The roar of the Hive Tyrant falling still seemed to echo in the mine, mixed with the dying shrieks of the Tyranid creatures and the muffled thuds of collapsing rock walls.
First Squad and the two remaining Deathwatch warriors had no time to catch their breath, nor even to mourn their fallen comrades, before they were ordered by the Hound Captain to flee desperately along the violently shaking passage.
Behind them was a swarm of Tyranids that had completely lost unified command, descending into madness and chaos, and the constantly collapsing cave system due to the loss of biological structural support.
Every second felt like a race against death.
When they finally burst out of the cave entrance and breathed the air outside, thick with gunpowder smoke and spore dust, everyone was almost completely exhausted.
Dorian's Power Armor was covered in deep claw marks and acid corrosion, and Gaius and Luna's breathing was exceptionally heavy.
The Deathwatch Hound Captain and the other warrior were equally battered, their black armor stained with green blood and dust.
However, before they could even steady themselves, Lieutenant Golden's urgent and grave voice came through Gaius's communicator, with continuous explosions and the roar of Bolters in the background.
"Gaius! Can you hear me? Is the decapitation mission complete?"
"Mission complete, Lieutenant. The Hive Tyrant has been eliminated," Gaius replied quickly, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Good! Well done!" Golden's voice held a hint of relief, but then became more urgent, "Now I have a new urgent mission for you! Listen, a Tech-Priest named Cawl is trapped in the lower ruins of the 'Blackrock' Hive City, thirty kilometers to the northeast.
He possesses a fragment of an STC template technology vital to the Imperium, its value immeasurable! We must rescue him safely!"
Golden's tone was unequivocal: "The main force is heavily engaged with the main Tyranid swarm and cannot spare any troops. Our Deathwatch brothers have suffered heavy casualties and need to withdraw for rest and resupply.
This mission can only be entrusted to you, First Squad! Depart immediately! Coordinates have been sent! Find him and protect him at all costs!"
"Understood! Mission will be completed!" Gaius did not hesitate at all, immediately accepting the order.
Although they had just endured a fierce battle and were physically and mentally exhausted, military orders were paramount, especially when such an important objective was involved.
He quickly turned to the Deathwatch Hound Captain: "Captain, we have a new mission. We need to proceed to the Hive City area immediately. You..."
The Hound Captain nodded, no expression visible through his visor, but his voice remained cold: "Our mission is complete, and we have suffered heavy casualties, we need to return to the ship to report and resupply.
Good luck, Ultramarines." He said no more, immediately signaled his remaining comrade, and quickly departed towards an evacuation point in another direction.
Gaius looked at Dorian and Luna: "Did you both hear? Objective: 'Blackrock' Hive City, a critical Tech-Priest. We need to depart immediately."
Dorian spat a mouthful of bloody saliva: "Damn it, just killed a big one, and now we have to crawl into a rat hole again! Let's go!" Although he complained, his movements were decisive, and he immediately checked the status of his Thunder Hammer and Storm Shield.
Luna silently nodded, quickly checked the energy readings of her servo-arm and weapon systems, and indicated she was ready.
With no time to rest, the three-person squad immediately moved quickly in the direction of the coordinates provided by Lieutenant Golden.
Along the way, they still encountered scattered Tyranid creatures, but without the Tyrant's command, most of these bugs had fallen into chaotic infighting or aimless wandering, unable to form organized resistance.
They cleared their path, and their advance speed was not too slow.
The closer they got to the Hive City area, the more dilapidated and eerie the environment became.
Huge Hive City structures stood askew like the gnawed skeletons of giants.
The streets were piled with ruins and human and Tyranid corpses covered in bio-mass.
The air was thick with the heavy scent of death and decay.
They passed through a tunnel blocked by abandoned vehicles and entered a relatively open intersection.
It seemed a fierce battle had taken place here, with the wrecks of several leman russ tanks still emitting black smoke.
Just as they cautiously crossed the intersection, no one noticed a faint tremor in an almost completely transparent silhouette in the shadow of a tank wreck.
It was a Lictor, one of the most deadly assassin units among the Tyranids.
But this Lictor seemed different; its size was a bit larger than its usual counterparts, its carapace was a deeper color, and its ability to conceal its biological signals was stronger.
It was like the most patient hunter, having long since ambushed here, quietly waiting for suitable prey to arrive.
Its compound eyes scanned the three Astartes, quickly making an assessment.
The big one with the hammer and shield was the most threatening, with strong energy readings; the one with the long rifle was acutely perceptive and needed caution; and the one with multiple tool signals on her, who seemed more focused on technology, was deemed a relatively vulnerable and easy target to take down.
It locked onto Luna.
Just as Luna stepped forward, her attention focused on scanning the structural integrity of a building ahead—
The transparent shadow moved! Fast as lightning! Without even a whisper of wind!
Luna's Power Armor sensors only managed to emit an extremely brief, faint warning, almost drowned out by the ambient noise!
The next second, an unimaginable, immense force slammed into her from the rear-side! At the same time, a pair of large, sharp scythe-like forelimbs, like the Grim Reaper's razor, precisely and viciously pierced through the weak point at the joint of her shoulder guard!
Crack! The grating sound of tearing metal was sickening!
"Ugh!" Luna let out a painful grunt, and the immense impact force threw her violently to the ground!
Her servo-arm sparked and hummed abnormally! Her shoulder guard was completely impaled, and green, highly corrosive blood flowed along the edges of the carapace near the wound, making a "sizzle" sound!
"Luna!" Gaius was the first to react!
His combat intuition and keen perception had warned him the instant danger arrived, but it was still a step too late!
He saw Luna tackled by a suddenly materializing, monstrously hideous giant Tyranid assassin!
Without the slightest hesitation, Gaius didn't even have time to raise his sniper rifle; his left hand instantly drew the combat knife from his waist—a specially forged adamantium dagger inscribed with purification runes—and he pounced like a leopard, thrusting the knife fiercely into the Lictor's relatively vulnerable flank!
Pfft!
The combat knife successfully penetrated! Green Tyranid blood splattered!
However, this particular Lictor was extremely cunning and had a clear objective!
It seemed to have no intention of prolonged combat!
After successfully severely wounding its target and taking a knife from Gaius, it let out a sharp shriek, violently pulled out the forelimb impaled in Luna's shoulder, and its body rapidly became transparent and blurry again, like a ghost, leaping backward and instantly disappearing into the shadows of the ruins, as if it had never appeared!
The entire process happened in a flash, from the attack to its disappearance, likely no more than three seconds!
"Bastard! Don't run!" Dorian roared, raising his Thunder Hammer, wanting to give chase.
"Don't chase! Dorian!" Gaius immediately stopped him sharply, his voice carrying an unprecedented urgency, "It's a Lictor! It's in the dark, we're in the light! Chasing it will very likely lead to an ambush! Save Luna first!"
Dorian abruptly stopped, slamming his fist against a nearby tank wreck with a loud clang.
He knew Gaius was right.
Both immediately knelt beside Luna.
Luna's face was pale from pain, but she gritted her teeth, not uttering a groan.
Her left shoulder guard was completely pierced, and the muscle tissue around the wound was being corroded by the Tyranid's acidic blood; they could even see the mechanical interfaces and bones beneath.
A main line of her servo-arm was damaged, hanging limply at her side.
"Damn it! That's a bad wound!" Dorian cursed.
