Raptorus Rex
In one of the main halls within the Star Fort Raptorus Rex, a ceremony was being held to honor the victory over the Warboss.
Astartes and Imperial officers who had taken part in the battle stood in formation beneath the high-vaulted ceiling. Banners of the Chapter's companies and Guard regiments hung proudly from the walls, each one marked with fresh battle honors. Candles lined the stone pillars, their flames flickering in the quiet air.
Long tables had been set up across the sides of the hall. Food and drinks were prepared in great amounts—not like when the Crusade had just begun. Back then, every meal was strictly measured. But now, things had changed.
With the founding and growth of multiple colonies, three of them had reached optimal output. They now supplied the Crusade with vital resources—most importantly, food.
One of the worlds had been designated as an Agri-World. Its fields stretched for kilometers, worked day and night by machines and men alike. Thanks to it, the Crusade's food supply had stabilized, and for the first time in years, the Ration Protocol was lifted.
There was no waste, but there was plenty.
Even the mortal soldiers—Guardsmen, auxilia, and crew—were invited to eat after the ceremony, a rare moment of reward for their loyalty and sacrifice.
Other than the Astartes, multiple Dreadnoughts also present within the hall, standing beside their Chapter brothers.
Rylanor, with the four other Contemptors that gain glory when they destroy the Killa Klans and Deff Dreads, stood silently while the mortals look at them in awe.
Though Galren's Crusade hasn't been assigned any Dreadnoughts by the Grand Marshall, there are one Dreadnought that stood beside them. The Emperor's Champion that have slain the Warboss had not survived his wounds. Despite the Apothecary's efforts, his body could not endure the damage.
He had been entombed within a new Dreadnought.
As the Black Templars have no Dreadnought available, and Atharion hoping to repay their help, a special customize Contemptors have giving to them.
Not like the Dreadnoughts that Atharion have been gifting to some of the Chapters that help him in this Crusade, Hellfrost system have been install into this Contemptor, and it have been modified to able in holding a sword and a shield, like those Contemptor-Galatus of the Custodian.
Beyond this gesture, Atharion granted the Black Templars the right to claim a newly established colony world as a recruiting world. Though settlement had only just begun, the offer was a tremendous symbol of goodwill—not just to the Templars, but by extension, to the wider Eternal Crusade.
The Lamenters, who had suffered the heaviest losses in the recent campaign, were also repaid handsomely for their sacrifice. As a fleet-based Chapter with no fixed homeworld, they had long struggled with limited resources and recruitment capacity. In recognition of their valor and loss, Atharion have also given them permission to claim a world to serve as their recruiting world, or even their homeworld.
Other than this, Atharion also given them new equipments that allow them to equip their new Astartes when their recruitment begin.
Multiple Regiments have also been given Right of Settlement for their effort in the Crusade. And of course, most of them are within the region that Atharion didn't have direct control, with only the Regiments that preformed the best will be accepted by Atharion.
As the feast and celebration continued, Atharion quietly left the hall. He had more duties to attend to.
When he entered his personal chamber, he was met by a clone of Nine—smaller and more human-looking than the usual mechanical creations of the Archmagos.
"Lord Atharion," The clone said, bowing. "Master Nine has assigned me to serve as your temporary advisor. He is currently focused on a new discovery."
"Is that so?" Atharion replied, settling into his chair and picking up a datapad filled with Crusade reports. "What is it this time? The last time he said that, he found an abandoned vault with nothing in it but dust."
The clone gave a slight smile. "This one is different. He have found a possible destroy forge world that may dated back to Great Crusade."
Atharion raised an eyebrow. "Hmm. That's a better lead than the last vault." He set the datapad aside. "So that's why he pulled all the Maniples to him… even a large number of Cohorts?"
The clone nodded. "Yes, my lord. Early scans of the world show that a large number of Orks have made it their home. Master Nine fears they may have built machines powerful enough to rival a Titan. Though… I have my doubts about that last part."
Atharion looked into the clone's eyes.
