The eternal crusade and its escort fleet forcibly exited the Warp, returning to the cold, silent real universe.
The brief period of safe travel did not bring any relaxation; urgent battle damage assessment and communication links rapidly commenced.
The compiled intelligence immediately made Sigismund and Osiris realize that the recent crisis was not an isolated incident.
The fleet's communication channels were filled with chaos and bad news: astropaths on other escort ships experienced varying degrees of loss of control and mutation almost simultaneously.
Frantic Psionicist screams, reports of internal firefights, and brief but intense descriptions of mutations painted a picture of fleet-wide disaster.
Fortunately, apart from the eternal crusade, the crew and attached Battle-Brothers on other ships eventually managed to control or even eliminate the corrupted astropaths on their respective vessels, though the process was brutal and came at a significant cost in casualties.
However, two unfortunate pieces of news still arrived—two frigates failed to successfully exit the Warp.
Their last signals vanished in the churning energy currents, along with all souls on board; their fate was already sealed.
The losses were heavy.
The complete collapse of the astropath system meant that the entire fleet had completely lost the ability to safely conduct long-distance Warp travel until a replacement could be found.
They were stranded in this nameless star system.
Sigismund's expression was ashen.
He stood on the bridge, gazing at the sparse starlight outside the main viewscreen, and quickly issued orders: "Assess all losses, prioritize repairing structural damage to the warships. Broadcast a top-priority communication, contact the nearest Imperial world; we need astropaths—at any cost."
Osiris' mechanical body stood silently to the side, data streams silently surging behind his optical lenses.
He accessed the fleet's Cogitator network, beginning to analyze the current star system coordinates and potential Imperial strongholds or Adeptus Mechanicus facilities, attempting to find the coordinates for real-space travel to the nearest world possessing a astropath clan branch.
Osiris' rapidly completed star chart analysis yielded a crucial discovery: their Warp exit location was not entirely random; there happened to be a space station belonging to the Vellestar astropaths' Dynasty in a nearby star system.
This was undoubtedly a blessing in disguise.
The fleet immediately adjusted course, heading towards that star system.
The space station floated solitarily at the edge of the star system, its architectural style imbued with the unique mystery and reclusiveness of astropath families; massive observation domes and Psionicist amplifiers shimmered faintly under the starlight.
The fleet halted at a safe distance outside the space station.
Sigismund, in the name of the Grand Marshal of the eternal crusade and Primarch Dorn, sent a Astropathic communication to the space station, demanding that they immediately provide at least one experienced astropath to assist the fleet in its crucial journey to Holy Terra.
After the message was sent, there was only waiting.
On the bridge, Sigismund and Osiris both knew that the other party could not refuse a direct request from an Imperial Fists Primarch, especially one bearing a mission of the Emperor's will.
But astropath clans had always been known for their reclusiveness and inscrutability; no one could predict whether they would impose certain conditions, or if the process would encounter unexpected complications.
Time passed in the silent void, each second feeling somewhat prolonged.
Everyone's gaze was focused on the sensor feedback, awaiting the response from the silent space station.
—
The Vellestar astropaths' Dynasty's response was quicker than expected.
An encrypted Astropathic message was directly transmitted to the eternal crusade, concise and clear: inviting Sigismund and Magos Osiris to personally visit the space station.
There were no superfluous pleasantries, nor any mention of the specific conditions for providing a astropath.
This in itself seemed somewhat unusual.
After a brief discussion, Sigismund and Osiris decided to accept the invitation.
A lean escort team personally led by Sigismund, along with Osiris' massive mechanical body, boarded a Thunderhawk Gunship, departed the battleship, and headed towards the astropath space station suspended alone in the void.
The internal structure of the space station was filled with a style distinct from Imperial warships or Adeptus Mechanicus facilities; corridors wound, lighting was dim, and walls were adorned with incomprehensible Psionicist symbols.
They were led to a spacious area resembling an audience chamber.
Greeting them there was not an ordinary spokesperson or elder of the clan, but the contemporary "astropath" of that clan.
The astropath was dressed in luxurious and strange attire, his forehead covered by a jewel-encrusted headband, beneath which was his closed, power-infused Third Eye.
His demeanor carried an innate nobility, as well as a certain inhuman detachment.
As the purest-blooded and most Psionicist-potential individual within the Vellestar astropaths' Dynasty, the astropath was usually regarded as the future clan Head and spiritual leader; his personal appearance undoubtedly indicated the importance of this matter within the clan.
Osiris' sensors silently recorded every detail of the astropath.
He knew that astropaths, in order to maintain their unique Psionicist talent and Third Eye, had to strictly practice endogamy within the clan.
Any union with outsiders, especially with ordinary humans lacking Psionicist potential, would either result in the birth of common offspring with no special traits, leading to bloodline dilution; or, under the intervention of Chaos, give rise to unspeakable abominations.
Based on his past research, he was inwardly convinced that astropaths were essentially a special Psionicist subspecies of humanity, specifically engineered through genetic engineering techniques during the Dark Age of Technology, their genome deliberately modified to suit the demands of Warp navigation.
