[Inside your silver metal skull, nerves and blood vessels throbbed with violent intensity. The sensation pulsed through your cranium like warning signals, each beat a reminder of the mechanical-organic hybrid you'd become.]
[Your face maintained its calm smile, expression locked in place through sheer discipline.]
[For a moment, the middle-aged governor appeared genuinely frightened by your uncompromising words. His eyes widened slightly, pupils contracting.]
[Sweat continued beading on his forehead despite his attempts to wipe it away. He lowered his head, clearly thinking through his limited options. After what felt like a small eternity, he offered a slight bow in your direction, then turned and departed with hurried steps.]
[You stared at his retreating back, watching until he disappeared around a corner of the hive structure.]
[You slowly retreated backward into the defensive formation assembled by your Ogryn combat squad. The coordinated movement came smoothly, exactly as you'd drilled them.]
[Five tall, powerfully built Bullgryn immediately raised the metal shields gripped between their massive hands. They moved according to your previous training, positioning themselves precisely to form an overlapping wall of protection. The shields locked together with heavy metallic clanks, blocking you completely from potential lines of fire.]
[Each shield measured half a foot thick, constructed from solid plasteel. Combined with the carefully selected carapace armor plating the Bullgryn wore, the defensive barrier might withstand at least one sustained volley of bolter fire. Might.]
[Simultaneously, the Ogryn gunner carrying a laser sniper rifle positioned himself under the cover provided by the massive bull Ogryn. His mismatched eyes scanned the surrounding buildings with surprising alertness for his kind, constantly checking rooftops and elevated positions for potential threats. The rifle's barrel tracked slowly across possible sniper nests.]
["Boss, why don't we just go in directly? Why not find those angels and ask them straight out? If they really are traitors, I'm ready to slap them in their faces!" Chunkus swayed his enormous body as he approached you, a heavy metal hammer resting casually on his shoulder. Both of his mismatched eyes had opened as wide as physically possible, giving him an expression of aggressive eagerness.]
["You're an Ogryn, not a screaming greenskin!" You turned your head sharply, glaring at Chunkus's puzzled expression with clear exasperation.]
[You drew a breath through your breathing apparatus, organizing your thoughts before continuing.]
["Consider the local governor's attitude toward both the Inquisition and the Astartes. The Seekers of Truth have clearly done excellent work governing and maintaining this planetary base. Their relationship with the civilian population appears strong. In other words, if they truly chose open rebellion, this industrial world would likely stand with them as willing supporters."]
[You paused, ensuring your words penetrated Chunkus's thick skull.]
["The reason I adopted such a harsh tone just now was calculated. I needed to apply measured pressure, demonstrating to the Astartes that I came here to genuinely investigate potential heresy. Not that I'd already prejudged them as traitors. I gave them an opportunity. Now we wait to see if they'll extend the same courtesy to me."]
[You squinted your perpetually dry eyes, the words emerging as much for yourself as for your audience.]
[Part of you addressed the explanation to Chunkus, helping him understand the political maneuvering at play.]
[But another part spoke to those possible "observers" you suspected were monitoring your every move and word through hidden surveillance.]
[Approximately half an hour crawled past, marked only by the shifting shadows as the local sun moved overhead.]
[Then came the heavy, distinctive sound of ceramite boots striking pavement. Mag-locks engaged and disengaged with each purposeful step, the rhythm unmistakable.]
[An Astartes battle-brother emerged from the upper hive entrance, his massive form impossible to miss. He wore blue power armor with heavy shoulder pauldrons sprayed in deep crimson, the colors vivid even in the harsh industrial light. Each step carried absolute confidence, the gait of someone who'd never known fear.]
[He walked gradually toward your assembled squad, covering the distance with measured strides.]
["Honored Inquisitor, the Seekers of Truth Chapter extends its greetings." The Astartes brother's voice emerged from his helmet's vox-grille, deep and resonant. "Our Chapter Master awaits your arrival. You may bring your Ogryn squad with you. Disarmament will not be necessary. Consider this a small demonstration of our Chapter's sincere intentions toward you."]
[The Space Marine tilted his metal helmet slightly. Though you couldn't see his eyes through the crimson lenses, you felt his gaze pass through the fat bodies of several Bullgryn, finding you at the formation's center.]
[You blinked your dry eyes, unable to suppress the slight breath of relief that escaped your lips. The tension coiled in your chest loosened fractionally.]
[You gently patted the heavy armor plating of the nearest Bullgryn, the metal warm under your palm. The gesture signaled them to part their shield wall, creating an opening.]
["Thank you for your Chapter's gracious invitation." You raised your voice, not bothering to turn your head. "Chunkus, take your combat squad and follow me. Without my explicit order, you are not to take any unauthorized action whatsoever. Do you understand me clearly?"]
