Chapter 255 Dark Side

If you ask what facility is the most important in the current empire, the answer is undoubtedly the Astronomican.

As an oversized psychic beacon, only under its illumination can navigators identify directions in the chaotic subspace and guide ships to smoothly conduct interstellar navigation. Effective communication between colonies also depends on it.

Wherever the Astronomican shines, it is the territory of the empire.

This is also the limit of the empire's effective rule, and the status of the human galaxy overlord is established.

And those places where the Astronomican light cannot shine are called the Dark Outer Realm.

No one knows the details of the Outer Realm, and lost is a word that often appears there.

In addition, the journey is long and the benefits are limited.

Therefore, the Terran high-level officials are indifferent to the Dark Outer Realm. The threat from within the empire alone is enough to give them a headache.

But now that Cadia has fallen and the Great Rift has opened, the empire has been forced to split into two. The light of the Astronomican cannot shine on the dark side of the empire, making it a place similar to the Dark Outer Realm.

And with the crazy spread of the power of the warp, the number of mutants, psykers and various evil spirits has risen sharply, making the horror of the dark side of the empire even worse than the dark outer realm.

Abaddon is leading his 13th Black Crusade to stir up trouble in the dark side of the empire, trying to isolate Holy Terra by taking advantage of the Great Rift, while Guilliman is leading the Indomitable Expedition Fleet to kill in, vowing to overthrow all Chaos lackeys.

There are also many aliens such as greenskins, bugs, Eldar, Wotan Alliance and Necrons.

There is no need to think too much, the situation inside must be a mess.

The development of the Indomitable Crusade naturally requires a lot of supplies, and the cost of maintaining such a large fleet is undoubtedly an astronomical figure.

With the mess in the dark side of the empire, it is definitely not feasible to solve the supply problem on the spot, so people can only transport resources from the Holy Border of the Empire to the front line.

This is not an easy task.

The Great Rift is like a thrilling torrent, extending from the Eye of Terror in the northwest, through the center of the Milky Way, and extending to the southeast, completely across the two regions.

There are only a few corridors for ships to safely cross, like a suspension bridge built over a deep abyss.

The supply line is the lifeline of the army. Anyone with a little military knowledge knows this, and the enemy is naturally very clear about it.

So those corridors and nearby areas have become the focus of the rebels' attacks.

Although the Empire will send elite soldiers to protect these supply routes, various risks always exist.

At this moment, the Tauren Chapter Master Astroon Moloch is sitting in the center of his maze-like bridge, carefully assessing the situation in front of him.

He is tall and burly, wearing a set of ancient and sophisticated power armor, as if the Primarch is alive.

The black spear transformed from the weapons of the Imperial Guards stands not far to his right, and on the left is a storm shield with emblems.

This legendary chapter master has many secrets.

According to official records of the Empire, he has been in desperate situations eight times in the past five hundred years, but he is still active today.

This has led some people to believe that "Asterion Moloch" is actually just a title, and the person in the Terminator Armor has actually been replaced many times.

Based on this rumor, it has been further extended to the outrageous rumor that "each new generation of the Minotaur Chapter Master has been infused with the memories and personalities of the previous Chapter Masters using taboo methods, so he is so powerful and cannot die."

Putting aside the rumors that cannot be verified, the man named Astroion Moloch is indeed worthy of awe for his successful return after achieving impossible feats time and time again.

Matching the abnormal strength of the Chapter Master is the unrivaled combat power of the Minotaur Chapter.

The Chapter has abundant supplies, sufficient personnel, complete equipment, and is fully staffed all year round. It is definitely the elite among the elite.

It is rumored that the reason why the minotaurs were able to receive such preferential treatment is that they are the thugs specially raised by the High Lords of Terra, and are specially used to teach those disobedient Space Marines a lesson. The source of their gene seeds is highly confidential, and even the Inquisition has no way to find out.

However, after Guilliman's resurrection and the High Lords of Terra's Council experienced a period of political power changes, these minotaurs who know the times finally chose to swear allegiance to the Regent.

They are responsible for the task of escorting supplies this time.

The Minotaur Chapter has recovered from the battle with the Necrons and is now ready to join the Indomitus Crusade again.

Things related to war are always urgent, and Moloch must escort this batch of things to the Primarch as soon as possible.

The specific operation has become something he needs to decide carefully.

The northernmost passage close to the Eye of Terror, the Nak'mond Corridor, is too important. Many forces are gathering there at this moment to conduct a big operation. Even the head of the traitor, Chaos Warmaster Abaddon, is said to have personally descended on the Vigilance Planet.

It was obviously impassable for the time being.

There was a temporary passage in the east, which was slightly less stable. It was barely passable, but the location was too far away. Not only would it take time, but there were also many bad places along the way. There was no telling how many monsters and demons would be eyeing him, making it hard to guard against.

If he chose to go there, he would most likely be eaten up on the way.

In this way, Moloch seemed to have only one choice - to force his way through the big rift from the middle.

This is also the common choice made by many imperial troops who try to cross the Great Rift.

The waves of the warp are surging, but it is not completely impossible to cross. Those who are blessed by the Emperor with strong wills will be able to overcome any difficulties and obstacles.

Although doing so may result in the loss of many supply ships, who can guarantee 100% in the current situation?

"The entire fleet is ready, Lord Astroon Moloch, just waiting for your order."

The adjutant on the side reported the situation to the commander of the regiment.

Hundreds of imperial warships of various shapes are suspended in the deep and dark space, and what is blocking them is a psychic wave like a wall.

The strange energy pouring out of the rift is constantly infecting the material world. It looks colorful, chaotic and disorderly, like countless evil tentacles, trying to drag them into the endless hell.

But the minotaur is fearless.

After precise calculations, they locked onto a place with relatively calm subspace waves as a crossing point. The area nearby had been cleared by the Indomitable Expedition Fleet, so the probability of being attacked was low.

If they decisively took out 20% of the ships as consumables and placed them on the side to withstand the subspace energy flow when crossing the river, then the remaining 80% of the troops would have a great chance of passing through the rift safely.

For the upcoming sacrifice, Moloch just nodded slightly: "Go in."

Then, one after another, the imperial warships opened the Geller stance.

They didn't even need to start the subspace engine, but slowly activated the conventional power system, and the warships entered the Supreme Heaven from the rift in front of them according to the predetermined array.

As soon as they entered the Great Rift, the Minotaur flagship "Daedalus Holder" trembled violently due to the impact of the psychic wave.

Strange sounds began to sound from the ears, and lost demons immediately appeared everywhere on the ship.

The crew would disappear strangely, and they were still in the corridor in the last second, and came to the warehouse in the next second.

The bizarre light and dark of the subspace constantly challenged people's normal cognition.

But these are not problems.

The ship's communication channel played hymns praising the Emperor, calming the crew's minds.

The soldiers ignored those tempting voices, patrolled the cabin repeatedly, and quickly cleared out the invaders.

As long as they could get through the rift before the Geller Field was overloaded, they would be safe.

However, at the same time, on the other side of the Great Rift, the traitors who defected to Chaos had already taken their positions.

They learned about the movement of the supply troops in advance and coveted the rich supplies of the Indomitable Expedition.

They were determined to get the birthday gift that the Minotaur bet on.