The scene at the street corner was like a painting of hell. The blasphemous and bloated body of a Nurgle Plague Warrior finally smashed the last Necrons Warrior into pieces, splattering viscous filth and metallic debris everywhere.
Its rotten, multi-faceted head slowly turned, its gurgling breath growing heavier, clearly noticing the three blue figures trying to slip away in the shadow of the ruins not far away—and the injured person they were carrying.
To the favored of the Grandfather, fresh life, especially the Emperor's dogs, was a more 'cherished' target for 'affection' and 'sharing' 'blessings' than those soulless metal skeletons.
"Gurgle… Ugh ah ah ah—!"
A strange roar, like a broken bellows straining and liquid boiling and bubbling, erupted simultaneously from its multiple mouths! The sound was piercing and muffled, filled with insane joy and twisted malice!
The next moment, this behemoth, weighing several tons, charged with a terrifying speed completely unsuited to its size! Its huge feet stomped on the rubble-strewn ground, making dull squelching sounds, each step leaving a corrosive footprint bubbling with yellow-green gas! The huge Plague Flail it dragged behind it ploughed a foul-smelling furrow in the ground, its mutated tentacles wildly flailing, spraying out large clouds of nauseating plague mist, like a mobile source of disaster, heading straight for Second Squad!
The heavy footsteps and the almost tangible stench that assailed them instantly made Gorden and Gaius's scalps tingle! Carrying Luna, they couldn't possibly engage such a monster in this environment, let alone escape its pursuit!
"Sergeant! You take Luna and go!" Dorian suddenly stopped, his massive Terminator body blocking the intersection like a rock. He released the hand holding Luna's stretcher, turned without hesitation, and faced the surging tide of putrefaction. "I'll play with this stinky big guy!"
"Dorian! You…" Sergeant Gorden said urgently. He knew Dorian's bravery, but the enemy before them was a chaotic creation beyond reason!
"Stop your damn nonsense! Go!" Dorian roared without looking back, his voice, filtered through his eagle-faced helmet, carrying an unprecedented resolve, "Protect Luna! That's an order, Sergeant!"
He didn't look back, but he knew Gorden understood his meaning. Covering the retreat, possibly forever.
Gorden looked at Dorian's back, wearing his eagle-faced helmet, holding his Thunder Hammer and Storm Shield, resolutely facing the terrifying enemy, his teeth clenched. As a Sergeant, he had to make the most rational, most brutal decision. He stomped his foot hard and hissed: "…Deal with it! Then catch up! That's an order! Gaius, let's go!"
The last sentence was almost squeezed from his throat. He knew how difficult this order was, how slim Dorian's chances of survival were, but he had to evacuate with Luna and Gaius, preserving the squad's fighting strength.
Gaius took a deep look at Dorian's retreating back, a flicker of complex emotion in his always calm eyes, but he didn't hesitate. He immediately helped Gorden lift Luna and rushed into the depths of the ruins on the other side of the street at top speed.
Dorian heard the receding footsteps of his teammates and let go of his last worry. He took a deep breath; despite the helmet's filters working hard, the sickly sweet stench still permeated his nostrils, making him feel nauseous. But he forcibly suppressed the discomfort!
He was Dorian! He was the Emperor's Angel of Death! He was a guardian of Ultramar! He was a son of Primarch Roboute Guilliman! He had endured countless brutal battles, crawling out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood. How could he be defeated by a rotten monster that only emitted foul smells?!
"Come on! You stinking pile of rotten flesh!" Dorian let out a thunderous roar, bolstering his courage and venting the fighting spirit and fury in his heart! He raised his huge Storm Shield in his left hand, protecting himself, and gripped the roaring Thunder Hammer tightly in his right, blue electrical arcs crackling around the hammerhead, dispelling the approaching plague mist!
The Plague Warrior rushed forward in the blink of an eye! The shadow cast by its massive body almost completely enveloped Dorian! The huge Plague Flail, stained with blood and rust, constantly dripping with slime, came smashing in at waist height with a terrifying, air-tearing whistle! At the same time, the mutated tentacle shot out like a venomous snake, its grotesque maw at the tip opening and spraying corrosive yellow mist, striking at Dorian's head!
A double pincer attack! A deadly threat!
"For Macragge!!!" Dorian roared, not retreating! He took a fierce step forward, slamming his Storm Shield into the striking tentacle, while simultaneously putting all his strength into swinging his Thunder Hammer, from bottom to top, fiercely smashing into the huge Plague Flail!
Clang—!!!!
The Thunder Hammer and Plague Flail collided violently! The sound was no longer a crisp clang of metal, but a dull, viscous, terrible thud, as if smashing into rotten mud! The immense impact instantly cracked the ground beneath Dorian's feet! The electrical arcs on the Thunder Hammer flashed wildly, trying to purify the filth on the flail, but the thick pus, blood, and rust seemed to contain an evil power, largely neutralizing the arcs!
At the same time, the Storm Shield solidly blocked the mutated tentacle's strike! The maw at the tentacle's tip bit fiercely into the shield's surface, making a teeth-grinding scraping sound, and the sprayed yellow mist violently corroded the adamantium coating on the shield's surface, hissing and emitting plumes of white smoke!
Immense force surged from the hammer handle and shield, and Dorian grunted. The Terminator armor's power servo systems hummed with overload! He was actually pushed back half a step!
This monster's strength was astonishing!
The Plague Warrior let out a series of gurgling, seemingly mocking, strange sounds. It seemed to find it somewhat 'interesting' that this small individual could block its attack. It raised its flail again, and the mutated tentacle also retracted, preparing to launch an even fiercer attack.
Dorian shook his numb arm, his eyes beneath the eagle-faced helmet becoming fiercer and more focused. He knew this would be an incredibly difficult battle, and he had to give it his all, even… surpass his limits.
On the other side, Gorden and Gaius, carrying Luna, ran desperately through the broken walls and ruins. The distant booming crash of the Thunder Hammer and the terrifying gurgling of the Plague Warrior behind them tightened their hearts. But they couldn't look back; they had to find a safe hiding place as quickly as possible.
Fortunately, they hadn't run far when, on the side of a half-collapsed building, they discovered a relatively intact entrance leading underground, which looked like the entrance to an air-raid shelter or an underground storage room.
"Here!" Gorden whispered, and the two quickly ducked inside.
Behind the entrance was a downward cement staircase. It was dimly lit and the air was murky, but at least the nauseating stench and the deafening gunfire from outside were gone. They carefully descended to the bottom and found it was a not-too-large but structurally intact basement, filled with some discarded furniture and boxes.
They gently placed Luna on a dusty but relatively intact old table. Gaius quickly re-examined her condition, his expression still solemn: "Her condition hasn't worsened, but it hasn't improved either. She needs professional medical intervention, Sergeant."
Gorden looked at the unconscious Luna, then at the direction of the entrance, his heart filled with anxiety. Dorian was fighting to the death outside, Luna's life was in peril, yet they were trapped here.
"Gaius," Gorden said, making up his mind, his voice heavy, "You stay here and guard Luna. I'll go out and find support, find the company or our Salamanders brothers! We can't risk Luna outside anymore; it's relatively safe here."
Gaius looked at Gorden. He knew this was the only viable option at the moment. Remaining alone carried great risk, but moving Luna carried even greater risk. He nodded heavily: "Understood, Sergeant. I'll hold this place until you return, or… until I die fighting."
