Warhammer: Start with a dog.

Chapter 721 (22) Mission Item Gift Souvenir Return Home
This underwater tunnel connected the main nest with the outer islands. Now most of its power supply has been cut off because of the attack. Only the dim light hanging from the sea above, which is almost invisible to the naked eye, illuminates this huge empty and quiet space.

Sigismund hovered in the shadow of the pipe bundle on the dome, adjusted the audio receiver and filter to the appropriate volume, and began to listen to the conversations of the intruders below and evaluate them.

Apparently, after reconnaissance, they believed that there were no living people nearby, so they were discussing the next course of action using a non-encrypted communication channel. They also showed great doubts and vigilance as to why there was not a single defender or Khorne berserker here.

Sigismund adjusted the eyepiece to stealth scanning mode and then moved over them one by one.

Burns, cuts, lacerations, fractures, penetrating wounds, wounds caused by kinetic weapon explosions... Well, it seems that their journey to the surface of Cydrica was not smooth sailing.

Then he scanned the opponent's equipment.

The power backpack reactors of this group of warriors are still working stably, except for varying degrees of subspace contamination; they should have been equipped with multiple camouflage stealth cloaks, but after the fierce battle, only some tattered cloth debris were left hanging on their armor; their weapons were obviously lost on the way here - Sigismund's computing matrix believed that the most likely possibility was an emergency landing based on their damage - but obviously not as friendly forces - there were some weapons and ammunition, but not many.

As he observed them, the fate disturbance value kept flashing warnings on his eyepiece - the disturbance factor he was looking for was among this group of people.

It took him a little more time than it takes a particle of light to pass through a hydrogen atom to decide whether or not to jump in and eliminate all 13 targets right now to eliminate the annoying mission BUG problem he encountered. In the end, he decided to observe for a while to make sure before taking action.

Because it's strange that they seem to have very low strength and threat level, so how did they manage to disturb the current destiny?

You have to know that the other 50% is made up of a part of Kharn, millions of slaves and cultists, thousands of Chaos Astartes, and dozens of Chaos Void ships, enough power to destroy an entire sub-sector.

And here there are only twelve Space Marines and one mortal.

Hmm, what is this? Sigismund read the information of the ancient apothecary medical kit, but the man holding it did not have his power armor painted in the apothecary's color, but at least he had a gene seed tank on his waist; and the other man with the Tech Sergeant's toolbox lacked the special rhythm of the Martian trainees. Analysis showed that he might be familiar with some related skills, but most of them were forced to do it temporarily.

They had a very good division of labour, complete skills, and everyone had their own distinct responsibilities... a mature but severely damaged combat group - they clearly had their own set of combat rules, and definitely did not follow the Codex Astartes.

He scanned them all again.

Finally, his attention was focused on the weapons behind the leading Astartes, the toolbox on the technical sergeant, and the mortal.

"48% Sarlis. 2% Vashtol." His database matched the two names for him. "Mostly Sarlis's Warp fingerprint. Fits in with bits and pieces of information collected in orbit. No doubt Sarlis wants to be the one behind Khorne's back - but - which one?"

Since there is definitely something wrong with this group of people, and we have confirmed the disturbance factors they carry, then the best way is...

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When a blue light suddenly appeared in the dark tunnel without any warning, the reaction of the intruders made Sigismund admire them for a moment as soldiers rather than former enemies.

The flag bearer and the commander immediately located themselves and issued orders. The temporary technical sergeant and pharmacist retreated, the vanguard, melee swordsman and flamethrower advanced, and the rest formed an offensive defensive formation. The sniper quickly sneaked into the shadows and jumped towards the sniper position - it was so harmonious and smooth, like the parts of an oiled astronomical clock that fit together perfectly.

Such a group of experts would probably be able to fight against anything that still had substance, but today they managed to kick a piece of unreasonable steel entity.

So thirteen minutes after Sigismund set out, Captain Desorian, who was clearing the battlefield and advancing the defense, received a communication asking him to send a Thunderhawk to the designated coordinates to load the prisoners.

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"These damned traitors!"

"Indeed. But they will be very useful at this moment, so get out of the way, Sister."

"How can you speak for them!" Sister Rivinia shouted excitedly, "And bring them into the holy cathedral! Bring them to the purest and most precious beacon! Unless you kill me! Otherwise, I will never let these filthy things set foot in the cathedral!"

The Mother Superior, her cheeks red with anger and ruby ​​tears glittering on her features, turned to Saint Celestine for support.

