As night fell on the warship, the lighting system inside the Macragge's Honour switched to night mode, the light becoming soft and cool, casting a tranquil veil over this colossal metal creation. However, beneath this tranquility, a rigorous and efficient internal inspection operation was fully underway, as deployed by Captain Cassius.
Captain Cassius knew the immense responsibility. The Chapter Master entrusting him with such a critical security mission was both a testament to his capabilities and an opportunity to atone for his previous 'dereliction of duty' (in his view, allowing that scoundrel Dorian to spread rumors everywhere was a dereliction of duty). He had to ensure nothing went wrong.
He first gathered his direct elite—the Sword Guard and Praetorian/Custodian Guard veterans. These warriors were experienced, skilled in combat, and formed the backbone of the First Company.
"Brothers," Captain Cassius's voice, transmitted through his helmet's vox-caster, carried an undeniable authority, "Your mission is to patrol the lower deck areas, including the energy distribution center, large cargo warehouses, sewage treatment and recycling units, and the secondary engine rooms. These areas have complex structures and crisscrossing passages, making them potential hiding spots."
His gaze swept over each standing warrior as he emphasized, "Thoroughly inspect every corner. Any suspicious traces, abnormal energy fluctuations, or unauthorized access records must be reported immediately. If suspicious personnel are found, apprehend them without warning. If they dare resist..." He paused, his Power Fist clenching slightly, "You are authorized to use all necessary means, including opening fire."
"For Ultramar! For the Emperor!" The Sword Guard and Praetorian/Custodian Guard roared in unison, pounding their chests with their right hands, then swiftly dispersed into several combat teams. Like hounds entering a steel jungle, they hurried towards the elevators and maintenance passages leading to the lower decks.
Having arranged the lower deck patrols, Captain Cassius turned his attention to the broader and more complex middle and upper decks. These areas contained not only residential quarters, training grounds, and medical decks but also a large number of spare chambers, idle storage rooms, and main pipe corridors connecting everything. The space was larger, and there were more blind spots.
To cope with this complex environment, he personally led eight Terminator squads. These heavily armored giants, like mobile fortresses, were a powerful deterrent in themselves. The heavy thud of their footsteps echoed through the metal corridors, like war drums, announcing the progress of the clearing operation.
"Divide into squads and assigned areas," Captain Cassius issued instructions via the tactical link. "Focus on inspecting chambers marked 'spare' or 'idle,' cross-referencing material manifests with actual inventory. Check all main entrances and inspection ports of ventilation ducts to ensure no signs of tampering. If any unexplained anomalies are encountered, prioritize sealing the area, then report."
The Terminators silently acknowledged the order, their massive bodies displaying astonishing discipline as they began a meticulous sweep of the middle and upper decks according to their predetermined routes.
Meanwhile, in Gaius's chamber i-10-a, the atmosphere was relatively quiet. Gaius was still in the period of recuperation approved by the Chapter Master, as the damage to his soul had not fully recovered. Captain Cassius had also specifically approved him not to participate in this high-intensity night patrol mission.
Kolesa sat quietly beside Gaius. After several days of rest, her complexion had improved significantly, and her psychic abilities had recovered somewhat. Her slender palm gently rested on the cold metal wall. Closing her eyes, a faint but pure psychic energy, like a trickling stream, slowly infused into the warship's structure from her fingertips.
She was not attacking or probing anything but rather, in a unique and almost instinctive Eldar way, 'sensing' the 'state' of this massive steel creation. In her psychic perception, the warship was no longer merely a cold collection of metal but a complex living entity filled with energy flows, mechanical operations, and thousands of points of life.
She could 'see' the deep blue, solid nodes that were the Astartes warriors, their life essences vibrant and unified; she could 'see' the fainter, star-like scattered mortal artisans, crew, and Tech-Priests; and she could also 'see' the energy Veins representing mechanical operations, surging like blood vessels within the warship.
And recently, she had clearly 'felt' that the 'nodes' representing the Astartes warriors had significantly increased in movement frequency and distribution density. Especially in some non-critical but relatively secluded areas, more patrolling figures had appeared.
She slowly opened her eyes, a hint of confusion in her violet gaze, and looked at Gaius, who was resting beside her with his eyes closed.
"Gaius," she asked softly, her voice like a breeze rustling silver bells, "Recently... I feel that there are more patrolling and on-duty warriors on the warship, and there's a certain... tension in the energy flow. Has something happened?"
Gaius opened his eyes upon hearing her. Although a trace of fatigue still lingered in his deep eyes, his rationality and insight remained sharp. He shook his head slightly.
"This is a direct order from the Chapter Master," he explained calmly. "It's just a temporary increase in the number and frequency of patrols by the Honor Guard and our First Company brothers."
He pondered for a moment, and based on his years of service experience and understanding of the Chapter's modus operandi, he made a judgment: "Based on past experience, such a sudden and unusual elevation of the internal alert level usually means only one thing—"
He looked at Kolesa, his tone firm: "—Something capable of threatening the warship's safety. And the most likely scenario is... someone, or some entity, has already infiltrated. The Chapter Master is organizing forces for an internal sweep."
His analysis was concise and precise, almost perfectly aligning with the facts. Kolesa, hearing this, gently gripped his hand, a flicker of worry in her eyes. She had witnessed the cunning and cruelty of Chaos and knew how dangerous an entity capable of silently infiltrating such a powerful warship would be.
And at this moment, in the brig, Dorian was experiencing a roller coaster of emotions.
When the heavy brig door slid open again, Dorian thought the Chapter Master had finally shown mercy and ended his arduous confinement. He almost cheered, ready to rush out immediately and breathe the air of 'freedom.'
However, the Honour Guard Warrior standing outside the door doused him with cold water, speaking in his cold, emotionless voice:
"Brother Dorian, by order of Captain Cassius: You are responsible for patrolling the mid-level hangar area and the lower part of Deck S-87 during the night. The patrol mission will continue until the end of the morning, after which you will immediately return to the brig to await the Chapter Master's formal release order."
"Huh?" Dorian's mouth hung wide open, almost able to fit a Power Fist. The excitement on his face instantly froze, turning into shock and disappointment. "I... I have to come back?"
The Honour Guard Warrior did not answer his question but merely stepped aside, indicating for him to come out.
Dorian dejectedly followed the Honour Guard Warrior out of the brig, feeling that the so-called 'freedom' had suddenly become tasteless. As he walked, he cautiously leaned closer to the Honour Guard Warrior, lowering his voice to ask, "Um... Brother, how's the Captain... how's his mood lately?"
