CHAPTER 107 — QUIET AFTER THE STORM
The broadcast ended without ceremony.
Across to other Worlds, the members of the Multiversal Chat returned to where they belonged. No lingering echoes. No dramatic farewell. Just a clean separation, like a door closing gently rather than slamming shut.
The war continued without them.
On the Forge World, victory was no longer in doubt.
It had become a matter of time.
With the Titan Reaper active and advancing, the Tyranid swarm broke apart. What had once been a coordinated invasion collapsed into scattered pockets of resistance. Skitarii kill-teams hunted them through manufactorum ruins. Imperial Guard armor rolled forward, reclaiming ground inch by inch. Mechanicus forces sealed tunnels and purge-zones where bioforms tried to retreat underground.
Above the planet, the reinforcement fleets engaged what remained of the Kraken splinter hive fleet. The Tyranids had overcommitted. Too much biomass had been thrown into the surface assault. Now, weakened and fractured, the hive ships were hunted down one by one.
There would be losses, of course. Forge Worlds never emerged unscarred.
But the Titan had awakened.
And that had decided everything.
The Oath of Rectitude moved through the void with steady purpose.
Gaius stood alone for a moment in one of the inner corridors, his helm clipped to his side. Without it, his face was fully visible, heroic and solemn. His expression remained calm and composed.
The Auramite armor he wore remained untouched by damage. Stained, yes, dark streaks of dried xenos blood marred its golden surface, but the material itself was flawless. Where ceramite would have pitted or weakened, Auramite endured.
Days earlier, after their arrival aboard the Oath of Rectitude, Gaius had sent a message.
It had gone directly to Macragge.
Straight to Marneus Calgar.
The message had been brief, precise, and formal. No embellishment. No apologies.
He informed the Chapter Master that the ancient Dreadnought, Valerius, had been placed under his authority, that Valerius would operate alongside him and act under his command.
He did not ask permission.
He did not explain further.
And he did not worry about the consequences.
He knew the Chapter Master would understand, whether from the information of Gaius's auramite armor alone, or because Guilliman himself had already spoken of him. Whatever questions remained could wait. They would be answered in person, when the time came.
For now, there were more immediate matters.
The Dreadnought Vault was silent.
Massive support columns lined the chamber, etched with sigils of service and remembrance. The air was cool, carefully controlled. Soft lumen lights illuminated the central platform where Valerius stood, towering even in stillness.
Gaius approached slowly.
Valerius's massive form loomed over him, armored shell scarred by centuries of war. Ancient heraldry marked his plating. Each symbol told a story, campaigns long forgotten by the Imperium at large, but never by those who had fought them.
Gaius stopped a few meters away.
Valerius spoke first, his voice deep and measured, carrying the weight of long reflection.
"Brother Gaius," the Dreadnought said, "until the Emperor's missions are issued… or until we are in dire straits… I will enter deep sleep."
There was no hesitation in his tone. No doubt.
It was a statement of duty, not withdrawal.
Gaius nodded once. "That is wise, brother."
As a Dreadnought endures constant agony, long periods of dormancy are a mercy. Sleep dulls the pain and preserves what remains of the warrior's mind, which is why Dreadnoughts are kept dormant when not needed for war.
Servitors moved in silently, guided by precise machine logic. Heavy restraints locked into place around Valerius's frame. Power conduits disengaged from external systems and rerouted into preservation mode.
The Dreadnought's systems dimmed, layer by layer.
Before full hibernation took hold, Valerius spoke one final time.
"I will be ready when called."
Gaius inclined his head slightly. "I know."
With that, Valerius entered deep hibernation. His immense presence became still, watched over by servitors.
Gaius lingered for a moment longer.
Then he turned and left the vault.
The corridors of the Oath of Rectitude were formed of metal walls and lined with Ultramarines banners, with chapter serfs moving through them in quiet, practiced routines. The ship's hum was steady, comforting in its consistency. As Gaius walked, he encountered familiar figures.
