Warhammer: Hail to the Void Lords!.

Chapter 788 08.787: "Abyss Port, we are back"

Under the escort of the Imperial Navy's elite light cruiser, the Swift Eagle, the huge Charter transport fleet's long journey ahead was generally smooth.

In the cold void, occasionally some vague and abnormal energy signals suspected to be the activities of pirate ships were captured at the distant edge of the fleet's sensor array. They were looming in the vast darkness like ghosts, and no substantial threat was encountered.

The roar of the engine is the eternal background sound during the journey.

However, through the intermittent astropathic communications with other ships traveling through the starry sea, which were mixed with a lot of interference, the officers and soldiers on duty on the flagship bridge also keenly realized that the overall potential threat level of the surrounding star fields seemed to be rising quietly and silently in an invisible but real way.

The atmosphere in the bridge became more solemn as a result.

Many fixed routes that were once considered absolutely safe have recently been frequently subjected to bloody attacks by Dark Eldar pirates, who are known for their extreme cruelty and ghostly speed.

These raids often leave no survivors, leaving only the wreckage of the ship floating in the void.

While it is not yet certain whether these vicious attacks on Imperial shipping were all carried out by the same well-organized and powerful Dark Eldar conspiracy, one disturbing fact is already apparent:
From the easternmost edge of the Gothic Sector in the Nebulous Sector, all the way to the westernmost territory that is far away and unknown and almost uncontrolled by the Empire at the other end of the starry sea, the Dark Eldar are showing their presence more and more frequently.

The Dark Eldar, these ancient predators that lurked in the shadows of the universe and took pleasure in torture and plunder, have suddenly re-emerged into the vision of the Human Empire with an unprecedentedly active attitude, causing bloody storms in various star regions.

But the Empire still knows very little about their true motives.

After the escort mission lasted for several standard Terra days, when the huge outline of the Abyss Space Station could be vaguely identified in long-distance optical detectors, the "Swift Eagle" sent a formal port dispatch and priority berth application to the Port Administration of the Abyss Space Station, which was about to arrive, twenty-four standard Terra hours in advance.

With waves of dull salutes representing welcome and salute - although Horatio personally thought it was more like the loud noise made by the operation of some heavy industrial facilities - coming from the direction of the distant giant space structure of Mandeville Point, it penetrated the sturdy armor of the ship and the complex sound array imitation system, and echoed low in the spacious and solemn bridge command center.

Outside the main observation window of the bridge, the outline of the Abyss Space Station became clearer and clearer, with countless tiny lights dotted on it like stars.

The huge ram at the bow, made of indestructible adamantine gold and symbolizing the supreme glory and absolute power of the Imperial Navy, reflected a cold and dazzling light under the dark red light from the dying star in the distance.

The "Swift Eagle", a light cruiser that has proved its worth in countless battles, is like an iron-blooded veteran who has returned from a long absence from the battlefield with honor. It slowly and gracefully enters the main anchorage area of ​​the Imperial Navy's Abyss Harbor, which it has left for a long time and is now busy with ships coming and going, with a constant stream of ships.

Countless small shuttles and work boats shuttled back and forth among the huge starport skeleton like industrious worker bees.

"Welcome back, young man." A deep and slightly hoarse voice sounded in the slightly noisy docking area.

Major General Edward Peru, dressed in a spotless uniform of a senior naval officer, the stars on his shoulder straps reflected a calm light under the cold strip lights of the dock.

He stood at the end of the metal docking ladder that had just been extended from the light cruiser Swift Eagle with the hissing sound of hydraulic devices, with his hands habitually behind his back. He greeted Horatio who was walking down slowly with a gentle smile on his face.

Two aide-de-camps with solemn expressions saluted Colonel Cochrane. However, when Horatio approached, Major General Peru's eyes still flashed with a trace of surprise that was difficult to conceal - when this guy was ordered to sail with the rank of major, he was not like this now.

After a trip in the cold sea of ​​stars outside, he was promoted to colonel. Not only did his rank increase, but he also seemed to have grown a lot taller, and his whole temperament became more stable yet sharp.

He remembered that this kid had changed a lot after receiving the enhanced transformation surgery at the Navy Department's Zhongsi Academy. He didn't expect that after going out on a mission for a year or two, he would come back with a completely new look. Is this growth rate normal? Or is the tempering in the starry sea really so tough? However, the military supervisor and even the judge did not physically remove him, which means everything is normal.

"Sir Peru, it's been a long time." Horatio stood at the end of the gangway, adjusted the brim of his bicorne hat that symbolized his command, then straightened his head and raised his chest, and gave a standard Imperial Navy brim salute. His movements were crisp and clear: "This long voyage and cruise really made me deeply understand the hardships and length of the Imperial Navy's mission. It takes such a long time to return home after a long journey."

He tilted his head slightly and looked over Major General Peru's shoulder into the distance.

He could see the edge of the planet's great arc, the beautiful, shifting halo where the atmosphere met the boundless starry sky.

Further away, there were the spires of the nest cities that pierced the sky, which was dyed gray and yellow by industrial waste gas, like ferocious fangs.

In another vast area on the planet's surface is the Mechanicus enclave, with the sky covered in black smoke.

The sky and ground between the urban living area and the heavy industrial area present two completely different and shocking colors, which are clearly distinguished.

"Well, by the way, I also brought back a group of 'little sheep' that were hunted by interstellar wolves." Horatio turned his head and pointed with his chin at a huge merchant ship of the Charter Fleet that was slowly docking in orbit not far away and preparing to start unloading cargo.

The hulls of those merchant ships were covered with the wind and frost of the journey and looked a little shabby.

"Well done, kid. You have become a mature Imperial Navy captain who knows how to take the overall situation into consideration."

Major General Edward Peru nodded approvingly, his tone filled with the satisfaction of an elder. "Many imperial worlds need transport ships from these agricultural worlds to feed so many hungry mouths. You know, the limited hydroponic farms on the planets alone are far from enough to feed these hundreds of millions of people."

As he spoke, he turned around, a fatherly gentle light flashing in his eyes, his arms already open.

"Dad! I'm back!" A clear, pleasant and energetic voice rang out.

Thei Perroux, wearing a well-tailored dark hunting suit and a pair of shiny leather boots, ran briskly down another gangway of the Swift Eagle, his boot heels tapping on the metal deck, making a crisp "clacking" sound, and rushed towards his father like a happy little deer.

"This trip is really meaningful, and I have gained a lot!" The girl temporarily put aside her stern identity and heavy responsibilities as an Inquisitor of the Imperial Tribunal. At this moment, she was just a daughter who had been away from home for a long time and finally returned. She said to her father happily with a bright smile on her face.

"Oh? Really? My little explorer, let me see what you have gained." Major General Peru looked at his daughter lovingly, his tone full of anticipation.

(End of this chapter)