He clearly remembered what 'good deeds' he had done before. If he accidentally ran into the Captain during patrol, with the Captain's fiery temper and his current 'special attention' to him, he would probably be in for a world of pain.
The Honour Guard Warrior stopped, looked back at him. The helmet-covered face showed no expression, but his tone seemed to carry a hint of extremely subtle... sympathy? Or perhaps a sense of amusement?
"Brother Dorian," the Honour Guard Warrior's voice remained steady, "We Ultramarines have seen all sorts of strange things and warriors throughout ten millennia of war. But..."
He deliberately paused, as if organizing his words: "...But, you, who actively 'found a wife' for the Captain, you are truly the first. And Captain Cassius, becoming the first Captain to be... well, 'arranged' for his lifelong affairs by a subordinate, you two are now 'famous' throughout the entire fleet."
He patted Dorian's shoulder, a gesture that made Dorian feel like he had been hit by an iron hammer. "So, Brother Dorian, you're on your own. I hope your luck is good enough on patrol."
Having said that, the Honor Guard Warrior said no more, turned, and left, leaving Dorian frozen in place, feeling as if the blood in his veins had turned cold.
"Famous"... the entire fleet knew... Dorian could almost see the "amiable" smile that Captain Cassius's usually stern face would display when he met him, along with the Power Fist that was ready to strike... He shivered, his face drawn, and with heavy steps, he walked towards his assigned patrol area.
Tonight's patrol was destined to be an ordeal.
Within the Macragge's Honour and its accompanying fleet, the alert level had been raised to maximum.
The elite of the First Company and the Chapter Honor Guard, like gears in a precise instrument, meticulously carried out patrol and investigation duties in every corner of the warship.
The heavy footsteps, the hum of servo-systems, and the occasional brief communications confirming area security formed the main theme of the night.
Warriors from other companies were dispatched to other Strike Cruisers and frigates in the fleet to stand guard, ensuring that the entire Ultramar fleet was on high alert.
The massive fleet, like a giant beast with tensed muscles, hung silently in the void, poised for battle, permeated with the grim tension of an impending war.
The source of all this tension, the mysterious Alpha Legion warrior, had long since vanished as if evaporated, leaving the Ultramarines' fleet.
His figure, like a phantom, moved through the shadows of the galaxy, executing a covert plan whose full scope was known only to the Alpha Legion.
At this moment, he had infiltrated another imposing, massive warship—the *Iron Blood*, the flagship of the Iron Warriors Legion.
Unlike the Macragge's Honour, with its deep blue hues of order and glory, the interior of the *Iron Blood* was filled with cold iron-grey, its walls covered with exposed conduits and reinforced structures, embodying a utilitarian, almost ruthless, industrial aesthetic.
The Alpha Legion warrior, using his superb infiltration skills, bypassed the Iron Warriors' security system, which was rigorous but focused more on physical defense and firepower monitoring, moving like an invisible ghost through the intricate passages.
He successfully intercepted and deciphered critical intelligence from an encrypted data node: Perturabo, the lord of the Iron Warriors, and his Legion, currently had no intention of participating in Abaddon's planned Fourteenth Black Crusade.
After securely storing the intelligence, he prepared to leave as silently as he had arrived.
As he passed an elevated walkway that overlooked a section of the bridge, he even saw the massive figure, as if cast from iron and fury—Primarch Perturabo himself.
Perturabo's tall body, covered in heavy iron-grey power armour, stood in the center of the bridge; he wore no helmet, revealing a face as hard as carved steel, with an expression of eternal discontent.
He seemed to be discoursing to a Warsmith or other commander beside him, his voice low and full of sarcasm, faintly audible even through a distance and thick glass:
"...Abaddon? That so-called 'Warmaster'? Hmph! Thirteen crusades, twelve failures, barely counting the breaching of Cadia as one success, and he still has the audacity to plan a fourteenth? Utterly ridiculous! The foolishness of the Sons of Horus is truly inherited!"
His voice carried undisguised contempt, as if he were discussing a clumsy work that had nothing to do with him.
"If ten thousand years ago, that fellow Horus hadn't brought along Lorgar, that babbling fanatic, and Angron, that roaring madman... If he had listened to my strategy, Terra's so-called walls, and Rogal Dorn, that stubborn blockhead, would have long been ground into cosmic dust! Why would it come to this today..."
The Alpha Legion warrior, hidden beneath optical camouflage, listened silently for a few seconds to the complaints of this Primarch, known for his stubbornness and cynicism, like a silent observer.
He showed no emotion, merely recording this information as additional intelligence.
Then, without further delay, his figure slowly receded as if merging with the background, once again disappearing silently into the shadows of the *Iron Blood*'s complex internal structure, as if he had never been there.
His next target was the domain of the Death Guard.
He needed to ascertain whether Mortarion, the Primarch blessed by Nurgle, and his undying Legion, would answer Abaddon's call.
As he left the Iron Warriors' clean, cold, industrial-feeling bridge area, a fleeting comparison even crossed the Alpha Legion warrior's mind.
Here, at least, was far "cleaner" than the Death Guard's plague-ridden and putrid warships.
On the Iron Warriors' ships, if any unwary Warp creatures attempted to intrude, they would be met only with ruthless, efficient gunfire and cutting beams, instantly annihilated, leaving no filth behind.
It was a cold "purity" belonging to iron and logic.
Meanwhile, on the Macragge's Honour, still on high alert, chamber i-10-a seemed to be a tranquil haven in the eye of the storm.
Outside the observation window was the deep starry sky and the dimly visible silhouettes of allied ships in the distance; inside, there was warm light and two people leaning on each other.
Gaius leaned against the cold bulkhead, while Kolesa curled up in his arms, her head resting on his sturdy chest, listening to his strong, steady heartbeat.
The faint, more frequent patrol footsteps from within the warship, audible from outside, did not break the tranquility that belonged to the two of them.
To dispel the lingering trace of unease in Kolesa's eyes, caused by sensing the ship's tense atmosphere, Gaius, with his deep, steady voice, slowly began to recount long-forgotten memories.
"Before I was chosen, left my home world, and went to Macragge to undergo modification and become an Astartes..." Gaius's gaze seemed to travel through time, returning to those distant and ordinary years, "I lived on a planet called Kronus IV.
There... there was no clamor of a Hive City, nor the smoke of war."
He gently stroked Kolesa's silver hair and continued, "My family had for generations made a living cultivating a special kind of fungus.
That fungus was the main crop on the planet, and the foundation of our survival and economic income."
