Recaps

The Defense Force launched a sustained tank bombardment on the industrial city, badly damaging its walls and overwhelming the Planetary Defence Force. As communications failed and other parts of the industrial world came under attack, the Governor learned that the North Second Gate needed artillery support.

• The Defense Force regiment commander ordered twenty thousand Apocalypse Tanks to bombard the industrial city, and their shells shattered the walls and killed or wounded the defenders.
• The commander of the Planetary Defence Force's 36th Army demanded a counterattack, but his adjutant reported that the artillery units were still regrouping after an earlier air raid.
• The 36th Army commander sent his adjutant to hurry the artillery units and ordered soldiers to inform the Governor that the North Second Gate needed artillery support.
• The 36th Army commander's long-distance communications device failed, leaving him unable to report the situation directly.
• The Governor demanded news of the fighting, and soldiers then reported that the North Second Gate was under severe bombardment and required his artillery support.

The Defense Force used its Apocalypse Tanks to draw out and destroy the Planetary Defence Force’s artillery on the industrial world. With the defenders weakened, Otto and David decided it was time to attack.

• The Apocalypse Tanks endured the Planetary Defence Force’s barrage behind their shields, allowing the Defense Force to locate the enemy artillery.
• The Defense Force regiment commander ordered the tanks to fire on the revealed artillery positions, destroying the Planetary Defence Force’s guns and bunkers.
• The governor learned that all the artillery had been destroyed and ordered his forces to fight to the death, naming himself the world’s final line of defense.
• Otto and David agreed that the planet’s resistance had been weakened enough for them to attack.

Otto ordered the Defense Force to advance on the industrial city, where an ambushed battalion encountered a bunker that withstood their newly developed Plasma Burst Gun. The chapter ended with the bunker’s Heavy Twin-linked Logging Machine Gun still firing and the attackers unsure how to destroy it.

• Otto ordered all units to cease fire and advance, and the Defense Force moved toward the industrial city with Apocalypse Tanks and combat robots.
• The Defense Force entered the city unopposed and divided into battalion-sized units to attack across it.
• A Planetary Defence Force ambush opened fire on one battalion from a small underground bunker, but the soldiers’ field shields protected the advancing troops.
• A Defense Force soldier fired a Plasma Burst Gun at the bunker, but the blast failed to destroy it or harm the soldiers inside.
• The squad leader questioned the Plasma Burst Gunner, who said he had hit the bunker but did not know what made it so sturdy as its machine gun continued firing.

The Defense Force used an Apocalypse Tank to destroy a bunker and push through the Planetary Defence Force’s lines, advancing into the industrial world’s inner city. There, a noble’s private troops prepared to resist the invaders while hoping for Imperium reinforcements.

• The Defense Force squad leader called for tank support when the bunker stopped the squad and its combat robots.
• An Apocalypse Tank arrived, and a Defense Force soldier shot a Planetary Defence Force rocket launcher soldier before he could fire at it.
• The rocket veered harmlessly away, and the Apocalypse Tank destroyed the bunker with two siege shells, killing the defenders.
• The Defense Force continued its assault and broke through several lines on the industrial world, reaching the inner city within half a day.
• A noble’s private soldier asked whether the fortress could hold, and the noble assured him that the Emperor would grant victory and that Imperium reinforcements would arrive.

The noble commander tried to hold the fortress against the advancing Star Army as artillery battered its walls. He sent a guard to bring mechanically modified slaves inside to rescue the wounded, but a shell struck the group, and a second barrage began.

• The noble commander ordered his soldiers to take up battle positions as tank treads approached the fortress.
• Star Army shells struck the outer walls, collapsing sections and killing and wounding soldiers.
• The noble commander ordered his soldiers to stay at their posts and told a guard to bring mechanically modified slaves to rescue the wounded.
• The guard selected a group of mechanical laborers and led them toward the fortress while the rest remained outside under orders.
• A shell struck the guard and the selected laborers, killing them, and a second round of shelling engulfed the fortress.

