Two Sword-class frigates were rapidly closing in on the pirates, who were fiercely chasing a channel freighter like hyenas.
These pirate ships were modified civilian vessels of various types, mostly civilian ships known as 'clippers'.
These vessels were cheap and fast, and unarmed, but pirates liked them and fitted them with strange light cannons, specifically to plunder slow-moving transport ships.
Even in the vicinity of Abyss Port, danger was everywhere, from the Chaos Fleet seeping out of the Eye of Terror above, to pirates settling in the asteroid belts below, constantly threatening the safety of the shipping lanes.
These void marauders were so numerous, breeding in all sorts of void nooks and crannies.
Even though the Gothic Fleet regularly dispatched Viper-class reconnaissance ships to patrol the area, it was difficult to clear out these 'cockroaches'.
"Report real-time parameters."
Commodore Edward Peru sat on the Captain's Throne, while Lieutenant Stirling stood beside him, gazing into the deep black void.
This was a common anti-piracy mission, known in the Imperial Navy as a 'Target Practice Competition', because the armaments of these small pirates could not penetrate the Void Shield of a frigate, making them suitable for Imperial Navy cadets to practice on.
Of course, Rear Admiral Edward had personally come to strike at these pirates because he discovered that this group of pirates had previously supplied weapons to suspicious gangs in the Vegas District.
And now these pirates were plundering a cargo ship carrying military supplies, and he had caught them red-handed.
"Distance to escort target 8570 kilometers, approach rate positive 2.1, bearing +327, phase ZL, moving from port to starboard."
Horatio sat at the display console closest to the Captain's Throne, reporting information in an orderly manner.
Normally, this position was the domain of the Lieutenant, but now Horatio sat there, with a Captain standing beside him, guiding him on how to operate these instruments.
Archie sat a little further away, Fidio stood beside the Voidsmen-at-Arms Officer, Lydos was responsible for assessing fire risks and arranging the damage control team in advance, and Louise, fully armed, was arranging key defenses and anti-boarding personnel deployment for the main bridge, engine room, and life support system room.
However, for the latter two, this mission was more like an exercise, as these small pirates couldn't even penetrate the Void Shield, let alone board a regular Imperial Navy frigate.
Each person was supervised and guided by the officers of their original positions; they did not interfere actively, only correcting errors in time when the cadets made mistakes.
"Target locked, three illegally modified clippers. This ship is authorized to increase speed to 12 void knots, estimated to reach short-range cannon distance (approximately 481 kilometers) in 5 minutes," Horatio reported to Commodore Edward Peru, who was acting as Captain, after receiving the data brief from the cadet operating the augur.
"Good, close to short-range cannon distance before opening fire! Have the 'Valiant Warrior' flank and intercept. Don't let these scoundrels escape. This ship will undertake the main engagement task."
Horatio quickly sent precise reference navigation coordinates to the Captain of the 'Valiant Warrior' for his reference, and independently considered the attack trajectory, then sent the upcoming combat duties to each department one by one.
If a warship were a human body, Rear Admiral Edward would be the brain, Horatio the cerebellum, Fidio the fist, Lydos the platelets, and Louise the white blood cells. It was through this that a colossal warship, several kilometers long, could intercept the enemies of humanity in the void.
"Turrets 1 and 2, single-shot calibration fire," Horatio issued the combat order to Fidio, who was acting as Voidsmen-at-Arms Officer.
"Target locked, calibration complete, single-shot test fire, estimated ballistic spread 2 kilometers, hit rate 98.98%, fire!"
"Single-shot test fire, fire!" The fire command was transmitted to the fire control centers of the two light twin-linked Macro cannon turrets. The Voidsmen-at-Arms Officer there, upon receiving the command, roared 'fire' at the Macro cannon operators.
Bang! Bang!
With two earth-shattering roars, Horatio felt the entire command bridge tremble. He could clearly see the orange-blue flames spewing from the bow turrets.
Even light Macro cannon, these colossal cannons produced by the Abyss Port foundries and meticulously crafted by the Tech-Priest, each shell inscribed with the Skyhawk emblem, were like firing a huge Spire-like castle, a fierce firepower that those clippers could never withstand.
Two shells struck a clipper midship, violently knocking it off course and damaging its balance rudder, causing it to tumble uncontrollably in the void like an unspooled spindle.
