This is the bonus chapter for reaching 400 Powerstones.
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Aurelian IV's two moons hung high in the sky, one red and one white, painting the Redblaze Wasteland in two contrasting landscapes.
Inside the Crimson Dawn base, the central cafeteria building was brightly lit.
In just a few days, this building had shot up from three stories to seven. As [Fugitive Cogboy of the Mechanicus] put it:
"The headquarters of our Chapter can't look shabbier than an illegal squatter block in a Hive slum."
The footprint had expanded to over four hundred square meters. The first floor remained the player cafeteria, serving nutrient paste, baked potatoes, and a specific Warhammer-style thick stew boiled from mutant beast meat twenty-four hours a day.
The conference room, originally on the second floor, had now been relocated to the sixth.
Tonight, both sides of the long table in the conference room were packed.
The high command of the Crimson Dawn Chapter had expanded from the original five or six people to over twenty. Among the new faces were three or four female players.
These were all players who possessed organizational and management experience in the real world and had rapidly distinguished themselves after entering the game.
[Studying Med is Worse Than Falling to Chaos] was in charge of base medical affairs. She was a med student.
[Teaching Nurgle How to Read in the Warp] was in charge of education.
[The Most Incorruptible Logistics King of the Imperium] managed resource distribution.
Paul sat at the head of the table. He had unequipped his Power Armor and was simply wearing a basic black combat suit.
Even so, his Astartes-augmented physique was still a full size larger than everyone else in the room. Even while sitting, his eye level was higher than most people standing up.
He swept his gaze across the room and spoke:
"Everyone's here. Let's begin."
"This is the Chapter Development Meeting. We are primarily discussing three things: external situation, internal construction, and special projects."
"Cogboy, you start. Give us the situation on the industrial zone and the four major factions."
Cogboy nodded and swiped his mechanical right arm across the table.
A holographic projection bloomed, displaying a simplified map of Aurelian IV.
"Based on the rough intel sent back by the five recon squads that infiltrated the surrounding towns and the Hive City to our northwest… Over the past seventy-two hours, planetary military mobilization has reached... exaggerated levels."
His mechanical finger tapped several red dots on the map:
"In the northern hemisphere, Dawn City—the former capital of the Blaec House and current stronghold of the Atens Knight House, one of the four major factions—has dispatched at least fifty thousand local PDF troops."
"Equipment level: standard 30K issue. Leman Russ tank formations unknown, Hellhounds unknown, Sentinel walkers unknown, self-propelled artillery unknown."
"In the southern hemisphere, the City of the Holy Anthem. It's the seat of the Planetary Governor, as well as the main stronghold of the Conmo Psyker Dynasty and the Order of the Omnissian Mind."
"They've mobilized even more forces—over one hundred and twenty thousand."
"And their gear is much better, though the specific models remain unknown."
Then there was the Hysman Merchant Guild, to which the Aru Group belonged. They had deployed the largest force, numbering nearly two hundred thousand. After all, Aru City was their Hive. (TL/N: Decided to change Ximans Trade Consortium to Hysman Merchant Guild for better reading experience)
Sharp intakes of breath echoed around the conference room.
Tax Bro scratched his head. "Over three to four hundred thousand men?"
"Roughly." Cogboy remained expressionless. "The good news, however, is that our base is located in the middle of nowhere."
He zoomed in on the Redblaze Wasteland region:
"On Aurelian IV's strategic map, the Redblaze Wasteland is classified as an abandoned, irradiated zone. The marching routes of all the armies bypassed the wasteland entirely, heading straight for Aru City. They need to deal with the Chaos corruption in the industrial zone."
[Did White Scars Speed Today?] chimed in. "So we can just keep laying low and developing?"
"For now, yes but we can't drop our guard." Cogboy pulled up another data sheet: "The total forces mobilized by the four major factions have already surpassed four hundred thousand and that is only the vanguard."
"Aurelian IV is not a poor planet. On the contrary, this planet's promethium and rare crystal reserves are famous throughout the entire sector."
"After the Iron Hands Legion annihilated the Blaec House eighty years ago, the four major factions carved up their legacy. Over these years, relying on their monopoly over mineral exports, they've become filthy rich. Therefore, the equipment level of their local PDF is considered top-tier for an Imperial fringe world." (TL/N: For those who don't know, PDF or Planetary Defence Force. They are the local standing armies raised by individual planetary governors to maintain order and act as the first line of defense against invasions before the Imperial Guard (Astra Militarum) arrives.)
