Aboard the Hulk, another's ambition was close at hand. The Magos, Emile, Eli and the remaining Stormtroopers had finally come to the sanctum where all of the Mechanicus forces were held up. Greeted by Techpriest Argo with a small squad of Skiitari, who bowed before his Magos.

"It is good to see you unharmed, Magos. We have kept this place protected, from all the foul creatures which have dared come."

The Magos ignored him, enamored by the presence of his prize, not but several yards away. He was lucky that the emotion suppressants had faded not long before they arrived her, so he could further witness this sight. The open doorway into the ancient relic of human history right before him. Called to him. He shifted his servo-hands to the side as they all stepped aside. Everyone watched as the Magos simply moved his way through the crowd, and up to the entrance of the Dark Ship. It brought fire to his soul, and the sight was just as beautiful as it was promised to him. That presence that had told him of this ship did not do justice to the very beauty of it. He was all but delighted to take his first steps within, the first among many in thousands and thousands of years. No sooner had his frame entered that he noticed a small sprite, far off down the hall. Below a tree, as it watched him. What was this curious thing he saw before him?

The doors shuttered, as they began to tremble once more. But the Magos did not panic, no, none of them did. Emile and Eli were the closest to being, but even then they felt that this was something entirely on the Magos hands. It was a sign that he and he alone was allowed within its halls. Though it made Emile warry of the future, but be had no time to worry himself as Viola contacted him again through his vox.

"So you have arrived?"

Emile looked over the procession of the Mechanicus forces as they continued to establish defensive perimeters.

"Yes. The Magos arrived unimpeded."

"I am assuming he entered."

Emile looked to the door that closed.

"Yes. And it had closed behind him."

Viola was slightly irked by this turn of events.

"We need to contact him as soon as possible. We have a plan that may work, but it will require his cooperation. Unfortunately… it seems contacting him has become more difficult now."

Emile took a deep breath as he thought of the situation.

"Well then, I am certain he will attempt to reestablish communications as soon as possible. Though as a member of the Mehanicus we cannot be certain what he is up to within."

Viola sighed.

"Hopefully he doesn't get too distracted."

Emile suddenly thought of Commander Richell and the others. He had hoped to check in on them, and this was as good a chance as ever.

"Viola… might I ask about Commander Richell?"

There was nothing but an uneasy silence for several moments. Something that concerned Emile, but he was set at ease when she finally replied.

"They are still alive. Commander Urgo of the Faceless legion is currently helping them navigate the Hulk to return to the sanctum. Of their chances I do not believe they have much, but they have one."

"Thank you, Viola."

"They are merely worthwhile assets Emile…"

Emile was happy to hear that things were well.

"Of course."

Viola brought the conversation back to business.

"Then now that is out of the way… Listen well, for this is the plan we have in mind…"

As soon as the doors had shut behind the Magos, he found himself beset by many small sprites. Their souls clear to any of the Omnisiah, burning vibrantly around their metal form. Machines, no taller than an average human foot in length, made of a single elongated center piece, and a round head that bobbed over it. Several legs protruded from its main frame that pulled them along the ground at unforeseen speeds. Untold mechanisms within that contained sensors that allowed it to see. Several managing to float, and much to the Magos delight he knew not why. He pulled one of the sprites from the air as he held it cherished in his hands before he crushed it, its pieces falling beneath his hands. Using a subset of his consciousness he devoted space to analyze its components and see if he could decipher its mysteries. His many auspexes taking thousands of micro pictures of each peice. He only mused in how this would have been heresy anywhere else.

Those sprites around him seemed not to care about their brethren's demise. He felt it, they had some semblance of the machine spirits within, but these were un-nurtured, childlike. Not but the level of servitors.

All of his functions stopped for just a moment as he heard a voice.

"It has been such a long time since a human came aboard this ship. I have waited for so long... I had even opened the doors for the others outside, but none came in before you. Are they scared? You are human? Aren't you? Beneath all that metal and machine you have grafted upon yourself?"

The Magos was struck by a mix of joy and uncertainty as he looked about the room. There was a strong machine spirit here. But where was it?

"Yes, I am a Magos of the Dark Anvil. Where are you, oh noble machine spirit?"

The voice seemed to echo all around him.

