The most striking sight on all of Redemption Star was the needle-like structure rising a full thousand meters at the center of the workshops. It was the infamous Black Tower, the Kiavahr Guard's stronghold, now known as Raven Tower.
Dozens of spotlights mounted along the walkways pierced the pitch-black void, illuminating transport corridors and mine shafts stretching in every direction.
At the Raven Tower command post atop the Spire, former Chief Librarian Balthasar Quturi knelt on one knee.
"Father, believe me. Solaro is Alpha."
Corvas Corax fixed Balthasar with his black eyes. "Do you know what you are saying?"
"You are accusing a commander."
"This is what I saw." Balthasar lowered his head in repentance, presumptuously claiming the Black Emperor's words as his own prophecy.
[My lord, forgive me.]
Corax fell silent. "A traitor has infiltrated the upper command of the Raven Guard."
"Once this news spreads, the entire Legion will fall into turmoil. Everyone will see threats in every shadow."
"I am willing to bear the blame, so long as you separate him from the Honor Guard and create an opportunity for me—"
Balthasar did not know which members of Solaro's Honor Guard were Alpha.
He did not want to stain his hands with his brothers' blood, and he also hoped Corax would prepare himself for the death of a commander.
Before Balthasar could finish, Corax cut him off brutally.
He widened his eyes, as if seeing Balthasar for the first time.
"Do you know what you are saying?"
"You want to kill your brother."
"My commander."
Corax folded his arms. "I once thought you were different, but in the end, you are still a Terran."
"You do not know how I built Redemption Star."
"I have read every document."
"The documents are incomplete." Corax's black eyes were unfathomably