I summoned the Fourth Scourge in Warhammer

Chapter 142 Loyal! Sincerity!
Aesop turned around and strode toward the parliamentary round table, his face, slightly flushed with excitement, radiating a fervent glow.

"Gentlemen!" He opened his arms as if to embrace the entire star map. "The matter is clear! We need to purge the entire Jersey Sector with the same passion and uncompromising spirit as the Ghost Face Leader and his legion of the Dead! Uproot all the lurking heretics, traitors, and weak-willed ones!"

He was about to elaborate on his grand plan to purify the entire sector when Commander-in-Chief Wendell Gage's voice rang out, perfectly interrupting his fervent speech.

“Bishop Aesop,” Wendell’s voice remained calm, “I understand your burning loyalty to the Emperor, and your deep-seated hatred and anger towards the traitor. However, from a military perspective, the expeditionary fleet can no longer afford the risk of remaining here.”

Wendell made his opposition clear. The traveling merchant Lucius didn't even need to say a word; he simply picked up a glass of wine from the table and swirled it gently. His leisurely posture was a silent vote of dissent.

Therefore, Aesop hesitantly turned to his most steadfast ally—Judge Grand—for help.

However, Grand simply shook his head slightly.

"Alright...alright..." The fervent fire in the Pope's eyes dimmed considerably in an instant. He muttered to himself and reluctantly walked to his seat. Then, he beckoned to Ghostface, signaling him to come and stand behind his chair.

Ghost Face did as instructed, muttering to himself beneath the cold mask, "So this is how we've been inexplicably labeled as belonging to the state religion faction."

He stood behind the Pope, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. Since he was wearing a full-face helmet, he wouldn't be noticed unless he foolishly stared at someone for too long.

Even though he hadn't read the original text about the Damocles' expedition, the stark factional struggle at the scene was already quite evident. He didn't yet know whether siding with the state church at this moment was the right or wrong thing to do.

However, Ghostface didn't feel particularly regretful. This was far better than being excluded from the core of power. Besides, joining the state religion faction might not necessarily be a bad thing.

With the internal purge issue temporarily set aside, Commander-in-Chief Wendell Gage's authority once again filled the hall. He stood up, placed his hands on the table, leaned slightly forward, and fixed his sharp, hawk-like gaze on a specific area of ​​the holographic star map.

"Gentlemen, let's now discuss the next steps in our military operations." His voice drew everyone's attention. "I propose that the fleet immediately end its rest and reorganization in the Jersey Sector and proceed at full speed to the neighboring 'Hylanda' area. I have two reasons for this."

He extended a finger and pointed to a route marked in dark red on the star map.

"First, the Highlanda region is the best springboard for attacking the Tau Empire's forward colonies. If our fleet can pass through the region smoothly, we can immediately launch a surprise attack on the Tau Empire's interior, strike at the heart of the enemy, and disrupt their overall deployment."

Then, he moved his finger and drew a route back.

"Secondly, and equally importantly, the Hylanda region provides us with a safe retreat route. In the event of unexpected setbacks during the attack, or if enemy reinforcements exceed our expectations, the fleet can utilize the terrain of the Hylanda system to calmly withdraw to the Jersey sector, which we have just cleared, for rest and resupply. The logistics base we establish here will become our strongest support." Wendell Gage straightened up, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, and finally concluded, "This plan is both offensive and defensive. We have already paid the price of purifying our rear; now, we must strike before the enemy fully reacts."

Wendell Gage's plan was clear, pragmatic, and logically sound.

The powerful figures present quickly reached a consensus after a brief moment's thought. The wandering merchant Lucius was the first to voice his support; for him, a targeted and swift military operation was far more in his best interest than a protracted and uncertain internal purge. Inquisitor Grand merely nodded slightly, uttering a single word: "Feasible." His duty was to judge the Emperor's enemies, and the primary enemy at present was undoubtedly the Tau Empire entrenched here.

Even the most unwilling Bishop Aesop, after a brief silence, could only admit that the Commander-in-Chief's plan was militarily flawless. Strategically, his proposal to continue purging traitors had been rejected; to try to refute the most professional military commander in the fleet on a tactical level would only be to invite humiliation.

With the consensus reached, the next agenda items were mostly trivial matters. These included the allocation of logistical supplies between the various Space Marine chapters and Astronautical Legions, the order of fleet formations, and preliminary communication protocols. These details were quickly finalized under the efficient leadership of the Commander-in-Chief.

Finally, Wendell Gage stood up and declared in his unquestionable voice: "The council is adjourned. All personnel return to their posts. Twelve Terra hours later, the expeditionary fleet will set sail to launch an attack on the Xenomorphs!"

Amidst the clamor of people leaving, Pope Aesop called out to Ghostface, who was about to follow the crowd away. He patted Ghostface's cold black shoulder armor affectionately and said earnestly, "Go back now. Remember, as a commander of the Astral Legion, you must be upright, kind, intelligent, passionate, and devout, and always be ready to fight for the Emperor's victory and to exterminate all aliens and heretics!"

"Hehe, of course, of course," Ghost Mask chuckled beneath his mask, replying, "Is there anything else you need?"

Pope Aesop hesitated for a moment, as if considering an important proposal: "Would you... be willing to stay and continue the purge in the Jersey Sector? I still have the authority to mobilize an Astral Legion in my name."

“Uh…” Ghost Face felt that this old man was really a bit crazy. “I think my warriors still prefer to fight for the Emperor’s glory on the real battlefield.”

“Alright,” Aesop’s face showed a hint of regret, but it quickly turned into a fervent encouragement. He waved his hand and said passionately, “Then go ahead with confidence! I’ll give you two times… no, three times the amount of supplies you need! Leman Rustank has as many as he wants! You must wipe out those filthy aliens!”

Damn it? !
Ghostface's eyes, hidden beneath his full-face helmet, widened instantly. He'd just thought the old man was a bit eccentric, but now he seemed like the most adorable and generous fanatic in the entire universe!

The next second, he suddenly brought his feet together, straightened his body, and performed an impeccable Eagle Salute to Pope Aesop in an unprecedentedly standard posture.

"loyalty!"

(End of this chapter)