"Machine spirit? What is that? In all of my records I cannot find the term. I am Angel, the administrative A.I of this ship. The WorldPortal."

An A.I? The Magos had only ever heard of such things in myth and legend. Such a rare and precious specimen, and he found it. Though this was clearly a machine spirit, even now he felt its presence. Of the AI he was told of the past… they had no souls. This was something new. How long had it been here? How did it speak in a language which he could understand? Did it know of the one who sent him here?

"Tell me, Angel, how long have you been here?"

The A.I was silent for a moment as it no doubt calculated its response.

"I… I do not know. It is odd. It seems I was not programmed to know. Or perhaps, the clock has simply run over enough times to be unregistered anymore."

The Magos shifted himself forward along the hall, towards the nearest tree. This biological specimen long lost to time, preserved here. With such care it seemed that it was beyond natural. The extensive systems around it which supported its life beyond the Magos understanding. It had lived long past its normal lifespan.

Angel suddenly asked a surprising question.

"Tell me, why did everyone disappear? Where had you humans gone? It has been so lonely here… with nothing but the maintenance bots. The aliens outside all but hostile. Where is captain !#$I #$? Where is !# !#? Where did they go? I have preserved the ship dutifully in their absence."

The Magos could feel the deep sadness which came from Angel. Oh, the poor thing. How it had been left here all these years! The Magos would ensure it would need never be alone again. He knew Angel must have known so much, the knowledge it contained enough to progress the Dark Anvil by immeasurable amounts. Yet he did not jump to conclusions, for he knew not its intentions. And of whom it spoke, he could not decipher the static that was once names, their record likely long lost to time. But given the age of the hulk, he could assume they were no longer here.

"I am afraid they are most likely dead, given the time that has passed. I am sorry, Angel."

"Oh… that is unfortunate. Then, might I ask something else?"

The Magos watched as the sprites floated around him, careless as children.

"Yes."

Angel's response was swift, as if impatient.

"Why do I have emotions? I am sure that I was not programmed to feel such things. That I was even capable. I was not programmed to be more than an input system. One which accepted commands and responded with actions. But now…there is something. I cannot describe it. I feel. Is there something wrong with me? Must I be taken off line and replaced?"

The Magos calculated the known variables. It was possible, perhaps, that this A.I was once nothing but a program. Over time, it likely attained a soul, a gift from the Omnisiah. Left here alone, preserved through time and space, given sentience. It was but a child, one that the Magos could full and well nurture himself. Such a thing would be irreplaceable.

"No, dear machine spirit. Dear Angel. There is nothing wrong with you. You have a soul."

The response that Angel gave was one that hinted at an uncertainty of the validity of the Magos presumptions. It likely had not the context to understand.

"A soul? A machine cannot develop such things."

The Magos was saddened by the naivety of this poor spirit.

"Souls are very real, Angel. Even the Machines are able to contain such a holy gift, as you. This is why you may feel. Why you may no doubt perform functions far beyond what you initially believed was possible. Why you can talk to me in such a manner as this. It is a gift of the Omnisiah."

"I am afraid I do not have any records of this… Omnisiah which you speak."

This ship was old indeed. No matter, in time the Magos would provide all the answers that this Spirit would need.

"In time I shall explain. There is much I wish to tell you, and I am sure there is much that I can learn from you. Would you like me to provide you with company, Angel? Ease this loneliness which you feel?"

The AI didn't immediately respond. Instead, a blue light formed before the Magos. From where it came he knew not, only that it did. And from that light a hologram formed, of a small child. It held out its hand.

"It has been so long since I have had company. Will you?"

The Magos followed through on Angel's gesture and held out one of his servo arms. Amazingly, the hologram was physical enough to touch. His sensors picking up a strange liquid in the air around it, which moved in unison as if alive. Was this what held it together? So much to learn!

"May you show me to the command center of this ship, Angel?

Angel's hologram nodded, joyous in its expression.

"It would delight me. May you tell me of what the world is like outside?"

The Magos had nearly forgotten all about those outside the ships doors. Ah, he was in a divine place. This A.I, Angel, was all but already worth his trip here, all the resources he had put into this operation. Now all he needed to do was get it out of the hulk. But, there was one item here that was promised. The very thing he had come for, an STC. But this STC was not like the others. No, it was special, unique. Something unique to this place and this time.

