Alex convened a military meeting.
High-ranking officials, including Planet Governor Feng, Sage Kaska, and Bishop Hyderak, were all in attendance.
In addition, there were military commanders such as Major General Aying.
Aying's promotion speed was akin to a rocket.
At Lykard Space Station, he was merely a captain.
Now, he is a major general.
Captain, major, lieutenant colonel, colonel, major general.
A promotion that would take others more than a decade to achieve.
He completed it in two months.
Such rapid promotion led many to speculate about Aying's background!
Alex never responded to these speculations and doubts.
He couldn't very well tell others that he didn't have many usable people at hand.
Even fewer were skilled in military affairs.
Aying could fight, recruit soldiers, and was loyal and obedient.
During the battle for Rock Hive City, he charged at the front, daring to fight and capable of commanding large-scale operations.
In suppressing the Tyreen uprising, he executed Alex's orders without compromise.
After gaining control of the guard, he suppressed the nobles with an iron fist.
If not him, should he promote those family scions who only sought to undermine him at every turn?!
The main topics discussed at the military meeting were the recapture of Planet Atoma, the annihilation of the remaining rebel forces, and issues concerning reconstruction.
Alex had a complete and detailed plan.
Once the surface was recaptured and the Hive City were rebuilt, they would enter a phase of grand development and mass production.
They would develop the mineral resources in the asteroid belt, as well as those on uncolonized satellites and planets.
Construction of void structures such as space factories, space agriculture, shipyards, and star forts would commence.
At the same time, they would encourage childbirth to increase the population.
Alex also had the Adeptus Mechanicus extract gene-seeds from the Players.
These would be cultivated into implanted organs, with the intention of mass-producing Astartes, preparing for expeditions to other star sectors.
A gene-seed is a collective term for a series of germ cells and genetic programming data.
It can be cultivated into various gene-organs with different functions.
By surgically implanting these gene-organs into healthy human boys.
They can be transformed into superhuman Space Marines.
Each Astartes warrior can contribute two gene-seeds in his lifetime.
One is located in the throat, maturing after the recruit completes surgical modification, and is a blank seed.
The other is located near the chest cavity, carrying part of the implantee's combat memories.
This allows new recruits to quickly mature into veterans.
After the Players choose to exchange for a gene-seed, they will be drawn into the Emperor's domain, where the transformation will be completed.
Although different from the promotion of regular Astartes, they also possess gene-seeds.
Although Astartes are not the strongest fighting force in the Empire, their cost-effectiveness is unparalleled.
Currently, the Empire's situation is precarious, and sufficient military strength is essential for suppression.
One must know that those bastards on Terra even dared to scheme against a Primarch.
If their fists aren't strong enough, they'll likely be utterly ruined by them.
Of course, to be safe, Alex only cultivated the gene-seeds of loyalist legions.
At the meeting, Alex meticulously assigned tasks to everyone and delivered a final inspiring mobilization.
"This battle is humanity's counterattack against Chaos; the Empire will surely win, humanity will surely win."
"Gentlemen, let us once again achieve victory and glory."
As soon as his voice fell, the crowd cheered.
Shouting the slogans of 'The Empire will surely win' and 'Humanity will surely win'.
After the military meeting, everyone quickly departed, returning to their posts.
All departments in Tirien Hive City began operating with unprecedented efficiency.
The colossal machinery in the factories roared incessantly, running day and night, producing piles of war materials.
The populace was also mobilized, with the Ecclesiarchy-led propaganda machine operating at full throttle, preaching day and night.
Hyderak, as the Bishop, personally took to the stage.
He gave speeches throughout Tirien Hive City.
Inciting the populace to join the military and dedicate themselves to the war.
"The messenger of the God-Emperor has walked among men; he will bring light and salvation."
"Lost and suffering citizens, it is time to unite and seek vengeance against those enemies."
.......
Warmaster, Twisted person, Tenjiro, and other Players formed a Warband named 'Emperor's Cannon Fodder'.
They planned to visit a tavern in the game and celebrate.
After being promoted to Astartes, their average height was 2.3 meters.
Such a height was not exaggerated in the Hive City.
Many gang members and reinforced fanatics had such heights.
So, those who saw them merely regarded Warmaster and his group as tough gang enforcers.
They smoothly entered a tavern that appeared to be well-decorated.
The interior of the tavern was smoky and chaotic, with the flickering light of poor-quality neon signs.
Dancers, dressed provocatively and smelling of cheap perfume, moved among the patrons.
