Emperor's Bane

Chapter 601 War begins

[It's really rare. With that little crow's personality, he would actually write to me to criticize these insignificant things: we are obviously going to meet soon. ]

[Colonial Joint Stock Company? Is this another little toy from Luther? ]

"It seems so, Mother."

Virgo, who was following closely behind the Spider Queen, nodded, concentrating on the numbers on the recording board in her palm that related to thousands of lives, until the light in front of her was suddenly swallowed up by darkness. Morgan's eldest daughter raised her head belatedly, only to find that they had walked into the shadow area.

Following the shadow, all one could see were space elevators that stretched from sky to earth, reaching deep into the clouds above. Further up, the Imperial Navy fleet that covered most of the world cast an endless shadow: 100,000 Astartes warriors and nearly 100 million assistants were wandering in it, and the world beneath their feet and the giant orbital space station built around it could easily accommodate such a destructive force.

Hell Rock, the most important naval fortress of the Far Eastern Frontier in the northern region of the galaxy, is home to hundreds of warships of all sizes. The site was selected by Spider Queen Morgan herself forty years ago, and built through cooperation between three Forge Worlds: both the construction process and the subsequent commissioning are jointly supervised by the Dawnbreakers and Night Lords legions of more than three hundred warriors.

The reason is simple, because the ownership of the Hellrock Naval Fortress and even the storage world of Hellrock itself belongs to the two legions of Dawnbreakers and Night Lords. Morgan and Conrad are the common owners of this universe fortress, and this is also the most important dividing line between the Far East Frontier and the Ghoul Kingdom in the northern part of the galaxy.

Starting from this place, heading south is the Gulgrad district of Avalon, an important northern frontier town and an important mining area on the Far East Frontier. It is home to hundreds of fortress worlds, veteran colonies, and the forge world Gulgrad: one of the Spider Queen's earliest partners. If this cruel and stubborn ally is defeated, one can advance into the core kingdom of the Queen of Avalon.

Heading east, it only takes a short journey through the Warp to reach Nostramo, the home planet of the Night Lords, which has now become the Empire's most important military base and trade port in the northeastern part of the galaxy.

Hundreds of representatives from the Forge Worlds are stationed outside the Midnight Haunter's court, and they will use all means at their disposal to obtain every batch of newly mined adamantium resources and every cabin of "exclusive cargo" shipped from the Ghoul Stars. There is no shortage of broken limbs left over from "academic exchanges" in the undeveloped wilderness of Nostramo, but even the most brutal believers dare not defy the laws set by the King of Midnight.

If the transaction quota of their own forging world is deducted because of this, then what awaits them is definitely not just gentle death.

However, if you start from this point and head north or west, the journey will not be very pleasant: because the troops of the Ullanor Orc Empire have already expanded to the vicinity, and countless green waves are carrying all kinds of strange garbage ships, charging at the Imperial Expeditionary Force entrenched here.

These races, who are eager to fight and have no rules in either behavioral logic or science and technology, are always able to exceed the expectations of the imperial military personnel: you know, Morgan's staff team and the Ministry of the Interior originally thought that it would take at least fifteen years for the Greenskin Empire to expand to the border of Avalon.

But in fact, after sensing that there was a waaagh! enough opponent in Avalon, the greenskin vanguard fleet plunged directly into the subspace, braving the storm and cracks and rushing around without any rules: when they came out again, they were already not far north of Hell Rock.

So waaagh.

With these forerunners, thousands of greenskin warbands were guided by the orcs' unique telepathy, and rushed into the warp in the same disorderly manner, and then accurately jumped to the same target location: the terrifying greenskin army passed hundreds of reconnaissance posts and patrols, and suddenly appeared north of the border of Avalon, sweeping a large number of imperial worlds in the northern part of the galaxy into the occupied zone at one time.

Too green.

Of course, Morgan knew that it was impossible for all greenskins to get lucky like this, and a more likely explanation was that because of the greenskins' racial talent that developed the more they fought, the size of the Ullanor Orc Empire was already able to support the greenskins' research into [precise interstellar teleportation], something that would make the Emperor drool.

It really makes me shudder just thinking about it.

(Yes, the greenskins in the original book can really invent the technology to accurately teleport dozens of planetary units at the star field level, but it is not Ullanor, but beasts: imagine dozens of greenskin versions of the world engine suddenly teleported to the face of Holy Terra. This is what the greenskins did in the official history.)
(By the way, the orcs in Beast Wars even have a dedicated diplomatic department and diplomats, and they can even send orc ambassadors to hold talks with the Empire's High Lords Council [yes, the High Lords Council!]: I can only say that GW's wind is really beyond your imagination.)
The only thing to be thankful for is that greenskins are just greenskins after all.

