Aboard the Pride of the Emperor.
Vance looked out the observation port... taking a deep breath.
"It's finally happening."
Suspended silently in the vast sea of stars was the azure planet... Laeran.
Seven moons of varying sizes orbited it slowly, like loyal sentinels.
Ninety-eight percent of the planet's surface was covered by oceans.
From orbit, the only visible features were scattered white specks—the floating platform cities of the Laer.
"Fifty-seven minutes remaining."
Darius Stanton's voice came from behind him.
The fleet's strategic advisor had already changed into full combat gear, a laspistol holstered at his hip and a data-slate in his hand.
His expression was stern, but his eyes held the cold, calculating gleam characteristic of a career soldier.
"The first drop wave will be executed by the 4th, 5th, 8th, 11th, 13th, 15th, 17th, and 19th Companies. They will be supported by five Solar Auxilia cohorts. The target designation is Sky Coral... the largest of the Laer's floating platforms."
Stanton walked up beside Vance and handed him the data-slate.
"Your mission is to lead a twelve-man escort squad to ensure my safety while I conduct battlefield mapping."
"We'll be deploying via the Thunderhawk gunship Amethyst Wing, cutting into the combat zone fifteen minutes after the second wave makes landfall."
Vance took the data-slate. It displayed a three-dimensional structural schematic of the Sky Coral platform.
It was a colossal floating city, over five hundred and ten kilometers in diameter, constructed from some sort of grey-blue crystalline coral material.
Twelve towering energy pillars stood at the center of the platform. Visible streams of energy coursed across their surfaces, while blazing white plasma and gale-force winds blasted from their peaks...
It was the anti-gravity fields and climate control generated by these very pillars that allowed the platform to remain stably suspended above the ocean.
"The Laer have a highly unorthodox defense network."
Stanton pointed at the dense cluster of red dots on the schematic. "They don't utilize traditional orbital defense platforms. All their anti-air batteries are integrated directly into the floating cities. The energy pillars themselves function as weapons... capable of unleashing massive EMP blasts to cripple electronics if necessary."
"Which is why Lord Fulgrim opted for the most direct tactical approach," Vance murmured.
"Precisely." Darius nodded. "The first wave will force a breach on the platform's surface and establish a beachhead."
"The second wave is tasked with the total eradication of all enemy combatants and infrastructure in their path."
"Even the energy pillars stabilizing the platforms are designated targets."
"And the Imperial Army auxiliaries are required to support the Emperor's Children Astartes in executing the absolute purgation of the entire Laer xenos civilization."
"A simple, perfect mission." Vance said the two words with complete calm. "That is the Emperor's Children's way."
Darius glanced at him. "Hmm… do you see a flaw in the plan?"
"No." Vance shook his head. "It's just... too smooth."
"Smooth?"
Darius let out a chuckle—the kind of laugh reserved for veterans who had survived countless campaigns.
"Boy, wait until your boots hit that coral deck. Then you'll know what 'smooth' really means." Darius watched Vance with an amused look. "Do you know why I handpicked you from the Blade of Elegance to be my escort?"
Vance scratched his head, genuinely confused. "Because of my stamina and strength?"
Darius punched Vance in the chest, forcing him to stumble back a few steps, and scoffed. "Your stamina and strength? You're not even in the same league as the Solar Auxilia elites."
Darius lowered his hand, turning his gaze back to Laeran, and spoke evenly:
"It was the absolute calm in your eyes, and your capacity for critical thinking. I was highly satisfied with how you handled that incident back on the Blade of Elegance."
He looked at Vance. "Which is why I believe you have the potential to become a fleet strategic advisor. I pulled your background file. You're from Zakassen, a backwater world with barely enough rations to go around."
"Your planetary governor sold you out, shipped you off to the Imperial Army."
He chuckled dryly. "You're a lucky kid. If you hadn't crossed paths with me, you were destined to be just another piece of cannon fodder."
"You'd probably be dropping with the first wave of auxiliaries, marked for death the second you made planetfall."
"You'd never have had the clearance to see half of this intel."
