Is It Over Already?

"Which garrison?"

"What xenos? And how many troops, through what means did they attack?"

Hearing that the xenos had stirred up more trouble, Horus couldn't help but frown.

The purge of xenos within the star system was nearly complete, and they had been pushing forward with the campaign's progress.

Now, their position was in a relatively remote area of the system, and even an immediate return to defense would require a significant warp jump.

Still, even if the rear had suffered an attack with some losses, the overall impact on the campaign was not too severe.

As long as it wasn't the camp where the Sons of the Emperor were stationed—

"Unfortunately," Abaddon said, perhaps sensing Horus's hesitation, "it's Silent Star, where the Sons of the Emperor are garrisoned, that's been attacked."

This was not good.

Even Astropaths took time to relay information, and the treacherous currents of the warp made communication exceedingly difficult.

Even for short-range transmissions within the same star system.

By the time they received the astropathic message, it might have been sent days ago.

Or even negative one day.

"Did the astropathic message mention the enemy's military strength? Do they need us to return and reinforce?"

Horus still clung to a faint hope.

What if it was just some scattered, broken xenos unit on the run?

With the strength of the Sons of the Emperor's veteran Astartes, they might be able to handle it on their own.

"The situation seems dire."

But Abaddon didn't seem to bring good news.

The astropathic message was extremely clear: "Silent Star has been attacked by a massive xenos fleet. The enemy's ship firepower and xenos forces are far beyond what they can withstand."

"The orbit of Silent Star has been completely seized. Without reinforcements, the ground forces' annihilation is only a matter of time."

Now this was truly bad.

Even the primarch Horus felt a headache coming on.

Though the astropathic message had been received, who knew when it had actually been sent?

This was the critical phase of the xenos purge campaign.

If they abandoned the extermination to rush back for reinforcement, letting this small xenos force regroup and form a threat—like space pirate guerrilla forces—the cost of maintaining the warp gate's security would inevitably skyrocket.

"Izekiel, what's your take?"

"I disagree with an immediate rescue."

He snorted coldly.

The black wolf pelt on his white shoulder guard bristled with the motion.

As the famed Company Commander of the Lunar Wolves, his status had been earned blade by blade through mountains of blood and corpses.

He had no patience for a nepotistic case like Kasgar.

Especially not when it meant the Lunar Wolves had to alter their tactics for him.

"With all due respect, from the moment Lady Fulgrim appointed that man as the Legion's Acting Prefect, she should have accepted that he might fall in battle."

If they delayed the campaign's critical purge phase for him, causing unnecessary deaths among the Lunar Wolves' battle-brothers—

Just thinking about it made Abaddon find it unacceptable.

"He is, after all, entrusted to me by my sister, Izekiel."

"Besides, Kasgar is still considered my kin."

"If we refuse even to aid him, and something happens to him later—let alone Fulgrim, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself either."

Horus countered earnestly, his heart conflicted.

"We Lunar Wolves are also your sons, Lord Horus."

Abaddon seemed unaffected by the primarch's words, his tone still carrying a sharp edge.

"If this Kasgar truly had the command talent Fulgrim claims, why would he need to send us an astropathic plea for help?"

"Then why should we send reinforcements?"

"I propose this: at most, we dispatch a small mobile fleet back as a vanguard to scout. If they've held out against the xenos assault until now, it proves they're worth saving—then we can send the main force later."

"If the battle is already over, hmph!"

"Then we needn't waste any more effort on such a useless fool."

Fulgrim said Kasgar was impressive, did she? Then let them handle it themselves!

Abaddon's meaning was clear. Though his words were harsh, the logic was sound.

In war, every life has its value. If Kasgar truly wasn't worth saving, then his death would actually be a relief for the 63rd Expeditionary Fleet.

But if they followed Abaddon's plan...

By the time they made it back and forth, the man might already be ash.

"Lord Horus!"

Just as he was wavering, the gilded ebony door of the strategy chamber was abruptly thrown open.

It was a frail old man in a dark green hooded robe.

If Horus remembered correctly, he was the Master of the Astropathic Choir for the 63rd Expeditionary Fleet.

"What is it?"

"Another astropathic message, from Acting Prefect Kasgar."

"What did he say?"

"He said—"

"It's already over."

The Astropath paused for a moment, as if trying to figure out how to translate the other's meaning faithfully, expressively, and elegantly.

"The xenos fleet has been completely smashed to pieces under Kasgar's brilliant command. Annihilated."

Then the Astropath gave up.

"Normally, such a paltry xenos force wouldn't be worth bothering Lord Horus with, but somehow the astropathic communication malfunctioned—just after the first part was delivered, it got cut off by Warp turbulence."

"If a distress message was received, please disregard it. That was not part of the plan."

"The xenos fleet is almost entirely destroyed. The remaining stragglers will retreat through the portal."

"Nothing is needed except a victory banquet and further in-depth study of our Sons of the Emperor."

"Excellent!"

Horus laughed heartily.

Impressive.

The sudden reversal of fortune made him beam with joy.

Just from this message, he could hear the pride in that boy Kasgar's heart.

He never expected the man was actually a latent genius!

He'd been lying low all this time, just waiting for a resounding victory to establish his authority and secure his footing in the Legion!

Of course.

Fulgrim, who single-handedly turned Chemos from a barren dead world into a paradise rare even in the Imperium of Man...

Couldn't possibly have failed to see whether Kasgar, who had been by her side for Thirty Years, had real talent.

After all, that was Thirty Years!

The very same glorious time Horus, as the First Returned Son, had spent with the Emperor.

Horus firmly believed that if someone studied under the Emperor and was steeped in His influence, like he had...

Thirty years would be enough to turn even the most ignorant, dull-witted thug into a pillar of the Imperium capable of standing on his own.

Just like him, Horus Lupercal.

From the bottom of his heart, Horus's recognition of Kasgar rose considerably.

"You see, Company Commander."

Horus said with a smile to Abaddon: "You were right. Kasgar could indeed handle it himself."

"Hard to say."

Abaddon still seemed somewhat unconvinced.

"The description of the xenos exists only in the astropathic message. Who knows if he's exaggerating?"

Then I ask you.

Ah, then I ask you.