Chapter 295: When 'Liberating' Things, Quality Over Quantity
Asdrubael Vect was Lucan's primary target for this operation. As long as he could be eliminated, the Dark Eldar would be unable to find anyone capable of suppressing the other Kabals in the short term. Lucan was not concerned about Vect's ability to be resurrected with the help of the Haemonculi and the Laughing God. His own Xel'naga projection was hungry. As long as he could kill Vect once, his soul would be devoured by the projection, making resurrection impossible.
Therefore, the assassination of Vect had to be led by Lucan personally.
Following Kerrigan's senses, the warship began to move towards Abathur's location.
While Lucan and his forces were on their way to kill Vect, the Blood Ravens Chapter began to carry out their own mission. Lucan had entrusted them with a task of great importance, one that in his eyes was no less significant than eliminating Vect.
Based on the locations provided by Eldrad, the Blood Ravens fleet split into two parts, heading for different areas: the Crimson Port and Ned Darr.
Both of these regions were secretly controlled by the Kabal of the Poisoned Tongue. Hidden within them were combat drug manufacturing facilities, which were highly likely to contain the Panacea STC template stolen by Lady Malys. This was, of course, just Eldrad's speculation. But based on the intelligence, the creation of such potent combat drugs was almost certainly related to the Panacea STC. It was common knowledge in Commorragh that Lady Malys possessed the Panacea; it was one of the ways she had elevated her own influence.
Other Imperial warships screened the advance of the Blood Ravens' fleet. Using the high mobility of their Strike Cruisers and Battle Barges, the Blood Ravens soon arrived in the skies above their targets.
"Chapter Master," one of his captains, Indrick, said wistfully, "I feel we could surely 'liberate' many fine items in the main city spires."
"Indrick, we are no longer the wandering Chapter we once were, scrambling just to find new recruits. We now have an entire Sector at our back."
But as he said this, both of them were still looking back at the city spires. A part of them was still envious of the Rogue Trader dynasties that had come with Lucan. Their forces had already drop-podded into the cities of Commorragh and were plundering the wealth of the Dark Eldar on a massive scale. Weapons, works of art, technology from the time of the Eldar Empire... in normal times, all of these would have been targets for their "Acquisition Aura." When the Blood Ravens who were not of Dynasty origin fought alongside them, many even felt a sense of kinship. The only difference was that the Blood Ravens did it secretly, while these people robbed them openly. But the essence was the same.
Thinking of the good things in the cities of Commorragh, Indrick still felt an itch he couldn't scratch.
"Indrick, control yourself!" Gabriel chided. "Don't let the newcomers from the Dynasty laugh at us. These men have grown accustomed to the good life under Lord Lucan. Haven't you seen it? In the past, when we saw some boltguns, power armor, or even some vehicles, our eyes would light up. But those new recruits? There's no desire in their eyes at all. They haven't experienced the hard times we did. I don't blame them, but I still believe that the fine traditions of the Blood Ravens must be passed down! It is the tradition of our Chapter! It is our soul!
"During this time of the Blood Ravens' growth, I have thought a great deal. We must change some of our old habits."
The Blood Ravens' Captains and officers all looked at Gabriel with surprise.
"Chapter Master, what do you mean by that? Are we no longer to... acquire... things?"
"What I mean is," Gabriel declared, his voice rising, "from now on, we value quality over quantity! When we 'liberate' things, we must only 'liberate' the truly good things! The items we once cherished are now beneath our notice! If we are to take something, it must be something that can change or influence the entire Imperium!"
Gabriel's words made the Blood Ravens veterans feel their blood boil. Their fighting spirit soared to an unprecedented height.
"Chapter Master, rest assured, the Blood Ravens will forever follow your teachings!"
"Excellent! Just like our target this time: the Panacea. This is the first step in our change! If we succeed, the name of the Blood Ravens will resound throughout the entire Imperium! Go! Take all the useful relics from the armory and distribute them to the companies! Let the little ones who have just joined the Chapter see the true heritage of their brotherhood! They're not the only ones with good things! We have them too!"
Soon, one after another, pieces of wargear that would be considered treasured relics by any other Chapter were taken from the flagship's armory. Powerful master-crafted weapons from various Chapters were brought out: a Blood Angels' inferno pistol, a Space Wolves' frost axe, a Salamanders' melta rifle, an Alpha Legion's heavy sniper rifle... both loyalist and traitor. Who knew how the Blood Ravens had collected all these things.
Gabriel even took out an item that radiated a powerful Chaos corruption. It was placed in a stasis-box from the Dark Age of Technology that could block psychic energies and was carried by the Chief Librarian, Jonah. Jonah himself was even wearing a suit of Grey Knights Aegis Terminator Armour.
Finally, Gabriel himself swapped his own weapons for some of the best items in the armory: the warhammer Forgebreaker, once crafted by Fulgrim and later gifted to Ferrus, and a power fist that had once been used by Rogal Dorn.
As this weapon was taken from the Blood Ravens' armory, Ferrus, who was with Lucan's fleet, suddenly felt a faint sensation in the warp. He looked in the direction of the Blood Ravens.
"Forgebreaker... they have it?!"
He looked at the version of Forgebreaker he had formed in his own hands from psychic energy. An indescribable feeling washed over him. The original is a fake, and I have to use a fake?!
He temporarily pushed the thought aside. These matters would have to be sorted out after the battle.
The Panacea was not just a single drug but a unique and miraculous template that could modify genes. It could be used to create miraculous medicines that could cure most of the diseases in the universe, but it could also be used to create incredibly lethal poisons and super-potent combat drugs.
It had to be said, that old fox Eldrad had not lived for so many years for nothing. Lady Malys was one of the original shareholders of the Ynnari, and Eldrad had been keeping an eye on her. The number of spies he had planted in Commorragh was far greater than one might think. The power of the God of Death was a great attraction to the Eldar. The promise of not being consumed by Slaanesh after death was enough to tempt countless of their race.
To be honest, Lucan was also skeptical whether the Panacea STC was really in this factory. It was all just speculation. But that was also why, although he could have sent the more reliable Artanis or Kerrigan, he had chosen the Blood Ravens for this mission.
In a universe driven by belief, it was best to fight belief with belief. Lucan was now banking on the Blood Ravens' "Acquisition Aura" and their characteristic trait of stumbling upon relics wherever they went to achieve his goal. Before they set out, he had even had the Blood Ravens perform a divination for this mission. After receiving a positive result, he was even more determined to have them carry it out.
"All companies, prepare! This is a battle for the honor of the Blood Ravens! Fleet, intercept any enemies that try to interfere with us! Awaken all the Dreadnoughts! For the Blood Ravens!"
More than half of the Chapter's members participated in this drop pod assault. According to Eldrad's intelligence, the defenses here were very strong. The combat drugs had brought Lady Malys terrifying profits. Not only the Kabals, but also the gang members who lived here were her minions. It was rumored that she had won her original heart in a bet with the Laughing God, and it had been replaced with the heart of the god himself, which had also given her a certain ability to see the future. If the legends were true, she might have already foreseen the coming invasion.
At that moment, Gabriel, wielding Forgebreaker and protected by a master-crafted storm shield from the time of the Great Crusade, led the charge. Several enhanced Chapter Librarians followed behind him, providing him with psychic shields and protection.
As the drop pods descended, the Blood Ravens' purge of these two districts began.
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