Old John was a devout follower of the Ecclesiarchy, and he was 30 years old this year.
According to the understanding of the 3k era, this should still be an age that could be called young.
But in the Imperium, if you weren't a Mid-Hive or even an Upper Nest noble, then most ordinary Lower Hive dwellers could only live to about forty years old.
They usually had a childhood where they had to help their families work from a few years old, relying on scavenging and similar jobs to supplement the household income.
Then, in their teens, they would marry someone of the opposite sex from a similar background and quickly have children.
Usually more than one, the Imperium's population is very prolific and reproduces quickly.
But usually, the parents had to suffer; feeding a large family was not an easy task for the Imperium.
So, they usually were exhausted around forty and died for various reasons.
And their children would repeat this process.
Unless one of them could pass the Adeptus Mechanicus's genetic testing, or was lucky enough to become a part of the Ecclesiarchy or Sisters of Battle.
Although it sounded ethereal, for the ordinary citizens of the Imperium, this was indeed a way to change their destiny.
The Adeptus Mechanicus conducts a large-scale genetic screening every few years in relevant areas, for the purpose of detecting apprentices who meet the Adeptus Mechanicus's requirements.
Children who pass the genetic screening are gathered by these Tech-Priests for education, and although it is not free, as long as they are willing to learn and can pass the graduation exam, they can usually become a qualified Tech-Priest.
The vast number of grassroots Tech-Priests in the Imperium came from this.
Although most of them serve in grassroots Mechanicus Temples or related departments like the Astra Militarum, and are vastly different from Tech-Priests who truly focus on academics, it must be admitted that this change in their lives is almost a class leap.
The entry threshold for the Ecclesiarchy is relatively lower (or possibly higher); as long as you devoutly believe in the Emperor and have a sufficiently firm will, you have a chance to become a member of the Ecclesiarchy.
Of course, if these thresholds are too high, you can also choose to join the Astra Militarum, which is almost the lowest threshold for changing yourself, provided there is a Department of Military Affairs recruitment office on your planet.
However, for Old John, none of these options worked out for him.
When he was young, he encountered an Astra Militarum recruitment drive, and the recruiting officer once shouted through a loudspeaker to the crowd: "Men who carry a gun for the Emperor, your family's rations will be doubled!"
Old John looked down at his calloused hands, but was pulled by the hem of his clothes by his crying younger siblings behind him: "Big brother, we're hungry."
He ultimately didn't push his way into the registration queue.
Although the Ecclesiarchy opened its doors to everyone, it was only that—opening its doors. To become a member of the Ecclesiarchy, you still had to put in effort, and Old John, burdened by his family, clearly did not have that ability.
He once knelt at the entrance of an Ecclesiarchy church, pleading with a Priest: "Sir, I can work sixteen hours a day and then come to pray."
The Priest merely pressed the holy book to his forehead: "Child, serving the God-Emperor requires a complete soul, not a broken shell."
As for the Adeptus Mechanicus… well, the poor are not worthy of becoming noble Tech-Priests.
When the Adeptus Mechanicus's detector scanned Old John's eldest son, the red-robed Priest's mechanical arm suddenly emitted a piercing buzz: "Gene sequence not up to standard."
Old John held his child and asked again: "Sir, is this test…"
The red light in the Priest's eye sockets flickered twice: "Lower Hive scum, don't waste the holy oil."
So, Old John, over thirty, was just a hardworking Hive City laborer, living in the Lower Hive, working hard to support his large family.
Originally, he thought he would rot in the Hive City his whole life, just like his ancestors, burning out his life for the Imperium.
But the Ecclesiarchy gave him a chance, and it gave his whole family a chance.
The Imperium needed to expand its territory, and the Ecclesiarchy was organizing devout followers to migrate and settle on those newly opened Imperial Worlds.
Although those worlds had nothing—no warm, sturdy Hive Cities, no corpse starch to fill their stomachs, and no purified water to drink…
But there was a bright future there.
Old John knew this was a difficult decision.
Leaving the familiar Lower Hive for an unknown new world meant they would face countless challenges and difficulties.
However, he also understood that this was their family's only chance to break free from the cycle of poverty and despair and create a better future for their children.
So, he mustered his courage and, with his whole family, signed up for the Ecclesiarchy's migration program.
In the days leading up to their departure, Old John's family busied themselves with preparations.
They packed their few belongings, said goodbye to neighbors and friends, their hearts filled with both anticipation and unease for the future.
Old John's wife, Maria, though worried about the hardships ahead, trusted her husband's decision and believed in the Emperor's protection.
Their children, on the other hand, were full of curiosity and excitement for the upcoming adventure, even though they couldn't fully comprehend the meaning of this migration yet.
Finally, the day of departure arrived.
Old John's family, along with other migrants, boarded the Ecclesiarchy's transport ship.
The ship's hold was crowded with families like theirs, all carrying hope, their faces filled with longing for the future.
Old John knew they were about to embark on a journey full of unknowns, but he also firmly believed, or tried to make himself believe, that as long as they stood united and devoutly believed in the Emperor, they would surely find their happiness in the new world.
During the long interstellar journey, Old John's family endured countless trials.
They learned how to live in the cramped ship's hold and how to support each other with limited resources.
Whenever they encountered difficulties, Old John would lead his whole family in prayer, seeking the Emperor's guidance and protection.
Their faith grew stronger during the journey, making them braver in the face of the unknown.
Finally, after several months of wandering, they arrived at their new home.
A new planet named Zaporozhye, the newest mining planet opened in the Rostov Sub-Sector.
Here, the Adeptus Mechanicus had already established basic mining facilities and refineries, and these factories were short of workers.
As Old John's family stepped out of the spaceship, they were met by a biting cold wind and a grey sky, the air filled with the smell of metal and machine oil.
Giant mining machines like giants were tearing open the earth, and broken ore was continuously transported to the distant refinery via conveyor belts and vehicles.
All of this was shocking Old John and his family; these were sights they could never have seen in a Hive City.
But for some reason, Old John didn't feel afraid. He just clutched the holy effigy of the Emperor hanging on his chest and devoutly prayed to His Divine Majesty, asking him to grant his family a life where they could fill their stomachs.
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