V3 Chapter 18: Now, Yvraine—Do It!
"Are you certain this will fool them?"
In a preparation chamber aboard the Ark Mechanicus, Yvraine looked down at the Martian red robes on her body, then at the decorative mechanical attachments hanging from her frame. The distaste on her face was barely concealed.
Half a mechanical mask covered her face, and the exposed portion had been treated with disguise work. Even so, her posture and bearing made it genuinely difficult to believe she had anything to do with the Adeptus Mechanicus.
Duvette studied her for a moment, then gave a nod.
"It is at least preferable to standing in front of Calgar in your actual armour with your sword drawn," he said. "You can use your psyker abilities to suppress your presence, surely. You are accomplished on the witch-path as well, if I recall correctly."
Yvraine gave him a cold look.
"We can indeed use psychic means to deflect attention," Sylandri said from nearby—she was also wearing red robes, her face concealed behind a mechanical mask. "But the Ultramarines also have a psyker. The Chief Librarian's ability is above mine. A disguise of this nature is paper-thin to him."
Duvette gave a light smile.
"He will not see it."
Sylandri looked at him, as though trying to find something more in the human Commissar's expression. But Duvette stood where he was, composed, as though everything had already been arranged.
Both Aeldari still had doubts. But matters had come this far and continuing to argue served no purpose.
If they were discovered, they would simply have to fight their way out, though they did not think the humans here could actually stop them, the Ultramarines were a genuine threat that could not be entirely ignored.
Yvraine took the slender mechanical staff in hand and moved to join the retinue behind Cawl. The Crone Sword was concealed inside the staff, the outer surface covered in Mechanicus-style metal casing with several lines of meaningless binary prayer-script engraved on it.
Sylandri walked at her side, quietly speaking a few words in an Aeldari tongue.
A very faint psychic displacement settled across both of them. It did not truly alter their appearance; it only caused the attention of those nearby to unconsciously slide away from them.
Cawl stood at the front of the group, his vast mechanical frame accompanied by a large mechanical case. The case was covered with cabling and metal clasps, and several servitors were working to maintain the stability of the apparatus inside.
Duvette also stood at the front of the group, the power sword at his hip.
That blade had been given to him by Calgar himself. The Ultramarines would inevitably inspect it before they entered the sanctuary, but Duvette had insisted on bringing it anyway, because today it carried genuine ceremonial significance.
And not only ceremonial significance.
With everything prepared, Duvette and Cawl led the group out of the Ark Mechanicus's hangar bay.
Outside the hangar, Chief Librarian Tigurius was already waiting with several Ultramarines.
Duvette walked forward and rendered a salute.
"All personnel and apparatus on the list are present."
Most of the Ultramarines' attention was on the large mechanical case behind Cawl. The thing looked both dangerous and significant enough to keep everyone on alert.
But Tigurius's attention had settled on the retinue behind Cawl.
His gaze rested for a very brief moment on the two red-robed figures, and then his eyes narrowed slightly.
Duvette said nothing. He simply smiled and gave a slight bow.
Tigurius looked at him. The warning in that look was unmistakable.
An Ultramarines adjutant stepped forward toward Duvette, his gaze dropping to the sword at his hip.
"Commissar Duvette. Your power sword."
Duvette said calmly: "This is a weapon given to me personally by Lord Calgar. Its presence in the sanctuary today also carries ceremonial significance."
The adjutant looked toward Tigurius.
Tigurius was silent for a moment, then said: "I have already conducted a brief psychic survey. I have not detected anything requiring immediate interdiction."
The adjutant gave a nod and stepped aside.
Duvette understood. Given the exchange they had had, and given Tigurius's tacit acceptance, they were safe for now.
They boarded a transport and were led by Tigurius deep into the Fortress of Hera.
The route descended from the council level through multiple honour galleries and Chapter memorial halls. The walls bore the Ultramarines' victories carved across ten thousand years, and many battle standards hung to either side, including banners from the Legion era. Their footsteps echoed on the stone floor.
The deeper they went, the fewer Ultramarines were present.
Those who remained did not ask questions and did not speak. They stood silently at their positions, as though they had been standing watch there for centuries.
At last, the group arrived before the sealed doors of the Reclusiam.
Beyond those doors was the Primarch's shrine. This was no longer the territory of ordinary Chapter affairs. It belonged to the soul of the Ultramarines.
Chapter Master, Lord of Ultramar, Marneus Calgar stood before those doors in full armour with his Honour Guard around him.
He looked at the approaching group without expression. Several members of the Honour Guard stood behind him. Their weapons were not raised, but they could be raised at any moment.
Tigurius walked forward and spoke quietly with Calgar.