Vance immediately snapped a crisp Imperial salute to Darius, speaking with utmost respect: "Thank you for your tutelage, Instructor Darius."
Hearing the word 'instructor', Darius's weathered face immediately broke into a smile. "Heh, you're not a stupid kid, are you!"
He reached out and clapped Vance on the shoulder. "When we get back from this deployment, I'll see about adjusting your billet so you can start learning strategy from the ground up."
"Understood."
Neither of them spoke again, choosing instead to quietly watch Laeran, silently awaiting the storm of war.
At almost the exact same moment.
Aboard the Pride of the Emperor, mid-decks, Imperial Army Auxiliary Armory.
[Are You Sure This Melon Is Ripe]... Harry had just shoved the last canister of stolen promethium into the recycling servitor.
When the blood-red system prompt exploded in his vision, he nearly dropped the machinery.
[Global Faction Quest Issued]
[Quest Name: The Perfect Son of the Phoenix - The Beginning of the Fall - Hard]
[Type: Epic (Phased Progression)]
[Scope: All Chaos Faction Players in the 28th Expeditionary Fleet]
[Phase Objectives:]
[Phase Objective: Assist Fulgrim in Acquiring the Blade of the Laer (Key Objective)]
[Phase Objective: Assist Fabius Bile in Researching Laer Flesh-Crafting Technologies]
[Phase Objective: Seduce Additional Members of the Emperor's Children into Slaanesh's Embrace]
[Phase Objective: Eliminate Loyalist Faction Players]
[Reward Mechanics: Glory Points calculated based on individual and overall faction performance in this campaign, driving the quest phase completion rate.]
[Base Reward: Reaching 30% total Glory Points grants rewards (Imperial Coins, Enhancement Options, Chaos Boon Opportunities).]
[Perfect Reward: Completing all objectives (100% Glory Points) grants unknown (Massive) rewards.]
[Failure Penalty: None (Even if the campaign is lost, reaching 30% Glory Points is considered quest completion).]
[Penalty Clause: If total Glory Points fall below 30%, all Chaos players across the faction will suffer a 20% penalty to Imperial Coin acquisition rates for the next 30 days.]
[Note: This is a synchronized faction quest shared by all Chaos players across the galaxy.]
[Current Participating Players: 892/38812 (Restricted to Chaos players currently embedded in the 28th Expeditionary Fleet).]
[Change is eternal, sensation is truth. Let perfection plunge into the abyss to reveal our true nature.]
…
[Are You Sure This Melon Is Ripe]: "It's here! It's here! The Prince of Pleasure is making a move!"
[Konnichiwa Slaanesh-chan]: "The Great Lord Slaanesh truly has exquisite taste!"
[I Just Like Sleeping In]: "So we just need to help Fulgrim get that sword?"
"Easy enough. Just keep eyes on the blade."
[All According to Plan]: "Don't underestimate this. The Loyalist players have definitely triggered a counter-quest. They're going to fight us tooth and nail."
"And don't forget... the Laer aren't idiots. They know exactly how important that sword is."
[Blue Pigeon Knows Nothing]: "Alright, here's our play: First, survive the initial drop wave."
"Second, pinpoint the location of the Blade of the Laer. Third, ensure Fulgrim gets his hands on it before the Loyalists can sabotage the run."
[Wanna Exchange Pleasantries with Slaanesh]: "And we gotta seduce three Emperor's Children into falling! That's the real kick! Anyone want to party up?"
"I'm a psych major IRL, I'm great at running dialogue trees!"
[Please Enslave Me Megatron]: "Count me in."
[All According to Plan]: "Let's set the tone right now. The Chaos faction must win this campaign."
"Not for some abstract sense of faction glory, but to prove to the Four Gods..."
"That we have far more utility than those Loyalist prudes who only know how to pray."
A wave of agreement flooded the channel.
In the eyes of the Chaos players, this quest was more than just an in-game objective; it was a blood oath...
A chance to demonstrate their worth to the entities within the Warp, thereby earning greater boons and power.
And worth could only be proven through victory.