Outside Rostov City, at the Astra Militarum Rostov Corps' garrison, the sun's rays illuminated the spacious parade ground of the military camp, enveloping the neatly arrayed soldiers and casting their shadows on the ground.
Three regiments had completed their training and stood fully equipped on the parade ground, awaiting Alex's inspection.
On the grandstand, Alex was dressed in his Inquisition overcoat, flanked by various influential figures from Rostov, and even two newly arrived Astra Militarum officers.
The atmosphere was solemn and dignified, yet also somewhat festive.
Alex's gaze swept over the young soldiers below, their faces still bearing traces of youth.
However, after being trained by the Commissar, their eyes revealed determination and anticipation, as if they were eager to deploy to the battlefield and prove their loyalty to the God-Emperor with the blood of the Empire's enemies.
They were originally the former Astra Militarum veterans of Rostov, trained as a Defense Force according to Astra Militarum standards, lacking neither discipline nor combat skills.
What they had lacked before were Astra Militarum-level equipment and a qualified Commissar.
Now, both of these had been provided by Alex.
Moreover, the previous battles against the Necrons and Chaos Warbands had allowed them to accumulate considerable combat experience.
The current Rostov Corps was like a sharpened military blade, having been tempered and honed, now ready to unleash its brilliance.
They were already a strong army, and the presence of elite units like the Rostov Alien Hunters within them had piqued the Department of Military Affairs' interest.
After all, xenomorphs like the Necrons had begun appearing widely across various Imperial Worlds, and the Empire urgently needed specialized units capable of combating them.
The emergence of the Rostov Alien Hunters, while not a complete solution to the immediate crisis, at least helped to fill a gap for the Empire.
As long as Rostov could continuously produce Alien Hunter units, they would eventually become renowned units, similar to the Armageddon Ork Hunters or the Attilan Rough Riders.
However, for now, they were merely a unit that had just officially become part of the Astra Militarum, awaiting Alex to present them with their glorious regimental flag.
Once they received this flag, they would board the Department of Military Affairs transport ships already waiting in orbit and travel to Imperial Worlds embroiled in war across the galaxy, forging their glory and merits with the blood of the Empire's enemies.
"Governor, the Rostov First Regiment, Second Regiment, and Third Regiment have assembled! Twenty-one thousand present out of twenty-one thousand expected! Awaiting your orders!" An officer approached Alex, stood at attention, gave him an Aquila salute, and reported loudly.
Standing on the high platform, Alex felt a strange sense of accomplishment well up within him.
For men, who doesn't enjoy a military parade? When one sees soldiers loyal to him standing in neat formation, high in morale, seemingly capable of crushing all enemies, who wouldn't feel satisfied and triumphant?
Perhaps only Roboute Guilliman could remain calm while wearing the Crown of Glory and facing the vanity of establishing the greatest achievements in human history, humbly removing that cursed laurel wreath, and maintaining humility for the rest of his life.
That was the glory that would make the Empire prosper again, an achievement even greater than all the Emperor's accomplishments!
Thinking of this, Alex couldn't help but sigh, Guilliman was indeed Guilliman; only he could save the Empire anew in this age of darkness and strife.
As for Alex? He didn't think he could compare to Guilliman; the gap between them was simply too vast.
Whether in terms of prestige, charisma, or administrative ability, Alex didn't believe that he, an ordinary person from the 3k era, could be compared to the great masterpiece of the Emperor's genetic engineering and bio-alchemy.
However, there was no need to dwell on such thoughts at the moment. Alex accepted the regimental flag, personally sewn by the Battle Sisters, from a Battle Sister and presented it to the Commissar who was saluting him.
This was the official Chief Commissar assigned to the Rostov Corps by the Department of Military Affairs, a decorated Commissar who had once served in the Krieg Death Korps.
Alex had met him when he first arrived in Rostov; at that time, the Commissar's face bore an indescribable weariness and the relief of finally being free.
But now, he gave Alex the impression of an old tree blooming, experiencing a second spring, looking completely rejuvenated.
Alex knew perfectly well why this Commissar was like this, but such words were obviously not suitable for public discourse.
So, after presenting the regimental flag to the Commissar, Alex merely patted his shoulder and offered a few words of encouragement.
The Commissar, having received the flag, then looked passionately at the soldiers below, who were now officially Astra Militarum, and delivered an inspiring speech.
Listening to the Commissar's speech, Alex couldn't help but marvel; Imperial Commissars were indeed skilled at this job. Even he felt a surge of passion after hearing the speech, wanting to go to the battlefield and serve the Emperor faithfully.
However, this was merely an impulse. Alex quickly controlled his emotions and, after the Commissar's speech, announced the army's deployment.
Watching the soldiers of the three regiments embark on the path to the Starport, Alex then turned to face the two newly arrived Astra Militarum officers standing beside him, who promptly stood at attention and saluted Alex.
They were the Regimental Colonels of an Armageddon Steel Legion mechanized infantry regiment and a Tallarn Desert Raiders armored regiment, as promised by the Department of Military Affairs.
While a conventional Planetary Governor held a higher rank than two Astra Militarum Regimental Colonels, it did not mean that a Planetary Governor could command these two Regimental Colonels.
Ordinary officers in the Astra Militarum were already equivalent to nobles on a planet, and it would not be difficult for a Regimental Colonel to become a Planetary Governor if he wished.
However, with the title of Lord Inquisitor added, Alex's status was quite intimidating to these two Regimental Colonels.
These two regiments arrived on the Department of Military Affairs' transport ships together; after dropping them off, the transport ships would pick up Rostov's three regiments and proceed to the next mission location.
Their vacated military camps would then be occupied by these two regiments.
"Gentlemen, after the three regiments depart, you may move into the military camps here. I hope we can cooperate sincerely and work together for the Emperor and the Empire." Alex greeted them warmly, and at the same time, an already arranged attendant approached with three glasses and a bottle of red wine.
Alex personally opened the bottle, poured a glass of red wine for each of them, and after handing them the glasses, he picked up his own glass and smiled, "To the prosperity of the great Empire!"
"For the Emperor!" The two Astra Militarum Regimental Colonels naturally would not refuse a toast from a Planetary Governor and Lord Inquisitor in such a setting, and each raised their glass and drank it in one gulp.
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