Chapter 433 Opportunity-
Fulgrim meekly returned to his cell under the gaze of the Iron Hands who almost sprayed plasma at him along the way.
Then after silently counting twelve hundred heartbeats in the dark and completing the work at hand, he moved his body and quietly slipped out again through the narrow maintenance pipe of the cleaning servitor in the room. 's prison.
Although he knows that if he is discovered by the Iron Hands now that he is leaving here, it will only make things worse, but sitting still and waiting for death is definitely not Ziting Phoenix's style.
He controlled his muscle movements and steps precisely, and tiptoed like a flexible reptile, "swimming" through the low space under people's feet until he came to the cell where the prisoners were held. Human cell area.
This area is located in the middle of the lower side of the Rakuan Hall of Conquest. Unlike those "relatively normal" battle groups that use a large number of mortal officers, marines and servants, the Rakuan clan has deployed a large number of highly modified weapons here. Servitors, heavy armed guard servitors, and a handful of technical sergeant brothers perform security and technical management of the middle and lower decks.
Recently, due to the reawakening of the ancient Hall of Conquest and more demands, the technical sergeants have been busy repairing new alarm points, and the operable space between the people working here has become Much more generous.
The advantage of using a large number of servitors and machines in the custody area is that they are generally firm enough to be flexible and not soft-hearted. They are very suitable for guard work and can bring together prison robbers or those trying to escape when necessary. Blast into pulp.
It is hard-wired into their programs that if someone comes to damage the cell facilities, they need to shoot at all the cells immediately to ensure that the prisoners die no more and cannot be robbed. Doing this by humans might create unnecessary delays, hesitations, or hesitations.
In addition, the machine is not easily tempted and shaken by the sounds that are still coming intermittently in the cell at this moment. The disadvantage is that the machine servant cannot be regarded as a living person with subjective initiative and it is very easy to accept death. It's well established here - like now.
Fulgrim emerged from the shadows, took a cautious step forward, and stood just outside the range that would trigger the servitor's alarm. Then he put the identity hidden in the palm of his hand, which he had modified as much as possible. The data chip was revealed toward the mechanical scanning eye of the authentication servitor embedded in the cell door that flashed a dangerous red light.
Obviously, although Fulgrim had just had a not very friendly "communication" with him and his heirs in the throne room of Ferrus Manus but had finally made progress, Fulgrim saw that The impulsive rush out of the room was not simply because he wanted to prevent the immediate execution of all prisoners and the accusations against him.
His perfect control and speed over himself now were enough for him to quickly snatch an identity the size of a small fingernail from the data pads and parchment files on the edge of Manus's desk. Data chip.
He noticed this small detail when he was summoned several times before, and he seized the opportunity as he wished.
Yes, when Iron Captain Ravus thought he had seized an opportunity, he did not know that Fulgrim had also seized another opportunity, and was obviously more successful than him. If he were taken by this loyal If the company commander knew about it, he would probably be so angry that he would demand a fight to the death again.
Although most private documents can be used for paperless office using data lines, and the Iron Hands look like they are all rebellious, in fact, the documents they submitted to the noble gene father are still very detailed. Everything is written meticulously.
And these files are obviously all carefully presented, including some file sets that are thoughtfully sealed with the creator's own personal label to prevent some unscrupulous Steel Brothers from trying to steal or destroy them. A complete set of information and reports, etc.
——In terms of putting data signature seals on their files to prevent theft, they really have the legacy of the "academic debate" within the Mechanicum.
A fragmentary thought that came out of nowhere suddenly occupied his thoughts. Fulgrim couldn't help but smile, but soon the corners of his beautiful mouth straightened again.
Should he have been familiar with those Om Messiah believers...?
This kind of fragmented information tags that emerge from the depths of the ocean of memory from time to time is sometimes a kind of trouble. Although they are small and harmless, they seem to form a dense and endless network, and Fulgrim The soul now is the ignorant prey caught in the net, carefully peering out through the mesh with its eyes.
The threat of bulls and snakes has always been there, just not now.
No matter what kind of existence gave him the opportunity to do it again this time, he decided that he would never make the same mistake again this time.
One cannot step into the same river twice.
Sooner or later he will get rid of him.
The authentication servitor's scanning was over, the scanning beam was retracted, and its dry mouth, soaked in preservatives that looked gray and dry, opened and closed to spit out mechanically synthesized speech.
