Chapter Summaries

Gray and his guards teleported aboard the Adeptus Mechanicus flagship and fought off the Servitors defending the landing zone. More Space Marines and Earth Dreadnoughts arrived, wiping out the attackers as the chamber was left in ruins.

• Intelligent Wingmen breached the Adeptus Mechanicus warship and activated teleportation beacons, allowing Gray and his guards to teleport aboard.
• Gray ordered his guards to attack the Servitors charging into the landing chamber.
• Gray’s guards and the Intelligent Wingmen fired on the Servitors, while the Servitors’ attacks failed against the Intelligent Wingmen’s Void Shields.
• More Space Marines and several Earth Dreadnoughts teleported in and joined the fight against the Servitors.
• The Space Marines and Dreadnoughts wiped out the Servitor horde, then the Dreadnought pilots replaced their nearly empty ammunition magazines.

Gray ordered the Space Marines to continue their assault on the Adeptus Mechanicus flagship and led his guard toward the bridge to kill Archimonde, the Dominus. Archimonde, the Dominus, deployed his three hundred Kastelan Robots and ordered the Tech-Priests to join the battle as the invaders pushed deeper into the warship.

• Gray told Nack to resume the attack and warned him that the Adeptus Mechanicus fighters were formidable.
• Gray ordered two thousand Space Marines to advance through the Dictator-class Heavy Cruiser in squads.
• Gray led his guard and ten Earth Dreadnoughts toward the bridge to kill the Adeptus Mechanicus commander and disrupt command.
• Archimonde, the Dominus, watched the invasion and identified the Space Marines' forbidden technology, including their miniature Void Shields.
• Archimonde, the Dominus, approved the Datasmith's proposal to deploy all three hundred Kastelan Robots.
• Archimonde, the Dominus, ordered the Tech-Priests to stop repairs and attack the invading Space Marines.

Star Space Marines fought the Adeptus Mechanicus aboard a Dictator-class Heavy Cruiser, overpowering combat servitors and Electro-Priests while Archimonde, Dominus, called for Kastelan Robot support. The Space Marines pushed toward the Tech-Priests’ positions, forcing them out of cover with melta grenades, but heavily augmented survivors remained protected by their energy shields.

• Star Space Marines and Adeptus Mechanicus forces clashed in a hall, where the Space Marines’ shields blocked attacks and their Ripper Rifles destroyed charging combat servitors.
• An Electro-Priest attacked with lightning, but a Star Space Marine dodged his bolts and cut him and his energy pack in half with a Power Sword.
• A Tech-Priest asked Archimonde, Dominus, for reinforcements, and Archimonde, Dominus, ordered Datasmiths to send Kastelan Robots to support the defenders.
• The Star Space Marines charged the Tech-Priests and threw melta bombs at their cover, killing some and leaving heavily augmented survivors shielded.

Twenty-five Star Space Marines killed the Tech-Priests and kept their heads as trophies. As they regrouped, an unidentified force approached, and the captain ordered everyone to take cover.

• The Tech-Priests fought back, but the Star Space Marines pushed through their fire and killed them in close combat.
• A Star Space Marine crippled a Tech-Priest with a plasma shot, removed his head, and burned the body while preserving the head for the Lord of the Stars.
• The twenty-five Star Space Marines killed several dozen Tech-Priests and hung their heads from their waists.
• The Space Marines reunited, and the captain laughed along with them about looking like barbarians.
• The captain detected approaching enemy reinforcements and ordered the Space Marines to take cover.

A Space Marine squad was discovered by a Datasmith and ten Kastelan Robots, whose firepower and defenses resisted the Marines’ ranged attacks. The squad captain led the survivors in a charge to fight the robots in close combat.

• A Datasmith entered the hall, spotted the hidden Space Marines, and ordered the Kastelan Robots to attack.
• The Kastelan Robots fired their Incendine Combustors as the Space Marines scattered and shot back, but the robots’ Repulsor Grids deflected the rifle rounds.
• A Space Marine’s meltabomb knocked one Kastelan Robot down, but its return fire blasted him into a wall; protected by his force field shield, he recovered and rejoined the battle.
• A Space Marine told the captain that ranged attacks were ineffective, and the squad agreed to try close combat.
• The squad captain charged the Kastelan Robots, and the other Space Marines followed, shouting for the great Lord of the Stars.

