Chapter 155: Navigator's Rebellion
Most striking were the Knight Nobles in their luxurious armor, their stance arrogant, the crests carved into their armor proclaiming their glory and power.
"Now is our chance. The Emperor is falling into slumber. He is deeply entrenched on the Golden Throne, unable to intervene in Terra's affairs, while his sons are busy with wars on the frontiers."
"As for Malcador, we can prepare many blanks here."
"We Navigators have only one demand, and that is to destroy the Webway on Terra!" The leader of the Navigator Nobles spoke first, his voice deep and chilling.
"That is your business. It brings us no benefit, though the Webway is indeed within our research scope." A representative of the Adeptus Mechanicus let out a mechanical laugh.
"Don't you want the Ork Battle Moon? We can provide it to you." One of the Knight Nobles stared at the Adeptus Mechanicus representative.
"We will not directly help you assault the Hall of the Throne," the Adeptus Mechanicus representative continued.
"Your focus is not on Terra. As long as you tie down the legions of those monsters, that's enough. We only want to destroy the Webway. We do not wish to betray the Imperium." Another Knight Noble stood up, speaking with a pious tone.
"Heheheh, alright, you are still very loyal."
"We will tie them down. In fact, we don't even need to, as those Astartes will still need some time." With that, the Adeptus Mechanicus representative walked out.
The remaining people all looked at the leader of the Navigator Nobles, who slowly began to speak.
"Gentlemen, we are not trying to destroy the Empire. However, the Webway has threatened the survival of our families, and we are forced to do this."
"As soon as the Webway is destroyed, I will voluntarily step forward and take responsibility for everything."
After he finished speaking, the entire room fell into brief silence.
"Do we really have to do this now? It feels no different from treason." The initial Knight Noble frowned, his fingers constantly tapping on the table.
The leading Navigator Noble also shook his head helplessly. Only they truly understood.
If the Emperor could complete the Webway, then the Navigators would lose their fundamental means of survival. For an Emperor who could even kill his own son, how could he tolerate the existence of mutants under his nose?
He even specifically allocated an area for them on Terra. This was not an honor; this was surveillance.
As soon as they lost their value, the Emperor would surely eliminate them. Therefore, the Webway must be destroyed.
Even if they faced the Emperor's wrath afterward, as long as the Webway was gone, the Empire would still need them. Even if they paid a price, at least they would still be alive and remain nobles at the highest level of the Empire.
And the Knight Nobles at their side could only reluctantly go along with them. Their interests were already tied to the Navigators, and they wanted to express their dissatisfaction.
Those genetically modified monsters, the so-called division, were simply a joke.
....
Terra's deep night was shrouded in silence, with only faint moonlight scattered across the land.
However, this tranquility was completely torn apart by a low, mechanical roar. Giant footsteps came from afar, shaking the ground like the heartbeat of the earth.
Towering Knight Titans slowly approached the Terra Imperial Palace, their figures appearing monstrous in the night, their armor gleaming with cold light, and their weapon systems emitting a faint hum.
"Everyone, remember! We are only going to destroy the Webway. This is not a war that requires us to fight to the death!" A Navigator Noble shouted loudly.
The Custodes, hearing the commotion from far away, quickly assembled, their golden armor shining in the faint light. Their orderly ranks stood like an unshakeable steel barrier.
"This is rebellion! Everyone immediately enter the combat status and protect the Palace!" The Custodes commander's voice transmitted through the communication network.
"RZZOOONNN!!" The first energy cannon exploded with a roar. The thermal gun from a Knight Titan directly struck the outer wall of the Palace. The thick bulwark trembled but was not breached.
The Custodes' defensive turrets immediately retaliated, firing lasers that cut through the night sky, hitting an advancing Knight Titan. That Knight's left arm instantly exploded, letting out a sky-shattering roar, and its remaining arm raised its weapon to continue firing.
In the center of the battlefield, an exceptionally large Knight stood before the Custodes, letting out a thundering roar. It raised its heavy plasma cannon, aiming directly at a Custodes defensive line.
Cannon fire erupted, and the defensive fortifications instantly turned into flames and debris. Custodes soldiers were sent flying, their armor torn, their screams echoing through the night.
However, the Custodes did not retreat. The warriors in golden armor shouted their vows, raised their weapons, and continued to charge.
"Behind us is the Emperor! We have no retreat!"
"For the Emperor!" The Custodes commander roared.
A Custodes squad carrying heavy weapons quickly moved to the Knight's feet, attaching melta bombs to its joints. After a loud explosion, a Knight crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Terra's night sky was illuminated like day by the gunfire.
"Destroy the Webway!"
"We are not enemies!"
The Navigator and Knight Noble rebels shouted their slogans and launched wave after wave of charges.
"COUGH!!" Amidst this chaos, a deep cough echoed from within the Palace, and everyone felt the air instantly freeze.
"What time is it, and why is it so noisy?" A figure slowly emerged from the Palace gates.
Malcador was wearing a simple greyish-white bathrobe, loose slippers on his feet, and even a hint of unkempt hair. His face was full of fatigue and impatience.
