From Titan Corporation to the Empire of Man

Chapter 561 "Fateful Showdown"

As Dorn's holographic projection faded into the data stream, the bridge returned to the dim red lighting of tactical alert.

The investigation department agents stationed on the ship have also left the bridge and contacted their immediate superiors to discuss subsequent reconnaissance and infiltration operations.

Sigismund's finger slid across the center console, calling up the personnel location map on the ship and confirming that Obi-Wan Kenobi's light was in the reception cabin on the seventh deck.

In fact, this Jedi Master had already arrived at the Valiant-class cruiser aboard the Pelican after fighting with the Spartan Red Team and understanding the goals of Sparta and the Human Empire through Force perception.

As the automatic explosion-proof door closed silently behind him, Sigismund also left the command center of the bridge.

The lifting platform leading to the seventh deck was emitting a faint blue magnetic levitation halo. When his magnetic boots stepped onto the platform, the slight fluctuation caused his cloak to float slightly.

During the descent, through the observation window of the lifting platform, you can see the busy scene on each deck.

The technicians were directing the Terminators to load "holy water" mixed with pure flower powder into the pressurized sprayer.

The surfaces of these specially made golden containers are engraved with Chinese characters that drive away evil spirits. Whenever they are sprayed, the fine mist will refract a colorful halo under the corridor lighting.

Sigismund noticed that even the ventilation filters in the corridor had been dismantled and were undergoing a "purification by burning incense" ritual.

"Praise the Emperor. Praise humanity."

A Terminator carrying an "incense burner" on his back was still chanting mechanically in a low voice.

Its auxiliary robotic arms were applying "holy water" emitting a faint golden light to the seams of the bulkheads, while the synths belonging to the technical department stood quietly at every intersection, their electronic eyes switched to a special spectral mode, ready to detect any signs of subspace contamination at any time.

When Sigismund arrived at the seventh deck and left the elevator, he soon passed by a team of synths who were "deploying defenses."

The leading "person" was testing the installed soul-suppressing force field generator, and these technological devices from the Inquisition emitted an uncomfortable buzzing sound, and caused the nearby lights to flicker frequently.

After the technical staff on board learned that a Chaos invasion had broken out in the universe, they began to prepare the ship in advance according to the standard procedures established by the Inquisition.

Although the main battleships of the Human Empire are equipped with energy shields, they are still unable to provide effective protection for the hull or even the personnel on board if they are attacked by large-scale chaos psychic energy.

That is why they hurriedly took precautionary measures. If they encounter a chaos wave, the fleet can concentrate on fighting and avoid being attacked from both sides.

Soon, Sigismund turned the last corner and the explosion-proof door of the meeting cabin appeared in front of him.

The monitor above the door frame suddenly lit up red, and a scanning beam quickly passed across his body.

Then, a mechanical female voice sounded: "Identity confirmed, biometric match 100%."

With a hiss of the hydraulic system releasing pressure, the heavy metal door slid open to both sides.

Inside the cabin, the portholes filtered the light of Tatooine's twin suns into a soft amber color, and Obi-Wan Kenobi's figure was bathed in this halo, his wrinkled fingers unconsciously stroking the activation button of the lightsaber, and this action made the weapon emit an almost inaudible Force buzz.

And the old man was standing by the porthole, staring out at the Tatooine desert.

Boom, boom
When the noise caused by the magnetic boots broke the silence, the old man turned around with the elegance unique to a Jedi Master, and the folds of his robe showed traces of time in the light coming through the porthole.

"Commander, it's an honor to meet you here."

Its sound is like an ancient spring flowing deep in the desert, carrying the calm rhythm passed down by the Jedi Order for thousands of years.

However, Sigismund's sharp eyes penetrated this appearance——

The throbbing veins on the old man's temple and the fingertips that unconsciously stroked the lightsaber both showed the turbulent waves in his heart.

Outside the window at this time, Tatooine's twin suns were gradually "sinking" into the sea of ​​sand, gradually dyeing the entire cabin dark red.

As the light passed over Obi-Wan's wrinkled face, it also illuminated the deep worry in his eyes.

Apparently, the Jedi Master had already noticed the news of the fall of Coruscant.

"Master Kenobi."

Seeing the other party's gentle attitude, Sigismund naturally remained humble and stepped closer to the other party.

