Warhammer: Starting as a Planetary Governor-Chapter 314 - 315 – Blitz on T’au!

Bork'an Sept World

Boom—

A remnant fleet of the T'au Empire had just emerged from a shallow Warp passage when one of their battered ships, unable to withstand the corrosive energies, exploded violently.

On the bridge, Shadowsun gazed at the verdant planet of Bork'an and let out a breath of relief.

"Finally escaped..."

They would no longer have to endure the risks of that hateful dimension.

The T'au's warp drives consumed more energy than Imperial warp engines and could only skim the surface of the Immaterium.

Their FTL speed was only one-third of humanity's. freēwēbnovel.com

This forced their fleets to plan every movement meticulously — any mistake could cost them dearly.

"There's no doubt—we've encountered a terrifying enemy!"

Shadowsun was still shaken by the previous battle, feeling a rare touch of fear — and bitterness.

The human fleet had arrived so swiftly and precisely, as if foreseeing their moves.

Their firepower had been overwhelming, striking her fleet's weaknesses at every point.

The enemy commander had predicted her deployment paths with chilling accuracy.

Never had she seen such a thing.

Yet, it was not merely strength that led to her defeat.

The human fleet was powerful, yes — but Shadowsun commanded one of the T'au Empire's core battle fleets.

She should have been able to repel even a surprise attack.

What ruined them was internal betrayal.

In the heat of battle, an Ethereal aboard another vessel had forcibly overridden her command, ordering all ships to abandon formation and protect his personal ship.

This broke the fleet's cohesion.

The humans seized the opening — and unleashed devastation.

What followed was a brutal massacre.

Shadowsun, the legendary general, suffered an unprecedented defeat: of her mighty fleet, barely one in ten survived, only escaping through suicidal covering actions by the outer squadrons.

"How did they find us?"

Shadowsun frowned deeply.

The fleet's movements had been secretive.

There was no plausible way for humans to predict their exact jump points and lay such a perfect ambush.

Unless—

There was a traitor.

Someone had betrayed the Greater Good and revealed their fleet movements.

And only the highest ranks knew those routes — herself, and certain Ethereal Council members.

Shadowsun felt a deep powerlessness.

Without irrefutable proof, she could not accuse an Ethereal.

Even if she could — T'au law offered no means to punish them.

At most, a mild reprimand or a discreet reassignment.

This bitterness ran deep.

Since the catastrophic disaster of the Fourth Sphere Expansion, the Ethereal Council had become increasingly paranoid, increasingly distrustful of commanders like her.

And worse—

In one infamous battle, Supreme Ethereal Aun'Va had ordered Commander O'Ray to lead his forces into a suicidal charge.

O'Ray had refused.

Shortly afterward, he vanished.

Shadowsun herself had once disobeyed an absurd Ethereal order — refusing to sacrifice her army to save a stranded Ethereal on a swamp world.

That Ethereal had died.

But the campaign was saved — a vital victory for the Empire.

"If we, the warriors, can sacrifice ourselves for the Greater Good," she thought grimly, "shouldn't the Ethereals sacrifice too?"

But such thoughts were dangerous.

After that incident, the Council installed Ethereal monitors aboard every high command fleet.

They could override generals' orders at will.

Which is why—

The recent battle had turned into a massacre.

Shadowsun gazed bleakly at Bork'an.

"Our fantasies are breaking apart.

The cruel reality of the galaxy is closing in..."

The T'au were no longer rising powers.

They were infants stepping into a universe full of predators.

Humanity was but one of many.

And worse yet — her people were still lost in old dreams, blind to the approaching doom.

Little did they realize—the galaxy had already bared its fangs.

Shadowsun still believed in the Greater Good.

But the Ethereals had twisted it, equating themselves with it, manipulating all beneath them.

Generations of privilege had bred complacency and arrogance.

"Perhaps Farsight was right after all..." she thought grimly.

Commander Farsight — once another legendary general — had foreseen humanity's terrifying strength long ago.

He too had served the Greater Good fervently.

But repeated conflicts with the Ethereal caste's dogma had sealed his fate.

They had tried to send him on a suicide mission.

Instead, Farsight rebelled — killing his Ethereal masters and leading his forces into exile, founding the Farsight Enclaves.

The Ethereal Council erased all record of him — branding him a traitor.

Shadowsun remembered his final warnings:

That the Ethereal caste had become a selfish, deceitful aristocracy, unfit to guide the T'au through the galaxy's horrors.

