While the other two squads were fighting to reclaim the data processing hub and the main communication control room,
Qin Yun, possessing the strongest combat power, was not idle either.
He led a squad composed of Little Chubby, Wrist-bro, Twisty (Twisty People Need Twisty Hammers),Turtle (Let Me Treat You to Turtle Soup), and Baldy (Genestealer! I Knew You Weren't Human Right Away).
Their objective was to retake control of the command hall.
That was the location of the ship's captain and his staff.
It was also the brain of the entire warship.
If the various subsystems of the Imperial Glory were still operational, the situation of the entire ship could be monitored from there.
Qin Yun's level wasn't much higher than the players'.
But the empowerment of being a Living Saint, coupled with having more skills than the players, made his combat power far surpass theirs.
Under his leadership, this squad's advancement speed could be described as exaggerated.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Before the grand doors of the command hall, a large number of mutants prowled.
Gunshots rang out, and the mutants' heads exploded one after another.
They tried to charge, but Little Chubby and the others coordinated well.
Usi crossfire to gun them down.
Soon, the battle was over.
A pile of corpses lay before the door.
Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the fight was over,
A mutant charged out from a side room.
It opened its bloody maw, revealing sharp fangs, and roared as it pounced at Qin Yun.
Qin Yun's expression was calm. He was no longer the rookie whose legs turned to jelly at the sight of mutants.
He swung his entrenching tool, accurately hitting the mutant's head.
The terrifying force sent the mutant flying, then crashing heavily into the distance.
The mutant tried to get up, but Little Chubby and the others immediately aimed their guns and riddled it with holes.
Qin Yun walked to the door, entered the password on the control panel, and opened the blast door.
"Prepare for combat, might be a tough fight," Little Chubby shouted.
The door slowly opened, everyone raised their guns, ready for a fierce battle.
But there were no enemies inside, only corpses everywhere.
The command hall was magnificent.
Several massive pillars supported the heavy dome.
Layers of workstations were mostly damaged.
Internal components were torn out, exposed cables crackling with electrical sparks.
There were no mutants in the hall, only corpses everywhere.
Most of the corpses still retained human form.
Their heads and torsos were covered in wounds from lasers and bolts.
Clearly, these people had been executed before fully transforming.
"All dead," Little Chubby widened his eyes. "What happened?"
"You'll have to ask the Emperor that," Wrist-bro shrugged.
"You're just not loyal enough, always thinking about asking the Emperor. Can't you be more proactive and figure it out yourselves?"
Twisty complained while holding his lasgun, looking around for enemies.
"To think there are still souls on this ship that have not been enlightened."
A hoarse voice sounded within the flickering lights of the hall.
The players instantly tensed up, aiming their guns towards the source of the voice.
A man in a naval uniform, with a bolt pistol and power sword hanging at his waist, emerged from the darkness.
The man's face seemed cursed, ferocious and horrifying.
One eye looked as if it had melted and solidified, flesh stuck together.
The other eye was replaced by a crimson cybernetic eye.
Two data cables extended from the eye socket, implanted into the back of his head.
The man grinned, revealing a long tongue, looking malevolently at Qin Yun's group.
"A mini-boss?"
"He's got a bolt pistol, a power sword, and protective armor. Definitely a major boss, not a mini-boss."
"Brothers, this is our chance to get rich! We have to take him down."
"Contribution Points! They're all Contribution Points! A walking Contribution Point!"
The players' voices were just chaotic noise to the man.
Like the eerie whispers of daemons, completely incomprehensible.
He frowned, then spoke, "Pledge your loyalty to me, pitiful creatures."
"I am Pascal Hanemann, Captain of this battleship."
"Sorry, we won't betray the Emperor," Qin Yun shook his head.
"Chaos is the ultimate end."
"I don't think so," Qin Yun raised his gun. "Open fire, kill him."
The players, following the order, opened fire simultaneously.
The Chaos Captain displayed astonishing speed and resilience.
He dodged most of the gunfire.
The small portion that hit him failed to cause fatal damag.
Then, he raised his bolt pistol and fired at the players.
Bang! Bang!
Where the bolts landed, debris flew everywhere.
"The bolt pistol's power is this astonishing??"
Twisty hid under a workstation, not daring to lift his head.
One bolt could make his head explode.
Little Chubby fired a few shots, then ducked back, saying: "From the supernatural Warp daemons to the purely physical Necrons."
