The all-clear alarm sounded a day later, but the tension within the Macragge's Honour had not entirely dissipated.
The warriors of the First Company remained on high alert, with patrol frequency and intensity around the restricted zone elevated to the highest level.
After the necessary security checks and intelligence gathering, Captain Cassius decided to personally interrogate the two Dark Eldar captives.
He needed to ascertain the identity of the noble woman and why she was worth such a significant effort from the Dark Eldar.
Inside an interrogation room specially treated with anti-psyker runes and monitoring equipment, the atmosphere was suffocatingly oppressive.
The walls were cold metal gray, devoid of any superfluous decoration, with only a fixed alloy table and two chairs similarly bolted to the floor.
The heavy door slid open, and the first to be brought in was the timid-looking Eldar girl.
She was still wearing her ragged servant's attire, with fresh tear streaks and fear on her face.
When she saw the grim atmosphere of the interrogation room and the expressionless Captain Cassius seated behind the table, her legs gave out, and she nearly collapsed to the floor.
Two giants, members of the First Company and clad in Terminator armor, followed behind her as if escorting a chick, their massive forms and cold weapons exuding an overwhelming sense of oppression.
They stood on either side of the girl, like two insurmountable mountains of steel, their storm bolters pointed slightly downwards, but no one doubted that if the xenos girl made even the slightest move, she would be torn to shreds by a furious storm of metal the next second.
Captain Cassius did not speak immediately, but merely scrutinized the girl with his sharp, hawklike eyes, as if evaluating the worth of a tool.
This silent gaze was more terrifying than any shout.
The girl trembled with fright, her head bowed low, not daring to look up.
Finally, Cassius spoke, his voice steady yet imbued with an unquestionable authority, echoing in the cold interrogation room:
"Kneel."
As if pricked by a needle, the girl instinctively dropped to her knees with a thud on the cold metal floor, her knees hitting with a dull sound.
"Look up," Cassius commanded again.
The girl trembled, slowly raising her head, tears uncontrollably welling up again, her green eyes filled with extreme fear and pleading as she looked at the blue giant before her, who held her life and death in his hands.
Cassius ignored her tears and immediately began his questioning, each question like a cold blade:
"Name."
The girl sobbed, answering in a trembling voice: "...E...Eiras..."
"What did you do before you were captured?"
"...I...I was Lady Malys'...personal maid...at the 'Spire of Bitter Pain'...Cult of Pleasure Matron..." the girl answered disjointedly, her voice barely a whisper.
A glint flashed in Cassius' eyes.
Cult of Pleasure? Matron?
This seemed to confirm that the woman's identity was indeed extraordinary.
"Do you know why you're still alive?" Cassius' tone held a hint of mockery.
Eiras shook her head in fear.
"Because you can speak a few words of our language." Cassius leaned slightly forward, his oppressive presence growing stronger, "And your noble mistress seems only capable of babbling in her disgusting xenos tongue."
He paused, then stated his true purpose: "Now, I'm giving you a chance to live.
Next, I will interrogate your 'mistress'.
What you need to do is translate every word she says, verbatim, into gothic for me.
No concealment, distortion, or omission is allowed."
He pointed to the Terminator behind him: "If you try any tricks, or if your translation makes me suspect anything...the bolter rounds in their hands will be very happy to make you and your filthy language disappear together."
Eiras' face turned pale with fright, her body shaking like a sieve as she nodded repeatedly, babbling incoherently: "I...I will...I will translate well...I absolutely wouldn't dare...wouldn't dare to hide anything...Please...don't kill me..."
Cassius looked at her coldly: "Your performance will determine your fate.
If you cooperate, I will report to the Chapter Master, and perhaps your life can be spared, or even a relatively... 'comfortable' imprisonment environment can be provided for you.
If you fail..."
He did not finish, but the cold killing intent conveyed everything.
"Yes...yes...Sir...I will cooperate...I will..." Eiras desperately promised, as if clutching at a lifeline.
"Good." Cassius waved his hand.
Two Honor Guard warriors pulled the almost limp Eiras from the floor, making her stand in a corner of the interrogation room, facing the main seat.
Then, the interrogation room door opened again.
This time, the noble female Dark Eldar—Lady Malys—was brought in.
She had evidently been tidied up, changed into a relatively clean but still visibly opulent black robe, and the scars on her face had faded somewhat, restoring her sharp and arrogant expression.
Even as a captive, she still tried to maintain her composure.
But when her gaze swept over Eiras in the corner, a highly complex emotion flashed in her eyes, seemingly annoyance mixed with a hint of disdain.
Two Honor Guard warriors pressed her into the fixed alloy chair and locked her wrists with power manacles.
She struggled for a moment, finding she couldn't break free, then snorted coldly, turned her head away, and quickly cursed something in Eldar.
