The fleet of the Scythes of the Emperor slowly navigated toward the Mandeville point of the system. The battered ships looked like a pack of wounded beasts, struggling as they submerged into the chaotic tides of the Warp.
Behind them, the Battlecruisers and the small Golden Armada stood guard, holding off the enemy for the retreating vessels.
From the command deck, Alexei watched through the observation port as the broken fleet slowly entered the roiling waves of the Immaterium. "I hope those guys aren't swallowed by the malice of the Warp," he murmured, withdrawing his gaze.
"Brand, how much longer until we can perform a short-range warp?" Alexei asked, looking at the officer behind him.
"Now, my Lord."
"Excellent. Then let's move." Alexei nodded toward the Golden Armada flanking his fleet.
The roar of engines tore through the silence of the void. In an instant, all human warships vanished from the Sotha system, leaving behind only the faint ripples of distorted space. Then, under the watchful eyes of the Tyranid and Necron fleets, the Protoss Golden Armada also transformed into countless streaks of white light, disappearing from the heart of the battlefield.
Now, only the Tyranids and the Necrons remained in this sector to continue their endless struggle. Perhaps before long, another unlucky Imperial Navy fleet would stumble into this bloody fray, but none of that concerned Alexei anymore.
---
The Warp, aboard the Heart of Sotha, Flagship of the Scythes of the Emperor
"Chapter Master, are we truly not going to inform the Imperial Navy about those gold-armored Xenos?" Moretov, the Chapter Librarian, asked as he looked at the silent leader before him.
"We have lost our home world, Moretov," Torquill replied flatly, staring at the holographic projection of the shattered Sotha. "The most important thing now is to focus all our strength on rebuilding the Chapter."
He turned to leave, but seeing Moretov still standing in place, Torquill reminded him, "Routine prayers are about to begin. Let's go, Moretov."
Listening to the fading footsteps of the Chapter Master, the Librarian couldn't help but close his eyes. He didn't know if he should mention it, but ever since coming into contact with the reinforcements from Aiur, he had been haunted by a recurring dream. There was nothing in the dream, yet he could clearly sense that it was the end of all things—and the beginning of everything.
"The Emperor protect me. I hope it is just a dream," Moretov whispered to himself before turning to follow.
---
In an unknown system, a fleet of six human warships appeared in the low orbit of a gas giant.
Alexei looked out at the magnificent blue planet. The fleet would make a brief stop here before embarking on the final leg of their journey back to Aiur.
He stretched his limbs. "It's finally over..." he muttered. All the set objectives for this excursion had been completed: helping the Scythes of the Emperor to secure future favors, and obtaining the shard of Zarhulash the Potentate.
He had even exceeded his goals. While the Scythes' Apothecaries weren't looking, Kaider had used a container provided by the Medical Research Institute to extract a Progenoid Gland from the chest of a fallen Astartes.
"Once I return to Aiur, I can begin the experiments..." Alexei couldn't wait to try creating his own Space Marines. "Wait... those guys won't end up calling Guilliman their Gene-father, will they?"
Alexei suddenly realized something. He thought of the Dark Angels—the First Legion—who appeared to be split into small Chapters but secretly maintained ties that made them no different from the original Legion.
"It seems I have to wait a bit longer," he thought. He didn't want to be a "good guy" who just mass-produced soldiers for Guilliman. "Let's just go home first."
Once back, he would have to find a way to ensure these super-soldiers were loyal only to him and Aiur.
Four hours later, Brand stood before the dozing Alexei. "My Lord, the warp drives are ready."
Alexei opened his eyes. "Begin the jump. Target: Aiur!"
"Yes!"
The six ships entered hyperspace once more amidst the roar of their engines.
---
Two Terran months later, on Aiur, within the Zerg Hive complex in the lower levels of the Primary Hive City.
A blonde girl, about thirteen years old, was wandering through the swarms. The Zerg organisms scurried away from her as if she were a plague; in her hand, she held a set of transparent wings she had plucked from some unlucky Zergling.
Ellie hummed a tune as she used her psionic power to catch a Roach that hadn't burrowed in time, then floated onto its back. "Let's go! To find Abathur!" As the Roach's six legs scrambled across the creep, the surroundings blurred past.
She was very happy today because she had just received news from her brother. They were returning today.
Not far away, a massive green figure was busy over a birthing pool. Seeing this, Ellie leaped off the Roach and drifted over. "Abathur!" Behind her, the Roach immediately dove underground and vanished.
Abathur slowly turned his head. His appendages were holding a strangely shaped creature—a local specimen left over from the last sweep of the lower levels, found just today for experimentation.
"Abathur, how much longer until Brother gets back?" Ellie landed from the air.
"Master returns soon," Abathur said, glancing at the wings in Ellie's hand. "Swarm... fragile. Do not inflict unnecessary damage."
"I know, I know." Ellie tossed the wings into a caustic pool and patted Abathur's heavy chitinous shell.
Meanwhile, on the Cinder Plains, Lusarka and Colton were waiting in the military zone. Behind them stood ranks of the Aiur Guard, their power armor gleaming with a cold metallic sheen in the sunlight. During these months, the expansion and training of the Aiur ground forces had never ceased.
In Aiur's orbit, six human warships emerged from hyperspace and slowly made their way toward the nearby docks.
Alexei looked out at the familiar yellow planet. "Finally back."
Brand stood behind him. "My Lord, the Marshal and the Chief of Police are waiting in the military zone to welcome you."
"Let's go," Alexei turned to leave. "It's time to handle the aftermath of the expedition."
Pensions for the fallen, replenishment of destroyed equipment, fleet repairs, medical care for the wounded... they had much to do.
Furthermore, Alexei had already spotted the unbelievably massive Zerg chambers on the planet's surface. It seemed Abathur and Zagara had completed their assigned tasks well.
The Zerg Swarm was about to welcome its most powerful unit. Their space fleet was nearly here.