M44,999----
As the distinctive light of Inertialess Drives flickered at the edge of the Solar System, scanners at the Adeptus Mechanicus outpost on Saturn immediately detected a multitude of red dots.
Warship after warship completed its jump and advanced toward distant Terra.
What Guilliman did not know was that, however secret his "Light of Hope" was, the vast body of Aeldari knowledge needed to activate it and repair the Webway had come from the Black Adeptus Mechanicus, exposing the hidden plan.
Thus, when Calgar lost contact with Guilliman and came under attack from the Astra Militarum, the "Light of Hope" signal he sent also served as the signal to attack.
Bona watched the fleets fighting in Terra's distant orbit. Under simultaneous attack from the Imperial Navy's Corona Fleet and Terra's ground batteries, the Phalanx was already on the verge of collapse.
He turned to the commanders and Primarchs, then opened a communications channel to the entire fleet.
"All soldiers and sailors."
"Now we stand on the threshold of final victory. A prosperous future lies before our eyes."
"But we are still one step away from that better life. One last war awaits us on Terra, a war that will demand blood and sacrifice."
"Here, we will put an end to this rotten, ignorant Imperium, carry humanity's glory to every corner of the Milky Way, and make everyone proud to be human."
"Now, attack! For glory! For humanity!"
A thunderous roar erupted over the warships' communications channels. Then, one after another, the warships brought their Ion Engines to full power, lighting the dark sky like fireflies.
Bona relaxed his hand. He could truly feel the excitement and pride deep within every person's heart.
Meanwhile, Terra began gathering power like a vortex. The Golden Throne was about to activate.
"If we lose