The Silence of Luna

Inside the observation hall of the Lunar base, Sentinel's Eye, the atmosphere stood in stark contrast to the bloody inferno unfolding in Terra's orbit.

Massive viewing windows were set into the thick lunar rock. Beyond them lay the eternal stars and the planet shrouded in industrial smog and ominous crimson light—Terra.

Cold silver metal and soft energy lighting formed the dominant palette, while precision instruments emitted a low hum.

Five Hilling Valkyries and Evelyn sat around a round table crafted from some smooth white stone, warm as jade.

On the table were energy drinks supplied by the Imperium of Man, carrying a fresh fruity fragrance that contrasted strangely with the solemn surroundings.

"...So your Imperium does not hold a deeply rooted prejudice against nonhuman intelligent species?"

Evelyn's voice carried a faint, almost imperceptible probing note as her star-like eyes looked toward Glory.

Her slender fingers unconsciously brushed against the wall of her crystal cup. The Eldar's characteristic elegance carried a trace of weariness born from countless years.

"Rejection arises from the unknown and from conflict, not from form itself."

Glory's voice was gentle and wise, like a flowing spring. "The Hilling Empire's territory is vast, and its civilizations are as brilliant and diverse as the stars. So long as one recognizes order, obeys the law, and is willing to contribute to the survival of all, any life-form may become an Imperial citizen. Within our Empire, there are indeed many subjects of differing forms, yet they are no less loyal." Her words carried the bearing of one who embraced the cosmos.

Prinz Eugen lounged against the back of her chair and took a sip of her drink, a trace of amusement in her red eyes. "As long as they are not like those bugs, with nothing in their heads but 'eat everything,' or like those Chaos freaks who spend every day thinking about turning reality into an even bigger cesspit, no one is bored enough to start a war." Her blunt, cutting words drew a snort of laughter from Nimi.

Prince of Wales folded her arms, her cool gaze sweeping over Evelyn. "Strength and order are the foundations of survival. Without strength, even the most glorious civilization will become dust. Without order, even the greatest strength will ultimately lead to Destruction." Her words, like a cold steel seal, struck at the root of the Eldar's decline.

A profound sorrow and agreement flashed through Evelyn's eyes. "The poisoned wine of desire... we drank too deeply, and paid the most terrible price. Once the masters of the galaxy, we can now only drift amid the remnants of Craftworlds, struggling to survive at the edge of Destruction..." Her voice sank, filled with endless pain.

Joan of Arc listened quietly, compassion upon her sacred face.

She gently raised a hand, and a soft white radiance enveloped Evelyn. It was not healing, but a force that soothed the weariness of the soul. "So long as faith remains unextinguished, hope endures. Your path may be difficult, but it is not a dead end."

Her voice was like a hymn, carrying a peculiar comforting power.

This exchange concerning the rise and fall of civilizations and the survival of races gave both sides a deeper understanding of one another.

The tolerance and power of the Hilling Empire, the sorrow and resilience of the Eldar, quietly resonated within the cold Lunar base.

Yet at the edge of this relatively peaceful atmosphere stood the Adeptus Custodes guards at the entrance to the hall, like two silent golden statues—an impossible presence to ignore.

Their very existence was a wordless declaration: xenos were still xenos. This temporary coexistence was merely an expedient measure based on the Regent's guarantee and the broader situation on Terra.

Their gazes were almost tangible, fixed at all times upon these petite women, filled with undisguised vigilance and scrutiny.

Just then, Glory, who had been speaking gently, suddenly paused with an almost imperceptible movement.

A razor-sharp glint flashed through eyes that seemed to contain a sea of stars, instantly locking onto Terra beyond the viewing window!

Almost at the same moment, Joan of Arc's delicate brows furrowed slightly. The gentle halo around her rippled, carrying a trace of alertness.

"Lady Glory?" Evelyn immediately sensed that something was wrong.

Glory did not answer at once. Her gaze became utterly focused.

The sapphire at her chest glimmered faintly, and invisible psychic perception, like the beam of the most precise radar, pierced the immense distance of space and reached toward Terra.

"Powerful... chaotic energy fluctuations..." Glory's voice carried a hint of gravity. "Multiple outbreaks... on Terra's surface... extremely... extremely intense! Filled with pure... desire for slaughter and Destruction!"

She abruptly rose to her feet, and her graceful bearing was instantly replaced by the sharpness of a battlefield commander.

