The Emperor’s Angel of Death

After Talos mentioned the name Asuryan, Soshjan first nodded in silence, then slowly said:

"Fan told me that aside from Macardo's group and the evil gods of the Warp, there is an invisible hand behind the whole plan. I feel that this invisible hand is Asuryan, although it should no longer exist. However, the Aeldari are very good at prophecy, and it also—"

Seeing Soshjan suddenly stop, Talos asked in confusion.

"Also what?"

Soshjan thought for a few seconds, feeling that the matters of the Seer were too mysterious and difficult to explain in a few words, so he shook his head and said:

"Its consciousness may still exist, because sometimes I can see its memories."

Talos laughed and said:

"If it still exists, I think the one who devoured the Aeldari Empire should be the most anxious. Why bother yourself with worries? However, your analysis is also very reasonable. Everything about the Aleksei family is certainly not entirely accidental. But Soshjan, you must understand one thing: no matter how perfect and complete a plan is, once its process becomes very long and complex, and the number of participants increases, then any tiny accidental factor may cause a ripple, thereby changing the entire course of the plan. Even if there really is a force that has been plotting the fate of the Aleksei family since the time of the Old Ones, it may have been completely changed by many accidental events in the middle. Just as you said yourself, the death of Orod may be a major turning point. Since the Emperor knew about the existence of the Greymarrow, He could not have ignored it. But similarly, He also had His own unexpected events. That's how things are. Everyone thinks they are the chess player, but in fact, everyone may be trapped beasts in a cage. The word 'unknowable' is the most unpredictable force in the universe."

"Unknowable?"

Soshjan looked at Talos and suddenly laughed.

"Brother, I thought you stopped believing in this kind of talk a long time ago."

"Whether you believe it or not, the more you understand the so-called prophecies, the more you understand the weight of the word 'unknowable'. The world is never a chessboard. I think the description of Chaos is quite appropriate—order with disorder, inevitability intertwined with chance. So the key is to grasp your own direction. Start from wherever you want to start, and don't presuppose any position. This may sound a bit harsh to you, but you should already realize that this is no longer just your own business. Whether it's the Imperium or the Aeldari, there is ultimately a ruler in your heart to measure things. External interference is always secondary. You need to know what you really want to do."

Soshjan nodded and said slowly:

"I feel that the clues on the Imperium's side are almost at an end, and there are too many things that are true and false. I don't want to be led by people who are neither friend nor foe anymore. I want to start from the Aeldari's side. As the Phoenix Lord, it's more convenient to do anything. I plan to set off for the Brackato system tomorrow or the day after. I may have to stay there for a while, and also check on the situation of Ulan Hudah and the White Templars. I'll have to ask you to help Ustad with the affairs of the Chapter Monastery. Also, I plan to transfer Arash and his company over."

Soshjan had this idea a long time ago. Although the White Templars had "returned" to the Legion a long time ago, they had been managed and operated independently for a long time. When Landale was still alive, Soshjan wanted to respect this "veteran" and "senior" as much as possible. However, in the long run, this kind of divided management can easily lead to factionalism or even cliques in the future. Although the two Chapters have always had personnel exchanges, the number has always been limited, and there have been no major changes in the core command layer.

Soshjan doesn't even know much about the current personnel and equipment of the White Templars. Some of the data is still from the Great Maelstrom Crusade.

If he wants to build a close-knit Legion, this situation must be changed. Of course, he doesn't plan to completely merge the two Chapters together now, because there is no urgent need for it. But the command layers of the two Chapters must have some flow.

To put it bluntly, he wants to transfer Arash away for a period of time, and Soshjan personally, or rather, entrusts others to manage the White Templars, fully grasping and understanding the internal situation of the Chapter, including the relationships between the various company commanders and the rumors among the warriors.

Of course, there must be a title, because if he just transfers people away like this, it will easily cause doubts among the warriors, and may also make Arash feel resentful. Therefore, Soshjan plans to let him concurrently serve as the "Temporary Chapter Master of the Astral Knights" with the Legion position of Chiliarch. During his absence from the Neson system, he will come to Neson IV to temporarily preside over the management affairs of the Chapter Monastery, including the star system. And the one who will assist him is naturally Ustad.

But Arash will not hold this position for too long, because in about a year, he will go to the Scar of Victory to replace Malakin as the rotating leader of the Alliance of Suffering. In reality, he may not stay on Neson Planet for more than six months.

So the real manager of the Neson system and the Chapter is still Ustad.

Talos naturally knew Soshjan's thoughts and nodded.

"I know, the Chapter's situation is very complicated now. I will assist him. But there is one person I think you can also try."

Soshjan thought for a while and said:

"Bahram?"

"Yes, he is currently training new recruits, and the Chapter's affairs are not so heavy. Perhaps you can try to let him help Ustad manage the administrative affairs of the star system."

"You think he can do it?"

"It won't hurt to try."

"Then let's do that. I'll tell Ustad."

"There's one more thing—"

Talos stopped halfway through his words. Soshjan looked at him and didn't ask, as if giving his close friend time to think.

"This matter is my idea,"

Talos said first.

"I want to retrieve the Nightfall."

"Nightfall?"

Soshjan spent two seconds thinking about the meaning of this name.

"The original flagship of the Eighth Legion? Is it still there? I remember the Imperial records said it was destroyed before the end of the Battle of Terra."

Talos sneered.

"Can the Imperial records be trusted? It's still there, in the hands of that bastard Jago Sevatarion, probably. I guess."

"Jago Sevatarion... I think you mentioned this person before. After Sevatar disappeared, he killed the Primarch's aide, Shen, and seized control of the Eighth Legion. He's not dead? A scourge really lives for a thousand years."

"Not dead, but almost. He became a Daemon Prince, and most likely dragged the Nightfall into the Warp as his lair or palace—"

Soshjan frowned.

"Soaked in the Warp for ten thousand years and occupied by a Daemon Prince, is such a ship still meaningful? Like the Terminus Est, it may have long been riddled with holes by the forces of Chaos."