The Joint Operations Meeting.
Representatives from the Astra Militarum, the Adeptus Arbites, the Sisters of Battle, and the Inquisition were all in attendance. Looking at the far-from-optimistic reports of the Underhive conflict, every face was etched with profound displeasure.
"A disgrace. You deployed six hundred thousand Astra Militarum and 1.3 million Arbites—nearly two million loyal soldiers of the Empire. Now, a third of them are dead, countless resources have been squandered, and yet you are forced to pull back the front lines?"
Facing the reprimand from the Inquisitorial Acolyte, the representative from the Departmento Munitorum countered from their own position: "And what of you? The Inquisition has provided zero cooperation. We requested intelligence sharing, but you remain secretive, unwilling to divulge a single detail. I refuse to believe that you, of the Ordo Hereticus, are ignorant of the Chaos cultist activity in this region!"
"Are you questioning me?"
The Canoness slammed her fist onto the table, halting their squabble.
"Now is not the time for such meaningless bickering. Issues of accountability can wait. The situation is far more dire than we imagined: Genestealers, Chaos heretics, unknown xenos, and Dark Mechanicum cultists. The state of the Underhive is far more complex than our reports suggested."
A local planetary official spoke up weakly: "Actually, our reports did mention this, but..."
BANG!
The Sister of Battle shot him through the head without a moment's hesitation.
"To allow the God-Emperor's noble planet and hive to suffer such shameful insults... it would not be an exaggeration to sentence every single person on this planet to death."
"Cease these pointless actions, Canoness," the Inquisitorial representative spoke. "We must discuss our next move. If we maintain the current lines, we will likely be overrun. Do we need to request the aid of the Astartes?"
"Astartes? Which Chapter do you propose we turn to?"
"If it's for dealing with demons, then... forgive me, I do not know which Chapter to call."
A strange, heavy silence fell over the room. Everyone present knew of that Chapter's existence, but no one dared speak its name aloud. If they were summoned because of a demonic incursion, the resulting casualties would be catastrophic. It was even possible the entire planet would be purged.
"Until the situation is completely out of control, we should not seek their aid. Are there any other Chapters we can reach?"
"None."
The representative of the Inquisition spoke again. "Perhaps we can contract our defensive lines and then use melta charges to demolish the sectors occupied by the heretics. Those areas are already tainted; our duty is to destroy them."
The Canoness, who had been stationed on the front lines, voiced her concern. "If we retreat, we will need time to organize the evacuation of the civilians."
"Sister, when did you become so indecisive? Do you not know that traces of heresy have already appeared in the sectors you oversee? The Inquisitor recommends the total liquidation of all humans in those areas to prevent further contamination."
"But..."
The Canoness frowned. Such an order would bring a psychological toll on her less experienced Battle Sisters—a problem often harder to solve than combat itself.
"Sister, are you wavering?"
"No. According to the Emperor's Will, all heretics and those suspected of heresy must be utterly eradicated. For the Emperor!"
...
After many days of combat, even the Sisters of Battle were facing manpower shortages. Yuki and some members of Tex Cathedral were forced to assist with logistics.
Sister Ax was there—one of those involved in reselling the cathedral's charitable food supplies. However, what left the deepest impression on Yuki was seeing her kneeling beside the dying, praying for their souls.
"Brother Yuki, why do you never pray?"
Yuki responded to Ax while using his basic first-aid knowledge and the guidance of the medical Sisters to treat wounds. "Ax, I'm just not good at expressing such things in words."
"The piety in one's heart must be spoken to reach the God-Emperor, Brother Yuki. If you wish, we can pray together next time."
Yuki tore a piece of gauze—or what looked like gauze—and tied it onto a wounded soldier, pulling it tight to compress a blood vessel. "In the time it takes to do that, perhaps I can help more people. Just have them add my name when they pray."
"That sounds like something Saint Tex would say. Have you received a revelation from him?"
Treating the wound, Yuki replied, "If thinking that makes you respect and trust me more, then think it."
"The God-Emperor watches over us."
"The Emperor protects."
Over the past few days, Yuki had done a bit of everything: hauling supplies, treating the wounded, maintaining cathedral operations, and privately purging Chaos traces based on the intel he gathered. He had only one goal: to let the people in this area survive a little longer. To live a bit more, to do a few things that didn't betray his conscience—to Yuki, this was already a luxury.
"Brother Yuki?"
Yuki turned. It was the Canoness. She looked at him with a stern expression. "Sister Eli, is something the matter?"
"We are pulling the front lines back. You are coming with us."
"Why?"
"Your physical condition is extraordinary. I can recommend you to the Adeptus Astartes. You might pass their recruitment trials and become a glorious Angel of the Emperor."
The sudden turn of events caught Yuki off guard. He noticed several Battle Sister squads standing not far behind the Canoness.
"And then? What about the rest of the people?"
"They will be burned. We cannot be certain if they have been tainted by Chaos."
"You would kill them all simply because you cannot be certain?"
"Yes. To be the subject of such suspicion is, in itself, a capital crime."
Damn it. Yuki thought in the context of Warhammer logic, and realized it was perfectly "reasonable."
Moreover, hadn't he seen those Hive dwellers trying to summon Khornate demons with his own eyes? If he left with the Canoness now, he could forget everything that happened here, join the Astartes trials, and live out a glorious life as a Space Marine.
Glorious? Did the Astartes truly protect humanity?
Yuki looked at the Canoness. He had known from the start that the Imperium of Man was a nightmare, but he could not choose such a sinful path.
"I respectfully decline, Canoness. I hope for a dignified death."
"Then so be it."
The Canoness signaled the Battle Sister squads who had raised their bolters to stand down. There was no need for such measures against a mortal with no combat capability. Furthermore, as a Scion of Terra, he deserved her respect.
...
Yuno sensed the danger.
She looked in Yuki's direction, and for the first time, she felt true rage.
"How hideous humans are!"
She charged out, the mutations on her body rapidly intensifying.
"Yuki, wait for me!"