From Terra to Terra, the Star Emperor's Holiday

Bel-Shar immediately regained the aura of his former powerful Space Marine, then rushed out of the battleship cabin at lightning speed and walked in front of Si Ye.

"If you have anything else to say, just tell us."

He was suspected to be the Emperor's spokesperson, and he acted magnanimously. Moreover, Si Ye was also a traveling merchant, and his status within the Empire was comparable to that of an Astartes Chapter Captain. Bel-Shar felt that it was okay for him, an Astartes Captain, to have a humble attitude.

"Oh, I just want to remind you that you used to rely on the 'Gray Tax' for your equipment. From now on, I will be responsible for your equipment and supplies. You don't need to give the ancient relics and old technology you unearth to the Mechanicus, just give them to me."

In the chaotic world of 40k, the Adeptus Mechanicus's style of operation is infinitely close to the concept of "plutocracy". They control the production capacity of a large number of armaments of the human empire and monopolize the manufacturing technology of large-scale weapons such as Titans and Ordnance Cannons. They only allow the empire to use these things when a huge threat appears or when it harms their own interests.

These restrictive actions not only limit the combat potential of the Human Empire, but also cause the Human Empire to often suffer unnecessary losses when facing certain crises.

Although the contribution of the Mechanicus to the Imperium of Man is undeniable, this attitude of hiding technology and refusing to use it must be rectified. In Si Ye's plan, the priests and sages of the Mechanicus will inevitably undergo a major purge.

In Si Ye's memory, the Carcharodon Legion had dug up similar STC fragments or complete STC outside the Empire's territory, but they used the "Gray Tax" agreement to trade with the Mechanicus. The priceless STC did not bring much improvement to the Carcharodon's poor situation. It can be imagined how black-hearted the Mechanicus was.

In this case, instead of letting the Mechanicus take advantage of the precious technology, it would be better to give it to the Star Empire for research and learn from its strengths and weaknesses.

“I… understand!”

Belsaire hesitated for just a moment before answering decisively.

The Sharkate and the Mechanicus only had a trading relationship, and the Mechanicus's perfunctory attitude had once greatly annoyed the Sharkate. Now that they had a stable supply of equipment, it would be more valuable to hand over the items dug out from the ruins to Si Ye and bring the two sides closer.

"Don't worry. Compared to those oilmen who only hide valuable technology after obtaining it, and even want to take it with them to the grave after their death, I believe in giving and getting rewards. I can assure the Carcharodon Squadron that if what you dig up is helpful in combat or survival, you will be the first to obtain a stable finished product."

Si Ye's promise made Belshar nod his head frantically. No warrior could refuse stronger, more powerful and more formidable weapons, especially when the person who made the promise really had the ability to fulfill it.

"I will tell the Chapter Master that all proceeds from the excavation of ruins by the Chapter will be sent to you, Lord Si Ye."

"I'm just saying, there's no need to force your way to find the ruins and dig them up."

Si Ye waved his hand, indicating that Belshar could leave.

"I know you're impatient. Go slowly, but not too slowly. We still need you to come forward and testify to the rebellion of the Border Forge World and the assassination of the Rogue Trader."

"...Understood. A heretic appeared on the border forge world, intending to assassinate you. We, the Carcharodon, witnessed the entire process!"

After reconciling his testimony with Si Ye, he respectfully said goodbye to Si Ye. With the permission port Si Ye had given him to avoid being automatically exiled from the hyperspace lock, Bel-Shar returned to the Sword-class frigate known as the Gray Reaper with a normal expression.

"Let's go! Where's the navigator? Have him find the shortest route. We'll immediately return to the Abyssal Void outside the empire's borders! Quick, quick, quick!"

The hatch closed, and the Gray Reaper had just received permission to leave its berth when Bel-Shar began frantically urging his battle brothers who were operating the warship, with an uncontrollable laugh on his face.

"Captain, our mission is to gather the population..."

"Where should we put the captured people? Should we throw the ammunition or let those people sit on you?"

The frigate was already filled with all kinds of explosive bombs and energy batteries. Even if they found another hive world to complete the "red tax" conscription, in order to accommodate those people, at least half of the ammunition in the cargo hold would have to be thrown away.

This is totally unacceptable for the Great Shark, which often has to engage in close combat due to ammunition shortages.

