Dorian stood outside Gaius's cabin door, his burly frame like a war machine that had suddenly jammed, frozen in place.
His genetically enhanced brain, used more for tactical thinking and how to smash enemy heads, was now operating at an overloaded speed, trying to process the scene before him, which was completely beyond his comprehension.
Kolesa? That pointy-eared Aeldari witch? Lying on Gaius's bed? In Gaius's cabin?
These elements combined exploded like a psychic bomb in his limited cognition.
His limited imagination simply couldn't conjure a logical explanation for this.
Could it be... could it be that his earlier joke in the company, calling Kolesa Gaius's 'wife', not only came true, but the progress bar was also directly maxed out by the Emperor's hand?!
Jumping directly from 'acquaintance' to 'cohabitation'?
And sleeping in the same bed, no less?!
Was this development moving a bit too fast?! So fast that he, Gaius's supposed best brother, hadn't received any notification!
He even began to suspect if he was still dreaming in the medical bay, or if that tank shell from the Hive City had actually damaged his brain, causing such an absurd hallucination.
"What... what the hell is going on?" Dorian mumbled subconsciously, his rugged face etched with bewilderment.
He scratched his stubble-like short hair, feeling his brain on the verge of overheating.
He wanted to push the door open and demand an explanation, but then he felt it might not be appropriate—what if something he shouldn't see was happening inside?
Though he couldn't imagine what could possibly happen between Gaius and that xenos woman.
Immense confusion and the absurdity of a joke actually coming true left him standing like a pillar in the corridor, unable to go forward or back, only able to stare with wide, bell-like eyes through the observation window at the sleeping silver figure inside, as if trying to glare her off his brother's bed.
Meanwhile, in the solemn atmosphere of the Chapter Master's office, the mood was entirely different.
Captain Cassius and Lieutenant Golden stood like two javelins before Marius Calgar's massive obsidian desk.
Unlike his usual fearless bravery when charging into battle, Captain Cassius now had his head slightly bowed, his power-armored shoulders seeming to sag a little, looking like a new recruit who had just messed up and was waiting for his instructor's reprimand.
Chapter Master Calgar sat on his throne, his weathered, resolute face now shrouded in an obvious gloom, his gaze as sharp as if it could pierce power armor and directly stab into Cassius's soul.
Cassius didn't even need to look up to feel the palpable low pressure; he could already foresee what a stormy rebuke awaited him.
"Cassius," Calgar's voice rang out, deep and oppressive, each word like a carefully polished piece of ice, "You are the Captain of the First Company, the Regent of Ultramar, and an example to countless new and veteran Astartes!
Your bravery and loyalty are unquestionable, but when will you ever change that impulsive, hot-headed temper and that habit of speaking without thinking?!"
Cassius kept his head down, listening to the Chapter Master's familiar sermonizing beginning, feeling somewhat indifferent, even a little bored.
His gaze involuntarily drifted slightly upwards, landing on the Chapter Master's meticulously combed hair, as if measured with a ruler.
A sudden, completely inappropriate thought popped into his head: Why was the Chapter Master's hairstyle almost identical to that of the great Primarch Guilliman?
Both were that... well... rigorously rigid style?
What would it be like if the Chapter Master also grew long, wild, untamed hair like Lion King?
The image was too beautiful, he almost dared not imagine... "Cassius? Cassius!" Calgar's voice suddenly rose, with clear displeasure, "Are you listening to me?!"
Cassius jolted, quickly reining in his thoughts that had drifted a hundred thousand miles away, and lowered his head again, feigning earnest listening: "Yes, Chapter Master! I deeply recognize my mistake!" Although he didn't know what specific mistake he had made, admitting fault was always the safe bet.
Calgar took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to throw the stack of newly delivered administrative data slates on the table, and continued in a cold tone:
"Given your impulsive actions on Kha-IV this time, and your previous inappropriate remarks regarding... the accommodation of Ms. Kolesa, I officially inform you: your authorization to use Exterminatus weapons is frozen indefinitely!
Until you receive my express permission, you and all warships belonging to the First Company are not to deploy any strategic-level Exterminatus weapons!"
Cassius's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly, but he dared not retort.
"Secondly," Calgar's gaze grew sharper, "You, personally go to see Ms. Kolesa.
I am not telling you to issue orders, but to represent the Chapter and express our apologies to her, and explain the reasons for our necessary restrictive measures, demonstrating our attitude and sincerity!
Mind your words and demeanor!"
Cassius's heart sank, feeling things were about to go wrong.
Calgar finally added, almost gritting his teeth, the warning in his tone thick and unmistakable: "And, I do not want to hear any more absurd talk about her and Sergeant Karl 'living together'!
If I hear even a whisper of it again, you will walk yourself into the brig and stay there for a few days to cool down that overly active mind of yours! Do you understand?!"
"Understood! Chapter Master!" Cassius and Golden simultaneously straightened their bodies and responded loudly.
"Now, immediately, execute!" Calgar waved his hand, as if looking at them any longer would shorten his lifespan.
Relieved, the two immediately turned and, with steps as steady as possible but upon closer inspection slightly hurried, swiftly exited the Chapter Master's office.
The moment the heavy metal door closed behind them, Cassius felt the suffocating pressure ease slightly.
He leaned against the cold corridor wall, unable to help but sigh: "It's over..."
Golden looked at him in confusion.
Cassius's face was full of regret: "I gave the order too early... When I told the Tech-Sergeant to inform her to move into Gaius's cabin, I didn't think that far!
Now... that xenos woman is probably already lying on Gaius's bed!
How can I explain this to the Chapter Master now? Say that I just spoke a casual angry remark, and my subordinate executed it too perfectly?"
Thinking of the Chapter Master's warning of 'brig if I hear another whisper,' Cassius felt his future was bleak.
Golden looked at him like this, also shaking his head helplessly, then asked: "Captain, then... shall we go to the cabin area now?"
Cassius irritably ran a hand through his hair, finally resignedly straightening up: "Go! Go now!
Before the matter reaches the Chapter Master's ears, see if we can... salvage something."
He held onto a last shred of hope, hoping that the Aeldari woman had only gone in for a visit, or that the large bed hadn't been delivered yet.
Though he knew himself that such a possibility was minuscule.
The two highest commanders of the First Company, at this moment, were like men going to deal with an extremely thorny problem, walking towards the First Company cabin area with heavy and complex feelings.
And at the same time, outside a certain cabin, there was still a large, confused Assault Marine almost petrified because he couldn't understand "why his brother was cohabiting with a xenos."
After Cassius and Golden left the Chapter Master's office, before heading to the First Company cabin area, Cassius still clung to a sliver of unrealistic fantasy, hoping this was all just a misunderstanding, or that there had been a deviation in the order's transmission.
He first sought out the Tech-Sergeant responsible for executing his "absurd directive."
The Tech-Sergeant was in the hangar assisting with the maintenance of a newly returned Thunderhawk Gunship, and upon seeing the Captain and Lieutenant arrive together, immediately put down his tools and stood at attention.
"Tech-Sergeant Vesipad Moria," Cassius tried to keep his voice calm, but the anxiety in his brow was hard to conceal, "Regarding Ms. Kolesa... did she really... move into Sergeant Karl's cabin?"
The Tech-Sergeant paused, seemingly surprised by the Captain's question.
He straightened his back and clearly replied: "Reporting, Captain, yes.
Executed precisely according to your orders.
Several standard hours ago, I assisted Ms. Kolesa in transferring her personal belongings to Sergeant Karl's cabin and informed her that she would reside there henceforth.
The entire process was smooth, with no conflicts occurring." His tone even carried a hint of dutifulness after completing a task.
"..."
Cassius felt a sudden blackout, his feet stumbling slightly, but fortunately, the quick-witted Golden beside him subtly reached out and steadied his arm armor, preventing the First Company Captain from losing composure in front of his subordinate.
It's over... The last shred of hope was shattered.
