Talon Sector
Deep beneath the spires of Tyrone Hive, a former fortress hall had been converted into the command center of an entire sector. Rows of command stations surrounded a central hololithic table, while generators and ventilation systems hummed behind the armored walls.
The hololith displayed the Talon Sector and the wider Obscurus Front. Friendly forces glowed blue, supply routes white, and enemy movements red. Most of Talon's mobile strength was already gathered beyond its borders.
Archmagos Dominus Belisarius Cawl attended through his proxy-body. Saal stood apart from the human governors, while Lady Vanessa remained at Qin Mo's right. Hololithic projections of the Thunderborn and senior fleet officers ringed the chamber, each linked to the council through a Dimensional relay.
Qin Mo stood at the head of the table, studying the scattered positions of his forces.
"Every available battlegroup and regiment has been committed," he said. "The Obscurus Front remains the center of the war, but we cannot assume Talon is safe. An enemy may strike while our fleets are occupied elsewhere."
The Talon Sector was not defenseless. Orbital platforms, planetary garrisons, automated fortresses, and reserve formations remained in place. Even so, those defenses could blunt an invasion, but most could not reinforce another world.
"If Talon comes under a sector-wide assault, I will activate the Total Mobilization Protocol."
The protocol would place the sector's mines, manufactorums, shipyards, transport networks, and supplies under direct wartime control. Civilian transport would be requisitioned, private stockpiles opened to military allocation, and rationing imposed before the first shortages reached the hives. Every able citizen would be assigned to military service, essential industry, logistics, or civil defense. Those unable to fight would be relocated to protected districts and given whatever work they could safely perform.
The chamber fell quiet. Several governors exchanged uneasy looks as the scale of the order sank in.
"Do not mistake preparation for certainty," Qin Mo continued. A faint smile crossed his face. "Talon may never become a target. I would be perfectly happy if we prepared all of this for nothing."
He did not mention the Leviathan. That contingency remained known only to a handful of people.
"We are already giving the Obscurus Front everything that can move and shoot," Yoan remarked from a flickering relay station. "If we survive, perhaps the High Lords will kneel in gratitude. I would settle for a statue and prompt repayment."
Vanessa did not look at him. "Try asking someone who has actually met a High Lord."
"Save the jokes until the front is stable," Qin Mo said. "Does anyone have a genuine concern?"
Most of the council remained silent. Then Saal raised one long-fingered hand.
"You still refuse to send me to the Cadian Gate," the Aeldari said. "My task is to neutralize the Blackstone Fortress. I cannot do that from here."
"The Fortress has not yet revealed itself," Qin Mo replied. "Sending you ahead would expose the mission and place you among commanders who do not trust you. When the time comes, I will open a direct passage and put you where you are needed."
Saal's expression tightened. "You ask patience of me, though your species possesses little of it."
"I am asking for operational security."
"Very well."
He lowered his hand, still dissatisfied. His repeated requests to travel to Cadia had already drawn suspicion from the humans, especially after he questioned why the First Legion had not been stationed there.
Vanessa suddenly stiffened. Her fingers closed around the edge of the table, and the color drained from her face.
She turned toward Grey's projection. "Prepare the Celestial Engine for an immediate Dimensional jump. I have seen something. Cadia may already be under attack."
Grey's armored image faced her. "You do not command the Celestial Engine."
Vanessa paused, realizing that urgency had carried her across the chain of command. She turned and bowed to Qin Mo.
"My apologies, Lord Governor. I request that you order the Celestial Engine to prepare for immediate departure."
Qin Mo studied her expression. Vanessa enjoyed provoking people, but the fear in her face was genuine. He nodded to Grey.
"Bring the Dimensional Engine to combat readiness," Grey ordered. "Recall exterior crews and calculate a route to Cadia. Hold for final authorization."
Qin Mo expanded the strategic display.
"If Cadia confirms an attack, the Celestial Engine jumps there first and establishes a beacon. Our fleets will break contact, recover their ground forces, and follow through long-range Dimensional jumps. No formation leaves its current position until its extraction is secure."
He looked around the chamber.
"That is the plan. Meeting dismissed."
The armored doors opened before anyone could leave. A Legionnaire rushed inside carrying an authentication slate.
"Emergency transmission from Cadia!" he shouted. "It came through Klein's merchant vessel and was authenticated by the Dimensional relay."
