The bridge of Macragge's Honoury fell silent, crew exchanging confused and wary glances.
Before they could react, the void itself writhed, as if squeezed by an invisible hand, reality groaning under the strain.
Suddenly, a rift appeared. One after another, warships emerged onto the chaotic battlefield.
Their numbers were staggering, so dense they blotted out the distant starlight.
Both sides paused in shock, pulling back from the mysterious newcomers.
At their head was a sleek flagship, utterly unlike Imperial designs.
Its hull was matte space-gray, edges sharp and minimalist—no Gothic spires or sacred reliefs, no baroque Chaos filigree.
It looked like a blade, forged by perfect logic for cutting space itself.
Blue circuitry-like lines flowed across its hull.
Above the prow hovered a massive geometric emblem of pure light—an equilateral triangle with a glowing ring inside, simple yet exuding absolute authority.
To either side and behind, more ships slipped out—slightly smaller, but sharing the same efficient, modular style.
There were needle-like destroyers, bristling with deadly energy.
Heavily armored cruisers, bristling with turrets.
Swarms of escort ships, insect-like and highly mobile.
The entire fleet deployed with flawless precision, as if each ship were a cell in a single, unified organism.
Datch stroked his chin at the sight of the Custodian fleet's emblem.
Why did the emblem of this fallen empire look exactly like the one he'd used in a Stellaris save game?
Could Warhammer read save data from other games, giving players Easter eggs?
If so, these devs were wild.
He'd have to recommend this game hard—shouting from the grave if he had to.
But why only one Titan? In his Stellaris game, he'd modded in black hole ships, star forges, eternal sky towers… Where were they all?
Damn, does the game only read base data, not mods?
Even so, give us more Titans and colossi!
So stingy—EVE and Starcraft players would think Stellaris was broke!
"Detecting massive unknown entities—energy signatures unmatched by any known database! Physical readings are contradictory. Their very existence distorts local physical constants!"
The sensor chief's voice cracked with disbelief.
Cawl's mechanical limbs seized up, all his eyes whirring, logic cores shrieking with overload and smoke.
"They… they shouldn't exist. No Warp disturbance, no propulsion trace… this violates—no, it redefines physical law!"
Celestine's faith blazed brighter. She whispered, "Behold… the Emperor's will made manifest… a power beyond mortal understanding…"
Behind her, the sisters sang, praising the Emperor's might.
(Golden Throne Emperor: Uh… even this is beyond my understanding.)
Guilliman stared fiercely at the strange fleet, especially its unknown emblem.
No Imperial Aquila, no Chaos star, not any known xenos mark.
The aura was cold, neutral, yet immensely powerful.
"Did you summon this fleet?" Guilliman asked Datch, unable to hide his shock.
How many trump cards did this man have? Was there anything he couldn't do?
Guilliman knew even his father, the Emperor, couldn't conjure fleets from nothing.
If he could, the Siege of Terra wouldn't have been so brutal.
This nameless Astartes was no chosen of the Emperor.
If someone claimed the Emperor was his chosen, Guilliman would believe it. This was just too miraculous.
The Thousand Sons noticed the new development.
Their fire hesitated, some weapons shifting from the battered Imperial fleet to the mysterious newcomers.
Thousands of shells and lances struck the flagship, but its shields absorbed them all, raising only ripples.
Magnus, watching through the pyramid, was baffled.
Where did such a fleet come from? No Warp, just appeared out of thin air.
Physics is dead, the Warp is dead?! Is nothing sacred anymore?!
"Father, is this your doing?!"
Magnus could only think of his father on the Golden Throne.
Meanwhile, the calm male voice spoke again over the comms.
This time, it was more formal, tinged with confirmation.
"Call received. Protection protocol activated. We, the chosen, answer the call of the Great Prophet."
A light screen appeared before Datch, displaying a handsome, elegantly dressed man.
He bowed respectfully, his eyes full of reverence.
"Great Prophet, what do you require of us?"
"Target the Chaos-corrupted enemies. Fire. Leave none alive," Datch commanded. "Let the stars burn, let the galaxy boil."
"As you wish." The man nodded. "Initiating Purification Protocol."
The massive Custodian fleet moved and opened fire.
Purple arcs lanced through the void, striking the Thousand Sons.
"They're attacking the traitors—they're allies! They're our reinforcements!"
"By the Emperor, we have allies!!"
"All units, coordinate with unknown allies! Concentrate fire—counterattack!"
The Imperial captains, at first despairing at the unknown fleet, assumed they must be enemies.
But when they saw the newcomers attacking the Thousand Sons, they realized these were allies—hope soared.
Guilliman's mind was full of confusion, but after a glance at Datch, he threw himself into the battle.
Now Magnus would learn—the tables had turned.
From now on, the prey was not the loyalists, but the Thousand Sons.
...
Bonus chapter at 100 PS