In the Kofia System,
a Space Marine battle barge emerged from a Warp Storm. The ship's insignia indicated it belonged to the Claws of the Stars Space Marine Chapter, stationed near the Maelstrom.
At this moment, Chapter Master Huron of the Claws of the Stars stood on the ship's bridge, looking at the star chart and the view outside the window. "Oh my god, where did this take me? Is this still the Maelstrom?"
The Maelstrom, a Warp anomaly located in the Badab Sector, is the The Galaxy / Milky Way's second-largest Chaos cesspit, spewing out vast numbers of Chaos forces and causing widespread devastation, second only to the Eye of Terror.
Therefore, the Terra High Lords Council issued a special Imperial decree, announcing the deployment of four Space Marine Chapters, including the Claws of the Stars, to reclaim the worlds surrounding the Maelstrom and permanently garrison them to guard the Maelstrom.
The Claws of the Stars Space Marine Chapter, due to its illustrious past military achievements, was entrusted with the supreme command of the Maelstrom defense system. They established an orbital defense fortress in the strategically important Badab Sector to serve as their fortress-monastery and operational base. Soon, taxes from the worlds surrounding the Maelstrom began to flow continuously into the Imperial coffers.
Under Huron's management, the Maelstrom defense perimeter reached unprecedented strength. Huron, with a wave of his hand, rectified all planets near the Maelstrom, essentially stabilizing the regional situation, and the people of the local Star Sector rejoiced.
However, just as Huron was working hard for the people of the Badab Sector, a civilian riot broke out on the Claws of the Stars' homeworld.
Perhaps utterly despairing of the Imperial bureaucracy's incompetence, or simply tired of it, Huron believed:
"How can I manage Badab well when I'm with these insects!"
So Huron directly had the Space Marine Chapter forcefully take over the local administrative departments, making himself the ruler of the Badab Sector. At the same time, this action was completely legal. Under Huron's rule, the Badab Sector prospered, gradually developing from a weak Star Sector military to one capable of campaigning against enemies in neighboring star systems.
Under such enlightened leadership, local dignitaries, the Imperial Navy, and even other Space Marine Chapters stationed there all looked to Huron as their leader.
From then on, Huron firmly secured the "top seat" in the Badab Sector.
Based on the confidence gained from successfully reclaiming and governing Badab, Huron submitted an "Astartes petition" to the bureaucracy he had overthrown.
In his letter, he presented facts, reasoned arguments, and elaborated on how completely conquering the areas around the Maelstrom would greatly benefit the Imperium in the long run. He advised Imperial bureaucrats to view problems with a long-term perspective and to diligently study his Huron's scientific development philosophy.
He hoped the Imperium would allocate more troops and resources to him to consolidate the fruits of victory and completely seal off the Maelstrom, this thorn in the Imperium's side.
However, the Terra High Lords dismissed his request without even reading his letter, stating, "There are more important things to do."
At this point, Huron became anxious!
"These insects! How can I manage the Imperium with them!"
So Huron took a company, boarded a ship, and prepared to head to the nearby Department of the Interior headquarters to teach these insects a good lesson.
(Timeline change! The Badab War did not happen, and Huron did not rebel.)
However, after Huron plunged into the Warp lanes, he never emerged. Many believed he and his warship had perished within the Warp, and the Badab Sector remained silent, silently resisting invasions from the Maelstrom.
For Huron, this Warp journey only trapped his ship in the Warp for a few months. But outside, centuries had passed.
And then, his bridge received a distress signal... "Chapter Master! The planet Kofia is requesting aid! They say there's some kind of... Genestealer... rebellion?"
Because when Huron became lost in the Warp lanes, the Imperium had not yet encountered the Tyranids, so this name was completely unfamiliar to those present.
Huron, looking at the planet below, waved his hand and immediately declared:
"Though I don't know what this 'Genestealer' is! No matter who is fighting! I, Huron, must help out! Notify everyone, prepare for planetary assault!"
...District 13, Precinct Office,
"Ahem." Commissar Cain coughed, interrupting the sudden sweet atmosphere on the battlefield. It wasn't the first time he'd witnessed a Battle Sisters romance story.
