Warhammer: Empire Reboot

Page 299

Sometimes it's a report on the results of a battle.

"This week's summary."

"Destroyed five Red Pirate raiding ships."

"Three slave ships were intercepted."

"Thank you to the Red Pirates for the 70,000 tons of refined gold and 600 boxes of precision-engineered explosives."

"Your logistics minister is a very good person."

Sometimes it's a blatant display of spoils and public humiliation.

"Lord of the Ninth War Gang of the Devourers, your power axe is quite impressive."

"I melted it down and made a shield."

"I kept the skull on top to prop up the corner of the table."

"If you're not convinced, come to Agrippina's Southern Hemisphere, C-4."

"I'll be waiting for you in the trenches."

Sometimes, it was to inform the garrison forces in the shadows of the entire empire.

In the deathly silence of the Imperial defenses, isolated by the warp storms, Lawson's voice became the only audible proof of the counterattack for many mortal Astraklan soldiers.

"Report to all Imperial companies that are still breathing."

"Agrippina's defenses are solid."

"We are still fighting back."

"Hold your guns tight."

"Chaos is nothing but a bunch of scum who only deserve to be bombarded in the mud."

The worst instance was when Lawson captured a stubborn champion who was still resisting.

He did not kill immediately.

Instead, they simply shoved the communicator microphone into the champion's shattered helmet.

Then he stomped on his kneecap and crushed it.

"Speak into the microphone."

"Speak louder."

"Report your company number."

The radio broadcast the humiliating and heart-wrenching cries of the champion of the "Speakers of the Heart," along with intermittent announcements of program numbers.

After that day, the intensity of the attacks on Agrippina by the Word Bearers increased by twenty-seven percent.

All factions originally thought that Agrippina, this lonely metal planet, would soon be overwhelmed by the enraged Chaos Alliance after Lawson's arrogant provocation.

But a year has passed.

Agrippina did not fall.

Instead, it turned into a bottomless black hole.

Every day, chaotic warships leap out of the warp.

Every day, tens of thousands of traitors, slave soldiers, and demons descend upon the surface.

Then there is no more then.

The more Lawson fought, the greater his gains became.

The more they fight, the more power armor appears.

The suicide squad continuously collected data during the war, and their tactical simulations became increasingly perfect.

This forging world, which was originally just a strategic defense node, has become a huge drain on the potential of the Chaos War.

Chapter 167 Abaddon: Lawson wants to lure me there, but I won't go.

Extremely unusual war losses.

The arrogant broadcast continued to echo in space.

And the demon souls that never returned to the warp.

Finally, the truly important figures turned their attention to this place.

Deep within the Eye of Fear.

The Glory Queen-class battleship, HMS Vengeance.

Inside the strategic command center, the entire long table was covered with a star map of the Milky Way, with a large rift resembling a purplish-black scar that had forcibly split the Milky Way in two.

Abaddon stood before the star map.

His pale face was shrouded in shadow, his dark gold eyes reflecting the cold light of the star map. The demonic sword Draconion lay in its saddle beside him, the demon sealed within its blade hissing softly, as if hungry, or perhaps mocking.

In one corner of the star map, the coordinates of the Agrippina galaxy are flashing red.

Falk, the company commander of the first company of the Black Legion, stood on the other side of the long table.

He raised his hand and pressed down on the rune.

Audio with static noise came from the loudspeaker array in the command room.

"Report to all Imperial companies still breathing. The Agrippina Line is secure. We are still fighting back. Hold your guns tight. Chaos is nothing but a bunch of scum who deserve to be shelled in the mud."

Recording has ended.

Falk cut off the signal.

"Commander."

"This is a full-band broadcast from three hours ago. That warlord, Lawson, who calls himself the Dark Side Master, is provoking us again."

Abaddon looked at Agrippina's coordinates without saying a word.

Falk continued, "This is the fourth time this month. His voice has spread throughout the Dark Side. The remnants of the Astronautical Army, whose communications had been cut off and who were just waiting to die, mistook his broadcast for a false imperial oracle."

He pulled up a set of data and projected it in front of Abaddon.

"Morale of the Imperial forces is rising. We have encountered extremely stubborn resistance from the Astrail in three war zones. They are no longer surrendering, and their casualty rate is rising."

Falk paused for a moment.

“Worse still, our internal order is being disrupted.”

"The World Eaters, the Word Bearers, the Red Pirates, and the fringe warbands that are allied with us. They couldn't stand Lawson's insults. In the past two months, seventeen warbands have ignored the Black Legion's rallying order, changed course without authorization, and headed for Agrippina."

Abaddon remained motionless, and Falk looked up.

"Commander, this is not just a military issue."

"The warp gods are also enraged by this mortal's arrogance. The ship's navigators and wizards report that a massive vortex is forming in the direction of Agrippina. The gods are watching that place."

“If we continue to ignore this, those blindly following warbands will think we are weak.”

He looked directly at Abaddon.

"I request that you allocate a punitive fleet consisting of kill cruisers and Terminator companies."

"I'm going to smash that metal planet to pieces."

“Crush him, and the dark side of the empire will fall into despair once again.”

Abaddon finally looked away from the star map.

He looked at Falk.

A moment later, Abaddon chuckled.

Low, cold, and tinged with disappointment.

"Falk".

"You fought alongside me in many Black Expeditions."

He extended his right hand, equipped with the Claw of Horus, and pointed his fingertips at the coordinates of Agrippina.

"Can't you see that this is a scheme by the Dark Master?"

Falk paused for a moment.

Abaddon pressed his fingertip lightly on the red dot.

"He doesn't need a fleet to fight you in the void."

"He converted all anti-aircraft firepower into low-orbit traps. He dug a labyrinth into the planet's surface. He had a tireless army of mortals, and an endless supply of bombs, armor, and cannon fodder."

His fingers traced the star map.

"The Agrippina Galaxy is a trap."

"A trap specifically designed for mindless believers."

"Unless I send the entire main force of the Black Legion there."

"Otherwise, no matter how many fleets we send, they will all get bogged down in that quagmire."

"Your punitive fleet has gone; it will either be refueled and die on the surface, or it will be caught in a long orbital tug-of-war."

He withdrew his hand: "That's exactly what Lawson wants."

Falk was still unwilling to give up: "But the War Master, his broadcast—"

"His broadcasts are very noisy."

Abaddon interrupted him: "But he's just barking like a dog."

"What is our primary strategic objective now?"

Falk immediately stood up straight.