Cassius ignored her cursing, merely giving a look to Eiras in the corner.
Eiras flinched in fear, then quickly and haltingly translated in a small voice: "She...she said... 'You lowly monkeys...dare to treat a noble like this...'"
"Enough." Cassius interrupted her, not needing to translate such meaningless insults.
His gaze returned to Lady Malys.
"Tell her," Cassius said to Eiras, "that I know she understands some gothic.
Tell her to drop her disgusting act.
Now, I ask the questions, and she answers.
Or...she can choose to continue testing my patience."
Eiras quickly repeated it to Lady Malys in Eldar, her voice still trembling with fear.
Upon hearing this, Lady Malys suddenly turned her head, her beautiful eyes glaring fiercely at Eiras, as if blaming her for her betrayal, then looked at Cassius, a sarcastic arc forming on her lips, and said in stiff but understandable gothic: "A low-ranking...ape...dares...to interrogate me?"
Cassius' expression remained unchanged: "Whether I dare or not is not for you to decide.
Now, your life and death are in my hands.
Name, identity, your status among the Dark Eldar."
Lady Malys snorted coldly, seemingly unwilling to cooperate.
Cassius subtly nodded to the Terminator behind him.
A Terminator stepped forward, the storm bolter's muzzle emitting a slight calibration sound as it aimed at Lady Malys' head.
That cold threat of death instantly stiffened her arrogance.
"...Malys..." she reluctantly spat out a few words, "Matron of the 'Spire of Bitter Pain'...Cult of Pleasure..."
"Why did you attack Ultramar? What is your connection to the Tyranids?" Cassius went straight to the point.
A subtle ripple flashed in Lady Malys' eyes, but it quickly returned to mockery: "Attack?
That was merely a...diversion.
Watching you monkeys struggle and wail amidst the swarm is such a...pleasurable sight.
As for those hungry beasts...they were merely...tools that happened to pass by."
Eiras translated quietly and as accurately as possible from the side, her voice trembling, but she dared not omit anything.
Cassius knew she was being evasive, even deliberately provoking him.
He continued to apply pressure: "Diversion?
For your amusement, countless worlds and lives are sacrificed?
It seems you Dark Eldar are even more foolish and short-sighted than I imagined.
Tell me the conspiracy you know, and who ordered you to do this.
Otherwise, you will find that death is a mercy."
He gestured to the Terminator.
The Terminator's massive metal finger rested on the storm bolter's trigger.
Lady Malys' expression changed slightly, but she still feigned defiance: "Ordered?
No one can order me!
I am willing!
For pleasure!
For pain!
For...ah!"
Before she could finish, the Terminator, seemingly with Cassius' tacit approval, flicked Lady Malys' forehead hard with its massive metal finger!
Thud!
A dull thud!
Although not done with full force, how terrifying was a Terminator's strength?
Lady Malys immediately cried out in pain, a large red mark instantly appearing on her forehead, tears almost welling up, her arrogant demeanor instantly shattered.
"You...you dare..." she shrieked in Eldar, both shocked and furious.
"Translate," Cassius said coldly to Eiras.
Eiras, terrified, quickly translated: "She...she says how dare you..."
Cassius stood up and walked in front of Lady Malys, looking down at her: "My patience with you is limited, xenos.
Last chance.
Tell me everything you know.
Otherwise, next time it won't be a flick to the forehead.
I believe the Chapter Master would be very happy to hand you over to the Adeptus Mechanicus sages who are interested in xenos biology."
At the mention of the Adeptus Mechanicus, a hint of genuine fear finally flashed in Lady Malys' eyes.
She knew that falling into the hands of those "vivisection experts" would be infinitely more terrifying than death.
She bit her lip hard, her mind seemingly in a fierce struggle.
Arrogance, fear, and anger intertwined.
The interrogation fell into a brief stalemate.
Cassius knew that prying open the mouth of a xenos of this level would require time and more drastic measures.
Today was just the beginning.
But he had already succeeded in cracking a small fissure in the opponent's solid psychological defenses.
And the terrified little maid, Eiras, would become an important tool for him to continue applying pressure and verifying intelligence.
He sat back down and gestured to the Honor Guard: "Take them away.
Confine them separately.
No one is to contact them without my orders."
He looked at Eiras again: "You, you did well.
Remember your promise, and remember mine."
Eiras nodded frantically, as if granted a pardon.
The two Dark Eldar were led out of the interrogation room.
Cassius sat alone in the cold room, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the table, pondering his next move.
This woman named Malys was undoubtedly a big fish, and the intelligence reeled from her might concern the safety of all Ultramar and even the future of the Imperium.
After the first interrogation, Eiras was taken back to her relatively "comfortable" cell.
