[suspenseful choral music]
[rumbling]
[rattling]
[bulkheads creak]
[explosive bangs]
[thunderous crash]
[lances firing]
[rapid lance fire]
[ominous music]
[orchestral music]
[deep rumbling ]
[growl]
[hissing]
[weapons fire]
[screech]
-[explosive crash] -[screech]
[rumbling crash]
[gunfire]
[screech]
[thunderous crash]
[deep groan]
[ominous music]
[laser gunfire echoes]
[explosive bangs]
-[deep growl] -[explosive crash]
[slow, rumbling growl]
[energy crackling]
[electronic hum]
[roaring and explosive crashes]
[klaxon ringing]
Master of Helm, bring us narrow-about.
We've got one shot at this bastard.
[engine whirrs]
Master of Ordnance, forward batteries on full rotation.
[klaxon continues]
Blast that thing from the void.
[lances firing]
[engine roars]
[slow, rumbling growl]
[ominous music]
[rumbling drums]
[energy crackling]
[thunderous crash]
[crash]
-[crash] -[klaxon ringing]
Damage report.
[Master of Auspex] Ablative plates fractured. Main integrity sound, Mistress.
Then for Emperor's sake, shut off that alarm.
I'm well aware we're in the rough-wash.
[sparks crackling]
[alarm stops]
Judgement lost, Ship Mistress.
Switching our ident beacon to lead ship.
The fleet is yours.
[ominous music]
Master of Vox, survivors?
Several beacons showing active, Ship Mistress.
There's too much interference to discern whose.
[Rafael] Sergeant Kazarion was aboard that vessel.
Comm, dispatch Thunderhawks at full thrust.
If he's still alive, my lord, we'll bring him home.
[menacing electronic music]
[rapid gunfire]
[alarm beeping quickly]
Forewarning, Mistress.
Cogitators estimate at half battery we'll exhaust munitions
in less than five minutes standard.
We haven't even drawn the blood of it yet.
Get us to boarding range.
There may only be a few of us left, but we're not done yet.
What the guns of this ship cannot accomplish,
we will do with bolter and blade.
[Livia] As you command, my lord.
Master of Helm, angle us towards the organism's centre mass.
Maximum thrust.
Aye, Ship Mistress.
Hadrael, charge the teleportarium.
My honour guard and I will translate as soon as range is achieved.
I shall see it done, brother.
The Angel light the darkness ahead.
[energetic electronic music]
Rafael, Ancaeus,
lead the last of our brothers to the boarding torpedoes.
I do not need to tell you, old friend, that even in victory
we will likely meet our end here.
Then our duty is done.
In war born and in war ended.
And for those of the Blood, only in death does duty end.
Let us just be sure we take a wrathful tally of the xenos with us.
You have served me well, daughter of Baal.
The Blood keep you.
As it armours you, lord.
All hands, arm yourselves.
We are closing to assault distance.
Brace for impact.
Ship Mistress, there is an urgent signal.
It'll have to wait until the next life, Vitoria.
From Baal, Mistress.
Lord Dante himself calls us home.
[ominous music]
Verify.
All codes and rites are a match, my lord. The order is genuine.
We are to fall back.
The seventh fleet must have failed.
The Tyranids have cut a clear path to the Chapter world.
[Livia] Lord, the manufactorum world has not completed its evacuation.
This sector and the next relies upon the weapons produced here.
If we fall back now...
-I know. -[crash]
Let us not be unclear
that we are about to condemn billions to death.
Lord Dante would not give such a command lightly.
[rumbling crash]
Make all speed, Mistress.
In the Angel's name, Baal cannot fall.
Whatever the cost.
Order confirmed. We fall back to Baal.
Get us clear and begin the rituals of translation.
This is Ship Mistress Livia Solken,
Strike Cruiser Sword of Baal, of the Baal Protectorate.
I am the ranking fleet officer.
Comply with order 817-43, return to Baal.
Execute immediately.
[ship captains] Aye.
[engines roar]
[crash]
[engine whirrs]
Mistress, we have Sergeant Kazarion on board.
Thank the Angel for small mercies.
Techmarine Hadrael confirms there were no other survivors from the Judgement.
Master of Helm, punch us down and through.
All power to starboard weapons as we pass that thing.
Seal all compartments through starboard outer decks.
[suspenseful electronic music]
We're not getting through without a few scars.
[lance fire]
[triumphant choral music]
[laser gunfire]
[slow, rumbling growl]
[explosive gunfire]
All hands, brace for translation to Warp.
