The headquarters of the Adeptus Administratum. Well, when you can hear that name, it means you've reached territory the Imperium can firmly control. Buildings like this were as widespread across every loyal world, great and small, as the Astra Militarum's lasguns and the Ecclesiarchy's hymns.
There was a building like this on almost every world, one of the largest and most magnificent buildings in the local area. Built at the very center of an Imperial city, it was usually modeled after the Administratum headquarters on Holy Terra and constructed in the form of a colossal church.
Countless towering Gothic spires and rounded vaulted ceilings adorned the building, with stained glass and magnificent statues embellishing every corner. The Imperial Aquila hung above the golden entrance doors, as it always did.
The building was so enormous that the word "enormous" hardly did it justice. It was the Administratum headquarters on the Hive World that served as the capital of the system.
It was practically a city within a city. Its vast, intricate network of interior spaces would leave any outsider lost among the countless corridors, halls, and chapels without an Administratum guide. Even so, no one could claim to know every corner of this thousand-year-old building.
At the very center of the colossal structure, above the main building, stood a domed structure. Beneath its dome, carved with countless exquisite patterns and surrounded by towers, lay the heart of the Administratum—and the true heart of the entire Victoria System.
The system government's assembly hall was located here. Beneath the grand dome, rows of tiered seats rose in circles around the chamber.
Whenever the Victoria System government needed to decide an important matter, the hall filled with officials from every department. Today was no exception.
Between the crystal murals and marble walls, countless officials of every rank had gathered. They represented all of the Victoria System's major departments: the Administratum, Departmento Munitorum, Planetary Defense Force, Ecclesiarchy, Astropathic Choir, and Adeptus Mechanicus, among others.
Even personnel from departments that might not be quite so important, but still had a seat at the table, were present. The rulers of the Victoria System had gathered in groups of three or five, talking closely among themselves.
In the open space at the center of the circular assembly hall, Governor Luwen stood with several other department heads. The leaders of these secret societies all looked troubled and irritated.
"Has anyone heard from the Patriarch? Or His Eminence the bishop?" the Administratum's female minister asked. She seemed restless, unable to sit still.
"No. Nothing at all. We only know we were attacked, and that the Hammer Gang and the Syndicate did it," the Planetary Defense Force's marshal declared. He raised a hand and clenched his fist. "I'd stake my life on it, brothers and sisters: Sher was behind this! He must have helped those Underhive bastards ambush our gathering."
"But how did Sher learn about the gathering? It was a secret meeting. No one but us knew its exact location, and our family members would never betray the Cult," the Ecclesiarchy's archbishop's representative said without hesitation. Clearly, he had no doubts about his brothers and sisters in faith.
"Then how did he find out? Do we have a traitor among us?" the marshal asked in confusion. His golden epaulette cords swayed across his chest. He was so burly that he towered over everyone else in the room.
The Tyranid genes had clearly made him so massive. The others showed signs of similar changes to varying degrees: they might be taller, more sensitive, or more attractive.
The Minister of the Interior was especially beautiful. Perhaps that was partly due to specialized Tyranid genes. I'd heard that some Genestealer Cults used such methods to infiltrate high levels of Imperial society with their socialites and noblewomen, where they could gather intelligence, pass on messages, and spread infection.
Others operated out of brothels, clubs, and bars in the Mid Hive, spreading infection through sex. Often, that was how a world fell into Tyranid revolt.
Luwen furrowed his brow and began to think. His concern caught the attention of the Ecclesiarchy's apostate bishop, who turned to him. "Brother Luwen, have you noticed anything?"
The bishop's question drew the attention of several people. The governor looked around at them and gave a slight shrug. "A few nights before the gathering, Vito Constantine went to the Shaman Club after meeting with me."
"The Shaman Club? What was he doing there?" the female minister asked warily. Clearly, they had all noticed the problem, but Luwen seemed unconcerned, as if it didn't bother him at all. Though it was hard to tell whether he truly wasn't worried or was only pretending.
"On a date, Minister. It's no secret that he's seeing Silver Snake, that information broker from the Underhive."
"Lord of Redemption! Luwen! That bitch is an information broker! And don't you know who owns the Shaman Club?!"
The marshal growled angrily, but Luwen only smiled dismissively. He pointed to the marshal's medal. "Which of us hasn't been to Philus's clubs? You, him, me, and our subordinates have all been to his clubs. That little bastard controls more than half the clubs and private societies in the Upper Hive."