Still shaken, she huddled in a corner, her mind replaying Captain Cassius' cold gaze, the suffocating presence of the Terminator, and Lady Malys' final venomous glance.
After an unknown amount of time, the small window of her cell opened, and a blank-faced crewman handed in a plate of… something.
It was no longer that surprisingly elastic, strangely flavored nutrient paste, but some relatively normal-looking synthetic bread and a cup of clear water.
Eiras froze for a moment, somewhat disbelieving.
The crewman said stiffly, "The Captain ordered it.
If you starve to death, no one will do the work."
Although the words were still cold, this simple food, in Eiras' eyes at that moment, was like a supreme gift.
She practically lunged for it, grabbing the bread and devouring it, swallowing it mixed with tears.
This was not just about filling her stomach, but also a signal—cooperate, and she could survive, even receive slightly better treatment.
The will to survive became even stronger in her heart.
Meanwhile, in the highest-level cell, Lady Malys was enduring a completely different treatment.
There was no food, only cold walls and omnipresent surveillance.
Energy shackles restricted her movements, and a psychic suppressor made her feel weak and irritable.
Captain Cassius clearly intended to use the most basic and effective methods—hunger and isolation—to further break her will, preparing for the next interrogation.
A few hours later, the atmosphere in the interrogation room became even more solemn.
This time, seated in the main chair was no longer Captain Cassius, but the Chapter Master himself, Marius Calgar, clad in ornate Terminator armor and exuding mountain-like authority!
The golden pauldrons were carved with the symbols of Ultramar and countless inscriptions of achievements; the heavy armor made his already tall physique appear even more imposing, like a god of war from a mythical age.
He wore no helmet, revealing a weathered face etched with resolve and wisdom, but the coldness and authority in his eyes were more oppressive than any faceplate.
First Company Captain Cassius, the Second Company Captain, the Fourth Company Captain, and the Captain of the Honor Guard stood solemnly on either side behind him, like stars surrounding the moon; their expressions were equally serious.
Two Terminator warriors of the Honor Guard guarded the sole exit like door gods, their assault cannons in a ready-to-fire state, ensuring absolute security.
The entire interrogation room seemed to have transformed into a military tribunal, and Calgar was the supreme judge.
Heavy footsteps sounded.
Lady Malys and Eiras were once again escorted in by the Honor Guard.
When Lady Malys saw the golden Terminator armor on the main seat and Calgar's unfathomable gaze, her feigned arrogance instantly stiffened, replaced by a trace of unconcealed dread.
She could feel that this human before her was completely different from the previous Captain!
The pressure he exerted was all-encompassing, crushing, as if the weight of the entire Imperium was pressing down on her.
Eiras' legs, moreover, turned to jelly; she was practically dragged in by the Honor Guard, and when she saw Chapter Master Calgar, she immediately collapsed to her knees, her head bowed low, not even daring to breathe loudly.
Lady Malys was roughly forced back into the fixed chair.
She tried to straighten her back, but under Calgar's silent gaze, all efforts seemed futile and ridiculous.
Calgar did not speak immediately; he merely observed Lady Malys calmly with his profound gaze, as if appraising an inanimate object.
This silence was more unsettling than any roar; it seemed to be stripping away all of Lady Malys' psychological defenses little by little.
After a long while, Calgar's steady voice, filled with absolute authority, slowly sounded, directly using gothic, as relayed by Eiras:
"Malys.
The so-called Archon of the 'Spire of Bitter Pain'."
His voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying a sense of undeniable final judgment.
"You, and the scum you represent, hiding in the depths of the Webway, feeding on the suffering of others, launched a despicable attack on Ultramar—the domain of the Emperor and Primarch Guilliman—causing the death and suffering of countless loyal subjects."
Lady Malys' lips moved, as if she wanted to retort or curse in Aeldari, but under Calgar's gaze, she ultimately failed to utter a sound.
"Your ridiculous talk of 'pleasure' and 'entertainment' deceives no one," Calgar continued, with a hint of cold mockery in his tone.
"An operation of this scale is certainly not a spur-of-the-moment raid.
There must be a deeper, darker purpose behind it.
Perhaps to divert the Imperium's attention, perhaps to test our defenses, or perhaps… to appease your depraved deities, or… all of the above."
He leaned slightly forward, his Terminator armor emitting a faint hum: "I am utterly uninterested in your trivial personal motives and twisted forms of enjoyment right now.
I will ask only once, and I will give you only one chance."
His gaze pressed down on Lady Malys like a physical weight: "Tell me the exact nature of your connection with the Tyranid Hive Fleet 'Leviathan' splinter.
Tell me how many similar hidden strongholds or conspiracy networks you have in Ultramar and other Imperial sectors.
