With the conscription order issued, Rostov became lively once again.
Long queues quickly formed in front of the conscription stations, with eligible men and women from various cities coming to sign up.
Among them were strong young people, veterans who had served before, and even some descendants of Valhalla Ice Warriors who had retired many years ago.
Although generations had passed, the fighting instinct in their bloodline seemed to have never faded.
Regarding conscription, Rostovians, like people from other Imperial worlds, did not resist it; in fact, they eagerly anticipated it and enthusiastically joined the army.
Conscription officers skillfully registered information, while Hospitallers conducted strict physical examinations and screenings nearby.
Unqualified individuals were immediately advised to leave, while those who passed were given temporary identification cards, awaiting further assignment.
This was mainly due to the Imperium's inherent martial and military merit traditions.
In the Ecclesiarchy's propaganda, joining the army, especially the Astra Militarum, was a noble act of loyalty to the God-Emperor, a glorious path to achieving one's life's value!
On the conscription posters, fully armed Astra Militarum soldiers held Lasguns aloft, with burning battlefields and fluttering Aquila banners behind them, and the slogan boldly read: "Fight for the Emperor, Fight for Humanity!"
Not to mention, the Department of Internal Affairs, Adeptus Arbites, and Department of Military Affairs of the Imperium all ensured generous treatment for the Astra Militarum and their families.
Although this point is somewhat questionable, as corruption and embezzlement within the bureaucratic system are common.
However, there is no doubt that the families of Astra Militarum members can live well on their home planets.
The schola progenium's enrollment sources are these Astra Militarum families; if they have problems, then there will be real big problems.
Of course, if you are just an ordinary grunt who dies on the battlefield without being promoted or achieving any merits, the Department of Military Affairs will naturally provide much less compensation and benefits.
But overall, the allowance of an ordinary Astra Militarum soldier is still enough for his family to live a relatively decent life in the mid-hive of a Hive City.
It is precisely because of this that the enthusiasm for joining the Imperial army is quite high.
Astra Militarum conscription only ever sees situations where individuals are rejected for not meeting requirements; there has never been a time when they couldn't recruit soldiers.
As for the Defense Force established by the Planetary Governor himself, it depends on whether the Governor is a good person.
Governors with high degrees of humanity generally do not have problems recruiting soldiers, but there are also fools who get overthrown by the Defense Force they themselves established.
In Rostov, due to the extremely high Astra Militarum traditional legacy and the fact that it is a settlement of descendants of Valhalla Ice Warriors, the military spirit is excellent.
As soon as the conscription order was issued, a large number of volunteers poured into the conscription stations, with some even rushing overnight from remote mining areas to sign up.
For them, this was not just a job, but a continuation of honor.
Coupled with the fact that the previous Governor had a high degree of humanity, and Alex, as the successor Governor, did not engage in any outrageous actions that would incur public wrath, even after several rounds of conscription, there are still enough people willing to join the army.
However, unlike previous rounds of conscription, which mostly consisted of eligible young men, this time the conscription teams included quite a few gray-haired elderly people and young women.
In front of the conscription station, the queue was noticeably more diverse than before.
Young women stood in groups of two or three, some nervously clutching their clothes, while others stood tall, their gazes firm.
Many of them wore work pants and sturdy boots, clearly ready to join the army.
On the other side of the queue, the gray-haired veterans appeared exceptionally calm; their wrinkled faces carried the composure of seasoned warriors, and their rough fingers unconsciously rubbed, as if recalling the feeling of holding a gun.
The appearance of female figures is easy to understand; after several rounds of large-scale conscription, a large number of eligible young men have been sent to the battlefield, and most of the remaining no longer meet the conscription requirements, making female enlistment inevitable.
Many women even volunteered, including factory workers, farm laborers, and even school teachers.
Although they lacked practical combat experience, thanks to the planet's inherent martial spirit and the militia policy enacted by Alex, they generally received basic militia training, at least knowing how to properly hold a gun and follow orders.
As for the elderly, most were retired veterans of the former Rostov Defense Force, as well as relevant personnel who had received military training.
Although these veterans were old, their bodies were still sturdy, and many still maintained the military posture they had during their service.
They stood silently in the queue, occasionally conversing in low voices, their topics always revolving around past combat experiences and the impending Ork threat.
To some extent, these veterans are the focus of this conscription.
Most of them had received military training from the former Rostov Defense Force and possessed excellent military qualities.
Although they may not meet the standards of the Astra Militarum, the tactical doctrines from the Valhalla Ice Warriors still give them certain advantages and experience in dealing with Orks and fighting in cold environments.
Although due to Rostov's environment, a considerable part of the Valhalla Ice Warriors' tactical doctrines had been adjusted for the local arid and hot desertified environment, some fundamental aspects remained unchanged.
For example, squad cooperation, suppressive fire, and precise strikes targeting Ork weaknesses—these tactical essences were already ingrained in their bones.
Alex believed that these descendants of the former Valhallans, with a certain amount of adaptive training in cold environments, would be able to rediscover what their ancestors excelled at.
At this moment, he stood by the second-floor window of the conscription station, silently watching the crowd below, a hint of expectation flashing in his eyes.
These veterans and female recruits might not be the ideal warriors, but under the Emperor's banner, they would all become an indispensable part of humanity's defense line.
"Notify the Holy War Army to dispatch five hundred thousand elite troops. These new recruits will undergo a two-week intensive training with the Holy War Army. Immediately after the training, they will be organized into twenty legions and all sent to the Kherson front!" Alex said decisively, his voice becoming more severe: "Tell the Holy War Army Commander that the Ork threat in Kherson is escalating, and we cannot wait any longer!"
Alex turned to Rachel, his Chamberlain, and continued to give orders: "Also, immediately contact the representatives of the Adeptus Mechanicus Forge World; weapons and equipment must be in place as soon as possible!" He paused, quickly calculating logistical needs: "I don't expect them to provide heavy equipment like Leman Russ Tanks or Baneblade super-heavy tanks, but there must be at least two hundred Chimera armored personnel carriers and fifty Basilisk self-propelled artillery pieces!
And everyone must have a Lasgun and bulletproof armor; I don't want my soldiers to go to the battlefield empty-handed!"
Rachel quickly recorded these orders, her data-slate flashing with top-priority red markers.
"Understood, Governor." She looked up, professionally confirming: "I will personally oversee the negotiations with the Adeptus Mechanicus to ensure all equipment meets the standards."
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