Chapter 294: No Debt More Costly Than Favors (Patreon)

“Between becoming whole under another’s leash… or remaining broken yet free, I choose the former.” The flames dancing in the Burning One’s palm drifted toward Qin Mo like slivers of living sunfire.

“You’re… far more determined than I expected.” Qin Mo could scarcely understand the Burning One’s choice. Handing over a portion of its own C’tan essence, simply to become slightly more complete?

He had never promised the Burning One that he could help reclaim the shard held by the Silent King, supreme lord of the Necrons. And yet, the Burning One still chose to offer up part of itself.

It said more about the importance of wholeness to a Star God than any oath could.

The Burning One cast one last reluctant glance at the departing shard of its own nature, as though watching a severed limb drift away into eternity.

“So now… you’re not afraid I might slaughter a planet on a whim?”

Qin Mo nodded, then turned his gaze toward the Shapeshifter.

The Shapeshifter still regarded the Burning One with raw hostility, born from its fractured, chaotic memories.

Sensing Qin Mo’s gaze, the Shapeshifter shook its head. “I know I’m insane. Whatever I say, just… pretend you didn’t hear it.”

“You’re not insane, you’re just not whole," Qin Mo shook his head. “But it’s fine. I’ll help you.”

Looking between the Shapeshifter and the Burning One, Qin Mo suddenly understood the Burning One’s desperation, why it would willingly give up its own essence to inch closer to completeness.

A being born at the dawn of the universe, one of the primordial Star Gods, reduced to countless shards, driven mad by its own incompleteness, unable to distinguish real memory from delusion.

In theory, each C’tan shard possessed cataclysmic power, enough to reshape worlds. But a splinter that forgot what it was… forgot its own abilities… could even be frightened into retreat by nothing more than a Space Marine with a melta bomb.

That was the difference between wholeness and ruin. Between godhood and a cosmic ghost clutching borrowed identity.

“When can you start your research?” the Burning One asked, struggling to hide its urgency.

“Once we return to the Talon Sector. I’ll find you a home, somewhere hostile enough to keep humans away. Then I’ll begin studying how to reintegrate the two shards you’ve already have.” Qin Mo answered.

Truthfully, Qin Mo had no clear plan yet. But like many problems before, if he was willing to put in the effort, a solution would eventually emerge.

“Then when do we depart?” The Burning One could hardly contain its impatience.

Qin Mo was about to say immediately, but Grey’s voice crackled through the comm.

“Chapter Master Dante of the Blood Angels requests an audience.”

“…Very well. Bring him aboard the Celestial Engine.”

....

Moments later.

Dante and his entourage, travelling aboard a Talon Navy vessel that translated into the Infernis System. Their ship drifted toward the Celestial Engine, which was currently feeding raw power into its Dimensional Engine.

From the observation deck, they could see the star-sized construct without linking into ship systems.

It felt like travelling from planet to planet… except the destination “world” was entirely metallic and engineered. An artificial sphere large enough to warp one’s sense of scale.

The experience was wholly alien.

“A miracle of engineering.” Mephiston whispered as the Celestial Engine grew ever larger in the viewport. “No forge in the Imperium could conceive of such a thing… let alone birth it.”

“It dwarfs the Mount Pharos by leagues.” Dante arched a brow in agreement.

The Sanguinary Guard accompanying them stared in reverent silence. The Librarian had spoken true, this was no mere artifact. It was a miracle wrought into metal.

Even more shocking than its existence itself… was that someone had built it on purpose.

Perhaps it was meant to be a mobile homeworld. Or a means to secure absolute dominion over an entire star system. Or perhaps… simply to demonstrate power.

Whatever the reason, the Celestial Engine existed, and that fact alone was staggering.

Their vessel docked alongside the other warships resupplying the world-engine’s auxiliary structures. When traffic thickened, the Celestial Engine’s vast shield blinked off for a brief window, allowing the gathered fleet to pass safely into its orbit.

The guests transferred into a dropship, descending through the atmosphere. Through the windows, they saw titanic structures rising from the world-engine’s surface.

Cities. Fortresses. Shipyards. All colossal. All alive with purpose.

The dropship slid into a tower whose peak touched low orbit, navigating internal flight-lanes before settling onto one of tens of thousands of landing platforms.

Qin Mo and his Thunderborns stationed on the Celestial Engine awaited them outside.

Although neither Dante nor Qin Mo feared danger, both had brought their honor guards to maintain proper formality.

The ramp lowered. Dante’s party disembarked. Salutes were exchanged. Then they entered the tower.

Dante studied the Talon Thunderborns. He recognized Grey, who had spoken to him over comms, and examined their weaponry.

〈“Their skeletons are metal,”〉 Mephiston’s voice sounded silently in his mind, 〈“and their armor runs all the way into the braincase. Their life-signs are… muted. Almost like they’ve been rewritten.”〉

They had agreed beforehand to converse via psychic whisper to avoid… diplomatic complications.

They soon reached a teleport dais. A barrier field flared, and the next moment they were in a grand hall dominated by a long, black-metal table.

Everyone took their seats. Business began.

Dante wasted no time with formalities.

“We request the aid of the Talon Sector in rebuilding our fleet.”

This was the sole purpose of his visit.

The Baal’s Fleet was gone. Most of the strike cruisers of the Blood Angels and their successor Chapters had been annihilated during the conflict with the Tyranids. Replacements were desperately needed.

And only the Talon Sector could realistically rebuild a fleet in such a short timeframe. Their forges had shown the ability to fabricate hulls faster than most Imperial dockyards could produce armor plates.

Qin Mo didn’t agree or refuse. He simply… thought.

While Dante maintained his composure, he conversed silently with Mephiston.

〈“I believe the Lord of Talon will most likely agree,”〉 Mephiston whispered. 〈“The worst outcome is that he agrees… but names no price. That would bind us far more tightly than any bargain.”〉

Dante nodded faintly.

Ideally, Qin Mo would name his desired recompense. Whether that meant military support from the Blood Angels in some future campaign… or something else entirely.

That would be best. A debt clearly stated is a debt that can be repaid. No matter how high Qin Mo's request was, as long as it was met, they would be even.

The alternative was unspoken shackles. A favor owed to a rising power with unfathomable capabilities.

“Of course you may.” Qin Mo said at last with a smile.

Dante nodded expectantly, waiting for the second half of the sentence. But Qin Mo said nothing else.

“…What compensation does the Lord of Talon request?” Mephiston broke the silence.

“Compensation?” Qin Mo waved it off. “It’s just a few warships.”

“…Truly generous… ha… ha...” Mephiston laughed, painfully dry, glancing sideways at Dante.

His mind raced, nothing was ever ‘just’ a fleet in the Imperium.

Dante thought deeply, then exhaled.

There was no choice.

Yes, this would saddle the Blood Angels and their successors with a debt they might never be able to fully repay…

But what choice did they have?

Some successor Chapters had lost every vessel they possessed. They had left Baal only by borrowing ships from others.

To the Space Marine, voidcraft were not merely tools, they were the beating arteries of their Chapter. Without ships, a Space Marine force is a grounded, unable to answer threats or reinforce the Imperium.

Dante nodded slowly to Mephiston. The Chief Librarian produced a parchment and a quill.

The required classes of warships were already listed. Dante simply signed, then handed the document to Qin Mo.

Qin Mo had half-expected Dante to insist on explicit terms, perhaps even argue over them, to haggle at least.

But the Chapter Master had agreed instantly.

Which only revealed how grievously the Sons of Sanguinius had suffered in this war for Baal. Their pride had already bled out; now only duty kept them standing.