Morningstar, the planetary capital, Calaena.
Calaena was built at the end of a valley straight as an arrow, its source far upstream beyond Zharrukin.
At Calaena, the valley suddenly widened, forming a broad bowl-shaped structure, enclosed by towering cliffs on three sides, the fourth facing a blue sea.
Hathor Maat walked within. Calaena was older than any architecture he'd seen since leaving Terra: crowded commercial districts, oceangoing transport ships from across Morningstar, grand cathedrals with circular domes, rotating towers inlaid with polarized glass, and vast libraries.
Originally home to seventy thousand, as electromagnetic storms grew, over five hundred thousand flooded the planetary capital, boarding ships here to leave their doomed home.
Transport routes were overwhelmed. Vehicles bumper-to-bumper. Tens of thousands of residents shuffled along congested roads.
Hathor's gaze swept the crowd. He keenly noticed, as his Lord stated, not a single individual among them possessed psychic potential.
They weren't the Sisters Silence, lacking the distasteful and sickening aura.
People looked at the towering red-armored giants with curiosity and awe.
Hathor quickly identified his first target. Unlike others showing fear, this man wore a cloak painted with storm patterns.
Beneath the cloak was a ochre robe with faintly embroidered golden designs.
'Sons of Shai-Tan!'
Hathor immediately connected this person to the local religious group members mentioned by his Lord.
Years before the War Council decided the Fifteenth and Fourth Legions would handle rescuing Morningstar, his Lord had already foreseen this.
His words, this operation would be crucial for the competition between him and Ahzek Ahriman for the Chief Librarian position, had also come true.
Hathor had no doubt the Sons of Shai-Tan were his key to victory.
Following the man's gaze, he found five similarly attired individuals with similar demeanor.
Hathor raised his staff. He didn't intend to use his psychic lightning.
His Lord said the Sons of Shai-Tan held high prestige locally. Acting against them among fleeing crowds might stir negative public sentiment.
Just as Hathor prepared to release biomancy to weaken the target into collapse, easily attributed to malnutrition, a man in his blind spot suddenly tore off his storm cloak.
The revealed ochre robe bore complete pattern lines embroidered with golden serpents.
He clawed, trying to climb a statue.
The statue depicted Damyan Thoren, Morningstar's first Bright King.
Hathor cursed inwardly. He immediately changed the spell. As the Pavoni Magister Templi, he skillfully switched spells in an instant.
Psychic lightning danced among the crowd. The Sons of Shai-Tan, preparing to incite the crowd and others, were instantly struck down, falling unconscious.
"They're killing people!"
Terrified shouts arose from the crowd. Instinctively, they began to scatter and flee.
The "Psychiatrist" took a heavy step forward. He shouted: "Stop!"
The "Psychiatrist" exuded a frightening presence. Refugees felt dragon-like pressure
They wanted to flee, but the giant's threatening words and red-armored warriors forming ranks made them halt.
After using "Intimidate" to quell public panic, the "Psychiatrist" issued orders to his Thousand Sons.
"Bring the unconscious ones out."
In Calaena's luxury villa, the original owner had long departed aboard a void ship after the Meteorological Office reported Morningstar's core undergoing unexplained decay, the planet's lifespan sharply reduced to mere months before self-destruction.
In the dim basement, a Son of Shai-Tan slowly awoke.
Images in his mind lingered on climbing the statue, preparing to deliver a speech.
He looked around dazed. Then his pupils sharply contracted. He saw red-armored giants outsiders.
Hathor smiled. Using the perfect voice crafted with biomancy, he spoke magnetic words.
"Sons of Shai-Tan, let us converse."
The red giant's words, and sensing a calming scent, made the Sons of Shai-Tan's tense nerves relax.
"What do you wish to discuss?"
"Start with why you are called the Sons of Shai-Tan." Seeing the other party influenced by his "Psychological Cue" and carefully blended essential oils, mind no longer tense, he began guiding patiently, starting with simple topics.
Sons of Shai-Tan wasn't a secret organization. They existed openly on Morningstar. The other wouldn't strongly resist.
Beginning here could draw him further into the conversation's rhythm.
The Sons of Shai-Tan's lips curved upward. He said proudly.
"We are the chosen, destined to ascend, joining the Lord of Storms side! His power shake many worlds! His return cracks the earth!"
"Our world missed one opportunity. Then, an age of strife without light fell upon this galaxy, elevating the chosen into His golden palace among stars!"
"Now, the merciful Lord of Storms again bestows us! He presents this chance to be with Him! During Old Night's celebration, we were deprived. Now Sons of Shai-Tan regain the chance! The sky signals His imminent signs! Welcome them! Embrace the golden doom!"
A flicker of disdain passed through Hathor's eyes. 'As my Lord said, Sons of Shai-Tan are a death-worshipping cult!'
Hathor operated the data-slate, calling up a holographic map.
"Where is the colony ship named Shai-Tan?"
From his Lord, Hathor learned Shai-Tan departed from the Dragon Kingdom during humanity's Golden Age of exploration.
Hathor wasn't unfamiliar with the Dragon Kingdom. The Thousand Sons had set foot there, finding vast warehouses in the lands containing massive missiles with nuclear warheads.
The Dragon Empire's colony ship unfortunately experienced the Old Night's surge in psykers.
Terrified crew isolatedthe psykers, using machines to drain their psychic energy.
The resentment of deceased psykers merged into one, forming a powerful Warp entity, Shai-Tan.
The crew fled in terror from Shai-Tan, but their minds were already brainwashed.
Shai-Tan's curse passed down from gerations to generations. Every colonist on the planet was a descendant of the afflicted.
Anyone who awakened would become a Son of Shai-Tan.
"How do you activate the colony ship?"
"Where is the doomsday machine you built?"
"…"
The "Psychiatrist" asked a series of questions, obtaining desired answers from the Sons of Shai-Tan.
The "Psychiatrist" then questioned other members one by one. After obtaining needed intelligence, he recorded it.
'Now to execute my Lord's command. My Lord prophesied that once my gene-father and lord Perturabo discover Morningstar's people are cursed by Shai-Tan, they'll kill all colonists and issue an exterminatus upon this world.'
'Before parting, my Lord told me, 'If possible, save the Dragon Kingdom's descendants on Morningstar.'
'My lord's priority remains my victory over Ahriman, but completing this secondary task would also please him'
Hathor frowned. His Lord said Shai-Tan was a powerful Warp entity only the like of his gene-father could defeat. He himself had no chance to suppress it, even when utilizing his ability.
'I hope my intelligence can draw my gene-father's and Lord Perturabo's attention. Only then might this task be completed.'
'Regardless, uncovering early the colony ship and Shai-Tan's secrets will surely give me an advantage over Ahriman in this competition.'
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu