The Shadow-pattern Stormbird, cloaked in the field generated by its quantum domain suppressor, flew silently towards Merseyside's highest and largest hive-spire.
Drip, drip, drip...
His comm-bead buzzed. He tapped it, and Ramsey's voice came through.
"My Lord, Lord Corax has appeared at Hive Twenty-Three. The Raven Guard are striking at Hives Twenty-Four through Forty-Nine, and Forge Complexes Fifteen through Thirty-Nine."
Nareth understood that Corax was repaying him by using the infiltration tactics at which he excelled.
"I see."
Corax's attacks on secondary targets freed up his forces, allowing him to concentrate on more critical nodes.
He decided to adjust his deployment. He asked Ramsey about the Chapter's special tactics development.
"How are the assault scorpions performing in combat?"
"My Lord, I have compiled combat reports from fifty-eight assault scorpion tactical squads, and compared them with twelve Raven Guard observation reports. I can conclude that my Chapter's infiltration capability is comparable to the Raven Guard's." Ramsey replied with confidence.
During the Second Rangdan War, the Black Emperor had gifted him a data crystal containing the secrets of the Aeldari's Striking Scorpions.
For nearly one hundred and forty years, Ramsey had studied its mysteries, based on the Black Emperor's teaching: "Swift assault, no trace, this is the creed of the Scorpion."
He had achieved the Scorpions' concealment in mist and shadow through the "Shadow Ascetic's" "Shadow Lurking."
For weapons, Ramsey had based his design on the Scorpions' chainswords, forgoing the psychic-powered mandiblaster and the Scorpion's claw, which could only be wielded by an Exarch.
He focused instead on refining the "Shadow Ascetics'" "Shadow Sculpting" ability, enabling them to sheathe their chainswords in shadow.
After long practice, the "Shadow Ascetics'" chainswords moved with even less sound than the Striking Scorpions', their cutting noise muted by the shadows.
At the same time, "Well done." Nareth commended Ramsey's progress.
He thought for a moment. "Now that it is complete, it should be named."
"Shadow Scorpions. Hidden in shadow, their blades like scorpion's sting."
Ramsey's Shadow Scorpions differed from the Aeldari Aspect Warriors.
The Striking Scorpions, compared to the Howling Banshees, lacked mobility and were more of an assault unit among the Aspects.
The Shadow of Order's version did not emphasize Assault, so Nareth omitted that term.
Likewise, the Tenth Chapter's scorpions focused on the "Shadow Ascetics'" mastery of shadow, so Nareth added Shadow to the name.
A smile lit up Ramsey's face. "I thank my Lord for the name."
"I will continue to develop the Shadow Scorpions."
After ending the call, Nareth took out his datapad, brought up the tactical display, and rapidly marked it.
...
Aboard a Stormbird of the Third Chapter, just lifting off from Hive Fifty, Captain Gregori's tactical display scrolled with a stream of runes.
He was clad in Cataphractii-pattern Terminator armor. He opened the comm channel and issued the order.
"Change target. Hive Nineteen."
He watched the numbers tick down on his display until they reached "5.38" kilometers. He leaned back, his seat groaning under his weight.
The "Soul Assurer's" breathing grew slow and deep. His eyelids drooped, covering his eyes.
Whoosh!
His spirit body, carried by the grey mist, passed silently through the metal walls.
The "Soul Assurer" drifted through the grey world, looking down at the hive.
The hymns sung by the Shadows of Order of the 15th Company echoed softly, seeming to lighten the spirit body.
Gregori focused his will, looking down at the strongpoints below.
They were like lights going out, their fire extinguishing rapidly, dwindling to flickers.
Bolters roared.
In the "Nightmare" world, the diamond-hard shells were like drawn-out threads.
The flashes of explosions were also dim, touched with haze.
One by one, the strongpoints fell into darkness.
The darkness spiraled upward, consuming the hive layer by layer.
Suddenly, clusters of bright spheres flared.
Gregori drifted, his gaze following the light.
At the transition zone between the upper and mid-hives, countless dim points of light clustered, nearly invisible compared to a normal human's aura.
He drifted closer.
In the "Nightmare" world, the solar-flare bursts of plasma cannons were dimmed to glowing orbs, still striking the 15th Company's lines with undiminished force.
The destructive beams tore gaps in the advancing Shadow of Order line. The vividly black, yet distinct, spiritual orbs of the Court members burst like bubbles.
Gregori studied the dim light-points: their bodies fused to the plasma cannons, their arms replaced with mechanical limbs, their brains programmed to operate the superheated weapons.
Gun-servitors were equipped with enhanced sensors, their brains hardwired to operate heavy weapons.
Gregori rose. Though a "Soul Assurer," he couldn't draw the nearly soulless servitors into a dream. But he had a more direct method.
He shot upward, entering the hive's highest spire.
He raced through the dimly lit halls, past heavily armed guards, past hurrying nobles.
As he ascended, he felt nine diamond-bright gazes fall upon him.
The "Soul Assurer" felt the mist surrounding his spirit body scatter, as if he had been exposed.
Amidst the unsettling stares, he "emerged" from the marble floor, hearing five voices in unison.
"Enemy! Fire!"
Five arms pointed at his position. Four guards raised their pistols.
Zzzzt...
The ionized air crackled, then fell silent.
The four guards on either side stared blankly, aiming at each other and firing.
"Ah..."
The nobles screamed, running for the pillars.
The five bodies, possessed by the Unsighted King, rose from their jewel-encrusted thrones, swinging golden scepters at Gregori.
"The bodies you now possess are too old."
The "Soul Assurer's" ethereal voice slowed their movements.
The Unsighted Kings' writhing, yellow-green forms grew calm. They lost their anger.
"You need new bodies."
"Leave these hosts."
"I have prepared better ones."
In the echoing, ethereal voice, worms of various sizes, transparent, emerged from the hosts' hollow eye sockets.
They curled, sinking into the yellow-green patterns.
Thud, thud, thud...
Five possessed bodies collapsed, their eye sockets empty.
"My Lord..."
The nobles, weeping, emerged from behind the ornate pillars.
One step, two steps… they all stopped. In their dreams, transparent worms burrowed into them.
The worms, now in their bodies, devoured flesh and blood...
...
"I am the Unsighted King, the god who brings you wealth and power."
The dream shattered like a mirror. The nobles, dazed, muttered.
"The Unsighted King is no god. He is a xenos parasite..."
"Exactly." A black-armored giant, who had appeared as if from nowhere, clicked shut a gleaming crystal case.
"I am Gregori, Captain of the 3rd Company of the Shadow of Order. By the command of the Monarch of Vostroya, I grant you traitors a chance to surrender, and await my Lord's judgment."
Thud, thud, thud...
The nobles fell to their knees. "My lord, we were deceived by the xenos. Please forgive our crimes."
....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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