The channel went quiet for two seconds.
Then [Two-Faced Turtle] replied:
"Alive, but feeling like I'm about to die."
"This feeling of potentially becoming space trash at any second really sucks."
[I am the Living Dragon]: "Right! With this density of fire, I feel like our transport is going to turn into a giant oven at any second."
[Metal Garurumon Beast Girl]: "If it blows, it blows. It's not like we haven't died before."
"The issue is we have to stay alive long enough to actually reach that flagship, or how else do we complete the quest?"
[Defending the Imperium is My Sacred Duty] took a deep breath, trying hard to force himself to calm down.
He spoke slowly into the channel:
"Don't panic. The trouble we're running into right now is nothing compared to what the Imperial Astartes dealt with in the original lore."
"Think about it. If we didn't have the Iron Hands fleet laying down suppressing fire..."
"If we didn't have Ferrus's pinpoint command, we would have been chewed into Swiss cheese by the Diasporex's anti-air batteries by now."
"So, hold steady. We can win this."
The channel went quiet for a second.
[I am the Living Dragon]: "Liam is right. Hold steady, we can win this."
[Metal Garurumon Beast Girl]: "Hold steady +1"
[Defending the Imperium is My Sacred Duty] looked at the replies, just about to say something else.
But the very next second, his face completely froze.
Because right outside the viewport, the fiery-red Firebird was being focus-fired by three Diasporex warships.
The muzzles of all those warships were tracked directly onto the Firebird, unleashing a torrential downpour of laser beams and crystal artillery.
The Firebird dodged frantically through the web of fire, but the enemy barrage was far too dense; there was simply no way it could evade every shot.
[Defending the Imperium is My Sacred Duty]'s heart skipped a heavy beat.
Fulgrim was on that gunship.
The Primarch of the Emperor's Children.
The absolute key to their quest's success.
If the Firebird got shot down...
He didn't dare think about what would happen next.
--
Fist of Iron, the Bridge.
Ferrus's pupils violently contracted.
His gaze ripped through the holographic star map, locking onto the three Diasporex warships pouring fire into the Firebird.
Those warships had held back a massive reserve of their offensive capability right from the start. This sudden focused barrage was fast, sharp, and left zero time to react.
Ferrus's brain kicked into maximum overdrive in an instant.
Two seconds.
Just two seconds.
His eyes swept over the star map and landed on the battle barge closest to the Firebird.
The Ferrum.
It was the main battle barge of the 52nd Expeditionary Fleet.
It was one of the very few battle barges possessed by the Iron Hands Legion. Its combat capability was legendary, and its void shields were robust enough to shrug off a direct hit from a cruiser's main battery.
If it could just get in front of the Firebird...
Ferrus didn't hesitate.
He snatched up the vox-caster, his voice ice-cold and decisive: "Ferrum!"
The response from the other end was nearly instantaneous.
"Captain Kaster Roman of the Ferrum standing by. Orders, Lord Ferrus?"
The voice was steady and resolute, carrying that cold, hard edge unique to the warriors of the Iron Hands.
Ferrus's voice echoed across the bridge: "Push engines to maximum overdrive! Intercept position in front of the Firebird immediately!"
"Flare void shields and block the enemy's attack!"
"Cover the Firebird until it successfully initiates its boarding action!"
Then, Kaster Roman's voice rang out again. No hesitation, no questions asked.
"By your command, Lord Ferrus!"
The channel closed.
Ferrus looked up, staring out the armaglass viewport into the void tearing itself apart with artillery fire.
That massive silver-grey battle barge was suddenly surging toward the Firebird at a speed completely disproportionate to its colossal bulk.
Its prow angled slightly upward as the void shield generators spun up to maximum output, flaring a pale blue energy barrier across the ship's bow.
Ferrus's living metal hands slowly clenched into fists.
He knew this maneuver meant the Ferrum was going to pay a horrific price, perhaps even face total destruction.
But he had no other choice.
Fulgrim was his brother.
He couldn't let his brother die out here.
--
The Ferrum, the Bridge.
Kaster Roman stood before the command dais, hands clasped behind his back, his eyes glued to the rapidly approaching storm of fire outside the viewport.
Behind him, the bridge crew was frantically hammering away at their control consoles.
"Engines running beyond maximum load! Output at 120%!"
"Void shield generators at maximum capacity!"
"Energy reserves dropping rapidly!"
