The Brevis System, Main Star Orbit, Large Spaceport Designated "North Tower."
This space station, the vital lifeline connecting Brevis to the wider galaxy, was currently shrouded in a thick, tense atmosphere. Today, it was prepared to welcome a very special "guest."
The port area had been cleared of civilian traffic. A large number of staff and System Defense Force (SDF) personnel had secured the reception area, waiting with bated breath. Their gazes were focused on a massive transport ship currently pulling into the berth—a vessel that was battered and scarred, yet still bore the undeniable silhouette of its former glory.
The Song of Farewell was a Pilgrim-class transport ship.
A few hours earlier, as the ship prepared to enter the host planet's orbit, several "green-skinned boulders"—Ork Roks—had attempted to intercept it. Fortunately, the Brevis SDF had responded with uncharacteristic speed, dispatching four Sword-class frigates for emergency assistance. After a fierce firefight, the Ork vessels were successfully neutralized, opening a safe passage for the Song of Farewell.
Now, the main character of this political drama finally made his appearance.
Under the watchful eyes of the assembly, the enormous starboard cabin doors slowly hissed open, extending into a grand escalator.
Kelly von (Raynor himself), dressed in a sharp, dark blue captain's uniform, walked calmly out of the cabin arm-in-arm with "Isud Cora." He walked with a steady, measured gait, a perfectly timed smile on his face, his deep, mysterious purple eyes scanning the crowd.
Isud (Puppet No. 1) nestled beside him, dressed in a gorgeous long gown. Her makeup was exquisite, and her expression was one of reserved, elegant grace. No one present could detect the faint, ethereal purple light hidden deep within her pupils.
Following closely behind was his adjutant, Gus Griffiths. He had grown a thick, well-groomed beard to soften his overly "handsome" features, giving him a more rugged and imposing military bearing.
Next was Dobby, the captain of the bodyguard detail. This 2.6-meter-tall Ogryn giant wore a specially commissioned, extra-large set of finely crafted breastplate armor. He was trying his hardest to keep a straight face, attempting an expression that conveyed: "I am serious, I am professional." Although Dobby didn't fully grasp the politics, he knew his boss, "Kerry," was putting on a show, and he was determined not to ruin the atmosphere.
Finally, bringing up the rear, was the manager, Tom Chris (the Butcher).
At the bottom of the escalator stood four figures. Each possessed a distinct demeanor, yet all wielded considerable power within the system.
On the far left was a middle-aged man in a grey military uniform, his hair neatly combed behind thin-rimmed glasses. This was Carter, Chief Executive Officer of the Governor's Office and Vice Marshal of the Planetary Defense Force (PDF). He represented the Governor's Palace. His expression was grave as he carefully scrutinized Raynor during his descent.
Beside Carter stood the SDF Admiral, resplendent in a white dress uniform.
The third figure was an elderly man with a kind, weathered face, draped in the magnificent red and white robes of a Cardinal. He held a golden scepter, representing the Ministorum—the State Church.
On the far right stood an obese nobleman dressed in offensive luxury, adorned with jewels and wearing a practiced, plastic smile. He was the representative of the Noble Council and also served as the Spaceport Director. His slick gaze swept back and forth between Raynor and Isud, his eyes betraying a hidden flicker of disdain.
Raynor stepped onto the hangar floor, his eyes quickly mapping the crowd. He noticed the shoulders of the port workers and the SDF soldiers; almost every one of them wore a specific badge on their chest or opposite shoulder: the twelve-star emblem of the Noble Council.
It seemed that the intelligence gathered by Kerry and Isud was correct; the Noble Council's reach extended much further than the Governor's Palace would like to admit. Even the SDF and the spaceport, which theoretically answered directly to the Planetary Governor, had been heavily infiltrated.
He returned his gaze to the four representatives and made a preliminary judgment. After shaking hands with each in turn, Raynor assessed the situation: Carter, the Governor's representative, seemed to be a potential ally, while the SDF Marshal and the noble lord were clearly loyalists of the Council. The Bishop appeared, for the moment, to be neutral.
Following protocol, Carter stepped forward to verify Raynor's identity. He accepted the ornate envelope Raynor handed him, which bore the title: Letter of Recommendation from the Sector Governor. Carter carefully examined the wax seal, the handwriting, and the anti-counterfeiting psychic sigils.
After a moment, he nodded slightly and returned the letter. "The documentation is in order, Your Excellency, Governor Kelly von."
Then, Carter took a black data-chip case from a safe held by an attendant. This was the "original" genetic code for Brevis; the one aboard the Song of Farewell was merely a replica. All four representatives stared intently at Raynor.
This was the first true test. The genetic code could only be unlocked by Kelly von's specific biological signature. If it failed, or if any abnormality occurred, the "Governor's" authenticity would be shattered.
Raynor remained expressionless. He calmly removed the white formal glove from his right hand. To the naked eye, his hand looked ordinary—fair-skinned with slender fingers. In reality, this skin was a highly advanced symbiotic armor structure. He gently pressed his finger onto the biometric scanner of the chip case.
A thin green light swept across his fingertip.
Beep!
A crisp chime sounded. The indicator light on the case turned from red to green, signaling a successful match.
The expressions of the four men shifted subtly. Carter breathed a visible sigh of relief, the suspicion in his eyes replaced by a hint of approval. The SDF Marshal remained stoic, though a flash of disappointment flickered in his gaze. The Bishop nodded gracefully, while the noble lord raised an eyebrow, his smile becoming more ingratiating even as his eyes remained cold.
"Welcome, Your Excellency, Governor Kelly von," Carter bowed formally. "Brevis looks forward to your leadership!"
Raynor shook Carter's hand again. This time, he felt the man's genuine sincerity.
After the brief ceremony, the party boarded a waiting Valkyrie transport. It had been modified with such opulence that it barely resembled a military craft. The fleet took off, leaving the spaceport and descending toward the planet below—a world choked by ice and the smoke of war.
As Raynor's fleet crossed the atmosphere toward the main Hive, a different scene unfolded in the lower levels of the station.
In a dark corner, several figures draped in heavy cloaks gathered. Beneath their hoods, patches of exposed skin displayed an unnatural purple hue with shifting, mottled patterns. On the linings of their cloaks, a blasphemous symbol was painted: twin tongue-knots entangled in chains.
A figure, evidently their leader, lifted a corner of his hood to reveal a bewitchingly beautiful face, distorted by proliferating purple tissue. He watched the direction Raynor had gone and flicked out a long, forked tongue to lick his lips.
He spoke in a voice that was neither male nor female, full of a seductive, manic charm, as if whispering to an unseen presence.
"Master, look what I have found for you..."