Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2: The Nihlus War: Part Six
Back onboard the Saharanor, Muteba Asala received a Vox Transmission from the Sword of Dorn, the flagship of Marshal Gernhardt's Crusade Fleet. The message that was sent from the Black and White Retribution-Class Battleship indicated that the Black Templars Crusade fleet had finally arrived in the Cadian Sector. As the newly arrived Imperial ships stopped moving, Muteba instructed the Vox Officer of the Sword of Dorn to establish communication with Marshal Gernhardt.
"Vox Officer, get me Marshal Gernhardt on the line," Muteba Asala ordered the Vox officer, "I need to speak with him immediately."
Gernhardt's response then came swiftly as his face was projected onto the Hololith. Unlike most marshals who served with the Black Templars, Gernhardt's face was youthful, with a short, black, beard. An Iron Circlet that was similar in look to a crown sat on his head, and a cross-shaped nose guard protected his nose. His black chest plate was covered by a white tunic, on which the symbol of his chapter, a black Maltese cross, was painted. His black and white helmet hung off his combat belt, inspired by the crusading knights of the 2nd millennium. Around his left wrist was an iron manacle, which shackled him to his weapon, a power sword. The Black Templars' tradition of shackling their weapons to themselves started as a tradition done by the World Eaters Legion before they turned traitor, with Sigismund, the Legendary 1st Captain of the Imperial Fists and Founder of the Chapter, getting it from the infamous Khârn the Betrayer during the Great Crusade while the Captain of the World Eaters 8th Assault Company was still loyal.
"This is Marshal Gernhardt," Gernhardt responded, "What is it, Warchief?"
"I have something that you need to see," Muteba spoke as he pressed a button that was on the Saharanor's Holo-Table. "It's about the attack plan that I and a few other Space Marine commanders have discussed with each other."
Muteba then transmitted the attack plan which was the same one that he had discussed with Commander Ash Ketchum of the Ultramarines and Captains Julius Octavian and Alicia Alucard of the Blood Angels, to Gernhardt's cogitator aboard the Sword of Dorn.
"I see the plan that you've cooked up, Warchief," Marshal Gernhardt spoke as he received the transmission from the Warchief, "It's a sound strategy. I'm going to brief my Castellans on this."
Having reviewed the plan, Gernhardt sent separate Vox Transmissions to the three Battle Barges that were under the command of his Crusade fleet, each one being heavily armed and armored—the first was the Oathsworn, commanded by Castellan Steinhauser, the second was the Holy Reckoning, commanded by Castellan Ozpin, and the third and final one was the Avenger of Phall, commanded by Castellan Ishimaru. Each of them was an experienced warrior in his own right, and each of them embodied the Chapter's crusading nature and trademark zeal.
"Castellan Steinhauser," Marshal Gernhardt spoke as he started issuing orders, "you are to assist the Celestial Lions in their planetary invasion. Let "
"Understood Marshal," Steinhauser's voice spoke over the Voxcaster, "The heretics shall be put to the sword."
"Castellan Ozpin, you are to support the Blood Angels' assault on the shipyard," Gernhart then sent another command, "Let the heretics know that the sons and daughters of Sangunius and the sons and daughters of Dorn fight together."
"Yes, Marshal," Ozpin responded, "It shall be done."
"Castellan Ishimaru," Gernhardt ordered his last Castellan, "You are to aid the Ultramarines in the void battle. Let none escape your sword."
"Acknowledged, Marshal!" Ishimaru's voice spoke over the Voxcaster, "By Dorn, none shall survive!"
As the Crusade Fleet prepared to engage the forces of Chaos, back onboard the Angel's Ascendancy, the former students of Beacon Academy turned Blood Angels listened to the transmission from a Voxcaster that was placed in their barracks as they prepared for the battle. They were shocked to see their beloved Headmaster back in action as a space marine, especially as part of a chapter of Crusaders.
