The first day of the 006th year of the 31st Millennium.
After the destruction of Mondus Occulam, Mars's largest forge complex, a deafening explosion echoed across the Syria Planum, on the other side of the Noctis Labyrinthus.
Mondus Gamma blazed, black smoke billowing skyward.
At the same time, the Aquila Ignis, an Emperor-class Titan of the Legio Mortis, climbed the slope of the northern volcanic crater of Mount Ulysses.
Archmagos Ipluvien Maximal was one of Mars's most senior Archmagi. He had established a network of reactor forges across the Tharsis highlands.
In the centuries before the Treaty of Olympus, through ancient pacts, he had bound various clans and forges together, ensuring the harmonious coexistence of groups with conflicting needs.
He also provided supplies, securing the loyalty of numerous warrior orders, including the powerful Titan Legions.
Among the Titan Legions, the strongest and most closely bound to him was the Legio Tempestus.
The Deus Tempestus, the Warlord Titan of Storm Lord Indias Cavalerio, swept its gatling cannon across a Warhound Titan that had broken into the refinery.
The storm of fire knocked the Warhound down, its armor cracking, flames erupting as debris tumbled around it.
Cavalerio swept his fire repeatedly. The steel form exploded in flames, black smoke rising.
Suddenly, a searing pain lanced through him. He felt his legs, submerged in the amniotic fluid, begin to boil.
He quickly expanded his scan, spotting a Reaver Titan crashing through a wall, its plasma cannon's muzzle smoking.
"Your shields are overloaded." Arkhan Land's voice echoed over the noosphere.
Cavalerio, having brought his Titan to defend Maximal's forge-city, had connected his military comms to the noospheric network.
He swung his arm, his melta cannon aimed at the Reaver. "I know."
"Do you have any way to change the situation?"
He had played a decisive role in the difficult campaign of the Epsiloid Binary Cluster, under the command of Primarch Roboute Guilliman.
After the battle, he had earned the title of Storm Lord, but at a great cost.
He had been forced to return to Mars with his heavily damaged God-machine, leaving most of his Legion to his deputy, Maximus Karania.
Thus, his Legion could not match the Legio Mortis, especially with the presence of their Emperor-class Titan.
"My advice is to withdraw from Mars. Preserve your strength to fight another day."
"I will never abandon my forge." Maximal said.
Sensing Maximal's stubbornness, Arkhan recalled the Omnissiah's divine command.
"Tycho, Matthias Kevlar."
"Twelve Magi have decided to go to Spire Zero."
Maximal searched his memory buffers, filled with data and repeatedly purged of lower-priority information. He found nothing.
"Spire Zero?"
"Spire Zero is a dying red star recorded on ancient star charts. It was rediscovered by a secondary fleet of the 28th Expedition Fleet in the 60th year of the Great Crusade." Cavalerio's consciousness flickered before Arkhan's.
"The fleet's Explorator Magi discovered the planet has vast resources, enough to supply the needs of a hundred Forge Worlds."
"The planet itself is composed of a crimson crystalline material."
"The 28th Expedition Fleet, Fulgrim conquered it?" Maximal asked.
"No. In fact, we conquered it." Cavalerio said with pride.
"Spire Zero was not only occupied by xenos, but its orbit is also close to a dead star. The scorching surface made combat impossible even for Astartes."
"I volunteered for the mission to Fulgrim. He blessed us but did not send a single warrior."
"The Deus Tempestus landed on the far side, away from the dead star. We avoided the most intense radiation, but forty-seven Warhounds were still boiled by the heat."
Sadness flickered in Cavalerio's consciousness. He was silent for a moment, then it blazed again.
"The Warlords and Reavers fought for thousands of kilometers, eventually purging the xenos."
"So, Spire Zero is ours?" Maximal pressed.
"Though the Emperor's Children did not fight, they shared the glory."
"After we secured mining rights, fifty-two Forge Worlds used its resources to improve their infrastructure, to build ships and Titans."
Receiving Cavalerio's information, Maximal understood Arkhan's meaning.
"Arkhan, you want me to join them. To go to Spire Zero and establish my new forge."
"Yes." Arkhan's consciousness flickered.
"It is the wise choice." Cavalerio's consciousness flashed.
"No world can compare to sacred Mars, but Spire Zero is enough for you and the other Magi to rebuild your assets."
"The Storm Wall will hold the traitor God-machines, buying you time to withdraw."
"No!" Arkhan rejected Cavalerio's suicidal stand.
"You must leave too."
"I am a Titan Princeps. I will not abandon my battlefield." Cavalerio's consciousness burned.
"You must leave." Arkhan recalled the Black Emperor's command and knew how to persuade the Storm Lord.
"To fall in battle would be a cowardly, irresponsible choice. What of the other God-machines of the Legio Tempestus?"
"Would you abandon them?"
"Maximus will lead them." Cavalerio was unconcerned.
"He has already turned traitor, siding with the Warmaster."
"No!" Cavalerio roared.
"He is my deputy. I know him. I appointed him Princeps."
"Oh?" Arkhan mocked.
"How long has it been since he contacted you? Do you know his situation?"
"He fights on the front lines of the Great Crusade." Cavalerio explained.
"Think. What if Maximus, like Camulos of the Legio Mortis, has turned traitor and sided with the Warmaster?" Arkhan said.
"Did you know that on Istvan III, where they are stationed, all the Magi believe the Emperor and the Omnissiah are not one and the same? That they have been plotting to overthrow the Imperium's rule?"
"Besides you, the Storm Lord, who else could persuade the other Titans not to follow Maximus into rebellion?"
Cavalerio thought of the over one hundred God-machines under Maximus's command. If they sided with the Warmaster, they would become terrible weapons of the traitors.
Compared to dying in glory while destroying a few traitor God-machines, the more valuable and important task was to bring as many of the wayward God-machines back to the Storm's heart.
"I understand."
As Cavalerio made his decision, a wave of alarm runes flooded his mind.
The death's-head rune of the Aquila Ignis was about to claim one of his Tempestus God-machines.
....
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