After two Terran weeks of travel, the Shadow's Sovereignty and the Eleventh Chapter's fleet arrived at the Kalium Gate.
As the ships returned to reality, Nareth heard footsteps, setting down his data slate.
Since the War Council, his spare time was spent deciding the Sicaran battle tank's secondary weapon systems.
Ultimately, as in his memory, he chose laser cannons for sponsons to swiftly eliminate enemy infantry.
Arsena entered the office, seeing over a hundred data-slates neatly stacked on the desk.
"My Lord, the astropath has received an astropathic communication from the 125th Fleet. Lord Perturabo has assembled sixty-five thousand warriors and charted the shortest course."
"They will arrive at the Kalium Gate in three Terran months, then proceed to the Xana-Vicidex system."
"He has formulated operational plans, already transmitted to your data slate."
Nareth wasn't surprised by the Iron Warriors' movement speed. Without the teleportarium and Kalium Gate travel system, reaching the Xana-Vicidex system was a lengthy journey.
In his memory, the Fifth and Nineteenth Legions held out for eight months before Dark Angels and Death Guard reinforcements arrived.
As the Nareth contemplated, he rapidly reviewed the data slate.
"Understood."
Nareth set down the data slate. Perturabo's planning ability was strong, but his knowledge of the Rangdan was limited to Nareth's previous War Council report, which was lacking.
'Perturabo will at most catch the tail end of the campaign.'
"How is the progress of the Fifth Chapter?"
"My Lord, the Fifth Chapter and the Ramilies-class starfort have already transited the Kalium Gate first. Estimated arrival at the Xana-Vicidex system in three and four Terran weeks, respectively."
The Primarch's attendant said proudly, this was the Shadows of Order's speed.
The Shadows of Order could reach any warzone in the galaxy within one Terran month.
The Fifth Chapter, garrisoning the Kalium Gate, was swifter than even the famously rapid-response Space Wolves and the would-be White Scars. None could match them.
"Due to transit capacity limits, the remaining five Chapters' one thousand six hundred fifty-two vessels will be deployed in batches over the next two weeks."
"Captain Diana and I formulated a schedule, transmitted to your data slate."
Nareth tapped, reviewing the "Polymath's" and his flagship Captain's plan, nodding slightly.
"Proceed as scheduled."
After Arsena departed, Nareth left the Dionysian Spear on the weapon rack, returning to his quarters.
With a thought, he arrived at the fifth layer of the Kingdom of Disorder.
Approaching Slau Dha, the Aeldar Autarch's eyes burned with fury as if to consume him.
"Slau Dha, I must say, your fighting spirit is vigorous."
"Do not think to obtain desired information from me here."
Slau Dha raised his chin defiantly, speaking in Aeldari.
"Do you know?"
"The special verb forms in Aeldari always confuse me."
"Hmm?" The Aeldari Autarch looked at the mon-keigh before him with puzzlement, wondering if their crude language held meanings he had not perceived.
"I have already gained much from you." Nareth's eyes gleamed.
"I don't need your words; I obtain through your mind."
"You, facing your own mind, will know."
A complex, multi-layered expression crossed Slau Dha's face: unwillingness to face reality, the fear of exposure.
A trace of despair filled his eyes as he stared at the giant before him like he was the worst daemon.
In that instant, the Primarch's consciousness extended towards the gates of Slau Dha's mind.
He saw a slender figure in green armour saying to Slau Dha, "Swift assault, without a trace, the Striking Scorpion's creed."
Still unable to breach Slau Dha's defenses for information on Perpetuals or the Cabal, the Primarch continued probing the secrets of the Striking Scorpion path.
....
Fourth Terran month, 862.M30.
Segmentum Pacificus, Vicidax Thule Sector, Xana-Vicidex system.
One after another, black vessels of the Fifth Chapter emerged from the translation point.
On the bridge of the Relic-class battleship Starcaller, Santiago Borgkamp spoke gravely. "Open viewport shields."
As an "Astrologer," he could perceive the stars. Upon becoming a Lord, he had moved his command throne next to the viewport.
