Warhammer: Empire Reboot

The main burial site of Somtatech.

What followed was a grueling battle that would last for several months.

The main tomb's defense system far surpasses that of the outer outposts.

The surface is covered with Gaussian turrets and dimensional displacement traps, while the underground is nested in layers, with each deeper level leading to encounters with higher-level undead guards.

Lawson deployed the main forces of the White Tiger and Black Tortoise battle groups, along with 30,000 Bear Guards, 100,000 Cornerstone Combat Suit fighters, and a large number of Raptor fighters.

Somtatech himself directed the defense from the deepest part of the tomb.

This necromancer overlord is quite tactically adept. It utilizes the dimensional folding structure of the tomb to wage guerrilla warfare, allowing necromancers to emerge from unexpected directions and attack the flanks and supply lines of the Lawson forces.

The battle sequence progressed step by step over three months before finally ending.

The amount of resources contained in the main tomb of Somtathek caused the swarm intelligence database to refresh its upper limit several times.

The amount of living metal reserves far exceeds the total amount previously recovered from scattered remnants at outer outposts and in the asteroid belt.

After taking inventory, Lawson fed all the dimensional fragments to the armory.

The space of the folded logistics hive expanded dramatically after it devoured dimensional fragments.

It eventually stabilized at nearly 6,000 cubic meters.

It measures approximately 18 meters in length, width, and height.

It is roughly the size of two standard indoor basketball courts.

This space is certainly enormous for an individual, but it has far greater significance for the logistical needs of the empire's dark side.

The Empire's Dark Side encompasses over 70,000 worlds, with dozens of fronts advancing simultaneously. This multi-front warfare demands logistics throughput at the level of thousands of tons per second.

Lawson recently received a message, a report from the Eighth Warband, the Candle Dragon Warband.

Chapter Commander Daydream encountered the Nurgle forces repeatedly while on a deep space patrol escort mission in the Hector sector on the northwestern edge of the Imperium's Dark Side.

This in itself is not strange.

The remnants of Nurgle's forces are scattered throughout the dark side of the Empire, and sporadic contact between small groups is commonplace.

What's strange is the scale and the behavior pattern.

In his report, Zhou Ming wrote: "Over the past two months, the Candle Dragon Chapter has had four encounters with the Nurgle forces in the Hector Sector. The opposing forces are far larger than ordinary Nurgle warbands, including at least two full companies of Deathguards, a large number of Plaguewalkers, and several Nurgle warships. However, after each encounter, the opposing forces have voluntarily withdrawn and have not engaged in further conflict."

At the end of his report, Zhou Ming attached an unconfirmed intelligence report: "During the fourth contact, the Third Company of the Candle Dragons detected an anomalous signal at long range. The signal characteristics highly match the psionic imprints of known demonic principalities. After comparison, the closest match is: Mortarion."

The Death Guard's Primarch, Nurgle's Demon Primarch, personally led the team.

Lawson leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest twice.

Mortarion personally appeared on the edge of the Empire's dark side with a large force, but avoided engaging the Candle Dragon Chapter, fleeing whenever he encountered them.

There's only one explanation for this behavior: he's looking for something, and he's in a hurry.

Lawson gave an order to the Lurker Chapter.

The faceless reply arrived three days later.

The infiltrators, mingling among the outer vassal forces of the Nagle Warband, spent several days piecing together a vague intelligence profile.

One of Nurgle's demonic artifacts has been stolen.

The Lurkers couldn't find out exactly what kind of artifact it was. Nurgle's internal information chain was more closed than other Chaos factions; the Plague Order's hierarchical structure was like an onion, with layers wrapped around it, and the outer members only knew that "those above are very angry."

But one thing is certain: Nurgle himself is enraged.

In the warp, Nurgle's Plague Gardens trembled with an unprecedented tremor.

The rotten god, who was usually so lazy that he didn't even bother with his own demons, personally issued a search order to Mortarion.

Mortarian is leading the Death Guard's elite forces on a search of every planet in the Hector Sector.

Lawson gloated, "Nurgle's artifact was stolen? Who's so capable?"

He became very interested in this matter.

The number of beings in the galaxy capable of stealing demonic artifacts from Nurgle is extremely limited.

It is common for the four Chaos Gods to fight over sacred artifacts, but it is usually Tzeentch who does this kind of work. Slaanesh is also a possibility, as the infiltration capabilities of the Great Demon Slaanesh should not be underestimated.

Regardless of who stole it, this matter deserves attention.

Lawson gave Zhou Ming new instructions: "Continue to track Mortalian's movements, keep your distance, record the coordinates of every planet he searches, and report immediately if you find any clues about his search targets."

