Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2: The Nihlus War: Part Ten
As Ash received the Astropathic Transmission from Commodore Kage about the Blood Ravens' arrival, he recognized the significance of this development. It was essential to prepare his forces and ensure the protection of their equipment. From his experience in the past as a Tactical Marine of the Ultramarines 3rd Company, the Blood Ravens had a reputation for acquiring relics and "requisitioning" equipment through mysterious means, sometimes leading to tensions with their fellow Imperial allies they were fighting alongside. Ash then addressed all Ultramarines, Black Templars, Imperial Fists, Celestial Lions, Raven Guard, and Blood Angels forces in the area through a Vox Transmission, emphasizing the need to safeguard their gear and equipment.
"Attention, all personnel." Ash Ketchum spoke into his Voxcaster, "This is Commander Ash Ketchum of the Ultramarines Suzerain Invictarus speaking. Be advised, the Blood Ravens have joined our cause, and their arrival is imminent. Please ensure that you watch over your equipment and have it with you at all times. We must be vigilant against any misplacements. Otherwise, if you don't, your equipment is going to be gone. Permanently."
"The Blood Ravens?" Ruby groaned when she heard Ash's Vox Message on her Voxcaster as she rested in one of the Shipyard's Barracks, "Those pickpockets?"
"I've heard of these guys, Ruby," Nora informed her fellow Blood Angel as she played with her Thunder Hammer, "Whenever they appear, somebody's stuff always goes missing. So we've gotta keep our heads on swivels."
Having issued the warning to his allies, Ash then turned his attention to the hololith that was placed inside his quarters. There, he awaited the incoming messages from the idol groups. For this, the Adeptus Administratum had arranged a unique system to distinguish between each group after they were formed, as each group was required to play a snippet of one of their songs to indicate their identity to any Imperial Warship. For example, if a song like Cinderella Girl was played, it would indicate to him that the idol group sending the transmission was King and Prince, who was part of the Imperial Navy in Battlefleet Bastion, or if a song like Heavy Rotation was played, it would indicate that AKB48, who he knew was serving with the Space Marines, was sending the transmission.
When the Voxcaster activated, the familiar tune of "Mic Drop" began to play from it, as it was a song associated with the idol group BTS, who had taken on the role of rogue traders for House Brahms. Ash knew this signal well and instructed a Vox Officer onboard the Aquila's Honor to establish contact. The Hololith then was activated by the Vox Officer, revealing the faces of Suga, RM, Jungkook, V, Jimin, J-Hope, and Jin, the members of BTS. Each of the members contributed to the conversation, offering valuable information to Ash as they approached the Mandeville Point of the system.
"We're ten minutes away from exiting the warp, Commander." Suga spoke calmly as he started putting on his concert Voxcaster, "Get ready, cause BTS is making its debut in the Cadian Sector."
"We've been discussing potential performance locations, Commander," RM spoke thoughtfully as he put on his concert Voxcaster, "And it seems that the Forge World down there is a perfect location."
"It's a vast sector, so there are numerous options," Jungkook spoke enthusiastically as he slipped on his costume, "Just tell us where to go, and we'll be there."
We're ready to bring some entertainment to this war-torn region," V smiled as he put on his concert Voxcaster, "Our fans are gonna love it!"
"We've got quite the setlist prepared," Jimin spoke in an optimistic voice, "Mic Drop, DNA, DOPE, FIRE, Black Swan, we're performing all our best hits for our fans!"
"Our fans are counting on us!" J-Hope spoke energetically, "We can't let them down!"
"Any suggestions, Commander?" Jin spoke charmingly. "We have our setlist, we're ready to go!"
Ash appreciated their readiness to provide entertainment amid conflict.
"Thank you, BTS. We look forward to your arrival and performance." Ash Ketchum spoke gratefully, "We need any contribution to the war effort, and Morale is essential."
As the Vox Transmission was terminated on the other side by the BTS members, the Defiant-Class Light Cruiser Sword of Howsbridge, now known as the White Tiger, emerged from the Warp, it found itself amid an active military staging zone, complete with heavily armed warships from the various Space Marine Chapters stationed there. This unexpected situation puzzled Marshal Gernhardt, who commanded the Black Templars Crusade Fleet stationed to guard the system. Gernhardt was a no-nonsense commander known for his zeal and seriousness, and he demanded an explanation through the ship's Voxcaster.
