Aboard the Alicia Guardian, Mourinho Bandak gazed at the holographic image of Gate No. 42.
His hair was completely white, yet he still stood ramrod straight. Dozens of gleaming medals hung from his chest, the brightest of them bearing the imprint of a green planetary sphere.
It was awarded to him after he followed Toby in an airborne assault to seize the largest planetoid fortress during the resistance against the Ork invasion of the Grail Abyss.
Toby had died in that war, and his personal battle banner was preserved by Howard Fender, lord of the First Chapter.
After the war, he rose rapidly through the ranks and succeeded old Toby as the commander of the Alicia Airborne.
Mourinho opened the Sonic Array channel and spoke.
"The Arbites Lord has assigned us the task of attacking Gate 42. We are about to assault a fortress that once cost the great Shadow of Order and the Raven Guard dearly."
"Brothers and sisters, this is precisely our field of expertise. For thousands upon thousands of years, we have fought in the void, battling Orks and Aeldari pirates for void fortresses."
"The people of Alicia will never betray that trust. We will complete this difficult mission and seize the gate for Lord Nimrod and Lord Howard."
He raised an arm and gave the order. "In Toby's name, execute Morning Star Protocol 15."
"Death from above!"
The Alicia warships formed up, and countless guns on their portside batteries erupted at once.
A chain of silent explosions painted a picture within the star gate, drowning out the firepower of the orbital defense platforms.
Valkyrie Transports flew out from the warships, blanketing Gate No. 42 as they scattered grav-chutes like a torrential downpour.
The Alicia troops shouted, "Death from above!" and fired their first barrage before landing.