Warhammer: Black Emperor

Chapter 483 "The Astrologer"

After two Terra weeks of sailing, the Shadow of Reign and the fleet of the Eleventh Chapter arrived at Caligum Gate.

As the ship returned to the real world, Ninglu heard footsteps and put down the data panel in his hand.

Since the end of the War Council, he has spent his free time deciding on the secondary weapon systems for the Sikaran battle tank.

Ultimately, just as he remembered, he chose to mount the laser cannon on the side of the ship to quickly eliminate enemy infantry.

Arsène Dunn walked into the office and saw hundreds of data boards neatly stacked on his desk.

"My lord, the Star Speaker has received a Star Speaker communication from the 125th Fleet. Lord Peturabo has assembled 65,000 men and planned the shortest possible journey."

"They will arrive at the Caligum Gate in three Terra months, and then head to the Shana Wesidax system."

"He has drawn up a battle plan, which has been sent to your data panel."

Nimrod was not surprised by the speed of the "Iron Warriors'" advance. Without the combination of portals and Caligan gates in their navigation system, reaching the Shana system would be a long journey.

In his memory, the Fifth and Nineteenth Legions held out for eight months before the arrival of reinforcements from the "Dark Angels" and "Death Guards".

While pondering, the genomicon rapidly flipped through the data panel.

"I see."

Ninglu put down the data board. Although Peturabo had strong planning abilities, his understanding of Randan was limited to the reports he submitted to the War Council, and these reports were not timely.

[Petulabo can only catch the last train at the end of the battle.]
"How is the Fifth Battle Group progressing?"

"My lord, the Fifth Legion and the Ramirez-class Star Fortress have already passed through the Caligum Gate and are expected to arrive in the Shana Wesidax system within three and four Terra weeks, respectively."

The Primarch's servant proudly declared, "This is the speed of the 'Shadow of Order'."

The "Shadow of Order" can reach any war zone in the galaxy within a Terran month.

The Fifth Chapter, stationed at Caligum Gate, is faster than the Space Wolves and Starhunters, renowned for their rapid response, and is unmatched in speed.

"Due to limitations in navigation capacity, the remaining 1,652 warships of the five battle groups need to be deployed in batches over a period of two weeks."

"Diana and I have drawn up a plan, which has been sent to your dashboard."

Ning Lu tapped his finger lightly, reviewed the plan devised by the "Guardian of Knowledge" and the female captain, and nodded slightly.

"Execute according to plan."

After Alsena left, Nimrod left the Spear of Dionysus on the weapon rack and then returned to his bedroom.

With a thought, he arrived at the fifth level of the "Land of Chaos".

Ninglu approached Slau Da, the Eldar warrior's eyes burning with fury that seemed to want to devour him.

"Slau Da, I must say, your fighting spirit is remarkable."

Don't expect to get the information you want from this.

Slau Da raised his neck and spoke in Eldar.

"do you know?"

"The special verb forms in Eldar always confuse me."

"Hmm?" The Spirit Clan's Si Zhan looked at the monkey in front of him with a puzzled expression, pondering whether their rudimentary language contained any meanings he had not yet perceived.

“I have already received so much from you.” Ning Lu’s eyes gleamed.

"I don't need your words, I can get it through your heart."

"You will know when you face your own heart."

Slauda's face displayed a complex array of expressions, including an unwillingness to face reality and the fear of being exposed.

His eyes held a hint of despair as he stared at the giant before him as if he were looking at a demon.

At that instant, the Primarch's consciousness spread into the mind of Slough Dahl.

He saw the tall, slender figure in green armor and spoke to Slau Da.

"Swift attack, leaving no trace, this is the principle of Assault Scorpion."

Still unable to break through Slau Da's mental defenses and obtain the Primarch's genetic information related to the Immortals and the Secret Cult, he continued to probe the mysteries of the Assault Scorpion Path.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The fourth month of Terra in 862.

Pacific Star Region, Wesidax-Thule Sector, Shana-Wesidax System.

One after another, black warships from the Fifth Squadron sailed out from the jump point.