["Yes, boss! No problem, boss!" Chunkus attempted to stand at something approaching attention, his fat belly shaking with the effort of proper military bearing.]
[The Astartes brother standing before you seemed to study you carefully through his helmet's eyepieces, perhaps reassessing his initial impression. The scrutiny lasted several heartbeats.]
[Then he turned smoothly and began walking toward the upper hive entrance. You followed immediately behind his massive form.]
[Your loyal Ogryn squad fell into step behind you, their heavy footfalls creating a drumbeat rhythm against the rockcrete.]
[You passed through the entrance, moving past lines of local defense forces who stood at rigid attention. Their faces remained expressionless, eyes fixed forward, though you caught subtle glances tracking your procession.]
[Just ahead, positioned before an ancient-looking large transport elevator, the smiling middle-aged governor waited. His earlier nervousness had been replaced by something approaching cautious optimism.]
[He offered no words, simply nodding first to the Astartes brother, then to you with equal deference.]
[You inclined your chin toward him in return, acknowledging the gesture.]
[You allowed yourself a moment of satisfaction. Your calculated series of actions had apparently earned at least initial trust from all parties involved.]
[Led by the Astartes brother, you entered the interior of the massive transport elevator. The platform could easily accommodate your entire party with room to spare, designed for moving industrial equipment between hive levels.]
[A deafening sound erupted as mechanical valves turned and engaged, the noise reverberating through the elevator shaft. Steam hissed from pressure releases, adding to the cacophony.]
[The large transport elevator lurched slightly, then began its slow descent deeper into the hive. The motion carried you steadily downward, away from the relatively clean upper levels toward the polluted depths.]
[Your brow furrowed with unspoken concern.]
[The Astartes brother seemed to sense your unease, your body language readable even through power armor.]
[After a moment of silence, he began speaking, his voice cutting through the elevator's mechanical grinding.]
[He told you about the history and legacy of the Seekers of Truth Chapter, the words delivered with quiet pride.]
[The original recruitment grounds for the Seekers of Truth had always been this industrial planet. Every Astartes brother in the Chapter traced their origins to the hive cities dotting the surface.]
[The battle-brothers came from native hive populations, recruited from the strongest and most promising youths. Having lived in the hive since childhood, they understood intimately what threats endangered hive survival. They knew the dangers from lived experience, not theoretical study.]
[Therefore, the Seekers of Truth Chapter had chosen to construct their fortress monastery at the hive's very bottom, in the most dangerous zones.]
[Countless mutants, terrifying hive creatures adapted to darkness and pollution, and possible Genestealer cult infiltrators all became training targets. The Chapter brothers honed their unyielding will against genuine threats, gaining practical combat experience while simultaneously reducing the dangers facing the civilian population above.]
[You listened carefully to his account, absorbing every detail.]
[A clearer picture formed in your mind, replacing your previously vague impressions of the Seekers of Truth Chapter.]
[You resolved to witness everything about this Chapter with your own eyes before making any critical decisions. Direct observation would trump secondhand reports.]
[As the transport elevator continued sinking deeper, even the surrounding air quality deteriorated noticeably. The smell changed, becoming thick with industrial pollutants and organic decay.]
[By the time you reached the true depths of the hive, conditions had degraded substantially.]
[You found yourself forced to accept the breathing mask Chunkus handed you, the filtration system immediately necessary to draw clean air into your lungs. The mask sealed against your face with a soft hiss.]
[The Astartes brother led your group forward through a labyrinth of torturous industrial passages. Pipes ran along every surface, some leaking steam or worse. The walls dripped with condensation, pooling in puddles that reflected dim emergency lighting.]
[You even passed the hive's life support apparatus, a structure both spectacular in its engineering and overwhelming in its scale. Massive turbines rotated endlessly, processing the poisoned atmosphere into something marginally breathable. The machinery produced a constant bass rumble that vibrated through your bones.]
[The low-intelligence Ogryns stared at the magnificent mechanisms with slack-jawed amazement, their dull minds struggling to process what they witnessed. They began shouting excitedly, voices rising above the machinery's roar.]
[You had no choice but to order Chunkus to use physical force, literally pushing and shoving the distracted Ogryns forward. He complied with good-natured efficiency, herding his squad like oversized children.]
[Approximately thirty minutes later, you finally arrived at the Chapter station of the Seekers of Truth, guided throughout by the patient Astartes brother.]
[A tall figure stood waiting at the station's entrance, positioned prominently at the forefront. He wore ancient Terminator armor, the massive suit marking him as a veteran of countless battles. The armor's surface bore countless small repairs and honor markings, each telling its own story.]
[He stood motionless and silent, clearly waiting for your arrival with infinite patience.]
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