After Ghostface gave the order, the entire troop transport ship, like a giant beast awakening from slumber, began to emit a low roar. The lights in the bridge turned an ominous dark red, and piercing alarms echoed through every corner.
The heavy Void Shield generators began to charge, creating a nearly imperceptible ripple of energy around the hull.
In the most critical navigator's Sanctum, the thick lead door, which no mortal could ever glimpse, was already tightly sealed. In a dimension imperceptible to mortals, a navigator, with a third eye open on his forehead, gazed with his mutated mind at the mad, chaotic ocean of the warp, composed of pure emotion and nightmares.
He was like an experienced captain, steering a small boat, searching for the only route back to reality amidst an eternal, screaming storm.
The ship's hull began to shake violently and erratically, as if it could be torn to shreds by an invisible hand at any moment. Looking out through the armored portholes, the stars of the real universe had vanished, replaced by a swirling, boiling vortex of light, interwoven with crimson, purple, and indigo. Silent roars seemed to penetrate the hull, reaching deep into everyone's soul.
Who knows how long passed, perhaps days, perhaps only an instant.
With a piercing shriek that seemed to tear reality, the entire troop transport ship jolted violently, and the nauseating, non-Euclidean lurching sensation abruptly ceased. The lights in the bridge returned to normal daylight mode, and the alarms also stopped.
They had emerged.
Through the massive viewport, a silent and profound universe could be seen. This was a Mandeville Point in the real universe, a theoretically safe exit from warp travel. Distant stars, like diamonds scattered on black velvet, were cold and beautiful.
Of course, this was not the Jersey Sector. After all, those areas were no longer in Imperial hands. Ultimately, it was just a transport ship with almost no firepower; if it rushed in without escort, it would purely be a live target for Xenos fleets to play with.
To be blown up right after jumping out of the warp, and then have the entire crew sent back to Perditia to resurrect, would make anyone's mentality instantly explode. So, following the safest plan, they dutifully arrived at the Imperial Navy's designated rendezvous point.
"Immediately attempt to request communication," Ghostface ordered without hesitation, looking at the green marker on the star map representing the friendly fleet.
"Yes, Commander," the communications officer immediately began operations, sending waves of static-laden binary prayers into the void.
The communication request was almost immediately granted. A processed, emotionless electronic voice came from the loudspeaker:
"This is the 'Damrath's Radiance,' part of the Imperial Navy's 72nd Task Force. Please state your identity and the purpose of your arrival at these coordinates."
Ghostface cleared his throat and replied into the communicator in a clear voice: "We are reinforcements from Perditia, the Perditia Third Suicide Legion. You are preparing for war, aren't you? We are here to join."
A slight commotion was heard on the other channel. After a moment, the voice spoke again, this time with a hint of a more human tone: "Received, Perditia Third Suicide Legion. Please remain silent at your current coordinates; I will report to my superior immediately."
The communication ended there.
Then, there was a long wait.
Minutes ticked by. For a full thirty minutes, there was no response on the communication channel except for the rustling of cosmic background radiation.
Ghostface began to pace impatiently on the bridge, his tactical boots tapping against the deck, making a "thump, thump, thump" sound. He even started to wonder if he had been tricked by the other party, or if the communications officer had simply forgotten about it.
Just as he was about to lose his patience, an urgent alert broke the silence on the bridge.
"Sir! They are actively sending a communication request!" the communications officer reported, "It's... it's a visual communication!"
"Connect!" Ghostface immediately ordered.
The holographic projector in the center of the bridge flickered a few times, then projected a clear bust image. It was a resolute middle-aged man, wearing a crisp Astra Militarum senior officer's uniform, with general stars on his shoulders representing his Legion Commander rank, and medals on his chest gleaming in the light. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, as if they could see through people's hearts.
"I am Commander-in-Chief Wendell Gage of the Damocles Crusade's frontline forces," the man's voice was deep and powerful, carrying an undeniable authority, "I confirm with you again, do you, the Legion from Perditia, wish to join this war against the Xenos?"
Ghostface grinned, though his face was invisible under his full-face helmet: "Hello, Commander Gage, my name is Ghostface. I waited so long I almost thought your communications officer was from the Administratum.
"And yes, our Perditia Third Suicide Legion does indeed want to join this war against the Xenos."
Wendell's holographic image flickered slightly; no obvious emotional fluctuations could be seen on his rock-carved face. Regarding Ghostface's almost provocative attitude, he merely frowned slightly but made no comment.
As a battle-hardened general, he had seen more strange people than Ghostface had seen Xenos. He was more concerned with practical matters.
"In that case," General Gage's voice was completely unperturbed, "send over your supply list. And, I need your assurance that your Legion will fully obey my command."
"The supply list is definitely ready; I'll send it over now," Ghostface readily replied, while tapping a few times on his operating interface. A data stream instantly crossed the void, sent to the other party's flagship, "As for obeying commands... Heh heh, don't worry, Commander Gage, wherever you point, we'll strike."
A soft "ding" sounded on a data pad in front of General Gage, and he looked down. Just glancing at the title and the first few items on the list, his perpetually serious expression cracked. His brow first furrowed, then quickly changed to obvious confusion and doubt.
He looked up, directly into Ghostface's eyes: "Legion Commander Ghostface, are you sure you didn't send the wrong one? I have never seen an Astra Militarum Legion that requires such a massive quantity of combat stimulants... and tactical nuclear bombs."
Gage's voice deepened, carrying a hint of instruction and warning: "I won't even mention the stimulants, but tactical nuclear bombs... Listen, Legion Commander Ghostface. Even if you use it to wipe a position off the map, you still need to send soldiers to occupy it for it to be considered captured."
Hearing this reasonable tactical analysis, Ghostface's smile under his full-face helmet grew even brighter.
"Now that you say that, I'm relieved; it's definitely not wrong," he replied easily, "Heh heh... Commander Gage, just prepare everything as listed."