However, when she saw Celestine said helplessly, "Because Sigismund has successfully killed Kahn, I will leave soon. The follow-up processing here will be handed over to Sigismund. He also represents a higher will," although the elder sister still stood firm, she became somewhat caught in a dilemma.

Fortunately, at Desorian's suggestion, Pavas immediately intervened to mediate with the transcendent identity of "Om Messiah's follower" (given that the senior mechanical priests here had died in the previous invasion due to the geographical location). This technical sergeant, who had a good social level by the standards of both the Martian Cult and the Imperial Fists, immediately created a way out for both parties with a few words.

In short, since the Crimson Tears are the Emperor's pious daughters and have acknowledged Lord Sigismund's status as a living saint under the witness of Saint Celestine, the will of the living saint represents the will of the Emperor. They should not question the decision of the living saint, but should carry out Lord Sigismund's orders just as the Imperial Fists were willing to obey their requests and carry out Saint Celestine's orders.

So in the end, under the watchful eyes of the battle-sisters who looked unfriendly, stared fiercely, and were ready to shoot at any time, this group of Astartes in unique blue-green power armor were escorted into the Cathedral by the Imperial Fists. On the back of one of them was a cultist tied with chains, which made some weak priests and believers almost scream and faint because of such blasphemy - he was a tall and strong man, wearing a black tights that covered his whole body and gorgeously decorated armor in the style of Slaanesh. From the torn parts of the clothes, you could vaguely see the dense marks of Slaanesh and unclean runes branded on his flesh.

"Alright." Under Sigismund's orders, the Imperial Fists surrounded the twelve Astartes of the Alpha Legion and forced them to kneel in a row, while he walked over and personally untied the chains that bound the cultist.

"Now, do what you are told."

The man slid off the back of the Alpha and fell to his knees, looking up in disbelief at the swordmaster in bright yellow power armor in front of him.

But the only face he could see was that of a wise man who had experienced many hardships. The pair of ice-blue eyes looking at him contained no murderous intent, nor any resentment or disgust towards such a filthy and sinful being as him.

There was nothing there but the calm, pure blue—tears instantly filled the man's eyes.

"My lord!" he said breathlessly, while obviously struggling to fight the urge of his legs to rush towards the beacon. His spasming fingers pulled off the grotesque mask on his face, revealing a pale and excited face of the Void Child, his distorted face full of pain, hatred, and regret.

"I... I was controlled by a damned wizard from the Slaanesh warband of the Emperor's Children... the cursed Filcorian... I... I don't want to be controlled by him... I have hated him for nineteen years... I want revenge... I should atone my sins... Emperor... please let me confess to Him..."

Sigismund looked at the poor man expressionlessly.

"Do what you want to do."

Amid the groans of the battle sisters and the puzzled and wary looks of the Alphas, he moved aside to make way for the Cedrika beacon.

"Thank you... Thank you...! My Lord! Thank you so much!"

"No need to thank me."

Looking at the man's back as he excitedly rushed towards the "beacon" emitting golden light, Sigismund said slowly, "But I remember the wizard's name."

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Just as this man, filled with hatred for the wizard who tortured him, endured the pain of being burned by the holy golden light all over his body, but walked firmly towards the "beacon", and was about to kneel down and confess his sins to the beacon that he believed the Emperor could hear his voice, everyone saw his body suddenly shake.

Then their ears caught the horrible, teeth-grinding sound of bones and tendons bursting from within the body.

"What's going on?! What kind of evil witchcraft is this! Lord Sigismund! Please let us stop him!" Sister Rivinia shouted sharply, placing her hand on the hilt of her power sword.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, all of the Slaanesh runes branded and engraved on the cultist's body began to emit a bright pink-purple light, and along the glowing gaps of the unclean patterns, something much larger than his flesh was beginning to stretch out the restraints on his body from within.

His flesh burst, his mouth was forced open, and his tongue protruded from his throat, but it continued to emit soft, hissing, unclean syllables like a snake's cry.

They saw his two eyeballs bulging outwards and his entire skull beginning to split along the bone joints. In great pain, his eyes were terrified, but the syllables in his mouth became more and more cheerful.

The poor man's whole body was deformed, and his tortured throat finally called out three times in a sweet and joyful hoarse voice a name that no human being could have.

"Manushya-Rakshsasi! Manushya-Rakshsasi! Manushya-Rakshsasi!"

