The Bridge of the bronze sword, the flagship of the Punitive Fleet.
Rear Admiral Xia Atart stood by the railing of the command platform.
She looked down at the bustling Bridge.
After hearing the prompt that they had successfully exited the Warp,
she raised her head to look at the porthole above the Bridge.
The plastisteel plates on the reinforced glass slowly rose, revealing a breathtaking void scene.
The void shield rose, momentarily distorting the brilliant stars and the cursed rift.
"Initiate wide-area augur scans, full spherical, sixteen thousand meters in diameter, then increase to one hundred sixty thousand kilometers."
"All ships form up, match the speed of the bronze sword, destination: Planet Atoma."
Xia Atart issued orders in an orderly manner.
"Communications Officer, send a message to Atoma. Demand that they explain their refusal to pay the tithe before our arrival."
"Madam, there is absolutely no need for this," Angedo interjected.
"Our purpose here is to punish those sinners; there's no need to waste words."
"Staff Officer Angedo is absolutely right."
"No matter how much they explain, refusing to pay the tithe is an act of betrayal against the Empire."
The group led by the Colin Family also held significant influence within the naval system.
As soon as Angedo spoke, those beside him immediately voiced their support, intending to curry favor with him.
Xia Atart surveyed her subordinates, her tone calm.
"I am the Fleet Commander."
"Even if you are the Supreme Commander, you must follow the rules. If the other party offers an explanation, are we to abandon the punishment?"
Angedo's words were sharp, refuting her without mercy.
"Are you implying insubordination?" Xia Atart looked at Angedo.
Angedo was startled. "I am not."
"Then carry out the order. I am the Fleet Commander, and I will bear all consequences."
"Also, stop jumping around in front of me all day. If you annoy me, I don't mind finding a charge and blowing your head off."
Angedo's knuckles turned white as rage surged in his chest, but he forcibly swallowed the roar that was on the tip of his tongue.
Naval regulations were extremely strict.
During military operations, one must absolutely obey the orders of the highest-ranking officer.
If he were to be executed by the other party on charges of insubordination,
his family would not be able to seek justice for him.
After several repeated calls,
the Punitive Fleet successfully established communication with Atoma.
The projection refreshed, but it was not Feng of the Valanxius Family who appeared.
Instead, it was a tall man with a pair of pure white wings on his back.
His appearance truly resembled Sanguinius, as sung about in many myths.
The moment they saw the projection, everyone thought that the father of the Blood Angels, the Primarch who had sacrificed his life for the God Emperor and was cruelly murdered by his brother who had fallen to Chaos, had returned.
Angedo felt a little flustered.
The report submitted by the Valanxius Family to Syntilla had mentioned the Emperor's Saint.
But it hadn't said that this Saint had wings and a Primarch-like physique.
If such a person appeared on Syntilla, the people of the Ecclesiarchy would probably kneel on the spot and proclaim him the Emperor's direct son.
The Blood Angels would even cross the entire galaxy to see if he was their old father.
"Welcome to Atoma. I am the Emperor's Messenger, the earthly spokesman for His supreme will, His emissary walking among men, the Guide of humanity, the Redeemer of the Empire."
Alex's voice was extremely penetrating.
Everyone on the Bridge could hear him clearly.
"I am Rear Admiral Xia Atart of the Calixis Sector Fleet, ordered to come and collect the overdue tithes from Planet Atoma and to administer punishment."
Xia Atart suppressed her shock and tried to remain calm.
Originally, she had only wanted to give the Valanxius Family a chance to explain, to persuade them to surrender and avoid needless deaths.
Who would have thought that the other party was not lying?
There truly was an Emperor's Saint here.
"Planet Atoma suffered a rebellion and is short on supplies. Once production resumes, the tithes will be made up," Alex explained.
"Refusing to pay taxes is refusing to pay taxes. Our purpose here is to punish."
"The God Chosen of the God Emperor would not do anything against His will. And paying the tithe is His will."
Angedo stepped forward, his tone severe and pointed.
Alex used the skill "Emperor's Light"; sacred golden radiance enveloped his body, making him appear exceptionally divine.
"The Empire created in His name would never inflict punishment for such a matter."
"Only those evil beings who usurp His name would be so harsh to His people."
The Astropath Jellen Litt, standing beside Xia Atart, trembled and quickly performed the aquila salute.
"Praise the God Emperor! The light on him feels just like the light of the Astronomican."
The Astropaths and Navigators on the other ships all performed the same action.
Their connection to the Emperor was the most intimate.
When Alex used the Emperor's power, they sensed it immediately.
Even the accompanying Ecclesiarchy priests instinctively trembled, vaguely feeling the God Emperor's gaze upon them.