"Ozpin?" Ruby Rose was surprised when she heard the name as she slung Crescent Rose, her modified dust-powered power scythe/M40/A1 Pattern Sniper Rifle on her back, "Our old Headmaster from Beacon is going to be with us? Is this real?"
"And he's a member of the Black Templars?" Weiss Schnee spoke with an incredulous voice as she sheathed Myrternaster, her modified Power Rapier/Stub Revolver at her waist, "I can't believe what I'm hearing."
"I never saw that coming," Blake Belladonna spoke in a curious voice as she sheathed Gambol Shroud, her modified dust-powered Power Katana/Bolt Pistol behind her back, "We didn't know that."
"This is going to be interesting." Yang Xiao Long spoke in an enthusiastic voice as she slipped on Ember Celica, her modified Dust-Powered bracers that were equipped with modified Astartes Assault Shotguns, "Wanna show him what we had learned from Beacon Academy and by becoming Blood Angels?"
"Professor Ozpin, ready for battle!" Nora Valkyrie spoke with her usual energetic personality as she slung Magnhild, her modified Dust-Powered Thunder Hammer/Tauros Grenade Launcher onto her back, "Let's show him why Beacon produces the best heroes throughout Remnant and the Imperium!"
"Our forces are quite diverse, guys," Pyrrha Nikos spoke in a determined voice as she sheathed both Miló and Akoúo̱, her modified Dust-Powered Power Javelin and Dipylon Shield/M40/A1 Pattern Sniper Rifle onto her back, "Who wants to get the first strike and spearhead the charge?"
"We'll make it work, guys," Lie Ren spoke calmly as he holstered StormFlower, his modified dual bolt pistols equipped with dust-powered grappling hooks, "As a matter of fact, since y'all are the best among us, I'm nominating Ruby and her team to be the vanguard of the attack. They have the most experience among all of us."
"Who better to assist us in this fight than our old headmaster?" Sun Wukong, the joker and only Librarian within the group, spoke with his usual optimistic voice and personality as he slung Ruyi Bang and Jingu Bang, his modified dust-powered force staff/Angelus Bolt carbine on his back, "Anybody wanna bet how many chaos space marines we can kill before the battle is over?"
"This is going to be a memorable battle." Coco Adel spoke in a confident voice as she hoisted Gianduja, her modified dust-powered Handbag/Heavy Bolter, "I can feel it!"
"We'll fight these traitors with everything we've got," Velvet Scarlatina assured her friends with a supportive tone as she slipped Anesidoria, her dust-powered Pict Recorder into a sachel slung on her shoulder, "I bet that if they have two thousand chaos space marines there, we're going to kill two thousand. If they have four thousand, we're going to kill four thousand."
"Let's show them what we're made of, everyone," Fox Alastair was focused as he spoke while he gripped Sharp Retribution, his modified dust-powered Tonfas/bolt pistols equipped with combat knives in his armored hands, "Coco? Since you have the Heavy Bolter, mind providing fire support for us?"
"No holding back, guys," Yatsuhashi Daichi spoke in a resolute voice as he sheathed Fulcrum, his modified dust-powered Baal Pattern Mark IV power sword, "We're going all in!"
"Time to prove ourselves to Professor Ozpin, everyone," Cardin Winchester, the Chaplain of the group, spoke with his usual brash personality as he slung The Executioner, his modified dust-powered Crozius Arcanum onto his back, "Let's show these traitors the might of both Baal and Remnant. I will provide emotional support as well."
"I'm ready to fight, guys!" Russell Thrush spoke in an eager voice as he sheathed Shortwings, his modified dust-powered dual Baal Pattern Mark IV power swords behind his back, "Just give me the signal, and I'll be all over them in a jiffy!"
"For Beacon!" Sky Lark, with his enthusiastic attitude, cried in jest as he slung Feather's Edge, his modified dust-powered Power Halberd/M40/A1 Pattern Sniper Rifle onto his back, "Let's make our professors proud!"