Gaius quickly took out a neutralizing agent from his medical kit and sprayed it on the wound to inhibit acid corrosion, while also applying rapid-setting foam and bandages for emergency treatment.
Luna herself, using her still-functional right hand, operated miniature tools, attempting to stabilize the damaged servo-arm.
"How is it? Can you move?" Gaius asked urgently.
Luna took a deep breath, her forehead covered in cold sweat, her voice trembling slightly from pain: "...I can... Some servo-arm functions are offline... Left arm movement is restricted... But it doesn't affect walking and basic combat..."
She struggled to stand up, and Gaius and Dorian quickly supported her.
"Damn it!" Gaius cursed under his breath, his expression extremely grave.
Luna's injury was a huge blow to their combat effectiveness, especially their technical support capabilities.
And... "We need to speed up." Gaius's gaze sharply swept in the direction the Lictor had disappeared, his tone heavy, "That Lictor... it's not like a normal one.
It didn't continue attacking; instead, it chose to withdraw immediately after severely wounding its target... This is very unusual.
It's likely marking us, or waiting for us to weaken... It won't give up the hunt.
We must reach the target location as quickly as possible, find the Tech-Priest, and then get out of this hellhole!"
A hidden, unusually cunning and powerful Lictor assassin, like a sword hanging over their heads, made the rest of their journey fraught with deadly variables.
The three dared not delay any longer; after a quick treatment of their wounds, they immediately pressed on at an even faster pace towards the depths of Blackrock Hive City.
Gaius and Dorian flanked Luna, their vigilance at its highest, knowing that every shadow, every corner, could hide that deadly invisible hunter.
Wounded and pressing forward, surrounded by danger, their rescue mission became even more arduous and urgent.
The three wounded members of First Squad moved at top speed through the labyrinthine ruins of the lower Blackrock Hive City.
Luna's injuries were severe, and every movement brought intense pain, but she gritted her teeth with tenacious willpower, not slowing the team's pace.
Karlos and Dorian moved one in front and one behind, their senses heightened to the extreme, alert to the slightest disturbance.
That unique Lictor, like a lingering ghost, brought a pressure far more suffocating than facing a swarm of Rippers.
The Hive City's streets grew narrower and more dilapidated, with enormous pipes, like twisted pythons, hanging from the sides of buildings, dripping unknown liquids.
The stench of decay and the concentration of spores in the air grew increasingly high, almost suffocating.
They were getting closer to the coordinates provided by Lieutenant Golden, but the sense of impending danger at their backs also grew stronger.
Just as they were about to pass through a small plaza filled with abandoned machine tools and metal scrap, officially entering the inner Hive City area where their target was located—
That deadly transparent silhouette reappeared in the shadows!
This time, it chose a high vantage point on the other side of the plaza—above a broken giant ventilation pipe!
It seemed to have completely understood First Squad's condition, its target extremely clear! It was Luna, who was already injured and whose combat effectiveness was greatly reduced!
Without any warning, it pounced from the pipe like a preying mantis, moving so fast that only a blurry afterimage remained!
Its scythe-like forelimbs, stained with Luna's blood, struck directly at her throat!
"Luna! Watch out!" Karlos warned sharply, simultaneously raising his 'Hawkeye' sniper rifle!
But someone was faster than him!
The moment the Lictor appeared, Dorian's massive body, as if by reflex, took a sudden step sideways, like the most solid bulwark, instantly blocking in front of Luna!
He didn't even have time to swing his Thunder Hammer, only able to forcefully raise his giant Storm Shield upwards, while pressing the handle of his Thunder Hammer firmly behind the shield!
Clang!!!!!!
An ear-splitting metallic crash exploded!
The Lictor's deadly pounce, condensed with all its strength, slammed heavily into Dorian's Storm Shield!
The immense impact cracked the ground beneath Dorian's feet, but his mountain-like body remained unmoving, firmly protecting his comrade behind him!
"Roar!" The Lictor let out an angry hiss, surprised that this blue giant had reacted so quickly.
Dorian roared, his muscles bulging, and the servo systems of his power armor hummed with overload as he tried to push the terrifying monster away!
However, to his shock, his strength, which was enough to shake a leman russ tank, could not easily dislodge this Lictor!
Its strength far surpassed that of its ordinary kin; its six appendages dug firmly into the edge of the shield, creating a stalemate of strength against him!
And in this moment of deadlock, the Lictor's other two relatively smaller, but equally sharp appendages, like venomous snakes striking, bypassed the edge of the shield, clawing directly at Dorian's chest plate and abdomen!
The angles were cunning and vicious!
Just at this critical moment!
Bang! Bang!
Karlos's 'Hawkeye' sniper rifle finally roared!
Two Bolter rounds precisely struck the joints of the Lictor's two appendages that were clawing at Dorian!
Puff! Puff!
Green ichor and carapace fragments splattered!
The Lictor let out a painful shriek, its attack on Dorian instantly interrupted, its appendages falling limply!
The balance of the struggle was broken!
Dorian seized this fleeting opportunity, letting out a deafening battle cry: "Get lost!"
Boom!
His full strength erupted, and the Storm Shield thrust forward violently!
He finally managed to push the Lictor back a staggering step!
It was this single step that determined life and death!
Dorian did not hesitate; the long-suppressed rage and fighting spirit completely erupted!
He abandoned defense, swinging his massive Thunder Hammer with both hands, bringing it down with crushing force on the Lictor, which had temporarily lost its balance due to injury!
At the same time, Karlos quickly moved into position, his Bolter continuously firing, blocking any possible evasion routes for the Lictor!
The Lictor tried to go invisible again, but Dorian's Thunder Hammer had already descended!
Boom! Crackle!!!
The Thunder Hammer struck the Lictor's chest and abdomen squarely!
The terrifying impact instantly shattered and dented its thick carapace!
Green internal organs and blood spewed from its maw and wounds!
It let out an incomparably shrill shriek, its body flung away like a broken sack, crashing heavily into an abandoned machine tool behind it, twisting and deforming the metal!
It struggled, trying to get up, but Karlos's cold gun barrel was already aimed at its head.
Bang!
The last Bolter round ended its suffering.
This cunning and powerful special Lictor was finally utterly slain.
"Pah! You son of a bitch!" Dorian spat at the Lictor's corpse, breathing heavily.
The struggle just now had left him shaken; the monster's strength was astonishing.
"Are you alright?" Karlos quickly checked Dorian's condition; though the two claws had been interrupted, they had still left several deep marks on his chest plate.
"I'm fine! Just a scratch!" Dorian patted his chest plate, "How's Luna?"
Luna leaned against the wall, her face even paler, and shook her head: "I'm fine... Let's go."
There was no time to deal with the corpse; the three rested briefly and immediately continued towards the target coordinates.
Passing through the plaza, they officially entered the interior of the Hive City.
The scene here was even more gruesome, with passages and rooms filled with bodies—shredded human soldiers and various Tyranid corpses killed by lasers and Bolters.
Fighting had clearly been intense here.
Following the coordinate guidance, they finally arrived at a thick, adamantium-reinforced mechanical door.
There were clear signs of battle on the door, but it seemed not to have been forcibly breached.
The terminal screen next to the door was still faintly glowing.
"This is it, the Tech-Priest's refuge," Karlos attempted to access the door with a universal access code.
