Chapter 423 Black and Red, the Plan in the Shadows (IX) The Situation Out of Control
Throughout history, threats that could endanger the rule of an empire rarely came from outside, but mostly came from internal disputes and hatred.
The Gian Moro sector, or according to its native language pronunciation, should be called "Jan Moro". The first half of the affix "Zhan" means cleaning and understanding, while the second half of the etymology originates from the local area. The myth means obstacles or disturbances.
This star region is no different from other star regions in the empire. The underdeveloped industry and fairly good agriculture make it self-sufficient. Although the tithe tax for the empire has not been delayed, it has only just been paid.
James Morrow, understand the true meaning of confusion, or clear the obstacles in your heart.
Just like the name of this sector, the two forces currently standing in the center of the sector obviously regard each other as an obstacle, and both regard each other as evil spirits that disturb their hearts.
Galvin and his fleet traveled across the vast distances of space, finally arriving at the outskirts of the Gian Morro sector a week later. Although he and his knights have traveled day and night, the disputes here obviously have no intention of waiting for his adjustment.
The Astropath smelled the smell of war from the fiercely intertwined communications in the subspace. Countless orders carried bloody omens, making his soul always wander on the edge of crumbling.
This is by no means a good sign, it means that the conflict between Fenris and the Inquisition has intensified, and apparently no one here can stop the fight from happening.
Inquisitor Lisetta is exercising the power granted to her by the Emperor, constantly issuing ominous orders to the surrounding star regions and even beyond.
Within two months, at least several passing Astartes companies had been conscripted here, and under her orders in the name of the Emperor, joined in the confrontation with Ballog.
This inquisitor, born in a desolate world with the same harsh natural environment as Fenris, with a matriarchal social background, is like a provocative she-wolf, showing her white sharp teeth to Fenris' stubbornness.
The Space Wolves, who had long been prejudiced against the Inquisition, refused to give in. With the addition of a company and battleships from the direction of Fenris, the smell of gunpowder and blood in the confrontation between fleets at the edge of the Barlogo 9 galaxy above the Gian Moro sector was strong enough, and only the last step was left. A little bit of "accidental or deliberate" Mars.
The place where Calvin's fleet was originally scheduled to jump out was in the homeland of James Moron, but it was obviously no longer suitable.
The original body's concern about the center of the dispute gave him no choice. The fleet could only slightly deflect with the help of the navigator and head directly towards the center of the storm.
"Order of the Hammer?"
On the edge of the Palpatine galaxy adjacent to Ballog, Lisetta's voice was raised high on the black ship of the Inquisition.
The black-and-gold armor in her hand was tightly holding the notice from Calvin's fleet, and the baroque-style feedback power armor on her body was screaming high-pitched, showing the angry mood of its owner at this time. .
She first looked at the communication report in her hand again in disbelief, then took a few steps quickly amidst the sound of the armor hitting the ground, and then turned angrily to look at her subordinates:
"Who? Who dares to report to Terra beyond me?"
No one dared to respond to her questioning, just as no one could question her authority.
Under the high platform, all the inquisitors, regardless of the faction or order they came from, lowered their heads before they came into contact with her sharp eyes.
The Astartes lined up on both sides were wearing various armors, representing the battle groups and companies behind them.
These Emperor's Angels are like solemn, majestic statues, and have no interest in understanding the disputes within the Inquisition.
"Call back!" Lisetta looked at the clerical nun behind her, who heard the sound and took out a seal, paper and pen from her waist.
"According to the established regulations, I have been authorized to handle matters here with full authority. Our ministry has received sufficient support and does not need more force to join."
After saying the last word of this sentence, Lisetta looked at the position of the emperor's angels. At the end of the group of giants, there was a special being without any color paint, only wearing the original color of steel. .
The clerical nun brought the written order to the inquisitor for sealing, and then quietly left for the Astropath deck of the battleship.
The Inquisitor turned his head to look at all the Astartes, Astra Militarum, and Imperial Navy representatives, and then gave them the final order:
"Then the Emperor's warriors, please issue them an ultimatum according to our established plan!
