After Qin Mo vanquished the demon within the fortress, the attacking forces swiftly eradicated all remaining enemies. The two Knights played an instrumental role in this victory; without them, clearing out the fortress would have taken considerably longer. Once the battle concluded, the Knights were teleported to the orbital dock for maintenance, their attendants following closely behind to tend to their war machines.
The two Knights' pilots, holding their helmets under their arms, strode confidently through the docking bay and, guided by drones, soon appeared before Qin Mo.
"Salutations, Governor," they both knelt on one knee, paying their respects.
"Sit down, let's talk," Qin Mo gestured for them to rise.
The pilots immediately stood, took their seats, and began their conversation with Qin Mo.
"Who is the Governor of Talon II?" Qin Mo asked. "I'm merely the governor of the neighboring hive world; I certainly don't govern all of Talon II. You needn't address me as Governor."
"But soon, you will," Donna replied. "This planet will be under your dominion, and we pledge our loyalty in advance."
After Donna spoke, the middle-aged man beside her subtly signaled her to restrain herself, then added, "The Governor of this world was killed by Arkhan... My daughter is right, you will soon win the war and become the rightful ruler of this world."
Qin Mo understood the Knights well. They were much like the knights of ancient Terra, bound by notions of honor, though their armor was not of steel, but towering war machines. The father and daughter duo's attitude was pleasing, yet Qin Mo suspected they weren't genuinely convinced of his nobility or worthiness of their loyalty. Rather, they were simply wise enough to recognize the shifting tides of power.
These two were part of the Resistance, but they could not represent their entire House. If their family wished to survive and secure favor with the new governor, they had to display their loyalty now.
"In the hive world, I encountered another Knight, one fully equipped with long-range weaponry..." Qin Mo brought up a previous encounter.
"Howler of Rain and Eiran," Donna interjected quickly, speaking before her father could. "A disgrace to the Lannis family, much like the other traitors we've slain. They do not represent the true House."
"Other traitors? What do you mean?" Qin Mo asked, intrigued.
Donna then began to recount the events that had unfolded on the planet.
The cult of the Lord of Wisdom had long taken root on Talon II, growing in strength and seizing control of the planet. They had sealed off all communication with the outside galaxy. Opposing them were the Loyalists—nobles, commoners, clergy—who refused to bow to the cult.
Just as the schism between the Lord of Wisdom's followers and the Loyalists had torn the world apart, so too had the Lannis Knight House been fractured. Eiran, who piloted the Howler of Rain, had sided with the cult. Two other Knights within the House had refused to join the cult but instead collaborated with the Governor. Then there were Donna and her father, steadfast Loyalists.
Before the fleet from the hive world arrived in orbit, the Loyalist Resistance had been fighting a long, grueling war in the sewers. During that time, Donna and her father had killed the other two Knights of their House, whom they now referred to as traitors.
After explaining the situation, Donna posed a direct question to Qin Mo: "Governor, who do you believe is the rightful heir of House Lannis?"
"What?" Qin Mo was caught off guard. "Of course, it's you. Why is this even a question?"
Donna, sensing Qin Mo's unfamiliarity with certain aristocratic customs, began explaining.
She laid out the laws and traditions governing Knightly Houses, the distinction between the main family and cadet branches, and the complex rules of succession. It was a structure reminiscent of medieval feudalism, complete with ranks like baron and earl. Both Donna and her father held the title of Knight.
"In summary, it's a matter worth debating, as it concerns honor and inheritance. Do we have the right to claim the family's assets and retainers? Can we continue to bear the House's crest?" Donna spoke solemnly. "Though I hesitate to admit it, the majority of our House are traitors, and they technically represent the whole. Yet we fight for the Resistance. We are Loyalists. The legal rights of our family should pass to us."
Qin Mo felt a headache coming on. He wasn't born into nobility, nor did he come from a Knightly lineage. How was he supposed to navigate this labyrinth of archaic laws and traditions? It was more complicated than unraveling dimensional engines.
"You might think this is trivial, but to us, it's of utmost importance—"
"Enough."
Qin Mo raised his hand, cutting Donna off, and assured the father and daughter, "If you need my recognition, I will draft the necessary documents and write a personal endorsement. I'll even enlist someone from the Ecclesiarchy or the Mechanicum to officially sanction it. Will that suffice?"
"Absolutely, haha," Donna smiled, satisfied, nudging her father with her elbow.
Her father, though slightly awkward, managed a polite smile and nodded as well.
In their eyes, the most critical matter had been resolved. They believed Qin Mo's promise held great weight, knowing that he would soon be formally recognized by the Imperium as the rightful Governor. After all, he had already secured two planets, a feat that demanded respect.
The next step, of course, was to continue fighting, to earn more glory and honor.
"We are ready to fight again," Donna stood and declared to Qin Mo. "Send us to the most dangerous, most glorious battlefield."
Qin Mo neither accepted nor rejected her request. Instead, he walked over to the holo-display, adjusting the projection to show Talon III.
When Donna saw the image of Talon III, her excitement surged. She believed this meant they would soon launch the assault on the planet, and the first wave of landings was always the most dangerous—and the most honorable.
"Talon III," Qin Mo pointed to the hologram. "A doomed world. If you knew what was happening down there, you might just vomit."
Donna listened intently, thinking his next words would be an invitation to join the assault on Talon III.
"Conquering your world is only a matter of time, but I'm not inclined to wait."
"I've decided to mobilize twenty regiments, along with the two of you, to deploy on the planet's surface. Your mission is to cover the construction of a certain facility."
At this, the hologram shifted again, displaying a towering structure.
"What is this?" Donna asked.
"You'll see the results once it's built," Qin Mo replied. "Your task is to protect two of these facilities. One will be erected at the north pole, the other at the south."
Without probing further, Donna saluted and accepted her orders: "For the Emperor and for honor! We will give our lives if necessary to complete this mission."
"Good," Qin Mo nodded approvingly.