[engine roars]
Master of Helm, do we have an entry point?
Navigator confirms course ready.
Then by the blood of Sanguinius, get us out of here.
[tearing sound]
[klaxon sounding]
May the Angel's grace preserve us from the perils that lie beyond.
[ominous music]
Ship Mistress! Navigator Nissus is screaming!
[engine roars]
System anomalies throughout the ship!
Massive aetheric disruption. Blood of Baal, the void is coming apart!
[storm roars]
[menacing music]
-[Klaxon sounding] -Throne!
What in the Emperor's name just happened?
We're in the Warp, Ship Mistress.
But we are rudderless and in the grip of storm tides!
[rumbling thunder]
-[Klaxon sounding] -Navigator, report.
[whirring]
We are blinded by its passing. [gasps for air]
The Great Rift, once whole, now torn. Torn!
All is red and night! The light! The light is gone!
I have no patience for your riddles. Speak plain.
The light, Mistress. The light cannot shine in many darknesses.
[gasps] We are lost in the breaking of the universe.
[chaotic rumbling]
[engine roars]
[rumbling fades]
[crackling thunder]
[ominous music]
[short of breath] All stations report. Day 38.
Internal chronometers read a three-hour inconsistency between bow and stern.
Outbreaks of madness within tolerance.
Violators expunged.
Resetting for day 39 by internal chronometer.
Secondary Navigator Tabor at station after Primary Navigator expired.
Forgive me, Mistress, but what are your orders now?
Unless the situation changes,
we wait.
We can do nothing
until the Navigator finds us a path.
Until then we continue to stand ready.
While the universe burns, and the storms throw us like scrap.
[alarm beeps]
Mistress!
Navigator reports a weak contact.
Confirm.
Confirmed.
Astropathic message repeats, "Safe harbour".
Is the Navigator able to steer a course?
-He believes so. -Yes or no?
Yes.
[sighs with relief]
Master of Helm, stick fast to the Navigator's call.
Get us back to realspace.
[engine roars]
[engine builds]
[explosive crash]
[gentle thunder crackling]
[triumphant music]
Helm, all engine stop.
All stations, diagnostics.
Master of Auspex, where are we?
Cogitating.
Sensorium confirms translation to realspace.
Acquiring astral map references now.
We're on the fringe of the Niades System, however...
something is throwing out the galactic plane.
I know we're here. I just don't know where here is.
What of Baal? How far are we from the Chapter planet?
Lord, forgive me, but we are blind beyond this system.
We cannot pierce the veil of the storm.
Navigator.
[Navigator] Yes, lord.
-Can we translate to the Warp again? -[Navigator] No, lord.
Neither I, nor this vessel, are in fit state.
We're receiving a signal from the second planet.
Show us.
Signal is offering safe harbour and supplies.
The Imperial coding verifies.
What do we know of Niades?
A collection of mineral worlds.
Ore mining and gas refineries feed a central planet
near the heart of the system.
They should be amply prepared for ship salvage and repair.
For the moment, it seems we have little choice
but to make harbour and accept what aid they have.
[Livia] Agreed, Lord.
Master of Helm, take us in.
[suspenseful orchestral music]
Achieved maximum weapons range of the orbital, Ship Mistress.
Slow engines.
Full auspex sweep.
[music grows ominous]
The orbital tower appears to be functional.
There are civilian craft in proximity to it,
damaged but operational.
Assessment?
No sign of weapons fire or void battle.
They look storm-wrecked.
I don't think we were the only ones wrenched through the Warp.
What of the planet?
Heavy radiation signals across its landmass.
Atmospheric signs suggest multiple macro-weapon detonations.
This planet has been devastated by war, Mistress.
One city remains at the base of the tower.
There is a high degree of signal and auspex interference.
Likely a fallout of rad-weapon detonations.
I cannot get a read on life signs or-
Incoming audio burst from the orbital dock.
[electronic chime]
[Dock Command] Manifold greetings and welcome.
We of the Niades Governance extend the hand of help and friendship.
This is the Sword of Baal,
warship of the Blood Angels Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes.
Your offer of aid is welcome.
[Dock Command] We are honoured and humbled to serve and aid you.
Please approach and dock at station three.
What befell your world?
-[suspenseful music] -[Dock Command] War, rebellion.
When the Great Rift split the heavens many years ago, much fell into anarchy.
