Hydra Fort was a massive fortress world within the Imperium of Man, located near the far north edge of the Solar Star Field and the southern edge of the Hazy Star Field, making it the most important and powerful naval base of the region.
Since it lay between two stellar systems, its naval fleets responded to distress calls from both. Hydra Fort was only a few warp jumps away from the Eye of Terror, so its fleets also helped bear the burden of defending Cadia against the Void Onslaught of the Black Legion.
Hydra Fort suffered heavily when the Gate of Cadia fell: countless ships were burned to wreckage in the void, innumerable Imperial soldiers died, their bones claimed by the cold abyss. Yet Hydra Fort, though battered, remained under Imperial control, repulsing four Chaos assaults in recent months. The Chaotic traitors' attacks broke again and again upon the fortress' high walls.
In order to oppose the Crusade of Slaughter and block the Blood God's spear aimed toward Terra, Lady Cassandra commanded the Third Expeditionary Fleet to set out from Earth. After a difficult warp journey, they finally arrived and joined the local naval fleet. Striking contingents that had withdrawn from the Battle of Velmore III, led by a Saint-Aster-class battlecruiser, were also stationed here, along with forces pulling back from other warzones. With all these fleets combined, the Third Expeditionary Fleet reached an almost surreal size.
"I've served the navy over thirty years, but never seen so many warships gathered in one place!"
"With the Third Fleet, we could take back the Mordian region in short order."
"..."
Among them was Rostov, who had escaped on the Saint Aster and rushed to Terra to warn of the coming threat. For years, Rostov had investigated the Blackstone smuggling operations of the Blackstone. Though the Imperium understood little about the substance's secrets, traders and adventurers already used it regularly in the wild. They might not know how it worked, but that didn't stop them from leveraging it.
As such, a black market emerged to meet the ongoing demand for black stone. During investigations, Rostov uncovered units secretly collecting the substance—leads that led him to uncover and destroy several heretical cults.
While on Velmore III, he found fresh leads: the traitors of Chaos had loaded a massive Blackstone artifact into a daemon engine, capable of tearing the veil between the real and the warp.
The Third Expeditionary Fleet quickly arrived at Hydra Fort. Rostov called for a war council to plan operations to intercept the Crusade of Slaughter and acquire the Blackstone engine for study. Attendees included generals from the Astra Militarum, chapters of Space Marines, Sisters of Silence, Sisters of Battle, Mechanicus, Titan Orders, Knight Households, and more.
Given the immense narrative significance, Datch also attended. His entrance, however, was somewhat unconventional—rather than take a shuttle like everyone else, he used a Sadako video tape and crawled out of the projected screen, right in front of everyone.
This unexpected scene sent many who'd never heard of him—including Captain Athagey of the Saint Aster and Rostov—into a panic, screaming as if the place had been infiltrated by Chaos. They grabbed their guns, but the Third Fleet officers managed to stop them before they fired.
"If you don't want to be charged with treason, put your gun down, Inquisitor."
Commander Vitrian Messinius of the White Shield Battle Group stepped forward. Messinius, originally 10th Company Captain of the White Shields and new recruit leader, had led a delegation to support Cadia at the 13th Black Crusade. There, he unexpectedly witnessed the return of the Primarch, the fall of Cadia, and the heavy losses his Chapter suffered, forcing their retreat. He thus went on a pilgrimage to Terra with the Primarchs, fighting for the Imperium's survival. Along the way, Messinius personally witnessed the Nameless One's deeds and understood the almost peerless status he held in the Empire—second only to the supreme lord, and in some ways, exceeding even that, as not even Primarchs were permitted joyrides in the Terran Palace.
Rostov: "Can you give me a reason? That guy acts like a heretic."
Messinius: "He stilled the plague on Macragge, saved the Primarchs, saved the technomagi on Mars, defeated the Crimson King Magnus, entered the Throne Room, commanded the Custodians, became Primarchs' most trusted ally, and crushed the High Lords' rebellion. Pull that trigger and the Primarch, even the Emperor, won't forgive you. Earth and Mars will call you traitor. Trust me, you do not want to anger him."
To be honest, Datch was just a step away from becoming the greatest hero of the Imperium, the sort whose name would be sung until humanity and civilization themselves fell.
Rostov eyed Datch bouncing around the room and put his weapon away.
Rostov: "He seems loyal, though his actions certainly qualify as heresy."
Athagey: "Agreed. Among the loyal, who can just leap out of a screen? Clearly the work of Chaos, no?"
Cassandra: "Mind your words. Do not speak lightly. The Nameless are extremely special; it is not for us to judge arbitrarily."
"The Primarch himself personally instructed him to support the Third Fleet in the coming fight against the Crusade of Slaughter."
With Cassandra's clarification, misunderstandings were resolved, and everyone returned to discussing strategy. Datch, meanwhile, wandered about the hall, fiddling with everything. Provoking the NPCs was half the fun.
Suddenly, Datch spotted a strange-looking xenos in the crowd—short, stout, barrel-bodied, flat-headed, big, teary, widely set eyes, clad in black metal armor, gnawing on some odd dried food. Intrigued, Datch opened their info panel.
[Name: Cheelche]
[Chikanti race life form, xenos mercenary under Inquisitor Rostov]
Datch: "Good grief. Daemon inquisitors consorting with daemons, xenos inquisitors harboring xeno mercenaries. This is genuine Warhammer and true Imperial style."
Datch silently gave a thumbs up—the court was doing business as usual.
Cheelche: "What are you doing?"
Cheelche looked up cautiously at the burly, power-armored human. If a fight broke out, she would obviously lose.
Datch, ever curious, reached out and poked her face—it felt rough, unlike human skin, tough scales layered underneath.
