Sacrifice (2)

"Activate the Valiant Blade."

Steve Rogers said it without the slightest hesitation.

"My lord?" Sicarius asked hesitantly.

"Activate it, Sicarius. Deploy ten of them, and have the Astra Militarum get ready. They've always wanted to strike out, haven't they? Their chance has come."

"But—"

"—now is no longer the time to worry about the technology the Orks might evolve."

With a hint of suppressed anger, Steve said gravely, "Lady Lelith's perception was finally right for once. Face-Ripper's ship has already been destroyed by us above this planet, but it wasn't on it at all. Where else could it go besides the surface?"

"It's here. It may not even need to stay on its own ship—why, Sicarius?"

He pointed at the star map projected over the command table, with such force that even the air let out an ear-piercing shriek. "Send the Valiant Blade to support the brothers of the Black Templars. Frank!"

"I'm here."

A flat voice sounded, and Frank Castle slowly stood up. He was already fully armed—or rather, he was fully armed at all times.

"What's the mission, Captain?"

"I need you to do what you're best at. Surface scans aren't very effective under the influence of this damned Psionic barrier, but their main base still can't escape the Glyph Array's detection. Face-Ripper is right here."

He tapped a finger on a certain point on the ground, and a string of numbers appeared beside it.

Steve said calmly, "You don't need to kill that damned Orc, but I want you to create as much chaos as possible. If you can, Frank, I hope you kill every Orc except it. Go to the hangar. The Drop Pod is ready."

The Punisher's lips slowly curled up.

"Yes, Captain—I suppose this time, no matter what methods I use, I won't have