When Mephiston followed Luka to the Governor's Office hall, Gutierrez, clad in black Deathwatch livery, and Aarn, in silver-grey Ash Knights livery, were already waiting there.
The two of them were there to support Luka, as this matter involved Space Marines after all.
Even though the Blood Angels had always kept the Blood Thirst and Black Rage a secret, they needed to intervene from a Space Marine perspective to prevent the Blood Angels from acting recklessly.
So, right from the start, Gutierrez addressed Mephiston: "Hello, esteemed cousin Mephiston, I am Forgemaster Gutierrez of the Deathwatch, and welcome to this planet."
"Hello, Mephiston, I am Sergeant Aarn of the Ash Knights, and I am stationed on this planet with my battle-brothers under Chapter Master Shi Dong's command, to repay the debt of honor the Ash Knights owe Inquisitor Luka," Sergeant Aarn also introduced himself to Mephiston.
Looking at these two battle-brothers, who were also Space Marines, Mephiston's gaze shifted, especially when he noticed that Aarn was carrying an activated teleport homer. He couldn't help but feel that this mission was going to be tricky.
Clearly, Luka had the support of two Space Marine Chapters, especially the Deathwatch, a special Chapter that could almost be considered one of the Inquisition's personal enforcers, an existence that the Blood Angels were reluctant to provoke.
As for the Ash Knights, although Mephiston hadn't heard of this Chapter, seeing the activated teleport homer, he was very certain that if any conflict were to arise, Terminators would immediately teleport into the fray.
After all, his psychic powers told him so.
Mephiston could even feel that if he truly intended to do something he shouldn't, his life would be in great danger.
This was incredibly unbelievable for Mephiston.
One must know that ever since he received the Gene-Seed Primarch's blessing, awakened from the Black Rage, and experienced the secondary development of his Gene-Seed, his power had grown to an incredible degree.
Even when facing a Chaos Greater Daemon, Mephiston was confident he could banish it without any life-threatening danger.
But now, he felt a threat to his own life, which couldn't help but make him wonder what could possibly kill him.
However, despite his curiosity, Mephiston was not here to challenge or threaten Luka.
He politely greeted the two Space Marines, then sat down with Luka and stated the purpose of his visit: "Luka, according to Chapter Master Dante's orders, the Blood Angels hope to purchase sanctus wine. As you know, it can suppress the Blood Thirst, which is crucial for the Blood Angels."
"That's certainly not a problem. However, considering the production issues of sanctus wine, and that the Ecclesiarchy and the Inquisition have already monopolized most of its production, the quantity I can provide to the Blood Angels won't be much," Luka first gave Mephiston a heads-up. While he could squeeze out enough sanctus wine for the Blood Angels, business was clearly not conducted that way.
Especially when neither the Ecclesiarchy nor the Inquisition were as fully supportive of Luka as they appeared, he needed to gain new allies for himself.
Mephiston naturally understood Luka's unspoken meaning. After a brief consideration, he said to Luka: "The Blood Angels are willing to pay a sufficient price to obtain enough sanctus wine. If you can agree to this, Luka, the Blood Angels will owe a debt of honor and dispatch a special Terminator squad to protect your safety.
In addition, a special company will be permanently stationed on this planet to provide protection for it."
This was the outcome of the Blood Angels' internal discussion before their arrival: a squad of special Terminators and a Death Company would remain on Rostov II.
The Black Rage problem was not exclusive to the Blood Angels' main Chapter; all successor Chapters of the Sanguinius's sons faced this issue, differing only in severity.
During the previous Blood Angels internal meeting, because sanctus wine could awaken the Black Rage, it was decided after discussion that Mephisto and Lemartes would bring half a company of the Death Company to Rostov.
Once an agreement was reached, Lemartes would use the sanctus wine to awaken these warriors who had fallen into the Black Rage, and then leave them on this planet.
At the same time, the other half of the Death Company warriors, selected from other Blood Angels successor Chapters, would also be sent to make up a full company to be permanently stationed on this planet.
They would undergo a rotation every fifty years, with the plan being to send newly afflicted warriors from various Chapters who had fallen into the Black Rage during that fifty-year period as replacements.
Although sanctus wine could awaken the Black Rage, this did not solve the Black Rage. Sanguinius's sons would still fall into the Black Rage.
It was just that compared to before, when there was no hope, now there was at least a chance to awaken them.
"I have heard of the Blood Angels' Death Company, and I am very curious why you would send them to Rostov." Luka showed no intention of concealing his thoughts, directly pointing out the issue with the Death Company: "If I recall correctly, all Blood Angels in the Death Company fall into a state called the Black Rage, attacking frantically, regardless of friend or foe, is that right?"
Mephiston showed no surprise that Luka knew about the Death Company. After a moment of silence, he spoke: "The sanctus wine awakens warriors who have fallen into the Black Rage, so we hope that more of our brothers can awaken."
"I see." Luka nodded in understanding, then called his Chamberlain via comm-unit: "Rachel, fetch fifty bottles of 'loyalty' from my private cellar and send them to the Blood Angels' strike cruiser."
"Thank you very much! Luka, I owe you a favor." Mephiston immediately felt a good impression of Luka. After all, the deal hadn't even been finalized, and Luka had already sent a batch of sanctus wine, which meant that no matter what, the fifty Death Company warriors they brought could be awakened.
"Don't mention it, I am still very much hoping to establish cooperation with the Blood Angels." Luka expressed his stance, and at the same time, curiously asked: "However, I am very curious, Mephiston, what exactly is this special Terminator you mentioned?"
Mephiston answered this question quite readily: "They are a re-established special unit. During the Great Crusade Era, they were known as the Crimson Paladins, the personal guard of the great Gene-Seed Primarch, and the steadfast shield protecting the Primarch's will.
Over the long years, the Blood Angels did not maintain the prepared by of this unit, but this time, Chapter Master Dante decided to rebuild this honorable unit to demonstrate the Blood Angels' resolve."
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