Chapter 408: Dark Angels' Traditional Art
It is a well-known fact that obeying their father is engraved in the Astartes gene-seed.
And "Where is Father?" is a traditional program reserved for Space Marines.
No matter who it is, although they might not be as dramatic as some heavyweight players who perform a whole monologue, they are still deeply influenced by it, even the Traitor Legions.
Except for the Dark Angels.
Low Orbit of 'Chronos Key', The Silent Vow
As the fleet that would shoulder responsibilities immediately after a potential loss of control in the war zone, the Dark Angels fleet lingered around this ship for a long time.
Zabriel, Aphkar, Zahariel, Kay, Gareth, Galahad... those personally welcomed back by the Lord of Knights, the highly respected, the core members of various Orders from ten thousand years ago, walked side by side in the corridor, almost drowning out the shadow cast by Azrael at the forefront.
Ever since the sudden report from the Rock was submitted, these old geezers—who usually adopted a Zen-like attitude of non-contention, either showing off in front of juniors when not on combat missions, or hiding in their rooms lamenting the passing of time and occasionally laughing inexplicably—had surrounded the nominal leader of the new generation.
Reason—
The current Supreme Grand Master of the Dark Angels, Naberius, was captured by a Daemon Prince of the VIII Legion, the Night Lords, during a raid. The Chapter Banner and the Lion Helm were lost. The Rock summoned its successor Chapters to hunt him down.
The point was not the former Chapter Master.
The point was the various factions intervening behind the scenes.
The Plague Legions, the Black Legion, the Dark Mechanicum.
At the same time the Chapter Master was captured, the forces of these three factions, which had been harassing various parts of the Obscurus Segmentum, began to consciously use feints and raids to drive and force the Rock to move towards a specific area.
The Rock urgently needed support.
Everyone looked grave.
In the past decades, under the leadership of the Lord of Knights, the Dark Angels had been transforming the ideology of the Dark Angels Chapter and its successors in a relatively gentle way.
Including but not limited to interfering in recruitment, re-educating new blood like Azrael, systematically structuring and reviewing past secrets, organizing the whole event objectively, gradually winning over various Inner Circle members with a gentle posture, changing the atmosphere of the Inner Circle, and preparing for the infiltration of the Rock at all times.
More and more Dark Angels accepted a more stable environment where they wouldn't incur fatal disasters because of some inexplicable secrets. The intrigues between each other gradually changed from a means of survival to a personal hobby, more like a shared culture within the Legion, used as an anti-counterfeit mark.
The Lord of Knights, who always paid attention to the Legion members, took them everywhere to strive for honor, so they didn't have to deal with those secret missions all day long.
Leading brother Chapters in battle, passing on experience, and providing technical poverty alleviation everywhere, establishing connections all over.
Coming back to accept public commendation, the names of the fallen could be carved into the eternal stele of Dawnstar, and their deeds would be immortalized with the existence of the Legion.
Face preserved, honor retained, living like a true big brother.
Time passed slowly like this. The Inner Circle of the Dark Angels was infiltrated more and more severely, almost starting to decouple from various successor Chapters step by step, leaving only those increasingly fewer paranoid people to play by themselves. The conquest plan for the Rock was also overthrown version after version in the Pyrewing's planning, becoming more and more perfect.
But no one was anxious.
Because it was good enough now.
No need to rush; they were always ready, and getting better with time.
Nearly a century passed, and they had almost forgotten that fortress bearing the pain and shame of countless Dark Angels.
But now!
When Kay's question echoed in the corridor, some secretly tightened their grip on their sword hilts.
Their past had come knocking.
Wait, isn't it just the Rock?
Fabric scraped against each other's pauldrons. Belial, accompanying them, pressed one hand tightly on his ceremonial sword while scanning the surroundings unobtrusively.
Such a formation, coupled with that attitude of facing a formidable enemy, confused the young Grand Master of the Deathwing.
Shouldn't this be a good thing? They finally reached the time when they must reclaim control of the Rock. The battle for orthodoxy lies here.
'Just a Deathwing for life.'
Azrael, walking at the front, sighed.
It was no secret that the Lion was buried in the Rock. After joining the leadership, everyone knew.
However, the Lion's personality was too aggressive compared to Guilliman. Coupled with his awkward positioning, his priority for the Dawnbreakers was not high. They needed to wait for the Dawnbreakers to stabilize their base and have an army under direct control before attempting to awaken him.
Otherwise, disagreements might arise over issues like the Dark Angels themselves, and it wouldn't look good if a fuss was made.
The above was the Lord of Knights' subsequent explanation after explaining the Lion's status.
Even the travelers, after careful consideration, felt that the awakening of the Lion should be later rather than sooner. After all, the environment was still relatively harsh back then, Dawnstar Sector was still developing and putting out fires everywhere, not to mention Arthur himself holding the hot potato of the Dark Angels was already a big enough headache.
Leaving Azrael aside, his rank was low then.
These old geezers raised both hands in approval, afraid the Lord of Knights would change his mind if they were late.
Now that they had to save the Rock, these people also looked reluctant.
Blow up the Rock directly?
Someone steeled his heart and simply made a gesture.
A group of people immediately punched him.
The Lion didn't deserve that.
But welcoming the Lion's return?
After the beating, Kay and the others still frowned.
Words against one's heart are the hardest for a knight to say.
Ignoring this little skirmish, Azrael reminded:
"You must not make decisions without authorization. Everything is decided by His Highness."
Everyone nodded solemnly. Even though they were reluctant, they suppressed the emotions surging in their hearts.
They couldn't make decisions for the Prince.
Just as the Prince never made decisions for them all without authorization.
The Lord of Knights always demanded of them by the standard of an Astartes, not by the standard of a Primarch.
"..."
Azrael observed the reactions of these elders, silently exchanging glances with a few of them, all breathing a sigh of relief.
He hadn't personally experienced that extremely aggressive era. After all, according to the Lord of Knights, they were peers; don't live too old if there's nothing to do.
But a glimpse could be seen from past documents and the reactions of these elders now.
There are records that when the Lion visited Macragge, while the Lion was talking with Guilliman below, the Dark Angels on the ship broke into conflict over the Lion harboring the VIII Legion Primarch Curze, debating whether the Lion was loyal or not.
With real swords and guns.
There are recent ones too. Ezekiel, the Grand Master of Librarians of the Chapter, was put in stasis after a report. While stiff-necked and daring not to speak, he believed nothing and just wanted to force a confession.
In the past, let alone making a sound here, being able to board this ship alive would be considered lucky.
Withdrawing his gaze faintly, Azrael suddenly felt a heavy mission.
He was new blood, without so many grudges of the old people, nor those heavy historical burdens, so he could make judgments aside from the blood feud between each other.
The past was bad, the present is good.
That atmosphere of the past must never be allowed to appear in the Legion.
Going up the stairs, stepping on the marble steps illuminated pure white by lights, black and red armor overlapping, exceptionally conspicuous.
Azrael led them to push open the door, arriving at the shiny hall facing the stars.
The center of the hall was circular. Twelve round tables surrounded each other at eye level, jointly guarding the throne seated with them.
Stepping forward, the Lord of Knights was standing by the window covered by the starry sky, communicating and laughing with his brothers.
He would never allow it.
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