My Life as A Death Guard
Chapter 383: Hades Still Can't Make Sense of It Today
"Who?"
Ferrus Manus said.
"The Silent Sisterhood requests a meeting… aboard their flagship?"
Santo, who had brought him the message, stood silently before Ferrus, confirming the Primarch's question.
Why at this time? Ferrus thought to himself.
The Iron Hands were currently en route to the Ultima Segmentum. Fulgrim wished to pay a visit to Curze, so the Third Legion was also heading toward the Ultima Segmentum, while the Iron Hands hoped to rendezvous with the Emperor's Children.
Ferrus tried to dredge something up from his memory. He vaguely recalled Fulgrim mentioning that the Silent Sisterhood had been present at the Council of Nikaea, acting as the Emperor's right hand—, ut after that… this Silent Sisterhood had once more concealed itself within the darkness.
So why were they seeking out the Tenth Legion?
And inviting him aboard their warship, no less…
Ferrus Manus frowned imperceptibly. The matter was abrupt, but if the Silent Sisterhood could provide a reasonable explanation, he would not dwell on such details.
"Very well," Ferrus said. "Inform them that I will depart at once."
. . .
Compared to most Legions, the Silent Sisterhood's fleet was not particularly large, but… it was far more silent. Their vessels shared a uniform, slender, pitch-black hull; points of light that would normally be visible on standard warships had all been masked. Ferrus Manus could even tell from the exhaust plumes of their engines that modifications had been made, reducing the noise they produced when firing.
The Cocytus, jagged like a dagger, floated quietly at the center of the Silent Sisterhood's formation. Ferrus saw the towering, needle-like blackstone spires, which gave off an almost suffocating sense of oppression.
A warship bearing the sigil of the Iron Hands docked with the Cocytus's hangar deck. The hatch opened, gas vented with a sudden hiss, and amid the hum of engines, Ferrus Manus stood at the iron-gray hatchway, his iron-white eyes fixed upon the figures before him.
Under dim illumination, the Custodian Charon stepped forward. At his side, a Sisters of Silence and a red-robed Tech-Priest stood wordlessly. Charon looked at Ferrus and spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly:
"My lord, please follow me. Due to the urgency of the situation, the Lord of the Underworld is waiting for you in the command chamber."
"The Lord of the Underworld also wishes to apologize for the discourtesy shown by the Silent Sisterhood, but the circumstances are pressing. Please forgive this breach of etiquette."
Ferrus's iron-white eyes flickered. He replied flatly, "No matter. Take me to him now."
The Custodian snapped to attention, then turned and began to lead the way. As part of the reception, the Blanks arrayed along the corridor remained utterly still, like statues.
. . .
The interior of the Cocytus was dark, extremely dark.
Perhaps it would be more accurate to say there were no light sources at all.
This was no obstacle for a Primarch or Space Marines, but Ferrus was nonetheless puzzled. The darkness seemed to press down upon the entire vessel, making it feel oppressive. The deeper they went, the heavier that pressure became.
Out of the corner of his eye, he subtly glanced at the red-robed Archmagos walking at the rear of the procession. It seemed the Silent Sisterhood had Tech-Priests in their ranks—or perhaps a place for the Mechanicum. This discovery gave Ferrus a small measure of comfort; he naturally found more common ground with those who understood steel.
Charon's figure slowed.
They had arrived.
A Sister of Silence opened the door for the Primarch. White light spilled out from beyond, washing over them. Ferrus narrowed his eyes and saw a black-armored figure standing with his back to them, facing a strategic hololithic display.
Data streamed across it at tremendous speed, Ferrus had to devote a measure of attention just to follow the flow.
As if only now noticing their arrival, the figure turned around and spoke with mild surprise:
"Apologies, I didn't notice you coming."
He spoke naturally, then smiled as he moved to welcome Ferrus. Ferrus stepped forward and entered the strategium, while behind him the Custodians and the Tech-Priest saluted and then melted back into the darkness.
The Lord of the Underworld extended his hand. Ferrus clasped it without hesitation.
The Silent Sisterhood possessed Custodians and Sisters of Silence—this meant they answered directly to the Emperor. And Ferrus Manus was loyal to the Emperor. That was all there was to it.
Even though he was taken aback by this being who was so close to a Primarch in presence, Ferrus considered it the Emperor's affair. It was not something he needed to ponder.
"Hades, Head of the Silent Sisterhood." The Lord of the Underworld said with a smile.
