Continuous high-intensity inter-system conquests and retaliations were a huge burden, even for the Astartes.
After successfully destroying several Dark Eldar stronghold planets and delivering heavy blows to these schemers, the Ultramarines Chapter's fleet finally received orders to return to the Ultramar homeworld sector for rest and resupply.
The Macragge's Honour, a massive mobile fortress, slowly exited the Mandeville Point, and the familiar blue star system reappeared in the observation window.
The atmosphere inside the battleship was noticeably more relaxed; although discipline remained strict, the warriors' taut nerves could finally ease a little.
The wounded needed more systematic treatment, equipment required more thorough maintenance, and more importantly, personnel and supplies needed replenishment.
A Thunderhawk Gunship carried the warriors of the 7th Company back to the flagship.
When the six members of Second Squad walked out of the hangar, two familiar figures were already waiting there.
It was Luna and Lina.
Luna maintained her usual calm demeanor, her electronic eyes quickly scanning the six, seemingly confirming their well-being, then she nodded slightly: "Welcome back.
Preliminary estimates of equipment damage have been made, and maintenance schedules are arranged." Her tone was flat, yet conveyed a practical concern.
Lina, on the other hand, was much more excited; she scurried up, first looking at Gorden, then at the others, finally her gaze landing on Dorian's battle-scarred but still formidable Terminator armor, her small face filled with excitement and relief: "It's so good that everyone is okay! Lord Dorian, your armor… so many injuries…"
"Haha! Minor stuff!" Dorian proudly patted his chest plate, making a clanging sound, "It was all those bean sprouts scratching me! They couldn't break my defense at all!"
Gorden ruffled Lina's hair: "You didn't cause any trouble while we were gone, did you?"
Lina shook her head vigorously: "No! Luna and I have been helping the Tech-Priest Uncles repair Dreadnoughts!" A hint of pride appeared on her small face, "I learned how to oil the ammunition belts for twin-linked assault cannons!"
"Well done," Gorden praised, a rare occurrence.
After a brief welcome, everyone returned to the 7th Company's resting area.
Along the way, many ground crew and Tech-Priests could be seen busily inspecting the battleship and transporting supplies, a scene of bustling rest and recuperation.
Luna and Lina also briefly recounted their experiences on board.
Besides routine equipment maintenance, their main job was to assist the Tech-Priest team in repairing the several Dreadnoughts that had been severely damaged in battle.
This work was complex and precise; even Luna found it extremely challenging, and Lina could only assist, but being able to participate in such important work made her feel very fulfilled.
In the resting area, the squad members removed their armor for simple cleaning and maintenance.
Dorian, while wiping his beloved Thunder Hammer, boasted about his "heroic deeds" in battle (naturally, with a good deal of embellishment).
Lex carefully disassembled and maintained his heavy Bolter; this time, he was wiser and only performed basic maintenance.
Cliff and Thor quietly exchanged data and analyses from the battle.
Gaius silently checked his "Hawk's Eye" sniper rifle.
Just then, a veteran wearing brand-new Power Armor with a helmet painted a striking white walked over.
His armor was impeccably maintained, with the First Company's insignia on his shoulder pad; his steps were steady, his aura restrained, clearly indicating a battle-hardened elite.
Sergeant Golden saw the newcomer, immediately stood up, and performed an Aquila salute: "Senior Lance."
The veteran, named Lance, smiled and returned the salute, his voice steady and gentle: "Gorden, it's good to see you're alright.
I heard your 7th Company fought well this time." His gaze swept over the other members of Second Squad, lingering slightly on Gaius and his sniper rifle.
"Let me introduce," Gorden said to the squad members, "This is Lance, a veteran warrior of the First Company, and one of the best snipers in the Chapter.
We worked together on a mission before."
"Senior Lance!" Except for Dorian, everyone immediately stood up and saluted, expressing respect for the First Company veteran.
Dorian just nodded casually, continuing to wipe his hammer.
Lance didn't mind, casually pulling over a chair and sitting down: "Sit, everyone sit, no need to be so formal during downtime."
Dorian looked at Sergeant Golden's red Sergeant helmet, then at Lance's striking white helmet, and couldn't help but grumble: "Hey, Sergeant, when are you going to change the color of your red helmet?
And Senior Lance's white helmet, it's really cool! When can I change my color?"
Gorden glared at him, annoyed: "Want to change color? First, fix your troublemaking habits!
A white helmet represents a spotless service record and absolute reliability! Look at you, the brig is almost your second home!"
Dorian pouted and fell silent.
Lance, however, was amused; he glanced at Dorian's Terminator armor and mechanical arm: "You're the Dorian who wore Terminator armor to resist the swarm and even punched a Grey Knight?
I heard you even captured a Dark Eldar 'lady' recently? Quite audacious."
At the mention of this, Dorian perked up again: "That's right! That woman was so noisy! If they hadn't held me back, I would have already…"
"Speaking of that female captive," Lance interrupted Dorian's bragging, his tone becoming a little helpless and amused, "there's an interesting story related to you all.
Yesterday, two brothers from our squad were ordered to the brig to interrogate her, escorting her to the Chapter Master for questioning."
Everyone perked up their ears.
Lance continued: "That woman, as you know, hasn't stopped talking since she was captured, constantly cursing in Eldar.
One of the squad members, with a very short temper, listening to that endless noise, his temper flared up.
Halfway there, he couldn't hold back and turned around and punched the woman…"
"Pfft… Hahahahaha!" Dorian was the first to burst into thunderous laughter, slapping his thigh, "Good punch!
Damn it! I've wanted to do that for a long time! And then, what then?"
Gorden also couldn't help but shake his head, a smile playing on his lips: "Although it violates discipline, it's… understandable.
If Dorian had been escorting her, the Chapter Master would probably only see a pile of minced meat by now."
Lance spread his hands helplessly: "Yes, although that brother held back and didn't hit hard, an Astartes' punch… you know.
The woman immediately had a black eye and a swollen face, blood streaming from her nose, and finally quieted down.
The result, of course, was a severe reprimand from the Chapter Master, and then she was directly sent to the brig for reflection.
She'll probably be confined for a few days."
Everyone smiled knowingly at the news, even imagining the scene.
The incessantly chattering woman finally got her comeuppance, which indeed brought a sense of satisfaction.
After the laughter subsided, Gaius noticed another key point.
He looked at Lance, his eyes filled with respect and a hint of longing: "Senior Lance, you just said… you are a veteran sniper?"
Lance looked at Gaius and nodded: "Hmm, I've been handling a gun for decades.
