Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2: The Nihlus War - Part Four:
As the loyalist warships, including the Righteous Protector, exited the warp over the planet of Belisar, a Hive World that had been isolated due to the Great Rift cutting off contact with the Astronomicon, Magos Crawn, the Head Tech-priest of the Righteous Protector, then reported a Vox communication incoming from Lord High Admiral Drang.
"Receiving communication from the Vox relay, Lord Admiral," Magos Crawn intoned mechanically, "It is Lord High Admiral Drang, my lord."
The news brought a mixture of shock and relief to the crew, especially to Commodore Kage, who had feared the worst for their commander and their Battlefleet Admiral.
"So the old man's still alive?" Commodore Kage was intrigued when he heard the news from Magos Crawn, "I told you he was too tough to kill."
Admiral Drang's holographic image then flickered into existence on the bridge of the Righteous Protector, his presence as Lord High Admiral of Segmentum Obscurus commanded respect from his peers and those underneath him, including Lord Admrial Spire.
"Lord Admiral Spire," Lord High Admiral Drang spoke with an authoritative voice, "I trust that you stand ready for orders?"
Lord Admiral Spire nodded with determination in anticipation to accept the task.
"I am ready, Lord High Admiral," Spire responded with readiness in his voice.
Drang wasted no time, issuing Spire a crucial task to him.
"Good," Lord High Admiral Drang responded firmly, "Strategically and symbolically, the Cadian Sector is vital to our efforts. Lord Admiral Spire, your mission is to retake and reclaim the sector itself, Admiral. The Imperium's survival depends on it. The Emperor Protects."
Spire them acknowledged the gravity of his orders.
"Understood, Lord High Admiral," Lord Admiral Spire responded resolutely, "We will reclaim the sector. The Emperor Protects."
Drang's attention then shifted to the other five Imperial warships that had joined Spire's fleet. He requested their commanders' identification.
"Identify yourselves, Commanders of the accompanying vessels," Lord High Admiral Drang inquired, "Who are you?"
In turn, Fabricator-Locum Cambrius of the Imperious Draconis, Enginseer Megane of the Canticle of Fire, Captain Gideon Reinhardt of the Vae Victus, Captain Alavaro of the Force of Destiny, and Ash Ketchum of the Aquila's Honor provided their names and titles.
"Fabricator-Locum Cambrius," Cambrius spoke, "Forge World of Mars."
"Enginseer Megane," Megane introduced herself after him, "Forge World of Svarog."
"Captain Gideon Reinhardt," Captain Reinhardt spoke after Megane, "Battlefleet Solar."
"Captain Alavaro of the Howling Griffons," Captain Alavaro spoke next, "Scion of Roboute Guilliman."
"Ash Ketchum, Commander of the Ultramarines Suzerain Invictarus," Ash introduced himself last, "Proud son of Ultramar and scion of Roboute Guilliman."
With the introductions complete, Lord High Admiral Drang signed off, leaving Spire and his fellow commanders to prepare for the challenges ahead.
"May the Emperor watch over us all." Lord High Admiral Drang signed off as his hololith projection flickered out, "Stay safe out there, commanders. The Emperor protects."
After the Vox Relay transmission from Lord High Admiral Drang had been terminated, Ash Ketchum then sent a Vox Transmission to Lord Admiral Spire.
"Lord Admiral Spire, meet me in the Strategium of the Aquila's Honor," Ash Ketchum spoke in the transmission, "That's where we'll plan the first moves of the Nihlus War."
As an Ultramarines Thunderhawk transporting Lord Admiral Spire descended into the hangar bay of the Aquila's Honor, the Vox Crew of the Righteous Protector then received yet another Imperial transmission, this time from an Avenger-Class Grand Cruiser of the Blood Angels Legion known as the Angel's Ascendancy, commanded by Captain Julius Octavian of the Blood Angels Legion's 115th Assault Company.
"This is Captain Julius Octavian of the Blood Angels, reporting from the Angel's Ascendancy," Captain Octavian signaled from the bridge of the Grand Cruiser, "The sons and daughters of Sanguinius stand ready for battle, Lord Admiral. But I'm not the only one from my Legion that is coming here."
Suddenly, two other Blood Angels ships, the Strike Cruiser known as the Sanguine Blade and the Hunter-Class Destroyer that was known as the Blood of the Ninth Son, appeared out of the warp and followed behind Captain Octavian's ship, and both of them were commanded, with one being commanded another Blood Angels Captain, that being Captain Alicia Alucard of the Blood Angels 101st Veteran Company and the other being commanded by Sergeant Rafen of the Blood Angels, respectively.
"This is Captain Alicia Alucard of the Sanguine Blade, reporting in." Alicia's voice came through, "Let's bring the fight to the enemy."