"No matter who stole Nurgle's artifact, I'm going to join in the fun."

While the intelligence from the Lurker Legion was still being processed, the Swarm Insights pushed out another new message.

Source: Calgar Chapter Cornerstone Sequence Correspondent.

When Lawson opened it, the message was marked as "private, non-urgent".

The message is brief: Regent Guilliman plans to send an envoy, Evelynn, to visit the dark side of the Empire. He requests the Lord of the Seal to confirm whether he agrees to receive her.

After reading it, Lawson leaned back in his chair.

Evelynn? Guilliman's rumored girlfriend, Jena's Deathbringer, a legendary Eldar woman.

Lawson was no stranger to the name.

The Hive database contains detailed information about Evelynn, as well as a piece of information marked "unverified": a close relationship with Imperial Regent Guilliman, the extent of which is unknown.

The gossip circulating through various channels from the darker side of the empire is even more abundant.

Some say the two were comrades-in-arms, others say they were political allies, and still others say Guilliman was simply using Eldar connections.

Lawson doesn't care about gossip.

He was concerned with the signaling significance of this visit.

Guilliman's decision to send Evelyn instead of a formal diplomat indicates that this was a private contact.

It bypasses the imperial administrative channels, the procedures of the High Lords' Council, and the reporting process to the court.

This means Guilliman wants to establish a direct, private connection with Lawson.

Evelyn's arrival signifies Guilliman's stance.

Lawson scrolled down and saw the list of three accompanying personnel.

Second Company Deputy Company Commander, Tetus.

Andros, the chaplain of the 2nd Company.

Yuriel Ventris, the company commander of the fourth company.

Lawson smiled.

He has files on both Titus and Ventris.

These two are among the strongest active-duty warriors.

Titus was imprisoned for over a hundred years by the court after being reported by a colleague. Upon his release, he had no complaints and returned to his unit immediately. His fighting style was calm and shrewd.

Ventris was the company commander of the 4th Company. He had fought against the Tyranids, the Chaos, and the Necromancers, and had a distinguished record of military exploits.

Sending these two people to escort them is perfectly reasonable.

But what about that chaplain Andros?

Lawson retrieved Andros's file.

He found an interesting record: Andros was the one who reported Titanus for "contacting heretical forces" back then.

It was his report that led to Titus being taken away by the court, while Andros himself was promoted after the report, from an ordinary priest to a company chaplain.

Now, should we pair him with Tetus in the same escort team?

Lawson was really curious about who had compiled the list.

The feud between Titus and Andros is no secret within the Ultramarines.

Putting these two people in the same squad was either a careless mistake or a deliberate act.

He knew Calga was injured again.

Even if we send the current Second Company Commander, Cato Cicarius, although he is a bit arrogant, at least he won't have any historical grudges with his teammates.

However, Lawson thought again that this subtle combination of personnel was actually more interesting.

Lawson wrote two words in the reply box: "Agreed".

Then he added: "Welcome to the Dark Side of the Empire, Emissary Evelynn. The Court of Domination will provide all necessary security and reception arrangements."

After sending the reply, Lawson contacted the Lion King and Dante.

After all, Evelyn represents Guilliman.

As core members of the Dominion, the Lion King and Dante should be informed, and if they were present, the reception would be much more formal and politically significant.

The Lion King's reply arrived two minutes later.

Very direct, very Lion King-like.

"Evelene? A Spirit Race woman doesn't deserve it! It would be more appropriate for the Thirteenth Prince to come in person. I'm not going back; I'm currently clearing out the orc WAAAGH core in the Heros Sector. Besides, I'm afraid I'll be unable to resist killing that alien if I see her!"

Lawson looked at the reply and shook his head helplessly.

The Lion King's attitude toward the Eldar has always been subtle.

During the Great Crusade, the Emperor's policy was to conquer all alien races, and the Eldar were also on the list of those to be conquered.

Although the Lion King did not have a direct conflict with the Eldar like Forgrim did, his inherent imperial supremacy made him dislike any aliens.

Evelynn is not only an Eldar, but also Guilliman's "personal friend." The Lion King already had reservations about Guilliman's Code of Astartes, and knowing that Guilliman had an ambiguous relationship with an Eldar would probably make him even more uncomfortable.

Dante's reply was ten minutes late.

“If the Lion King isn’t going back, then I can’t leave either. A large-scale cleanup operation is underway in the Periclos Sector, with six chapters of the Holy Blood Angels advancing simultaneously. I cannot leave my command post.”

After reading the two replies, Lawson was not surprised.

Dante's reasons were more noble than those of the Lion King, but essentially the same: he didn't want to come back either.

Lawson smiled.

The two guys' reaction was entirely expected.