Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 671 Caliban

“Your Honor.” His voice was deep and steady, like the hum of a heavy engine idling, devoid of any extra emotion.

"Company Commander Daryl, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come." Chen Xi returned a simple nod, gesturing for the other to sit down across the long table.

He personally picked up an antique-looking metal jug and poured a glass of "Loyalty" for both Daryl and himself. This red wine, produced in the Rostov sub-sector, had become the most luxurious item in the Empire. Countless nobles longed to obtain a genuine bottle of "Loyalty" and drink it in public to prove their unwavering loyalty to the Empire. Although there were instances of mishaps, including fraud and deliberate acts, none of this diminished the fact that "Loyalty" had become an Imperial brew on par with "Quadis."

"The dust of war has not yet completely settled, and I have taken the liberty of inviting you. I hope you will forgive me." He spoke in a calm tone, trying to create a relatively relaxed opening.

“It’s alright, Your Honor.” Daryl took the cup, but did not drink it immediately.

His gaze swept quickly and professionally across every corner of the room, seemingly assessing the security level, before finally focusing on Chen Xi, his gaze seemingly able to see through appearances. "The Blade of Repentance is honored to respond to your request. For the Emperor, purifying the aliens is our sacred duty." His answer was impeccable, perfectly befitting the respectful distance expected of an Astartes brother towards the Inquisition, revealing no emotion beyond the bounds of his mission.

Chen Xi gently swirled the liquid in his glass, his gaze seemingly fixed on the rippling waves, but in reality, his spiritual perception was like a soft spider web, trying to capture the most subtle fluctuations in the other person's emotional field, even though he knew it would have little effect on an Astartes monk who had undergone rigorous mental training.

“Company Commander Daryl, let’s skip the formalities.” He decided to be direct. “This ‘Blue Dawn’ campaign has been exceptionally dangerous. The extent of the Genestealer Cult’s infiltration and the strength of the organization’s resistance have far exceeded expectations.”

"If the Blade of Repentance fleet had not arrived in time, sweeping across the orbit with lightning speed and airdropping elite troops to stabilize the ground front, especially your company's assault on the flank of the main lair, which completely shook the core of the alien defenses, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

“On behalf of all the survivors here… no, on behalf of the Empire’s authority here, I extend my sincerest gratitude to you and your warriors. Your efficiency and bravery are truly impressive.” His thanks sounded sincere and included specific tactical details to demonstrate his sincerity.

But Captain Daryl's expression remained unchanged. He merely bowed slightly, maintaining his rock-solid composure: "You flatter me, Inquisitor. We were simply fulfilling our duty. The ones who truly supported the core of the defenses and bore the brunt of the fierce battle of attrition were Sergeant Titus's Deathwatch squad and the Ash Knights of the Ston Chapter. We merely delivered the final blow and ensured the purification was carried out thoroughly."

This is a typical Dark Angel response: humble, but maintaining clear boundaries, never taking credit for themselves, and never revealing any information beyond what is necessary, especially about why they were able to carry out the crucial blow so "just right".

Chen Xi smiled, a smile tinged with barely perceptible weariness and understanding. He decided to stop beating around the bush and downed his drink in one gulp, feeling the cool sensation slide down his throat.

Then he gently placed the cup on the table, making a crisp and resounding tap, as if it were a signal.

“Company Commander, I appreciate your caution. So, let’s speak frankly.” He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharpening like a drawn bayonet. “Although this battle is over, some… spoils and intelligence have raised some concerns for me.” He paused deliberately, observing the other’s reaction. “Deep within the Genestealer’s main lair, I, the Sage Allegana, discovered something extraordinary. Not only biological samples from Tyrannosaurus, but also… fragments of star maps inscribed on special bone plates, and remnants of a logbook recorded in ancient Gothic code. They were carefully preserved in an altar that appears to have been used by the chieftain.”

Company Commander Daryl's gaze sharpened instantly, like a sniper locking onto a target through a scope. His gloved, power-armored fingers, resting on the table, unconsciously tightened slightly, the metal scraping against the solid wood surface with a barely audible sound. Though the movement was minuscule, it didn't escape Chen Xi's keen observation.

“Oh?” Daryl’s tone barely changed, but a subtle pause betrayed his interest. “What interesting thing did the Inquisitor find? It’s not entirely unexpected that Tyranids sometimes collect all sorts of loot.” He tried to attribute the discovery to Tyranid habits, but he clearly wasn’t entirely convinced of the explanation himself.

“At first I thought so too,” Chen Xi said slowly, each word clear as if striking the other’s defenses. “But the results of the deciphering by Sage Aurejana showed that those star map fragments, after preliminary reconstruction, pointed to an ancient star field coordinate that has now been almost forgotten.”

He looked directly into Daryl's eyes and said, slowly and deliberately, "A place intimately connected to the First Legion... to the origins of the Dark Angels. Caliban."

The name "Caliban" is like a magical spell; the moment it is uttered, the air in the room seems to freeze.

Company Commander Daryl's body visibly stiffened, his gray pupils contracted sharply, and although he immediately controlled his expression with his strong willpower, the sudden rise of a palpable sense of vigilance and shock almost made the room temperature drop several degrees.

He remained silent for a full five seconds, which was extremely unusual for an Astartes monk with a heart of steel, as if the name had touched some deepest taboo.

“Inquisitor,” Daryl’s voice deepened, taking on a barely perceptible hoarseness and a clear warning, “Caliban is a world long gone, a permanent wound in the Dark Angels Chapter. Any related 'ruins' or 'information' could involve the Chapter’s top secrets and sensitive topics. I strongly advise you to handle these discoveries with extreme caution and entrust them to us.” His tone hardened, carrying an unquestionable stance.

Chen Xi met his sharp gaze without flinching, as if she had anticipated this reaction. "I understand your traditions and...secrets, Company Commander Daryl. I respect the history and wounds of every Astartes Chapter." He affirmed first, then changed the subject, "But I am an Inquisitor, and my duty is to assess all potential threats to the Empire, regardless of their origin."

“And this information doesn’t seem to be just about the past; it may point to a real, imminent danger.” He paused, emphasizing his words, and then offered more specific information to increase credibility. “In fact, before receiving the 'Azure Dawn's' plea for help, I recently heard from several unrelated sources—confessions of heretics captured by the Inquisition, fragments of ancient, nearly destroyed databases scattered across the Edge World—that some unusual traces had appeared in the star system near 'The Rock' Fortress.”

“Some well-equipped and tactically cunning raiders move stealthily, appearing and disappearing like the wind, and seem… unusually familiar with certain outer facilities and remote patrol routes of the fortress. Their modus operandi is unlike that of common Chaos Raiders or Alien Pirates.”

(End of this chapter)