Ever since the Emperor ascended the Throne, he hadn't had a good night's sleep, and today he had finally managed to find some rest. Now, being woken up by these strange events truly infuriated him.
The Knight Titan operators were momentarily stunned. This scene was completely different from what they had expected. They were not facing warriors in golden armor, but this old man who seemed to have just gotten out of bed.
Malcador slightly raised his head and glanced at the nearest Knight Titan.
The Knight's operator immediately instinctively opened fire, and countless cannon shells and energy beams shot toward Malcador.
However, all attacks stopped a few meters away from him, as if hitting an invisible barrier.
"Such a hassle...Awwnn~Tch," Malcador yawned softly and slowly extended one hand.
The Knight Titan immediately began to tremble, its massive mechanical arms and cannon barrels seeming to be crushed by an invisible force, emitting a harsh metallic screech.
Rumble.
Malcador gently clenched his fist, and with a deafening explosion, the Knight Titan's head directly shattered, its internal cockpit exploding into a shower of sparks and debris.
Bang!
The massive mechanical hulk collapsed powerlessly, leaving a vast crater.
"Blanks! All of you, go! Suppress his psychic power!" The rebel commander retreated a few steps in terror, shouting hoarsely.
The next moment, hundreds of blanks surged from behind the rebel forces, their figures like a black tide, each exuding an undeniable oppressive aura. The air around them seemed to grow heavy, as if draining all psychic energy from the entire space.
Malcador, finally fully awake, coldly scanned the group of blanks. "What audacity! I made you nobles, and you dare to rebel?!"
"All of you deserve to die!"
"I am removing Custodes' weapon restrictions! All of you, annihilate the traitorous bastards!"
His voice was deep but authoritative. As he spoke, he slowly raised his other hand, the sleeve of his bathrobe sliding down slightly with the movement, revealing his long, bony fingers.
Terrifying psychic energy erupted from him, and in the distance, rebel heads were crushed into powder.
Upon receiving the order, the Custodes immediately opened a hidden underground hatch, and countless, strangely shaped weapons, emitting dangerous glows, were quickly brought out.
"FOR THE EMPEROR!"
Amidst the roaring of the Custodes, beams of anti-matter cannon light cut through the night, directly striking several massive Knight Titans. The Knights' armor was as fragile as paper against such an attack, and their massive mechanical bodies instantly evaporated into dust.
The vacuum explosions generated by the anti-matter cannons tore nearby rebel soldiers to shreds, leaving no time for screams.
...
The surface of the Ork Battle Moon was a sea of fire, with metal wreckage and green blood intertwining into a brutal scene.
Vulkan, his massive body like a moving mountain, his war hammer emitting a deep roar, each swing bringing devastating impact. The Orks' war cries and madness seemed insignificant. Their bones were pulverized under the hammer blows, and the metal armor was crushed and deformed.
Amidst the fierce fighting, a messenger from the Salamanders Legion ran breathlessly to Vulkan.
"Primarch! It's grave news, on Terra, the Knight Nobles, allied with the Navigator families, have rebelled!"
"Now only the Custodes and Imperial Special Armies are on Terra, and the Regent has sent an order for reinforcements."
Vulkan's movements immediately stopped, and his massive war hammer was pulled from an Ork's chest, green blood spraying like a fountain. He turned to stare at the messenger, his crimson eyes burning with furious flames.
"Rebellion?" His voice was deep and authoritative, like the rumbling echo before a volcano erupts. "On Terra?!"
The messenger trembled and nodded.
The next moment, Vulkan fiercely swung his war hammer, striking a group of Orks in front of him, smashing them and the metal plates on the ground into dust.
"These vile TRAITORS! While I defend the Imperium's borders, they dare to desecrate Terra! They will pay the price for this!" He roared with immense fury.
"SALAMANDERS, use all melta weapons! Eliminate the enemy, swift and decisive victory!" Vulkan's Salamanders forces were retreating from the core area of the Ork Battle Moon, preparing to regroup to address the rebellion on Terra.
In the battleship's command bridge, dim light illuminated Vulkan's enraged face. His massive body paced beside the command chair, exuding an intimidating pressure.
In front of the central console, a Tech-Priest was entirely focused on operating a stack of control panels flashing with runic light.
Vulkan stopped, looking down at the Tech-Priest.
"What is the matter? Why hasn't the battleship set sail yet? Terra needs us, and we are trapped on this battleship!" His voice was deep and full of pressure.
"The engine's machine spirit is disturbed. It will take time to pacify its unrest. The repair time is uncertain."
Vulkan clenched his fists. He couldn't let this go on; he had to act.
Then he looked at his hammer and growled, "Teleport to Terra!"
[End of Chapter]
Want to read more than 50+ chapters right now!
patreon.com/cw/Mr_UmU
https://www.patreon.com/Mr_UmU
____
Want bonus chapters? You got it.
Goal: 300 – Achieved: 298 = 2 Bonus Chapters
📌 1 Power Stone on the Book Page = 100 on Chapter Pages!
!! VISIT the BOOK PAGE to donate your Power Stone.