The majesty of the empire cannot be challenged!
The restrictions imposed on them by the Codex Astartes cannot be overstepped!
Within three hours, I want to see them retract their outrageous behavior of interfering in imperial government affairs!
Otherwise, let them bear the Emperor's wrath for their hubris. "
"Yes." Everyone responded in unison, and then walked towards their respective battleships with Lisetta's order.
After everyone left, the judge looked at the quiet conference hall and the arbiter who was still there, and after taking a deep breath, he asked the latter:
"Alvin, my friend."
"Speak." The Gray Knight Arbiter's helmet paused slightly, and then uttered a short word.
He doesn't need to sense the other person's thinking, because the intense emotions themselves are releasing information all the time.
He even knew that every time Lisetta used the word "my friend," it meant that this woman with a flamboyant and wild personality was going to ask him some embarrassing questions again.
"How much do you know about the name 'Calvin'?"
Lisetta took off her helmet and walked to sit across from Alvin. Just as she had fought side by side for a hundred years before, this inquisitor, who had gradually grown from a girl to a lady in Alvin's eyes, was once again testing His bottom line.
"I don't understand." Alvin refused the inquisitor's temptation, and this was just one of the countless invisible confrontations between him and her.
He does not know much about Calvin's identity, as he has never returned to Titan since he and his team were authorized to follow the man a hundred years ago.
He may know some information about Calvin, but that's only a little bit of knowledge he had through a few words when he accidentally met other teams during this special "long-term" mission.
He is special, because even among the Gray Knights in the Chapter era, it is rare for a team to stay with an Inquisitor for a long time.
He is also lonely, because after receiving this special order, he will never have the opportunity to return to Titan, thus forming a certain kind of de facto isolation from his own battle group.
"Really?" The lady had a sly smile in her eyes, but the Gray Knight did not respond.
Neither of them used their psychic powers to peer into each other's thoughts, even though it was as easy as instinct for both of them, just as they would never force each other to swear an oath in the name of the Emperor when questioning each other.
This is a tacit understanding and the bottom line.
"Well, to be honest, I don't agree with the changes in the Holy Hammer Order."
Lisetta's tone became formal again, as if the temptation just now had never existed, and she began to discuss some facts that both of them knew.
When around familiar people, her tone of voice always jumps between formal and casual, just like her mood, which is always fluctuating.
But this conversation obviously meant something. Alvin knew that she was talking about the changes that the Holy Hammer Order had made within the Tribunal, and the increasingly independent behavior of the Holy Hammer Order after the changes.
And this sentence can be further extended, that is, she does not welcome an ally from the Holy Hammer Order to join at this time.
Because this will not only dilute her power, but also take the initiative of this incident away from her.
More importantly, this meeting will undoubtedly allow Alvin to meet with the senior leaders of the Holy Hammer Order again, and if the other party is interested, then this meeting will also remove Alvin and his team from Lisetta's side. take away.
This is unacceptable to her.
Either way is unacceptable.
"I, and we, only obey orders." Alvin looked at Lisetta and said in a cold tone after a long few seconds of silence between the two.
This is the way he has always behaved.
From the day he was wiped out of all memories and became a Gray Knight, his tone of voice only had this warmth. And this is the limit of what he can do, because apart from his own mission, his entire brain will no longer allow any mortal emotions to exist.
"Understood." Lisetta's tone became lukewarm. She stood up and put on her helmet, which was made of adamantine and ceramic steel, to end the conversation.
Alvin watched indifferently as she changed from "Lisetta" to "Judge" again, and then watched her walk decisively towards the antechamber of the battleship - the bridge.
The conversation ended there, and he prepared to return to his brothers. And just when he was about to leave, the figure that was about to disappear from his sight left another sentence:
"The Tribunal's fleet will arrive in 18 hours, and I will end the farce here in these 18 hours."