Tell me the names of the higher-ups in Commorragh who directed or collaborated with you in this operation."
Each question was like a heavy hammer striking Lady Malys' heart.
She knew these were the core secrets the Imperium truly cared about.
"Tell me these things," Calgar's voice softened, yet became more dangerous, "and you might still receive a relatively… swift end, instead of being sent to Mars to become a never-ending 'living specimen' in an Adeptus Mechanicus Magos' laboratory."
At the mention of the Adeptus Mechanicus and living specimens, Lady Malys' body visibly trembled, and a flicker of extreme fear crossed her eyes.
One of Commorragh's most terrifying legends was about the fate, worse than death, of their kin who fell into the hands of the Adeptus Mechanicus.
But she still clenched her teeth, her inner pride and fear of retaliation from Commorragh fiercely battling.
She could not betray them, otherwise, even if she left here alive, a fate worse than death awaited her.
"…I… I don't know what you're talking about…" she replied with difficulty in stiff gothic, her voice dry, "Those bugs… were just an accident… we just… used them…"
"Translate," Calgar commanded, without even looking at Eiras.
Eiras flinched in fear, then quickly translated Malys' words in a trembling voice; although Malys spoke gothic, Calgar needed to ensure Eiras was working truthfully and to observe Malys' subtle reactions during Eiras' translation.
Calgar listened, his expression unchanged, and merely said faintly: "It seems you have chosen the second path."
He nodded slightly to the Honor Guard Captain.
The Captain immediately stepped forward, holding a data-slate displaying some blurry but recognizable images of Aeldari architecture and streets.
"Based on partial data fragments we salvaged from the ruins of your palace, and recent reconnaissance of Commorragh's outskirts," Calgar said calmly, "we have located the coordinates of three small Webway entrances potentially linked to your cult.
What do you say, if I were to reveal these coordinates, along with your 'deeds,' to those who hate you to the core… for example, the Harlequin Troupe, or even some of your rivals… how grateful would they be to me?
And how would they 'entertain' your trusted followers and kin who remain in Commorragh?"
Attack the heart first!
Calgar was not only using military threat, but also exploiting the endless schemes and vendettas within the Dark Eldar to exert pressure!
Lady Malys' face instantly turned ashen white!
She knew Commorragh's jungle-like laws better than anyone!
Once she lost power, a fate a thousand times more miserable than death awaited her and her faction!
"No… you can't…" she cried out, her voice filled with terror.
"I can, and I will," Calgar's tone was decisive, "Unless your value can exceed the pleasure I would derive from doing so."
He leaned forward again, his gaze like a torch: "My patience is limited, Malys.
This is your last chance.
Cooperate, or… watch everything you hold dear be utterly destroyed, and you yourself plunge into an eternal nightmare."
Immense pressure, like a mountain collapse and a tsunami, crashed against Lady Malys' psychological defenses.
Before her were the terrifying threats of the Imperium and the Adeptus Mechanicus, behind her the predatory gaze of enemies within Commorragh… she felt like a small boat in a storm, liable to be completely swallowed at any moment.
Her breathing became shallow, cold sweat beaded on her forehead, and her knuckles turned white from clenching her fists tightly.
Inner pride, fear, loyalty, concern for her kin… various emotions intertwined wildly.
The interrogation room fell into a deathly silence; everyone watched the Dark Eldar Archon, on the verge of collapse, awaiting her final decision.
Should she uphold a potentially meaningless loyalty and suffer unimaginable, terrifying consequences? Or betray everything to gain a slim chance of survival and a possible, albeit weak, protection for her kin?
Chapter Master Calgar, like the most patient hunter, quietly awaited his prey's final struggle.
He knew that her psychological defenses were already at their limit.
Just a little more pressure…
He made an extremely subtle gesture to Captain Cassius.
Cassius understood and whispered something to an Honor Guard Terminator at the door.
The Terminator nodded, and the barrel of his assault cannon emitted an extremely faint, yet clearly audible… hum of energy charging.
This subtle sound became the final straw that broke the camel's back.
Lady Malys suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with despair and the madness that follows a breakdown, and she shrieked in a high-pitched voice:
"Stop! I'll talk! I'll tell you everything you want to know! But you must promise! Promise not to hand me over to the Adeptus Mechanicus! Promise not to annihilate my family!"
Her voice echoed in the cold interrogation room, filled with hysteria.
Chapter Master Calgar looked at her expressionlessly, not immediately responding to the so-called "guarantee." He needed information, not to make deals with xenos. He slowly raised his hand, signaling the Terminator to stop charging.
The hum disappeared, but the pressure of death still permeated the air.
