Chapter 120: Golden Laurel Medal
One month later, ten colossal warships, each ten kilometers long, leaped out from the Gates of Pluto. On the Gloriana-class warship, over twenty kilometers long, Omega gazed at the bustling solar system, never expecting to return after so many years.
The warship docked at Terra Starport, and Omega led everyone back to the Legion Fortress to meet Alpharius and his group. Under the bright lights, Omega saw his brother looking over and smiled.
"You're here too. It's just a medal. Our legion has received plenty before. We'll get our medals and keep fighting!"
Company commanders like Ingepek were speechless. The Primarch treated receiving medals as a simple procedure, but for Space Marines, receiving a medal was an immense honor.
Alpharius said calmly, "This time is different. You did a great job in the Faran incident!"
After some conversation, Omega learned that the medal-giving ceremony had been quite a spectacle, with the other Primarchs gradually returning to Terra. This was clearly not as simple as receiving a medal. Omega thought about what had happened to Corax.
"Announcing that we have officially taken over the Legion?"
"You remember now. Chagatai Khan sent someone over a few days ago to invite you to his place for drinks and meat. Here's the invitation!" Alpharius smiled and handed an invitation to Omega.
Omega glanced at the invitation, seeming pleased, and then looked at Alpharius, only to find that his brother was studiously ignoring Omega's unspoken thoughts. Friendship and honor were both at stake. Alpharius had no intention of impersonating Omega to participate.
Meanwhile, in the palace, Malcador, dressed in a grey robe, was working on countless piles of documents when he saw the Emperor in golden armor walking in from outside. He stopped what he was doing and stood up.
After reading the report by the High Sage Florensas Aeternus, the Emperor nodded in satisfaction. Omega had done an excellent job this time.
The grey-robed Malcador said in a deep voice, "The Council of Terra was somewhat frightened by the bombing of Shadowtooth, fearing that Omega would use excessive force. This time, they're so shocked that even their officials dare not go to the Faran system! Omega's actions are always controversial, and the Faran incident was somewhat unexpected!"
The Emperor summarized, "The war against aliens involves the large-scale use of missiles and nuclear weapons, while the fight against rebellions on human-populated planets prioritizes negotiation, recovery, and governance...these are completely different attitudes!"
"That's exactly why so many people on the Council of Terra were so surprised, and why he received such high praise this time!" Malcador continued, then took out a gold-rimmed box from the side and gently opened it to reveal a golden laurel wreath medal.
"Give it to me," the Emperor said softly, looking at the golden laurel wreath medal.
Malcador glanced at him in surprise and handed it over. It was rather rare for the Emperor to present such an award personally, but it represented the Emperor's high regard for Omega, and it was considered an extremely high honor.
The Golden Laurel Medal featured a small skull-and-crossbones flanked by golden olive branches. This honor was typically awarded only to Space Marines who had achieved significant victories. Space Marines who held the honor of the Laurel Medal were normally company or legion commanders, with the Golden Laurel Medal the highest rank.
Perhaps the greatest honor was when the Emperor gave Fulgrim half of the double-headed Aquila emblem representing the Imperium.
The Faran incident had transformed from an anticipated brutal war into peaceful governance, resolving the extremely dangerous nano-weapons and even governing the sector with respect within a year, exceeding Malcador's imagination and expectations.
Battle casualty ratios were rarely expressed as percentages. They could be calculated as per thousand or even per ten thousand. The matter had been handled perfectly, and Malcador did not hesitate to award Omega the Golden Laurel Medal, a sentiment shared by countless members of the Council of Terra.
The next day, after resting, Omega arrived at the White Scars Fortress, where he happily drank and ate meat with Chagatai Khan and a group of company commanders who were addressed as Khans. The atmosphere was quite lively.
Seeing Omega and the Primarch chatting and laughing happily, Qin Xia was somewhat surprised that the two were so close. Chagatai Khan, with his signature high ponytail, had no questions about the planet Faran. The two only discussed food, drink, and the tactics of commanding legions in battle.