——
"How long?" In the orbit outside the Ballog galaxy, the strike cruiser "Frost Shadow" belonging to the Sea Wolf Dalian Company was quietly lurking among the asteroids on the flanks of the galaxy.
Wolfman Siren's Howl, the wolf master of the Sea Wolf Dalian Company, was standing motionless in front of the holographic projection.
This is already the 60th hour that he has been standing here without sleep. In order to attack possible invading enemies from the flank at any time, he and his 1,500 Sons of Mokai are ready to go.
"It won't be too far away. The storm will bring the first wind of the tide." Rune Priest Jagoru Stormrage stood behind him, his beard hanging down to the chest plate and the drooping eyebrows on his face connected together. , making people unable to see his specific appearance.
"Where are the people from Gian Morro's fleet? Where are they?" Hoffman asked his assistant in a low voice. The long and narrow canine teeth were exposed at the corners of his mouth. Even though he had lowered his voice, his words still resonated with the mortals. It still sounded like an angry cry in my ears.
"We have been evacuated towards Fenris, but Lord Wolf, we cannot fight against the Empire after all. The Tribunal..."
"Don't think about them!" Hoffman roared, interrupting the Rune Priest's words. He turned around and approached the latter with his burly body that almost overflowed the armor, and looked down into the eyes of the Rune Priest:
"Don't you know what they think? No matter what we do, there will always be this battle!"
"All Father and Russ..." Looking at Hoffman's angrily leaving figure, Rune Priest Jagoru recited the holy names of the Emperor and the Primarch in a low voice.
He didn't know the conspiracy after this battle, but with Russ on top, they had retreated and endured for long enough.
This time, they will not retreat again. Fenris is behind them and they have no way to retreat...
"How long?" The same voice sounded from the other side of Zhan Moruo.
In the warp far away at the other end of the star zone, on the flagship of the Grey Knights Fleet, the Relentless Crusade.
At the front desk of the bridge, Tibers looked at the lighted instrument beside him and picked up the communicator to ask the direction of the navigator deck. There was no immediate feedback from the other party's channel, but the sound of intelligence summary could be heard through the communicator.
Galvin stood in front of the holographic projector not far behind him and had not spoken for several hours. The impending armed conflict between Fenris and the Inquisition had already made the Primarch fully focused and thinking about possible response plans in various situations.
"17 hours." The voice of the navigator deck sounded in Tibers' ears. He lowered his head to look at the information on the display screen, and while pushing the information to the holographic projector, he interrupted his high attention to the Primarch.
"Where is Palpatine's reply? Has it arrived?" A low voice came from Galvin's back, and the crew on the deck below the command desk immediately confirmed with the astropath deck, and then shook his head silently at Tibers above.
"No news for now." Tibers confirmed to the Primarch, who had walked to his side without knowing when.
"No response? Or unwilling to respond?" Calvin looked at the instrument in front of him, and his voice had penetrated Tibers' heart.
"Not sure..." Tibers said something he didn't believe, but the fleet had already sent Calvin's identity and his opinion to Palpatine.
If Grand Inquisitor Lisetta cared a little, she shouldn't have responded in silence now.
"Prepare for the worst." Calvin's voice sounded again, and the storm that was brewing in his will had already radiated outward along his psychic fluctuations without concealment.
Facing the Primarch's determination and will, Tibers also understood that the situation was irreversible.
"I will make the most comprehensive preparations." Tibers assured the Primarch, and the Primarch was ready to go to the preparation hall on the lower level to start the final mobilization before the battle.
"I remember, we have a team there?"
Galvin, who had already walked out of the bridge door, suddenly said, while Tibers searched quickly in his brain and finally locked on the team that had been out of Titan's sight for a century.
"It's Alvin's team, they belong to the Seventh Company." Tibers said, and he was also searching for the information of these Grey Knight veterans from the Chapter era.
"Give me their information." Galvin said, and then left a final instruction to Tibers before leaving:
"If necessary, order them in the name of Titan to open the transmission channel for us!"
Update.