New Missions, Relentless Emergency Mobilization

"?"

The other party seemed to recognize him.

He didn't think he was that famous, did he?

Moreover, Cyrus did not see any chapter markings on the man. In fact, the power armor he wore did not match any design known to him.

There were no golden olive branches symbolizing glory on the helmet, no iron halo gifted by the Emperor on his back, and no purity seals of the Imperium on his shoulders or legs.

Yet, the bloodstains on the man and the respectful expressions of those around him made it clear that everything outside was likely his handiwork.

"I am Cyrus, of the Blood Raven Chapter, 7th Company. This is my reconnaissance squad, responsible for the exploration and operations on other xenos worlds. While returning to our strike cruiser, our vessel crashed on this planet by accident. We require your assistance to borrow one of your battle barges so we may return to our mother ship."

"That can be arranged." Sicarius began assigning tasks as if they were already his own men—clearly, since they had delivered themselves to his doorstep, he would put them to use. "As it happens, I have an urgent mission that requires support, and I need you to accompany me."

"We have no intention of becoming your subordinates, Captain," Cyrus replied, his hand resting instinctively on his bolt pistol. "We are only here to request transport."

"The Battle Barge you arrived on is currently undergoing repairs, and it will be unable to depart for some time."

"Our ship?"

"By the way, do you have any urgent missions?"

Cyrus had been sent out on an exploratory mission, and having completed his survey, he had stumbled upon this place by accident while en route back to the Battle Barge. Returning to the ship did not constitute an urgent mission, so he was in no particular hurry.

"My lord, the items are prepared."

"Good. Carry this. Time is wasting."

"Lord Governor."

Hearing the voice behind him, Sicarius hurriedly pushed a massive, multi-ton block of blackstone toward Cyrus's squad members. He then strode away with long, purposeful steps, giving them no opportunity to refuse.

"Keep up with the Lord."

Cyrus was bewildered.

He didn't even know why he had accepted this mission.

Furthermore, he still didn't know who this man was.

As a Space Marine, how could he have been so bewitched as to follow a stranger on a mission without knowing the objective or the man's background? He didn't even find it strange; instead, it felt entirely natural.

Who was he?

What was the mission?

"Captain, aren't we supposed to be returning to the mother ship?"

One of his squad members, gripping the chains used to drag the blackstone, looked down at his hands and the object trailing behind them, asking Cyrus through the internal comms. Only they, as augmented Astartes, could manage to haul several tons of blackstone technology.

Sicarius walked at the very front, barely communicating with them.

It seemed as though he assumed they had no objections.

And they, for their part, hadn't raised any questions along the way. It was only when Sicarius stopped that he thought to ask.

Before them lay a Chaos beacon, destroyed by space torpedoes.

Shattered limbs and Chaos constructs had been incinerated by fire and blood.

The deep crater revealed beneath seemed to bury the secrets of this world.

After jumping into the pit, a black gate blocked the entirety of the blast; the explosion hadn't even left a mark on the surface. The grooves covering the black gate resembled some form of script or perhaps alien symbols, preventing the corruption of Chaos from taking hold.

"This Chaos symbol must have been carved two years ago. Chaos attacked this place two years ago, but they suffered heavy losses and were eventually forced to seal this gate. The xenos inside are not exactly simple fare."

[Mission progress: 80%]

Sicarius had succeeded to the position of Planetary Governor two years ago.

And Chaos had arrived two years ago.

What a coincidence.

Cyrus, bringing up the rear, finally could not hold back. "Sir, I need to know the details of this mission."

"To acquire a piece of equipment."

As Sicarius spoke, he removed his helmet.

He revealed his true face.

There were no butcher's nails on his head, yet his presence was no weaker than any chapter master Cyrus had ever met. His gaze was incredibly firm, his will unbreakable, and his radiance like the scorching sun. Looking where he looked, the black gate seemed to hide something of vital importance to humanity. Sicarius paused. "A piece of equipment that can turn the tide of the war in the Milky Way."

"This is also the reason you arrived at the Far East Frontier."

Sicarius intended to keep this Blood Raven reconnaissance squad.

Chaos had arrived here two years ago.

Who knew what kind of conspiracy they were secretly brewing? Relying solely on his own people to develop new planets was far from enough; he needed to put some of the Primarch's sons to work.

The Far East Frontier?

What kind of joke was that?

Before they started their return voyage, they had been in the Gothic Sector. The Far East Frontier was all the way over in the Segmentum Obscurus.

Are you saying that after traveling through the Warp, we crossed more than half of the Milky Way?

Just to end up in this place?

Cyrus could not believe it, although it wasn't the first time he had heard of such things.

In the records they had collected from various worlds, they had discovered that when a major shift occurred on a critical battlefield, supernatural events did indeed happen. Sometimes, Astartes who had disappeared ten thousand years ago would reappear; sometimes, miracles of mortals slaying gods would occur; and some would see the flying angels of the Emperor.

Some said it was the Emperor's arrangement.

Miracles sent down in their hour of need, a crucial move laid out by the Emperor to turn the tide of the war for humanity.

But those were almost all legends.

They had never seen them with their own eyes.

Now that it was happening to them, Cyrus felt a complex mix of emotions.

The surprise of being chosen by the Emperor was mingled with doubt about why they were the ones selected.

Why them?

Surely the Emperor had better choices!

"Captain, do you think it could be the Emperor who sent us here?"

"From the Gothic Sector to the Segmentum Obscurus is half a galaxy away, yet he seems to know so much."

"Follow him first, we'll see!"

Whether it was the Emperor's will, no one knew.

As they spoke, Sicarius had already taken the blackstone from the reconnaissance squad and walked toward the black gate.

Cyrus finally understood what the black stone he had them carry was for.

The black stone was easily held high by Sicarius.

He inserted it into the black gate.

An electric current flashed from the black stone, surging into the gate. As the current passed, special characters appeared on the surface, like a decoding program.

"I have seen these characters before."

"It's the language of the Necrons."

Cyrus stared at the characters, frantically searching his memory for an Imperial graveyard.

They had once explored a place where all the soldiers, even the Astartes, had been slaughtered. The enemy's weapons could not be resisted even by their heavy armor; a single hit meant death.

Is this a place of the Necrons?

First Chaos, now Necrons.

It seems.

If this truly is the Emperor's arrangement.

Then.

The mission the Emperor wants us to carry out is not simple.

Cyrus temporarily accepted his status as one thrust into a crisis.

He had likely been pulled into a secret war of the Emperor.

However.

Cyrus glanced at his teammates.

"Captain, what is it?"

"Nothing. Stay alert."

An Imperial citizen was strolling down a street in Macragge after the war, sighing:

"Even the Five Hundred Worlds are like this; the Imperium is truly in a terrible state."

Sicarius was enraged upon hearing this, grabbed the man, and asked, "Which one are you talking about?"

"My lord, there is only one!"