Choices and Reinforcements

As the massive engines of the Imperial Navy fleet roared in Terra's orbit, tearing through space and entering the Warp route with the Woles Galaxy as their destination, a stream of information from the far side of the star sea was precisely injected into the Valkyries' Mind Network within the core communications chamber of Luna Base's "Sentinel's Eye."

The information stream carried the will of High Command.

[Directive Update: Target Sector Priority Adjusted]

[New Mission: Reconnoiter/evaluate potential Tyranid development nodes within the mission area (Imperium of Man territory).]

[Support Deployment: Cruiser "Spirit of Fire" (Cruiser Perceptor) has departed from the Seventh Fleet.]

[Authorization: If signs of a large-scale Hive Fleet assembly are confirmed (threat level: Hive Fleet or above), fleet support intervention may be requested immediately.]

[Additional Directive: Monitor and report the whereabouts of target individual "Liang Bing" (identification code: Apocalypse King). Intelligence indicates that the individual intercepted and destroyed the mission briefing of the Arbitration Mechanism's [DATA DELETED], then departed the designated area. Supreme Wisdom's analytical model (confidence: 93.7%) indicates a high probability that she has entered Imperium of Man territory. Report immediately upon discovering her trail.]

Once the information stream had been parsed, an eerie silence fell over the communications chamber.

The five Valkyries looked at one another, the air filled with wordless shock and... a trace of subtle guilt.

Prinz Eugen's languid expression froze. Nimi's mouth fell open. A rare flicker passed through Prince of Wales's cold gaze, while Joan of Arc instinctively clenched the holy emblem on her chest.

The signature gentle smile on Glory's dignified face also stiffened, replaced by an exceptionally complicated expression that mixed I knew it with now we're in trouble.

Supreme Wisdom's orders were perfectly clear—their new mission was to investigate Tyranids that might threaten the entire galaxy, and... report the whereabouts of Apocalypse King Liang Bing, who was currently in Terra's orbit directly above them, enthusiastically "studying" a Bloodthirster!

"Direct orders... from Supreme Wisdom..." Nimi muttered softly, her blue eyes full of conflict. "But Queen Liang Bing... she's one of the big shots in the Senate..."

"Report it? Tell them we found her long ago and watched her keep a Bloodthirster as a pet aboard her warship?" Prinz Eugen sneered, amusement glinting in her crimson eyes. "Would Supreme Wisdom think we'd gone mad?"

Prince of Wales's voice remained cool, though it carried a trace of gravity. "Concealing the target's whereabouts violates regulations. But reporting it... may cause unnecessary complications and interfere with the current mission." She looked at Glory, her meaning obvious: they couldn't bear this burden, nor could they throw it away. Only Glory could carry it.

Glory took a deep breath. The sapphire on her chest glimmered faintly, as though running at high speed.

Supreme Wisdom was their direct superior. Its orders had to be carried out.

But Liang Bing... was not merely a member of the Senate. She was also the commander of the Holy Judgment Legion, and her personality was... exceptionally willful.

Offending Supreme Wisdom over this matter would at most lead to an investigation. Offending Queen Liang Bing? Well... the consequences could be far more "colorful."

Time seemed to freeze for several seconds.

Glory's gaze swept over her companions before finally settling on the point of light representing the Woles Galaxy on the tactical star map, heavily surrounded by scarlet arrows.

Her eyes became resolute and wise once more.

"Supreme Wisdom's directive says, 'Report immediately upon discovering her trail.'" Glory's voice regained its usual grace, carrying a subtly flexible interpretation. "Cross-galactic communication through the Mind Network has inherent delays and information interference. We have only just received the directive. The 'discovery' and 'confirmation' of Queen Liang Bing's whereabouts... require time for necessary, careful verification procedures. After all, the target individual possesses extremely high-level camouflage and counter-reconnaissance capabilities."

She paused and looked toward the other Valkyries. "Our current highest priority is carrying out the new reconnaissance and evaluation mission—investigating potential Tyranid threats within Imperium of Man territory. The prerequisite for this mission is ensuring the 'passability' of the mission area." Her gaze returned to Woles. "If the Woles Node falls completely, the Solar System will become an isolated island. We will be trapped here as well, unable to conduct effective reconnaissance. Assisting the Imperium of Man in breaking the blockade is a necessary condition for completing our mission."

Prinz Eugen was the first to catch on. She lazily stretched, understanding laughter flashing through her red eyes. "Ah~ That's right! Communication delays, perfectly understandable! Verification takes time! And as for breaking the blockade... tch, helping those little native children while we're at it will save us from having to painfully smash our own way out later."

Nimi nodded vigorously as well. "Right, right, right! Help them clear the route first! Then we can go out and hunt bugs!"

Prince of Wales said nothing, but gave a slight nod in agreement.