The holographic table was replaced by screens suspended to the left of the command throne.
Santiago looked at the holo screen. A vast armada of red-hulled ships, like a school of bloodthirsty sharks, was converging.
His superhuman mind rapidly processed the situation, grasping the details of both friendly and enemy fleets.
Eight hundred twenty-five Rangdan ships. They all masqueraded as Imperial vessel signatures, but all had been identified by the Chapter's Simulus Chamber and were being further classified.
His Chapter had deployed four hundred seventy ships for this operation, more than half the enemy's number.
Guarding the Kalium Gate and supporting various warzones, though the Chapter numbered only twenty thousand five hundred, the third smallest, its vessel count led all Chapters.
Because it garrisoned the Kalium Gate and bore the task of supporting various warzones, though it had only twenty thousand five hundred warriors, the third smallest in number among the Chapters, its ship count was the highest.
Santiago examined the viewscreen on the right. The Techmarines of the Simulus Chamber had completed comparisons using the database.
The Lord studied the tactical data and issued orders.
"The Rangdan xenos never imagined we could identify their signatures."
"We seize the opportunity, launch a surprise attack, then disperse among the stars."
"Turn to five-one-four, incline six, advance."
The real-space engines of the numerous black ships maintained normal power as they traversed the nebulae. The soft lights on their prows flickered in the dark void.
Communication ships, kept in storage due to the Simulus Chamber's use, were dispatched, pretending to liaise with the 'Imperial fleet'.
While the "Astrologer" monitored the vast fleet's progress, he plotted the post-engagement battlefield on the console.
Unlike Pell, who preferred planning battles through the Simulus Chamber, or other Lords who conducted macro-level coordination from their command thrones, Santiago preferred to complete his depictions of the stars at the console.
A crystal orb slowly rotated to his right, streams of light flowing within.
The "Astrologer's" left hand moved swiftly across the tactical holo screen. Glimmering stellar runes rapidly generated.
He charted navigation routes for each sub-fleet.
Santiago felt a slight dissolving sensation within.
He raised his hand, issuing another command.
"Order: all fleets plot courses in advance. After delivering a devastating blow to enemy ships, withdraw into the stars."
Santiago shifted his attention back to the hololith.
His Starcaller was already within range but did not fire immediately, waiting for other ships to reach their designated positions.
Capital ships and escorts began slowly building kinetic energy. When the star symbols representing readiness lit up, Santiago gave the order.
"Initiate Phase One."
The ships of the Fifth Chapter's fleet drew power from their stern void shields, channeling it into their main lances, unleashing attacks on the marked engagement runes.
Bright beams of light slashed across the void, striking their targets.
Ships bristling with spikes and flails tumbled like headless hedgehogs sent spinning.
Communication channels filled with contradictory information. Commanders didn't know why their ships had been unmasked.
Their invincible fleet had never encountered this before, not even in previous battles with the human Imperium.
Santiago gazed at the viewscreen on the right. With flashes of light, layered waves of fiery conflagrations rose and expanded, filling the cold void.
"Initiate Phase Two."
His command transmitted through his helmet's internal comms to the entire fleet.
The black fleet scattered like stars shattering into meteors, spreading along dozens of trajectories, simultaneously unleashing volleys from their loaded broadsides upon the Rangdan fleet.
The spiky Rangdan fleet, jolted awake, unleashed dense bursts of radioactive electromagnetic waves at the black ships.
Santiago glanced at the tactical hololith. The surprise attack had cost the Rangdan over fifty ships, creating gaps in their formation.
His fleet, following his orders, had powered up and attacked early, scoring over twenty more victories.
Most of the xenos' attacks missed. Electromagnetic waves battered against the fortress-grade energy shields of the capital ships like moths to a flame.
Streaks of light collided with the psychic shields, then dissipated into nothingness.
He had lost only a few destroyers and one frigate, their shields unable to withstand the furious roar of the shadow-breakers.
Santiago's gaze returned to the crystal orb, thinking to himself.
'Next, we shall play a hunting game among the stars.'
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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