Mass release Warning! Praise be!
PS: I forgot what his sword is called.
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However, when the auspex presented the specific model image of the captured shuttle on the screen, a chorus of stifled gasps echoed through the command center.
"A Stormbird..."
A senior Tech-Marine muttered, his voice thick with disbelief. "That's a drop transport from the Great Crusade era... How is this possible?"
Calgar's gaze suddenly sharpened.
A Stormbird!
The design intent of this transport vehicle was to deliver up to fifty fully armed Astartes in a single drop, even under the harshest battlefield conditions and facing intense enemy anti-aircraft fire. It possessed a powerful void shield of its own, and its appearance meant that a striking force of significant magnitude might be housed within.
The tension in Calgar's mind tightened. He did not hesitate for a second.
"All units, maximum alert."
Calgar's voice carried through the vox-link, clearly reaching all the elite forces standing by in the starport. Under his command, the Honor Guard of the Ultramarines Chapter, a squad of First Company Terminators, and a considerable number of Centurion warsuits and Dreadnoughts immediately assembled at Landing Deck Seven.
Soon, a wall of steel stood towering before the landing point.
From Calgar's perspective as a legendary Astartes Chapter Master, even if Warmaster Abaddon and his Bringers of Despair were sitting inside that Stormbird, they would never be able to break through this defensive line in a short amount of time.
This was, for all intents and purposes, foolproof.
After a wait that wasn't particularly long, the Stormbird transport, spewing a rugged and scorching plasma wake, slowly descended onto the empty Deck Seven.
Calgar stood at the center of the defense line, flanked by the Honor Guard holding the Chapter banners high. His eyes were like torches, fixed on the slowly opening hatch.
The hatch lowered amidst the deep, powerful hum of the ship's systems, the internal lighting silhouetting the figures within.
Calgar was instantly dumbstruck.
He was not the only one. Even the battle-hardened members of the Honor Guard and the veterans of the First Company were completely stunned.
How was it possible?!
Marching out of the Stormbird in file were Astartes, one after another. They were all clad in deep blue livery, bearing the U-shaped shoulder guard insignia identical to that of the Ultramarines.
However, the shade of the paint, the style and details of the armor, and especially the design and decorative flair of the helmets... those were styles seen only in the Chapter's most ancient historical scrolls and precious relic fragments recording the Great Crusade and the Horus Heresy.
It was Power Armor from the Ultramarines Legion era!
Their steps were steady and their formation was disciplined, appearing as if they had walked directly out of ten thousand years of glorious history. The leader held a massive Legion Banner of Honor tightly in his hands; the eagle emblem on the flag shared the same origin as the current Chapter's banner, yet it carried the unique pride and aura of that grand era.
Even Tigurius's prophecy regarding "hope" had not prepared Calgar for the sight before him. Before his shock could subside, there was movement within the hatch once more.
How are there still more masters?!
A dazzling golden light surged out of the hatch. It was a group of giants clad in gold armor, thick as mountains and decorated with intricate reliefs, holding Guardian Spears that gleamed with cold light.
Full fifty Adeptus Custodes deployed in perfect formation. Their golden figures instantly became the visual focus for everyone present, looking as if the guardians of the Age of Myth had descended upon the world.
The Adeptus Custodes!
Calgar had indeed received notices from Terra regarding the Custodes becoming more involved in external affairs, but he had never imagined he would witness such a large-scale deployment of the Custodes at a starport on Macragge!
However, following this was an extremely absurd sense of incongruity that forced its way into Calgar's mind, which was already being washed by a massive influx of information.
The question was: Even for a Stormbird, could it really fit so many Astartes and Adeptus Custodes?
Before this purely technical confusion could deepen, the light and shadows within the hatch shifted again.
Within the protective circle formed by the golden Custodes, three more figures stepped out unhurriedly. Their characteristics were so distinct that anyone with basic Imperial knowledge could identify them instantly.
First was a Magos Dominus of the Adeptus Mechanicus draped in deep red robes embroidered with flowing data-psalms. The energy field on the Axe of the Omnissiah he held emitted a low hum. Following him was a female Inquisitor wearing a crisp trench coat, carrying a Rosette on her chest that symbolized the absolute authority of the Inquisition.
And the last one made the hearts of every loyal Imperial warrior witness to her presence tremble. It was a Living Saint of the Ecclesiarchy.
Calgar: ...
At this moment, his superhuman brain felt like a bowl of randomly stirred paste, yet in the darkness, there seemed to be an intuition beyond logic that barely managed to string this unbelievable information together.
However, the scene that followed completely interrupted Calgar's futile thoughts.
Those three high-ranking figures—any one of whom could trigger a political earthquake on any Imperial world—did not walk toward the battle-ready Calgar after stepping out of the hatch, nor did they issue any proclamations. Almost simultaneously, with a natural grace, they stepped half a pace to the side. Together with the ranks of ancient Astartes and golden-armored Custodes, they formed a semi-circular formation.
It was as if they were welcoming someone.
How are there still more masters?!
Calgar could no longer find words to describe his state of mind. He merely clenched his fists subconsciously, his gaze locked onto the now-darkened entrance of the hatch.
A figure stepped out.
Contrary to the expectations of all the Ultramarines standing on alert, it was neither a taller giant nor some majestic commander, nor was he surrounded by any dazzling psychic light or terrifying pressure.
It was just... a plain-looking mortal man.
He had a young face and a medium build, neither mountain-like like the Astartes or Custodes, nor deliberately majestic and serious like certain nobles or commanders. He wore a simple style of dark traveler's clothing and bore no conspicuous weapons or decorations.
His pace was steady and his posture relaxed. He walked out ordinarily, as if he were just stepping off his own front porch rather than onto a starport deck surrounded by hundreds of the Empire's most elite warriors and numerous legendary figures.
Yet, it was this seemingly ordinary visitor who naturally walked into the center of this guard of honor—composed of a Living Saint, an Inquisitor, a Magos, Custodes, and ancient Astartes—that likely had no equal in the galaxy. Every person present lowered their head slightly or offered a silent look of respect.
So, he walked straight ahead.
He walked until he was only a few steps away from the steel defensive line and stopped in front of Calgar.
Adam looked up, his calm gaze meeting the Chapter Master's eyes, which were a mix of shock and confusion, and he gave a polite nod.
"Hello, Chapter Master of the Ultramarines, Marneus Calgar."
His voice was peaceful, yet it strangely penetrated all the subtle noise on the deck and reached everyone's ears.
"My name is Adam."
He paused, as if giving Calgar time to digest the name, and then stated the purpose of his visit.
"Now, I wish to meet the true Master of Macragge."