Warhammer: Hail to the Void Lords!.

Chapter 514 06.0513: "Open the door, the navy is boarding the ship for inspection!"

As it was a critical period of escort, Horatio did not intend to keep the Epic in stealth mode to track the ship's voyage for a long time.

He decided to follow it for a while and then conduct a surprise inspection.

Based on the triple positioning of the opponent's speed, course, and plane arc trajectory, the well-trained officers on the Epic quickly formulated an interception route.

After a 3-hour flight.

"Captain, a suspicious target has been spotted!" Louise observed a streak of plasma tail flames in the darkness on the divination array.

"Is it the merchant ship called 'Trade Vanguard'?"

"I think so. Her route fits perfectly."

"Turn on shortwave."

"Shortwave communications enabled."

Horatio picked up the sound array and spoke into the microphone in a cold and ruthless tone: "Trade Vanguard, we are the Imperial Navy. Stop the ship immediately and accept inspection. If you refuse to comply, you will bear the consequences."

"This is the Trade Vanguard, Captain. We are a registered merchant ship belonging to the Quintari Fleet, and we are heading to the agricultural world of Tarentus to deliver much-needed supplies."

"We are from the Imperial Navy's Epic attack ship, and we are ordered to patrol here. I am Lieutenant Commander Horatio Cochrane, and I require you to stop the ship immediately and cooperate with the inspection."

"But Major..."

"I said it, Captain. If you refuse to do so, you will bear the consequences." Horatio hung up the communication unceremoniously.

Soon, the 'Trade Pioneer' turned off the plasma engine at the stern and slowly floated in the void.

Although there was no conclusive evidence that the ship was caught red-handed, there was a high possibility that there was something wrong with it, so Horatio did not intend to let the Epic dock with it to avoid collateral damage.

This is when the Imperial Navy's law enforcement boats come in handy.

The Imperial Navy's law enforcement boats are part of the Disciplinary Squadron, which is directly under the command of Farida Hood, the Military Supervisor.

The law enforcement boat is larger than the Shark assault boat, is 105 meters long and 45 meters wide, and has more lightweight weapons.

The internal cabin can carry 50 people, and there is a prison cell that can hold hundreds of people.

It can dock normally at the docking port and board the ship, rather than ramming in violently like the Shark assault boat. It is often used in the Imperial Navy's daily patrols and law enforcement.

The warship's armed security personnel are selected from the armed sailors and boarding crew members on board.

They are not fixed, but rotated by squads. Whichever squads' turn it is each day will have fluorescent stickers with the "Military Police" logo on their arms, breastplates, back armor, and helmets.

Before setting off, Horatio used the omen fragments to conduct a preliminary reconnaissance.

The Trojan Horse plan was what he was most worried about. If there was a cabin full of Tau troops inside, then although he temporarily lacked the force to destroy the ship, he could at least prevent the people on board from dying in vain.

Although the fragmented information was incomplete, it was enough for Horatio to know that there were no Tau lurking troops on the ship that he was worried about.

Then this is kind of interesting.

What on earth is going on with this ship?
Upon closer thought, there are only three possibilities. Either she is innocent and has chosen the wrong ship; or this ship has defected to the Tau and is patrolling and conducting reconnaissance nearby as a spy ship; the third possibility is that the captain is blinded by greed and has been hired by the Kroot to harm the Imperial civilian ships and serve as their food.

If you want to know the real situation, you will probably only know it when the law enforcement boat completes the docking and you get on the merchant ship.

Two law enforcement boats set off quickly. The first one was carried by Horatio, Farida, Archie, and David Betty. Brother Korchagin served as a free action force to prevent potential risks. Louise, the chief officer of the operations department, was on duty on the bridge, responsible for the command of the Epic and providing support.

As the captain, he didn't need to go on board the ship to check it himself. Although there were no Tau armed forces in the cabin, he planned to do it himself just in case and to minimize his own losses when danger occurred.