Every voice in the chamber fell silent. Klein had been sent to Cadia as Talon's liaison, but no one had expected his ship to use the emergency command channel so soon.
The Legionnaire reached the table and presented the slate.
"The message bears the command cipher of Lord Castellan Creed."
He drew a breath.
"Cadia calls for aid."
Vanessa looked toward Qin Mo. Saal went completely still. Around the table, the governors stared at the red marker representing Cadia.
Silence held for a single heartbeat.
"Talon shall answer."
Qin Mo had made that promise to Creed. Now the time had come to fulfill it.
The chamber erupted into motion. The strategic display split into fleet channels, extraction schedules, and deployment orders as alert runes spread across every command station. Governors contacted their defense staffs while officers relayed commands across the sector.
"All fleet commands, execute emergency disengagement," Lord Admiral Adam ordered. "Recover your troops and prepare for a long-range Dimensional jump. The Celestial Engine will serve as your destination beacon."
Grey turned away from the council. "Celestial Engine, begin final translation procedures. Destination: Cadia."
His projection disappeared.
Qin Mo faced Saal. A line of blue-white light opened beside them and widened into a doorway. Beyond it lay a corridor aboard the Celestial Engine, already filled with running crewmen and flashing alarm lights.
"Come with me," Qin Mo said. "Your wait is over."
Saal entered without hesitation. Qin Mo followed, and the passage closed behind them.
Cawl withdrew to the secure relay vaults to inform his main body. Vanessa headed for the orbital docks to requisition a voidship capable of carrying the warning to Terra. The governors and commanders returned to their worlds and armies.
Within minutes, the war council chamber was almost empty.
....
Meanwhile, in Orbit over Agripinaa
The Celestial Engine hung near the star of the Agripinaa System, its armored mass resembling an artificial moon. Its attendant defense satellites and auxiliary vessels maintained formation around it.
Grey's order changed the rhythm of the entire construct. Maintenance crews withdrew from the outer hull, outer compartments sealed, and translation alarms sounded across its decks. Systems built for industry and warfare shifted toward jump readiness.
Deep inside the Dimensional Engine, containment systems drew power from a shard of the Nightbringer. The fragment remained trapped within a Tesseract Labyrinth, surrounded by layers of gravitic locks and phase barriers.
Its resistance produced no sound, but those working near the chamber felt its presence. Some experienced sudden despair; others kept glancing over their shoulders at empty corridors. The crew treated the effects like any other hazard, rotating personnel out before their judgment suffered.
On the command bridge, Grey opened a secure channel to Vick, Lord Fabricator of Agripinaa.
Vick's image appeared above the strategium. Mechadendrites framed his augmented face, while red-robed adepts moved through the forge command center behind him.
"Cadia has issued a formal call for aid," Grey said. "The Celestial Engine is departing immediately. Agripinaa's defense now falls to you."
Vick's ocular lenses flickered as he absorbed the attached data. He had spent years strengthening the forge world's orbital platforms and planetary defenses. Agripinaa would not be helpless without the Celestial Engine.
"Transfer acknowledged," Vick replied. "The defense grid is active, and the Forge World will endure."
He paused as new information crossed his vision.
"Take the Titan Legion Blade of the Omnissiah. Its reconstruction is complete. The crews have trained, but they still lack true battle experience."
"Can they embark before we jump?" Grey asked.
"They are ready now. Every engine was recovered from the last war and rebuilt under the new doctrine. If they must repay that debt on Cadia, they will do so."
"Transfer them."
Vick issued the order. Receiving chambers opened within the Celestial Engine, and mass-translation fields locked onto the Titan Legion mustered on Agripinaa below.
The first God-Machine appeared in a column of blue light. Its armored feet struck the embarkation deck as warning horns sounded from its carapace. Deck crews rushed forward to secure it before the next engine arrived.
More Titans followed, accompanied by their Knight lances. Their armor was newly forged, but many retained scorched plates and restored heraldry from their former frames. They had been rebuilt, not made invulnerable.
On the bridge, the final readiness rune changed from amber to green.
Grey placed one armored hand against the command interface.
"All stations, translation authorized. Agripinaa passes to Lord Fabricator Vick. Destination: Cadia."
The Celestial Engine's outer sections locked into place. Its satellites tightened formation inside the translation field, and cold blue light spread around the artificial world.
Then the Celestial Engine and its accompanying satellites vanished from realspace, carrying the Blade of the Omnissiah toward Cadia.
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