Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 701 The Lion King's Strategy

The message from the Star Language Hall traversed the raging waves of the subspace and arrived in the Baal system.

After Dante, the Chapter Master of the Blood Angels, finished reading the message from the Kamas Sector, a complex expression appeared on his weathered, age-marked face behind his golden mask.

He shared the information with Chief Think Tank Mephisto and Commander Carlos.

“It is Inquisitor Chen Xi, and… Lion King, Leon El-Jonson.” Dante’s voice was deep and steady, but when he mentioned the word “Lion King,” he couldn’t help but add a hint of seriousness: “They are currently in the Kamas Sector, on the territory of the Crimson Crescent Chapter.”

The Lion King has confirmed his return and is gathering his army.

A glint flashed behind Mephisto's crimson visor as he keenly discerned the deeper meaning in the Chapter Master's words, and the yearning hidden within the blood of all the Holy Angels: "The second Primarch... the Lion King has returned. This confirms that Lord Felus's return is not an isolated case."

"Chapter Commander, this means... the possibility of Lord Saint Gilles' return is not entirely unfounded."

Commander Carlos, however, was more concerned with practical matters: "The Kamas Sector? It's not a peaceful place. Intelligence indicates that a Chaos Warband called 'Ten Thousand Eyes' is stirring up trouble in that sector."

The Crimson Crescent Chapter is limited in size and likely unable to cope with a large-scale Chaos invasion. The Lion King and Inquisitor Chen Xi are there and need support.

Dante nodded slowly, his gaze sweeping across the strategic star map, which marked the threat vector of the main fleet of the Tyranid swarm around the Bar star system: "Yes, for both reason and emotion, we must respond."

The camaraderie that Judge Chen Xi shared with us, and the possibilities he represents, cannot be ignored.

"And the Lion King, a Primarch, has appeared on our territory; the Blood Angels cannot remain silent."

He paused, his tone heavy with a hint of helplessness: "However, the pressure on Baal himself has not lessened at all. The shadow of the Terran main force looms over us constantly, and every Astartes warrior is crucial. We cannot spare a large force for an expedition."

Mephisto stepped forward, his voice carrying the unique resonance of a psionicist: "Even so, we must show the attitude of the Blood Angels. I suggest sending an elite company, not too large, but led by a sufficiently influential company commander, to represent our respect and support."

After a moment's thought, Dante made his decision: "Let's do it this way. Send a company of Holy Blood Angels, led by Erasmus Tycho, the commander of the Third Company. He has had contact with Inquisitor Chen Xi before, so he is the most suitable person to go."

He looked at Mephisto and Carlos, “Inform Tycho that his mission is not only to provide support, but also to witness firsthand the details of the Lion King’s return, and… to observe the impact of the Primarch’s return. Baal needs him, but at this moment, Kamath needs a force that represents the will of the Blood Angels even more.”

Mephisto bowed deeply: "Understood. I will personally communicate with Company Commander Tycho. I hope he can bring back more... hopeful news."

His voice eventually became almost a whisper, and his burning anticipation for the return of Saint Gilles burned even more intensely after learning that another Primarch had been confirmed to have appeared in the world.
-
The return of Lion King Leon Aljonson was like a ray of light piercing through millennia of darkness, injecting unprecedented vitality and determination into the "Rock" fortress.

Driven by his will, the reorganization of the First Legion proceeded with unprecedented efficiency. The entire fortress resembled a long-dormant war machine, with every gear roaring for the glory of revival.

However, this exhilarating scene was abruptly interrupted by a sudden piece of news—the Lion King had disappeared.

Initially, when the Inner Ring Guards reported the incident, High Master Azrael remained calm, believing that the Primarch was perhaps just conducting a secret patrol.

But as time went on, after using all available monitoring and psionic detection methods, a chilling truth emerged: Leon Aljonsen had vanished from the innermost chamber of the fortress, right before everyone's eyes.

The news was strictly kept under wraps at the highest level of the inner ring, but anxiety continued to grow silently among those in the know.

Azrael's face turned ashen. He ordered the complete sealing off of the Quiet Room area and urgently summoned all the high-ranking members with seats in the Inner Ring—Chief Think Tank Ezekiel, Deathwing Archmage Belial, Ravenwing Archmage, and the chapter priest Azmodari, whose face was terrifyingly gloomy.

Inside the Helm's Hall, the air was so heavy it seemed you could wring water out of it.

The statues of past sages cast long shadows in the dim light, as if they were silently questioning us.

“No clues.” Grandmaster Ravenwing’s voice came through his helmet, tinged with suppressed anxiety. “No teleportation signals, no warp disturbances, and the Silent Chamber’s defenses are intact. Father… he’s just vanished into thin air.”

Azmodari slammed his fist on the stone table, the loud thud echoing through the silent hall. "I warned you! To shake the ancient creed, to question the inner circle's judgment, will inevitably backfire! Is this the Emperor's warning! Or is it a scheme by that Inquisitor and 'that being' he brought!"

