Upon hearing this, Magnus glanced over his shoulder and ordered the Blood Raven crew, "Notify Gabriel—tell them to avoid direct engagement with the enemy as much as possible, and withdraw from the Death Star's strike range as soon as possible."
"Yes, Father."
The Blood Raven communications officer immediately contacted Gabriel Angelo, who was stationed at Scarif.
"Brother."
At that moment, Lorgar, noticing Magnus's gaze returning to the phase space outside the observation window, spoke up at the appropriate moment, "If possible, we should try to seize the Death Star and make it our own 'assault weapon.' With the Death Star, the coming unification war would be infinitely easier."
"I do intend that," Magnus replied with a nod of agreement.
According to our father's words, in the "17th" universe (Star Wars), whoever possesses the Death Star can directly become the hegemon of the "17th" galaxy. Although this assertion is rather absolute, no civilization or force in the "17th" universe can truly oppose a superweapon capable of destroying an entire planet in one shot.
In other words, the threat of the Death Star would severely damage the morale of the Galactic Empire and dramatically shorten the time needed for the unification war.
"However, we must proceed with caution," Magnus continued in a low, unwavering tone. "While the power of the Death Star is terrifying, its existence is not only a strategic advantage but also a double-edged sword. Seizing it means that, once it is lost, the enemy will launch an all-out counterattack. If we rashly occupy it, we may instead fall into an enemy ambush. Most importantly, the internal defenses of the Death Star are complex; we need to comprehensively assess our subsequent actions."
Normally silent Curze nodded slightly in agreement, his voice a bit hoarse as he added, "Yes, brother. We must ensure that before the enemy even detects us, we seize it with the force of thunder, and then quickly consolidate our hold."
"Heh," Lorgar let out a light laugh, then turned his gaze to Magnus. "Little brother, infiltration is your specialty. Why not lead a team of the Scourged Children to attempt a takeover of the Death Star's central command? What do you say, brother?"
Lorgar's proposal was clearly driven by an eagerness for proactive action—not only a desire for tactical victory but also a recognition that this key operation would earn greater merit for himself and for Curze in our father's eyes.
Lorgar's eyes sparkled as if he had already planned how to leverage this opportunity to make himself and Curze appear even more vital. At that moment, Lorgar raised his brows, seemingly waiting for Magnus's approval and eager for a word of affirmation.
Curze remained silent, standing aside without the urgency that Lorgar displayed.
In truth, without needing psionic perception or excessive speculation, Magnus immediately saw that Lorgar possessed a strong "utilitarian" streak and a desire to shine, while Curze was more measured and results-oriented. Their silence spoke volumes about their personalities.
After several seconds, Magnus finally spoke in a low voice, "Very well. Then, while the main Blood Ravens force engages the enemy, Curze will lead the Honor Guard of the Lords of Midnight to fully carry out the infiltration and assault on the Death Star."
He paused and then continued with steely authority, "As for Lorgar and your Legion of the Whisperers, you are to capture Darth Vader—failure is not an option. Understood?"
His tone was emotionless yet carried an undeniable air of authority that left both Lorgar and Curze with no doubt.
Clearly, Magnus was subtly "warning" Lorgar, or rather kindly reminding him not to overstep his bounds—otherwise, he would be the first to face repercussions.
Thus, Magnus assigned Lorgar the task of capturing one of the most formidable combatants in the "17th" universe. Success was expected; failure would result in severe consequences. Although Magnus did not explicitly state what those consequences would be, neither Lorgar nor Curze dared to object. Despite each having different personal ambitions—especially Lorgar—the decision had been made, and they would undoubtedly give it their all.
Curze responded first in a steady, low voice, "Understood, brother." His words, though few, carried a firm determination and absolute confidence in his own abilities.
Lorgar also nodded, his eyes glimmering as he said, "Yes, brother."
"Hmm."
Magnus replied briefly, his tone calm as if unaffected by the moment, then returned his focus to the observation window, absorbing the phase space outside and the Force that permeated this universe.
As for Lorgar and Curze, their relationship was reminiscent of legendary pairs—like Kiriman and Saint Gileas, Dorn and Volgan, or Magnus and Horus—forming an inseparable bond. These two younger Gene-Primals, having grown up under our father's protection in a uniquely privileged environment, naturally developed a close relationship. Even though Curze, having been forced to mature early due to an encounter with the Arakchi swarm in his youth, is technically younger, Lorgar is still considered his elder brother.
For the past five years, the Main Universe Empire had not opened a space gate, keeping its focus on internal stability and gradual expansion. This allowed our father ample time to nurture the growth of these two brothers, imparting not only knowledge but also emphasizing the shaping of moral character and a sense of responsibility.
They were able to refine themselves in peace, and even enjoyed a more delicate emotional upbringing than most of their peers. Our father's unconditional care was bestowed upon them every moment, and the attentive teachings of Dr. Alexia and Queen Tinas further elevated their wisdom and capabilities. Moreover, the goddess of war and wisdom, Athena, sometimes personally guided their martial skills and strategic vision—a privilege not every Gene-Primal could enjoy.
This attention also led many, including Magnus, to feel a touch of envy toward Lorgar and Curze. Magnus himself was relatively content, but he suspected that the one most displeased by it all might be Mortarian. However, all the Gene-Primals were generally tolerant of Lorgar and Curze—after all, they were the youngest.
Lorgar and Curze grew increasingly close through their shared experiences, play, learning, and their first real battle together. Lorgar was always full of energy and ambition, eager to find his place in every event, hoping to prove himself through every victory and battle; Curze, on the other hand, was more reserved, thoughtful, and focused on deliberate planning, unwilling to rush to show off yet intolerant of any injustice.