Just as Sergeant Gorden took a deep breath, preparing to turn and rush out of the basement—
Click…
A faint sound, as if something had been moved, came from a dark corner deeper within the basement!
Gaius and Gorden instantly became alert! Gaius immediately raised his "Hawk Eye" sniper rifle, and Gorden drew his Bolter pistol and Power Sword, the energy field on the blade emitting a low hum, illuminating a small area.
"Who's there? Come out!" Gorden growled, his voice echoing in the narrow basement.
After a brief silence, a rustling sound came from behind a pile of old wooden crates and canvas in that corner. Then, several ragged, emaciated civilians, their faces etched with fear and hope, timidly emerged from behind a concealed staircase leading to a lower level. There were about seven or eight of them, men and women, all adults, apparently survivors hiding there.
As they saw the two Astartes in blue Power Armor by the light of the Power Sword, the fear in their eyes was instantly replaced by immense relief and excitement!
"Oh my God! It's… it's an Angel! An Angel of the Emperor!" A middle-aged man was so excited he almost cried.
"You've finally come! Finally!" A woman murmured, clutching the arm of the person next to her.
However, Gorden and Gaius's gaze passed over these excited civilians and fell behind them.
In the narrow stairwell, a tall figure in dark green Power Armor stood leaning against the wall with difficulty. His armor was covered in shocking wounds—huge claw marks, scorch marks from energy weapons, and even one shoulder plate was almost completely torn open, revealing a bloody, mangled wound underneath. Half of his helmet's faceplate was shattered, revealing a weathered, dark face, currently in pain from blood loss, with bloodstains still on his lips. But he still gripped a Bolter pistol tightly in his hand, its muzzle slightly lowered, yet still maintaining vigilance.
The Salamanders Chapter symbol and company insignia on his armor, though stained with blood, were still visible. Clearly, he was a Salamanders Warrior, and severely wounded.
When he saw the blue armor and Ultramarines insignia on Gorden and Gaius, his tense body seemed to relax slightly, and the hand holding the gun dropped completely. He took a difficult breath and spoke in a hoarse, weak voice:
"Ultramarines… brothers… you… finally came…"
In the street-turned-arena, the nauseating scents of putrefaction and ozone, blood and electrical arcs, twisted together. Dorian's battle with the Nurgle Plague Warrior had entered a white-hot phase, or rather, a brutal war of attrition where he was unilaterally taking damage.
The Plague Marine's impossibly heavy Plague Flail struck Dorian's Storm Shield and Terminator Armor again and again. Each impact produced a dull thud like a drum, and the immense shockwave churned Dorian's insides and made his bones ache. The mutated tentacles, like venomous whips, were cunning and vicious, constantly lashing, coiling, and gnawing at his armor, spraying corrosive yellow mist that left the adamantium coating mottled and even began to erode the inner structure.
Dorian's Terminator Armor was no longer as imposing as before. His chest plate was severely dented, his shoulder pads twisted and deformed, and his leg plates were covered in deep scratches and corrosive pits. Even his beloved eagle-faced helmet had several ugly dents and bite marks. The internal cushioning gel continuously leaked, and system alarms flashed frantically on his visor display, but he seemed to have completely blocked out this pain and these warnings.
His counterattacks were equally fierce. The Thunder Hammer, imbued with immense power and purifying arcs, struck the Plague Marine's bloated body multiple times. Each hit sent rotten flesh splattering and pus gushing, even producing the sickening sound of bones shattering. But Nurgle's blessings were too perverse; those terrible wounds were filled almost instantly by more churning, even more foul and disgusting tissue! This monster seemed to be an indestructible, uncrushable sack of rotten flesh!
"Grrr... Stubborn... little worm..." The Plague Marine let out a broken, mocking gurgle, interspersed with the sound of bursting bubbles. It seemed to enjoy the process of slowly crushing its opponent.
Dorian's breathing grew heavy, sweat soaked his under-suit, mixing with the leaking cushioning gel. He knew he couldn't go on like this. His stamina was rapidly depleting, while the enemy's recovery ability was almost infinite. Continuing to defend would only lead to death.
He had to take a desperate gamble!
As he took a heavy blow from the flail directly on his shoulder pad, staggering backward, a trace of wild determination flashed in Dorian's eyes!
He suddenly hurled his severely deformed Storm Shield, which was almost falling apart, at the Plague Marine's flailing tentacles! The shield spun and struck the tentacles, and while it didn't cause much damage, it successfully disrupted it for an instant!
Now!
Dorian gripped the long handle of his Thunder Hammer tightly, abandoning all defensive stances! He let out a throat-ripping battle cry, pouring all his strength, all his will, and all his loyalty and glory to the Emperor and the Primarch into this single strike! He ignored the flail smashing into his ribs and the tentacles lashing at his head, swinging the Thunder Hammer in a wide arc, with a suicidal momentum, he ruthlessly slammed it into the Plague Marine's constantly writhing, mountain-like, bloated, rotten abdomen!
"Disgusting monster!!! Die!!!"
This hammer blow contained all of Dorian's fury, his conviction, and the immense power of his Terminator Armor's servo-system on overload! The air in front of the hammerhead was extremely compressed, emitting a piercing sonic boom! The blue electrical arcs were more intense than ever before, as if the Emperor's wrath had manifested at this moment!
The Plague Marine seemed not to have expected its opponent to suddenly abandon defense for such a desperate attack! Its simple, plague-filled brain didn't even have time to react further!
Boom!!!!!!!!
The Thunder Hammer struck the center of the bloated abdomen squarely and without flourish!
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
Immediately after—
Splat!!!!!
An indescribably disgusting, sickening bursting thud echoed! The Plague Marine's incredibly resilient, corrupted abdomen was actually smashed open by this hammer blow! Countless viscous, foul-smelling, multi-colored rotten internal organs, semi-digested filth, fat white maggots, and thick, tar-like black blood gushed out from the huge wound like a broken dam! Splattering all over Dorian!
"Guh-ah-ah-ah—!!!!"
For the first time, the Plague Marine let out a strange shriek that was not mockery, but mixed with pain and furious shock! Its massive body was lifted off its feet by this hammer blow, imbued with terrifying kinetic energy, and it flew backward like a tattered rag doll that had been kicked hard, crashing heavily onto a pile of rubble more than ten meters away, splattering a large amount of filth and dust!
It struggled, trying to support itself with its flail. The huge gash in its abdomen continued to spew filth, and its regeneration speed seemed to be unable to keep up with the destruction for the first time!
But Dorian wouldn't give it any chance!
"It's not over yet!!!!"
Dorian, like a demon crawled out of a hellish blood pool, was covered in indescribable filth, but his eyes, peering through his eagle-faced helmet, burned with a mad flame! He took heavy strides, each step leaving a viscous footprint on the ground, charging towards the enemy trying to get up!
The Plague Marine had just propped itself up halfway when Dorian's second hammer blow arrived!
Boom!!!
The Thunder Hammer slammed heavily onto its chest plate, covered in thick grime! The sturdy Chaos armor instantly dented and shattered! The rotten flesh and twisted bones beneath were pulverized!
The third hammer blow! It struck directly at its head, piled with rotten flesh and compound eyes!
Splat!
Like smashing an overripe pumpkin, red, white, green, yellow... all sorts of unspeakable liquids and tissues splattered everywhere!
