The evening sun shone on the top of the mountain, and a Thunderhawk roared and landed on the carefully concealed tarmac, shining directly into the mountain like a ray of light.
This huge vehicle landed quickly from the orbit, but it was moving carefully at this moment, just like a scavenger approaching the corpse of a beast that should be dead but seemed to be still alive.
When the Thunderhawk's hatch opened with the sizzling sound of steam, a Space Marine straightened his cloak and got out. The vortex of air surrounded him, seeming to lift his cloak from the midnight
It was torn off the dark armor.
Behind him, two squads of soldiers were following him, forming a commando formation and walking out of the tarmac.
Then, the leading Space Marine took off his helmet and hung it on his waist, and tightly grasped the brand new handle of his unfired bolter with one hand.
These Space Marines briefly communicated for a moment, then walked forward and left the apron.
In front of them, a towering door made of wood and bronze stood.
This is not a road used for combat, but an entrance and exit used for ceremonies, a road that goes deep into the mountain.
The leading Space Marine walked towards the door first, and the other black-armored warriors in the team followed him in perfect rhythm. They all held a black shield in their hands, with a pair of upward-crossed long swords carved on ivory, and
One of the flag bearers also held a flag with the same coat of arms.
This is a brand new badge of honor, but it also feels like it has ancient history.
And all of this was watched by the current owner of the fortress. From the moment they left the tarmac, a pair of eyes had been watching them.
"They're coming."
Soshyan said in a deep voice.
"I know."
A reply came over Brother Seid's loudspeaker.
"I could kill them a dozen times as they descended from orbit."
"They were reckless, untested and young, just like me.",
After hearing Soshyan's words, Brother Said rarely showed his human side and replied with an exaggerated laugh:
"You have never been young. From the moment you entered the battle group, you have matured like an old man."
"Yes, I'm not young anymore."
Soshyan sighed and held down the hilt of the sword at his waist, hoping that he would not need to pull it out later.
"Death makes us mature."
The origin of this team of Space Marines is clearly known to Soshyan. Even before they arrived, Lysander had already conveyed the decision of the Council of High Lords of Terra to Soshyan in advance.
They are the newly formed Chapter of the Sable Swords, who have come to take over the Astral Knights' monastic fortress and all its possessions, including Chapter servants and levy worlds.
Soshyan had already anticipated such a situation, so he had transferred the important materials in the monastery to the secret warehouse in the orbit in advance, and erased all records, leaving only some unimportant leftovers still in the monastery.
In the armory.
But even so, the shame of losing his home still made Sosh's heart feel like a knife.
More importantly, although there is still a strike cruiser [Starfire] in orbit, they have lost control of this battleship in principle. If they want to leave now, they must convince these uninvited guests.
It was not that Soshyan had never thought of leaving early, but his sense of honor did not allow him to do so. Even if he had to abandon his homeland, as a chapter leader of the empire, he had to hand it over to the taker with his own hands instead of running around.
In the image display, the team had entered the fortress's Hall of Honor.
Their footsteps echoed in this hall that should have been filled with the voices of warriors ready to go to war. At this moment, it was as silent as a tomb. The hooded statues on both sides were covered with dust, and only neat flames radiated out.
The shimmering light illuminates this once grand vestibule.
A floating skull was wandering in the center of the hall, with an oil lamp hanging on the chin of the skull. As the group of soldiers approached, the skull swayed backwards.
Guided by the servo-skull, they walked deeper and deeper, passing through empty corridors and empty aisles. Countless statues were illuminated by the firelight. Their soulless eyes stared at the group of strangers. The once glorious avenue now no longer sounded the sound of warrior expeditions.
A triumphant song on return.
A thousand warriors once lived and trained here, but now nothing remains. Everyone can feel the pain and confusion flowing from every stone.
Death hangs over here.
Finally, the servo-skull led them into a vast auditorium, its gleaming walls illuminated by dozens of stained glass panes that were part of a cleverly designed reflective system that brought outside light into the mountain's core.
.
Thirty-four warriors in silver armor stood on the steps at the other end of the room, bathed in the embers of the dying sun.
The leading warrior wore an iron halo, with a Dreadnought mecha standing beside him. The proud battle group flag was blown up by the artificial air currents filling the room, like a sigh.
"I am Soshyan Alexei, the new Chapter Master of the Astral Knights Chapter."
Soshyan briefly introduced himself, and then Wuwei beside him also spoke.
"I am Brother Said, mentor of the Astral Knights, Lord of Obsidian."
"Captain of the First Company of the Sables, Brother Dagen."
The leader also responded in kind.
"So, you are here to take over our monastic fortress and all its contents?"
"Yes, this is an order from the Emperor and the Council of High Lords of Terra."
Soshyan walked down the steps, anger with every step.
"For a chapter that gave everything for the Imperium, this is the end of nothing! This mountain range was once home to hundreds of generations of warriors of the Astral Knights Chapter, and the greatest heroes once set out from its gates to participate in
One brutal war after another, tell me how you deserve to have this place."
"Your numbers are too few and you are no longer able to shoulder the responsibility of rebuilding the Chapter."
Dagen said, walking up to Soshyan and looking at the warrior who was a head taller than him.
"All of you veterans have died in battle, and not long ago you were just a new recruit."
"You're telling us something we already know."
Brother Seid interrupted Dagen suddenly. The roar from the Dreadnaught's loudspeaker made the Sable Sword recruits nervous. It was obvious that the survivors of the destroyed chapter were unwilling to accept their fate.
"Our brothers sacrificed their lives to free billions of souls from the terror of aliens, and this is what we deserve in return!"
Fearless roared down the stairs.
"We are going to be wiped from the record and our fortress handed over to a group of warriors with no history?"
Dagen, who still remained calm, shook his head.
"The Sable Swords may indeed be young and untested, but we are not without honor or disrespect for those who have died before us."
"That's it."
Soshyan looked at Daigen. He was undoubtedly an excellent warrior, calm, calm, neither humble nor arrogant.
"What are you going to do to deserve our sacrifice?"
While Soshyan was asking questions, Brother Said's fists were clenched and clanking.
Dagen noticed this out of the corner of his eye, and he realized that this fearlessness could knock him into a ball in an instant, but then he faced Soshyan with the same tough aim.
"You will be given an opportunity to continue your proud tradition with a strike cruiser in orbit, in which you can depart, just as the Astral Knights once did before they were buried in gold stone and steel, and once again enter the stars.
Continue to fight in the Emperor's name until you are no longer able to fight."
With that said, the Sable Swords stepped aside and made way for a way out of the room.
"When that day comes, you will know that only death is the end of your duties."
Everything went smoothly afterwards. Dagen not only handed over the strike cruiser to Soshyan, but also allowed him to take away those servants who were willing to continue to follow the Astral Knights Chapter. For example, he was selected at the same time as Soshyan, but
Rozim Premki, the battle chef who failed to accept the transformation.
After simply cleaning up for a long time, Soshyan led the members of the battle group to board the strike cruiser [Starfire].
The next thing after going up there, Soshyan asked the Astropath to send a message not to ship the batch of supply equipment previously customized by the battle group, and they would pick it up in person.
The target is the forging world Ma'kande 2 planet.
"Start the subspace engine and head towards Ma'Kande II at full speed."
On the command bridge, looking at the battle group's home planet that gradually turned into a light spot, Soshyan tightened his grip on his gauntlet.
Their battle group has become rootless since then, but one day, he will definitely rebuild a more grand fortress, a legion fortress!