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Chapter 147: The Crystal Ship
Three stars ruled the Sepeiris System. Their gravity pulled at each other across the void.
Guilliman's battleship carried the Imperium's finest communication arrays and augur systems. These instruments would keep them hidden while they gathered enemy intelligence.
They entered the Sepeiris System and reduced the reactor's output. They shut down non-essential systems and minimised their presence. The ship spread its sensors wide, absorbing every piece of data the void offered.
Guilliman sat on the command throne and studied the holographic projection of the Sepeiris System. The vast bridge stood nearly empty, only selected crew members with immunity to mental control could join this mission.
"We have entered the Sepeiris System, my lord," the Captain reported, his bionic eye gleaming. "We remain hidden within the radiation shadow of the primary star."
"Good," Guilliman replied and watched the tactical display. "Find the enemy vessels. They are a star-faring race and will have their own fleet. Find and destroy their ships, then these xenos will have nowhere to run."
Moments later, the augur console gave a sharp warning.
The Information Supervisor connected his spinal data-port to the control matrix. "My lord Primarch, we are detecting unusual psychic signals."
"Show them."
The holographic map flickered and showed red points of light moving slowly through the void.
Guilliman's enhanced mind processed the data through his gene-engine. The Primarch smiled coldly and selected several target markers on the display.
"Lock onto these coordinates. Send all available power to the engines. Maximum burn, we strike before they can respond."
Tech-adepts of the Mechanicus began their chants to the machine-spirits. Engineers adjusted the plasma reactor's output while monitoring power distribution to the drive systems.
The battleship shuddered as multiple systems wailed in mechanical harmony. The reactor climbed rapidly to full burn, its light blazing brighter than the system's stars.
The crew secured themselves against the crushing acceleration.
The warship carved through space and bore down on its targets with unstoppable momentum.
Before the enemy could react, they entered weapon range.
Lance arrays fired immediately, already charged. Brilliant beams lit up the darkness of space.
Reality twisted and showed what lay hidden behind the alien disguise.
A massive crystal ship hung in space like a floating city. A force field surrounded it and deflected every lance strike.
Weapons that could crack worlds only made ripples across the alien barrier.
"Focus fire. Break their defences," Guilliman commanded. "Then we board."
Teleportation Chamber
Thirteenth Legion elite warriors stood in perfect formation. Serfs helped with final equipment checks while red-robed tech-adepts worked on the teleportation arrays.
Crystal reaction columns sparked and crackled, feeding power to the focusing matrices. Wall-mounted cogitator systems chattered with data-streams. Charge-spheres twisted within containment fields like caged lightning.
"Target shields breached."
The bridge's transmission nearly drowned beneath the mechanical noise, but every Astartes heard clearly.
They switched their gene-engines to combat protocols without hesitation.
"Begin teleportation."
Guilliman's order reached the chamber instantly. The Mechanicus carried out his will with precision.
The teleportation array's chanting reached peak volume and rose like a mechanical chorus. The deck vibrated from massive machinery. Screens flickered with cascading data streams.
Space began to fold.
A shimmering portal opened and linked them to the crystal ship's interior.
"Charge!" roared Legion Commander Gage, raising his blade high.
Warriors surged past him into the light gate.
The battle erupted in full fury.
Aboard the Crystal Ship
The Osiris Mind Control Species mastered psychic manipulation. They used Warp power freely and summoned fire and lightning at will. Countless enslaved puppets served as their expendable fodder.
But the Astartes had their own advantages. With gene-engines active, they fought with power far beyond mortal limits.
Gage and his warriors found no rest upon boarding. They immediately encountered a group of human slaves, poor souls completely controlled by xenos will and reduced to living tools.
The slaves opened fire with las-weapons the moment they spotted the Astartes. Superheated crimson beams filled the corridor, scorched walls, and left steaming impact craters.
Gage raised his armoured forearm like a shield and charged through the barrage. His other hand gripped a bolter. Even without direct sight, his gene-engine had already calculated every enemy position.
"For the Emperor!"
Gage roared while his trigger finger worked rapidly. Explosive bolter rounds tore through the slaves, scattering limbs and leaving carnage behind.
Before he could advance, a psychic blast hit him. Despite his power armour, the mental attack sent him flying several meters. His heavy frame hit the deck hard.
A thin Osiris Mind Control Species appeared before him. Bio-mechanical armor covered its gaseous form, and hostile light burned in its alien eyes as it stared at Gage with hatred.
Gage squeezed the trigger repeatedly while the bolter's roar filled the corridor and sent explosive rounds flying toward his enemy. Then Legion Commander Gage sprang to his feet, drew his chainsword, and charged forward.
The xenos gestured dismissively. Invisible psychic force formed a barrier, stopped every bolt mid-flight, and held them suspended.
Gage closed the distance. His chainsword screamed as its teeth bit deep into alien flesh. With a savage twist, he split the creature open completely.
Crystal fragments shattered within the alien's body. The xenos let out a shriek as it turned to vapour and left only broken armour behind.
Inside lay a pile of strangely-colored gem fragments, perhaps fist-sized when whole. Clearly, this crystal core was the Osiris Mind Control Species' vital essence. Destroy it, and they died.
With gene-engines active, the Astartes fought with devastating efficiency.
The battle grew bloody and brutal. Wave after wave of controlled slaves emerged from every corner and fired various weapons. Occasionally, an Osiris Mind Control Species would appear and unleash psychic attacks that reduced warriors to atoms or burning plasma.
The Astartes showed no fear of death. They pressed forward relentlessly and answered alien tyranny with blade, sword, and bolt. They carved through enemy ranks and left countless bodies behind. Blood and torn flesh painted every surface.
Guilliman joined the slaughter personally. The Primarch's wrath fell upon every foe he encountered. He neither ran nor charged, but advanced with measured purpose.
One hand held a power sword wreathed in a disruptor field. Each swing cut off heads and dropped enemies. His other hand carried a power fist with a large bolter.
Every shot tore through enemies with heavy gunfire.
He was powerful and unstoppable. His gene-engine let him control time and space. He was the centre of this storm, every enemy's nightmare.
He moved forward steadily, cold and unstoppable. Psychic attacks from the Osiris Mind Control Species did nothing to him. His gene-engine defences and armour kept him safe.
His Guards surrounded him and roared battle-cries as they slaughtered without fear.
Guilliman carved a blood-soaked path through the alien horde until he reached the crystal ship's core.
A thin, withered xenos sat upon a floating crystal throne.
"Young newcomer," the alien lord spoke with contempt, "how dare you defile this place?"
Mental power lanced into Guilliman's mind and sought secrets and weaknesses. The creature tried to corrupt his memories, create pain, and turn them into festering wounds.
But Guilliman was a Primarch. His will was iron, his mind a fortress. The psychic assault broke against his mental defenses like waves against stone.
He smiled coldly and raised his power sword.
"Your turn to die, xenos."
[End of Chapter]