"Enemy fire is focusing on us!"
"Shield integrity down to 37%!"
"19%! 11%! 5%! Shields nearing overload—"
Kaster Roman's pupils shrank slightly.
The next second, a blinding white light exploded outside the viewport.
It was the catastrophic energy discharge of the void shields overloading.
Immediately after, countless laser beams and crystal artillery rounds slammed directly into the Ferrum's hull.
Armor plating shattered, internal structures were laid bare, and millions of fragments blasted out into the vacuum.
The bridge shook violently as deafening alarms wailed.
"Critical damage to the hull! Armor in Sectors C, D, and E completely compromised!"
"Internal atmosphere venting! Thirty-two compartments have lost pressure!"
"Main engine output has dropped by 40%! Maneuverability restricted!"
"Captain! We are losing control!"
Kaster Roman listened to the damage reports, his expression completely blank.
He just kept looking out the viewport.
Looking as that fiery-red Firebird slipped through the deadly web of fire entirely unharmed, shielded by the broken bulk of the Ferrum.
Looking as it slowly drifted closer to the colossal Tears of the Diasporex.
Looking as it disappeared into the boarding breach of the Tears of the Diasporex.
Then, the corners of his mouth tilted up just slightly.
It was an incredibly faint smile.
"Success," he said softly.
Then, he turned around to face his crew, who were frantically scrambling for damage control.
"Order all damage control teams to prioritize emergency repairs."
"Inform Lord Ferrus that the Ferrum... can still fight."
"For the Gorgon and Medusa."
Every member of the Ferrum's crew repeated those words silently in their hearts.
--
Inside the Firebird.
Fulgrim stood before the viewport, watching the Ferrum spiraling out of control.
Watching the blazing gashes torn into the battle barge, the debris drifting aimlessly into the vacuum, the tiny silhouettes struggling uselessly within.
Deep in his pupils, that sickly pinkish-purple light violently flared.
"No..." His voice was hoarse, thick with fury.
"This is not perfect!!"
His right hand violently clamped down on the Blade of Laer resting at his hip. The curved blade violently trembled in its scabbard, as if answering his rage.
"These damned xenos!!"
His gaze pierced the viewport, locking onto the colossal Tears of the Diasporex. Within those violet eyes burned a murderous intent that bordered on absolute madness.
"They must be utterly purged!!"
"I will slaughter..."
"Every last one of them!!"
He spun on his heel and strode toward the assault ramp.
His purple cape snapped viciously behind him, his long white hair whipping wildly in the draft.
Behind him, Eidolon, Julius Kaesoron, Lucius, Saul Tarvitz, and the rest of the Emperor's Children high command followed in lockstep.
The moment the assault ramp dropped, the distinct atmosphere of an xenos vessel hit them.
It was cold, foreign, carrying a faint tang of crystal dust.
Fulgrim stood at the threshold of the ramp, staring down the dark, yawning corridor leading into the Tears of the Diasporex.
His right hand slowly drew the Blade of Laer.
The pinkish-purple glow washed over the blade, illuminating his impossibly perfect face.
"I will purge every single one of you," his voice was low, cold as ice.
"To repay the sacrifice of my dearest brother, Ferrus."
"Ferrus was willing to sacrifice a battle barge for me, so I shall return him a perfect victory."
"I will ensure the Imperium grants the 52nd Expeditionary Fleet a brand-new battle barge."
"Emperor's Children, hear my command. Slaughter every xenos and every enemy you encounter."
"No mercy."
"For the Imperium and for Perfection."
"Kill!!"
The instant the word left his lips, he was the first to charge.
The purple blur shot like a bolt of lightning straight into the bowels of the Tears of the Diasporex.
Behind Fulgrim, the warriors of the Emperor's Children unleashed a deafening war cry, surging in after their Primarch.
Further out in the void, dozens of silver-grey Thunderhawks and assault transports, along with an endless stream of gunships and transports from the Pride of the Emperor, were rapidly closing in on the Tears of the Diasporex.
Inside were the First and Fourth Companies of the Iron Hands, led by Gabriel Santar.
There were hundreds of Imperial faction players led by [Defending the Imperium is My Sacred Duty].
And there were the massive hordes of Chaos players led by Lucius.
Three different forces were about to flood into this ancient xenos flagship at the exact same moment.
The boarding action between the Imperial Fleet and the Diasporex...
Was about to begin.