"Your 'guarantee' depends on the value and truthfulness of the information you provide," Calgar's voice was cold and objective, like a judge stating the law. "Begin. Start with how you established contact with the Tyranids. Do not attempt to deceive; you will know the consequences."
Lady Malys gasped violently, her chest heaving, seemingly still making a final psychological struggle. But in the end, the desire for survival overcame everything. She glanced at Eiras, who was nearly fainting from fear in the corner, then looked at the cold blue giants surrounding her and the Gorden god of death, before lowering her head in defeat. She began to narrate in a trembling, humiliated voice:
"...The contact...was not initiated by us..." She spoke with difficulty, her sentences somewhat jumbled due to emotional agitation and an unfamiliarity with gothic. Eiras, suppressing her fear, quietly and as clearly as possible, translated synchronously, ensuring Captain Cassius and the other Captains understood every detail.
"It was...it was 'them'...who found us first..."
"Who are 'they'?" Calgar immediately seized on the key point.
"...A...secret society calling itself the 'Fateweaver'..." As Lady Malys uttered the name, a complex flicker of apprehension crossed her eyes. "They are very ancient...very mysterious...they even rarely operate openly in Commorragh...but it is said...they have connections with...with certain older, more terrifying entities...they can even...glimpse fragments of fate..."
"Fateweaver..." Calgar and the Captains exchanged glances; the name was completely unfamiliar to them. This seemed to reveal an even deeper, unknown hidden power within Dark Eldar society.
"Continue."
"The 'Fateweaver'...they revealed a...a 'prophecy'...or rather...an 'opportunity'...to several of our larger cults and Kabals..." Malys' voice held a trace of reminiscent trance. "They said...a great 'wave of hunger' was moving towards Ultramar...This was a once-in-a-millennium opportunity..."
"They claimed...that if we could, in a specific way...at a specific location...guide this wave...we could greatly weaken the Ultramarines...and even potentially cause Guilliman to... 'slumber' again...At that time...Ultramar would descend into chaos...and we would be able to seize immense... 'harvests'...souls, slaves, wealth..."
Captain Cassius couldn't help but let out a cold snort: "Foolish! Playing with fire! Did you think you could control the Tyranids?"
Lady Malys' face showed a bitter regret: "...The 'Fateweaver'...they provided...an ancient device...a 'guide' that could emit a specific psychic frequency...with a subtle influence on the Hive Mind...We only needed to place it in a predetermined star system...and it would act like a lighthouse...subtly influencing the swarm's course...making them 'prefer' Ultramar's psychic signals..."
"But we underestimated the scale of the Hive Fleet...and also underestimated the effect of the 'guide'...It did attract the swarm...but what it attracted...far exceeded our expectations and control...It was like dropping a single drop of blood into a school of hungry sharks..." Her tone was filled with lingering fear. "What we originally planned...was merely a raid and harassment...targeting border star systems..."
"So, the attack on Ultramar was essentially due to your playing with fire, and being used as pawns by this 'Fateweaver' society?" Calgar summarized, his voice laced with cold sarcasm.
Lady Malys was silent for a moment, then nodded with difficulty: "...You could...you could say that..."
"How many of these 'guides' do you still have? Where are they placed?" Calgar pressed.
"...I don't know...The 'Fateweaver' is very cautious...They only provided a few...and they were placed separately by different cults...All I know...is the one our cult was responsible for...it has already been orbital bombed by you at the 'Spire of Bitter Pain'...it's probably destroyed..." Lady Malys replied. "The others...might be hidden elsewhere on the Imperium's border...or even...possibly in..."
She seemed to think of something, but wasn't sure.
"Possibly where?"
"...Possibly in...certain Chaos-tainted worlds...or...even worse places..." Lady Malys' voice grew fainter.
The interrogation room was silent. This news was too shocking. A mysterious society hidden among the Dark Eldar, possessing and distributing terrifying devices capable of influencing the Tyranid's course? The conspiracy and motives behind this were chilling to contemplate!
"What else do you know about this 'Fateweaver'? Their leader? Their stronghold? Any information!" Captain Cassius demanded sharply.
Lady Malys shook her head: "...They are...like ghosts...I've only met a few of their intermediaries...in extremely secretive circumstances...They all wear full-body blue robes...their voices are disguised...their true identities are unknown...Their strongholds? They might exist in some...extremely remote or even dangerous unexplored areas of the Webway...No one knows their exact location..."
The information she provided about this society was very limited; it seemed the "Fateweaver" was deeply hidden.
Calgar pondered for a moment, then continued: "So, within Ultramar, or other territories of the Imperium, what other hidden strongholds or collaborators do you have? Traitors among humans?"
This was another crucial question. Internal traitors were often more dangerous than external enemies.
Lady Malys hesitated again; leaking this information meant completely destroying her intelligence network, which had been operating in Imperial territory for years, even centuries.