"If going to one of his clubs made us traitors, then we'd all deserve to be executed." Luwen's words forced the hotheaded marshal to back down. The curse on the tip of his tongue was stifled. Luwen gave a disdainful snort at the strong but thoughtless fool.
"Then do you think Vito betrayed us, brother?" the bishop asked gently, apparently trying to smooth over the awkward tension. He was clearly very good at it.
Luwen took a deep breath, then gave a small shake of his head. "No. He didn't know where the gathering was being held. He only found out on the day itself. When he went to the club, he hadn't even met with us. He couldn't have fulfilled the necessary conditions to betray us."
"I know Vito will betray us sooner or later. He's a schemer, an ambitious man. But now? He's about to seize power and become the emperor of the Underhive. If he wanted to betray us, he'd wait until he had power in his hands, not do it now. Does anyone really think he could unite the Underhive Convent and stand against us?"
Everyone nodded in agreement. Vito Constantine didn't yet have the power to split the Underhive Convent. He was certainly capable, but even now, he couldn't rebel right under their noses. He had to know that, too. He was clever; he wouldn't do something so foolish.
The female minister, however, looked troubled and anxious. Perhaps it was a psychic reaction to the Patriarch's disappearance. She rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought. "Could Constantine be an agent sent by the Sector Government? If so, he wouldn't need to worry about seizing power."
Luwen shook his head slightly. "Our allies in the Sector Government haven't sent us anything. Sher's filed report after report over the years, and we've always managed to suppress them. I doubt he could persuade the Sector Government to act this time."
"And besides, if his superiors—the Arbiter Lords of the Sector Adeptus Arbites—had decided to intervene, our friends in the Sector Adeptus Arbites would know, and the news would reach us. But we haven't heard anything. So I don't think the Sector Government is behind this."
"Then who is? Could it be Terra?" The marshal's question sounded more like a joke, and several people laughed. In the end, even he joined in.
Yes, Terra—the Golden Throne world on the far side of the galaxy. Could the Emperor's light really reach all the way here? Would He truly care about this frontier system?
"I can't sense the Patriarch. Its psychic signal has disappeared, but I think it's still alive," the chief Astropath of the Astropathic Choir said mysteriously. Her blind eyes were covered by an eyepatch. Perhaps she wore it because she was attending a meeting here. It wouldn't do to keep startling everyone, would it?
"But where is the Patriarch? We can't sense it, and no one has found it," the marshal asked urgently. His fervor was admirable. Their genetic instincts made them especially concerned about the Patriarch's whereabouts. They were all restless, filled with unease and panic.
That was one of the Tyranids' traits—and one of their weaknesses. You see, genetic instincts were often beyond the control of thought and reason.
Luwen shook his head slightly and looked at his fellow cultists. "Our people are already gathering information. The Patriarch is still alive; that's enough. The Cult has suffered heavy losses, but we still have plenty of people. As long as we stay safe, we can rebuild our strength."
Several of them nodded. Yes, it was enough as long as they survived. The hydra had only lost two heads; the other seven remained. Soon, they would make the beast grow even more.
That is, if they survived, right?
The assembly hall doors suddenly swung open. They all turned to look. Everyone in the hall stared at the golden doors as they opened. Several officials were being shoved inside, driven into the hall roughly. Some were even thrown in, landing in a thoroughly undignified heap.
As everyone watched, more than a dozen Adeptus Arbites enforcers marched into the hall, armed to the teeth. They wore silver breastplates and full combat gear, each carrying a heavy lasgun stamped with the enforcers' insignia.
The enforcers drove the people near the entrance farther inside, swinging rifle butts, kicking, and punching. The unfortunate officials were violently forced deeper into the hall. The enforcers sealed the doors, while others climbed to the top of the tiered seats and stood watch over everyone below, ready to shoot anyone at a moment's notice.
Luwen frowned. A sense of unease welled up inside him. He watched Lord Arbiter Sher enter through the doors. The old man emerged from among the enforcers, a lasgun hanging from his belt.
"Lord Arbiter, what do you think you're doing?" the Administratum minister shouted, pointing at the enforcers surrounding them. "This is a coup! You're committing treason! Take your men away! Now!"
"No, madam. You're the ones committing treason and rebellion!" Sher roared. His eyes glittered with menace. Luwen pulled the furious woman behind him and stepped forward.
