Chapter 163: "Is This Your Decision, Hades?"
Across the wasteland of Graia-106, Hades gazed into the distance. Piles of Necron skeletons were scattered across the ground, and farther away, Mortarion was leading a group of new Death Guard recruits, using the sluggish Necron warriors for training exercises.
The communications channel had been filled with static the whole time. At first, Hades tried adjusting the frequency to see what the noise was.
He quickly realized it was nothing but Mechanicus hymns, so Hades decisively muted these channels.
After speaking with Mortarion, Hades learned that due to Mortarion's previous actions, Perturabo had blacklisted the Death Guard entirely. The Iron Warriors had outright abandoned a large portion of their garrison, leaving it for the Death Guard to occupy.
Originally, Hades had intended to reestablish contact with the Iron Warriors, but after learning that Hades had survived, Perturabo had immediately ordered the Iron Warriors to block all Death Guard communication requests.
Looking at the Iron Warriors' fleet, Hades could tell they were preparing to withdraw.
After all, the Necrons had already lost their cohesion.
Even though they still wielded advanced weaponry, without a Phaeron to command them, and without coordinated Canoptek support, they were reduced to little more than aimless wanderers.
It actually made them perfect for training new recruits.
Now that it was clear Hades was alive and well, Mortarion no longer had a reason to "make a point" to Perturabo, so he immediately took the opportunity to lead his recruits into the field.
Hades had originally planned to follow Mortarion to the front lines — partly to scout, partly to fulfill a promise he had made with the "Lord of Figurines" — but under the deathly glare of Apothecary Leo, Hades had no choice but to stay in the rear.
Ahem, no, not slacking off, just standing by in reserve.
And he wasn't the only one standing by.
Hades blinked and looked around.
To his left and right stood Vorx and Garro.
Hmm... compared to before, Vorx seemed to carry a much more mature aura now...
But wait, hadn't Vorx and Garro still had duties aboard the Endurance? Why were they here?
Hades couldn't figure it out.
Meanwhile, Vorx was staring toward the frontlines where Mortarion was training the recruits, feeling a wave of complicated emotions.
Back in the southern hemisphere of Barbarus, Vorx didn't have any negative thoughts about Mortarion.
But now, after the Galaspar Incident, there are plenty of them.
It turned out... it turned out that back on Barbarus, it had actually been Calas Typhon who had been handling most of Mortarion's administrative duties.
Once they joined the Legion, it was veterans like Hades and former commander Barasine who kept things running.
Thinking back on those endless days of arguing with Imperial officials and processing mountains of bureaucratic paperwork, Vorx realized:
This wasn't what I imagined Legion life to be like at all.
It was Hades who had issued the support order that finally pulled Vorx out of that nightmare.
Vorx had even been preparing a grand speech of thanks to Hades, only to learn, upon reaching the front, that Hades was presumed KIA.
The Legion Master had become increasingly irritable and grim, forcing Vorx and Garro to move as quietly as possible, careful not to provoke him.
But now... Vorx looked at Mortarion, who was clearly in a good mood, and fell deep into thought.
Mortarion rushed to the front of the battle line, not to kill enemies, but to observe the new Death Guard recruits.
Every now and then, the Primarch would sprint forward, hook a recruit out of a pile of Necrons with a single sweep, and toss the unfortunate marine behind the lines.
Vorx glanced at Hades, who was observing the battlefield.
He had been tasked by Garro to open communication with Hades.
After not seeing him for a while, Vorx felt that Hades had clearly grown taller, and his presence had become sharper, completely unlike the figure Vorx remembered from their training days.
Meanwhile, with the Primarch away, Garro, who now managed most of the Death Guard's administrative affairs, stood silently nearby, as if he were merely there to watch the new recruits.
"Hades?"
Vorx carefully opened a private communication channel with Hades.
"Hmm? What's up?"
A familiar voice came through, and inexplicably, Vorx let out a breath of relief.
"Nothing, just... it's been a long time since we met."
"It has. A lot's happened since then," Hades said with a sigh.
After a brief hesitation, Vorx spoke up, "Hades, do you know what happened with Calas Typhon?"
Hades paused, then opened the communication channel to Garro as well.
"He's half-corrupted," Hades said, "but the corrupted part has already been removed."
"Is it related to that wanted Apothecary?"
Hades silently nodded.
"We were negligent," came Garro's unexpected voice over the channel, causing Vorx to wisely fall silent.
"Apothecary Laton used to have close ties with the Undertakers," Garro continued, "and the new Undertaker leader, the Lantern Bearer Ugo, is taking this very seriously. He feels he failed in overseeing his men."
Hades looked into the distance.
Fernando, the former Chief Librarian, had fallen during the Galaspar campaign.
"Ugo? I remember him."
Garro's voice remained calm and steady.
"Yes. You fought him once in the dueling cages. He's been worried ever since, thinking you might hold a grudge against him."
Hades chuckled quietly, "I don't."
"I tried to reassure him, but it wasn't very effective. You should speak to him yourself when you have the chance," Garro advised.
After thinking for a moment, Hades nodded, "Alright."
The three fell into silence again. But soon, Garro's voice came through the channel once more.
"...Hades."
"Hmm?"
"Do you want to build up the Death Guard?"
"There isn't a Space Marine alive who doesn't wish to strengthen their legion," Hades replied, laughing softly.
"No," Garro said, turning his head to stare at Hades, "an ordinary Space Marine wouldn't think about things like this."
"I originally thought that taking Galaspar was the Primarch's orders. But then I realized... it wasn't."
"It was your decision."
Hades took a deep breath.
"Yes. It was my decision."
"The Death Guard needs more recruitment grounds, we also need more logistical support."
Garro continued to watch Hades without speaking.
Only after a long silence did a quiet reply come through the channel:
"...I understand."
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