That xenos woman was now actually lying on his subordinate Sergeant's bed!
And this order was given by him, Cassius Venus, Captain of the Honor Guard, personally!
Now, even if he had a hundred mouths, he couldn't explain it to the Chapter Master!
The shadow of the brig seemed to already loom over his head.
Just as Cassius was lamenting internally, contemplating whether to go wait at the brig door now or struggle a bit longer, a unique set of footsteps, mixed with the smell of oil and the hum of electricity, approached.
A Tech-Priest, cloaked in red robes, his mechanical eyes gleaming with calm red light, glided towards Cassius, surrounded by a retinue of servo-skulls.
He chattered in his characteristic, flat binary language, and a nearby servo-skull immediately translated in stiff gothic:
"To Captain Cassius. Data records indicate that you have damaged three high-strength alloy desks in the Chapter Master's office within this standardized month. This action has led to a significant increase in administrative material repair and replacement expenses, exceeding this month's budget by 0.007 percent. According to Article 114514 of the 'Macragge's Honour Internal Management Regulations Logistics Supplement Details,' you are subject to corresponding penalties. It is proposed that your entire synthetic bread and standard nutrient paste rations for the next month be deducted as a warning."
"..."
Cassius was already agitated and furious over Ms. Kolaesa's matter. Now, hearing that this mechanical head wanted to deduct his rations because of a few broken desks, the suppressed anger instantly flared up as if hot oil had been poured on it!
"Deduct all of it?!" Cassius's voice suddenly rose, filled with incredulous anger. "All synthetic bread and nutrient paste deducted?! Then what will I eat?! Air?! Are you going to stand by and watch the First Company Captain, the Regent of Ultramar, starve to death on his own battleship?!"
His massive body leaned slightly forward in agitation, exuding a powerful sense of oppression that made the servo-skull responsible for translation shrink back.
The Tech-Priest's cold mechanical bionic eye flickered a few times without any fluctuation, seemingly rapidly searching its database. After a moment, he responded in binary, and the servo-skull continued to translate, its tone still flat and emotionless:
"Logical analysis confirms that individual survival maintenance is a priority. An alternative solution can be executed: fifty percent of Lieutenant Golden's next month's synthetic bread and nutrient paste rations will be transferred to your name. This solution can essentially meet your..."
"Go, go, go, go, go!" Cassius completely lost his patience. Without waiting for the servo-skull to finish translating, he roughly waved his hand, like swatting a fly, and slapped the Tech-Priest's cold metal shoulder with little force but full of momentum, pushing him back a few steps. "I don't have time to argue with you about these damned bread and nutrient paste! And your cursed regulations! Get out of my way!"
The Tech-Priest was pushed aside, and the flickering frequency of his mechanical bionic eye sped up slightly, seemingly recording a "physical contact and verbal conflict" incident. But he did not continue to pester, merely gliding silently to the side with his group of servo-skulls, beginning to log this "exchange."
Cassius exhaled roughly, feeling his blood pressure reach a new high. He subconsciously glanced at Golden next to him, only to find his lieutenant staring intently at him with an extremely complex gaze, tinged with an almost imperceptible wariness and resentment—evidently, because of the Tech-Priest's earlier proposal to "take half of his rations."
Cassius felt a little guilty and even more annoyed under Golden's gaze. He rubbed his brow vigorously, feeling that today was truly a day of misfortunes.
"Let's go!" He growled at Golden in an exasperated tone, filled with a sense of throwing caution to the wind. "Come with me to the cabin, Golden! Now! Immediately! At once!"
He wanted to personally see what that xenos woman, who had put him in such a predicament, was doing in Sergeant Karl's cabin! And also to think about how to clean up this damned mess, at least... not actually be confined to the brig, that would be too humiliating!
The two once again set off, walking towards the First Company cabin area. Only this time, Captain Cassius's retreating figure seemed to carry an air of tragic heroism mixed with discomfiture.
Cassius and Golden, feeling as if they were walking to their execution, strode down the wide corridor leading to the First Company cabin area. Cassius's brow was deeply furrowed, his mind frantically churning through various excuses, trying to find a reason that could help him get by Chapter Master Calgar's wrath. But every idea that popped up was immediately rejected by himself—no matter how he explained it, the personally issued order to have a xenos live in a subordinate's cabin seemed so absurd and incomprehensible.
Just as his heart was filled with gloom, and he was almost ready to give up, two figures appeared around the corner ahead—Tech-Sergeant Luna and Eilaas.
Luna's right shoulder was still in a medical brace, but her complexion looked much better than when she was in the Hive City. She was leading the lively Eilaas, seemingly on their way to the armory. Eilaas's light pink short hair bounced with her movements, and her green eyes were full of curiosity and vitality.
Seeing the Captain and Lieutenant walking towards them, the two immediately stopped, straightened their bodies, and gave a crisp military salute.
"Captain! Lieutenant!" Luna's voice was still calm, with the characteristic steadiness of a Tech-Sergeant.
Cassius had no mind for such formalities at the moment. He rushed to Luna's front like a drowning man grasping at a final straw, disregarding his Captain's dignity. He lowered his voice, speaking quickly and with a rare hint of pleading:
"Luna! You've come at just the right time! Quick, help your Captain think of a solution!" He spoke extremely fast, as if a moment's delay would bring disaster. "I... wasn't I furious earlier? So... so I gave an order for that Aeldari woman to move into Sergeant Karl's cabin... Who knew that Vessipad Moria fellow would execute it so thoroughly! Now she's already moved in! If the Chapter Master finds out, my... my lifelong reputation will be completely ruined!"
He grabbed Luna's uninjured arm, his eyes filled with the urgency of "quickly, come up with an idea for me." "Quick, quick, quick! For your Captain, use your clever Tech-Sergeant brain and think of how to salvage this!"
Luna was momentarily stunned by the Captain's sudden action. Her enhanced cogitator core quickly began to analyze the massive amount of information. Ms. Kolaesa... and Sergeant Karl living together? This news was indeed quite explosive. However, it didn't seem to have any direct bearing on her. She recalled details she had observed on the battleship earlier: Sergeant Karl seemed to show a different kind of patience towards Ms. Kolaesa than he did towards other xenos, and Ms. Kolaesa, when extremely distressed, seemed to calm down only when Sergeant Karl was present.
She calmly analyzed, "Captain, based on my observations, Ms. Kolaesa's attitude towards Sergeant Karl is different from that towards other Astartes, indicating a high possibility of increased favorability." She paused, then offered a suggestion that made Cassius's vision darken. "Perhaps... you could try reporting to the Chapter Master that this action is to... foster relations between the two parties, using it as an opportunity to establish deeper cooperation with the Aeldari? After all, Ms. Kolaesa's identity is that of a Ruling Seer from the Aisha's Tears Craftworld, possessing a certain degree of influence."
After Luna finished speaking, she shrugged her only movable shoulder helplessly, adding, "Captain, this is the only direction I can think of. For the rest, I am powerless." In her view, this plan at least packaged an "absurdity" into an action with a "strategic purpose," even if it sounded very far-fetched.
Meanwhile, Eilaas, after understanding what had happened, her large green eyes instantly lit up, sparkling with excitement! Lord Gaius and that pretty pointy-eared person were living together?! This was the biggest gossip ever!
"Wow! Really?! Captain, Captain! Take me to see! I want to see!" Eilaas immediately bounced up, grabbing Cassius's arm armor and shaking it, looking determined not to give up until she got her way.
Luna sighed helplessly, reaching out to precisely grab Eilaas by the back of her collar, lifting her away from the Captain like an unruly kitten. "Stop causing trouble, Eilaas. We still have important things to do." She nodded to Cassius and Golden, then, ignoring Eilaas's protests of "Let me see!", forcibly dragged her towards the armory.
Cassius watched Luna's retreating figure, then replayed her "brilliant idea" in his mind, feeling not just his vision darken, but seeing actual stars!
Foster relations? Seek cooperation?!
