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. to 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 voice that was both husky and mellow declared.
The transmission in question hailed from a Courageous Tyrannis-Class Battleship of the Ultramarines Chapter, the Aquila's Honor. Its commander was none other than Ash Ketchum, a renowned Pokémon Trainer hailing from the ocean world of Talassar in Ultramar 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 revered 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 Chapter, Suzerain Invictarus Honor Guard. I'm 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."
"My reason for being here is the forces of the Word Bearers," Ash Ketchum then continued, "We've spotted several of their hosts operating in this sector, causing the damnation of many souls. We aim to bring them to account for their role in the Battle of Calth during the Horus Heresy and we cannot allow their betrayal to persist much more."
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.
A huge 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 ships coming from the Ultramarines' successor chapters, including the Force of Destiny, a Howling Griffons Battle Barge commanded by Captain Alavro, several Scythes of the Emperor and Novamarines Strike Cruisers, several Ultramarines Vanguard-Class Light Cruisers, and several escort squadrons of Nova-Class Frigates from the Genesis Chapter. 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 at the Leviathan that came through, "That warship is huge..."
Spire's voice faltered as he beheld the 11-kilometer behemoth of blue, white, and gold, dwarfing both the Imperial and the Emperor's Children warships. The insignia of the Ultramarines emblazoned upon its hull marked it as a symbol of hope amidst the chaos.
"This is the Force of Destiny, reporting in!" Captain Alavro's voice came through the Voxcaster, "This is Captain Alavro of the Howling Griffons, at your service."
"The strike cruisers of the Novamarines stand ready, Lord Admiral!" the voice of a Novamarine came through the voxcaster next, "Let's give them hell!"
"The Scythes of the Emperor are ready to engage!" another Space Marine called over the Vox, "Let's show them the might of Ultramar!"
"This is the Genesis Chapter, reporting in, Lord Admiral Spire," one of the Genesis Chapter Frigate Captains hailed Spire, "We stand united against Chaos."
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!" Ash Ketchum commanded the ship's crew, "Let them taste the wrath of Macragge and Ultramar!"
The Aquila's Honor and the combined fleet of Ultramarine successors then unleashed a devastating firestorm of artillery fire from their Macrocannons, Torpedo Tubes, and Lance artillery, with 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 their targets 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.
"This isn't over, Spire!" The Champion of Slaanesh taunted as his ship fled into the warp, "Your cowardly allies won't protect you forever! I look forward to our next engagement, Lord Admiral."
As the last remnants of the Emperor's Children Warband were consumed by the fire of the Aquila's Honor and the rest of the Ultramarines Fleet, 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, the Ultramarines, and their Fleet of Successor Chapters 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!