Surprisingly, the door recognized the access, and with a heavy hiss of compressed air, it slowly slid open to both sides.
Behind the door was a relatively spacious mechanical room, filled with various precise instruments and server racks, flashing with indicator lights of various colors.
The air was permeated with the smell of machine oil and ionized air, a stark contrast to the putrid scent outside.
In the center of the mechanical room, with his back to the door, sat a figure.
He was wearing the red robes of a Tech-Priest, with multiple mechanical tentacles and interfaces extending from his back, connected to the surrounding mainframes.
He sat motionless, as if immersed in his work.
"Tech-Priest Cawl?" Karlos called out tentatively, "We are First Squad of the Ultramarines Third Company, sent by Lieutenant Golden to rescue you.
The external threat has been temporarily cleared; please evacuate with us immediately."
No response.
The figure remained motionless.
"Tech-Priest Cawl?" Karlos raised his voice, a premonition of dread rising within him.
Dorian also tightened his grip on his Thunder Hammer, scanning the room warily.
They cautiously approached.
When they rounded to the front, all three gasped!
Sitting in the chair was indeed Tech-Priest Cawl.
But he had been dead for a long time!
His body was in an extremely unnatural shriveled state, his skin gray and withered, as if all moisture and life force had been sucked out of him.
His eyes were wide open, frozen in endless terror and disbelief.
Even more chilling, his mechanical tentacles connected to the equipment seemed not to be connected voluntarily, but rather forcibly inserted into the interfaces by some external force, with scorched and torn marks around the interfaces!
He wasn't operating the machines at all; instead, he was being... drained and used for his knowledge and authority by something!
"Emperor..." Luna whispered in horror.
Just as they were shocked by this terrifying sight—
In the deepest shadows of the mechanical room, a figure slowly and silently emerged.
The figure was tall and slender, enveloped in a constantly flickering, distorted glow, like a glitching holographic projection.
Most chillingly, he had two heads!
The faces of both heads were indistinct, as if formed by flowing data and shadows, but in the position of the four eyes, cold and malicious light flickered!
A familiar, suffocating psychic pressure instantly permeated the entire mechanical room!
Kairos Fateweaver! The Lord of Change! It had actually appeared here!
"It's been a long time... Chosen of the Gods..." Both heads spoke simultaneously, their voices overlapping and intertwined, filled with endless mockery and cunning, "Or rather... former Chosen of the Gods? Alas... that gift, you ultimately failed to keep..."
His gaze swept over the shocked trio, finally resting on the shriveled corpse of the Tech-Priest in the center.
"However... I still have to thank this devout priest... His knowledge and memories... especially his research into the original source of that 'gift'... are truly... quite interesting..."
The appearance of Kairos Fateweaver was like an invisible, mountain-heavy domain forcefully crammed into this otherwise safe machine room. The vast, star-sea-like yet serpent-cunning psychic pressure instantly coiled around Gaius, Dorian, and the injured Luna like billions of icy chains!
The three felt as if their souls were gripped by an invisible giant hand! Their muscles instantly stiffened, and the power armor's servo systems wailed under the strain, yet they couldn't move an inch! Even lifting a finger became a luxury; only their eyeballs could still struggle to turn within their helmets. Immense fear and powerlessness instantly seized them.
"Chosen of the Gods..." Kairos's voice, a blend of countless tones, resonated directly in their minds, full of amusement and mockery. "Alas... that supreme blessing, you ultimately failed to grasp, disappointing My Lord's expectations."
Its two blurred heads turned slightly, four eyes glinting with malice, seemingly able to see through the deepest struggles of Gaius's soul.
"But you still have a choice, Gaius. Subservience to the Lord of Change, embrace true knowledge and power. What the Golden False Emperor gave you was only shackles and false glory."
Gaius gritted his teeth, trying to resist the terrifying pressure and temptation with his will, but he found he couldn't even make a sound.
Kairos's energy-formed, flickering figure, like a ghost, slowly floated to Luna, whose willpower was weakest due to her injuries and who was almost unable to concentrate and resist.
"Since you are so stubborn..." Kairos's voice turned cold and cruel. "Then, this power you refused... let your closest, most trusted companion... bear it in your stead."
Its energy-formed arm slowly lifted, like a caress yet also a curse, gently, yet with irresistible force, pressing onto Luna's forehead!
"No!!!" Gaius and Dorian roared frantically in their minds, their eyes splitting with rage, yet unable to make any sound, their bodies pinned to the spot, only able to watch everything unfold!
"Uh ah ah ah ah — — — —!!!"
Luna suddenly lifted her head, letting out a heart-wrenching, extremely painful scream! The sound pierced through the helmet's soundproofing, filled with unimaginable torment! Her whole body convulsed violently, as if enduring the ultimate pain of her soul being torn and defiled!
As she screamed, a perfectly clear, intensely chaotic, constantly twisting and writhing dark eight-pointed star symbol was branded onto the skin of her forehead, as if by a red-hot iron! The symbol emitted an ominous glow, and one could even smell a strange mix of burnt flesh and Warp corruption!
"You damned two-headed stupid bird! What did you do to Luna! Let her go! If you're so capable, come at me!!" Dorian's roar finally broke through a sliver of the psychic suppression, bellowing like a wounded beast. "If you don't let her go now! I'll smash those two damned bird heads of yours! Grind them into dust!"
However, Kairos ignored Dorian's curses, as if they were insignificant noise. Its continuous, cunning energy, belonging to the Lord of Change, steadily poured into Luna's body, transforming and corrupting her essence.
Luna's screams abruptly ceased, not because the pain ended, but because her consciousness could no longer withstand the terrifying impact. Her head slumped, and she completely passed out. But the grotesque Chaos eight-pointed star on her forehead pulsed slightly like a living thing, proving that the corruption was complete.
Kairos slowly withdrew its hand, as if having completed a fine piece of art. It once again cast its "gaze" upon Gaius, its voice filled with an nauseating "pity":
"Look, Gaius, this is what your loyalty to that false Empire has brought you. What did they give you? Endless shackles, ceaseless suspicion, the pain of losing power, and... the despair of watching your comrades suffer misfortune because of you, utterly helpless..."
Its words were like the most venomous daggers, precisely piercing Gaius's deepest fears and guilt.
"As for that slightly... enhanced, utterly savage Tyranid..." One of Kairos's heads seemed to tilt, making a gesture akin to mockery. "It was merely a flick of My finger, a slight guidance of its hunting instincts, to make it appear precisely on your path. See, how simple. This power should have been yours to easily possess... to manipulate fate, to weave coincidences. Think carefully, true Chosen of the Gods of the Lord of Change, you should not be so powerless..."
With that, Kairos's flickering figure began to gradually fade, like ink dissolving in water, slowly dissipating.
Just before it completely vanished, the overlapping voice sounded again, full of malicious anticipation:
"I am very curious... how will those self-proclaimed just Inquisitor... and those silver-armored, ruthless loyal dogs... treat this... 'loyal' Tech-Sergeant with such a clear mark of Chaos on her forehead? Heh heh heh heh heh heh..."
Accompanied by a chilling, low laugh, Kairos Fateweaver's figure completely disappeared, and the terrifying psychic pressure dissipated with it.
Thud!
Dorian was the first to regain his mobility. He practically lunged to Luna, who had collapsed on the ground, his huge hands trembling, yet not daring to touch the evil-emitting mark on her forehead.