After the fortress was destroyed by bombardment, the noble commander recovered from his injuries after praying to the God-Emperor and led the surviving soldiers out to keep fighting. Two soldiers questioned whether continuing the war was worth dying for, and the chapter left them uncertain about whether a new master would treat them any better.

• The noble commander's fortress was devastated by shelling, leaving most of its soldiers and mechanical laborers dead or gravely wounded.
• The noble commander prayed to the God-Emperor, then discovered his injuries had vanished and believed he had received a blessing.
• The noble commander gathered fewer than thirty able soldiers and ordered them to leave the ruined fortress and face the invaders.
• A soldier supporting his wounded comrade admitted that he no longer wanted to fight, while the comrade argued that their families would suffer if they stopped.
• The two soldiers acknowledged that they were already enslaved by the nobles and wondered whether changing masters would make any difference.

A wounded soldier tried to assassinate the noble commander to force the troops to surrender, but the Emperor’s blessing deflected his shots. The commander killed the traitor and questioned the other wounded soldier about the ambush.

• A soldier argued that the noble commander had to die before the troops could surrender, and his comrade agreed.
• The soldier fired his Lasgun at the commander, but the beams veered away and struck the fortress walls.
• The commander ordered his soldiers not to interfere and confronted the traitor, who said he had acted because he wanted to survive.
• The traitor fired again as the commander approached, but the shots were deflected and the commander cut off his head with a monomolecular command blade.
• The commander asked the wounded soldier what he knew about the ambush, and the soldier claimed he had been unable to react or warn him.

The noble commander rallied the surviving soldiers by revealing that the Emperor had blessed him with tremendous power. As enemy tanks and more than a thousand armored soldiers approached, he led his men into battle and opened fire.

• The noble commander excused the wounded soldier and asked the survivors whether they would continue fighting the heretics.
• The remaining soldiers chose to stay, and the noble commander told them he had received the Emperor's blessing.
• The soldiers cheered and swore to fight for the Emperor and the Imperium.
• The noble commander led the survivors outside, where approaching engines warned them that enemy forces were nearing the ruined fortress.
• The soldiers took cover as two Apocalypse Tanks and more than a thousand power-armored soldiers advanced.
• The noble commander ordered an attack and fired his Lasgun at the tanks, prompting the soldiers to unleash a barrage.

The noble commander’s private soldiers were wiped out by the Defense Force, but a Chaos God’s blessing protected him from gunfire and a siege shell. He rose from the crater and charged again, leaving the tank commander searching for a way to kill him.

• The Defense Force counterattacked the noble private soldiers’ ambush and killed dozens with Blast Guns.
• The noble commander charged the Defense Force, deflecting bullets with an invisible force.
• The Apocalypse Tank commander identified the force as a Chaos God’s blessing and ordered a siege shell fired at him.
• The siege shell destroyed the fortress and blasted open a crater, but the noble commander survived and charged again.
• The tank commander realized the battle was not over and that they needed a new strategy to kill the noble commander.

The Defense Force fought the mutating noble commander, whose strength and regenerative powers let him withstand their barrage. After they failed to hit him with Daemon-Slaying Incendiaries, the company commander ordered a close-combat assault, leaving the soldiers preparing to charge.

• The noble commander mutated as the Defense Force attacked him, growing new limbs and blue feathers while charging at the soldiers.
• The tank commander warned that the noble commander had been tainted by an evil god, and the company commander ordered concentrated fire.
• The noble commander caught an Apocalypse Tank shell and threw it aside, but the soldiers continued firing to hold him back.
• The company commander and two squad leaders fired all twenty-four Daemon-Slaying Incendiaries, but the noble commander dodged every shot.
• The company commander ordered the two squad leaders to select close-combat soldiers while he led the charge.

