Passing through the oppressive battlefield ruins of the Avatar of Khaine's stone statue, Second Squad finally reached the core area indicated by the mission coordinates.
To their surprise, this was not a complete ruin, but rather a relatively well-preserved building.
The architectural style of this building was distinctly different from the surrounding shattered crystal spires and bone structures; it was lower and sturdier, yet exceptionally ornate.
Its walls were constructed from a dark stone, inlaid with intricate silver patterns, and its arches and window frames were carved with countless delicate and profound Aeldari runes.
Even covered in thick dust, its former solemnity and mystery could still be felt.
It lacked obvious defensive features and did not resemble a residential area; it was more like a sanctuary or a place for important rituals.
"Unable to identify its specific function," Cliff said, shaking his head as he scanned the building's structure.
"Aeldari architecture is completely different from ours; there are no matching records in the database."
Sergeant Golden surveyed the silent building and gave his orders: "The mission objective is inside.
Dorian, you take point.
Gaius and Lex, follow him, and be alert for every corner.
I'll bring up the rear.
Cliff, Sol, and Luna, you stay outside, maintain maximum vigilance, guard the prisoner, and watch out for the Aeldari returning.
Lina, stay close to Luna, don't wander off."
"Yes, Sergeant!" the squad responded.
Dorian activated the Storm Shield's energy field, which hummed softly, and took the lead, stepping with heavy strides through the building's open, elaborately carved grand archway.
Gaius, holding his 'Hawkeye' sniper rifle, and Lex, gripping his heavy Bolter, followed closely.
Gorden entered last, his Bolter scanning the rear vigilantly.
The interior of the building was deeper than it appeared from the outside.
The light was dim, with only a few psychic crystals embedded in the walls, long devoid of energy, emitting a faint glow.
The air held a scent of old spices mixed with dust.
The floor was paved with polished, obsidian-like tiles that, even after a century, still reflected their blurry figures.
Along both sides of the corridor were tightly closed doors, also covered in runes.
They had no time to explore each one; following the coordinate guidance, they continued to descend deeper along the main corridor.
The further they went, the more hushed the atmosphere became, even carrying an unsettling sense of sanctity.
The carvings on the walls grew more intricate, depicting scenes from Aeldari mythology: the birth of stars, the performance of ancient rituals, and… numerous patterns related to prophecy and fate.
"It seems Cliff was right; this is likely an important sanctuary related to prophecy or prescience," Gaius whispered over the comms.
Finally, they reached the end of the corridor.
A massive double door, crafted from some dark silver metal, appeared before them.
There were no visible locks on the door, only a hand-shaped indentation surrounded by extremely complex psychic circuits.
"It seems a specific psychic imprint is needed to open it," Lex said after examining the door.
"Move aside!" Dorian growled impatiently, raising his Thunder Hammer.
"To hell with imprints! I'll smash it open!"
"Wait!" Gorden stopped him.
"Forcibly breaking it might trigger unknown defense mechanisms or damage what's inside.
Gaius, try your 'thing.'"
Gorden was referring to Gaius' strange sensory ability in his left arm.
Gaius nodded, stepped forward, and gently placed his left hand on the cold metal door, closing his eyes and concentrating.
He carefully guided the dormant power deep within his left arm, attempting to sense the structure behind the door and how to open it.
A moment later, he opened his eyes and quickly pressed a few key nodes on the psychic circuits of the door.
He wasn't inputting psychic energy, but rather interfering with and simulating the system, temporarily disrupting its identification.
With a soft 'click,' the heavy metal door silently slid inward!
Beyond the door was a circular, not particularly spacious, underground chamber.
In the center of the room was an altar, also made of dark silver metal, and above the altar, a perfect multifaceted rhomboid crystal, about the size of an adult's fist, floated.
It glowed with a soft, pure, ethereal blue light, as if countless tiny stars slowly revolved within it, emitting a strange vibration that brought both tranquility and a sense of one's own insignificance.
Even from a distance, the vast and ancient psychic power contained within it could be felt.
"The Eye of the Seer…" Sergeant Golden took a deep breath.
"Mission objective confirmed."
He cautiously stepped forward and took out a specialized metal box from his utility pouch, designed to isolate and contain psychic artifacts.
Wearing insulated gloves, he carefully reached out, slowly approaching the floating crystal.
The moment his fingers touched the crystal, its surface light flickered slightly, but there was no repulsive reaction.
Gorden gently took it down, placed it in the metal box, closed the lid, and locked it.
The runes on the box's surface immediately lit up, forming an isolating force field.
"Mission accomplished," Gorden said, securely fastening the box to his gear attachment point.
"We're extracting."
The four quickly returned the way they came, leaving the silent Aeldari sanctuary.
The sunlight outside felt like a different world.
Seeing them emerge safely, Cliff and the others who had stayed behind breathed a sigh of relief.
"We got the item," Gorden said concisely, then immediately contacted the ship via the squad comms channel, "'Macragge's Honour,' this is Sergeant Golden, Second Squad calling.
Relic recovered.
Repeat, relic recovered."
Soon, the voice of the adjutant came through: "Received.
Well done, Gorden.
Any other situations?"
"Yes, Lord Adjutant," Gorden's voice grew heavy.
"We found a large number of remains of our brothers who fell a century ago, including... the body of a company adjutant.
We need support, at least two Thunderhawk Gunships and corresponding logistics servitors, to bring them... home."
There was a few seconds of silence on the channel, as if the adjutant was also processing the news.
Then, his voice became more solemn: "Understood.
Salute to the valiant fallen.
I will immediately arrange for two Thunderhawks and a recovery team to proceed to your coordinates.
Ensure the remains are properly handled and marked."
"Yes, Lord Adjutant!"
Ending the communication, Gorden began to arrange for the squad members to continue expanding the search area, marking and gathering as many of the martyrs' remains as possible, awaiting the arrival of the recovery team.
During the wait, Dorian idly kicked at gravel in a nearby chaotic battlefield ruin.
Suddenly, the tip of his metal boot hit something, making a clanging sound.
He looked down to see a broken, stained red helmet half-buried in the dirt and shattered bones.
The vivid red, even after a century of weathering and contamination, still stood out.
The side of the helmet had a blurred Ultramarines Chapter insignia and a Sergeant-level marking.
Dorian bent down and picked it up, wiping off the grime with his glove to reveal the brighter red underneath.
He held the damaged helmet, weighing it in his hand, complex lights flashing in his oculars.
"Red..." he muttered softly, with a hint of envy and longing in his tone, "...when can I get a helmet in this color..."
A Sergeant-level red helmet represented experience, responsibility, and recognition within the Chapter, something this 'problem child' had always yearned for but seemed unattainable.
He turned his head and saw Gaius, who was on alert nearby.
Gaius wore his distinctive sniper helmet, with its unique respirator and visor, which resembled a bird's beak.
Dorian pouted, tapping Gaius' shoulder plate with the helmet: "Hey, Gaius, I mean, why do you snipers all like to wear these bird-beak helmets?
They look weird, not mighty at all!"
Gaius turned his head, looked at Dorian through his oculars, and responded blandly: "Functional requirements, Dorian.
Better sealing, filtration system, and integrated optical accessories.
Mighty... is not a consideration."
"Tch, boring," Dorian casually tossed the red, broken helmet back to the ground.
"Red ones still look more exciting!"
Just then, the roar of Thunderhawk Gunship engines echoed in the sky.