Moreover, Sigismund placed the helmet tucked under his armpit on the alloy conference table in the center of the cabin. The sound of metal collision was particularly clear in the quiet cabin.

"We, the human empire, have set foot in this universe." Sigismund continued, his voice like cold iron, and every word carried unquestionable weight:
“Just to implement the Emperor’s eternal decree - to unify the scattered human flames, gather the power to fight against darkness, and let mankind prosper for a long time while guarding against the threat of another dimension.

The reason I contacted you Jedi Knights is to obtain more information and samples that would be beneficial to humanity, but..."

Sigismund said as he walked towards the porthole, his magnetic boots making a heavy sound on the deck. "I believe that there is no need for our intelligence to confirm. The master's Force perception has already warned us that the threat we are warn of is now eating away at your universe."

As he spoke, Sigismund called up the holographic star map.

In the projection, the location of Coruscant was being swallowed by an ever-expanding halo of dirty light, while the blue lines representing the hyperspace lanes were twisting and breaking one after another.

What’s even more terrifying is that some kind of energy between purple and black is spreading along these channels to the surrounding galaxies.

Obi-Wan's fingers suddenly clenched around his lightsaber, his knuckles turning white with the effort.

The old man's breathing also became heavy, as if he was resisting some invisible oppression, and said: "I thought it was just the shadow of the dark side."

The old Jedi Master's tone wavered for the first time. "It wasn't until I saw you fighting those creatures that I realized how terrifying the existence of another dimension is."

Sigismund noticed the deliberate pause when the old man said "creature" and the fine layer of sweat oozing from his neck.

As for "seeing", it may be that Obi-Wan used the Force to "foresee the future", or "looked back to the past" and saw the fragmented pictures of the battle between the Astartes and the Chaos Demons.

Outside the window, the last ray of sunlight was swallowed up by the sea of ​​sand, and the cabin was plunged into the cold tones of artificial light.

The cold light of the holographic projection flowed between the two of them. Sigismund's finger ran across the star map, highlighting Tatooine and Yavin 4 at the same time.

"Master Kenobi," he spoke first, "we need to identify Darth Vader's next primary target."

The armor hummed as he leaned forward. "His children are scattered. Luke Skywalker is here."

Metal fingertips struck the projection of Tatooine, and holographic particles like sand flew everywhere. "And Leia Organa is on Yavin 4, being guarded by the Primarch of our Legion."

Hearing this, Obi-Wan stopped thinking, and his figure under the light looked like a lightsaber that was about to break.

"Anakin, no, the current Vader." The old man suddenly opened his eyes, ripples of the Force surging in his blue-gray pupils, and he murmured, "Forever bound by the past."

Obi-Wan walked slowly towards the star map, his skinny finger hovering over Tatooine. "This is where his nightmare began - the shackles of slavery, the death of his mother."

Suddenly, the holographic image flickered violently.

Obi-Wan pressed his palm hard on his temple, and a force sign appeared, as if lightning was striking.

"Sandstorm!" Obi-Wan gasped. "I saw a scarlet sandstorm under the twin suns. And--"

The old Jedi's voice became hoarse, "A bloody lightsaber hilt, stuck in the ruins of the moisture farm."

Sigismund's fighting instinct instantly tightened.

He noticed the key detail in Obi-Wan's description, the moisture farm, which is where the intelligence showed Luke Skywalker was raised.

"So you think," Sigismund's voice dropped to freezing point, "Darth Vader will prioritize the unfinished duel between father and son?"

Obi-Wan nodded heavily. "But Yavin 4 is just as dangerous. Leia inherited her mother's."

The old Jedi paused, his expression painful, "Padmé's image just warned me through the Force."

At this moment, a communication request suddenly lit up on the holographic screen.

After the call was connected, the metallic voice of an Imperial Fist came from the speaker: "Commander! The detector has detected abnormal hyperspace fluctuations! The source is the space region on the dark side of Tatooine!"

Hearing this, Sigismund and Obi-Wan looked out the porthole almost at the same time.

Just look in the dark space of Tatooine, an unnatural "red cloud" is gathering, and the outline of a metal bow can be vaguely seen protruding from it.

!

Seeing this, Sigismund looked a little surprised.

