Chapter 30 Death is the end of duty
The evening sun shone on the top of the mountain, and a Thunderhawk roared and landed on the carefully concealed tarmac, falling straight into the mountain like 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 of it. The vortex of air surrounded him, seeming to swallow him up. The cloak was torn from the midnight-black armor.
Behind him, two teams of soldiers were following him, forming a commando formation and walking out of the apron.
Then the leading Space Marine took off his helmet and slung it around his waist, gripping the new butt of his unfired bolter with one hand.
These Space Marines communicated briefly 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 ivory carvings on it pointing upward. Crossed swords, and one of the flag bearers also held a flag with the same coat of arms.
It's a new badge of honor, but it also feels ancient.
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 are coming.”
Soshiyang said in a deep voice.
“I know.”
A reply came over Brother Seid's loudspeaker.
"I could have killed them a dozen times as they descended from orbit."
"They were reckless, untested, and young, just like me." ,
Hearing Soshiyang’s words, Brother Said rarely showed his human side, and replied with an exaggerated laugh:
“You have never been young. From the moment you enter the battle group, you become as mature as an old man.”
"Yes, I am no longer young."
Soshyan sighed, holding 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 clear to Soshyan. Even before they arrived, Lysander had already conveyed the message to Terrago in advance. The decision of the Council of Lords was given to Soshyan.
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 already 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 Soshiyang 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 people uninvited guest.
It is not that Soshyan has never thought of leaving early, but his sense of honor does not allow him to do so. Even if he has to abandon his homeland, as a chapter leader of the empire, he has to hand it over to the taker personally. , instead of scurrying around.
In the camera, the team has 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. An oil lamp was hung on the lower jaw of the skull. As the team 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 godless eyes stared at this group of strangers, the once glorious avenue. Now the triumphal songs of the warriors returning from their expeditions are no longer heard.
A thousand warriors once lived and trained here, but now nothing remains. Everyone can feel the pain and confusion flowing from every stone.
Death looms 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 light from the outside 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 leader of the 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 the fearless man next to him also spoke.
"I am Brother Said, mentor of the Astral Knights, Lord of Obsidian."
"Captain of the first company of the Sable Sword Chapter, Brother Dagen."
The leader. People responded in kind.
“So, you are here to take possession of our monastic fortress and all its contents?”
“Yes, this is an order from the Emperor and the Council of the High Lords of Terra .”
Soshyan came down the steps, anger with every step.
“For a Chapter who had given everything for the Imperium, it was an end with nothing! This mountain range had been home to hundreds of generations of warriors of the Astral Knights Chapter, and the greatest heroes had ever fought from Set out from the gate here and participate in one cruel war after another. Tell me how you deserve to own this place."
"Your numbers are too few and you can no longer bear the responsibility of rebuilding the war group. ."
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 are telling us something we already know."
Brother Said suddenly interrupted Dagen. The roar from the Dreadnaught's loudspeaker made the Sable Sword recruits nervous. It was clear 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 horrors of the aliens, and this is what we deserve!"
Dauntless roared down the stairs.
"We will be erased 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 Sword may indeed be young and untested, but we are not without honor or disrespect for those who have died before us."
"So be it."
Soshiyang looked at Daigen. He was undoubtedly an excellent warrior, calm, calm, neither humble nor arrogant.
“What will you do to deserve our sacrifice?”
While Soshiyan was asking questions, Brother Said's fists were clenched and clanging.
Daigan noticed this out of the corner of his eye and realized that this Dreadnought could knock him into a ball in an instant, but then he looked at Soshyan with the same tough gaze.
"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 rock and steel, Go into the stars again and fight in the Emperor's name until you can fight no more."
With that said, the Sable Swords stepped aside and made a way out of the room.
“When that day comes, you will know that only death is the end of your duty.”
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 battle group members to board the strike cruiser [Starfire].
The next thing after going up, 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 Obostilia which gradually turned into a point of light, Soshyan tightened his grip on his gauntlet.
Their battle group has become rootless duckweeds from now on, but one day, he will definitely rebuild a more grand fortress, a legion fortress!
From the end of this chapter, the book will enter the plot line of my own magic modification. There may be factors such as the resurrection of the dead, the chaos of the timeline, the change of the official character's personality, etc. I hope the readers will understand and lighten up
The book club group is in the novel introduction. If you want to chat about the plot and setting with the sand sculpture group friends, you can add it
(End of this chapter)