The company commander led seven skilled soldiers in a close-quarters assault on the noble commander after deciding to fight without Space Marine support. The Defense Force overwhelmed the wounded enemy, and the company commander severed his legs before a soldier crushed his head with a Power Hammer.

• The tank commander questioned why the company commander did not request Space Marine support, and the company commander said his men could handle the monster themselves.
• The company commander and seven soldiers charged the noble commander as the tank commander ordered the other soldiers to cease fire.
• The noble commander’s command blade and claws resisted the company commander’s attacks, but his claws could not pierce the commander’s armor.
• The soldiers struck the noble commander with power weapons, forcing him back and inflicting wounds that his regeneration could not heal.
• The company commander cut off the noble commander’s legs, and a soldier smashed his head with a Power Hammer, pulverizing it.

The Defense Force company commander’s squad destroyed the noble commander, while Tzeentch watched his plan to use the noble commander fail and began searching for another target. The company commander ordered his troops to continue advancing through the industrial city, where the noble coalition army was still putting up fierce resistance.

• The company commander’s eight soldiers killed the noble commander and destroyed his body with a Meltabomb.
• The tank commander praised the company commander, who boasted that his squad had handled the monster without casualties.
• Tzeentch watched the noble commander’s death in the Crystal Maze, grew furious at his failure, and ordered a search for new physical coordinates.
• Tzeentch recalled that the Star Army’s expedition had drawn his attention and that he wanted the Art Student’s soul for his plans.
• The company commander ordered his soldiers and combat robots to resume advancing through the inner city.
• The Defense Force broke through the noble coalition army’s defenses, but the coalition continued resisting with well-trained troops and superior equipment.

The Defense Force pushed through the industrial city’s noble defenses, overrunning the Ecclesiarchy’s inner-city position and killing its bishop. The governor ordered a desperate counterattack with his elite Departmento Munitorum enforcers as the last defensive line remained threatened.

• The Defense Force adapted to the nobles’ veteran troops and suicidal attacks, then continued advancing through the city.
• A messenger told the governor that the Ecclesiarchy’s inner-city position had fallen and its bishop had been killed.
• The governor ordered every available force to prepare a counterattack and demanded full support from the noble houses.
• The governor identified the great nobles and his own soldiers as the only remaining defensive line.
• The governor ordered his Departmento Munitorum enforcers to gather so he could lead them against the heretics.

The governor assembled his enforcers, riot-control troops, and forces supplied by the great nobles to launch a counterattack against the heretics. He led the army toward the second line of defense, hoping to reclaim it and hold out for Imperial reinforcements.

• The governor donned his power armor, prayed before the Emperor's statue, and emerged to find three thousand enforcers and tens of thousands of riot-control troops assembled.
• The governor rallied the soldiers to fight the heretics, and they vowed to follow him and fight for the Imperium.
• The governor led the troops out of the bunker with more than a hundred self-propelled artillery tanks and met the forces supplied by the great nobles.
• The governor ordered the nobles to bring their soldiers and follow his army toward the second line of defense.
• The governor advanced with his entire force because divided units had repeatedly been isolated and defeated by the Star Army.

Defense Force troops broke through the Ecclesiarchy fanatics’ second line of defense under cover of force shields and tank bombardment. Ebony led his team deeper into the position, destroying an artillery piece that threatened them.

• An Ecclesiarchy fanatic charged the advancing Defense Force soldiers with bombs strapped to his body, and they shot him dead before his explosives detonated.
• A soldier fired a bolter at a heavy machine-gun emplacement, destroying it and allowing the shield-bearing squad leader to order a charge.
• The Defense Force troops entered the second line of defense and killed the surviving fanatics in the position.
• Captain ordered Ebony to lead his team farther into the line and clear out enemies who refused to surrender.
• Ebony led his team through continued resistance, detected an artillery piece around a trench corner, and destroyed it with a Meltabomb.

