Warhammer: Hail to the Void Lords!.

Chapter 849, 08.848: 'When Humanity Acts Without Considering the Consequences'

"The situation with the 'Sword of Akali' is not optimistic. If this continues, it will be completely separated from the fleet and will need to be towed by another ship. The mission will last about 20 minutes. Is there anyone willing to take on this mission?"

When fleet commander Horatio's inquiry resounded through the fleet's encrypted communication channels like a stone thrown into stagnant water, it unexpectedly triggered a long, suffocating silence.

On the flagship's holographic tactical platform, dozens of blurry images representing both civilian ship captains and warship captains fell into an eerie silence.

The captains looked at each other, but no one answered. Only the perpetual, low noise, like cosmic background radiation, echoed in the communication channel.

"Is there no one here?" Horatio's voice turned serious, each word seeming to be chilled to the bone. "Are we to abandon the flagship responsible for the main combat operations and go to tow a damaged escort ship?"

“Commander.” A lieutenant colonel finally broke the silence. His words were earnest, but also carried a hint of helplessness. “Our warships are carrying out escort missions under tremendous pressure as part of the escort formation.”

The absence of any warship could easily allow lurking enemies to take advantage of the situation.

“Of course I know,” Horatio said, his voice completely flat. “And what about the cargo fleet?”

"..."

Another deathly silence filled the fleet channel, even more chilling than the previous silence.

Horatio sighed silently and slowly shook his head.

The sheepdog was seriously injured while protecting the flock, but at the most critical moment, not a single sheep was willing to step forward and carry the injured sheepdog home.

Of course, there were also lessons learned in blood.

During the previous voyage, some ships that were towing damaged vessels were caught in a surprise attack by the Dark Eldar and, due to their immobility, were "killed two birds with one stone," turning into wreckage in the void.

But this must never be a reason for cowardice! The human empire has been built upon endless sacrifices and dedication, allowing it to stumble forward through the dark universe to this day. Without sacrifice, there would be no human survival.

When the rest of the empire’s citizens are sacrificing themselves and willingly becoming “the emperor’s currency,” what reason do you have to refuse to fulfill this sacred duty?
Just as he was feeling deeply disappointed in these selfish charter captains, a kind voice broke the dead silence.

"Commander, the space-class transport ship 'Yukikaze Raikyou' is willing to give it a try." Captain Kudo, a man with a slightly overweight appearance, wearing simple old-fashioned round-framed glasses, and looking exceptionally humble, brought a touch of warmth to the cold channel with his steady voice.

“But… the ‘Snowstorm Thunder’ is twenty kilometers long and weighs three trillion tons,” an officer couldn’t help but remind him.

Using the largest transport ship in human history—longer than two Nascent Soul-class battleships combined—to tow a Scimitar-class escort ship that is only 2.2 kilometers long is somewhat like an elephant pulling a cart.

"It's only twenty minutes, isn't it, sir?" Captain Kudo said with a smile. "Please trust us, trust the crew of the 'Yukikaze Raikyou.' Although this ship is huge, we've done plenty of towing and pulling damaged ships."

"It seems you guys are quite experienced."

"We have successfully rescued thirteen ships that were attacked during their voyages."

Horatio took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

Since someone was willing to volunteer, he temporarily withdrew his final measure of forcibly conscripting ships to perform towing tasks.

"Commander, the Starfire is willing to provide escort and cover for the traction operation."

"The 'Loyal Hound' is ready to provide patrol cover for the traction operation. Irregular patrol plans have been finalized and are ready for execution at any time, Commander."

“Very good.” Horatio’s voice regained its usual authority. “’Sword of Akali,’ we have secured these for you. We hope you can regain your combat capability as soon as possible.”

"Thank you, Commander. The initial personnel selection for the bridge is now complete."

I temporarily requisitioned the remaining Hell's Vanguard soldiers to serve as acting officers. As graduates of the Abridal Loyalty Academy, they possessed a higher level of professionalism than ordinary crew members.

"I approve your conscription."

"Thank you, Commander. The new officer command is taking over the bridge. The enemy has all retreated, and I have entrusted His Excellency Chief Justice Javert with commanding the final assault."

Horatio's gaze shifted to the closed-circuit television feed transmitted from the Sword of Akali.

