A massive 3D star map unfolded silently in the center of the bridge of the genesis.
Countless points of light drifted in a ghostly blue glow, forming a miniature galaxy. Among them, over a hundred points were dyed in the black, white, and red colors of the Bloody Rose Order.
"This is the 'meeting gift' I have prepared for our new Sisters."
Leticia's voice was calm, yet it carried a power capable of prying at the foundations of the entire Empire.
Dressed in a pure white robe, she stood before the star map, her deep black pupils reflecting the entire sea of stars.
"A plan."
"A plan called'Spark'."
Projected via encrypted communication beside her was Katerina, the newly appointed Order Master of the "God-Graced Rose." A fanatical light burned on her face. She had already changed back into her blood-stained power armor, with the solemn command center of Saintess Star as her background.
"Goddess, we have long been ready!"
Valeria stood at Leticia's side. The short-haired black-haired Commissar wore a perfectly tailored black uniform that outlined her striking curves. Looking at the dense markings on the star map, a rare trace of worry flickered in her usually calm grey eyes.
"Goddess, this plan..."
She chose her words carefully.
"It is no different from planting a volcano in the heart of the Empire that could erupt at any moment. The risk... is too high."
The plan was simple, and insane.
Utilizing the Bloody Rose Order's secret communication network spread across the Empire, the miracles of Leticia and Terrania would be quietly spread to other Battle Sisters struggling in despair in the form of "Cipher Gospels."
Simultaneously, these secretly converted "Spark" squads would be ordered to take the initiative in their respective war zones to purge small-scale Chaos corruption ignored by the Imperial bureaucracy.
Every demon they slew would be converted into the purest Warband Points, flowing continuously into Leticia's system.
This was a war machine fueled by the entire Empire to earn points for Leticia.
"Risk?"
Katerina let out a cold laugh from the communication screen, her voice carrying the absolute determination of a zealot.
"To sacrifice ourselves for the Goddess's cause is the only glory of our lives! My thirty-seven thousand Sisters and I have long since put life and death aside!"
Valeria wanted to say more.
But Leticia raised her hand, stopping her.
"I understand your concerns, Valeria." Leticia's gaze remained on the star map. "But we have no more time."
"The threat of Chaos and the Decay of the Empire are like two closing mountains. We must accumulate enough power to push them both away before we are completely crushed."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable resolve.
"Katerina, begin execution."
"By your command! My Goddess!"
Katerina's image vanished instantly.
The order had been given.
The efficiency of the plan's execution exceeded everyone's imagination.
Under the personal coordination of Katerina, the Order leader, the first batch of "Gospels" was sent through the most secretive channels to Sisterhood chapters in dozens of war zones within just a few standard hours.
Simultaneously, the first batch of battle reports flooded back like snowflakes.
[Coordinates XXX Sector, purged minor Nurgle heretics, obtained Warband Points +3500]
[Coordinates XXX Sector, destroyed secret Chaos God Tzeentch altar, obtained Warband Points +5200]
[...]
Watching the rapidly ticking numbers on the system panel, the worry in Valeria's heart was gradually replaced by the shock of this terrifying efficiency.
However, this shock lasted for less than half a day.
An urgent encrypted communication forced its way onto the bridge's main screen, almost like a door being kicked in.
Katerina's scar-covered face appeared again, but this time, it was no longer filled with fanaticism, but an unprecedented gravity.
"Goddess!"
Her voice was urgent, with a rasp like metal grinding.
"Something has happened!"
"The distress beacon of the Inquisitor we imprisoned, Heraviel, has been activated!"
The atmosphere on the bridge tightened instantly.
Fogremia was elegantly wiping her rapier; she only gave a disdainful snort upon hearing the news.
Her moon-white silk gown looked like a solitary moon atop a snowy peak amidst the steel of the bridge.
"Just a bunch of slow-witted mortal bureaucrats. Even if they come, what can they do?"
In her eyes, the Imperial military was nothing more than a vast swarm of ants that could be easily crushed.
Angronia said nothing, only silently placing her hand on the hilt of the battle-axe on her back.
Leticia, however, frowned.
An inexplicable, needle-like sense of unease shrouded her heart.
She closed her eyes, and the ghostly blue Authority of [Knowledge] acted like a precision probe, instantly launching into the river of fate to peer into the future.