After resting at the captured second line of defense, the Star Army detected the noble coalition approaching and opened fire. The governor led the battered coalition in a charge toward the position, joined by armed nobles and wealthy residents.

• The regiment commander ordered the soldiers to rest while combat robots built fortifications and stood guard.
• The regiment commander's radar detected a force of tens of thousands approaching within two kilometers, and he ordered the Star Army to prepare for battle.
• The Star Army's tanks bombarded the noble coalition, killing many and throwing its troops into disarray.
• The governor rallied the coalition and led his guards toward the second line of defense as their artillery fired back.
• The noble coalition advanced through the bombardment, joined by followers of the Emperor and armed nobles and wealthy residents.

The noble coalition charged the Defense Force’s second line of defense under the governor’s leadership, despite heavy losses from artillery. The Defense Force opened a devastating barrage, while Ebony targeted the governor and ordered a Blast Gun attack when guards blocked his rifle shots.

• The governor rallied the noble coalition and led its counterattack toward the second line of defense as artillery destroyed vehicles behind them.
• The Defense Force regimental commander ordered the Third, Fifth, Ninth, and Tenth Companies to encircle the advancing coalition from both flanks.
• Ebony prepared his squad in the trenches and ordered them to open fire when the noble coalition appeared.
• The Defense Force’s guns and Apocalypse Tanks tore through the charging coalition, but the governor urged his soldiers onward in the Emperor’s name.
• Ebony spotted the governor, failed to hit him with his Light Ripper Rifle because his guards intercepted the shots, and ordered a nearby soldier to use a Blast Gun.

Ebony’s side killed the Governor with a Blast Gun shot, throwing the noble coalition army into chaos. The Defense Force advanced across the line as the remaining attackers either fled or charged on in desperation.

• Ebony reminded the Blast Gun soldier to target the Governor, and the soldier waited for the weapon’s cooldown to end.
• An enforcer spotted the incoming blue energy round and shielded the Governor, but the blast vaporized them and dozens of other enforcers.
• The Governor’s death drove some noble coalition soldiers to swear revenge while others dropped their weapons and fled.
• The Defense Force regiment commander learned that the enemy commander had been killed and ordered a full-line advance.
• Ebony led Defense Force soldiers and combat robots in a charge as Apocalypse Tanks fired on the noble coalition army.
• The noble coalition soldiers who charged to avenge the Governor all fell before reaching the Defense Force.

After Otto reported the successful capture of the planet, Gray ordered his forces to secure it and eliminate hidden cultists. With both life-bearing planets under the Lord of the Stars' control, Gray and Tulas turned to rebuilding the galaxy and approved the logistics department's construction of a Dimensional Communications Station.

• Otto reported to Gray that his forces had eliminated the resistance and taken the planet.
• Gray praised Otto and tasked his army with keeping order and hunting down cultists.
• Gray and Tulas reflected on the two planets' liberation from the Imperium and their hopes for rebuilding.
• The chapter recounted how the Defense Force and Space Marines quickly captured the agricultural world, aided by serfs who refused to defend the nobles.
• Gray told Tulas to have the logistics department begin transforming the galaxy, and Tulas explained that Anglie had requested a Dimensional Communications Station first.

Lilith, Nack, and Anrida planned a cautious vanguard probe into the Conard Galaxy before the Third Fleet's main assault. The vanguard discovered that Marshall Conard was offering to surrender before any fighting began, and its commander decided to report the message to Lilith.

• Anrida proposed sending a vanguard to scout the Conard Galaxy and draw out its defenders, and Nack and Lilith approved his plan.
• Lilith ordered the Third Fleet to deploy one frigate and two destroyers as a vanguard, with the main fleet following behind.
• The vanguard entered the Conard Galaxy and encountered three Cobra-class Destroyers sending flag signals.
• The intelligence officer translated the signals, which said that Marshall Conard was willing to surrender and wanted to meet the fleet's commanders.
• The frigate captain consulted the two destroyer commanders, and they agreed he should report the offer to Lilith and Anrida.

