Chapter 115: Initial Exploration

Sigma Planet 373, Present Day.

Outside the shuttle, towering trees stand silently, their lush leaves casting dappled shadows under the dim sunlight of this star system.

The crimson figures of the Ecclesiarchy army weave through the green forest, their arc rifles gradually disappearing into the verdant expanse.

Inside the shuttle, the sound of electric currents, indicative of pleasure, crackles and pops.

"Ah! Praise be to the Omnissiah!"

Hades watches with a resigned expression as the Tech-Priest Kirkland paces back and forth. The priest's robes and blackstone pendant sway with his movement, electrical currents buzzing, and mechanical chants emanating from his vocoder.

Gold, who had summoned Hades, cowers behind him, hoping to avoid Kirkland's attention. Naturally, Gold has no fondness for a former master who's gone a bit mad.

Once Kirkland finishes his peculiar praises to the Omnissiah and other bizarre proclamations, he finally calms down. His cooling system kicks into high gear, and he turns his attention back to Hades.

"It's unbelievable. Preliminary surveys from the drone swarm indicate that there was once a powerful anti-psychic field right in the center of this planet's largest human city."

Hades quickly catches the key phrase, "Once was?"

Kirkland's indicator lights blink briefly before he elaborates, "Yes, we currently detect no such field. It's highly probable that the humans who once lived here destroyed the device."

The Tech-Priest grumbles discontentedly, his electronic voice growing more piercing. But this information is significant. Kirkland had never truly found a device capable of generating a stable anti-psychic field.

While the mechanical priest is elated, Hades is deep in thought. A blackstone monolith in the center of a human city? It's odd.

"Tech-Priest, can I see the images sent by the drones?"

"Of course."

Hades quickly accesses the data packet from Kirkland. After inputting the encryption key, he reviews the footage.

Medieval-style buildings appear on the screen, streets covered in dust, some structures collapsed from age. A vast square sits at the city's heart, its blackstone floor adorned with luminescent green lines, now dimmed by dust. At its center stands a monolithic obelisk, its once-smooth surface marred by damage, revealing its internal structure. Surrounding it are curved black walls, covered in inscriptions and intricate patterns. Directly in front of the square is a platform resembling a pulpit.

Something's off.

Hades frowns unconsciously.

Even though the style and materials seem consistent, they don't belong together. What's going on?

Hades ponders the monolith. The drone's images are too blurry, preventing him from delving deeper into his thoughts. "I need to see this in person," Hades finally declares.

In the dense yet silent forest, a group moves forward. Hades, clad in a modified MK3 power armor, is at the center. The armor, a blend of bone-white and moss-green, is adorned with symbols: on one shoulder, the skull emblem of the 14th Legion, and on the other, the cog-skull of the Adeptus Mechanicus.

Hades had enhanced the MK3 for better defense, making it heavier, but he handles the weight with ease. The iconic Techmarine power pack rests on his back, with a skull extending from the left shoulder, intertwined with red and black cables – the Omniscan. Slim jets fold into the pack's right side, and a servo-arm rests quietly on Hades' back, equipped with a flamer, plasma cutter, and a bolt pistol.

Hades holds a bolter, following a vanguard of the Ecclesiarchy army.

Branches are hastily cut, and underbrush is trampled as they tread the path previously cleared by the Ecclesiarchy army.

"We're nearing the first marker, sir," the vanguard in front of Hades reports.

"Alright."

Hades responds briefly, pulling Gold, who had fallen behind, along as they continue.

"I hate this muddy ground," Gold complains, feeling the dampness affecting his gears.

Hades chuckles, looking up to see a towering clock tower peeking through the trees, its walls adorned with man-made vines.

After a while, the trees thin out, sunlight becomes abundant, and a sizable village emerges, with several Ecclesiarchy soldiers stationed, continuing their exploration.

"Lord Hades, our initial assessment suggests this village is focused on agricultural production and education," the Ecclesiarchy squad leader reports, detailing their findings. "We haven't found any blackstone devices of interest here. The previous Tech-Priest gathered some agricultural tech, but there's likely nothing else of value."

Hades blinks. A village dedicated to both agriculture and education? That piques his interest.

As the exploration team takes a break, Hades decides to wander.

Gold dries his damp cables, and Kirkland isn't present, having decided to stay back until all his life-saving devices are in order. With the Ecclesiarchy army always in sight, Hades feels safe enough to explore.

Low white houses make up the village, mostly residential. It looks like a typical large rural settlement.

However, as Hades reaches the other end of the village, things change.

Soft rustling sounds emerge.

Hades raises his gun, peering ahead—

Small mobile machines bustle between the houses, carrying what looks like fruit. These odd vehicles transport food from the forest, tirelessly moving in another direction.

The Ecclesi

archy soldiers previously dispatched seem to ignore this, continuing their search.

"What is this?" Hades wonders, watching the food-laden convoy.

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