White Scars favored high-speed mobile warfare, while Omega favored high-speed bombing. Thanks to the comments from the Council of Terra and Guilliman, news of Shadowtooth had already spread.
When the White Scars heard that the Alpha Legion had dropped a hundred million missiles and countless nuclear bombs on the underground Skaven cities, ultimately blasting a rift valley more than five thousand kilometers long into the planet, the other officers couldn't help but laugh out loud.
This attitude stemmed from the fact that many legions had gone too far in their own ways, and most importantly, they'd been bombing alien planets, not human-populated ones. What pleased them was that Omega's bombing tactics had altered the planet's landscape, even creating a massive rift valley.
Yesugei, as a close friend of Chagatai Khan, listened to Omega's ideas on bombing tactics and couldn't help but shake his head and laugh. "Your legion is bombing so much. Luckily, three-star sectors are supporting it; otherwise, ammunition supplies wouldn't keep up!"
"If we produce and bomb them ourselves, it won't be a waste of the Imperium's ammunition!"
Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter. Omega wanted to tell them that it was better to waste ammunition than lives, but each legion was very confident in its own tactics. Even Alpharius, who frequently reviewed bombing tactics data, insisted on his infiltration operations behind enemy lines.
After the lively banquet, Omega left the Fifth Legion in high spirits and went to the public corridor, where he unexpectedly ran into Forrix and several other Iron Warriors company commanders who looked rather sullen.
Forrix, who could have been having some conversation with him, immediately turned stern and walked past him without even saying hello. Honsou and other members of the Trident silently walked past as well.
Omega, speechless, grabbed Forrix's assistant, Galar, and teleported to the side. Forrix and the other two hurriedly looked over upon seeing this.
Omega waved and smiled from afar, then asked the somewhat frightened Galar why they were behaving this way.
"Our Iron Warriors have always been brave in every battle, fighting the toughest ones with heavy casualties, but so far we haven't earned many medals!" Galar said subtly under Omega's gaze.
Omega was startled by these words and let go. Galar immediately ran to Frix's side, exchanged a few words, and was then scolded. Omega remained silent as he watched the Fourth Legion's Iron Warriors depart.
...
In a flash, a person appeared beside him, dressed in magnificent purple-gold power armor, with a clean and elegant half-eagle symbolizing the Imperium on his shoulder. The newcomer possessed extremely handsome features and a noble demeanor, resembling both a young nobleman and a prince.
Fulgrim strode over to his side and smiled gently.
"Why do you look so unhappy when you're about to receive the Medal of Honor, my brother Alpharius?"
"Is it because of the Iron Warriors? I remember you worked with Perturabo on Shadowtooth. Over the years, I've heard people talk about the amazing things you've done. You really blasted a huge rift in that planet!"
Omega looked at the distinguished-looking Fulgrim and explained,
"The Hruds possess time manipulation abilities, allowing them to age and kill people rapidly. Drilling tunnels and dropping hydrogen bombs is the solution I've come up with that could significantly reduce our casualties! It's just that the Hrud have dug up underground cities all over Shadowtooth, so I went a little overboard!"
Fulgrim was taken aback, then burst into laughter, the sound echoing throughout the corridor. He suppressed a laugh and continued.
"Hahaha, that was too much! Such a subtle way of expressing it! War is always cruel and dramatic. Because of this incident, other legions always mention your bombing tactics, but no one mentions that Perturabo was also present!"
Omega, completely unfazed by Fulgrim's laughter, said calmly,
"It's fine if you want to laugh it off. Anyway, the war is over, and it's a good thing Perturabo isn't being mentioned as part of the joke!"
Fulgrim was delighted to hear this.
"Hahaha, brother, I didn't mean to make fun of you. You're really magnanimous!"
Fulgrim was surprised that Omega was so gracious and didn't hold a grudge about Shadowtooth. He admired Omega and thought that Omega had fought exceptionally well in the Shadowtooth war. He had also read the war data himself.
[End of Chapter]
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