The traitor Astartes fretted like ants on a hot griddle. Whether they survived depended entirely on whether these people were willing to take them along when they fled.
Why?
A vicious rage rose in the traitor Astartes' hearts.
Why had their Strike Cruiser failed to withstand the enemy's attack, its machine spirit dying in an instant, while that Fire Ship remained intact and could tow these people to safety?
The warship rocked slightly, making the traitors even more restless.
Nian Cijin, by contrast, remained perfectly composed. He was already in an unassailable position. The Astartes before him were meat on the chopping block. Whether to chop them up or devour them was entirely up to his side.
"You have to guarantee that you'll fight for humanity."
"For the Emperor, for humanity. Happy now?"
"No. We'll have to put you to the test."
The traitors nearly jumped up and started cursing. The hotheaded Breachers prepared to launch another assault.
Their "Chapter Master" silenced the disgruntled voices and prepared to continue negotiating with the Primaris Warriors, only for ominous sounds to come from nearby.
After delivering its warriors, the Battle Barge Glory of Annos had returned, arriving right beside the Silent Fire.
An escort force of a little over a hundred warriors was transferred aboard. Evan had suddenly realized that, for a force meant to deceive a Chapter's homeworld, posing as a company scattered abroad on campaign while showing up with exactly one hundred Primaris Warriors looked suspicious no matter how one viewed it. Thus, over a hundred Primaris Warriors had returned here after completing their escort mission.
Now they had entered the warship and launched a fierce assault on the traitors from another direction.
The Space Wolves also joined the battle. Melta Assault Pods pierced the Silent Fire's hull, prompting a