"What are you talking about, Lord Arbiter Sher? Are you staging a coup? Do you think the Imperium won't hold you accountable if you kill us all? You know the Imperium and Terra will not tolerate treason."
"Well, what if he had the Imperium's authorization?" a familiar voice asked.
Luwen's eyes widened in surprise. They all—
They watched the man called Vito Constantine step out from a corner beyond the doorway. He appeared without warning. No one had expected him to be here, let alone with a group of Arbites Judges.
Now they had an answer to the question they'd been arguing about.
As Vito smiled, the enforcers by the entrance moved aside, clearing the way. As they parted, heavy footsteps sounded from beyond the doors.
Everyone's eyes widened as they stared at the two immense figures. Two colossal giants stood behind Vito, towering like mountains.
The giant on one side wore a suit of heavy Power Armour, nearly as massive as Terminator Armour, with thick fur draped over his shoulder plate. The other wore white armour. He held a hanging banner and stood to Vito's left like a divine warrior stepping out of a mural.
"Astartes," the marshal said, almost in disbelief. Everyone else in the room gasped in shock and alarm. Even though they had become Tyranid creatures, the human part of their souls still reacted. Traitors felt an almost instinctive terror of the Angels of Death.
Even so, Luwen quickly regained his composure. He gave his companions a slight nod. They all looked at Vito with calm expressions—or at least appeared calm.
"Sir, who are you? You were not invited here," the minister said firmly. Her resolve was admirable. The bishop, meanwhile, pointed at Vito and shouted with near-fanatical fervor.
"In the Emperor's name! You are committing blasphemy! You are defiling the authority the Emperor gave us! You are defiling Him Himself!"
"I'm glad to see you're still shouting in His name, Bishop."
Vito gave them an amused smile, looking at them as if he were enjoying himself. "You seem to have forgotten, haven't you? It's only been a few days since we last met, and already you've forgotten my name. Allow me to introduce myself again."
Vito's smile slowly faded. A commanding, unquestionable authority settled over his face. One hand rested behind his back, the other on the hilt of the Chainsword at his belt. He raised his head and looked down at them.
"I, Vito Constantine, am an Inquisitor chosen by the Emperor Himself. In His name, I have come to purge the traitors and cleanse the house of the Imperium and all humanity."
His words struck them like a dagger to the heart. Luwen stared at Sher in shock, looking at the grey-haired Lord Arbiter. His resolute expression left no room for doubt that this was a joke.
Was he insane?! Luwen cried out inwardly. He'd actually called in the Inquisition?! No! How had he contacted the Inquisition?! The contact information for Inquisitors wasn't listed in any phone directory. No, that wasn't the point!
Was he insane?! Didn't he know the Inquisition might consider him part of the rebellion—or at least guilty of dereliction of duty—and execute him along with the rest?
You see, friends, these heretics still hadn't understood one thing.
The truly loyal never feared death, least of all their own. Their lives had long since belonged to the Golden Throne and the Master of Mankind upon it.
And when death came, the loyal could return their souls to the Golden Throne. There could be no greater honour.
Vito gave Sher a smile. Sher's hand rested on his gun, and he watched the traitors before him intently, his eyes filled with fury, like the flames of the Astronomican burning eternally over Terra.
"By law, I have the right to execute you on the spot. But I'd like to play a game and let you reveal your true selves." Vito smiled. The minister, however, remained calm enough. She suddenly flung out a hand and pointed at him. "The Sector Government granted us our authority! Even an Inquisitor has no right to strip us of it!"
"You're slandering us, Inquisitor! We have never betrayed the Golden Throne! I will not tolerate such heresy!" the bishop continued to shout aggressively. Vito looked at him with mocking amusement.
"Fascinating. Even now, you can still say things like that. All right, let's make the matter a little clearer." Vito snapped his fingers. Heavy footsteps sounded outside, accompanied by an animalistic roar.
Their eyes widened as they watched two giants push a containment cage into the assembly hall. Inside it was a beast—a roaring creature bound securely in place.
Two more giants, each carrying a knightly sword and a Chainaxe, joined their brothers. The four giants stood behind Vito, silently demonstrating his authority: the authority of an Inquisitor.