He knew what the clone was thinking. Many of the lower-ranking members of the Mechanicum believed Titans were the greatest war machines ever made. And they were right—within the Imperium, Titans were the peak of battlefield power.
But other species had their own version of Titans, even if the Mechanicum didn't want to admit it.
Records from the Great Crusade—and more recently, the War of the Beast—told of such things, towering war engines crafted by xenos, sometimes crude, sometimes frighteningly advanced by the Orks standard.
This mainly because not many within the Imperium have access to such information. Especially when it's said that the enemies have something that rival their strongest war machines, this is not good for the overall morales, whether during war or peace.
"Understood," Atharion nodded as he picking up another datapad. "Inform Nine that I awaits his report on his finding."
The clone bow, acknowledge his command.
Atharion continue to scan through the datapad as the clone exited the chamber.
Legio Argentum Fulgur had committed seven Maniples to the Crusade—six Warlords, twelve Reavers, and fifteen Warhounds. Now, Nine had gathered them all for his campaign on the ruined forge world.
"Luckily, no Ork Titans have appeared on the battlefield yet." Atharion murmured, setting the datapad aside and reaching for another.
As he reading the datapad, Atharion smile as he satisfied with how the colonies progress. Three worlds that Atharion have designated as ship building have begin to function, albeit only at 24% capacity.
Kuat, one of the three, was located in a system with two other worlds. Kuat itself was a mix of Hive and Industrial world, a vital hub for production. The other two planets were lifeless, but rich in raw resources. Lava worlds, covered in volcanic activity and mineral deposits. These provided Kuat with everything it needed to grow as the major military shipyard that able to construct battleship.
The second world, Fondor, had also been designated as a military shipyard, but with a dual purpose. It would serve both military and civilian needs and was designed to construct cruiser-class vessels.
The third, Mon Calamari, was planned as a civilian shipyard. Its primary purpose was to build trade and transport vessels, but it retained the capacity to produce escort-class warships if needed.
At the moment, Fondor was hosting the vessels of Battlefleet Pranagar, providing repairs and maintenance for warships preparing for future battles. This also served as valuable hands-on training for the newly recruited workers and Tech-priests who would soon be fully operating the shipyard.
"Well, at least the resources poured into these projects are showing results." Atharion said quietly, setting the datapad aside.
For three days, Atharion remained aboard the Star Fort, completing paperwork and organizing the next assault into Ork-held territory.
During this time, the Lamenters had—understandably—been assigned to backline missions. They were tasked with patrolling supply routes and maintaining order in the newly established colonies. Given their heavy losses in the recent campaign, this assignment gave them time to recover and begin rebuilding their strength.
Though some among their ranks might have seen it as a lesser duty, Atharion knew the truth. These missions were just as critical as frontline combat. Without secure logistics and stable worlds behind the lines, any crusade would collapse under its own weight.
Other than this, a small ceremony had also been held—a formal recognition for the mortals who had performed exceptionally well during the campaign.
Twenty-seven regiments—infantry and armored alike—had earned great honor. They were granted the Right of Settlement, allowing them to claim land on newly secured worlds. Each regiment received medals, campaign honors, and specially crafted banners displaying their deeds, meant to be carried proudly in future battles or displayed in garrison halls.
Several pilots and wings from the Aeronautica Imperialis also distinguished themselves during the Crusade. Fighter aces who rose through the ranks of the Imperial skies were each rewarded with a newly manufactured Xiphon Interceptor—a cutting-edge craft known for its speed, maneuverability, and killing power.
But their rewards did not end there.
Each ace was also administered a carefully calibrated injection derived from Atharion's gene-essence. Though not enough to transform them into Astartes, this genetic enhancement made them stronger, more resilient, and faster in both reflex and thought—allowing them to endure the punishing demands of their new aircraft and outfly even the deadliest xenos.
These enhanced pilots, now referred to as the Skyward Scions, became the elite core within their respective Wings. Each Scion acted as a veteran leader and mentor, responsible not only for leading combat missions but also for training new pilots assigned to their Wings. Many were also rotated to serve as instructors at the Aeronautica Academy—a institution dedicated to forging the new pilots.