Calgar didn't rush her, simply making another subtle gesture to the Honor Guard Captain.
The Captain again picked up the data-slate, which displayed several blurry images, seemingly of some Imperial world nobles privately trading with the Dark Eldar.
Seeing these, Lady Malys' last shred of hope was shattered. She knew she had no retreat.
She took a deep breath, and as if sounding a death knell, rattled off a string of names and locations:
"...The Trade Governor of the Seraphina System...he provided us with rare metals and star charts...in exchange for us helping him eliminate political rivals..." "...Near the Cadian Gate, a small space station called 'Eye of the Void'...that was one of our material transfer points and information exchange centers..." "...And...several mining families in the Nexus Sector...they secretly sold us soul-stones, in exchange for our protection and technology..."
She intermittently revealed information about seven or eight hidden strongholds or collaborators, some detailed, some just a name or direction. Each revelation seemed to drain a part of her strength. Eiras, meanwhile, translated nervously and meticulously, while Captain Cassius quickly recorded these crucial intelligence points.
This information was undoubtedly extremely valuable; once verified, the Imperium could swiftly eradicate these cancerous growths.
Finally, Calgar asked the most central question: "The name of the higher-ranking individual in Commorragh who directed or collaborated with your operation. Who supported you from behind the scenes? Or, who are the 'Fateweaver''s potential collaborators?"
Upon hearing this question, Lady Malys' body visibly trembled, and her eyes showed a fear deeper than facing death. She seemed extremely unwilling to mention that name.
"...Speak." Calgar's voice was unequivocal.
Lady Malys closed her eyes, as if resigned to her fate, and uttered a name in an extremely faint, almost inaudible voice:
"...Vect...Archon...Vect..."
As this name was spoken, even Chapter Master Calgar's brow furrowed slightly. Asdrubael Vect, the eternal ruler of Commorragh, the oldest, most powerful, and most cunning Dark Eldar Archon! His name was like a nightmare among the Imperial high command.
If Vect's shadow was behind this matter, even if only through tacit approval, its nature and severity would escalate to another level!
"Vect?" Calgar confirmed. "Was he directly involved?"
"...No...not entirely..." Lady Malys quickly shook her head, as if terrified of attracting Vect's attention, even if he was far away in Commorragh. "He...he might know...he might have tacitly approved...but he never directly intervened...'The Fateweaver'...their actions seem to...even to some extent, evade Vect's surveillance...This is very dangerous...very dangerous..."
Her tone even revealed a fear of the "Fateweaver" society similar to her fear of Vect.
At this point in the interrogation, Lady Malys seemed to have divulged all the core secrets she knew. She slumped in the chair, as if all her bones had been removed, her eyes hollow, with only endless exhaustion and fear remaining.
Chapter Master Calgar was silent for a moment, processing this astonishing intelligence. The Tyranid attack was so deeply entangled: a mysterious Dark Eldar society, a possible Chaos influence, traitors within the Imperium, and even an implicit connection to Commorragh's Archon...All of this wove into a vast and dangerous web of conspiracy.
He stood up, his Terminator armor making a heavy scraping sound.
"Your cooperation has temporarily saved you and your kin from the most direct reckoning," Calgar said, looking at the slumped Malys. "But all the information you've provided will be verified one by one. If any falsehood or concealment is discovered..."
He didn't finish, but the threat was clear.
"Take her away and keep her under strict guard," Calgar ordered the Honor Guard.
Lady Malys was led away like a zombie.
In the interrogation room, only Calgar, the Captains, the Honor Guard, and Eiras, who was nearly collapsing from fear in the corner, remained.
Calgar's gaze fell on Eiras. The girl was barely able to stand due to extreme fear and her previous translation work.
"As for you..." Calgar began.
Eiras immediately knelt again, kowtowing profusely: "Please...Chapter Master...I have done as you said...Please spare my life..."
Calgar looked at this humble, pleading xenos girl, silent for a few seconds. She had indeed provided help, and she seemed to know limited information.
"Captain Cassius," Calgar said.
"Yes, Chapter Master."
"This xenos girl is temporarily under your custody. Her treatment can be slightly improved, providing basic necessities for survival. She might still be useful." Calgar made the decision, realizing that keeping a Dark Eldar who understood gothic and was relatively easy to control might be valuable for subsequent intelligence verification and even potential communication with the Dark Eldar.
"Understood," Captain Cassius nodded.
Eiras, hearing that she would temporarily live and that her treatment would improve, was almost overjoyed and repeatedly kowtowed: "Thank you, Chapter Master! Thank you, Captain! I will definitely be obedient..."
She was also led away.
The door to the interrogation room closed again.
Chapter Master Calgar looked at the Captains and the Honor Guard Captain, his expression incredibly solemn.
