—Yes, your excellency. What are your orders? I asked, unable to refute an order from one of the emperor's angels. I didn't like where this was going though.

—Prepare your men. The Black Templars will lead an assault one kilometer to the east.

—Immediately, your excellency.

If I remember something very well from the academy, it is that questioning the orders of an Emperor's Angel can be interpreted as treason. And that's something I really prefer to avoid at all costs. I greet shaking my chest, turning around and leaving the place. The corporal stood up as I passed him, and we both retreated silently toward the rest of my men.

As soon as I met Preston, I ordered him to notify Mason and York of the change in plans, while I grabbed the communications device to contact the command post. General Hibrid had barely received the news of the change, and he did not seem very happy about the decision. At least, he had been explained the reason for such a decision.

-Commissar. Chaplain Heldredd ordered us to be at full strength. Overcome the Ork hordes and capture a position a kilometer to the east. There is a large concentration of orks in that area.

—Do you think it could be the leader?

—It's a possibility. But it seems that the higher-ups are taking it into account. Commissar. I will send one of the reserve divisions. We're going to need all our strength if we want to put an end to those damned greenskins.

-Understood. Any news on the rest of the front? —I asked surreptitiously.

—The central front seems stable. And Colonel Tairon reports no changes other than the presence of Orkoid war machinery. Apparently, a large number of motorized vehicles are concentrated in that area.

—That front is located on a large plain. I'm not surprised that this is the case.

Well. At least I knew that the colonel was still in one piece, which gave me the slightest hope that we had not yet been overcome. A few seconds passed, and I was about to end the call to mobilize, but the commander's voice on the other end of the communication device stopped me in my tracks.

—Commissioner... —His voice was different than before. Less authoritarian. More worried.

-Yes sir?

—Do you have something in mind?

-Commander? —I asked shocked.

—You know something. —Hearing those words made me swallow hard. —I have enough experience to realize this. Tell me... What do you have in mind?

I let out a long sigh. To tell the truth, I thought I had been able to hide my worry all this time. The least I wanted was to worry my soldiers more than they already were. However, the commander's words were not only heard by me, but also by Preston, and the two soldiers who helped load his equipment. Whose faces looked at me with concern.

—A frontal attack against the orks? Generally it is the other way around. More with all those numbers. —I said without many scruples.

—I understand what you mean. It also bothers me that the orks have not attacked by this point.

—They're waiting for something. Something we ignore.

—Do you have something in mind?

—Not really. If I can give you some advice, Commander, have an emergency force ready for quick responses. It is not the first time that these orks would attack where we least expect it.

"I'll take your word for it, Commissioner."

—I appreciate it, commander.

—We'll get going in ten minutes. May the light of the Emperor guide us.

—May the light of the Emperor guide us.

I take out my watch, and activate the watch, as old memories of Cantus come back to my mind. Once the alarm sounded, there was no turning back.

While Preston informs the rest of the sector leaders about the situation, I return with the Black Shield Nullus, where I inform him of the situation and the preparations for the advance. What would be our fate in this attack? For me, a complete mystery. Would an advantageous position be worth the sacrifice? I really expected it. What were the orks preparing for us?... That was what scared me the most.

However, this was not the time to worry about such things. Some time had passed since the last Ork skirmish, and now a dead silence took over the entire front, interrupted only by the roar of very distant gunshots from the central or northern sector. It seemed that Colonel Tairon had a crossroads on his hands. And when the time on my watch hit zero, I knew the real hell was about to begin.

The sound of my whistle alerted all the men around me, as we emerged from our trenches in a massive charge to the front. The tanks surpassed the pits and took the front, while the millions of men and women of our sector rushed in unison towards the unknown.

I managed to see above the tide of soldiers, thanks to a rock formation that Aten III was kind enough to give me. I could see the endless line of green uniforms standing firm. Apparently both Crosta and Fordo synchronized with us, as well as the central front leaders. I can't say the same for the areas over which I had no visual contact.

We advanced approximately three hundred meters without major complications. The Black Templars were leading the attack, and their bolters and energy swords really had no match among the greenskins that were in our path. Although he was sure that this was not even the main force. But after four hundred meters... everything became chaos.

The first thing to greet us was a devastating curtain of fire coming from the rock formations that we were originally supposed to take. I curse inside myself that I was right all this time.

The last time we heard the status of the greenskins, they were that the main forces were three miles to the east. How did they arrive so fast? Or even worse. Weren't those even the main forces? Everything in this damn war was becoming more and more confusing.

