Vashtorr was intimidated by Luke's inconceivable power and placed on high alert by the arrival of the uninvited Be'lakor. For a time, he could neither fully suppress Luke nor support Abaddon or continue sabotaging the fortress systems.
The scrapcode plague and Warp interference blanketing the fortress network visibly weakened as Vashtorr's attention was divided.
"Bzz... Communications restored! Repeat! Communications restored!" The communications officer's delighted voice rang out from the fortress command center.
Though the signal remained unstable, the crucial battlefield command channels had been reestablished!
During a brief lull in the fierce battle, Lion El'Jonson caught this vital information.
A sharp gleam flashed through his cold eyes. With Emperor's Shield, he steadily deflected Abaddon's frenzied blows while issuing the long-awaited command through his internal communicator:
"All units! Proceed according to the original plan!"
The instant the order was issued, the main force of the Imperium expeditionary fleet, which had long lain hidden like a hibernating beast within the asteroid belt and the shadows of planetoids around The Rock, suddenly cast aside its disguise!
Countless engine exhausts ignited with blinding light! Macro-cannon batteries broke their silent locks! Lance turrets began charging! The Imperium warships, long eager for battle, descended like an enraged Swarm from every direction, lunging with thunderous force at the Chaos fleet that had concentrated all its attention on assaulting the fortress!
"Enemy attack! Rear! Flanks! Massive Imperium fleet!!"
"We've walked into an ambush..."
The Chaos fleet commanders let out desperate howls.
Caught completely off guard, the outer escort vessels and some fire-support ships of the Chaos fleet suffered devastating blows in an instant!
Countless fireballs erupted in the void! The Imperium fleet drove directly into the Chaos fleet's vulnerable core, seeking to divide and encircle Abaddon's main force!
Abaddon listened to the desperate cries pouring through the comms