People came and went on the bridge.
Bandis and his old comrades sat leaning against the wall in a corner, mourning Gaunt. At the same time, they kept recalling the great warrior's life, trying to etch it into their minds forever, never to forget.
The destruction of the body was not true death. Being forgotten, having the last trace left in reality erased—that was.
The Thunder Warriors had undergone enhancement later than the Astartes and Adeptus Custodes, so they retained more of their humanity. It was difficult for them not to grieve over a comrade's death.
The corner where Bandis and the others sat had become a corner made entirely of sorrow.
No one went over to tell them to mourn elsewhere on the warship instead of holding everyone up on the bridge.
Nor did anyone try to persuade them to pull themselves together, because no one knew how to comfort warriors who had lived for more than ten thousand years, like living historical archives.
They simply sat there in silence.
Other people could do nothing but cast them a brief glance.
The war would not cease because of one person's death.
The bridge soon returned to its previous bustle. Reports and information flowed into the bridge or out from it.
"I just realized something."
Mimic, standing beside Qin Mo, looked at him curiously, wondering what interesting thing he had suddenly discovered.
Then, under Mimic's gaze, Qin Mo exclaimed, "I just realized this is a fucking low-budget version of the War in Heaven."
Mimic looked toward the battlefield footage displayed on the tactical table.
Among the many battlefield feeds, the only one matching Qin Mo's description was the battle at the Desiderian Portal.
Space Marines, the army troops and Iron Men who had just teleported over, fought side by side