What kind of terrible idea was that?! The Chapter Master would only believe it if pigs flew! Wouldn't that be tantamount to directly telling the Chapter Master that he, Cassius, was talking nonsense and fantasizing to escape responsibility? This was practically pushing him further into the fire pit!
He could almost see the Chapter Master's face, turning from green to purple, then from purple to black, after hearing this explanation, and the scene of him coldly pointing to the brig door, telling him to "go in and cool down."
"It's over... It's completely over now..." Cassius muttered to himself, feeling a dark future ahead. Luna's method, far from being helpful, had completely blocked his last chance of survival.
He irritably ran his hands through his hair, messing up his previously somewhat tidy hairstyle. It seemed relying on others was unreliable; ultimately, he had to resolve this mess himself.
"Let's go, Golden!" He gritted his teeth, making up his mind. "Never mind! Anyway, the cabin originally assigned to Ms. Kolaesa should still be empty! We'll just go and 'escort' her out, and move her back to her original place! Let's just say... let's just say the previous order was a mistake, and we're correcting it now!"
Although this was somewhat like slapping himself in the face, it was better than being confined to the brig by the Chapter Master! As for how to explain it to that Aeldari woman, and whether it would cause new trouble... Cassius couldn't worry about all that now; he had to get through the immediate crisis first!
With a do-or-die attitude, he once again set off, walking towards Sergeant Karl's cabin. Golden watched his Captain's tragic figure, silently sighed, and could only quickly follow. He only hoped that this time, his Captain's "remedial measures" wouldn't cause any bigger problems.
Captain Cassius, accompanied by Golden, finally arrived at the First Company's quarters, outside the door belonging to Sergeant Karl. Several First Company Ultramarines, who were patrolling nearby or performing maintenance, immediately stopped their work upon seeing their Captain and his aide. They respectfully saluted with clenched fists to their chests, their deep blue power armor gleaming with solemn luster in the corridor lights.
Captain Cassius, at this moment, was distraught. He merely waved his hand casually, signaling them to withdraw and not linger. The Ultramarines silently saluted and quickly departed, leaving the space to the two officers.
Silence returned to the corridor, broken only by the low hum of the power systems. Captain Cassius's gaze first fell on the adjacent cabin door, originally assigned to Ms. Kolaesa but now empty. The cold metal surface reflected his somewhat distorted reflection. Then, his eyes shifted to Gaius's cabin. Through the small observation window, he could see the prominent large bed inside, and the slender figure curled up on it, covered by long silver hair.
Ms. Kolaesa seemed to be in a deep sleep. The effect of the inhibitor made her appear exceptionally quiet and fragile, like a delicate porcelain doll. She lay on his subordinate's bed—a scene that was the result of his impulsive and absurd order, a 'mistake' he urgently needed to rectify.
His hand slowly rose, the armored knuckles bending, preparing to knock on the door and command her in an unquestionable tone to immediately move out and return to where she belonged. This was the simplest, most direct way to handle it, and the most forceful action to prove to the Chapter Master that he was 'correcting his mistake'.
However, just as his knuckles were about to touch the cold metal door panel, his movement abruptly froze mid-air.
In his mind, he uncontrollably replayed the scenes of himself facing Ms. Kolaesa earlier—the merciless reprimands, the cold gaze full of suspicion and scrutiny, the almost humiliating questioning... And, in the office, his order, given out of anger and a certain irresponsible desire to shift blame, for her to move into Gaius's cabin.
He had once regarded her as a nuisance, an alien prisoner to be strictly guarded, an object that could be placed anywhere. He hadn't even given her the most basic respect as an individual. And now, as he saw her sleeping so helplessly in an Astartes's room, the sole instigator of all this was himself.
A belated emotion, a mix of guilt and powerlessness, slowly washed over Captain Cassius like a cold tide. He realized that if he were to forcibly wake her now, and drive her out of this 'new home' she had just been forced to adapt to, with a commanding tone, how would that be different from his previous actions? It would merely be another form of brutality and heartlessness. Was this the hospitality of the Ultramarines? Even if the other party was an alien, a prisoner?
He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath of the metallic and oil-scented air provided by the circulation system, trying to calm the complex emotions churning within him. When he opened his eyes again, the original irritation and impulsiveness had receded, replaced by a heavy calm.
He slowly lowered his hand, which had been suspended in mid-air, and turned to look at Golden, who had been silently following him.
"Golden," his voice was a little hoarse, but carried a sense of relief after making a decision, "Let's go back."
A hint of surprise flashed in Golden's eyes, but he did not speak, merely waiting for his Captain's next words.
Captain Cassius continued, "As for the Chapter Master... I will personally admit my mistake and accept any consequences." He paused, his gaze returning to the observation window, looking at the sleeping figure inside, his tone becoming somewhat complex, "And her..."
He was silent for a moment, as if deliberating his words, finally letting out an almost inaudible sigh.
"...I will leave her to Sergeant Karl."
These words meant he had given up on forced intervention, tacitly accepting the awkward and delicate situation he had single-handedly created. He was transferring the responsibility of dealing with Ms. Kolaesa to the person who might be the only human she didn't completely reject on this battleship. This might not be the best solution, but at least it avoided potential secondary harm at this moment.
With that, Captain Cassius no longer lingered. He resolutely turned and strode away along the path he had come. His back was still straight, but he seemed to have shed some unnecessary burdens, and gained a greater sense of the heavy responsibility a leader must bear.
However, the gloom lingering in Captain Cassius's heart did not stem solely from the pressure concerning Ms. Kolaesa and the Chapter Master. There was another matter, pressing on his chest like a boulder, bringing with it a dull ache.
His brother, Gochi.
That loyal, brave Indomitus Terminator heavy gunner, his remains would soon undergo final processing. After the precious gene-seed was extracted, an honor guard would escort it back to Macragge. His name would be solemnly inscribed on the magnificent Memorial Wall of Fortress Hera, which bore ten thousand years of glory and sacrifice, alongside countless heroic ancestors.
Gochi was one of the first brothers to follow him, trust him, and entrust their lives to him when he was first promoted to First Company Captain. They trained together, fought together, growing from a regular tactical squad into Terminator veterans... The past scenes were vivid. Now, this reliable brother had fallen forever on that Hive City world desecrated by aliens, never again to stand shoulder to shoulder with him.
Upon returning to his office, Captain Cassius dismissed everyone and sat alone on his command throne. After a long silence, he used the internal system to request the final combat log extracted from Gochi's power armor recorder from the Tech-Sergeant.
A deep blue light screen illuminated before him. He took a deep breath, as if needing immense courage, before slowly clicking on the audio file labeled "Final Record."
A cacophony of background noise first poured out—the roar of bolters, the shrieks of aliens, the heavy thud of power armor. Then came Gochi's familiar voice, filtered through his helmet, carrying the gasps and determination of combat, clearly audible:
"Captain, it has been an honor to serve alongside you!" This was said to Captain Rikao.
Immediately following was a more impassioned roar, accompanied by the bellow of a twin-linked assault cannon: "For the Emperor! For Lord Guilliman! Come on!"
Intense gunfire, explosions, and Gochi's heavy breathing and occasional grunts constantly echoed in the audio, painting a picture of the brutal battle. The recording was intermittent, clearly made amidst intense movement and under attack.
Finally, the background gunfire seemed to thin out, replaced by a denser, spine-chilling sound of claws scraping armor and shrieks. Gochi's voice rose again, this time not a roar, but a calm, self-recorded tone, unhurried but every word clear, as if leaving a final message:
"...I am Gochi Durane, heavy weapon specialist of the Demolias Indomitus Terminator Squad, First Company, Ultramarines Chapter. Captain Rikao and I... stayed here... to cover our brothers' retreat. We... are surrounded by endless xenos."
His voice paused, and a dull thud of something heavy hitting armor came from the background, but he seemed unfazed, continuing:
"...I am prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice. May the Emperor protect... Captain Rikao... and may my brothers... retreat safely..."
