Thunder Warriors camp...
These were the remnants of a force withdrawn after suffering devastating casualties in the assault on the Ullsh Empire.
The merciful Emperor had allowed them to withdraw and rest, but everyone knew they would never return to the battlefield. Once the war ended, their lives would end with it.
Almost everyone had sunk into despair and grief, and many of the Thunder Warriors had descended into madness.
Dakan sat quietly at the gate, gazing at the distant moon, waiting out his remaining days like a decrepit old man.
Yes, he did not have much time left either.
He raised his hand. Once, it could keep a Heavy Bolter steady one-handed. Now it trembled uncontrollably, with stabbing pains shooting through it from time to time.
Dakan knew he would soon join his maddened brothers.
In the distance, he saw a white-robed figure slipping out, utterly unaware of the two Adeptus Custodes trailing far behind him.
Heh.
He stood and went to meet him.
"Your Highness, back again?"
Bona glanced around, making sure no one had followed him.
"Captain Dakan, I think there's a good chance it'll work this time." Bona gave the vial in his hand a shake.
Dakan smiled helplessly.
This treasure of the Emperor had devoted himself to solving the Thunder Warriors' condition lately, but he had failed many times.
Still, Dakan was glad. At least...
Someone still cared about them.
"All right, all right. Go on," Dakan said, forcing a smile.
He knocked on the door and called, "Nevado, take a few brothers and go with Bona."
"Thank you, Captain Dakan."
Dakan sat back down on the steps, ignoring the Adeptus Custodes who thought they were so well hidden as they quietly climbed over the wall into the camp.
Dakan suspected these two Adeptus Custodes were novices. They lacked experience in many areas. His Majesty had been expanding his forces frantically lately. It seemed the Great Crusade he had spoken of was real.
He picked up a bottle of liquor and took a drink.
If only... I could follow the Emperor and help build that future he spoke of.
Thunder Warriors Centurion
Nevado and several brothers pinned a maddened Thunder Warrior firmly to the operating table.
"Aah! It hurts!!" the warrior roared in agony, struggling even as they held his limbs down.
Bona took a deep breath, then injected the solution into his artery.
Afterward, Nevado escorted Bona out of the room.
"Thank you for your help."
"You're welcome. We're already grateful that you care so much about us."
Bona checked the time.
Grandpa Malcador went up the mountain every night to do something or other, usually returning in the early hours of the morning.
There's still plenty of time.
"Have Father's legions all been formed?"
Nevado nodded.
"His Divine Majesty's legions are nearly ready. I've heard they're preparing to launch the final assault."
"Terra is about to be unified," Bona said, sounding pleased.
"Yes, it is," Nevado said forlornly.
"Don't worry. I'm confident there's an eighty percent chance of success this time. You'll still get to see the sea of stars," Bona said with a smile.
Nevado looked at Bona's smile, unsure what to say. He merely nodded.
"Yes... perhaps."
Suddenly, the door opened.
"Deputy Captain Nevado, come and see," the warrior said, his face full of shock.
Nevado frowned and picked up the Bolter beside him.
He chambered a round.
Then he walked inside.
Bona followed him in.
The Thunder Warrior who had been raving moments earlier was sitting dazedly on the bed, while the warriors beside him stared at him in astonishment.
The warrior saw Nevado enter.
"Deputy Captain Nevado?"
Nevado jolted.
"Scher, you remember me?"
Scher nodded, looking rather bewildered.
The Bolter fell from Nevado's hands. He pointed at a warrior beside him.
"What's his name?"
"Washer."
"And him?"
"Saisugu."
"Who's our captain?"
"Captain Dakan."
For a moment, Nevado could barely form a coherent sentence. He turned to Bona, who stood beside him, smiling.
"Please wait. I... I'll go get the captain."
Nevado turned and ran, accidentally smashing the doorframe as he charged out.
Within ten minutes, every Thunder Warrior in the company who could still move was kneeling on one knee before Bona.
"The Thunder Warriors' Fifth Company thanks Lord Bona for his efforts," Dakan said, overcome with emotion.
"There's no need for this. You're all noble warriors. You should die on the battlefield, not in a sickbed. I merely helped you fulfill your dreams."
"You've given us new life. You deserve this!"
Bona felt rather helpless. He could hardly pull these huge, powerful warriors to their feet.
A little later, several of them went to the dining hall.
Scher was wolfing down food, while several nearby warriors watched him in astonishment.
"Scher, how do you feel?"
Scher swallowed the food in his mouth in one gulp.
"I feel great, Captain."
"This treatment consumes a great deal of energy as it takes effect. It's perfectly normal for Scher to have a huge appetite," Bona explained.
"But... Scher's reflexes might not be as fast as they used to be. I've done all I can."
Dakan nodded, pleased.
"My lord, you've already done wonderfully. That small sacrifice is utterly insignificant compared with being able to keep fighting for His Divine Majesty."
"If you ever need our Fifth Company, just give the word. We'll give it everything we have."
Bona nodded, caught between laughter and tears.
There was nothing he could do. That was simply how these hulking Thunder Warriors were.
After a quick meal, Scher was taken to the training grounds.
A warrior was assigned to spar with him. After taking a moment to reacquaint himself with the feel of his weapon, Scher began.
Scher's reflexes had indeed slowed considerably. He was now even a beat slower than an Astartes, though he could still overwhelm an ordinary human.
His strength had declined less severely. Where he had once been able to keep a Heavy Bolter steady one-handed while sprinting, he could now only do so while standing still.
Bona still felt he had failed badly. He had been on the battlefield himself and knew what a decline in reflexes like this meant.
But Dakan and the others were so excited they could barely speak.
This was already more than enough.
As long as they could continue fighting for the Emperor, they would not care even if they became ordinary humans.
And because their genetic stability had improved dramatically, their vitality had grown much stronger as well.
At least they no longer had to worry about their hearts suddenly failing in the middle of a fight.
Seeing that dawn was approaching, Bona had no choice but to hurry back.
A few days later, Captain Dakan personally led a group to visit every Thunder Warriors company.
At the same time, a report on the matter reached the Emperor. It documented the treatment's source in detail, and even its ingredients were clearly listed.
The report came from Malcador.
Malcador had been watching Bona's little schemes all along. Bona was still too young, far too young compared with the Sigillite, who had lived for who knew how long.
He truly had seen more of life than Bona could ever imagine.
A rare flicker of emotion crossed the Emperor's weary face. He devoted some of his precious attention to that small sheet of paper, then reached for another written order beside him.
"Execute all uncontrollable Thunder Warriors."
He tore it to pieces.
He stood and walked out toward the rising sun.
Before you continue