I will be the Wind!

"Become the Wind!"

"The Last Words of a Stormtrooper Pilot Before He Died; The Motto of Stormtrooper Aviation."

2150 S.W.I. |Emperor

"I report that the new types of techno-minds are vastly superior to the old ones in terms of interaction with the rest of the troops and action in combat. Bots can now act without an operator and follow orders themselves. The effectiveness of Legio Ferro has increased many times over!"

"The Governor General of World-Fortress Aros is Aurelius Augustus."

I put the report aside and smiled. My labours were paying off; I had gained a loyal ally by keeping the Synthetics alive and giving purpose. But it wasn't all smooth sailing. Not all of the platforms were online when I made my capture. Some were missing, gone somewhere before I got there, and the rest of the Geths needed to find out where. I'm assuming it's the Reaper, but it's a little early for events, according to my calculations, so I'm keeping that theory aside for now. And we've dug up the beacons, so where would he go?

- Lord..." I shuddered, though I knew nothing of fear, but Legatus usually crept up on me unnoticed.

- It's you, Legate..." I gathered my thoughts.

- Yes, my Lord. Read it. - He handed me a scroll with a message," The attack in the Perseus Segmentum, the Skillian Limit, as they call it in Space.

After a few minutes of reading, I said quietly:

- Gather the Council...

Skillian Limit Systems | Batarian Flotilla Captain Banim Gonaro

The fleet had been hovering in the asteroid belt for a week, and still no target for the order. All this forced me to get in touch with the customer every day. In fact, it was very serious; the order was very risky. The Hierarchy gave the order, providing weapons and many old ships and credits. It was necessary to attack the convoy of a new race and get their weapons; they needed them desperately for boneheads, and they were ready to pay huge money. Information about the convoys was obtained from several Quarians caught in Terminus and brutally interrogated. Their new home was yet to be secured like the systems the Turians had infiltrated, so it wasn't hard to get in, but our target didn't appear. A small convoy was due to arrive, and it should be pretty easy to destroy. Today we would have to check in again.

Just as I was about to do so, I was stopped by the fighter behind the radar:

- Captain, there's a blip on the radar, ten ships! Three marks are similar to Nova cruisers, and the rest are transports. Is that ours?

- Yeah, at least the Turians didn't shit their pants today. Get ready to attack! Send a message to the customer and relay the signal to the rest of the ships and other units.

Everyone quickly took up their posts, and soon the crew reported ready.

- Take their cruisers out first; the transports only fire at the engine. Boneheads only want weapons so far. Bring the rest to the Hegemon. He'll make us rich for it!

- Prisoners?

- Sell them to ours or to Arya. They'll all go to work.

The ships waited until the convoy had reached a minimum distance from them and simultaneously fired on the escort ships. Two of them were blown apart at once, their shields failing, and they were hit from a very short distance. But one still managed to survive the attack, but it had huge holes in its hull, gaping and bursting out in flames. He began to turn his bow toward the enemy with what little strength he had left while the transports ran away at full speed, but they were already getting their engines knocked out. The Turians' new guns were quite effective. In the meantime, the unscathed cruiser began speeding toward the largest of the flotilla's cruisers. Ignoring the damage and shelling, it rammed a battle cruiser at full speed into a battleship that hadn't had time to veer off its course. Moments after the collision, the ships were flooded with the bright light of an explosion that vaporised the remains of the ships and drove the asteroids into other ships with the blast wave. The rocks began to crash into the other cruisers, causing considerable, but not critical, damage.

I clenched my fists and looked at the flying debris, but I realised we had taken this risk ourselves. We could only blame the other ships' captains, who chased the transports and did not finish off the enemy cruiser. Hundreds of Battarians paid for it with their lives. But we've got to finish the job. The showdown can wait.

- What about the transport? - I growled.

- Knocked out the last one! We're taking a landing party to the ships... What do I report on the weapons?

- Let them get on their own patrols. I will keep a quarter of my fleet to one ship. - I snapped. - Wrap it up; we've got ships to return to the Hegemony.

After saying that, I retired to my quarters.