When Commissar Cain was a cadet Political Commissar at the Schola Progenium, he discovered a Battle Sisters nun sleeping with another instructor. He then asked the nun about it.
The nun's answer was essentially: "Oh, of course, some Battle Sisters take vows of celibacy, but it's not mandatory. People just assume we all are, which makes our duties easier to perform."
(True story! Also... the Imperium of Man is not monogamous; male and female harems are common in the Imperium. Mark this, it will be on the test later.)
"Where are the others?" Commissar Cain asked.
Yugen pointed to the rear of the building.
"Milsen is defending the back door. He's rigged the entrance with some grenades he found in the armory. Hocen is with him. Javik and a few Nuns are on the roof."
"And Nordstrom? Still sleeping?"
"I don't know."
Yugen was somewhat confused: "I thought he was with us."
"Given the size of this building, he could be anywhere."
Commissar Cain said, but before he could speculate further, the sound of a Laser Gun broke the silence indoors.
Based on the obvious conclusion, Commissar Cain glanced at Elson, who was reloading his weapon. The mountain of ammunition in front of Li Feng was already empty, and he looked as bewildered as the rest of them.
"The gunshots are coming from inside!" Vinita led the charge towards the rear of the building.
Suddenly, gunfire erupted, followed by a shriek resembling a cackle, which sent shivers down everyone's spines.
Commissar Cain, not waiting for the others, eagerly leaped over, landing heavily on the ground. He found himself standing at the doorway leading to the rear of the building, the very place Yugen and Larabi had passed through earlier to release the others. The scene felt like ages ago, yet Commissar Cain's watch showed only an hour had passed.
"Protect the hive!" Nordstrom appeared from the gap, clutching a bloody combat knife, his eyes as vacant as those of the infected humans outside.
Everyone suddenly understood the full meaning of the seemingly insignificant wound on his chest. Commissar Cain sidestepped his swinging knife, instinctively blocked his attack with his Chainsword, and then severed the man's hand at the wrist.
Li Feng had already closed the cylinder of his hand cannon and aimed it at Nordstrom, ready to fire, but Commissar Cain and the opponent were too close, and Li Feng might accidentally injure Commissar Cain.
To Commissar Cain's surprise, he didn't even slow down, immediately thrusting the fingers of his other hand towards Commissar Cain's eyes. Commissar Cain ducked, avoiding the attack,
feeling the impact directly on his skull, his hat providing almost no cushioning. Then came the sound of the opponent's fingers breaking, followed by the bang of a hand cannon.
Commissar Cain looked up. Nordstrom's head had been shattered by Li Feng's hand cannon. Sheriff Vinita ran past Commissar Cain, charging towards the end of the corridor.
Suddenly, a Las-fire hit her shoulder, knocking her back into Commissar Cain's arms. Commissar Cain glanced at the wound, noting it was cauterized, so she wouldn't bleed to death at least. He then entrusted her to Larabi.
Milsen stood at the far end of the corridor, his Laser Gun aimed at them. A series of frag grenades were crudely attached to the thick wooden door behind him. The faint sounds of scrambling limbs from behind it betrayed the attackers' presence; they were still determined to break through.
Hocen lay in a pool of blood, clearly beyond any medical help.
"Cease fire, you idiot! It's friendly fire!"
"I... know."
His emotionless voice revealed his subsequent actions before Commissar Cain noticed his vacant gaze.
"Fall back!"
Li Feng shouted to the others. Just then, he detonated the grenades. The explosion tore the thick wooden door to shreds and sent himself to hell.
A horde of grotesque creatures shrieked and poured through the gap, their sharp mouths agape, their claws extended, eager to tear apart every living thing in their path.
Sister Fides, with her Sisters of Battle, shattered the front-row monsters with a volley of Bolter fire, but the creatures behind were barely hindered by their fallen comrades, continuously surging forward.
"Fight and retreat!" Fides yelled, and everyone began moving towards the stairwell.
It was a desperate gamble, but they had no choice. Everyone took turns felling the front-row Gretchin, while the others seized the opportunity to retreat towards the stairwell leading to the roof.
Even the injured Vinita still managed to fire at the enemy. As Larabi helped her up the stairs to safety, the sheriff's pale face was filled with shock.
