The end of a Warp jump was never smooth. When the cruiser carrying Timon Alcaeus and the others burst out of a Warp rift, the hull let out a long, low metallic groan of twisting steel, like the moan of some colossal beast.
At the same time, the bridge lighting flickered several times before finally switching from the emergency mode's dim red back to its normal cold white.
Then, the navigation array began recalibrating, the sensor array scanned the surrounding space, and the weapons systems shifted from standby to alert status.
Several large transport ships jumped out after them. The dark-purple Warp energy residue that uniquely clung to their hulls after a Warp jump slowly dissipated into the vacuum of space, looking like a layer of scab peeling away.
Of course, this was the pitch-black depths of space. No one was looking, no one could look, and no one cared.
For the Imperium of Man soldiers, Ultramarines, and crew aboard this fleet, getting safely out of the Warp was enough.
At that moment, Captain Timon Alcaeus stood in the center of the bridge, both hands braced against the edge of the tactical command console. He frowned as he stared intently at the position of a certain planet marked on the star chart, as well as the approximate location of their own remaining fleet.
"Report!"
"Warp jump complete!"
"Current position: outskirts of the Eridarasbia Star Sector!"
"All surrounding conditions normal!"
Soon, after one crewman received feedback from the navigator, he came before Timon Alcaeus, snapped to attention, and delivered his report loudly.
"..."
However, Timon merely nodded and gave no further response.
His gaze remained fixed on the star chart on the tactical command console, his eyes flickering as he looked at the planetary icon marked "Mission Complete."
He had already