Avellaneda system, galactic eastern edge.
Aboard the Weeping Needle, flagship of the Tenth Chapter.
Semeneo walked towards the Chaplain's Reclusiam, his gaze sweeping over the black-armored warriors around him. A smile touched his lips. He savored the feeling of fighting alongside true battle-brothers.
It had been so long since he had felt this way, so long that he had once thought he was an Alpha.
He had been sent to infiltrate the Alpha Legion after becoming a Shadow of Order.
Yet, not long ago, he had been sent back, to infiltrate his own Legion.
'How could I be an Alpha? I am a Shadow of Order. I am a son of Nareth.'
'Our father saved Primarch Omegon from the xenos' clutches. All Primarchs are extraordinary, but our father is the strongest and greatest.'
Semeneo found it laughable that the Alphas had chosen him, a Shadow of Order, to infiltrate his own Legion.
He had gone to a Chaplain under the guise of confession, revealing his identity. He had not been trusted immediately; he had undergone several mental interrogations.
Finally, he met High Chaplain Pat.
His memory of that day was somewhat hazy. The scent of mandrake-scented candles had been strong, allowing him to shed his long-held disguise. Pat's pale gold eyes were the brightest points in his memory.
What he was certain of was that the High Chaplain had accepted his identity.
He had been welcomed back into his Legion and given a new mission: to serve as a spy.
He would use the skills honed in the Alpha Legion to serve his true Legion.
He would feed the Alpha Legion carefully screened intelligence, misleading them at critical points.
Arriving before the Chaplain's Reclusiam, he pressed a rune.
It flashed. The Chaplain's voice boomed.
"Enter."
Cold mist billowed. The door slid open.
Semeneo entered. "Lord Pat."
Pat's eyes narrowed. A pale gold light fell upon him.
His Wyvach, circling overhead, fixed its bright eyes on him as well.
Semeneo stiffened. The blood in his transhuman body seemed to freeze.
Thump-thump… thump-thump
His two hearts slowed. His thoughts grew languid in the soothing scent.
"Is the information ready?" Pat's voice broke the stillness, rousing Semeneo's sluggish thoughts.
"Yes, my lord." Semeneo unfastened a combat knife from his belt.
With a series of practiced, precise movements, he disassembled it into its components.
He extended his index finger, retrieving an encryption device from the hilt. From the blade's center, he drew out fine silver wires.
His eyes focused on the wires, the microscopic letters, finer than a hair, magnifying before his gaze.
After scanning them once, his hands moved with blurring speed, bending and arranging the wires into words:
[In the 9th Company of the Tenth Chapter, I discovered three squads share the same designation as three other squads.]
[Based on this, I believe the Tenth Chapter's actual strength exceeds its apparent twenty-five thousand six hundred. It should be between twenty-eight and thirty thousand. The number deployed for this campaign is approximately twenty-three to twenty-five thousand.]
The encryption device received the information, compressing and dispersing it into random noise. All the words were transformed into short bursts of static.
"This is a skill I learned in the Alpha Legion. I will use it to serve my true Legion." Semeneo spoke, offering this secret to ease the pressure on his mind.
"The next step is simple. I just need to submit a legitimate supply request."
"Requesting bolt rounds, even sacred oils for cleaning boltguns and chainswords."
"At the same time, I will broadcast the static, which will blend in as naturally as the noise from my quarters' ventilation fan."
"And the frequency?" Pat pressed.
"The frequency engraved on the wires is one of hundreds of standard Imperial communication channels. It is commonly used by communications officers and will not arouse suspicion."
"My Alpha instructor told me this is the Alpha Legion's subtlety, they are everywhere, woven into the fabric of the Imperium."
Pat, the "Dreamwalker," stared at Semeneo. This matched what he had learned from his mind.
Through constant "Dream Modification," Pat had made Semeneo and the other twenty-five Alpha infiltrators in the Tenth Chapter believe they were Shadows of Order, infiltrating the Alpha Legion on his orders.
Following his commands, they passed some unimportant information to the Alpha commanders to gain their trust.
Pat ensured that when they transmitted information, the numbers differed slightly, though still within a range.
Any tactical decisions made by the Alpha commanders based on this intelligence would be flawed.
He walked to the table, studying the intricate device.
'The Alpha Legion are masters of infiltration. They are quite skilled.'
'Thankfully, the Legion's truly important intelligence is now transmitted by couriers.'
He knew the couriers were primarily high-ranking Court members, from the Fourth Chapter. They already covered the ranks of Count and Viscount.
The Counts and Viscounts of the Inner Court were the Legion's core elite, holding all key positions.
'However, this encryption device is easier to produce than couriers, and better suited for infiltration work like espionage.'
'Semeneo's Alpha skills will benefit the Legion.'
'He now fully believes he is a Shadow of Order, and worships my Lord being a believer of the Black Emperor sets him apart from other heretics.'
Pat's gaze towards Semeneo grew both softer and more intense.
"Your loyalty has been verified. Your service benefits the Legion."
He thought of the first sermon he was preparing. He had the Black Emperor's support.
He would enlighten his battle-brothers: there exists a one true god.
He is the Black Emperor.
He walks among mortals as a Primarch. He is the gene-father of the Shadows of Order.
"I am preparing a sermon. You have earned the right to attend. I will notify you in due course."
Semeneo felt he had been fully accepted by the High Chaplain and the Legion.
He straightened, striking his chest with his fist.
"I thank the Lord for his trust. Please notify me in advance, I will surely listen to your teachings."
"Go. Transmit the information." Pat ordered.
The Wyvach landed on his shoulder, tilting its head at Semeneo.
"As you command." Semeneo saluted, quickly reassembled the combat knife, tucked it into his belt, and left the Reclusiam.
The door closed behind him. His eyes gleamed. He strode towards the elevator, a smile on his face.
He walked past the black-armored warriors, exchanging nods.
'It's good to be back with my Legion.'
....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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