The flagship of the 10th Battalion of the Shadow of Order, the relic-class warship Shadow Rose—flight deck control room.
Sasebo Tezuka, a member of Ramsey's Honor Guard, stood in a corner as the controller's announcement rang out.
"25th Squad of the 9th Company, your landing plan has been confirmed. Proceed to the designated rune location."
"Please transfer control. I will take over the flight."
"Welcome home!"
Encased head to toe in Cataphractii Terminator armor, Sasebo Tezuka held an azure hollow metal sphere aloft on his left gauntlet.
He stared at the faintly trembling Ruby Blood, frowning as he watched the blood-colored "little snakes" suddenly spring up.
One, two, three.
The blood threads smacked against the metal in the same direction, and three emerald-green Runes leaped up.
Sasebo Tezuka memorized the subtle differences in brightness among the increasingly luminous emerald glows. Looking down through the viewport, he locked onto three Alphas clad in black Mark IV power armor.
He silently committed the Runes to memory.
Six hours later, the flight deck's hatches closed one after another.
Sasebo Tezuka silently put away the metal sphere and walked toward the hatch.
Cold mist spread through the air as the hatch slid open.
The pale-skinned operators turned to watch Shadow of Order depart, feeling the temperature inside the chamber rise in an instant.
They were Children of the Void who had lived aboard ships for generations.
They were born on the medical deck and grew up breathing the ship's filtered air.
Even with their eyes closed, they could travel along the repetitive paths of their lives through narrow spaces, until they were finally buried inside small metal boxes floating in the void.
With their wooden features, they could sense even the slightest changes in the ship's breathing.
They looked toward the temperature display. The