Luka stepped off the frigate, his two squads of armed attendants—Kasrkin Commandos and Sisters of Battle—flanking him as they approached the starport's landing platform.
A welcoming party awaited, led by a sharply dressed woman exuding competence. Luka strode forward, his inquisitor's coat billowing, and addressed her. "I am Luka, Inquisitor of the Ordo Xenos, appointed by the God-Emperor as Planetary Governor of Rostov II. Your name, madam?"
The woman wore a dark blue coat, its masculine cut accentuating her no-nonsense demeanor. "Your Excellency," she replied, snapping a crisp Astra Militarum salute instead of the customary Imperial Aquila. "I am Rachel Olivia, Prime Minister under the previous governor and former commissar of the Rostov II Planetary Defense Force. I will assist you in governing this world, for the glory of the God-Emperor."
Her military precision was unmistakable, though the choice of a PDF commissar as prime minister raised Luka's eyebrow. Still, given Rostov II's administration was dominated by a retired Astra Militarum regiment, it wasn't surprising. A planet run by veterans likely maintained a strong martial tradition, which boded well for its defense forces.
Elite among mortals, the Astra Militarum produced soldiers capable of training a formidable PDF. If Rostov II's forces could match even a fraction of that prowess, they might be offered as tithe to the Imperium, exempting the planet from other levies. In the Imperium, only death and taxes were certain—and sometimes not even death.
"For the Emperor," Luka replied, returning an Aquila salute to complete the formalities.
Rachel led him toward the starport, her PDF escort trailing behind Luka's retinue. Eager to understand his new domain, Luka probed, "Tell me about Rostov II. I hear it's a newly developed Imperial world." His question doubled as a test of Rachel's competence and her stance toward him as the new governor.
"Rostov II is a desert world with sparse oases and limited surface water," Rachel began. "The Mechanicus reports substantial underground reserves, sufficient for basic needs if mined methodically. The planet hosts two cities. The capital, Rostov City, was founded by the original Astra Militarum settlers and their families. The second, built by Ecclesiarchy pilgrims, serves as a religious hub. They settled here, believing it their divine mission to establish a city for the Emperor.
"Under the previous governor, both cities have developed steadily, and their relations are stable."
Luka nodded, pleased. "Sounds manageable. What are the cities' primary income sources? What's the planet's food self-sufficiency rate? Any development plans from the prior governor?" He was relieved Rostov II wasn't a chaotic hive world like Necromunda, with its billion-strong populations and millennia of entrenched power struggles. The Emperor had granted him a relatively tame starting point.
Rachel's tone remained measured. "Rostov II lacks a stable income source. Development funds come from special allocations by the Adeptus Administratum. The Ecclesiarchy city attracts some pilgrims, generating modest revenue, but the planet's remote location in a recently developed sector limits visitors."
Luka chuckled, half-serious. "So, my first task is finding a steady income for the planet?"
Rachel's lips twitched, betraying a flicker of doubt. "If you could secure that, it would be a boon for Rostov II." Her diplomacy masked skepticism.
Luka wasn't deterred. Funding an entire planet was no small feat, but he shifted focus to a more pressing concern: food. In the Imperium, starvation wasn't just a humanitarian issue—it risked attracting Nurgle's pestilent gaze.
"What about food self-sufficiency?" he asked.
"Thanks to a Mechanicus biologis sage, we achieve roughly 40% self-sufficiency," Rachel replied. "The shortfall is covered by imports from an agricultural world in another sub-sector. The Administratum has prepaid for a century's worth of food, with about 30 years remaining. Food isn't an immediate concern."
Luka exhaled. A 40% self-sufficiency rate wasn't ideal, but the prepaid imports bought him time. Rostov II's challenges were clear: secure a revenue stream and bolster food production. For now, he'd focus on his inauguration and establishing authority—while keeping an eye out for any rebels plotting to replace him.