On the bridge of the Relic-class battleship Star, San Diego Bergkamp said in a deep voice, "Activate the protective shield."

As an "astrologer," he could see the stars, and after becoming a lord, he moved his command throne to the window.

The holographic table has been replaced by a screen, which hangs to the left of the command throne.

San Diego looked at the holographic screen, where a vast array of red warships, like a swarm of bloodthirsty sharks, were closing in.

His superhuman brain works at lightning speed, grasping the situation of both enemy and friendly fleets.

There are 825 Randan warships, all disguised as Imperial warships, but they have all been identified by the Chapter's spoofing chambers, and their class is being further confirmed.

His battle group deployed 470 warships this time, more than half the number of the enemy's warships.

Because it was stationed at Caligum Gate and tasked with supporting various war zones, it had only 20,500 men, making it the third smallest warband in terms of personnel, but it had the most ships of any warband.

San Diego examined the video screen on his right. The technical soldiers of the simulated sanctuary had already completed the comparison through the database.

The lord observes the tactical data and issues orders.

"Randan Alien never expected that we could actually recognize their readings."

"We seized the opportunity, launched a surprise attack, and then dispersed among the stars."

"Turn to five-one-four, lean at six and proceed."

The physical space engines of numerous black ships maintained normal power as they traversed the nebula, their bow lights flickering in the dark void.

Due to the use of the simulated sanctuary, the communication ship that had been hidden in the warehouse was sent out to pretend to contact the "Imperial" fleet.

While monitoring the progress of the massive fleet, the "astrologer" was also planning the battle after the engagement from the control panel.

Unlike Per Koscielny, who preferred to plan battles through a simulated sanctuary, or other lords who sat on the command throne for macro-level command, San Diego preferred to depict the stars from his console.

The crystal ball on his right side spun slowly, with streams of light flowing through it.

The "astrologer's" left hand moved rapidly across the tactical holographic screen, generating shimmering star runes at lightning speed.

He planned the sailing routes for each of the sub-fleets.

San Diego felt a slight dissolving sensation within his body.

He raised his hand and gave the order again.

"Order that each fleet plan its route in advance, and after delivering devastating blows to the enemy ships, retreat into the stars."

San Diego once again turned his attention back to the holographic image.

His Starship had entered firing range, but did not fire immediately, waiting for other warships to arrive at their designated positions.

The capital ships and escort ships began to slowly increase their kinetic energy until the starlight signifying readiness lit up, at which point Santiago gave the order.

"Initiating Phase One."

The warships of the Fifth Fleet drew energy from the void shields at the stern and channeled it into the main light spears, launching an attack on the marked battle runes.

Brilliant beams of light pierced the void and struck their target.

The terrifying ships, covered in spikes and flails, resembled headless hedgehogs that had been knocked away and spun around many times.

The communication channels were filled with conflicting information, and the commanders had no idea why their warships had been discovered.

Their invincible fleet had never encountered such a situation before, nor had it been detected in previous battles against the human empire.

San Diego stared at the video screen on his right. Accompanied by a flashing light, layers of burning fireballs rose and spread like giant waves, filling the cold, silent void.

"Initiating Phase Two."

His orders were transmitted to the entire fleet via the communicator built into his helmet.

The black fleet scattered like stars breaking into meteors, spreading out along dozens of orbits, while simultaneously throwing munitions poised for firing on its flanks at the Randan fleet.

The spiked Randan fleet seemed to awaken from a dream, launching dense radioactive electromagnetic waves at the black warship.

San Diego glanced at the tactical holographic projection. The surprise attack had cost Randan more than fifty warships, leaving gaps in their lines.

His fleet, following his orders, launched an attack ahead of schedule and achieved more than twenty victories.

Most of the alien attacks missed their mark, and the electromagnetic waves struck the capital ship, which was encased in a fortress-like energy shield, like moths drawn to a flame.

The beams of light struck the psionic shield and then vanished without a trace.

He lost only a few destroyers and one frigate, whose shields were no match for the Shadow Blast's furious roar.

San Diego shifted his gaze back to the crystal ball, thinking to himself.

[Next, let's have a safari among the stars.]
(End of this chapter)