While the many machine bodies busied themselves on the ground, space was just as lively.
Aboard the Vengeful Spirit, warning lights flashed madly, bathing the battle-ready bridge in blood-red light.
A flickering burst of Chaos sorcery unfolded in the center of the bridge, and Falkus Kibre suddenly appeared in the compartment with his two Terminator Squads.
As the power of Chaos dissipated, Abaddon recognized the arrivals and smashed a Daemon crewman beside him into bloody pulp with a single punch.
According to the plan, they should have been returning to the fleet aboard the Ancient Lost Ship before heading into the Warp. Their appearance here could mean only one thing.
The mission had failed.
"Abaddon, we were deceived! There are indeed ruins on the planet, but they are protected by terrifying defenses. We were almost wiped out, yet that Mechanicus Sage never told us any of this."
When Furios's Ark Mechanicus had abruptly broken away from the fleet's concealed position and exposed his own fleet moments earlier, Abaddon had already felt a vague sense of foreboding. Kaib's report immediately brought the problem into focus: that greedy Sage might have used him as a pawn.
"Take your men and hunt down that idiot Sage. I want his mechanical head! Do not disappoint me."
Abaddon was ruthless, but he was no fool. After issuing the order through gritted teeth, the Warmaster turned and began directing the fleet's tactical withdrawal.
Having likewise been played for a fool by Sage Follios, Kaib angrily accepted Abaddon's orders, then strode off the bridge with his Terminator Squads. The Chaos Sorcerers aboard the Vengeful Spirit would teleport them back to their own ship.
After losing dozens of ships of all sizes in just a few minutes, the Plague Fleet began turning rapidly.
The Men of Iron's Mechanicus