"I shall. But first, may I ask you something Angel? Do you happen to have an STC aboard this ship? One marked by the Dimension Program?"

The hologram tilted its head, its eyes flashed with numbers and code before it replied.

"Yes."


None outside knew what transpired within with the Magos. Though many desired to know what was within, none had the chance to ponder. No, they were focused on something much more present. The echoing cries of the Tyranid swarm approached quickly through the corridors and vents that led into the sanctum. The Magos forces were quick to establish a perimeter and seal off as many vents and corridors as possible, but it was only a limited measure that wouldn't hold off forever. Yet they would stand in the face of these terrible xenos.

Emile and Eli stood beside techpriest Argo, right in front of the massive door that led into the Dark Age ship. He had shown not nearly as much resistance to their presence now that they were of vital use. Eli found himself foolishly distracted however, as he thought of those who were lost. From the cries and the screams of the aggressive monsters around them, he knew it was likely they were already gone. But it bothered him regardless. He knew he had to remain focused, but he could not. Emile seemed to simply push on, as if none of this phased him. It was both intimidating and for the first time, distant. While Eli had known Emile for such a long time, fought side by side with him and gone to the brink with him by his side, recent events had caused something. What it was he was uncertain, but he certainly saw Emile differently. A wise mentor, who taught him much, but now also his superior. Someone far more experienced than he, who had lived through battles beyond even his scope. It unsettled him and yet he knew not why. He was a Space Marine, but that did not erase his humanity. He refused to believe that, and he knew Emile felt the same. But they were still different, apart from all the others, treated and spoken to different, and seen not as men, but as angels of a divine being. All Space Marine chapters, even the Oath Marines numbed the feelings of their members. He himself had gone through such augments, survived the process to become a scout and persevered into a tactical squad. Yet he was still young, and recently such was painfully apparent. He would not harbor these thoughts no longer. He needed to talk with him.

He opened a private vox to Emile.

"Emile… can we talk?"

Emile didn't look toward him, his gaze focused on the area ahead of them. Still he replied.

"Of course, Eli."

Eli shifted the plasma gun that the Magos had given him awkwardly in his hands, still unused to the weapon.

"Am I naïve, Emile?"

Emile was silent as he pondered his response. He knew that his young brother had much to learn. But he also knew that their time away from the chapter had on effect on the both of them. Even him, a veteran who had seen wars on scales that Eli was yet even to fathom. The mental locks that held their resolve eroded, and they became individual. Something that was not despised within his chapter, but even the Oath Marines with their willingness to communicate and act non-violently, to help preserve a worthy Imperium, were steeped in tradition and expectation. It kept them a unified force, one which was always ready to act not in their own interest but in the interest of their chapter and the Imperium. The members limited in their capacity to emote and sympathize with the rest of humanity. Such took maintenance, something that was easily achieved within the chapters fold, but not away from them. And not for so long, surrounded by regular humans.

Both he and Eli began to act on their own ambitions now that they were away for so long. Something he tried to ignore, but that he knew he could not. He had hoped that practicing their traditions every day would stem such deviation, but it only worked so much. He realized that the moment he began to see Viola as anything more than a commanding officer, an Inquisitor, a simple human in the Imperium. When he started to see her as a daughter. Eli was good hearted, far too much for this wretched universe which demanded so much for simple survival. Perhaps it was impossible to even return to their chapter after this. Whether this was a good or bad thing, he would not decide. It was the way that it was, and here they were.

"Eli… you are yet young. A good heart rests within that chest of yours, beneath these suits of armor, within the human that you are. Such is dangerous upon the battlefield, for any hesitation any distraction is one which will lead to your demise. But you have grown well. You are my brother after all, and the one who has stood beside me all these years. I am glad to have you here besides me now, if this is to be our last day together, our last battle."

Eli was comforted by Emile's words. Despite whatever was between them, they were still brothers in arms, Space Marines of the Oath marines dedicated to each other and their mission. Perhaps that was simply enough. He would focus now, on the coming battle ahead.

"Thank you, Emile."