The Plague Marine's struggles ceased completely.
But Dorian's rage was far from appeased! He was like a tireless pile driver, wielding the Thunder Hammer with both hands, one hammer blow! Another hammer blow! And another! Madly smashing the utterly disfigured, filthy body!
"Disgusting! Disgusting! Disgusting! Die! Die! Die!!!"
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
It wasn't until the body was completely reduced to a mixture of flesh and shattered bones, embedded in broken armor, no longer recognizable as any shape, that Dorian finally stopped, leaning on his Thunder Hammer, panting heavily. His Terminator Armor was covered in a thick, extremely foul-smelling, viscous substance, which was even still subtly wriggling.
He felt that several of his ribs might be broken, his entire body ached, his power armor was deformed in many places, and the servo-systems groaned, almost at the point of collapse.
"...Damn it... When I get back... Lina and Eiras... will have their hands full..." He panted, looking at his almost scrapped armor, and mumbled. Immediately, an extreme sense of exhaustion washed over him like a tide, his vision went black, his massive body swayed, and finally, unable to support himself, he crashed backward, falling heavily to the ground, losing consciousness.
In the gloomy basement, time seemed to pass exceptionally slowly.
Gaius stood guard with his Bolter, like a statue near the entrance, listening to the sounds outside. The distant sounds of artillery and explosions seemed to have thinned out, but new battles seemed to be erupting further away. The civilians huddled in the corner, not daring to make too much noise, their eyes filled with fear and anticipation. The severely wounded Salamanders warrior leaned against the wall, his breathing faint but stubbornly remaining conscious, his Bolter by his hand, though he was likely too weak to lift it.
Luna was still unconscious, her face pale.
Every minute and every second was an agony. Gaius didn't know how Dorian was, didn't know if Sergeant Golden could successfully find reinforcements, and didn't know when this temporary shelter would be discovered by the enemy.
After this suffocating wait had lasted for about one standard hour, Gaius's keen hearing caught the sound of heavy footsteps, different from the metallic steps of the Necrons, coming from above the stairs! And there were multiple sets! The steps were firm and urgent!
He immediately raised his sniper rifle, aimed at the entrance, and whispered, "Alert!"
The civilians in the corner instantly tensed up, and the Salamanders warrior struggled to reach for his Bolter.
The footsteps grew closer, accompanied by low, amplified voices from armor communicators. Gaius's heart pounded; he couldn't tell if they were friend or foe.
Suddenly, a familiar voice clearly came through: "...They're down here! Watch the stairs, there are wounded!"
It was Sergeant Golden!
Gaius's heart swelled with joy, but he still didn't relax his guard, lowering his muzzle slightly.
The next moment, Sergeant Golden's blue figure, with damaged shoulder pads, appeared first at the entrance. Immediately after, several other tall figures entered in succession! They wore dark green power armor, adorned with prominent salamander insignias, and were indeed Astartes of the Salamanders Chapter! There were four of them in total, forming a standard tactical squad, moving efficiently with sharp eyes, quickly entering the basement and dispersing to take advantageous positions for vigilance.
And the last to enter was a warrior also wearing dark green armor, but with a deeper color, simpler decorations, and carrying a large specialized backpack and a series of precise medical instruments—a Salamanders Apothecary!
"Gaius! What's the situation?" Golden quickly scanned the basement, seeing that the civilians and the wounded Salamanders brother were still there, he let out a slight sigh of relief.
"Sergeant!" Gaius completely lowered his Bolter, a huge weight lifted from his heart, "Luna is stable but not awake, and this Salamanders brother is severely wounded."
The Salamanders Squad's Sergeant walked to the wounded brother, knelt down to check his condition, and said in a deep voice, "Brother Vulkan, hold on, Apothecary Nagil is here."
The Salamanders Apothecary named Nagil had already quickly walked to the wounded Salamanders warrior, Vulkan. His movements were swift and professional; he immediately opened his medical kit and began emergency examination and treatment. "Multiple severe injuries, excessive blood loss, but a strong will to live. Can be stabilized." He said concisely, his voice through the helmet sounding calm and reliable.
Next, the Apothecary walked to Luna, his electronic eyes scanning her condition. "Ultramarines Tech-Sergeant, multiple fractures, internal bleeding, concussion. Requires immediate surgery and stasis field stabilization. Conditions here are insufficient; she must be taken back to base as soon as possible."
Golden watched as the Apothecary began to work, and as the Salamanders brothers vigilantly guarded the area. His tightly strung nerves could finally relax a little. He had found reinforcements; Luna and the Salamanders brother were saved!
"Thank you for your assistance, brothers of the Salamanders." Golden said solemnly to the Salamanders Sergeant.
"No thanks necessary, brother of the Ultramarines. Vulkan was so severely wounded protecting these mortals; it is our duty to save him. Against xenos and Chaos, we stand together." The Salamanders Sergeant's voice was steady and full of power. "Our temporary command post is not far from here and has better medical facilities. Please come with us; it is not safe here."
Escorted by Salamanders, Gorden and Gaius carried Luna, while the Salamanders squad carefully supported their heavily wounded brother, Vulkan.
Leading the group of terrified civilians, they navigated through the perilous ruins and finally reached the temporary command post established by the Salamanders Chapter.
The command post was deep within a relatively intact large underground shelter, with heavy alloy doors and layers of defensive fortifications providing a rare sense of security.
The interior space was spacious, converted into a temporary barracks, medical station, and communication center.
Olive-green Salamanders bustled about, creating a tense yet orderly atmosphere.
The air was filled with the smell of disinfectant, engine oil, and a faint hint of blood.
They quickly handed over Luna and Vulkan to the waiting Apothecaries and medical Servitors.
Watching Luna being placed into a makeshift stasis field medical pod and brother Vulkan being rushed to the operating room, Gorden and Gaius finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The surviving civilians were also properly settled and provided with food and water.
Gorden immediately found a Salamanders officer who appeared to be in charge—a Sergeant whose armor was adorned with more honor markings and who exuded a steady aura.
"Thank you for your assistance, brother," Gorden said.
"I am Sergeant Gorden of the Ultramarines' 7th Company, 2nd Squad.
We are separated from the main force of our company, and communications are completely down.
How are things here?
Can you contact the warships in orbit or our company?"
The Salamanders Sergeant shook his head, his rugged face etched with gravity: "I am Tusgan, Sergeant of the Salamanders' 3rd Company's 'Astias' Squad.
Things are very bad, Sergeant Gorden.
Our Company Captain," he pointed to a tall, dark-skinned figure at the innermost part of the command post, who was constantly calling into a communicator—that was the Salamanders' Company Captain—"has tried all frequencies and encrypted channels, but the signal simply cannot effectively penetrate the atmosphere.
It's not just interference; it's more like a... complete isolation.
That damned Necrons barrier above the planet and some kind of Warp distortion have turned this place into an information black hole."
He sighed and continued: "What's even more terrifying is that all the squads our company sent out for reconnaissance, interception, and rescue missions have lost contact, with no signals returned.
The squads we sent out to find them have also not returned.
The entire planet is like a gaping maw that devours everything.
We know that your Ultramarines' support forces have reached orbit, but they also seem unable to locate and contact ground forces, and drop pods are scattered everywhere, just like you."
Gorden and Gaius's hearts sank.
The situation was even more severe than they had imagined.
This was not merely a communication breakdown, but complete isolation.