A few seconds after the first exchange, I found myself behind the cover of the silhouette of a tank, with Preston at my side, repeating each of my orders to the different sectors, and parroting the reports that arrived at my position.

Black Shield Nullus and the rest of the Astartes managed to make their way through the greenskin formations, but we were unable to keep up with them. Our exposed vehicles were easy prey for heavy Orkoid weaponry, and projectiles and missiles flew in all directions, devastating huge areas of both the battlefield and surrounding areas. The fact that I was still able to receive the reports from Crosta, Mason and Fordo somewhat lightened the burden I felt at that moment.

We were trapped.

"Harrus!" We can't continue!

—Crosta! What is the situation!?

—We have too much fire against us! My boys are dropping like flies! We must move! ?We are very exposed!

—Damn!... Captain! Defensive doctrines! We can't move forward, but we can't go back either! Look for any coverage for...!

-Commissar! Urgent message from the command center!

I wasn't able to finish my orders when Preston's voice rose from behind me. No matter how gentle I was, interrupting me at this moment would be considered an act of betrayal and punished severely. However, when I turned my angry face towards the communications technician, he already showed genuine fear on his face. One that sowed concern in me, when I saw the red light on the communications device flashing. Indicating that the call was of highest priority. And without wasting any time, I had to put Crosta on hold to receive the call. I just hope that you have at least understood my first words.

—Commissioner Harrus speaking.

I commented as soon as I had the device next to my ear, waiting to hear Commander Hibird's voice on the other end of the line. However, the deep voice that answered me was one I was not expecting at all.

—Commissar Harrus, this is Chaplain Helbredd of the Black Templars.

—Your Excellency!?

When I heard the voice of the one who was in command of all the ground forces on the surface of Aten III I was petrified. Really, of all the officers above my rank, I didn't expect to hear his voice again. However, the fact that he had contacted me specifically gave me a terrifying chill.

—Commissar, we have received news that Ork forces five kilometers east of your position have begun to mobilize. Apparently, their target is the plains where you are located.

—Your Excellency... We are receiving crossfire here... We cannot continue advancing... We will not be able to capture the position.

—Order cancelled. Fall back and take defensive positions. The plans have changed. I'm not on the offensive.

On the defensive? As? The Crusade was supposed to be an all-out offensive to eradicate this Ork Whaag... What happened to make the course of the war change so radically?

On the other hand, if the supposed main group of the horde was heading towards our position, there was nothing we could do. And to top it all off, we lost all trace of the Black Shield Nullus and his group. And Crosta's situation was desperate... However... There was one question that caused me great concern.

—And General Hybrid of the 9th company?

I knew it was a question I shouldn't ask. But the fact that the chaplain contacted me specifically instead of the commander had me somewhat uneasy. Much more than the projectiles impacting dangerously close to my position. However, the Astarte's voice did not hesitate to give me an answer.

—The eastern sector command center has fallen. They report that a projectile directly hit their position. There were no survivors. You are the one who is now in command of the Astra Militarun forces in that sector.

His words were expelled from the device with authority, and my body shook at the news. In a split second, I not only felt the weight of the Ultionen Militum, but also the entire 9th. Malfi Company. I... I didn't even know how many soldiers and military equipment I was referring to at that moment. And yet... I had a suspicion it wouldn't be enough. Thank the Emperor, that the chaplain still had more instructions for me, because I would not have been able to get out of my state of shock at that moment.

-Commissar. Retreat to the previous position and wait for the position. I'll send reinforcements. They should arrive in a few minutes. We're counting on you, commissioner.

—Yes... Yes sir.

The communication is immediately cut off, assuming that the marshal had other orders to give. I freeze, still listening to the static that the device released over my ear. Still. Unable to believe reality at all.

I wasn't prepared for that. I more than anyone knew it. He was barely capable of commanding a modest company of militiamen and a modest group of reserve soldiers. Now, under my command was an entire company of millions of troops. Including armor, artillery, and some air units, yes, at this point we still had them.

I don't know how long I was in that state of alienation... But if it hadn't been for Preston's voice, I would surely have stayed behind those rocks until a projectile blew my head off.

-Commissar! What are your orders!?

I open my eyes, somewhat in shock unable to fully understand reality. Both Preston and the soldiers around me look at me with concern waiting for orders. I just couldn't believe that had happened again. That feeling of dread, which I felt upon learning of Purshok's fall in the fields of Cantus. And from my lips, only a few fearful words escaped.

—Contact all forces in the sector. Withdrawal. And put me in touch with Colonel Tairon immediately.