---o---
Qin Meng, of the White Scars Third Company, a member of the Eagle Brotherhood.
His small squad had been exceptionally unlucky. After completing their mission, they had hitched a ride on another vessel, which then, as is common, flew straight into a Warp storm.
A few of them had managed to make planetfall on Aestia, but their vehicles had been lost to the Empyrean.
Then, to their misfortune, Chaos reared its ugly head on the planet.
These White Scar cans immediately began engaging the enemy. As Space Marines, they were naturally welcomed by the local Planetary Governor.
What was unbearable, however, was that this hive world had no suitable bikes. This was no Forge World, nor was it a particularly prosperous planet. As for the handful of local cogboys, they had apparently discovered an STC template and vanished without a trace.
There wasn't even a permanent Astra Militarum garrison, which meant there was absolutely nothing for them to ride fast.
This had left the men of the White Scars feeling more than a little despondent lately. But today, while inspecting the hive's defenses, they heard the distant roar of a motorcycle. The sound made his blood pump.
Then, the squad of Scars watched, transfixed, as a cogboy on a jetbike—one that looked remarkably similar to a Custodes model—executed a stylish drift and came to a stop on the city wall.
Their covetous, searing gazes could have boiled the very oil in the Tech-Priest's augmetics.
…
"Fuck, White Scars!"
Zhou Ye turned his head and felt a headache coming on as he saw the White Scars staring at him with undisguised longing.
If he had known there were White Scars here, he would have built a skateboard. The main reason he'd fabricated a motorcycle was that it was efficient in terms of both materials and energy.
And now this. Zhou Ye could feel the gazes, hidden beneath power armor yet so tangible and fiery they felt as if they could melt him.
However…
The Planetary Governor of Aestia rushed over at once. This hive was not a particularly powerful one. Its most elite forces had already been sent off as part of the Imperial Tithe, and while a distress signal had been sent…
With the Imperium's efficiency, who knew when reinforcements would arrive.
Not long ago, they had unearthed an STC template. The few cogboys on the planet had immediately thrown caution to the wind, charging out with a small force of Skitarii, and were never heard from again.
The only good news was that a squad of Angels had descended from the heavens. Nothing boosted morale quite like the Emperor's Angels. The problem was, there were no Techmarines among them.
So now, they didn't even have anyone to maintain the local vehicles. The situation was already dire, and the machine spirits of their vehicles were growing restless without proper appeasement. The Governor had been pacing like a caged grox.
And then, today, a Tech-Priest had finally returned. But as he drew closer, the Governor was taken aback. This Tech-Priest was not one he recognized. And the machine behind him appeared to be a Kastelan Robot. Even within the Adeptus Mechanicus, not just anyone could own such a thing. More importantly, its combat capabilities could surpass even those of many Astartes.
An individual who could command such an automaton was far beyond the low-ranking priests who had been dispatched from some backwater Forge World to his hive.
Therefore…
"Honored Priest, how may I address you?"
Though he didn't recognize him, he was undoubtedly a Tech-Priest. The massive golden Aquila on his person declared his allegiance. This was a good thing for the Governor.
With a Warp disturbance currently raging in the system, no one was getting off this rock anyway.
"You may call me Tech-Priest 010 Omega. I originally came to this world in search of certain ruins. I was passing through this sector when I witnessed the local forces engaged in an… academic exchange with some blasphemous individuals, so I intervened. Unfortunately, I arrived a bit late. They entrusted the task of recovering the STC to me."
It was somewhat unethical, but considering this was Warhammer 40K, Zhou Ye had fully embraced the local rules of engagement. The Authority of the Herrscher of Sentience was practically running at full power.
He could tell what the Governor was thinking with a single glance. While reading the mind of an Astartes was difficult, mortals were an open book.
After all, Astartes possessed a certain psychic resilience, which weakened the expression of his Authority.
"Does that mean they…"
"They have all returned to the Omnissiah."
Are you sure you didn't just kill them all to steal the STC template for yourself?
The Planetary Governor silently accused him. In his younger years, he had been an IG Commissar. After his regiment was whittled down to a few dozen men, his distinguished service record earned him a comfortable retirement on this planet. He knew a thing or two about the ways of the cogboys.
"Sir, the Magos bears the seal given by the Governor and knows the proper codes," the PDF colonel from before immediately reported, which temporarily assuaged the Governor's suspicions.
Then there shouldn't be a major problem. But his expression quickly soured.
"Why are there so few of your men left?"
"They were attacked by Chaos Astartes of the Iron Warriors. If not for my timely arrival, none would have survived."
"Which…"
At Zhou Ye's words, the Governor's hand instinctively went to his sidearm. The White Scars, whose eyes had been burning with desire just moments before, subtly closed in, forming a silent, lethal circle around the PDF survivors.
They were clearly ready to act at a moment's notice, though they held back for now.
"Iron Warriors."
The Governor's hand moved away from his bolter. The White Scars also relaxed, albeit slightly.
Iron Warriors were bad, but if it had been others, like the Word Bearers or the Thousand Sons, the situation would be far more severe. To be safe, they might have had to purge everyone, but even as it was, the survivors would be under strict surveillance.
The Governor's face grew grim again. Iron Warriors, Dark Mechanicum… this was the lineup for an Exterminatus-level threat. He just didn't know the full extent of the infestation yet.
"Tech-Priest Omega, we have no other priests here now. Might I ask you to stay? I know that performing such tasks may be beneath your station…"
"It is of no concern."
Zhou Ye shook his head, a strange smile playing on his lips.
"Those hereteks have defiled a holy STC template. I must engage them in a proper academic exchange. Besides, consider it my payment for taking this STC into my care."
It was clear that for reasons both public and private, he would be staying. If he didn't clean up this mess, he wouldn't be able to perform a jump.