Bel-Shar felt that even if they failed to complete the task of recruiting the population, this ship alone had enough supplies to arm three legions, and the legion commander Tiberius would only praise them and would never punish them.

"Hurry up, hurry up! I can't wait to see the jaw-dropping expressions of the Chapter Master and the other Battle Brothers!"

The battleship quickly left its berth and began to head towards Mandeville Point.

Behind them, a star voice spread out along the transmitting antenna and began to echo throughout the entire star region.

The invisible warships gradually removed their shielding fields and began to dock in front of the starport to undergo maintenance before setting out on the expedition.

...

Chapter 321 Tiberus

"Captain, this is the astropathic message the astropath just received. You'd better come and take a look."

The Space Marine who was planning the star map raised his head and stood up from the large chair when he heard this.

Compared to the average Astartes' armored height of about 2.3-2.5 meters, this Chapter Master is nearly 3 meters tall, which makes the heavy and huge Terminator power armor look no different from ordinary power armor on him.

"A rebellion on a border forge world, the seizure of Imperial world assets through forced purchases and sales, and the blatant attack on the Elfindor Dynasty's Rogue Traders for resources... witnessed by both Nyx de Elfindor and... the Carcharodon?"

Tiberus Crimsonscar.

Some suspected he was a super Raven Guard created and left behind by the Primarch Corax using technology given by the Emperor, while others suspected he was descended from World Eaters gene-seed.

Regardless, the current Chapter Master of the Carcharodon is a real tough guy who can launch a counterattack against the Tyranid bio-fleet and kill his way out.

But now the tough guy was holding the parchment in his hand, and he had the urge to scratch his head with his power claws.

What's written on it?

The Carcharhinus are still outside the Empire's borders, so how could they witness the rebellion and evil intentions of the Forge World together with the Rogue Traders?

Could it be some Chaos conspiracy? Or has the chapter's astropath been psychically burned out?

"Chapter Master, should we report to the corresponding Imperial sector government or inquire about the situation?"

"..."

Faced with his subordinates' cautious inquiries, Tiberus didn't know how to answer.

As a marginal war group that has always been wandering outside the empire's territory, it should be the most transparent among the invisible in the human empire. How could something suddenly happen to it?

"Chapter Master, the signal of the Gray Reaper that the Third Captain and his men are riding has appeared. They are back."

Tiberius, who had just fallen into deep thought, was interrupted by new news. As the sound array opened, Belshar's voice came from the bridge.

"Captain Tiberus, hurry up, get everyone here... I've brought back some goodies for everyone!"

Tiberus remembered that Bel-Shar was sent back to the empire's territory to collect "red taxes". Could it be that he had found some treasure on the hive world?

The Sword-class frigate [Gray Reaper] quickly docked beside the regiment's base: the battle barge [Nichol] under the propulsion of the plasma engine. At Bel-Shar's repeated urging, Tiberus and some of his personal guards were teleported over using the teleportation deck.

"What about people?"

This was the first question Tiberus had after boarding the Sword-class frigate.

Bel-Shar went to collect the 'red tax' to replenish servants and new blood for the regiment, but relying on the tactical scan of the Terminator Armor, Tiberus did not see any mortal biological information feedback from the cabin next door.

"Bel-Shar, where's the 'red tax' you're collecting?"

“No one.”

Belsair, whose face was overwhelmed with joy, spread his hands to indicate that there was no one there.

"No one, come back..."

Tiberus was confused by Belshar's expression. In his impression, Belshar, as the captain of the third company, was very steady and reliable. It was impossible for him to fail to complete the task of recruiting mortals.

"That's not important! Chapter Master, quickly gather your battle brothers. The Border Forge World has betrayed the Empire and assassinated Lord Night's Master of the Elfendor Dynasty. We need to go and help Lord Night's Master..."

Ok

Although Tiberus still didn't understand why Bel-Shar had become like he had taken an overdose of nerve supplements, he had obtained some useful and somewhat annoying information from Bel-Shar's brief words.

The Forge World is disloyal, the head of the Rogue Trader Dynasty is assassinated... and the Chapter is asked to help...

It turned out that the astropathic message was not interfered with by any chaos tricks, and the astropath's brain was not damaged. The problem was all caused by Belshar, the captain of the third company who seemed very reliable in the past.

"You did something stupid."

