Lukovus' question made everyone tense up, except Talos who still had that calm attitude.
Later, he replied with an elaborative tone:
"I can't tell for sure. Maybe a few hours, maybe a few days. Everything depends on the power they use to hunt us. Assuming they land an army, we may not be able to hold on for too long, but at least it will be better than in a battle."
A fair fight bleeds more cruelly, hours and days are longer than minutes, and I know which I will choose."
After hearing his words, the soldiers held their weapons and leaned forward - the atmosphere changed, all reluctance disappeared.
Talos continued.
"It's also unlikely that the Cursed Echoes will survive. Once the Eldar are free of the Scream's influence, it will stick to us like a second skin. Everyone who wants to survive must be ready to evacuate the ship, and then
In order to prevent the orbital station from causing more trouble for us, I will let the cursed echo crash into it."
"What about the crew? How many souls are on board?"
"We can't be sure, maybe 20,000 or 30,000."
"We can't evacuate that many people, and we can't afford to have essential crew members leave their posts. What would you say to them?"
"Say nothing."
Talos answered frankly.
"As captain, I will stay on the bridge with them until the very end.
That way the crew won't realize the Legion is abandoning them."
"It's so cold-blooded."
Selion made a joke, which caused laughter in the surrounding area.
Talos just rolled his eyes helplessly.
"A necessary act, thinking this is a last-ditch battle, and no one will be spared... The First Talon will stay with me to arrange the final surprise for our Eldar, and the rest of you will descend to the planet via lander and Thunderhawk
surface, and then establish a stronghold ready for whatever comes next.”
Talos put his hands on the imaging device with a solemn tone.
"But everyone must remember that even if we escape the catastrophe of the Eldar, the empire's punishment will come soon. Don't think about being able to escape unscathed... This may sound bad, but at least the empire will find
We remain survivors on the planet and spread our deeds, but the Eldar have no mercy on humans, they come for our flesh and blood."
Lukovus smiled mischievously.
"All of a sudden, you're talking about survival? Man, what are the chances of us surviving?"
Talos' only reply was an unusually unpleasant smile.
A few hours later, the Prophet walked with Valiel through his private apothecary. Compared to the Mechanic Bishop's, the facilities here were more specific in scope and had far fewer slaves and servants.
“How many jobs do you want me to give up?”
Valier's voice was filled with reluctance. Beside him, the servitors were busy carrying the Petri dishes and the sleeping Transformers inside.
Talos kept looking at the people in the petri dish, those teenagers.
"Valier, listen to me for a moment."
"I'm listening."
"You can't fight with us on Nathan Six."
Valier's ice-blue eyes slowly narrowed and he stared at Talos coldly.
"You told a funny joke."
"No kidding, Valier, you hold the key to the future of the legion. I want to send you away before the battle. Dietrian's spaceship can fly in subspace... You go with him, your instruments and your
The same goes for the work results.”
"No, I refuse."
"This is not a debate, this is not a sharing of opinions, bro, this is an order."
"No."
Valiel pulled the peeling skin from his visor, revealing the winged skull underneath - the symbol of the Eighth Legion looking back at Talos with sunken eye sockets.
"I am the same as you, wearing the badge of the Eighth Legion. I will fight with you until death, in that worthless little world."
"You don't owe me anything, Valier... you won't owe me anything anymore."
This time Valier looked almost stunned.
"Owe you? Owe you!? Is this how you view our brotherhood? A series of favors that need to be repaid? I will stand with you because we are all soldiers of the Eighth Legion! Brother, Talos, we
They are comrades who will accompany each other in life and death."
"I appreciate your recognition, but not this time."
"you can not--"
"I can do whatever I want. Captain Markarian agrees with me, so I decided like this. Moreover, there is no extra space on Dietrian's ship to accommodate more than ten warriors. It is best to use
To store relics that must be returned to the Legion, you and your work must be protected first."
Valere took a breath.
"Have you ever realized how often you interrupt people? It's almost as annoying as Ursus constantly licking his teeth."
"I will remember."
Talos replied.
"I will spend the rest of my life trying to remedy this alarming character flaw... Now, are you ready? If I give you 12 hours and as many servants as you want, can you promise
Load all your equipment on Dietrian's ship?"
Valere bared his teeth and gave an unusual smile.
"Can."
"That's good. Speaking of which, I haven't seen you lose your temper yet."
Valere rubbed his closed eyes with his fingertips.
"You ask too much of me."
"Is that so? By the way, I need you to do something else, Valier."
The pharmacist met the prophet's eyes again and felt some uneasiness in the other person's tone.
"What?"
"After you leave, I want you to find Malek of the Black Armor Guard."
Valere raised a thin eyebrow.
"I will never return to the Maelstrom again, Talos, and Huron will chop off my head."
"I don't believe that Malek would leave Huron there, nor do I believe that the Black Guards would be willing to join the Blood Reavers. They must have boarded the Red Pirates' ship for another reason, although I don't know what the reason is, but
No matter what happens I believe in him... If you can find him, tell him that the plan succeeded, that Markaryon has been reborn, and that the War Philosopher continues to command, leading the 10th Company once again on the final night."
"I'm going to pretend I don't understand these words which are very much like last words... is that all?"
"Also, apologize to him on my behalf."
Valier looked at Talos deeply, and then nodded slowly.
"That's all fine, but Dietrian's ship can't go very far. It's too small for long-distance voyages, and we all know that."
"It doesn't have to go far, it just needs to get out of here."
Valere snorted dissatisfied.
"The Eldar may catch up with us."
"Yes, they might. So, any other complaints? You're wasting the last bit of time I can give you."
"Where's Octavia? How can we sail the Sea of Souls without a pilot?"