"Hit! Target A1 has lost mobility and combat capability," the cadet responsible for observation reported.
"Turret 2 continue firing at target A1, Turret 1 turn to new target," Rear Admiral Edward said.
"Turret 1 will turn to target A3 after firing at the original target," Horatio issued a new command.
"We received a surrender signal from target A1," the cadet at the communications station shouted.
"Blast it! I don't want to waste gallows," Rear Admiral Edward said mercilessly.
"Yes!" The somewhat nervous cadet immediately cut off the communication request.
"Remember, do not waste troops boarding ordinary pirate ships! These treacherous scoundrels will bite you at any moment before they die," Rear Admiral Edward roared.
"Fire!"
Violent explosions and the firing of the Macro cannon illuminated the void.
— —
"Well done, ladies and gentlemen, we annihilated all the pirates without casualties. Lieutenant Stirling, compile the combat report and logbook."
Rear Admiral Edward stepped onto the Starport deck, speaking solemnly to the cadets and his first officer, then he looked at Horatio.
"Mr. Horatio, your performance today has greatly satisfied Lieutenant Stirling and me. Regarding your previous proposal to develop an underground intelligence network in the Vegas District, Rear Admiral Hood has approved it."
"Thank you for your trouble, Your Excellency."
"All great actions are carried out in secret. We cannot tip them off and let others discover the Imperial Navy's movements, so you need to hide your identity."
"Going in uniform will only make them distrust me."
Rear Admiral Edward nodded.
"If you need any resources, you can tell us directly, and we will try our best to satisfy you as quickly as possible. It's just that the speed of the Imperial administrative process in acquiring materials... I can't really praise it. Therefore, we permit you to use a little 'means,' just as you have done before, to alleviate urgent needs."
Commodore Edward Peru's hint was very clear; Horatio understood exactly what he meant by 'little means'.
"Once the situation is appropriate, we will also send people to assist you."
"But what about the Hive City Law Enforcement? The Hive City Law Enforcement there takes bribes from both sides. Once we use force to cut off their income, they will definitely come looking for us. If we use Imperial Navy identification, news of the Imperial Navy's involvement in the Vegas District will spread quickly."
Rear Admiral Edward seemed to have been prepared. He calmly smiled and pulled out a small item from his Pregnant and handed it to Horatio.
When Horatio looked closely, he couldn't help but gasp.
It was an inconspicuous small ornament, but it represented the highest authority in the Imperium—the Inquisitorial Rosette.
With this in hand, let alone the Hive City Law Enforcement, he could even kill the Adeptus Arbites officers without consequence.
Due to the immense power of this item, only strictly selected Inquisitors and their most trusted confidants possessed it.
"Where did you get this, Your Excellency?" Horatio asked in a low voice, looking at the crimson ornament.
"An old friend of mine. When I was young, I escorted an Inquisitor. He was very different, and eventually we became friends. This replica is a token he gave me, and of course, it also entrusted me with a special mission to serve the God Emperor."
Commodore Peru handed the Inquisitorial crimson rosette to Horatio:
"Besides commanding warships, I can no longer cut down demons. I originally intended to pass this mark to your father. Now, I transfer the power and obligations it contains to you, son of Thomas, descendant of Spire. It has already been approved by that adult, and your genetic sequence has been recorded. Take it without worry."
Horatio never expected that this man before him actually had such another identity—an Inquisition Acolyte.
Inquisitors, as God Emperor's Agents, have the authority to requisition all resources and personnel of the Imperium, and those loyal individuals who have served an Inquisitor for a long time and undergone strict trials will receive such a replica as a symbol of their authority and reward for their duties.
From generals to commoners, these confidants who serve Inquisitors are collectively referred to as 'Inquisition Acolytes'.
Horatio heard that if an unauthorized person picked up the mark, a hidden poisoned needle would inject neurotoxin, causing instant death.
"Seeing this item is like seeing the God Emperor. Anyone who dares to obstruct or leak information shall be considered to have defied His will and shall be executed without mercy."
Horatio accepted the mark and gave a salute.
Rear Admiral Edward patted Horatio's shoulder.
"Act on His will, and serve the Imperium, Inquisition Acolyte Horatio Cochrane."
There are many battles to come! Battle! Battle! It's going to be exciting! Time to kill!