According to Horatio's plan, fifty naval soldiers will go to the bridge to take control. The naval officers and soldiers of other law enforcement boats will board the ship from another docking port under the leadership of Chief Petty Officer Valina. Inquisitor Thei will board the second law enforcement boat with Valina without asking for permission.

Of course, this is also the power of the Inquisitor. The Imperial Navy has the power of law enforcement, but as an Inquisitor, she has much greater powers.

So Horatio agreed to Thei's action.

As for the other law enforcement boats, Horatio assigned the task of searching the cabins, and Thei will investigate the cabins of the ship with Valina.
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"We are the Imperial Navy's law enforcement team. Open the docking hatch immediately for inspection. No one is allowed to resist, otherwise you will bear the consequences." Farida inserted the communication using the military supervisor's authority code, her tone was extremely cold.

Under her order, the docking port of the merchant ship slowly opened, and the square docking port of the law enforcement boat was facing the docking ship.

laugh! ——

As the pressure-relief steam was released, the leading boarding team members held up their boarding shields and stood ready, forming a shield wall that could deal with all light weapons.

When the steam cleared, what greeted Horatio's eyes was not the hostility he had expected.

"Welcome, Major." The captain appeared at the docking port respectfully, and the servants accompanying him did not carry any weapons.

Horatio looked around vigilantly, and after making sure there were no suspicious risks, he asked the shield guards to make way.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Captain." Horatio nodded and accepted the greeting from the civilian master, maintaining the demeanor of a captain of His Holy Navy.

"What brings you here, sir? If you need supplies, we are honored to serve the Holy Navy of the Divine Emperor unconditionally! This is our supreme honor." The captain pinched his mustache and bowed flatteringly.

To be honest, Horatio didn't like the flattering look of this sharp-nosed and monkey-faced man. He looked very cunning and similar to someone in his memory.

But he cannot convict someone based on his appearance; this is neither reasonable nor legal.

That's right, the Imperial Fleet covers the Imperial Navy, the Charter Fleet, and the Civilian Fleet.

It has the largest and most complete legal code in the entire human empire.

It is said that if everything were listed on paper, the parchment scrolls would fill the entire palace.

"I appreciate your kindness, Captain. Now, let's go to your bridge and have a chat. We are patrolling nearby and conducting a routine inspection under the orders of the Imperial Navy."

"This is the first time I've seen your warship, including your military rank..." The civilian ship owner looked at the slender Epic outside the porthole, pinched his waxed, shiny mustache and squinted his eyes as he spoke. Although he didn't say it explicitly, his tone clearly hinted at his distrust.

"Do you want me to show you my letter of commission, Captain?"

Horatio said calmly, then snapped his fingers.

Two sailors stepped out, held up the rolled-up scroll and slowly opened it, revealing golden words written in golden psychic ink.

This is a copy of Horatio's commission, specially made for showing.

"Ah, it's true. You are indeed a noble captain of the Imperial Navy. I am sorry for my impoliteness. Please understand that we have to be careful in this vague area where the battle lines intersect. After all, today this place is controlled by the Imperial Navy, but tomorrow it may be controlled by those cobalt blue aliens."

"I don't like your metaphors, nor do I care what 'high opinion' you have about the Imperial Navy's operations here. But please be careful with your words, Captain, or we in the Imperial Navy have the right to confiscate and revoke your warrant in accordance with the Sacred Law of Discipline of the Great Galactic Fleet of the Great Lord of Mankind.

Now please lead the way, I will only focus on my current mission. "Horatio interrupted the captain's connotation of the current battle situation without any hesitation.

What he hated most was the guy who ate the rice and complained that the rice cooked in the pot was not tasty.

If there weren't millions of officers and soldiers of the Imperial Navy fighting in the starry sea, would merchant ships still want to sail across the inter-sectoral zone? What a joke.

"Please come this way."

(End of this chapter)