This was Rhodes' trump card. His ships could fully activate their shields to temporarily envelop all human vessels: one for the Macragge's Honour, another for the Mechanicum's Ark.
The rest of the escorts would stick close under the space fortress, allowing Rhodes to pull all of them into system space and then release them at Terra.
This move was only for emergencies—if bringing the fleet could change the outcome, he'd do it. If not, it would just be sending people to die, and it would be easier for Rhodes alone to escape.
This trip to Terra was extremely dangerous, so Rhodes hadn't told Guilliman or the others. Against the Four Chaos Gods, even Primaris Space Marines couldn't help much.
Better to let them stay somewhere safe. If Rhodes could win, he'd call them back. If not, he'd keep his options open.
"Rhodes! You mean you can bring our fleet over anytime? Then why didn't you do it before?" Guilliman asked, speechless.
Counting Rhodes's super Space Marines and his gene-sons, they could muster about a million troops—all newly improved Primaris Space Marines, an unprecedented force. If they entered the fray, Guilliman didn't dare imagine the result.
The Imperium's army would have absolute superiority.
"We already have a big advantage, and using this move is tricky. I have to be present, and it costs me a lot of energy.
Everything has a price, Guilliman. Did you think summoning two space fortresses to Terra would come for free?" Rhodes said, planning to exaggerate the cost so Guilliman wouldn't pester him for this trick in the future.
In fact, it was just a basic system function, costing Rhodes nothing.
"Indeed. Summoning millions of people, two fortresses, several escorts, a Mechanicum Ark, and the Honour battleship from thousands of light-years away must have a huge price," Magnus commented.
Powerful psykers had their trump cards; they could teleport, but only within a light-year or so—and only at their level. Rhodes's move would supposedly drain his strength, possibly even his soul.
"If the cost is too high, let them fly normally, a few months won't matter much. I just need a month's rest, then I can relight the Astronomican and guide them. They could reach Terra in two months," the Emperor's soul said to Rhodes.
He believed that, if desperate, Rhodes would summon the army—even at a high cost.
But Guilliman eyed Rhodes suspiciously. If it were anyone else, he'd believe the price was his life or soul, but Rhodes was always up to something!
"It's not that bad. At most, I'll just be weak for a month, unable to fight at full strength—no loss of soul or life.
And if we summon them early, we can upgrade the Golden Throne and relight the Astronomican sooner, better managing the empire and saving humanity," Rhodes said.
Was it really that big a cost? Why were they thinking about losing life or soul?
"..."
That's your so-called huge price?
Magnus's jaw dropped. Summoning a fleet from across thousands of light-years would only make you weak for a month. He thought Rhodes would at least be comatose for years. He called that a high price?
Only Guilliman looked satisfied—he'd expected as much.
"Summon the fleet, Rhodes. Once they're here, we can quickly clear Chaos from the Solar System. Besides Terra, many places are still under attack," Guilliman said.
With Rhodes' titan monsters helping, the daemons on Terra were nearly wiped out. But Mars, Venus, Mercury, and other moons were still infested.
Rhodes nodded, transformed into a giant form, and flew to outer space.
In system space, he contacted his fleet. The two space fortresses switched to autopilot, shields fully deployed, enveloping the entire fleet. The crews barely realized what was happening before a flash of light transported them to familiar starfields—blue Terra below.
Rhodes' signal came through their comms. The Mechanicum Archmagos Belisarius Cawl, and Elena, were both stunned.
They'd been traveling at FTL, trying to understand the tech, when suddenly they were at Terra. Their Ark could now contact Mars HQ—Terra and Mars are less than an astronomical unit apart.
Still, it was odd, almost unnatural.
"Check all ship parameters, confirm we're really at Terra and not in a Chaos illusion. All ships on alert, battle stations!" ordered Belisarius Cawl.
"Understood, sending an alert to all escort ships," replied the tech-priest.
"Don't worry, Cawl, it's me. I used a special method to summon you to Terra," Rhodes's voice sounded in Cawl's mind.
"Lord Rhodes! What happened? How did this—"
…
On board the Macragge's Honour, Guilliman also reassured his gene-sons. Their sudden teleportation left everyone stunned.
After Rhodes and Guilliman's explanations, everyone understood: Rhodes had teleported them to Terra.
"Lord Rhodes, you truly astonish me. You mastered hyperspace teleportation? Why not bring us all at once before?" Cawl asked.
"I wanted to, but I have to be at Terra, and it's dangerous for me. Now, I've lost most of my fighting strength. The rest is up to you," Rhodes replied.
Hearing this, Grey Knights Grand Master Draigo and Mephiston nodded. Such psychic feats consumed immense energy.
"Great Gene-Father, please rest. We'll handle the fighting," said Avarich.
"I, the Emperor, Guilliman, and Magnus have closed the Terra warp rift. The Chaos forces in the Solar System are scattered. My gene-sons, deploy and wipe them out!" Rhodes ordered.
The gene-sons stood at attention, saluted, and rushed to the landing pods, launching from the space carriers. Their first target: liberate the Mechanicum on Mars.
With Mars freed, humanity would gain supplies and ships, better resisting Chaos.
On the Macragge's Honour, endless landing craft launched, supporting other planets.
Rhodes's legion commanders, new captains, and chapter masters relayed orders.
With nearly a million Space Marines entering the fight, victory shifted decisively to humanity.
These superhuman warriors, even stronger and faster than Primaris Marines, now debuted in the Imperium.
Rhodes, supported by Elena, returned to his quarters.
"Rhodes, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, just tired. I won't be able to join the next battle," Rhodes said.
If he were to go out and crush Chaos now, Guilliman would flip out!
"Rest well, Rhodes. With these reinforcements, the Solar System will be cleaned up soon," Magnus said, teleporting aboard.
"Magnus, Guilliman, I'll leave it to you. I can only send some troops and monsters as support," Rhodes nodded.
Once assured Rhodes was fine, Guilliman and Magnus departed.
Rhodes didn't bother with the Solar System's battle—his monster army and gene-sons would keep sending him system currency.
…
In just three days, Rhodes's gene-sons liberated Mars, then Venus and Mercury, then Jupiter's moons, then Mars's orbit, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and the Kuiper Belt. In three days, all Chaos daemons and Chaos marines were wiped out.
With all daemons on Terra gone, the Custodes entered the palace.
Trajann Valoris paid homage to the Emperor, and through his avatar, could now speak directly to him.
"Praise you, Emperor! I can finally speak with you. Your most loyal guardians have waited too long for your command," Trajann knelt before the colossal avatar and the figure on the Golden Throne.
The avatar stood before the Throne, voice resonating with the Emperor's power, soul linked to the Golden Throne.
Trajann had no more doubts—the avatar was the Emperor's will.
"Rise, my loyal warriors! I do not blame you for what happened. Now report Terra's losses—I want to know the state of our homeworld," the Emperor's voice came through the avatar.
"Great Emperor, let me report. Other than two hundred million people hiding in the palace, all other residents are dead or wounded. Nearly all nobles have been killed by Lord Rhodes," Trajann said.