Chapter 171: The Astral Claws
The massive fleet split apart as it entered the Ultramar sector.
Some of them needed to go to the various star systems to gather information, some needed to aid the surrounding planets, and some were to head to the weak points of the defensive line, to serve as a supplementary force to guard against the Tyranids' transgressions.
The Dawnbreakers did not disperse.
Referring to the lessons of the Primarchs, and a series of case studies, splitting up the core in this universe was not a good thing. Even a relationship as close as Fulgrim's and Ferrus's, who were so close they could wear the same pair of pants, had turned against each other under the influence of Chaos. The transmigrators were naturally wary of the possible influences.
And the way to prevent influence was naturally to not show any weaknesses.
For example, now, if there was any matter, they could find someone in private. If there were any doubts, they could be reconciled in a timely manner. From time to to time, they could even return to their private space to talk about everything under the sun and dream about the future.
Everyone was very satisfied with this and had adapted to it. They did not want to change this atmosphere.
Unless the current situation had reached a point where they had no choice but to split up, the four of them had no interest in testing how firm their friendship was. Instead, they chose to maintain it.
And so the Dawnbreakers chose to go straight for Calth.
As the command center, they needed to lead the scattered crusade fleet, which was like a school of fish following a whale, to reclaim the eastern space of Ultramar from north to south, to squeeze the living space of the Hive Fleet and force the other party into a decisive battle.
Everyone knew how fast the Tyranids could spawn. If they really let the other party wipe out the several hundred planets in the eastern sector, it was hard to say to what extent the scale of the Hive Fleet would expand.
Fortunately, the Imperial Navy's forces were at an advantage. As long as they didn't get sick, it was only a matter of time before they gradually annihilated the Hive Fleets on the various planets.
One month later, 744.M41 - 1002
Karna, with dark circles under his eyes, entered the office and greeted Romulus, who had been sitting at his desk for who knows how long, "Good morning. What's the situation?"
He had been working hard recently too. The scale of their own fleet had expanded, and he had to constantly show his face to the populace, to pay attention to their lives. Although it was quite happy to see them getting better and better, it was also really tiring. He really couldn't understand how his partner could turn like a machine for several years, with layer upon layer of added pressure and no feeling at all.
A rare smile appeared on the corners of Romulus's mouth. His face, under the light, still had a healthy glow that represented abundant energy.
"Excellent. Before our arrival, the Maelstrom formation, led by the Astral Claws and assisted by the Mortifactors Chapter, had already established a support system for the surrounding star systems. The refugees are being gathered and dispersed here. From this, we can deduce the disaster situation on the various planets."
Karna moved closer to the report and pretended to look at it carefully. "Indeed."
His natural acuity had already more or less glimpsed the whole picture of the event. Karna nodded and then replied, "As expected of the Timely Rain, Huron. A capable person can't be suppressed anywhere."
Romulus hmm-ed in response, "This way, our work will also be much easier. By the way, have the prisoners been sent to the 'cat's nest'?"
Another batch of Alphas had arrived on the ship, but before Arthur could collect them, they had been caught by a Space Wolves squad that had participated in the Damocles Gulf campaign.
The Space Wolves still maintained their Legion structure.
Besides the Great Hunt, where they would gather the vast majority of the Chapter's strength every few decades and, under the leadership of the Chapter Master, launch a concentrated attack on a certain target, the Wolves, like the Black Templars, were also scattered throughout the galaxy. It was very easy to see their figures in a crusade.
It was not strange for this Damocles crusade to have this group of people.
"They've already been put in a shuttle and taken away. Also, the Space Wolves' interrogation of the Alphas has come to an end," Karna replied.
In response, Romulus was slightly surprised and asked, "He confessed?"
The wolf-cubs would not easily give up their prey, especially when facing the Dark Angels and the Ultramarines. One side was a rival who was both an enemy and a friend, the other was a pure, physiological disgust for Roboute Guilliman.
"No. The guy was beaten until he triggered his Sus-an Membrane. He was just rescued. The Dark Angels came over directly to complain about this matter, demanding that the person be immediately handed over to the Ravenwing, to let the professionals handle it. They even sent a Deathwing member to knock all these wolf-cubs down."
Karna recalled the dozen or so Space Wolves, who were squatting and sulking like big golden retrievers who had lost a fight, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Reasonable.
Romulus nodded. "So where are the men? Did they go back?"
"They went back. But they were beaten into boneless chicken fillets. It was Arthur who came and personally performed the Primaris surgery to save their lives."
The Invictarus Suzerains' faces were taut. For some reason, they instinctively felt that this sentence, coming from Karna's mouth, was exceptionally hard to take.
