In the Void, the Iron Warriors Fleet maintained a tight encirclement, like wolves surrounding a dying beast.
The Lance Batteries of every Warship still gave off a dangerous afterglow, their barrels locked firmly on the enormous Black Planet that had fallen silent at the center of the encirclement.
A brief calm often heralded an even fiercer storm.
Perturabo stood before the Bridge's main tactical hololith, his cold metal face betraying no relaxation.
His logic core worked at astonishing speed, analyzing every possible response the enemy might make. He never believed an enemy would simply wait to die.
"High-energy reaction detected! Massive structural changes on the target's surface!" The sensor operator's voice broke the silence of the Bridge with the urgency of an alarm.
In the Holographic Projection, the Black Planet's surface began to writhe violently, then heave!
Its once smooth, hard metal shell now resembled clay kneaded by an invisible giant hand, or continental plates shifting wildly on a planetary scale.
Between the heaving "mountains" and "rifts," ominous streaks of dark red energy shone through from within the Planet, growing brighter and brighter.
"It's staking everything on one last attempt." Perturabo's voice was cold, with a trace of grim confirmation.
"All Warships, maximum power! Target the energy eruption points! Fire a full volley! Suppress it!"
The order spread instantly throughout the Fleet over encrypted channels!
"For the Emperor! Fire!"
"All Warships, fire a full volley!"
The Ship Captains' roars overlapped across the Communications Channel!
The next instant, a torrent of Lance fire greater and more searing than any before struck the seething Black Planet from every direction!
Dozens, then hundreds of devastating energy beams slammed into the areas of the planet's surface where the energy was most concentrated, like spears hurled by gods!
BOOOOOM!!!!!
This explosion far surpassed all those