We waited for divine aid from the stars, but it did not come.
Now the last of us wait to leave when the storms finally pass.
Years ago?
We were not in the Warp that long.
It is not unheard of
for vessels to reappear from the Warp outside their time.
The Immaterium's currents are neither benevolent nor linear.
[Rafael] Speculating serves us ill, Brother.
The Angel only knows what other oddities this storm has wrought.
The Chaplain is right.
We must do what we can
and trust in the strength of our brothers to prevail.
Complete docking procedures. We make quick repair and continue to Baal.
[Livia] Aye, lord.
The storm has been a blight on us all, indeed.
We are manoeuvring to dock.
[Dock Command] Received, honoured guest.
We humbly await your arrival.
[suspenseful electronic music]
[music continues]
[metallic thud]
[music fades]
Kazarion still does not join us.
He will. He has only recently returned from the long watch.
Give him time, brother.
He is...
changed.
[Rafael] As we are all.
Time's ills are only furthered by war.
In his blood Kazarion is the same son of Baal he has always been.
My lords, Ship Mistress,
we have received an audio packet from the planet's surface.
-Source? -[Master of Vox] Unknown.
It was just a short burst that made it through the interference.
-Message? -It is cyphered
in encryption of the highest level.
Decryption rituals are cogitating.
It's a set of coordinates.
Confirmed.
Designated site is within the city.
Prepare a gunship for launch. I'm going down to that city.
Sergeant Ancaeus, you hold command.
[Rafael] I shall ready the squad.
No, brother.
We cannot afford to commit our full strength without firmer cause
or more tactical information.
Then allow me the honour of reconnaissance.
You would rob me of respite from this inaction?
Never.
Ensure the Sword is ready to cast off when I return.
As you will it, lord.
Good hunting.
As the Blood wills it.
[engine roars]
[orchestral music]
[metal rattling]
Pilot signals final approach, Captain.
Prepare.
-[metallic crash] -[thunder]
-[engine roars] -[slow, rumbling growl]
-[engine whirrs] -[wind howls]
Egress! Go.
[Leonas] Negative contacts.
The signal coordinates are in that direction.
[ominous music]
[Leonas] I've never seen air filtration corridors as large as these.
They must feed the tower.
Or perhaps subterranean dwellings.
How hollowed-out do you think this rock is?
There's enough thermal piping to suggest
a modest populace could survive below ground.
[Leonas] Perhaps that's how our would-be benefactors
survived the war here.
In there.
[wind howls]
[thud]
Stay alert.
[suspenseful electronic music]
[insects chitter]
[music grows ominous]
Hold.
I am Brother-Captain Orpheo of the Blood Angels.
Step forward and be known.
[metallic chime]
I am designated Magos Castia-Theta-9
of the Adeptus Mechanicus,
speaking through this servitor unit.
[Leonas] You shall authenticate or be considered hostile.
[Castia-Theta-9] Code signal identification broadcast.
[suspenseful electronic music]
Listen well, Captain Orpheo.
Blood Angel.
Relaying the contextual data you require.
This world is perverted
by the corporaptor hominis xenos species.
-Tyranids. -[gun clicks]
There is material vital to the Omnissiah that must be preserved.
Success in this venture is critical.
You shall follow my proxy servitor and secure it.
[scuttling]
-Movement! -[rapid gunfire]
[monstrous shriek]
Cut a path back to the gunship!
[Castia-Theta-9] Negative. You must follow this servitor to safety.
Xenos! Target high!
[rapid gunfire]
[Orpheo] Get to the Thunderhawk and take off!
[Leonas] I will not leave you, brother.
You must get word to the Sword. I will give you what time I can.
Now go!
-[explosive blast] -[atmospheric electronic music]
[rapid gunfire continues]
-[blast] -[rapid gunfire]
-[sword hums] -[monstrous shriek]
[rapid gunfire]
[sword reverberates]
-[sword hums] -[triumphant choral music]
[monstrous shriek]
[lightning blasts]
-[thunder rumbles] -[wind howls]
[electrical shorting]
[thud]
[rumble]
[blast]
[rapid gunfire]
[gunfire continues]
[tense drum music]
[thunder rumbles]
[explosive blast]
[choral music]
[metallic ring]
[sword swishes]
[ominous electronic music]
[Orpheo] We are the Emperor's will made flesh.
We are taken from the dust.
We shed our weaknesses,
our frailty,
to become...
[abrupt silence]
...Angels.
[wind whistles]