Reinhard returned to the front line with the brand-new Lasgun in hand; even the pervasive green toxic fog could not conceal the faint glow of the weapon, a creation of the Omnissiah.
Valker Virilesse immediately greeted him, the sound of his Power Armour heavy in the mud.
"Welcome back, Brother Reinhard."
Reinhard glanced at the Helldiver soldiers scattered across the position, sitting or standing in boredom, and asked, "I trust no incidents occurred while I was away?"
"You were gone for less than two Terra standard hours. What kind of incidents could there be?" Valker said dismissively.
"If anything, the most surprising thing is that you returned in just two hours! Are your Chapter's Techmarines that efficient?"
"No, not entirely because of our Techmarine," Reinhard's expression beneath his helmet turned slightly odd. "It was the Tech-Priests in that workshop.
After hearing the story of the Guardsman, they very eagerly said they happened to have the relevant components.
Then, they produced an entire set of parts from some pocket, and our Chapter's Techmarine brother merely performed a quick assembly."
"Tech-Priests?" A hint of surprise was audible in Valker's voice.
"Those cog-heads... are they truly moved by the honour of a mortal warrior?"
Just then, a burst of enthusiastic applause and cheers suddenly erupted from the other end of the position.
Both men looked over and saw that, within the mist-shrouded trench, one of the Helldiver soldiers had begun an impromptu song and dance performance.
His exaggerated and comical actions caused the surrounding Helldiver soldiers to burst into laughter, creating a cheerful atmosphere.
"The optimism of the Helldivers sometimes reminds me of the Orks," Valker remarked gravely, watching the scene.
"At least, putting myself in their place, if I were mortal, I would never sing and dance in a position filled with lethal gas."
"It is a good thing, is it not?" Reinhard replied. "Before I came, I even spent some time thinking about what methods from the Codex Astartes I should use to inspire or punish them if their morale collapsed.
But now it seems I worried needlessly. Their resilience exceeds our imagination."
"Which one is Commander Reinhard?" a boisterous voice called from nearby. Through the toxic fog, they could see another squad of Helldiver soldiers approaching them.
"Your new squad is here," Valker said.
"I am Reinhard," Reinhard responded to the new squad. At the same time, his face beneath the helmet wrinkled in a slight frown.
That voice... why was it so similar?
"Greetings, Commander!" The soldier leading the group strode forward and performed a reasonably standard Aquila Salute. The other soldiers behind him followed suit, raising their hands listlessly.
Even their undisciplined style was exactly—no, precisely—the same as the previous squad!
Reinhard fixed his gaze on the leading soldier and asked, "Is your squad designation the same as the one that was previously killed?"
Pyro paused, unsure why the Space Marine was asking this, but he answered honestly: "If the Commander means the Team Fortress squad, then yes, that's us."
Only the Emperor knew how the system's translation handled the players' chaotic squad names, but judging by Reinhard's lack of a strong reaction, the name sounded perfectly normal to him.
Reinhard pressed for details: "Why? Normally, wouldn't it be more convenient to transfer a new, fully manned squad to reinforce the line? Why reconstruct on the front line?"
"Uh, actually, we Helldivers have a slightly different attitude toward designations than the general Astra Militarum," Pyro scratched his helmet, attempting to explain.
"The designations of the Helldivers generally fall into two categories: one is the standing force assembled before the war, which usually has fixed personnel and equipment and continues to exist after the war; the other is the one temporarily formed when fighting is imminent.
This type is unstable and mostly disbands once the war ends."
"What kind of damned army organization is this?" Not only Reinhard, but Valker also found it incredible and couldn't help but interrupt.
"If a unit like the latter wins great glory in the war, is it still disbanded?"
"It depends on the personal willingness of the specific members of that unit," Pyro explained.
"If everyone feels it was great fighting together, they might add each other as friends and continue to fight together later, essentially converting into the first type. But in most cases, everyone goes their separate ways."
"Then are you the first type?" Valker asked.
"No, we're the second type," Pyro answered frankly. "The fighting hasn't finished yet, so we haven't been disbanded."
Reinhard: "...Never mind."
He gave up trying to understand the completely different logical processes of the Helldiver.
"Take this." He tossed the Lasgun to Pyro, who fumbled to catch it. "This is the embodiment of your previous squad leader's honour."
A data panel unfolded before Pyro's eyes.
[Sollex Pattern-IX 'Deathlight' Lasgun]
[Type: Weapon]
[Quality: Fine]
[Attack Power: Extremely High]
[Special Effect: Selfless Strike (You can exchange all the energy in the magazine for a powerful attack far exceeding the conventional output)]
[Remark: A weapon born to commemorate a brave and decisive mortal. Had it not been for his sacrifice, the Angel of the Emperor would not have so easily secured victory... It is only a pity that the mortal did not speak his name to the Angel before he died.]
"Holy sh*t?" Pyro was instantly stunned the moment he saw the weapon's stats and special effect. "Is this... for me?"
"Of course. Use it well," Reinhard instructed, his tone serious.
"A weapon is meant to be used. To treat it as a collectible in a museum, shelving it away, would be an insult to the honour behind it!"
Pyro joyfully slung the heavy Lasgun onto his back, feeling its unique weight. He looked at Reinhard, hesitated for a moment, and finally mustered the courage to speak. "Um... Commander, my name is Pyro."
Reinhard's colossal body paused slightly, then he waved his hand.
"Good, I know. Go and perform your duty, Guardsman."
"Yes, Commander!" Pyro straightened his chest and responded loudly.