The log ended abruptly there.
Only a dead silence of electrical static remained.
Inside the office, a long, suffocating silence settled.
Captain Cassius sat still in his chair, unmoving. There was no expression on his resolute face, but his tightly clenched fists, knuckles white from exertion, trembled slightly. A vast, unvented grief and anger churned and slammed within his chest, but found no outlet.
He had lost a brother, a loyal warrior. And all he could do, it seemed, was sit here alone, listening to his brother's final words, feeling that heavy sense of powerlessness.
Outside the window was the boundless, cold starry sky, and inside, a Captain offered a silent elegy for his fallen subordinate.
In the medical bay, Gaius slowly opened his eyes, consciousness rising from a deep sea, gradually becoming clear. The first thing he felt was an omnipresent, excruciating pain throughout his body, as if he had been repeatedly run over by a heavy vehicle, especially in his chest and abdomen. Every breath tugged at a faint ache inside, as if all his internal organs had shifted and just been barely repositioned. But compared to the near-fatal trauma he felt before losing consciousness, the current pain was bearable, and he could clearly feel life force and strength slowly returning to his battered body.
"Sergeant Karl, you're awake." A calm, even voice sounded nearby. Gaius slightly turned his head and saw an Apothecary in a white robe standing by the bed, holding a data-slate and recording something, while also seemingly reporting via internal comms: "...Vital signs stable, consciousness recovered, Sergeant Karl has awakened."
After completing his report, the Apothecary turned to Gaius and, in his characteristic, emotionless tone, said, "Your injuries are severe, with multiple internal organ lacerations and concussions, and fractured ribs. However, your enhanced organs are functioning well, and the surgery was successful. There is no longer any immediate danger to your life, but you require rest. We will observe you for another half hour; if there are no other adverse reactions, you may leave the medical bay." He paused, his voice emphasizing, "Remember, for at least two weeks, no high-intensity training or combat missions. Your internal organs need time to fully repair."
Gaius endured the soreness in his body and nodded slightly, his voice still a little hoarse: "Understood, thank you, Apothecary brother."
During the next half-hour observation period, Gaius lay quietly on the medical bed, feeling the subtle changes within his body, while his thoughts drifted to the bloody battle in the underhive, worrying about Dorian and Luna's safety. Once the time was up, and after confirming that his body showed no rejection reactions or other abnormalities, he, with the Apothecary's permission, rose with some difficulty and left the medical area.
He first wanted to check on Dorian and Luna. Passing through familiar corridors and entering the First Company's rest area, where Ultramarines usually socialized, maintained weapons, or took simple breaks. However, today it seemed unusually quiet. Especially, he didn't hear that familiar loud voice—Dorian would usually rush here immediately after recovering from injuries, spouting exaggerated tales of his valiant exploits, even if he had been carried back on a stretcher, he could spin a fantastical story about single-handedly taking on a tank's main cannon.
This unusual silence made Gaius's heart sink slightly. He hurried towards Dorian's cabin and looked through the observation window—it was empty.
'Is he too severely injured and still in the medical bay?' Gaius couldn't help but worry. But then he reconsidered, given Dorian's monstrous physique and recovery capabilities, unless a Greater Daemon of Chaos personally intervened, it wouldn't be easy to truly take him down. Perhaps he was simply being forcibly kept under observation by the Apothecary.
Temporarily suppressing his concern for his brother, Gaius decided to return to his own cabin first. He needed a few days of good rest, to organize the combat logs from this Hive City mission, deeply analyze the reasons and lessons learned from the ambush, and at the same time, be ready to accept new missions from the Chapter.
He dragged his still somewhat weak body to the door of his own cabin. His finger pressed on the access panel, a soft "beep" sounded, and the door silently slid open to one side.
However, the moment he stepped into the cabin, the sound of the door opening seemed to disturb something inside the room. The space where his single bed used to be was now replaced by an absurdly large bed, and on that bed, a slender figure was somewhat flustered and weakly propping herself up with one hand, using the other to push aside her disheveled silver hair, trying to see who had entered.
Gaius's gaze met those purple eyes, which held a hint of panic and confusion. He froze instantly, his brain seeming to crash.
Wrong room?
This was his first thought. He instinctively took a step back, and subconsciously blurted out, "Sorry, wrong room." Then he quickly exited the cabin and closed the door behind him.
Standing in the corridor, he looked up in a daze, re-confirming the insignia on the cabin door—clear white lettering "I-10-A," representing First Company, Tenth Tactical Squad, Sergeant's Quarters. That's right, this was his room!
A sense of absurdity washed over him. He pushed open the cabin door again. This time, he saw even more clearly—his familiar single bed was indeed gone, replaced by a huge bed, clearly modified, large enough to accommodate several of him lying side by side. And the slender Eldar maiden on the bed, wearing the white leisure clothes provided by the Ultramarines, with her silver hair spread out and her face still a little pale, who else could it be but Ms. Kolaesa?!
Gaius was utterly stunned. He stood at the doorway, unsure whether to go in or retreat. He looked at the large bed, then at Ms. Kolaesa on the bed, his mind filled with countless questions.
"Ms. Kolaesa..." Gaius's voice carried obvious confusion and bewilderment. He tried to keep his tone calm, "This... What is this situation? Why are you... here?" He pointed to the bed, then to the entire room, his meaning unmistakable.
When Ms. Kolaesa saw that the person who entered was Gaius, her tense body and wary gaze instantly relaxed. She let out a soft sigh and, instead of directly answering Gaius's question, asked in return, "You... completed the mission? I heard you were gravely injured..." Her voice still carried the weakness caused by the inhibitor, but a hint of concern was subtly discernible.
Gaius nodded, still in a state of immense confusion: "The mission... we encountered an ambush and suffered heavy losses. My injuries have been treated and are no longer serious." He steered the conversation back, his tone carrying a subtle urgency, "So, please tell me, why are you in my cabin? What exactly is going on?"
Ms. Kolaesa looked at Gaius's completely unaware expression, and a faint, slightly bitter and helpless smile appeared on her pale face. She softly said, giving an answer that left Gaius even more bewildered:
"It was the Captain's arrangement."
"The Captain?" Gaius was even more confused. Captain Cassius? Why would he make such an arrangement? To place an Eldar psyker, a female, in his private cabin? This was completely illogical and contrary to any Chapter regulations!
A sudden surge of inexplicable irritation and unease welled up within him. Gaius no longer hesitated. He immediately used his helmet's built-in communicator to directly connect to First Company Captain Cassius's private channel.
The communication was quickly established, but before Gaius could even ask, the Captain's familiar voice came through. His tone seemed somewhat complex, but more so, it was brief and unquestionable:
"Obey orders."
Only these four words. Then, the communication was unilaterally cut off.
Gaius stood rooted to the spot, listening to the dial tone from his communicator, then looked at the huge bed in the cabin, and at Ms. Kolaesa, who was quietly watching him from the bed. A tremendous sense of absurd and helpless imposition enveloped him.
Obey orders... the sacred duty of an Astartes. But this time, this order made him feel an unprecedented confusion and... a subtle, indescribable embarrassment.
Gaius stood at the door of the cabin, feeling as if his core consciousness was under attack by some unknown virus, his logic in complete disarray. The four words "obey orders" echoed in his mind like a curse, yet they couldn't explain the surreal scene before him. Undeterred, he tried again to connect to Captain Cassius's comm channel, but the only response was a cold system prompt—the Captain had removed his power armor, and his comms were offline.
Clearly, the Captain was deliberately avoiding him.
A strong sense of unease prompted Gaius to immediately contact Lieutenant Golden. As the Captain's second-in-command, Golden usually knew most of the internal affairs and had a relatively more stable temperament.
Once the communication connected, Gaius didn't beat around the bush and directly asked why Kolesa had been placed in his cabin. Golden, on the other end of the line, was silent for a moment, seemingly weighing his words. Finally, he relayed Captain Cassius's angry and irresponsible "fit of pique" from his office, in front of the Honour Guard Captain— "They can both live together! Sleeping in the same bed is no problem!"—verbatim to Gaius.
