Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2: The Nihlus War - Part Two
The void of space erupted into a maelstrom of violence as the Righteous Protector and the Torch of Hope, along with the Butcherhorde Warband clashed in a brutal firefight. The cold void of space was set ablaze with the fiery trails of lance beams, the thunderous roar of Macrocannon fire, and the deadly ballet of ship-killing torpedo volleys.
Explosions and flashes of energy illuminated the darkness, marking the chaotic beginning of the Nihlus War. Lord Admiral Spire's ship, battered but unyielding, traded punishing broadsides with the World Eaters' destroyers. The very stars themselves seemed to bear witness to the fury of their conflict.
On the bridge of the Righteous Protector, Commodore Kage monitored the ship's tactical displays, his eyes darting between both the damage reports reported by the repair teams and incoming enemy fire.
"Steady, everyone!" Commodore Kage ordered in a determined voice, "Keep our broadsides focused on their lead warship. We'll show these heretics the strength of the Imperium!"
Amidst the chaos, a familiar silhouette emerged on the sensors, a sight that brought a glimmer of hope to Kage. The Imperious Draconis, an Adeptus Mechanicus Endeavour-Class Light Cruiser, commanded by Fabricator-Locum Cambrius of Mars, was the first of many ships to answer Lord Admiral Spire's rallying call.
"Lord Admiral," Cambrius's mechanical and augmented voice boomed over the Righteous Protector's Voxcaster, "The Sons of Mars stand ready for your orders."
"Excellent." Commodore Kage spoke in a relieved voice, "Their firepower will be a great asset."
"Well met, Fabricator," Lord Admiral Spire spoke as he hailed the Imperious Draconis, "How many ships do you bring me?"
The viewscreen then displayed the black, red, and gold-colored Light Cruiser as Cambrius's voice crackled over the Vox.
"All that could be found, Lord Admiral," Fabricator-Locum Cambrius spoke with a resolute voice, "I regret that we bring enemies on our heels, and we are not the only loyalist ships that are here."
As if on cue, two more Imperial vessels then appeared on the auspex sensors, positioning themselves alongside the Imperious Draconis. The first was an Imperial Navy Firestorm Frigate that was drawn from the forces of the throneworld's defense fleet, that being Battlefleet Solar, the Vae Victus, commanded by Captain Gideon Reinhardt. The second warship was an Adeptus Mechanicus Cobra Destroyer from Forge World Urdesh, the Canticle of Fire, commanded by Enginseer Megane.
"Lord Admiral Spire, Captain Reinhardt reporting," Captain Reinhardt's voice boomed over the voxcaster, "The Vae Victus is at your disposal. Let's show this heretical dog the might of Battlefleet Solar!"
"This is Enginseer Megane of the Canticle of Fire," Enginseer Megane spoke with her usual technological fervor, "Our machine spirits are eager for battle."
Lord Admiral Spire's voice was filled with gratitude as he surveyed the reinforcements that had answered his call.
"Duty breeds enemies, everyone," Lord Admiral Spire spoke, "Join your fire to ours. We'll see them ended."
As the newly arrived loyalist vessels assumed their positions and joined the fray, the tide of battle began to shift. The Butcherhorde Warband, realizing the turning tide, was forced to retreat, leaving behind the wreckage of their destroyed destroyers.
Khârn's voice crackled over the Vox, seething with barely contained fury.
"This is not over, Spire!" Khârn the Betrayer roared in an angered and threatening voice as he raised Gorechild, "I will return to claim your skull!"
With that ominous promise, Khârn's ship then vanished into the warp, leaving the loyalists to regroup, repair their ships, and tend to their wounds. The Nihlus War had officially begun, and the battle was far from over. As the echoes of battle subsided and the void of space seemed to hold its breath, Commodore Kage turned to Lord Admiral Spire, a furrowed brow revealing his lingering concern.
"That's the last of them, Lord Admiral," Commodore Kage spoke in relief before speaking in a concerned voice, "Do you think that was the only Chaos Space Marine Warband in this accursed region of the Great Rift?"
From the bridge of the Imperious Draconis, Fabricator-Locum Cambrius watched the aftermath of the battle unfold, his gaze filled with the wisdom of countless campaigns.