"Luna! Luna! Are you alright? Wake up!" Dorian's voice held an unprecedented panic. He carefully removed Luna's helmet, checking her vital signs. Aside from the mark on her forehead and her unconsciousness, there appeared to be no other external injuries for now, but the faint, extremely unsettling aura of Chaos made Dorian's heart sink to the bottom.
Gaius also regained his movement, but he didn't step forward immediately. Instead, he remained rooted to the spot, as if all his strength had been drained. Kairos's last words echoed wildly in his mind like the coldest judgment.
He knew all too well what this meant!
The Inquisition! The Grey Knights! They had absolute zero tolerance for anything tainted by Chaos! Better to kill innocent than let a single one escape! Once Luna's Chaos mark on her forehead and the energy aura of the Lord of Change on her were discovered... only one fate awaited her — to be branded a Chaos contaminator and "purified" without hesitation! Without any chance to plead her case!
No one would believe that someone personally marked by a Daemon Prince was innocent! Kairos's action was not to kill Luna directly, but to use the Empire's hand to destroy her! It was to sow seeds of fear, despair, and anger in Gaius's heart! It was to drive a wedge between him and the Empire! It was to avenge the hatred from when the "Emperor's Manifestation" repelled it years ago!
This was a heart-piercing scheme! The most vicious and cruel heart-piercing scheme!
Dorian, who usually feared nothing, a brute who dared to swing his hammer at Chaos Greater Daemons, endless Tyranid swarms, and Ork warlords, now felt a chilling fear for the first time. He wasn't afraid of powerful enemies, but of the cold, unquestionable judgment from "his own people"! He feared that those black-robed Inquisitor and silver-armored Grey Knights would unhesitatingly deem Luna an enemy and harm her!
He suddenly looked up at Gaius, who was still frozen in place, his face pale, his voice filled with unprecedented panic and... a hint of a sob:
"Gaius! Gaius! What should we do! Say something! We can't... we can't let them take Luna away! They'll kill her! They'll definitely kill her!"
Gaius's mind was in chaos, as if swept by a storm. Countless thoughts and terrifying images churned in his head.
Take Luna back? The consequences would be unimaginable! The Inquisition's intervention was almost predictable, and the Grey Knights might also be alerted... At that point, who could protect her? The Chapter Master? The Primarch? Faced with such conclusive "evidence," what could they do? For the purity of the Chapter and the stability of the Empire, sacrificing a Tech-Sergeant... such a choice... Conceal it? That was impossible! The clear Chaos eight-pointed star mark on Luna's forehead simply couldn't be hidden! There were psykers within the Chapter who could detect the abnormal Chaos aura on her at any time! Once discovered that they concealed it, the entire First Squad, and possibly even wider connections, would be deemed to be harboring Chaos, with even more severe consequences!
Should he... should he... abandon her? Leave her alone in this dangerous Hive City? As soon as this thought appeared, Gaius ruthlessly crushed it! No! Absolutely not! Luna was their brother, with whom they had faced life and death! He would never do such a thing!
Kairos's scheme was so insidious! It didn't attack directly, but used this method to force him into a desperate situation! Whichever path he chose seemed to lead to terrible consequences! It wanted him to fall into endless self-reproach and dilemma, to watch his comrade suffer misfortune because of his past "identity"! To make him doubt and resent the Empire!
"Gaius! Gaius! You damn well speak! What the hell should we do!" Dorian looked at Gaius's pale face and struggling eyes, growing even more anxious, the sob in his voice more pronounced. This man of steel was now on the verge of collapse due to worry for his comrade's safety.
Gaius took a deep, sudden breath, forcing himself to calm down. He looked at the unconscious Luna, at the frantic Dorian, his heart gripped by an icy hand.
He spoke with difficulty, his voice hoarse and full of uncertainty: "First... take her back..."
This was the only method he could think of at the moment.
Perhaps... perhaps the Chapter Master, Company Captain, they would have a way?
Perhaps the Chapter's Tech-Priests or Librarians would be able to cleanse this mark of Chaos?
Perhaps... the Primarch...
But a voice deep inside him told him that hope was slim.
An imprint personally placed by Kairos Fateweaver, how could it be so easily removed?
Moreover, he couldn't guarantee that Chapter Master Marius Calgar, when faced with such a severe incident of Chaos corruption, would unhesitatingly choose to shelter a single soldier rather than prioritize the overall interests of the Chapter and the Imperium...
However, what other choice did he have?
"Take her back... and then what?" Dorian pressed, his eyes filled with fear.
Gaius fell silent; he couldn't answer.
The road ahead seemed shrouded in a thick, desperate fog.
What Kairos had left behind was an almost unsolvable, despairing game of chess.
Gaius and Dorian carefully lifted the unconscious Luna; her body was unusually heavy, not only due to the weight of her power armor and servo-arm, but also because of the terrifying aura of Chaos emanating from her forehead, like an invisible shackle, weighing heavily on their hearts.
They trudged back the way they came, through the silent and dilapidated Hive City streets.
Every step was like treading on a blade.
Dorian vigilantly watched every shadow, fearing that some monster would jump out again, or... worse, that Luna's abnormality would be discovered by their own people.
Gaius remained silent, his face beneath the helmet extremely grave, his mind racing, trying to find a glimmer of hope in this desperate predicament.
Report it directly?
He could almost imagine the cold, ruthless faces of the Inquisitor and the unforgiving purifying flames of the Grey Knights.
Conceal it?
How long could it be hidden?
There were psykers in the Chapter, and the foul aura of the Lord of Change on Luna was like a lighthouse in the dark for those with keen senses.
Abandon her?
This thought resurfaced, then was crushed by his stronger willpower.
Never!
After much deliberation, Gaius finally made a difficult decision.
He needed help, someone he could trust enough and who had the ability to offer advice or assistance.
And that person could only be Lieutenant Golden.
He firmly believed that no matter how bad the situation, Lieutenant Golden would never easily betray an old subordinate who had followed him for many years; he would surely try to figure out the situation first.
"Dorian," Gaius's voice came through the private channel, hoarse and weary, "I plan to... contact Lieutenant Golden first."
Upon hearing this, Dorian suddenly turned to look at him, his eyes behind the visor filled with worry and a hint of fear: "Lieutenant?... But... if he..."
"I trust him," Gaius interrupted him, his tone unusually firm.
"He is our Sergeant, now our Lieutenant.
He knows us better than anyone.
We must tell him and see if he has... if he has any ideas."
Gaius said the last few words with extreme difficulty; he knew himself that hope was slim.
Dorian was silent for a moment, then finally nodded heavily: "Alright! I'll listen to you!"
Gaius took a deep breath, as if gathering all his courage, and connected to the encrypted communication channel with Lieutenant Golden.
The channel was connected almost instantly, indicating that the other party had been trying to contact them.
Lieutenant Golden's familiar and steady voice, now clearly anxious and puzzled, immediately came through:
"Gaius?! Where are you?! Why did you completely lose contact after killing the Hive Tyrant?
Your signal was heavily jammed before, and the last reading showed you heading towards the Hive City?
What exactly happened?
Now the Tyranid swarm is basically in chaos due to the Tyrant's death, and all squads are mopping up the remaining enemies and looking for you!
Report your situation!"
Lieutenant Golden's rapid-fire questions, like ice water, instantly extinguished Gaius's last shred of hope!
He... what did he say?