The Star Space Marines destroyed ten Kastelan Robots and killed the Cybernetica Datasmith in a fierce battle aboard the warship. The squad captain ordered the recruits to keep their distance after a reactor explosion killed two Space Marines, then praised the team once the fighting ended.

• The Star Space Marines dodged the Kastelan Robots’ attacks, hurled Meltabombs at their feet, and slashed their armour with Power Swords until the robots collapsed.
• The Cybernetica Datasmith charged the Space Marines with a Melta Gun, and the captain sent two Space Marines to deal with him.
• The remaining Space Marines attacked the fallen robots from a distance, but one robot’s reactor exploded and killed two Space Marines who had approached it.
• The captain rebuked the recruits for getting too close and ordered the squad to maintain a safe distance as they destroyed all ten Kastelan Robots.
• The captain stopped the recruits’ fire, and a Space Marine returned with the Cybernetica Datasmith’s mechanical head.

Gray and his forces fought through the Dictator-class Heavy Cruiser as ten Earth Dreadnoughts smashed through the Adeptus Mechanicus defenses. After the Dreadnoughts annihilated the Skitarii and Tech-priests guarding the route to the bridge, Gray praised their pilots and urged them to become qualified soldiers.

• Gray led his guards and ten Earth Dreadnoughts through the cruiser, where the Dreadnoughts blasted apart obstacles and Adeptus Mechanicus forces in their path.
• Tech-priests ordered several thousand Skitarii to attack Gray’s approaching group near the bridge.
• The Dreadnoughts’ Void Shields absorbed the Skitarii’s fire, and their heavy machine guns tore through the defensive position and its troops.
• The Dreadnoughts annihilated the Skitarii and Tech-priests while Gray and his guards advanced behind them.
• Gray praised the Dreadnought pilots and advised them to keep working toward becoming qualified soldiers.

Gray led his squad into the bridge, where Archimonde, the Dominus, confronted him for betraying the Imperium. Gray defended his choice by condemning the Imperium and Adeptus Mechanicus for exploiting ordinary people and withholding technology, leaving the two sides in a dispute before battle.

• Gray ordered the Dreadnoughts to break through the bridge doors and led his squad inside.
• Gray found Archimonde, the Dominus, waiting with Tech-Priests, Kastelan Robots, and elite Skitarii.
• Archimonde accused Gray of betraying the Imperium and demanded that he face the Adeptus Mechanicus's judgment.
• Gray said the Imperium had failed to protect him and described how crushing tithes had driven his family toward slavery.
• Archimonde defended the Imperium's sacrifices for humanity, while Gray blamed the Imperium and Adeptus Mechanicus for oppression and withheld technology.

Gray rejected Archimonde the Dominus's attempt to make him abandon his faith, and the two commanders ordered their forces into battle aboard the Dictator-class Heavy Cruiser. As the fighting raged, Gray charged Archimonde and swung his Power Sword at the towering Adeptus Mechanicus commander.

• Archimonde the Dominus urged Gray to return to the Imperium, but Gray mocked him and vowed to destroy the False Emperor's followers.
• Archimonde the Dominus and Gray ordered their forces to attack, and both sides exchanged heavy fire across the bridge.
• The Dreadnoughts and Kastelan Robots clashed, with a Dreadnought destroying one Kastelan Robot's reactor and heavily damaging another.
• Gray led his guard through the incoming fire and charged Archimonde the Dominus.
• Gray reached Archimonde the Dominus and slashed his Power Sword toward the commander's waist.

Gray battled Archimonde on the bridge, dodging his many weapons while trying to close the distance. After Archimonde summoned a Kastelan Robot, a Dreadnought blasted it down, and Archimonde seized Gray’s momentary stumble to fire his gravity gun.

• Gray and Archimonde clashed with their Power weapons, then Archimonde unfolded eight weapon-equipped mechanical arms and fired at Gray.
• Gray dodged Archimonde’s attacks and returned fire with his Plasma Pistol, but Archimonde’s shields blocked the shots.
• Archimonde sent a message ordering a Datasmith to dispatch a Kastelan Robot to support him.
• A Kastelan Robot charged toward Gray while a Dreadnought pursued it and Gray told the Dreadnoughts to finish the robots quickly.
• The Dreadnought blasted the Kastelan Robot with its Melta Cannon, and the explosion nearly knocked Gray down.
• Archimonde took advantage of Gray’s stumble and fired his gravity gun at him.

