Following the grand oath-taking ceremony, Daniel gave the order to mobilize.
The fleet had swelled to over 200 vessels. In addition to dedicated naval warships, numerous civilian cargo barges were requisitioned and packed to the gills with soldiers and supplies.
Every factory and void port on the planet Atomal had been stripped bare. A gargantuan amount of materiel and personnel was crammed into this colossal fleet.
The armada sailed for the Mandeville Point, the nexus where it would plunge into the Warp.
The Aetheric storm was intensifying, becoming a cauldron of psychic energy where careless navigation was a one-way ticket to oblivion. Yet, under Daniel's guidance, many ships successfully passed through the storm's most violent currents, traversing the distance to the Sintila system at a breathtaking, abnormal speed.
"This velocity is highly irregular. To the Guide, the storm seems to be a non-factor." Inquisitor Kaidin noted, keenly aware of the anomaly. Since the expansion of the Eye of Terror, countless ships had been swallowed by the Warp.
Faster-than-light travel had become a gamble, forcing every vessel to be ready to drop out of the Aether at a moment's notice. Moreover, ships navigating the Warp inevitably experienced minor psychic phenomena, which often led to widespread suicide, insanity, and other horrific accidents.
But under Daniel's protection, none of this occurred.
Thanks to exploiting seemingly favorable Warp currents, the fleet completed a journey that should have taken several days in just a few hours. This miracle cemented the faith of many in Daniel.
"Praise be to the God-Emperor, who has mercifully sent His messenger," Cardinal Ignatus prayed devoutly.
"Everything is under the Emperor's protection," Marshal Gorman of the Departmento Justitiae nodded in solemn agreement.
Voices praising Daniel erupted across the fleet, but Daniel had no time to bask in the accolades.
Upon arriving in the Sintila area, the clang of the void-bells rang out, awe-inspiring and bone-shaking.
"Everyone, prepare for real space jump," the voice of the Celestial Lord boomed across the comms.
"All ships confirmed, ready to synchronize entry into the material universe," a fleet liaison officer reported.
Daniel stood on the bridge platform, staring at the armored blast shield covering the main porthole, as if he could see the roiling waves of souls outside.
"Sir," Sha walked to Daniel's side. "Are we initiating the jump immediately?"
Daniel didn't answer right away. After a moment, he gave the order, "Broadcast to all ships."
"Understood," Sha nodded.
A servo-device, shaped like a pair of winged cherubim, flew down. The anti-gravity turbine at its base hummed softly as it hovered, unfolding a robotic arm to extend the comms speaker near Daniel's mouth.
Daniel organized his thoughts and began to speak in a calm, steady voice.
"Fellow warriors! I am truly heartened by your courage, and I am honored to fight alongside you."
"The Holy Emperor has shown us, through the return of His own son, Roboute Guilliman, that He will never yield to an ancient enemy."
"He showers His glory upon us, trusting us to shape the future and ensure the eternal existence of human civilization."
"Those dark traitors grovel before false gods and attempt to force us to kneel. That is a bridge too far. Such treason cannot be tolerated or forgiven, and they will pay the ultimate price."
"There will be no compromise, no negotiation, no concession, and no mercy. We will wipe out every enemy."
"Many of you may fall, but fear not. The Emperor awaits all who are loyal and dedicated."
Daniel raised his voice, full of majesty and power.
"We will win and reclaim Sintila! The enemy will despair under our onslaught, crying out for mercy and raising their hands above their heads! The Double Eagle will once again fly across every world!"
"Let us fight in the Emperor's name! Let us tear our enemies apart in the Emperor's name! Let us win this battle in the Emperor's name!"
The high fighting spirit was a roar resounding throughout the entire fleet. The blood of countless Imperial soldiers began to boil in their veins. The scene of the enemy ravaging their homes was still vivid in their minds. Their former dwellings reduced to rubble, their families and friends brutally slaughtered by the rebels.
A blood feud must be repaid with blood.
"Man, that was intense," Yuji couldn't help but say.
"His rizz game is arguably stronger than the Warmaster's," Fred commented under his breath.
"..."
After delivering his few minutes of fiery war mobilization, Daniel issued the final battle order.
"Adjust reactor output to maximum. Charge all lance arrays. Reload macrocannons. Prepare all missiles and torpedoes for launch. Activate conventional engines."
Daniel paused for effect.
"In the name of the Emperor, let the Void burn."
The fleet dropped from the Warp into real space and entered the vast void. The Geller field shut down, instantly replaced by the physical void shields. The conventional engines roared to life, propelling the battleships toward the planet Sintila.
The players of the Emperor's Hammer Chapter stood before a porthole, staring out at the boundless black and discussing the upcoming war.
"The battle is about to begin," Yuji said. "Do we just watch again, like last time?"
"What choice do we have?" WrongHammer sighed. "We don't have any warships."
"How lame! No ship? Then we just gank one!" Yuji looked at his partner with genuine disappointment.
WrongHammer looked bewildered. "Gank? Whose are we robbing? And that's totally against the rules. I'm worried the Guide will lay the smackdown on me."
"Yeah, old man, cut out the bad thoughts."
Turtle peered into the void. After his promotion to Astartes, he had continued to focus on enhancing his perception. His sensory awareness was the sharpest in the Legion. Even from afar, he could see tiny points of light in the void—the thrusters of enemy warships. The rebels had undoubtedly spotted their arrival.
"You guys are hopeless," Yuji muttered. "The rules were set up by the Guide, who is Imperial. Can they restrain the rebels? If we steal the rebels' warships, how can the Guide possibly fault us?"
