The song " Sleepless in Eternal Night " instantly resounded throughout the entire bridge and every corner of the Obsidian Pinnacle.
That was the Imperium anthem, played only on the most important occasions.
No one knew who had turned on the radio, and no one bothered to investigate.
Everyone felt that there was no more suitable background music at this moment than this piece.
Amidst the sacred and uplifting music, Lynn's voice was clear and firm:
Gus Griffith.
"Your subordinate is here!" Gus immediately stood at attention and gave a perfect Aquila Salute, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.
" Carl II is the spearhead of the expedition!"
" Gus, are you willing to take on the responsibility of a great general?"
Gus raised his head and met Lynn's gaze.
In those deep purple eyes, there was no doubt or probing, only a heavy trust and expectation.
A surge of warmth instantly welled up from the depths of his heart to the top of his head, dispelling all his unease and hesitation.
He remembered that night aboard the Song Offering, when Lynn stood before him, taking away his name and his already bleak life.
He recalled how he had found himself in the bloody battles at the Brevis Forbidden Wall.
It was Lynn who gave him a new life.
This made him a true soldier.
Now, an opportunity to relive the glory of his ancestors is presented to him; how could he not be excited?
Gus took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions within him.
He saluted again, this time his voice resounding throughout the bridge:
"What is there to be afraid of!"
"This humble general Gus Griffith, hereby swears an oath to the Emperor, and to Kerry von!"
"As long as I have a breath left, as long as I stand on the land of Carl II, Carl II will never fall into the hands of the Orks!"
"If I break this oath, I will accept military law and my soul will return to the Golden Throne!"
"Great!" Lynn shouted, a rare smile appearing on his face.
He reached out and patted Gus's shoulder heavily, the force neither too light nor too heavy, yet carrying immense weight.
"I knew I hadn't misjudged you."
The hymn gradually faded away.
Lynn looked around, his gaze sweeping over the faces of every officer.
"From this moment forward, Gus Griffith is the Admiral of the Brevis Expeditionary Fleet. Everyone must obey his orders unconditionally."
"Anyone who disobeys, regardless of rank or social status, will be executed on the spot! Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir!" all the officers shouted in unison, their voices uneven, but no one dared to raise any further objections.
Lynn nodded, then said to Gus, "Come with me to the captain's cabin. There's something I need to discuss with you privately."
After saying that, he turned and walked towards the captain's cabin, the ornate alloy door slowly opening behind him.
Gus followed behind him, able to feel those complex gazes still fixed on his back.
But he no longer cares about any of that.
The captain's cabin door closed, shutting out all the noise from outside.
The room was quiet, with only the ticking of the wall clock.
The horrific chitinous flesh and blood had been hidden away, and it now looked like an ordinary room.
Lynn took a bottle of spirits and two glasses from the liquor cabinet, poured Gus a full glass, and then poured one for himself.
"Have a seat," Lynn gestured for him to sit on the sofa.
There are no outsiders here, so you don't need to be so formal.
Gus took the glass and sat down on the sofa.
He gently swirled the orange liquid in his glass, the aroma filling the air, intoxicatingly fragrant.
He took a sip, the spicy liquid sliding down his throat, leaving a burning sensation that gradually calmed his somewhat excited emotions.
"There were too many people around on the bridge just now, so it wasn't convenient to say some things." Lynn leaned back on the sofa, his posture languid.
"I've left you all of our main force: the Obsidian Pinnacle, twenty-eight frigates, all the destroyers and transport ships, and our ground troops."
"Remember, your mission can be summed up in one word: Guard!"
"Do not launch an attack, do not pursue those stragglers who escaped from Carl II, and do not attempt to wipe out the entire Carl II in one fell swoop."
"Our current troop strength cannot withstand any further losses."
"Concentrate all forces in the core area, the mid-level platforms, and the three main ports."
"Build a layered defense system based on existing fortifications."
"Especially the port, it's our only lifeline and the Orks ' primary target."
"We must send our most elite troops to guard this area and set up plenty of firing positions."
"As long as the Orks can't log in and we enter the board-hopping phase, we have the advantage."
"I understand." Gus nodded, put down his glass, took out a notebook from his pocket, and began to take notes carefully.
He then revealed his plan:
"I have deployed two elite infantry regiments near the hidden passages to block the exits leading to space."
"Flame guns and Heavy Bolter positions were deployed at each exit."
"If any Orks dare to show their faces, immediately subject them to indiscriminate fire."
"In addition, I have arranged patrol teams to patrol 24 hours a day. If any group of Orks with a number of four digits or more is found gathered together, it will be immediately reported to headquarters for crackdown."
"Yes, very well done." Lynn nodded in satisfaction.
"As for the construction team, although Alderman has a bad temper and speaks rudely, his abilities are among the best in the entire Brevis."
"Be more understanding of him, and don't hold a grudge against him."
"Prioritize repairing the fusion reactor and life support systems in the core area, followed by the port's anti-aircraft guns and orbital defense systems."
"Other things, such as dormitories, canteens, and recreational facilities, can be put on hold. We are in wartime now, and everything should serve the war effort."
Halfway through his sentence, Lynn leaned forward slightly, his tone becoming serious:
"There are two more 'people' I'm leaving for you; they are your greatest asset in protecting Carl II."
"One is Dahan, whom you've met; I don't need to elaborate on her strength."
"The other is her clone, Bailu, who is always in charge of intelligence work behind the scenes and rarely shows herself."
Gus paused for a moment, then asked in confusion, " Bailu? I've never heard of that name before."
"She is an extremely powerful Psyker, skilled in telepathy, precognition, and mental interference," Lynn explained.
Rena Bailu is Zoanthrope specially modified by Rena to serve as the Navigator the expeditionary fleet.
Normally hidden in the captain's cabin of the Obsidian Pinnacle, it exists as the "biological control brain" of the entire fleet.
At the same time, Rena also uses this more intelligent clone whenever she plays chess with Lynn.
"Every little thing that happens on the entire Carl II will be under her control," Lynn continued.
" Gus, remember this: before absolute power, any tactic is futile."
"If you encounter any problems you can't solve, or anything you can't decide on, listen to Rena."
Her judgment is always more accurate and far-sighted than yours or mine.
"Remember, staying alive and protecting Carl II is the most important thing."
Gus nodded vigorously without hesitation. "Yes, I understand."
He never doubted the strength of the mysterious Tyranids surrounding Lynn.
Lynn breathed a sigh of relief when she saw his honest eyes.