Chapter 34

(MC POV)

The entry of our ships into this Xdgis system was smooth and noiseless and was of course a product of my presence making Warp travel too easy and 100% safe.

I turn my head towards the Xdgis System or what is left of it.

Xdgis is strictly speaking a really ugly name for anything but I wasn't sure if the one in front of me deserved fate it in any way.

There was nothing worthy of praise before me. The sun of this system itself was unnaturally small, sucked in to power the war machinery of the men of iron.

Asteroid belts have been consumed to dust, like natural satellites and most planets. The only thing left is the giant war machinery that was buried in the last remaining planet slowly wearing it down until nothing is left.

There is nothing left of the entire star system worth saving. This is how hundreds of star systems and dozens of my planets must have disappeared - slowly consumed until nothing remained because the machines had all their technology but did not have the necessary resources or numbers to be a threat to the galaxy.

They were the pitiful remnants of a threat that had nearly exterminated humanity and conquered the galaxy in the past, and then ended up getting hit by a crippled Warp code. Here were the last remnants licking their wounds and renewing their numbers that I had not come.

It's time for revenge.

I didn't suffer the emotional burden that an ordinary person would feel in a situation like this.

People would think that I would devise a revenge plan so subtle and deadly that no one would see it. He would think that in seconds I would perfect every move, every strategy, looking for a weakness and then destroy my enemy.

I won't do that. Why do that when there is an easier and faster solution.

"Fire" I command loudly and my voice is carried through the fleet.

Ships aim quickly and missiles fly quickly to hit their targets.

KABOOM!!!

KABOOM!!!

KABOOM!!!

KABOOM!!!

KABOOM!!!

The sounds of the explosion could be heard inside the stricken ships as flashes of light interwoven with the sound of the explosion.

Numerous machine ships were completely destroyed, but also our ships because they were not as fast as the Bucephalus and the machines deliberately targeted the weakest and slowest ships as their last attack before destruction.

It didn't take long for the entire universe to light up in fireworks that required me to coordinate every step, every kick, every maneuver, every retreat and every move.

It felt like you were playing a multiplayer ship battle between two very fast players.

As the ships floated in the infinite vacuum of space I had to admit that this was all fun.

The Great Crusade is somewhat the same because statistics show that 9 out of 10 planets peacefully unite with us and only one resists.

The percentage of planets that offer resistance that doesn't break immediately and that requires holding the fleet is even lower, and the percentage that include me on is even lower than that.

The utter destruction taking place in space was fascinating and terrifying at the same time. Light rays, explosions and deathly silences ravaged the universe like some strange chaotic symphony. While the fleets were colliding and the ships were falling apart under the blows of enemy fire, I could only observe the scene from the top of Bucephalus, surrounded by my loyal Custodes.

The camera in my armour recorded the entire fight and every attack and maneuver. I'm sure this could be made into a good movie for my kids.

Thousands of possible scenarios went through my head in a second and thousands of moves were made, but the battle is nowhere near over. Despite the fact that every move was calculated to the smallest detail, the machines had a similar ability to learn and think.

Numerous ships were damaged and falling as our fleets continued our fight for the next few hours.

Silence fell over what was left of the Xdgis system. The bombs stopped flying, the explosions died down, and a deadly silence reigned.

The fight ended with our victory but in vain because the remaining standing fleet hid behind the metal planet using its powerful shields for safety.

[Image here]

The mechanical abomination was a flaw in the Warp itself, like a black hole that spread all the joy, happiness, everything positive from the environment. It's like someone created a planetary version of the Pariah Nexus.

But how?

Machines are not supposed to understand pariah effect or Necron technology. Building Pylon should be impossible for the Federation, the Machines or even my Imperium.

Their understanding of the Materia even with millions of years of advancement would be nowhere near Necron level. How did they manage to develop so much in just a few thousand years?

'Something stinks here' I turn my head in thought. This is not possible and something is wrong here, but so what. I direct my gaze towards the metal monstrosity.

I could launch a bomb into a star destroying machines and systems in the process.

I could unleash the full firepower of the Imperium on a tiny ball of metal and destroy it, but that doesn't make me happy.

'Where is the action? 

Where is the adventure? 

Where is the search for knowledge? ' I asked myself rhetorically.

"My loyal subjects" I projected my authority through Vox and said short and sweet "Let's strike at the very heart of Abominable Intelligence. Prepare for transport".

Tens of minutes passed while the landing pods were getting ready for launch. During that limited time, the bombs were launched at the places where the laser defense was the weakest.

The bombardment of the landing site was carried out quickly and mercilessly, while the non-adherent units were reduced to rubble.

And then, at my signal, the disembarkation began.

Thousands of pods each capable of carrying hundreds of regular Guardsmen at top speed were launched equipped with navigation that allowed them to land in the right place. Then followed thousands more special capsules carrying Space Marines and several Custodes.

When the pods landed on the planet's soil, the Imperials quickly exited them and formed a unified battle formation. Before them lay a metal landscape, marked by metal mountains, industrial factories and legions of machines.

I followed their progress through the holographic map in front of me. As soon as my men came out of the capsules, they ran into machines that immediately opened fire.

The sound of explosions and smoke from machinery soon covered the landscape as the battle heated up.

A little analysis of the current battle told me that even with air support, our ground troops would lose the battle within 72 hours.

Time to fly in.

I raise both hands and in a few moments I jump from Bucephalus into the atmosphere at the fastest speed.

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Hello after a long time.

My job, which I did from February 20 - May 21, was a disaster because it made me killed and I was very sleepy all the time, but now it's all over because I quit my job and went back to writing.

I know this is also a bit short but I edited this version four times because I didn't feel that anything but this one fit but for the next chapter I have plans to finish The Men of Iron Arc.

My problem is with the organization of future chapter.

That's why I'm asking if you want me to end this in:

1 ) 1 chapter - 4-6000 words and I put all the battles and twists in one chapter.

2) 2 chapters - 2000+ words each. All action divided into two chapters.

Choose what is better for you because I am also in doubt how to organize everything. All the options will have the same release time and the length won't affect the release time because I have the plot and twists planned out in my head I just need to write them.

As always, all comments, reviews and criticisms are welcome.