Warhammer 40k: Starting as a Rogue Trader

Chapter 172: Craftworld Kholor and the Swords of Twilight

A fleet consisting of five large transport ships and two frigates had departed under Rebecca's arrangements. Their destination was a barren planet on the edge of the explored systems. The armed transports were loaded with various pieces of mining equipment, a large quantity of living supplies, and nearly ten thousand soldiers disguised as workers.

This planet possessed mineral resources that humanity could utilize. The reserves confirmed by the initial survey teams were considerable. Although unsuitable for human habitation, it was a qualified mining world. Originally, this planet had been assigned by the Mongorte Dynasty to a smaller Rogue Trader dynasty for them to develop and manage independently. All they had to do was pay a certain percentage of the output.

Unfortunately, a month ago, the initial construction team had just arrived when they were attacked by those Eldar Corsairs. The pirates seemed to have known in advance that the Imperial forces here were insufficient. All the humans on the planet were plundered and slaughtered, forcing that smaller dynasty to temporarily abandon the world.

At this time, there were too many raids within the alliance's sphere of influence; a large force could not be diverted to defend this inconspicuous frontier mining planet.

As they approached the star system, the frigates protecting the transport ships began to break away.

"Captain Burns, as per the Dynasty's request, you will proceed on the rest of the journey by yourselves. May the God-Emperor protect you. You must establish defenses as soon as you reach your destination. The pirate activity there has been exceptionally frequent lately. I really don't understand why the Dynasty is still sending you there. It's far too dangerous. If you encounter danger, please send a message to the nearest star system immediately. Reinforcements will arrive quickly."

Burns could hear the indignation in the other captain's voice. The man probably thought they were already dead men walking. After all, their numbers were too small to face a pirate raid. But only Captain Burns and his crew knew their true mission. All they had to do was wait for the enemy to arrive and deliver the cargo they were carrying into their hands.

"May the God-Emperor protect you as well. Thank you for your escort. Our job is to carry out the Dynasty's orders. The rest is not for us to consider."

Watching the two frigates depart, the atmosphere on the bridge became a little heavier. The escort fleet didn't know their mission, but the people on this ship knew it all too well.

After the transport ships had landed the equipment and personnel on the ground, all they saw were the ruins left behind after the Eldar Corsairs' rampage. A ravaged pioneering camp had already been established.

Wearing his combat suit, Burns led the soldiers of his team to search the remaining facilities and buildings. The walls inside were still stained with large patches of dried blood. Even after a month, the thick smell of blood lingered. No one had come to clean up the abandoned facility. Many cabins still contained severely decomposed bodies. They were the workers who had been here. Their bellies had been cut open, their limbs severed. Burns even saw some who had had their intestines pulled out and then been strangled to death with them.

The various gruesome sights made the members of the team swallow hard. Although they had heard of the cruelty of these Dark Eldar, few had actually seen it for themselves. They all wondered if they could really withstand such torture.

"These damned xenos! Captain... what should we do next?"

"Anderson, have the men clean up the bodies here first. Leaving them exposed could cause a plague."

"Yes, Captain!"

The team began to transport various pieces of collection equipment down to the surface and carry out a symbolic mining operation on the planet. To convince the pirates that the site was being re-established, some basic defensive facilities were set up, and the soldiers began to carry out patrols and guard duties. Everyone waited nervously for the possible appearance of the enemy.

During the time the Dynasty's team was arriving at this mining world, a band of Eldar Corsairs had also noticed them.

"Lord Kalrusion, a message from Kholor has pointed us to another target. It is a human resource planet that we have attacked before."

At this moment, aboard the Eldar Corsair light cruiser, the Mournful Memory, the leader of the Swords of Twilight, Kalrusion, was sitting on his Throne of Blades.

"Inferior monkeys. These worthless creatures are like a swarm of pests that can never be exterminated. They have no value in existing in this world. They were clearly slaughtered once, yet they still try to come here to mine for resources. Have they already forgotten the fear we brought them?"

Kalrusion's expression was fickle, as if he were offended by the humans' contempt for him, and at the same time, excited by the upcoming slaughter. Aboard this warship were not only Dark Eldar, but also a large number of Craftworld Eldar warriors from Kholor.

Kalrusion did not like these kin from his former Craftworld. Having been born on a Craftworld himself, he had grown tired of that restrained life. But his Corsair band did indeed need the help of these warriors. In recent years, the humans in the Expanse had grown stronger, and his raiding operations were constantly being thwarted, especially by those humans in combat suits, which had caused him great losses. After leaving Kholor, although he was free, he had also lost the logistical support of an entire Craftworld. He had to plunder everything himself.

But when the so-called Rogue Trader Alliance and that detestable Mongorte Dynasty appeared, everything changed. The human fleets, which had once been slow to arrive, would now appear shortly after he launched his attacks. He couldn't understand how the humans could react so quickly!

The lack of captured slaves meant that the Dark Eldar in his band could not replenish their souls, which was a fatal blow to his rule. He himself also needed a large number of slaves to replenish his own soul, which was constantly being drained by Slaanesh.

The sudden support from the Craftworld had given him more supplies and weapons, and also more warriors. Kalrusion knew that Elara, the most powerful Farseer of Craftworld Kholor, was using him. But it was undeniable that her divination abilities and the warriors from the Craftworld were what he needed. And the price she demanded was for him to continuously attack those human monkeys, which he had no reason to refuse. They were simply taking what they each needed.

It was the very Harlequins who had attacked Lucan that had gone to Craftworld Kholor, which had long been rooted near the Expanse. The Harlequins revealed the Laughing God's prophecy to Kholor's Farseer Council. The Dynasty's expansion had already inevitably led to conflicts with the Maiden Worlds and outposts protected by Craftworld Kholor. Faced with the armies of the Dynasty and the alliance, the Craftworld Eldar stationed there had suffered heavy losses.

Kholor, which had originally pursued a policy of isolationism, was slowly finding this situation unacceptable. They had always regarded humans as primitive creatures, and the appearance of the Harlequins had given them a final push. Although the Harlequins held a position of authority among the Eldar, the various Eldar factions were still independent entities. How could the already fractured Eldar race be reunited by a single prophecy and throw themselves into a war without regard for the cost? Not to mention, the human forces in the Expanse were now much stronger than a single Craftworld. Otherwise, if the Laughing God were to just raise his arm and call, wouldn't the Dark Eldar and the Craftworld Eldar have to reunite and rebuild the Eldar Empire?

Kholor had no intention of engaging in a large-scale, direct conflict with humanity. The Farseer Council was not foolish. The Craftworld Eldar, unlike the Dark Eldar, did not have artificial wombs to churn out half-born warriors in whatever numbers they pleased. The method the Kholor Eldar chose was to supply other Eldar Corsairs with resources from the Craftworld, and let them do the fighting. Only when necessary would Kholor directly intervene in the war.

"Lord Kalrusion, should we make a move on this planet?!"

"Of course! These monkeys will pay the price for their arrogance! These people might even fetch a good price if sold in Commorragh. Compared to the support from Kholor, I prefer to use slaves to buy the supplies I need!"

After all, only what you earn yourself can be spent with peace of mind. Kholor could cut off their supply at any time; one's destiny had to be held in one's own hands. The Swords of Twilight were mostly composed of ambitious and scheming individuals from the Dark City of Commorragh, and most of the pirate band's resources also came from there. Slaves were the true hard currency in that place.

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