Archimonde the Dominator Sage trapped Gray in a gravity field, but a Dreadnought pilot’s machine-gun fire forced him to abandon his attack and defend his energy pack. Gray escaped the field and charged Archimonde with his Power Sword.

• Archimonde used a gravity gun to weigh Gray down, but a Dreadnought’s heavy machine gun interrupted his attack.
• The Dreadnought pilot taunted Archimonde and kept him pinned under fire.
• The pilot apologized to Gray for allowing Archimonde to ambush him, but Gray said the mistake was part of battlefield chance and ordered him to keep suppressing Archimonde.
• Gray left the gravity field, gripped his Power Sword in both hands, and charged toward Archimonde.

Gray used a teleportation beacon to appear beside Dominus Archimonde and attacked him, forcing the High Sage to roll desperately while Gray continued striking. As the Tech-priests saw Archimonde’s peril, some rushed to support him while others chose to hold off the Space Marines.

• The Dreadnought stopped firing as Gray charged Archimonde, who resumed attacking Gray with the weapons on his mechanical arms.
• Gray teleported beside Archimonde and swung his Power Sword, but Archimonde rolled aside and lost his eight mechanical arms to the strike.
• Gray pursued Archimonde across the ground, battering his Power Axe with repeated blows while mocking him and the Omnissiah.
• Several Tech-priests volunteered to go support Archimonde, while more than a dozen others offered to hold back the Space Marines.
• A Tech-priest explained that Archimonde’s survival might save them from punishment if they returned to Mars.

Gray fought Tech-Priest Dominus Archimonde while Archimonde’s subordinates tried to rescue him. Gray killed the rescuers, leaving Archimonde still defiant and promising that Gray’s advantage would not last.

• Wright’s Space Marines retreated from the Tech-Priests’ self-destructing power packs and shot at them as the packs exploded.
• Several Tech-Priests escaped through the dust and rushed toward Archimonde, ignoring the Space Marines’ fire to reach Gray.
• Gray and Archimonde traded taunts as Gray repeatedly knocked Archimonde back and argued over their rival gods.
• Gray evaded the rescuers’ melee attacks and killed the charging Tech-Priests with his Power Sword and empowered fist.
• Gray mocked Archimonde’s weakness, but Archimonde insisted Gray’s advantage was only temporary.

Gray defeated Archimonde by exploiting a teleport beacon as a distraction, then beheaded him and joined the battle on the bridge. The Tech-Priests and Kastelan Robots were close to defeat as Gray attacked the remaining Tech-Priests.

• Gray sent Wright and the others to fight the remaining oilheads and combat robots while he faced Archimonde alone.
• Gray used a teleport beacon to distract Archimonde, then cut through his axe haft and mechanical arm and smashed his lower body with a power fist.
• Gray pinned Archimonde down and severed his mechanical head with his Power Sword.
• Gray hung Archimonde's head from his waist and charged into the bridge battle as the Tech-Priests and Kastelan Robots neared defeat.
• Gray dodged the Tech-Priests' Power Axes and cut one Tech-Priest in half.

Gray and the Space Marines defeated the Adeptus Mechanicus forces on the warship’s bridge, and Gray comforted and praised the warriors after the battle. He confirmed that the enemy leaders had been eliminated and ordered Nack’s force to continue clearing the ship of hidden enemies.

• Gray destroyed the last Kastelan Robot, ending the battle on the bridge.
• Wright apologized for the guard squad’s slow progress, and Gray reassured the Space Marines that the Adeptus Mechanicus were formidable opponents.
• Gray praised Zack for supporting him with a teleport beacon, and Zack bashfully accepted the praise.
• Nack reported that the main force was advancing through the warship and that the Adeptus Mechanicus had become disorganized after Gray’s decapitation strike.
• Gray confirmed that his team had eliminated the enemy leaders and ordered Nack to search the entire warship for surviving enemies.