Titus and the Bladeguard stood ahead, paused mid-step when they saw him.
They were not in armor.
Instead, they wore their black undersuits, layered with Ultramarine robes. Bandages were visible at the joints and along the neck seals. Their armor, scarred by Tyranid blood, repeated impacts, and claws sharp enough to pierce it, was undergoing maintenance and repair. Most wounds had already healed, allowing them to return to combat at a moment's notice.
Titus stepped forward slightly. "Captain Gaius."
The others followed his lead, offering respectful nods.
Gaius studied them briefly, his gaze sharp but not unkind. "Where are you all going?"
The question was simple, but it carried weight. They should have been resting. Recovering.
Titus exchanged a glance with the others before answering. "We are going to train with the other brothers."
One of the Bladeguard, his hair streaked black and white with age, added calmly, "Lieutenant Titus invited the younger Primaris and other Ultramarines. A battle simulation."
Gaius raised an eyebrow slightly.
Training, even now.
The holo-chambers are invaluable for battle training, offering fully immersive 3D terrain projections, from mountains and forests to urban landscapes and alien worlds, complete with dynamic weather, and environmental hazards. They simulate engagements against Xenos, Chaos forces, traitor Imperial units, and even each other, forcing Marines to adapt tactics on the fly. Multi-layered scenarios cover planetary assaults, drop pod insertions, and orbital bombardments. Every action is tracked, monitoring reaction times, coordination, leadership, and marksmanship, with after-action reports for review. Simulated wounds provide haptic feedback, while fog of war, ambushes, and civilian presence test tactical decisions and moral judgment, sharpening strategy, adaptability, and battlefield awareness.
He considered it for a moment.
Then he nodded. "Go on your way."
There was no reprimand. No concern voiced aloud.
The Bladeguard straightened, clearly relieved. Titus gave a short nod of thanks, and the group moved on down the corridor.
The Holo Chamber was already active when they arrived.
Gaius did not follow them.
He turned away, confident they would make good use of it.
Elsewhere, in another universe, Diana of Themyscira sat quietly at a small table, her posture calm and composed, eyes focused yet reflective as she considered the matters at hand.
Steam rose gently from her tea.
She wore simple work clothes, her hair loose around her shoulders. The room was calm, ordinary, human. A screen nearby displayed scrolling headlines.
IS SUPERMAN GOOD OR BAD?
Images followed, Superman in flight, Superman standing amid wreckage, Superman watching crowds from above.
Most of the commentary was fearful. Suspicious.
Diana sighed softly.
"He is extraordinary," she thought, lifting her cup. "Yet fragile."
Humans feared what they could not control. Always had. Always would.
She remembered the battle two years ago. The Kryptonian power unleashed in Metropolis. Buildings falling. Lives lost. The fear had been real.
But so was the sacrifice.
She had been investigating Lex Luthor for some time now. The pieces fit together too well. The pressure, the manipulation, the slow turning of public opinion. Luthor was pushing events toward conflict.
Superman and Batman.
Sooner or later, they would collide.
Diana set her cup down, her expression thoughtful.
Then, deliberately, she set those thoughts aside.
She opened the Multiversal Chat.
The tone shifted immediately.
Naruto's message appeared first.
Naruto:"I'm close to mastering Sage Mode! I'll leave this place soon enough!"
Saeko replied calmly.
Saeko:"Good job, Naruto."
Mindy chimed in.
Mindy:"Why leave so fast? Aren't the food options good?"
Naruto paused.
Diana smiled faintly.
Naruto knew exactly what Mindy meant. He remembered the meals. The insects. The worms.
Naruto:"Hmph."
Mindy saw the reaction and pushed further.
Mindy:"You're too picky, Naruto. Aren't you going to be Hokage? Why be scared of bugs?"
It worked.
Naruto:"You're right! I'm going to be Hokage! How can insects stop me?! Today I'll eat more!"
Mindy chuckled quietly to herself.
Mindy:"Good luck."
Diana laughed softly, the sound light and genuine.
~~~
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