Two Ultramarines Thunderhawks, escorted by a more heavily armed Stormraven Gunship, broke through the clouds and slowly landed in a nearby open area.
The ramp opened, and a team of Tech-Priests in white robes and filter masks, along with several escorting Astartes, disembarked and began to work silently and efficiently—collecting, bagging, and marking the Ultramarines' remains found by Second Squad.
Watching their comrades' remains being carefully lifted one by one, placed into specialized body bags, and prepared for their journey back to their homeworld, all members of Second Squad spontaneously stopped their work and stood at attention, saluting.
Even Dorian put away his cynical demeanor and silently performed the Aquila salute.
At this moment, racial divides, mission conflicts, and personal thoughts all seemed to be replaced by a deeper, more solemn emotion—reverence for the fallen, steadfastness of brotherhood, and a renewed understanding of their own duty.
Their mission was not yet fully complete, but the most important part had been accomplished.
And the heavy history and sorrow carried by these ruins, named 'Isha's Weep,' were deeply etched into everyone's hearts.
The massive form of the 'Macragge's Honour' slowly sailed into its designated anchorage in Ultramar, like a giant beast returning home from a long journey.
The Thunderhawk Gunships, carrying Second Squad and their heavy and precious 'cargo'—the recovered martyrs' remains and the Aeldari relic—returned to the mother ship.
The atmosphere inside the ship was solemn and grave.
As the body bags containing the martyrs' remains were carefully carried off the gunship by the Honor Guard and Tech-Priests, all ground crew, Tech-Priests, and even passing Astartes working in the hangar spontaneously stopped their work, removed their caps or performed the Aquila salute, offering their silent, highest respect.
The heroes had finally come home.
The captured Eldar Ranger was also brought down. She remained silent, head bowed, but did not appear to have been mistreated. Sergeant Golden reported the situation to the Chapter officials responsible for receiving her, emphasizing the principle of "avoiding conflict as much as possible" with the Aeldari and that the captive had been subdued during combat. Given the delicate and fragile limited cooperation between the Imperium and the Aeldari, based on a shared powerful enemy, the Chapter leadership decided to temporarily confine her to a suitable detention cell and did not overly trouble her, though strict guarding was essential. How to deal with her would likely require a higher-level decision, possibly even communication with certain Craftworlds.
The relic, "Prophet's Eye," was immediately handed over to the Chapter Librarian, personally received by the Chief Librarian, who prepared for the most rigorous research and analysis, hoping to find clues about Fateweaver and even greater threats within it.
Everything seemed to have temporarily concluded, and the Second Squad was able to rest briefly, report mission details, and maintain their equipment.
However, the illusion of peace lasted only a few days.
Inside Chapter Master Marius Calgar's office, the atmosphere had dropped to freezing point. Chapter Master Calgar stood before the massive star chart table, his face so grim it looked as if it could drip water, ten times more severe than when he usually dealt with mountains of paperwork. He had just received an urgent plea for aid and terrible news from the 'New Hope' world, a system on the edge of Ultramar.
The Dark Eldar's retaliation had arrived. And it had come so swiftly, so viciously!
The holographic image displayed the horrific aftermath of the attack on New Hope's capital city. The buildings were not destroyed by conventional weapons but were covered in twisted, seemingly living, sharp crystalline structures. The streets were littered with shriveled, withered corpses with expressions of extreme agony, as if all their life force and emotions had been drained. A typical Dark Eldar signature—not for destruction, but for creating ultimate pain and fear, to feed upon!
According to fragmented descriptions from survivors and vague records from orbital monitoring stations, a sizable Dark Eldar fleet, utilizing some Webway technology, suddenly appeared and launched a lightning-fast terror attack on densely populated areas. They quickly withdrew before the Planetary Defense Forces and the Astartes garrison squad of the successor Chapter could react effectively, leaving behind a city thoroughly "tasted" and filled with despair.
"These damned, shadow-dwelling scum!" Calgar slammed his fist on the star chart table, the sturdy alloy surface groaning under the strain. His rage burned tangibly in the room.
Just then, he received a top-priority communication request—from Holy Terra, from the Lord Regent of the Imperium, Roboute Guilliman.
Calgar immediately composed himself, but the gloom on his face remained. He motioned for the others in the room to withdraw temporarily, leaving only a few of the most important Captains.
The main screen in the command center lit up, and Guilliman's imposing yet slightly weary figure appeared on the display. He seemed to be in a strategy room, with a massive star chart and busy staff in the background. Even across countless light-years, his wise and authoritative gaze still exerted immense pressure.
"Marius," Guilliman's voice was steady, but carried a hint of imperceptible coldness, "I have received the reports from Ultramar. The situation on New Hope... I am aware of it."
"Primarch..." Calgar said in a deep voice, suppressing his anger and self-reproach, "The Dark Eldar's retaliation... is swifter and more rampant than we anticipated. This is a blatant provocation against Ultramar, against the Imperium's dignity! We..."
Guilliman raised his hand, interrupting him: "The Imperium has no intention of actively provoking a full-scale war with Commorragh. Their internal strife and self-destructive tendencies are, to some extent, even a 'contribution' to the Imperium." His words were calm and pragmatic.
But then, Guilliman's tone shifted, becoming as cold and sharp as Arctic ice: "However! This does not mean we can tolerate them repeatedly treating the people of Ultramar as 'crops' to be harvested at will! Tolerating them slaughtering our worlds and trampling the Imperium's dignity! This atrocity has crossed the line! It is intolerable!"
His gaze was as sharp as a knife, as if it could penetrate the screen: "Compromise and concession will only lead to escalating greed and cruelty. For the Dark Eldar, only the punishment of iron and blood can make them remember pain!"
"Marius Calgar!" Guilliman's voice was like thunder, filled with unquestionable resolve, "By the name of the Lord Regent of the Imperium, I order: Severely punish the Dark Eldar! This time, the target will no longer be their insignificant fringe outposts or raiding fleets!"
He paused, then, word by word, spoke the command that would shake the galaxy:
"This time, the Sword of the Imperium will strike directly at the heart of Commorragh!"
"Your mission is to penetrate that dark city! Find and assassinate Asdrubael Vect, who claims to be its eternal ruler!"
"A decapitation strike! I want Commorragh to be plunged into utter chaos, so that those scum who feed on suffering will be too preoccupied for a very long time!"
Even Calgar and the battle-hardened Captains were shaken by this astonishing command! To directly attack Commorragh and assassinate the Dark Eldar Archon?! This would be the largest, deepest, and most dangerous military operation the Imperium had launched against the Dark Eldar since the Great Crusade!
"The Ultramarines Chapter will be the vanguard and main force of this operation!" Guilliman continued, "I will dispatch reinforcements in the name of the Lord Regent of the Imperium. You will not fight alone."
The communication was temporarily interrupted for a moment, as if Guilliman was issuing a series of orders.
A few minutes later, when the communication reconnected, Guilliman said: "The orders have been given. Prepare yourself, Marius. The wrath of the Imperium needs you to ignite it first."
The call ended. The screen went dark.
But Chapter Master Calgar and the Captains were still reeling from the earth-shattering command.
Before they could fully process it, a flurry of communication requests flooded the command system of the Macragge's Honour!
First Captain Cassius immediately took charge of answering and coordinating.