"Let's give it our all, everyone!" Scarlet David spoke in a spirited voice as he sheathed Hook, his modified dust-powered bolt pistol, and Darling, his modified dust-powered Baal Pattern Mark IV power sword onto his utility belt, "I'm not letting Ruby and her team get the edge on the traitors first!"
"We'll make our old Headmaster proud, just like we always did when we were students," Sage Ayana spoke with a steady attitude as he sheathed Pilgrim, his Baal Pattern Mark IV power sword behind his back, "Let's do it just like old times."
"This is going to be intense, guys," Neptune Vasilias spoke nervously as he slung Tri-Hard, his modified dust-powered Bolter/Power Trident onto his back, "But it's worth a try, right?"
"Our teamwork will shine through, Neptune," Cinder Fall spoke with her usual ambitious personality as she slung Midnight, her Kroot Accelerator Bow/Dual Baal Pattern Mark IV power swords behind her back, "We just have to go all in!"
"Besides, Neptune, we're stronger together," Emerald Sustrai spoke in a determined voice as she holstered Thief's Respite, her dust-powered dual Stub Revolvers/Power Sickles, "we're also a family to each other, in a sort of way."
"Our enemies won't know what hit them," Mercury Black spoke confidently as he put on Talaria, the modified dust-powered greaves and sabatons equipped with bolt pistols onto his power armor, "We just go in and hit them extremely hard. Besides, does any of you want to see me style on them?"
Neopolitan stayed silent but smiled as she slung Hush, her modified dust-powered parasol/Storm Shield/Power Rapier onto her back.
"We've got this in the bag as long as we just keep killing," Dove Bronzewing spoke in a supportive voice as he slung Hallshott, his modified dust-powered Baal Pattern Mark IV power sword/Stub Revovler behind his back, "I'm going to headhunt their leader."
"I'm ready to rock, guys!" Neon Katt spoke with a cheerful attitude as she sheathed her dust-powered nunchakus onto her waist, "Let's do this for our school!"
"Stay focused guys, cause if we do, we have this in the bag," May Zedong spoke in a reserved voice as she slung her modified dust-powered M40/A1 Pattern Sniper Rifle/Power Axe onto her back, "I'm ready, guys."
"Let's do this," Sienna Khan spoke, being as observant as she holstered her Cerberus Whip, her modified dust-powered Neural Whip/Power Sword onto her waist, "Helmets on, everyone!"
"Our Headmaster's here for us," Reese Chloris's adventurous attitude was in her voice as she slung her modified dust-powered hoverboard, which doubled as her modified dust-powered Bolt Pistols, "So, we've got to be there for him."
"I am excited to work together again with our headmaster, guys," Penny Polendina spoke with her determined, but innocent voice as she sheathed Floating Array, her modified dust-powered Power Swords/Bolters behind her back, "Let's give him a show he'll never forget."
While the Blood Angels talked about their reunion with their headmaster, meanwhile, onboard the Righteous Protector, Lord Admiral Spire watched as the combined fleet of the Ultramarines, Black Templars, Blood Angels, and Celestial Lions, which included the Aquila's Honor, the Saharanor, the Angel's Ascendancy, the Miatus, Aegis of Gage, Legionarius, Thiel's Insight, Eternal Vigilance, Sword of Dorn, Oathsworn, Holy Reckoning, Avenger of Phall, and the Black Templars' Crusade Fleet, vanished into the warp to initiate the assault on the Deimios Binary System. The warships had set their course for a fierce confrontation with the forces of Chaos.
As Spire monitored the situation, his Vox Officer provided updates on the reinforcements that were responding to the rallying order, as well as those currently in the warp and those preparing to enter it. Each ship's name, faction, and class were meticulously listed, expanding the coalition that had gathered in response to Spire's call for aid.
"Admiral Spire," the Vox Officer informed the Admiral, "we have more ships en route, including those already in the warp, those that are preparing to enter it, and those that are going to come out of it."
"I can hear that, Vox Officer," Spire spoke as Commodore Kage handed him a Dataslate, "Who is going to arrive?"