His tone carried a rare, mortal gentleness: "I remember, every morning, when the first of the planet's two stars had just risen, casting purple light over the rolling, wave-like fungus fields, I would need to join the rest of my family, carrying special tools, and walk into that vast 'field'."
"We needed to carefully check the growth of each cap, clear away the weeds (which were actually small fungi) that would compete for nutrients, and adjust the mineral-rich water mist supplied by the irrigation system... It was a job that required patience and meticulousness.
The air was always filled with a... damp, fresh scent of earth and fungus unique to it."
He described a scene vastly different from his current life on the warship, his voice calm: "Sometimes, when I was tired, I would sit on the field ridge, watching the various fungi swaying gently in the breeze; some looked like small umbrellas, others like coral, displaying different colors under the light of the twin stars... It was a very peaceful life."
Kolesa nestled in his arms, listening quietly, as if through his words, she too could see that strange fungus field, smell the damp air imbued with life, and feel the tranquility of that ordinary world.
For her, a Governing Psyker who had grown up in the psychic and artistic, yet perilous, environment of an Eldar Craftworld, this was a completely different yet deeply appealing experience.
Gaius's narration, like a gentle stream, flowed slowly through the chamber, temporarily dispelling the oppression brought by the tense external situation, and adding a deeper layer of intimacy and understanding between the two, born from sharing their past.
In the core region of Ultramar, in a relatively calm star system, a seemingly unremarkable, even old, civilian freighter was slowly making its way along its pre-set course towards its destination: the Forge World Scythea. Officially, the ship was recorded as carrying ordinary industrial raw materials, but deep within its cargo hold, carefully disguised and energy-shielded contraband was hidden: several ancient metal artifacts, covered with indecipherable symbols, excavated from a fringe death world.
The ship's owner and crew did not know the true origin of these 'antiques'; they only cared about the high profits they would earn once they delivered them to Scythea. What they knew even less was that the faint, almost undetectable energy signatures remaining on these metal artifacts, like lighthouses in the dark, had long attracted the galaxy's oldest and most ruthless predators: the Necron.
Three standard hours later, the freighter would reach Scythea's orbit. It was deep into the ship's night, and most of the crew had finished their shifts and returned to their cabins to rest, with only a few essential personnel remaining on the bridge and in the engine room for watch.
Inside the silent ship, the occasional faint 'click' of metal structures expanding and contracting due to temperature changes, and the low hum of the circulation system, could be heard. A crew member responsible for the night patrol rubbed his sleepy eyes, carrying a portable lamp, and walked through the empty cargo bay corridor. He seemed to hear a slight, metallic rubbing sound from an adjacent compartment where miscellaneous items were stored.
"Who's there?" he asked tentatively, stopping cautiously and casting his light into the darkness.
No response. Only the strange sound seemed to pause for a moment.
He swallowed, gathered his courage, held the lamp in one hand, and reached for the multi-tool at his waist with the other, carefully approaching the compartment.
As he peered into the compartment, the light from his lamp illuminated a pair of metallic eye sockets burning with cold green flames, and a grotesque body made of living metal, flickering with eerie green patterns—it was a Necron Flayed One!
The crew member's mouth opened in horror, but he couldn't even utter a sound. The Flayed One's long, razor-sharp metallic claws slashed like lightning! Accompanied by a bone-chilling tearing sound, warm blood splattered on the cold bulkhead, and the lamp fell to the ground, rolling a few times before its light extinguished. That crew member never returned.
The slaughter quietly spread in the silence. More Flayed Ones emerged like phantoms from the shadows of the spaceship, silently moving through the corridors, using cargo and pipes for cover, precisely hunting down isolated or sleeping crew members. Sharp living metal claws easily tore through flesh and blood, an efficient killing without any wasted movement.
Panic spread like a plague among the surviving crew, but communications seemed to be experiencing unknown interference, preventing distress signals from being sent. Finally, in a main corridor, a crew member, caught by a Flayed One with his lower body almost severed by its claws, used all his remaining strength in his last moments to slam the bright red emergency alarm button on the wall!
"Woooo—!!!"
The piercing shriek of the alarm instantly echoed throughout the freighter!
However, this did not save their fate; instead, it seemed to sound the horn for a general assault.
In the flickering corridors, tall Necron Warriors, holding weapons that glowed with an ominous green light, appeared. They moved in neat, silent ranks, their Gauss Flayer raised. No warning, no negotiation. Green Gauss Flayer beams, like the gaze of death, precisely struck any moving target. Crew members swept by the beams didn't even have time to scream; their bodies seemed to disintegrate by an unseen force, instantly turning into their most basic molecular structures and dissipating into the air, leaving only a wisp of smoke and the smell of burnt clothing.
The Flayed Ones, meanwhile, became even more active, using their speed and agility to dart through the chaos, specifically hunting down crew members attempting to grab weapons to resist or find cover, tearing them to shreds.
Higher up, from ventilation shafts or open platforms, Deathmark Snipers, like the most patient hunters, watched everything below with their unique, insectoid-compound-eye-like targeting systems. They did not fire, because it was far from the time for such elite units to act. Their task was to eliminate the most important targets or to deal with any truly significant threats that might emerge.
The battle—or rather, an efficient, ruthless, one-sided massacre—raged intensely yet terrifyingly silently within the freighter. In less than half an hour, the entire large smuggling vessel had completely changed hands. All signs of life had vanished, leaving only those silent, eerily glowing metallic bodies moving within the ship.
Controlling this ship was not the Necron's ultimate goal. In their logic core, the next target had already been locked: the planet that was about to receive this 'cargo,' the Forge World Scythea. These ignorant ants who dared to meddle with Necron artifacts had to be thoroughly purged.
Meanwhile, on the bridge of the Macragge's Honour, at the edge of the Vespatol Sector, the atmosphere had just begun to ease.
Two transport ships, under the watchful 'gaze' of the Ultramarines' warship, were slowly sailing towards the distant Eldar Craftworld, which resembled a colossal crystal sculpture. Watching the transport ships disappear into the depths of space, Chapter Master Calgar finally breathed a sigh of relief. Properly handling these Eldar refugees averted a potential diplomatic dispute and eliminated the possibility of the Inquisition exploiting the situation.
In front of the massive viewport in the warship's corridor, Calgar and Kolesa stood side-by-side, also watching the two gradually departing transport ships.
"Why did you not go and bid farewell to your people?" Calgar asked softly, looking down at Kolesa beside him. He noticed that she had never once suggested personally seeing off the children from Tears of Isha.
Kolesa did not turn around, her gaze still following the distant points of light, as if to engrave the scene into her heart. Her slender, cold fingers gently clasped Calgar's broad, warm hand.