His sharp gaze swept over Azrael and Ezekiel, attributing the Primarch's disappearance to their acceptance of Chen Xi and Leona.

Ezekiel maintained a calm facade, but his furrowed brow betrayed his inner turmoil: "I sensed no malice or chaotic filth. The psychic remnants here... carry an ancient rhythm that resonates with the deep essence of Caliban."

This may not be a calamity, but rather... a summons or trial we cannot comprehend.

"A trial? At a time when the Empire desperately needs him to take command?" Belial's voice was deep and steady. The composure of the Deathwing kept him from panicking, but the worry in his words was obvious. "The most urgent task is to find Father. We must mobilize all resources immediately and begin scanning..."

Before the debate could subside, the communication array in the Helm's Chamber suddenly lit up, and the voice of the Director of the Astronomical Court came through with barely suppressed excitement: "Supreme Grand Master! The Kamas Sector, relayed through the Crimson Crescent Chapter, has received a message with the highest priority identification code from Inquisitor Chen Xi! Content confirmed: 'The Lion King is here!'"

In an instant, all sounds disappeared.

"Has it been verified?" Azrael immediately pressed, his voice carrying a barely perceptible tension.

"It has been repeatedly confirmed through all preset encryption layers and verification processes! The additional information from the Crimson Crescent Chapter also indicates that they have made contact with the Primarch and... have preliminarily confirmed his identity!"

The heavy pressure suddenly dissipated, replaced by a profound sense of relief and a firm determination to reaffirm the goal.

Azmodai's tense body relaxed slightly, but he remained silent, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Ezekiel nodded slowly, as if some guess in his heart had been confirmed.

Belial acted first, his voice regaining its absolute calm and efficiency: "Father is in the Kamas Sector, which means he needs the Legion's strength."

He turned to Azrael, “High Master, I request to immediately lead a Deathwing Vanguard to Kamath to protect my father.”

Azrael made a swift decision. The Primarch's safety and will were paramount. The situation in the Kamas Sector was unclear, and there were reports of chaotic activity; the most reliable and powerful force had to be dispatched.

"Request granted." Azrael's voice regained its usual majesty. "Grandmaster Belial, you will personally command the most elite Deathwing Terminators drawn from each chapter to form an assault squadron. Aboard the 'Unyielding Truth,' sail at full speed towards Kamas."

His gaze swept over every Inner Circle member present, and he continued, “At the same time, inform all assembled Sub-Clans of this news. The Primarch’s reorganization orders remain unchanged, and all work must be accelerated. We must offer the Father a complete Legion, not a disorganized mess, when he needs us.” “The Lion King has shown us the way,” his words carried an undeniable force, deliberately ignoring Azmodari’s sharp gaze, “whether it’s the Legion’s revival or a reflection on the past. Now, he needs our actions and loyalty. The Dark Angels will never betray the Primarch.”

"For the Lion King and Caliban!" Belial bowed with his hand on his chest, then turned and strode away, gathering the shadow of death.

Soon, a highly encrypted Star Language message was sent from the "Rock" fortress, traversing the vast sea of ​​stars. As mentioned earlier, it informed the Lion King and the Inquisitor of the strategic deployment of Deathwing first, followed by the main force regrouping and then converging.
-
In the Kamas Sector, within the Crimson Crescent Chapter's Fortress Monastery, Chen Xi and Lion King Leon received replies from the Blood Angels and the Dark Angels almost simultaneously.

Chen Xi first deciphered the interstellar message from Baal and said to Leon, "Commander Dante has dispatched Company Commander Tycho with a complete Blood Angel Company. Under the direct threat of the Tyranid swarm, this is probably the maximum support Baal can muster."

Lion King Leon—the Primarch, with his imposing stature, face as resolute as a weathered rock, and an aura of ancient majesty—nodded slightly upon hearing this.

His gaze was sharp as an eagle's, and he said in a deep voice, "The Holy Blood Angels are willing to send troops to their aid even when they are under tremendous pressure themselves. This friendship and decisiveness are truly commendable."

A single company of elite Blood Angels, if used properly, can be the key to deciding the outcome of a battle.

Immediately afterwards, the communications concerning the Dark Angels were presented. Leon carefully reviewed every word, a clear hint of satisfaction appearing on his resolute face.

“Belial’s actions were swift. Three hundred Deathwing Terminators… excellent, that’s the efficiency and spirit the First Legion should have.” His gaze swept over the report on the reorganization progress of “The Rock” fortress, and he continued, “Gathering ten thousand Legion warriors as the foundation… the process of rebuilding the glory of the First Legion is on track.”

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping past Chen Xi and landing on Leona, who stood silently to the side.