Vito laughed, looking at them mockingly. "You know, there's a fascinating mechanism in the instincts of Tyranid creatures. If their leading Synapse Creature is in mortal danger, the Tyranids present will instinctively protect it, abandoning reason and any concern for their own safety."
"A kind of hive mind. It's very useful in war. Every time you decapitate a Tyranid commander, it's a pain in the ass—you have to fight through a whole mob of them. But I've found another use for this instinct."
Vito snapped his fingers. Almost at once, the winged-helmeted Astartes drew his Bolter and pressed it to the Patriarch's head. The monster struggled and roared inside the cage. Countless chains and restraints clanked as it thrashed, but the beast remained firmly secured, its prison unmoving.
"Don't bother, you big idiot. I built this cage to hold a Bloodthirster. I could keep your Tyranid Overlord in here, too." Vito gave a mocking laugh, then looked at the people in front of him, their faces twitching as their bodies began to spasm uncontrollably.
"I've found that this instinct of the Tyranids is more effective than any interrogation. I've always wanted to try it. I'm glad you've given me the opportunity today." His expression turned into a scornful smile, the mocking grin of a victor on the verge of triumph.
"Lancelot, do it," Vito said, staring straight ahead.
The Astartes in the winged helmet began to squeeze the trigger. The Bolter clicked. In the cage, the Patriarch roared furiously, baring its enormous mouth as far as it could. Its fury and feral nature burst forth all at once.
The marshal's whole body went from twitching slightly to convulsing violently. He roared as his human teeth rapidly sharpened into razor-edged fangs. His body began to swell and grow larger, ripping apart his well-tailored uniform. The inhuman monster lunged to attack.
At inhuman speed, he sprang forward. His fingers, now transformed into claws, reached for Vito's face. Vito only smiled, standing perfectly still.
The Chainsaw Axe roared to life. Ragnar swung it with lightning speed, slicing through half of the alien's body in an instant. The marshal was severed cleanly at the shoulder, his body split diagonally in two.
He crashed to the floor, his ruined body still managing to lift its head toward Vito. Vito smiled faintly as a huge shadow fell over the marshal. When the marshal looked up at its source, he saw an iron foot. It was the last thing he ever saw.
That seemed to be the signal. All the Tyranid-infected erupted into a frenzy and charged. The beautiful Minister of the Interior rushed forward with astonishing speed, moving so fast that she even dodged the lasgun fire from the enforcers surrounding Vito. Her long claws descended from above.
But she'd overlooked one thing: there were four Astartes in the room.
Lancelot seized the minister's head, catching her precisely in midair. She barely had time to react before her beautiful face—and her skull—were crushed, turning into a spray of bone fragments and brains.
The assembly hall descended into chaos. The Genestealers rushed wildly toward the cage. The enforcers opened fire as one, sending countless red las-beams streaking toward the hated alien traitors. The monsters fell one after another, shot through and riddled with holes, while a psychic battle erupted in the center of the hall.
The Astropath turned toward Vito. A psychic attack struck him, but he neither dodged nor flinched. The mental blast split apart in front of him, slamming into a shield and breaking apart instantly.
The Astropath screamed. Clearly, the backlash had taken a heavy toll on her. But her scream was cut short when Olaf stared at her, a flash of light bursting from his eyes. The Astropath dropped to the floor, clutching her head and screaming again. Her shriek could have made anyone's ears ache, but it didn't last long. Bell drew his Bolter and shot her, reducing her to a heap of mangled flesh.
The Ecclesiarchy bishop didn't survive much longer. He clearly wasn't as powerful a Genestealer as his companions, and as a fifth-generation infected, he was more like a human. Bell's second shot quickly blew him to pieces.
The Space Marines drew their Bolters and swung their swords and axes, killing the Genestealers rushing toward them. The searing red light of lasguns flashed throughout the hall. Vito stood calmly in his place, watching Luwen panic in the midst of the battle. Las-beams streaked all around him, screams rang out, and flesh and blood flew everywhere.
When the chaos ended, the once-grand governor could no longer put on airs. He stared around in terror at the wreckage. At the sound of footsteps, he turned in alarm to see Vito approaching. With a smile, Vito placed a hand on the man's trembling shoulder.
"Have you heard the saying, 'Chaos is a ladder'? Some people fall down it, while others climb to the top. I believe it came from some ancient Terran sage."
Luwen nodded, and Vito's smile grew brighter.
"Then I hope you get used to falling."
