"Send the Iron Hands Third Company to reinforce them." Calgar's voice was hoarse and heavy. "Tell them to hold the line at all costs."
"We no longer have the resources to pay 'all costs,' Marius." Another voice spoke, its timbre bearing the distinctive texture of electronic modification.
Belisarius Cawl, commander of the Ark Mechanicus Zar-Quasa and the Imperium's greatest Tech-Priest, emerged from the shadows. His immense mechanical body resembled a walking museum, covered in strange instruments and mechanical arms.
"My logic engines tell me that, at the current casualty ratio, Vigilus will fall completely within the next ten standard Terran years. Probability: 92.78%." Cawl's voice held no emotion, only cold facts.
"Then we'll use the remaining 7.22% to create a miracle," a clear, resolute female voice countered.
The Living Saint Celestine hovered beside them, clad in golden armour, her white wings beating gently. Her presence was the only light in this darkness of despair. Yet even the light in her eyes seemed dimmed now. She could heal wounds and inspire courage, but she could not conjure more soldiers and warships out of nothing.
A heavy, deathly silence settled over the bridge. Inquisitor Katavonus's face was ashen, the Crimson Fists captain's eyes were bloodshot, and the commanders from the various Chapters resembled statues on the verge of collapsing beneath their burden.
Just then.
A shrill alarm, unlike anything they had ever heard, tore through the silence on the bridge.
"Massive Warp translation signatures detected! Right at the edge of the Vigilus system! Throne... what... what is this?!"
A Servitor assigned to target detection let out a garbled scream laced with static.
Every gaze instantly turned toward the enormous star map projection.
At the edge of the system, the veil of reality looked as though an invisible, gigantic blade had torn it