"The Pride of the Emperor is deploying Virus Bombs against the surface! Deputy Captain Vort!"
A communications officer's voice rang out across the Bridge of the Iron Blood, filled with barely concealed horror and rage.
His finger pointed to the black region spreading rapidly across Olympia's surface on the holographic tactical display. It was the Life-Eater Virus released by the detonating Virus Bombs, devouring every living thing on the ground at a terrifying pace.
Vort stood at the command station in the center of the Bridge, his half-mechanical body stiffening for a moment.
His bionic eye magnified and focused on the distant Pride of the Emperor, giving him a clear view of the Torpedo launch bays opening at the warship's prow.
One Virus Bomb after another dropped from the launch tubes, trailing white smoke as they plunged toward Olympia's surface.
His mechanical hand clenched sharply, its knuckles giving off a piercing screech of metal scraping against metal.
Then he slammed his fist into the control console before him.
Boom!
The console's metal panel buckled beneath his tremendous strength. Sparks burst from the cracks, and several severed cables whipped through the air, crackling with electricity.
The officers around him flinched at the sudden violence, turning to look at their deputy captain.
"Contact the Primarch!" Vort's voice echoed across the Bridge, a blend of mechanical and human tones carrying a metallic rasp and authority. "Prepare to take them down with us! Even if we die, we will make sure the traitors stay at Olympia!"
His orders exploded across the Bridge like a thunderclap. The officers froze for a moment, then sprang into action.
The communications officer began trying to reach Perturabo on the surface, the weapons officer adjusted the guns' targeting parameters, and the helmsman changed course, preparing for a final ramming