Everyone in the Administratum's main hall had been startled by the commotion. Passersby watched the governor tumble down the long marble staircase. They were astonished, but when anyone tried to go help him, they all stopped.
People looked up at the Arbites Judges standing at the top of the staircase, in the corridors, and across the floor. These white-armoured Arbites surrounded the entire hall. Among them, a man in a black trench coat descended the stairs. He took a cape from one of the giants and draped it over his shoulders. It was a crimson cape, emblazoned with a large letter I.
People watched in terror as the Inquisitor descended the staircase. Four giants stood on the steps, their iron feet crushing the stone and sending cracks spreading in every direction. They stood behind the Inquisitor, silently warning anyone present against entertaining foolish ideas.
Vito walked beneath the fluttering banner of the Deathwatch Chapter. He stopped in front of the governor, who lay on the floor in terror, and teased him. "Funny. Your confidence doesn't seem to have held up very well."
Vito leaned down, smiling into the governor's terrified eyes. "You know I could execute you on the spot, right? I don't need evidence or an explanation. The insignia I wear and the four friends behind me have already given me that authority."
He smiled at the governor's frightened eyes. "But I happen to be something of an oddity in the Inquisition."
Vito stood up. A Servo-skull flew in from somewhere. He raised his hand, and a connector extended from his palm. He plugged it into the corresponding port on the Servo-skull.
After a moment's silence, the Servo-skull took flight. It circled the center of the hall and projected a hologram into the middle of the chamber. It showed Governor Luwen and his companions. Every word they'd said and every movement they'd made during their meeting with Vito was projected clearly and accurately for everyone in the Ministry of the Interior to see.
People stared at the hologram in astonishment. Luwen, meanwhile, was nearly paralyzed with terror. He stared at the projection in disbelief, while Vito laughed. "You know that thing your bodyguards failed to detect? This is it."
Vito looked around at everyone in the hall. "This fool and the alien traitors I've already executed betrayed the Imperium—and all of you. They led the Tyranid Swarm to this planet."
"I can tell that some of you know what those things are, and some don't. So I'll explain. Those alien bastards will eat everything you have: your homes, your vehicles, and you yourselves. And these fools thought it was some path to salvation."
Vito looked down at Luwen. "And this fool ignored the truth because of his greed. He betrayed the Imperium and the Emperor, along with everyone on this planet. Just as he betrayed his brother and hunted down the rightful heir to the planetary governorship."
"I believe she has the right to execute this fool. Allow me to introduce Olivia Lyon-Lane!" Vito said, stepping aside. He looked toward the top of the stairs, and everyone followed his gaze.
A woman emerged from behind the ranks of enforcers. She wore the same clothes as Governor Luwen, but a brooch was pinned to her chest: the emblem of the Lyon-Lane family.
She descended the stairs step by step, her grey-green hair carefully braided in the same style as in the portraits at the estate. Luwen stared at her in shock. He knew this was Olivia, the little girl he'd thought was dead.
Olivia walked between the Space Marines and entered the hall. She stopped in front of Luwen and looked down at the coward on the floor. He managed to force out a faint smile. "My dear niece, I didn't know you were still alive. If I had known—"
"You would have killed me. I know."
Olivia took a gun from Vito and raised it, pointing it at Luwen's head. She looked at the murderer and traitor before her with surprising calm. "I gave up on revenge a long time ago. I gave up my identity, my name, and everything I once had. I thought I wouldn't enjoy revenge."
"But Uncle, I think I was wrong." Murderous intent flashed in Olivia's eyes. "I like revenge."
The gunshot rang out. The traitor fell with a thud.
Vito looked at Olivia, then stepped forward. The Inquisitor, draped in red, surveyed the silent crowd. "The traitor is dead. In the Emperor's name, I return power to its rightful and loyal owner. Right now, loyal citizens are hunting down the rest of the traitors. Many of your superiors will be held to account. If you don't want to suffer the same fate, I trust you know what to do."
Silence still reigned, but the officials all nodded. They'd been officials for many years; of course they knew what to do at a moment like this. Vito smiled in satisfaction, but it quickly faded.
"But this is no time to celebrate! We still have a battle to fight! In the Emperor's name, I order you to obey Governor Olivia. Obey the loyal!"
"For the Imperium! For the Emperor!" Vito roared.
A deafening thunder of voices answered him. For the Imperium! For the Emperor!
Before you continue