15. Walking with Fire (VII)

Adro Brannur leapt down from the troop carrier and rushed up the rapid lift leading directly to the top of Hesiod's eastern wall in just a few strides.

Before the intense sensation of weightlessness had faded, several deafening booms sounded overhead. He looked up and saw thick black clouds already blotting out the sky—an astonishing sight formed by vast quantities of gathered radioactive dust.

Frowning, he put on his helmet and used its lenses to conduct a rough scan. The results were exceedingly grim. He immediately reported the matter, but the response he received was not an order—it was the transfer of command.

In barely a dozen seconds, the three Salamanders company captains stationed on Nocturne had established a new command structure centered on him. Countless pieces of intelligence and reports drifted up like smoke, filling the corner of his visor's upper right display as they scrolled ceaselessly.

The veteran of the former Legion fell silent for a moment, then immediately settled into his role. Though he was indeed puzzled by this, now was probably not the time to dwell on it.

A series of orders was issued from him in rapid succession. Soon, a second sound distinct from thunder echoed through the sky. It was the sound of the radioactive dust removal devices installed by the Mechanicum aboard the orbital station beginning to operate.

Several minutes later, a blinding flash streaked across the entire sky amid a thunderous roar, scattering the clouds and revealing the fierce sun behind them.

Nocturne's sun had never been gentle.

Adro sighed, walked several hundred meters to the edge of the wall, gazed into the distance, and ordered the void shields raised.

The tremors that had constantly been shaking the city finally subsided for the most part. Only some areas near the edges still