"I'm afraid..." Her voice was very soft, with a barely perceptible tremor, "I'm afraid that if I see them, I will waver. Seeing those familiar faces, hearing the language of the Craftworld... I will remember Tears of Isha, remember everything I lost."
She paused, then turned, her purple eyes fixed on Calgar with determination: "But I have made my choice. I have decided to stay by your side, Calgar. This... this is where I belong."
Calgar said nothing. He did not respond with flowery words, but expressed himself through action. He turned and tightly grasped Kolesa's cold hand, as if to transmit his warmth and strength to her. The strength of that grip, more eloquent than a thousand words, conveyed a silent promise and protection.
The two stood by the viewport for a while longer, until the two transport ships had completely disappeared into the star sea, before returning to their cabins to rest.
However, this brief tranquility did not last long.
Just as Chapter Master Calgar was also preparing to rest and deal with accumulated daily reports, the bridge's communications officer received a top-priority emergency distress signal from the core region of Ultramar!
Signal source: Forge World Scythea.
Signal content: "...Under attack by unknown xenos! Enemy confirmed as Necron! Repeat, enemy confirmed as Necron! Planetary Defense Forces suffering heavy losses! Sisters of Battle convent is resisting with all its might, but the defensive line is on the verge of collapse! Request immediate Ultramarines support! Repeat, request immediate support!..."
"Necron?" A heavy frost instantly covered Chapter Master Calgar's glacier-like face. A rarely seen look of extreme gravity flashed in his sharp eyes.
He knew all too well what that name represented. These ancient beings, awakened from sixty million years of slumber, were the most ruthless and merciless predators in the galaxy. They possessed technology far beyond human comprehension, their bodies composed of nearly immortal living metal, and their armies were disciplined and efficient killers. They never launched large-scale attacks lightly, but once they did, their objectives were often extremely clear and deadly, and the cost of stopping them was usually unimaginably immense.
Forge World Scythea was not only an important industrial pillar of Ultramar but also an indispensable part of the Imperium's war machine. If it fell, the consequences would be dire.
There was no time to hesitate, and no time to hold a war council.
Chapter Master Calgar abruptly rose from his command chair, his voice like a drawn sword, instantly echoing across the entire bridge and transmitted via communication links to every warship in the fleet:
"Order the entire fleet! Abandon original patrol mission, turn immediately, target—Forge World Scythea!"
He paused, his voice resolute and unquestionable:
"Prepare for Warp jump!"
To guard Ultramar, to guard the Imperium's territories and people, this was the oath and duty he and the Ultramarines Chapter had undertaken ten millennia ago. No matter who the enemy, no matter the cost, they would surely step forward.
The massive Ultramarines fleet, like awakened blue behemoths, carved huge arcs in the void, engines spewing dazzling exhaust plumes, beginning to gather, preparing to plunge into the bizarre and perilous Warp, rushing towards the star system already aflame with war.
The smuggling ship, now occupied by the Necron, floated in orbit around Forge World Scythea like an ominous metallic coffin. Within its silent bridge, several tall, living-metal Necron commanders coldly 'watched' the unfolding destruction on the planet's surface below through the massive observation window.
Thick pillars of emerald energy, like blasphemous gravestones, shot skyward from Scythea's surface, piercing the atmosphere and connecting orbit with the ground. Each pillar signified the opening of a stable portal, continuously deploying more Necron warriors—from basic troopers to higher-tier war machines—into the human world. On the ground, the explosions of gunfire and the green trails of gauss rays intertwined, as the resistance of the Planetary Defense Forces was gradually swallowed and annihilated by the relentless tide of metal.
These ancient predators, like the most precise instruments, calculated the progress of conquest without a shred of emotion.
However, this 'tranquility' of the conquerors was shattered by two sudden, violently aesthetic roars!
"Boom!!! Boom!!!"
Two boarding torpedoes, painted in the deep blue of the Ultramarines and emblazoned with the Imperial Aquila at their tips, slammed into the smuggler ship's relatively weaker side armor with extreme brutality, like two battering rams thrown with full force! The immense impact caused the entire hull to shudder violently, and torn metal fragments sprayed inward like a rainstorm!
This sudden attack instantly drew the 'attention' of all Necron on board. Their logic cores immediately flagged these two invading threats as top-priority targets.
The torpedoes' breaching hatches roared open under hydraulic power, and the sound of heavy footsteps, accompanied by the hum of power armour servo-systems, emerged from the swirling smoke.
Six giants clad in deep blue power armour, radiating cold killing intent, stepped onto the alien-tainted deck with steady, resolute strides. Leading them were three Sword Guard, close-combat specialists of the First Company, each gripping a humming power sword with an activated dismemberment field in one hand, and a heavy Storm Shield, its edges flickering with energy arcs, in the other. Following closely were three Praetorian veterans, elites in mid-range fire support, their heavy Bolters, melta guns, and Bolter sniper rifles already in position, their cold muzzles scanning the dark, unknown, and dangerous passage ahead.
The battle, at the moment of contact between the two sides, officially began without suspense!
Several deadly green gauss rays, like venomous snakes, shot from the shadows at the end of the passage, aiming directly for the leading Sword Guard!
"Shields up!" the leading Sword Guard growled. The three Sword Guard almost simultaneously slammed their Storm Shields forward! Hum—! An energy field instantly activated, forming a translucent blue barrier. The gauss rays struck the field, erupting in dazzling energy sparks. The terrifying energy, capable of instantly dissecting flesh and blood, was forcefully blocked by this solid defense!
"For Ultramar! Advance!" Having blocked the first wave of attacks, the Sword Guard charged forward with astonishing speed, like tigers unleashed, their Storm Shields held high! They instantly closed the distance between them, their power swords carving deadly arcs!
"Clang! Crack!"
The dismemberment field clashed violently with living metal, emitting a grating sound. A Necron warrior, who had just finished firing and hadn't had time to evade, was precisely split in half along its central axis by a Sword Guard's blade! Its broken metal body sparked with electricity, falling limply to either side.
At the same time, the Praetorians' fire support arrived with surgical precision.
"Bang! Bang!" The heavy Bolter roared dully, blasting the Flesh Tearers attempting to outflank them into scattered metal fragments.
A Necron warrior, hiding behind a distant cargo crate with only half its head and the muzzle of its gauss gun exposed, had just locked onto a target when its metal skull jerked back as if struck by an invisible sledgehammer, then exploded—a precise headshot from a Praetorian sniper!