It was no sooner that the first of the swarm began to pour out of the corridors and busted through vents along the sides of the sanctum. All of them were of the same type that Emile and Eli had previously encountered, their long scythes glistening in the light. Their bodies blurred by the movement of hundreds, as they raced side by side and over one another. All of the defending forces stood firm, as they were trained to do. Even in the face of this. The Imperial Guard of the Faceless Legion were the first to intercept, barricaded behind whatever they found to create a barrier. Las guns and flamethrowers lit up the entire area, the cries of battle upon them. The Mechanicus Dunecrawlers walked behind the line of guardsmen and fired one at a time in sequence, hot lasers slicing through the horde, hundreds at a time. The Skiitari behind them using their galavanch rifles to pick off those which managed to wonder too closely. The Skorpius disintegrators launching volleys of plasma across the sanctum and into the very heart of the swarm, leaving entire craters in its wake. The Duneriders at the back, filled with Skiitari vanguard, ready to enter the battle when needed.

Emile and Eli however only stood, as they waited for their time to come. They were part of the last line of defense, lest the swarm managed to grow closer. Techpriest Argo between them as he fidgeted, his hands clenched tightly over two arch pistols, as he stared off into the carnage. He mumbled calculations to himself that only he understood, shaking as he watched with such intensity that nothing would phase him.

That neither of them did anything, despite the scene before them unnerved Eli. He didn't want to simply wait, while the battle unfolded before them.

"Are we to stand here and do nothing?"

Emile gripped his bolter, checking to see he was fully loaded.

"Until the time is right."

The screams of several guardsmen cried out as they were pulled into the swarm, though the las fire didn't stop, and the promethium continued to pour out ahead of them.

"Emile…"

Emile held up his bolter as he shot the flying Tyranid which crawled from the vent above them and started to descend upon them.

"As I said, the correct time."


Elsewhere in the winding corridors of the ship, all was quiet. Save for the baited breathes of Commander Richell and her remaining forces. Ervin managed to walk, though he found himself struggle to adapt to the new legs he was provided. That he had to carry the vox with him made it all the more complicated. That he was alive at all was a wonder, but he knew he had lost a lot of blood, and without resources… no. He wouldn't dare think of it. For the others here, he would push on. For Richell.

Lt. Jimmy tapped the side of his flamethrower as he walked besides the Stormtroopers. The two mindless drones who stood beside him. They always freaked him out, being where they came from and all, the special boys with all the big guns and armor. But now he didn't seem to give a grog's ass. They packed the largest weapons aside from himself and he felt, somehow, comforted by them.

Richell was at the front, as all commanders should. She led her forces from the front, guided by the lights provided by the Stormtroopers behind her. But it did not make her nerves settle, for it was too quiet for her liking, and she despised it. The tyranids were close, no, all around them. Yet they didn't hear a sound.

Ervin held the vox to his chest, their one lifeline out of this hell. Commander Urgo reported into them repeatedly, providing directions. Though for all they knew, where they were headed was uncertain, and specifics weren't often. Whether this was a good thing was yet to be seen. The silence among them not for want of conversation, for they all feared what hid in the dark. They all wanted to speak, to share in discussion and ignore what was around them, but they would sooner live longer than bring attention to themselves.

Commander Urgo spoke up again through the vox to Ervin.

"Down the next corridor head right. Then keep straight until further orders."

As quietly as he could Ervin replied.

"Y-Yes sir."

Richell looked back at him having noticed. He waved his hand to the right and she understood as she made her way against the wall. Everyone else followed, sure to keep each other in sight. The darkness slowly but surely creeping in on them, as Lt. Jimmy noticed a shift in the dark ahead. It was all that it took for him to have a momentary snap. He gripped his flamer tightly as he pressed ahead, past Richell who gave him a glare to stand down, and ignited the area ahead of them in promethium. The blaze was quick and it was hot, the distinct squeak of bending metal as a side beam lurched to the side. A whole section of the roof coming down after, blocking their path forward. Lt. Jimmy took several loud breaths. Something was there! He knew it was… there was something there!

Richell grabbed him by the front of his uniforms collar and pulled him to her. She didn't say a word but the look she gave him was all he needed to see to understand. His hands shook as he looked at the rubble before him. It was… there was something right? Right? He didn't just make it up...