"Immediately classify all information obtained from today's interrogation as top secret, and transmit it encrypted to the Departmento Munitorum on Terra and to the Primarch."
"Order: The First Company and the Fourth Company are to immediately verify the information provided by Malas regarding traitors and strongholds within the Imperium. Once confirmed, eliminate them immediately without trial!"
"Order: The Second Company and the Sixth Company are to intensify patrols in border star systems for abnormal psychic signals and unidentified spacecraft, with a focus on investigating the 'Spire of Bitter Pain' space station and similar areas mentioned by Malas."
"Order: Tech-Priests and the Librarius team are to fully analyze and research all Aeldari artifacts recovered from the 'Spire of Bitter Pain,' especially searching for any clues related to the so-called 'Conductor' or 'Fateweaver'!"
"As for Commorragh and that 'Fateweaver'…" Calgar's eyes flashed with a cold light, "…they are not something we can directly deal with for now. But the Ultramarines have marked this grudge. One day, we will reclaim it with interest!"
"Yes, Chapter Master!" everyone responded in unison, their voices filled with a murderous aura.
A counter-storm against the Dark Eldar's conspiracy network was about to quietly unfold, centered on the Macragge's Honour. And that mysterious organization named "Fateweaver" officially entered the highest echelons of the Imperium's view for the first time, becoming an unknown threat that required extreme vigilance and investigation.
The Imperium's giant wheel, after a brief respite, slowly accelerated again due to new challenges, heading towards an even more turbulent future.
The aftermath of the interrogation slowly spread throughout the Macragge's Honour. For most of the crew and Astartes, they only knew that a top-level interrogation had taken place, an internal traitor had been rooted out, and a new round of purges was about to begin. However, the specific, core secrets about the Fateweaver and Archon Vect were strictly controlled within a very small circle.
Eiras was led away from the crude cell and transferred to a slightly better isolation room. Although it was still cold, it had independent sanitary facilities, a fixed bed, and even a reading lamp with adjustable brightness. Three meals a day were also provided on time; though still synthetic food, it was at least no longer that terrible elastic nutrient paste.
When a First Company Terminator warrior responsible for guarding her changed shifts, he told her in his muffled, amplified voice: "Xenos, your cooperation has earned you a reprieve. Continue to be obedient and complete the translation work assigned to you, and the Chapter Master might consider showing extra mercy and sparing your life. In the future, perhaps you can be responsible for some… deck cleaning, tool wiping, or other odd jobs on the ship. At least, it's much better than being blown to pieces by a Bolter or sent to Mars."
To a noble Aeldari, these words were undoubtedly a great insult. But at this moment, Eiras had long since had all her edges worn down by fear. To be alive, to have a relatively clean space and stable food, was already a blessing from the Emperor (she might have been praying to some Aeldari deity in her heart) for her. She quickly thanked the massive Terminator profusely, assuring him of her utmost dedication.
Meanwhile, in the 7th Company's common room, members of the Second Squad were gathered, discussing the filtered and cleared intelligence they had just received from Captain Cassius—primarily about the mysterious "Fateweaver" organization and the possibility of the Dark Eldar Archon Vect being involved.
"Fateweaver… that name just sounds like a bunch of mystical mumbo jumbo!" Dorian sat cross-legged on the floor, wiping his Thunder Hammer, mumbling, "It must be some trick those pointy-eared greenskins cooked up!"
"To be able to influence the Tyranids' course… that's something no ordinary force can achieve," Cliff analyzed. "Their technological or psychic level is probably far beyond our previous estimates. This organization is very dangerous."
Sergeant Golden's brows were tightly furrowed. "Vect… if he truly has a hand in this… then the problem is serious. The Archon's methods… they say he can make people wish for death but not find it."
Lex snorted, patting his heavy Bolter. "Who cares if he's an Archon or a Weaver, I'll still take him down with one shot! Too bad we didn't run into him this time!"
Sol was more concerned with another aspect: "The Chapter Master ordered an investigation into internal traitors; that's a good thing. These parasites are more hateful than an open enemy."
Luna sat quietly to the side, data streams flickering in her bionic eye, seemingly cross-referencing the information she heard with the database. Lina leaned beside her, listening to the adults' conversation with a half-understanding, her small face showing some fear.
But Gaius remained silent. He kept his head down, his fingers unconsciously rubbing his left arm, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper.
That feeling came again… when he heard the name "Fateweaver," the dormant power in his left arm sent a faint, yet exceptionally clear, tremor! As if the name had touched some deep resonance!
What made him feel even colder was the imagery contained within that name—weaving fate… manipulating trajectories… guiding tides…
How similar this was to the essence of the Lord of Change, which he perceived as cunning, fond of schemes, and treating all living beings as pawns!