"This is the Space Wolves 'Moon Howl' Great Company! Wolf Lord Ragnar Blackmane sends his regards to brother Calgar! We're bringing mead and axes, arriving in three days at the fastest! For Russ and the Allfather! For New Hope!" — a gruff, boisterous voice spoke first.
"White Scars, 'Wind-Swept' Brotherhood Khan Kargan has received the Regent's order. Speed is our weapon; our blades will arrive within seven days." — a very fast-speaking, concise voice.
"Iron Hands, 'Iron Ring' Company confirms directives. Logical assessment: elimination of Dark Eldar threat aligns with most efficient war principles. Arriving in five days." — a cold, unmodulated voice.
"Blood Ravens Chapter, 'Eye of Knowledge' Squad has received orders. We will... uh... do our best to assist. Arriving in four days." — a voice that sounded somewhat... sheepish? But still resolute.
Immediately following, the Ultramarines' loyal successor Chapters and other Chapters also responded:
"Nova Marines Chapter, ready for deployment by the parent Chapter at any time!"
"Nova Chapter, glory be with the parent Chapter!"
"Salamanders Chapter, 'In Your Name'! Captain Kansa leads the force, arriving in six days!"
"Raven Guard, 'Shadow Veil' deployed, we are en route."
And these were only the Astartes reinforcements!
Subsequently, even more astonishing news arrived.
"Deathwatch Chapter, 'Eternal' Kill-Team received orders. Hunting xenos is the meaning of our existence. We will bring a specialized Dark Eldar armory." — a cold, professional voice, existing only for the slaughter of xenos.
Finally, communication from the Imperial Army:
"Krieg Death Korps, 88th Siege Army, reporting for duty, Chapter Master. Sixty million soldiers have embarked, estimated arrival in seven days. Where the order is, there death goes." — a cold, lifeless, machine-like voice.
"Cadian Regiment, 'Cadia Stands'! We will avenge the fallen of Cadia! Arriving in five days!" — a voice filled with grief and resolute determination.
Even communications from the Adeptus Mechanicus connected:
"Under the command of the Fabricator-General of Mars, two Warbringer-class Titan Legions and a Castellan-class Knight Household have received the will of the Regent and the Omnissiah. The God-Machines will descend in five days to crush the xenos city."
The vast, star-spanning Imperial war machine, at the command of Lord Regent of the Imperium Roboute Guilliman, began to operate with unprecedented efficiency! A suffocatingly powerful allied force was rapidly assembling in Ultramar!
Chapter Master Calgar took a deep breath, his eyes burning with fierce martial spirit and a sense of mission. He whirled around, addressing all personnel in the command center and broadcasting over the communication system connected to all ship areas, issuing an order that echoed throughout the entire vessel:
"All units attention! The Macragge's Honour is to enter maximum emergency combat readiness immediately! Cancel all non-essential missions! All Ultramarines squads currently on external assignments, immediately abandon your current tasks and return to the flagship at full speed! Repeat, full speed return!"
The order spread like wildfire to every corner of the battleship!
The piercing sound of the highest combat alert blared through the sky! Red warning lights flashed wildly in all corridors!
In the hangars, ground crew and Tech-Priests began the final pre-flight checks and armament of all fighters, gunships, and transport ships at maximum speed!
The armory doors were fully open, countless new recruits lined up in neat formations, orderly receiving Bolters, plasma weapons, heavy weapons, and crates upon crates of ammunition! Their faces showed tension, but even more, high morale and a determination to avenge their comrades!
First Captain Cassius was urgently contacting the many other successor Chapters of the Ultramarines, conveying the Primarch's will and the parent Chapter's summons!
In the deepest parts of the battleship, within the stasis chambers like sacred crypts, long-dormant Dreadnoughts were carefully awakened by Tech-Marines and priests. Ancient holy oils were injected, weapon systems were activated and tested, and a low hum, as if from ancient battlefields, began to reverberate—these living legends were about to step once more onto the most brutal battlefield for the Emperor and the Primarch!
The wrath of the Imperium had been ignited, and the pain of Ultramar had to be repaid with blood! And this time, the spearhead of vengeance would strike mercilessly at the heart of the Dark Eldar—Commorragh! An unprecedented decapitation storm, deep into the lion's den, was about to begin!
Seven days, in the midst of high-tension war preparations, passed in an instant.
The edge anchorage of Ultramar had, by this point, gathered a massive fleet capable of striking fear into any enemy.
The Ultramarines' blue behemoth, the Macragge's Honour, stood like a flagship at the center, surrounded by various Imperial vessels, each adorned with different Chapter insignias and colors: the furious assault ships bearing the Space Wolves' wolf head emblem, the swift strike cruisers with the White Scars' lightning livery, the Iron Hands' silver-gray, stark-style Ark Mechanicus, the Blood Ravens Chapter's mysterious crimson ships, the Raven Guard's shadowy vessels, the Salamanders' lava-like patterns, and the blue ships of the Nova Chapter and Nova Marines, Chapters descended from the Ultramarines.
Further out, an even larger Imperial Navy fleet gathered, along with colossal transport convoys carrying tens of millions of Imperial Army soldiers.
And at the very front of all the ships, awe-inspiring like moving mountains, were the immense forms of two War-class Titan squads, flanked by Castellan-class Knight Mechs.
The might of the Imperium, at this moment, coalesced into an unbreakable iron fist!
Inside the largest strategic conference room of the Macragge's Honour, the atmosphere was heavy and solemn.
Around the long alloy conference table sat the highest commanders from all the reinforcing forces.
They were diverse in style and temperament, but at this moment, their eyes burned with the same fighting spirit and hatred for the xenos.
At the head of the table, Chapter Master Marius Calgar, clad in golden Terminator armor, scanned each commander present with hawk-like eyes.
To his left were the Ultramarines' own core leaders, such as Captain Cassius of the First Company and Captain Sicarius of the Second Company, while to his right were, in order:
Ragnar Blackmane, Wolf Lord of the Space Wolves, his fiery red beard braided into thick plaits, a powerful physique beneath his fur mantle, a warlike and bold smile on his face, his battle-axe resting by his side.
Khan Kargan of the White Scars, his movements lean and sharp, his gaze as keen as a blade, as if ready to gallop wildly at any moment, taciturn yet radiating a fierce aura.
Captain Artur Morg of the Iron Hands, half of his face already replaced by cold machinery, his bionic eye flashing red, his expression as rigid as metal, exuding an aura of absolute logic and efficiency.
Captain Logan of the Blood Ravens Chapter, wearing crimson armor adorned with raven feathers and mysterious runes, his eyes deep, seemingly always calculating something, his demeanor slightly mysterious.
Captain Lagrange of the Raven Guard, silent as a shadow, almost merging with his surroundings, only an occasional flicker of cold killing intent in his raised eyes.
Captain Kansa of the Salamanders, his skin dark, his smile gentle yet carrying an undeniable sense of power, like a volcano about to erupt.
Captain Martin Foal of the Nova Chapter and Captain Oliver Thompson of the Nova Marines, as successor Chapters of the Ultramarines, sat upright, their eyes filled with respect for their parent Chapter and high battle spirit.
The representative of the Deathwatch, Team Leader Tyrus, his armor a grim black, his shoulder pads bearing honor markings from different Chapters, his very presence representing extreme hatred for xenos and specialized killing.
Colonel Steiner of the Cadian Regiment 34th, his face resolute, his eyes bearing the grief from Cadia's fall and the fire of vengeance.
