The Dark Angels actually paved the way for the Shadow of Order
The battlecruisers of the Golden Fleet deployed their battle formation, with the Eagle's Talon at its center.
The escort ships launched the first attack, emptying their torpedo bays instantly, then reloading, and then firing again at a frenzied pace.
The bombardment Lander followed closely behind, their Turbo-laser firepower tearing apart the Iron Warriors' warships, reducing over forty Iron Warriors escort vessels to burning wreckage.
The Golden Fleet's assault fleet turned to both sides, drawing the fire of the Iron Warriors's capital ship.
The golden ship was engulfed in flames, its wreckage scattering in arcs of burning debris.
On the bridge of the Eagle's Talon, Sangre gazes at the holographic projection; her immense investment is about to pay off.
The battlecruiser crashed through the wreckage, and the Nova Cannon its bow roared to life.
The Nova Cannon is a brand-new void warfare weapon researched by the Imperium at the end of the "Great Crusade," and only a small number of Astartes ships are equipped with the new model.
Building each Nova Cannon requires a massive amount of resources, enough to bankrupt some Rogue Trader.
The Nova Cannon is still dangerous; if this weapon is mishandled, it can cause the entire ship to explode.
Ordinary Macro-cannon shells, unless detonated in an ammunition depot or Plasma Reactor, will only destroy one or a few decks.
The Nova Cannon requires precise control; only the most skilled gunners in the Expeditionary Fleet can ensure that these high-speed, timed shells do not glide past enemy ships but hit targets tens of thousands of kilometers away.
The stringent requirements made equipping oneself with the Nova Cannon a luxury and an unattainable goal for any Rogue Trader.
Sangre was one of the very few Rogue Trader who could meet her demanding requirements.
Her political standing and prestige Forge World to prioritize her needs over those of most Expeditionary Fleet.
Her immense wealth made any Sector Governor seem poor, and she could provide the massive resources needed to maintain the Nova Cannon.
She can recruit the best gunners, and even get their captains to force those she likes to retire.
She even had the resources to experiment; her fleet lost forty-nine ships in the brutal war against the Xenos during the Winter's Moon of Korrida, but she also honed her skills in perfectly coordinated firepower.
Waves of shells roared into the air, their timing fuses detonating precisely the moment they hit the enemy ship.
The Iron Warriors' warships burned fiercely, molten metal spilling and drifting in the air.
Sangre gazed at the torn rift; Taran's near-Earth orbit was only 58,000 kilometers.
"Taran is just ahead; victory is within reach."
"Charge!"
The destroyer took the lead, unleashing a barrage of torpedoes that struck the massive Promethium Transport Ship.
A flattened Sun rose over Taran, and city-sized ships disintegrated, dumping fuel from their reactors into the burning storm.
The energy wave spread outwards, engulfing the ships and orbital platforms, and swallowing up the slow-moving ships around them that were unable to escape.
Sangre switched communication channels, "Login!"
Besides the Ultramarines on the Eagle's Talon, she won the trust of the House Karaz's orphaned knights with her oath and loyalty, and generations of Knight Mech and robots served her.
She also used money to secure the services of a large number of excellent Warrior.
The annual cost of the Xenomorph Warrior paid to Sacristan would have left most Planetary Governor of the Imperium penniless, but she prepaid a hundred years' worth of wages upfront.
Beep----
"My lord, the Imperial Fists fleet has retreated."
"What?"
Sangre could not believe what she was hearing. The Imperial Fists had already achieved considerable success, and as long as the "Shadow of Order" and the "Raven Guard" joined the battle, the Allied Fleet would win the Void War.
"Send a communication request to the Imperial Fists; I want to ask Pollux myself."
"Communication has been successfully established."
"Ms. Sangre." Alexis Pollux, the company commander of the 405th Company of the "Imperial Fists," spoke calmly, as if nothing had happened.
Why are you retreating?
Our plan is about to succeed.
"The fleet's Astropath have just successfully established contact with Terra, and I have received urgent orders to return to Terra immediately."
"Corax is right here!" Sangre shouted.
"He is the Primarch."
"I'm sorry, but the order came from my father."
"His will is of the highest priority, and I cannot let anything delay it."
Pollux calmly explained that he knew even if he wanted to continue the war, the fleet commanders would not listen to him.
The command.
His legion was bound together with oaths of discipline and honor.
By the time he rose to the command level, company commanders in the fleet such as Tiel, Sarus, and Bordinax had won far more victories than he had at a young age, and ranked higher on the legion's honor roll.
The fleet commander appointed by his father was Jonad, and the only reason he was able to become the fleet commander after Jonard's death was because he was Jonard's Apprentice and second-in-command.
Now, he had to make the same decision as the other company commanders: obey his father's orders and return to Terra.
"I have sent messages to Lord Corax and Wilshire to inform them of the situation."
"Ms. Sangre, I suggest you retreat immediately."
The static crackled and popped, the burning Taran reflecting in her eyes.
Her eyelids drooped limply. "Retreat—"
[They're all unreliable, after all.]
Yes, compared to Terra, the core of the Imperium of Man, what is Taran?
[Taran and I are both just marginal figures outside the inner circle of the Imperium.]
The Eagle's Talon braked suddenly, and Sangre's feet trembled uncontrollably.
She turned abruptly and strode toward the Throne.
Beep----
The piercing buzzing sound rang out again. Sangre took two more steps before raising her hand to press the Communication Bead.
"Sir, a large-scale jump signal has been detected."
Sangre took a deep breath, forcing herself to pull herself out of her anger.
"Confirm."
"The Combined Fleet of the Shadow of Order."
Sangre pondered silently for five seconds, then said, "Reorganize the formation, flank the enemy."
"The engines are running at full power to ensure we can evacuate at any time."
She leaned back on the Throne, gazing at the runes on the holographic tactical table.
Countless black runes leaped into view. The moment the Dark Angels's warship appeared, it rushed straight towards the Iron Warriors's warship, without waiting for the Shadow of Order act.
Sangre glanced at the scattered battlefields and shook her head.
Black runes suddenly leaped into his eyes, streaking across the void like arrows, heading straight for Taran.
Sangre gazed at Wilshire's silver-white flagship as it charged straight toward Taran.
Three fleets of Iron Warriors attacked the Silver Stallion from different directions, their gray runes forming a three-shaped encirclement.
Sangre sat up straight.
Five Dark Angels squadrons conducted tactical maneuvers, three of which blocked the Iron Warriors' interception fleet, their ranks densely covered with fiery runes.
The two fleets, led by the Caliban's Lament and the Beastslayer, converged on either side of the Black Fleet, as the fleet under the Shadow of Order charged forward.
[Is the Dark Angels paving the way for the Shadow of Order?]
Sangre pressed the Communication Bead, "Log in!"
She stood up and walked quickly toward the flight deck.