Gronov Rutov narrowed his eyes and nodded.
Derrick Xian's once-splendid golden armor was now filthy, his crimson battle cloak torn and scorched by flames and teeth. All of it showed that Derrick Xian was not one of the Emperor's gleaming boy scouts, but a warrior of equal resilience. Combined with that earlier precise shot, it was enough to earn the respect of the emotionally detached Gene-modded Warriors. They knew what kind of dangerous enemy they had encountered, but their Power Armor did not bear anywhere near as many dents and gouges. That meant the enemy Derrick Xian had faced was quite formidable, far more dangerous than the sorcerers they had encountered.
"We have already arranged an interception mission," Gronov Rutov said. "Is that not enough?"
"Not enough, Lieutenant. Do not let those three warriors throw their lives away. Just delay Black Bolt." Derrick Xian spoke faster. He had to make the most of the time before the door closed automatically. "Black Bolt can easily kill everyone in Attilan Star Fortress. Do not let him speak. Break the shield as soon as possible. We must kill him before Attilan falls completely, or we will gain nothing from this battle."
The door closed automatically. Gronov Rutov strode forward and kicked it. It was merely a thin sheet-metal door, yet it felt as though he had kicked a stone. Only after ripping it from its hinges did he discover that there was nothing beyond it but a wall. Derrick Xian had vanished without a trace. Gronov Rutov turned to look at the half-conscious alien sorcerer at his feet and formed a plan of his own.
The Praetorian Guard's guess had been correct. That door was the proper route back.
But Derrick Xian was in no pleasant mood when he returned to the gloomy