What, kid, are you interested in sniping?" He had long noticed the impeccably maintained "Hawk's Eye" in Gaius' hand.
Gaius nodded solemnly: "Yes, Senior.
I… I have always strived to develop in this direction, but I always feel there are many shortcomings.
Especially in ultra-long-range shooting and ballistic calculations in extreme environments…" Although he had performed excellently before, he relied more on his uncanny perceptual abilities; in terms of pure sniping skills, he knew he still had a gap compared to true top experts.
Lance looked at Gaius with appreciation: "Good, humility and a thirst for knowledge are good habits.
Gorden mentioned you to me, said you have good eyesight, a calm demeanor, and are a good prospect." He patted Gaius' shoulder, "Alright, anyway, we're resting recently, so there's plenty of time.
Tomorrow morning, Third Training Ground, I'll take you to practice."
Gaius' heart leaped with joy, and he immediately stood up and said solemnly: "Thank you very much, Senior!"
"Haha, no problem! The more people who can take potshots, the fewer brothers we lose," Lance laughed heartily.
After chatting for a while longer, Lance stood up to leave, returning to the First Company's quarters.
After Lance left, the conversation in the resting area naturally revolved around the punched Dark Eldar woman and the impulsive brother in the brig.
Dorian still laughed the loudest: "Hahahaha! Too bad I didn't see it with my own eyes!
That bitch's bruised and swollen face must have been so satisfying!"
Although Gorden also found it satisfying, he still reminded them: "Laugh all you want, but don't follow that First Company brother's example.
Discipline is discipline, especially when dealing with valuable captives.
The Chapter Master keeping that woman must have a deeper meaning."
"I know, I know," Dorian waved his hand dismissively, "I just thought it was cool!"
Gaius, meanwhile, was already looking forward to training with Senior Lance tomorrow.
He hoped to learn truly top-tier sniping techniques from this experienced veteran, make up for his shortcomings, and in the future be able to serve the squad and the Chapter better.
The days of rest slowly passed amidst equipment maintenance, training, learning, and these relaxed chats.
The shadow of war temporarily receded, but everyone knew that this brief tranquility was only to gather strength for the next, more intense outbreak.
And the imprisoned Dark Eldar woman, like an ominous enigma, was temporarily silent, yet no one knew what kind of turmoil she would cause.
Inside the Third Training Ground, gunshots were sometimes crisp single shots, sometimes rapid bursts.
Gaius was fully focused, prone behind the simulated cover, locking onto distant, high-speed, flickering targets through the high-magnification scope of his "Hawk's Eye" sniper rifle.
Beside him, Lance stood like a rock, his white helmet particularly striking under the training ground lights.
He spoke little, only occasionally, during Gaius' firing intervals, pointing out subtle deficiencies in a steady voice.
"Breathe a little steadier; that final breath-hold was too deliberate."
"Sudden wind shift, lead estimation was off by zero point two seconds."
"Target movement trajectory prediction is good, but the firing timing could be half a beat more decisive."
Gaius listened carefully to every instruction, rapidly translating it into adjusted actions.
He could feel that Lance's teaching differed from other instructors in the company; it focused more on details in real combat environments and an ineffable "feel for the gun," something that required vast experience and talent to cultivate.
What made Gaius feel even more different was his state of mind during training.
Previously, even at his most focused, he could always vaguely sense a faint, cold, scrutinizing gaze—that was Captain Moreno's or his squad members' gaze, like a persistent parasite, constantly reminding him of the abnormality within him and the potential danger.
But now, that uncomfortable gray gaze was gone.
Although he knew that the Grey Knights' departure did not mean he was free from suspicion, that physical distance indeed relaxed his taut nerves considerably, allowing him to dedicate himself to training with greater single-mindedness.
He could even more clearly perceive the subtle flow of the dormant power in his left arm, and tried, while maintaining absolute control, to slowly integrate it into his perception of the surrounding environment to aid his shooting.
This feeling was delicate, like walking a tightrope, but he carefully managed the balance.
"Good, that shot had some flair to it," Lance praised, a rare occurrence, as he watched a distant moving target explode from a precise hit to its critical point. "It's not just calculation; you're starting to incorporate a bit of 'premonition.' Keep it up, but remember, don't rely on it. Your skill and judgment are always the foundation."
"Yes, Senior!" Gaius' heart swelled with a hint of joy.
Meanwhile, in his dedicated maintenance bay in the armory, Dorian was uncharacteristically quiet. He had shed his formidable but heavy Terminator armor, his massive body clad only in black training fatigues, and sat at a workbench, meticulously cleaning and maintaining every component of his armor with his thick yet surprisingly nimble fingers.
First, he used a specialized cleaner to scrub away bloodstains, dust, and green alien blood from the armor's crevices, then carefully wiped the ceramite surface with a soft polishing cloth, smoothing out tiny scratches. He was even more cautious with the interface of his mechanical bionic left arm and the energy conduits of his Thunder Hammer, using precision tools to clean and calibrate them little by little.
This process was like a ritual for him; his usual restless emotions gradually calmed during the focused maintenance. He would occasionally grin, pat his gleaming shoulder guard, as if admiring a work of art. Perhaps in his simple world, this armor, which had accompanied him through life and death and embodied his glory and impulsiveness, was his closest comrade-in-arms.
And in Lina's small bedroom, converted from a storage room, the girl was sitting on her bed, hugging her knees, her small head nodding as she dozed off. She had just finished a morning of assisting Luna with data organization and was a bit tired. Next to her pillow lay two stuffed dolls side by side—one was a worn but precious Ultramarines doll left by her mother; the other was a doll she had sewn herself, modeled after Dorian in his power armor, wielding a Chainsword.
On top of the makeshift bedside cabinet, the exquisite and cold Grey Knight statue Kaldor had given her rested quietly, like a silent guardian or a distant memory. Lina seemed to subconsciously place the dolls, representing "warmth" and "the present," close by, while placing the statue, representing "power" and "separation," a little further away.
By the observation deck in the lounge area, Lex, Cliff, and Thor leaned together, sipping nutrient paste and watching the new recruits on the training ground being put through their paces by their instructors, occasionally offering low-voiced comments.
"Tsk, that footwork, as soft as… whatever."
"Their aiming stance is all wrong…"
"We were much stronger than them back in our day…"
Just then, Lex's gaze inadvertently flickered towards the entrance of a distant connecting corridor and seemed to catch a glimpse of something incredibly fast… silver?