Lost contact after killing the Hive Tyrant?
Been looking for us all this time?
Then before... that "Lieutenant Golden" who gave the order to go to the Hive City to rescue the Tech-Priest...
Gaius felt a chill instantly shoot up his spine, and his limbs turned cold!
His hand gripping his Bolter began to tremble slightly.
It was Kairos!
It was that damned Lord of Change!
It was it!
It impersonated Lieutenant Golden, perfectly mimicked the Lieutenant's voice and tone, and even simulated battlefield background noise, invading their communication system!
It exploited their absolute obedience to superior orders and their sense of mission for important tasks, meticulously weaving this trap!
The so-called "critical Tech-Priest," the so-called "STC template fragments," the so-called "trapped in the Hive City"... all were lies!
All were pretexts Kairos used to lure them to that already prepared machine room, which contained the corpse of the Tech-Priest it had drained dry!
Even... that special Lictor!
It first had the Lictor wound Luna, weakening her resistance and will, and then personally appeared to complete that malicious branding!
Every step was calculated so precisely, so maliciously!
All of this was a thorough conspiracy targeting him, Gaius, and their First Squad!
"Lieut... Lieutenant..." Gaius's voice trembled uncontrollably, filled with lingering fear, anger, and a deep sense of powerlessness, "We... we were tricked..."
He painstakingly, intermittently, recounted everything that had happened: receiving the "fake order" after leaving the mine, going to the Hive City, encountering the Lictor attack, Luna being severely wounded, and finally meeting Kairos Fateweaver in the machine room, and Luna being...
When he spoke of Kairos's appearance and Luna being forcibly branded with the eight-pointed star of Chaos, the communication channel on the other end fell into a deathly silence.
Only heavy breathing proved that Lieutenant Golden was still listening on the other end of the line.
This silence, more than any reprimand or exclamation, made Gaius feel fear and despair.
He could even imagine the shock, anger, and... disbelief on Lieutenant Golden's usually steady face on the other end of the channel.
After what felt like an eternity, Lieutenant Golden's voice finally sounded again, low and hoarse, as if he had aged considerably, and even carried a hint of... a tremor... that Gaius had never heard before?
"Gaius... are you... are you sure what you saw... was Kairos Fateweaver?
Are you sure... Luna she..." Lieutenant Golden seemed unable to utter the word, "...was branded?"
"I'm sure, Lieutenant," Gaius's voice carried a painful confirmation.
"I saw it clearly... that eight-pointed star... and the... aura of Chaos emanating from her...
What... what should we do?"
The communication channel again fell into a suffocating silence.
Both Gaius and Dorian could feel that Lieutenant Golden on the other end of the channel seemed to have been so overwhelmed by this sudden, extremely serious, and thorny situation that he momentarily lost his composure.
This was no longer a simple combat casualty or mission failure.
This involved the direct intervention of a Daemon Prince, the most sensitive Chaos corruption, and the potential involvement of the Inquisition and the Grey Knights!
Any mishandling could bring unimaginable trouble to the First Squad, and even to the entire Third Company and the entire Ultramarines Chapter!
Lieutenant Golden's silence itself spoke volumes.
He also understood the gravity of the matter, and the Imperium's almost fanatical zero-tolerance attitude towards Chaos corruption.
He was also struggling, weighing his options.
Gaius's heart sank little by little.
Even Lieutenant Golden found it thorny and remained silent... was it really...
Just as the desperate silence spread, Lieutenant Golden's voice sounded again; this time, his tone became unusually grave and decisive, as if he had made some kind of resolution:
"Gaius, listen.
You are to immediately rendezvous at coordinates XXX, YYY.
There's a hidden entrance to an abandoned underground shelter there.
I will come to find you myself.
Before I arrive, absolutely do not let anyone discover you, especially... do not let anyone see Luna's condition.
Understand?"
"Understood, Lieutenant!" Gaius immediately responded, a faint glimmer of hope rekindled in his heart.
The Lieutenant didn't immediately ask them to report it, but chose to come in person; this in itself was a signal.
"Maintain communication silence, unless absolutely necessary.
I'll get there as quickly as possible."
Lieutenant Golden said, then cut off the communication.
Gaius and Dorian exchanged glances, seeing tension and a hint of relief in each other's eyes.
At least, the Lieutenant hadn't abandoned them.
They immediately changed direction according to the coordinates provided by Golden, cautiously heading towards the rendezvous point.
Along the way, they tried their best to avoid other squads and Planetary Defense Forces soldiers who were mopping up the remaining enemies, moving like ghosts through the ruins.
Finally, they found the hidden shelter entrance.
After confirming that the surroundings were safe, the two of them carried the still unconscious Luna and quickly entered the dark, damp underground passage.
In a relatively dry corner deep within the passage, they gently laid Luna down.
Dorian stood guard at the entrance, while Gaius knelt beside Luna, looking at the glaring mark of Chaos on her forehead, his heart filled with pain and anger.
Kairos's plot had succeeded.
It had successfully planted the seeds of fear and despair in his heart.
He was now not only worried about Luna's safety but also about the entire squad and even the Chapter being implicated.
Now, all hope rested on the approaching Lieutenant Golden.
Could he... truly have a solution?
----
The air in the underground bunker passage was filled with the smell of stale air and dust, the only light source coming from the cold beams of the power armor's shoulder lamps, casting flickering shadows on the moss-covered and rusty walls. Time seemed to stand still, each second as long as a century.
Dorian, like a blue guardian statue, firmly guarded the narrow entrance to the surface, his Thunder Hammer gripped tightly, his Storm Shield standing beside him. Any subtle sound would instantly put him into combat mode. His gaze constantly swept back and forth between the depths of the dark passage and the entrance, anxiety and worry almost overflowing from beneath his faceplate.
Gaius, meanwhile, knelt beside Luna. He carefully dipped a clean cloth in water, trying to wipe away the grime and sweat from her face left by the battle, but deliberately avoided the ominous eight-pointed star of Chaos on her forehead. The mark seemed to possess a life of its own, subtly writhing in the dim light, and prolonged staring even caused dizziness and whispered hallucinations. Luna remained unconscious, her breathing weak and rapid, her brows tightly furrowed, as if still enduring immense pain in her dream.
Gaius's heart felt as if it were being roasted over a fire. Anger, guilt, fear, and a glimmer of faint hope, all emotions intertwined, almost tearing him apart. He hated Karlos's cunning and malice, hated his own powerlessness and carelessness, and feared the impending, possibly unbearable consequences.
After an unknown amount of time, an extremely faint, yet rhythmic tapping sound came from the passage entrance—their agreed-upon signal.
Dorian immediately perked up, lowering his voice to Gaius: "The Lieutenant is here!"
He cautiously moved aside his Storm Shield, and a tall figure, covered in azure power armor, swiftly slipped in. It was Lieutenant Golden. He quickly scanned the surroundings, and after confirming it was safe, he hurried towards Gaius and Luna.
When he saw Luna lying on the ground unconscious, and the clear, intensely Chaos-infused brand on her forehead, even with prior mental preparation, Lieutenant Golden's body visibly stiffened. Beneath his faceplate, his expression must have been extremely grim.
He silently knelt down, extending a metal-gloved finger, hovering a few centimeters above the mark, as if he could feel the repulsive energy fluctuations. He carefully examined Luna's condition and checked the Lictor's puncture wound on her shoulder, which Gaius had already given emergency treatment.
