Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 618 Chaos Strikes
The outer edge of the Medusa star system resembles a forgotten, hidden pain in the Milky Way.

The void here is exceptionally dense and profound, like a huge velvet sheet soaked in ink.

Only the distorted glow emanating from distant nebulae, like the indifferent eyes of a dying man, illuminated this desolate place.

Absolute zero rules over everything, and time seems to be frozen as well.

Only interstellar dust, under the weak gravitational pull, drifts slowly over millions of years.

The three ships of the Third Patrol Squadron of the Steel Hands, like three cold, hard steel seeds, are embedded in this endless curtain of darkness.

The lead ship, the Steadfast Will, is a Gothic-style strike cruiser with armor plating bearing the marks of time and micrometeorite impacts.

The battle group insignia—a cold, silver iron fist—was painted on the side of the ship, gleaming matte under the ship's lights.

The two escort ships, the "Anvil" and the "Steel Shield," stood guard on its flanks like loyal hounds.

They formed a compact and vigilant triangular formation.

The bridge of the HMS Steadfast Will is permeated with an almost mechanical calm, a result of rigorous training.

The air circulation system continuously hums, filtering the air repeatedly used inside the ship and maintaining it at the optimal temperature and humidity for human and mechanical work.

The main lighting has been switched to tactical low-light mode, with only the console, screen, and holographic projector emitting a pale blue, emerald green, or scarlet glow.

The data poured down silently like a waterfall.

Captain Stern stood like a sculpture clad in terracotta power armor before the command throne in the center of the bridge.

He wasn't wearing a helmet; he tucked it under his arm, revealing his face, which, despite its genetic enhancements, still bore the resolute lines etched by time.

A pair of gray eyes swept across the main tactical holographic platform with the calmness of a scanner.

His voice was steady, conveying commands through a built-in communication bead; each syllable was clear and concise.
"Sensor array scan complete, no anomalies found in sector 7."

"Navigator reports that subspace background fluctuations are at baseline levels, with disturbance values ​​below 0.05%."

"Maintain current course and speed. Maintain 'Beta' level alert."

All bridge personnel were immersed in the rhythm of this precise operation.

The technical priest knelt before the data interface, with cables extending from under his robe sleeves directly connected to the control console.

He whispered the binary prayer to soothe the soul of the machine.

The weapons officer's finger hovered over the fire control panel, ready to unleash destruction on any target marked as hostile.

The navigator is confined within the navigation dome above the bridge, gazing into the turbulent currents of subspace with his inhuman third eye.

Ensure that ships navigate on safe trajectories in the real universe.

This deathly silence is the perfect prelude to an approaching storm.
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The first to detect the anomaly were not the shipboard sensors.

The navigator inside the navigation dome of the "Unwavering Will"—Cassius from the Arabik family—suddenly let out a suppressed groan of pain.

The navigator's eye between his brows twitched violently, as if pierced by an invisible needle.

In his unique perception, the previously "stable" subspace background suddenly surged like a lake surface tossed with a boulder.

A powerful, filthy, and manic energy surge violently tore through the veil of the real universe.

Its intensity surged instantly, far exceeding any naturally formed subspace storm.

Almost at the same millisecond, the USS Indecisive's ancient sensor array emitted a sharp alarm that pierced the silence, drowning out all other sounds from the bridge!
On the main tactical holographic platform, the previously stable star map was suddenly covered by a frantically flashing crimson warning icon!

The sensor operator's voice completely lost the composure honed through training, almost turning into a terrified scream:
"Multiple subspace fluctuations detected! Azimuth 7-2-0, distance 0.05 light-minutes!"

"The intensity of the fluctuations has increased dramatically!"

"Energy reading... Your Majesty... Unrecognizable!"

"Not a standard Imperial model, but possessing strong... corrupt and twisted characteristics!" "It's Chaos! It's the Chaos Warband!"

Captain Stern reacted with lightning speed, instantly sweeping away all fatigue and routine.

"Full Fleet! Highest Combat Alert! Red Light! Red Light! All personnel to combat stations!"

His roar was transmitted across the three ships via the ship's communication system.

"Upload all data—enemy fleet parameters, energy signatures, and real-time imagery—to the Legion Command and the Medusa Psionic Network with the highest priority!"

"Anvil and Steel Shield, execute the interception formation Delta!"

"At all costs, buy time for early warning for the main star region!"

The three ships instantly went from silent patrol to frenzied combat readiness.

The red warning lights flashed wildly, turning the entire bridge a blood-red color.

The heavy internal blast doors slammed shut, isolating each compartment.

The engines roared deafeningly, and the plasma nozzles emitted dazzling blue-white flames, propelling the ship to turn and meet the incoming enemy.

The low-frequency hum of the weapon system charging merged into the roar of the engine.

The macro cannon is loaded, and the light spear array is accumulating destructive energy.

However, no matter how swift their reaction, it could not outpace the calamity that had already befallen them.

In the void not far away, the structure of reality was ruthlessly torn apart by a blasphemous force, like cheap fabric.

A massive, irregular subspace rift, its edges churning with morbid pinkish-purple and deep gold energy, suddenly burst open!

From this portal to the nightmare, the Emperor's Fleet gushed forth like pus.

This fleet is a terrifying remnant of past glory.

The ship's lines still faintly reveal the beauty and power of the old imperial technology, but they have been completely distorted by endless depravity.

The Imperial Purple paint job had become filthy, covered with blasphemous symbols, bas-reliefs of screaming, pained faces, and unclean coatings that writhed like living creatures.

The golden decorations were dull and rusted, stained with bloodstains that never dried and even more eerie marks.

The giant sail is painted with the emblem of succumbency—an inverted egg of chaos, radiating an alluring, corrupting light.

The sensor array, like a thirsty sensory organ, greedily scanned the void.

The weapon ports gleamed with an eerie light that craved the ultimate sensory stimulation.

Each ship is like a unique, grotesque work of art, exuding an aura of madness and destruction.

A massive Carnival-class battleship served as the flagship, leading numerous Torment-class cruisers, Pleasure-class raiders, and swarms of attack craft and aircraft.

They appeared without even making any tactical formations.

Like a shark smelling blood, it charged headlong into the Medusa Galaxy with frenzied joy—

They rushed toward the three tiny yet fearless obstacles before them.

"Fire!" Captain Stern roared.

The massive cannon array of the "Unwavering Will" was the first to unleash a deafening roar that shook the void. Huge, solid shells, carrying destructive kinetic energy, pierced the darkness and hurtled towards the vanguard fleet of the Emperor's Son.

Immediately afterwards, the array of light spears fired continuous beams of energy, lashing at the enemy like the whip of God.

The Anvil and Steel Shield also opened fire simultaneously, forming a firepower network of three ships in an attempt to stop the torrent.

(End of this chapter)