After the grand oath-taking ceremony, Alex gave the order to depart.
The fleet comprised two hundred vessels.
Aside from the Imperial Navy warships used for combat, a number of civilian cargo barges were conscripted to transport soldiers and supplies.
All factories and voidports on Planet Atoma were cleared out, and massive amounts of supplies and personnel were loaded into this fleet.
The fleet set course for the Mandeville Point and entered the Warp there.
The storms of Immaterium grew increasingly violent, with a risk of sinking if one was not careful.
However, under Alex's guidance, the numerous ships successfully navigated through the storms, heading towards Syntilla at a speed that astonished onlookers.
"This speed is somewhat abnormal; for the Guide, it's as if the storms don't exist."
Kaiting of the Inquisition keenly observed this.
After the Eye of Terror expanded, many ships sank in the Warp, making faster-than-light travel a dangerous endeavor.
Every ship needed to be ready to disengage from the Warp at any moment.
Moreover, ships traveling through the Warp would more or less experience minor psychic phenomena, leading to common suicides, insanity, and other horrifying incidents.
Yet, under Alex's protection, such incidents did not occur.
Due to the Warp currents, the fleet completed a Warp journey that would normally take several days in just a few hours.
This further solidified the faith of many in Alex.
"Praise the God Emperor; He mercifully sent His messenger."
Cardinal Ignatius prayed devoutly.
"Everything is the Emperor's protection," Marshal Gorman of the Administratum also nodded in agreement.
Praises for Alex rose and fell, but Alex had no time to heed them.
Upon reaching the Syntilla area, a resounding, awe-inspiring, and soul-stirring bell rang out.
"All hands prepare for real-space jump."
The voice of the Celestial Lord echoed through the comms channel.
"All ships confirmed; they are ready for synchronized entry into Holy Terra (Earth/Reality)," a fleet liaison officer reported.
Alex stood at the highest point of the Bridge platform, gazing at the armored blast shields covering the viewports, as if staring at the swirling tide of souls outside.
"Sir," Xia walked over to Alex, "should we immediately jump to Holy Terra (Earth/Reality)?"
Alex did not answer, only giving the order moments later, "All-ship communication."
"Understood," Xia nodded.
A device shaped like a pair of angels flew down, its anti-gravity turbines humming at the bottom, suspending it in the air.
It extended a mechanical arm, bringing a communication speaker to Alex's mouth.
Alex organized his thoughts for a moment, then spoke in a calm and steady voice.
"Everyone, I am pleased to fight alongside you; your courage greatly inspires me."
"The Divine Emperor has shown us, through the return of His son, Roboute Guilliman, that He will never yield to ancient enemies."
"He bestows glory upon us, hoping that we can shape the future and ensure the eternal existence of human civilization."
"Those dark traitors who grovel before their gods and presume to make us kneel—such things cannot be tolerated or forgiven; they will pay the price."
"There will be no compromise, no negotiation, no retreat, and no mercy whatsoever; we will cleanse all enemies."
"Many of you may sacrifice yourselves, but do not fear; the Emperor awaits all who are loyal and dedicated."
Alex raised his voice, filled with majesty and power.
"We will win this victory, reclaim Syntilla; the enemy will despair under our assault, crying out and raising their hands in surrender, and the double-headed eagle banner will once again fly over every world."
"Let us fight in the Emperor's name, let us tear apart the enemy in the Emperor's name, let us win this victory in the Emperor's name."
The soaring battle spirit was like a roar echoing through the fleet.
The blood in the veins of countless Imperial soldiers boiled.
The scenes of the enemy ravaging their homes were vivid in their minds.
Their former homes reduced to ruins, relatives and friends cruelly murdered by the rebels.
Blood debts must be repaid with blood.
"So passionate," Tenjiro exclaimed involuntarily.
"His speech ability is even slightly better than the Warmaster's," Old Bird secretly evaluated.
"..."
After a few minutes of war mobilization speech, Alex issued the war order.
"Adjust reactor output to maximum, charge all lance arrays, load macro cannons, all missiles and torpedoes to launch-ready status, activate conventional engines."
Alex paused.
"In the Emperor's name, let the void burn."
...
The fleet jumped from the Warp to Holy Terra (Earth/Reality), entering the vast and boundless void.
The Geller Field shut down, replaced by void shields.
Conventional engines activated, propelling the warships towards Syntilla Planet.
The Players of the Emperor Niuma Battle Group stood before the viewports, looking at the boundless void outside, discussing the impending battle.
"The battle is about to begin," Tenjiro said, "Could it be that we'll just watch like before?"
"What else can we do?" Twisted person sighed, "We don't have warships."
"You're so stupid; if we don't have warships, can't we just seize them?"
Tenjiro looked at his partner with a hint of exasperation.
Twisted person showed a bewildered expression, "Seize? Seize whose? Besides, that's against regulations. What if the Guide punishes us?"
"Yeah, Tenjiro, don't have bad ideas."
Sea Turtle gazed into the void. After his promotion to Astartes, he had not given up on enhancing his perception.
Thus, his perception was the strongest among the Emperor Niuma Battle Group.
Even from a great distance, he could see specks of light in the void—the propulsion engines at the stern of enemy warships, indicating that the rebels had already detected their arrival.
"You guys," Tenjiro looked speechless.
"The rules are set by the Guide, by the Imperial faction. Can they possibly restrict the rebels?"
"If we seize rebel warships, why would the Guide blame us?"
Sea Turtle's eyes widened, "After all, we grew up in a harmonious social environment; I forgot we could even seize the enemy's!"
Twisted person also had a sudden realization, "Warhammer OL is too realistic; I always treat it like Holy Terra (Earth/Reality), not daring to have any thoughts of illegal activities."
