Warhammer: Hail to the Void Lords!.

Chapter 852, page 08.851: 'The Heart of Revenge'

A Fury-class interceptor, like a firefly darting through endless darkness, pierced the tranquil void.

Its sleek armored fuselage reflected a cold metallic luster under the eerie light of distant nebulae.

The engine's eerie blue exhaust trailed a fleeting path behind it, pointing directly at the unknown airspace emanating an ominous signal.

"Miss Inquisitor, why was the captain so nervous after we received a friendly signal?" Veronica asked, her words muffled as she sipped the slightly sweet juice from her water bag.

During long and monotonous cruise missions, pilots can only replenish their water supply through these built-in water bags connected to their helmets.

Of course, to relieve boredom in the endless void, pilots would always fill their cabins with their favorite drinks, including some strong liquor.

In response, a legendary naval aviator once said something that has been regarded as gospel by his successors: "The rationality of survival tells me never to dive and drop bombs on an eight-kilometer-long void warship while under a hail of bullets."

But just one cup of amaze, ah! To hell with this damned reason! I'm going to blow that wrecked ship up today!

When pilots went on those bombing missions with a one-in-a-lifetime chance of death, a little alcohol often turned them into the bravest and most fearless warriors.

The naval officers, in turn, always tacitly approved of these small acts of indulgence by their naval aviators, who were likely to only have a few hours left to live.

"Captain Veronica, do you know anything about the Dark Eldar?" They, sitting at the oracle control panel behind her, turned around and asked with a smile.

Her voice was clear and pleasant over the communications channel, completely out of place in the tense atmosphere inside the cockpit.

"I don't know much about it, Miss Judge. Since joining the Imperial Naval Air Force, I've also been training at the Karl-Duniyash base in the Extreme Starfield."

There, our main enemies are the Orks and the Tau, who are completely different from the Dark Eldar. Well, to be honest, I don't quite understand the Dark Eldar's intentions; something about them just feels off.

“Yes, Captain Veronica, you need to understand your enemy in order to formulate a better strategy.” Thee’s voice carried a hint of persuasion.

Veronica blinked, listening attentively.

"The Dark Eldar, also known as the Dukali, are masters of using the victim's identity information to impersonate the victim and lure kind-hearted humans into paying an even more terrible price."

The captain's rationality and caution are justified.

Seeing Veronica's still bewildered expression, They chuckled and explained in a more straightforward way: "To put it simply, they'll impersonate your friends, crying and begging for your help. Then, when you reach out to them, they'll kill you with methods so cruel you can't even imagine them. Next, they'll skin you, wear your skin, and use your identity to lure your companions. When they lower their guard, they'll inflict unimaginable and even more innovative atrocities on them. This cycle repeats itself to satisfy their insatiable, morbid desires."

Veronica finally understood, and when she heard "skin off your body," she felt a sudden physical discomfort. The mouthful of juice she had just inhaled was aspirated into her trachea, triggering a violent and painful cough. The hairs on her body stood on end, and a chill ran down her spine to the top of her head.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

"Hey! Don't throw up in there. If you block your breathing tube, you'll have to clean it yourself!" Fasha, sitting in the driver's seat, snapped without turning her head in her usual impatient tone.

"Cough! Uh-ooh!" Veronica finally caught her breath, her face turning bright red.

"Captain Fasha, how much longer do we have?" Tey smiled and turned her gaze to the dark-skinned ace pilot in the pilot's seat.

"We expect to reach the designated scanning point in ten minutes. The maximum range of our airborne detection system is 800 kilometers, but if the enemy ships have a high stealth coefficient, we can only scan them at a closer distance." "Then let's get closer to 500 kilometers." Thee's tone was calm yet firm.

"Are you sure, Miss Judge?" For the first time in this round of conversation, Fasha's voice carried a hint of seriousness. "Five hundred kilometers is already the close-range gun range of most warships."

"Yes, I'm sure. I have a fairly extensive understanding of the technology behind the Xenomorphs."

If we don't get within this distance, once the enemy activates their shadow field, many 'essential' creatures will slip past us, and we won't be able to see the enemy's full appearance.

If I remember correctly, our ornithoscope cannot perform continuous wide-area scanning, right?

"Yes, sir. Wide-area scanning requires at least three minutes of cooling and recharging time."

“Then we’ll scan when we get within 500 kilometers.” Therese’s smile held a hint of cunning. “I believe that as the Empire’s top ace pilot, Captain Anya Fasha, you will surely have a way to use your exceptional skills to lead us to escape safely from under the enemy’s nose.”

"There will be a way." Fasha shrugged helplessly, a bitter smile playing on his lips—loyalty and sacrifice were the cornerstones of the empire; if one died a worthy death, what was there to complain about?
On the bridge of the flagship "Swift Skyhawk," a scene of tense yet orderly activity unfolded.

The team of officers in dark blue uniforms worked rapidly at their respective posts, analyzing and collecting every abnormal fluctuation in the surrounding airspace.

The towering dome was hidden in shadow, with only the faint glow from countless holographic screens and control consoles illuminating their solemn faces.

"Captain, we have detected unusual energy activity in the surrounding airspace. We suspect that multiple engines are emitting radiation in the airspace." Henry Harvey, formerly the third officer, had now taken over the duties of the second officer. Because First Officer Louise was heavily pregnant and unable to move around the wide bridge for extended periods, Harvey took on most of the communication and reporting work.

"Approximately how many signal sources are there?" Horatio's voice was deep, his gaze still fixed on the central holographic star map.

"At least fifteen, Captain. They're like piranhas from some legendary jungle planet, drawn by the scent of blood, converging on us from all directions. I personally believe that a new round of conflict is inevitable within the next seventy-two standard Terran hours."

"Has the perpetrator of the attack on the 'Sword of Akali' been found?"

"At present, we can only confirm that the attack came from a lower plane of our route and was a well-planned crossfire ambush. The enemy is very cunning and treacherous. Because our ship has always been strictly following the irregular zigzag evasive course, the enemy did not choose us as their primary target."

“Perhaps they want to break our will first, Harvey,” Horatio corrected, his eyes fixed on the colorful yet deadly void ahead. “The Dark Eldar are different from other enemies. When they catch their prey, they don’t kill it immediately. Instead, they toy with it first, or subject it to extreme pain and humiliation until it begins to crave the release of death, before they might actually kill it. It’s a ritual, a morbid feeding ritual that satisfies their destructive desires.”

Horatio sighed, then changed the subject: "Speaking of which, your father was a general in the Astral Army. If I remember correctly, he died on the battlefield of the Whirlwind Line, didn't he?"

“You’re right, Captain. This is also my revenge.”

When Harvey mentioned his father who had died in battle, his fingers gripping the data pad so tightly they turned white, and his expression instantly darkened.

“More than twenty years ago, it was these damned Dark Eldar who infiltrated my father’s rear command post and assassinated him. I swear I will make them pay for their crimes in blood.”

“The opportunity has arrived, Harvey.” Horatio slowly turned the command throne, his gaze sharp as a knife, piercing Harvey’s eyes. “Captain Louise will replace Captain Collingwood and temporarily take charge of the command department. And you, Harvey, I now order you to take charge of the entire operations department.”

He paused, then spoke in a calm, yet soul-stirring whisper:

"Kill them all, avenge your father, avenge all the Imperial soldiers who died tragically at the hands of the aliens, and avenge the God Emperor."

(End of this chapter)