Three days later, a military conference, far exceeding the scale of previous ones, was convened in the main strategic hall of the battle barge, the Pride of Macragge.
The enormous circular conference table was fully occupied.
Chapter Masters of the Ultramarines and their numerous successor chapters, high-ranking admirals of the Imperial Navy Fleet, commanders of the Ultramar Auxilia, representatives of the Mechanicum, observers from the Inquisition, Ecclesiarchy chaplains attached to the army, and officials from various sectors of the Departmento Munitorum, virtually every prominent figure in the expeditionary fleet, were gathered here.
Major decisions are made in small meetings, and small meetings set the tone; large meetings are for formality, announcing the decisions made in the small meetings. This protocol holds true, regardless of the universe.
The beginning of the conference was normal.
Everyone spoke in turn, discussing the allocation of logistics supplies, the preliminary plan for the Purification Campaign, and the status assessment of the various fronts.
All reports indicated that the Coalition of Human Forces was well-equipped, morale was high, and they were ready for an all-out counter-attack on the surface of Plantidium. The atmosphere was rigorous and efficient, imbued with the solemnity preceding a great war.
Until it was Robert's turn to speak.
He stepped up to the speaker's podium, his gaze calmly sweeping across the room. The moment he opened his mouth, he dropped a bombshell.
"All the proposals put forward by the gentlemen and commanders present are excellent, and they profoundly illustrate that every person here is striving wholeheartedly for the ultimate victory in this war. Therefore, I, too, would like to put forward a suggestion."
He paused briefly, allowing everyone's attention to settle on him.
"We should fully utilize the power we currently possess, rather than letting these valuable forces fight in isolation due to a lack of coordination. This is undoubtedly a severe waste of the Imperium's resources.
I propose that we establish a unified command and communication system between the currently isolated Astartes Chapters, and indeed, between the Astartes and the Mortal Forces, allowing them to link up tightly and fight as one!"
Many who heard this proposal were momentarily bewildered, but then they realized the terrifying implications concealed within those words.
The previously somewhat noisy conference hall instantly fell silent.
The sound of data-slates being flipped, the scratch of pens recording notes, and even the minor rustle of clothing against skin disappeared in that moment.
The air seemed to solidify.
This suffocating silence lasted for a good while, and then it was shattered by a shrill cry.
"I object!"
Robert followed the voice. The speaker was a Departmento Munitorum official in a luxurious uniform, his corpulent face etched with panic and fury. It was not unexpected.
"This proposal is utterly preposterous!" the official ranted loudly, spitting flecks of saliva.
"The maintenance of Astartes in Chapter-sized units of a thousand marines is a glorious tradition established by the Primarchs themselves after the Great Crusade! This tradition has endured for ten thousand years and must not be broken!
Countless case studies have proven that Chapter-sized Astartes forces can strike the enemy more flexibly and efficiently! As for Astartes cooperating with mortal Forces, that is even more absurd! Their combat styles are fundamentally different.
Forcing cooperation would be like trying to walk with one long leg and one short leg, they wouldn't walk faster, they would only slow down, or even trip and fall immediately!"
The official had expected his impassioned outcry to garner the support of the majority present. But to his surprise, after running dry of spittle, not a single person stood up to second him, not even a faint murmur of agreement.
The entire hall descended into an eerie silence.
Where were the Astartes?
The dozens of Chapter Masters, led by Calgar, sat like silent, unmoving statues, their faces expressionless. Naturally, they could not publicly endorse Robert's proposal in such a public setting; that would undoubtedly cross a political red line. However, their silence, their non-objection, spoke volumes.
And the Navy?
Many of the battle-hardened Fleet Commanders had closed their eyes, as if dozing. As the foundation of the Imperium's existence, no one would be foolish enough to casually attack them. In sensitive political disputes like this, the wisest course of action was to remain neutral, waiting for the victorious party to offer enticements rather than proactively wading into the murky waters.