He paused, then added:
"Also, Deep sent a message through the regional channel."
The players had previously tested it; the regional channel allowed for effective communication within a fifty-kilometer radius.
The entire room perked up.
Deep had left two days ago with Leon and Vanessa. With the help of the players through various means, they had traveled to Aru City at incredible speed and successfully infiltrated it.
The mission objective: Infiltrate Aru Hive City, acquire intelligence on the upper Hive, and ascertain which Astartes Legion the Planetary Governor would petition for aid.
"They successfully infiltrated the underhive of Aru City. Relying on Shumos's identity, they have already secured a foothold there. He said the underhive is currently a bit chaotic. The military mobilization by the four major factions has left the garrison forces empty, leading to some people getting ambitious. Deep plans to bribe his way into being 'forced' up into the middle Hive within a week. He didn't elaborate on the specific operational details, but he told us not to worry."
Schrödinger Bro spoke up. "Deep is way too professional at this undercover stuff. Truly a master of the Werewolf game."
Paul nodded. "Maintain single-line contact with Deep. Do not initiate contact with him to avoid blowing his cover."
"Next, the others. Let's talk base development."
[Studying Med is Worse Than Falling to Chaos] was the first to raise her hand:
"We have a severe shortage of medical resources."
"We now have over twenty-two thousand residents and five thousand players, but only a hundred or so players possess basic medical knowledge. Not a single person has chosen the Official Apothecary path."
"The shop does sell Basic Medical Knowledge Implantation Chips, but they cost a thousand Imperial Coins a pop, and they only bring a person up to the level of a combat medic."
"I suggest we prioritize training twenty medical apprentices. I'll personally lead their training."
"At the same time, we need to buy a Multi-Purpose Medical Pod. The shop sells it for fifty thousand Imperial Coins. It can handle the vast majority of physical trauma and common diseases."
"Approved." Paul stamped the decision.
[Teaching Nurgle How to Read in the Warp] spoke next:
"Regarding education, we currently have twelve literacy classes running. We're using the Imperial Gothic Primer bought from the shop as our textbook. But for the ideological and political classes, we have to write the curriculum ourselves."
"I suggest we take concepts like 'Labor in Exchange for Survival,' 'Unity is the Power that Shatters All,' and Crimson Dawn's various disciplinary rules, and turn them into simple songs. Teach the children to sing them first, and they'll understand the meaning later."
"Additionally, we discovered seventeen children with psychic talent, ranging in age from eight to fourteen. Their talent levels range from E to C."
"Should we train them collectively?"
Paul looked at Schrödinger Bro.
Schrödinger Bro pondered for a moment. "Collective training is fine, but they must be supervised by an Official Psyker. My psychic level is now at the Official tier. Along with Blood Angel and five other players who just made it to the Official tier, we can rotate shifts but we must be careful. Psychic training can only begin after they learn how to shield themselves. That kid Helovia nearly gave us all a heart attack last time."
At the mention of Helovia, the conference room fell silent for a moment.
Paul asked, "Has the kid woken up yet?"
Cogboy shook his head. "Her vitals are stable, but her consciousness is in deep hibernation. It's nothing major. She'll probably just need to sleep for a few more days."
"Keep her under intensive observation." Paul finished, then looked at [The Most Incorruptible Logistics King of the Imperium].
Logistics King was a slightly chubby male player. His ID was modest, and his speech was extremely pragmatic:
"Regarding resources, our food reserves are enough to feed twenty-seven thousand people for twenty-eight days. But that's calculated at minimum rations."
"Water resources are abundant. The upgraded purification system provides more than enough."
"Housing is the major problem. The existing barracks can house a maximum of nine thousand people. Of the remaining eighteen thousand, twelve thousand are sleeping in work sheds, and six thousand are in tents."
"I propose we launch a housing initiative: construct standard dormitories capable of housing fifteen thousand people within one month."
"The budget would require... roughly one hundred thousand Imperial Coins."
Paul nodded. "Approved. Prioritize the basic living conditions of the residents."
The meeting went on for over two hours.
The heads of the various departments finished their reports and submitted their requests, which Paul and the core command team discussed and approved.
Finally, the topic returned to special projects.
Paul looked at Cogboy. "The five monthly Wondrous Items that unlocked in the System earlier... if I remember correctly, you bought all of them?"
Cogboy's expression instantly turned... a little awkward.
"Uh, yeah, I bought them..."
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