The moment Karna's voice fell, Ramesses walked into the office. "Report, report, quick. By the way, what are you guys talking about?"
He reached out and began to ask Romulus for the un-archived reports. He then noticed the expressions of the two and asked with curiosity.
Drakus looked at Romulus, who was busy with the data exchange, and with a taut face, repeated what Karna had just said.
Ramesses laughed, his hearty voice instantly dispelling the silence in the office. "Hey, why didn't you bring me along for such a fun thing?"
He looked regretful, then began to have the Eldar in his park send a report.
The Eldar's psychic communication method was much more reliable than the astropaths'. But it was still a hardware problem. Currently, only the Space Marine Librarians and the biomancy/precognition dual-psykers could learn it. But it was still better to use.
Although there was still a delay, the crusade fleet finally didn't have to use a first-person, high-latency operating system to PK with the Hive Mind's full-map, top-down view, no-delay star-chart operation.
"By the way, should I let the Wolves cause some more trouble? I heard from Arthur that his Alphas, with the increase in their numbers, have begun to concentrate their infiltration on the high command and the Apothecarion, and their work enthusiasm is not very high anymore," Karna suggested.
"You can." Romulus nodded. At that time, he would let those few wolves go to the Silent Vow to exchange more feelings. Those Alphas would naturally run to the Dawnlight's side.
The Invictarus Suzerains deeply agreed.
You had to know that the development rights of the Northern Gulf sector were now in the hands of the Dawnbreakers. After all, only they knew the stable Warp-routes. The longer the crusade, the more and more affairs would pile up over time.
The sons of Dorn and the Dark Angels were all unreliable. They could only squeeze Alpharius.
At that time, he would give each of them a bucket of blue and gold paint. After painting, they could come to the Dawnbreakers. To continue to stay with the Dark Angels seemed to be a bit like wanting to get into a Dreadnought.
Except for a very small number of Alpharius who clearly knew what they were doing and were also loyal to humanity, the Dark Angels would not have a good look for the other Alphas. Even if you weren't tainted by Chaos, you would still be tormented.
"I'll arrange it. This will be very exciting," Ramesses said with great interest.
"You can." Romulus agreed. "Don't forget to send the message first."
"Hmm." Ramesses waved his hand.
"Then I'm leaving too. I still have to go and show my face." Karna rubbed his face. The appearance of having worked overtime until his nerves were weak immediately became radiant again.
"Alright. Thank you for your hard work."
Karna waved his hand and disappeared at the end of the corridor. Although because of Romulus's system panel, and Ramesses's Warp-park, the four of them theoretically did not need to have these offline interactions, no one showed any impatience.
It was a habit.
A habit they had maintained since they had known each other.
Romulus noticed the system prompt in his vision, then opened a communication channel for an astropath.
"Connect to Calth."
Calth.
As an important industrial planet among the Five Hundred Worlds of Ultramar, Calth had been given an extraordinary meaning in the Word Bearers' invasion ten thousand years ago.
At that time, the Word Bearers, under the guise of a joint military exercise, had entered Calth's orbit, and then had suddenly launched an attack, destroying the Ultramarines' fleet and blockading the planet.
The Ultramarines had resisted stubbornly on the ground, but the Word Bearers had used Warp-sorcery and daemon support, making the battle extremely tragic. Some of the Ultramarines were forced to retreat into the underground facilities to continue the fight. This war did not last long, but it had caused extremely serious trauma to the Ultramarines.
Now, although Calth had been rebuilt, for ten thousand years, the Ultramarines had never forgotten the shame of Calth.
To warn of the lessons of the past, and also out of a desire to protect Calth, the planet's defense system had been built to be impregnable. Five planetary fortresses served as the core, hovering in the planet's outer orbit, making this place an excellent location for a military base.
In the void, several Stormbirds and a large number of heavy transport craft entered the orbit of the star-fortress.
They passed through the dense transport fleet that was clogging the space outside the port and went straight to the fortress-monastery that served as the base for the Maelstrom joint forces.
Above the monastery, the battle banners of the Astral Claws, the Mantis Warriors, and the Lamenters were fluttering in the wind.
At the same time, the Romulus and the others in the Stormbird also received a communication from the Astral Claws, "Inquisitor Aglaia, the Chapter Master has agreed to a meeting with you. We will hold a welcoming ceremony in area A21."
The Astartes in the communication had a somewhat harsh tone, containing an instinctive rejection of the Inquisitor group.