After all, even if Darth Vader completed the complete corruption of Coruscant and led the fleet directly to Tatooine in the Outer Rim, it would still take at least 48 hours, or even longer.

However, the other party was able to cross the galaxy so quickly, it must be the Chaos Gods who were behind it.

Obi-Wan's lightsaber had already been deployed, and the blue-white plasma beam illuminated his old face. He said:

"They're here. For Luke."

Sigismund picked up his helmet and visor and closed it again with the sound of mechanical operation. A scarlet light flashed in his eyepiece, and he turned and walked out of the meeting cabin.

The voice of "Master Kenobi" Sigismund came through the closed helmet, carrying the cold resonance unique to metal:
"Our Primarch is in charge of Yavin 4, and there is no need to worry about Leia Organa's safety, but at this moment on Tatooine..."

Om-!
His words were interrupted by the sudden sound of the ship-wide alarm. Amid the shrill sirens, he continued:

"It is about to become a hunting ground for Chaos. The choice is yours. The human empire will not imprison the free will of a Jedi."

As the blast-proof door closed, the cabin suddenly became quiet, with only the unique hum of the lightsaber's plasma blade as the only sound.

Obi-Wan stared at the blue and white beam of energy in his hand, the sword's light casting changing shadows on his wrinkled face.

Outside the window, the space of Tatooine has been completely dyed an ominous dark red.

The old Jedi's fingers gently stroked the activation device of the lightsaber. This weapon that had been with him for decades seemed a little strange at this moment.

Obi-Wan remembered the light in Anakin's eyes when he first held the lightsaber, the fateful duel on the lava river on Mustafar, and the last teachings of Master Yoda.

"A true Jedi always knows when to let go."

Taking a deep breath, Obi-Wan turned off his lightsaber.

With a "hiss", the plasma beam retracted into the hilt and the cabin returned to darkness.

As he stepped toward the hatch, his tan robe drew a firm arc under the artificial gravity.

On the deck corridor, the crew members who were rushing around did not notice the determination flashing in the old man's eyes. It was a look that only a soldier who had experienced countless battles could have.

It seems that Obi-Wan Kenobi is ready to continue the unfinished fateful duel with his apprentice.

At the same time, the pale moonlight shines on the undulating sandstone buildings of Mos Eisley, and this desert pearl is still shrouded in war and smoke.

Whoosh. Whoosh.
Ta. Ta-ta
The pulsing sounds of blasters and the melodious firing of gauss guns echoed through the narrow alleys, occasionally interrupted by the "boom" of explosions.

Broken neon signs fell from the sky, and the air was filled with the stench of burning ions and the smell of blood, and even the faint pungent smell of sweat and motor oil.

Looking down from the air, a large number of clone troopers were advancing in standard three-person squads on the spider-web-like streets of Mos Eisley.

Their figures patrol in an interlaced pattern with the outlines of the Terminator mechanical forces, and are responsible for maintaining law and order. Automatic sentry guns are set up at every intersection, and scanning beams draw dangerous red grids in the darkness.

The gunshots and explosions came from those fanatics who were loyal to Palpatine. They hid in the sewers, alleys and ruins, making a final resistance.

Although a large number of stormtroopers and armored units were deployed here, Mos Eisley still could not avoid falling under the "siege" of the Imperial Fists, Spartans, and auxiliary troops.

At this moment, on a civilian helipad in the north of the city, the Spartan warriors who had completed the cleanup mission were gathering and waiting.

Their Thor's hammer armor was covered in dust, and the helmet visors glowed a cold, pale golden light in the shadows.

John, number 117, was checking his exclusive Gauss rifle when suddenly—

"Everyone!"

Cortana's hologram popped up on every Spartan's helmet screen, and her usually calm voice now carried a rare urgency:
"Emergency battle update. Abnormal space distortion has been detected. It is suspected that the Chaos Fleet directly under Darth Vader has completed the hyperspace jump and is about to reach low-Earth orbit."

Cortana said, marking it on the miniature radar on the helmet screen, and then continued:
"Commander Sigismund orders all Spartans to immediately go on the defensive and coordinate with local combat units to garrison Mos Eisley to prevent the expected orbital drop."

Hearing this, the Spartans looked up and saw an ominous dark red light faintly visible outside the atmosphere.

Those are not stars, but "exits" that are tearing the veil of reality.
(End of this chapter)