Warhammer 40 Spring: Loyalty of the Multiverse

Chapter 212 Harken's Little Secret

"Send them back to defend immediately!" Haken, the Starseer, his face contorted with rage. Several minutes had passed since the order was given, but not a single person had responded.

There wasn't even a perfunctory reply; the entire communication was a blank.

Hathor and the others had already received the order from Starreaver Harken to return to the defense, but how could they possibly carry out the so-called order from Starreaver Harken when it was personally issued by their own master of all change?
However, after learning that their own tidal station had been attacked, Hathor and the others belatedly tried to mobilize warships to defend it. At the same time, they immediately opened communications to contact Heartbreaker Harken and fawned, "Lord Harken! The Claris Nonmaterial Tidal Station has been invaded by the enemy."

Hathor's claws were rubbing together like a fly, and for some reason, he gave Harken a sleazy feeling.

"So, could you perhaps mobilize some resources to provide support?" Hathor didn't dare to ramble on anymore, as the matter was of great importance. It was best to get straight to the point and state his request.

"Oh ho—" For some reason, Harken, who had just been on the verge of madness, now felt a sense of peace. Therefore, he responded to Hathor's request with remarkable calm and composure, saying unhurriedly, "Don't worry, Hathor! I'll send a fleet to provide support immediately. However, I'm not clear about the specific situation at Tide Station, nor do I know the extent of the invading forces' power! So I hope you can understand when providing support, Lord Hathor!"

Hathor gasped at the words. The Black Legion and these Chaos Warbands of the Four Gods had always been at odds.

Even when the Black Legion launched its Black Expedition, its fleet included many warbands under the Four Gods.

But that was still a collaboration between the Four Gods and Abaddon. On the surface, they appeared to have a superior-subordinate relationship, but that was only on the surface.

In reality, they each had their own ulterior motives, and they were secretly at odds with each other.

For example, these warbands that worship the Four Gods control different node fortresses and key areas within the Dalowa system.

Although the Black Legion could open convenient doors when they arrived and passed through, actual control remained in the hands of the warbands of the Four Gods. If Abaddon's cooperation with the Four Gods were to break down, these warbands would instantly shift the offensive and defensive roles of these key points from the Empire to both the Empire and the Black Legion.

Therefore, in the various star systems and star sectors they occupied, across this vast territory, the Black Legion had been vying with these warbands who worshipped the Four Chaos Gods for ultimate command of key nodes.

For example, in the Dalowa system right now, Harken was sent by Abaddon and is one of Abaddon's trusted confidants. This is enough to illustrate the importance of the various fortresses, military strongholds, and other nodes around the Dalowa system.

This is also to prevent these key nodes and fortresses from falling directly into the hands of these Chaos Warbands.

Moreover, Harken did not lead a large fleet when he arrived. After all, Abaddon and Harken had reached an agreement on how to deal with the Empire.

Through the deal between Abaddon and the Four Gods, Harken can gain supreme command and use these Chaos Gods warriors to resist the Empire's attack, thereby weakening both sides.

Harken could then reap the benefits after the war by acquiring key nodes, fortresses, and other important facilities, or redistribute resources among the surviving warbands to silence them.

This trick never fails!
Just like now!
Harken was more than happy to see these warbands fight the Imperials, so he could reap the benefits!

However, he was even less willing to see these important facilities fall into the hands of the Chaos Gods' warbands than into the hands of the Empire.

That's why he was so angry, especially when he asked some of those people to go back to their rooms for training, and no one paid any attention to him, which made him lose face and feel that his current position was in jeopardy.

Then, by sheer coincidence, the Empire launched a timely attack on the Clarice Immaterial Tidal Station, which was controlled by the Reflectors.

This instantly filled him with joy again. After all, the Empire had attacked, and he wasn't even back to defend; that was a bit unreasonable. Regardless of the outcome of the war, as long as Lord Abaddon hadn't squeezed enough profit out of the Chaos Gods because of this...

Then we have ample reason to expel your Reflector Warband forces from command of these important facilities, and send you to guard unimportant locations like cannon fodder.

So when faced with the requests from Hathor and the others of the Reflectors, Harken immediately put on his airs again, appearing calm, composed, and confident.

What he wanted was for the Empire to launch attacks, so that the Tide Station would be damaged to a greater extent, giving him more compelling grounds to prosecute the Reflective Warband after the war.

As for the claim that this tidal station can only be fully utilized in the hands of a warband like the Reflectors, that's a matter of opinion.

What can't the Black Legion have?
If you have something important in your own hands, you can accept a decrease in power.

At this moment, both Hathor and Harken clearly realized the core issue of the matter, so Hathor humbly pleaded.

At the same time, the fleet was being rapidly redeployed to defend the area.

Meanwhile, Harken remained calm and unhurried, occasionally directing the flight path of the fleet heading to "provide support".

"Watch out for the meteorite ahead! That used to be a battle zone, there's a lot of debris there. Be careful... I'm sending you the route plan..." Harken casually spoke into the communicator, while another fleet that had already gone to provide support gave him detailed instructions.

Then, as if by chance, he remembered Hathor, who was right next to him and staring intently at him, and exclaimed with sudden realization, "Oh—Lord Hathor! The fleet will be here soon! Please wait a moment."

Hathor's expression remained unchanged, but his tightly clenched claws betrayed his inner turmoil.

But the next moment, as if he had thought of something, he suddenly released his grip, his eyes darted around, and then he said obsequiously, "Sir, could you speed things up a bit?"

Harken glanced at it sideways and said, "No way. You know there are a lot of high-speed meteorite piles and debris along this path. And there might even be some unexploded shells among them."

Seeing Hathor's expression and hearing those words, he immediately guessed Hathor's purpose.

"And to be honest, that tidal station is dispensable for Lord Abaddon. After all, the construction and defense resources required for that tidal station all come from our Black Legion's accounts, which is too much of a drain!"

Harken said something meaningful, then closed his eyes and pretended to sleep.

Hathor was furious to see Harken like this. Although, in the process of scheming, the followers of the Lord of All Changes inevitably needed to flatter those of lower status than themselves.

But that doesn't mean they enjoy being mocked by those of lower status. And for them, it's the moment after all their plans and schemes have been successfully executed.

The sense of accomplishment from revealing the whole plan and watching the other person fall into despair and pain is unparalleled!
……

(End of this chapter)