That unless the T'au realized this truth, they would be destroyed.

And worse—

Farsight had claimed that during the Fourth Sphere Expansion, something far more terrible had arrived.

He said he saw daemons — and that the Ethereals showed signs of their corruption.

Shadowsun trembled at the memory.

She dared not think further.

For now—

The human fleet had arrived at the edges of Bork'an.

She had to warn the Sept worlds, strengthen defenses, rally reinforcements.

Suddenly—

"Shadowsun!!!"

A hologram burst into existence.

An enraged Ethereal Elder appeared, scowling:

"Why did you not obey my orders earlier? Were you trying to defy an Ethereal's authority?"

Still seething over her failure to prioritize his safety, he barked a new command:

"Summon all nearby fleets immediately! We must trap and destroy these barbarians!"

His wounded pride demanded blood.

Shadowsun was stunned by the absurdity.

"This is reckless! We should wait for reinforcements, not strip the Sept Worlds of their defenses!"

"Are you questioning an Ethereal's wisdom?"

The elder's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"This is an order — not a discussion! Disobey and you will be stripped of command!"

Shadowsun clenched her fists in fury.

She yearned to do as Farsight had done — kill this fool.

But the Ethereals were now heavily guarded.

Smiling coldly, she tried to reason.

But the elder cut her off:

"I have already transmitted our coordinates to the humans. Soon they will come — and we shall crush them!"

Shadowsun closed her eyes in despair.

It was over.

The Ethereal had bypassed her completely — summoning every fleet in the region.

A catastrophic mistake.

...

Elsewhere in Space

Wreckage floated across the void.

A colossal fleet advanced through the debris—the Savior's Third Fleet.

On the bridge of the Conqueror-class battleship, Volradi smiled, looking at the captive Ethereal commander beside him.

He clapped him on the shoulder.

"Brother Vaan, your information helped us find and smash the T'au main fleet. You'll be released soon..."

Commander Vaan stood motionless, blank with horror.

Because of his mistakes—

Shadowsun's fleet had been destroyed.

One of the T'au Empire's core fleets!

Vaan was consumed by guilt.

Suddenly—

The sensors chimed.

"Sir! We've located the retreating enemy fleet!" the sensor officer reported.

Volradi grinned.

Vaan stared at the star map.

It was obvious.

It was a trap.

Some T'au fool had revealed their location, thinking they could set an ambush.

Volradi tapped his chin.

He turned to Vaan:

"Tell me—does this look like a trap?"

Vaan hesitated, sweating.

"I... I don't know."

Click—

Volradi loaded his bolt pistol menacingly.

"You do know."

"I think... it's a trap," Vaan croaked.

"Good answer!" Volradi laughed.

Clearly, it was a laughably obvious bait.

Then Volradi pointed at another marker:

"Guess where I'm attacking next?"

Vaan froze.

Volradi was pointing straight at Kaeltu Sept World—a vital gateway.

Seeing his horror, Volradi smiled wickedly.

"Then that's where we go."

Vaan closed his eyes in despair.

Volradi patted his back:

"Good brother. Thanks to you, we know so much."

From Vaan's interrogation, Volradi had learned the T'au Empire's defensive network.

The T'au typically left minimal forces at the Sept Worlds, relying on rapid redeployment.

But Volradi had a plan:

Send a small fleet to feint at another target, drawing away the main defenses.

Strike hard at Kaeltu, seize the Nemyar Atoll portal—and punch straight into the T'au homeworld!

It was a rare, golden opportunity.

Volradi was thrilled.

Finally, a chance to carve his name into legend!

...

Kaeltu Sept World – Orbit

Boom!

A wrecked T'au battleship plunged into Kaeltu's atmosphere, erupting in a massive explosion.

On the bridge—

"No... what grave mistake have we made..."

Shadowsun stared in despair.

She had arrived too late.

The fool Ethereal had stripped nearby garrisons — chasing phantoms at Bork'an.

Meanwhile, the true enemy had crushed Kaeltu.

Through the Nemyar Atoll portal, the human fleet had already slipped into the heart of the T'au Empire.

Shadowsun had no time to ask how they knew Kaeltu's secret.

She activated the emergency comms to the T'au homeworld.

Screaming:

"Enemy fleet entering through the Nemyar Atoll! They are coming for the homeworld!"

(End of Chapter)

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