Turtle's eyes widened. "That's right! I forgot you could just take the other guy's stuff! I'm too used to living in a harmonious society!"
WrongHammer also suddenly realized. "Warhammer Online is too real. I always treat it like real life and don't dare to break the law."
OneHand clapped his hands excitedly. "Hell yeah, we can seize enemy warships! If a Warhammer game doesn't have boarding actions, is it even Warhammer?"
"That's a solid suggestion," Warmaster chimed in. "I remember when we left Macragge, Guilliman hooked the Guide up with a lot of equipment, including a set of Assault Boats specifically designed for boarding operations."
"It seems everyone is on board with this plan. Now, the only problem is who has to apply to the Guide for the mission."
Yuji looked at Warmaster. So did everyone else.
"Why are all of you looking at me?" Warmaster instantly had a bad feeling.
"You're the Guides' champion and the nominal regimental commander. If you don't go, who will?" Yuji challenged.
"I'm only number one on the roster! How does that justify this?" Warmaster looked around at his companions, feeling cornered.
"I think Yuji's got a point. The boss has to show initiative. If you make us, the low-level grunts, do all the talking, the club will fall apart, pretty boy."
"Club? You guys conned me into taking this leadership position just for this moment, didn't you?" Warmaster sighed.
"We should get moving. Your favorability rating is high; your success rate is a lock."
"..."
Under the combined coercion and cajoling of his friends, Warmaster had no choice but to go to the bridge, seek out the Guide, and present his plan to board a rebel ship, hoping for official support.
"You plan to find an opportunity to board and seize an enemy warship during the void battle?" Daniel was both surprised by the Warmaster's request and strangely relieved.
The players were finally adapting to the war, figuring out how to intervene in their own chaotic way. Soon enough, they would likely be proactively engaging without needing explicit instruction.
"Yes," Warmaster said, slightly nervous. This was the first time he had actively sought a mission, and he didn't know if it would be approved.
Daniel pondered for a moment before agreeing. Players were different from the standard Imperial Army. They were "E-Demons" summoned by the Emperor, and death was merely a temporary inconvenience.
Asking them to follow all the rules was the greatest blasphemy and waste of the term "Fourth Plague." Only by giving them sufficient latitude could their full war potential be realized.
Warmaster was ecstatic upon receiving permission and immediately relayed the news to the rest of the regiment.
After Warmaster left, Daniel called out, "Arale."
"Master, do you have any instructions?" Arale's projection appeared.
"Assess the value of all transport boats and gunships, log them, and when the Saints need them, require a deposit."
"If the mission is successfully completed, the deposit will be returned. If the mission fails and the vessel is damaged, the entire deposit will be deducted."
"Also, give them special credit to avoid insufficient contribution points."
Considering the players' outrageous capacity for destruction, Daniel felt that clear reward and punishment measures needed to be established. Otherwise, these guys would treat military resources with the mindset of 'it's free real estate,' which would result in massive waste.
Sha, standing nearby, widened his eyes upon hearing this.
"Isn't that a little harsh?" Sha ventured. "The Saints are fighting to help us win, after all."
"No," Daniel shook his head. "This is the best way. Who knows, they might even be grateful to us."
What do you call a player who is not exploited?
If we don't create obstacles for the players, where can they get their kicks?
Without overcoming those obstacles, there is no fun in any game!
In the low-orbit of the planet Sintila, a magnificent void port hung suspended.
Scar was watching the treasures and slaves being shipped out in batches from the port, a wide smile splitting his face. Scar was a notorious pirate leader in the Calixis sector, named for the cross-shaped scars on his face.
He frequently plundered trader ships along important waterways and once controlled a significant portion of the sector's transit lanes. The Imperial Navy had repeatedly tried to eliminate him, but he always escaped thanks to inside help.
After the Colin family rebelled against the Imperium, they promised him lucrative terms to secure his loyalty: any world conquered from the Imperial loyalists could be plundered by him after the fact.
Scar was naturally thrilled to accept such a sweet deal.
"We're basically running the show now. Before, we never even dreamed of looting Sintila," a pirate shouted excitedly, cracking his whip to drive the ragged captives along.
"Damn right. Back then, those Imperial bastards hunted me like crazy. Who'd have thought the tables would turn so hard, and now they are the ones in a fix?" Scar, his messy hair falling over his face, looked extremely proud.
At that moment, a pirate shouted over the comms. "Boss, sensors are detecting multiple engine signatures approaching at high speed."
"Emperor, damn it! Are that many people coming to crash the party?" Scar didn't even consider the possibility of Loyalists. Those guys had been crushed. The only way the situation could be reversed was with the help of naval assets from other sectors. But that was impossible—the entire galaxy was embroiled in war. Navies elsewhere had their own hands full and simply couldn't provide support.
The only possibility was that other rebel forces wanted a piece of the pie. Several factions were currently fighting over Sintila; after all, it was a capital world. Even if reduced to ruins, it still held amazing wealth.
"They haven't responded to hails," the subordinate reported. "They're still closing fast. Expected to be within striking distance in fifteen minutes."
"Tell the boys to haul ass on the transport," Scar ordered his men. "Once they enter our ship, the haul is ours!"
"Aye, Boss!" his subordinate yelled back.
About ten minutes later, a terrified voice broke through the silence on the comms.
"Oh no, they opened fire! This isn't one of ours. They're Loyalists! Loyalists!"
Scar's expression instantly changed to one of sheer disbelief. Weren't the Loyalists defeated? How in the hell did they show up at Sintila?