He froze for a moment, rubbing his eyes: "Hey, I think I just saw… a Grey Knight?" Cliff and Thor immediately followed his gaze, but the corridor entrance was empty, with only a few Tech-Priests hurrying by.
"You must have seen wrong," Thor frowned. "Didn't the Grey Knights leave a long time ago?"
"Maybe…" Lex was also unsure. "Perhaps it was a reflection of the light? Or some Tech-Priest carrying a silver part?" Despite his words, a subtle doubt lingered in his mind.
They did not know that at this very moment, in the command bridge of the Macragge's Honour, the atmosphere was far from as relaxed as it seemed outside.
Five tall, silver-grey figures, radiating cold psychic fluctuations, stood before Chapter Master Marius Calgar like suddenly appearing phantoms. Their armor was ornate and deadly, and the captain leading them exuded an especially profound aura, his might no less than that of Moreno before.
"Chapter Master Calgar," the Grey Knight Captain at the forefront spoke through his helmet, his voice cold and formalized, "We are a new squad dispatched by the Grey Knights Chapter, codenamed 'Blades of Purification.' Given that Captain Moreno and his team were severely wounded and withdrew, we are here to take over their unfinished duty—to monitor the target individual, Gaius."
Chapter Master Calgar's expression was not pleasant. He coldly observed these five uninvited "guests": "I presume you have already learned, through internal channels, everything that happened to Captain Moreno on my vessel."
"We are aware of his mission report and… subsequent handling," the Captain's reply was impeccable.
"Then it would be best to take heed," Calgar's voice carried an undeniable authority. "This is the Macragge's Honour, a vessel of the Ultramarines. Your authority is limited to monitoring and evaluation. Any actions exceeding this scope, especially attempts to militarily interfere with my internal affairs, will be considered a provocation against the Ultramarines Chapter and Ultramar. The consequences, you will bear yourselves."
The Grey Knight Captain nodded slightly, his emotions unreadable: "We understand. The Grey Knights Chapter respects its alliance with the Ultramarines. We will strictly adhere to the established rules, taking necessary measures only when the target individual shows clear signs of corruption. Until then, it is merely observation."
"It had better be," Calgar snorted coldly. "Now, what do you require?"
"We require an immediate audience with the target individual for initial contact and assessment," the Captain stated.
Calgar was silent for a moment, then finally nodded: "Very well. But my men will accompany you." He waved a hand, and two Honor Guard warriors, who had been standing by, immediately stepped forward, their Terminator armor radiating a powerful aura, signifying the Chapter Master's will.
Gaius had just finished his training with Lance and returned to the Second Squad's lounge. He felt he had gained much and was unusually relaxed. Dorian had also just finished maintaining his Terminator armor and was sitting there drinking an energy drink, while Lina rubbed her eyes as she emerged from the bedroom, seemingly just woken up and still a bit disoriented.
"Hey, Gaius, how was training? Is that white-helmeted old man good?" Dorian asked loudly.
"Senior Lance is very powerful; I learned a lot," Gaius replied with a smile, sitting next to Dorian.
Lina also groggily shuffled over and leaned against Dorian's leg.
Just then, the lounge door slid open.
First to enter was Sergeant Golden, his expression somewhat grave, followed by Lex, Thor, Cliff, and Luna. Immediately after, two fully armed Honor Guard Terminators entered, standing on either side of the door like guardians.
However, what instantly plunged the room's atmosphere to freezing point was what followed—five Grey Knights clad in silver-grey armor, radiating a cold, oppressive aura!
Dorian exploded almost instantly! He shot to his feet, his fists cracking, his eyes fixed on the Grey Knights like an enraged bull, instinctively reaching for his Thunder Hammer: "Damn it! You Grey Knights dare to come back?!"
"Brother Catonia! Stand back!" An Honor Guard warrior immediately stepped forward, his voice stern as he commanded, "Maintain composure! The Grey Knights, by the Chapter Master's order, have something to say to Brother Hohn."
Dorian gasped for breath, his chest heaving, but under the Honor Guard warrior's and Gorden's stern gazes, he suppressed his rage and sat back down heavily, his eyes still glaring at the Grey Knights.
The atmosphere in the lounge was so tense it was almost solid. Lina's face turned pale with fear, and she clutched Luna's hand tightly. Lex, Cliff, and Thor were also rigid, their hands unconsciously resting near their weapons. Gorden stood between the two parties, ready to respond to any sudden situation.
The Grey Knight Captain at the forefront seemed utterly oblivious to Dorian's hostility and everyone else's tension. His rotating, cold optical sensors directly bypassed everyone, locking onto Gaius, who was sitting there.
Gaius felt a cold and powerful psychic presence sweep over him like an invisible probe, especially focusing on his left arm. His body stiffened slightly, but he forced himself to remain calm, raising his head to meet the Grey Knight Captain's gaze steadily.
The Captain walked step by step towards Gaius, his heavy footsteps particularly clear in the silent lounge. The Honor Guard warriors followed closely on either side of him, guarding against any unforeseen events.
About three steps from Gaius, the Captain stopped. He seemed to be carefully "sensing" something.
After a long moment, his cold voice spoke again, this time directed at Gaius:
"Gaius. I can sense… within your left arm, the sickening, treacherous energy of the Lord of Change lies dormant… like a dark current in a sewer, stirring restlessly."
His words made everyone's hearts pound. Dorian's eyes were bloodshot with fury.
But the Captain's words did not end there: "…However, strangely… it also seems to be mixed with some… older, more obscure, indefinable power… not pure Chaos, yet certainly not the Emperor's light…"
A subtle hint of doubt entered his tone, but it quickly reverted to absolute coldness: "I am Captain Keirano of the Grey Knights Chapter's 'Blades of Purification' squad. I am commanded to take over the duty of surveillance. Our duty is to… purify you and your threat, should you lose control of the power within you, fully succumb to Chaos, and endanger the Imperium."
He leaned slightly forward, his cold optical sensors seeming to pierce Gaius' soul: "Remember my words. Ordinarily, we will not interfere with your actions. But if one day you feel the power within you spiraling out of control… or hear the whispers of the Ruinous Powers becoming irresistible… you may actively report to us. Perhaps… that will be your only chance for… a relatively peaceful end."
After delivering these words, which were both a warning and carried a strange "benevolence," Captain Keirano straightened up, no longer sparing Gaius a glance, as if he had completed some kind of marking.
He turned to the Honor Guard warriors and Sergeant Golden: "Initial assessment complete. We shall take our leave."