Joan of Arc softly offered a prayer, seeking inner peace for the battle to come.

Glory's decision was clear: delay Liang Bing's matter! For now, they would refrain from reporting it under the excuse that verification was ongoing and focus their strength on breaking the blockade—the most urgent task before them, and the one most aligned with the "mission prerequisite." As for later? They would take it one step at a time. Hopefully, Her Majesty would finish playing and return on her own soon. As long as... Supreme Wisdom didn't catch her red-handed.

"Notify Master Obi-Wan," Glory ordered. "Inform him of our mission change and our decision to assist the Imperium of Man in opening the Woles Passage. At the same time, request temporary passage aboard an Imperium of Man vessel bound for the Woles battlefield."

On Terra, Guilliman's flagship, Macragge's Honour, had just completed emergency repairs and made its final preparations for the jump. Its immense hull trembled in the Void, about to embark on a perilous Warp voyage.

Obi-Wan's communication request was connected to Guilliman's private channel.

The Jedi Master's gentle voice carried a trace of solemnity as he relayed the Valkyries' decision and request.

"Tyranids?" Guilliman frowned beneath his helmet. "Unable to leave the Solar System... that is indeed the case." He spoke in a low voice. "Woles is the only key. Thank you for your understanding and support. Lady Glory and the others may board any warship they deem suitable. I will inform the fleet to prepare for their arrival."

Guilliman thought rapidly. The Hilling Valkyries' participation would undoubtedly be a powerful aid to Woles. And this time, there was even a Hilling Empire cruiser. It seemed this would be the last time he saw these Hilling Valkyries.

"Tell Lady Glory," Guilliman added, "the Imperium remembers this assistance. Once Woles is liberated and the Solar System passage is opened, the Imperium will fully cooperate with your investigation into the potential Tyranid threat."

The communication ended.

Guilliman's gaze swept across the torrent of Imperial fleets gathering at speed beyond the bridge, then glanced at the "Apocalypse One" marker still quietly suspended on the tactical star map.

Queen Liang Bing seemed utterly uninterested in the fleet's movements, still immersed in her "research."

"Entire fleet, maximum speed! Destination—Woles! For the Emperor! For humanity's survival!" Guilliman's voice rang like a great bell through the fleet-wide communication channels.

"For the Emperor! For the Regent!" A tidal roar of responses came from countless warships.

The massive tide of steel charged without hesitation into the unpredictable, perilous waves of the Warp.

At the same time, several hidden berths at Luna Base opened.

Five sleek, small assault craft radiating soft energy light shot out like arrows loosed from the bow, precisely catching up with several of the Imperial Navy's fastest and relatively well-protected cruisers.

The assault craft merged unobstructed into the hulls of their target warships, like drops of water returning to the sea.

The human crew on the bridges only had time to see several elegant figures appear within the light before the hatches closed. Glory's calm, clear voice then came through the communication channels. "The Hilling Empire Expeditionary Force has boarded. We will operate alongside your vessel. Please proceed according to the original flight plan. Once battle begins, we will choose our own point of intervention."

Watching the special identification signals representing the Valkyries overlap with his own ship's signal on the tactical screen, the captain felt an inexplicable pressure—and a powerful surge of hope.

These super-soldiers from another realm were extraordinarily powerful. They would be the blade that tore open the Chaos blockade!

Woles's outer perimeter, the turbulent region where the Warp met reality.

Vengeful Spirit loomed like a venomous spider crouching at the center of a web, its immense hull radiating nauseating, blasphemous light.

Abaddon stood before the bridge's vast observation window, his crimson electronic eye coldly fixed on the war-shrouded planet ahead—Woles.

In orbit, raider ships and strike cruisers belonging to the Black Legion formed a tight blockade network, strangling the galaxy's throat like a noose.

On the surface, a tide of Chaos Space Marines, daemon engines, and traitorous Imperial Guard forces battered the last fortress of Woles's defenders. Blasphemous banners bearing the eight-pointed star of Chaos flickered in and out of sight amid the smoke.

"Report, Warmaster!" a Chaos captain covered in cables and metal implants rasped. "Warp disturbances in the direction of Terra have intensified dramatically! We've detected signals of a large-scale fleet emergence! It's Guilliman! He's brought the Imperial Navy's main force!"

A savage smile split Abaddon's mouth, revealing ghastly white fangs. "They're finally here! Then let them smash themselves to death against Woles's iron wall! Order every fleet to abandon the purge of the remaining surface enemies and turn immediately! Form interception arrays! I want Guilliman and his pathetic fleet buried in this star region forever! Let this place become their grave!"

At Abaddon's command, the Black Legion's massive fleet turned and shifted formation like a pack of awakened wolves, their vicious gun barrels aiming toward the direction where the Warp disturbances were most intense.

The energy of Destruction gathered within the cannon barrels, waiting for their prey to walk into the trap.