A day later | The Hall of the Council of the Empire

Magisters Legio, Stellar, and Mechanicus were arguing at the table, gesticulating vigorously. Separately sat two women and the head of the Secret Guard. Usually fond of talking, they sat quietly today. Shala was trying to calm Hisha, sitting white as chalk and sobbing. Tracks of tears were visible on her cheeks. All this created a heavy atmosphere in the hall, but it all stopped when I entered. The men instantly stood up to greet me, and the women just stood up quietly. After giving me permission to sit down, I got to the point:

- I was informed of your tragedy Hisha. I believe in your resilience, be strong. - She only nodded slightly. - Let's begin! Yesterday, in the Perseus segment, the Xenos attacked the mission of the Sisters of Glorification. The ships were supposed to deliver a group of sisters to the Perseus Segmentum worlds and materials for the temples. The entire convoy was lost, one of the cruisers rammed the cruiser, and the transports were stripped and abandoned in the system. The sisters were either killed in agony or taken somewhere or something. What can you say?

- BOTH OF THEM! - Master Legio slapped the table, and Master Stellar supported his impulse.

- It's not up for discussion, but we must find out who it is. What can you say, Tribune? - The cloaked figure rose from his chair.

- My Lord, the Shadows have learned much about this attack. Our former enemies ordered it, but they wanted our weapons; they knew nothing of the mission. And it was members of this race who carried out the order. - An image of a four-eyed Ken appeared above the table. The Masters' faces twisted in disgust. Well, they could be better looking. - According to our information, the race controls a slave-holding network, and they've already put some of the Sisters up for sale at a great price since the attack. We've already bought them out by hacking into several banks in Space. We'll get them in as soon as possible, but the others are still somewhere on their capital planet. That will be all.

There was silence in the room; all eyes focused on the figure in the gold armour, waiting for a decision. And I thought... It is the greatest crime in the Empire-the attack on the Sisters of Glorification. Well, if the Turians want to probe us, they will.

- I have made up my mind... The death of every Sister is a blow to the soul of every Imperial. There is no forgiveness for that. The punishment is death! Master Stellar! - The grey-haired man rose and stretched as far as he could. - Assemble a squadron for a punitive strike against the xeno worlds, and I give you permission to use the battleships of the Dominus Project." The admiral nodded gravely,

- Master Legio! - A pumped-up man in a green uniform stood up. - I give you permission to purge the Xeno planets with fire. You may use the Sons of Archas Legion for the sweep. I also give you permission to use the Thirsty Titan!

- The general slammed his fist into his chest.

- Karos! - The Fabricator rose quietly. - I authorise the use of tectonic projectiles and load them into the ships of the strike squadron. And prepare for the Awakening Ritual!

- Tribune, I want these kenos, outside their state, to not wake up tomorrow...

Masters, I declare a Sacred Crusade! Until the last four-eyed Keno burns in flames, we shall avenge the Sisters' deaths! Destroy them, wipe them from the face of Starsea!

Author's note "It's been a long time since I've had a description of any of these things; the next one will be another about the navy."

-

Hordo Legio Archive...

Query... The Great Legions of the Unification of Terra...

Highlighting an info block...

Information prepared by...

Legions of Unification. The ten Legions involved in the War of Conquest during the Time of the Emperor's Arrival. Have numbers one through ten. The legions from the eleventh and beyond were created after the Unification.

Each Unification Legion has its own world fortress, which characterises the place of creation of the Legion and the way of war. From this, each has its own characteristics and traditions. Serving in each of these legions is very honourable.

1) 1st "Guardians of Terra" - The most honourable Legion of all, it has earned its place and name of Guardian of the Emperor by its combat glory. Stationed at the Palace on Terra, they guard the peace of the Overlord and the Empire's high officials. Distinguished by their golden armour.

2) The 2nd Carrying the Word is the most fanatical of the legions. They find their strength in fanatical Faith in the Emperor. They are the guardians of the Temples and Sisters throughout the Empire. They wear snow-white robes with the Emperor's symbols.

3) 3rd "Alpine Dragons" - fighters specialising in mountain battles and long-range weapons. They make the best snipers, able to survive in very low temperatures and high mountains. They are distinguished by their stealth, reticence, and light, furry, grey armour.

4)4th "Ghosts of Carthage" - soldiers living in the desert world of Carthage. Hailing from the shores of North Africa, they survive and fight well in the desert terrain. They are distinguished by their woven, white clothing over armour and light armour.

5)5th "Sons of Archas" - Second name "Wild Legion", one of the legions created from the conquered peoples, namely the inhabitants of Galia. The Emperor is worshipped as the God of the Arhas War, and in every battle, collects blood for God and the heads of their enemies. They have a terrible reputation because of the pagan rituals performed by legionaries over defeated enemies. They are distinguished by their axes, which every inhabitant of the Arch world receives for adulthood, and by their armour of beast skins over their armour and paraphernalia in the form of symbols, necklaces, and medallions.

