How should one describe the Mists of the Stellar Expanse region?
If Gamma were to use a word, he could only say "a place of outstanding people and spirits," considering that the core area of the original Eldar Empire, now the most famous landmark in the galaxy—the Eye of Terror—is located in this stellar expanse.
Because of this, even before the Great Rift opened, the Mists of the Stellar Expanse was the most turbulent of the five stellar expanses of the Imperium; after Cadia was destroyed, the entire region of the Mists of the Stellar Expanse was almost completely isolated within Imperium Nihilus.
Ironically, the only passage connecting the Imperium's sacred territories and Imperium Nihilus, the Nachmund Gauntlet, is also in this stellar expanse, and this passage is not far from the Eye of Terror.
Alpha saw a small Tech-priest's evaluation of the Nachmund Gauntlet in the data Gamma gave him:
Rather than being the lifeline connecting the two sides of the Imperium, it is a trap intentionally left by the Chaos Gods to continuously spill Imperial blood!
"What are you thinking about?"
A voice with a low growl, similar to that of a canid, roused Alpha from his reverie. He turned to look at his friend, who seemed to have ADHD, constantly moving or touching things.
"Nothing, just thinking about some things my father said."
The word "father" seemed to remind Lorgar of something. He first looked around warily, and after confirming no one was nearby, he spoke with a tone of anticipation mixed with unease and determination:
"Did you ask your omnipotent father about that matter for me?"
Alpha found it amusing to see the usually boisterous Young Wolf Lord display such an expression. A mischievous thought arose, so he looked at Lorgar with a bewildered expression.
"Can you not be so unreliable, you fellow!"
Upon seeing Alpha's expression, the Young Wolf Lord's eyes dimmed. He glared at Alpha in dissatisfaction, then angrily turned his head away. But just as he turned, he heard Alpha say slowly, in a sarcastic tone:
"Is this how you Fenrisians ask for favors?"
When Lorgar heard Alpha say this, he immediately understood that Alpha was toying with him. His expression changed rapidly, from anger to irritation, and then to flattery, in a very short time.
"Alpha, you are my best—"
"Stop, hold on. Your best friend is Howling Sky, who is currently squatting behind you. Can you use a different word?"
"Hahaha, don't mind these details. Just tell me quickly! I can give you the last bit of mead I brought from Fenris!" Lorgar's eyes flashed with a hint of pain as he said this.
Alpha rolled his eyes with a hint of the small Tech-priest's essence and said grumpily, "Who wants your poison that can kill people!"
After speaking, he paused, looked at the expectant Young Wolf Lord, sighed slightly in his heart, and said, "I'm sorry, my father also doesn't know any news about the Lion King."
"Ah? It's fine, it's fine. We've been looking for so many years—"
The disappointment on his face was undeniable, but after a moment of stunned, Lorgar immediately pretended not to care, acting as if he hadn't held much hope to begin with.
"However, my father also said that the Lion King is safe and is not showing himself because the time is not right. His exact words were, 'When it's time for Guilliman to do his part, even if he's hiding and drinking heavily, someone will drag him out to work.'"
"This…is it related to the Emperor?"
"It should be. Lorgar, don't delve into this matter. This is no longer a domain we can dabble in!" Alpha advised.
Lorgar's eyes flashed with thought, then he nodded and said, "I understand. Thank you, anyway."
"You're welcome. It's nothing."
"Haha, then I won't be overly polite. But Alpha, your father is truly generous to you, handing over such a large fleet without even blinking an eye."
Among the Astartes of the Imperium, some who disliked the Gamma Warriors considered them fakes, some saw them as Heretics and traitors, and some were friendly with them. The Astartes had varying opinions of the Gamma Warriors, but one thing was common: they all envied Alpha and the other Gamma Warriors.
Thinking of his own old father who had inexplicably disappeared after a big drink, leaving his sons uncared for, and then looking at Alpha, who was younger than the new recruits in his Chapter but already commanded a vast expeditionary fleet, the Young Wolf Lord felt strange inside, and his mouth felt sour.
Sensing the sourness in his friend and senior's words, Alpha unconsciously smiled and said, "My experience and ability are insufficient to lead this expeditionary fleet, but you know our situation. For matters of war, with AI assistance, I am merely holding a nominal position."
"Hmph, I told you to have less contact with the Ultramarines. I can smell the stench of hypocrisy emanating from you from several kilometers away."
…Just then, the vibration from the airship's landing helped Alpha resolve the awkwardness. As the hatch opened, Alpha and Lorgar walked out of the airship together.
Although he was mentally prepared, when Alpha saw the "Corridor Guards" on the opposite side "welcoming" him in an encirclement formation, Alpha's mouth still twitched involuntarily.
Lorgar, beside him, blurted out directly, "Good heavens, is such a grand formation necessary for just the two of us?"
