…
Klein never reached Cadia.
As a shrewd wanderer skilled in forging relationships, he made allies among several governors along the way, learning that Creed wasn't in Cadia at all. Determined to uncover his whereabouts, Klein used his connections and a few favors to discover Creed was aboard a transport vessel named *Path of Faith*, then journeyed to a nearby resupply system to await it.
After a long chase, Klein finally spotted *Path of Faith*. His merchant vessel approached, and he boarded under the guise of selling power armor, leaving his crew to handle the sale while he went in search of Creed.
In the ship's bar, Klein's gaze fell on a man seated at the counter, wearing standard-issue power armor of the Talon system's ground forces. While many merchants dealt in power armor, making identification difficult, Klein couldn't mistake that man's notably thick, short neck.
"Creed?" Klein ventured, stepping forward.
The man at the counter turned, astonished. "Captain Klein of the 47th?" he replied, surprised.
Creed recognized him well; he remembered their shared inspection of the 47th regiment's soldiers and even the time he knocked down one of Klein's men.
"How did you find me?" Creed asked, dismissing his companion and gesturing for Klein to sit beside him.
"The Emperor guided me to you," Klein replied, handing Creed a personal letter from Qin Mo. He couldn't help but glance at Creed's distinctive, thick neck as he took his seat.
Creed accepted the letter and ordered a drink for Klein, pausing before asking, "What's the state of the Talon system?"
Having departed early, Creed only knew the Hive World had been secured and had no word on the other two planets' fate.
"After you left, we continued the fight until we purged the heretical rebels from the entire system," Klein said, taking a sip of his drink. "But the Inquisitors scrutinized us closely. Fortunately, we avoided heresy charges, and the Governor truly earned his title as the ruler of Talon."
"A toast to him," Creed replied, draining his glass.
Klein wanted Creed to open Qin Mo's letter, but before he could suggest it, Creed started recounting his experiences since leaving Talon: battles across the Empire. Though the power armor had served him well, the harshness of war left only five survivors among the original Cadian cohort that had once strayed into the Talon system. Creed was one of them.
"I'm sorry, friend," Klein said, patting his shoulder and offering a few words of sympathy.
When they'd finished, Klein urged him, "You should read the Governor's letter."
"What could be so important?" Creed had assumed it was merely a nostalgic missive. But, noting Klein's seriousness, he took out the letter and examined it closely.
Inside was a small chip that scanned his iris, projecting the text before his eyes.
"Classic Talon tech," he mused, though his smile faded as he read, replaced by concern and shock.
The message revealed two things. The first: the Plague of Faithlessness, something Creed knew well. The plague had spread in Talon long after it had already plagued the Cadian Gate for years; he'd even heard tales of it from his elders in his youth.
The second matter was more obscure: a prediction that, in a few years, the Voskani Horse Guard would mutiny when the Cadian Shock Troops were summoned back to Cadia, assassinating the Governor and key high-ranking officers upon arrival, sparking the enemy's grand campaign.
Having once fought alongside the Voskani, Creed had always found them unsettling but never suspected they'd commit such treachery.
"Perhaps the Talon Lord's vision is true," Creed muttered grimly, setting fire to the chip with his lighter.
Klein, perplexed by Creed's reaction, said nothing.
Creed drew deeply on a cigar, frowning, then asked, "Even if I knew of this… what could I do? Could I single-handedly convince Cadia to prepare against this prophecy, or sway the Governor himself?"
Klein was bewildered, unaware of the letter's contents and unable to grasp Creed's meaning.
"It took me forty years to become a general, yet all I can command are my own men; I have no authority over anyone else," Creed continued, frustrated.
To accuse a regiment of treason would trigger an intense investigation, and if no evidence were found, he would face severe punishment. Such an accusation would stir factional strife within the Imperial forces, possibly escalating to armed conflict.
Creed dared not consider the fallout should he raise the issue with his superiors—assuming the Voskani were indeed traitors.
"The Talon Lord overestimates me. I am no one of great importance, merely a soldier," Creed lamented.
Klein, still lost, recalled a message from the Governor and passed it along: "The Governor says he fully supports you. Just remember your agreement."
"To aid me in fighting the Emperor's battles? I don't understand why he values me so much…" Creed took a drag on his cigar and lapsed into thought.
After nearly an hour of contemplation, Creed realized the Governor wasn't asking him to prevent the Voskani mutiny but to prepare.
"I understand now," he nodded, gazing at Klein. "Tell the Talon Lord that I know not my future role, but I'll be ready for any impending calamity."
"May the Emperor protect you," Klein replied, rising to leave.
After Klein departed, he regrouped with his men, ready to depart but soon found himself surrounded by officers.
They bombarded him with questions: When would he return? Could they place advance orders for power armor?
It took considerable effort to fend them off, but as he turned toward the transport, he heard swift footsteps approaching.
"Apologies, but we're sold out of power armor," he called, heading for the transport without looking back.
"I'm not here for power armor," a clear woman's voice responded behind him.
Klein froze and turned, stunned to see Vanessa, who had vanished from the fortress earlier. Now she was garbed in the uniform of an officer of the 8th Cadian Shock Troop.
Vanessa removed her cap and saluted him. "Would you take me to the Talon Lord?"