Wrist Bro clapped his hands, his tone excited, "That's right, we can seize enemy warships! If Warhammer doesn't have boarding actions, is it still Warhammer?"
"This suggestion works. I remember when we left Macragge, Guilliman resupplied the Guide with a lot of equipment, including boarding torpedoes specifically for boarding actions."
Zhuge also offered his opinion.
"It seems everyone agrees with this proposal. Now there's only one question left: who goes to the Guide to apply for the mission?"
Tenjiro looked at the Warmaster.
So did the others.
"Why are you all looking at me?" The Warmaster had a bad premonition.
"You're the Guide's champion, and nominally the Chapter Master. If you don't go, who will?" Zhuge said.
"I'm ranked first, so I should go?" The Warmaster looked around at his companions, "What kind of logic is that?"
"You're number one, and the Chapter Master. If the boss doesn't show up, do you expect us little brothers to? If you do that, the gang will easily fall apart, handsome."
"Gang?" Hearing Tenjiro's words, the Warmaster rolled his eyes, "You guys should watch fewer Hong Kong films. You made me the Chapter Master back then just for today, didn't you?"
"I think Tenjiro is right; how can the boss not show up?"
"Go apply quickly; your favorability is high, so the success rate is also high."
"..."
Under the 'coercion and temptation' of his companions, the Warmaster could only set off to the Bridge to see the Guide, to propose the boarding plan and hope for support.
"You plan to find an opportunity to board and seize enemy warships during the void battle later?"
Alex was somewhat surprised after hearing the Warmaster's request, but also relieved.
The Players were adapting to this war and beginning to figure out how to intervene in their own way.
Given more time, they would probably start actively working without needing to be told what to do.
"Yes," the Warmaster said, somewhat nervously. This was his first time actively requesting a mission, and he didn't know if it would be approved.
Alex thought for a moment and then agreed.
Players were different from regular armies.
They were E-demons summoned by the Emperor; death for them was merely a return.
Making them follow rigid rules would be the greatest blasphemy and waste of the term Fourth Scourge.
Giving them ample choices would allow them to unleash their full war potential.
The Warmaster, having received permission, was overjoyed and immediately informed the rest of the Battle Group of the news.
After the Warmaster left, Alex called out, "Cortana."
"Master, do you have any instructions?" Cortana's projection appeared.
"Evaluate the price of all transport and gunboats, mark them, and when the God Chosen use them, make them pay a deposit."
"If the mission is successfully completed, the deposit will be refunded. If the mission fails and the vessel is damaged, the entire deposit will be withheld."
"Also, offer them special credit to prevent insufficient contribution points."
Considering the Players' wild antics, Alex felt that some reward and punishment measures were necessary.
Otherwise, these guys, with the mindset of 'someone else's wife must stand up and pedal,' would recklessly waste military resources, leading to massive losses.
Xia, standing nearby, widened her eyes upon hearing this.
Equipment had to be bought by themselves, and if they had no money, they had to take out a loan.
Now, even the assault boats used for boarding required a deposit, and if they had no money, they had to take out a loan.
If the mission failed, they had to repay it.
Even vampires would steer clear of this series of operations!
"Isn't this a bit too much?!"
Xia said, "The God Chosen are fighting to help us win the victory."
"No!" Alex shook his head, "This is the best way; they might even be grateful to us."
What kind of Players aren't exploited?
If Players aren't given difficulties, where will they overcome them?
If they don't overcome difficulties, where will the joy come from?!
...
In the low orbit of Syntilla Planet, a magnificent voidport.
Dao Ba was watching the treasures and slaves being transported in batches at the voidport, grinning from ear to ear.
Dao Ba was a notorious pirate chieftain in the Calixis Sector, named for the intersecting scars on his face.
He operated in important shipping lanes and hubs within the Sector, plundering merchant ships along the way, and once became a prominent figure in the Sector.
The Imperial Navy had attempted to eradicate him, but he repeatedly escaped due to informants within their ranks.
After the Colin Family rebelled against the Imperium, they promised him that any loyalist world, once conquered, would be free for him to plunder, in an effort to win him over.
Such favorable terms, Dao Ba naturally accepted with delight.
"We're quite impressive now; we never dared to dream of plundering Syntilla before."
A pirate, his voice excited, excitedly shouted while cracking his whip to drive the ragged captives.
"That's right; those bastards used to chase me so miserably. Who would have thought the tables would turn, and now it's their turn to be unlucky."
Dao Ba, with his messy hair, was incredibly smug.
At this moment, a pirate shouted over the comms.
"Boss, sensors detect multiple rapidly approaching engine signatures."
"By the Emperor's grandmother's leg, are that many people coming to share the cake?"
Dao Ba didn't even consider the loyalist faction.
Those guys had already been routed and shattered.
Unless they had help from the Imperial Navy in other sectors, it would be impossible to reverse the situation.
But that was impossible; there was fighting everywhere in the galaxy now.
The Imperial Navy in other places had enough problems of their own and couldn't provide support.
The only possibility was that other factions wanted a piece of the pie.
Currently, several factions were vying for Syntilla.
After all, it was a capital world; even if it was reduced to ruins, it still held astonishing wealth.
"They haven't responded," his subordinate said, "Still approaching. Estimated to enter attack range in fifteen minutes."
"Tell the lads to speed up the loading," Dao Ba told his subordinate, "Once it's on our ship, it's ours."
"Yes, Boss!" The subordinate beside him cheered.
About ten minutes later, a terrified voice came through the silent comms.
"Oh no, they've opened fire!"
"This fleet isn't ours; they're loyalists, they're loyalists!"
Dao Ba's face changed.
Weren't the loyalists crushed?
How could they appear at Syntilla?