The battle progressed efficiently and ruthlessly. The assault squad of six Ultramarines, like a tightly coordinated killing machine, steadily advanced through the smuggler ship's intricate passages. The Sword Guard constructed an insurmountable close-combat line with their shields and blades, while the Praetorians used fierce and precise firepower to eliminate any ranged threats and Flesh Tearers attempting to ambush them.
They all knew that these ordinary Necron warriors and Flesh Tearers were merely appetizers. The true enemy, the entity commanding this invasion and radiating a more powerful energy signature, must be deep within the ship, most likely on the bridge.
Cutting a path through countless shattered living metal remains, the six warriors finally reached the bridge's main door. The heavy airtight door had already been damaged by previous internal fighting, hanging ajar.
Stepping into the bridge, they were met with a scene of utter chaos. Fragments of human crew lay scattered everywhere, control panels were covered in charred marks and melted metal craters left by gauss weapons, and the air was thick with the strange smell of ozone, blood, and burning metal.
However, it was empty. There was no Necron Lord or elite unit waiting in ambush as expected.
But no one relaxed their guard. All six battle-hardened warriors could clearly sense an invisible, cold killing intent pervading the entire bridge, pressing down on their nerves as if it were a physical presence. The enemy was hidden within the chaos and shadows.
No words were needed; an understanding had already formed. The three Praetorians immediately fanned out like nimble cats, quickly occupying several elevated positions with clear sightlines on the bridge. The sniper set up his Bolter sniper rifle, while the other two guarded the main entrance and the passage leading deeper into the ship. The three Sword Guard stood back-to-back in a triangular formation in the relatively open center of the bridge, power swords lowered, Storm Shields slightly raised, like three unmoving rocks, awaiting the coming storm.
A deathly silence lasted for about ten seconds.
Suddenly, from a shadow-shrouded pipe access panel on the bridge ceiling, an emerald figure leaped down silently like a ghost! It was a Flesh Tearer! Its long, sharp metal claws aimed directly for the back of a Sword Guard's neck, moving so fast it left only a green afterimage in the air!
However, just an instant before the claws could touch the power armour, the Sword Guard, as if sensing the presence behind him, executed an incredibly swift pivot! At the same time, his power sword, like a coiled viper, struck out with deadly precision from bottom to top!
"Thwack!"
The dismemberment field easily tore through the living metal, and the power sword pierced the Flesh Tearer's chest, emerging from its back! The Flesh Tearer's movements froze instantly, the green light in its eyes flickering violently.
Almost simultaneously, a dull Bolter shot rang out from above!
"Bang!"
The Flesh Tearer's metal head exploded like an overripe fruit, green energy fluid and metal fragments scattering everywhere.
The Sword Guard flicked his wrist, shaking the headless body impaled on his sword to the ground, then raised his heavy, power armour-clad boot and stomped down hard!
"Crunch!"
The still-twitching metal body was crushed flat, its critical structures completely shattered. For these Necron, who could slowly self-repair as long as they didn't suffer complete structural damage, only total destruction was the only sure way to deal with them.
This first Flesh Tearer attack was like the sound of a horn signaling the assault.
In an instant, from the shadows around the bridge, from the ventilation ducts, and even from beneath some control panels, more Flesh Tearers poured out like a tide! They let out silent roars, transforming into streaks of green lightning, pouncing madly from various tricky angles at the three Sword Guard standing in the light!
"For the Emperor!" the Sword Guard roared in a low battle cry, their triangular formation rotating like a high-speed death-windmill!
power swords cut countless deadly blue trajectories through the air, each swing inevitably accompanied by the screech of living metal being torn apart and the spray of green sparks. A Flesh Tearer attempted to leap and attack from the side, but was slammed away by a Sword Guard's Storm Shield, the immense force smashing it against the wall. Before it could even land, another Sword Guard's backhand swing had already cut it in half at the waist!
Their movements were swift, precise, and perfectly coordinated. Shields blocked, blades slashed, footsteps moved; every action was like a meticulously rehearsed dance, enacting the iron will and superior combat skills of the Ultramarines amidst the clash of blades.
The Praetorians, meanwhile, provided crucial fire support from their elevated positions. Bolters precisely targeted Flesh Tearers attempting to attack from blind spots, and the melta gun occasionally spewed destructive torrents of searing heat, instantly vaporizing clusters of enemies.
The battle was fierce and brief. When the last Flesh Tearer was cleverly parried by a Sword Guard's shield, losing its balance and falling to the ground, it hadn't even had time to right itself before the muzzle of a pre-heated melta gun was aimed at it.
No hesitation, no mercy.
"Sizzle—!!!"
A blast of scorching light, capable of melting starship armor, erupted, instantly engulfing the living metal body. Just one second later, all that remained was a pool of molten metal solution, bubbling and smoking, and an eroded crater.
Silence temporarily returned to the bridge, broken only by the hum of power swords' dismemberment fields and the faint sound of the warriors' power armour ventilation systems. The floor was strewn with the remains of Flesh Tearers—some severed, some shattered, some melted.
However, the six warriors' taut nerves showed no signs of relaxing. They could all clearly hear the sound of numerous heavy, synchronized metallic footsteps approaching rapidly from deeper within the passage outside the bridge, like the drumming of death.
Accompanying these footsteps was an even heavier, slower step, each one causing the deck to tremble slightly.
That was the distinctive heavy stride of Destroyers—more powerful heavy infantry units among the Necron.
The real battle was far from over. A more severe trial was about to begin.
"Boom—!!!"
The heavy, already askew blast door of the bridge was violently and completely rammed open from the outside by an immense force, its twisted metal panels scattering inwards like scrap.
Immediately after, like a green metallic flood bursting its banks, large numbers of Flayed Ones and Necron Warriors wielding Gauss weaponry poured silently and efficiently into the already chaotic bridge.
Amidst this tide of death, an even larger, more imposing figure, moving on six articulated legs covered in thick living metal, slowly stepped into this battlefield of slaughter.
It was an Annihilation Barge/Warp Construct (Necron heavy unit) Lord!
Its massive body, like an ancient giant scorpion, almost touched the bridge's ceiling.
Eerie green energy patterns flickered on its dark living metal carapace, emitting a chilling energy fluctuation.
Four arms were equipped with different tools of slaughter: one arm ended in a grotesque Gauss Annihilator cannon, its muzzle glowing with unstable green light; another arm wielded an alien Phase Sword that shimmered between solid and ethereal, emitting spatial cutting waves; the final two arms ended in two pairs of long, scythe-like, sharp claws that glinted with cold light.
Its compound eyes, burning with cold green fire, scanned with pinpoint accuracy, instantly locking onto the three Sword Guards standing like three immovable reefs in the center of the bridge.