Once the alcohol took effect, political and military discussions inevitably arose within the tavern.
A scrawny man was particularly noticeable.
He was pontificating on the current situation and heavily criticizing the authorities.
"Now, war mobilization has begun again. How long has it been since the last recapture of Rock Hive City? Another war is starting; the authorities simply don't value our lives."
"Nowadays, welfare benefits and such are quite good; don't always criticize the authorities like that." Someone retorted.
The man shook his head, a sneer on his face.
"That's just a temporary concession made to win you over. Once the war ends, they'll gradually take back everything they gave you and demand more."
"Haven't there been enough such instances? Every time they fight for power and engage in internal strife, they make all sorts of promises and paint grand pictures for the people. But once power is in hand, they immediately turn their backs."
Warmaster frowned upon hearing the man's words.
His Holy Terra (Earth/Reality) identity was that of a passionate student.
Hearing someone slander the policies set by the Guide like that, he immediately slammed the table.
The sound was loud, and the entire tavern instantly fell silent.
Drinking patrons all turned their gaze towards them.
Because the few of them were muscular and tall, they clearly looked like tough guys.
Others dared not speak much, fearing to invite trouble.
The man who had been spouting nonsense also froze, a hint of panic and fear showing.
Warmaster stood up and walked to the man, his gaze sharp.
"Have you participated in war?"
The man shook his head.
"Have you killed a single rebel soldier?"
The man still shook his head.
"Then why are you here wantonly criticizing and slandering those who protect you with their lives?"
Warmaster looked around, scrutinizing everyone, his eyes sharp; no one dared to meet his gaze.
"Do you think we have the initiative in this war? No, this war was never our choice."
"No one wants to face those monsters, no one wants to die at the hands of those Heretics, but in this desperate era, we have no choice."
The tavern fell silent, only Warmaster's voice echoed.
Everyone watched him, either shocked or pensive.
"Do you think those enemies are here for a picnic, to bring warmth, to bring happiness?"
"None of that. They are here to kill us."
"I've seen piles of corpses, some skinned, some beheaded, and among them were men, women, and children."
"Their despair and fear, even long after death, were deeply etched on their faces."
"If we don't fight, more people will suffer that fate."
"Think of your wives and children, think of your parents. Are you willing to let your families suffer such torment?"
Warmaster walked up to a middle-aged man.
"Tell me, are you willing to let your family be beheaded and massacred by those enemies?"
"No, I am not." The middle-aged man shook his head.
"What about you?"
"I am not willing either."
"And you?"
"Unwilling."
Warmaster pointed at a few more people, then looked around at everyone, "And you?"
"Unwilling."
Everyone gave the same answer.
Warmaster smiled, and spoke again, his voice gradually rising, filled with passion and fervor.
"War is never a beautiful thing, but to allow more people to live, we must fight."
"Perhaps we cannot enjoy a peaceful life, but we can let our families enjoy it, let our descendants enjoy it."
"The battles always have to be fought; why not let us, who are already living in hell, fight them?"
"The supreme God-Emperor will surely embrace the soul of every deceased person."
"For the God-Emperor, for our families, we fight bathed in blood."
Warmaster's words made the people in the tavern widen their eyes.
"In this war, you might die, you might lose many things, but future generations will gain a world of happiness."
"They will stand here pontificating, young couples will secretly kiss in corners, disheartened middle-aged men will drown their sorrows in drink, and dancers will consider what to eat after work."
"They will worry about many things, but the one thing they won't have to worry about is being killed by those enemies tomorrow, or being dragged out and beheaded like a dog."
"This is the meaning of our struggle. If I do not die, I will continue to fight until everyone achieves happiness."
"If one day I die, I have only one request: cover my corpse with the Aquila banner and bury me where I fell, only to witness the enemy's defeat."
The entire tavern was as silent as death.
Then came thunderous applause.
Warmaster bowed to those applauding and spoke his final words.
"For the God-Emperor, for our families, we will never compromise, we will fight to the death."
The emotions of the people in the tavern were completely stirred.
They followed suit, shouting, and for a moment the momentum was astonishing, deafening.
Tenjiro looked at Warmaster in the crowd, utterly shocked.
I just asked you to give a simple speech at the tavern, but you actually went all out??
Twisted person and the other Players were also stunned.
It was as if they were meeting this guy for the first time.
Could it be that Warmaster was an art student in Holy Terra (Earth/Reality)?
So talented, he managed to stir up the crowd with just a few words.