Their contrasting personalities only made their bond stronger. Whenever Lorgar attempted to charge forward, eager to showcase himself, he would naturally take Curze along. Their mutual support continually propelled them onward. This explains why Lorgar would volunteer on behalf of Curze to secure additional combat merits and honor.
As for the main forces of the Legion of the Whisperers and the Lords of Midnight, they were temporarily stationed in the Main Universe's solar system, forming a vast defensive force together with the Flame Lizards.
The total number of Astartes in these two legions had now exceeded sixty thousand. And if you include auxiliary forces and other personnel, the overall number easily surpassed eight million—a military scale not to be underestimated.
Yet compared to older, battle-hardened legions with deep experience and tactical accumulation, the Whisperers and Lords of Midnight were somewhat "small potatoes." Those legions that had been tempered in the crucible of countless wars possessed combat experience and tactical reserves that these newly formed legions could not match.
Furthermore, our father intentionally restricted the rapid development of the Whisperers and Lords of Midnight, because the number of mature Astartes in the Empire was nearing saturation. Too many would only exacerbate resource and budgetary strain. Although this strategy limited their growth speed, Magnus saw it as a necessary step for the Empire's long-term planning.
Short-term resource conservation was to ensure that the Empire could maintain a sustainable advantage in the long run.
Meanwhile, the situation on Scarif was changing rapidly and dramatically.
A massive, cold, and foreboding Death Star had completed its hyperspace journey and "docked" within Scarif's gravitational field. Viewed from Scarif's surface, the Death Star appeared almost like a silent moon, hanging in the sky with its shadow casting a pall over the land.
Its presence was oppressive, like a ticking nuclear bomb ready to unleash its devastating power at any moment.
Accompanying the Death Star was a Galactic Empire fleet that had reached low orbit around Scarif. This fleet was composed of five Star Destroyers and over twenty other warships, with numbers and combat power far exceeding that of the Blood Ravens and the Intelligence Department's fleet.
In comparison, the Blood Raven fleet was extremely small and fragile. At that moment, they only had two Paris-class ships, one Diana V-class stealth ship barely fit for combat, and one captured Star Destroyer that had sustained multiple internal damages.
If forced to face the full firepower of the Galactic Empire's fleet, the situation would be extremely unfavorable.
Moreover, the mere sight of the Death Star was a tremendous threat to the Blood Raven fleet. Its long-range strike capability could obliterate an entire planet in an instant, and its colossal mass left little room for any approaching ship to escape, acting like a death sentence.
Although Gabriel Angelo believed that his brothers and ships had a certain capacity to fight back, any attempt to directly confront such overwhelming odds was irrational—practically a suicide mission.
Thus, Gabriel decisively took emergency measures. Even before the Death Star and the Galactic Empire fleet arrived, he had prepared a detailed deployment and contingency plan based on critical information provided by the Intelligence Department.
Consequently, Gabriel arranged for the transport fleet to recover the main forces deployed on the surface and any captured prisoners, pulling them back to the ships to avoid direct strikes from the Death Star's formidable firepower.
At the moment the Death Star and the Galactic Empire fleet reached Scarif's low orbit, Gabriel promptly chose to retreat, ordering the fleet to initiate a short-range jump, quickly pulling away from Scarif's battle zone.
Even without orders from the Gene-Primals, he refused to engage in a head-on confrontation—the outcome would have been disastrous. He had to ensure that his brothers and all his subordinates would not pay a heavy price in a lopsided battle.
At that moment, inside the hold of the stealth-class ship, an indescribable sense of oppression filled the air.
This applied especially to the rebel members such as Cassian, Baze Malbus, and the Erso family, who exchanged glances filled with confusion and shock.
Although they had witnessed Astartes giants during their forced entry into phase space, they never expected the Blood Ravens to break through Scarif's defenses and seize control in just over ten minutes.
For these battle-hardened rebels, what they witnessed was nothing short of astounding.
Especially when they shared a screen that vividly displayed the Blood Ravens as a "human-like iron torrent," their shock deepened further.
The ensuing struggle for orbital control, combined with the dense barrage of missiles that decimated the Galactic Empire's TIE fighter swarm, left them breathless.
Every precise strike and every perfectly executed maneuver made Cassian and his comrades keenly aware of the Blood Ravens' nearly unparalleled combat power.
However, this sense of awe did not last long. With the arrival of the Death Star and the Galactic Empire fleet, the atmosphere among the rebels suddenly shifted.
Their faces began to show obvious worry and anxiety.
Gazing at the Death Star slowly approaching, its oppressive presence palpable even through the external windows, they realized that while the Blood Ravens had displayed outstanding combat capability, overcoming such a formidable enemy remained an uncertain proposition.
The Blood Ravens' choice to temporarily retreat and execute a tactical withdrawal triggered varied reactions among the rebel members. It stirred memories of past battles for Cassian and his comrades.
Whether it was a confrontation with the Empire or other hostile forces, the rebels' usual strategy was to strike quickly and then withdraw, seeking another opportunity.
They had hoped that the Blood Ravens would press on with unstoppable momentum, clashing head-on with the Death Star and miraculously securing victory, but now they felt a tinge of disappointment.
At the same time, they knew all too well that a retreat was the wisest course. Yet, to completely defeat the Galactic Empire, they still had a long way to go.
...
In a corner of the hangar, the blind Chirrut Imwe maintained his composure throughout. He neither displayed excitement at the Blood Ravens' triumph nor despair at their retreat. Instead, he seemed to be gazing through the observation window and the bulkhead, "staring directly" into the darkness within one of the Star Destroyers.
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Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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