6)6th "Eternal Thousand" - fighters who fought during the virus infection of one of Terra's territories despite the disease. For this, they were rewarded with bodies of steel and are still serving through the millennia in the same lineup as before. Highlighted by the black armour of their mechanical parts.

7)The 7th Servants of Mars is the only Legion made up of adherents of Ordo Mechanicus. Combines combat Adepts and their mechanical creatures. Mainly carry guards on the womb-worlds. Distinguished by their scarlet robes over their armour.

8)The 8th "Children of Brundisium" is a Legion specialising in heavy armour and weaponry. Because of the high gravity on their planet, they have extremely muscular bodies and great physical strength. Mostly distributed among the rest of the Legions as support.

9) 9th "Phalanx" - Legion, famous for its heavy armoured vehicles. Usually used to break through enemy defences and lightning strikes. Stand out for their huge tanks, the secret of production they only possess.

10) 10th "Comprehending the Essence" - the most little-known Legion. In their homeworld, they comprehend the secrets of the universe and search for the secret forces, about which are written in an ancient book found by them in an ancient library on Terra.

Hegemony Frontier | Border Post

Another day at the slave transit point went by in a standard fashion. Several ships took turns approaching the station and unloading their live goods, then left again to hunt. But this tranquillity was not destined to last long. An anomaly of Space that appeared not far from the station was transformed into a funnel in the blink of an eye, and a huge ship emerged from there. Without dropping speed, it rammed into the station without even noticing it or the other docked ships. It sentenced the thousands of reasonable, guilty and innocent who happened to be there by chance to a slow death. Their Faith led them on a holy quest for vengeance. And the fate of a thousand outsiders is not a price worth changing the Empire's plans for.

Death came to the planet of Hegemony today; it all began with a rain of fire falling from the sky through dark clouds onto the sleeping city. After that, all hell broke loose. With axes drenched in blood, the abysses surrounded city after city and mopped them up, killing everyone: women, children, and men. Some they caught and dragged to giant bonfires. Throwing the still-living kenos into the flames, they praised the God of War and began to paint their armour with blood. Soon all the buildings were covered in pentagrams of blood, severed heads, and mutilated bodies, and the insane laughter of these brutes could still be heard over the city. Soon there was no living thing left on the planet, and many bodies of water turned scarlet.

Panic gripped the capital, and communications with many colonies and Batarians outside the Hegemony did not work. Not a single ship that had gone to the repeaters made contact and did not return. And now, many were trying to find refuge from the incomprehensible disaster-consuming planets one by one. The entire battle fleet, military and pirate, was drawn to the capital. Almost all pirate ships in Terminus were drafted or hired to defend the planet. There were even a couple of hastily completed dreadnoughts, one of which had a huge gun, even by the standards of the central countries of Space. All this offered a slim chance of survival.

But now disaster had reached the capital. The radars showed thousands of ships headed for the planet; some were larger than the defence stations. Everyone already understood that they were living their last day.

As they came into firing range, the two enormous fleets opened fire. Beams of energy and metal bolts raced toward each other, and soon, the Space was ablaze with a hundred lights. Thousands of MLAs came together in a duel, tearing apart enemy ships and dying in seconds. It all coalesced into a single firestorm over the planet. But soon, despite their losses, the Imperial forces pushed back the Xenos. They were able to drop a landing party to free the Sisters. Hundreds of stormtroopers flew out of the hangars to help them, and the pilots abandoned their machines in pursuit of the steel pods to help their brothers on the ground.

POV Guy Cassius; Pilot - Stormtrooper.

I've always wanted to fly for as long as I can remember. It originated when my mother left me in a crib in the garden, and I watched the trees and the birds. They flew so freely through the sky. There were no barriers, no restrictions. You could move in all directions. But what really excited me was the wind, not the birds. I loved catching its gusts in my face as my hair fluttered, and you kept trying to be swept off your seat and carried. I often imagined myself as a disembodied spirit, flying through the heavenly blue, manoeuvring between the clouds, falling as a stone, or taking off in a rocket into the air. So as soon as I heard about enlistment in the Imperial Air Force after the war with the Aliens, I left my training and enlisted. However, I had to go through my father's threats and my mother's and sisters' tears to do it.

After six months of training through data transfer and running in simulators, I was enlisted as the most successful in the course in the wing of battleship Gothic. After another six months, we set out on the Sacred Crusade...

From the very beginning of the trek, I was anxious. I am no coward, but at this point, I somehow felt uncomfortable and as if something was missing. I sought solace in prayers to the Emperor; I knew the rage in destroying the aliens as I poured fire from the heavens. But it was different; I couldn't find something I was missing, something I didn't know. And so today, we storm the last stronghold of the Aliens.

