The first half of the meeting proceeded as usual. Various power players engaged in open discussion, but the atmosphere was noticeably less heated than before. The three most powerful figures in Brevis were all present: Raynor, Goodwin, and Luna. Combined with the sharp exchange between Raynor and Luna during their greeting, no one dared to be as boisterous as they once were. The topics of discussion remained restrained—local grain production efficiency or recent culinary discoveries—trivial issues that offended no one.
Raynor listened while observing Luna. She sat composed beside the primary seat, a smile fixed on her face. She occasionally interjected, but only with vacuous pleasantries. Raynor noticed, however, that whenever anyone mentioned the Adeptus Mechanicus, her eyes would brighten. Her cybernetic eye would rotate slowly, capturing every detail. She was gathering intelligence. Raynor sneered inwardly.
Halfway through the meeting, Luna suddenly spoke.
"Everyone."
Silence fell over the hall as all eyes turned to her. Luna stood up and walked to the center of the hall. She looked around, her gaze sweeping over every face before finally landing on Raynor.
"I have invited you all here today not only to discuss daily affairs but to make an announcement." A brilliant smile spread across her face. "House Saint Gallus has completed its internal reorganization. From this day forward, I will officially serve as Regent, with full authority over all family matters."
She looked at Raynor, her smile provocative. "Lord Governor, I hope we can... cooperate well in the future."
Raynor looked at her and said nothing. The hall was so quiet that one could hear breathing.
"Very well. And how does the Regent wish for us to cooperate?"
Hearing Raynor's response, the last of Luna's internal vigilance dissipated. Is this the Emperor's Chosen? Nothing more than this. The signature smile returned to her face as she turned back to the assembly, her voice ringing clear.
"Everyone, I have heard that the Lord Governor is planning a Purge Crusade against the Orks on Dorido."
The hall watched her intently.
"Having just become the Regent of Saint Gallus, it is only right and proper that I contribute to Brevis." She paused, her gaze scanning the crowd. "Moreover, the Mechanicus has been in Brevis for so long; it is time they did something substantial for this planet."
Raynor watched her, in no hurry to speak.
"Therefore, I wish to serve as the Marshal of this Crusade. With the Noble Council led by House Saint Gallus and the Adeptus Mechanicus as the primary force, we shall thoroughly purge the Ork threat to Brevis!"
As her words fell, a dead silence gripped the hall. Anyone with a modicum of intelligence understood her meaning. On the surface, Luna wanted to contribute to Brevis. In reality, her appetite reached far beyond being a mere Regent. If she were appointed Crusade Marshal, the Hive would be forced to support her with everything it had. Grain, equipment, manpower—all resources would tilt toward her.
In the unique political environment of Brevis, the status of the Planetary Governor and the High King were nearly equal. In fact, over the years, the High King had consistently held the upper hand. If things proceeded this way, no one would object even if Luna marginalized Raynor. The glory of the Crusade's victory would be hers. The honors earned during the campaign would be hers. After the Crusade, she would return to the Hive with an army and immense prestige. What would the Governor be then?
The faces of those in the Governor's camp shifted. Goodwin's white eyes narrowed into slits. Carter's brow furrowed deeply as his fingers toyed incessantly with a pen. Those who didn't understand the subtext simply exchanged confused glances, wondering what was happening.
Evidently, some who understood were not pleased. Chairman Trene slammed his hand down, his chair legs scraping harshly against the floor.
"Bullshit!"
The hall erupted in an uproar. Chairman Trene, leader of the Mid-Hive guilds and one of the first to align with Raynor, was flushed with rage. He pointed directly at Luna's face and began to curse.
"Who the hell do you think you are?!"
Luna's smile froze.
"Just a woman who seized power while Caladog was away!" Trene became increasingly agitated. "You're a technical officer who hasn't seen a battlefield in her life. What right do you have to be Marshal?!"
Luna opened her mouth to retort, but Trene gave her no chance.
"The Purge Crusade was proposed by the Lord Governor! It was planned by the Lord Governor! As the founder, even if he doesn't serve as Marshal, his consent is required for anyone else to take the post!"
He slapped the table, making the teacups jump. "The Governor solved the current Ork problem in Brevis in a matter of months! He killed two Warbosses! He won over the Wildlings of the ice fields! What do you have that compares to those achievements?!"
He glared at Luna, emphasizing every word. "A technician trying to pluck the fruits of another's labor wants to be Marshal? Fine! Show us comparable military merit and honor first! Prove you are qualified for the position!"
Trene sat back down, huffing for breath. The hall was pin-drop silent. Luna stood in the center, her face turning various shades of red and white. She opened her mouth, but not a single word came out.
Those leaning toward Raynor were all holding back laughter. Carter lowered his head, pretending to read documents while his shoulders shook slightly. Goodwin raised his teacup to hide the smile at the corners of his mouth. In those eyes that could see through everything, the word "satisfaction" was written plain. Even the neutrals lowered their heads, afraid their expressions would be seen. After all, in the Warhammer universe—a place of constant war without normal entertainment—honor was everything to most people.
Luna was left speechless. She had spent too little time in politics and hadn't learned how to argue with these old foxes. If Callum had spoken those words, he could have talked his way out of it, but she...
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, the panic was gone.
"Chairman Trene is right." Her voice steadied, even carrying a hint of self-mocking laughter. "I indeed have no military merit, no honor, and have never been on a battlefield."
Trene was stunned; he hadn't expected her to concede so easily. But Luna's next words stopped his smile.
"However," Luna stared at Trene, her gaze filled with unparalleled confidence. "The Purge Crusade will face the Ork army on the agricultural planet of Dorido. That is a planetary-scale war. There are a billion Ork units up there, countless war machines, and various things we have never seen."
Her voice grew more certain. "For a campaign of that scale, are honor and military merit alone enough?"
Trene opened his mouth to argue but found himself unable to speak. Because Luna was telling the truth. Raynor was indeed formidable; he had killed two Warbosses and repelled an Ork army numbering in the tens of millions. But that was in Brevis, on the Forbidden Wall, with a natural fortress to defend.
Dorido was different. That was the Orks' home turf, territory they had occupied for two years. What did a billion Orks look like? If they stood still and let you kill them, it would take years. Moreover, they would fight back, charge, and use those bizarre war machines. Relying solely on the Vanguard, the Governor's Mansion, and a few guilds was indeed not enough.
Chairman Trene sat in his chair, his expression complex.