The Emperor’s Angel of Death

Well, actually, when Soshyan learned about these things, he felt that the Chaplain was being a bit too extreme. After all, they were Battle Brothers, of the same bloodline. Moreover, the Venomthorn Chapter hadn't really betrayed anyone at the time. Killing people in a fit of anger over a verbal dispute was simply unjustifiable, no matter what the reason. If Soshyan had been there, he would have definitely stopped him.

What's even more exaggerated is that this Chaplain actually went to Thanatar alone to negotiate with the Venomthorn Chapter who were still there.

According to records, this Chaplain single-handedly destroyed the entire rebellious Chapter, and the Mountain Fortress even erected a statue for him.

This matter seemed very strange. How could a Chaplain, no matter how powerful, directly sweep away an entire Chapter? But the problem is that this Chaplain's life didn't include any other more illustrious achievements. How could he suddenly become so fierce when fighting his own brothers? Even someone as strong as Lysander, wearing Terminator armor, was eventually captured by the enemy due to being outnumbered. And even if the Venomthorn Chapter couldn't win, they could always run, right? They wouldn't just stand there and let people crack their skulls one by one. (A culmination of classic GW-designed idiotic plots)

But now it seems that the Chaplain didn't really annihilate the Venomthorn Chapter.

But saying all this is meaningless, because that Chaplain has long returned to the Throne.

The main point now is, what is their purpose in coming to find him?

Probably not to cause trouble.

The most likely possibility is that they want to join, or join the Misery Concord.

If that's the case, then it's really a bit difficult. The Venomthorn Chapter didn't actually commit any crimes, so there shouldn't be any problem with them joining the Misery Concord. But their feud with the Imperial Fists is a real thing.

This might make Soshyan's position very awkward.

But since they've come, he has to make a statement after all. In fact, no one would know if he just eliminated them here, but Soshyan himself couldn't get over it, especially after knowing what happened to them—

The demands made by the Venomthorn Chapter may not have been entirely reasonable, but they didn't directly seize anything by force or attack anyone. They patiently negotiated with the Imperial bureaucracy, trying to express and satisfy their demands in a peaceful way. There's nothing wrong with that. Is it a crime to express one's opinions? Then, compared to the Space Wolves raising their axes against the Inquisitors and still being able to retreat unscathed, isn't this too much of a double standard?

"Chapter Master, the escort fleet is asking whether to deploy battle formations? The other party is about to enter the star system's safety line."

Hearing the voice of the communications officer, Soshyan thought for a while, then said:

"Send a signal to the other party, tell them to stop. I will personally contact them."

Not long after the signal was sent, the other party's ships gradually reduced their speed, and Soshyan's flagship slowly approached. →

As the other party appeared in the visual capture device, a somewhat "dilapidated" battle barge appeared on the display. The ship had obvious signs of repair, indicating that it had been through many battles, but it didn't have any obvious signs of Chaos corruption. On the side of the warship, a blurred mark could still be seen, but its specific form was no longer distinguishable.

But the Aquila on the bow was still very obvious.

As the two ships gradually approached, Soshyan opened the vox.

"I am Soshyan Aleksey, Chapter Master of the Star Knights. Respond if you hear me."

A few seconds later, a deep voice rang out from the speaker beside Soshyan.

"Greetings to you, Chapter Master Soshyan Aleksey, the Gray Eagle of the Imperium, and to the Lord Commander of the Eleventh Legion, Shahanshah of the Undying."

For a moment, the air on the bridge briefly froze for a few seconds. Soshyan narrowed his eyes and asked softly:

"Who, are you."

The other party chuckled dryly, like a ghost in a tomb, then rasped:

"Reporting, Lord Commander, I am the current commander of the 'Simurgh', Tekshar."

Simurgh, Soshyan remembered this name. Elena had mentioned it when describing the structure of the Undying Legion in the past. Simurgh, Manticore, Karkadan, and Sabertooth were the four elite units in the Legion with more than a thousand soldiers, and Simurgh was also known as the Susa Guards, the Primarch's personal guard.

But what made him even more concerned was the other party's name.

"Tekshar? You were already... four hundred years ago—"

"Dead? Yes, I was."

"It seems you have a lot to say. Come aboard, bring all your warriors."

"As you command."

A dozen minutes later, when the bridge door opened, a group of people walked in. They were sandwiched between the First Company Terminators on the left and right, divided into three rows. Each person was wearing power armor that could be described as "plain", and many of them had obvious signs of patching. There were even rivets on their shoulder pads and leg armor, similar to the dilapidated appearance of the Chaos warbands that Soshyan had seen. However, the color of their armor was the original gray-iron color, as if all the coatings had been erased, and the original Chapter badges on their shoulder pads had also been erased, leaving only XI and a burning black sun—the symbol of the Eleventh Legion.

If the records Soshyan saw were correct, the Venomthorn Chapter's colors should have been yellow and black.

Erasing the original paint and the original Chapter badge, there is only one explanation for this behavior in the Imperium—

Treason.

After arriving at the reception area of the bridge, the First Company Terminators retreated to the left and right, but their weapons were still in the active state. Maximilian came to Soshyan's side. Although no one spoke along the way, the badges on these people's shoulder pads still attracted the curiosity of the First Company warriors.

Are these lost Legion brothers?

Soshyan sat on the throne, looking at the people below who claimed to be from the Venomthorn Chapter. He counted 221 people. The leader was a warrior wearing Indomitus Terminator armor, with many battle scars on his armor. Chains were tied around his waist with some alien bones, and a large human skull was strung on a spike behind him. He carried a two-handed power hammer on his back. If he didn't know his identity, he would have thought he was a Chaos warband leader.

After the two sides looked at each other for a moment, the man took off his helmet, revealing a face that made Soshyan frown slightly.

Or rather, half a face.

The left side of this warrior's face was covered with small scars, but it could still be seen that he once had a firm and handsome face. But his right side of the face was completely metalized—not in the form of an inlaid metal mask, but the outline details of the entire face still existed, even his eyes could still blink, but the texture had become silvery metal.

Soon, Soshyan realized something, narrowed his eyes, and whispered:

"You transplanted gray marrow."

The other party puffed out his chest, raised his right arm, and said loudly:

"All the warriors of Simurgh, salute Lord Commander Aleksey!"

"Salute Lord Commander Aleksey!"

The roar of more than two hundred warriors shook the bridge, but Soshyan didn't show any expression. After they lowered their arms, he slowly said:

"Are you Tekshar?"

The half-faced warrior nodded.

"Yes, Lord Commander."