Warhammer: Black Emperor

Chapter 872 I saved the lives of over six thousand Terran Raven Guardians

The Soul of Vengeance, Primarch Office.

Yellowed vow papers filled the storage cabinets along the wall, with worn-out books standing in the middle.

On the old, faded surface of the massive wooden desk were rows of combat orders awaiting signature.

The war commander wore a pure white, gleaming suit of armor, edged with gold foil, and his shoulder armor was covered with brass engravings.

After listening to his attendant Marrogst's report, he said, "You mean that the Raven Guards only lost 2,940 men before they captured the 42nd Stargate?"

“That’s right, this number is six thousand fewer than the most optimistic estimate,” said the Twisted One, Marrogst.

Horus got up, walked to the bedside, drew back the velvet curtains, and looked out into the drawing room.

He stood with his hands behind his back, asking, "Have you analyzed the reasons?"

"The 10th Warband of 'Shadow of Order' deployed almost all of its Terminators and broke through a key defensive point of the defending forces."

"This is completely unexpected. I didn't expect Nimrod and Ramsey to send their elite troops."

Horus did not blame the Twisted One, nor did he expect Nimrod to go to such lengths to help him. He spoke with certainty about Kolac, with whom he was not particularly close.

"The Shadow of Order only has four thousand people, and their casualties are not low."

"Yes, they lost 1,025 men and 216 Terminators."

“It’s less than I calculated,” Horus remarked. “The power of the Shadow of Order is greater than I anticipated.”

“The Terminators of the Tenth Chapter are all powerful psionicists, just as powerful as the First Company Commander’s Gastalin Terminators,” Marrogster said.

“Aizekel will not agree,” the War General said with a smile.

He turned around, his eyes shining.

"A warrior's unwavering will is a more powerful weapon than psionic energy."

“Of course, your will is unmatched.” Marrogster looked at the war commander with reverence.

"Issue the order: 'Shadow of Order' shall immediately launch a full-scale attack on Merseyside."

Horus suddenly recalled a scene from Druun, where Nimrod killed the multi-tentacle monster before he and Mortarion.

He emphasized, "All 592 target nodes."

"As you command." Marrogster turned and left, relaying the warlord's orders.

Horus glanced at the clock on the wall; the time he had agreed upon with Saint Gilles had arrived.

He strode out of the office and headed towards the reception room.

Horus pushed open the door, a smile on his face.

"My brother, you've kept me waiting."

"War General," Saint Gilles said in a distant tone.

Horus frowned as he watched Saint Gilles bow mockingly.

“Saint-Gilles, we are brothers, do not call me a war commander.”

If you have any objections to what I've done, feel free to say so.

"Don't force me to strip you of your wings." His serious tone turned into a light laugh.

“Without them, I would only become as handsome as you,” Saint Gilles said with a smile, looking at Horus’s bald head.

After easing the tension with a joke, Saint Gilles spoke seriously to Horus.

“I understand you want to establish authority, but you can’t continue like this.”

Seeing that Horus remained silent, he continued his admonition.

"There's a better way. Do you remember your father's advice?"

Horus rubbed his left little finger. "You mean 'Son of Horus'?"

He shook his head. "It would be too ostentatious to name the entire legion after myself."

“Lyan believes he should be the War Master, and also…”

Saint Gilles leaned close to Horus. "You said I was the embodiment of your conscience, and you also said I was your advisor." "Then listen carefully to my advice."

"Your attempt to establish your authority will only lead to misunderstandings and exacerbate friction."

His voice was so captivating that it made Horus fall into deep thought.

“You are the War Commander, and your father has given you the power to rename the legion.”

"You can publicly declare to everyone that the Sixteenth Army Corps is inseparable from you and the title of War General."

"'Son of Horus,' possessing a legion commanded in your name more than any other..."

Saint Gilles did not say what he was going to say next, "Forcing the Primarch brothers to obey your orders will further enhance your prestige."

Despite their close relationship and the fact that they were in a private setting, he knew he still couldn't offend the War General.

Horus paused for a few seconds, then said, "I will seriously consider your opinion."

"Now, let's end this war first."

"I will personally deal with the ringleader of the rebellion!"

At the same moment that Saint Geres was admonishing Horus, in the Primarch's office on the Shadow of Thrones, Nimrod held a data tablet and examined the battle reports he had received.

The Tenth Battle Group suffered 943 actual casualties, including 158 Terminators.

Because he was fighting alongside the "Raven Guard" and Horus was in the same star system, he didn't report many deaths, and the majority of the casualties were Terminators.

He hoped to mislead Horus's assessment of the "Shadow of Order's" combat capabilities, leading to flawed decision-making in potential future conflicts.

Ninglu glanced at the loss report of the "Dark Raven Guards" and then leaned back.

[The biggest gain was reducing the casualties among the Terran "Raven Guards".]
Although he only knew that several thousand people died in the Battle of Gate 42, without knowing the exact number, he knew that two years later, when Korax exiled the Ash Claws Chapter, including a small number of Salvation Starborn who did not meet his requirements, there were only a little over four thousand.

This means that his intervention reduced the number of Terran casualties from nine thousand to less than three thousand.

Sure enough, several thousand is nine thousand.

The losses caused by the conflict between the two Primarchs, and the sacrifice of a Terran by Korax, are not something to be proud of, so naturally the losses must be downplayed.
Ning Lu mentally complained, then thought with satisfaction.

I saved the lives of over six thousand Terran Raven Guardians.

The key is that they will become my potential strength.

The "Ash Claws," loyal neither to the Father of Genesis nor to Horus, are a formidable force.
As Ning Lu pondered, the communication beeped.

After he answered the call, Alcéna Dunn's voice came through.

"My lord, we have received a communication from the Soul of Vengeance."

"The commander-in-chief has ordered us to launch simultaneous attacks on all 592 target nodes on the Merseyside tactical map."

"Primarchs especially emphasized simultaneity."

“I understand.” Ninglu’s lips curled into a smile. “Alkahas and Nerat will be familiar with this.”

"Horus has two objectives. One is for us to launch a full-scale attack, putting immense pressure on the Blind King and forcing them to launch a counterattack."

"He could then take the opportunity to lock onto the enemy leader and launch a decapitation strike."

"Horus's goal is to gain the greatest honor at the lowest cost, and this is how he used the Nineteenth Legion before Corax's return."

The seasoned "detective" Alcena's reasoning is the same as that of the Black Emperor.

"My lord is wise, and this is indeed the case."

"Your command?"

“Of course, we will ‘follow’ the war commander’s orders and launch a full-scale offensive,” Ning Lu said with a smile.

"But beheading is another matter."

Nimrod's smile faded. If Horus hadn't used him as a target to establish his authority, and if the Blind King wasn't an ingredient for potions, he would have backed down.

Unfortunately, there are no "what ifs".

(End of this chapter)