The Roselle Hive world, located in the northern Segmentum Obscurus, on the edge of the Nachmund Corridor, has a population of 300 billion and a tax rating of Second-Class Special Grade.
In the vast, deep space of the universe, space seemed to Warp.
Immediately after, a colossal battleship, several kilometers in diameter, shaped like a massive cathedral carried on its back, ancient and mysterious, emerged from the Mandeville Point.
Within the enormous chamber at the front of the bridge stood a statue of the God-Emperor, dozens of meters tall.
The entire chamber was vast, like a magnificent holy temple or cathedral, filled everywhere with extravagant and precious decorations.
The pathway leading to the God-Emperor's statue was covered with a thick, soft red carpet, and dozens of banners hanging within the vaulted sanctuary depicted the grand history of the family!
The walls on either side of the cathedral were adorned with frescoes, illustrating and reproducing ancient histories!
Directly beneath the God-Emperor's statue, a tall and burly but White-haired old man wore extremely opulent noble attire.
Even his great cloak was edged with gold thread, its material crafted from the furs of creatures from dozens of star sectors, woven by master artisans, and the golden double-headed Aquila epaulets further highlighted his extraordinary status.
"Voyage log report."
A dispassionate voice emanated from the comms array: "The Excalibur, a class Conqueror cruiser has successfully exited the Mandeville Point and arrived in the northern Segmentum Obscurus. However, due to Warp influence, it has deviated from its planned course."
Listening to the dispassionate mechanical voice, the old man standing beneath the God-Emperor's statue slowly opened his eyes.
When he turned around, his face, covered in wrinkles like mountain ravines, as if polished by years and frost, solidified by time, was like an eternal, unyielding bedrock!
On his chest, he wore dozens of medals.
Each one was awarded by the Imperium, symbolizing his lofty status and numerous contributions to the Imperium!
After a brief silence, a hint of impatience flickered across his brows, but his tone remained calm, maintaining the decorum and composure of a nobleman: "How much longer until we reach Roselle?"
"According to projections… at least 37 days."
The dispassionate voice continued from the comms array.
"Too long…"
Arthur looked out at the vast star river beyond the viewport, a hint of weariness on his face, subtly mixed with an almost imperceptible worry: "Check the hull for damage, resupply at a nearby Hive world as soon as possible. Then… contact 'Galahad' for me; I need more accurate intelligence."
"Astropathic message delivered."
The grand sanctuary, like a cathedral, once again fell silent.
Looking at the dimmed comms array, Arthur fell into anxious waiting, pacing back and forth beneath the God-Emperor's statue.
"Astropathic message from the Roselle Hive world, would you like to connect?" The comms array spoke, reactivated, and projected a virtual image.
Finally, the communication request arrived, and Arthur eagerly spoke: "Connect the astropathic message."
"Esteemed Mr. Arthur, may I ask if you have already arrived at Roselle ?"
Galahad's voice was somewhat urgent as he inquired.
"My sincerest apologies, I believe… we will probably be delayed by about a month before we can reach Roselle."
Arthur took a deep breath, his face full of remorse: "But please rest assured, I will definitely arrive at Roselle as soon as possible. How are things there?"
"Not good at all… Mr. Arthur."
Galahad said with a heavy tone: "Just seventeen days ago, the planetary governor… was tragically assassinated by a cult on the Emperor's Ascension Day. His death has been confirmed."
"The planetary governor assassinated? What were the guard details doing?" Arthur frowned deeply, not expecting the situation on Roselle to have deteriorated so rapidly in just a month and a half.
He could already foresee how chaotic the Roselle Hive world would become without the planetary governor's control.
"The situation might be worse than you imagine…"
Galahad's voice came through, tinged with urgency: "After losing the planetary governor, the cult immediately took advantage of the chaos, directly attacking the Hive world. The Planetary Defense Force and the Enforcers were deployed, barely managing to hold them back in the Mid-Hive."
"Hiss…"
Even Arthur, upon hearing this news, couldn't help but gasp, his brows furrowed deeply: "What about the planetary governor's family heirs? Didn't they know to rally the troops and resist?"
"The heirs… all assassinated."
Galahad said helplessly: "The entire Hadley family was purged when the planetary governor was assassinated. Not a single person survived to live."
"…What about the other nobles?"
Arthur was practically gritting his teeth, exasperated: "Even if the planetary governor's family was assassinated, there should be other families, right? Is there no one left?"
"Mr. Arthur, you overestimate them."
At this point, Galahad couldn't help but grit his teeth, angrily saying: "The nobles of the upper hive, upon learning of the cult's rebellion, immediately sealed off the passages leading to the upper hive."
"Useless! Useless! Useless!"
Arthur was so enraged that veins pulsed on his forehead, his blood boiling. He gasped for several breaths, barely avoiding being literally angered to death by those damned parasites of the Imperium.
"Now… now what is the situation?" He leaned on the control panel, forcibly suppressing his rage, forcing himself to calm down, and asked.
"The Adeptus Arbites and the Planetary Defense Force have temporarily held back the cult, but… they might not be able to hold out for much longer." Galahad urgently said: "We need your help, Mr. Arthur!"
"I will arrive at Roselle as soon as possible."
After Arthur caught his breath, without waiting for Galahad to continue speaking, he eagerly asked: "Please tell me… is he safe?"
This time, it was Galahad's turn to fall silent.
The eerie silence stiffened Arthur's expression, and an extremely ominous premonition immediately surged within him: "What exactly happened, Galahad?!"
"I'm very sorry… he is missing."
Galahad's voice was bitter, filled with regret, as he said: "More than half a month ago, he and an Inquisitor… disappeared simultaneously."
"What did you say?!"
Arthur's pupils constricted, and he froze, then, like a furious lion, rage poured from his eyes, as if to tear Galahad apart: "Tell me again?!"
After a brief silence, Galahad stiffened and continued: "He, during the investigation of the Lower Hive cult with the Inquisitor… went missing. His fate is currently unknown."
"Who sent him?"
Arthur's tone was chilling, like a sharp blade, brimming with killing intent, and at this moment, the air in the entire chamber seemed to drop by several degrees.
"I did."
Galahad said bitterly.
"Very well, Galahad… pray to your Omnissiah that he is still to live, otherwise…"
Arthur's enraged voice, like an endless sea of corpses and blood, surged forth, making Galahad shiver with dread even through the astropathic link!
"I, Arthur Emrys, in the name of the great Emrys Rogue Trader Dynasty, swear to the God-Emperor!"
Arthur's furious voice was chilling: "I will spare no expense, even if the consequences mean facing Imperial retribution, I will exhaust all family resources to make you, and Roselle, pay a heavy price!!!"
After disconnecting the communication.
Arthur's face was grim, as if he had made a certain decision, and he said in a deep voice: "Immediately, in the name of the Emrys Rogue Trader Dynasty, send a distress astropathic message to the Astra Militarum, Astartes Chapters, and Inquisitors stationed in the surrounding star sectors… to everyone who can serve as a fighting force, regardless of… the cost!"