"Now that is a son of the Emperor! That is my brother! Prepare yourselves! Let those traitors burn to ashes in our wrath!"
With that, he strode out of the Heart of Iron without looking back. He had a legion to muster, a war to prepare for.
Only Vulkan, Corax, and the "Tech-Sage," who had not spoken a single word throughout, remained aboard the Heart of Iron.
Vulkan walked over to Corax and gently patted his brother's shoulder with his enormous hand.
"I'm sorry, Corax. I've dragged you into this too."
"...There's no point saying that now." Corax shook his head, his piercing gaze turning toward the "Castor" they had all been ignoring.
"Your name is Kastor Alpha, correct?" His voice was still cold, but some of its earlier hostility had faded.
"Yes, Lord Primarch." Liu Zhipeng bowed slightly.
"You... saved us," Corax said, his tone fraught with conflicting emotions. "Though the outcome may not change in the end. But at least you let us know the truth. Let us... know why we died."
"It is my honor to serve the Imperium," Castor replied in his ever-unchanging synthesized voice.
Vulkan approached as well, his crimson eyes carrying a trace of gratitude as he looked at the "slight" Tech-Sage.
"Castor." Vulkan nodded. "You are a hero, a true hero of the Imperium. Whatever happens next, your deeds will be remembered."
With that, he too turned and left the Heart of Iron. He also had preparations to make.
Before leaving, Corax gave Castor a long, searching look.
"Once the landing begins, order all our warships to shut down every nonessential power system, go silent, withdraw from orbit around Isstvan V, and hide at the edge of the system. Do not take part in any orbital bombardment or respond to any communications."
"If