There was no emotion in that gaze, only an absolute coldness, as if looking at ants about to be crushed and dissected.
Battle erupted instantly!
As if receiving an unseen command, the newly surged Flayed Ones let out a silent energy shriek, transforming into streaks of green afterimages, and lunged first towards the Praetorians on the high ground!
They clearly judged that these ranged combatants posed a greater threat to the Necron army.
However, the Praetorians were already fully prepared.
"Fire! Suppress them!" the Praetorian Captain's voice was calm, his Bolter pistol roaring steadily.
Precise bursts of fire obliterated several Flayed Ones charging at the front, sending metal fragments scattering.
The other two Praetorians also opened fire simultaneously, the hiss of melta and Bolter interwoven, forming a dense curtain of fire that temporarily halted the Flayed Ones' first wave of assault.
The Praetorians' fierce counterattack successfully drew the attention of most of the Flayed Ones and Necron Warriors.
Gauss rays rained down like green droplets on their cover, erupting in continuous energy impact explosions.
And amidst this chaotic hail of gunfire, the duel between the Annihilation Barge/Warp Construct (Necron heavy unit) Lord and the three Sword Guards was about to begin!
The Annihilation Barge/Warp Construct (Necron heavy unit) Lord clearly regarded these three Sword Guards, who dared to stand in its way, as primary targets for elimination.
Its arm equipped with the Gauss Annihilator cannon was raised first, and the green light at its muzzle suddenly intensified!
"Wooooosh—!!!"
A destructive beam of light, far thicker and more concentrated in energy than ordinary Gauss rays, tore through the air like a green spear, carrying an aura of annihilation, and shot directly at the Sword Guard Captain standing at the forefront!
"Hold steady!" the Captain roared, not retreating but advancing, thrusting his Storm Shield forward!
With a hum, the energy field fully activated, and a blue barrier, like the most solid dam, directly met the destructive beam!
"Boom!!!"
The violent energy collision erupted in blinding light, shaking the entire bridge.
The metal deck beneath the Captain's feet even groaned under the strain, but his power armour-clad body remained unmoving, as if welded to the floor!
The Storm Shield's energy readings fluctuated wildly, but he successfully created an opportunity for his teammates!
Just as the Annihilation Barge/Warp Construct (Necron heavy unit) Lord suppressed the Captain with its Gauss ray, its massive six-legged body erupted with astonishing speed, disproportionate to its size, and charged forward!
The other two Sword Guards had already intuitively fanned out to the left and right, attempting to flank it.
In an instant, the Annihilation Barge/Warp Construct (Necron heavy unit) Lord had charged before the Captain!
Its arm gripping the Phase Sword was raised high, and that alien weapon, constantly shifting between solid and ethereal, descended with a space-rending shriek, striking down upon the Captain, who had just withstood the Gauss ray and whose strength had not fully recovered!
This sword strike was as fast as lightning and incredibly powerful!
In the nick of time, the Captain displayed the extraordinary reaction speed and combat instincts of an Ultramarines elite.
He chose not to resist head-on again but instead powerfully engaged his core, executing a swift sidestep to the rear-left!
"Swish!"
The cold blade of the Phase Sword almost grazed his shoulder guard, silently slicing a control console behind where he had just stood in two, as if cutting tofu, leaving a smooth, mirror-like cut!
Missing its target, the Annihilation Barge/Warp Construct (Necron heavy unit) Lord's combat logic showed no delay; its other two claw-equipped arms, like the stingers of a venomous scorpion, swept out with afterimages, crossing left and right to strike at the opening exposed by the Captain's dodge!
"Clang! Clang!"
As the Captain retreated, his power sword was already swung out, precisely parrying the claw from the left, erupting in a shower of sparks!
But the right claw still left an ear-splitting scrape on his chest plate, fortunately failing to completely penetrate the defenses of his master-crafted power armour.
Just then, the Sword Guard wearing a laurel wreath on his helmet charged in from the right like a descending tiger, his power sword thrusting directly at the Annihilation Barge/Warp Construct (Necron heavy unit) Lord's relatively weaker waist joint!
However, the Annihilation Barge/Warp Construct (Necron heavy unit) Lord's sensory system was far beyond imagination.
It didn't even turn its head; its arm equipped with the Gauss Annihilator cannon, its muzzle seemingly possessing a will of its own, instantly swiveled, and a slightly thinner but still deadly Gauss ray whipped towards the Laurel Wreath Sword Guard!
The Laurel Wreath Sword Guard had no choice but to break his charge, dodging sideways in an emergency, the Gauss ray grazing his power armour and melting a large hole in the wall behind him.
And almost simultaneously, the third Sword Guard—whose power pack was augmented with an Iron Halo emitting a faint energy field—sliced in from the Annihilation Barge/Warp Construct (Necron heavy unit) Lord's left blind spot like a phantom!
He seized the fleeting opportunity when the Annihilation Barge/Warp Construct (Necron heavy unit) Lord's attention was drawn to the Laurel Wreath Sword Guard, thrusting his power sword forward with an unyielding momentum!
"Pfft!"
The disintegration field violently clashed with the living metal!
The tip of the power sword successfully pierced the gap in the carapace where the Annihilation Barge/Warp Construct (Necron heavy unit) Lord's chest and abdomen connected!
Though it didn't penetrate to the core, it clearly inflicted significant damage, and green energy fluid spurted from the wound!
"Roar—!" the Annihilation Barge/Warp Construct (Necron heavy unit) Lord let out an inhuman energy shriek filled with rage and pain!
It violently swung its unconstrained clawed arm, sweeping horizontally towards the Iron Halo Sword Guard with a air-rending scream!
The Iron Halo Sword Guard reacted extremely quickly, retreating immediately after landing a hit, but the tips of the claws still left two deep, horrifying gashes on his chest plate, almost reaching the lining!
The immense impact forced him to stagger back several steps before regaining his balance.
No sooner had he steadied himself than the Annihilation Barge/Warp Construct (Necron heavy unit) Lord's elusive Phase Sword, like a festering wound, descended upon him with cold killing intent, threatening to cleave him and his power armour in two!
"Clang—!!!!!"
A deafening crash!
It was the Captain!
Like the most reliable bulwark, he arrived in time, once again using his battle-scarred Storm Shield to forcefully block this fatal blow!
The energy field on the shield's surface flickered violently, and even a tiny crack appeared, but it ultimately held!
The three Sword Guards and the Annihilation Barge/Warp Construct (Necron heavy unit) Lord engaged in a breathtaking close-quarters battle within the confined space of the bridge.