Lilith, Anrida, and Nack considered how to respond after the local governor offered to surrender. Nack went to investigate aboard the frigate and summoned the governor to meet him there.

• The Vanguard Fleet reported that the other side had offered to surrender, leaving Lilith, Anrida, and Nack uncertain whether it was a trap.
• Anrida argued that the governor was unlikely to risk the consequences of trying to kill one of them, while Nack volunteered to investigate in person.
• Lilith approved Nack's plan and activated the teleportation platform so his troops could be recalled if they encountered danger.
• Nack assembled one hundred Space Marines from the First Company's First Squad and teleported with them to the frigate.
• Nack sent the two destroyers back to the Third Fleet and ordered the frigate captain to signal the governor to board a transport ship and come to the warship.

Nack’s frigate sent light signals to the three Cobra-class destroyers and waited for a reply. Aboard one destroyer, Marshall Conard awaited the translation of their response after deciding to surrender the Conard Knight Family to save it from destruction.

• Nack’s intelligence officer sent precise light signals to the three Cobra-class destroyers, and Nack ordered his crew to wait for a reply.
• Marshall Conard worried whether the opposing fleet would accept his surrender, while Willy Conard reassured him based on his psychic prophecies.
• Willy persuaded Marshall that surrender would spare the Conard Knight Family and could restore its strength, and Marshall finally agreed.
• After the Third Fleet’s vanguard entered the Conard Galaxy, Marshall’s three destroyers signaled that they wished to surrender.
• The destroyer pilot reported that the other fleet had sent signals, and Marshall ordered his intelligence officer to translate them.

Marshall accepted the Star Navy's demand to come aboard their frigate and went to meet them, while Nack prepared to receive him. Marshall stepped off the transport ship and recognized that he needed to approach the assembled Space Marines.

• The intelligence officer translated the Star Navy's signal ordering Marshall to present himself aboard its warship.
• Marshall asked Willy whether he would be in danger, and Willy reassured him that the Star Navy had accepted his surrender.
• Marshall chose to travel with only Willy and a transport ship pilot, saying the small party would show sincerity.
• Nack ordered an Aerospace Fighter to guide the transport ship to the frigate, then went to the deck with the frigate captain and one hundred Space Marines.
• Marshall landed on the frigate and stepped out to find Nack and the armored Space Marines waiting for him.

Marshall and Willy surrendered to Nack, who welcomed them into the faction of the Lord of the Stars and offered to share information about its leader. Nack then recognized Willy as a psychic with precognitive abilities and asked about him.

• Marshall and Willy approached Nack and his soldiers and formally saluted them.
• Nack praised Marshall for boarding the warship with only Willy and himself, then told him to call him Captain Nack.
• Marshall learned that Nack's faction served the Lord of the Stars and had no nobles, and he worried about his family's future.
• Nack reassured Marshall that surrendering made him part of their side and entitled him to learn about the Lord of the Stars.
• Nack asked whether Willy was the psychic whose precognitive abilities had revealed the Star Navy's arrival.

Willy explained his prophecies to Captain Nack, who learned that Willy had foreseen both the Conard Family’s destruction if it resisted and its future prosperity after surrendering. Nack then revealed what he knew about the Lord of the Stars, leaving Marshall shocked and grateful that Willy had persuaded the family to surrender.

• Willy told Nack that he had foreseen the Star Army’s arrival the day before and that the Conard Family would be destroyed if it resisted.
• Willy said he had also foreseen the Conard Knight Family regaining prosperity and renown by joining the Lord of the Stars.
• Nack accepted Willy’s account and led Marshall and Willy to the conference room to continue their conversation.
• Nack told Marshall what he knew about the Lord of the Stars, and Marshall was astonished to learn that the ruler was a god who could walk among mortals.
• Nack made drinks appear on the table with technology, astonishing Marshall and Willy, before everyone began drinking.