The crystal chandelier cast dappled shadows on the dome, but the atmosphere in the Governor's Council Chamber was as frozen as an Antarctic glacier.
The long table, originally laden with delicacies, was pushed to the corner, and a holographic star map lit up in the dust, casting everyone's faces in flickering light and shadow.
Kael'thas's expression was grim; he knew the urgency of the situation and, without waiting for the meeting to drag on, he quickly left to arrange the planetary defense force's battle plan.
The Governor watched his hurried departure, secretly relieved; although this man was at odds with him, it was, after all, a matter of survival for everyone on the planet, especially his own life, and Kael'thas's military capabilities now seemed particularly crucial.
"Gentlemen, we have big trouble," the Governor said, his fingers digging deeply into the armrest of his carved chair, knuckles white.
"According to the defense force report, an xenos fleet has appeared on the outskirts of the star system." This sentence hit everyone like a heavy hammer, and the crisp sound of tearing fabric came from beneath the nobles' silk robes—someone's fingernails had dug deep into their palms.
"How could a fleet arrive in the Ghoul Star Region, where Warp storms are frequent?" Mining magnate Rudolf's diamond cufflinks trembled. "My family's private ships can only patrol the outer reaches of the star system at most..."
"That's why they're xenos!" The Governor slammed his hand on the table, sending the crystal ashtray clattering to the floor. "They don't need conventional jumps at all!" He suddenly stood up, his crimson cape sweeping across the silver tableware on the table.
The Governor slowly rose to his feet, his gaze sweeping over those present, his face as dark as storm clouds before a tempest.
"This battle is unavoidable; it is a battle of life and death!" His voice was deep and powerful, carrying an undeniable authority, echoing through the silent meeting room.
"And, I advise you all not to think about escaping."
The Governor's gaze swept coldly over the quick-witted nobles.
"I know that more or less, you nobles have some spacecraft hidden away in your homes. But you might as well consider, we are in this Ghoul Star Region, the Warp environment is extremely harsh, where are there any safe Warp navigation routes left? Even the Imperial tithe-collecting warships haven't set foot here for hundreds of years."
Upon hearing the Governor's words, the nobles, who had been restless, felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured over their heads, their hearts suddenly turning to ash.
Their faces were a mix of panic and unwillingness, some even clenching their fists involuntarily, yet feeling helpless.
"If not for the harsh Warp environment here, the limited exploration range of sub-light engines, and the surrounding barren star systems, our ancestors wouldn't have had to sink the planet's last naval warships into the Antarctic ice and snow hundreds of years ago."
A defense force officer couldn't help but complain, his face full of helplessness and bitterness.
"To cut costs, we had no choice but to divert all our space resources to building a planetary fortress."
"Oh, and those warships!"
The Governor seemed to grasp at a straw, quickly turning to ask the Adeptus Mechanicus Tech-Priest beside him, his eyes revealing a hint of urgency and expectation.
"Can that batch of warships still take off?"
"That batch of warships has been preserved quite well in the Antarctic ice and snow," a Tech-Priest, waving his bionic limb, said excitedly, his eyes gleaming with fanaticism.
"We perform a complete overhaul every century, and it's only been 10 years since the last overhaul, so approximately 70% of the warships should still be able to take to the skies for combat.
However, the ship conditions are not ideal, and some minor issues are expected during combat. Moreover, even if we activate them at the fastest speed, it will still take 20 hours before they can take off.
I'm not sure if we have that much time to allow us to restart the warships. Additionally, we can at most provide a batch of Tech-Priests and mortal auxiliary forces to assist in operating the warships, but we do not have professional naval troops."
The Tech-Priest spoke, waving his bionic limb, as if emphasizing the complexity of the situation.
"We have a naval seed force."
A high-ranking defense force official stepped forward, his expression serious.
"Although the numbers are small, just over 5,000 people, with some highly qualified soldiers, they can barely manage to operate the warships. However, their combat effectiveness is indeed difficult to guarantee."
"Then launch them now!" The Governor's fist slammed onto the holographic star map, the starship models twisting and deforming in the shockwave. "Tell the space fortress defenders to buy time for the warships with their bodies!" His voice suddenly became hoarse. "These are xenos; surrender only leads to death!
At this moment, most of the people present were in a state of panic, like lost lambs in the dark, with no good way to respond.
Since the Governor's orders seemed to make some sense, everyone could only follow them, rising one after another and hurrying out of the conference room to fulfill their respective duties.
"Also, we need to gather all available forces, noble private armies must also prepare for battle, and a large number of armed militias must be readied for ground combat."
At this moment, Kael'thas, having finished arranging the orders for the planetary defense force to enter full war status, happened to walk in, his voice firm and powerful.
"And the defense force must be ready to relocate to the Lower Hive and Underhive at any time. If this area at the top of the Hive City is subjected to enemy orbital bombardment, all our resistance will be in vain."
The Governor stared at Kael'thas, his lips moved, but he ultimately said nothing extra.
He turned to face the others and loudly declared, "Do as Kael'thas commands! Go and execute it quickly, or else we can only pray to the God-Emperor for His blessing."
Suddenly, the atmosphere of the entire planet instantly tensed up, like a wound-up spring.
The people of the various Hive City levels were surprised to find large numbers of troops beginning to gather.
In the streets and alleys, soldiers hurried with serious expressions.
Not only were forces rapidly assembling, but militias were also being heavily conscripted, and heavy firepower units were being mobilized one after another.
At the same time, the Underhive and Lower Hive began to construct defensive fortifications; the clanging of hammers and the shouts of soldiers intertwined, like a tense prelude to war.
Some clever individuals in the Mid-Hive keenly sensed that something was amiss.
From this tense atmosphere, they anticipated that something big was definitely happening, and it was very likely a major event concerning the survival of the entire planet.
However, they were powerless, able only to wait for fate's judgment in anxiety and fear.
The followers of the Adeptus Mechanicus advanced frantically towards the Antarctic, as if possessed.
They drove large numbers of servitors, loading them ship after ship into those dilapidated naval warships, completely disregarding whether these warships could still take off.
The Adeptus Mechanicus Tech-Priests, while nervously inspecting these warships, also performed rituals to Ommnissiah in various strange postures.
They chanted incantations, their eyes fanatic, as if pleading with their god for strength.
Priest Dean knelt at the bow of the flagship, the 'Sword of Vengeance.' His bionic arm plunged into the ice, the whirring of gears intermingling with the cracking of ice: "O Omnissiah..." His voice was filled with fervor. "Witness Your creations awaken!"
And those naval seed forces, bringing a large contingent of excellent defense force soldiers, unhesitatingly rushed to man the warships.
Their eyes gleamed with determination, solely for that slim possibility of repelling the xenos beyond the planet.
In the space fortress, the warriors had already prepared for sacrifice.
Their expressions were solemn, their hands gripping the weapon launch buttons, their gazes fixed on the outskirts of the star system, ready to use their lives to buy precious time for the planet, hoping only that those long-dormant naval warships would take to the skies as scheduled.
In this moment of peril, human courage burned brightly, like a flame in the darkness.
Facing the terrifying enemy that was the xenos, humanity never lacked courage, for the anthem of humanity is the anthem of courage.