"I feel it too!" Joan of Arc's voice held sacred vigilance. "A foul presence... spreading across Terra like a tsunami! It is converging toward the core region!"

Their perceptions were like alarms, instantly shattering the calm around the round table!

The Adeptus Custodes nearby still dismissed the words of the two women with contempt. No daemon could set foot on Terra—but the next second proved them wrong.

Bzzzt—!

The built-in communicators within the helmets of the two golden-statue-like Adeptus Custodes guards appeared to receive an order of the highest priority!

Their gazes, which had been fixed upon the group, shifted away in an instant. As though pulled by invisible threads, they sharply turned toward Terra!

Then, without exchanging a single word, the two moved in perfect unison. Swift as lightning, they spun around, their heavy power boots striking the metal floor with ringing echoes as they charged at maximum speed toward the transport berths inside the base!

At the same time, the base's public broadcast system was drowned out by a piercing mobilization alarm:

"All combat personnel, attention! Level-one battle readiness! Repeat, level-one battle readiness! Board immediately! Objective—reinforce the Imperial Palace's defenses!"

The Lunar base instantly shifted from relative calm into high-speed operation!

Warning lights flashed as dense footsteps and the sound of engines warming up echoed through the corridors.

Expeditionary soldiers, Space Marines, and Tech-Priests who had been resting or servicing equipment throughout the base surged toward their respective berths with the swift orderliness of an awakened Swarm!

The Hilling Valkyries and Evelyn swiftly exchanged glances.

They all saw gravity and understanding in one another's eyes.

For the Adeptus Custodes to lose their composure like this, and for the Imperium's entire force on Luna to enter maximum battle readiness at once, there could be only one possibility—the Imperial Palace of Terra was under an unprecedentedly fierce assault! And one powerful enough to threaten the Emperor himself!

"Should we go provide support?" Nimi asked eagerly, battle-lust gleaming in her eyes.

Prinz Eugen lazily rolled her wrist. "Those golden tin cans seem awfully rushed. Looks like the trouble is serious."

Prince of Wales's cold gaze swept over the Imperial fleet launching urgently into the sky. "The threat level appears extremely high. If we intervene rashly..."

Joan of Arc looked toward Glory, awaiting her decision.

Glory's gaze swept across the Imperial vessels outside the Lunar base, streaking toward Terra like arrows loosed from a bow. Then she looked toward the increasingly dense psychic cloud layer above Terra, where roiling blood-red light could even faintly be seen.

She considered for a moment, then slowly shook her head. Her voice returned to its usual composure and grace.

"No. Do not intervene for now."

Facing her companions' questioning gazes, she explained, "Terra's orbital defense network must be on the highest alert right now, and friend-or-foe identification will be chaotic. If we approach rashly, we could easily be misidentified as hostile targets by their fire-control systems. The Imperial military is on edge at this moment. Any force from 'beyond their domain' entering the battlefield could trigger unnecessary conflict, or even... friendly fire."

Her gaze passed over Evelyn. "Lady Evelyn's identity is particularly sensitive. Joining the battle now would not only fail to provide effective support, but might even backfire, distracting the Imperial forces and possibly provoking internal suspicion."

"So we just watch?" Nimi pouted unwillingly.

"Wait for the right moment." Wisdom gleamed in Glory's eyes. "The true crisis has not yet reached its peak. When the battle falls into a stalemate, when the Imperial army's defenses are on the verge of collapse, when despair blankets the entire battlefield... that will be the moment when our strength can have the most decisive effect, and when we can most clearly be identified as 'reinforcements.'"

She paused slightly, her gaze seeming to pierce through space and fall upon the grand outline of the Imperial Palace of Terra, now enduring the baptism of blood and fire.

"Let the Imperium's warriors first vent their rage and Fealty. Let Chaos's claws expose their power more completely." Glory's voice held the calm of one who commanded the entire situation. "And we... will wait for the moment when a 'miracle' is needed most."

She sat back down and lifted her energy drink, her posture as elegant as though she were appreciating an opera rather than waiting for a decisive battle that would determine the fate of the galaxy.

"As for now... maintain maximum battle readiness and closely monitor the battle on Terra. Especially... the movements of those strongest daemon presences."

The Lunar base once again fell into a poised silence.

Under the cold starlight, the Hilling Valkyries and the Eldar seer were like blades lurking at the edge of a storm, waiting for their moment to enter the fray.

Terra's bloody tempest was reaching an unprecedented climax.