The battle within the star system raged on for nearly a week. Under the naval tactics executed by Aiur, the invading Plague Fleet was driven into a steady, broken retreat.
Finally, after two Chaos cruisers were blasted into drifting void-wreckage from both the outside by the Leviathans and the inside by the Zerg Swarm, the servants of Nurgle chose to retreat.
They turned tail and fled in panic toward the Mandeville point at the edge of the star system. It was at this moment that the fatal weakness among these Chaos warbands was laid bare.
These factions possessed absolutely no sense of coordination. Every single warband was desperately trying to preserve its own strength, forcing other allied forces to intercept incoming fire and attacks for them. To achieve this, they went so far as to start attacking one another.
Seizing this opportunity, the Swarm's Leviathans ruthlessly hunted down these terrified prey. A massive number of ships were destroyed in the chaos, and the bodies of the Plague Marines and their lackeys were continuously cast out into the void like space junk. It was only when their last remaining ships finally plunged back into the roiling waves of the Warp that the battle officially came to an end.
A shameful rout—this was the only thought echoing in the mind of the Plague Fleet's commander. He could not comprehend why that damnable xenos fleet would assist humanity. Of the handful of plague warships he had borrowed from Typhus, only a meager few now remained.
Even though these ship husks would eventually drift back into the Warp and return to their hands once more, this defeat nonetheless brought him immense humiliation. He had no idea what kind of punishment awaited his return.
---
Alexei watched the panicking Plague Fleet flee into the Warp and did not order a pursuit. He was highly satisfied with the outcome of this battle; at the cost of only six Leviathans and some twenty Battlecruisers, they had successfully annihilated nearly half of the enemy armada.
Under the harsh glare of the system's star, countless disgusting chunks of flesh and ship wreckage floated in the void. The Leviathans extended their thick, muscular tentacles to salvage the organic debris. To the Swarm, this was all usable biomass—even if it was a bit rancid.
However, the most unexpected twist of this battle for Alexei was that outsiders had actually showed up to assist. He glanced toward the distance at the two cruisers and four Sword-class frigates, all prominently bearing the crest of the Capet Dynasty.
"They certainly have some nerve," Alexei muttered with a light chuckle. The opposition had actually dared to risk entering a wormhole before it closed. But this was perfect; he happened to have a few deals he wanted to propose to them anyway.
Aboard the current flagship of the Capet fleet, Armand Capet stood inside the command bridge, surveying the post-battle landscape. He kept murmuring to himself: We bet right. We bet right.
The moment he witnessed the Aiur fleet and those terrifying behemoths making an emergency withdrawal, he realized something massive was about to go down. Decades as a Rogue Trader had gifted him an incredibly sharp intuition, and he had immediately ordered everyone to board the ships and stand ready.
When that world-tearing wormhole ruptured the sky, Armand's heart had skipped a beat. Watching the Aiur fleet cross through the rift one after another, he grit his teeth, stamped his foot, and barked a direct order: Follow them!
Every dynasty among the Rogue Traders consisted of gamblers who licked blood from the edge of a blade. They would never pass up any opportunity that could yield greater profit. Armand was no different. He knew his chance had arrived.
Success or failure hinged entirely on that single moment. When their fleet barely managed to squeeze through the wormhole at the absolute last second before it collapsed, they were greeted by the sight of that massive Plague Fleet. In that instant, he knew he had won his gamble. Subsequently, his fleet began to recklessly unleash hell upon the Plague Fleet.
During the engagement, their two Lunar-class cruisers proved to be a naval force that could not be ignored. With those terrifying behemoths drawing the enemy's aggro, they madly poured firepower into the enemy vessels. At one point, they even engaged in a point-blank macro-cannon duel with an enemy cruiser; fortunately, they emerged victorious.
By the time the battle concluded, the Capet Dynasty's ships had suffered no total losses. Though their hulls sustained some damage, it was nothing structurally devastating and could easily be fixed with standard repairs later.
Just then, the Master of Whispers rushed over to his side. "My Lord, an incoming communication request from the Governor of Aiur."
Armand's spirits jolted. Here it comes! He immediately ordered the channel to be opened.
"Lord Armand, thank you for your timely assistance. That truly was a saving grace in our hour of need," Alexei's amused voice echoed through the comms.
"Think nothing of it, it was merely my duty. As a blade used by the Emperor to expand His domains, how could I sit idly by and watch a Hero of the Imperium face the enemy alone?" Armand replied smoothly, immediately stating his alignment.
Alexei chuckled softy. As expected, you have to flex some muscle before these greedy Rogue Traders tuck away their arrogance. The communication channel fell silent for a brief moment. Just as Armand was about to lose his patience and speak up, the Governor of Aiur's voice came through once more. "Would Lord Armand be willing to visit Aiur once again?"
"Of course! Of course! How could I possibly refuse!" Armand answered with a hint of urgency, before quickly catching his lapse in composure. "It has been quite some time since we last met, and I naturally have many matters I wish to discuss with you."
"Excellent. Then I shall see you on Aiur." With those words, the transmission cut out. Armand let out a long breath and looked toward his fleet commander. "Follow the coordinates and dock at Aiur's starport."
"Yes, My Lord."
---
All along the way, Armand was racking his brain over how to secure a new trade agreement with the Governor of Aiur. What did he still possess that was worth exchanging, or how could he convince them to invest in the Capet Dynasty?
The moment their fleet drew near Aiur, Armand's breathing hitched once more. He stared in absolute shock at the black, iron orbital ring girdling the planet. The last time he had laid eyes on something like this was at Mars.
"By the Emperor... what exactly has Aiur acquired...?" His heart began to race with anxiety. He realized that perhaps Aiur no longer needed his help at all, and that they might walk away with nothing.
This state of mind persisted until they stepped out onto the starport's deck. Alexei walked toward them with an enthusiastic smile. "Ah, look who it is—our friend!" He gave Armand a firm embrace, slapping him on the back before letting go. "Come along, Lord Armand. Let us head to the reception room for a chat."
Aboard the space elevator, Armand stared silently at the completely transformed Upper Hive. Just a few years ago, this place had been an undeveloped ruin with nothing but a few crude structures. Now, it was a sprawling, pristine jungle of iron and steel. There were also brand-new suits of power armor he had never seen before, new heavy vehicles, and new atmospheric fighters.
In his decades of trading voyages, he had never witnessed such an abundance of pristine, advanced wargear—not even on Forge Worlds. Armand tucked his hands behind his back, struggling to suppress their trembling as he tried to calm the excitement raging in his chest. He hoped to secure some benefits—no, assistance—from the incredibly amiable-looking man before him.
They arrived at a quiet reception room, leaving their bodyguards outside the door. As the heavy doors sealed tight, Alexei tilted his chin to gesture for Armand to take a seat. He then personally poured a cup of hot water and set it before his guest.
"Lord Armand, would you happen to be interested in entering a few more business ventures with me?"