750. Ambush (1)

In the cold galaxy, a vessel unlike the other ships of the Imperium of Man was flying at tremendous speed. It had a silver livery, a golden Double-headed Eagle gleaming at its prow, and a streamlined hull that differed from the bloated Gothic style of other Imperial ships, giving it a sharp beauty all its own.

For now, it had no name, but it would soon.

Cato Sicarius sat on the bed in his room, the Storm Blade laid across his knees.

He had protected this sword well—and in return, the Storm Blade had rescued him from terrible situations more than once. Sicarius raised his right hand, cautiously and gently stroking the side of the blade with his index finger.

A cold sensation slid across his finger. Sicarius narrowed his eyes as a certain emotion began to stir in his heart.

Many priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus insisted that every creation of the Omnissiah contained a Machine Spirit within it. Sicarius did not oppose that claim, nor did he deny it.

Then did his sword, his glory—this Storm Blade named Thalassian—also contain a Machine Spirit within?

He gazed at the surface of the blade, its smooth face reflecting his blurred eyes. Sicarius exhaled and decided to end today's meditation. He picked up the Storm Blade and sheathed it. At the same time, the lights in the room came on with perfect timing, and the Glyph Array even adjusted the illumination of its own accord to a softer setting.

It would have been fine if the lights had stayed off, but once they came on, they illuminated the darkest corner of the room, and Sicarius was finally able to see a corner he had never paid attention to before.

An Aeldari was sitting there with her knees hugged to her chest,