News of the upcoming crusade quickly spread among the warriors, and Peter promptly called a War Band meeting.
All 21 battle-brothers of the War Band gathered in the assembly hall of the Fortress Monastery. In the black-and-silver-gray hall, the few things that stood out in a different color were several milky-white marble pillars.
Neophytes weren't qualified to attend this kind of meeting, which made the already enormous hall seem even emptier.
Peter took the seat at the head of the meeting and began explaining the upcoming crusade to the warriors:
"I'm sure you've all heard the news. Abaddon is launching a Black Crusade, and I've decided to join him. After all, we'll get a share of the equipment just for taking part, and we can also use the opportunity to raid the Imperium for personnel and supplies.
"First, let's review the War Band's current status. Brother Dioscorides, how are the neophytes and the gene-seed coming along?"
The Apothecary nodded and replied:
"My lord, the neophytes are all doing well. Most of them have already had their Black Carapace implanted, and the rest can have theirs done within a few days. I also found a talented Apothecary Apprentice among them. He can currently handle simple gene-seed retrieval and basic medical treatment."
"As for the gene-seed, we've removed all the progenoids from the neophytes' necks, including Brother Colin's. We have 35 in total now. Unfortunately, Brother Freddy's gene-seed was destroyed by the unholy flames of the Warp."
Peter nodded.
"Good. Including the neophytes, the War Band now has 55 members, half a company. Keep Colin's gene-seed and use up all the rest. Begin a second round of recruitment and try to expand the War Band to nearly a full company. Our short-term goal is a Legion camp, a thousand men."
"Brother Dioscorides, I need you to stay behind on the Homeworld. You have a heavy responsibility. I hope you can handle it."
The Apothecary nodded in reply.
"Yes, Forged Steel Lord."
Peter turned to Filon.
"Master of the Armoury, how are our arms and equipment?"
Filon answered with unusual seriousness:
"There's been little change in our vehicles, but we traded with the Dark Mechanicus for some Bolter Guns and heavy weapons, as well as a few Jump Packs. We'll be able to give every Neophyte a Bolter Gun."
"Thanks to the raw materials we looted earlier, I've set up a Bolter production line aboard the Blackrock. Its output is just barely enough for our needs. I'm also handcrafting a batch of MK6 Raven Power Armour, which uses fewer materials and is relatively easy to make. But it's slow going. At this rate, it'll take twenty or thirty years to finish."
"I've also recruited two apprentices, but they're both hopeless. They can only help with menial tasks. If you ask me, they won't be any use for twenty or thirty years either."
Peter nodded to show he understood the state of their equipment. Next was the Lord of Fleets.
Barnabas reported without waiting to be asked:
"We've been stationed on the Homeworld these past few years. The fleet still consists of just three ships: the Blackrock, a single Shortsword-class Frigate; an armed merchant vessel that can barely serve as a support ship; and a Rogue-class Freighter that's nothing but a sitting duck."
Peter replied:
"Take them all. The Dark Mechanicus can handle the Homeworld's defenses for now. We only have a few ships, anyway. If anything major happens, they won't make much difference."
"Also, rent a few transport ships from the Dark Mechanicus, using the underground mineral deposits as collateral. We're going to this crusade to loot what we can, so we should leave with empty ships and return with them full."
Peter explained his main strategy to the Lord of Fleets:
"During fleet engagements, we should avoid charging into the fight whenever possible. We'll stay on the outskirts and fire off a few Macro Cannons and Lances, while keeping an eye out for boarding actions. If we come across a fat target that's ripe for the taking, then we can board and seize its ship. Safety comes first."
Barnabas nodded to show he understood.
"Understood, Forged Steel Lord."
Peter trusted Barnabas to know how to command the fleet.
Finally, Peter turned to the only mortal present, Sacks, the nominal commander of the Mortal Auxiliary known as the Spear of Hector.
Twenty-one pairs of eyes, Peter's included, fixed on the frail mortal. Sacks couldn't help swallowing nervously.
He summoned his courage and spoke:
"My lord, following your previous order, we dismissed some of the unqualified soldiers. After their training over the past while, the Auxiliary Army now has 54,000 men. They're equipped with small arms, but we have no artillery, tanks, or armored vehicles. We do have some transport trucks, though."
"The problem is, we don't have nearly enough transport craft capable of flying through the Void. We have one Aquila Shuttle and two Avior Barges. Transporting 54,000 men down to a planet with just those would be a disaster, and that's not even counting the trucks."
Peter nodded. These were exactly the problems they needed to solve before the crusade.
"Don't bring the trucks. They're difficult to transport and take up too much room. I'm not counting on you to accomplish anything major. Your job is to occupy the places we capture. Tell the factories to produce more shackles and cages, and focus your training on capturing and guarding prisoners."
Sacks didn't dare look up. He simply replied:
"Yes, my lord."
Next came the assignment of squads and promotions. Everyone already had a pretty good idea who would be picked. That was one of the advantages of having a proper Legion structure.
Take the Imperium, for example. If a Chapter Master died, the first company captain would be next in line to succeed him. All the captains knew to follow the first captain's orders, and he would automatically take command. Deciding who would become the next Chapter Master could wait until after the battle. For now, everyone followed the first captain.
Likewise, within a company or squad, everyone had an established chain of command. If the leader fell, one person would take over; if he fell too, the next would step in, and so on until only two were left.
So everyone already had a good idea who would become squad leaders. Peter's appointments were mostly a formality.
Only disorganized War Bands had constant power struggles, where the strongest simply killed the leader and took his place.
This system also meant that many Chaos Warband leaders were nothing more than brawling brutes. Personal strength and leadership were two different things. In many War Bands, leaders came and went, and the whole group grew weaker from pointless infighting.
Peter announced the appointments:
"Battle-brother Thor is promoted to lead the First Tactical Squad. Add eleven Neophytes to the three veterans, forming a fifteen-man Tactical Squad."
"Wonaby will continue to lead the Second Tactical Squad. Add nine Neophytes to the six veterans, forming a fifteen-man Tactical Squad."
"Battle-brother Benjamin of the Second Squad is promoted to lead the Third Squad. Add fourteen Neophytes, forming a fifteen-man Tactical Squad."
"The three flagship guards will remain as they are, ready to deploy at any time as a mobile force."
Peter quickly appointed the leaders of each squad, just as everyone had expected.
Peter concluded:
"We'll have two months to prepare. Make sure everything is ready before then. When the time comes, we'll set out."
At the very end, Peter remembered one more arrangement:
"Use this time to let the Neophytes go home and visit their families. This meeting is over."
Everyone rose in unison and thumped their fists against their chests, shouting their battle cry.
"Into the Furnace, All Forged into Steel!"
Now every member knew his duties and responsibilities. They all left the meeting hall, ready to throw themselves into the urgent preparations for the crusade—for the battles ahead, and for the growth of the War Band.
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