Practice had proven that the Pharos facility could transmit an object across the sea of stars to a target location at extreme speed.
But Pharos's teleportation was not without limits. Through their experiments, Lox and the Warsmith discovered that its actual transport capacity was very limited. Large vehicles, for instance, exceeded its range.
Thus, this time, the White Scars warriors heading to Sotha could only bring their personal power armor and weapons. Large equipment like the Tiangou had to remain on Macragge.
The White Scars warriors voiced strong dissatisfaction with this. Having experienced the Tiangou's incredible mobility and its ability to operate on land and in the air, no one missed those jetbikes that could only race across the ground.
"The forward base on Sotha has prepared new equipment and will be awaiting you all there." Lox's reassurance quieted the White Scars. Though they preferred vehicles they had modified themselves and had adjusted by Mechanicus sages, this outcome was not entirely unacceptable.
After all, they were going to carry out a mission, not take a racing vacation.
"White Scars Legion, two hundred and fourteen warriors, all present. We are ready."
Captain Gantula put on his helmet. Their power armor had been painted in the White Scars Legion's iconic pale white, streaked with golden lightning. Squad after squad of Astartes stood in neat formation, awaiting teleportation.
The Ultramarines had also assigned a company of warriors. They would serve as reinforcements for the 199th Company stationed on Sotha, freeing up more troops to explore new worlds.
Even this single company was the result of repeated reductions. Guilliman had originally intended to send an entire Chapter to guard the Pharos facility on Sotha, but the Warp storms had yet to subside, and Pharos's processing capacity could not support such a large-scale personnel transfer.