+The certification is passed and entry is allowed. Record or not? +
"Cancel. Do not record my trip."
+Permissions need to be confirmed again. Higher level code. +
He hesitated.
"Keyboard."
With the slight click of the transmission, a keyboard was delivered to him.
He entered a string of codes.
+ Code confirmation. Treated as confirmation of the highest security authority level. This access will not be recorded in the memory bank. Please note that the current security level in this area is the highest, so do not stay longer than the safety limit. to prevent possible contamination. +
Deemed the same? The cloned phoenix frowned. Shouldn't this be Manus' own unexpired security code? He had seen it with the corner of his eye before? Why is there still a definition? Is there still a security code that is not deemed equivalent? In this place now, besides Ferrus Manus, the Primarch, who else would use the same level of authority?
But as the adamantine alloy door of the cell in front of him began to slide open to both sides, the message formed by the mixture of smell and sound coming out of it immediately made the young Phoenician put these suddenly emerging questions behind him, and he quickly Entering the cell area, he walked towards the hot and smelly small closed cells.
He paused for a moment in front of several iron doors, carefully analyzing the movements inside. For single cells, their sound insulation and sealing measures were actually quite good, but the original body's His sharp ears and sense of smell made up for this, and then he stopped in front of a door that looked the least moving.
He used the chip and code again, and the cell door opened.
This is a very narrow cell.
Or to be more precise, it can be called a prison cell for a mortal, but it is like a coffin of ceramite steel and concrete for someone of Astartes' stature.
The moment the cell door opened, a strong, moist and hot steaming smell mixed with a smell that was a bit like a fragrance but more like a stench and pungent fishy smell hit my face, making the lavender eyes blink. .
"Flavius?"
No one answered, but there was a muffled sound coming from the throat and the short syllables came out.
He took another step closer. The cell was very narrow, and he could walk to the end in just a few steps. After the strong smell dissipated, he could clearly see the Phoenix Guard who had been "him". What the total length looks like now.
"Ah." He didn't know what to say for a moment, so he could only sigh with a mixture of worry and joy, and repeated his call again. "Flavius." The Phoenix Guard Commander, who had fought alongside him in Byzans and Valpurgis, had a heavy sphere made of some kind of anti-acid compound roughly stuffed into his mouth so that he could not speak. Any blasphemous words or curses. There is also a protective anti-psychic collar around his neck. His power armor has been stripped off, and his body that looks shriveled due to a long period of lack of food and water is covered with many thick iron chains. It was tightly tied to a steel plate with nothing in it.
Judging from various other signs, it is possible that Alkenis was imprisoned in this silent and lightless darkness to fend for himself and go crazy since he followed him to the flying fortress and was disarmed and armored. It's been a while.
Stimulated by the sudden light, the Emperor's Children officer raised a pair of wide, bloodshot eyeballs and looked blankly at the person in front of him through the gaps in his messy, sweaty hair.
The irises of the Chief of Guards reflected the flames of the lit sacred candles in the aisle. His eyes were unfocused and almost unfocused.
Fulgrim sighed, and began to consider whether the warriors who once occupied Byzas with a mere eight men had temporarily lost their minds due to this kind of mental torture, and he should perhaps go to backup The target cell has a first look.
But after focusing several times, Flavius Alkennis could still clearly see the face of the visitor.
The light of reason followed by an expression of ecstasy descended on the head of the guard, as if he were a human being who had taken the first bite of the fruit of wisdom.
He blinked impatiently and pushed himself as high as he could in the direction of the primarch to show that he recognized him.
"Ah, very good, then this... um... uh, there is a bit too much acidic saliva in your mouth. Listen, Alkennis, do you remember the time when eight of us occupied Byzance? ? Very good. I won’t talk about my plan again. You have to listen to me carefully..."
——————
On the surface of Medusa, the home planet of the Iron Hands, the night is endless.
If one is not a local aboriginal or of local origin, even an Astartes would have difficulty identifying the changing seasons here.
Although it is unbelievable, since this dark world covered by thick radiation clouds is indeed orbiting a star and rotating itself, it must undergo seasonal changes.
