The structure of Karl-2 could be broadly divided into three zones.
The Peripheral Zone, also known as the Proliferation Zone, occupied half of Karl-2's current volume. This was the expansion built by the Greenskins, cobbled together from scrap metal and iron plates. It was filled with shacks, cook-pots, scrap heaps, and chaotic weapon platforms. Newly grown Greenskins were tossed here to fend for themselves; those who survived were recruited into the combat units. It was chaotic, noisy, foul-smelling, and relatively lightly guarded.
The Middle Zone was the original outer shell of the Karl-2 space station. This was the primary defensive area for the Greenskins, housing workshops and warehouses. Security here was tighter, with fixed patrols, sentry posts, fortresses, and heavy weapon units. Mekboyz spent their time here hammering away at tanks and weapons. Mountains of spare parts were everywhere, accompanied by welding sparks and ear-piercing noise.
The Core Zone was the original heart of the space station. This was the domain of the Ork Nobz and the primary storage for vital supplies. Defenses were ironclad, corridors were narrow, and traps and secret passages lined every turn. Ordinary Greenskins were forbidden from entering; only Nobz and elites were permitted.
However, the Lictors and Ymgarl Genestealers slipped into the Middle Zone with ease. Their camouflage was perfect. The Lictors utilized perfect optical stealth, while the Ymgarls transformed into various decorations or objects within the environment. Ork patrols passed right by them, completely unaware of their presence.
The Sicarian Infiltrators moved with equal ease. They were incredibly fast, and their armor possessed optical stealth capabilities as well. Centuries of combat experience combined with top-tier environmental scanners allowed them to analyze optimal routes instantly. They moved through the corridors like a gust of wind, taking a Greenskin's life with every strike before vanishing without a trace.
In one particular corridor of the Middle Zone, the two infiltration forces met unexpectedly. The scanners of the Sicarian Infiltrators picked up abnormal organic signatures. In the noisy station, it was difficult to distinguish details by sight or sound alone, but their equipment could display audio as distinct voiceprints. When they captured a voiceprint that did not belong to the station at all, the squad of ten Sicarians froze in place like stone statues.
Soon, three Lictors entered their vicinity. When the two sides were twenty meters apart, the Lictors also stopped. While the Sicarians' stealth might be considered top-tier in the Imperium, it was nothing to a Lictor.
The standoff lasted for a tenth of a second.
The Sicarian Infiltrators struck first. As flechette blasters opened fire, five Infiltrators wielding power swords charged. But the Lictors were faster, their counterattacks landing first. Chitinous claws instantly tore through one Infiltrator's chest plate, but the Infiltrator's power sword simultaneously pierced the Lictor's abdomen. Metal clashed with carapace, and sparks flew.
The battle lasted less than ten seconds. One Lictor was heavily wounded and retreated. Five Sicarian Infiltrators were scrapped, while the remaining survivors continued forward. By silent agreement, they did not clash again; both sides knew that now was not the time for a final showdown. Their objective was the Core Zone.
There were many entrances to the Core Zone. The Sicarian Infiltrators arrived first. They used melta cutters to slice through an alloy door and filed inside. But before they could explore further, fleet command lost all signals from the infiltrators. They didn't even have time to report what was happening.
In truth, it wasn't that they lacked time, but that they could no longer contact headquarters. Shortly after entering the Core Zone, the squad felt as though they were being watched. It wasn't by eyes or electronic cameras; it felt more like their inner thoughts were being peered into.
Suddenly, a bolt of psychic lightning arced out from the darkness, charring one Infiltrator to a crisp. Psychic flames ignited within the group; five Infiltrators burst into fire instantly, waiting for death numbly as they lacked the capacity for pain. The other four tried to flee, only to feel an invisible hand seize their necks, twisting their metal spines into knots.
In just one minute, nearly a hundred Sicarian Infiltrators were wiped out across the zone by similar methods. They never even saw their enemy.
The Lictors sensed the deaths from outside the Core Zone and did not enter. Using their Tyranid instincts, they perceived the terrifying power permeating the air within.
Psychic power. Powerful psychic power.
One Lictor cautiously extended a sensory tendril to probe the residual waves of the psychic spells. It needed only a trace. Once gathered, it retracted the tendril and turned to leave. They withdrew from Karl-2 in a single burst of speed.
It had obtained enough information. There were at least fifty psychic units within the Core Zone. They were stationed at every key position, scanning for intruders with psychic perception. No creature with active brainwaves could escape their detection. And their leader, the strongest psyker, sat in the deepest part of the Core.
It was a very rare type of Greenskin.
When the intelligence reached Luna, her expression shifted. "Greenskin psykers?"
"Yes, My Lady," replied a Tzeentch follower who had luckily escaped. Though their infiltration speed was slow, they had managed to gather useful information in the Core Zone by relying on psychic shielding. "There are at least a double-digit number of psychic units distributed throughout the Core. Furthermore, there seems to be a psychic boss presiding in the deepest part. They scan everything entering the Core with psychic perception; we did not dare go further."
Luna did not respond. Weirdboyz were extremely rare among Greenskins. Orks were generally not sensitive to the Warp, but occasionally, mutated individuals could sense its existence and awaken psychic powers. These Weirdboyz were viewed by other Greenskins as "freaks" and outcasts—both feared and shunned.
But if a Weirdboy grew strong enough to suppress other psykers, he could become a Warphead. Such a creature was far harder to deal with than a typical Warboss, for it possessed not just strength and cunning, but also troublesome psychic abilities.
Realizing the complexity of the situation, Luna did not rush to issue new orders. She needed some help from Him.