The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Void Dragon pirate fleets typically consist of a single main weapon at the bow of the ship. They only require a crew of a dozen or so, whose sole job is to board enemy vessels in 'Impaling' assault boats, seize control from within, plunder what they need, and then leave. As such, the structure of these pirate ships is incredibly simple, ranging from fifty to two hundred meters in length, depending on the user's preference. According to Salania, the Bone Singers often loathe building these vessels, considering it an insult to their craft. However, pirates, especially newly 'initiated' captains, greatly favor these small ships.

This highlights the difference between Aeldari and human ships. Aeldari vessels can be so small because of their superior self-sufficiency. They use solar sails for power, and most systems operate autonomously, requiring minimal maintenance and crew. This allows them to compress the size significantly. In contrast, human ships cannot be too small, as they require warp drives and sufficient self-sufficiency for interstellar travel. However, the Aeldari, with their access to the Webway, do not need to consider this.

In other words, only 174 ships in the Void Dragon pirate fleet truly met the standard of a 'warship.' While still a staggering number, it was far less exaggerated than what Sochian had previously seen.

He then met with representatives from various Craftworlds, commending them for their support of the Ynnari and instructing them to carry news of the Ynnari's reconstruction of the Corsair fleet back to their respective Craftworlds. He also hinted at the Ynnari's imminent major offensive against Vect.

Next were the vassal races. They had also done their best, with the Aracni even boarding and capturing a Black Heart Kabal pirate ship. Although the ship was crippled and immobile, allowing the relatively slow Aracni hive ship to latch on, the Aracni warriors displayed formidable combat prowess during the subsequent boarding action, overwhelming the Kabal warriors within—numbering less than a hundred—while suffering only a dozen casualties themselves.

This news would likely be met with disbelief by many Aeldari, but Sochian recognized the potential of this race. He generously allowed the Aracni to keep their spoils of war—a pirate ship might not seem like much, but the technology it contained could provide a significant leap forward for the Aracni.

In particular, Commorragh weaponry and equipment relies far less on psychic power, making it easier to understand for most races compared to the primarily psychic-based technology of the Craftworlds.

As for the risk of nurturing a threat, the Aracni were still too small and located on the edge of the T'au Empire. Strengthening them would benefit the Ynnari's future efforts to balance power and advance diplomatic strategies with the T'au, with the benefits far outweighing any potential risks.

Other races also received recognition and rewards, but the key was that they had witnessed a naval battle beyond their imagination, glimpsed the true terrifying power in the galaxy, and cemented the image of the Ynnari's strength and invincibility. Upon returning to their homeworlds, they would ensure greater loyalty to the Ynnari.

Overall, the Ynnari's population and military strength were still lacking, or rather, all Aeldari factions except Commorragh faced this issue. Therefore, in future galactic-scale conflicts, auxiliary forces from alien races would be crucial.

Ideally, the best vassal race would have been the T'au, given their established presence and decent capabilities. However, after interacting with their Ethereal caste, Sochian abandoned this idea. Perhaps it would have been possible before the T'au rose to prominence, but it was no longer realistic, as the T'au had already developed their own galactic ambitions.

Therefore, the Ynnari had to settle for second best, relying on multiple vassal races and attempting to integrate them as much as possible. However, the presence of the behemoth that was the Imperium of Man complicated matters. For example, Dorar reported that the Ynnari had made initial contact with a race, confirming that their beliefs and social structure were acceptable, but before further action could be taken, the race was completely wiped out during a Black Templars crusade. The Ynnari could only gather some surviving refugees and resettle them elsewhere, but it would likely take centuries for them to rebuild to their original planetary scale.

Only later did Sochian learn that the Black Templars had gone in the wrong direction. They had originally intended to conquer another star system but somehow ended up there, immediately engaging the aliens they encountered. After the confused battle, they realized their mistake and had to painstakingly travel to eliminate their true target.

After dismissing the support fleets from the Craftworlds and vassal races, Sochian did not immediately leave. He instructed the main force of the Tears of Paradise fleet to return with the captured warships, leaving only a portion of the fleet behind. Thanks to the Webway gate, he could return to the Ynnari at any time.

There was one thing that intrigued him, compelling him to stay.

“Your Highness, what are your views on the Imperium of Man?”

On the bridge of the Corsair Flame, the Phoenix Guard stood watch at every entrance. Sochian, dressed in a silver-gray open-front robe that revealed the strong chest muscles outlined by the close-fitting fabric, stood on the observation platform extending from the bridge. Behind him were Salania, in ornate armor, with her lithe and tall figure, and Carnellian, in a white sleeveless robe with a cross-over collar, exposing her lotus-root arms and jade shoulders, her hair styled in an elegant high bun.

Lately, Salania had been asking Sochian strange questions, which he generally answered as patiently as possible.

Firstly, Salania was indeed young, even younger than Veronica—though still older than Sochian. Secondly, she was the Star Marshal he had appointed and could be considered a confidante. Of course, some had privately expressed concerns about appointing Salania as Star Marshal, given her recent failure with the pirate fleet.

Sochian had anticipated the doubts about Salania's abilities. His reasoning was simple: those who had just experienced turmoil and transitioned from pirates to an Imperial fleet needed stability and security above all else, and a familiar leader was undoubtedly the most reassuring. It was a political choice. Moreover, Salania's naval command abilities were not lacking, having grown up immersed in it. She was merely inexperienced in dealing with complex conflicts of interest and political maneuvering, but as Star Marshal, those skills were not as necessary.

“The Imperium is necessary for humanity, for the galaxy.”

Sochian's answer brought a puzzled expression to Salania's pretty face.

“But Your Highness, from what I have seen and heard, the Imperium has been fueling the Great Enemy of Chaos. There used to be a popular view among the Aeldari that if humanity were to fall, the tides stirred by the Chaos Gods would also subside.”

“Wishful thinking. How many years has human history spanned? To attribute the decay of the Warp entirely to human activity is somewhat self-deceptive, don’t you think? Moreover, the threat to the galaxy today is not just Chaos. Not long ago, I fought a protracted war against the Tyranids on the edge of the galaxy, sacrificing tens of billions of lives. Salania, can you imagine the scene of the entire void being filled with enormous monsters?”

Hearing the name Tyranid, a thoughtful expression appeared on Salania’s soft features, and she nodded, saying:

“Tyranids, I have seen them a few times, but…never on the scale you describe. If that were true, it would be a disaster, a galactic-level disaster.”