"...The situation is worse than I imagined," Lieutenant Golden's voice came through his faceplate, unusually deep and hoarse, filled with gravity. "This mark... contains very powerful and evil energy. It is continuously corrupting her soul and body. Ordinary purification methods are probably..."
He didn't finish, but the meaning was clear.
"Lieutenant! What should we do?" Dorian couldn't help but ask urgently, his voice choked with tears. "We can't let those Inquisitor take her away! They'll burn her! Luna didn't do anything wrong! She was framed by that damned two-headed bird!"
Lieutenant Golden looked up, his gaze sweeping over the trembling Dorian, then at the pale-faced Gaius, whose eyes were filled with helplessness. He took a deep breath, as if making a huge decision.
"Calm down, Dorian," Lieutenant Golden's voice carried a forced calmness. "What's done is done. Anger and panic won't solve anything."
He stood up, pacing a few steps in the cramped space, seemingly organizing his thoughts and weighing the pros and cons. Finally, he stopped, his gaze sharp as he looked at Gaius:
"Gaius, tell me the truth. Karlos... besides branding her, what else did it do to Luna? Or rather... what did it say?" Golden keenly sensed that Karlos's elaborate scheme was far more than simply killing or corrupting a Tech-Sergeant.
Gaius swallowed with difficulty, repeating Karlos's seductive and provocative words, especially about the "Chosen of the Gods," the "power she should possess," and the final "expectation" of how the Inquisition and Grey Knights would treat Luna.
Lieutenant Golden listened, then fell silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Indeed... its target has always been you, Gaius. It can no longer corrupt you directly with power, so it resorted to this insidious method. It wants you to witness your comrades suffer because of you, to make you doubt and resent the Imperium, thereby disintegrating your will from within."
He looked at the mark on Luna's forehead, his eyes complex: "This mark is both a corruption and a 'marker' and 'bait'. It is challenging us and testing our reaction."
"Then... what exactly should we do?" Gaius's voice trembled slightly. "If we report it... Luna is finished. If we conceal it... it will be discovered sooner or later, and then we will all be considered traitors..."
This was the cruelest dilemma.
Lieutenant Golden fell silent again, his gaze under the faceplate flickering intensely. Clearly, he was also undergoing an extremely fierce internal struggle. As a Lieutenant, he should immediately report this matter to the Company Commander and Chapter Master for their decision, or even directly notify the Inquisition. This was the iron law of the Imperium, meant to ensure the 'purity' of the entire Chapter and even the Imperium.
But... Luna was a warrior he had personally trained, whom he had watched grow from a Tech-Sergeant to the senior specialist she was today. She was calm, reliable, and had repaired equipment and saved comrades' lives countless times on the battlefield. She had never harbored any disloyal thoughts; this time, she was an innocent victim. To simply hand her over and let the Inquisition dispose of her... he couldn't do it!
Moreover, Karlos's conspiracy lay precisely in this. If they were truly forced by pressure to hand Luna over, it would not only play right into Karlos's hands but also leave an indelible scar and rift in the hearts of Gaius, Dorian, and all informed brothers.
After a long pause, Lieutenant Golden suddenly looked up, as if he had made an extremely difficult and risky decision. His voice was very low, but carried an undeniable resolve:
"Listen, this matter absolutely cannot be known by a fourth person. At least not now."
Gaius and Dorian both looked at him in shock.
"Lieutenant, do you mean... to conceal it?" Gaius could hardly believe his ears. This was tantamount to violating Imperial law and the Astartes Codex!
"Not permanent concealment," Lieutenant Golden's gaze was as sharp as an eagle's. "It's to buy time! We need time to find a way to remove this mark, or at least find a way to prove Luna's innocence! If we report it directly, she will be taken away immediately, without any chance!"
He looked at the two of them, his tone extremely serious: "This means we will collectively bear immense risk. Once the matter is exposed, all three of us could be considered sympathizers or even collaborators with Chaos. Do you understand what this means?"
Dorian shouted without hesitation: "I understand! As long as we can save Luna, I'm not afraid of anything! I'll fight those Inquisitor if I have to!"
Gaius also nodded heavily, his eyes becoming firm: "I understand, Lieutenant. For Luna, I am willing to take any risk." Rather than watching Luna be purified, it was better to fight for a sliver of hope!
"Good," Lieutenant Golden nodded. "Then, from now on, we must maintain a unified story. Luna was severely wounded by a special Tyranid creature during the Hive City mission, her injuries were too severe, and she was infected with an unknown Tyranid spore virus, leading to unconsciousness and abnormal vital signs, requiring immediate isolation and special treatment. I will personally report this situation to the Company Commander and request that she be sent directly to the advanced medical bay on the Cleansing Blade for 'isolated treatment'."
He looked at Gaius: "Gaius, you are a Sergeant, your report must also be written this way. I will help you fill in the details. As for the mark on her forehead..." Lieutenant Golden took out a roll of high-strength sealing bandage and a quick-drying camouflage paste from his utility pouch. "We need to temporarily cover it up. This camouflage paste can, to a certain extent, block energy fluctuations, but it won't fool close-range psychic scans, so absolute isolation is necessary, avoiding contact with any psykers."
He personally and carefully applied the camouflage paste to Luna's forehead, covering the eight-pointed star mark, and then wrapped it in layers of bandage, making it look like a severe head injury.
"Remember," Lieutenant Golden finally admonished, his eyes extremely stern, "from now on, we are walking a tightrope. Any slight oversight could lead to eternal damnation. Until we find a solution, we must keep this secret at all costs."
Gaius and Dorian nodded solemnly. They knew that from this moment on, they had embarked on an incredibly dangerous path. Ahead lay an abyss, but they had no other choice.
For their comrade, they chose to defy the iron laws of the Imperium and engage in a dangerous gamble with the demon's plot. Hope was slim, but they were resolute.
Lieutenant Golden had just finished bandaging Luna's forehead. The carefully applied camouflage paste and layers of bandage temporarily concealed the ominous mark and, to some extent, suppressed the unsettling emanation of Chaos energy. While not completely eradicated, it at least wouldn't be easily detected from a distance. He and Gaius were about to lift Luna, planning to quickly evacuate this dangerous place and return to the Cleansing Blade.
Dorian also breathed a sigh of relief, his taut nerves relaxing slightly, preparing to lead the way.
However, just at that moment—
Dense and heavy footsteps suddenly echoed from the passage entrance! Along with the characteristic low hum of power armor servo systems! There were quite a few of them, and they were rapidly approaching their position!
"Someone's coming!" Dorian instantly became alert, raising his Storm Shield and Thunder Hammer again, blocking the front of the passage.
Lieutenant Golden and Gaius's hearts also sank instantly! At this time, who could it be? Other search teams? That shouldn't be, this bunker was very secluded.
Before they could react, a tall, imposing figure appeared at the passage entrance, followed by several heavily armed Third Company warriors. The newcomer wore exquisitely crafted azure power armor, with the distinctive Third Company insignia on his shoulder pads, his face resolute, his gaze like burning coals—it was none other than Company Commander Hec Hansson!
The Company Commander himself came?!
Lieutenant Golden and Gaius's hearts simultaneously skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition instantly enveloped them. How could the Company Commander suddenly find this place?