Light is not a rare thing here. At least it can blow a walker who is not heavy enough to take one step and half a step back. It is produced by high-energy rays bombarding the upper atmosphere clouds under the strong wind. Huge lightning, ionized particles filled in the air (Note 1) collide with unstable air currents, bursting out deadly, colorful, frequent and irregular electromagnetic explosions.
Kadan Stunus, the war leader of the Iron Council, has changed his course from his journey and returned to Medusa ahead of schedule due to receiving several secret and encrypted messages.
This disciple of Malkan Feros had served as Captain of the Iron Captain in the Gthaka clan for many years before the Rebellion of the Highland Years (460.M41).
During the infamous Battle of Corums (260.M41), the young Steel Captain was already qualified to participate in the investigation of the Christos secret meeting. After the Highland Years Rebellion ended, Since 760.M41, he has served steadily as the war leader of the Iron Council - the essentially powerful and nameless Chapter Master of the Iron Hands - for more than three centuries.
This makes Kadan Stunus, who is not famous at all, but actually becomes one of probably only one or two Astartes who can serve in this position longer than his Primarch. One of the heirs, and is expected to become another veteran of the Iron Hands Chapter that breaks through the thousand years mark.
If a librarian who came to this universe knew about it, he would definitely say that there is a blood angel chapter leader who can become very good friends with Cardin.
And now, the ancient and wise Astartes, the de facto current Chapter Master, or as the Iron Hands are accustomed to call them, the "Warmaster", is walking on Medusa. On the ground floor of the hall of one of the few permanent fortresses.
He was surrounded by many Iron Fathers and Iron Captains. Some members of the Iron Council seemed to have heard some rumors, but most of them just observed the recent unusual movements of the Rakuan clan, and Harmon More unusual actions by the Klan.
——After all, the fundamental differences in philosophy between the Lacuan and Hamonk clans have been known to everyone since before the arrival of Ferrus Manus, but now.
A latest investigative report from their Mechanicum allies has been presented to Kadan Stunus and other members of the Iron Council.
The content of the accusation and the serious nature of the object were one of the reasons why Cardin rushed back without objection.
Guardians of the Iron Hands Chapter's reliquary and the Grand Forge, guardians of the Gorgon Forge, the relic of Medusa, maintenance of the Holy Dreadnoughts belonging to all Chapters, and guardians of the Resting Places However, the Hammonk clan is suspected of committing a major act of betrayal.
Considering the many titles that the Hammonk clan has had in front of them, this is actually a horrific accusation that cannot be described as "very serious", but can only be summarized as "shaking the foundation".
This investigation report of the Mechanicus is actually very detailed, and the evidence is not direct but sufficient. There is no doubt that the Hammonk clan has abandoned the clan gap and somehow connected with the Lacuan clan. This clan has rejected all their loyal and long-term cooperative Martian allies and is making moves behind the back of the entire Iron Council. The Rakuan clan's hall of conquest flew out of the Conquest Hall with all their troops without notice at an abnormal speed. Medusa system, and went to support the unnecessary support in the Battle of Shadenus, they did not even report their return, but lost contact for a long time.
Kadan Stunus has very little time to make a decision, because everything the Hammonk clan guards is too important, and the Hall of Conquest of Rakuan has just mysteriously disappeared and reappeared. Reconnect with him.
If the loss of one-third of the Iron Fathers in the Highland Year Rebellion is enough for the chapter to be able to recover, then the first problem with the Hammonk clan's flaws It's not even the loss of so many STC fragments in the Gorgon Forge - it's the question of whether the thousands of Dreadnoughts they guard and maintain in the Reliquary can still be trusted, awakened, and put into battle. .
Divisions and even wars caused by different beliefs are not uncommon in the history of the Iron Hands.
But what matters is how to deal with the problems at hand decisively and most efficiently at this time of impending storm.
A cold logical current flows through the circuits of the war leader's body, which has mostly become a mechanical prosthetic body wrapped in power armor.
Finally he made a decision after a few seconds to the steel meeting.
+Order the Medusa system and planetary defense systems to prepare to fire at the Rakuan Hall of Conquest. +
+You are crazy! ! ! ! ! Up there...+
+What's there? +
The war leader's gaze is menacing.
Hasteim Patriarch of Hamonk, who was being escorted in the center of the hall, suddenly fell silent.
+Nothing. Let's see. Kadan Stunus. I'm not going to clean up your mess for you. +
(End of this chapter)