After hearing Golden's account, Gaius felt a chill instantly shoot from the power armor's spinal cooling tubes straight to his skull, his body stiff as a frozen sculpture.
This order from the Captain... it was practically throwing him into a pit of fire!
An Astartes Sergeant cohabiting with an Eldar female, especially a politically sensitive Farseer, in the same cabin? What consequences would this news cause if it got out? If Chapter Master Marius Calgar knew, how would he deal with it in his fury? This severely violated the Imperial Creed and the Astartes' code of conduct!
Even more terrifying, what if word leaked and was discovered by the ubiquitous Inquisition? They wouldn't care if it was the Captain's angry outburst or a joke. They would only see an Ultramarines Sergeant in close contact, even "cohabiting," with an alien. At that point, not only his military career, but even his loyalty would be questioned, and it wouldn't be impossible for him to be branded a "thought heretic" or "potential traitor"!
Even Gaius, known for his composure and calmness, felt a prickling sensation on his scalp. He instinctively raised a hand and vigorously wiped his face, as if trying to erase the absurdity and pressure. He looked at the glaring large bed in the cabin, and at Kolesa, who was watching him from the bed with unease in her eyes, feeling utterly helpless.
What could he do? Should he really disregard the Captain's "order" and kick Kolesa out? Not to mention it violated his personal principles, just looking at Kolesa's weak state and sensitive situation, forcibly expelling her would undoubtedly be cruel. Moreover, this order came from his direct superior; it was a military command that had to be obeyed.
Sitting on the bed, Kolesa witnessed Gaius's series of reactions—stiffening, shock, rubbing his forehead, silence—all clearly. She didn't know the content of the communication, but based on her sensitive and fragile heart at the moment, she made the most direct interpretation: Gaius, like other Astartes, couldn't accept her, an "alien," appearing in his private space. He stood there silently, surely trying to figure out how to get rid of her, this "trouble."
This thought, like the final straw, crushed her already tottering psychological defenses. Days of fear, grievance, loneliness, and despair for the future, at this moment, surged out like a bursting dam.
Tears instantly blurred her vision, uncontrollably sliding down her pale cheeks. At first, it was just silent weeping, but soon, suppressed whimpers turned into uncontrollable, loud sobs. She cried so heartbrokenly, as if wanting to vent all her pain. In her opinion, Gaius was the only human on this cold human warship from whom she could feel a glimmer of kindness, the only one she could somewhat trust. If even he couldn't accept her, rejected her, then she truly had nothing, completely plunged into darkness.
Gaius was somewhat at a loss by her sudden, intense crying. Executing this absurd order had already made him distraught, and now he had to face a crying Eldar female? As an Astartes Monk born for combat, he was proficient in various killing techniques, tactical command, and could even calmly analyze complex alien social structures, but when it came to the "art of comforting a crying female," his knowledge base was completely blank.
He looked at Kolesa's thin shoulders, trembling with sobs, and listened to the helpless and sad cries. The irritation and helplessness caused by the order were gradually replaced by a more complex emotion—a mix of sympathy, responsibility, and a hint of… inexplicable flutter of helplessness.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the chaotic thoughts in his mind. Whatever the case, he had to get her to stop crying first. He walked to the bedside and sat down. He didn't know what comforting words to say; platitudes about "Imperial glory" or "strong will" seemed so pale and powerless at this moment.
He chose the most clumsy, yet most direct method—silent companionship.
Seeing him approach, Kolesa's crying took on a hint of defiance. She suddenly grabbed Gaius's muscular forearm, covered with power armor interface scars, opened her mouth, and bit down with all her might!
However, for Gaius, it felt like... being gently nudged by a newborn animal's milk teeth. The reinforced skin and muscle density of an Astartes meant he felt almost no pain. He just watched her quietly, letting her vent.
Kolesa bit for a long time, found the other party completely unresponsive, and, frustrated and anxious, released her mouth. She then used her slender, powerless fists to softly pound on Gaius's iron-hard chest and arms like raindrops, crying out as she hit, "Why... why do you all treat me like this... what did I do wrong..."
Gaius remained motionless, like a silent mountain, enduring her powerless "attacks" and sorrowful accusations. He knew she didn't need to be stopped, but an outlet for her emotions.
Thus, after an unknown amount of time, Kolesa's crying gradually weakened, and her hitting grew lighter. Extreme sorrow and the weakness brought on by the inhibitor exhausted her last ounce of strength. Her body softened, no longer attacking, but leaning weakly towards Gaius's broad and warm chest as if seeking support, finally nestling in his arms, with only faint, intermittent sobs remaining.
The cabin fell silent, with only her occasional sobs and their faint breathing.
Kolesa, nestled in Gaius's arms, raised her tear-filled face and looked at him. Up close, she could clearly see his long Golden hair, shining like sunlight, his eyes as blue as Ultramar's tranquil lakes, now with a hint of melancholy, and his handsome face, which possessed both the ruggedness of a human male and the delicate features of an Eldar.
A strange sense of security quietly arose in this absurd and awkward situation. She extended her slightly trembling hand and gently clasped Gaius's large, calloused, yet incredibly steady hand, as if it were the only piece of driftwood she could grasp in a stormy sea.
Her voice, hoarse from crying and with a hint of subtle dependence, softly asked:
"Are all you Astartes... like you?"
She paused, pressing her cheek more tightly against his solid chest, feeling his steady heartbeat, and continued to whisper:
"Are all Captains... as fierce as Captain Cassius?"
Gaius felt Kolesa's breathing gradually steady and her body relax in his arms, listening to her tearful, cautious questions. The irritation he felt from the absurd order strangely subsided a great deal. He looked down at her pale, tear-streaked face, her purple eyes like amethyst washed by rain, carrying a hint of fragility and inquiry.
He was silent for a moment, then replied gently in his characteristic, calm and magnetic voice:
"No, not all Astartes are like me." His voice was exceptionally clear in the silent cabin. "Though we undergo twenty-two gene-seed modification surgeries, gaining strength, physique, and longevity beyond mortals, in essence... we are still human."
He tried to explain this complex group to her in the simplest way.
"We have different personalities, just like... just like stars have different lights," he exemplified, his tone peaceful. "For instance, Dorian, my brother. He is impulsive, reckless, sometimes acting without considering the consequences, like a rampaging rhinoceros. But he is not irritable; his heart is full of loyalty and passion for his brothers, he just isn't good at expressing it gently."
"Or Luna, the Tech-Sergeant you met. She is quiet, steady, doesn't speak much, as if always immersed in her world of technology and data. But she is the one who cares about everyone the most; she will silently check everyone's power armor status, prepare all possible equipment for us before battle, and save our lives with her exquisite skills when we are injured."
He paused, his gaze seeming to pass through the cabin wall, seeing the figure of the always silent but incredibly reliable Tech-Sergeant.
Then, he spoke of Captain Cassius, a hint of complex emotion in his tone.
"As for Captain Cassius..." Gaius frowned slightly, seemingly searching for appropriate words. "When I hadn't yet joined the First Company, only observing from afar, I too once thought he was a calm, steady, and always rational commander, like Lord Guilliman."
He gently shook his head, a barely perceptible bitter smile on his lips.
"But once I truly became a member of the First Company and fought alongside him up close, I realized... the Captain's temper, at times, is actually not much different from Dorian's."
If Captain Cassius himself heard this assessment, he would probably immediately fly into a rage. But Gaius continued, his tone not disrespectful, but rather with a hint of understanding:
"However, Kolesa, you must know that in the Captain's position, he bears the honor of the entire First Company, the lives of hundreds of brothers, and the heavy burden of Ultramar's regent. Countless decisions, pressures, and unexpected events and sacrifices like this Hive City mission... all of this piled together makes it difficult for anyone to remain calm at all times. His irritability often stems from concern for his brothers and frustration over mission failures."