"Negative, Commodore Kage," Fabricator-Locum Cambrius spoke as his mind computed many battle strategies, "They were but the tip of the spear. What we faced was but a glimpse into the myriad horrors that now infest the Great Rift. The forces of Chaos are like a festering wound in the heart of the galaxy. I calculate that the others will soon arrive."
"It matters not," Spire spoke with determination, "I led a fleet through the bleakness of the Gothic War. By comparison, this is nothing. A pity that war cost us our greatest heroes - what I wouldn't give to have Captain Abridal at my side."
Kage nodded solemnly, realizing that their struggle was far from over. "All decks report ready."
"Good," Spire responded, "We shall forge new heroes this day. I hope they suffice."
As the auspex crew of the Righteous Protector scanned the void for any signs of additional allies, their sensors picked up more signatures, but this time they were not the telltale marks of several more imperial vessels.
"My lord, we have more incoming enemy contacts!" one of the Auspex Officers yelled in an urgent voice, " We have a fleet of several Chaos warships on Auspex, and they're closing in on us fast!"
The bridge crew exchanged uneasy glances as they witnessed the approach of a Warband of Emperor's Children Traitor Legion Chaos Astartes. Their ships bore the repulsive, bright, garish, clashing, and sensuous colors and the blasphemous symbol of their Legion, a golden eagle's wing ending in a talon, and at the center of their fleet loomed the massive Despoiler-Class Battleship known as the Spirit of Decadence, the chaos-tainted warship dwarfing every single loyalist warship in sight.
"It seems they've come in strength, Lord Admiral," Commodore Kage spoke in shock.
Just as the grim realization settled in, the viewscreen of the Hololith flickered to life once again, and the scarred visage of another notorious champion of Chaos, that being Lucius the Eternal, the undying Champion of Slaanesh and one of the lord commanders of the Emperor's Children, materialized on the screen. His trademark arrogance knew no bounds as he taunted Lord Admiral Spire.
"Ah, Spire, you escape one pit of despair only to find yourself in another," Lucius the Eternal smirked as he spoke, "How deliciously ironic."
The bridge crew of the Righteous Protector shuddered at the sound of Lucius's voice. In the background of his transmission, they could hear a cacophony of disturbing sounds—screams of both pain and ecstasy, combined with moans of unfathomable pleasure. It was a glimpse into the twisted and deranged world of the Emperor's Children Traitor Legion and their depraved and hedonistic worship of their dark patron, Slaanesh, the chaos god of Pleasure, Pain, Decadence, and Excess.
"Enough of your taunts, Lucius," Lord Admiral Spire spoke in a firm voice, "This is your only warning. Stand down or prepare to face the wrath of the Imperial Navy."
Lucius chuckled, the sound sending shivers down the spines of those who heard it. Even the crews of the newly arrived ships could hear his voice, and even they winced in disgust.
"Oh, Spire, you always were a dull one," Lucius the Eternal mocked, "Very well, we shall continue this dance another time. But remember, your fate is sealed, and you cannot escape it."
Before Lucius could utter another word, Lord Admiral Spire, repulsed and disgusted, then gave the order, his voice unwavering.
"Vox Officer, cut the transmission," Lord Admiral Spire commanded his crew, "Helm, bring us about. We have other battles to fight."
As Spire gave the order to cut the transmission, two more Imperial Navy Cobra-Class Destroyers, the Backbiter and the Legacy of Ravensburg, emerged from the Warp. The Macrocannons on both ships then roared to life, targeting the Spirit of Decadence with righteous fury, with the Backbiter starting by unleashing a salvo of fire from its Macrocannon Batteries, their volleys striking the Spirit of Decadence, which recoiled temporarily under the unrelenting firepower. The battle had intensified, and the Righteous Protector, with the two newly arrived allied warships at its side, was now locked in a deadly dance with the Emperor's Children.
With the transmission severed and the Righteous Protector changing course, the Spirit of Decadence and its vile retinue of Chaos ships pressed the attack, leaving Lord Admiral Spire and his crew to confront the challenges that lay ahead in the turbulent expanse of the Great Rift. The Nihlus War had truly begun, and the horrors of the Great Rift were only beginning to reveal themselves to the Imperials.
And that right there, is the second chapter 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!