899.M41 – The Dorian Expanse Silence ruled the void.
Not the familiar silence of space, broken only by the hum of plasma reactors and the crackle of vox transmissions.
This silence felt…
unnatural.
It pressed against the fleet like a physical weight.
Even aboard the *Talons of Terra*, where the steady pulse of the Battle Barge’s ancient plasma drives had been a constant companion for centuries, the mortal crew found themselves speaking in hushed voices.
No one could explain why.
— Chapter Master Asterion Corven stood upon the command dais, watching the tactical display.
The signal from the *Merciless Death* remained fixed.
It no longer drifted.
Whatever had transmitted it…
…was waiting.
“Distance?” Master of the Fleet Decimus answered without looking away from his console.
“Point four light-years.” “Closing at standard cruising speed.” “No additional contacts.” Captain Lucien Voss frowned.
“No escorts?” “None.” “No debris fields?” “None.” The absence of evidence troubled Corven more than any fleet of enemy warships.
Nothing in this sector had happened by chance.
— The Hidden Talons advanced in complete battle formation.
The Battle Barge occupied the center of the formation.
The Strike Cruisers *Shadow’s Wing* and *Silent Judgment* guarded either flank.
The thirteen frigates formed a wide perimeter nearly a million kilometers across, their augurs sweeping every direction while Thunderhawk squadrons remained fueled and ready.
Every Battle Brother wore his helmet.
Every weapon was loaded.
Every company had received the same order.
**Expect an ambush.** — Hours passed.
Nothing appeared.
Then the vox officer looked up.
“My Chapter Master.” “The signal has strengthened.” Corven turned.
“Source?” “The same.” “But…” The officer hesitated.
“It is no longer broadcasting automatically.” “What do you mean?” “It has changed.” The bridge speakers crackled.
A voice echoed through the chamber.
Old.
Tired.
Human.
> “This is Captain Elias Vorn…” A long pause followed.
Then— > “If this message reaches the Imperium…” > “…forgive us.” The recording continued.
> “We failed.” Static interrupted the message before clearing once more.
> “Do not allow anyone aboard.” > “Destroy this vessel.” Another pause.
Then, quietly— > “The Emperor knows our sacrifice.” The transmission ended.
No screams.
No gunfire.
Only silence.
Chief Librarian Kaelen slowly lowered his head.
“That…” “…was not a recording.” Every eye turned toward him.
Captain Voss spoke first.
“You are certain?” Kaelen nodded.
“I felt the soul behind those words.” Corven’s expression did not change.
“The captain is alive.” Kaelen hesitated.
“I…” “…don’t know.” — Three hours later…
“Visual contact.” The bridge lights dimmed as the main hololithic projector activated.
At first…
Nothing appeared.
Then, gradually…
A shape emerged from the darkness.
An Imperial Lunar-class cruiser.
Scarred.
Ancient.
Its once-proud hull bore the wounds of countless battles.
Entire sections had been torn open by explosions long ago.
Gun batteries were silent.
Engine nacelles cold.
No running lights illuminated the vessel.
Paint had peeled away after decades exposed to the void.
Yet one name remained visible across the battered prow.
**MERCILESS DEATH** No one spoke.
After fifty-one years of searching…
They had found her.
— Master Decimus began reading the augur returns.
“Void shields inactive.” “Reactor operating at two percent.” “No weapon signatures.” “No active life signs.” Captain Voss looked at Corven.
“It is dead.” Before Corven could answer— Chief Librarian Kaelen stiffened.
His eyes widened.
“No.” He whispered.
“It isn’t.” — Kaelen stepped toward the viewing port.
“I can hear them.” Captain Voss looked at him.
“Hear who?” “The crew.” “They’re praying.” Every officer exchanged uneasy glances.
Decimus checked the auspex again.
“There are no life signs.” Kaelen closed his eyes.
“There are over thirty thousand voices.” “They’re all praying.” Chaplain Malthus quietly made the sign of the Aquila.
— Corven considered the cruiser for several moments.
Then he issued his orders.
“No one boards.” Captain Voss blinked.
“My lord?” “We observe.” Master Decimus nodded in approval.
The Hidden Talons had survived for millennia because they never rushed into an enemy’s trap.
Frigates spread farther apart.
Thunderhawks remained inside their launch bays.
Lance batteries quietly charged.
Every sensor aboard the fleet focused upon the drifting cruiser.
Hours passed.
Nothing changed.
— Then…
Brother Cassian spoke from the augur station.
“My Chapter Master…” “I have movement.” Every display shifted.
The image zoomed toward the cruiser.
A single figure stood upon the shattered command deck.
Impossible.
The bridge had been exposed to vacuum for decades.
Yet the figure stood unmoving, looking directly toward the Hidden Talons.
Captain Voss narrowed his eyes.
“Magnify.” The image sharpened.
It was a man.
An Imperial Navy officer.
His uniform was immaculate.
One hand rested behind his back.
The other was raised in greeting.
Master Decimus checked the pict-feed.
“No life signs.” “No environmental suit.” “No atmosphere.” Brother Cassian quietly compared the face to Imperial records.
After several seconds he looked up.
“My lord…” “Identity confirmed.” “Captain Elias Vorn.” Silence settled across the bridge.
The captain of the *Merciless Death* had disappeared fifty-one years ago.
According to Imperial records…
He had died fifty-one years ago.
Yet there he stood.
Waiting.
Watching.
Almost…
Smiling.
— Corven watched the motionless figure for nearly a minute.
Then he spoke.
“Open a vox channel.” Static filled the bridge.
“This is Chapter Master Asterion Corven of the Adeptus Astartes Chapter, the Hidden Talons.” No answer.
“We have answered your distress signal.” Still nothing.
Then— The figure slowly raised one hand.
Not in greeting.
He pointed.
Not at the Battle Barge.
Beyond it.
Toward the darkness behind the Hidden Talons’ fleet.
Master Decimus turned to his augur officers.
“Full scan!” Servitors relayed commands throughout the fleet.
The augur arrays swept the void behind them.
Nothing.
“No contacts.” Captain Voss looked back toward the cruiser.
The figure had vanished.
The bridge of the *Merciless Death* was empty once more.
No movement.
No lights.
Nothing.
Then every alarm aboard the *Talons of Terra* erupted simultaneously.
“Multiple contacts!” Master Decimus shouted over the klaxons.
“Where?” The augur officer stared in disbelief.
“They’re…” He swallowed.
“…inside the fleet.” The tactical hololith bloomed with crimson runes.
Not one.
Not ten.
Hundreds.
Ships.
They had appeared without crossing the fleet’s sensor perimeter.
The Hidden Talons had expected an ambush from the darkness ahead.
Instead…
The enemy had emerged from the darkness already surrounding them.
Corven drew his ancient power sword.
Its blue energy field crackled to life.
For the first time since entering the Amerikon Sector, the Hidden Talons faced an enemy they could finally see.
“Battle stations.” His voice carried calmly across every deck of the fleet.
“Let them learn why the sons of Corax are feared.” Outside, in the endless black of the Dorian Expanse, the first enemy guns opened fire.