A Core Ship From The Start
/ A Core Ship From The Start Chapter 1034
Chapter 1034: Chapter 710: Enemies on a Narrow Road Chapter 1034: Chapter 710: Enemies on a Narrow Road “`
[Time: -53.54.23]
Standing on the bridge, Ares looked at the world before him, a cold, indifferent smile creeping across his face.
He was a typical Astarte, his bald head etched with scriptures from the Holy Words Bearer, Rogal, of the Seventeenth Legion's Genetic Prototypes, clad in dark red armor as if washed by fresh blood. His eyes were narrow, icy, and filled with malicious radiance.
He could see the prosperity and flourishing of the planet, the aura of the mortals' souls intoxicating him, and it was for this reason that they had come here, to perform an unprecedented sacrifice for their supreme Deity. Kaus was the starting point of this offering, Ushkusu, they would become the sacrifice to ignite this planet and the entire Otmara Five Hundred Worlds, obliterating them completely.
As those desperate, anguished souls were offered up, a new chapter of the universe would be opened, and these foolish blue toy soldiers were still unaware of what they were about to face. How amusing.
At this thought, Ares couldn't help but twitch his lips, a light chuckle escaping him. He hadn't been able to meet with Kiriman immediately, but this was just as well, in fact, Ares almost welcomed this turn of events, fearing that he couldn't help but laugh when he saw Kiriman's stupid and oblivious face, ignorant of everything that was about to happen.
“My lord.”
However, just then, Ares received an unexpected message.
“The Limit Warriors have just reached out to us, requesting that we temporarily move our position.”
“Move our position?”
Upon hearing this, Ares frowned, his fleet had already entered its berthing position, and by all accounts, they shouldn't be making such requests at this time.
“The reason?”
“They say another fleet has suddenly appeared, needing emergency supplies and repairs.”
Ares's expression darkened, he didn't like unexpected changes popping up in his plans. Indeed, this request was out of Ares's expectation. Normally, those rigid, by-the-book blue toy soldiers wouldn't make such a move. But from a military standpoint, if a fleet had been attacked or damaged, it indeed needed to return to its berth for immediate maintenance and repair.
So the Limit Warriors' request wasn't entirely unreasonable.
“I understand.”
After a moment's thought, Ares decided not to fall out with the Limit Warriors at this time, since the infiltration of Kaus' planetary defense systems wasn't yet successful. Acting rashly now would only spook the quarry, and, besides, it was better to let his Prototypes handle the upcoming tasks.
“We will follow their instructions and send out the coordinates.”
“Yes.”
Soon, the new berthing coordinates were issued, and upon seeing them, Ares's expression soured even further. The given berthing position was at the distant orbit space station of Kaus, which though not an impossible place to dock a warship, clearly didn't conform to protocol in terms of etiquette.
After all, they were still officially representatives of the Seventeenth Legion, and this was akin to kicking diplomats out of a luxury hotel and sending them to the bed-and-breakfast next door…
The Limit Warrior Legion wouldn't make such a mistake.
In light of this, Ares was puzzled, but just then, the Limit Warrior Legion also sent a message to their brother Whisperers, expressing sincere apologies to Ares for their misstep, promising that the distant orbit space station was just a temporary stop and that they would soon initiate the Limit Warrior Legion's warship to leave the berth and make way for Ares.
Only, fully activating a warship would take at least an hour…
“I know.”
Hearing the earnestness and unease in the voice of the Limit Warriors, Ares's mouth curled up slightly, and the flicker of doubt that had momentarily arisen vanished. Clearly, these blue toy soldiers were as usual, placing their reputation above all else. Honor, dignity, but soon, that might be all they have left.
Nevertheless, Ares still had one thing he wanted to clarify.
“I've just been in contact with my subordinates, who tell me there is an issue connecting to Kaus' combat network. What's going on?”
“Ah, I'm so sorry, Commandant Ares.”
The response from the other side was still full of nervous unease.
“As you know, just a short time ago, the Mechanic Religion had upgraded our orbital defense system, and this large-scale military maneuver was a first for the new system. Temporary disturbances due to redundant data appeared on our lines, and our superior has requested a prompt fix to the error, but it will take some time. I assure you, this will not delay the exercise, it's just temporary technical adjustments.”
“I hope so. I didn't expect even the Limit Warriors to make such blunders; it seems my stereotype of you needs to change.”
With a hint of sarcasm, Ares cut the communication.
Just temporary technical adjustments.
“`
Ares withdrew his thoughts and turned to look at the other side of the berth, where he saw a group of navy soldiers quickly assembling and running towards the Limit Warrior's warship. Clearly, they were getting ready to restart the warship, freeing up the space for their beloved brethren.
Seeing this, Ares no longer pondered and issued the command.
“Prepare to leave the berth.”
Before long, Ares would realize that he had made a foolish decision.