"We have a ship coming from the Salamanders Legion, the Anvil of War," The Vox Officer explained, "It's a Battle Barge of the 1st Realm, commanded by Captain Tul'Dahash. We also have the following ships en route to our location: the Wrath of Fenris, a Space Wolves Grand Cruiser, the Imperium's Wrath, a Lunar-Class Cruiser of Battlefleet Cadia, the Pax Aeternum, an Ark Mechanicus of Forge World Graia, the Dauntless Resolve, a Mars-Class Battle Cruiser of Battlefleet Solar, the Fury of Dorn, a Black Templars Battle Barge, the Sword of Valor, an Adepta Soriritas Battle Cruiser, Deliverance's Grace, a Raven Guard Battle Barge, and the Angel of Iron, a Mechanicus Secutor-Class Light Cruiser of Forge World Graia. We also have..." the Vox Officer's voice still announced to Spire the ships that were joining.
Suddenly, a multitude of warp rifts opened up behind where the Imperial Navy fleet was located. Coming out of the rifts were a slew of Void Ships, each carrying a renowned Idol Group of the Imperium through the void itself, with groups like Arashi, Kis-My-Ft2, BABYMETAL, Blackpink, Nogizaka46, MOMOLAND, Girl's Generation, and Red Velvet appearing on the Auspex systems, just to name a few.
While the repairs on the Righteous Protector were ongoing, with cadres of Tech-priests dispatched from both the Imperious Draconis and the Canticle of Fire working on the ship, Spire ordered Commodore Kage to deal with the idol groups, as they were asking for information. The Lord Admiral then received an Astropathic message from Ash, who was aboard the Aquila's Honor. Ash provided crucial information regarding the situation in the Deimios Binary System.
"Admiral Spire, the Deimios Binary System is heavily occupied by a substantial Traitor fleet comprised of various Grand Battalions of Iron Warriors, with another Iron Warriors Grand Battalion occupying the system," Ash Ketchum spoke via the astropathic message, "As I speak, The Blood Angels have commenced their assault on the chaos-occupied shipyard, with the mostly cleared Drydock One of the shipyard now acting as a beachhead for the eventual landing of Black Templars' Crusader Squads. It'll be some time before the Black Templars make their landing, but I can see the Holy Reckoning preparing to launch Thunderhawks."
Hearing the mention of the Black Templars, the Strike Cruiser Wrath of Sigismund, which carried the members of BABYMETAL, broke off from the amassed fleet of idol singers and prepared to set course for the warp. The Kawaii Metal Band, whose members were now transformed into Space Marines of the Black Templars, then sent several Vox Transmissions to the Lord Admiral's Warship.
"Lord Admiral, this is Sister Suzuka Nakamoto of the Black Templars, Sword Brethren," SU-METAL, as she was known on stage, spoke as her voice echoed over the Righteous Protector's Voxcaster, "Our brethren are embroiled in a battle. Permission to engage, over."
"She's right," another Black Templars Sword Brethren, that being Moa Kikuchi, or MOAMETAL, as she was known under her stage name, agreed with her sister-in-arms, "We can't let our fellow battle brothers and sisters be embroiled in a fight without us. We're going in!"
"Well, we can't just stand here and wait, sisters," another one of the Black Templars Sword Brethren, that being BABYMETAL's Yui Mizuno, known by her Stage Name YUIMETAL, spoke up as well, "We have to fight. Navigator, prepare to enter the warp."
"Acknowledged, Templars," Lord Admiral Spire responded as the Strike Cruiser entered the Warp, "May the emperor protect you. Stay safe out there."
After bidding the Idols farewell, Spire then absorbed the critical details, fully aware of the gravity of the situation in the Deimios Binary System as questions on where to perform erupted from the Voxcasters. The war against the forces of Chaos was intensifying minute by minute, and the Imperium's survival hung in the balance.
And that right there wraps up chapter six! Watch out for next time, in which the attack starts! Leave a review and a follow if you want to see more of this story. Thank you!