The Lagos's steel feet crashed onto the surface of the Predatory Forge World, and Alex, High Princeps of the Morning Star Titan Legion, linked his thoughts with the roaring Machine Spirit of his Titan.
Alex's senses expanded. Three layers of Void Shields rose, sweeping over his back like cold gleams.
"Legion, disperse by detachments and keep moving."
Just as his detachment closed in around him, a ghostly blue beam came screaming in and slammed against the green chassis.
The Lagos's mechanical giant foot stepped left, and the second beam missed.
The sand where it had stood had turned into amber-colored glass.
"Give me their position," Alex ordered.
"My lord—" The sensor officer rapidly checked every module of the heavy Auspex.
"Unable to acquire the enemy's position. Neither the Radar Scanner, Echo Locator, Spectrum Sensor, nor electromagnetic detector has detected any heat signatures, engine noise, communications signals, or even signs of ground activity."
Nimrod's warning had indeed been correct. Alex recalled the briefing he had received before the battle.
The Predatory Forge World possessed a heretical Titan Legion—the Phantom Titan Legion, also known as the Void Ghosts.
The Predatory Forge World had wandered the Warp for a long time. Its Titan God-Machines had long been affected by Warp energy, leaving their bodies somewhere between reality and illusion. Their physical properties had most likely changed as well.
Lord Nimrod had not only foreseen the unknown Predatory Forge World and issued a summons in advance, but had also predicted the traits of the Phantom Titans.
Alex sighed inwardly and issued an order through the military communications network.
"Execute Combat Plan Three."
"All God-Machines, activate imaging systems and consolidate all visual feeds."
"Manual targeting. Attack!"
He ordered his deputy princeps, "Connect me to the weapons systems. I will personally punish these heretics."
The two