Whenever Commissar Cain recalled it, it was truly a close call. If it weren't for the powerful firepower of the Battle Sisters, they would never have escaped.
"Come up, Political Commissar!"
Commissar Cain gratefully grabbed the outstretched hand. Li Feng pulled him up from below, and Fides immediately threw two melta grenades down into the seething chitinous mass below the stairs. Several Nuns then slammed shut the heavy steel fire door with a bang.
On the rooftop, everyone watched the door. Larabi locked it securely, but Li Feng could still feel the dull roar of the explosion shaking the metal door.
"They look angry!"
Javik peered over the edge of the roof, taking a chance, and fired a random shot at the enemy horde below. Li Feng followed his gaze downwards, his breath seeming to catch in his throat; his trypophobia almost flared up.
They were now surrounded by thousands of Gretchin, licking at the fragile sanctuary like a rising tide around a sandcastle.
Li Feng's backpack was filled with a large number of refreshed grenades, ready to unleash a massive attack on the enemy. Although this might be difficult to explain later, it was better than all his friends dying.
"Look, sir!" Yugen said, pointing at something, a foolish grin on his face. For a moment, Li Feng thought he had lost his mind due to extreme tension.
Then Commissar Cain also saw what he was pointing at; it was clearly the silhouette of an Imperial Chimera armoured vehicle, and behind it was another... "It's the Cadians!"
The column of armored vehicles bore the insignia of the Cadian 101st Regiment, an elite assault regiment that had won the Northern Campaign and had just arrived in the area. They were the first to respond to the long-range radio distress call Vinita had ordered Larabi to send.
But... looking at so many Gretchin, could they really handle it? The iron door roared from the Gretchin's impact, and the fire door's chains constantly rattled.
"Can we really wait for reinforcements to arrive?"
Just as this question arose in everyone's minds, suddenly, two massive drop pods crashed to the ground from the sky, and out of them emerged several Space Marine, clad in silver power armour with blue shoulder pads!
"Look! It's the Space Marine! We're saved!"
When Li Feng saw the escutcheon, he froze... Wasn't that the symbol of the Claws of the Stars? How did Blackheart Huron get here! But... how did those Claws of the Stars... look loyal?
"Commissar Cain... Fides... why are the Claws of the Stars from the Badab War here?"
The two looked at Li Feng in confusion:
"What war?"
"The Badab War! The Badab War in the Maelstrom, the eradication of Chapter Master Huron of the Claws of the Stars..."
At this point, Commissar Cain interrupted, immediately covering Li Feng's mouth, then pulled Li Feng into a corner and whispered:
"Brother, if you keep talking, it'll be dangerous... Chapter Master Huron of the Claws of the Stars has been missing in the Warp for centuries and has long been declared deceased by the Imperium. Now, Chapter Master Huron is an imperial hero! He single-handedly created the 'Badab Miracle'!"
Hearing this answer, Li Feng was confused. Missing for centuries? So... what exactly was the situation in his current universe?
"We're going to the Segmentum Obscurus soon."
"Why?"
"The Imperial Munitorum has decided to launch the Second Battle of Phalanx."
"Second?"
Li Feng was completely stunned. What was going on! Commissar Cain noticed Li Feng's surprised expression, thinking he was scared, though he didn't really believe Li Feng would be afraid, so he said:
"The First Battle of Phalanx was lost because a massive Warp Storm severely affected Imperial Warp travel, causing Frax to wait for reinforcements in vain."
"What Warp Storm?"
"Don't you know? A massive storm that swept across the entire The Galaxy / Milky Way for 200 years, starting around 700.M41. This Warp Storm was quite sinister; not only was the Imperium affected, but even the Aeldari who use the Webway, and Chaos, were affected. The Eye of Terror and the Maelstrom were even mysteriously half-closed for those few centuries, and Chaos ships reportedly couldn't return once they left the Eye of Terror."
Seeing Li Feng's stunned look, Commissar Cain continued:
"During this time, the Imperium struggled, but still barely maintained its basic operations. Until..."
"Until what?"
"Until about a decade ago, when I was still a little kid, the Warp Storm finally ended."