In the human year 42K618, the Apothecary Aspirants graduated, and the trainee Techmarines returned. Mavrek's Adeptus Mechanicus delivered the remaining supplies from the first century-long order, including three Cruisers, over fifty Escort Ships, one hundred Emperor's Fist (Type II) tanks, two hundred sets of Astartes equipment, and forty repaired suits of Cataphractii Terminator Armour.
In the human year 42K619, the biological organ production line and the production lines for Land Raiders, Land Speeders, and assault/Attack Bikes were completed.
Everything was ready. The sparks were beginning to catch.
Within that sizable dark region of Segmentum Obscurus, the Crimson Tide's Vanguard Reconnaissance Force was already roaming. They established psychic coordinates and marked large numbers of precious resource deposits.
Today, the Crimson Tide Chapter would officially set sail, leading two Companies of warriors into Segmentum Obscurus.
The warriors stationed in Segmentum Pacificus implemented the regional contraction strategy: each world contributed five men to form a sixty-man Patrol Squadron. Once the Neophyte Transformation was complete, they would gradually replenish the garrisons.
Of course, on paper, the garrison here consisted of one Company, but there was no upper limit on the number of Neophyte Transformations. Don't ask. If you did, they were Reserve Company Two, Reserve Company Three, Reserve Company Four...
If anyone asked, their Chapter Master had informed them that casualties at the front were devastating. Several Companies had been wiped out, and they needed to prepare replacements.
The Chapter held a token departure ceremony on Scaria. Governor Otist had successfully passed away. Whether he had met the good old Emperor remained unknown. The New Governor was also an experienced planetary administrator.
Ancient music and hymns echoed through the Space Station's broadest hall. Those seeing them off did not realize that this Chapter was about to launch an expedition into Segmentum Obscurus. They thought