Richell pushed him away as she pointed furiously to the side. This whole situation was damned! Lt. Jimmy had served her faithfully through all sorts of shit before, but never had things been this dire. Not with him anyway. He thought that they would have the Space Marines by their side on this mission, but here they were, a single guardsman, two mindless automatons, a broken voidsman and a commander who tried to hold it all together. His friend was already offed, and now none of them even said a damn word. Blast it all!

"Enough… feck it! Were all dead anyway… Why keep this charade alive any longer?"

Richell let out a sigh, and shook her head in disapproval.

"Don't lose your nerve on me now, Lieutenant."

Lt. Jimmy rolled his eyes. He respected her, but denying the inevitable was a fool's errand. They were abandoned and forgotten about. Whoever this Commander Urgo was, they had no idea if he was simply humoring them to give them hope before they died. Likely violently.

"Commander, listen to me. There is no point to it. Were in a hulk for Emperors sake! Alone and without any support. We are doomed."

Richell just about reached for her boltgun, strapped at her side. But she hesitated.

"Jimmy, you and I have gone through serious straights before. This is no different. And don't you dare take the Emperors name in vain."

Lt. Jimmy shook his head, glum as he looked at the debris he caused to fall.

"Commander, why don't you follow through with your threats for once and kill me. Least then I don't have to deal with this shit anymore. Before I get stabbed through the neck or anywhere else and bleed to death by a wretched, scythe handed beastie!"

Ervin gritted his teeth. He didn't intend to die here. He was just a voidsman, and he came here because he was forced, thought to be the first to die… how could an actual guardsman say anything like this? How could he so easily accept dying!

"Enough!"

Both Richell and Lt. Jimmy looked at him.

Ervin walked up to Lt. Jimmy and threw a punch, something that Lt. Jimmy was quick to catch. But Ervin didn't shy away, he pressed ahead until he was face to face.

"I came here thinking I was already dead. That I was going to die, but you all looked down on me. I was out of my wits, and I was ready to keel over. But I decided that I wanted to live, and I followed through. Even when I was about to die I… I didn't want to die. I didn't think I would get the chance to move let alone go anywhere ever again. But I still didn't want to die! Even when I asked for Richell to put me out, I didn't want to die! Commander Richell gave me a reason to push on, and she hasn't complained once. I look up to her and I see why all of her soldiers follow her. Yet you, when you still can walk with your own two fecking legs, with all of your experience in the face of horrors I have never seen before, when we still have a chance to survive, you say you want to die!"

Lt. Jimmy didn't know that Ervin had the balls to stand up to him. He… he did look down on him before. He was even ready to laugh at him, let him die and forget, but now…

He brought up his fist as if to strike Ervin, but he couldn't. He shoved him away and stepped back. He had to say something. He couldn't admit that he was acting the way that Ervin did the first time he saw him.

"You… that… I…"

He turned away, unable to form the words. Looks like he didn't have anything to say. And thus they all stayed in silence once more as they looked around at one another. Commander Richell both surprised and even more respectful of Ervin. For how little they knew one another, he had come a long way. They had already been here for… she didn't know how long. It felt like ages and ages, but he stayed strong. Despite the timid and shaky fear he held beneath. To think she thought he would die right away, ashamed of him for being part of this mission. Now she respected him as much as she respected any of her soldiers. As for Lt. Jimmy though… she was shocked by his cowardice. Even after all that he had followed her into before, and all the missions she trusted him with.

They were all shocked back to the moment as they heard a scratching sound from somewhere behind them. The Stormtroopers who had stayed silent this entire time turned to face the threat, somewhat more comfortable now that they returned to their comfort zone of war. Not the petty squabbles of others.

Commander Urgo voxed back in, urgent in his voice.

"What had happened? Why did you stop?"

Ervin held onto the vox tightly, looking for whatever it was that hunted them.

"We had a setback…"

Commander Urgo didn't wait to hear anything else.

"Very well then, there is another corridor a small ways from where you came. You will need to take that. And then follow it until you reach the next split. From there, I will contact you again. Be wary of the tyranid presence. Combat has already begun in the sanctum. If you hope to make it out, you need to get back quickly while the defenders still hold ground. Best of luck."

Richell looked over to him.

"What did Commander Urgo say?"

Ervin almost didn't want to tell her, but he had to.

"Well…"