"Unknown Rogue Trader ship, this is Marshal Gernhardt of the Black Templars, please identify yourself!" Marshal Gernhardt demanded in an angry voice, "What in the Emperor's name is a Rogue Trader vessel in the middle of a military operation?"
The confusion was shared by many, as Rogue Traders weren't expected to be part of a military operation. However, as the White Tiger docked at the shipyard for repairs, it became evident that the crew responsible for the vessel's presence was none other than BTS. This realization prompted elation among many of the young female crew members of the Imperial Navy Warships, who proceeded to surround the docked rogue trader cruiser and started fangirling loudly over the K-pop sensations as Mechanicum servitors and Techpriests started to repair their damaged ship.
"Look, it's them!" a Crew Member excitedly shouted as the BTS members started to step down onto the floor of the Drydock, "Oh, my Emperor, it's them!"
"We love you, BTS!" a Crew Member shouted as she held up a sign.
"Can I get an autograph?" another crew member shouted.
"I knew this operation would be worth it!" yet another crew member squealed in joy. "I can't believe they're here!"
Amid the excitement, the crew members watched in awe as Suga, RM, Jungkook, V, Jimin, J-Hope, and Jin emerged from the White Tiger, which in turn, caused the Imperial Navy crew members to cheer even louder. Some of the crew members held up signs and glowsticks, expressing their joy at the unexpected appearance of the beloved idol group as Sergeant Rafen coordinated the Blood Angels breacher squads under his command and the recently-freed Arbites squads to form security barriers between the unruly fans and the idols.
Back on the Aquila's Honor, Ash Ketchum swiftly acted to coordinate BTS's arrival and performance. He sent a Vox Transmission to the members of BTS, instructing them to board a Black Templars Thunderhawk that would transport them to the recently cleared-out main plaza near the Spaceport of the Forge World. This plaza was deemed an excellent location for the concert, and preparations were underway.
"BTS, board the Thunderhawk that will take you to the main plaza near the Spaceport," Ash Ketchum spoke via Vox Transmission, "The Imperial Fists' Techmarines and servitors have already set up a stage for your performance. BABYMETAL is wrapping up their performance, so you'll be performing after them."
The announcement about the concert was then sent to the crews of the Imperial Navy warships, sharing the exciting news of BTS's arrival and the upcoming concert. The news proceeded to spread like wildfire among the crew members, and the Arvus Lighter pilots of the Righteous Protector and the Thunderhawk pilots of the Space Marine ships quickly found themselves swamped, ferrying the enthusiastic female crew members down to the surface. Some of the Arvus Lighter pilots grumbled about the unexpected task, suggesting that ferrying supplies and munitions might have been a more straightforward job.
"They better pay us extra for this, man," one of the Arvus Lighter Pilots grumbled, "Ferrying munitions is way less trouble than ferrying fangirls."
Meanwhile, onboard the Blade of Kiavahr, Nykona Sharrowkyn was taken aback when another Strike Cruiser, the Oathsworn, emerged beside it. What surprised him even more was the revelation that it was commanded by Garviel Loken, a legendary hero of the Imperium who had fought ten millennia ago during the age of the Horus Heresy. Loken was a former Captain of the Sons of Horus and a former member of the Mournival, who served as Horus Lupercal's inner circle of advisors. Now, he was a Blackshield who was currently serving in the Deathwatch, the Ordo Xenos' premier Alien Hunters.
"Nykona Sharrowkyn. It's been a long time." Gavriel Loken spoke, "I never expected to see you here. It has been quite a long time since we last fought against the traitors."
Gavriel Loken's old set of power armor, formerly pale green with black pauldrons, was now fully black. The Eye of Horus, which represented the XVI Legion, was also painted over, signifying his new allegiance. His entire left arm was painted silver, with the symbol of the Imperial Inquisition adorning it as a member of the Deathwatch.
"Loken?" Sharrowkyn spoke in a surprised voice, "Why are you a Blackshield now? What in the Emperor's name are you doing here?"
I've gathered as many of the Imperium-Aligned Blackshields as I could reach to assist in this conflict," Gavriel Loken spoke over the Vox Transmission, "We're not what we used to be. Besides, it's been a long time since I stepped onto the battlefield to lead from the front."