She remained silent as usual; her shared origin with the Primarch meant she needed no words. Her very existence was enough to integrate her into this decision-making scenario that concerned the future of the Legion and the Empire.

“Now, let’s take a look at this ‘Ten Thousand Eyes War Gang’.” Leon steered the conversation back to the most pressing threat at hand.

He picked up the intelligence files provided by the Crimson Crescent Battle Group regarding the activities of chaotic forces in the surrounding star systems and quickly flipped through them.

His reading speed was extremely fast; wherever his eyes swept, it seemed as if he had already integrated and analyzed all the fragments of information.

"The star system entrenched near Caliban's remains...named 'Ten Thousand Eyes'..." Leon's deep voice echoed in the room, carrying an undeniable sense of authority. "The leader is a fallen angel...Intelligence indicates they've been very active recently, attacking several peripheral worlds and plundering populations and resources..."

He paused abruptly, pointing to an analysis report on the attack patterns of the Thousand-Eyed Warband: "Look here, their targets are not chosen randomly. These attacked worlds all possess ancient psionic lineages or contain certain specific warp resonance minerals."

Chen Xi immediately realized the problem: "Are they performing some kind of ritual? Do they need specific psionic materials?"

“That’s not all.” Leon’s gaze grew even colder. “Combined with their title of ‘Ten Thousand Eyes’ and their practice of plundering large numbers of people… this is not a simple case of plunder.”

They are attempting to construct a vast subspace observation network covering the entire star system, or more accurately, a 'sacrifice ground'.

He walked to the star map, his finger tracing the area of ​​the Kamas Sector and the area where the Thousand-Eyed Warband operated: "Their ultimate goal is likely not a single world. They are trying to gather enough psionic energy and souls through scattered secondary ritual points to tear apart the structure of reality, drag this star sector directly into the depths of warp, or summon a powerful demonic entity to descend."

“Kamas,” Leona’s clear and calm voice continued his analysis, her gaze also falling on that key node on the star map, “with its strategic location and relatively stable subspace rift edge environment, it is very likely the core ritual point they have chosen, or at least one of the key nodes.”

Her words were concise, yet they hit the nail on the head.

With only limited intelligence, the Lion King and Leona had already sketched out the outline of the enemy's potential and extremely evil conspiracy.

This keen insight impressed Chen Xi.

“We must stop them,” Leona said again, her voice filled with the same unwavering determination that the Primarch shared.

“Of course.” Leon turned to her and Chen Xi. “The enemy is still gathering strength and making preliminary preparations. They underestimate our presence and the Empire’s determination to retaliate. This is an opportunity.”

He pointed to the planet Kamas on the star map. "We won't passively wait for them to come to us. We'll build an insurmountable defense here, on Kamas."

The Crimson Crescent Chapter is familiar with the local environment and can serve as the core of the defense.

We reinforced existing fortifications while deploying a monitoring and interception network along the outer tracks.

He continued his deployment with a clear and meticulous mind: "Once Tycho Brahe's Blood Angels Company arrives, it can serve as a mobile strike force. Their assault capabilities can effectively destroy the enemy's elite units and command nodes."

And Belial's Deathwing Terminator..."

“They will be the hammer in our hands,” Leona chimed in at the opportune moment, her eyes sharp. “When the enemy’s main force is drawn to the Kamas defenses and is worn down, Deathwing can launch a stealthy assault, piercing straight to the heart and destroying the ritual core.”

Her addition perfectly aligned with Leon's strategic intentions.

Leon looked at Chen Xi and Leona, his eyes filled with the will to fight a decisive battle: "We will use Kamas as bait, and also as an anvil. We will lure the main force of the Thousand-Eyed War Gang here, and then use the reinforcements that are about to arrive to completely crush them outside this planet."

This will be my first battle since my return, and the prelude to the First Legion's rebirth and its declaration of its return to the galaxy.

Chen Xi nodded and added, "I will coordinate with the Crimson Crescent Chapter and the local planetary defense forces to fully cooperate in the construction of defensive fortifications and intelligence gathering. At the same time, we will ensure that our communication and logistical lines remain open. We must win this battle."

“That’s right.” Lion King Leon finally made the decision. “Issue the defense plan immediately. Get the Crimson Crescent Chapter moving and reinforce all key positions. We need to make the Thousand-Eyed Clan think that Kamas is easy to obtain, and then…”

He clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking. "Deliver a devastating blow when they are at their most triumphant. Inform Beria and Tycho Brahe to report to me immediately upon arrival and receive their specific combat assignments. The First Legion's revenge will begin in Kamas."

The atmosphere in the room was heavy yet filled with determination.

The return of the Lion King not only brought powerful individual combat strength, but also long-lost strategic planning capabilities at the Primarch level, while Leona's existence was like an extension and resonance of his will.

A plan to annihilate the Chaos War Gang has clearly taken shape in their consensus, and will be put into action once reinforcements arrive.

(End of this chapter)