They were like beasts trapped in a cage, not only facing endless enemies but also losing the ability to coordinate with their comrades.
"We must find our lost brothers and gather our strength," Gorden said resolutely.
"My other squad member, brother Dorian, is facing a Nurgle Plague Marine alone to cover our retreat.
We must go back for him!"
Sergeant Tusgan nodded, respect showing in his eyes: "Fighting those disgusting Plague Marines alone?
Admirable courage.
But the situation outside is extremely dangerous, and we cannot spare any personnel to assist you.
Every warrior bears the heavy responsibility of defending this place."
"We understand.
Just tell us the general safe route," Gaius interjected.
After Sergeant Tusgan provided a theoretically relatively safe route, Gorden and Gaius did not linger.
They replenished their Bolter ammunition and energy, checked their equipment, and resolutely re-entered the death-filled ruins.
"That Dorian fellow, his head is all muscle, and he's tough as nails.
How could he not defeat a pile of rotten flesh?" Gorden said to Gaius, his tone deliberately light, as if trying to encourage himself, as he cautiously advanced.
Gaius did not answer, merely nodding silently.
But he could feel Sergeant Gorden's deep worry beneath his calm tone.
They both knew the terror of Nurgle Plague Marines, and Dorian's chances of survival after covering their retreat were slim.
But they had to go back; if he was alive, they would find him, and if he was dead... they had to retrieve his gene-seed and that precious eagle-faced helmet.
The two quickly returned along the path they had taken.
Along the way, they encountered several Necrons Warrior squads engaging residual Planetary Defense Forces soldiers.
Although these soldiers were poorly equipped and suffered heavy casualties, they still resisted tenaciously using the terrain, displaying astonishing resilience.
Gorden and Gaius did not hesitate, immediately launching an attack from the flank.
Bolter rounds precisely eliminated the Necrons Warriors, quickly relieving the Planetary Defense Forces soldiers.
The soldiers saw the Astartes as saviors, but before they could express much gratitude, Gorden and Gaius had already disappeared into the ruins again, leaving only a command: "Retreat southwest, there's a Salamanders' temporary stronghold there!"
They also gave a wide berth to a Plague Marine wandering the street, emanating a strong stench.
The monster seemed to be "sowing" some disgusting plague strains, and they didn't want to stir up trouble.
The closer they got to the intersection where they had separated from Dorian, the heavier their hearts became.
The sickly sweet, putrid smell in the air grew stronger, mixed with a... burnt and strange smell of something being smashed.
Just as they were about to reach that intersection, the heavy metallic footsteps from around the corner instantly put them on high alert!
It wasn't the crisp clicking sound of Necronss, nor the clumsy squelching of a Plague Marine, but a heavier, more oppressive... scraping and hydraulic whirring sound!
Gorden cautiously peeked around the corner, his pupils suddenly contracting!
He saw an enormous, hideous metallic construct slowly crawling across the intersection ahead!
It had a scorpion-like chassis, with multiple metallic limbs supporting its heavy body, and its tail was raised high, topped not by a stinger, but by a massive green energy cannon emanating destructive energy fluctuations!
Its main body was a turret covered in thick armor, mounted with more smaller but equally lethal Gauss weapons and particle beamers!
A Necrons "Tomb Stalker"?
No, that's not right!
It was a larger, more deadly unit—a Tomb Sentinel!
This autonomous killing machine was the backbone fire platform of the Necrons ground forces, its powerful energy weapons easily capable of tearing through the frontal armor of main battle tanks.
For Astartes infantry lacking heavy firepower, it was an extremely terrifying presence!
A regular Astartes facing it was as helpless as challenging a Terminator in Power Armor!
"Retreat! Quickly!" Gorden whispered, abruptly pulling his head back and dragging Gaius to quickly retreat.
The Tomb Sentinel's massive energy cannon slowly rotated, its green optical sensors sweeping over their previous hiding spot, seemingly detecting something.
It emitted a low hum, like some ancient machinery awakening, and began to adjust its direction, pursuing them!
Its articulated legs moved at a considerable speed, each step causing the ground to tremble slightly!
"Damn it! We've been spotted!" Gaius cursed.
Their Bolters would be largely ineffective against such heavily armored units.
"We can't fight it head-on!
Lead it away!" Gorden's mind raced, and he immediately had an idea: "To where that Plague Marine was!"
The two understood each other perfectly, immediately sprinting in the direction they had previously avoided the Plague Marine!
The Tomb Sentinel pursued relentlessly, its massive energy cannon constantly charging, green light gathering at the muzzle, ready to fire at any moment!
They danced on a knife's edge, using the complex terrain of the ruins to constantly evade potential lines of fire.
Finally, they once again felt that nauseating stench of decay!
The Plague Marine was still in its original spot, using its mutated tentacles to "convert" the corpse of a Planetary Defense Forces soldier into something even more disgusting.
"Over here! Big guy!" Gorden yelled as he ran, firing a shot at the Plague Marine.
The Bolter round struck its thick, filthy armor, and although it caused no damage, it successfully caught its attention!
The Plague Marine gurgled and turned around, seeing the two blue figures running towards it and the massive metallic monster behind them.
To the favored children of the Grandfather, all non-allied entities were targets to "share blessings" with!
And the Tomb Sentinel's attack logic was equally simple—eliminate all detected life signals and large energy sources!
The Plague Marine's massive body, brimming with foul energy, instantly became its highest priority target!
Just as Gorden and Gaius dove into the ruins of a nearby building—
Whoosh—!!!
A thick, destructive green energy beam shot from the Tomb Sentinel's tail-mounted cannon, not at Gorden and Gaius, but directly at the Plague Marine who had just stood up and let out a defiant gurgle!
Boom!!!
The energy beam hit true!
A massive explosion completely engulfed the Plague Marine!
Rotten flesh, pus, and shattered armor flew everywhere!
Even with its powerful regenerative abilities, facing such terrifying instantaneous firepower, it was severely wounded!
And the Plague Marine, under attack, instinctively swung its Plague Flail, charging towards the Tomb Sentinel, attempting to destroy this metallic lump with physical and plague power!
The two massive monsters instantly grappled, the whirring of Gauss weapons, the explosions of energy beams, the thud of the Plague Flail, and the Plague Marine's pained gurgles mixed together, creating a chaotic scene!
Gorden and Gaius seized the opportunity, sprinting back towards the previous intersection without looking back!
They finally returned to the familiar street.
The sight before them made them gasp!
The street was almost unrecognizable, walls covered in huge dents and corrosive marks, the ground looking as if it had been plowed.
An indescribable, massive, extremely foul-smelling mixture of pulped flesh and shattered bones lay in the center of the street, embedded with some broken armor fragments bearing the Death Guard's insignia.
And not far away, a tall, blue figure, covered in thick filth and with severely deformed armor, lay motionless on the ground.
His iconic eagle-faced helmet had rolled to the side, also stained with grime.
"Dorian!!!"
Gorden and Gaius exclaimed, immediately rushing over!
Gorden carefully checked Dorian's condition.
He was still breathing, though faintly, but he was indeed alive!
His Terminator armor was deformed in multiple places, internal systems almost completely paralyzed, and life sign monitors showed multiple fractures and internal bleeding, but miraculously, no fatal wounds!
He had clearly collapsed from exhaustion.
"He's alive!" Gorden's voice was filled with incredible joy and relief.
