The Ordo Malleus took a beating

Given that Iax had previously purged the ship's machine spirit, he had been granted almost unrestricted access aboard this Ultramarines cruiser, allowing him to use every part of the vessel freely.

Neither Calando nor Adrian had paid any attention to which compartment Iax occupied. As long as he remained aboard and caused no trouble, that was the best outcome the Ultramarines could ask for.

The successive battles had left the ship's crew severely depleted.

Many compartments had suddenly become vacant.

Thus, the sudden gunfire and shouting drew no reaction from the Ultramarines ordered to assemble. Calando remained perfectly calm in the compartment, staring at the Inquisitor Lord.

After all, these were the Inquisition, whose military strength was no less than that of the Imperial Navy. Their equipment far surpassed that of ordinary Mortals soldiers, and with the Sisters of Battle present, they were unlikely to face any serious threat aboard an Imperial vessel.

Faral gave the laureled Ultramarine of the Victrix Guard before him a puzzled look and asked curiously.

"Has a Daemon incursion aboard your ship gone undetected? Or is some other enemy lurking here?"

Calando glanced at Adrian beside him, and the two shook their heads.

"Everything aboard the ship is normal. My brothers have been patrolling continuously, on both the upper and lower decks."

Faral stared fixedly at the Ultramarines before him, as though trying to see right through them.

"Sir! The Inquisition's Stormtroopers and the Sisters of Battle are fighting the Ancient Construct."

An Ultramarine who had not taken part in the first wave of ground landings hurried into the compartment to report to Calando.

At his Battle-Brother's report, Calando whipped his head toward Faral.

"What have you done?!"

Faral looked utterly bewildered.

An Ancient Construct?

*What was that? Weren't the targets for elimination just a