The battle had settled, leaving the corridor thick with the acrid smell of ozone and molten metal.
Several Ancient Dreadnoughts, urgently awakened from their slumber by the Tech-Priests and sent to reinforce them, flexed enormous joints that had been locked in place for decades, even centuries. Their hydraulic systems hissed in relief, like old men stretching after a long confinement to bed.
"That felt good! Damn good!" A Dreadnought whose armor was engraved with Ancient Battle Honors boomed in a deep synthesized voice. He swung his enormous Power Klaw, stirring a rush of wind.
"Since these xenos delivered such a fine 'gift' right after waking me up, I'll spare those Techmarines who roused me a beating!"
Another Dreadnought chuckled, his voice buzzing through armor covered in irreparable dents. "Yes, it feels good to stretch. I slept so long my bones nearly rusted."
As they spoke, their optical sensors swept across the battlefield before settling, as one, on Hercules, who was pulling his Power Sword from the wreckage of the enormous construct.
Heat steamed from the young warrior's body. Fragments of his enemies clung to his gray armor, yet his face wore an unmistakable excitement, as though he had not had nearly enough.
"Well, well. Look at the recruits these days..." the first Dreadnought said to his companion over their internal comms, his tone carrying the teasing admiration of a veteran regarding an exceptional successor.
"How old can he be? He cuts through these iron clunkers more cleanly than we did back in the Unification Wars. The Legion's members these days really are something."
"Hahahaha!" Brother Skranchi's unmistakable laughter cut in as his Dreadnought approached with heavy strides.
"I told you Hercules had promise! Look at him go! If the day ever comes when he really needs to be put in