Gaius also breathed a sigh of relief, immediately holding his Bolter and vigilantly scanning their surroundings.
Gorden tried to rouse Dorian: "Dorian! Wake up! You bastard! Do you hear me!"
Dorian was unresponsive.
"We have to get him back."
Gorden looked at Dorian's almost ruined Terminator armor, covered in Nurgle's filth, and then at the two monsters still fiercely fighting in the distance, knowing they couldn't stay here long.
He and Gaius worked together, laboriously lifting Dorian's heavy body.
Just as they were about to leave, Gorden's gaze fell on the eagle-faced helmet that had rolled to the side.
He hesitated for a moment, then walked over, carefully wrapped it in a relatively clean cloth, and hung it on his Power Armor.
"Let's go, Gaius, we'll take him back."
Gorden and Gaius carried Dorian's heavy and heavily soiled body, each step exceptionally difficult.
Dorian's Terminator armor was severely deformed, its internal systems offline, making it dead weight.
Coupled with the thick layer of Nurgle's filth on him, emanating an extremely foul odor, this return journey became exceptionally long and arduous.
They had to constantly be wary of potential enemies while enduring a smell that could almost knock out an Ogre.
When they finally stumbled outside the alloy gate of the Salamanders' temporary command post, the guarding Salamanders warriors were almost forced to raise their Bolters by the overwhelming stench. After their identities were confirmed, the gate quickly opened, and several Salamanders Tech-Sergeant and medical servitors, who had already been notified, immediately rushed forward.
"Quick! Help him remove his armor! Initiate the highest level of purification and disinfection procedures immediately!" a Salamanders Tech-Sergeant commanded loudly, his voice muffled behind his gas mask. They skillfully used hydraulic pliers and cutting tools to carefully begin stripping Dorian of his Terminator armor, which had almost become one with the filth. Every step was extremely cautious, not only to avoid secondary injury but also to prevent the spread of Nurgle's corruption.
Gorden placed Dorian's Thunder Hammer, which had rendered great service, and his severely deformed Storm Shield, whose edges even showed signs of melting, in the designated area. "The Storm Shield... when we get back, let our Tech-Sergeant figure out a way; perhaps it can still be repaired," he panted to a Salamanders Tech-Sergeant. The other party nodded, indicating that it would be handled properly.
Dorian was swiftly carried to the deeper medical area, where more complete purification equipment and stasis field chambers were available. Gorden and Gaius watched his figure disappear behind the strictly isolated medical curtain, and only then did they truly sigh in relief, feeling an extreme wave of fatigue wash over them.
They briefly cleaned the stains from their armor and then walked towards the command center. The Salamanders' Company Captain still stood there, his brow furrowed, staring at the large areas of signal blind spots and constantly flickering lost friend-or-foe identification markers on the holographic tactical map.
"Thank you for bringing back an important comrade," the Company Captain said in a deep voice when he saw them, his gaze lingering especially on Gorden's empty, exposed shoulder where wiring showed, "But his condition also confirms our fears. Nurgle's power has indeed infiltrated."
Gorden nodded: "Company Captain, has the communication situation improved at all?"
"No." The Company Captain shook his head, his tone heavy, "We've tried all known encrypted bands and psychic communication methods, but the signal simply cannot effectively penetrate the atmosphere. Combining this with the Necrons's technological characteristics, I speculate that it's highly likely they have deployed some powerful signal interception and shielding device at critical planetary nodes—perhaps the core node of a 'Deathmark Barrier.' It not only blocks signals but may even distort space, which is why our reconnaissance squads completely lose contact once they move too far away."
He pondered for a moment, his eyes becoming sharp and resolute, as if he had made up his mind. He turned to the communications officer and issued an order: "Order the 'Forge,' 'Anvil,' and 'Steadfast' tactical squads to assemble immediately! Their objective is to locate and destroy at least one Necrons barrier node! At all costs, we must tear open a communication breach for us!"
"Yes, Company Captain!" The communications officer immediately relayed the order. Soon, three full Salamanders tactical squads quickly assembled at the entrance of the command post. They exchanged no unnecessary words, simply checked their equipment, and then, led by Sergeant Tushan (who commanded one of the squads) who had previously conversed with Gorden, they charged resolutely into the dangerous ruins outside, like three dark green daggers.
Gorden and Gaius exchanged a look and immediately stepped forward. "Company Captain, please allow us to join the operation! We are relatively familiar with the nearby area and can..."
The Company Captain raised his hand, interrupting them. His eyes, though tired, were filled with undeniable authority: "Sergeant Gorden, Brother Gaius, you have already done enough. You have endured a fierce battle, brought back the wounded, and your physical strength and ammunition are greatly depleted. Your current task is to rest, recover, and guard this place. Destroying the barrier is an extremely dangerous mission; leave it to our brothers who are in peak condition. This is an order."
Although his tone was polite, his refusal was clear. Gorden and Gaius knew this was a reasonable arrangement; their current state was indeed not suitable for immediately executing such a high-intensity assault mission. They could only suppress their anxiety and solemnly saluted the Company Captain with the Aquila: "May the Emperor protect them."
Meanwhile, in the distant Ultramar system, on the bridge of the flagship Macragge's Honour.
Chapter Master Marius Calgar stood before the massive observation window, gazing at the deep star-filled sky outside, but his brows were tightly furrowed, and his face was unusually grim. Behind him, Company Captain Cassius, Company Captain Cato Sicarius, and several other senior officers stood in solemn silence, the atmosphere heavy.
"Five standard hours have passed," Chapter Master Calgar's voice was low, tinged with suppressed anger, "Since the Unyielding Will sent its last message that the 7th Company had begun its descent, we have completely lost all contact with Planet Mona Lisa! Cassius, what is the situation with the 6th Company?"
Company Captain Cassius stepped forward, his face equally grim: "Chapter Master, the 6th Company's strike cruiser, Spear of Courage, arrived in Mona Lisa's orbit three hours ago and attempted to establish contact with the ground, also failing. They then deployed drop pods as planned, but shortly after the drop pods entered the atmosphere... all signals vanished. Our communication with the Spear of Courage has also been severely disrupted, intermittent and unable to obtain effective information."
"It's like being swallowed by an invisible net..." Company Captain Sicarius said coldly, his hand unconsciously resting on his sword hilt.
Chapter Master Calgar turned around, his gaze sweeping over his warriors: "This is no accident. Such a large-scale, complete communication blackout, even severely affecting warships in orbit... This reminds me of ancient records mentioning a terrifying battlefield control technology of the Necrons—they can deploy powerful barriers that not only cut off communication but even distort reality, trapping all intruders."
"Necrons barrier..." Cassius mused, "If that's truly the case, the situation for our brothers on the ground is likely extremely dangerous. They face not only Necrons and potentially Chaos forces but are also isolated and fighting independently."
"We must do something!" Sicarius said urgently.
"Calm down, Sicarius," Calgar said in a deep voice, "Blindly committing more forces will only repeat the same mistakes. Notify the Tech-Priest and navigators to concentrate all processing power, analyze the energy fluctuations and Warp currents around Planet Mona Lisa, and search for a weak point or core of that barrier! We must find a way to tear it open!"
...
Lower deck of the Macragge's Honour, Tech-Sergeant' workstation.
