As the Dark Angel's voice, edged with confusion, sounded out, the leading Ultramarine reached up and removed his Laurel Invictarii helm. The numerous scars crisscrossing his face and the three golden Service Studs hammered into his forehead were testament to a service record of at least three hundred years.
"Welcome. Though I confess I never expected to meet two Dark Angels brothers here."
The two Dark Angels exchanged a look after seeing him remove his helm, and then they too removed their own helms, which were decorated with white wings and a black longsword motif.
"Dark Angels Chapter, Ukkana."
"Dark Angels Chapter, Oray."
"Ultramarines Chapter, Calanthus."
After the formal exchange of names and greetings, Ukkana was the first to speak.
"While encountering Ultramarines in this sector is not unusual, meeting an Invictarii is quite a surprise. What is your mission?"
Ukkana's tone caused Calanthus to narrow his eyes slightly. The way the Dark Angel phrased the question made him feel as if he were being interrogated by a superior. It was a feeling he hadn't experienced in centuries.
The last time he had been spoken to that way was two hundred years ago, and the speaker was Chapter Master Calgar.
As for the Dark Angels, Calanthus certainly didn't believe these two Astartes, who appeared quite young, could possibly compare to his seniority. Their manner of speaking clearly stemmed from the Dark Angels' distinctive and isolated operational style.
In his five centuries of service, Calanthus had encountered many different Chapters, but this was his first direct dealing with the Dark Angels. Few found them agreeable.
Calanthus fixed Oray and Ukkana with a sharp gaze.
"In accordance with the Departmento Munitorum regulations, I have no obligation to answer your question. Furthermore, temper your arrogance, young whelps."
Oray and Ukkana, rebuked twice in short order, were clearly taken aback.
They had not been Astartes for long, yet their experiences had rendered them somewhat insular. After all, mortals rarely defied an Astartes, and their mere twenty to thirty years of service meant they had interacted with few other Chapters. Minor Chapters, wary of entanglement, often avoided contention with the Dark Angels. This was the first time they had consecutively encountered Chapters that were both unimpressed by and openly displeased with the Sons of the Lion.
The Black Templars aside, an ordinary Ultramarine might hesitate, but a battle-hardened Invictarii like Calanthus would not.
Even if there were circulating rumours of the return of the First Legion's Primarch, Lion El'Jonson, it was, after all, only a rumour. Moreover, in this age, the Lion was not the only Primarch to have returned. Calanthus, as an Invictarii, had seen his own Primarch, Guilliman, at the very onset of the Indomitus Crusade.
To Calanthus, these two practically green Dark Angels lacked basic reverence for a veteran. Perhaps the Dark Angels only respected the veterans of their own Chapter?
Calanthus's opinion of the Dark Angels dropped another notch. Though he still referred to them as 'brothers,' his internal displeasure had markedly increased.
Noting Calanthus's expression, the two Dark Angels abandoned their line of questioning. The Emperor's demi-gods were not fools.
"We did not intend to violate Munitorum regulations. The Captain of the Indomitable expressed doubts about the fleet's security after being unable to raise you via ship-to-ship vox."
"However, seeing you here, we can confirm the vessel is not under the control of Chaos."
Oray made the assessment, then clapped Ukkana on the shoulder, subtly indicating that he should note the bloodstains on the Ultramarine's power armour.
Calanthus naturally caught the gesture.
"A physical inspection is a necessary procedure. If you are amenable, I can show you the compartments where the fighting took place."
"We were busy dealing with those Warp Daemons that had not yet been banished when the Captain hailed us. Our Tech-Priests were focused on resolving the ship's systems failure caused by Techno-Daemonic corruption."
"It is fortunate we were able to escape the Immaterium before our engine power failed completely. The outcome would otherwise have been grim."
"The other vessels have completed their security sweeps. If you have any further doubts, you are welcome to inspect every ship in the fleet."
With that, Calanthus turned and strode away.
After seeing their commander lead the way out of the hangar, the other Ultramarines followed suit, leaving only the Imperial Navy personnel and the fleet commander to stare at each other. As mere mortals, they dared not defy the will of an Astartes. Even with Calanthus gone, the other mortals had to remain on site to cooperate until the Dark Angels left the ship.
Noting the cold shoulder, the two Dark Angels nonetheless completed a standard ship inspection. The fierce fighting had been concentrated near the aft power and engine rooms. The bloodstains across the bulkheads and the shattered remains of Imperial Navy bodies clearly attested to the intensity of the engagement.
This was especially evident in the aft engine room, which had been nearly breached by an explosion.
According to the combat summary, Techno-Daemons had begun corrupting the ship's Machine Spirits almost without warning. The vessel's Geller Field had partially collapsed. During a brief lapse of the Geller Field, a host of blade-wielding Warp Daemons had instantaneously manifested within the vessel.
The Imperial Navy ratings assigned to guard the area had immediately opened fire. Even the mortal Boarding Teams had fought. However, against the Daemons of the Warp, creatures capable of wrestling an Astartes, the mortals proved pitifully fragile.
Heavy Boarding Shields were cleaved apart with ease. The Daemons then flooded the narrow corridors, subjecting the Navy personnel to unspeakable atrocities.
The situation was only alleviated when the Ultramarines aboard, with the aid of the Tech-Priests, managed to override the isolation bulkheads that had been crippled by the Techno-Daemons' corrupted code attacks.
Bolter shells from Bolt Pistols vaporized the Daemons into exploding clouds of gore, and Chainswords effortlessly sliced through the Daemons' blades and their ephemeral bodies. The spraying daemon-ichor mingled with the blood of Imperial Navy ratings, slicking the corridors.
Though the Ultramarines moved swiftly, they were unable to stop the enemy from overloading a critical energy node. But thanks to the blessing of the Omnissiah, the ship's Machine Spirit gained control of the Warp Drive at the final moment, tearing a hole in the veil of the Immaterium and dragging the fleet back to realspace just before energy reserves were depleted.
The cruiser's Captain had sent the request for repair and assistance while the Ultramarines were still busy sweeping their own vessel for any lingering Warp Daemons.
——————
If you want to read ahead of everyone, go to my pat-reon: pat-re-on.c-om/magnor (remove the hyphen to access normally)
For more free additional chapters, throw some power stones!
100 PS = 1 Chapter.