As the vanguard who first arrived in the Orpheus Sector and had now attained de facto supreme authority, there was much that people expected of him, and much that he should do. Yet, the things that must be done were only a handful.
But even those few tasks were enough to vex him greatly. It wasn't until late at night that he had time to return to the temporary command center and contact Calgar.
The device that allowed him to communicate with Calgar in real-time across thousands of light-years was called the Ansible. It stood silently in the center of the room, an instantaneous communication device originating from the science fiction novel Ender's Game.
It reminded him of the holographic comunicators everyone was using in Star Wars.
Robert's explanation to Calgar was that Mechanicus personnel on Perditia had discovered this "relic of the Golden Age" during an archaeological excavation. Although long-term study had failed to decipher its core principles, they had managed to modify it to include holographic projection functionality, making it usable.
For Calgar, the most surprising thing was not Robert's ability to produce a device capable of real-time communication across a thousand light-years—the Imperium never lacked for miracles and relics—but that he could actually get the Mechanicus to lend out such a thing for aid.
He had heard that the Mechanicus personnel from Perditia were much more generous than those elsewhere; it seemed the rumors had some basis.
Accompanied by a low hum, the Ansible activated. Amidst weaving blue light, Calgar's tall and imposing holographic image appeared in the center of the room. He was clad in ornate Chapter Master Power Armour, his expression serious, as he cut straight to the chase: "What is the situation on your end?"
"Very bad," Robert replied, rubbing his brow, not mincing words.
The answer made Calgar's heart sink, and his normally steady expression wavered slightly: "Are the Necrons already launching a large-scale offensive?"
"The Necrons haven't made a move yet," Robert shook his head. He walked up to the projection, leaning his hands on the command table. "They are quite particular about etiquette. If they haven't explicitly informed us of an attack date, it means they have no immediate plans to attack."
Calgar offered no comment on the Xenos' sense of decorum. He waited silently for Robert to continue, knowing that anything Robert described as "bad" was far from trivial.
"But I've largely confirmed that Chaos is stirring up trouble in Orpheus," Robert revealed, confirming the source of his concern. "The binary stars haven't gone supernova yet, but the Necrons are already showing signs of awakening. It's highly likely this is the work of Chaos."
"The Great Enemy, Chaos?" Calgar's tone shifted dramatically. "Then the nature of this matter is entirely different—are you certain?"
"When I arrived, 80% of the Planetary Governor's palace staff were already worshipping the Dark Gods," Robert said with a note of disgust. "Currently, the Void Wardens, alongside the Helldivers, are conducting an audit of the nobility, with participation from the local Sacred Inquisitor and the Ecclesiarchy's Battle Sisters. We haven't found too many anomalies so far; it appears the heretical faith might be confined only to the Governor and his closest associates."
Accompanying Robert, besides a portion of the Helldivers, was the Void Wardens Space Marine Chapter. Their Chapter Homeworld, Thanatos Reach, is located within the Orpheus Sector, which solves a huge logistical problem to some extent.
After all, the Five Hundred Worlds of Ultramar are well-developed; during the Great Crusade, they could support 2500 marines without impacting the citizens' standard of living. Even though the capacity is slightly lower now, supporting over a thousand Space Marines is still manageable.
The Orpheus Sector, however, is different. It is a remote and impoverished region. Without prior preparation, it has no capacity to meet the logistical needs of over a thousand Space Marines and an entire battleship fleet.
"As for other matters, the Mechanicus team has departed to collect data on the binary stars, and we should know the exact status of Karakur soon," Robert continued his report. "Amarah Prime has also begun large-scale engineering construction. It's just that—the Void Wardens are very insistent on checking their Homeworld. I tried to persuade them, but their sentiment is firm."
"What is your assessment?" Calgar asked.
"It won't end well," Robert replied ruthlessly. He briefly summarized the Wraith Angels' tragic fate in the original storyline. "We cannot simultaneously defend two sectors of space under the threat of the Necrons. The division of forces will have only one result: the Void Wardens' Homeworld will have a 'close encounter' with its moon."
"I will contact the Void Wardens Chapter Master shortly," Calgar nodded slightly, accepting the grim assessment. He changed the subject. "Speaking of which, you haven't been back to Perditia in quite some time, have you? Aren't you concerned about the situation there?"
"There's nothing to worry about," Robert shook his head, his face showing a candid expression. "Even when I was there, most tasks were delegated to others. My job was just to review their analytical reports on various situations, sign off on the solutions they proposed, and ensure I was up-to-date on the progress of all current matters. Beyond that, nothing else."
"Alright, let me be blunt," Calgar said directly. "You've been gone so long. Aren't you worried about someone attempting a power grab in your absence?"
At this, Robert actually let out a small, relieved chuckle: "Perhaps on other worlds, the Governor title is a power they desperately scheme to seize and maintain. But I was simply pushed into this position by the tide. If someone attempts a takeover, I think I would be thrilled—that way, I wouldn't have to force myself to worry and think about so many things anymore."
The command center doors hissed apart without warning. Mua'dib emerged from the shadows, encased in matte-black Power Armour that drank in the light, its surface broken only by faint crimson runes and the dull gleam of a sheathed blade at his side.
His visor lingered for a heartbeat on Calgar's holographic projection; a minimal tilt of the helm was all the acknowledgment he offered. Then his gaze snapped to Robert.
"Robert," he said, his voice flat and razor-edged, "the audit is finished. Few true cultists were present."
He paused, as if weighing which truths were worth speaking aloud.
"The Inquisitor assesses that 'Master Vela' was no architect of a cult—merely a transient Chaos Sorcerer. He had no intention of rooting himself in the lower hive. He encountered the Sector Governor in a state of instability and moved to exploit it, seeking quick profit rather than devotion."
Mua'dib shrugged, summarizing in a relaxed tone: "I think the Inquisitor is right. The Sector Governor was pretty unlucky; he was desperate and threw caution to the wind, which ultimately killed him."
"He was quite unlucky," Robert agreed with a nod. "But even if he hadn't sought desperate measures, I would have found a way to ensure he couldn't influence the Orpheus situation any further."
Calgar's holographic image chimed in at the right moment: "Chaos interference is trouble enough; we certainly can't afford to have a foolish Sector Governor screwing things up further."
Listening to the conversation between the two heavyweights, Mua'dib scratched his helmet in confusion: "Surely a Governor wouldn't be that foolish?"
Hearing Mua'dib's question, Calgar and Robert exchanged a look through the Ansible, separated by thousands of light-years.
Then, simultaneously, they burst into laughter.
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MUAAAAAAAAAAAAAADIB IS BACK BAAAAAAAAAAAAAABY