Chapter 30: Death is When Duty Ends

The evening sun shone upon the mountain peak as a Thunderhawk roared, descending onto the carefully concealed landing pad like a beam of light striking the summit.

This massive vehicle had dropped rapidly from orbit, yet at this moment, its movements were cautious, much like a scavenger approaching the carcass of a great beast that appeared to still possess life despite being dead.

As the Thunderhawk's hatch hissed open amidst a cloud of steam, a Space Marine emerged, straightening his cloak. Vortices of air swirled around him, threatening to tear the fabric from his midnight-black armor.

Behind him, two squads of warriors followed, exiting the landing pad in an assault formation.

The leading Space Marine then removed his helmet, hanging it at his waist, and gripped the pristine handle of his bolter—a weapon that had yet to fire a single shot.

After a brief exchange, the Space Marines marched forward, leaving the landing pad behind.

Before them loomed a towering gate constructed of wood and bronze.

This was not a road meant for combat, but a ceremonial entrance—a path leading deep into the heart of the mountain.

The leading Space Marine stepped toward the gate first, and the other black-armored warriors of the squad followed in perfect rhythm. Each held a black shield emblazoned with an ivory carving of two crossed longswords, while one standard-bearer held aloft a banner bearing the same heraldry.

It was a brand-new badge of honor, yet it carried an unmistakable sense of ancient history.

All of this was being watched by the current master of the fortress; from the moment they left the landing pad, a pair of eyes had been fixed upon them.

"They have arrived," Sothian said in a low voice.

"I know," came the reply through the vox-grille of the Sede修士 (Sede修士/Sede-修士).

"I could have killed them a dozen times over while they were descending from orbit."

"They are reckless, untested, and young—just as I once was."

Hearing Sothian's words, the Sede修士 displayed a rare flash of humanity, answering with an exaggerated laugh.

"You were never young. From the moment you joined the Chapter, you were as mature as an old man."

"Yes, I am no longer young."

Sothian sighed, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword, hoping he would not have to draw it.

"Death makes us mature."

Sothian knew the origins of this squad of Space Marines perfectly; even before they arrived, Lysander had already conveyed the decision of the High Lords of Terra to him.

They were the newly formed Swords of the Black Sable Chapter, arriving to take possession of the Astral Knights' monastery fortress and all its assets, including the Chapter's servants and their recruitment world.

Sothian had long anticipated this scenario. Consequently, he had already transferred all vital supplies from the monastery to secret orbital warehouses, erasing all records and leaving only insignificant scraps in the monastery's armory.

Even so, the shame of losing his home cut Sothian like a knife.

More critically, although the strike cruiser *Ignis* remained in orbit, they had, in principle, lost control of the vessel. To leave now, they would have to persuade these uninvited guests.

It wasn't that Sothian hadn't considered leaving early, but his sense of honor forbade it. Even if he had to abandon his home, as a Chapter Master of the Imperium, he had to hand it over to the successors personally rather than fleeing like a coward.

On the hololith, the squad had entered the fortress's Hall of Honor.

Their footsteps echoed through a hall that should have been filled with the cheers of warriors ready for war, but was now as silent as a tomb. Dust gathered on the hooded statues lining the sides, and only the flickering glow of orderly braziers illuminated the once-grand vestibule.

A servo-skull drifted through the center of the hall, an oil lamp hanging from its jaw. As the squad approached, the skull wobbled and drifted backward.

Guided by the servo-skull, they ventured deeper, passing through empty corridors and hollow passageways. Countless statues were illuminated by the firelight, their sightless eyes watching the strangers. The once-glorious avenue no longer rang with the songs of triumph from returning crusaders.

A thousand warriors had once lived and trained here; now, nothing remained. Everyone could feel it—every stone bled with pain and confusion.

Death shrouded this place.

Finally, the servo-skull led them into a massive ceremonial hall. Its shimmering walls were cast in various hues by a dozen stained-glass windows—a cleverly designed reflection system meant to channel external light into the mountain's core.

Thirty-four warriors clad in silver armor stood upon the steps at the far end of the room, bathed in the embers of the dying sun.

The leading warrior wore an iron halo, and a Dreadnought stood tall beside him. The proud Chapter banner fluttered in the artificial drafts of the room like a series of sighs.

"I am Sothian Alix, the new Chapter Master of the Astral Knights."

Sothian gave a brief introduction, and then the Dreadnought beside him spoke.

"I am the Sede-修士, Mentor of the Astral Knights, Lord of Obsidian."

"I am Daegen, First Captain of the Swords of the Black Sable," the leader responded.

"So, you have come to take possession of our monastery fortress and everything within it?"

"Yes. This is the command of the Emperor and the High Lords of Terra."

Sothian descended the steps, every stride fueled by fury.

"For a Chapter that has given everything to the Imperium, this is an end of nothingness! These mountains were once the home of hundreds of generations of Astral Knights. The greatest heroes set out from these very gates to fight one brutal war after another. Tell me, how do you deserve to possess this place?"

"Your numbers are too few; you can no longer bear the responsibility of rebuilding a Chapter."

As Daegen spoke, he walked up to Sothian, looking up at the warrior who stood a head taller than him.

"All your veterans have fallen in battle. Not long ago, you were merely a neophyte yourself."

"You are telling us something we already know," the Sede-修士 interrupted abruptly. The roar from the Dreadnought's vox-grille made the new recruits of the Black Sable tense; clearly, the survivors of this broken Chapter were unwilling to accept their fate.

"Our brothers sacrificed their lives so that billions of souls could be freed from the terror of the xenos. This is the reward we deserve!"

The Dreadnought roared as it descended the steps.

"We are to be erased from the records, and our fortress handed over to a group of warriors without a history?"

Daegen, maintaining his composure, shook his head.

"The Swords of the Black Sable may indeed be young and untested, but we are not without honor, nor do we disrespect those who fell before us."

"Then tell me," Sothian said, sizing up Daegen. The man was undoubtedly an excellent warrior—composed, calm, and undaunted. "What must you do to deserve our sacrifice?"

As Sothian asked, the Sede-修士's fist clenched with a metallic clatter.

Daegen caught this out of the corner of his eye. He realized this Dreadnought could crush him in an instant, but he met Sothian's gaze with equal firmness.

"You will be given a chance to continue your proud traditions. There is a strike cruiser in orbit. You may take it and leave, just as the Astral Knights did before they were buried in rock and steel. Enter the stars once more and continue to fight in the Emperor's name until you can fight no longer."

With that, the Swords of the Black Sable stepped aside, clearing a path out of the room.

"When that day comes, you will know: only death marks the end of your duty."

Everything proceeded smoothly after that. Daegen not only handed over the strike cruiser to Sothian but also allowed him to take the servants who wished to continue following the Astral Knights—such as Rozim Primki, the Chapter Cook, who had been chosen at the same time as Sothian but had not undergone the transformation.

After a brief period of packing, Sothian led his Chapter members onto the strike cruiser, the *Ignis*.

Once aboard, Sothian immediately had the Vox-Speaker send a message: the batch of custom supplies the Chapter had ordered was not to be shipped yet; they would collect it in person.

Their destination was the Forge World, Ma'Kand II.

"Engage the Warp engines. Full speed to Ma'Kand II."

On the command bridge, watching Obostilia fade into a speck of light, Sothian tightened his gauntlet.

From this day forward, their Chapter had become like drifting weeds without roots. But one day, he would surely rebuild an even grander fortress—a Legion fortress!