Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 670 The Dark Angel's Little Secret
The black ship, the "Gabbro," the Inquisition, hovered like a silent gray giant in the shattered orbit of the planet "Azure Dawn."

The planet below, once resembling a sapphire, is now an ugly sphere riddled with scars and completely shrouded in a gray-brown haze of death.

The ocean solidified into a vast swamp of venom, and the scorched marks left by the flames on land resembled the claw marks of a demon, crisscrossing the landscape.

Scattered sparks still flickered in some depths, as the Astronautical Army's cleanup forces carried out their final incineration orders, like adding the last fuel to the planet's funeral.

The macroscopic extinction has been completed; now it is time for a thorough cleanup at the microscopic level to ensure that no gene-stealing spores or mutated tissues survive, even if it means burning the planet's remains again.

The bridge observation window was large and solemn, presenting this apocalyptic scene to Chen Xi without reservation.

He wore the black uniform of a judge, the insignia on his shoulder gleaming coldly in the dim light, symbolizing the empire's boundless power of law and punishment.

The relaxation he had shown at the beginning of his vacation was gone from his face; instead, there was a deep-seated weariness and a colder, more resolute determination, forged in the crucible of life.

The psychic perception is like an invisible tentacle; even through the thick hull and the void, it seems to be able to vaguely capture the silent wails and deathly stillness left behind by the annihilation of billions of lives from the world below.

This was not the voice of true psychic power, but rather the profound understanding of destruction deep within his heart, the echo of his conscience unable to remain completely silent in the face of immense cost.

Aurejana stood silently a step behind him, like a perfect creation of shadow and efficiency.

Her prosthetic eye constantly adjusted its focus, scanning the desolate world outside the porthole and the flowing sensor data inside the bridge.

“All handover procedures have been completed.” Her synthesized voice broke the silence on the bridge, steady and clear, but it sounded more like she was stating facts to a partner than reporting to a superior.

"The Astral Army Provisional Control Command has taken full control of the planet's defense and cleanup efforts. General Glenn once again expresses his gratitude for your leadership and the Inquisition's timely intervention." She omitted unnecessary formalities; in their private setting, neither of them liked excessive formalities.

Chen Xi's gaze remained fixed on the scorched earth. His voice was very soft, almost as if he were talking to himself, or as if he were confiding in his companion beside him: "Thank you? He was thanking a necessary massacre and the end of a world. This 'gratitude' is too heavy to bear."

His fingers unconsciously tapped the cold edge of the observation window, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

Oregana's data stream fluctuated slightly as she weighed logic against emotion.

Her voice remained flat, but her choice of words subtly changed: "From a logical and imperial legal perspective, this is the optimal solution. The cost of survival must be paid. Individual emotional fluctuations are variables that need to be suppressed in such macro-level decisions."

She tried to soothe him with logic, but that in itself might just be her way of expressing concern.

“Yes, the optimal solution.” Chen Xi repeated the word with a hint of sarcasm, finally turning away from the oppressive scene. He needed to shift his attention to the unfinished business.

"What's the status of the Ash Knights and the Blade of Repentance's fleet?" He walked toward the tactical command platform, and Allegana naturally followed.

"The Ash Knights Chapter has completed resupply. Chapter Commander Stone has sent a message that they will proceed to their designated patrol area as planned." Allegana brought up the data panel. "The three strike cruisers of the Blade of Repentance have completed battlefield data retrieval and are on standby, awaiting your further instructions or disbandment order. If no new orders are given, they will continue to carry out their missions."

Chen Xi nodded. The overall situation was settled, and there was no longer any need for him, the judge, to oversee things here.

Endless paperwork and inquiries from the Terra Highlords Council awaited him, but before that, he had something more important and sensitive to deal with.

The Blade of Repentance, a sub-unit of the Dark Angels, performed impeccably on the battlefield. However, their deep-rooted caution and occasional unusual focus on specific spoils of war aroused Chen Xi's high vigilance.

After all, it's common knowledge that the lion king's offspring all have their own little secrets.

“I’m sending a request to the flagship of the Blade of Repentance,” Chen Xi said after a moment of contemplation. “I would like to have a private, face-to-face meeting with their commander, Captain Daryl, on the Gebronte.”

“The order has been issued.” Olegana’s prosthetic eye flashed, and she responded after a moment. “The other side has confirmed that Company Commander Daryl will arrive in one standard hour. The communications channel records show that there was a brief delay before the confirmation, possibly due to internal consultations.”

“As expected.” Chen Xi’s lips curled into a barely perceptible smile. “Dark Angels never accept unnecessary meetings. Prepare a meeting room and ensure absolute privacy. Also, get me all the public records about the Penitentiary Warband and Captain Daryl, the more detailed the better.”

“It’s already underway, Chen Xi,” Olegana replied, her voice carrying a barely perceptible hint of concern. “You suspect they’re hiding something?”

“It’s not doubt, it’s certainty.” Chen Xi’s gaze deepened. “Every Astartes Chapter has secrets, especially those whose history dates back to the Great Crusade. But the Dark Angels’ secrets… may be older and more dangerous than most. I need to verify some ideas.”
-
One standard hour later, in a conference room on the "Gabbro" designed specifically for the Inquisitors and equipped with the highest level of soundproofing, anti-psychic detection, and physical shielding, the atmosphere was so heavy it seemed like water could be wrung out of it.

A huge solid wood table occupies the center position, its surface as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the pale light cast from the ceiling, as if it could reveal the secrets hidden in people's hearts.

The walls were made of dark gray alloy, without any decoration, except for a few almost invisible sensor nodes and faintly visible defensive runes.

The air circulation system emits a barely audible hum to ensure that conversations here will never be heard by a third pair of ears, and that even air molecules will find it difficult to leak information.

When Company Commander Daryl entered the conference room, he was still wearing his dark green power armor, but without a helmet.

This might be a courtesy used in enclosed spaces to indicate a state of non-combat readiness, but it could also simply be a means to better observe and respond.

His face was weathered, etched with the lines of time and the marks of war. His gray eyes were like polished flint, sharp, calm, and unfathomable.

As the captain of the Blade of Repentance, a sub-unit of the Dark Angels, he possessed the profound and cautious nature unique to the descendants of the First Legion. Every step he took seemed to weigh the distance and threat, and the slight hiss of his power armor's servo system was exceptionally clear in the quiet room.

He gave Chen Xi a standard Astartes salute, the movement precise and powerful, demonstrating procedural respect for the authority of the court.

(End of this chapter)