During this exchange, Calgar's gaze moved across Cawl's retinue several times. It rested briefly on the red-robed figures, then returned to Cawl and Duvette.
Beneath the Martian red robes, Yvraine tightened her grip on the mechanical staff.
Sylandri was also ready. If the disguise was exposed, she would immediately act to disrupt the attention of the nearest Ultramarines.
The air was heavy enough to make breathing feel like effort.
Finally, Calgar gave a nod.
The heavy doors began to open.
With the sound of ancient gears and mechanisms, an enormous space revealed itself. It was large enough for a Warhound-class Titan to pass through. Massive stone columns supported the dome high above, their surfaces carved with the honours of the Ultramarines' history. Candles burned in rows on both sides. The sound of prayer came from somewhere in the distance, whether from a hidden audio-array or from clergy praying deeper within, it was impossible to tell.
Every gaze fell on the vast stasis field at the far end of the hall.
The Emperor's thirteenth son. The gene-sire of a Primarch. The father of the Ultramarines.
Roboute Guilliman sat in his throne in absolute stillness.
His face, as uncompromising as carved stone, held closed eyes and a furrowed brow—as though he had been trapped in a nightmare he could never wake from.
The armour of ten thousand years ago still sat upon him in silence. The Sword of the Emperor lay just as silently across his knees.
The wound at his throat, left by a daemon Primarch's poisoned blade, was clearly visible even within the stasis field. Duvette looked at it once and felt something cold rise up his spine.
Calgar indicated Cawl's group should wait at a position one hundred metres from the Primarch.
The Honour Guard immediately fanned out around them, forming a tight encirclement. Any move, however slight, and these warriors would act without hesitation.
Calgar alone walked up the steps toward the throne.
He came before the stasis field, went down on one knee, and bowed to his gene-sire.
The entire shrine held a brief, complete silence.
After a moment, Calgar stood, and turned to look at Cawl.
"You may approach."
Cawl's vast mechanical frame moved forward one step.
"I require one member of my retinue to assist with placing the apparatus."
Calgar went very still.
His gaze locked on Cawl, and the warning in his eyes was unconcealed.
Duvette felt the Honour Guard's attention snap to their position.
Calgar looked to Tigurius.
The Chief Librarian was also on full alert, but his gaze ultimately fell on Duvette's face.
Duvette stood where he was, expression composed, and said nothing.
Tigurius drew a slow breath and gave a measured nod.
"I have not detected anything requiring immediate interdiction." He said it again.
Calgar trusted the Chief Librarian.
Tigurius had successfully predicted multiple disasters, and had given the warning before the Tyranids descended. If he chose to give a nod, Calgar would accept that judgement for now.
The red-robed figure Yvraine was disguised as took the slender mechanical staff in hand and followed Cawl and the large apparatus toward the throne.
As she passed Calgar, the Lord of Ultramar stared at her.
"Wait."
Yvraine stopped.
Cawl stopped as well.
Every person present, including Duvette, went rigid in that instant.
Duvette's fingers moved toward the power sword at his hip. He had already prepared himself to act before the moment arrived—if Calgar found the problem, they would have no choice but to begin by force.
Calgar stared at Yvraine.
"Remove the hood."
Yvraine did as told.
Beneath the hood was a face that had been treated with disguise work and psychic deflection. The mechanical mask covered most of the identifying features, and the exposed skin had been made to look like pale metallic colouring.
Calgar's brow came down.
Something was wrong. He could feel it.
His gaze moved to the slender mechanical staff in her hand.
"Does she have to carry that staff?"
Cawl answered without hesitation: "That is the soul-conduction calibrator for the armour of fate. It must be held by the attending adept."
Calgar did not step aside immediately.
Cawl added: "The synchronisation window for the apparatus is short. Further delay will affect the final result."
That sentence was what finally moved Calgar.
He stepped half a pace to the side.
"Continue."
Yvraine replaced her hood and followed Cawl toward the throne.
The large mechanical case was opened. Structural elements unfolded from inside it one after another. Servo-arms rose. Cabling connected to the sacred platform. Ancient and intricate armoured components were revealed to everyone present.
The armour of fate stood visible in the shrine.
Every eye was on Cawl.
His mechadendrites moved rapidly. Binary prayers sounded in the air. The servitors began executing their pre-set procedures.
At this moment, the stasis field was deactivated.
Duvette's voice cut through the shrine.
"Now!"
Calgar understood immediately that something had gone wrong.
"Honour Guard! Tigurius! Restrain them!"
His roar detonated through the shrine.
The Honour Guard raised their weapons simultaneously. The psychic light in Tigurius's hand blazed to life at the same moment.
Duvette drew the power sword.
He was not looking at Calgar. He was shouting at the red-robed figure ahead of him.
"Do it! Yvraine!"