"Calling Beta Squad. Sear, report your current location. Over."
"This is Beta Squad. We are at Camp 19 in the southern sector of New Cato, seventeen kilometers from the extraction point."
In the shadowy underworld where sunlight never reaches, a squad advanced. In name, it was a small unit, but in reality, it was a force of nearly a thousand people. Their garb was a chaotic mix of colors, resembling a ragtag militia of gang members and mercenary drifters.
Yet, despite their disheveled appearance, they moved with precision. Heavily armed individuals wielding anti-armor energy weapons were strategically positioned at the squad's front, rear, and flanks. Some even bore hellguns and wore power armor.
If attacked, the vanguard and rear guard would be the first to engage, ready to sacrifice their lives to delay the enemy's advance.
Each member was fully aware that this was a near-suicidal mission. None of them harbored the illusion of leaving Talon Hiveworld alive. Their only goal was to ensure that at least two individuals made it out with the cargo.
"What's the status of the target?"
"The target is unconscious but stable. All vital signs are normal."
"Good. Proceed with the mission."
Beta Squad continued to march across the metallic plains. As they moved, the members remained vigilant, scanning the desolate surroundings for any sign of danger. Though no enemies had appeared yet, they were beginning to understand the vast and eerie environment of the underhive.
Unlike most Imperial hive worlds, Talon Hive seemed to be built around ancient mega-factories. When one looked up, they couldn't see the ceiling of the hive. When looking down, the plains of metal stretched endlessly beyond sight. For anyone who grew up here, it would feel like the underhive was an entire world unto itself.
"Our pace is too slow," Sear muttered, walking alongside his comms officer, using the bulky equipment on the officer's back to maintain communication. "If only we had vehicles…"
"What are you thinking? Do you have any idea how much time and effort it took just to get you infiltrated?"
Chastised by his superior, Sear quickly apologized and fell silent.
Due to the need for real-time updates, Beta Squad had to maintain constant communication, and as the squad's leader, Sear was responsible for regular contact with command.
After half a day's march, Sear made his routine report: "All clear. No enemy contact."
"Keep moving," came the terse reply.
"Yes, sir," Sear nodded, though a question lingered on his lips. He hesitated, and as the words were about to slip out, he clamped his mouth shut. Yet the unspoken doubt gnawed at him, a question that held great importance in his mind.
Eventually, he gave in. "Inquisitor, was this mission planned solely by you, or were others involved?"
Sear framed the question as delicately as possible, though in his mind, the distinction mattered deeply. To most of the soldiers, the answer didn't matter. What difference did it make who devised the operation?
But to Sear, it was crucial. He needed to know if their mission was sanctioned by the Empire or if it was the personal agenda of a single Inquisitor.
"Focus on your task."
The icy voice from the comms chilled Sear to his core. "Your failure at Orpus led to tragedy. You should have been executed. Now you vermin have a chance to redeem yourselves."
The cold words left Sear shaking with rage, his features twisted in fury. After a tense pause, he forced out a response between clenched teeth: "A rout is like a landslide, Inquisitor."
His sharp, yet respectful retort went unanswered, leaving him no choice but to press on with the mission.
Beta Squad advanced, their destination the extraction point left for them by the Inquisitor. Soon, the squad left the metallic plains behind and entered a massive steel canyon. Sear scanned the surroundings.
The canyon seemed less like a natural formation and more like a massive conduit in an ancient factory, once used to channel molten iron. As they moved deeper, a sudden light illuminated the entire squad from above, turning the dark area as bright as day.
While the others prepared for combat, Sear quickly scanned their surroundings, spotting the source of the light: a hovering aircraft above them, eerily silent. In the dim underhive, no one had noticed its approach until it was directly overhead.
Sear's gaze shifted to the two figures now flanking them. Blinded by the harsh light, he could barely make out their forms, but he soon realized they were clad in power armor—armor of such craftsmanship that words could hardly do it justice, exuding an aura of immense power.
As Sear processed the sight, he recalled intelligence provided by the Inquisitor a year ago—images and data about Talon's military assets. He had seen armor like this before.
Custodian power armor.
While Sear took this all in, the figure at the front of the group, Gray, was sizing up the intruders. To him, it was these newcomers who were out of place.
Gray had come here with one goal: to eliminate them.
"Recon Squad 182. Seven new recruits in total," Gray began, his voice amplified by the speaker integrated into his helmet so that every member of Beta Squad could hear.
"The patrol consisted of Muhr, aged 23, Sato, aged 24…"
Gray methodically listed the names and ages of the seven soldiers, then paused, watching their astonished faces before continuing. "According to my intelligence, you killed six of them and abducted the seventh."
"In the name of the Lord of Talon, I sentence you all to death."
Upon hearing this, Sear wasn't afraid. He was merely surprised. Their mission had been simple: infiltrate the underhive, capture a soldier. They had indeed killed six during the operation.
Sear felt neither guilt nor fear, only confusion. How had they been discovered so quickly?
Deciding not to dwell on it, he brushed aside the thought. Strange occurrences were commonplace in the Talon system, and this was just one more.
"Prepare for combat!" Sear shouted, drawing his power sword. "Follow the plan to the letter!"