"There's nothing one bolt can't solve. If there is, then use two."
"In Warhammer, bolts are fierce, they're strong. If you shoot bolts well, daemons and xenos can't escape."
Twisty rolled his eyes. "Spouting such philosphy, do you want to enter the Schola Progenium?"
"I do, but the key is I can't pass the political screening," Little Chubby grinned.
"Take my laser, Chaos lackey!"
Baldy shouted while trying to shoot the Chaos Captain in the head.
Seeing the other turn and aim his gun at him, he hurriedly hid behind a pillar.
Bang! Bang!
Bolts struck the pillar.
Explosions sent stone chips flying.
Baldy hid behind the pillar, trembling.
Qin Yun seized the opportunity, holding his entrenching tool, and pounced from the side.
The Chaos Captain swung his power sword.
The blade, covered in black arcs of electricity, was extremely sharp.
Upon collision, the entrenching tool was severed.
The red-hot cut surface emitted scorching heat.
Seeing the other turn the gun barrel to give him a taste of bolt,
Qin Yun quickly activated the skill [Emperor's Light].
Golden light erupted, making the Chaos Captain scream and stagger back.
Qin Yun wrested the power sword from him, activated the skill [Purification], and dispelled the Chaotic taint.
The dancing arcs of electricity turned from pitch black to dazzlingly bright.
Flipping the blade, he thrust forward, easily piercing the Chaos Captain's body.
Making it howl in agony, staggering to its knees.
Qin Yun intended to behead him with one strike.
But he saw the evil, filthy light in Pascal Hanemann's eyes had already dissipated.
Replaced by tears and pain.
Qin Yun stopped his action.
Pascal Hanemann's voice was full of pain. "I tried to stop all this. I killed them, but I myself fell."
"I was too weak, I yielded to the power of Chaos. I failed the Emperor. I broke the oath I once swore."
"Grant me mercy, I beg you. Let this end."
Qin Yun sighed softly, his voice becoming gentle.
"No! Captain Pascal Hanemann, you have not failed the Emperor. He is proud of you, for you have done your utmost, given everything."
Pascal Hanemann's tormented heart found some solace.
He presented the bolt pistol to Qin Yun with both hands.
"This is my family heirloom. I hope it can be of some help to you."
"Now, please, grant me mercy. My soul has been tainted. Only death can free me."
Pascal Hanemann looked up at the power sword wreathed in electricity in Qin Yun's hand, a look of longing desire on his face.
Qin Yun nodded. He gripped the power sword tightly and slowly raised it.
"Loyal Imperial warrior, Captain Pascal Hanemann, the Emperor has witnessed your deeds and courage. The Emperor has witnessed your indomitability and loyalty."
"In the name of the Emperor, I grant you mercy. In the name of the Emperor, I grant you forgiveness. May your soul find the Throne."
The blade fell.
Pascal Hanemann showed a relieved smile.
His lips moved, uttering his last words.
"For the Emperor. For Mankind."
"Somehow, I feel a bit sad!!" Little Chubby watched this scene, his eyes slightly moist.
"The loyal die by betrayal, the devout die by corruption. A classic Warhammer feature, one must experience it."
Twisty bent down and picked up Pascal Hanemann's head, which had rolled aside.
He placed it next to the headless body.
"Pascal Hanemann did well enough. Expecting a mortal to maintain sanity and loyalty when facing the Warp directly is unrealistic."
"Another day of loyalty, for Mankind," Baldy said.
Qin Yun purified the bolt pistol of its Chaotic taint, hung it on his belt, then walked towards the control console.
Most workstations were damaged, but some were still usable.
Qin Yun rebooted the operating system and activated the still-functional facilities.
The hum of machinery sounded, projections flickered into shape.
Various systems performed self-checks, accompanied by dense prompt sounds; some workstations returned to normal operation.
[Warning: Engines Offline]
[Warning: Auspex Array Offline]
[Warning: Power Reactor Feedback Anomalous]
[Warning:]
[...]
Dense red prompts appeared, showing Qin Yun and the others just how terrible the situation of the Imperial Glory was.
A major overhaul would be needed before it could be put back into service.
[Distress Signal Received from Planet Astroma. Open?]
Qin Yun noticed this prompt.
He opened this distress message on the operation interface.
'I want to see what it was about!!'