A bold, even somewhat crazy, idea gradually formed in his mind, becoming clearer and more certain!
He suddenly looked up, interrupting the others' discussion, his voice hoarse from his own conjecture:
"No… I think… it's not that simple."
Everyone looked at him.
"What's not that simple?" Gorden asked.
Gaius took a deep breath, trying to organize his words, trying not to sound like he was being influenced by whispers: "I mean… this 'Fateweaver'… don't you think… their way of operating… is very similar to a certain… power… we are familiar with?"
"Which power?" Dorian asked, bewildered.
Cliff seemed to have thought of something, his eyes narrowing: "Gaius, are you saying…"
Gaius nodded heavily, his gaze sweeping over each brother present, lowering his voice as if afraid of being overheard by some invisible entity: "Manipulating fate… guiding the Tyranids… using the Dark Eldar as pawns… hiding behind the scenes… all of this… isn't it… the most typical trick of the Lord of Change?!"
"Lord of Change?!" Dorian exclaimed, then immediately lowered his voice. "Are you saying… that blue bird-headed bastard?!"
This conjecture was too astonishing, and the common room instantly fell silent. Even Luna's bionic eye stopped flickering, focusing on Gaius.
"Gaius, this is a very serious conjecture," Gorden said with a solemn expression. "Do you have any basis?"
"The basis is my feeling… and the reaction of my left arm…" Gaius pointed to his arm, a bitter expression on his face. "When I heard that name, it… stirred. And, think about it, who can 'predict' the movements of the Tyranids so precisely? Who can provide devices that influence the Hive Mind? Who is most adept at this kind of layered scheming, exploiting contradictions, and ultimately leading all participants into chaos and destruction?"
The more he spoke, the more he felt his conjecture was close to the truth: "While the Dark Eldar are cunning, such a grand and precise scheme must have a higher-level entity, one more keen on 'games of fate,' manipulating it from behind! The Lord of Change… he has every motive and every capability! The Dark Eldar, and even Vect, might just be larger, more interesting pawns on his chessboard!"
"And 'Fateweaver'…" Gaius' voice carried a hint of chill, "…perhaps it's simply a cult developed by the Lord of Change within the Dark Eldar! Or a group of agents he has beguiled and exploited!"
This deduction sent shivers down everyone's spines. If Gaius' conjecture was true, then the root cause of Ultramar's disaster could be traced back to one of the Chaos Gods? This was no longer a simple xenos invasion but had escalated to the level of faith and Chaos!
"Damn it…" Dorian cursed. "If that's true… wouldn't those Grey Knights be even more fixated on you?" He instinctively glanced at the door, as if worried the Grey Knights might suddenly appear.
"If they're smart enough, they should realize where the real threat comes from, not just focus on me," Gaius said helplessly.
"But this conjecture is too astounding, and we have no substantial evidence," Cliff said cautiously. "Mere feelings and speculation cannot convince the Chapter Master and higher authorities."
"I know," Gaius sighed. "I just… have a strong premonition. We must maintain the highest level of vigilance against this 'Fateweaver.' They might be even more dangerous and… eerie than we imagine."
Gorden pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Gaius' concerns are valid. Regardless of whether this 'Fateweaver' has a direct connection to Chaos, its demonstrated abilities and danger are undeniable. I will report our discussion (omitting Gaius' feelings, of course) to Captain Cassius, suggesting that we pay extra attention to any signs that might indicate a connection to Chaos forces in future operations."
Everyone's mood became somewhat heavy. What they initially thought was revenge against the Dark Eldar might uncover deeper, darker shadows of Chaos. This war seemed to be growing more complex and perilous.
Lina seemed to sense the heavy atmosphere and quietly asked Luna: "Luna… is the Lord of Change… very scary?"
Luna was silent for a moment, the light in her bionic eye flickering slightly, and she answered in her flat tone: "According to records, he is one of the four Chaos Gods, presiding over conspiracy, change, knowledge, and fate. His danger lies in… being unfathomable by normal reasoning, and enjoying seeing sentient beings struggle in the web he weaves… until their destruction."
Lina understood little, but the words "Chaos God" and "destruction" made her even more afraid, and she instinctively hugged the cloth doll in her arms tighter.
The discussion in the common room temporarily concluded, but the potential link between the Fateweaver and the Lord of Change, like a heavy question mark, weighed on the hearts of everyone in the Second Squad. They realized that future battles might no longer be just fighting visible xenos or traitors, but also constantly guarding against the invisible, intangible, yet omnipresent cunning shadow from the deepest reaches of the Warp. And Gaius, as someone with a subtle connection to that power, might play a crucial role in this unfolding, larger storm, a role he himself had not yet fully understood.