Warhammer: The Time Traveler

Chapter 380 Dark Angel (Sixth Update)
The Dark Angels' response, like their fighting style, was precise and efficient.

A fleet painted in dark green quietly appeared on Terra's orbit, its hulls sharp and rigid, its armor bearing only the most essential legion insignia.

These ships remained radio silent, blending into the background of the void like shadows, with only official navigation beacons confirming their legitimacy.

Although the First Legion has been formally divided into multiple battle groups according to the Astartes Codex, their unique internal command structure ensures that these subgroups can still act in a coordinated manner on top-secret matters.

When the Stone Fortress received the call, the response was swift and decisive.

In a completely isolated chamber deep within the palace, Roger Dorn met with a representative of the Dark Angels.

This room is located in the very heart of the palace. The walls are made of a single piece of obsidian, and the only light comes from a floating, luminous blue rune in the center of the table.

The air was filled with the scent of years of accumulated fragrance and ozone.

Dorn stood in front of the table, without any opening remarks.

“There is a force within Mars,” his voice was particularly clear in the confined space, “and they are resisting the Emperor’s decree on warp drives in every possible way. From technological obstruction to political maneuvering, they have a whole host of methods.”

The representative of the Dark Angels nodded slightly.

He wore a dark green cloak, the legion insignia on his power armor faintly visible in the dim light: "What level is required?"

“Eliminate all obstacles.” Dorn tapped his knuckles on the table. “Use the means you deem necessary, but keep them secret. The Empire cannot afford another open conflict now.”

"Understood." The Dark Angel's representative's voice was steady. "Dissenting voices will be dealt with."

There was no further communication, and no specific discussion of an action plan.

When the door to the secret chamber reopened, only Dorn stood there alone.

The Dark Angels have accepted the mission; how they will carry it out is a secret of the First Legion.

Over the next few standard days, a series of subtle yet undeniable changes began to emerge in Terra's power center.

Some officials who had been vocally opposing the warp drive project suddenly took leave for health reasons, key technical approval processes began to move at an unusually fast pace, and even the daily protest notes from the Martian embassy in Terra became more cautious in their wording and decreased in number.

These changes are like undercurrents beneath the surface, seemingly calm on the surface, yet quietly spreading within the power structure.

The Dark Angels have already begun their work.

The Dark Angels' actions exhibit characteristics that are completely different from those of the Space Wolves.

Unlike wolves that howl and tear apart their prey, they move pieces silently on the chessboard like an experienced chess player, gradually taking control of the entire game.

Inside the data center of the Martian Embassy in Terra, the robust security system never triggered any alarms.

However, unbeknownst to them, the radical tech priests' communications records and action plans had been completely obtained.

These materials were not destroyed immediately, but were carefully selected and then appropriately distributed to those who could make effective use of them.

The inquisitors obtained conclusive evidence, the Royal Guard acquired detailed intelligence on the potential threat, and Dorne's advisors received crucial information for decision-making.

At the same time, unusual mobilizations in the military supply department began to be subject to strict scrutiny.

An official with close ties to radicals suddenly found his authority over the allocation of supplies temporarily frozen, citing "system audit" as the reason.

Until the investigation concluded, all his communications with Mars were under close surveillance.

The Dark Angels' intervention became more systematic when the Martians attempted to establish secret communication channels through several families of navigators.

Instead of directly eliminating these contacts, they took a more thorough approach. Through a carefully orchestrated operation, they severely questioned the reliability of these channels.

One contact was suddenly exposed for having been in contact with a heretical organization, while another was found to have serious problems with his accounts.

These channels still exist, but they can no longer be trusted to deliver important information.

Within the bureaucratic system, the Dark Angels demonstrate a profound understanding of the Imperial administrative rules.

They challenged key positions through legal procedures, delaying the passage of questionable proposals in a manner consistent with regulations.

When a technical assessment report submitted by a radical supporter was repeatedly returned for review on the grounds of "procedural flaws," the opponents began to realize that an unseen force was systematically undermining their efforts.

While reviewing the latest report, Dorn noted that several previously deadlocked technical committees had suddenly reached a consensus, some staunch opponents had changed their stance, and the protests at the Martian Embassy had noticeably subsided.

He didn't ask for specific details, but he sensed the Dark Angel's unique style of doing things from these changes.

They didn't instill fear like assassins, but rather dismantled the opposition's organizational structure with the precision of engineers.

The Dark Angels are working in their most effective way: not by simply eliminating the enemy, but by systematically dismantling their operational capabilities, ensuring that any opposing forces are rendered ineffective before they can even launch any substantial action.

Every action they take is meticulously calculated, achieving both strategic objectives and ostensibly complying with Imperial regulations. This precise and thorough approach is the unique talent of the First Legion.
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As the claws of the Space Wolf tear through the shadows of Terra and the Dark Angels' chess game quietly unfolds, Chen Yu faces a formidable engineering challenge all by himself.

His laboratory was filled with holographic schematics of Luna-class cruisers, and the air was thick with the smells of engine oil and ozone.

This task was a completely new challenge for Chen Yu. He had to integrate two very different technological traditions: on one hand, the battle-tested and robust hulls of the Imperial Navy, and on the other hand, sophisticated technology from another universe.

Thanks to his experience in starship design accumulated in other dimensions, Chen Yu carried out a series of meticulous modifications to the Lunar-class cruiser.

Instead of attempting to redesign the entire warship, he acted like a skilled surgeon, performing precise operations while preserving the ship's main structure.

The first step was to redesign the interior space.

Chen Yu carefully studied the layout of each deck, eliminating a large number of redundant structures and inefficient spaces.

In this process, he had to engage in repeated discussions with dozens of technical priests, and every change had to undergo rigorous calculation and verification.

Ultimately, he secured the necessary installation space for the warp drive system while ensuring the proper functioning of other critical systems.

The transformation of the energy transmission system is particularly crucial.

Chen Yu personally supervised the laying of each major energy pipeline to ensure that they could meet the huge demands of the warp drive without affecting the normal operation of other systems on the ship.

In this process, he often had to argue with conservative tech priests and persuade them to accept these "unconventional" design solutions.

The most notable improvements occurred at the control system level.

Chen Yu integrated the latest logic core of Neksam Casting into the warship's command system.

These sophisticated devices, which he personally debugged, significantly enhanced the warship's autonomous operation capabilities.

However, this decision has also drawn considerable criticism – some technical priests worry that it will weaken their control over the warships.

After several standard weeks of repeated simulations and data analysis, Chen Yu finally clarified the core ideas of the Lunar-class cruiser modification project.

His workbench was piled high with data boards filled with calculation processes, and a holographic projection displayed a ship's structural diagram that had undergone countless adjustments.

(End of this chapter)