She attempted to glimpse the coming threat.
However, the sight she saw in her psychic vision caused her divine, calm heart to sink abruptly.
Nothing.
There was no iron tide of the Astra Militarum.
No Bolter fire from Inquisition Stormtroopers.
Not even the sky-blotting fleet of the Imperial Navy.
What she saw were two distinct, yet equally soul-shuddering, terrifying forces.
One force was "Nothingness."
Cold, silent, an abyss-like "Nothingness."
It was an anti-psychic absolute vacuum capable of swallowing all emotion and energy. Before this power, any miracle or magic would be dragged down to the most primitive, pathetic material level and then easily erased.
The other force was "Fire."
Pure, steadfast, unshakable, a "Fire" burning with a holy silver luster.
In that flame, there was no fanaticism or rage, only an absolute, unquestionable "Order" and "Truth." Its sole purpose for existing was to purge anything it defined as a "heretic."
This force was born to hunt demons and false gods!
"It's not ordinary troops!"
Leticia snapped her eyes open. In those black pupils, usually as calm as the night sky, violent waves of true alarm surged for the first time!
Almost the instant her words fell.
On the screen, Katerina's communication channel emitted a heart-wrenching alarm! Piercing red light bathed her grave face in a bloody hue!
"Goddess!!"
Katerina's voice was completely distorted by extreme shock and fear!
"Latest intelligence! A direct fleet of the Inquisition is performing an emergency warp jump toward Saintess Star! According to the decrypted high-clearance orders, the fleet is carrying—"
She paused, as if the name itself possessed a terrifying weight capable of crushing an iron will.
"—Sisters of Silence!!"
"And... an elite squad of Grey Knights!!!"
Boom!
The name "Grey Knights" exploded like a heavy bomb throughout the bridge!
The air seemed to be sucked out in an instant.
Even the proud Fogremia froze in her elegant motion of wiping her rapier. Her purple eyes, usually filled with disdain, showed an unbelievable gravity for the first time.
Even the violent Angronia unconsciously tightened her grip on her axe, her knuckles turning white. In her amber eyes burning with Battle Intent, a hint of a lethal sense of danger belonging to animal instinct emerged.
Grey Knights!
The Empire's most mysterious, elite, and terrifying demon hunters!
They were the ultimate warriors created by Malcador using the Emperor's gene-seed to counter traitors among the Primarchs. Every member was a paladin possessing steadfast faith and powerful psychic abilities!
Their sole mission was to hunt the most powerful demons and the most dangerous heretics in the universe!
And the Sisters of Silence...
They were the Empire's "Silent Sisterhood," natural anti-Psykers, the natural enemies of all psychic users!
The Empire had actually dispatched these two aces of aces right from the start!
This was no longer an investigation or a probe.
This was... a determination to kill!
"Their mission directive..."
Katerina's voice continued from the screen with a despairing tremble.
"...is 'Purge the Fifth Heresy'!"
Fifth Heresy!
This codename caused Leticia's pupils to shrink violently.
In the Empire's classification of heresy, "Level Five" represented the highest level—a god-tier threat capable of subverting the entire Empire's rule!
Their plan had only just begun; they hadn't even truly clashed with the Empire yet.
But the Inquisition had already directly defined them as a catastrophe on the same level as the Four Chaos Gods!
Valeria's usually heroic face was now deathly pale.
With trembling hands, she quickly pulled up the latest star map and marked the course of the Inquisition fleet jumping toward them.
Then, she discovered in despair that the enemy's warp target was precisely locked onto the Saintess Star airspace.
No matter which direction they fled now, the moment they left the gravity well, they would collide head-on with that fleet!
They were cornered.
Valeria turned her head to look at Leticia. Her grey eyes, which always burned with an iron will, were now filled with confusion and fear for the first time.
Her voice was shaking.
"Goddess..."
"According to their course, we... have nowhere to run..."
"What should we do? Do we... go to war with the Empire's strongest warriors?"
------------------------------
I hope you're enjoying the fanfiction so far! If the fanfiction has you hooked and you can't wait to see what happens next, you can unlock 30 or more chapters in advance over on my patreon: patreon.com/FTLGenBen
Also every bit of support means the world to me so if you're loving the ride, don't forget to drop a Power Stone, Thanks.