Warhammer 40k: Starting as a Rogue Trader

Chapter 156: The Tithe Fleet

"Captain, the amount for this collection is huge... The total tithe for Malfi increases every time, and this time it has doubled. Is this really reasonable?"

"The amount of the Tithe is determined by the Administratum. It is not our place to consider such things! Our job is to make those planets fulfill their obligations to the Imperium! Soldier, since you have accepted this sacred duty bestowed by the God-Emperor, then cast aside the pity in your heart."

The captain of this tithe fleet spoke with conviction. After experiencing so much, he had grown accustomed to it. He too had once had the same thoughts as this young officer.

"But Captain, under normal circumstances, it would be very difficult for Malfi to meet this tax amount. Might it incite them to rebel?"

"Rebel? That possibility cannot be ruled out. But the Governor of Malfi has excellently completed the payment of the Tithe every single time. There shouldn't be too much of a problem this time. They will certainly be hurt by it, but even if they rebel, we will suppress them. Is that not something we have done countless times before? But by the God-Emperor, I hope they do not do anything irrational.

"Accompanying us this time are two mechanized infantry regiments from Cadia. They are the finest soldiers in the Imperium. There are also several elite Kasrkin squads. They have just finished a battle and need to replenish their ammunition and equipment. A portion of the Tithe collected this time will be transferred directly to them. With their assistance, and with the support of the Administratum, no one can evade the obligation to pay their taxes."

As he said this, a look of reverence appeared in the captain's eyes. No one in the Imperium could deny the fighting spirit and quality of the Cadians; otherwise, they would not be used as a template for countless other Astra Militarum regiments to emulate.

When the fleet arrived at Malfi, the tithe collectors had not expected that the planet had already changed hands. However, that was not their concern. Their sole mission was to collect the Tithe.

But the scale of the fleet before them was far beyond their imagination. The new master was an alliance of Rogue Traders. The captain looked at his own tithe fleet; if the other party truly refused to pay, they probably wouldn't even be able to make a landing.

However, the resistance they had anticipated did not occur. Otherwise, the tithe fleet would not have known how to face the Dynasty's armada. The subsequent collection process was also much smoother than they had imagined.

Lucan used the jump drive of his Gorgon-class battlecruisers to temporarily transport a large quantity of C-14 weapons and ammunition from Agathos to Malfi. These weapons and ammunition would replace the Tithe that Malfi was originally required to pay. The fleet was initially skeptical of these unfamiliar weapons, but after the Adeptus Mechanicus confirmed their effectiveness and they witnessed their actual power, they said no more.

A total of twenty thousand-man regiments, composed of soldiers wearing various types of combat suits, also became part of the Tithe. Accompanying them was an even larger number of logistical support troops.

The captain could only exclaim at their loyalty. Apart from a few famous Astra Militarum regiments, who paid their Tithe by giving up their own best troops like this? The quality of the soldiers Malfi had previously provided was always very ordinary.

The Cadians were already considered well-equipped among the Astra Militarum. As the force stationed to guard the Eye of Terror, they received a large amount of supplies from the Departmento Munitorum and did not need to worry about equipment and ammunition. Even the regiments performing missions abroad received excellent treatment. After all, the battlefields they were sent to were places that ordinary Imperial forces could not handle.

"Unbelievable. Are these soldiers all wearing recoil-absorbing armor? But why does it look more like power armor?" Colonel Philip of the Cadian 99th Mechanized Infantry Regiment muttered to himself.

Looking at the full-body carapace armor he was wearing, Philip suddenly felt that it was somewhat shabby... Not only that, but the enemy's combat discipline was not inferior to their own. Although the soldiers of Agathos did not receive training from childhood like the Cadians, their loyalty, incredibly generous rewards and treatment, and the advantage of powerful equipment caused their combat effectiveness to skyrocket.

Philip had originally cherished this suit of carapace armor. Even among Cadian soldiers, carapace armor was not standard issue. Only the most elite Cadian Shock Troops or the even more elite Kasrkin were equipped with it on a large scale.

And now, before him, sat a suit of CMC combat armor.

"Colonel Philip, please accept this combat suit as a gift! The name of the Cadians resounds throughout the Imperium. Your sacrifices are worthy of everyone's gratitude," Lucan said, looking at the Cadian soldier with purple eyes. Having been stationed near the Eye of Terror for a long time, their bodies had also produced a benign mutation; the purple pupils were their mark. Lucan also had a great fondness for these Cadians. Loyal, resilient—the slogan "Cadia Stands" was not just empty words for them. They had dedicated their entire lives to it.

"This..."

"Don't refuse. You deserve this equipment. With it, you can also better contribute to the Imperium."

"Very well! May the God-Emperor bless you, Lord Lucan!"

As large quantities of weapons and equipment were loaded onto the transport ships, the Raiders marched in neat formations onto the troop carriers. The Raiders chose not to travel on the ships of the tithe fleet, but on the Dynasty's own warships. This caused the captain of the tithe fleet to curse under his breath what a tycoon Lucan was. What Astra Militarum regiment had its own warships? Under normal circumstances, they had to rely on the Imperial Navy. In all his years of collecting taxes, this was the first time he had encountered such a situation.

Among these transport ships were also several vessels filled with the Zerg whose bodies still contained the residual power of the Emperor. Against Chaos, these Zerg would have a miraculous effect. Accompanying the Raiders were also a large number of vehicles and SCVs. As long as SCVs were present, they could build various StarCraft structures at any time, so that these soldiers, separated from the Dynasty's territory, would not have to worry about logistical support for weapons and equipment.

Philip looked at this Astra Militarum regiment called the "Agathos Raiders" and was amazed at their level of mechanization. He searched his mind for the name of this unit but came up with nothing. How could such a force be unknown in the Imperium? What he didn't know was that the Raiders had been built from scratch in less than ten years.

"Colonel Philip, do you know the current situation on Cadia?"

"I'm not sure," Philip said, his expression confident. "But Cadia has issued a summons to all regiments abroad. I hear that Chaos has once again set its sights on our home. But it doesn't matter. We will repel them again, just as we have in the past!"

Lucan did not mention Cadia's predetermined fate. If he had, Philip would not have believed him and would probably have cursed him out. This was, after all, one of the few true victories for the ever-victorious Abaddon.

Having completed its collection, the tithe fleet left Malfi, heading for Scintilla to prepare for the relief of Cadia. Lucan did not accompany these forces. He dispatched Damon and five squads of Night Sentinels to command this force. If he was needed, Lucan could rush over at any time. He himself remained on Agathos to carry out his plan of cloning soldiers using the bio-cloning device.

At this moment, in the Eye of Terror, a massive fleet of Chaos warships was gathered. The Blackstone Fortresses and the great warship known as the Planet Killer were at the very center of this fleet. Chaos warbands and traitors who worshipped different dark gods were gathered under the banner of Abaddon, forming the massive force known as the Black Legion.

At this moment, Abaddon was on his flagship, the Vengeful Spirit. A group of veterans who had fought for ten thousand years, clad in Terminator armor, stood guard by his side.

"Abaddon, let's make a deal," a voice whispered. "Use your power to capture the human named Lucan Drex Aurelian, and my followers and I will provide your Legion with all kinds of weapons and equipment, without asking for anything in return. They can even obey your commands and fight directly for you!"

A piece of parchment made of human skin was handed to Abaddon.

"Vashtorr," Abaddon growled, "is an ordinary mortal worth such a high price from you?"

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