Lina and Eiras also heard the grim news that the 7th Company had lost contact. The news hung over everyone like a dark cloud. The two had no heart to continue working. They sat side by side on a bench, hands clasped, heads bowed, silently praying for Sergeant Gorden, Lord Gaius, Lord Dorian, Lady Luna... for all the warriors of the 7th Company.
"Emperor protect... Primarch protect... Please, please let them return safely..." Lina murmured softly, her voice choked with emotion.
Eiras's green eyes were also full of worry, and she squeezed Lina's hand tightly: "They are so strong, they will definitely be fine! They will!"
Just then, a calm, ancient voice, seemingly devoid of emotion, sounded behind them:
"Long time no see, Lina. You have matured greatly."
The sudden voice startled the two girls, making them tremble and whip their heads around!
They saw three tall giants, clad in ornate silver-grey armor and wearing cold eagle-faced helmets, standing silently not far behind them, like ghosts! It was Grey Knight Captain Moreno and his two squad members, Valerius and Kaldor!
Lina's face instantly turned pale, her heart pounding. Her impression of Moreno was extremely deep, one could even say it was fear—back on the Unyielding Will, it was this Grey Knight Captain who had almost "purified" her on the grounds of "witnessing what should not be witnessed"! Moreover, these three Grey Knights had always had a bad reputation among the Ultramarines, seen as cold and ruthless Executioners of the Inquisition.
"Grey... Grey Knight Sir..." Lina's voice stammered with nervousness, and she instinctively stood up, her body trembling slightly.
Eiras was also startled by the sudden appearance of the three Grey Knights, especially the cold psychic pressure emanating from them, which made her very uncomfortable. But when she saw Lina's frightened expression, a surge of protectiveness instantly welled up. She abruptly stood up, stepping in front of Lina, and although her height didn't even reach the Grey Knights' waists, she bravely puffed out her chest, put on what she thought was a fierce expression, and shouted at Moreno:
"Hey! Big guys! What do you want? I'm telling you, if you think about bullying Lina, forget about it! I'll knock all three of you down first, and then I'll report it to the Chapter Master!"
At these words, Lina almost fainted from fright! She quickly tried to pull Eiras's hand, her voice changing pitch: "Eiras! Don't say such things! Apologize quickly!"
Even the other Tech-Sergeant working nearby were drawn by the commotion, stopping their work and staring dumbfounded at this audacious Eldar girl who dared to openly threaten three Grey Knights!
However, Captain Moreno, the target of the threat, seemed completely unfazed. His cold eagle-faced helmet was slightly lowered, his white eye lenses looking at Eiras, who was baring her teeth and blocking Lina, as if observing some interesting microorganism. He completely ignored Eiras's powerless threats, and as for the so-called "knocking down"...
Seeing no reaction from the other party, Eiras thought they were looking down on her, which only made her angrier. She remembered her usual "wrestling" sessions with Astartes recruits on the training ground; although she was instantly defeated every time, her spirit couldn't be lost! She let out a fierce cry: "Take this!"
Then, with all her might, she threw a straight punch at Moreno's silver-grey armored abdomen—the highest point she could reach.
Thud!
A faint thud, like striking a solid steel block.
Moreno's body didn't even sway, nor did the angle of his helmet change. Eiras, on the other hand, felt as if her punch had hit the Imperium's most solid alloy wall; the rebound force made her wince in pain, and she quickly shook her hand and retreated several steps, her small face scrunched up.
Moreno didn't even bother to glance down at the spot that had been struck. For a Grey Knight who had experienced countless daemon wars and endured the impact of various Chaos sorceries, Eiras's soft punch posed even less of a threat than the surprisingly elastic nutrient paste in the mess hall.
"Impolite," Valerius commented coldly from the side, but made no further move.
Kaldor, however, seemed more interested in Eiras's very existence as an Eldar, giving her a second look.
Lina was scared out of her wits and quickly pulled Eiras, who was still shaking her hand, behind her, bowing repeatedly to Moreno and apologizing: "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Lord Moreno! Eiras didn't mean it! She was just... just too nervous! Please forgive her rudeness!"
Moreno's gaze shifted from Eiras and returned to Lina. His old-fashioned, cold voice sounded again, showing no discernible emotion:
"It is fine. We came not to cause trouble. Inform the Chapter Master that we may have clues regarding the anomaly on Mona Lisa."
The three Grey Knights departed silently like silver-grey phantoms, leaving Lina and Eiras behind, their minds unsettled.
Eiras was still shaking her slightly reddened fist, muttering, "What the heck, it's as hard as a rock," while Lina was immersed in profound confusion and a hint of lingering fear.
"They… if they had something to tell the Chapter Master, why didn't they go themselves?" Lina frowned, murmuring to herself.
Given the Grey Knights' transcendent status and special authority within the Imperium, meeting Chapter Master Marius Calgar would not be difficult; why would they need two lowly Tech-Sergeant to relay a message?
This completely contradicted the Grey Knights' usual direct, even forceful, style of action.
Despite her mind being filled with questions and unease, the Grey Knights' command carried an undeniable weight.
Lina dared not delay; she took a deep breath and pulled Eiras, who was still examining her fist: "Come on, Eiras, we have to tell the Chapter Master!"
The two girls immediately ran out of the work area and headed towards the command conference room, located on the upper bridge, where the Chapter Master usually resided.
Busy crew members and warriors in the corridor saw their hurried appearance and, though curious, did not stop them.
The closer they got to the core area, the stricter the guard.
When they finally ran to the heavy adamantium door, marked as the Chapter Master's conference room and guarded by two tall Honor Guard warriors, they were, not unexpectedly, stopped.
The Honor Guard warriors, clad in ornate Mark X Tacticus Power Armour, covered with more honorific ribbons and Chapter insignia, stood like two silent blue statues, their crossed power halberds blocking the way.
One of the warriors asked in a calm, flat voice, processed through his helmet's comms: "Tech-Sergeant, this is the Chapter Master's conference room; entry is forbidden without summons."
Lina's heart immediately leaped into her throat as she nervously explained: "I… we have something important to report to the Chapter Master! It's… it's about the Grey Knights…"
Before she could finish, Eiras, seeing that the Honor Guard warrior dared to block their way, got her mischievous streak back.
Perhaps she was stimulated by the Grey Knights' earlier disregard, or perhaps she felt these blue giants looked "easier to bully," so she let out another sharp cry: "Move aside!"
Then, she mustered all her strength and delivered another straight punch, a thud, to the armoured abdomen of the Honor Guard warrior who had just spoken!
The result… was predictable.
The Honor Guard warrior's body didn't even sway; he merely lowered his head slightly, his red eye lenses looking at the Aeldari girl, who was not even as tall as his chest and was grimacing and shaking her hand, his gaze probably filled with speechlessness and a hint of… helplessness?
He maintained his blocking stance, as if he had only been brushed by a feather.
Eiras was not convinced, thinking she hadn't used enough force, and continued to punch, thump, thump, several times, until her small fists were red and sore, yet the other party remained motionless, merely watching her, as if enjoying a comical performance.
"Enough, Eiras!" Lina was terrified, quickly pulled Eiras back, and repeatedly bowed and apologized to the Honor Guard warrior, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Sir! She didn't mean it! We really have an urgent matter! Captain Moreno of the Grey Knights sent us!"
The Honor Guard warrior who had endured several punches seemed to sigh, and in his calm, flat voice, asked again: "Tech-Sergeant, the Chapter Master is currently discussing important matters with the First Captain and Second Captain and is very busy.