Without any hesitation, the five Grey Knights, as suddenly as they had arrived, turned and departed with heavy steps, "escorted" by the Honor Guard warriors, leaving the lounge.
The heavy alloy door slowly closed, sealing off the suffocating, cold psychic pressure outside.
Inside the lounge, a deathly silence lasted for a full ten seconds.
"Damn it!" Dorian was the first to erupt, slamming his fist hard on the nearby metal table with a loud clang. "These damned silver-skinned bastards! They're like ghosts!"
Lina flinched in fear.
Gorden let out a long, heavy sigh, his face still grim: "…It seems the trouble is back. And… this time, there are five of them."
Gaius sat there in silence, head bowed, looking at his left arm. Captain Keirano's words still echoed in his ears. He could not only sense Tzeentch's power but also that "older, more obscure" power? What was that? Was it related to his strange sensory abilities?
The slight relaxation he had felt after training and the Grey Knights' departure was once again firmly locked down by heavy shackles. The eyes of surveillance had changed, but they had never truly left.
------
Days passed, and the Macragge's Honour underwent intensive repairs and resupply in the shipyards of Ultramar. The battleship's interior gradually returned to its former order and vitality, and the scars of war seemed to be slowly healing.
What surprised Gaius was that after that brief, oppressive meeting, the five new Grey Knights had vanished as if into thin air. He never saw their silver forms again in any corridor, training ground, or public area, nor did he feel that cold, piercing gaze on his back.
This was completely different from the period with Moreno's squad. Back then, even when the Grey Knights were out of sight, Gaius could always vaguely feel those rotating, emotionless eyes seemingly penetrating layers of deck, constantly fixed on him, especially when he used the strange sensory ability of his left arm or when his emotions fluctuated violently. That sense of being watched was particularly strong.
But now, that suffocating feeling had disappeared. Captain Keirano seemed to have truly kept his promise—only intervening when a potential threat erupted, otherwise maintaining an absolute 'observation' distance, almost to the point of invisibility.
This 'freedom' made Gaius somewhat uncomfortable and… wary. He preferred the other party to display hostility openly, like Moreno, rather than facing this unfathomable, silent threat that could erupt at any moment. It was like a Sword of Damocles hanging over his head, unseen, but its very presence cast a shadow of pressure.
He tried to concentrate, carefully extending the perception of his left arm to search for the cold psychic fluctuations that might be hidden deep within the battleship, but he found nothing. Either the other party possessed shielding methods far beyond his ability, or they had truly completely suppressed their aura, like dormant silver beasts, only pouncing when their prey showed a weakness.
Regardless, Gaius could only suppress this doubt in his heart and continue his daily routine: training, studying, spending time with his squad members, and working even harder to learn sniping techniques from Senior Lance, trying to numb his taut nerves with a fulfilling life.
However, within the Grey Knights' exclusive quarters, protected by layers of psychic barriers and physical isolation, discussions about Gaius never ceased.
Five tall, silver-grey figures sat around a simple alloy table, the air filled with cold psychic glow and a suppressed atmosphere. There were no elaborate decorations, only absolute utilitarianism and solemnity.
Captain Keirano, who was in charge, silently listened to his team members' arguments.
One Grey Knight, named Gabriel Storm, sat to his left. His voice, like his name, carried a low, oppressive tone, like before a thunderstorm: "I insist that while Captain Moreno's actions were overly aggressive, his core concerns were by no means groundless! The Tzeentchian energy within this individual is like a maggot in the bone, becoming increasingly active! Its nature is insidious and ever-changing, far beyond ordinary corruption! If left unchecked, given time, it will undoubtedly become a grave threat! By then, purification may require ten or even a hundred times the cost! Our duty is to prevent trouble before it arises!"
Across from him, another Grey Knight with a relatively calm demeanor, named Ezekiel Watch, slowly spoke, his voice like the rubbing of ice: "Brother Gabriel, your concerns are known to us all. However, our impetuousness has already caused us to lose the trust and potential cooperation of three brothers (referring to the deterioration of relations between Moreno's squad and the Ultramarines). Captain Keirano's strategy is not to let it go, but to observe and wait. The Lord of Change's power is exceptionally cunning; forced stimulation may instead accelerate its corruption process or trigger uncontrollable mutations. Observation is the only way to discern its essence and find its weaknesses."
"Ezekiel's words are too conservative!" another Grey Knight, Uriel Ventris, whose tone was sharper and more aggressive, retorted, "Discern its essence? By the time we discern its essence, it may have grown into a terrifying entity capable of twisting reality! Captain Moreno foresaw such a future, which is why he took such a risky gamble! Although he failed, his ambition was commendable! How can we, for fear of choking, stop eating and repeat the same mistakes? We must find an opportunity to exert pressure, force him to reveal his true form, and then make a decision!"
The last member, Raphael Whisper, his voice was unusually calm, even with a hint of emptiness, as if from a distant place: "Brother Uriel, pressure can be a catalyst. I observe his soul aura, contradictory and fragile, like walking on thin ice. A slight misstep with external force could push him completely into the abyss. At that time, the enemy we would face would likely not be a fallen Astartes, but a terrifying creation… blessed by Tzeentch. Quiet observation is not inaction; it is a more sophisticated hunt. Waiting for him to lose balance on his own, revealing his flaws, is the best time for purification."
Gabriel Storm snorted coldly: "Lose balance on his own? What if he maintains this fragile balance indefinitely, or even… feigns loyalty and secretly accumulates strength? Are we to wait indefinitely? Can the Imperium's safety hinge on a single thought?"
Uriel Ventris echoed: "Exactly! The Grey Knights Chapter exists to nip all threats in the bud! Not to wait for them to grow and strengthen!"
Ezekiel Watch shook his head: "Nip in the bud? How do you determine this must be a 'seed of evil'? All his actions to date have been based on loyalty. His struggles and resistance are not false. To hastily define him, is that not akin to the Lord of Change's 'presumption'?"
Raphael Whisper said quietly: "All things in the world have their destined trajectories. Our duty is to correct trajectories that deviate from the Light of the Emperor, not to… choose their trajectories for them. Observation is the prerequisite for correction."
The four argued endlessly, their views clearly divided into two factions: Gabriel Storm and Uriel Ventris advocated for more active intervention and suppression; while Ezekiel Watch and Raphael Whisper preferred to maintain distance for observation and waiting.
Finally, all eyes turned to Captain Keirano, who had remained silent throughout.