His voice grew firm: "However, no matter what, one thing is beyond doubt—Captain Cassius is truly good to his own brothers. He might scold us, might explode in anger when we make mistakes, but when danger comes, he is always the first to charge forward; when a brother needs him, he will never back down. Brother Gochi's sacrifice... the most pained person right now is probably the Captain."
After Gaius finished speaking, he looked down at Kolesa in his arms, wanting to see if she understood his words. However, what met his eyes were her closed eyelids, he didn't know when, with tiny teardrops still clinging to her long silver lashes, her breathing even and deep—she had fallen asleep.
Extreme emotional fluctuations and the continuous effect of the inhibitor, after she found a sense of security, finally made her unable to hold on and fall into a deep sleep.
Gaius looked at her serene sleeping face, sighed in his heart, and an indescribable protective instinct quietly arose. His movements were extremely gentle, as if handling a fragile treasure, carefully lifting her horizontally in his arms. Her weight was as light as nothing to the strength of an Astartes. He slowly walked to the large bed, gently laid her down, pulled over his own clean-smelling blanket from nearby, and carefully covered her.
After all this, he stood by the bed, watched her quietly for a few seconds, then resolutely turned and left the cabin.
Outside the cabin door, the corridor remained cold and empty, with only the distant, heavy, and regular footsteps of patrolling Terminator armor, like the unchanging heartbeat of the warship. Gaius did not linger; he strode forward, his destination clear—the Captain's office. He had to find Cassius and directly ask about the true intention and subsequent arrangements for this order. He couldn't just "cohabit" with an Eldar female in the same room without understanding, as this posed immense risks to him, to Kolesa, and to the Chapter.
However, what Gaius didn't know was that while he was still unconscious in the medical bay, his "impulsive and reckless" brother, Dorian, upon returning to the cabin area, was "invited" away by two expressionless Honour Guard warriors—to the brig—before he even had a chance to step into his own room.
The reason? It was the trouble caused by his earlier unrestrained mouth, proclaiming everywhere that "Kolesa is Gaius's wife." Captain Cassius clearly remembered this account and, in a terribly foul mood, took the opportunity to settle it.
Dorian, however, was quite relaxed about it; after all, the brig was half a home to him, and spending a few days there would be good for recovering from his injuries, though he felt he didn't need to. However, what surprised him was that the brig cell next to his, which had always been empty, was now also in use!
'Oh? Which unlucky brother came in right after me?' Dorian's gossipy heart immediately flared up. He perked up his ears, listening carefully to the movements outside.
As the Honour Guard warriors left, a voice, faintly heard through the thick door, with a hint of helplessness, said: "...Take care, Captain Cassius."
"Pfft—chuckle!"
Dorian couldn't hold back and burst out laughing! He could even feel his wounds aching from the laughter.
Captain Cassius?! He was locked up too?! Right next door to him?! This was absolutely the funniest news he had heard this year... no, this century!
Once the door of the adjacent brig cell slammed shut with a "clunk," confirming the Honour Guard had left, Dorian immediately scrambled off the hard cot, pressed his face to the ventilation shaft connecting to the next cell, and with his characteristic loud voice, excitedly shouted:
"Captain! Captain! It's me! Dorian! Hahaha! How did you end up in here too?! I was getting bored to death; quickly tell me, what did you do to get thrown in here by the Chapter Master?!"
His voice echoed in the small brig cell, filled with schadenfreude and uncontrollable curiosity.
The next second, Captain Cassius's suppressed, furious growl, as if squeezed through gritted teeth, came from next door. The killing intent could be felt even through the wall:
"Shut up! You idiot! If you dare to utter a single word about this, I'll twist your head off and kick it like a ball! Do you hear me?!!"
Dorian recoiled his neck, but the smile on his face grew even brighter. It seemed the Captain had gotten into quite a bit of trouble this time! The days in the brig suddenly became interesting.
"Ah, I see," Gaius said, his voice calm and steady as he looked at Kolesa. "We Astartes are not all the same. We have different personalities, just like the stars have different lights." He paused, then continued, "For example, Dorian, my brother. He is impulsive and reckless, sometimes acting without considering the consequences. But he is not hot-tempered; his heart is full of loyalty and passion for his brothers, he just doesn't express it gently. And Luna, the Tech-Sergeant you met. She is quiet and steady, doesn't speak much. But she is the one who cares about everyone the most; she will silently check everyone's power armor status, prepare all possible equipment for us before battle, and save our lives with her exquisite skills when we are injured." He then spoke of Captain Cassius, his voice tinged with a complex emotion. "As for Captain Cassius… when I hadn't yet joined the First Company, I also thought he was a calm, steady, and always rational commander, like Lord Guilliman. But after I truly became a member of the First Company and fought alongside him up close, I realized… the Captain's temper, at times, is actually not much different from Dorian's. However, Kolesa, you must know that in the Captain's position, he bears the honor of the entire First Company, the lives of hundreds of brothers, and the heavy burden of Ultramar's regent. His irritability often stems from concern for his brothers and frustration over mission failures. But one thing is beyond doubt—Captain Cassius is truly good to his own brothers. When danger comes, he is always the first to charge forward; when a brother needs him, he will never back down. Brother Gochi's sacrifice… the most pained person right now is probably the Captain."
Gaius strode through the magnificent and silent corridors of the upper deck of the Macragge's Honour, arriving at the door of the First Company Captain's office. He needed to see Captain Cassius immediately to clarify the intent behind the order that had placed him in such an awkward position. However, upon his arrival, he found the Captain's office door open, and inside, it was not the scene of the Captain anxiously pacing or contemplating a tactical board as he had expected.
Instead, there were several Tech-Priests in red robes, their mechanical bionic eyes flashing with calm red light, along with some silent and efficient servo-skulls. They were busily dismantling the remnants of the old desk that Cassius had shattered with a punch, and transporting a brand new, equally sturdy and durable alloy desk, precisely placing it in its original position. The air was filled with the faint scent of welded metal and lubricant.
A Tech-Priest, who appeared to be supervising, noticed Gaius standing at the doorway. The data-slate in his hand flickered a few times, and then he chittered a string of binary language, characteristic of his kind, without any inflection. The nearby servo-skull immediately translated in stiff gothic:
"Identification: Sergeant Karl Horn. Information: Captain Cassius departed for Chapter Master Marius Calgar's private office half a standard hour ago. Status: Not yet returned. Recommendation: Reschedule, return another day."
The Captain went to the Chapter Master's office in the middle of the night?
Gaius's heart sank slightly. Being summoned at this hour usually didn't bode well. Recalling Lieutenant Golden's absurd remarks about the Captain's "cohabitation," and the Chapter Master's usual strict demeanor, Captain Cassius's visit was likely to end badly. For him to go and inquire now would undoubtedly be walking into a trap; not only would he not get an answer, but he would likely be dragged into the Captain's troubles.
He remained silent for a moment, nodded at the Tech-Priest, said nothing more, and turned to leave. It seemed he wouldn't get an explanation from the Captain tonight. He could only return to his own cabin and face the even more difficult situation there.
Meanwhile, in the Chapter Master's even more magnificent private office, adorned with murals depicting Ultramar's history and the Imperial Aquila, the atmosphere was indeed as heavy and oppressive as Gaius had anticipated.
Chapter Master Marius Calgar sat upon his obsidian throne, his weathered face still clouded with a lingering anger that had not fully dissipated. Not long ago, he had personally ordered the First Company Captain, Cassius Venus, who was incorrigible and had once again acted impulsively and spoken out of turn, to be confined to the brig.
He took a deep breath, trying to quell the surging fury in his heart. Cassius's abilities were beyond doubt, but his character flaws seemed to have magnified since he became First Company Captain. He hoped this brief confinement would allow that head, filled with passion and impulsiveness, to cool down, reflect on his words and actions, and truly shoulder the heavy responsibilities of First Company Captain and Regent of Ultramar.
