The light of the warp illuminated the corridors, casting eerie reflections on the steel, as if the cold metal had come to life.
Spatial fluctuations spread rapidly from the Mandeville Point, causing ripples in the real universe as the prow of a gargantuan vessel emerged. The visible portion of the ship was silver-white, its outer hull plating divided into a hexagonal grid by flowing blue light. It was incredibly smooth, with no external cannons in sight.
The inward-sloping angle beneath the bow was uniquely recognizable, and void probes blinked with red and green lights. The ship had not yet fully exited the warp; its auspex scanners were already sweeping the sector for safety.
"The Void Trekker."
Solas murmured softly, his expression darkening slightly. He turned and left the outboard gallery, his pace quickening.
The Great Ship bestrode the starry sky, reflecting a dazzling radiance. Before a full-scale war begins, the oppressive clouds of impending conflict can be suffocating; the arrival of a super-battleship was undoubtedly a massive boost to morale.
---
"Receiving an operational plan transmitted via encrypted signal."
As soon as contact was established with allied forces, the battle plan was transmitted and displayed in the center of the Void Trekker's panoramic bridge.
Digital lines sketched a holographic image. Junior stood upon an anti-gravity platform, looking down from his high vantage point at the proposal being discussed by the Primarchs. According to the ship's AI simulations, the plan was feasible and suited the current situation.
Junior nodded repeatedly after reviewing the tactics and said to his assistant, Aang II, "Contact the First Legion."
In the plan, the First Legion was responsible for bypassing the Rangdan defensive lines to enter the rear of the alien empire and execute a scorched-earth campaign. Before departing from Argent D'Nur, the Void Trekker had brought a cache of special weapons that could assist the First Legion.
"Communication request sent." Aang II, a diamond-shaped mechanical entity, hovered nearby. Light slid across its ridges as a mechanical voice announced, "Communication established."
Holographic particles converged to form a majestic face that gazed forward calmly. Junior pressed his right fist to his chest in a gesture of respect to the Gene-Primarch: "The Legion Archon pays his respects to the Primarch."
As a Doom Slayer, he held special privileges and was not required to kneel before the Emperor or other Primarchs; a warrior's salute was already a mark of great respect.
"What is the matter?" The Lion nodded from another sector of space, the holographic image precisely capturing every nuance of his movement. His tone was calm; having participated in secret wars together, he had a favorable impression of Junior.
As the eldest son of the Doom Slayer Legion Master and holding the high office of Archon, Junior held authority over the stars. More importantly, despite being "below only one," the Archon possessed little arrogance. He was humble, eager to learn, and a man of great stability.
"I have reviewed the operational plan," Junior said, gesturing toward the armory to select a specific weapon. "Your Legion is tasked with the extermination operations. I have weapons here that the First Legion can utilize."
With a light flick of his hand, he sent the virtual data to the Lion. "Modified Cyclone Torpedoes. They are enough to accelerate your extermination operations by several orders of magnitude."
Lion El'Jonson lowered his eyes to scan the virtual data, a faint smile appearing on his face. "Then I shall not decline your generosity."
He had originally intended to refuse, as the First Legion's secret vaults held plenty of weapons from the Old Night and required no outside support. However—one does not refuse a generous gift from a brother Legion.
Modified with technology from Argent D'Nur, these Cyclone Torpedoes were equipped with a "Shield Breaker" system, vastly increasing their lethality. Upon launch, a crystal at the torpedo's tip would activate, carrying the projectile into another dimension to bypass planetary shields and detonate directly within the world's core topography.
With these, Exterminatus deployments would be far simpler. Legionaries would no longer have to storm a planet's surface at a heavy cost to destroy shield generators just to create an opening for extinction-level weapons. The fleet would only need to break through orbital defenses, fire the torpedoes, and wait for the world to die.
"In half an hour, the Razor of Truth will arrive to collect the weapons," the Lion said with a smile before ending the transmission.
On the bridge of the Invincible Reason, the Lion turned to the Grand Master of the Dreadwing. "You will oversee the transfer of these special weapons. Do not be careless; verify their reliability thoroughly."