Captain Keirano's rotating eyepieces slowly scanned each team member, and his cold voice finally broke the silence, making a definitive statement:
"The advice of my brothers all has its merits. However, the current situation is no longer that of Moreno's time. The Ultramarines' vigilance and hostility have already risen. Forced intervention would come at a great cost, and the chances of success are slim."
He paused, then continued: "Gaius… this individual is truly an anomaly. The power within him is not simply Tzeentchian corruption. I also sense that obscure and ancient echo… This variable may exceed our current understanding."
"Therefore," his tone became unchallengeable, "my decision remains unchanged: maintain the status quo, observe from a distance. Gabriel, Uriel, put aside your impatience. Suppression and stimulation are not the current priority. Ezekiel, Raphael, increase the frequency and depth of psychic monitoring, especially focusing on moments of intense emotional fluctuation and when he uses his left arm's ability. Document any abnormal data in detail."
"We need more information, not more enemies. Until he shows clear signs of corruption, he is still Gaius of the Ultramarines, not our target for purification. All actions must prioritize the overall interests of the Grey Knights Chapter and the Imperium. Understand?"
"Understood, Captain!" the four Grey Knights responded in unison. Although Gabriel and Uriel's tones still carried a hint of reluctance, they absolutely obeyed their Captain's authority.
Keirano finally added: "Furthermore, try to avoid any form of conflict with the Ultramarines. Moreno's lesson is sufficient."
The Silver Radiance Council thus adjourned. The five Grey Knights fell silent once more, like five cold silver statues, continuing their silent, distant surveillance. Their gaze might no longer fall directly on Gaius, but an invisible, vast net woven from psychic power and logic had quietly been cast, enveloping Gaius' future. For Gaius, this seemingly relaxed environment might actually hide deeper tests and dangers. The shackles were never truly removed; they merely existed in a more undetectable form.
Inside the Macragge's Honour during its rest period, it wasn't always serious training and tense repairs; it was also filled with everyday ?? and… Dorian-style bragging.
In a corner of the hangar, Dorian's distinctive loud voice was spitting at several new recruits who had just finished basic training and were looking at him with adoration:
"...You didn't see the situation back then! The Lord Regent, yes, Roboute Guilliman, the Primarch himself! He was standing on the bridge of the 'Armor of Fate,' and from a distance, his gaze fell on me!" Dorian, wearing polished Terminator armor, stood with his hands on his hips, as if it were true.
"His venerable self nodded slightly at me!" Dorian mimicked a solemn nod, "That look, it was full of recognition and… um… appreciation! It must have been because I did such a good job on Catonia!"
The new recruits' eyes were wide, and their breathing became rapid. To see the Primarch, and even receive the Primarch's approval? This was practically a myth to them!
"Really? Dorian, sir! Did Primarch Guilliman truly notice you?" a new recruit asked excitedly.
"Of course!" Dorian thumped his chest plate, making it clang. "With all this… *ahem*, with all these merits, how could the Primarch not notice?"
Just then, a helpless voice interrupted his "epic": "Dorian! You're spinning tales for the new recruits again!"
Sergeant Golden walked over, giving him an annoyed glare. "Last time you were bragging to the First Company that Captain Angerthas swore brotherhood with you and exchanged tokens! What happened? The Grey Knights didn't even acknowledge you! Don't spread false information here. Primarch Guilliman is busy with a myriad of affairs, handling the entire Imperium's governance. How would he have time to specifically pay attention to you?"
Caught red-handed, Dorian's old face flushed, and he stubbornly argued, "That… that's not the same! Captain Angerthas was… he was shy! The Lord Regent might really be silently caring for us little people fighting on the front lines!"
"Alright, alright," Gorden waved his hand, dispersing the skeptical new recruits. "Hurry up and get to the next training! Don't listen to this guy's nonsense."
The new recruits left reluctantly, looking back at Dorian every few steps, seemingly still savoring the story of "being watched by the Primarch."
Dorian mumbled, "Maybe… maybe it's true…"
However, Dorian's almost dreamlike mumbling was, to some extent… spot on.
Inside the command bridge of the Macragge's Honour, a highly encrypted communication was underway. In the holographic projection was the towering, slightly weary figure of the Lord Regent of the Imperium, the Ultramarines Primarch—Roboute Guilliman.
Chapter Master Marius Calgar was respectfully reporting: "…In summary, Primarch, the Tyranids threat on the borders of Ultramar has been temporarily resolved, but the damage and losses it caused will take time to recover. The retaliatory strike against the Dark Eldar has also completed its initial phase, destroying three of their strongholds, effectively curbing their arrogance, and seizing some intelligence…"
Guilliman listened quietly, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest of his throne. His wise gaze seemed to penetrate the distant stars, seeing scenes of war-torn battlefields.
"Well done, Marius," Guilliman's voice was steady and powerful. "You and your warriors have once again proven that the Ultramarines are the Imperium's strongest bulwark. The Dark Eldar… these venomous snakes in the shadows, must be struck with the severest blows to warn other scoundrels."
He paused, then changed the subject, his tone carrying a deeper concern: "How is the Chapter's situation? How is the morale of the soldiers? Have the casualties been properly handled and replenished? I noticed the intensity of this operation was very high."
Calgar's heart warmed. Even amidst his busy state affairs, the Primarch still cared for his sons.
"Thank you for your concern, Primarch," Calgar's voice became even more respectful. "The Chapter suffered significant losses, but morale is high. The wounded have received the best treatment, and the replenishment of personnel and equipment is proceeding in an orderly manner. The warriors… they miss you greatly and long to fight under your command once more."
Guilliman's image nodded slightly, revealing a faint, almost imperceptible smile of satisfaction: "Tell them I am always watching over them. Ultramar is our home, and it must not be lost. Every victory you achieve is a contribution to the Imperium and to the future of humanity. Remain vigilant, Marius, for the challenges ahead will only increase."
"I will heed your teachings, Primarch!" Calgar thumped his chest heavily.
…
Meanwhile, a small incident occurred in the maintenance passages on the lower deck of the warship.
To prove her worth, Lina volunteered to assist a junior Tech-Priest in inspecting and cleaning a narrow energy conduit. However, due to her inexperience and nervousness, she accidentally dislodged a critical energy coupling interface during the operation, causing a small area's lighting and low-priority systems to briefly lose power for about ten seconds.
Although it was quickly repaired, the short-tempered and impatient Tech-Priest still erupted at Lina, scolding her harshly in gothic, interspersed with binary curses, even accusing her of being "clumsy" and "wasting the Omnissiah's blessings."
