The frigate's engines increased output, its massive hull slowly adjusted direction, then carved a path through the void, entering the designated Warp lane, heading towards Forge World Neksum.
Warp travel was never absolutely safe.
Even in the most stable recognized lanes, the real structure was relatively weak, filled with energy turbulence and psychic whispers that could not be explained by conventional physical laws.
The Geller Field of the frigate Osiris was on continuously endured pressure during the voyage, and the stable hum of the field generator was the only background sound inside the ship.
Outside the hull, there was a distorted and changing non-real scene, with colors and forms defying logic, occasionally huge and blurry shadows would glide along the edge of the energy field, triggering short alarms from the detection array.
For Maine's crew members, Valerie, Jackie, and David, experiencing Warp travel for the first time was an indescribably alien experience.
There was no violent turbulence, nor any obvious physiological discomfort, but their senses seemed to be stirred by an invisible hand—their sense of direction became blurred, faint whispers echoed in their ears, and the view outside the portholes was distorted and fuzzy, as if reality itself was being kneaded by some force.
"Damn it, this is even dizzier than cheap braindance..." Jackie cursed under his breath, rubbing his temples, "Everything's blurry, and my ears are ringing."
Valerie leaned against the bulkhead, closing her eyes and adjusting her breathing.
"It's not a physical problem," she said softly, "It's our perception being interfered with. It's like... it's like something is trying to bore into your mind."
She had once been a corporate agent, trained in mental resilience, but even she had to concentrate her will to resist this invisible erosion.
Maine and Dorio sat together, neither speaking, but their metal joints occasionally made soft clicks from their unconscious tense bodies.
"It's not seasickness," Maine finally spoke, his voice deep, "It's the space itself twisting. You have to steady your mind, don't let it carry you away."
David's face was pale, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
"I feel like... I'm constantly falling, but not quite..." He was somewhat incoherent. Lucy reached out and gently pressed his hand, whispering: "Don't stare outside. Concentrate, listen to my breathing."
Rebecca, however, was glued to the porthole, her eyes wide, even though there was only a closed metal grille in front of her.
"Holy crap... this is even flashier than Night City's neon lights!" She turned to Pilar and shouted, "Does that blob look like moving paint to you?"
Pilar didn't respond, merely silently adjusting the parameters of her visual cyberware, trying to find patterns in the chaotic light and shadow. Kiwi remained silent throughout, diligently maintaining her electronic barrier, as if isolating some invisible signal interference.
Morris had experienced such a journey once before, and her augmentations were more extensive, so her condition was relatively stable.
She sat quietly in the corner, like a frozen statue.
Despite their tormented senses, no one lost control.
They all knew that on Osiris' ship, any loss of composure could be seen as a sign of weak will.
Most of the time, they stayed in their assigned cabins, or quietly moved within the permitted areas, trying to adapt to this extraordinary journey.
Osiris hardly left his private cabin during the voyage.
His data interface was directly connected to the ship's systems, continuously monitoring navigation parameters and Warp fluctuations, while also dedicating some threads to process data packets from Neksum.
Sekhmet always stood guard outside, her sensors fully active, maintaining maximum alert.
—
Seven standard days of travel concluded with the continuous roar of the Warp drive.
With a violent spatial tremor, the frigate successfully exited the Warp, re-anchoring itself in real space.
Neksum Forge World gradually revealed its massive industrial planetary outline.
The planet's surface was covered with colossal foundries, refining facilities, and energy arrays, countless thick chimneys belching smoke and heat into the gray sky, shrouding the entire planet in an eternal industrial twilight.
Towering orbital rings, like a giant steel python, encircled the planet, densely packed with shipyards, starports, and defensive platforms.
The frigate, guided by navigation signals, slowly approached the completed section of the orbital ring.
A massive starport extension dock guided the frigate into its designated berth.
The docking process was smooth and precise, accompanied by a slight hiss of pressure equalization, as the ship and starport completed their hard connection.
The hatch opened, and Osiris' tall, dark red figure appeared at the entrance of the connecting passage.
Behind him stood the solemn Sekhmet, and a squad of strictly vetted, well-equipped Cult Guard soldiers.
Maine's crew, Valerie, Jackie, David, Lucy, and Morris followed closely, stepping into the starport's interior.
The internal space of the starport far exceeded conventional dimensions, with soaring vaults high enough to ensure even the largest War Titans could pass through smoothly without stooping.
The air was saturated with a variety of characteristic smells: the acrid scent of high-temperature welded metal, the heavy, greasy odor of specialized lubricants, and the pungent ozone produced by high-voltage electric arcs.
Thick energy conduits and dense data cables covered the walls and ceiling, emitting a low hum and the hiss of flowing energy.
Tech-Priests in deep red or dark brown robes, various levels of crew, and maintenance Servitors moved orderly through the passages, their degrees of augmentation varied, but all adhered to a strict hierarchical order.
Just as Osiris and his group stepped onto the starport deck, his optical sensors sharply detected a distinctively styled vessel docked at an adjacent berth.
It was a Strike Cruiser with rigid, angular lines, painted in the iconic yellow livery of the Imperial Fists Legion.
Its massive hull, heavy armor, and prominent weapon arrays all proclaimed the majesty and power of the Imperium's most elite Space Marine Legion.
The Imperial Aquila and The 7th Legion's insignia were etched onto the hull, gleaming with a cold, hard luster under the starport's lighting.
Osiris' synthesized voice calmly sounded, instructing Sekhmet to inquire about the Imperial Fists Strike Cruiser's docking information and the identity of its visitors.
Sekhmet immediately accessed the starport's internal system, then turned to Osiris a moment later, reporting in her characteristic voice with a slight mechanical resonance: "Lord Magos, the starport dispatch system has confirmed that the vessel's identification code corresponds to the Strike Cruiser 'Indomitable Will,' belonging to The 7th Legion 'Imperial Fists.'
The visitor is Lord Sigismund, First Captain of that Legion; he comes on behalf of Lord Rogal Dorn, the Primarch, to conduct formal discussions with Archmagos Vox regarding the equipment supply for the newly formed Chapters after the Legion's division."
Sekhmet reported to Osiris, her tone devoid of respect for the Primarch.
This was not unusual for the Adeptus Mechanicus, let alone merely mentioning the Primarch's name.
For Osiris, however, the name Sigismund was more impressive than Rogal Dorn.