Having temporarily set aside Cassius's problem, Calgar turned his attention to more pressing matters. He looked up at an Honor Guard warrior standing respectfully by the throne and asked in a deep voice:
"How are the Tech-Priests' assessments of Kha-IV's resources and risks progressing?"
This was a decision concerning the fate of a world. If this Hive City world had been too deeply corrupted by Genestealers, and the resources required to save it far exceeded its inherent value, or if its unique biological signals might even attract the more terrifying main Tyranid fleet, then the most rational, albeit cruel, choice would be to enact an Exterminatus, thoroughly purging it to eliminate future threats.
The Honor Guard warrior immediately responded, his voice carrying a metallic echo through his helmet: "Reporting, Chapter Master, the assessment is still underway. The Tech-Priests report that the world's data is complex, and the extent of infection requires precise measurement. It is estimated that it will take another six standard hours to reach a final conclusion."
Six hours. Calgar silently calculated the time. Hearing this news, his tense mood eased slightly. At least, the basis for the decision was on its way, and he didn't need to make the difficult decision that could destroy a world immediately.
"Very good." He nodded, "Report to me immediately when there are results."
Having dealt with this major concern, Calgar tried to find other work to distract himself. He looked at the Honor Guard warrior and continued to instruct: "Are there any urgent administrative matters outstanding? Bring them over."
"Yes, Chapter Master!" The Honor Guard warrior acknowledged the order and immediately relayed the Chapter Master's command to his colleagues outside the office via internal comms.
The next second, the heavy metal door of the office slid open, and another Honor Guard warrior entered, carrying... a stack of data-slates almost as tall as he was, and astonishingly thick! These data-slates were carefully, almost laboriously, placed on Calgar's large obsidian desk, emitting a dull thud. This mountain of slates almost instantly occupied more than half of the desktop.
Calgar looked at this "small mountain" representing countless pending matters, and an almost imperceptible twitch appeared at the corner of his eye. However, before he could pick up the top one, another Honor Guard warrior entered, also carrying an astonishingly high stack of data-slates, which he neatly placed... next to the first stack, further encroaching on the desk space.
Immediately after, a third warrior entered, carrying even more slates. There was no more space on the desk, so he could only carefully stack these data-slates on the floor next to the desk.
In the blink of an eye, the Chapter Master's originally imposing office seemed to have transformed into a temporary archive. On the desk were two "mountains," and on the floor were continuous "hills"; all the data-slates flickered with pending cursors, silently narrating the "full" life of the Regent of Ultramar, who dealt with myriad affairs every day.
Calgar silently watched this instant "mountain range of administration" for a full five seconds. He took a deep breath, as if preparing for a difficult battle, then reached out and picked up a slate from the top of the tallest stack on the desk. A cold sensation came through; his other hand grasped the special electronic pen, his gaze became focused and sharp, and he began what was destined to be a long night of desk work.
The faint sound of the pen tip moving across the light screen became the only main melody in the office. He needed to handle tax disputes in border worlds, review progress reports on new recruitments, approve a forge world's request for rare metal aid, and arbitrate an ancient dispute between two Hive Cities over water resource allocation... Time slowly passed in silence. After an unknown amount of time, Calgar, having finished a report on abnormal weather on an agricultural world, seemed to suddenly remember something. He stopped writing, without looking up, and spoke to the Honor Guard warrior who had been standing like a statue behind the side of the throne:
"Have Veturius report here."
He needed to hear the Honor Guard Captain's report on the internal security of the battleship, especially regarding the recent situation of the "special guest." Kolesa's presence was always a sensitive point that he needed to carefully balance, especially after Cassius had caused such a stir again.
Honor Guard Captain Veturius was conducting a routine night patrol in the labyrinthine upper passages of the Macragge's Honour, his body covered in ornate armor casting an imposing shadow in the corridor lights. Upon receiving the Chapter Master's direct summons, he did not delay, immediately changed his route, and rushed to the Chapter Master's office at the fastest possible speed.
When he stepped into the solemn office, the first thing that met his eyes was the mountain of pending data-slates piled on the desk and on the floor nearby, and Chapter Master Marius Calgar, sitting behind the "mountain range of administration," his brow slightly furrowed, rapidly reviewing with an electronic pen. The air was filled with a heavy, work-focused atmosphere.
Veturius walked steadily to the center of the office, stopped, and heavily struck his chest plate with a clenched fist, producing a crisp metallic clang, and respectfully saluted:
"Chapter Master, you sent for me."
Calgar did not immediately look up, but quickly completed the final annotation on the data-slate in his hand before shifting his gaze from the light screen to Veturius. His sharp eyes held a hint of imperceptible fatigue, but more so, the calm of one in control of the overall situation.
"Veturius," Calgar's voice was steady, cutting straight to the point, "How is Ms. Kolaesa's condition now?" He needed to understand this potential unstable factor, especially after Cassius's antics.
Veturius was prepared and immediately reported clearly: "Reporting, Chapter Master, according to the latest patrol report, Ms. Kolaesa is currently... residing in Sergeant Karl's cabin." He deliberately used neutral language to avoid provoking the Chapter Master, who had just dealt with Cassius. "Additionally, real-time physiological data monitoring from her ankle inhibitor shows that her emotional fluctuations have greatly subsided compared to previous days, and she is currently in a relatively stable state."
Calgar heard this and was silent for a moment. His fingers unconsciously tapped lightly on the smooth obsidian desktop. Cassius's absurd order had, by some fluke, seemed to bring about an unexpected result—the Eldar woman had found some degree of peace with Gaius? This saved him a lot of trouble.
He finally nodded, making a decision: "Since Sergeant Karl can stabilize her emotions, let's maintain the status quo for now." There were too many more important matters for him to deal with right now: the assessment of Kha-IV, fleet deployment, mountains of administrative tasks... He truly didn't have the extra energy to be distracted by the placement of an Eldar witch. "Monitor closely and ensure the situation doesn't get out of control."
"Understood, Chapter Master." Veturius bowed his head in acknowledgment.
"Additionally," Calgar continued, his tone becoming formal, "relay my command: inform all fleet units to conduct final resupply and inspection. In forty-eight standard hours, the Macragge's Honour and its escort fleet will depart on schedule, leaving the current sector."
He brought up the star chart and pointed to a preset coordinate.
"Destination, the Conar Inget's defense zone. We need to rendezvous with the 2nd Company and assess the border situation in that sector."
"At once, Chapter Master! I will relay the order immediately." Veturius saluted again, then turned and left the office with steady steps to execute this important deployment order.
Meanwhile, in the First Company's quarters, Gaius had returned to his room. The room was quiet, with only Ms. Kolaesa's steady, deep breathing. She was still sound asleep, seemingly undisturbed by Gaius's earlier departure. The presence of the inhibitor kept her in a state of drowsiness or semi-consciousness most of the time.
Gaius tiptoed to the locker and took out the special medicine for promoting organ repair, prepared for him by the Apothecary. It was a thick gel with a faint herbal scent. He swallowed it expressionlessly, feeling a cool sensation slide down his throat. Afterward, he walked to the side of the large bed.
Looking at Ms. Kolaesa sleeping on the bed, and then at the empty half of the bed, Gaius still felt a sense of absurdity. But he knew that until he received clear orders from his superiors to change the situation, he could only comply. He sighed and lay down on the bed, fully clothed, keeping as far away from Ms. Kolaesa as possible, occupying the very edge of his side.
Whatever it was, it could wait until morning. He closed his eyes, forcing himself to rest to accelerate his body's recovery. A faint, cool, floral scent, unlike that of a human, lingered from Ms. Kolaesa, making him slightly uncomfortable, but more so, giving him an indescribable feeling of strangeness. Before falling into a light sleep, his last thought was: Where did Dorian go? Why hadn't he seen him?
Gaius did not sleep deeply; an Astartes' vigilance kept him aware of his surroundings even while resting. A few hours later, he felt a subtle movement beside him, followed by a soft, slightly uncomfortable and sleepy complaint in his ear:
"You're on my hair..."