After receiving the order, our squadron flew out of the hangar and instantly raced after the landing pods, covering them and suppressing the IEDs. I had almost used my ammunition when a shell hit my attack aircraft. It went into a freefall for a few seconds, but I was quickly able to take control and pull it out of the dive. Running the diagnostics, I was horrified. The diagram showed the last plasma rocket hanging from the rest of the launch mechanism. It was jammed tightly, and now the deadly projectile could explode and vaporise me along with the ship. Finished checking, I returned to orbit with the rest of the squadron, which was already leading the transport with the freed Sisters into orbit.

And just a little while longer, the fleet gave us a corridor to approach the battleship when suddenly my computer screamed for an enemy dreadnought. Finding it in a scramble, I saw the main cannon preparing to fire. At the same time, the remnants of the Xeno fleet, which had created a human shield around the ship, prevented it from destroying it. The dreadnought itself was aiming for the salvage transport. Our fleet took barrage fire, but the beams couldn't penetrate the barrier. I looked again at my ship's status screen. Everything was burning red. A trail of smoke stretched behind the stormtrooper, sporadic debris fell off, and an unexploded missile was hanging under its belly. Grinning, I turned on the radio:

- Commander...

- What's Guy? - The commander answered quickly and clearly.

- Goodbye, see you in the Golden Gardens! - I twisted the steering wheel at these words, and the car rushed to meet the dreadnought.

- What? Gaius, get back in formation now! Did you hear-" I flicked the toggle switch, and the radio went dead.

I was hurtling through the sea of fire toward death, tears welling in my eyes. My whole gut demanded to turn away, but I could not unclench my hands, and the wheel remained like a stone. And then the computer counted down the last seconds before the collision, and I realised that...

Gone is the fear...

I see myself again, catching the wind of the vast fields of my world

A calmness came...

There is no fear in death, for my service is eternal

Gone is the anxiety...

I wish I could see my parents and sisters

Confidence was born...

I'll be a hero to them...

Determination was born...

There is no greater act than to give my life for the good of those you defend...

Enlightenment is born...

I will accept my fate.

Death is not the end; my soul and I are immortal. My flesh held me back, but now I am truly free. And if I have given my life in heaven, I will become part of it. Я ...

- I WILL BE THE WIND!" the tiny ship crashed into the steel giant below the main gun. A second later, a missile detonated, and the nose of the ship was engulfed in fire so that it broke off and began to fly away. A couple of seconds later, the entire hull of the ship was covered in a chain of explosions, and soon the brightest flash was in its place. All the others covering it began to either explode from the overheated hull or fly off because of the blast wave. Then they were destroyed by the Empire's forces.

End of POV.

Finished watching the enemy battleship disappear in a flash, the Admiral Commander, after giving a military salute along with his entire crew to the pilot who had sacrificed his life, gave the order to enter the planet's orbit. Already preparing to send a landing party to sweep the planet, he was interrupted by a communications session.

- What is it, Astropath?

- Commander, orders from Terra itself!

- Do we have special orders?

- The Emperor wishes to show everyone what will be the blow to our Faith! He does not want this planet!

The captain was surprised but soon came to his senses.

- Tell him we will obey his orders. - The osteopath has disappeared.

- Arch Adept, prepare the tectonic torpedoes for launch. - The figure in the scarlet cloak nodded and departed. Soon the readiness signal came.

Well, let's get started. - The admiral took his sword and stood up to place it in a special cutout on the pedestal. A special mechanism clicked, and the ship began to await orders.

- I, Tiberius Aquil, Lord Admiral of the Imperial Navy, in the name of the Emperor, Lord of the Sea of Stars, sentence this planet to purification by fire. Let all that alienates the Empire and dares to stand in its way burn. And not evil is my act, but cleansing. May His will be done with us. Fire!

The huge projectiles passed through the atmosphere and slammed into the surface at incredible speed. Nothing happened for a moment, but soon the ground trembled and exploded upwards in huge fountains. Cracks appeared on the surface, and lava began to pour out. Huge slabs began to run into each other, sweeping away all life from their path. Soon the planet drowned in flames, turning into one huge volcano. And convinced of the result, the fleet in orbit went into subspace.

Phrase of the Day: (There will be phrases here, either simply pathological or referring to something)

"Be as strong as the armour of the Titans! If our bastion falls today, Terra will fall tomorrow!"

(c) Legatus Marcus Brutus "Battle of Mercury, War with the Reapers."