[Timestamp: -52:32:16]
“The Whisperer Fleet has left Kaus Orbital Space Station and is heading toward the remote berths,” Lumiaire reported, turning to Duanmu Huai.
“Heh, a bunch of idiots.”
Upon hearing Lumiaire's report, Duanmu Huai also revealed a fierce, cold smile–much like the one Ares had shown earlier.
“They surely have no idea what is waiting for them there, but I suppose they will find out soon enough.”
“To tell you the truth, Mr. Knight, it seems to me that you have a particular fondness for these people?”
Ann looked at Duanmu Huai curiously, inquiring as she followed Duanmu Huai for some time now, yet this was the first time she saw Duanmu Huai taking such an interest in a power. Even with the Star Union, Duanmu Huai maintained a distant relationship, but with the Limit Warriors, he appeared to be extremely invested.
“Of course, Ann, you don't yet know, this world is a rare gem that remains.”
Duanmu Huai turned and leaned back, hands behind him, observing the star map in front of him as he spoke indifferently.
“It's the place most likely to reach and once again display the human's Golden Age. Destruction here simply cannot and will not be tolerated or accepted.”
As Duanmu Huai said, the Otmara Five Hundred Worlds–in total, five hundred habitable planets spread across four star territories–were recognized by players as the locations within the Empire most likely to reproduce the human Golden Age. Other places, in the eyes of the players, were a mess, even Terra was no exception–due to extensive artificial modifications, the once cradle of humanity had been completely transformed into a barren ghost of a place where one couldn't even find a drop of water in the vast lands and had to transport drinking water from outside.
In contrast, Otmara was pristine and scenic, followed the path of sustainable development, and where gifted individuals harmonized with the land; humans and Astartes coexisted peacefully without the divisive issues that existed elsewhere–where either Astartes saw humans as parasites clinging to the Empire and The Emperor, or humans viewed Astartes as a group of terrifying demons altered through biochemical engineering.
Moreover, in reality, even after Horus's rebellion, the Five Hundred Worlds remained the most developed and prosperous galaxies. One could only imagine how high they could have soared if the Whisperers had not inflicted damage upon this world.
Of course, there was another little story about the representation of civilization. Many players believed that the White Scars were their cultural representatives because they admired and enjoyed poetry as scholarly warriors skilled in crafts, art, and philosophy–wasn't that similar to themselves?
But Duanmu Huai and another group of players completely disagreed with this view. They argued that the White Scars had nothing to do with their civilization; the White Scars were from a nomadic tribal culture–what on earth did they have to do with those from agricultural civilizations? Besides, the genetic prototypes of the White Scars even called themselves Khan–which, in the great Ming, would have been enough to condemn them, let alone to let the White Scars represent their own civilization. Duanmu Huai would be the first of a hundred unwilling to accept that his civilization would have a leader called Khan; what kind of nonsensical mess was that?
Even if you could recite a few lines of verse, that did not change the essence of your nomadic tribal culture, did it?
In Duanmu Huai's view, the Limit Warriors and the Otmara Five Hundred Worlds were much closer to their cultural makeup. He also found the foreign players, who claimed the Limit Warrior Legion represented ancient Roman culture, were just kidding themselves; who didn't know what Rome was like? They had the audacity to say that Otmara was a bastion of Roman culture, when the Limit Warriors' home-loving tradition clearly made them more akin to our culture.
If anything, these foreigners were more like the Space Wolves, the World Eaters, and the Whisperers.
Barbaric, rude, fanatically superstitious, fond of racial extermination, and they didn't bathe either–isn't that the consistent tradition of Western civilization? And to think, they have the nerve to claim they represent the culture of the Thirteenth Legion? That's quite some thick-skinned arrogance.
“Alright, it's time for us to act; let's set out.”
With Duanmu Huai's command, the fleet quickly activated and moved toward the direction of Kaus Orbital Space Station.
As the Tribunal Fleet entered Kaus Space Station's orbit, the Whisperer Fleet commanded by Ares had just reached the remote berths. At the same time, Ares also received a signal from the Tribunal Fleet.
“Is that the new fleet? Wait, isn't that…”
Initially, Ares didn't pay much attention, thinking it was just another Limit Warrior fleet. However, when he saw the shining golden cathedrals on those warships, Ares shuddered!
He hadn't forgotten the enormous trouble that this mysterious fleet had caused the Sixty Second Expedition Fleet through Istvan's information leak; back then, Ares was at Horus's side. If it weren't for the protection of deity's strength, the entire Sixty Second Fleet might have been doomed. After the event, Horus was so enraged he nearly went mad, vowing to annihilate the fleet completely.
Yet, here they were, appearing at Kaus?
Was this coincidental, or was there a scheme at play?
At that moment, Ares's face fell.
He began to doubt whether he had made a foolish decision.
Chapter end
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