At the edge of the Ghoul Stars, the Sarsfield System.
A dark planet emerged, shrouding the skies above Sarsfield Prime.
Fragments of shattered continents drifted around it, along with debris and mud.
Uneven cities resembled giant anthills, their ruined walls filled with Servitors and Logis-Engine cores.
They were the remnants of devoured worlds, remade into Servitors to serve their masters.
At the heart of the Predatory Forge World, a chain of engines ignited, and dense Runes leaped into existence.
The dark planet pressed downward, tearing through the atmosphere.
Blinding flames dyed the heavens red. Smoke spread outward, while blanketing dust clouds obscured the entire planet.
The apocalyptic canopy crushed Sarsfield Prime's atmosphere as the dark planet crashed toward its surface.
Scattered artillery fire rose from the ground and struck the falling behemoth, but failed to stir even a ripple.
Rumble—
Sarsfield Prime shuddered violently. Continental plates split apart, and magma burst forth.
Within the Main Forge Temple, Fabricator-General Navel watched drills spin at high speed, plunging into the crust like tentacles.
Streams of flame shot into the sky as sparks scattered.
Ore from the planetary core churned and rolled, flowing through pipelines into the forge factories.
Beep. Beep.
"Fabricator-General."
"Sevatar requests permission to land."
Navel's facial skin twisted crookedly, tugging his head down against his right shoulder.
"Grant permission?"
"Grant permission."
"Deny permission."
The Sonic Array synthesizer produced utterly different tones, as though two people were speaking.
"Grant permission."
"Execute immediately, according to your final order."
The landing pad.
Navel went to greet Jago Sevatarion, First Company Captain of the Night Lords.
"Sevatar, the Predatory Forge World welcomes your arrival."
His body twitched, and his cybernetic eyes flickered with mingled crimson and orange light.
"Can the Night Lords no longer endure?"
"You can no longer withstand the Shadow of Order's