"Destination set."
"Autopilot engaged."
"Commander, have a pleasant journey!"
As a female Navigator's soothing announcement rang out over the ship's docking berth, the landing craft soon launched from the vessel and successfully pierced Canopy Star's atmosphere. After securing a flight path through negotiations with the human authorities on Canopy Star—the Star Sector's human forces based at the mining complex—Sejanus, captain of the Fourth Company of the XVI Legion, the Astartes "Shadowmoon Wolves," had officially set out as a diplomat, accompanied by a dozen or so members of his personal retinue.
This time, he was acting on the orders of the Primarch Horus, preparing to negotiate with the human leader of the Star Sector at the mining complex on Canopy Star's surface over a top-secret mission.
Yes, a top-secret mission!
And one that would leave no data records or paper documents, involve no accompanying scribes, and keep even his bodyguards completely in the dark about what he was going to discuss.
Annie didn't mind. Still running happily, she went on to state a harsh truth: even aboard the massive flagship Vengeful Spirit, conditions in the lower-deck quarters were sometimes terrible. Children like them, from the lowest levels, who were treated like slaves, had been used to it since birth.
"Uncle Captain Sejanus!"
"Come look!"
"..."
Pointing out the window, Sejanus replied to Annie without hurry.
Apart from Sejanus and the dozen or so elite guards from his company, who sat motionless in their seats, the craft also held a little girl of six or seven in ordinary clothes, exclaiming over everything she saw.
"..."
As she spoke, she turned back and continued pressing herself against the porthole to admire the scenery outside.
"Wow!"
"..."
"Good!"
"I'm so nervous!"
He knew that using the little girl this way went somewhat against his