"Alright, I have to admit, the taste is actually quite good." Kran popped a piece of Hydralisk belly meat into his mechanical maw.
"You have a sense of taste?" Brand asked curiously from the side.
"Of course. My gustatory servo-systems are constantly updated."
While the others chatted, Cawl remained silent. His gaze was fixed on a squad of tall warriors in a far corner. The Archmagos glanced at Alexei, who was currently deep in conversation, and already had a rough idea of the truth.
Rising to his full, towering height amidst the questioning looks of the group, Cawl signaled for Alexei to step outside for a private talk.
Alexei understood and led the Archmagos to a medical laboratory far from the canteen. Cawl surveyed the medical facilities before him. After a long silence, he suddenly asked, "Are you not afraid? To those fanatics, this is the gravest form of betrayal. In their eyes, your actions are nothing short of rebellion. If discovered, all of Aiur would be reduced to ruin."
"What?" Alexei attempted to play dumb, but Cawl cut him off immediately.
"The unauthorized creation of an Astartes Chapter. I don't know how you succeeded, but do you not fear destruction at the hands of the Inquisition?" Cawl's mechanical eyes stared intensely at the Governor of Aiur.
"I've only done what you have done," Alexei shrugged. "Blindly following tradition won't save a decaying humanity. And frankly, in a sense, they aren't exactly 'First Generation' Astartes anyway."
"..."
Under Cawl's watchful gaze, Alexei pulled a personal data terminal and a cable from a corner of the medical room. "Do you have a personal data interface? I'll show you a data package."
Cawl didn't speak. He took the terminal from Alexei's hand with a mechanical arm and plugged the cable into his interface. A few minutes later, Cawl spoke, his voice tinged with excitement. "Breathtaking biological modification. Where did you obtain this schematic? I see now why you were able to establish a Chapter."
The modifications seemed applicable even to his own Primaris Project. Alexei merely smiled. One Chapter? It wasn't that few. The first batch of experimental subjects numbered ten thousand, with a 70% success rate. Once this experimental batch of Astartes was fully stabilized, Aiur would begin mass-producing these New Astartes. By then, it remained to be seen who should fear whom.
Alexei looked at Cawl, who was still immersed in the data, and cleared his throat. As the Archmagos looked up in confusion, Alexei said, "The individual who provided that data is right here on Aiur. I believe the two of you will have plenty to discuss when you meet."
"Here on Aiur?" Cawl's spirits lifted. He turned quickly. "Then why hasn't this genius come to see me yet?"
Mainly because I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it, Alexei thought, coughing again. "No rush. It will take some time for them to arrive. You'll understand tonight after you watch the live-fire exercise of the Aiur Guard."
Finding the Governor's secretive behavior suspicious, Cawl stared at him for a moment before turning back to the data streaming into his mind.
Time ticked away. The sun began to set over the Cinder Plains. Cawl and the others followed Alexei to the edge of the military encampment. In the cool evening breeze, the assembly call rang out. The silent Aiur Guard, clad in various models of power armor, began to gather rapidly. The roar of heavy vehicle engines seemed to make the very horizon boil.
After extensive combat simulations, this force already possessed the silhouette of an elite army; it only lacked a true war to temper it.
"Magnificent," Creed said, standing beside Alexei as he surveyed the disciplined ranks. "At the very least, they are on par with an elite Astra Militarum regiment. But your equipment... it is far too luxurious..."
"Move out!" At Colton's command over the loudspeakers, the infantry began boarding transport vehicles to head for the battlefield. Their objective tonight was simple: eliminate all swarms in the northern Cinder Plains.
"Let's go to the frontline command post." Alexei turned toward a Medivac, and the others followed without hesitation.
Inside the Orbital Command station, the officer in charge of the operation saluted Alexei respectfully. "The army is ready for your inspection, Governor!"
"At ease," Alexei returned the salute. "Carry on with the command."
The command station instantly became a hive of activity. Hurried footsteps and the rhythmic pings of the adjutant's notifications filled the air. Cawl and his companions stood before a massive screen, which displayed real-time battlefield status from multiple angles.
"So, who is your opponent?" Creed asked. "Another detachment of the Aiur army?"
Alexei didn't answer directly. He gave a mysterious smile. "You'll see in a moment."
"All units at designated combat positions. Engagement beginning in 30, 29, 28..." As the countdown ended, a massive steel tide surged down from the hills. In that moment, Cawl and the others finally saw their enemy.
"Tyranids?!" Kran cried out. No—looking closer, they didn't quite look like Tyranids, though they seemed familiar. Wait... wasn't this what they ate for lunch?! Everyone turned shocked eyes toward the still-smiling Alexei.
"What... what is the meaning of this? An indigenous species of Aiur?" Creed asked, stunned.
Cawl was already closely observing the behavioral patterns of the creatures. "These are not mindless beasts. They utilize tactics; their behavioral patterns are indistinguishable from a Tyranid Hive Fleet." He turned his gaze toward Alexei. "Don't tell me these things are also biological weapons researched by that 'genius' of yours."
In a sense, that was half-right. Ignoring Cawl's piercing gaze, Alexei simply said, "Once the battle is over, you will meet the genius you mentioned."
On the battlefield, the humans, under the precise direction of their commanders, launched a continuous assault against the Hive defenses. Meanwhile, Zagara utilized an endless swarm to execute various defensive strategies.
Finally, as dawn broke, a Ghost squad bypassed the swarm's defensive lines and painted the Hive for a tactical nuclear strike. Accompanied by a rising mushroom cloud, the battle ended. The remaining swarm immediately retreated, and the humans did not pursue; they even watched as the swarm cleaned up the battlefield. Cawl and the others were more confused than ever.
It wasn't until Alexei led them to a basement far from the Orbital Command post that the mystery unfolded. They walked slowly through a corridor covered in mucus. Finally, in a dim room, Alexei stopped. He looked toward a shadowed corner and called out:
"Come out, Abathur."
To the horror of Cawl and his companions, a massive, hideous Zerg creature emerged from the shadows.
"Greetings, humans."