As the First Legion transitioned into the Dark Angels, its structure had undergone massive changes. The original "Six Wings" were formed, and the Dreadwing was specifically designated as a special forces unit for genocide and Exterminatus deployments. Giving the Cyclone Torpedoes to these specialists was the logical choice.
The Grand Master knelt on one knee, his voice ringing with conviction. "Understood!"
The Lion was in a good mood. He began calculating how to best use this arsenal. A thousand specialized Cyclone Torpedoes, if used correctly, could swiftly annihilate a thousand high-value worlds, crippling the Rangdan rear. Of course, that was the ideal scenario. While they could bypass shields, they could still be intercepted by ground-based fire.
"Check for any potential hazards before distributing them to the troops," the Lion reminded him, his gaze turning stern. "Avoid any accidents."
Even when receiving a gift from a brother Legion, the Lion remained cautious. A thousand Cyclone Torpedoes scattered throughout the fleet could destroy the First Legion itself if an accident occurred.
"We shall not fail our mission!" the Dreadwing Grand Master rasped, making a solemn vow to his gene-father. He rose and led his subordinates toward the Razor of Truth.
---
Aboard the Void Trekker, Junior took out a Hydra sigil and handed it to a blood-brother. "Once you arrive at the Second Legion's flagship, hang this from your belt for all to see."
To coordinate with the main operation, he had sent messengers to join the Second Legion. However, the true purpose was to establish contact with Alpharius and provide necessary aid.
"Brother Bul-Kathos," Junior said solemnly, his voice heavy. "You will be isolated and outnumbered. You may very well be facing a turncoat Legion." He sighed, his breath revealing his worry. "Take care."
Bul-Kathos accepted the Hydra sigil, a smile touching his rugged face. He shook his head without a word and led his brothers into the shuttle. As the engines roared, Junior watched them depart before tapping his tactical terminal; teleportation light engulfed him.
With only ten blood-brothers and a few other messengers, the allies numbered barely a hundred. Meanwhile, within the Second Legion, it was unknown how many warriors had sided with Moribas Solas. Junior could only hope that the Primarch Alpharius, who had been lurking within the Legion, could exert his talents to control the situation and minimize casualties.
The stars remained brilliant as the messengers boarded. The Second Legion entered the warp, heading for the "Beta" war zone.
Throughout it all, Solas never contacted the Doom Slayers to demand obedience; he knew the 21st Legion held the right of independent action.
The First Legion took the torpedoes and immediately left the Shana system for the "Alpha" zone, preparing to strike the Rangdan heartland. Gloriana-class battleships set sail, the Primarchs' flagships departing with their escort fleets to rendezvous with the main bodies of their Legions.
Before long, the system grew empty. Aside from garrison forces, the main fleets had left, leaving behind countless trails of plasma fire.
The Void Trekker remained in the Shana system, hovering in the void to wait for its own main force. Junior did not intend to join the fray immediately. He decided to stay at Shana, observe how the tides of war shifted, and act accordingly.
The Second Legion was currently a ticking time bomb. Shana was close to the Beta war zone; if an accident occurred, the Denurian fleet could provide the fastest support to prevent the Rangdan from tearing through the human lines.
Beneath the surface of the front lines, currents of suspicion swirled. The truth was about to emerge.
Meanwhile, in the deep rear of the Imperium, as the Malcador issued the call to arms, hundreds of fleets were assembling to fight the aliens to the death. Throughout Imperial space, astropathic messages were sent in the clear. Almost every human now knew that a powerful alien empire was entering a total war with humanity.
Though far from the cannons, the rear felt the pressure of the approaching war—the tithe had been increased by fifty percent. Industrial worlds glowed bright as smog choked the skies, producing war materiel at any cost. Assembly lines on Forge Worlds ran without rest, while Tech-Priests chanted binary prayers to soothe raging machine spirits.
The Imperium had entered war mode. Those with keen instincts already realized: humanity was facing an extinction-level crisis. A struggle with every ounce of their strength was the only choice left for the human race.