Evan's towering figure appeared at the end of the corridor. If he had not been wearing an ordinary suit of Terminator armour, the Emperor’s Spears warriors might have mistaken him for one of the Adeptus Custodes.
Before Evan appeared, everyone had speculated about what he might look like. Most agreed that this mysterious Chapter Master was a Space Marine from the Great Crusade who had become lost in the Warp and emerged in the present day.
Such things had happened before-in fact, they happened all the time. How else could anyone have driven off a Bloodthirster without being a battle-hardened warrior chosen by the Emperor?
But they had never expected him to be so... so unconventional.
Captain Doverlit, the commander of this Emperor’s Spears force and the only "Firstborn" and "Ascended" among its twenty-three Primaris Space Marines, led his warriors forward to greet Chapter Master Evan.
("Firstborn" referred to ordinary Astartes created before the beginning of the 42nd millennium, a term coined to distinguish them from Cawl's Primaris warriors. Ordinary Astartes converted into Primaris Astartes were called "Ascended" or "Upgraded," while those created directly, like Evan, had no special designation.)
"Welcome, brothers who have travelled so far. Please, take a seat. My apologies for being late," Evan said first. What host made his guests come to the door to welcome him?
"Greetings. I am Doverlit, captain of the Emperor’s Spears Chapter's Eighth Company."
After exchanging a few courtesies, both sides returned to their seats in the conference hall.
"Chapter Master Evan, your reputation precedes you. Even in Segmentum Obscurus, we have heard of you and your Chapter's battles against the forces of Khorne."
"You flatter me. The enemy had already lost both horns before arriving, and it took three Chapters working together to drive an already wounded Greater Daemon back