Sword light flashed, claws flew, the Phase Sword tore through space, and Gauss rays occasionally erupted.
Relying on their coordinated teamwork, exquisite combat skills, and sturdy equipment, the Sword Guards parried with this powerful alien war machine, each block, each dodge, each counterattack teetering on the edge of life and death.
Meanwhile, on the other side, the Praetorians' battle was equally fierce.
The Praetorian Captain stood like a reef in the hail of fire, one hand gripping his unsheathed combat knife, its blade stained with green energy fluid, the other holding his Bolter pistol.
In a standard firing stance, he precisely spot-fired at the Necron Warriors attempting to find gaps in the suppressive fire, while calmly dealing with close-quarters threats.
A Flayed One, using its comrades for cover, suddenly darted out from behind a pile of wreckage, its claws aiming directly for his throat!
The Captain's eyes narrowed; instead of retreating, he advanced, his left-hand combat knife striking out like a venomous snake, reaching its target first with unparalleled precision, piercing the Flayed One's eye socket and penetrating its intricate internal structure!
Then, with a twist of his wrist, he violently lifted the still-twitching Flayed One's corpse, using it as a makeshift shield to block several Gauss rays coming from the side.
"Sniper, maintain concealment, prioritize supporting the Sword Guards!" the Captain ordered over comms.
The sniper, hidden in the most difficult-to-reach corner, was like a silent grim reaper; every time his long-barreled Bolter rifle fired, it was invariably at a crucial moment when the Annihilation Barge/Warp Construct (Necron heavy unit) Lord attempted a lethal attack on a Sword Guard, forcing it to defend or disrupting its attack rhythm.
Another Praetorian, wielding a melta gun, had a much simpler and more brutal fighting style.
Under the Captain's crossfire cover, he burst out from behind cover like a rampaging bulldozer, facing the Gauss rays fired by the Necron Warriors, and pressed the white-hot muzzle of his weapon almost against a Necron Warrior's chest!
"Sizzle—!!!"
A destructive torrent of melta energy erupted, instantly vaporizing that Necron Warrior along with two Flayed Ones around it, leaving only a deep, molten-edged crater and wisps of smoke on the deck.
However, the cunning of the Necrons far exceeded expectations.
Just as this melta gun Praetorian had completed a kill, his old strength spent and new strength not yet gathered, a rotating portal, glowing with an eerie green light, opened without warning on the seemingly intact metal wall beside him!
A Flayed One, moving faster than the eye could follow, darted out of the portal like lightning, its sharp claws leaving afterimages as they instantly carved three deep gashes into his shoulder guard, almost reaching the power pack's conduits!
Sparks and metal fragments flew!
The Flayed One, having landed a hit, had just stabilized on the opposite side, its green eyes flickering, about to launch a second, more fatal lunge!
"Whoosh—!"
In that split second, a combat knife stained with green liquid, like an arrow released from a bow, was hurled from the direction of the Praetorian Captain!
With unparalleled precision and immense kinetic energy, it directly pierced the Flayed One's head, pinning it firmly to the wall behind it!
The green light in the Flayed One's eyes instantly extinguished, its body twitched twice, then ceased to move.
The melta gun Praetorian nodded heavily towards the Captain, then immediately re-engaged in combat.
This desperate struggle between the Ultramarines and the Necrons, a clash of courage, discipline, and cold efficiency, fiercely erupted first on this alien-occupied smuggling vessel.
Every second was filled with the collision of steel and living metal, every moment testing the warriors' will and limits.
Inside the Macragge's Honour, the gears of war were spinning at high speed.
The warriors of the 2nd Company were fully armed, their deep blue power armour reflecting a cold gleam under the lights of the assembly hall.
Bolters checked, Chainswords humming, the atmosphere was solemn and tense.
Led by the steady and capable Lieutenant Titus, they were like arrows poised to strike, waiting only for Chapter Master Calgar's command to board their thunderhawk gunships and descend like divine soldiers into the war-torn Forge World Scythea, to support the struggling Imperial defenders there.
However, in Gaius's relatively quiet chamber i-10-a, Kolesa's delicate brows were slightly furrowed.
An inexplicable sense of unease, originating from her psychic intuition, like a subtle current, constantly stimulated her nerves.
She couldn't accurately describe the feeling, as if there was a faint, unusual aura in the air that didn't belong to this steel fortress.
She once again pressed her slender hand against the cold metal wall, closed her eyes, and concentrated, attempting to let her somewhat recovered psychic abilities flow slowly through every structure of the warship like the most delicate sensory network, searching for the source of her unease.
Her psychic energy flowed like mercury, passing through busy corridors, sweeping past standing sentries, and penetrating roaring engine rooms...
She "saw" the unwavering will of the warriors, felt the order of mechanical operations, and even touched the steady pulse of the massive "Machine Spirit."
Everything seemed... in order, with no obvious anomalies.
But that sense of unease lingered like a ghost.
Gaius, keenly aware of her unusual state, put down the data-slate in his hand and asked with concern, "Kolesa? Are you still feeling unwell? Or is it psychic exhaustion?"
Kolesa slowly opened her eyes, her purple irises showing a hint of confusion and uncertainty, and she gently shook her head, "No, it's not that.
My psychic energy... detected a very strange aura, extremely faint, as if hidden in the deepest part of the warship's energy background noise... but I can't identify what it is, nor can I pinpoint its source."
She paused, then added, "It's like... a drop of ink in the ocean; you can feel a subtle change in the color of the seawater, but you can't find where that drop of ink is."
Gaius's expression also grew more serious upon hearing this.
He trusted Kolesa's psychic perception, especially when it came to the Warp or certain supernatural phenomena, as Eldar intuition was often more acute than human instruments.
He immediately used the internal communication system to briefly report Kolesa's concerns to Captain Cassius, who was commanding on the bridge, reminding him to strengthen internal scans, especially for energy anomalies.
Just as the warriors of the 2nd Company were about to board the thunderhawk gunships, preparing to depart—
An unforeseen anomaly erupted in the Macragge's Honour's most central and massive area—the Main Hangar!
The Main Hangar was vast enough to accommodate dozens of thunderhawk gunships and Stormraven Gunships taking off and landing simultaneously, and on normal days, it was a symbol of the warship's vitality.
However, at this moment, the hangar's sturdy, reinforced alloy dome and walls suddenly ripped open as if by an invisible blade, revealing swirling fissures emitting an ominous, ghostly green light—Necron portals!
As soon as these portals appeared, they rapidly expanded and stabilized, as if some powerful force was forcibly anchoring coordinates, tearing apart the fabric of the real universe!
