Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2: The Nihlus War - Part Three

"All ships," Spire's voice boomed over the Voxcasters, "the Emperor protects! Engage at will!"

As the battle raged on, with the Imperious Draconis, the Vae Victus, the Canticle of Fire, and the Righteous Protector engaging the Spirit of Decadence and the Emperor's Children Warband in a relentless firefight, Fabricator-Locum Cambrius of the Imperious Draconis began calculating the grim odds as fast as his augmetics willed him. The chances of victory were low, and his voice carried the weight of that realization.

"Lord Admiral Spire, our situation is dire and survival probabilities are unfavorable." Fabricator-Locum Cambrius spoke in a measured voice, "The odds are heavily against us. I strongly recommend that we consider a tactical retreat and withdraw."

Lord Admiral Spire, however, held firm in his resolve, his eyes locked onto the enemy before him.

"Cambrius, we've bested the challenges that fate has thrown at us before. Lord Admiral Spire spoke with a resolute voice, "I'm not willing to turn back now. We must press on."

Commodore Kage, normally Spire's voice of caution, agreed with Cambrius this time, his concern evident.

"Lord Admiral, I must concur with Cambrius," Commodore Kage spoke with a cautious voice, "A tactical retreat may be our best option here."

But Lord Admiral Spire remained unyielding, his faith in the Emperor unwavering.

"We hold our ground, Commodore." Lord Admiral Spire spoke to his second in command before saying to the other Imperial ships as a command, "All ships! Hold position! Doubt forms the path to damnation, and we cannot falter now!"

Just when it seemed that their fate hung in the balance, a glimmer of hope emerged. The Vox Crew picked up a transmission, marked by a symbol associated with the motto and battle cry of "Courage and Honor." It was the Latin Epsilon of Macragge, the Ultima, which was a symbol associated with the greatest of them all: The Ultramarines.

"There is no doubt while strength abides!" a husky and mellow voice declared.

The transmission hailed from a Courageous-Class Battleship of the Ultramarines Legion, the Aquila's Honor. Its commander was none other than Ash Ketchum, a renowned Pokémon Trainer hailing from the ocean world of Talassar and the newly appointed commander of the Suzerain Invictarus, the Ultramarines' elite honor guard during the Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy, which was reinstated by the order of Marneus Calgar, the 1st Chapter Master of the Ultramarines.

"Beneficent Emperor!" Kage was shocked when he heard who spoke from the Voxcaster, "Is that who I think it is?"

"The scions of Guilliman heed your call, Lord Admiral," Ash Ketchum spoke confidently, "This is Ash Ketchum of the Ultramarines Legion, aboard the Aquila's Honor. Hold on just a bit longer, Lord Admiral Spire. Your salvation is coming. We'll be emerging from the warp soon."

"It's good to see vessels of the Adeptus Astartes, Commander," Spire spoke with determination, "Faith is well enough. but hope and faith bring victory sooner."

"The war never ends, Lord Admiral," Ash spoke with determination, "We shall fight it together."

Lord Admiral Spire and his crew felt a renewed surge of hope as they heard the reassuring voice of their new ally. The battle against the Emperor's Children Warband was far from over, but with the Ultramarines on their way, they had a fighting chance to emerge victorious in the grim darkness of the far future.

The warp tear then opened like a cosmic maw, and from its depths emerged the colossal form of the Aquila's Honor, an 11-kilometer-long heavily-armed and heavily-armored behemoth of Macraggian blue, white, and gold. The Ultramarines' flagship materialized behind the Emperor's Children's warships like a great oceanic predator, dwarfing everything in its path. Following it were several Ultramarine ships, including the Eternal Vigilance, an Ultramarines Battle Barge, several Ultramarines Strike Cruisers, several Vanguard-Class Light Cruisers, and several escort squadrons of Nova-Class Frigates. Lord Admiral Spire could only gawk in awe at the sight of the mighty vessel, commanded by none other than Ash Ketchum, the renowned Pokémon Trainer turned Space Marine.

"By the Emperor..." Lord Admiral Spire could gawk in awe of the Leviathan, "That warship is huge..."

Back on the Aquila's Honor, Ash Ketchum issued his orders with the calm confidence of a seasoned Space Marine commander.

"Gunners! Focus your fire on the Emperor's Children's warships!" Ash Ketchum commanded the ship's crew, "Let them taste the wrath of Macragge! Let them feel the pain of our primarch when Fulgrim wounded him!"

The Aquila's Honor and the Ultramarines fleet then unleashed a devastating firestorm of artillery fire from its Macrocannons, Torpedo Tubes, and Lance artillery, the energy beams, Torpedoes, and projectiles tearing through the Emperor's Children's ships. Several shots from the Aquila's Honor's Nova Cannons then struck with precision, causing catastrophic explosions on the enemy vessels.

Witnessing the fury of the Ultramarines' firepower, the Spirit of Decadence, commanded by Lucius the Eternal, began a hasty retreat into the warp. Lucius, however, left a taunting message for Lord Admiral Spire, vowing to challenge him again, and several Emperor's Children Battlecruisers followed suit as the Warband retreated.

As the last remnants of the Emperor's Children Warband were consumed by the fire of the Aquila's Honor, Commodore Kage reported the outcome to Lord Admiral Spire.

"Lord Admiral, most of the Chaos vessels are destroyed." Commodore Kage spoke in a relieved voice, "There are no further signatures and it seems that we've emerged victorious."

Lord Admiral Spire nodded, his gaze now focused on the approaching warp tear that would lead them away from this chaotic battleground.

"And allied Ships?" Spire questioned with intrigue.

"Nothing more," Kage responded, "Others may be inbound."

"We can wait no longer." Lord Admiral Spire spoke in a determined voice, "Very well, Commodore. Let stragglers seek our trail amongst the dead. We have a fleet. But first, I need to have a word with Lord High Admiral Drang as to how best to employ it. Prepare for warp translation. We will have vengeance for Cadia."

"Understood, Admiral," Kage acknowledged, "All ships, turn on Gellar Fields."

With that, the Vae Victus, the Righteous Protector, the Canticle of Fire, the Torch of Hope, and the Aquila's Honor moved into position to enter the warp, leaving behind the wreckage of the battle. The Nihlus War had begun with two fiery and chaotic clashes, but Lord Admiral Spire and his newfound allies would continue their fight to defend the Imperium in the grim darkness of the far future. But first, it was time to consolidate their forces.

And that right there, is the third chapter and the first mission of Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2: The Nihlus War, COMPLETE! Leave a review and a follow if you want to see more of this story. Thank you!