Lina's face turned pale with fright, tears welled up in her eyes, and she finally couldn't help but cry and run back to her small cabin, where she sobbed on her bed, feeling wronged.
Somehow, the news quickly reached Dorian and Lex's ears.
The two burly men exploded upon hearing it!
"What?! Which bastard dared to bully little Lina?!" Dorian roared, grabbing his Thunder Hammer, ready to confront someone.
Lex's face was also grim. Though he didn't have his Heavy Bolter, his fist, the size of a sandbag, was already clenched.
The two completely disregarded whether it was a Tech-Priest or not. They charged directly into the area where the junior Tech-Priest was working and found the fellow who was still muttering binary complaints.
Dorian grabbed the Tech-Priest by the collar of his red robe, while Lex glared menacingly from the side.
"Was it you, you tin can, who cursed little Lina?!" Dorian roared, spitting on the other's face.
The Tech-Priest's encoder buzzed frantically as he tried to explain binary logic and Adeptus Mechanicus dogma.
But Dorian and Lex couldn't be bothered to listen! In their simple logic: bullying Lina = deserving a beating!
The result was… Dorian, with his bionic hand, slightly held back his strength and punched the Tech-Priest in the stomach, while Lex gave him a black eye.
Then… the two were rewarded with a joint punishment from Sergeant Golden and the Military Police—a seven-day stay in the brig.
Upon hearing the news, Lina was both touched and scared, and she cried even harder. Luna, however, was very calm. She simply took Lina to the armory and began formally teaching her how to disassemble, maintain, and repair standard Astartes power armor components.
"Crying doesn't solve problems. Mastering knowledge and skills is the only way to earn respect and reduce mistakes," Luna said plainly, handing Lina a tool.
And after Dorian and Lex's commotion, all the crew members on the lower deck of the warship knew that the inconspicuous little girl, Lina, had two extremely formidable and utterly unreasonable Astartes "backers" behind her. From then on, no one dared to scold Lina easily, and some even became unusually "friendly" towards her.
Recently, another problem was bothering everyone on the warship—the food.
Perhaps due to the long expedition leading to a limited variety of supplies, or perhaps something went wrong in the logistics department, the standard nutrient paste distributed on the ship had become increasingly… bizarre.
It was no longer the bland, viscous paste it used to be; instead, it had become extremely… elastic? One could even stretch it with a spoon without it breaking, and when eaten, it was like chewing rubber, with an indescribable, strange taste akin to a mixture of lubricant and disinfectant.
Even the Grey Knights, who usually had no demands for material comforts, couldn't stand it.
During an internal energy replenishment, Gabriel Storm picked up a tube of nutrient paste, sensed it briefly, and his cold ocular lenses seemed to flicker slightly before he put it down.
"This creation… is a desecration of the digestive system," he commented. "Its texture is like a chaotic mixture of excessive lubricant and disinfectant, blended with inferior rubber. I choose to sustain myself through meditation."
The other Grey Knights also silently put down their allocated nutrient paste, choosing the same method.
Medic Sore, after trying a mouthful, turned green and almost threw up his dinner from the night before: "By the Emperor! This stuff is more terrifying than Nurgle's broth! Eating this is worse than having to duel the Executioner again!"
Cliff, on the other hand, frowned, carefully "analyzing": "Based on this stuff's color, elasticity, and… this indescribable smell… I highly suspect that the logistics department might have mistakenly used some… 'organic waste'… from Tyranid bioships as a source for synthetic protein…"
Even Gorden, the most tolerant, furrowed his brow into a knot while eating this stuff, almost gagging. Dorian, however, relying on his Astartes iron stomach and thick skin, could force it down, but he still complained incessantly: "Damn it, this stuff chews like bug shells!"
Gaius and Luna chose to refuse to eat this stuff.
Complaints about the food grew louder within the ship, with some even joking that it might be a new type of psychic attack weapon from the Dark Eldar. The logistics department was under immense pressure but couldn't pinpoint the problem for a while, only promising to investigate and improve it as soon as possible.
This bizarre nutrient paste made the warriors miss the simple, yet at least normal, food from their homeworld, Macragge, even more.
The Macragge's Honour's period of rest did not last long. The shadow of war seemed to be all-pervasive, and even within the powerful battleship, the threat from the dark corners could not be completely isolated.
Late at night (ship time), most of the lights had been dimmed, and only the footsteps of patrol teams and the low hum of machinery echoed through the corridors. In this relatively quiet atmosphere, several twisted figures, almost merging with the shadows, moved swiftly through the complex passages like ghosts.
They were Dark Eldar assassins—members of a wicked cult specializing in infiltration and rescue. Dressed in black bodysuits that absorbed light and even distorted perception, they moved like living shadows, perfectly evading the keen senses of the fixed sentries and patrolling Astartes warriors. When a Tech-Priest or low-ranking crew member occasionally passed by, they would simply freeze, disappearing as if part of the wall, only to resume their movement once the person had passed.
Their target was extremely clear—the confinement zone, the cell holding the high-ranking female Dark Eldar.
Apparently, the Dark Eldar had not given up on this important individual. They had somehow managed to infiltrate the heavily guarded Imperial flagship, perhaps by exploiting an undiscovered micro-webway rift, bribing a weak-willed human crew member, or even using some sophisticated psychic camouflage technique!
Like slippery vipers, they silently arrived at the corridor outside the confinement zone. The guard here was even stricter, but these masters of stealth and assassination still found a loophole. Using ventilation ducts and blind spots, they patiently waited and moved, eventually drifting like smoke to the door of that specific cell.
The lead assassin took out a glowing, living-like spirit-bone device and gently pressed it against the door's lock identifier. The device emitted a faint hum, the runes on the door flickered a few times, and then it slid open silently! The advanced Imperial security system seemed to be useless in the face of the Eldar's eerie technology.
Inside the cell, the female Dark Eldar was not asleep; she was sitting by the bed, her face still bearing an expression of arrogance and resentment. Seeing her kin, who appeared as if condensed from shadows, at the doorway, her eyes instantly burst with joy and hope!
The lead assassin quickly made a silencing gesture, and the woman immediately understood, suppressing the call that was almost on her lips, and quickly stood up.
However, just as they were preparing to leave quickly, the woman's gaze inadvertently caught sight of the Eldar girl in the next cell, who had also been startled and was watching them with terror through the observation window on the door.
A complex emotion flashed across the woman's eyes—perhaps kinship, perhaps a desire for another bargaining chip, or perhaps just a simple act of convenience. She quickly spoke a few hurried words in Eldar to the assassin leader.