"This Sergeant Rafen of the Blood of the Ninth Son, ready for duty," Rafen's voice came through next, "Reinforcements have arrived to assist in this war, over."
But the Blood Angels were not alone in coming in to fight, for another Astartes warship, the gold and azure battle barge Saharanor, emerged from the warp. It was commanded by Warchief Muteba Asala of the Celestial Lions Chapter, one of the many stalwart Space Marine chapters that were descended from the Imperial Fists Legion.
"Lord Admiral Spire," Muteba spoke in a determined voice, "We have arrived. Our brother chapter in the Black Templars has decided to send a Crusade Fleet to aid in the war effort. We stand ready to purge the heretics."
With reinforcements from the Blood Angels, the Celestial Lions, and now the Black Templars, it was a sign that Lord Admiral Spire and his allies were starting to assemble a formidable force of the Imperium's deadliest champions and its fiercest warriors, as back in the heavily-guarded Strategium of the Aquila's Honor, Lord Admiral Spire and Ash Ketchum were in the middle of holding a crucial discussion about their first target in the Nihlus War—the heavily-defended Deimios Binary System, which was home to both a Mechanicus Forge World and a small shipyard, both of which were crucial to the fledgling Imperial War Effort in the Nihlus War.
"The Deimios Binary System is our first objective in this war," Lord Admiral Spire spoke as he went over the map of the system that was projected by the Hololith, "We must seize it to secure vital resources and shipyards. If those are in our possession, our ships may be able to make substantial repairs."
"Agreed, Lord Admiral," Ash nodded in agreement, understanding the strategic importance of their choice. "We'll make the initial strike of the war there."
However, Spire's voice took on a somber tone as he revealed his Warship's condition.
"My ship, the Righteous Protector, is too damaged to participate in the upcoming battle," Lord Admiral Spire spoke in a concerned voice, "I'll remain in the Belisar System for repairs while you fight against the defenders there. Stay safe out there, Commander, the Emperor protects."
With the arrival of the Blood Angels and the Celestial Lions, it became clear that they would spearhead the first strike and the first battle of the Nihlus War, alongside the Ultramarines.
As Spire departed aboard an Ultramarines Thunderhawk back to the Righteous Protector, Ash turned his attention to his duties as commander of the Aquila's Honor and the Ultramarines' vaunted Honor Guard. He ordered the Astropath choir of the Aquila's Honor to send out another astropathic hymnal, which was a call for Imperial reinforcements, and then instructed the chief Vox Officer to transmit a coded Vox Transmission—a signal for the rest of the Suzerain Invictarus to gather with their commander.
"It's time for the Suzerain Invictarus to form up with me," Ash Ketchum spoke before he sent the coded transmission to any Ultramarines and their fellow Successor Chapters that were in the vicinity of the Ultramarines' fleet, saying the code words, "Sons of Guilliman, march for Maccrage."
Another Vox Officer who was on the ship was tasked with sending a transmission to any Ultramarines ships in the vicinity, rallying them to join forces with the Ultramarines fleet. Ash also directed the Angel's Ascendancy, the Sanguine Blade, the Blood of the Ninth Son, and the Saharanor to be informed about the attack plan he had been formulating.
As the Vox Officer began to send out the transmissions, Ash took a moment to look at a Data-slate that displayed the schedule of various Idol Groups that were touring the area when the Great Rift had occurred, cutting them off from the rest of the galaxy. As he analyzed each group, he saw them as a potential way to boost morale among the crews of the warships.
"Send a Vox Transmission to them," Ash ordered another one of the Aquila's Honor's Vox Officers, "Tell them that all their touring schedules have been rerouted through to the Belisar System. Information on where to perform will be provided for them once they've arrived."
Before he could delve further into his plans to contribute to the war effort, Erika, a Suzerain Invictarus Space Marine Lieutenant and the former Pokémon Gym Leader of Celadon City, interrupted him.
"Commander Ketchum," Lieutenant Erika spoke in a respectful voice, "we're receiving signals from the other Ultramarines ships. The sons and daughters of Maccrage are now responding to your rallying fanfare."
"Understood," Ash responded, "I will get them into formation once we've gotten the attack plan set up."
Ash, determined to maintain a focused approach, instructed her to put the signals through on a private Ultramarines-only channel. He wanted to hear the voices of his fellow battle brothers and sisters in the Ultramarines as he made his way to the Aquila's Honor's Strategium to brief the commanders of the two chapters on the upcoming battle and the role each ship would play in reclaiming the Deimios Binary System. The war in the Nihlus sector had begun, and unity among the Imperial forces was essential and paramount if the Imperium had any chance for victory.
And that right there, is chapter four COMPLETE! Watch out for next time, in which the attack is planned even further! Leave a review and a follow if you want to see more of this story. Thank you!