence come from?"

That, of course, was because he had read the script.

Haha, what else could it be?

"Because I am a Son of the Emperor."

"Even if there is only the slightest, most infinitesimal possibility of failure, one must meticulously eliminate it to achieve perfection."

"Do not be arrogant because you view yourself as noble, and do not be slack because you believe victory is certain."

"This is the virtue that a Son of the Emperor should possess."

Kasgar was thick-skinned.

He said this with a stern and righteous expression.