As they conversed, another Raven Guard ship, the Infernus-Class battleship Wicked Claw, entered the scene. Its commander was Nehat Nev, another familiar face from Nykona's past. Nehat was a former member of the Raven Guard and he now led the Ashen Claws Warband, a large chapter-sized force of Raven Guard Blackshields known for piracy. While being mostly similar to Sharrowkyn's, Nev's vambraces and pauldrons were colored red, with the symbol of the Ashen Claws, an ash-white circle ringed by jagged claws, adorning the left pauldron.
"Sharrowkyn, it's been far too long," Nehat Nev spoke through the voxcaster, "I knew you'd be here."
"Nehat, you sly devil," Sharrowkyn grinned, "I never thought I'd see you again in action."
Finally, a grand cruiser, the Blade of the Conqueror, arrived, commanded by Endryd Harr, a former member of the World Eaters who had become a Blackshield known as the Riven Hound. Even though Endryd Harr wasn't implanted with the Butcher's Nails which became commonplace among the World Eaters, he was just as bloodthirsty and fierce.
"Nykona Sharrowkyn, a name I thought I'd never hear again," Endryd grinned as the Blackshield fleet started to come together for their operation. "Just like old times?"
As the final remnants of the Chaos infestation were being purged by the Executioners of Ultramar, whose Techmarines were starting to salvage both ships and equipment from the remains of the Iron Warriors to grow their chapter's armory, and the Celestial Lions, who were on patrol duty with their fellow Imperial Fists successors, several new Imperial vessels then made their arrival in the system. The first of these vessels to arrive was the Fist of Medusa, an Iron Hands Battle Barge commanded by Tai Kamiya, his fellow DigiDestined, and their Digimon. Tai and his comrades, familiar with the Mechanicus and both factions' shared beliefs, greeted the followers of the Omnissiah in binary, showcasing the close alignment of their beliefs in merging flesh with machinery.
[["Greetings, fellow followers of the Machine God."]] Tai Kamiya spoke through the Noosphere in binary, [["We stand united in the Omnissiah's light."]]
Following the Iron Hands, the Goliath, a Retribution-Class Battleship of Battlefleet Gothic, arrived as its commander had been killed in action. In response, Lord Admiral Spire transferred his flagship role to the Goliath, with the Righteous Protector, his former flagship, now serving as the secondary command ship of his fleet. Subsequently, the Anvil of Ultramar, an Ultramarines Exorcist-Class Grand Cruiser, commanded by Korrina, the 4th Captain of the Suzerain Invictarus and former Gym Leader of Shalour City, arrived in the system. Finally, Serena's ship, the Battle Barge Warspite, also joined the assembly alongside the Herald of Guilliman, an Ultramarines Nova-Class Frigate commanded by Brock, who was Ash's other traveling companion in the Kanto Region and now the Standard Bearer of the Suzerain Invictarus.
"Ash, what's the situation?" Korrina questioned Ash, "Captain Tergu had informed me about what happened."
"I've been following the updates as they were given to me by Captain Alavro," Serena spoke inquisitively, "What's the next phase of this war?"
Ash immediately summoned Korrina, Brock, Gary, Misty, Iris, and Serena to the Strategium of the Aquila's Honor to brief them on the Blood Ravens' ongoing takeover of two unoccupied planetary systems that were both important to the Imperial War Effort, those being the Clausten System, which possessed a mining world with a small shipyard, and the Heliotas System, which possessed an Agri-World, both of which marked phase two of the Imperial Campaign.
"This is where the Blood Ravens' true objectives lie. We must be ready for the next phase of the war," Ash Ketchum spoke as they started strategizing, "Additionally, the Executioners of Ultramar are starting to build up their arsenal, and they need someone to teach them the ways of the Codex."
"I'll handle it," Erika spoke as she left the Strategium to board an Ultramarines Thunderhawk, "I'll teach them the ways of the Codex Astartes."
"Adding onto that, I have already established several rally points in both the Deimios Binary and the Belisar Planetary Systems for any incoming Imperial reinforcements," Ash informed his fellow honor guard members, "Additionally, Captain Loken has informed me that he has already established another rally point in the Xersia system, which according to reports, has been invaded by a substantial force of the Thousand Sons. The Thousand Sons are formidable given their use of psychic powers, but I think that he and the Blackshields under his command can pull through in that campaign."
And that right there wraps up chapter nine of the story! Leave a review and a follow if you want to see more of this story. Thank you!