Company Commander Hec Hansson's sharp gaze quickly swept through the dark passage, immediately spotting Lieutenant Golden, Gaius, Dorian, and the unconscious Luna lying on the ground, her head bandaged. His brows immediately furrowed, clearly surprised to see the Lieutenant there.
"Golden? What are you doing here?" Company Commander Hansson spoke first, his voice tinged with doubt and scrutiny. "And Sergeant Gaius, shouldn't your First Squad be on a sweep mission? Why are you in this secluded bunker? What happened to Tech-Sergeant Luna?"
He paused, his tone becoming grave: "I just received an encrypted message from an unknown source, claiming that an Astartes warrior in this area has suffered severe... Chaos corruption, and suggested immediate verification. To be safe, I personally brought men to investigate. What exactly happened here?"
An encrypted message from an unknown source?!
Lieutenant Golden and Gaius's hearts instantly felt like they were gripped by an icy hand! It was Karlos! It must be that damned Lord of Change! It had not only set a trap but had also left this malicious contingency! It had calculated that they might try to conceal it, so it directly reported them to the Company Commander, intending to blow the whole thing wide open! It wanted to witness the suspicion and conflict that would arise within the Imperial faction because of this!
Lieutenant Golden forced himself to calm down, trying to explain according to their original plan: "Company Commander, we..."
However, just as he spoke, perhaps due to the tension and pressure brought by the Company Commander's sudden appearance, or perhaps because the Chaos energy within Luna had coincidentally reached a peak fluctuation, or perhaps Karlos was secretly at work—
A faint, yet incredibly clear, cold, and cunning Chaos psychic fluctuation suddenly permeated from Luna's bandaged forehead!
This aura, to battle-hardened Astartes warriors extremely sensitive to Chaos energy, was as conspicuous as a beacon in the night!
In an instant, the faces of all the warriors present, including Company Commander Hec Hansson, changed drastically! They abruptly turned their gaze to the unconscious Luna on the ground, their hands instantly resting on their respective weapons!
"Chaos aura!" one of the warriors behind Company Commander Hansson exclaimed in shock!
Company Commander Hec Hansson's face instantly turned incredibly grim. He suddenly took a step forward, his gaze like cold blades, staring intently at Lieutenant Golden and Gaius, his voice deep and filled with incredulous anger and questioning:
"Lieutenant Golden! Sergeant Gaius! What in the Warp is going on?! Why is Tech-Sergeant Luna emanating such a clear, foul aura of the Lord of Change?! What have you done to her?! Or rather... what exactly has she been through?!"
His gaze swept over Luna's bandaged forehead, then looked at Golden and Gaius, who were clearly trying to cover up and explain. The suspicion and vigilance in his eyes instantly reached their peak. The content of that anonymous message seemed to have been terribly confirmed at this moment!
"And you, Golden!" The Company Commander's voice grew even sterner. "Why are you here? Did you know about this all along? Are you trying to conceal it?!"
The barrage of questions hammered at Golden and Gaius's hearts like heavy blows. Their worst fears had, after all, come true in the most terrible way! And it happened just as they had seen a glimmer of faint hope!
Dorian suddenly blocked Luna, standing in front of her. Although facing the Company Commander, he still refused to back down, shouting anxiously, "Company Commander! It's not like that! Luna was framed! It was that..."
"Dorian! Shut up!" Lieutenant Golden sharply stopped Dorian's impulsive defense. In this situation, any thoughtless remark could make things worse.
Lieutenant Golden took a deep breath. He knew there was no way to hide it anymore. He met Company Commander Hec Hansson's sharp and oppressive gaze, trying to keep his voice calm and steady:
"Company Commander, please calm down. Things are not as you imagine. Tech-Sergeant Luna did not fall willingly; she was deliberately attacked and framed by the Daemon Prince Kairos Fateweaver!"
He quickly reported everything that had happened – from receiving the false orders, to encountering the unique Lictor in the Hive City, then to Kairos' appearance and the forced branding – as concisely and clearly as possible. He only omitted their initial intention to conceal it, instead emphasizing that they had just rescued Luna and were about to report to him immediately and seek treatment.
"...Kairos' target has always been Sergeant Gaius. It did this for revenge and to sow discord. Luna is an innocent victim," Lieutenant Golden concluded, his tone sincere.
However, Company Commander Hec Hansson's suspicion and gravity did not diminish after hearing his account. He glanced at the weakly breathing Luna on the ground, then at the nervous Gaius and the defiant Dorian, finally returning his gaze to Golden.
"A Daemon Prince personally intervening... to frame a Tech-Sergeant?" Company Commander Hansson's tone carried obvious disbelief and scrutiny. "Lieutenant Golden, do you know what you're saying? This sounds more like an incredible story concocted to cover up the truth!"
He took a step forward, his powerful aura pressing down on everyone: "What's more, if it's truly as you say, you should have reported it immediately! Not appeared in this hidden refuge! Your actions just now make it hard not to suspect you're trying to hide something!"
The Company Commander's suspicion was reasonable. From any angle, Golden's actions and explanations were full of doubts. Kairos's scheme was almost flawless, skillfully directing all suspicion towards them.
"Company Commander! What the Lieutenant said is true!" Gaius couldn't help but speak, his voice hoarse with anxiety. "We..."
"I wasn't asking you, Sergeant Gaius!" Company Commander Hansson interrupted him coldly, his gaze still fixed on Golden. "Lieutenant Golden, I'm giving you one last chance to explain all of this clearly! Otherwise, I will place all three of you under control on suspicion of harboring a Chaos contaminator and hand you over to the Chapter's Provost Marshal and the accompanying Inquisitor!"
The atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing point. In the corridor, the warriors of the Third Company had subtly formed a perimeter, their hands tightly gripping their weapons. Dorian fiercely shielded Luna, refusing to budge, and Gaius's heart was in his throat.
Lieutenant Golden faced the Company Commander's cold questioning and the warriors' suspicious gazes, knowing they were on the edge of a cliff. Any wrong word could plunge him and his team into an abyss of no return.
How could he explain? How could he make the Company Commander believe this seemingly absurd truth? How could he save Luna without dragging the entire squad into desperation?
Kairos's scheme to sow discord was slowly pushing them towards the abyss of despair.
The air in the corridor seemed to solidify into steel, so heavy it was suffocating. Company Commander Hec Hansson's eagle-sharp gaze pressed down on Lieutenant Golden as if it were a physical weight, awaiting his final explanation. The fingers of the surrounding Third Company warriors were on their trigger guards, the tension at its peak.
Lieutenant Golden knew this was his last chance. Any sophistry or evasiveness would only deepen suspicion. He took a deep breath, cast aside all distracting thoughts, met the Company Commander's gaze frankly, his voice steady and clear, even with a hint of desperate resolve:
"Company Commander, I swear by my loyalty to the Emperor and the Primarch that every word I have spoken is true. Kairos Fateweaver's target was indeed Sergeant Gaius, and Tech-Sergeant Luna is an innocent victim. We are here not to conceal, but because Luna's injuries are too severe, and her condition is unique; we dared not move her rashly. We were about to report to you and request instructions when you arrived."
He paused slightly, emphasizing his words: "That anonymous message was very likely sent by Kairos itself. It not only wants to corrupt Luna but also use this to create suspicion and division within us! If we fight amongst ourselves at this moment, even pushing loyal warriors to the opposing side, that would truly be falling for the daemon's trick! Please, Company Commander, see clearly!"
