"Which outpost?"
"What xenos? And how many troops, by what means did they attack?"
Hearing that the xenos had caused more trouble, Horus couldn't help but frown.
The purge of the xenos in the system was almost complete, and they had been continuously advancing with the progress of the battle.
Now, their location was in a relatively remote area of the system, and it would require a certain amount of Warp travel to return immediately.
But even if the rear was attacked and suffered some losses, the overall impact on the campaign was still not significant.
As long as it wasn't the camp where the Emperor's Children were stationed—
"Unfortunately," Abaddon said, perhaps understanding Horus's hesitation, "it was the Silent Star, where the Emperor's Children are stationed, that was attacked."
This was not good.
It also took time for Astropaths to transmit messages, and the treacherous changes in the Warp made communication extremely difficult.
This was true even for short-distance transmissions within the same star system.
By the time they received the astropathic message, it might have already been sent several days ago.
Or even negative one day ago.
"Did the message mention the enemy's military level? Do we need to send reinforcements?"
Horus still held a small glimmer of hope.
What if it was just some small, scattered xenos force that had broken through?
It wasn't impossible for the veteran Astartes of the Emperor's Children to handle them on their own.
"The situation seems to be very critical."
But Abaddon did not seem to have brought him good news.
The content of the astropathic message was extremely clear: "The Silent Star has been attacked by a large fleet of xenos. Their warship's firepower and xenos troop strength are completely beyond what we can handle."
"The orbit of the Silent Star has been completely occupied by them. Without reinforcements, the annihilation of the ground forces is only a matter of time..."
This was really not good.
Even the Primarch Horus was a little troubled.
Although the astropathic message had been received, who knew when it was sent?
Now was the critical period of the xenos purge.
If they were to abandon the purge and rush back to reinforce, allowing this small wave of xenos to regroup and form a viable force, developing into pirate or guerrilla forces, the cost of maintaining security for the gate would surely increase sharply.
"Ezekyle, what do you think?"
"I do not agree to an immediate rescue."
He snorted coldly.
The black wolf pelt on his white pauldron twitched.
As the famous First Captain of the Luna Wolves, his position had been earned with his own sword and spear from a sea of corpses and blood.
He did not like nepotism cases like Kasjia.
Especially when it meant the Luna Wolves had to change their tactical plans for him.
"With all due respect, the moment Lady Fulgrim made that guy the legion's Lord Regent, she should have been prepared for him to die on the battlefield."
During the critical annihilation phase of the campaign, if they were to delay the battle for him, causing unnecessary deaths of Luna Wolves battle-brothers...
...Abaddon found the thought unacceptable.
"That was a request from my sister, Ezekyle."
"And in a way, Kasjia is still my family."
"If we don't even offer aid, and something really happens to him... forget Fulgrim, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself."
Horus retorted earnestly.
He was torn.
"We, the Luna Wolves, are also your sons, Lord Horus."
Abaddon did not seem to be swayed by the Primarch, his words still carrying a sting.
"If this guy named Kasjia really has the command talent that Fulgrim claims, then why would he need to send us an astropathic message for help?"
"Then why would we need to send reinforcements?"
"I propose: we at most send a small mobile fleet back as a vanguard to investigate. If they can still hold out under the xenos' offensive by now, it means they are capable and worthy of being saved. It won't be too late to send a large force then."
"If the battle is already over, hmph!"
"Then we don't need to waste any more effort on a useless guy like him."
Didn't Fulgrim say Kasjia was very capable? Then let them solve it themselves!
Abaddon's meaning was very clear. Although his words were not pleasant, his reasoning was sound.
In war, every life has its value. If Kasjia was really not worth saving, then his death would be a relief for the 63rd Expeditionary Fleet.
But if they really followed Abaddon's plan...
...by the time they got there, he might already be dust...
"Lord Horus!"
Just as he was hesitating, the golden-lacquered ebony door of the strategy room was suddenly thrown open.
It was a thin, old man in a dark green hooded robe.
If Horus remembered correctly, he was the Master of the Astropathic Choir of the 63rd Expeditionary Fleet.
"What is it?"
"There is a new astropathic message, from the Lord Regent Kasjia."
"What did he say?"
"He said—"
"—It's already over."
The Astropath paused for a moment, as if thinking about how to translate the other party's meaning faithfully and elegantly.
"The xenos fleet has already been completely smashed... annihilated under Kasjia's brilliant command."
And then the Astropath gave up.
"Originally, we wouldn't have bothered to notify you, Lord Horus, about such a small number of xenos, but for some reason, the astropathic communication had a problem, and the first part of the message was cut off by a Warp squall."
"If you received a request for help, please disregard that message. It was not part of the plan."
"The xenos fleet has been almost completely annihilated, and the remaining remnants will retreat through the gate."
"Apart from a victory feast and a deep dive into the ways of us, the Emperor's Children, nothing is needed."
"GOOD!"
Horus laughed heartily.
Amazing.
The sudden turn of events made him beam with joy.
Just from this message, he could hear the pride in that boy Kasjia's heart.
I never thought this guy was actually a hidden genius!
He had been lying low all this time, just waiting for a resounding victory to establish his prestige and secure his footing in the legion!
Of course.
Fulgrim was able to transform Chemos from a desolate, barren dead world into a paradise rarely seen even in the Imperium of Man, all by herself.
It was impossible that she couldn't tell if Kasjia, who had been by her side for thirty years, had real talent or not.
After all, that was thirty years!
It was the most wonderful time he himself, as the first-found son, had spent with the Emperor.
Horus firmly believed that if one were to study by the Emperor's side like him, to be influenced by the Emperor...
...thirty years was enough to turn the most ignorant, most dull street urchin into a pillar of the Imperium, capable of standing on his own.
Just like him, Horus Lupercal.
From the bottom of his heart, Horus's approval of Kasjia rose considerably.
"You see, First Captain," Horus said to Abaddon with a smile. "You were right. Kasjia could indeed handle it himself."
"It's hard to say."
Abaddon still seemed a little unconvinced.
"The description of the xenos exists only in the astropathic message. Who knows if he's exaggerating?"
Then let me ask you.
Ah, let me ask you.
-------
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