The assassin leader hesitated for a moment but seemed to agree with the decision. She repeated the process, quickly opening the adjacent cell door.
The girl was trembling with fear, at a loss. Without a word, an assassin pulled her out of the cell, covering her mouth to prevent her from screaming.
A line of shadows, with two captives, once again merged into the darkness of the corridor like ghosts. They moved swiftly and silently, cleverly using the complexity of the battleship's structure and the gaps in patrols to move towards a pre-planned, relatively secluded backup docking port. That area was usually used for emergency material transfers or small spacecraft docking and was usually less guarded.
They proceeded without incident, evading several patrols of the Honor Guard and bypassing several Tech-Priests immersed in data, finally reaching the compartment where the target docking port was located.
The compartment was empty and quiet, with only a few emergency lights emitting faint glows. The docking gate was tightly shut. An assassin took out another device and sent a specific signal into the empty void.
The next moment, the space ahead twisted, and a sleek, black-dagger-like small Dark Eldar shuttle disengaged its optical camouflage, appearing outside the docking port. Its hatch slowly opened, completing a seamless connection with the battleship's gate.
Hope was within reach!
The lead assassin breathed a sigh of relief, signaling everyone to board quickly.
However, just as the first assassin's foot was about to step onto the shuttle's gangway—
BOOM!!!
A heavy, earth-shattering sound, as if a meteor had struck, suddenly erupted!
A massive silver-gray figure, like a divine punishment, crashed down from the shadows of a maintenance platform above the compartment, landing precisely between the Dark Eldar and their escape vessel! The precision of his landing and the ferocity of his power caused the entire metal floor to tremble violently!
Amidst the swirling dust, the figure slowly straightened up. In his hands, he held not the common power halberd or psychic sword, but two even heavier, more ferocious, and holy-rune-covered Nemesis Daemon Hammers! Pulsating silver psychic arcs crackled around their hammerheads!
It was the Grey Knight Gabriel Storm! His cold optical lenses pierced through the dust, locking onto the Dark Eldar assassins who were close at hand, and a furious psychic pressure crushed down upon them like a tangible force!
"Xenos scum…" Gabriel's voice echoed like thunder in the empty compartment, filled with undisguised revulsion and killing intent, "Where… do you intend to go?"
The Dark Eldar assassins were terrified by this sudden interception and terrifying display of power! They instinctively retreated, shielding the two captives behind them, their witchblades and poison crystal pistols raised, but trembling with fear. They could feel that this silver-armored giant before them was completely different from the Astartes they had been avoiding earlier! The power emanating from him was an absolutely restraining force of order, existing specifically to purify 'filth' like them!
However, the despair was not over.
A voice, calm to the point of emptiness, yet containing cold killing intent, sounded like a ghost from behind them:
"This way… is blocked."
The Dark Eldar turned back in horror, only to see another silver-gray figure—Raphael Whisper—who had appeared like a ghost on their retreat path! He held no conspicuous weapon, simply standing there silently, but the space around him seemed to subtly warp due to the extreme concentration of psychic energy, creating a psychological pressure that was even more suffocating than Gabriel's fury!
Caught in a pincer movement!
And at the same time, on a viewing platform high in the compartment, three other silver-gray figures appeared silently like inquisitors.
Captain Keirano stood in the center, his gaze coldly overlooking the Dark Eldar trapped in despair below. To his left was Ezekiel Watch, steady as a mountain; to his right was Uriel Ventris, whose optical lenses flickered with eager-to-purify flames.
Five Grey Knights had already laid out a net of heaven and earth here! They seemed to have anticipated this Dark Eldar rescue operation long ago!
"Foolishness," Captain Keirano's voice came through the Vox-caster, clearly reaching the ears of every Dark Eldar and Grey Knight below, "Your schemes and stratagems have nowhere to hide before the Light of the Emperor and absolute logic. Lay down your weapons, release the hostages, and perhaps you may be spared the torment of soul-rending."
He said this, but everyone knew that the Grey Knights would not spare any Dark Eldar.
The female Dark Eldar's face was ashen, she looked at the three silver giants above, as cold as gods, her eyes filled with despair and disbelief. She couldn't understand how these Imperial dogs had discovered and precisely ambushed them here!
A flicker of desperate madness flashed in the assassin leader's eyes. She shrieked, seemingly wanting to order a desperate last stand!
But Gabriel Storm gave her no chance at all!
"For the Emperor! Purify!" Gabriel roared, slamming his dual Nemesis Daemon Hammers together!
CLANG!!!!
The deafening impact, accompanied by an exploding silver psychic shockwave, spread outwards like a tsunami!
The Dark Eldar assassins, who bore the brunt of it, screamed as they were sent flying as if struck by an invisible heavy hammer. Those with weaker strength even coughed up green blood directly, their psychic shields instantly collapsing!
Raphael Whisper also acted simultaneously; he made no grand movements, simply raised his hand, and cold silver flames danced on his fingertips. The assassins who had been sent flying seemed to hit an invisible psychic wall and were violently bounced back, completely trapped within the Grey Knights' encirclement!
The battle, or rather, the slaughter, began instantly!
Gabriel was like a furious silver whirlwind, charging into the assassin crowd, his twin hammers swinging! With every hammer blow, a Dark Eldar assassin, body and weapon, was shattered! The Eldar's agility and cunning seemed so laughable in the face of absolute power and psychic suppression!
Raphael, on the other hand, was like the shadow of death. His movements were silent, and each appearance was accompanied by the silent fall of an assassin, their souls seemingly directly extracted or frozen.
On the high platform, Uriel Ventris seemed restless but was stopped by Captain Keirano's gaze. Ezekiel Watch calmly observed the battlefield, ensuring no one slipped through.
The female Dark Eldar and the girl were abandoned in the center of the battlefield, paralyzed with fear and screaming incessantly.
This sudden encounter was destined from the start. The Dark Eldar's meticulously planned rescue operation turned into a self-destructive trap in the face of the Grey Knights' absolute power and foresight.
The prisoner's struggle seemed to be nearing its end before it even began. However, a strange glint in the female Dark Eldar's eyes hinted that things might not be so simple.
Gabriel Storm's final crushing blow, imbued with furious silver flames, smashed the last Dark Eldar assassin attempting to resist, along with her twisted psychic blade, into scattered green fragments. The battle ended incredibly swiftly and thoroughly, and the entire landing bay instantly fell into a deathly silence, leaving only the faint hum of residual psychic energy on the silver Astartes' armor and the suppressed sobs of the two terrified Dark Eldar captives, who were paralyzed on the ground.