The commander of the Krieg Death Korps 88th Siege Regiment, name unknown, entirely enveloped in the standard Krieg officer's greatcoat and gas mask, only his eye lenses flashing with cold light, like an emotionless war machine.
And the representative of the Adeptus Mechanicus, a high-ranking Tech-Priest, his voice emanating from internal speakers, filled with binary static and absolute obedience to the Omnissiah's will.
"Gentlemen," Chapter Master Calgar's voice broke the silence, steady and powerful, echoing through the conference room, "thank you for answering the Regent's call and coming to aid us.
The scars of Ultramar, the dignity of the Imperium, must be washed away with the blood of the Dark Eldar.
This battle, the objective is clear—Commorragh, decapitate Vect!"
He offered no superfluous pleasantries, cutting straight to the point, bringing up a massive holographic projection of Commorragh and its surrounding airspace.
"Commorragh is not a traditional planet, but a colossal, constantly moving Webway space station, with complex structures and peculiar defenses.
Its outer airspace is usually patrolled by numerous Dark Eldar pirate fleets, and its interior is riddled with traps," Calgar began to deploy, his finger tracing across the holographic image.
"Blood Ravens Chapter, Iron Hands Chapter."
His gaze first fell on Captain Logan and Captain Morg, "You possess powerful and… 'unique' (he glanced at the Blood Ravens) strike cruisers and excellent ship-to-ship combat capabilities.
I order you to form a vanguard assault fleet, responsible for clearing enemy ships from Commorragh's outer orbit, and at all costs, prioritize seizing absolute air superiority!
Before orbital security is ensured, you are not required to participate in ground combat.
Can you do this?"
Captain Morg's bionic eye flickered, and he replied coldly, "Logic accepted.
The Iron Hands will complete the mission efficiently.
Efficiency is victory."
Captain Logan, meanwhile, nodded slightly, his voice steady, "The Blood Ravens accept the order.
Knowledge… is power, and we will clear the skies of obstacles for you."
His phrasing always carried a hint of indescribable nuance.
"Very good."
Calgar nodded, then looked at Wolf Lord Ragnar, "Wolf Lord Ragnar, the Space Wolves' boarding capabilities are renowned throughout the Imperium.
I authorize you, when the Blood Ravens and Iron Hands engage the enemy fleet, to seek opportunities to launch boarding attacks on enemy capital ships and even Commorragh's outer platforms!
Tear them apart from within, assist in seizing air superiority!
Once ground combat begins, you will serve as the spearhead of the ground assault, tearing through any defensive lines that dare to stop you!
For Russ!"
"Haha! I was waiting for that! For Russ and the Allfather!"
Wolf Lord Ragnar excitedly slammed the table, making a loud noise, "Don't worry, Brother Calgar!
Our wolf cubs are already ravenous!
We'll tear those bean sprouts' broken ships to shreds!"
Calgar then looked at Captain Lagrange of the Raven Guard: "Captain Lagrange, the Raven Guard excel at stealth and precision strikes.
Once the ground battle unfolds, I need your people to be dispersed, carrying out long-range sniping and critical target elimination missions, clearing obstacles for the main forces advancing from the front, and suppressing enemy heavy fire points.
Especially those Dark Eldar heavy weapon platforms and twisted war machines."
Captain Lagrange merely nodded slightly, his voice hoarse and low: "As you wish.
The shadows will devour their hope."
Concise, yet full of confidence.
"Captain Kansa, Captain Martin, Captain Thompson."
Calgar looked at the Salamanders and the two successor Chapter captains, "And Colonel Steiner, Krieg Commander.
You, along with our Ultramarines main force, will constitute the absolute main force of the ground offensive.
We will launch a full-scale assault from multiple directions towards Commorragh's core area—the 'spires' where Vect may be located!
This will be a tough fight, and I need your unwavering advancing power and spirit of sacrifice!"
"In your name!
The Salamanders will hold their ground and crush the enemy!"
Captain Kansa said in a deep voice.
"For the parent Chapter and the Emperor!
The Nova Chapter / Nova Marines will never retreat!"
The two successor Chapter captains responded in unison.
"Cadia stands strong! For vengeance!"
Colonel Steiner's voice was firm.
The Krieg Commander merely nodded stiffly, a muffled breathing sound coming from beneath his gas mask, representing silent obedience and a determination to die.
"Nova Chapter," Calgar specifically added, "you have another important mission.
Protect the God-Machines—the Titans and Knight Households.
They are our battering rams, and we must not let them be interfered with by Dark Eldar tricks and ambushes.
Your mission is to ensure they can safely and continuously unleash devastating firepower upon the enemy!"
"Understood, Chapter Master!
The Nova Chapter swears to protect the God-Machines with their lives!"
Captain Martin Foal solemnly promised.
"Deathwatch, Team Leader Tyrus."
Calgar finally looked at the grim black armor, "Your mission is free-range hunting.
Utilize your knowledge of xenos and specialized weaponry to eliminate the most dangerous and bizarre targets—Dark Eldar sorcerers, twisted monsters, and… possibly members of the 'Fateweaver'.
You are the poisoned blade plunged into the enemy's heart."
"Deathwatch, always ready.
Xenos, must be purged."
Team Leader Tyrus' reply was brief and deadly.
All orders were distributed, clear and precise, with each assigned their role.
No one raised objections; the logic of war and the Regent's authority were not to be challenged.
However, just as the meeting was about to conclude, Captain Logan of the Blood Ravens Chapter suddenly spoke again, his voice still steady, yet making the atmosphere of the conference room a bit… subtle.
"Chapter Master Calgar," Logan said, "the Blood Ravens Chapter fully obeys your command and will dedicate all its efforts to completing the mission of seizing air superiority.
It's just… according to Blood Ravens tradition, during combat, any 'technical relics' or 'xenos knowledge conduits' that we discover ourselves and that are related to the battle… could they be… 'collected' and 'studied' by us independently?
This would help us better… understand the enemy and preserve potentially useful knowledge for the Imperium."
He spoke very tactfully, but many of the veteran Chapter commanders present showed knowing or slightly disdainful expressions.
The Blood Ravens Chapter's reputation for "collecting" was no secret among the Imperial high command.
Chapter Master Calgar was silent for a moment.
He was well aware of the Blood Ravens' ways, but in such a large-scale joint operation, overly emphasizing spoils might lead to unnecessary conflicts.
However, considering the Blood Ravens' crucial role in this battle and their indeed "specialized" skills in "studying xenos technology"…
"You may."
Calgar finally nodded, but added in a serious tone, "But only for items directly related to the Dark Eldar that you discover yourselves within the combat zone.
There must be no conflict with other brother forces, and it must not affect the priority of combat missions.
All 'collection' activities must be reported after the battle ends."
"Thank you for your understanding and generosity, Chapter Master."
Captain Logan bowed slightly, his expression unreadable.
"Then," Chapter Master Calgar stood up, placing his hands on the table, his gaze once again sweeping over all the commanders, "orders have been given, prepare yourselves!
For the Emperor!
For Ultramar!
For Lord Roboute Guilliman!"
"For the Emperor!!"
All commanders roared in unison, their voices shaking the entire conference room.
The meeting concluded, and the commanders quickly departed, returning to their respective ships to begin relaying detailed operational orders to their warriors.
The massive allied fleet, like an awakened primordial beast, began to slowly adjust its formation, engines spewing incandescent light that illuminated the star sea.
