Even the grandest hourglass of fate still began its countdown with a single grain of sand.
—Orikan the Astrologer
Muster, muster, muster!
Ships as numerous as stars sailed forth. Every Quantum Slingshot operated at full power, and the Tech-priests maintaining them had to chant hymns and ring bells praising the Underking day and night just to barely sustain the Imperium's countless vessels.
The Imperial Navy, Space Marines, the Adeptus Mechanicus, The Ecclesiarchy, Rogue Traders, the space pirates recruited by Huron, the Wraithspawn of Barbarus wandering abroad, countless militiamen determined to sacrifice themselves...
The night sky lit by billions of ship engines shone brighter than the stars themselves. Among them were invincible Gloriana-class Battleships, as well as Rogue Trader Ships about to be retired—but none of that mattered. So long as you obeyed the orders of the sector naval commanders, the Imperium would send you to the battlefield.
The "Underking's Blessing" was also following behind the Sky Lion Chapter's Fleet Group, bright blue flames trailing from beneath her elaborate and magnificent black skirts.
"Do you think... we'll see the Underking again this time?"
Tis, captain of the Underking's Blessing, idly played with her long curled hair using her slender fingers. The brown, lustrous curls trembled around her fingertips. The question seemed meaningless, and the female captain crossed her legs differently, then casually knocked on the big yellow fool's head beneath her arm.
"Do not disrespect him."
Lion Barry's dull voice came from within his helmet. The Space Marine raised a hand and moved aside the black lace skirt blocking his vision. The female captain was not heavy, so even seated on his left shoulder, she was barely noticeable to Barry.
It was just that the puffed-up dresses she often wore blocked his view badly.
Tis curled her lips in boredom,