Aglaia did not care about the other's tone. At this moment, she was more concerned about the news of her villa. The agri-garden world of Astria had gone silent after the first message had been sent back. And this planet was right next to Calth.
"Agreed. I just hope we can get to the handover quickly."
"Hmm." The other side cut off the communication very directly, which was not very polite.
"..."
Which genius in the Maelstrom has caused her so much trouble?
Aglaia was very confused, but not too anxious.
She looked up.
At this moment, besides her and the Inquisitorial retinue, in the silent cabin, four figures with different auras stood motionless.
They were the transmigrators who were planning to come and see, under the guise of this meeting.
Sensing her gaze, Arthur gave the Inquisitor a slight nod. He was here to catch Alphas. As a distribution center, Calth, you just had to look at the ships clogging the various starports to know that there was no shortage of Alphas and the Fallen Angels who had come after hearing the news.
And Karna and Ramesses just waved with a grin. These two were purely here for the fun of it, to come and see a famous person in the Warhammer universe when they had nothing better to do.
And Romulus was still looking down and modifying a document. For him, anywhere was an office.
This Lufgt Huron, what kind of person is he, to be able to attract the attention of the four lords?
Aglaia was confused, and it continued until the Stormbird stopped and the ramp opened.
"Lord Huron is waiting for you."
Seeing that the Inquisitor had not moved forward in a hurry after leaving the cabin, but was waiting for something, the Astartes officer who was responsible for welcoming him couldn't help but urge him harshly. He really did not like Inquisitors, especially after his original Chapter had suffered heavy losses in a penitent crusade, and after the crusade was completed, the Chapter Master had gone to Terra to seek justice and had disappeared.
These evil ghosts who borrowed the tiger's might, their actions were truly disgusting.
This emotion continued until the four majestic figures strode out of the cabin, and the heavy vehicles and various weapons and equipment that were being continuously transported out of the transport ship.
For a moment, this Astartes officer was stunned into silence.
"Greetings. How should I address you?"
Aglaia raised her head slightly, her voice holding just the right amount of politeness.
"Andar Skraivok."
This Astartes officer quickly replied.
Aglaia's pupils held a slight thoughtfulness. She quickly searched for the other's information in her mind, and she really did find a trace of disharmony in her intelligence network.
The fragments of memory flashed like a data-stream and finally settled on a marginalized piece of intelligence—the Tiger Claws Chapter, a penitent crusade, a successor Chapter built from the gene-seed tithe of the Astral Claws.
The corners of her lips tightened for a fraction of a second.
This Chapter Master Huron was really bold.
To take in the members of a penitent crusade successor Chapter... it was fine if it wasn't weighed on the scales. But if it was, not even a Founding Chapter could cover for it.
"Hmm. Greetings, warrior of the Astral Claws."
The Inquisitor smiled, deliberately emphasizing her tone.
Andar Skraivok immediately broke out in a cold sweat. He even began to think about whether he could, under the noses of the four, instinctively awe-inspiring lords, make this Inquisitor shut her mouth forever.
Who couldn't put on a face?
Aglaia really needed help and would not be stingy with the reward. But this did not mean that she was a soft persimmon.
"The four lords are the leaders of the crusade fleet. Please have Chapter Master Huron come and welcome them."
Seeing that the intimidation was in place, Aglaia did not press the issue and said very directly.
But to her surprise, the moment her voice fell, a Space Marine in Terminator armor came forward to meet them.
The heavy soles of his boots made contact with the adamantium deck, with a dull impact sound.
This suit of Terminator armor, which had been passed down since the Chapter's founding, its surface was etched with ancient battle scars and scriptures. The thick pauldrons almost blocked half of his vision, making his figure look exceptionally sturdy.
As he took off his helmet, the airflow in the cabin was slightly disturbed, blowing away the sweat on his forehead that smelled of machine oil.
A slightly dark, rugged face was revealed. The eyes under his brow were like a quenched blade, calm but with a sharp edge.
"I am Lufgt Huron."
His voice was low and deep, as if it had been settled after countless battlefield roars.
"Welcome, Lord Romulus, Lord Arthur..."
He said, the corners of his mouth pulling into a restrained arc. The lines of his face were exceptionally clear under the spotlights of the cabin. The smile was not fervent, but it held an unquestionable certainty, as if all variables were already under his control.
This dense confidence instinctively made the people around him feel a sense of goodwill.
Finally, Huron's gaze fell on the Inquisitor, who was far shorter than him.
His eyelids were half-lowered, his gaze coming from the shadow of his thick brow. It was neither impolite, nor was it without a sense of condescending scrutiny.
"Welcome, Inquisitor Aglaia."
(End of Chapter)