Gray checked on the boarding operations, learned that Mo Tuo’s forces were still fighting the Astartes at a cost of fewer than one-tenth dead or seriously wounded, and ordered them to clear the warship. He honored the fallen with a promise to record their names on the Hero Memorial Monument, then contacted Anrida to ask about the Defense Force’s attack on the Imperium fleet.

• Gray confirmed that Nack and another battalion commander would carry out his order to clear the Adeptus Mechanicus flagship.
• Mo Tuo reported that his Second Company was still fighting four Astartes Chapters and had lost fewer than one-tenth of its forces to death or serious wounds.
• Gray and Mo Tuo mourned the fallen and agreed that their names would be engraved on the Hero Memorial Monument.
• Gray ordered Mo Tuo to eliminate all Imperium personnel in the warship who refused to surrender, and Mo Tuo agreed.
• Gray told Anrida that the Space Marines did not need assistance and asked how the Defense Force’s attack on the Imperium fleet was progressing.

Anrida spoke with Gray and confirmed that the Defense Force was advancing successfully without Space Marine support. He tried to recruit a captured Astra Militarum commissar for his command, but after the man refused, Anrida ordered his knowledge extracted.

• Anrida told Gray that the Defense Force was close to defeating the False Emperor's forces, and Gray offered Space Marine support if needed.
• Anrida recalled teleporting with his guards aboard an Imperial Navy warship, where his enhanced strength helped them break through the defenders.
• Anrida praised the captured Astra Militarum commissar's skill in leading resistance and offered him a place in the Defense Force.
• The commissar rejected Anrida and denounced him as a heretic, so Anrida ordered soldiers to extract the commissar's command and combat knowledge with the Mind Extractor.

Anrida accepted the surrender of the Astra Militarum soldiers after his forces subdued their commissar and extracted his memories. He left a squad to guard the prisoners and led the remaining Defense Force soldiers onward to attack Imperial troops.

• Anrida's soldiers restrained the commissar and used a Mind Extractor to extract his memories.
• Anrida offered the Astra Militarum soldiers the choice to surrender or die, and the exhausted soldiers laid down their weapons and begged for mercy.
• Anrida allowed the prisoners to live and ordered them to remain quiet.
• Anrida reviewed the commissar's combat-command memories and praised the soldier who extracted them.
• Anrida left a squad of twenty-five soldiers and two hundred combat robots to guard several thousand prisoners, then led the rest of his force onward.
• The Defense Force continued killing Imperial troops who resisted, while the surrendered soldiers watched their superior weapons and equipment with envy.

Gray continued clearing the Dictator-class Heavy Cruiser after Archimonde’s death, then joined David at a warehouse where they discovered ten captured Titans. The Titans were too large to fight effectively inside the warship, but Gray now had the chance to seize them.

• The Defense Force squad leader kept the surrendered Astra Militarum soldiers under guard and warned them not to move.
• Gray led his Space Marines and Dreadnoughts through the cruiser, exploiting the chaos among the Adeptus Mechanicus forces after Archimonde’s death.
• David contacted Gray and urged him to teleport to his location without revealing what he had found.
• Gray teleported to David’s warehouse and saw weapons and equipment intended for large war machines.
• David showed Gray ten seventeen-meter-tall Titans that the Adeptus Mechanicus had brought aboard the cruiser.

Gray and David inspected the captured Imperial Warhound Titans and discussed the Martian Mechanicum’s failed attack. Gray reprimanded David for wishing for a ground battle to test their Titan pilots, then discovered David’s forces had killed the Imperial pilots, leaving their own Titan program short of personnel.

• Gray and David noted that the Imperium’s Titans had been captured before they could fight because the Imperial fleet had been crippled and the warship’s corridors restricted the Titans.
• David wished the Imperial Titans had fought their own forces on the planet so their inexperienced pilots could be tested, and Gray angrily rebuked him for risking soldiers’ lives for that purpose.
• David apologized, and Gray ordered him to reflect on his conduct after the battle.
• Gray asked where the Imperial Titan pilots were, and David pointed to their corpses near the warehouse entrance.
• Gray lamented that the pilots had been killed, explaining that the Star Sea Galaxy had only forty Titan pilots for its twenty Titans, and David said the pilots had resisted during his attack.