What exactly is your business?"
Just as Lina was anxiously organizing her thoughts, trying to figure out how to explain the complicated situation—
A steady and authoritative voice came directly from behind the heavy conference room door, clearly reaching everyone present:
"Let them in."
It was the Chapter Master's voice!
The Honor Guard warriors immediately retracted their crossed halberds, straightened their bodies, cleared the path, and said: "Tech-Sergeant, please enter."
Lina and Eiras felt as if they had received a great pardon, quickly pushed open the heavy conference room door, and walked in.
The atmosphere in the conference room was solemn and serious.
The huge holotable projected a star map of the Mona Lisa system and its surrounding starfield, covered with red warning markers and grey areas indicating lost signals.
Chapter Master Marius Calgar stood at the head of the table, his face serene, but his brow was clouded with an unshakeable gloom and irritation.
Beside him, Captain Cassius of the First Company and Cato Sicarius of the Second Company stood at attention, their expressions equally grave.
Seeing that it was Lina and Eiras, the two young Tech-Sergeant, who entered, both Captains showed a hint of surprise.
Although Chapter Master Calgar was extremely irritated and worried by the Mona Lisa system's loss of contact, when he looked at the two girls, who were clearly nervous and uneasy, he tried his best to make his voice sound gentle: "Tech-Sergeant Lina, Tech-Sergeant Eiras, what happened?
Why are you so eager to find me? Has someone bullied you?"
His voice was indeed more than one magnitude gentler than when he usually addressed his Captains.
Captain Cassius of the First Company and Sicarius of the Second Company, standing nearby, couldn't help but exchange quick glances and whispered in extremely low voices.
Sicarius: "The Chapter Master is never this gentle with us…"
Cassius: "Not just not gentle, the last time I reported battle losses, his temper felt a million times fiercer than a Greater Daemon of Khorne…" Although their voices were already suppressed to an extreme, it was clear that the Chapter Master's hearing far surpassed that of ordinary people.
Chapter Master Calgar's gaze remained on Lina and Eiras, but he coldly uttered: "Cassius, Sicarius, if you are so idle, I don't mind sending you to lead the First Company and Second Company to board that planet and search for people."
The two Captains instantly fell silent, stood ramrod straight, and looked straight ahead, as if they had said nothing at all.
The Chapter Master once again turned his gentle gaze to Lina: "Speak, child, what is it?"
Lina took a deep breath, trying to calm her wildly beating heart, and recounted everything that had just happened, as detailed as possible: how the three Grey Knights, led by Captain Moreno, suddenly appeared behind them, how Captain Moreno said to her, "Long time no see, you have matured greatly," how Eiras, out of fear, stood in front of her and even punched Captain Moreno—at this point, Eiras lowered her head shyly, rubbing her reddened fists—and finally, Captain Moreno's parting words: "Inform the Chapter Master, regarding the anomaly of the Mona Lisa system, we may have clues."
After listening to Lina's narration, the three highest leaders in the conference room fell into a brief silence.
Second Captain Sicarius was the first to frown, his tone tinged with dissatisfaction: "The Grey Knights? If they know something, why don't they report it to the Chapter Master themselves?
Why take a detour and relay the message through two Tech-Sergeant? This is not according to procedure and shows no sincerity!"
First Captain Cassius stroked his chin, glanced at the Chapter Master's expression, and quietly analyzed: "…I suspect those three, Moreno, didn't not want to come; they probably feared they wouldn't be able to see anyone if they did.
The Chapter Master has been annoyed by them lately, more annoyed than by buzzing greenskins… Maybe as soon as they approached the bridge area, they were turned away by our Honor Guard brothers on the grounds that 'the Chapter Master is busy and cannot see you'…" He said, his voice growing softer and softer, as he noticed the Chapter Master's gaze coldly sweeping over him again.
Although the Chapter Master did not directly admit it, he knew in his heart that Cassius's words were largely true.
Ever since the last incident where the three of them tried to forcibly take Kaldor, he had been extremely displeased with Moreno's squad and had indeed issued an implicit directive not to grant them an audience unless absolutely necessary.
"Hmph," Chapter Master Calgar snorted, temporarily suppressing his dissatisfaction with the Grey Knights, and his thoughts returned to the main topic, "'Mona Lisa' anomaly… clues…" He pondered for a moment, then ordered the First Captain: "Cassius, go, call Moreno and the other two over.
I want to see what kind of trick they're up to this time."
He paused, his eyes sharpening, and added, with deep suspicion in his tone: "Kaldor is still on that planet carrying out his mission… I have not authorized any Grey Knights to go there.
Are they suddenly so 'concerned' about this, perhaps looking for an excuse to intervene, or even… go down there themselves?"
Cassius acknowledged the order and immediately turned to convey it.
The Chapter Master then looked at Lina and Eiras again, the chill on his face receding, becoming gentle once more: "You did very well, very brave.
You delivered important information in a timely manner." He specifically looked at Eiras, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness yet also amusement: "And you, Tech-Sergeant Eiras, protecting your friend is a good thing, but next time, please don't keep punching the warriors' stomachs.
Their armour is very hard, your hands will hurt, and… they actually don't feel it."
Eiras's eyes lit up upon hearing the Chapter Master's praise and concern, feeling a warmth in her heart, and she quickly nodded: "Mm-hmm! I understand, Chapter Master! You're so kind!" She thought to herself, the Chapter Master is so gentle, why are the Captains so afraid of him?
Soon, First Captain Cassius returned, followed by the three Grey Knights, who resembled moving silver sculptures—Moreno, Valerius, and Kaldor.
They entered the conference room, and the cold psychic pressure instantly made the atmosphere inside even more solemn.
Captain Moreno ignored everyone else and directly faced Chapter Master Marius Calgar.
He did not salute, merely gave a slight nod, and spoke in his old-fashioned, cold tone, seemingly devoid of any emotion:
"Chapter Master, we perceive it. We do not need to be physically present to discern it. Even across the stars, the stench of evil from the Warp is still clearly discernible, lingering on that distant planet."
His voice echoed in the conference room, each word like the clash of cold metal.
"Its filth, its decay, its twisted essence—full of life yet trampling on life… there is no doubt. The star 'Mona Lisa' is not merely suspected of harboring the powers of Chaos…"
Moreno's hawk-nosed helmet tilted slightly, his red eye-lenses seemingly piercing through the ship's decks, gazing towards the distant, war-torn planet in the void.
"But it is unequivocally confirmed to be corrupted by the forces of Nurgle."
Chapter Master Marius Calgar's eyes, as deep as the star-sea, fixed on Moreno. The air in the conference room seemed to solidify at the Grey Knight's cold, definitive statement. The forces of Nurgle… had truly appeared on the 'Mona Lisa' star! This undoubtedly worsened an already dire situation.
After a brief, deathly silence, Chapter Master Calgar took a deep breath, an intake of air that seemed capable of freezing steel. He did not immediately respond to Moreno, but instead sharply turned his head, his cold gaze sweeping like a tangible force towards First Company Captain Cassius and Second Company Captain Cato Sicarius, who were standing by in stunned silence.
The two battle-hardened captains, pillars of the Imperium, involuntarily flinched under the Chapter Master's gaze, which was filled with anger and pressure, as if they were new recruits caught by their Drill Sergeant after making a mistake. They knew that the Chapter Master was faulting them (and the entire intelligence system) for failing to detect the Chaos infiltration more accurately in advance, which had also put the previous rescue operation in a more passive position.
