---3rd Person POV, Nimbosa---
Perched on the Hivesprawl's outer wall, Commissar Cain and Inquisitor Vail quickly scanned the T'au forces for an approximate headcount. When the count confirmed the odds—an eight-to-one disadvantage—a cold, shared scowl settled on their faces. Their desperate calls to nearby Imperial Worlds had gone unanswered: no reinforcements were coming. With discipline overriding their despair, the two officers refused to let the overwhelming odds shake their resolve and immediately looked down at their tactical map.
"Commissar Cain, our forces are in position and awaiting your command.", a Guardsman announced, snapping to attention as he reached the top of the stairs.
"Good job, Corporal Smith.", Cain said, saluting him back. "Please return to your post and await further instructions."
Taking the opportunity to survey the enemy host, the corporal nervously asked Cain a question.
"Sir… Word has begun to spread that the perpetrator behind the Koloth Gorge Massacre is among those present. Is that true?", Corporal Smith questioned.
"We have received unconfirmed reports that an individual matching his description has been seen on the battlefield. So far, we have been unable to substantiate those claims.", Cain answered honestly, looking his subordinate in the eyes. "Regardless of whether they are here or not, we have a job to do. The Imperial citizens who call this Hivesprawl home are relying on us to protect them. No matter what, we hold the line until the bitter end."
Grateful for his honesty, the corporal saluted Cain again before promptly departing. Once the soldier was a safe distance away, Vail looked at her partner with mixed emotions.
"While I respect your desire to be honest with your men, sometimes it would be better if you lied to them. That information will negatively impact our troops' morale.", Vail stated. "Every Guardsman on this planet knows about the Koloth Gorge Massacre…"
"I am sorry, but unless I am told otherwise, I will never lie to my men. We face death on an almost daily basis out here. They deserve to know as much as I can share to better prepare themselves for battle.", Cain politely refused, pivoting to a new topic. "Anyway, what's the status of the planetary governor's children?"
Shortly after the T'au arrived on Nimbosa, they sent an envoy to meet with the Imperials. While Cain and Vail were preoccupied chasing them off, the planetary governor and his wives slipped away in their private star-yacht before anyone could stop them. The enraged mob that had gathered in the wake of their parents' treachery immediately surrounded the governor's children, abandoned on the docks. Had Cain and Vail not arrived when they did, the children would surely have been torn apart by the mob's hands.
"Understandably, most of the children are cowering under the beds in fear. His eldest son is trying to lead in his father's stead, but there is only so much a fifteen-year-old can do.", Vail said, reviewing the latest report. "The youngest child has been rummaging around the governor's office looking for something. He is hellbent on finding a data slate the Adeptus Mechanicus gave his father a while back. Supposedly, it's meant to request aid from Holy Terra in the event of an emergency."
Cain had read reports about these relic devices for a while now, but their function remained unproven. Because they supposedly put the user in direct contact with Terra, no one was brave enough to risk using them without sufficient cause. The ongoing T'au invasion certainly met that desperate criterion. Even so, even if the devices did function, any Imperial aid dispatched would arrive far too late to save Nimbosa.
"Before we part ways, presumably for the final time, I would like to say something…", Cain spoke, offering a hand to his friend and lover. "It has been an honor serving alongside you. If I die today, my only regret will be that I did not make our secret relationship official. Should we survive, it will be the very first thing I do."
"You really shouldn't say such things right before we go into battle, Cain. Bad luck follows you wherever you go; no need to pile on more of it.", Vail laughed, shaking his hand. "Since you are laying your cards on the table, so shall I. If we survive this, let's go on one of those couple's vacations to a Pleasure World. I can pull a few strings to get us invited to one for a month or two."
"Haha, I just might take you up on that offer.", Cain said, imagining the two of them lounging on a warm, sandy beach.
Certain he would never see his beloved again, Cain quickly checked his surroundings to ensure they were alone. Once he was satisfied, the Commissar leaned in to kiss his lover. Happily reciprocating his gesture, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. Just as their lips were about to touch, the unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps began to draw near.
"Mister Commissar Cain! Miss Inquisitor Vail!", the youngest son of the disgraced governor called out, running up the last few steps. "I used the Adepta Mecha thingy to call for help."
Immediately stepping away from one another, they turned to see the child eagerly waving around an unusual data slate.
"Is that so? Good work, young man.", Cain said, praising the boy. "So, what did they have to say about our predicament?"
"Mister Primarch Stark told me he would send us help.", the boy answered, enthusiastically pointing toward the streets below. "Look down there, they really came to help us!"
Upon hearing the word 'Primarch', both Cain and Vail's faces puckered up like they had just licked a sour lemon. Certain he was exaggerating or trying to lift morale, they played along and took a look. As they approached the stairs, several Custodes appeared right in front of them. Moving on instinct, both snapped to attention and saluted the Emperor's finest.
"My… Uh…", Cain stuttered, trying to find the right words. "My Lords, it is both a tremendous honor and relief to see you here. We feared our small force stood alone in this fight."
"Not this day, Commissar Cain. The Emperor of Mankind has been apprised of your plight and has dispatched a sizeable defense force to aid you. As we speak, Battlefleet Regenesis is moving into position to crush the T'au fleet. In addition to one hundred Custodes, I bring ten companies of Space Marines and several regiments of Astra Militarum soldiers.", Valdor spoke, stepping to the forefront of the Custodes. "Additional reinforcements are on standby and ready to enter the fray, if needed."
