Infinite Metaverse

Chapter 12: A Transitional Scene

Fu Qinghai and Ogotai sat side by side on a steel plate atop the wreckage of the starship, watching the bustling activity below as the sun slowly set. The fading light cast long shadows of the two figures—one large, one small.

"It's been a whole day. Why haven't they arrived yet?" Fu Qinghai asked.

Ogotai, his gaze calm and steady, replied, "The ship might be some distance from the planet. They could also be verifying my identity."

"Your identity?"

"You know, psykers have their own special methods."

"Special methods?" Fu Qinghai's eyes lit up with curiosity as he turned to Ogotai.

Ogotai explained, "As far as I know, Yesugei, our Legion's Chief Stormseer, can make a strong Astartes temporarily lose their memory—forget their purpose, forget what just happened."

"Oh," Fu Qinghai responded, a little disappointed. He had hoped that the Legion's psykers could control minds directly, like Yuri from 'Command & Conquer'.

Ogotai's comrades were likely concerned that he might have been brainwashed by a Sons of Horus Librarian. It was a possibility, but a slim one. Fu Qinghai couldn't imagine why a precious Legion Librarian would appear on a remote planet like Cheslatan. The presence of a single Space Marine was already big news.

Even if brainwashing had occurred, it would only last for a short time. It couldn't control a Space Marine indefinitely. Furthermore, the Sons of Horus—formerly the Luna Wolves—had been staunch supporters of the Emperor's decision to disband the Librarius during the Council of Nikaea. The proportion of Librarians in the Sixteenth Legion was relatively low.

"Trust me, they'll be here soon," Ogotai reassured him.

Fu Qinghai felt a sense of anticipation. He hoped that many of his questions would be answered once the landing party arrived.

***

In the distance, a fixed-wing aircraft painted in white and red kicked up a storm of dust as its engines roared. The massive craft descended slowly, its angular and heavily armored frame a stark contrast to the sleek, aerodynamic designs of Earth's aircraft. This was no delicate lady of the skies—it was a hulking, muscle-bound brute, bristling with weaponry.

The 'Stormbird' was a versatile assault and transport craft used by the Space Marine Legions. Capable of operating both in space and within planetary atmospheres, it was often deployed as a landing craft.

Fu Qinghai had no complaints about its rugged, unaerodynamic design. In space, aerodynamics didn't matter, and within an atmosphere, with enough thrust, even a brick can fly. Only underpowered aircraft needed to worry about sleek designs. True flying aesthetics were all about raw power.

As the Stormbird landed, Fu Qinghai's thoughts drifted beyond the confines of this universe.

The White Scars, the Fifth Legion, were essentially the product of British writers at Games Workshop who had a superficial understanding of Mongolian culture. The Legion's lore borrowed heavily from the cultures and systems of various steppe empires, including the Mongols.

The Mongol Empire held a mysterious and powerful allure for modern Europeans. For example, the German band 'Dschinghis Khan', which became a disco sensation in Europe and America, was a testament to this fascination.

However, this European admiration for Mongolian culture was more of a superficial infatuation. They didn't truly understand it. Mongolian culture was somewhat related to Chinese culture, and as a Chinese man, Fu Qinghai had a deeper understanding of them than most Europeans.

But upon reflection, he realized that his knowledge of Mongolian history and culture wouldn't help him integrate better into the White Scars Legion. Instead, he would have to rely on his memories of the original lore to navigate his way.

As the Stormbird's ramp lowered, Fu Qinghai pushed Ogotai's wheelchair forward to meet the newcomers.

A tall figure emerged from the dissipating dust, the crimson lenses of his Astartes helmet glowing. He removed his helmet, revealing a weathered face with a buzz cut. His expression shifted from joy to concern as he noticed Ogotai's missing legs.

"Ogotai, my brother, are you alright?" he asked, his voice tinged with emotion.

Ogotai looked up at the towering warrior and suddenly burst into laughter, spreading his arms wide. "Of course, Taral! I've never been better!"

***

Inside Calvin's villa, two massive figures sat facing each other. The room was empty, with even Calvin himself banished from the living room.

"This is a worthless colony planet. It hasn't even established agricultural or industrial facilities. No food, no fuel, no materials, no resources, no population. Why would the Sons of Horus come here?" Taral asked.

"I don't know," Ogotai replied, taking a sip from a glass of amber liquid. "But I have a theory."

"What theory?"

"They didn't know either," Ogotai said, swirling the drink in his glass.

"What do you mean? Oh, you're saying..." Taral paused, then nodded in understanding.

"Exactly. This planet was discovered and conquered by the 17th Expeditionary Fleet, not by us or the Sons of Horus," Ogotai explained. He downed the rest of his drink and continued, "Look, the Blood Angels conquer a planet, mark it on the star chart as a Terra-like world suitable for agriculture, and that's it. They don't need to—and can't—inform other Legions about the planet's actual development."

"After all, astropathic communication is brief, fragmented, and precious. You know it can't be used to convey such trivial information."

"So, when the Sons of Horus see a planet marked as an agricultural world on the star chart, what do you think they'll do?"

"They'll come and check it out, no matter what," Taral concluded.

"Exactly. And we just happened to run into them," Ogotai said, wheeling himself over to a cabinet. "This drink isn't bad. I thought only Chogoris's strong liquor could interest me, but losing my legs must have changed my taste buds. I need to find a few more bottles in his cabinet."

"You bandit," Taral chuckled. "Honestly, when you decided to lead the boarding party onto the 'Griffon', we all thought you were crazy. Seeing you alive now feels like a miracle."

"We can't let any traitor go unpunished," Ogotai said, his expression darkening as he stopped rummaging through the cabinet. He stared at the floor, as if recalling painful memories. "I think of Haidu, of Agil. I think of so many of my brothers who didn't die fighting the Orks but fell to the blades of our own kind."

His eyes flashed with hatred. "I wish I could join our fleet right now and fight the traitors on Terra—for the Khan and for the Emperor."

"You're right," Taral said solemnly. "But don't forget, we have a mission."

"I haven't forgotten," Ogotai replied, closing the cabinet empty-handed. "No need to say more. We leave now."

"But before we go, I need to bring someone with me."

***

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