Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 723 Baal's Crisis
Tycho Brahe took a deep breath and began to speak, his words clear and swift, painting a grim picture: "The main force of one of the tentacles of the Tyranid swarm has been confirmed to be heading straight for the Barr system."

Its scale far exceeded any previous record; the last data transmitted back by the reconnaissance fleet showed that the number of its vanguard biological fleet was enough to overwhelm the entire galaxy.

Barr and his satellites are now like a lone boat in a storm.

He pulled out his tactical recorder and projected blurry but unsettling images—countless twisted, enormous biological ships writhing in the sea of ​​stars, their sheer number almost obscuring the starlight.

"The swarm devours all living matter, and wherever they go, the planets become desolate. Baal is the last home of the Blood of Sanguiles. If it falls, it will not only be the end of our chapter, but also a devastating blow to the morale of the Empire."

Chapter Master Cassius added at the opportune moment, his voice hoarse from the Battle of Kamath, but full of sincerity: "Primarch, Crimson Crescent knows that its own power is meager. In Kamath, it has already received the grace of being reborn by you, Lady Leona, Inquisitor Chen Xi, and all the reinforcements. It has no right to make any further requests."

But Baal's peril concerns the survival of the Blood Angels, and even the safety of the southeastern star region of the Empire.

If Baal falls, the Zerg swarm's advance will be unstoppable, and the entire star system, including Kamath, will face annihilation.

Tycho Brahe continued, his tone carrying the resolute determination characteristic of the Blood Angels, a mixture of pride and despair: "Chief Dante has mobilized all available forces, the surface of Baal is being transformed into the final fortress, and every citizen who can take up arms is ready."

However, we know that the Blood Angels and the limited Imperial Navy alone are no match for such a massive swarm of insects.

We need power, a powerful fleet and the Astartes Legion capable of turning the tide of the war.

Of all known powers, only you, Your Majesty the Lion King, and your reborn First Legion possess such ability.

He knelt on one knee and lowered his helmeted head: "I, Erasmus Tycho, in the name of Saint Gilles, and on the basis of the survival of all the children of the Holy Blood Angels, beg you to send troops to Baal to help us resist the swarm and defend our homeland!"

Chapter Master Cassius also knelt down, silently but firmly expressing the same plea.

The courtyard was silent, save for the faint hum of the power armor's servo systems. All eyes were fixed on Lion King Leon.

The Lion King did not answer immediately. His deep gaze swept over the two kneeling chapter commanders, then over Leona and Chen Xi beside him, and finally into the void, as if piercing through the layers of the "Stone" fortress and seeing the Holy Blood Angels' homeland shrouded in shadow.

He quickly weighed the options in his mind—the legion had just begun to integrate, Kamas needed to be consolidated, and the various forces within the empire were intricately intertwined… but the Blood Angels’ plea for help was something he could not refuse, both for the public good and for personal reasons.

For the public good, the fall of Baal meant a huge gap in the empire's defenses and incalculable loss of personnel; for the private good, Dante's help during Kamas's crisis, as well as the friendship between him and Sanguielles during the Great Crusade, made it his duty to act.

The silence lasted less than ten seconds, but it felt like an eternity to everyone present.

"Rise, warriors." The Lion King's voice broke the silence, steady and powerful. "The plight of the Blood Angels is the plight of the Empire. Dante's plea for help, I, Leon Eljonsson, and the First Legion will not stand idly by."

Tycho Brahe and Cassius looked up abruptly, their eyes blazing with unbelievable surprise and gratitude.

“However,” Lion King changed the subject, looking at Cassius, “the Kamas sector has just been invaded by chaos and is in dire need of rebuilding. We must not allow any further changes to occur because of the departure of our main force.”

He immediately issued the order, speaking quickly and clearly, demonstrating the decisiveness of a Primarch: "Azrael."

“Yes, Father.” Azrael stepped forward. “Immediately select three full-strength companies from 'The Rock' Fortress and the sub-companies that have arrived, each led by a sufficiently capable company commander, to remain in Kamas to assist the Crimson Crescent Chapter in rebuilding its defenses, mopping up the remaining enemy forces, and maintaining order in the sector until the homeland defenses are restored. The specific personnel will be decided by you and the Inner Circle.”

“Yes, sir.” Azrael immediately accepted the order.

The Lion King's gaze returned to Tycho Brahe and Cassius: "Cassius, the remaining legion forces will be under your command and coordination. Make sure that Kamas does not fall into enemy hands again."

Cassius pounded his chest heavily: "In the name of the Crimson Crescent, I will not fail in my duty! Thank you for your help, Primarch!"

Finally, the Lion King looked at Tycho, his eyes burning with the flames of an expedition: "Commander Tycho, inform Dante that the main force of the First Legion will return to Baal with you. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with the Blood Angels and utterly crush the Tyranid swarm beyond the Baal system!"

"For the Lion King and Caliban! For Saint Gilles and Baal!" Tycho's voice trembled slightly with excitement, and he bowed deeply once again.

With the decision made, the entire "Stone" fortress and its attached fleet immediately entered a higher level of combat readiness.

The order was quickly relayed throughout the Legion via the Star Language Hall and internal communication network, and the massive war machine began its final adjustments and preparations for a new and more arduous expedition.

The three companies left to assist the Crimson Crescent were quickly identified and led by a regimental commander known for his steadiness, and the handover and deployment began.

Meanwhile, the main force of the legion—including the "Unyielding Truth," the core fleet of the "Stone" fortress, and numerous subsidiary fleets—began to assemble under the personal command of the Lion King.

On the fortress’s largest main take-off and landing platform, countless transport boats and landing ships shuttled back and forth, transporting Terminator squads, tactical companies, armored vehicles, and massive amounts of supplies onto the ships.

Under Belial's command, the Deathwing Terminators boarded their dedicated assault ships; Ravenwing's fast vehicles and gunboats swarmed into the hangar like a swarm of bees returning to their nest; warriors from various squadrons, dressed in slightly different but predominantly dark green power armor, silently and orderly boarded their respective ships.

Leona will naturally accompany him, and she will join the Lion King in commanding this epic battle against the aliens.

Inquisitor Chen Xi also boarded the "Unyielding Truth." He knew that the war against the Tyranid swarm was also about the future of the entire Empire, and he had to witness it firsthand and provide his knowledge and strength when necessary.

Tycho Brahe and his few Blood Angel guards boarded the fast transport ship prepared for them. They would act as guides, leading this powerful reinforcement through warp space, straight to the star system shrouded in the shadow of the Zerg swarm.

Standing on the bridge of the "Unyielding Truth," Lion King Leon Eljonsson looked down at the massive fleet below.

Countless points of light lit up in the void, and the roar of the engine, like the howl of a giant beast, shook the space. His resolute face was expressionless, only his eyes flashed with a cold determination.

"Heading to the Baal system." The Lion King's voice rang out on the bridge, calm yet carrying an undeniable authority. "Let's go and meet these devourers from deep space."

With a command, the massive First Legion fleet, like a primordial beast awakening, slowly adjusted its course. Guided by its navigator, it tore apart the boundary between reality and illusion, plunging into the turbulent warp and embarking on its journey to rescue Baal.

Kamas's victory is in the past; a more brutal and larger-scale battle for survival awaits them.

(End of this chapter)