The warships of the Blood Ravens and Iron Hands led the way out of the anchorage as the vanguard, closely followed by the eager Space Wolves fleet.
The main fleet maintained its colossal formation, like moving mountains of steel, slowly pressing forward.
The Titans and Knights took their earth-shattering strides, entering specialized heavy transport ships.
The Imperium's war machine has been fully activated! With boundless fury and unwavering resolve, its forces are aimed directly at Commorragh, the Dark City hidden deep within the Webway, a place filled with pain and madness!
An unprecedented, daring, deep-strike decapitation storm has officially begun!
The vast allied fleet, like the Sword of Damocles hanging overhead, cast the shadow of death upon the Dark Eldar world, Shadow Source. This planet was not Commorragh itself, but an important outpost and resource world on its periphery, like a viper's nest, and it was the first to bear the brunt of the Imperium's long-simmering thunderous wrath!
The battle first erupted at the orbital level.
The Iron Hands Chapter's silver-grey strike cruisers, like cold logic processors, precisely and efficiently arrayed themselves into a devastating bombardment formation. Their artillery fire was not indiscriminate, but rather precisely calculated to prioritize and eliminate the energy cores and weapon arrays of the Dark Eldar orbital defense platforms. The roar of macro-cannons was deafening, and the searing beams of lances, like the fingers of a god, easily pierced the relatively fragile armor of the Eldar warships.
At the same time, the Blood Ravens Chapter's crimson vessels displayed a different style. They moved like phantoms across the battlefield, using eerie maneuverability and powerful onboard psychic jamming devices to disrupt the Dark Eldar fleet's formations and communications. Their artillery fire often came from unexpected angles, precisely striking the enemy ships' engines and command towers. The Blood Ravens seemed to possess an extraordinary understanding of Dark Eldar ship structures, always finding the most fatal weaknesses. And during the intense firefight, some Blood Ravens' assault boats would even "accidentally" and "coincidentally" approach and "capture" some severely damaged but not completely exploded Dark Eldar ship wrecks, quickly dragging them away from the battlefield, under the guise of "preventing debris from obstructing navigation" or "recovering research samples."
Just as the Blood Ravens and Iron Hands were locked in combat with the Dark Eldar fleet, the Space Wolves' furious assault ships, like hungry wolves smelling blood, lunged forward!
"For Russ! For the Allfather! Wolf Cubs! Follow me and kill!" Wolf Lord Ragnar's roar echoed through the comms channels to every Wolf ship.
Countless boarding torpedoes and assault boats, like a swarm of bees leaving their hive, ignored the dense interceptor fire and, in a nearly suicidal charge, slammed into the larger Dark Eldar warships and even the smaller outer platforms!
Hatch doors exploded open, and the furry, howling Space Wolves, wielding chainaxes and Thunder Hammers, stormed into the enemy ships like a tempest! The Dark Eldar pirates, accustomed to long-range harassment and cunning tactics, had never witnessed such a barbaric, direct, and furious boarding action!
Chainaxes tore through exquisite Eldar armor, and Thunder Hammers smashed twisted bodies into pulp! Wherever the Wolf Pack passed, only broken witchblades, shattered limbs, and terrified screams remained! The Space Wolves' wrath made these Dark Eldar, who reveled in torment, truly experience, for the first time, what pure, destructive power was!
The orbital battle was fierce and short-lived. Under the Imperium's absolute firepower advantage and the Astartes' unreasonable assault, in just three hours, the Dark Eldar's defensive forces in Shadow Source's orbit were completely destroyed, driven off, or captured. Air superiority changed hands!
Immediately after, the ground assault officially began!
But what first rained down upon the ground like a downpour were not Astartes drop pods, but countless, dense Imperial troop transports, like locusts! They belonged to the Krieg Death Korps!
These troop transports ignored the still-present ground anti-air fire, forcefully pushing through the barrage in a nearly tragic manner, diving towards their designated landing zones! Troop transports were constantly hit, transforming into brilliant fireballs in the air, the soldiers inside turning to ash before they could even make a sound. But even more troop transports, like stubborn stones, slammed heavily onto the scorched earth!
Before the hatch doors were fully open, countless Krieg Death Korps soldiers, wearing standard grey greatcoats, iconic gas masks, and silent as machines, swarmed out! There were no shouts, no hesitation, only the monotonous firing of their lasguns and the cold, brief commands from their officers through megaphones!
"For the Emperor! Advance!"
"Retreat is dishonor! Death is glory!"
They spread out in a skirmish line, like a grey tide, silently, steadfastly, and unhesitatingly charging towards the Dark Eldar cities and fortifications established on the planet's surface! Dark Eldar pirates and Kabalite warriors fired deadly splinter rounds and twisted psychic energy from behind cover, and Krieg soldiers fell in swathes like wheat being cut. But they seemed to have no fear, no pain, and those behind them stepped emotionlessly over the bodies of their comrades, continuing to advance, using dense lasgun volleys and fearless charges to relentlessly assault the Dark Eldar defenses!
Their sacrifice was not meaningless. It was their flesh and blood that drew the vast majority of the Dark Eldar's firepower and attention, buying precious time and space for the true destruction to descend!
Just as the Krieg Death Korps were locked in combat with the Dark Eldar defenses, the sky was torn open once more!
Countless fiery meteors, trailing long plumes of flame, screamed as they slammed into Shadow Source's surface, like a rain of wrath sent by the Emperor! Those were Astartes drop pods!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The drop pods, in an extremely violent manner, directly smashed through the domes of the Dark Eldar cities, shattered their ornate spires, and crashed into crowded streets and plazas! The hatch doors instantly exploded open!
Blue Ultramarines, green Salamanders, dark blue Nova Marines… the Emperor's Angels of Death, blooming in the enemy's most core areas!
"For Macragge! For Guilliman!"
"In your name! Purge the xenos!"
"For the Lord of Drakes!"
The roar of Bolters instantly replaced the hiss of lasguns! Dense Bolter rounds, like a storm of death, easily tore through the relatively light armor of the Dark Eldar warriors, shattering the exquisite wraithbone walls and twisted art sculptures behind them! The roar of chainswords, the heavy impact of power fists, the hum of plasma weapons overloading… the Astartes, in squad-sized units, like efficient killing machines, quickly cleared the enemies around their drop zones, then launched a fierce assault towards their designated targets!
Following the Astartes, something even heavier and more reassuring descended—the Dreadnoughts!
These ancient war heroes, with heavy steps, emerged from their specialized drop pods. Their massive bodies were the best cover, and their twin-linked assault cannons rotated, spewing a deadly storm of metal that mowed down Dark Eldar attempting to rally in swathes! Heavy flamers spat long dragons of fire, consuming everything flammable, incinerating enemies hiding in buildings! Multi-launchers showered rockets like water on distant, important targets!
"For our fallen brothers!" an Ultramarines Dreadnought roared with a low electronic growl, striding forward through dense fire, tearing a Dark Eldar Raider tank in half with its massive power claw!
Finally, like giants from myth, the Warlord-class Titans descended!
Their deployment process was like a small earthquake! When their colossal feet, like moving mountains, stepped onto the soil of Shadow Source, the entire battlefield seemed to fall silent for a moment!
The Titan's head sensors scanned the battlefield, locking onto the distant Dark Eldar heavy defense platforms still stubbornly resisting and several relatively smaller Eldar Wraithknights attempting to charge.