And the Astra Militarum?
Robert was the leader of the Helldivers, and their officers and commissars naturally treated the official's speech with scorn and cold laughter. But why hadn't the other Astra Militarum commanders expressed an opinion?
The official suddenly noticed that the shoulder pads of those commanders were stamped with the Ultramarines' U-shaped emblem. Oh, right, they were the Ultramar Auxilia. If their master, the Ultramarines, didn't speak up, how could they dare to do so on their own?
That left only the Mechanicum, the Inquisition, and the Ecclesiarchy. The official desperately cast a pleading gaze towards the representatives of these powers: Magos Wick, Inquisitor Kryptman, and Iso Guni.
Well, these three, as if by prior arrangement, also remained silent.
The official's heart sank. He looked back at Robert at the podium.
The leader of the Helldivers was watching him with a half-smile. A terrible thought flashed in his mind, the other party had likely already communicated with everyone here!
Robert spoke unhurriedly, his voice echoing clearly in the silent hall: "However, the enemy we face today is also one that has never been encountered in the past ten thousand years.
Facing a new threat, is it not necessary for us to seek new methods of warfare?
And truly, if we speak of 'tradition,' is not the practice of uniting all forces to fight under the banner the same host... the most 'traditional' of all?"
"As for your assertion that Astartes and mortal forces cannot coordinate, that is even more laughable," Robert's tone carried a hint of mockery.
"In the Naval Fleet, must battleships, cruisers, and frigates be separated into different formations to operate effectively just because of performance differences?
In the Astra Militarum's armored units, must there only be tanks, and in the artillery units, only artillery? With all due respect, sir, have you... ever fought in a war?"
"Pffft—"
Many Naval admirals could no longer hold back, lowering their heads or covering their mouths to conceal their amusement. Among the Astra Militarum, the Helldiver officers immediately began to applaud and cheer: "Well said! That's right!"
"Enough!" The official's face flushed a deep crimson.
He had assumed that this proposal, which clearly aimed at expanding the power of the Astartes, would be unanimously opposed by all non-Astartes factions.
Therefore, no matter how ridiculous his reasons were, it wouldn't matter, as their self-interest would surely lead them to support him, an Imperial bureaucrat.
He hadn't expected anyone to take his bait!
In desperation, he blurted out the most fatal sentence: "We all know the real reason! Who can guarantee that once the Astartes Chapters unite, they will only point their guns at the xenos?! At least maintaining the Chapter size allows for some control…"
"Am I to understand that you are accusing every Astartes present of the potential for rebellion?" Robert cut him off immediately, his voice suddenly turning cold.
"Sir, that is a very, very serious accusation. They have traveled across the galaxy, prepared to spill their last drop of blood for humanity, fighting the xenos with a heart fully dedicated to the Emperor. If you utter such words without any basis, it can be deeply hurtful."
No sooner had he finished speaking than the dozens of previously statue-like Astartes Chapter Masters finally reacted. They said nothing, but their gazes, sharp and simultaneous, focused entirely on the standing official.
Every Astartes involved in this conference was a hardened veteran who had carved his way out of mountains of corpses. Their eyes held the weight of death, steel, and warfare, far more than a pampered official could bear.
Under this tangible, suffocating pressure, the official opened his mouth, seemingly intending to say something, but ultimately failed to utter a single word. His eyes rolled back, and he simply collapsed, fainting straight to the floor with a heavy thud.
Seeing this dramatic scene, Robert was momentarily stunned, then quickly recovered, thinking to himself: This gentleman is quite clever; he knew there would be no good outcome if he stayed.
After he's carried out and wakes up, he'll probably suddenly "contract" some severe madness or simply remain in a "coma" for three or four years…
Once the unfortunate official had been carried out by the guards, Robert surveyed the floor once more and asked with a slight smile, "In that case, does anyone else oppose this reasonable proposal?"
This time, no one spoke up. The proposal was passed smoothly.