After the alien retracted its jumping sheath, it immediately gained an absolute defensive advantage, and the offensive and defensive situation instantly reversed.

To eradicate this scourge, the bailiffs have paid a heavy price, with dozens of lives lost. Even their mechanical mastiffs and bio-engineered falcons were almost entirely wiped out in this fierce and frenzied conflict.

Without the assistance of these good partners, relying solely on the quality of the soldiers to engage in close-quarters indoor combat with these aliens would undoubtedly come at a terrible cost.

On one side are experts in close-quarters combat, born from childhood to uphold the will of the code, fearless of sacrifice, solely to punish criminals; on the other side are aliens who have lived for hundreds of years, possessing rich combat and slaughter skills, whose physical abilities almost overwhelm mortal bodies, even surpassing those of Astartes monks.

"For the God-Emperor and the Codex!!!" With a roar, Grand Justice Shawell, wearing the golden eagle emblem on his head, took the lead.

With a riot shield whose surface was scorched beyond recognition and whose viewing mirror was shattered, he shouted a passionate battle cry and launched another charge.

The owner of this shield has long since died in the line of duty. Now, the Grand Justice is the third bailiff to raise it and launch a desperate charge against the enemy of the God Emperor.

The Ministry of Justice officers threw several flashbangs, launching a final reckoning against the enemy deep within the boarding sheath—that last vestige of incurable disease.

Facing the savage monkeys that were closing in like a meat grinder, the last dozen or so Ducari wore cruel smiles.

They stood beside the hostages who were chained up.

"Die, you barbaric monkeys! Use the pain and blood of your compatriots to fuel our strength! Hahahaha!" The leader of the Dukali raiding squad let out a sharp, maniacal laugh. With a gorgeous yet cruel throat-slitting dance, the sharp scimitar in his hand instantly sliced ​​through the throats of ten kidnapped crew members.

The chained crew members collapsed to the ground in agony, their eyes rolling back helplessly, blood gushing from the narrow slits in their necks.

Their tracheas were precisely severed, but the vicious method was just right so that they did not die quickly from blood loss, but rather died slowly in extreme pain of suffocation.

This was the cruelest and most painful way to die; the horrifying sound of suffocation terrified the other survivors.

The children in the clan cried out in terror, but their cries were met only with more cruel mockery and wicked laughter from the Dukali.

These cruel aliens are greedily and thirstily savoring the sweet delicacy called "panic" that permeates the air.

In their extreme excitement, their muscles bulged at a visible speed, and their already incredibly swift bodily functions became even more unpredictable after being enhanced by this strange mutation induced by pain.

"Hahahaha! Savage monkey! Enjoy the death and despair of your fellow countrymen!"

A figure of Ducalli appeared suddenly in front of Xavier as if in a flash.

The chief justice reacted swiftly, immediately raising his stun baton to block the deadly curved blade.

However, one of the bailiffs who was working alongside him was not so lucky.

In the blink of an eye, the throat of his subordinate, who had fought alongside him, was silently slit.

Scalding hot blood gushed out, splattering onto the dark walls of the alien boarding pod and onto the faces of the hostages nearby.

"Your Excellency, Chief Justice... I'm sorry..." the bailiff whose throat had been slit said with his last breath before passing away.

"You savage monkey, how does it feel to watch your men die before your eyes? Heh... Angry? Helpless? I love your expressions of despair, hahahaha!" Ducarli, locked in close combat with Xavier, launched a flirtatious and dazzling attack with speed beyond human comprehension, while simultaneously insulting the Grand Justice's dignity with the most vicious words.

Suddenly, the chief justice abruptly raised his head, his eyes, hidden behind the shattered goggles, blazing like burning embers as he stared fiercely at the alien before him.

"You will pay a price, alien. And that price is your life!"

laugh--

A soft injection sound came from his trapezius muscle. The accompanying servo skull had already injected a vial of golden medicine into his body.

Boom!Boom!Boom!
The Chief Justice's heart pounded three times like a war drum, each beat stronger than the last.

The efficiency of the heart pumping blood increased fivefold in an instant.

In just a moment, the stun baton that the Chief Justice swung at the alien became as swift as real lightning, and its reaction speed was several times faster than before.

(End of this chapter)