Gaius immediately opened his eyes. In the dim light of the cabin, he saw that one of his arms had, at some point, crossed the "midline" and was resting on Ms. Kolaesa's long hair, which was spread out on the pillow like a silver waterfall. He quickly and carefully lifted his arm, apologizing:
"Awake?"
Ms. Kolaesa sat up, supporting herself with her hands. Her long silver hair was somewhat disheveled over her shoulders, and her face still showed the languor of just waking up and a lingering trace of weakness. She shook her head, her purple eyes looking at Gaius with clear distress:
"No, this thing makes me very uncomfortable," she said, extending one leg and revealing her ankle beneath the blanket. The cold metal inhibitor gleamed with an unforgiving light in the dimness. "It makes me feel constantly weak, and my head is very heavy."
Gaius sat up, his gaze falling on her ankle. Her slender ankle seemed too delicate to grasp, with graceful lines and skin so fair it was almost translucent, forming a stark and jarring contrast with the rough, heavy inhibitor. Her foot was small, not even as large as Gaius's calloused and scarred hand.
He hesitated for a moment, then reached out and gently cupped her foot to examine the inhibitor more closely. His touch caused Ms. Kolaesa's body to tremble almost imperceptibly, but she did not withdraw her foot.
"This is..." Gaius's voice was low, with the calm of stating a fact, "a device the Chapter uses on the Power Armour of Astartes Monks who have committed grave crimes and require isolated scrutiny." He explained, "It continuously emits an interference field that makes the wearer feel weak and powerless, and if installed on Power Armour, it forces the power system to shut down, preventing movement."
Ms. Kolaesa listened quietly, a bitter and helpless smile appearing on her pale face. She said softly:
"It seems you are treating me as a threat, just like an Astartes."
Gaius gently lowered her foot, raising his blue eyes, like a calm lake, to look directly at Ms. Kolaesa, earnestly correcting her:
"No, Ms. Kolaesa. The threat does not come directly from you, or your species."
His tone carried the calm of one who understood the inner workings of the Imperium, even a hint of barely perceptible sarcasm.
"The threat comes from within us—from the Ordo Xenos."
Gaius's calm and clear narration revealed a corner of the Imperium of Man's vast bureaucracy and terrifying institutions to Ms. Kolaesa. He explained to her the three main Inquisitions—the Ordo Xenos, responsible for dealing with xenos threats; the Ordo Hereticus, which hunted internal heretics and traitors; and the most mysterious, the Ordo Malleus, dedicated to combating Warp Daemons and corruption. He described their power, their... extremism.
"Their faith is as strong as steel; for the 'purity' of the Imperium, they can employ any means they deem necessary." Gaius's voice was low, carrying the complex emotions of someone within it. "Sometimes, their actions are even... not bound by the regular Administratum. Even the Primarch, in certain situations, finds it difficult to fully control their actions."
"Primarch..." Ms. Kolaesa murmured the word, seemingly searching her limited knowledge for relevant information. The history of the Eldar's dealings with the Imperium of Man was long and convoluted, and they had heard of some renowned human powerful figures. She looked up with tear-filled eyes, asking with a hint of uncertainty, "Is your Primarch... Rogal Dorn? I've heard of him; he is said to uphold the Imperium's fortresses."
Gaius shook his head, patiently correcting her: "No, Lord Dorn is the Primarch of the Seventh Legion, the Imperial Fists; they are the loyal fortress of Terra, and close allies of ours. As for us, the Thirteenth Legion, the Ultramarines, our father, our Primarch, is Lord Roboute Guilliman."
When mentioning Guilliman's name, Gaius's voice naturally conveyed deep respect.
"It is Lord Guilliman who has returned from his long slumber, leading us once more, and also guiding the Imperium, which was caught in a deadlock and confusion, towards a more rational and brighter path." His words were filled with identification and adherence to the Primarch's philosophy.
However, this explanation of the Imperial power structure and the Primarch seemed to bring little comfort to Ms. Kolaesa; instead, it might have stirred deeper sorrow for her bleak future and her predicament of being at the mercy of others. She was silent for a moment, then suddenly began to sob softly again, asking no more questions. She simply lay back down, and like a small animal seeking solace and warmth, she wrapped her arms around Gaius's sturdy waist, buried her face in his broad chest, and cried with muffled sounds.
This time, her crying was not the intense, accusatory outburst from before, but rather a silent outpouring of grievance, sadness, and helplessness. Her warm tears quickly soaked Gaius's clothing over his chest.
Gaius's body stiffened slightly but quickly relaxed. He did not push her away, nor did he offer any empty words of comfort. He simply lay there quietly, like a silent mountain, allowing her tears to wet his chest, feeling the slight trembling of her body. He knew that any words at this moment would be futile; what she needed, perhaps, was merely a temporary harbor to lean on and contain her sorrow.
Meanwhile, on the distant edge of the Ultramar Sector, in the defense zone known as "Conna," the atmosphere was entirely different. Here, there was no personal sorrow or helplessness, only the rigor, planning, and subtle readiness for war characteristic of the Chapter.
In a simply furnished command room, equipped with the most advanced holographic tactical sand table, three high-ranking Ultramarines commanders stood together.
Two of them were Captain Cato Sicarius of the 2nd Company, known for his bravery and occasional... overconfidence, and his steady and reliable Lieutenant Titus, who often needed to "cool down" his Captain's enthusiasm.
Standing opposite them, leading this sand table exercise, was a warrior with a more upright posture and a more restrained and authoritative aura. He also wore deep blue Power Armour, but the insignia and decorations on his shoulder pads were older and more intricate, signifying his extraordinary status and experience. He was Severus Agemman, the Conna Hero, responsible for the entire defense of the Conna region.
Agemman was no ordinary Captain; he had once been the First Company Captain of the Ultramarines, the wielder of the Chapter's most elite forces, with distinguished merits. After being promoted to the more important and broader-responsibility honorary position of "Conna Hero," the position of First Company Captain was then taken over by Cassius Venus. His experience and prestige were enough to earn absolute respect, even from a proud Captain like Sicarius.
The three were currently simulating on the holographic sand table the optimal plan for joint patrols and deployment in the strategically delicate border sector of Conna after the main fleet's arrival. The star map marked known Ork harassment routes, possible signs of Chaos infiltration, and ancient Eldar trade routes that required Key monitoring.
Just then, the metal door of the command room slid open, and a warrior in particularly ornate Mark X Power Armour, adorned with more honorific badges and a red plume on his helmet, entered. He was a member of the Victrix Guard, an elite guard established after Guilliman's return, and was currently responsible for the Conna Hero's security.
The Victrix Guard warrior rendered a standard salute to the three officers, then faced Agemman, reporting clearly and forcefully:
"Hero, sir, we have just received a faster-than-light communication from the Macragge's Honour. Chapter Master Calgar has ordered: The main fleet has completed its current sector mission, assembly, and rest, and will depart precisely in forty-eight standard hours to rendezvous with your forces in the Conna defense zone."
Upon hearing the news, the atmosphere in the command room brightened.
Captain Sicarius's face broke into his characteristic, battle-ready smile: "Finally! It seems the stagnant waters of this sector are about to be stirred up!"
Lieutenant Titus was more pragmatic; he immediately looked at the holographic sand table: "Hero, sir, we need to refine the patrol rotations and key area assignments after the rendezvous, based on the exact arrival time of the main fleet."
Hero Agemman's weathered, stone-carved face also showed a hint of steady amusement. He nodded, his gaze returning to the vast star map, and his finger tapped on several key nodes:
"Very good. Send word down, all border outposts are to raise their alert level. Captain Sicarius, Lieutenant Titus, let us continue. We must finalize the ultimate plan before the main fleet arrives."
At distant ends of the starry sky, individual emotions and the Chapter's mission were silently proceeding along their respective trajectories.