Warhammer: Empire Reboot

The next second, a familiar voice that made the blood pressure of many chaotic forces rise entered the bridge of the "Destruction Ghost".

The bridge fell silent.

Huron's iron claws gripped the armrests of the throne.

Lawson's voice continued.

"Heartless Huron."

"Hey, Huron the Black, can you hear me?"

The expressions of the Red Pirate officers changed.

After Agrippina, everyone knew that this sound meant trouble.

This is not a declaration from an ordinary imperial general.

This is a mad warlord who would curse Chaos in front of the entire galaxy, yet could actually kill a Primarch.

Huron gritted his teeth.

"shield."

The mechanical eyes of the Dark Mechanicus priests flashed wildly.

"Cutting off."

The signal was interrupted for a moment.

The next second, the bridge backup alarm began playing Lawson's voice.

"It has just been discovered that your bastards arrested 30 million Imperial civilians at Albitl-3."

"You've got some nerve."

"Dare to extend your claws into my territory."

Inside the bridge, a Red Pirate officer muttered a curse under his breath.

That branch fleet originally just wanted to make a quick buck, but who would have thought that Lawson would actually hold Huron accountable for it?

Pirates kidnapping people is perfectly normal.

The problem is that the people who were robbed were people that Lawson had just brought into his territory.

For a pirate king like Huron, face is important.

For a warlord like Lawson, territory was more important.

Lawson's voice was tinged with laughter.

"It would be impolite not to reciprocate."

“I’ve got my eye on your stronghold, the Great Vortex.”

After those words were spoken, the entire bridge seemed to freeze for a second.

Then, the Red Pirate officers exploded simultaneously.

"He dares!"

"The whirlpool is ours!"

"Turn the fleet around and tear Agrippina apart!"

"Even the War General didn't dare say that!"

Huron's first reaction was, of course, anger.

He was so angry that he almost wanted to crush the communication station along with the priest.

The Great Whirlpool was his lair, a kingdom he had painstakingly carved out of ruin, betrayal, bloodshed, and the rules of piracy. Lordson's words, "I've got my eye on it," were tantamount to reaching for his throne in front of all the Red Pirates.

But Huron's second reaction was faster than anger.

He turned sharply towards the Dark Mechanicus priest.

"Contact the Great Vortex."

The priest immediately bowed his head, and the data cable pierced the communication station.

"Initiate long-distance encrypted link."

"Subspace noise is too high."

"Switch to a secondary smuggling channel."

"fail."

"Use Ghost private relay".

"No response from relay".

"Try the Dark Mechanicus backup—"

The priest's voice suddenly stopped.

Huron stared at him.

"explain."

The priest looked up, a flicker of unstable red light flashing in his mechanical eyes.

"The Great Rift disturbance has intensified. The fleet is currently unable to maintain stable contact with the core area of ​​the Great Vortex. All long-distance communications have been torn apart by the storm."

The bridge fell silent again.

Lawson's voice came through the spare speaker for the last sentence.

"You could try to get your base to escape."

"Let's see if you can escape."

"that's it."

The signal is disconnected.

An adjutant immediately stepped forward.

"My lord, he's bluffing! The Agrippina Sector is still being cleared; he's just finished a war of attrition and has no strength left for a distant expedition to the Maelstrom. We should continue to blockade Dante, forcing the Blood Angels to detour, and then attack them from behind..."

Snapped!

Huron slapped the adjutant, sending him flying.

The adjutant crashed into the side wall of the bridge, his breastplate dented, and he dared not move after landing.

Huron stood up.

His voice sounded like it had been ground from iron slag.

"You think I don't know he might be bluffing me?"

No one dared to speak.

Huron glared at the entire bridge.

"But do you dare to bet?"

"Who among you dares to gamble on the Great Whirlpool for me?"

His gaze swept over every Red Pirate officer.

“Before Agrippina, some people said that the madwoman could only shout.”

"Angron is dead."

"The Blood God has retreated."

"The Red Pirates' branch fleet is gone."

"The Iron Warrior heavy cruiser has been dismantled."

"Now he tells me he's got his eye on the Great Whirlpool."

Huron's iron claws slammed heavily onto the tactical platform.

The star chart vibrated.

"I don't need to know whether he has already sent troops."

"All I need to know is that I can't get in touch with my hometown right now."

This is the difference between Huron and ordinary chaotic madmen.

Huron would ask one thing first.

Is it a loss or not?

What are the benefits of continuing to block Dante?

Holding off the Blood Angels might yield spoils, delay the Empire's dark side's rescue efforts, or even do Abaddon a favor.

But if Lawson really takes the opportunity to attack the Great Vortex, even if he only attacks a few outer star cities, burns a few shipyards, or seizes a few hidden shipping lanes, that would be the foundation of Huron.

Pirates had no farmland.

There is no world without loyalty.

There is no hive city that can recruit an unlimited number of soldiers.

Pirates relied on ships, ports, hideouts, fear, and credibility.

When the stronghold is in trouble, all those who depend on it will start calculating the price of betrayal.

Huron understands these people all too well.

Because he himself was one of those people who climbed to the top.

A Dark Mechanic priest whispered, "If we withdraw now, the Blood Angels fleet will break free of the blockade."

Huron turned to look at him.

"You want to stay?"

The priest's mechanical eyes darted around.

"I'm just stating the cost."