After traveling through the warp in a daze, these orc tribes and warbands, which had no affiliation with each other and were generally classified as the Ullanor Empire, soon fought each other over issues such as "which boss can lead this waaagh", and carried out terrifying massacres in several star regions.

Although these brutal wars attracted a steady stream of greenskins, they ultimately bought time for the Human Empire: Morgan calmly dispatched his own forces, and did not forget to issue the highest order of general mobilization to the ghoul kingdom of the Night Lords.

Because according to the agreement between the two parties, if any large-scale battle breaks out when the Midnight Haunter is unable to spare time for reasons such as the Ghoul Crusade, the Spider Queen has the power to take over the power that originally belonged to Conrad.

But on the other hand, Conrad did not have the full power to command the Far East Frontier. He could only rely on his status as Morgan's brother and ally to draw massive supplies of materials from the Far East Frontier anytime and anywhere. Midnight Haunter was quite satisfied with this unfair agreement. After all, he was very clear about his own level of governance.

So, Sevatar and 30,000 veterans of the Eighth Legion soon responded to the call: they were either Terrans or Nostramos who had participated in at least one Ghoul Crusade, accompanied by half of the Black Guards and the second Glorious Queen that the Eighth Legion had just built.

Taking this opportunity, Conrad directly made this giant ship the flagship of Sevatar, the Prince of Crows: and the other soldiers of the Eighth Legion had no objection to this. When they stood in line in front of the Spider Queen, Sevatar seemed to have become the Primarch when he was away.

Faced with these reinforcements, the first order Morgan issued was to require Sevatar to leave at least 10,000 warriors to stay in the star zone near Nostramo to protect the emerging colonies and industrial worlds that had been established with great difficulty in the Ghoul Kingdom.

Afterwards, the Primarch reviewed the Sons of Konrad who were going to accompany her on the expedition, as well as the brand new Queen of Glory, on the orbital space station of Hell Rock: as if to play a harmless joke on Konrad's Nightfall, after Sevatar and his confidants discussed with each other, the second Queen of Glory of the Eighth Legion was given a strange name.

Dawn.

Morgan didn't understand the meaning, but looking at the sons of Konrad whose faces looked a little strange because they were trying not to laugh, the Primarch didn't ask any questions: the second order she gave Sevatar was that she could act freely before the fleets of the four legions were officially assembled. She knew that this was the best way to use Sevatar.

So, the Prince of Crows left 15,000 men for the Spider Queen, and he himself took the remaining 5,000 men and a small fleet and plunged into the stars north of Hellrock: Morgan watched the departure of this army, and in the following half a month, the intelligence sent back by Sevatar filled the desk of the Lord of Avalon.

When the Spider Queen asked Sevatar to turn back for the sixth time, Corax's letter of accountability also arrived on her desk, along with the news that Jaghatai Khan and Fulgrim's fleets had arrived, and behind them was the Raven King's 19th Legion.

The Eastern Front Corps could finally set off.

You mean Jonson?

Presumably the Calibans could take care of themselves and speed up to keep up.

Having confirmed this, the Primarch freed herself from the cage of documents. She walked all the way from her office on the surface to the shadow of the space elevator complex, and while asking her subordinates to prepare the transport plane back to the battleship, she opened the letter sent to her by Corax.

Hence, there was the Spider Queen’s confusion and ridicule at the beginning.

The reason why I mock...

[It's because Corax's words are really weird, isn't it? ]

Morgan rubbed his fingers, and the letter in his palm was burned up.

[Although I don't know much about Luther's Colonial Joint Stock Company, I remember Conrad told me about the East India Company: he used this historical allusion to mock my cooperation with the Rogue Traders, as if this was something beyond the bottom line in the cruel and ruthless empire.]

"But some of your Rogue Traders do make me feel uneasy, Mother."

【I know. 】

Morgan grinned, and the hint of murderous intent that leaked out made Virgo shudder.

[Do you think the Rogue Trader Permit I issued to them is really just a piece of paper that represents power? There is a drop of my blood on it, and the blood of a psychic is not so easy to get rid of? ]

"If they betray..."

[That drop of blood is enough to ensure the complete death of the entire family. ]

"Well, if it's loyalty..."