"This is our mistake."
Xia Atart and many Fleet officers also performed the aquila salute.
Such a sacred scene, even they had to believe that the person opposite them was truly the God Emperor's Messenger.
The existence of Living Saint Celestine and the Cursed Legion was no longer a secret to many high-ranking officials.
Now that another God Emperor's Messenger had appeared, it was not impossible.
"I will have the Fleet stop, but the situation on Planet Atoma and your identity need further confirmation before I can report to Syntilla."
"I hope to meet with you, honored God Emperor's Saint."
"You may." Alex nodded, agreeing to Xia Atart's request.
The communication ended.
"Madam, the minions of the Dark Gods are most skilled at bewitching hearts. Be careful! If he is a Saint, why would he not descend upon Syntilla or Terra?"
Angedo was truly panicking.
If things continued this way, not only would they fail to eliminate the Valanxius Family, but they might even give them a chance to rise again.
"I will decide this matter myself; it is not for you to tell me what to do!"
Xia Atart glared at Angedo with an unfriendly look.
Then she looked at her personal guards beside her.
"Arrange a few Valkyries. I want to go personally and see the situation."
Watching Xia Atart's retreating figure as she left the Bridge, Angedo clenched his fists.
...
Three Valkyrie gunships slowly landed on the Lykard Space Station's landing pad.
Rear Admiral Xia Atart, accompanied by an Astropath, a high-ranking Ecclesiarchy priest, several Fleet high-ranking officers, and a squad of soldiers, stepped out.
Alex, along with Chapter Master Sard of the Star Realm Knights, First Company Captain Losa, and Planetary Governor Feng, greeted them.
The Players stood in the distance.
"Is this a cutscene?"
"I told you, the 'Knights' Sacrifice' expansion pack was just the beginning. The official developers are going to open more maps."
"That woman is actually a Brigadier General with the potential of a Grand Admiral."
"Ask her if the current Fleet Admiral is Sengoku?"
"I think Akainu probably got promoted."
"Akainu must be Khorne's man. Quickly call the Inquisition to take him down."
"Oh my God, Akainu is such a kind person, and you guys are saying he's a minion of Chaos."
"I often feel out of place with you lunatics because I follow the rules??"
...
Sard, Losa, Feng, and others were already accustomed to the God Chosen's nonsensical chatter and ignored them.
Alex invited the naval personnel to the Strategic Hall to discuss the tithe matter in detail.
During the discussion, he also revealed the truth about the original exploration expedition.
He hoped Xia Atart could find a way to clear the Valanxius Family's name, restore their former status and honor, and severely punish the Colin Family.
Angedo, using the informant he had planted in the honor guard, learned the content of their conversation, and his face immediately turned pale.
If this news got back, not only would they fail to eliminate the Valanxius Family, but it would also severely cripple the many families led by the Colin Family.
This included his own family.
"We must act before the situation gets worse."
Angedo hardened his resolve.
He immediately contacted Raidel, who was the Fleet's Deputy Commander.
The latter was also an operative planted by the Colin Family within the Punitive Fleet.
"You must take command, Raidel. Issue an Exterminatus order on Planet Atoma."
"Xia Atate Brigadier General is the Commander. With her here, I can't take command."
"Then have someone eliminate her."
Angedo lowered his voice.
"This is treason!!" The man on the other end of the communication sounded panicked.
"It's only treason if you lose. If you win, it's a meritorious deed. Raidel, you must take command."
"The Valanxius Family accused the Colin Family of betraying the Empire and revealed the truth of the former exploration expedition to that woman, saying that the Colin Family colluded with the Necrons, leading to the annihilation of the exploration fleet."
"The Inquisition has been investigating the Colin Family, suspecting us of colluding with Chaos and xenos."
"Once the events here are reported back, the Inquisition will have sufficient grounds to search and interrogate members of the Colin Family."
"If things are exposed, we will all die."
"The only way is for you to take command and use Exterminatus on Planet Atoma."
The man on the other end of the communication was silent for a moment.
"I'm going to the Bridge immediately. You find a way to eliminate Xia Atate Brigadier General and frame those people for it."
"As soon as I receive the news, I will immediately issue the Exterminatus order."
Ending the communication with Raidel,
Angedo sent a message to the informant lurking near Xia Atart.
"The time has come to prove your loyalty to the God of Wisdom and Fate."
"Act immediately. Detonate the bomb you carry and ensure that everyone participating in the meeting is eliminated."
When communication was established between the two sides, the machine spirit Cortana of the Imperial Glory
used her abilities to access the main control center of the bronze sword,
monitoring all ships in the Punitive Fleet.
As soon as Angedo confirmed the send, the message was simultaneously displayed on the data screen in front of Alex.