"Ferrus Manus, Primarch of the Tenth Legion, the Iron Hands, Lord of Medusa."
They released their grip. Hades cast a thoughtful glance at Ferrus's hand—steel gleaming with a cold, hard sheen. Ferrus possessed a pair of hands sheathed in iron, from which the Tenth Legion took its name.
Ferrus, in turn, fixed his gaze on the metallic half of Hades's brain. Influenced by their Primarch's iron hands and the creed that flesh was weak, warriors of the Iron Hands commonly favored replacing their flesh with machinery; even the replacement of the brain was not rare within the Legion.
But… Ferrus was certain that the mechanical construct borne by Hades far surpassed any cogitator-brain he had ever seen.
After failing to analyze Hades's mechanical brain, the Primarch finally shifted his gaze back to the man himself: white hair, youthful in appearance, handsome—yet the vicious scar running across the metal half of his head obscured what his original features must once have been.
Hades was smiling—a polite smile, Ferrus thought.
"I apologize for inviting you in such a manner, but the war has already begun. I had no choice but to ensure security this way."
Hades spoke calmly. He turned slightly, guiding Ferrus with him toward the strategic display.
"The war has already begun?"
Ferrus asked. He saw Hades pause for a moment, his expression growing more serious, heavier.
"Yes," Hades said.
"A war… beyond anything you can imagine. And the Silent Sisterhood was created for this very purpose."
"You need not be so evasive." Ferrus spoke bluntly.
"Accept reality. War, then victory. There is nothing that cannot be imagined or endured. Since time is short, you need not waste it on pleasantries."
He watched as Hades paused briefly, then let out a relieved laugh. "Thank the Emperor, never thought I could work with a Legion this sensible."
Hades's speech quickened slightly. His gaze lifted to the map above, and Ferrus's eyes followed.
"Then I will be direct. The Silent Sisterhood has received an emergency order from Terra to proceed to Cygnus X-1 and engage in battle. According to the information from Terra, all Legions near the Obscurus Segmentum have already been issued orders to follow the Silent Sisterhood's command."
"The Iron Hands have received no such message."
Ferrus Manus replied calmly, even as he waited for Hades's reaction.
But Hades merely smiled helplessly and said, "Exactly so. In truth, the information the Silent Sisterhood received is itself incomplete—and that can be explained. We are about to wage war against entities of the Warp, and long-range communication relies upon the Warp. This means you may never have received Terra's orders."
Hades blinked and spoke softly, "I realized this in advance, so I do not expect you to fully trust me, Ferrus."
Damn the Warp, Hades thought. This was deliberate. And as for why Hades himself could receive the transmission… that, too, was clearly deliberate. He was certain that something vital had been mixed into the information that was erased—but he would most likely never know what it was.
Ferrus fell silent, his brow knotting into a hard crease. Hades waited patiently, and while Ferrus remained quiet, Hades once again checked the Silent Sisterhood's distress signals that had been sent to the other three Legions.
At last, Ferrus's hard voice broke the silence.
"You just mentioned Warp entities, Hades."
As if he had anticipated the question, Hades answered without hesitation.
"Yes. Warp entities. Later, I will provide you with the Silent Sisterhood's catalog of known Warp creatures, as well as doctrines on how to fight them. That is the Silent Sisterhood's responsibility."
He watched Ferrus turn his head, iron-gray eyes calmly fixed upon him. Yet beneath that placid, steel-like surface, something was violently trembling.
"I remember now," Ferrus said.
"You were once a commander of the Death Guard, Hades—were you not?"
Ferrus stared at him.
"Mortarion mentioned you to me before. I didn't recognize you just now. I always thought that…"
Ferrus swallowed the latter half of the sentence. He suddenly realized how foolish it had been not to recognize Hades in the first place.
Now it was Hades's turn to be stunned.
"…Why would Mortarion mention me in front of you?"
Hades felt utterly at a loss.
"No—that's not the point. We can catch up later," Hades said hastily.
"If you still have doubts about the Silent Sisterhood or this summons, I can explain."
"No."
Ferrus shook his head.
"This is the point."
For the first time, Hades felt truly confused.
When—where—had Mortarion and Ferrus ever gotten close enough to chat like that? As far as he remembered, those two had a terrible relationship.
And how had he ended up being part of their conversation? Was Mortarion the type to praise his commander to everyone he met?
What the hell?
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