In the fortress world of Cadia, the number of psykers has remained steadfastly at zero for three days, instilling hope that this war might indeed end in victory if defenses hold. The Talon Navy hasn't engaged the enemy since, and the Cadia Strike Force and Talon Army occupy the fortress, conducting mundane tactical exchanges that now feel increasingly redundant.
The only sign of ongoing activity is the relentless shuttling of Talon freighters through the Cadia system—civilian vessels once dedicated to the Talon Sector's logistics, now enlisted to ferry Imperial reinforcements to Cadia under Qin Mo's orders. Leading the convoy is Klein, joined by a woman whose presence he finds distinctly unpleasant.
"Lord Wolf, I realize you're reluctant to let your troops board Talon vessels to Cadia," she pressed, "but consider that you and your battalion are still a hundred light-years away. Meanwhile, Cadia has already endured multiple battles. We must reach it swiftly."
"I swear by the Throne, there won't be any issues."
Surrounded by six space wolves, Vanessa stood undaunted before Sven Bloodhowl, one of the Wolf Lords, who regarded her unwaveringly as she argued her case. Vanessa was not only trying to convince Sven but also other Imperial Guard legions, Space Marine chapters, and even some of the Titan legions from the Mechanicum.
Sven stroked his beard as he glared down at her. "By the Throne, you say? What right do you have to swear by it?"
Before Vanessa could respond, Klein approached, remarking, "Talon ships utilize dimension engines, sanctioned by the Imperium. They are proven technology, worthy of trust."
"Don't think you can fool me," Sven countered, shaking his head. "The Imperium and Mechanicus are still evaluating dimension engines. Until they deem them reliable, I find them hard to trust."
As Klein began to press further, Vanessa signaled for him to let her handle it. She gestured towards the transport, her eyes gleaming with a faint golden light as she deployed her psyker abilities to persuade the obstinate Wolf Lord. "Please, board the ship."
Sven gave a vigorous nod. "Of course, my lady." He gestured for his men to follow him onto the transport, which soon departed for the freighter stationed in orbit.
"Why didn't you just do that from the start?" Klein grumbled, glancing at Vanessa in exasperation.
There was little she could say. Using psychic influence on a person's mind often had lasting consequences, and the next time she encountered the Wolf Lord, she would undoubtedly face his wrath. Best to avoid such measures on those with high rank if possible.
"Do you still need me to convince others who are reluctant to board?" Vanessa inquired.
"Yes," Klein nodded. "The good news is that two chapter librarians have already convinced their superiors to board the freighters. However, they had one peculiar request."
"What request?" Vanessa asked.
Klein frowned, recalling the report from Freighter 17's captain. "They've requested that I immediately inform Talon's High Lord of a prophecy—a meteor flying through the Warp, its destination Cadia."
Vanessa fell silent, pondering the meaning of a meteor bound for Cadia, traveling through the Warp. She doubted it was a literal meteor and suspected it to be something akin to a soul projection, yet the prophecy's purpose eluded her. She shared her thoughts with Klein, who promptly relayed her message to the Astral Engine.
* * *
A week passed in the blink of an eye. Cadia stood unbroken.
One by one, Talon freighters returned from transporting reinforcements, deploying soldiers from the Imperial Guard and Space Marine chapters across the planet.
Creed sat alone in his office, meticulously arranging a plan to deploy these forces to optimal positions. "Given the relative vulnerability of Evan's Bastion, would you say it's wise to clear a space for teleportation there?" he asked as he wrote.
"It may well be necessary," Qin Mo responded with a nod. "If our enemies can ignore the Talon Navy's fleet and the Astral Engine to reach Cadia directly, then, yes, it is essential."
Creed realized that Qin Mo still harbored doubts about the necessity of transporting reinforcements to Cadia. As Qin Mo had observed, the Talon Fleet's unique defensive strategies fortified Cadia, while the planet's land defenses included over a hundred Talon regiments, a Titan legion from Agripinaa, two additional Titan legions, and nearly all the Cadia Strike Force.
Creed, however, believed such reinforcements were warranted. As the Supreme Commander, he could not rest without ensuring every strategic possibility was covered. "Frankly, Cadia's defenses are formidable; not even a hundred Voskani Riders could breach them. But as Supreme Commander, I can't rest until every angle is accounted for."
Qin Mo nodded in agreement. "I didn't mean to be dismissive," he replied. "Before, I didn't think bringing reinforcements to Cadia was strictly necessary, but since the psyker gate incident, I see its importance."
Creed resumed his writing, pausing as a thought struck him. "A week ago, Klein sent us a message containing a prophecy…"
"To be honest, I'm at a loss," Qin Mo sighed. Ever since receiving Klein's forewarning, the Astral Engine's entire computation force had been dedicated to deciphering its meaning, yet no answers emerged. The Warp and its esoteric prophecies never failed to frustrate.
In fact, Qin Mo had even sought the guidance of the Simulacrum in the Talon system to foretell the future. Yet it saw nothing amiss, predicting only tranquility for Cadia. The only option left was to prepare for any eventuality.
Thus, Qin Mo had come to believe Cadia truly needed these reinforcements.