Chapter 8: Exploring the Starship
The morning sun rose once more, casting its golden rays over the desolate landscape. Setting off again, Fei sped along the path marked by scattered starship debris. No longer needing to frequently adjust their direction, Fei's pace quickened considerably. As a skilled rider, Fei deftly maneuvered the motorcycle, weaving through the obstacles on the ground with ease.
The fierce wind whipped against Fu Qinghai's face, causing his scarf to flutter noisily. He clung tightly to Fei's waist, using the journey to ponder the challenges that lay ahead—the Space Marines aboard the starship.
At the inception of the Space Marine Legions, there were twenty in total. Two of these had been expunged from Imperial records, their fates unknown. Of the remaining eighteen, Fu Qinghai knew that half had turned traitor during the Horus Heresy.
Fu Qinghai had no idea which Legion's Space Marines he might encounter. With time to spare, he allowed his thoughts to wander, ranking the Legions from best to worst-case scenarios.
The Best-Case Scenario:
- Thirteenth Legion: Ultramarines
- Eighteenth Legion: Salamanders
These two Legions were renowned for their relatively friendly attitudes towards baseline humans. The Salamanders, due to their gene-seed, had dark skin. They were known for their compassion, often going out of their way to minimize civilian casualties during battles.
The Ultramarines, Fu Qinghai's favorite Legion, were celebrated for their administrative prowess. Unlike other Legions, the Ultramarines swiftly established efficient administrative systems on conquered worlds, rapidly restoring post-war productivity. This meticulous governance provided them with a vast pool of recruits, making them the most numerous of all the Legions.
The Ultramarines emphasized meticulous planning, tactical coordination, and thorough intelligence gathering, aligning closely with Fu Qinghai's ideal of a modern military. This approach made them one of the most effective Legions during the Great Crusade.
Recalling Lazlo's dying words about a "white demon," Fu Qinghai noted with some regret that neither the Ultramarines nor the Salamanders wore white armor. The Ultramarines' armor was blue with gold trim, while the Salamanders' was green.
The Second Tier:
- First Legion: Dark Angels
- Fifth Legion: White Scars
- Sixth Legion: Space Wolves
- Seventh Legion: Imperial Fists
- Ninth Legion: Blood Angels
- Tenth Legion: Iron Hands
- Nineteenth Legion: Raven Guard
These Legions were indifferent to baseline humans, viewing themselves as superior beings. While disdain for mortals was common among their ranks, they had remained loyal during the Horus Heresy, aligning with Fu Qinghai's own faction.
The Blood Angels, despite their relative friendliness towards humans, were plagued by a genetic flaw known as the "Red Thirst," which could drive them into a berserk state of bloodlust. Given the sensitive timing of the Heresy, Fu Qinghai deemed it best to avoid them, hence their placement in the second tier.
The Third Tier:
- Third Legion: Emperor's Children
- Fourth Legion: Iron Warriors
- Fourteenth Legion: Death Guard
- Fifteenth Legion: Thousand Sons
- Seventeenth Legion: Word Bearers
- Twentieth Legion: Alpha Legion
- Sixteenth Legion: Luna Wolves (later Sons of Horus)
These Legions had sided with Horus during the Heresy. While initially, their motivations might have been rooted in their own sense of justice, by the later stages of the conflict, many had fallen to Chaos, becoming twisted, demonic entities consumed by a desire for slaughter.
The Worst-Case Scenario:
- Eighth Legion: Night Lords
- Twelfth Legion: World Eaters
The Night Lords were infamous for their use of terror, torture, and assassination, while the World Eaters were a legion of bloodthirsty berserkers, driven by the Butcher's Nails implanted in their skulls. Encountering either of these Legions would be a nightmare, and Fu Qinghai had no desire to play the double agent among such fanatics.
As Fu Qinghai pondered these possibilities, Fei brought the motorcycle to a skidding halt. "A Luo, look!" she exclaimed, pointing towards a distant black mound.
Fu Qinghai wiped the water that had splashed onto his face and peered into the distance. The mound was no natural formation—it was the wreckage of a starship. Through his binoculars, he could see the massive vessel lying on its side, its hull split open, with debris spilling out like a ramp. The ship's bridge had collapsed, and its engines were scattered across the ground.
The ship appeared to be a frigate, approximately two kilometers long. Whether it had crash-landed or been shot down was unclear.
"The motorcycle's engine is too loud. We'll go on foot," Fu Qinghai decided. They hid the bike behind a large rock and stealthily approached the wreckage.
As they drew closer, the absence of any signs of life became increasingly eerie. The only sounds were the wind whistling through the twisted metal and the occasional spark from severed cables.
Reaching the base of the debris ramp, they found it to be the only viable entry point. With the memory of the ill-fated expedition of the Hiddrick gang fresh in their minds, they proceeded with caution.
Fei whispered into Fu Qinghai's ear, "Still no sign of anyone. Should we go in?"
Fu Qinghai glanced at the dark, gaping maw of the ship's hull. "No, Fei, wait here. I'll go in alone."
"But—" Fei began to protest, but Fu Qinghai gently covered her mouth.
"Trust me," he said firmly. Reluctantly, she nodded and released her grip on his clothes.
Removing his scarf and headgear, Fu Qinghai began to climb the debris ramp. Under Fei's watchful gaze, he moved carefully, trying to avoid making any noise. His hands gripped a protruding piece of metal, and his feet found purchase on a chunk of ornate marble.
Suddenly, the marble shifted, sending a cascade of debris tumbling down. Fu Qinghai froze, waiting for any reaction from the ship. When none came, he took a deep breath and continued his ascent.
Inside the ship, the environment was dimly lit by the sunlight streaming through the cracks in the hull. The vast interior was a maze of broken walkways, severed cables, and sparking electrical systems. The floor was stained with dried blood, and the walls bore the scorch marks of battle.
Then, Fu Qinghai saw the body.
It was Pabo, a member of the Hiddrick gang and one of the bullies who had tormented Locke. His lower half was missing, and his face was frozen in a mask of agony. His hands were stretched out towards the exit, as if he had been trying to crawl to safety.
Fu Qinghai felt a mix of satisfaction and dread. He stepped carefully over the body, avoiding the congealed blood, and decided to explore in the opposite direction.
As he tiptoed towards a half-open door, a cold voice echoed through the empty chamber.
"I see you, boy."
Fu Qinghai's blood ran cold. He turned his head slowly, his eyes drawn to a pile of shattered glass in the corner. There, amidst the fragments, was a single eye, staring directly at him.
***
P.S: For those who find it hard to keep track of all the Astartes Legions, the simplest way to somehow keep track of them is by their cultural themes like:
- Ultramarines: Late Era Romans
- Thousand Sons: Persian and Egyptian
- Space Wolves: Vikings
- White Scars: Mongols
and etc.
If you want to know more, you can search for it. There are a few threads on Reddit about this as well as some other sites.
***
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