"Hmph." Calgar let out a cold snort of displeasure from his nose, then turned his gaze back to the three Grey Knights, who stood like silver statues. His expression was complex, containing both certainty in the Grey Knights' abilities and a deep wariness and dislike of them and the extreme code of conduct they represented.
But at present, the situation superseded all personal likes and dislikes.
"In that case," Chapter Master Calgar's voice regained its composure and decisiveness, carrying an undeniable authority, "Brothers of the Grey Knights Chapter, in the name of the Defender of the Five Hundred Worlds of Ultramar, Chapter Master of the Ultramarines Chapter, I formally request your assistance. Please proceed to the 'Mona Lisa' star and purge the forces of Nurgle's corruption from that planet."
He paused, then added, his tone meaningful: "As for other matters… especially those concerning the internal affairs of my Chapter, please adhere to our previous agreement."
Captain Moreno nodded slightly, his tone still perfectly calm: "It is our duty, and we shall not shirk it. To cleanse Chaos is the meaning of our existence. As for other matters, we have no intention of interfering, unless they are directly related to Chaos."
Having received their (at least verbal) promise, Chapter Master Calgar immediately looked at Second Company Captain Sicarius and commanded: "Sicarius!"
"Here, Chapter Master!" The Second Company Captain immediately straightened his posture, his voice booming.
"Immediately assemble your Second Company! Board the strike cruiser 'Heart of Courage' and escort the Grey Knights to the 'Mona Lisa' star! Your mission is to assist the Grey Knights in purging the forces of Nurgle, and at the same time, prioritize searching for and rescuing all brothers of the missing Sixth and 7th Companies! Eliminate the Necrons and restore order to the planet!"
"Understood, Chapter Master!" Sicarius's eyes burned with battle-lust as he heavily saluted by striking his chest, "The Second Company will complete the mission! For Macragge and the Primarch!"
With the order given, the entire 'Macragge's Honour' and even the 'Heart of Courage' moored nearby instantly began to operate efficiently. The warriors of the Second Company quickly assembled from their respective posts, boarded the ship, and conducted final pre-battle equipment checks. Ammunition and supplies were rapidly transported onto the vessel.
Moreno, Valerius, and Kaldor, the three Grey Knights, also turned and departed for the hangar, preparing to board the Second Company's ship. Their very presence was like a cold, sharp blade, about to pierce into that purgatory shrouded in death and plague.
Just as the 'Heart of Courage's' engines started, about to break formation and head towards the Warp jump point—
"Chapter Master! Signal! We have a signal!" The Communications Officer suddenly shouted excitedly, his voice even changing pitch.
Everyone abruptly looked at the main screen. On the tactical map of the 'Mona Lisa' star, which had been almost entirely gray blind spots and glaring red warnings, a few faint, extremely unstable blue friendly signal markers finally flickered into life, struggling! Although the signal strength fluctuated, intermittent like a candle in the wind, this was undoubtedly the first time an effective signal had been received from the planet's surface since contact was lost!
"It's our brothers of the Salamanders!" Captain Cassius immediately identified the signal encoding, "They succeeded! They must have destroyed at least one Necrons barrier node!"
Chapter Master Calgar strode to the communications console, practically snatching the communicator. His voice, hoarse with urgency, said: "This is the 'Macragge's Honour', Marius Calgar! 'Unyielding Will', 'Spear of Courage'! Respond if you hear me! Report your situation!"
The comms channel was filled with strong static interference and eerie, distorted noise, with fragmented voices struggling to break through:
"…Macragge's Honour… This is… 'Unyielding Will'… receiving… signal extremely poor…" It was the voice of the 7th Company's strike cruiser captain, sounding anxious and weary, "…My ship… did not directly participate… in ground combat… but all airborne… units… including Captain Cassius (7th Company Captain)… are all missing… last received… fragmented message… they encountered… the main Necrons forces… and… some kind of… unknown… contamination…"
Another signal cut in, even more garbled: "…'Spear of Courage'… reporting… Sixth Company… ground forces… also missing… repeat… ground forces… all missing… I am… Sixth Company Captain… Hector… I remained on… board… to command… orbital… support… but… unable to lock onto… ground targets… barrier interference… still… present… in some areas…"
The communication was interrupted again by severe noise at this point, and no matter how hard the Communications Officer tried to adjust, a stable connection could not be re-established.
Although it was only fragmented information, it was enough to weigh heavily on everyone on the bridge. The two strike cruisers themselves were unharmed, but all the warriors who had deployed to the surface, including the 7th Company Captain, were missing! Although the Sixth Company Captain was still in orbit, he was helpless! The barrier had only been torn open a small amount, not completely destroyed!
Chapter Master Calgar put down the communicator, feeling as if his head would split open. The immense pressure and worry almost suffocated him. He rubbed his brow, his gaze instinctively falling on the person closest to him—First Company Captain Cassius.
Cassius flinched under the Chapter Master's bloodshot eyes, filled with irritation and pressure, almost instinctively wanting to stand at attention and shout, "It wasn't me!" He could only try to straighten his back, indicating he was ready for duty at any moment.
The Chapter Master's gaze did not linger on Cassius for long. He moved his eyes away, somewhat wearily, and happened to see Lina and Eiras still standing in the corner of the conference room, looking a little flustered but also full of concern.
His gaze fell on Eiras, looking at this little Aeldari girl who had once struggled in the lower echelons of the Dark Eldar, and who had only trembled and cried when she was captured. Now she had grown into a graceful young woman, and although her behavior was still flighty and even a little reckless, she had found the courage to protect her friends, even daring to throw a punch at a Grey Knight and the Honor Guard (though it was useless).
A rare, truly gentle expression crossed the Chapter Master's stern face. He no longer looked like a Chapter Master commanding thousands of troops and under immense pressure, but rather like an elder watching a junior grow.
He spoke softly, his tone so gentle that the First Company Captain beside him almost thought he was hallucinating: "Time flies… The little one who used to cry and needed protection has grown up now, and even dares to stand up for her friends."
This sudden sentiment, so out of place with the current tense atmosphere, startled both Lina and Eiras. Eiras blinked her green eyes, lowering her head a little shyly, twisting the hem of her clothes, but feeling a warmth in her heart from the Chapter Master's approval.
Even the First Company Captain and the Honor Guard Captain, seeing the Chapter Master's rare tender side, and comparing it to the anger more terrifying than a Greater Daemon of Khorne just moments ago, couldn't help but inwardly mutter: The Chapter Master's mood swings are too fast…
Chapter Master Calgar seemed to realize his momentary lapse, and quickly reined in the softness on his face, resuming his dignified expression. He nodded to Lina and Eiras: "There's nothing for you here. Return to your posts. Remember, do not speak of what happened today to anyone outside."
"Yes, Chapter Master!" Lina quickly pulled the still-relishing Eiras, bowed respectfully, and quickly exited the conference room.
The heavy hatch closed behind them, once again sealing off the tension and decisions of the bridge.
And the 'Heart of Courage' had already transformed into a streak of light, carrying the anger and determination of the Second Company, and three cold, ruthless Grey Knights, rushing unflinchingly towards that star system known to be filled with death and plague.
The flame of hope, though faint, had been rekindled.