The massive barrels of the volcano cannons began to charge, emitting a heart-stopping hum!
Boom!!!
An incredibly thick, searing beam of energy instantly traversed several kilometers, precisely striking a massive, spired Dark Eldar defensive structure! The structure, along with everything inside, was instantly vaporized and evaporated, leaving only a gigantic, molten-edged crater!
At the same time, the Titan's arm-mounted Gatling blasters began to spin at high speed, unleashing a dense barrage capable of tearing down city walls, reducing the Dark Eldar infantry and light vehicles attempting to approach below to a mist of blood and fragments! From the missile launch bays, swarms of melta missiles screamed skyward, accurately streaking towards the Wraithknights as if guided, blowing them into burning scrap metal!
Against this backdrop of chaos and destruction, the Raven Guard warriors, like true ravens, silently concealed themselves in the shadows of the ruins. Their sniper rifles occasionally let out a low, deadly roar, and each shot was inevitably accompanied by the death of a Dark Eldar commander, psyker, or heavy weapon operator. They were the silent reapers clearing the way for the main army.
On the other side of the battlefield, the Space Wolves and Blood Ravens' drop pods, and the Cadian Regiment's transports, landed precisely outside the grandest and most magnificent palace in the center of the Dark Eldar city!
"Cadia Stands! For the Emperor!" Colonel Steiner, waving his power sword, led the Cadian Regiment's forces, like avenging ghosts, in a nearly insane assault on the palace gates! Their fighting style was a bit more flexible and skillful than the Krieg Death Korps, but equally fearless!
Wolf Lord Ragnar, at the forefront, smashed the palace's ornately decorated gates to splinters with his Thunder Hammer! "Wolf Cubs! Look how fancy these bean sprouts' den is! Smash it for me!"
The Space Wolves howled and charged into the palace, clashing with the panicked Dark Eldar noble guards inside! Chainswords tore through exquisite silk robes, and Bolters shattered priceless works of art!
The Blood Ravens followed close behind; their attacks were more… targeted, often heading straight for the palace's vaults, archives, or private laboratories, while their weapons mercilessly eliminated any resistance.
Some Dark Eldar civilians tried to escape through side doors or secret passages, but they were met only by the cold lasgun arrays and Bolters of the Cadian soldiers! The Emperor's "mercy" was fully demonstrated at this moment—for these xenos who fed on human suffering, only complete annihilation was the only "mercy"!
The Imperium's wrath, in its most direct, brutal, and absolute form, descended upon Shadow Source! This Dark Eldar stronghold world was being transformed into a burning ruin and a graveyard of death at an unprecedented speed! And this was merely the prelude to a larger storm!
The Imperial Coalition's fury swept through like a wildfire, leaving only scorched earth and destruction in its wake.
The Dark Eldar resistance on the Shadow Source planet, under the combined assault of the Astartes, mortal regiments, and the God-Machines, melted away like snow in the sun.
Their tactics, which relied on cunning and speed, appeared so pale and powerless before the Imperium's absolute might and iron tide.
The fierce battle did not last too long; in less than one standard Imperial day, this crucial Dark Eldar stronghold world was essentially declared fallen.
Above the still-smoking ruins, the Ultramarines First Company's Terminators, like moving steel fortresses, were carrying out the final 'cleanup' work.
With heavy steps, they mercilessly mowed down Dark Eldar civilians attempting to hide or flee with assault cannons and storm Bolters.
For these xenos who fed on human suffering, the Imperial warriors had no mercy in their hearts, only the cold will of purification.
The roar of Bolters and the brief, dying screams of the Eldar became the dominant melody of these ruins.
The 7th Company, 2nd Squad's members had just finished a small-scale battle to eliminate remaining resistance and were gathered nearby, taking a short rest.
Their gaze was drawn to a scene not far away.
Ragnar Blackmane of the Space Wolves stood on the ruins of a half-collapsed, once-magnificent Eldar fountain.
Under his foot was a bruised and battered Dark Eldar female, dressed in a tattered, luxurious robe—evidently, an unfortunate Archon of a Kabal on this planet.
Ragnar Blackmane did not kill her immediately but used his booming voice to insult her to the fullest extent.
"Hey! Look who it is? The noble Dark Eldar Archon?" Ragnar Blackmane used the head of his Thunder Hammer to lift her chin, forcing her to look at him, "Where's that haughty attitude you had just now? Didn't you like to treat us humans like livestock? Now why are you lying at my feet like a dead dog?"
"Where's your palace? Where's your guard? Where are your little torture toys? Hahaha!" The Wolf Lord let out a boisterous laugh, causing the surrounding Space Wolves to join in with howls and cheers.
The Archon's eyes were filled with venom and humiliation, but she seemed to lack even the strength to speak, only managing faint, incomprehensible Eldar curses.
"Sergeant, they're doing this..." Gaius looked over, frowning slightly.
He wasn't sympathetic to the Dark Eldar; he just felt that such public humiliation seemed... unbecoming of an Astartes.
Sergeant Golden shook his head, his tone flat: "Let them be.
The Space Wolves have their own way of expressing... anger.
Besides, for these Dark Eldar, no form of punishment is too severe."
He glanced at the civilians being executed by the Terminators, "At least, the Wolf Lord gave her a chance for a 'champion's duel' (though she was utterly crushed), rather than just sweeping her away like trash."
Dorian, however, watched with relish, even looking a bit eager: "Hey! This old Wolf Lord is interesting!
I wish I'd kept that Warrior Archon just now to play with!"
Lina hid behind Luna, her face pale, not daring to look.
However, everyone knew that the destruction of Shadow Source was merely a beginning.
The Imperium's wrath was far from appeased, and the Coalition's advance would certainly not stop here.
After rest and resupply, the massive Imperial fleet set sail again, like a shadow of death, heading towards its next predetermined target—the Dark Eldar world of Soul-Eater!
Unlike Shadow Source, Soul-Eater had clearly received a warning, and its strategic importance seemed even greater.
As soon as the Coalition fleet exited the Warp, it detected an unprecedentedly large Dark Eldar fleet gathered in orbit, with pirate ships, raiding vessels, and even several Kabal capital ships comparable in size to Imperial cruisers, all arrayed like a swirling swarm of venomous bees, waiting in full battle readiness.
On the planet's surface, dense anti-aircraft fire points and energy shield generators flickered with an ominous glow.
According to pre-battle intelligence and initial scans, Soul-Eater's ground defenses far surpassed the previous planet, with at least five powerful Wraithlords or even larger Wraithknights, as well as numerous elite Dark Eldar warriors and sorcerers.
But this would only further ignite the fighting spirit of the Imperial warriors!
Fear? That is an emotion for those whose faith in the Emperor is not strong!
The orbital battle erupted again! And it was even more intense than the last time!
The Iron Hands' silver-grey fleet and the Blood Ravens' crimson ships once again bore the brunt, engaging in a fierce melee with the numerically superior Dark Eldar fleet.
Lances and dark matter cannon beams crisscrossed the void, while macro-cannon barrages and disintegrator cannon's green energy spheres collided and exploded!
Just as both fleets were fiercely engaged and their formations began to break, Captain Cassius of the Ultramarines First Company and Wolf Lord Ragnar Blackmane of the Space Wolves simultaneously targeted a particularly massive and exquisitely decorated Dark Eldar capital ship, clearly the fleet's flagship!
