The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Due to the trap set by the commander of the Creation Star garrison and the misjudgment of the rebels, a large number of bombers and transport ships were destroyed in the fierce battle. The fighter squadrons, confused about whether to protect the bombers or the transport ships, failed to do either. Ultimately, after losing 80% of their bombers and transport ships, as well as a significant number of fighters, the rebels retreated in a sorry state.

Afterward, the rebels continuously attacked Creation Star, even leading the surrounding garrisons to believe that the airbase had fallen.

However, a surprise attack by the 'Hedgehog' air wing quickly informed everyone that Creation Star still stood strong. The surviving pilots, without ever having flown bombers before, managed to pilot a bomber squadron with the help of manuals and servitors, launching a surprise attack on the enemy fleet at the limit of their range, sinking a destroyer and heavily damaging a light cruiser. The cost was that only one heavily damaged bomber from the entire squadron returned to base.

In the end, the 'Hedgehog' air wing became a symbol of Creation Star. Even when the number of aircraft was less than a thousand, even when almost all the large airbases on the planet were destroyed, leaving only simple underground bases, they stubbornly fought against the enemy. The surrounding airbases constantly supplemented Creation Star with new aircraft and pilots. Even after the last original member of the 'Hedgehog' air wing was killed in action, and the air wing was completely replaced, their spirit of fearlessness and adventure continued to inspire the airmen to fight for humanity and the Imperium.

So, even ten thousand years later, the 'Hedgehog' air wing is still stationed on Creation Star, guarding humanity's home.

After Viletts finished telling the story of this heroic air wing, Solzhenitsyn couldn't help but go to Creation Star to take a look.

Due to the destruction of the fierce battles and the destruction of satellites, Creation Star is no longer at its previous level. Now, it only stations more than 1,700 aircraft. Solzhenitsyn visited the Creation Star air combat memorial hall, and even saw a group photo of the original members of the 'Hedgehog' air wing. They were all young men and women in their early twenties, even smiling in the photo, but ultimately spilled their blood in the void during the cruel war, which is truly regrettable.

After leaving Creation Star, the fleet arrived near Neptune, which in a sense truly marked their entry into the Solar System and the Throne of Humanity.

As an ice giant, Neptune's harsh environment should make it uninhabitable. However, in the era when humanity entered space, colonization was still carried out on Neptune and its satellites with great difficulty. But by the Age of Strife, most of the residents on the planet had mutated into ugly, inhuman creatures.

During the early Great Crusade, the task of conquering Neptune and its satellites, and clearing out the mutant tribes, fell to the Ninth Legion. However, the battle was not easy. During the conquest of Neptune, due to lack of supplies and resources, the Ninth Legion fought a difficult and bloody battle, sacrificing over ten thousand battle-brothers.

However, when Imperial reinforcements arrived, the Ninth Legion persevered and successfully completed the mission. They also recruited many mutants from the ruins of Neptune to replenish their troop numbers, which made the Ninth Legion the only Chapter to use mutant-modified warriors. Amit, the first Chapter Master of the famous Flesh Tearers Chapter, was a resident of Neptune.

In a sense, Neptune might even be considered a 'holy land' for the Flesh Tearers.

However, this history has long been forgotten. Even Viletts couldn't say for sure, and it was something Seth mentioned when discussing Legion history with Solzhenitsyn.

At least on Neptune and its satellites, there are no traces left by the Ninth Legion.

During the Horus Heresy, there were only sporadic battles on Neptune, but two satellites were completely destroyed.

There are no large settlements on Neptune itself now, only a large number of resource extraction stations. The vast majority of residents live on satellites and the huge orbital space station called Grillo.

Neptune currently has thirteen satellites. Except for Triton, which is used for resource extraction because it is the coldest celestial body measured in the solar system (-235℃), the other twelve satellites have established large residential areas and crowded hive cities. After all, the land price in the solar system is the most expensive in the entire Imperium, and any habitable place will not be wasted. Especially since Neptune's land price is relatively cheap compared to most planets in the solar system, and it is not as 'remote' as Pluto, many people, especially those who can no longer stay on Terra but are unwilling to leave the solar system, choose to settle in Neptune. Therefore, some people even jokingly call Neptune the 'Terra Suburbs'.

When Solzhenitsyn learned that the entire Neptune, including its satellites, was inhabited by a total of 400 billion people, he couldn't help but be amazed. No wonder there is always a constant stream of merchant ships and transport ships coming here.

But he was also a little puzzled, what was the point?

Viletts' explanation was that it was probably because they were closer to the Emperor's glory.

She also mentioned an interesting fact, which is that Neptune's gangs are very famous in the solar system. Almost all commercial activities are related to gangs, so rampant that even the Department of Justice can't control them - actually, it's not that they can't control them, but that Neptune's gangs are often inextricably linked to forces on Terra.

Solzhenitsyn was not surprised by this.

Long before the arrival of the Astral Knight fleet, the bigwigs of Neptune had received the news, so they were waiting early in the Grillo orbital station. When the fleet docked in the huge dock, the boarding hall, which should have been crowded with people, had been cleared, and armed guards stood everywhere. A group of gorgeously dressed bureaucrats, nobles, priests, merchant representatives, and red-robed Mechanicus priests were waiting here.

The deeds of the Great Whirlpool Expedition had already spread throughout the solar system through merchant fleets, various storytellers, and publications. After all, the Great Whirlpool Route is closely related to trade in the solar system. Even if the people don't care, these superiors must care.

Although Huron was not eliminated in the end, even the most critical critics had to admit that solving the biggest problem of the Great Whirlpool Route in just seven years made this expedition undoubtedly successful - especially compared to the long, stinky, and costly Achilles Expedition, which made little progress.

The essence of war is accounting. Whether from a long-term or short-term perspective, the results of the Great Whirlpool Expedition have benefited everyone greatly.

This can explain their enthusiasm for Solzhenitsyn and the Astral Knights.

Solzhenitsyn originally wanted to bypass Neptune directly, but the other party had already sent a message, and he couldn't just leave rudely, so he had to meet these people.

In fact, the whole process was not very new, just various praises, flattery, and boasting, but Solzhenitsyn was not the kind of person who would get carried away after hearing a few words.

After staying on Neptune for a day, the fleet left the dock and continued towards Terra...