"Enemy attack! Unknown portals detected in the hangar!" The piercing alarm instantly echoed throughout the entire warship, overpowering the roar of all engines!
The next second, three massive, cold metal-gleaming figures, moving on six long legs covered in living metal, emerged from the largest portals like ancient beasts crawling out of hell!
They were Annihilation Barges/Warp Constructs (Necron heavy unit)!
Wielding giant phase blades capable of cutting through warship armor, their ghostly green eyes scanned the space filled with human creations, brimming with a desire for destruction.
Fortunately!
Due to the state of readiness, a squad of Honor Guard Warriors, clad in saturn-pattern terminator armor, was currently on patrol duty in the hangar!
If not for their presence, the unsuspecting ground crew and Tech-Priests would have been instantly slaughtered by these three suddenly appearing war machines!
"Form a defensive line! Cover non-combatants' retreat!" The Honor Guard Warrior squad's captain immediately roared.
Three Saturnine Terminators, like moving fortresses, lunged forward, their shoulder-mounted energy shield generators fully activated.
With a hum, three wide blue energy shields instantly expanded, like solid walls, blocking the space between the portals and the evacuation route!
Almost simultaneously with the shields' deployment, a dense rain of green Gauss rays shot out from within the portals, violently striking the energy shields, erupting in continuous energy explosions and blinding flashes!
The shields fluctuated violently but ultimately held, buying precious escape time for the panicked ground crew and Tech-Priests.
As the Annihilation Barges/Warp Constructs (Necron heavy unit) successfully established their foothold and drew the main firepower, more, slightly smaller portals continuously opened throughout the hangar.
Like a bursting dam, large numbers of Necron Warriors, agile Flesh Tearers/Flayed Ones (Necron unit), and even Annihilation Barges/Warp Constructs (Necron heavy unit) wielding more powerful Gauss weapons, poured into the hangar in an endless stream!
In an instant, the once orderly hangar transformed into a bloody and chaotic battlefield!
The Honor Guard Warriors displayed the qualities and courage of the Imperium's top elites.
Using the Terminators as anchor points, they quickly formed combat teams and engaged in fierce firefights with the surging Necron army.
A warrior in standard Honor Guard power armour, using the landing gear of a thunderhawk gunship for cover, was accurately firing his Bolter at an Annihilation Barge/Warp Construct (Necron heavy unit), attempting to disrupt its powerful firepower output.
Suddenly, the shadow behind him twisted, and a Flesh Tearers/Flayed Ones (Necron unit) appeared silently like a specter, its long, sharp claws whistling as they tore through the air, instantly piercing his back, the cold claw tips even protruding from his abdomen!
The intense pain almost suffocated him, but his battle-hardened instincts did not fail him.
He let out a suppressed roar, drew the Chainsword from his waist with a backhand, and swung it fiercely backward without looking!
"Vroom—CRACK!!!"
The Chainsword's furiously rotating teeth instantly tore the Flesh Tearers/Flayed Ones (Necron unit) in half at the waist!
Green energy fluid and metal fragments splattered all over him.
Enduring the searing pain of his pierced body, he violently pulled out the half-severed claw still embedded in him and threw it to the ground, steadying himself against the thunderhawk gunship's armor, and continued to raise his Bolter, unleashing his fury upon the enemies ahead!
At the very front of the defensive line, the three Saturnine Terminators bore the greatest pressure.
The powerful Gauss rays of the Annihilation Barges/Warp Constructs (Necron heavy unit) continuously hammered their energy shields like heavy blows, and the sharp alarm of overloaded shield generators screamed.
But they did not yield an inch, like three unshakeable mountains.
The Storm Bolters on their shoulders roared deafeningly, a dense storm of Bolter rounds tearing apart the Necron Warriors pouring out of the portals in swathes, with exploding fire and metal debris flying everywhere.
Occasionally, a Bolter round would hit the thick armor of an Annihilation Barge/Warp Construct (Necron heavy unit); while unable to destroy it instantly, it was enough to make them stumble backward, temporarily stemming their advance.
The entire Macragge's Honour instantly entered the highest level of combat alert—Level One—due to this sudden internal attack!
All area isolation gates slammed shut, and non-combatants were ordered to immediately enter shelters.
More Honor Guard Warriors, both Terminators and power armour warriors, rushed to the Main Hangar from all parts of the warship at the fastest speed.
Simultaneously, under the urgent deployment of First Company Lieutenant Golden, the warriors of the First Company also began to converge on the hangar area, preparing to engage in this sudden internal defense battle.
On the bridge, when Chapter Master Calgar received the urgent report of the hangar attack, his face, sculpted like a glacier, finally showed an expression of extreme gravity.
He abruptly stood up from the command seat, his fist slamming down on the control panel.
"How did they get precise teleportation beacons inside our warship?! Damn it!"
This was no accident; something, undoubtedly, had provided these xenos with precise targeting from within!
He immediately connected to tactical communications, his voice like ice: "Vitrius! Heck! Orestes! Concentrate all the forces you can muster, and at all costs, drive these metal bones out of my warship!
Purify the hangar!"
Having issued the command, Calgar did not hesitate.
He reached for the Golden Aquila-emblazoned helmet placed nearby and said in a deep voice, "This is yours to command; maintain contact with Scythea's surface."
He instructed Captain Lilith, then strode towards the bridge exit.
He intended to personally go to the hangar and confront this invasion occurring at the heart of the Imperial flagship.
Meanwhile, in a corner of the warship's lower-middle deck, piled with parts like a small junkyard, the source of all this calamity was utterly oblivious.
Eiras was sound asleep on her makeshift "bed" of discarded parts and cushioning materials, her light pink hair scattered across her forehead.
Her small satchel lay by the bed, filled with her various "treasures."
And on top of a storage locker, the crimson helmet of a World Eaters Champion, which she had picked up from Drathemiandas, stood silently, like a forgotten evil shrine.
Suddenly, without warning, deep within the helmet's already shattered and dull eye lenses, a faint but incredibly pure crimson light briefly flared, like a sudden heartbeat!
The light flashed and vanished so quickly that one might almost think it was an illusion, then fell back into silence, as if nothing had happened.
However, it was this fleeting beacon pulse, containing Khorne's will and Chaos coordinates, that penetrated the chaotic energy field interference of Eiras's messy "workshop," and like the most precise lighthouse, provided the Necron fleet, far beyond the real universe, with the critical coordinates to tear through the Macragge's Honour's internal defenses and open deadly portals.
Eiras was still lost in a dream of trading this "useless" helmet for delicious jelly, completely unaware of the storm about to engulf the entire warship, and indeed, Ultramar.