Bel-Shar only felt his shoulders sink, and he was pressed to the spot by Tiberus. The captain's helmet eyepiece glowed with scarlet light, and his enormous momentum was enough to crush mortals with weak wills.

It was obviously inappropriate to speak so harshly to a combat brother, especially a company commander.

But Tiberus's rudeness could not be blamed. Ever since the Great Heresy, the Space Marines had been more or less under the suspicion of the Terran government. It was a huge taboo for a Space Marine chapter to intervene in the factional struggles within the human empire.

Doing so will often cause a lot of trouble to the war group, and will automatically be stamped with the seal of the corresponding faction.

It's okay to stand on the side of the winner. At most, you will be hindered by the losers in your future work. But if you stand on the side of the loser, at the very least you will be held accountable and your honor will be tarnished. In serious cases, you may even be classified as a traitor or a traitor, and face a life-or-death expedition of atonement.

Especially since Belshar is only a company commander of a chapter, how dare he act on behalf of the chapter and gamble the lives and honor of his battle brothers!

"I didn't do anything stupid!"

Perhaps because his brain was in an excited state, Belshar didn't understand what was going on and retorted subconsciously.

"I haven't done anything stupid yet! You let..."

Tiberus suddenly exerted force on his shoulder. Even though Bel-Shar was wearing a brand new Mark VII power armor, he could not resist this sudden and huge force. The power joints creaked under the heavy load.

"…Maybe I should remove your title of company commander and have you lead the new recruits to sober up!"

"No, no, Chapter Master, you misunderstood!"

Seeing that he was about to be punished, Belshar came to his senses. He hurriedly stopped Tiberus from trying to force him to his knees, and frantically pressed the button to open the battleship's cargo hold.

"Misunderstand?"

Tiberus wasn't a tyrant, and he was happy to give Bel-Shar a chance to explain, so he relaxed his grip. But watching the other frantically start the cargo hold, he couldn't help but sneer.

"Bel-Shar, could it be that the Rogue Trader offered you a price that was so attractive that you were willing to sacrifice the honor and lives of 1007 of your battle-brothers in the Chapter to join him..."

Tiberus didn't finish his joking words before the cargo door opened, and he and Bel-Shar were submerged.

Because Siye allowed Belshar and his men to take unlimited ammunition supplies, Belshar, who was afraid of being poor, gave up loading all the supplies into boxes in order to fit as many bombs and energy batteries as possible. Instead, he and his company members selectively bundled and packed some stable and less-damaged equipment and weapons in bulk to make more space for ammunition.

So when the cargo hold door was opened, the equipment and weapons that had been barely piled in were directly sprayed out during the shaking, and a large number of ammunition boxes were also knocked over. The pouring supplies successfully buried Tiberus and Bel-Shar in front of the cargo hold under a hill made up of power armor parts, bundles of bolt rifles, a large number of scattered bombs and energy batteries.

"Bel-Shar! You are trying to assassinate your Chapter Master..."

With dozens of tons of cargo weighing on his back, even an Astartes would have vomited three liters of blood and been seriously injured if he had not been wearing power armor. Tiberus angrily crawled out of the hill, but before he could vent his anger, he was blocked by the overwhelming wealth in front of him.

"… By the Emperor… did you rob a Forge World…"

His anger quickly disappeared. Tiberus looked at Belsair, who was buried in the pile of goods and still winking at him, and didn't know what to say for a moment.

...

Chapter 322: Border Forging World

3000 sets of brand new Mark VII Imperial power armor, more than 7000 bolt weapons and chainsaw weapons, and enough ammunition and energy to keep the regiment in a fierce fighting state for several months.

According to Tiberus's guess, he believed that Bel-Shar had used some means to rob the goods of the Forge World, and at the same time put the blame for the conflicts and contradictions on a Rogue Merchant Dynasty, and tried to unite with that Rogue Merchant Dynasty to silence those who knew about the Forge World.

This kind of behavior is not worth promoting or boasting about, but looking at the mountains of weapons and power armor, Tiberus could not bring himself to reprimand them. He could only silently prepare to summon his battle brothers and assist Bel-Shar in silencing the insiders.

However, Bel-Shar quickly told Tiberus about his experience, the origin of the equipment, and the special existence of Si Ye, who disguised himself as a wandering merchant but was actually an agent of the Emperor.