"That's it! Boarding party! Prepare!" Captain Cassius' calm voice rang out over the comms channel.
"Haha! Finally something decent! Wolf Cubs! Follow me and our Ultramarines brothers, it's time to feast!" Wolf Lord Ragnar roared excitedly.
Several assault boats belonging to the First Company and the Space Wolves, like arrows from a bow, braved the dense interceptor fire and slammed into the armored belt of the Dark Eldar flagship!
The hatch exploded open!
First to pour out were the Ultramarines First Company's Terminators!
They formed a solid shield wall, their storm shields linked together, creating a moving steel bulwark that advanced slowly and steadily!
The poison crystal bullets and sorcerous energy fired by the Dark Eldar pirates struck the energy shield wall, creating countless ripples but finding it difficult to penetrate!
"Advance steadily! For Macragge!" Captain Cassius' voice echoed through the Terminator ranks.
As the Terminator line attracted and suppressed most of the firepower, through the intentional gaps left by the Terminators' attack and from the flanking Space Wolves, thunderous war cries erupted!
"For the Wolf King! For the Allfather!"
The berserk wolf packs, like a breaking flood, instantly tore through the Dark Eldar's fire net and plunged into the enemy's ranks!
The roar of chainaxes and the thunder of Thunder Hammers once again resounded through the enemy ship's corridors!
The Dark Eldar tried to maneuver with their agile movements and cunning tactics, but in such confined spaces, facing the Space Wolves' unreasonable, savage strength and the Ultramarines Terminators' impregnable defense, their advantages vanished!
Just then, a Dark Eldar Warrior Archon, dressed in extraordinarily elaborate attire, wielding a twin-bladed sorcerous longsword, and whose aura clearly far surpassed that of ordinary pirates, appeared at the end of the corridor with his elite guards, attempting to stem the tide of the assault.
"Champion's duel!" Captain Cassius immediately ordered.
The First Company's Company Champion, Heraclius, a hero renowned for his immense strength and peerless swordsmanship, immediately stepped forward.
He held a storm shield emblazoned with the Imperial Aquila in his left hand and a master-crafted power sword, "Macragge's Fury," in his right, walking towards the Warrior Archon.
Without any unnecessary words, the two powerhouses clashed instantly!
The Dark Eldar Archon's twin blades were as fast as lightning, trailing eerie green energy, striking Heraclius from tricky angles.
But Heraclius' storm shield was like bedrock, precisely parrying every attack, his steps as steady as a mountain!
His power sword, meanwhile, struck like a viper, each swing heavy with power, imbued with the Ultramarines' battle techniques honed through a thousand trials!
After only a few rounds, Heraclius seized a tiny opening in the opponent's defense, his power sword violently knocking aside one of the Archon's parrying blades, then following through with a thunderous downward cleave!
CRACK!
Accompanied by a teeth-grinding sound of metal snapping and Eldar bones shattering, the Dark Eldar Warrior Archon, along with his other sorcerous blade attempting to parry, was precisely split in two down the midline by Champion Heraclius!
Green blood splattered everywhere!
"Victory belongs to the Ultramarines!" Heraclius roared, raising his power sword dripping with green blood!
"For Macragge!" The First Company's Terminators' morale soared, and their advance speed dramatically increased!
The Space Wolves were also greatly encouraged, their attacks growing even wilder!
Deprived of its command core, the enemy ship's resistance quickly crumbled.
The Coalition boarding party soon cleared the entire warship, seizing control.
Meanwhile, the other Dark Eldar warships in orbit were also successively destroyed or heavily damaged and forced to flee under the precise strikes of the Iron Hands and Blood Ravens.
Air superiority once again fell into Imperial hands!
Next came the relentless orbital bombardment!
Countless macro-cannon shells, lance beams, and missiles from Titan transport ships rained down like a storm on Soul-Eater's surface!
The bombardment lasted a full day and night!
When the explosions' fire and the rising dust gradually cleared, the entire planetary surface appeared to have been ploughed over; except for the magnificent palace in the core area, protected by a powerful energy shield, which still stood, all other buildings were almost pulverized into dust and ruins.
When the Astartes' drop pods once again fell like meteors, ground resistance had become sporadic and weak.
The Ultramarines Second Company, personally led by Captain Keirano, took the lead!
Their sole remaining Dreadnought (another having been destroyed in the previous Catonia campaign against the Tyranids) advanced with heavy steps, using its assault cannon and heavy flamer to clear a path for the brothers behind it, charging directly towards the isolated palace to engage in the final struggle with the remaining, most elite palace guards!
And as the few surviving, scarred Wraithlords were about to make a move, they were met with the concentrated heavy firepower of the Salamanders and Nova Marines, as well as the seemingly endless artillery bombardment of the Krieg Death Korps!
Soon, one Wraithlord crashed to the ground under the focused fire of plasma cannons and laser cannons!
The remaining few were also at the end of their tether, moving slowly.
Ultimately, under the volley of several Predator tanks' main cannons, and even a fatal blow from a specially modified experimental main battle tank equipped with a miniaturized volcano cannon, these powerful Eldar war machines eventually turned into burning scrap metal and fragments on the ground!
The palace's last line of defense was breached.
The 2nd Company's warriors poured in like a tide.
For the worthless Dark Eldar servants and low-ranking warriors, only cold Bolter fire awaited them.
As for those Dark Eldar officials and nobles, who were dressed in luxurious attire and tried to hide their identities or beg for mercy, the Ultramarines gave them 'special treatment'—after humiliatingly stripping them of all valuables (as spoils of war and intelligence), and using fists and rifle butts to make them fully experience the humiliation of being losers, these 'noble' captives were put in heavy shackles, crammed into transport ships, and escorted back to the highest-level confinement cells of the Macragge's Honour.
They would become spoils of the Imperium, receiving the 'warm' hospitality of the Inquisition, and their knowledge and secrets would be extracted bit by bit to serve the Imperium until their last breath.
The Imperium's judgment never descends lightly, but once it does, it means eternal despair. And the Imperial Coalition's march will continue to the next target, until the fires of war burn into the deepest parts of Commorragh!
The rapid fall of two consecutive Dark Eldar worlds did not make Chapter Master Calgar relax in the slightest. Although the Imperium's military might was sharp, what was most dreaded about the Dark Eldar was not their conventional military strength, but their unpredictable treacherous sorcery, evil creations from the Warp, and the 'Fateweaver' that might be lurking in the shadows, colluding with Chaos. Faced with these supernatural threats, conventional Astartes and mortal forces would inevitably fall into a passive position, and might even pay an unnecessarily heavy price.
After much thought, Chapter Master Calgar's fingers unconsciously tapped the armrest of his command throne, and finally, his gaze became firm. He thought of the specialists they had temporarily 'shelved' who were dedicated to dealing with such problems—although their relationship was strained, for the greater good of the Imperium and to reduce casualties among the warriors, some forces had to be borrowed.
"Go to the confinement zone," Calgar ordered the Captain of the Honor Guard beside him, his voice steady, "'Invite' Captain Keirano of the Grey Knights and his team to my conference room. Note, it is 'invite'."
He specifically emphasized the word "invite," indicating that this was not an escort, but a formal summons.