【Then you will be more loyal. 】

Morgan licked his lips. [As long as they still inherit the blood license, these wandering merchants will be more loyal with each generation.]

"I see...but they are still cruel."

【What does it have to do with me? 】

The Primarch raised a brow.

[The Great Crusade brought no less than a million worlds to the current human empire, and there are at least 80,000 worlds as cruel as the East India Company. Every year, so many imperial worlds or human colonies are sentenced to ten generations or even longer of hard labor for resisting the rule of the empire. Does he think these people will be put in heaven?]

"Even if this point is excluded, his accusation against Luther is untenable."

Virgo nodded.

"After all, Lord Luther was very cautious when setting up the Colonial Stock Company: he would only set up such an efficient but extremely inhumane exploitation organization in those surrendered alien worlds, cursed prisoner worlds, or filthy worlds where humans and aliens are hybrids."

"And the power of those purely imperial worlds will be protected as much as possible."

(Yes, the Great Crusade sometimes tolerated the existence of aliens, as long as they did not exceed certain bottom lines of the Empire. A typical example is Fulgrim's Laer sword: the Terran government originally wanted to peacefully accommodate the Laer people under the rule of the Empire, as long as they did not engage in interstellar travel and colonization, but Fulgrim insisted on going to war.)
【I understand Corax's concerns.】

The primarch smiled.

[After all, this system can indeed extort more profits by exhausting all resources: it is inevitable that the bastards on Terra will promote this system to more worlds, and even to pure mortals. Such absurd things have happened before.]

"With the Emperor and Malcador here, the Terran Council will probably not be too rampant."

【The Emperor is about to return.】

【As for Malcador? Thank goodness he can take care of his own business.】

"You hate Malcador?"

No, I respect him.

The Primarch sighed.

【It is precisely because I respect him that I know his abilities have limits. 】

【Like Luther.】

"Yes, mother... just like Lord Luther."

Virgo tapped his temple and sorted out all the corresponding numbers: Caliban and the Far Eastern Frontier of the Alliance have always maintained a high level of information sharing. Both sides are well aware of each other's latest changes, and have even developed further cooperation based on this.

Morgan didn't mind letting her Forge World allies provide more favorable orders for Luther's Caliban Alliance, and Luther reciprocated by facilitating the Dawnbreaker Internal Affairs Department's operations in the northwest of the galaxy: What's more, with the kindness of the old knight as a stepping stone, Riza even began to look for new allies behind Mars.

For example, a group of powerful forge worlds led by Huangquan No. 8, Lucius and Agrippina are extremely envious of the wonderful current situation of Riza being able to establish his own territory in the Great Whirlpool area: no one is willing to submit to the tyranny and power of Mars. If they can get relative freedom by paying more, then these Omnissiah believers who are stranded outside will be unexpectedly generous.

Morgan was well aware of the actions of Forge World Ryza, but she turned a blind eye to it. As long as the orders of the Dawnbreakers were not delayed, the Spider Queen had no interest in the power struggle within the Mechanicus.

The Lord of Avalon's most solid guarantee to Ryza has always been only one: if any foreign enemy, including Mars, brings the war to Ryza's homeland, the Dawnbreaker Legion will use all its strength to help their friends repel any invading enemies.

And this cold assurance is precisely the greatest confidence of Riza at this time: with Morgan's power endorsement, Forge World began to extend its tentacles to the western part of the galaxy, trying to surround Mars from all directions. It doesn't matter even if it is cut off. As long as it can retract under Morgan's wings in time before Mars' anger erupts, the Forge General can only swallow his anger.

"Do you think Mars and the Casting General will put up with this situation?"

【What does it have to do with me? 】

Morgan asked back.

[You know, Aniya: My ambition has never crossed the Great Whirlpool and reached the Solar Sector or even beyond. What does Mars have to do with me? Except for Mr. Rand who works in Avalon...]

【By the way, where is Rand? 】

"Information indicates that he has a science lecture on board the Aurora today."

【That’s perfect.】

Morgan looked up and saw that her personal airship, the Oberon, had arrived.

[I can take Jaghatai or Fulgrim to attend the lecture and discuss the next strategic deployment: Has Sevatar not returned yet? ]

"Arriving in twelve hours."

[Great! We'll be ready to go as soon as they arrive.]

Morgan waved his hand, signaling Virgo to pass on his message.

Then she looked into the distance and muttered to herself in the empty space.

【bring it on……】

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【Let me see your performance. 】