Golden's words were forceful, carrying an undeniable sincerity and a judgment based on a profound understanding of the daemon's nature. He did not try to justify his previous hesitation but focused on exposing Kairos's conspiracy and maintaining Chapter unity.
Company Commander Hec Hansson stared intently into Golden's eyes, as if trying to find any trace of deception. The corridor was utterly silent, save for the faint hum of power armor servo systems.
After a long moment, the Company Commander's tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly. He knew Golden; this Lieutenant was known for his steadiness, loyalty, and pragmatism, with no record of misconduct. Moreover, he was well aware of Kairos Fateweaver's cunning and deceptive nature.
Although the entire incident remained full of doubts and incredible aspects, Golden's frank gaze and his analysis based on the bigger picture caused the scales in his heart to tip slightly.
"...I believe in your loyalty to the Imperium, Lieutenant Golden," Company Commander Hansson finally spoke slowly, his tone still serious, but the previous sharp murderous intent had lessened considerably. "And for now, I accept your explanation. However, Tech-Sergeant Luna's condition... is too unique and dangerous. The contamination of the Lord of Change on her is undeniable; it cannot be ignored."
His gaze swept over the unconscious Luna, with a hint of regret and gravity: "We must take the most cautious measures. Now, I order: immediately escort Tech-Sergeant Luna back to the 'Cleansing Blade' and place her in the highest-level isolation chamber. No one is to approach her without my command!"
He looked at Golden, Gaius, and Dorian: "The three of you will also return and be temporarily isolated for investigation. Until the matter is thoroughly clarified, you are not to have any contact with the outside world. This is an order, and it is also to protect you and the entire Chapter."
Hearing the Company Commander's decision to temporarily believe them and take Luna back to the warship for isolation, rather than taking more extreme measures on the spot, Golden and Gaius both breathed a slight sigh of relief. This at least bought them some time.
But Dorian became anxious. He couldn't help but shout, "Company Commander! We can't take Luna back! Isolated for investigation? How is that different from handing her over to the Inquisition? Chapter Master Calgar will definitely know! Those Inquisitor will definitely come! They'll kill her! She didn't do anything wrong!"
"Dorian! Obey orders!" Lieutenant Golden sharply commanded, stopping his impulsiveness. He knew this was already the most lenient treatment the Company Commander could offer under the circumstances. Arguing further would only re-ignite suspicion.
Gaius looked at Luna, who was being carefully lifted by two warriors, still unconscious, his heart filled with endless grief and self-reproach. Luna... had endured countless brutal battles with him, from the Orks on Elizabeth Star, to fighting Chaos traitors, to purging Tyranid swarms... She had repaired equipment countless times on the battlefield, rescued the wounded, and supported the entire squad with her calm and skill. Would such a loyal and excellent warrior, who hadn't died at the hands of the enemy, ultimately die due to the daemon's framing, under the suspicion and judgment of her own people?
"It's all my fault... It's all because of me..." Gaius closed his eyes in pain, his fists tightly clenched. If he hadn't once possessed that power of Tzeentch, Kairos wouldn't have targeted him, and Luna wouldn't have suffered this undeserved calamity. Endless guilt gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake.
Under the Company Commander's personal escort, the group silently and swiftly returned to the 'Cleansing Blade' in orbit. The atmosphere on the warship was noticeably unusual; many warriors cast questioning and scrutinizing glances.
Luna was immediately sent to the highest-level isolation chamber specifically used for dangerous contaminants or suspected Chaos infections. It was a completely sealed metal cage with powerful suppression fields and monitoring equipment. Golden, Gaius, and Dorian were also placed in adjacent isolation rooms, their freedom temporarily restricted.
Upon returning to the ship, Company Commander Hec Hansson immediately contacted Chapter Master Marius Calgar on the 'Macragge's Honour' via a top-secret communication line.
He reported the entire incident in detail, including Lieutenant Golden's explanation, Luna's condition, and his own judgment and handling.
In the holographic projection, Chapter Master Marius Calgar listened quietly, his resolute face growing increasingly grave as the report deepened, his brows tightly furrowed. When he heard that Kairos Fateweaver had personally appeared and branded Luna, a flash of shock and extreme anger crossed his eyes.
"...That's the situation, Chapter Master," Company Commander Hansson concluded his report, his tone heavy. "Lieutenant Golden insists this is Kairos's plot, and Tech-Sergeant Luna is innocent. I personally lean towards temporarily trusting his judgment, but the Chaos contamination on Luna... is an objective fact that cannot be ignored. Please give your instructions."
Chapter Master Calgar was silent for a long time, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest of his throne. He knew Golden, and he knew Luna; he believed in their loyalty. He was even more aware of Kairos Fateweaver's cunning and cruel nature, perfectly capable of such a scheme to sow discord.
"I believe Tech-Sergeant Luna is innocent," the Chapter Master finally spoke slowly, his voice deep and powerful. "I also believe Golden's judgment. Luna is an excellent warrior; she would not betray the Imperium."
However, his tone immediately shifted, filled with helplessness and gravity: "But, Hansson, you know the iron laws of the Imperium, and you know the Inquisition's modus operandi. This matter, once those Inquisitor know about it, they will never care about conspiracies or innocence. They will only see the mark of Chaos, feel the aura of the Lord of Change... and then, there will only be one outcome."
The Chapter Master's words carried a hint of helplessness towards the system and protection for his subordinates. He knew that in the face of the Imperium's cold regulations and the Inquisition's fanaticism, individual innocence and service sometimes seemed so pale and powerless.
"Listen, Hansson," the Chapter Master made his decision, "before I make a final decision, immediately completely seal off this information! Issue a gag order to all who know! Tech-Sergeant Luna's condition is to be classified as top secret! Absolutely no one, especially the accompanying Inquisitorial representative or anyone who might leak it, must know!"
"Yes, Chapter Master!" Company Commander Hansson immediately accepted the order.
"You will immediately conclude your local cleanup mission and return to the Macragge's Honour at maximum speed," the Chapter Master continued to command. "Keep Luna strictly isolated, ensuring she does not cause any secondary contamination. Upon her arrival, I will personally examine her condition."
The Chapter Master in the holographic projection had a deep gaze, as if he had made some kind of resolution: "I will... find a way. Before returning, stabilize the situation, ensure the safety of Golden and the other two, but also ensure that the isolation measures are absolutely effective."
"Understood! Mission accomplished!" Company Commander Hansson responded solemnly. He knew that the Chapter Master was using his authority and credibility to buy them time and space. The so-called "finding a way" meant that the Chapter Master would personally intervene in this extremely tricky matter, possibly even having to contend with the Inquisition.
The communication ended. Company Commander Hansson breathed a sigh of relief, but his mood remained heavy. The Chapter Master's attitude gave him some hope, but the road ahead was still full of thorns.
Meanwhile, in the isolation room, Gaius looked through the small observation window at Luna, still unconscious and firmly sealed by a force field, lying on a medical bed in the adjacent chamber. His fists clenched tightly.
The Chapter Master knows... What will he do? Can he really withstand the pressure from the Inquisition? Luna... is there still hope?
Kairos's whisper seemed to echo in his ears again: "...I am very curious, how will the Inquisition, and those silver-grey loyal dogs... treat this loyal Tech-Sergeant..."
The shadow of despair still hung over everyone's hearts.