Then, his remaining flesh and blood were sucked clean by a greedy black hole-like mouth, and a forked, slender red tongue stretched out and licked his plump lips.

And at the place where this poor man was originally located, a lifeless entity thirty feet tall was rising slowly, spreading its redundant and soft water-nymph-like limbs like a blooming flower, with thin silk fabrics connected by beads and gold under the exquisite armor. The strong and stinky musk and the sweet and greasy aroma of decayed flowers spread around with its movements. The eyes of the people approaching it gradually became dull, and the suppressed secret desires grew like thorny vines from the darkest corners of the deepest cracks in their hearts.

Suddenly, a nun who was unfortunately too close screamed, threw herself on the face of the equally stunned sister next to her and began to bite her face. Before the Arch Sister could react, Desorian had pulled out his grenade launcher and shot the nun in the head. The scarlet and pink-white liquid covered the beautifully carved angels and icons several feet away.

The Great Keeper of Secrets Manushya-Rakshsasi shook her jeweled body and four arms, chuckling with satisfaction at the taste of blood that greeted her arrival.

"Oh, damn, the cargo that Exelus had us carry close to him was a great demon, a keeper of secrets. But he told us nothing about it."

One of the captured Alphas cursed under his breath. The Imperial Fists soldier holding him down tightened his grip, clearly showing some extra pressure.

"We were deceived by those Emperor's Children whose brains are full of tentacles."

"Betrayal," said the third Alpha.

"No doubt about it. No wonder the Immaculate offered us such generous terms and agreed so easily. He never thought about fulfilling his promise."

"Exlucias had planned from the beginning that once we got him to the beacon, the Keeper would turn around and kill us as well. The sacrifices he made every day obviously didn't affect his conspiracy."

The leader, Alpha, said gloomily, this was a statement. "The Nameless Warband will always remember his betrayal and the heavy losses it brought us."

"What should we do now?"

"The Secret Keepers are difficult to deal with. We don't stand a chance in our current situation."

The great demon laughed so happily that it made the eardrums tingle. With the laughter and the fragrance, everyone's limbs began to feel heavy, and all kinds of absurd hallucinations and images appeared before their eyes. The Keeper bent down, stretched out his hand with sharp claws, and reached into the mechanical device surrounded by pipes and cables, trying to touch - defile - the face of the humanoid "beacon" in the life support device inside -

Oh. Not everyone either.

Sigismund drew his sword and started the anti-gravity engine, not forgetting to turn on the light behind his head, spraying six twenty-foot streams of white wing-like air behind him.

Then he brought his blade down upon the great daemon of Slaanesh.

This time it was the Secret Keeper's turn to turn his sweet laughter into a scream.

"Now the Imperial Fists can actually become angels." An Alpha said calmly. "This is ridiculous. Maybe we are still hallucinating."

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In the end, Seidrika Beacon - the devout mortal who received the revelation thousands of light years away and became a living, sleepless torch beacon - still boarded the Imperial fleet and began to transfer as planned.

It's not that the Sedrakans don't want to protect him, but all astropaths and detections have reported that a premeditated warp storm will open within a few days, gradually engulfing the entire planet and neighboring galaxies. This place is no longer safe.

The Slayers, having lost their Lord and Kharn, came under attack from the Slaanesh warband fleet. It was obvious that the Emperor's Children commander had a big appetite, but until the Imperial fleets began to make warp jumps one by one, the Emperor's Children fleet was unable to get close to them - the third Chaos fleet that had been staying on the outskirts of the galaxy suddenly descended from the sky and stood between the Emperor's Children and the Imperial fleet.

No one knew why the Chaos fleet did this, except Sigismund, who asked Desorian for the set of Tyr's Terminator power armor before parting ways with them.
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"The Alphas are already in the cells. Is there really no need to chop off their limbs or dig out their brains, LORD?"

"Before leaving, Celestine said that these people were sent as souvenirs to the 'Pigeon on the Iron Blood'. Although I don't know what that means, it is obviously a better solution to take them back and deal with them."

Sigismund turned around after watching the last ship of the Imperial Fleet leap into the warp. The commander of the third fleet, who went by the alias of Chaos Lord "Iron Fist" Ganso and sneaked into the mission to be responsible for off-site security, walked up to him.

"Sir, all our main guns have locked onto the ship of Exrus the Immaculate."

"The wizard, Filcorian, is on his ship."

"Yes, they always make merry and sacrifice in the same boat."

Sigismund nodded.

"Open fire. And let us go home."

(End of this chapter)