Cheelche: "Speaking human isn't special! Many xenos learn the language to trade for resources. Surely a mercenary knowing Imperial tongue isn't so rare?"
Datch: "You can get mad, too? The devs are amazing. This game covers every detail, even minor xeno NPCs have full storylines!"
This Warhammer Universe VR game was astonishingly immersive—almost obsessively detailed.
Cheelche: "So what exactly do you want?"
She eyed Datch warily, regretting ever following Rostov to the human fortress; if these people attacked, she'd have no way to escape.
About to tease the xenos further, Datch noticed a golden question mark appear on his minimap.
Datch: "Hmm...a mission?"
Opening the minimap, he saw the golden mark appeared above Rostov's head. Ignoring Cheelche, Datch turned to accept the quest.
Cheelche: "Utterly unfathomable..."
But she wasn't foolish enough to chase him; chewing her rice stick, she resigned herself to the xenos human's antics.
…
Meanwhile, Rostov's discussion reached a critical stage. Seeking privacy, he activated a personal field, bringing only Cassandra, Messinius, and Athagey inside.
Rostov: "The Regent trusts you. Even if I die unexpectedly, you can report to him."
He signaled Athagey to join as mediator. Once the room was secure, with all irrelevant parties cleared out, Datch just strolled right in, ignoring the court's authority and eavesdropping unabashedly. Everyone—inside and out—was speechless.
Messinius: "Nameless One."
"Is there something you need?"
Datch just walked past them, addressing Rostov:
Datch: "Inquisitor Rostov, is there anything I can help you with?"
A bit lost, Rostov replied:
Rostov: "There's nothing for you to—"
Datch: "Skip, Inquisitor. How can I help you?"
Messinius nodded: "Just give him the mission. With the Nameless One's help, any issue can be solved."
Rostov muttered that he felt it was a bad joke, but still complied.
Rostov: "The Crusade of Slaughter is carrying a terrifying Blackstone artifact that cuts the veil between reality and the warp. We must capture and study it. If you can help, I'd appreciate it."
Immediately, a mission prompt flashed before Datch:
[Mission: Assist Inquisitor Rostov in stopping the Chaos plot and capturing the Blackstone construct.]
— Mission Rewards: 1500 EXP, 1500 Points, +200 Reputation, and Popeye's Spinach x1.
Popeye's Spinach?
Eating it granted superhuman strength, letting you crush steel with your bare hands. Maybe it would let him grab Abaddon's soul and make a clean escape?
Datch: "Of course, I'll help."
He accepted the job and left.
Athagey: "Does the Nameless always act that way?"
Cassandra: "I've heard he's always been like that."
"But don't worry, with his help, recapturing the Blackrock construct is basically guaranteed."
Rostov: "You place great hope in him…"
Messinius: "Not really hope, just fact. When the Nameless takes action, he's never failed. Though sometimes he helps, sometimes he ignores us, so we've gotten in the habit of never including him in our plans."
Rostov: "Have you tried contacting him?"
Cassandra: "Well... you just can't. He'd rather play cards with the crew than listen to us strategize."
Athagey shook his head at the strange logic. But Messinius interrupted: "Enough—let's get back to the tactical arrangement against the Crusade of Slaughter. Even with the Nameless's help, this will take steady progress."
Cassandra nodded: "We must take the entire Mordian Strait, expel the traitors completely, and win the Expedition's first great victory!"
"Those damned fools forget one thing: the Imperium of Man is the universe's true master. Now we show them—remind them of the terror and humiliation that comes from facing our true might."
After much discussion, and in the shadow of a suspected mole leaking high-level plans, only the four insiders knew the whole truth—others followed only general orders to avoid tipping off Chaos and risking ruinous defeat.
Lady Cassandra issued the battle commands: fleets launched from Hydra Fort in all directions, counterattacking the Crusade of Slaughter. Under Rostov's guidance, the Saint Aster battlegroup began chasing the Hellship carrying the Blackstone construct. Chaos traitors used warp engines, overlaying their ship between realspace and the warp, guarded by scores of daemons.
Even after multiple sightings, even after launching strike groups, the Imperials never caught up. A second strike force ventured into deep space, but never returned—presumed destroyed.
To solve this, Rostov built a machine for tracking the daemon ship, but the cost was grim: its navigator would die in the process.
Navigator Scolos EvHaverad craved glory and took on the grim task, asking only that his deeds be brought back to his homeworld, a statue erected in his honor.
Scolos: "Dying with old humiliations unavenged—that is unbearable. Please bring word of my achievement home and tell them Scolos EvHaverad was a loyal son of the Imperium."
Once he finished, Scolos entered the xenos-built machine and began his fatal task. It tore at his soul and mind; he screamed incessantly as bloody tears ran from his warp eye. The group mourned his death.
But Datch suddenly appeared, cheerfully hammered him with a golden mallet, and—presto—the warp fire burning the navigator went out. Scolos was fully restored, even rid of his mutations.
Rostov gawked, stunned:
Rostov: "How…how did you do that?!"
The navy officers were equally shocked, but Datch ignored all of them—it was just another opportunity; there was an exclamation mark over the navigator's head, saving him granted bonus XP and credits.
Back to business: Scolos soon pinpointed the Hellship's coordinates.
Scolos: "Move out!"
He broadcast the enemy coordinates. Athagey ordered a warp transition without a moment's hesitation. Instantly, bells rang all over the ship, and everyone rushed to their stations and safety harnesses.
The Saint Aster battlegroup dropped into realspace right behind the daemon vessel—an ancient ship covered in flesh, mouths, fangs, and eyes, dragging a giant planet with stone engines.
Five cruisers and escorts enclosed it.
Athagey: "Fire! In the Emperor's name, destroy them!"