Warhammer : The last hope of the 30th millennium

Chapter 9: Encounter on the Road

The sky on the banks of the Poros River was gray, and the dry land was covered in dust from the roaring engines of numerous transport vehicles and airships. Through the busy air routes in the atmosphere, starships moving in low-Earth orbit could be faintly seen.

A long-awaited rainstorm was about to arrive. The shifting air pressure affected people's moods, making the gloomy sky feel increasingly ominous.

> [It is expected that the unknown interference will be completely cleared within 20 hours and 09 minutes. After comparison, the probability that the interference source originates from the subspace is more than 95%.]

[The material delivery function has been restored. The transmission array has been affected and is under repair.]

Bucky, who was riding in an off-road vehicle bound for Numinas, finally received a bit of good news from the intelligent computer.

The interference affecting the intelligent brain was similar to what was encountered in subspace navigation. The power of the Supreme Heaven disrupted the stability of any AI-based existence by injecting chaotic waste code.

If this were a conventional electronic virus, the intelligent brain could have eradicated it in a single logical operation. Strong artificial intelligence wields god-like power in the digital realm.

However, the interference was not an electronic virus—it was something else entirely, something even difficult to define.

This news eased some of Bucky's tension. At least now, the starships in space could provide support to him and his companions on the surface.

Since their vehicle was meant for the mortal auxiliary army, the two Astartes warriors had to squeeze into the back, hunching over with their knees to their chests, occupying what little space was available.

The Fire Salamander, Thassa, took up two-thirds of the area, forcing Iron Father into a tight corner. Vulkan's imposing figure even caused one side of the vehicle to sink slightly lower under his weight.

He smiled naively at Iron Father and attempted to break the tension.

"It's quite warm in this carriage."

Sabik Wayland remained silent. It was an open-air carriage, after all. He tucked his steel prosthetic into the gap between his legs.

Dark raindrops finally began to fall, pounding against their power armor like tiny explosives, leaving behind wet streaks. The earthy scent of an impending storm filled the air.

The rainstorm was coming!

The dry road was quickly covered in millions of raindrops, forming shallow pools of water that splashed into the air as the tires rolled over them at high speed.

Sergeant Heloc personally drove the 61st Company's vehicle along the highway leading to Numinas. Though the veteran didn't know exactly what had happened, he could sense something unusual from the expressions of Bucky and the others.

"It looks like something big is about to happen, old buddy. Run faster."

The veteran murmured to the vehicle in a barely audible voice while stepping on the accelerator, pushing the speed to its limit.

Above them, the dark clouds thickened, nearly turning day into night. Occasionally, jagged lightning streaked across the sky, followed by rolling thunder seconds later.

Suddenly, Sabik Wayland, who was seated in the rear of the truck, turned his helmeted head. His electronic eyes detected an object moving at an astonishing speed.

"A Land Speeder—it's Ultramarines!"

On the road behind them, a specialized open-top vehicle propelled forward using anti-gravity plates. The roaring engine drove it at a velocity far beyond human endurance. It was equipped with turrets, and the cobalt-blue armor marked its allegiance.

Thermal imaging revealed two Ultramarines piloting the Land Speeder. The moment the turrets came into Sabik Wayland's view, Iron Father had already analyzed their firepower.

"Stop it!"

Seeing that they had just encountered two Ultramarines, Bucky immediately signaled for Sergeant Heloc to slow down. He flashed the vehicle's lights, signaling the approaching Land Speeder to halt.

The loud horn echoed down the road, drawing the Ultramarines' attention.

"Slow down, Selaton," ordered Captain Ventanus of the Ultramarines' 4th Company from the co-pilot seat of the Land Speeder. His voice carried through the helmet communicator.

The Land Speeder slowed.

"Are those... our battle brothers?" Selaton noticed the slowing convoy ahead and the figures in power armor crouched in the back of one of the vehicles.

The Land Speeder pulled alongside the convoy, then came to a stop by the roadside.

Ventanus disembarked, removing his helmet with a bright smile. "Brothers, where are you headed?"

Bucky opened the car door while Sabik Wayland and Thassa climbed over the truck's guardrail. As they did, the vehicle creaked under the shifting weight, metal groaning in protest.

The two men also removed their helmets. Immediately, everyone noticed that one of them—the particularly tall Astartes—had charcoal-colored skin, and his eyes glowed like embers from a deep furnace.

This was…

Ventanus hesitated. Some of his battle brothers had dark skin, but the Astartes before him was clearly not an Ultramarine.

"Hello, brother. Salamander Thassa."

"Iron Hand, Wayland."

They dropped any pretense of disguise—it was pointless in front of an Ultramarines captain. Unlike the Alpha Legion, they were not skilled in deception.

Ventanus was momentarily stunned but quickly sensed the weight behind their presence. There was something serious at play here.

"My Ultramarine brother, we bring you urgent intelligence. You must relay it to your Legion's command at all costs."

Salamander and Iron Hand spoke in unison.

"The Word Bearers descending from orbit are traitors. They, along with several other legions, have betrayed the Emperor. The Ultramarines are in danger."

For a brief moment, Ventanus wondered if the lingering damage to his Ear of Leman had affected his hearing.

"The Word Bearers… are traitors? How is that possible?"

Alongside the road, troop transports, artillery, and tanks rumbled forward, braving the storm to comply with the Legion's assembly orders. Mortal auxiliary soldiers, catching sight of the Ultramarines, cheered from their carriers.

The seemingly endless convoy stretched for dozens of kilometers, with self-propelled artillery, Shadow Blade tanks, and Mechanicus Hellfire tanks adding to the deafening chaos.

Yet, despite the lively surroundings, Ventanus felt as if ice water had been poured over him. He couldn't process the weight of the news.

Legion. Betrayal.

These were foreign concepts to the Ultramarines. Even discussing such a possibility was forbidden. A warrior named Hill had once proposed hypothetical tactics against Astartes and was now under investigation by the Primarch himself.

There had never been an instance of civil war among the Astartes. They were all warriors of the Emperor. Why would they fight each other?

"I swear upon Ferrus and Vulkan, brother—what we say is true. The massacre at Isstvan V has already annihilated the Iron Hands, Salamanders, and Raven Guard. We have traveled great distances to bring you this warning."

Swearing on a Primarch's name was the most solemn oath an Astartes could make.

Ventanus's instincts urged him to trust them. He needed to inform the Primarch and the Legion's leadership immediately.

"The airport was a dead end—no one was there. The nearest facility with advanced communication capabilities is the Global Museum."

Without wasting another second, Ventanus signaled Selaton to push the Land Speeder to full speed.

"Those veterans know the museum's location. We'll go ahead, brothers."

In a blink, the Ultramarines disappeared from sight.

Bucky felt as if a massive weight had lifted from his chest. The message was delivered. The Word Bearers' treachery could still be stopped.

As they resumed their journey, their attention was drawn to a towering formation of Titans marching alongside the road.

A massive column of Titan war machines advanced, their heavy steps shaking the earth. Crusader Speeders and ground vehicles surrounded them, forming an escort.

The Titans were so vast they blocked out the sunlight, casting immense shadows. From their cockpits, eerie lights gleamed—harbingers of destruction.

A total of forty-seven Titans were on the march, each step echoing like an earthquake.

Bucky's eyes filled with awe, though he also felt an eerie sense of familiarity.

These were the weapons of war from his own time. And they were as terrifying as ever.

(End of Chapter)