Soon after, five tall, silver-gray figures, 'accompanied' by the Honor Guard, once again entered the Chapter Master's conference room. Captain Keirano walked at the forefront, his steps still steady, his cold visors scanning the conference room before finally resting on Chapter Master Calgar. Gabriel Storm, Uriel Ventris, Ezekiel Watch, and Raphael Whisper followed closely, their psychic fluctuations like deep pools, silent yet containing terrifying power.
The atmosphere in the conference room instantly became somewhat stagnant. The last time the two sides met here, it was a tense situation, almost on the verge of armed conflict.
Chapter Master Calgar did not beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "Captain Keirano. The Imperium's military operations are steadily advancing, but the Dark Eldar threat is not limited to swords. Their sorcery, potential Warp corruption, and the mysterious forces hidden behind the scenes require professional handling. In the name of the Supreme Commander of the Ultramar Sector of the Imperium, I formally request the assistance of the Grey Knights Chapter. In the next phase of ground operations, I need your strength to deal with these asymmetric threats."
His words were direct and frank, not mentioning previous conflicts, but focusing on the overall interests of the war zone.
Captain Keirano was silent for a few seconds, his rotating visors seeming to flicker slightly. He did not show any dissatisfaction or resentment from being confined, nor did he dwell on the experience of being held at gunpoint before. For the Grey Knights, purifying xenos and Chaos was a sacred duty above all else, and personal grievances were insignificant in the face of the Imperium's grand scheme.
He simply nodded slightly and responded succinctly in his old-fashioned and cold voice: "Exterminating xenos and purifying filth is the meaning of the Grey Knights Chapter's existence. It is our duty, and we will not shrink from it."
No superfluous words, no exchange of conditions, only the purest commitment to duty.
"Very good." Calgar nodded, a slight sigh of relief in his heart. "Then, please prepare immediately. When the next ground operation begins, I hope to see the Emperor's sharpest sword strike down those xenos scum!"
"As you wish." Captain Keirano nodded slightly, then said no more, leading his four team members to turn and leave to prepare for the upcoming battle. The silver-gray figures once again became a hidden but incredibly deadly thorn on the Imperial Coalition's war hammer.
After seeing off the Grey Knights, Chapter Master Calgar had just breathed a sigh of relief when another good piece of news arrived.
Team Leader Tyrus of the Deathwatch personally came to report: "Chapter Master, my team captured an important Dark Eldar individual attempting to escape through a secret passage during the clearing of the 'Soul-Eater' underground area. After initial identification and confirmation of his personal belongings, he is identified as the 'Shadow Lord' of this planet, equivalent to a planetary governor-level figure."
Soon, a Dark Eldar male, dressed in tattered but still visibly luxurious Eldar attire, with scars and fear on his face, was escorted in by Deathwatch warriors. He had clearly undergone a 'Deathwatch-style' capture process and appeared very disheveled.
"Well done, Team Leader Tyrus," Calgar praised. The Deathwatch was indeed exceptionally professional in hunting and capturing high-value xenos targets.
He glanced at the trembling Shadow Lord, and instead of questioning him immediately, he spoke into the communicator: "Bring that Eldar girl, Eiras, over."
A short while later, Eiras arrived in the conference room, led by the Honor Guard. Seeing the disheveled Shadow Lord on the ground, and then the majestic Chapter Master Calgar and the group of murderous Astartes around her, she immediately prostrated herself, not daring to lift her head.
"Eiras," Calgar's voice was unequivocal, "Look up, look at him. Tell me, do you know him? Or, listen to what he says, and then translate it to me in gothic, word for word. If his answers satisfy me, you will be rewarded. If he conceals anything or you lie…" He did not finish, but the threat was clear.
Eiras trembled as she raised her head to look at the Shadow Lord. The other party also looked at her, a hint of surprise and an almost imperceptible, superior air flashing in his eyes.
Calgar began his interrogation, his questions directly targeting the core of Commorragh—the specific coordinates of the Webway entrance, the deployment of defensive forces, the structure of the likely tower area where Vect resided, the locations and relationships of the major Kabals, and any information regarding the 'Fateweaver'.
At first, the Shadow Lord tried to remain silent or offer irrelevant information. But each time, Calgar only needed to give a look, and a nearby Deathwatch warrior or Honor Guard would 'remind' him in an appropriate manner, such as gently 'touching' his wound with a Bolter butt.
Under physical pain, the threat of death, and Eiras' translation, which was fearful but as accurate as possible, the Shadow Lord's psychological defenses rapidly collapsed. He intermittently divulged a large amount of extremely valuable intelligence! This included the coordinates of three relatively stable Webway routes leading to different areas of Commorragh, the defensive weaknesses on the outskirts of the tower, intelligence on several major ports, and even vague rumors about the name 'Fateweaver', which he seemed to know little about but confirmed its existence and extreme mystery.
Calgar and the Captains beside him listened carefully, cross-referencing with previously obtained intelligence, and gradually gained a clearer understanding of the internal situation of Commorragh.
When it was confirmed that no more valuable information could be extracted, Chapter Master Calgar waved his hand.
Two Honor Guard warriors immediately stepped forward and lifted the Shadow Lord.
The Shadow Lord seemed to realize something and cried out in crude gothic, terrified: "No! Don't kill me! I've told you everything I know! Please! Chapter Master! Beg for the Emperor's mercy! I can pledge allegiance! I can…"
Chapter Master Calgar coldly interrupted him, his voice like cold steel: "The Emperor's mercy is to grant you a swift end, not to hand you over to the Inquisition or the Adeptus Mechanicus to experience eternal torment."
He waved his hand: "Take him away."
"No—!" The Shadow Lord's wail was dragged away, and soon, a crisp, brief Bolter shot echoed from outside the corridor. All fell silent.
Eiras collapsed to the ground, her small face devoid of color.
Chapter Master Calgar's mood improved considerably due to the acquisition of crucial intelligence. He glanced at Eiras, who was on the ground, almost fainting from fear, and said to the Captain of the Honor Guard: "This girl… performed well. Give her a better room, increase her food rations, and have logistics find her a few sets of fitting, clean clothes."
He paused, then added: "Tell the 7th Company Captain that from now on, her job will change from cleaning decks to assisting the Tech-Sergeants in the armory, helping the warriors maintain and polish their weapons. Her Eldar hands should be more nimble than holding a mop."
This was undoubtedly a huge 'boon'! Not only did it improve her living conditions, but it also transformed her from the lowest-grade menial into an auxiliary worker with a certain level of technical skill, and she would have more contact with the Astartes (though perhaps only their weapons), greatly increasing her safety.
Upon hearing this, Eiras could hardly believe her ears. After a few seconds of stunned, she reacted and immediately prostrated herself before Chapter Master Calgar, repeatedly kowtowing and stammering her thanks in a tearful, broken gothic: "Thank… thank you, Chapter Master! Thank you for your mercy! I will work hard! I will…"
"Take her away," Calgar waved his hand.
The Honor Guard led Eiras, who was profusely grateful and almost weeping with joy, out of the conference room.
Chapter Master Calgar took a deep breath, his gaze sharply sweeping over the Captains and Team Leader Tyrus present.
"Immediately notify all Imperial Coalition commanders," his voice was filled with resolve, "In one hour, gather in the 'Macragge's Honour' strategic conference room! We have the 'key' to Commorragh; it's time to discuss how to open this dark gate and unleash the Emperor's wrath directly upon the heart of that sinful city!"
The Imperium's decapitation blade, sharpened and ready, was about to precisely strike the heart of Commorragh!