The local government stalled for a long time. Only when Evan impatiently ordered his warriors to land anyway did they open the spaceport.
Red carpets, flowers, guards, a choir-the local government had pulled out all the stops. This far from the Imperium, assembling a choir that could recite the Emperor's praises in full was already quite an achievement.
The lavishly dressed guards shouldered ancient firearms freshly hauled out of storage. Many had not even had the dust wiped off them. They were so accustomed to greeting Water Caste envoys with cheap versions of T'au Honor Blades that they could barely remember the last time they had picked up Imperial weapons.
Rogier and the Terminators led the way, fully armed. They carried Ion Storms or Bolters, with Power Swords hanging from clasps beside their Power Packs. They were ready for war.
Rogier had barely taken a few steps off the ship when he spotted numerous surveillance devices through gaps in the crowd. Some were disguised as vases; others were concealed among the flowers.
Rogier raised his gun and fired eight rapid shots. Loyal bolt rounds screamed past the terrified welcoming guards' faces, smashing the mechanical devices to pieces.
Just as everyone thought a battle was about to break out, Rogier strode up to the officials who had come to greet him.
He raised his hand and delivered two slaps.
Smack! Smack!
"What are you idiots trying to do? Any Astartes' movements are classified as top-level military operations. Were you planning a worldwide broadcast? Idiots."
Terrified out of their wits, the local officials dropped to their knees and kowtowed frantically. The official who had been slapped had already passed out completely and lay twitching on the ground.
Thousands of miles away, every screen in a surveillance room turned to static. Having obtained