Recognizing the legendary first Captain-General of the Custodes, Cain nearly fainted on the spot. Quickly regaining his composure, the Commissar asked if he had heard him correctly.
"Forgive me, but did you say the Emperor of Mankind has been apprised of the situation?!", Cain gulped, visibly trembling.
"Oh yes, he is enraged these filthy invaders would dare to threaten his people. The Emperor would have come himself, but he and Malcador are finalizing plans to retake Cadia.", Valdor answered, suppressing a grin. 'Victor was right; this is quite amusing.'
"Ma… Malcador…", Vail muttered, before momentarily fainting from shock.
Catching Vail before she hit the ground, Cain immediately apologized on behalf of them both. Unable to hold it in anymore, an amused smile formed on Valdor's face.
"There is no need to apologize. The Imperium of Man is vast; it takes a substantial amount of time for information to reach everyone.", Valdor stated. "Our Imperium has undergone many drastic changes in the past year. The Great Rift has been slammed shut, the Emperor has been revived, Malcador and I have returned, and the Emperor's sons have come back. It is all thanks to the Emperor's grandson, Primarch Stark, that we are in the best shape we have ever been in."
"Oh wow! You mean I spoke to the God Emperor's grandson?!", the young boy gasped in amazement. "That's so cool!"
As Vail began to stir, the enemy force became a hive of activity. Inundated with new reports, their commander was realizing their carefully planned invasion was quickly collapsing.
---T'au Command---
"Come again!? Did you say a fleet of fifty thousand Imperial vessels has just arrived in the star system?", Aun'shi questioned, wanting to make sure he did not mishear him.
"That is correct, sir. Not only that, but the vessels are also far more advanced than the typical Imperial ships we fought in the past.", the radio operator shared. "If I may, I believe something major has shifted within the Imperium of Man. We have never seen such a swift response from them before."
With this information in hand, Aun'shi glanced over at the commander. Frantically trying to piece together what was happening, the young Fire Caste leader was overwhelmed. Up to this point, everything had been going exactly as the computer simulations had predicted. Now, though, everything was falling apart as Imperial reinforcements were seemingly appearing out of nowhere.
"This is ridiculous. Commander Fiool needs to stop wasting time and decide on a plan of action already. Begin the assault on the Hivesprawl, or fall back and reevaluate our plans. It is that simple.", Prin'min grumbled, unhappy with his leadership skills. "What do you think, Aun'shi?"
"If I recall correctly, you served under Commander Shadowsun for quite some time. You are used to her seasoned leadership ability; Commander Fiool is but a fledgling commander.", Aun'shi remarked, cutting him some slack. "If you have any wisdom to share with him, now is the time to do it."
Calming herself, Prin'min walked over to Commander Fiool to offer her counsel. Before she had the chance to speak, the ground beneath their feet began to quake violently. Seconds later, a surge of wind assailed their command tent, sending it flying high into the sky.
"What in the world?!", Fiool gasped as another wave of debris struck the planet's surface.
"Those are bits of our ships!", Prin'min pointed out, lifting her gaze toward the sky.
In the upper atmosphere, the Imperial fleet was obliterating the T'au flotilla. Outnumbered ten to one, the T'au had already sustained heavy losses and was on the verge of losing orbital dominance. The T'au ground forces knew they had to fall back now before their only escape route was cut off. If they became trapped, the vengeful Imperials were certain to exact a brutal retribution for the Koloth Gorge Massacre.
"Commander Fiool, sound the retreat immediately.", Prin'min proclaimed while he stood watching the devastation unfold in real time. "Fiool!"
"R… Right!", Fiool agreed, coming back to his senses. "Begin withdrawing immediately. Focus on securing mission-critical assets and rig everything else to detonate. We don't have the time to reclaim everything, and we cannot afford to let it fall into enemy hands."
As the troops began to execute his commands, a blinding pillar of vibrant, rainbow light abruptly slammed down from the heavens. The beam crashed into the gap between the Hivesprawl and their frontline, and Victor strode out, the mighty Stormbreaker already in his hand. With a single, contemptuous wave of the weapon, their forward assault forces were vaporized into a cloud of blue mist.
"Foolish members of the T'au Empire, I bid you welcome to our Imperium of Man. I am the Emperor of Mankind's grandson, Primarch Victor von Stark.", Victor spoke, surveying the area for the T'au Commander. "Now then, who among you is the one called Commander Brightsword? Before the rest of you face your mortality, I will be taking his head…"
Under Victor's oppressive gaze, Fiool panicked. He engaged his thrusters, lancing blindly toward the Primarch; he emptied every weapon he carried. In response, Victor merely snapped his fingers, instantly reducing the barrage to a cloud of ash. Seized by horror, Fiool attempted to disengage, but it was already too late. In the instant he turned, Victor was already there, his massive hand closing instantly and effortlessly around Fiool's throat.
"You are not the real Commander Brightside, are you?", Victor scoffed, having Jarvis scan the T'au and his war gear. "This was all a ruse to sow terror in the hearts of the locals. Such a waste of my time…"
With just a casual squeeze, Fiool's head flew off like a rocket. Stowing the armor and corpse away in his inventory, Victor turned his attention to Aun'shi and Prin'min. Vaguely recognizing the man, he cast both the Ethereal and his assistant into a protective time pocket. With the board cleared of important people, Victor gave the order to commence the Imperial offensive.