Those Who Went to Their Death

Before things like the orbital Defense Platforms returned to Cain's control, a small warship detached from the space station.

Though it belonged to Kelbo Hal, with all attack systems paralyzed, the vessel could travel unimpeded.

The ship left Mars and headed for Terra.

As it passed the Gloriana-class Battleship that had been paralyzed by Chaos scrapcode, a Macrocannon that was gradually being reclaimed by an antivirus program invented by Quadrant took aim at it.

The Macrocannon fired repeatedly, but failed to hit the small warship before it left its firing arc.

However, Quadrant and the Custodes teleported aboard the small warship.

The teleportation point was in a corridor outside the Command Deck.

This point had been deliberately chosen by both sides, so when Quadrant emerged from the Immaterium, his nine fellow apprentices were already waiting along the only path forward.

The electronic lights, affected by scrapcode, flickered between brightness and dimness.

In the gloomy corridor, both sides sized each other up.

Quadrant was currently using a synthetic body. His robust bionic frame was wrapped in a red robe, yet bore no modified components such as extra limbs, because implants and Prosthetics would only hinder the many advanced functions of this synthetic shell.

"What exactly is Kelbo trying to do?" Quadrant asked. "His sudden attack has only given his opponents a perfect excuse to purge the traitors. Malcador is still stationed on Terra... What is the difference between this series of actions and seeking death?"

The apprentices did not know what their mentor intended either. At the temple of the Machine God, they had been swallowed by the supervirus before they could even react, only to awaken and discover that their consciousnesses had been transferred.

"To our mentor, you are the traitor."

The slender apprentice stepped forward. As she leaned forward,