Dalit Warp Gate

"The area we're currently in is on the edge of the Dalinite Nebula."

"According to what our allies in the Adeptus Mechanicus have reported, this nebula itself holds little value for occupation."

The Dalinite Nebula teems with xenos lifeforms.

They are dangerous and numerous, scattered across the entire nebula.

Neither Imperial records nor local surveys have uncovered any clues related to human interstellar colonization.

"Logically, the fleet should have bypassed this place."

Horus paused briefly.

"But we found this—the Dalit Warp Gate."

The Tactical Composite Image at the center of the conference table suddenly zoomed in, focusing on the massive architectural rings above the planet.

These rings were arranged side by side, stretching thousands of meters across space.

And there were hundreds of such Warp Gate structures throughout the entire Dalinite Nebula.

"The Tech-Priests we dispatched have begun investigating the composition and materials of the Warp Gates."

A Magos from the Adeptus Mechanicus chimed in, his voice a slightly reverb-laced electronic tone from the vocalizer array glimmering at his throat.

"The materials cannot be analyzed by our current machinery. These Warp Gates likely originate from some ancient xenos existence, yet they still function perfectly."

"In fact, their precision surpasses any navigational device currently in the Imperium."

"Praise the Omnissiah! If we can master the construction of these Warp Gates and put them into production, our future voyages will be safer and more convenient."

His tone grew excited.

Warp Gate.

Memories of such devices gradually surfaced in Kasgar's mind.

This was an auxiliary tool for Warp travel, allowing fleets to transit back and forth between gate nodes more safely and conveniently, and to explore other unknown territories of the galaxy through the gates.

Even in the face of raging Warp Storms, they could still complete transit and troop deployment.

They held immense strategic value.

And with such a prize, Horus naturally wouldn't let it slip by.

As the commander of the 63rd Expeditionary Fleet and the Sixteenth Legion, he quickly ordered all units to launch extermination campaigns against the xenos enemies still present in the Dalinite Nebula.

Kasgar was also raring to go.

Such a golden opportunity to showcase his command abilities was not one he would miss.

"As for the Emperor's Children Legion." After assigning combat objectives to each unit, Horus scratched his smooth back of his head with some awkwardness.

"The Emperor's Children Legion will be responsible for holding the rear, protecting the communication stations and navigational arrays we've set up on Silent Star."

"Prevent any xenos enemies from using the Warp Gates to ambush us from behind."

"...Understood."

Kasgar nodded.

The Third Legion's mission was actually quite important in theory.

Their defensive duties would, on one hand, safeguard the Tech-Priests' scientific expedition; on the other, they would stabilize the rear defensive line, allowing the other members of the Expeditionary Fleet to fight without reservation!

For the entire campaign in the Dalinite Nebula, it played a... uh, better-than-nothing role?

The Warp Gates had stood in the Dalinite Nebula for so long, relics of lost ancient technology, and few xenos even knew how to use them.

Since arriving in the Dalinite Nebula, Kasgar had never seen any of these Warp Gates show any activity.

That meant, unless within the few short weeks of the extermination campaign, some unlucky xenos happened to come through these ancient Warp Gates, and specifically through the very last one among the hundreds—

Otherwise, the Emperor's Children were just here to guard the door for them!

Clearly, Horus's arrangement was obvious.

He was making them the Warp Gate's security guards!

Security guards.

Guarding the gate's safety.

They really were being looked down upon!

Flat-faced Kasgar was a bit unhappy.

From Horus's perspective, this arrangement made sense.

After all, anyone who looked at Kasgar knew he was a nepotism hire.

If he were actually thrown into the fierce and dangerous front lines, and something happened to him, how would Horus explain it to Fulgrim?

Flat-faced Kasgar boarded the cruiser heading to his post, unhappy.

The manpower Horus left him wasn't exactly small, either.

Five hundred fully armed Space Marines of the Third Legion, thousands of Auxilia.

Plus a Lunar-class Cruiser and several escorts.

And a scattering of the Adeptus Mechanicus' own Missionaries.

But unfortunately.

If only there were an enemy here, it would be perfect.

"What's the matter, Acting Prefect? Do you have more orders for us? Or are we supposed to take a nice break and do whatever we want?"

Seeing this, Lucius stepped forward and teased.

Anyone with eyes could see that their Third Legion had been stationed in the rear.

Though there was little danger, the glory of battle and military honors were beyond their reach.

"No, Lucius."

"Our campaign is only just beginning."

After playing the part of the put-upon fool for so long, Kasgar's expression shifted as he smiled and opened the All-Force Communication.

"All soldiers of the Third Legion, hear my command."

"Stand ready, build Defensive Fortifications."

"Prepare to engage the enemy."

Aboard the Vengeful Spirit.

The war council had concluded, and the various factions were deploying according to their operational plans.

Everything was arranged with precision.

Now came the informal discussion time for the Lunar Wolves' Council of Four Kings.

As the First Returned Son who had spent Thirty Years alongside the Emperor, Horus's military command abilities were beyond question.

That included the Sons of the Emperor's Recruit Commander, Kasgar Sherlock.

Horus didn't care for this kind of person either—someone who climbed to a high position through connections.

It reminded him of those mortal bureaucrats the Emperor valued more than him.

Horus disliked those men.

They had no military achievements and understood nothing of war's brutality.

Yet they could stand behind him and his Space Marines, ordering them about with arrogance. It irritated him.

"That Kasgar becoming commander—I wonder if it's because he pulled strings, or someone pulled his."

With the others gone and only the Lunar Wolves' Council of Four Kings remaining, Second Captain Torgaddon chuckled.

This loose-lipped Second Captain seemed to be saying things he shouldn't again.

Normally, even Horus himself would often burst out laughing at his jokes.

But not this time.

"Second Captain, watch your tongue."

He frowned, signaling the man to shut up.

After all, Kasgar was his Brother-in-Law.

When Fulgrim had requested Kasgar's assignment to the 63rd Expeditionary Fleet, he'd understood her meaning.

Simply put, she was planting him here to pad his resume.

But as the good elder brother to the primarchs, he couldn't refuse her request.

The Great Crusade wasn't just about fighting.

It was also about human relationships.

As for Fulgrim's constant insistence that Kasgar was a tactical genius, he didn't take it seriously.

He'd seen far too many armchair strategists, and their fates were rarely good.

"In any case, I can't control what other Legions do. But I hope that among our Lunar Wolves, there won't be such overrated individuals."

Horus addressed the captains of his Council of Four Kings.