The Wings that had participated in the campaign were not forgotten either. Each was awarded specially crafted banners embroidered with sacred litanies, kill markings, and the seal of Atharion's realm. These banners were to be displayed at hangars, ceremonies, and on the fuselage of command craft. Alongside them came campaign medals, commendations, and sacred mechanical blessings from the Tech-Priests of the Forge.
Some of the most distinguished Wings were also honored with custom-forged aircraft, adorned with ornamented armor plating, gilded aquilae, and sanctified machine-spirits that responded only to their Scion.
The effect on morale was immediate. New recruits saw the Scions as living legends—winged knights who had survived the worst of war and soared beyond mortal limits. The Skyward Scions were no longer just pilots.
They had become icons.
The fleet also earned its due honors for its vital role in the Crusade. Naval commanders, void crews, and shipboard armsmen who had faced everything from boarding actions to void combat were all commended for their valor and sacrifice.
Each capital ship, escort, and support vessel that had taken part in the campaign received specialized banners, hung within their strategiums or mess halls—emblazoned with the name of the warzone, major engagements, and symbols representing their victories. These banners were blessed by the Chapter's Reclusiarchs and the Mechanicus alike, turning them into sacred relics for the crews who served beneath them.
These ceremonies were not centralized aboard the Star Fort. Instead, they were held at their respective station, allowing everyone to receive their honors in person and in front of their comrades. Medals, banners, and other rewards were prepared and delivered in advance, along with messages of recognition signed by the High Command and, in some cases, even by Atharion himself.
After completing all this, Atharion had also finalized the organization of the next offensive.
A newly-assembled fleet stood ready—a formidable armada consisting of twelve Battle Barges, twenty-six cruisers, and seventy-four escort vessels, all drawn from the Dark Knights' own void assets, alongside trusted elements from the Imperial Navy and Mechanicus-aligned flotillas.
The ground force was equally formidable. It comprised thirteen Guardsmen regiments, seven armored regiments, three artillery regiments, and two engineer regiments. From the Dark Knights Chapter itself, every company except the 10th—which remained behind for garrison and training duties—had been committed to the campaign.
The plan is simple. They will regroup with the Expeditionary Force Fenris and launch a center thrust into the Orks held territory.
On the left flank, the Fire Hawks-led Expeditionary Force would spearhead the advance, supported by Imperial Guard formations, Imperial Navy elements, and reinforced by the Obsidian Jaguars.
On the right flank, the Angels of Wrath-led Expeditionary Force would drive forward, bolstered by the Red Talons.
Meanwhile, the Imperial Fists remained stationed aboard the Raptorus Rex, tasked with its defense—a vital duty, for Atharion's fleet had left the fortress with almost no escort vessels to guard it.
The Star Fort itself would also play a role in the final engagement. Advancing behind the central thrust, it would maintain a safe distance from the front lines while remaining close enough to provide rapid resupply when required.
The Black Templars, instead, had been assigned to reinforce the Dark Marches Crusade, commanded by Lord Tempestus Hal Orpheus.
According to the Lord Tempestus' latest dispatch, the Crusade was in its final stage, with only twelve systems left to be reconquered. However, intelligence indicated that the very Orks Atharion now faced had overrun those same systems. Worse still, there were troubling reports of additional warbands converging upon the region, eager to swell the ranks of the Waaagh!.
The Dark Marches Crusade's long and bloody campaign had come at a heavy cost. Many of its assigned regiments had been destroyed outright or reduced to scattered remnants, leaving Lord Tempestus with dangerously few resources.
To answer this need, Atharion ordered the formation of Task Force Galren. Under the command of Marshal Galren, the force would comprise ten fresh Guardsmen regiments and two armored regiments, dispatched to bolster Lord Tempestus' dwindling strength and ensure the Crusade's completion.
As the Eternal Vigilance began its transition into the Warp alongside the rest of the fleet, Atharion stood by the viewport, his gaze fixed upon the distant silhouette of the Star Fort.
"This will be the final push." He murmured. "After this, I can finally turn my attention to the realm's growth… and see the final plans brought to completion."