Almost as soon as the sounds of battle ceased, urgent and heavy footsteps echoed from beyond the bay's thick bulkhead door! A squad of Honor Guard Terminators, responsible for internal patrols, burst in, their assault cannons and storm Bolters instantly pointing into the bay, scanning the scene vigilantly.
However, they only saw a floor littered with Dark Eldar assassin body fragments, the still-docked, eerie Xenos vessel, and two trembling captives huddled in a pool of blood.
And the five silver-grey giants who caused all of this, as mysterious as their appearance, had vanished without a trace, as if they had never existed. Only the lingering, chilling psychic fluctuations in the air and the widespread devastation silently recounted everything that had just transpired.
Beneath the Honor Guard squad leader's faceplate, his expression instantly became incredibly grave. He immediately understood what had happened—the Dark Eldar had infiltrated and attempted to rescue the prisoners, and the Grey Knights… had intercepted and annihilated them.
"Seal the area immediately! Examine that Xenos vessel! Secure the captives!" the squad leader ordered swiftly, while also shouting sternly over the internal comms channel: "Red alert! Red alert! Dark Eldar have infiltrated the ship! Repeat, Dark Eldar have infiltrated the ship! Location: D-7 Auxiliary Landing Bay! All units to maximum alert!"
In an instant, piercing alarm bells blared throughout the entire Macragge's Honour! The colossal vessel, previously in a state of rest, instantly awakened like a startled beast. Numerous bulkhead doors slammed shut, and lights in various sections flickered red!
Large numbers of Astartes—whether resting, training, or maintaining equipment—immediately armed themselves at top speed and rushed to their designated defensive positions! Tech-Priests frantically scanned every corner of the ship's interior, searching for any possible signs of intrusion or hidden Webway signals!
The First Company's warriors, as the elite of the Chapter and the core of the ship's internal defense, acted immediately. Captain Cassius' calm and authoritative voice resounded through the comms channel: "All First Company units! In squad formation, conduct an immediate sweep of all areas of the ship! Prioritize searching ventilation systems, energy conduits, unauthorized cargo containers, and all non-critical areas! Do not let any potential Xenos scum escape! Engage with lethal force if met with resistance!"
The blue torrent surged again, but this time within the warship. The heavy footsteps of the Terminators echoed through every corridor, and the muzzles of their assault cannons vigilantly swept over every shadowed corner. The atmosphere of the entire warship was extremely tense.
At the scene of the incident, the high-ranking female Dark Eldar and the Xenos girl were roughly pulled up by the Honor Guard. Although the woman still feigned composure, her pale face and trembling body betrayed her inner fear. The girl, however, completely broke down, crying hysterically, green tears streaming down her face, terrified by the Grey Knights' pure, anti-Xenos killing intent and the bloody scene before her.
They were swiftly taken from this slaughterhouse and escorted to the brig. This time, their treatment was starkly different.
The female Dark Eldar was directly confined to a maximum-security cell specifically designed for extremely dangerous individuals, reinforced with psychic dampeners and physical defenses. The heavy alloy door even required two Honor Guard warriors to close it together.
And as the soldiers escorted the still-crying girl to her previous ordinary cell, a First Company Terminator warrior raised his storm Bolter, pointing its muzzle at the back of the girl's head. In his opinion, this low-ranking Xenos captive had lost her value and caused unnecessary trouble; direct purification was the safest option.
The girl sensed the threat of death and cried even more piteously, trembling like a leaf in the wind.
Just as the trigger was about to be pulled, an authoritative voice spoke: "Wait."
Captain Cassius' tall figure walked over. He had just finished inspecting the nearby defensive deployments and happened to be passing by. He waved for the Terminator warrior to stand down, his gaze sharply scrutinizing the girl, who was almost paralyzed with fear.
He was indeed somewhat puzzled. The Dark Eldar assassins' target was clearly the high-ranking woman, so why did they specifically take this seemingly unremarkable, even timid, girl during their retreat? This did not align with the Dark Eldar's self-serving nature.
Just then, extreme fear seemed to finally crush the last shred of stubbornness and Xenos pride in the girl's heart. She fell to her knees with a thud, and with a heavy accent but remarkably clear gothic, she tearfully pleaded with Captain Cassius: "No… don't kill me… please… my lord… I don't know anything… I'm just a servant… I don't want to die… please…"
Captain Cassius' eyes flashed with surprise at her words. She could speak gothic? It was then that he suddenly recalled Sergeant Golden's previous report, which also mentioned that this girl seemed to understand some human languages.
"Look up," Captain Cassius commanded, his voice still cold.
The girl tremblingly looked up, her eyes swimming with tears as she gazed at the blue giant before her, who was clearly of very high status.
"You speak our language?" Captain Cassius asked.
"Yes… yes, my lord… I learned a little from… from a human slave before…" the girl sobbed in response. To save her life, she seemed willing to reveal some information.
Captain Cassius pondered for a moment. A Dark Eldar captive who understood gothic and seemed timid and easy to break… perhaps she was indeed more valuable than a corpse. At the very least, she could help translate the noblewoman's endless curses and might even extract some intelligence.
"Take her back to her cell," Captain Cassius finally ordered. "Keep her in solitary confinement and increase the guard. No one is to approach her or harm her without my command."
"Yes, Captain!" the soldiers responded, dragging the almost-fainting girl back to her cell.
After dealing with the prisoners, Captain Cassius' mood grew even heavier. This infiltration incident, especially the timely yet mysterious appearance and disappearance of the Grey Knights, all pointed to one fact—the identity and importance of the imprisoned female Dark Eldar were likely far beyond their previous estimates. The Dark Eldar had actually risked sending such an elite assassin squad to infiltrate an Imperial flagship to rescue her!
He immediately issued even stricter orders: "Notify the Honor Guard to double the personnel and guard the maximum-security cell in shifts! No one is to approach without direct authorization from me and the Chapter Master! Activate the psychic scramblers and motion sensors around the cell! I want not even a ghost to be able to fly in!"
He had to ensure the safety of this important captive. She likely held key information about a major Dark Eldar conspiracy. And the gothic-speaking girl might become a key to unlocking that information.
The Macragge's Honour continued its voyage under high alert, with internal searches still ongoing. Although no other intruders were found, this incident cast a shadow over everyone's hearts. The Imperial warship was not an absolutely safe fortress, and the threat of the Dark Eldar was ever-present.