After awakening the autonomous Titan slumbering underground, Alex departed from the ancient Forge with the supplies promised by Archmagos Cawl. The colossal God-Machine was carefully placed within a specialized cargo container, designed to isolate it from the scrutiny of Mariupol Forge World.
The crew busily transported boxes of precious supplies into the cargo hold of Alex's flagship using magnetic cranes. The most significant cargo was undoubtedly the specialized container, as large as a small fortress, within which the newly awakened Titan slumbered.
Although the Tech-Priests of Mariupol Forge World were filled with curiosity about this shipment, they were never able to glimpse its true form.
They could only learn about some irrelevant, routine supplies from the logistics manifest on the data-slate.
Whenever a Priest attempted to approach the massive container, the armed retainers from the Black Ship would subtly block their path, and the protective force field around the container would emit a warning hum.
This meant that the Tech-Priests of Mariupol Forge World were unaware of what exactly Alex had taken from Cawl's Forge, nor had they seen the God-Machine hidden inside the large cargo container.
However, Alex's almost "plundering" behavior still caused an uproar within the Adeptus Mechanicus.
In the core data hall of the Forge World, dozens of high-ranking Priests were engaged in a heated debate.
Their mechanical optical implants glowed with angry red light, and data cables swayed continuously due to their agitation.
"This is an absolute blasphemy against the omnissiah!" the electronic synthesized voice of a conservative Priest distorted with rage: "Those technical holy relics should remain on the Forge World to be revered and studied!"
"Even if it was Archmagos Cawl's private property," another radical representative added, his mechanical tentacles making dangerous gestures in the air: "A corresponding technical ransom should still be paid!"
The sudden intervention of the Forging Supervisor brought the argument to an abrupt halt.
In the holographic projection, the Mysterious Man's figure was blurred, with only the Adeptus Mechanicus emblem on his chest clearly visible.
"Enough," his voice, though heavily encrypted, carried an undeniable authority: "Are you openly attacking an Inquisitor Lord of the Inquisition? Or have you forgotten who he represents?"
When Alex's Black Ship finally departed orbit, many discontented Priests were still gathered at the Forge World's observation tower.
The red light in their mechanical optical implants gazed at the receding Black Ship for a long time, their data streams filled with longing and resentment for what they had not obtained.
Meanwhile, on the bridge, Alex calmly watched the shrinking Forge World, his fingers gently caressing the data-slate containing the Titan's control key.
—
Having successfully departed the Forge World, Alex rendezvoused with the Space Marines and the fleet carrying the Astra Militarum, who had gone ahead and were waiting for him. They prepared to return to the Rostov Sub-Sector together.
Just as the fleet was about to activate its Warp engines, a black-painted Templar shuttle suddenly broke through the escort formation and headed directly towards Alex's flagship.
When the shuttle docked with the flagship, the heavy airlock slowly opened, and the tall figure of Marshal Mordred appeared in the passage.
Beside this Space Marine, clad in ornate Power Armor, stood a petite yet imposing Sister. Her blood-red robes swayed slightly under the warship's artificial gravity, and the dark red liquid in the test tubes at her waist gently sloshed with each step.
In the Captain's quarters on the flagship's top deck, Alex gazed out at the assembled fleet through the large observation window until the automatic door behind him slid open.
As he turned, his gaze first fell upon Marshal Mordred's battle-scarred faceplate, and only then did he notice the Sister's unusual attire.
Although the blood-red Sister's robes were not much different from those of a typical Hospitaller, a normal Hospitaller would wear a white veil, while this one wore a veil as vibrant red as her dress, giving a strange sense of déjà vu.
If not for the perfect lighting in the Captain's quarters illuminating the Sister's young yet resolute face and the golden Imperial Aquila on her forehead, which glittered under the light, Alex might have reached for his plasma pistol.
"Sister, what can I do for you?" Although wary of the Blood Oath Society, with the Black Templars Marshal at his side, Alex decided to hear what the Sister had to say.
"In the name of the God-Emperor, thank you for agreeing to see me, Inquisitor," the Sister's voice was clear and firm, but Alex noticed her knuckles were white from clenching her hands: "I am Sister Eileen of the Blood Oath Society, and I bring a terrible truth that will shake the entire Star District."
Marshal Mordred stood by like a statue, but he did not speak, seemingly having only brought the Sister to see Alex.
Upon hearing Eileen's words, Alex scrutinized her before slowly and gravely speaking: "Sister Eileen, you should know the seriousness of making a heresy accusation against a fellow member of the Ecclesiarchy."
The young Sister suddenly stepped forward, taking a data-chip from her bosom, stained with dried blood.
"This was secretly recorded by one of my Sisters!" Her voice trembled with anger, yet was filled with sorrow as she recalled her sacrificed Sister and fallen comrades: "My Sister discovered that our order was performing blasphemous rituals using holy blood! Her servitor skull recorded those blasphemous rituals, but she was also discovered by those fallen heretics.
After she gave me the evidence, she was captured by those heretics while helping me buy time, and was cruelly murdered after they drained her blood!"
The temperature in the Captain's quarters seemed to plummet instantly, and Marshal Mordred's face immediately became filled with rage.
Alex stared at the blood-stained chip, his mind already rapidly evaluating the chain reactions this accusation could trigger.
This was not a simple accusation, and the Blood Oath Society was not a minor order. This matter, whether true or false, would cause an uproar throughout the entire Star District if it got out.
"I need more evidence. I cannot, based solely on your accusation, declare a highly influential branch of the Ecclesiarchy as heretical." Alex's words were, of course, for appearances, but then he changed the subject and said to Marshal Mordred: "Marshal Mordred, could I ask you to send a squad of Black Templars warriors to investigate this matter? The Expeditionary Force has too many things to deal with right now, and I don't have the energy to investigate this."
"It's my duty," Mordred agreed.
"You will remain on my ship for now. As for the Blood Oath Society matter, we'll discuss it after I've investigated thoroughly," Alex said to Sister Eileen.
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