Then, he impatiently roared at the Astartes of the Space Wolves stationed in the Nachmund Gauntlet, "What do you want? Do you not even trust your own brothers anymore!"
"Lorgar, there's no need for this. I don't mind." Alpha stopped the Space Wolf who was about to step forward and advised him.
"Hmph, a bunch of fools. With the endorsement of the Regent, the Lion King, and your father, they still put on a sour face. What good will it do besides escalating conflict!"
Alpha knew his friend was speaking up for him. While grateful, his pace quickened. Lorgar saw Alpha's intention and proactively stepped aside.
"I am Alpha, commander of the Gamma Mists of the Stellar Expanse Expeditionary Fleet. It's a pleasure to meet you all. May I ask who is in charge?"
"I am Zakka Lesya, Chapter Master of the Rift Lords." An Astartes wearing power armor with a skull-and-chain insignia stepped forward and said.
"A pleasure to meet you!"
Alpha proactively extended his right hand. Zakka clearly hesitated for a moment as he looked at Alpha's hand before extending his own to grasp it.
"A pleasure to meet you!"
Feeling the stiffness in the Rift Lords Chapter Master's hand, Alpha shook his hand, released it, and then smiled at Zakka, saying, "I have long heard of the bravery of the Rift Lords and the Corridor Guards, and your contributions to all of humanity. I am deeply honored to meet you heroes today!"
…"I can understand your vigilance towards us, who suddenly appeared, given that you fight against Chaos traitors every moment. But I still feel it is necessary to reiterate one thing in person, in front of you."
…"We come here with no ill will; we are here to help you!"
"Hmph!"
Not far from Alpha, a Space Marine, taller than the other Astartes, let out a harsh, somewhat disdainful laugh.
Alpha ignored him without changing his expression and continued to speak to Zakka, "We are here to implement the will of my Lord, and this is also the will of the Imperial Regent and the Lion King!"
Understanding the implication in Alpha's words, the Rift Lords Chapter Master then spoke, "Understood."
Alpha had actually anticipated this kind of reception. The Imperial forces deployed within the Nachmund Gauntlet were complex. Although it was Zakka, the Rift Lords Chapter Master, who was liaising with him, the Rift Lords Chapter was no longer the main force guarding the Nachmund Gauntlet.
Initially, only the Rift Lords Chapter, founded during the Ultima Founding, undertook the arduous task of defending the Nachmund Gauntlet from Lord Regent Guilliman.
However, the Rift Lords subsequently suffered heavy losses in the Vigilance System campaign and the Davarol (a renegade Knight world near the Gauntlet) campaign, rendering them unable to defend the Nachmund Gauntlet alone.
To prevent the Nachmund Gauntlet from falling, the Rift Lords were forced to send out requests for reinforcement to other Space Marine Chapters, hoping that other Chapters could help them defend the Nachmund Gauntlet.
The importance of the Gauntlet was self-evident, but the opening of the Great Rift made long-range communication extremely difficult. The intensifying Warp storms blocked reinforcements from some Chapters destined for the Nachmund Gauntlet, leading to most of the initial supporting forces being stragglers who had lost contact with their main Chapter after the Great Rift opened, and some Space Marine units had merely coincidentally arrived near the Gauntlet.
When reinforcements from other Imperial factions arrived and helped the Rift Lords stabilize the situation, a problem arose: the heavily damaged Rift Lords Chapter was no longer able to complete the task of defending the Nachmund Gauntlet alone.
Furthermore, the Imperium also understood that the strength of a single Chapter was insufficient to hold this crucial, narrow passage for the Imperium, so some of the supporting forces were left behind.
An organization named "Corridor Guards" was born. The Astartes who chose to stay swore to defend the Nachmund Gauntlet from the enemies of the Imperium.
Their reasons for staying to guard the Gauntlet varied. Some units sought refuge because they lost contact with their Chapters, while others were survivors of battles against the Chaos Space Marines led by Abaddon the Despoiler.
There were even some units who, after the Great Rift opened, found themselves in the Nachmund Gauntlet, their original navigation destination having disappeared.
Therefore, the relationships here are very complex. How complex?
To describe it in one sentence: all bloodlines of the Nine Founding Legions are gathered here.
To be more detailed, the Inquisition, which specifically monitors the Astartes Chapters, suspected that the establishment of the Corridor Guards was aimed at recreating the Astartes Legions, and dispatched an Inquisitor specifically to investigate the "Corridor Guards." After countless scribes worked day and night to compile a list and data of all Chapters participating in the Corridor Guards.
The Inquisitor investigating the case publicly declared: the task of guarding the Nachmund Gauntlet is too arduous, and the Rift Lords Chapter is already overwhelmed; they indeed need support from other Chapters.