Unexpected clues

Ukkana and Aure made a full circuit of the Lunar-class Cruiser. Aside from the Ultramarines who treated them coldly along the way, at least the mortal soldiers aboard showed them respect.

Once they confirmed that there were no problems with the cruiser's condition, Ukkana and Aure immediately sent a message to the captain of the Resolute.

After the alert was lifted, the two did not immediately leave aboard a Thunderhawk. Instead, they simply accompanied the Ultramarines' cruiser to the space station.

Their Dark Angels heritage made them sense that a secret lay beneath it all.

As for Calando's claim that they were investigating an enemy incursion, Ukkana and Aure's first reaction was disbelief.

Even if the Ultramarines had men to spare, they should not have put a member of the Victrix Guard in command. Especially not with two companies—more than two hundred Space Marines.

During their inspection of the ship, Ukkana and Aure had taken a look around.

Almost all the Ultramarines here were Primaris Astartes.

Judging by their shoulder markings and insignia, nearly all of them were recruits.

A Victrix Guard veteran leading close to two hundred recruits?

That made almost no sense.

No chapter would do something like that.

The composition of their fleet was puzzling as well: one cruiser accompanied by several destroyers.

If they were here to repel an enemy, they would surely need support from the Astra Militarum or the Imperial Navy.

Yet there was no sign of any other Astra Militarum regiments, nor had there been any notification from the navy.

After all, an Imperial Oberon-class Battleship was stationed here. Even naval vessels merely passing through realspace would send a transmission to say hello.

The complete absence of any such messages could only mean that their mission did not include conventional Imperial Navy support.