However, the long era of the Old Night had buried too much knowledge, and even the astropaths themselves, through tens of thousands of years of continuous contact with the Warp, had inevitably had their genetic sequences eroded and twisted, becoming increasingly unstable, and their appearance increasingly deviating from pure human form, tending towards the unspeakable.
The astropath before him was a living testament to this contradictory combination of "purity" and "mutation."
The astropath stood in the center of the audience chamber, the jewel headband on his forehead glowing faintly in the dim light, beneath which was the Third Eye that sustained the clan's destiny and power.
His gaze—those eyes that seemed to contain the trajectories of star seas—calmly passed over Sigismund, finally resting on Osiris' massive mechanical body.
Without pleasantries or probing, the heir of the Vellestar astropaths' Dynasty spoke, his voice carrying an inhuman ethereal quality, yet directly addressing the core: "Magos Osiris, we are aware of the changes you bring.
I ask only once, and require only one true answer—when the new navigation methods become widespread throughout the Imperium, where will my clan... the astropaths, belong? In the future star charts you envision, will Vellestar still have a place?"
The astropath's question came so directly, as if he had already glimpsed a possibility through the veil of the Warp.
Osiris' voice showed no hesitation. He did not ask how the other party knew, nor was he surprised by this extraordinary insight. He simply accepted the question calmly, neither exaggerating nor concealing: "The new navigation method will indeed change the Imperium, but it is not omnipotent.
Its maximum speed is approximately a thousand times the speed of light. For distances spanning the entire galaxy, this is not enough to completely replace the existing system that relies on Warp jumps for ultra-long-distance travel."
His crimson optical lenses were steadily fixed on the astropath as he continued to analyze with a rational tone: "More importantly, during the long process of promoting the new navigation method, the Imperium will face a fundamental problem—we lack precise star charts of the physical universe.
For ten millennia, all the Imperium's star charts have been drawn based on Warp routes and the psychic projection of the astronomican.
To plan a safe and reliable superluminal route in the physical universe, we still need the unique talents of the astropaths, we need you to perceive the astronomican to calibrate our direction to Holy Terra, and even other distant worlds, in the vast reality."
He paused briefly, offering a crucial addition for the astropaths: "Of course, if this conventional Warp travel is adopted, astropaths will no longer need to expose their psychic eyes directly to the maelstrom of the Warp.
They can perform navigation work in a much safer environment, without constantly facing the evil and madness within."
This answer, frank and pragmatic, pointed out the inevitability of change, clarified the irreplaceable value of astropaths, and partially liberated them from their most dangerous duties.
The astropath was silent for a moment, his inhuman face difficult to read for specific emotions.
He slightly tilted his head, seemingly engaging in a silent psychic communication with the Vellestar astropaths' Dynasty elders participating in the meeting from the shadows behind him.
After a moment, the astropath turned back to Osiris and Sigismund, making his decision: "Your honesty has earned our respect and shown us a path of coexistence.
The Vellestar astropaths' Dynasty agrees to provide the necessary astropaths for the eternal crusade and the Black Templars fleet, assisting you in completing your journey to Holy Terra."
—
With the strong support of the Vellestar astropaths' Dynasty, the eternal crusade and the Black Templars fleet swiftly replenished their crucial astropaths.
The Dynasty not only provided several experienced astropaths to be assigned to various ships, but unexpectedly, the esteemed astropath Alaric Vellestar astropaths decided to personally board the eternal crusade, guiding the entire fleet with his exceptional psychic talent.
After the astropath boarded, Sigismund and Osiris had a brief meeting with him in the tactical briefing room next to the bridge.
"Your Eminence, astropath," Sigismund began directly, with a hint of scrutiny in his tone, "knowing that the previous astropaths collectively met with misfortune, your personal boarding of the ship—this resolve is admirable, but also raises questions. Why is the Vellestar astropaths' Dynasty willing to take such a great risk?"
Alaric Vellestar astropaths responded calmly, his voice carrying the ethereal resonance unique to astropaths: "Lord Sigismund, risks always exist, but the risk of stagnation is greater.
Magos Osiris has shown us a path that does not completely exclude our people, a path that might allow my kin to avoid walking on the edge of madness.
This hope is worth the Vellestar astropaths' Dynasty staking everything on.
And I have come personally, both to ensure the absolute success of the voyage and to witness firsthand... if this hope is real."
His gaze turned to Osiris, and the brow band where his third eye was located seemed to glow faintly.
Osiris' synthesized voice rang out steadily: "Hope is built on a pragmatic foundation. Our previous discussions were all based on evaluations at the practical and technical level. Your Eminence, astropath, your presence will greatly enhance our ability to cope with the uncertainties of the Warp."
Alaric nodded slightly: "That is precisely my duty. So, let us begin this journey."
The fleet set off again, leaping into the Warp, which was still turbulent but whose direction was now clear.
With the astropath personally overseeing the astropath Spire, guiding the course with his pure bloodline and firm will, far surpassing his peers, the initial leg of the journey was exceptionally smooth.
However, in the latter half of the journey, Alaric Vellestar astropaths sent a communication to the bridge: "Detecting a large-scale Warp energy aggregation ahead. But its structure... is unusual."
As he said, an unprecedented disturbance rippled beyond the dimensions.
It was not born from the fury of Chaos, but rather resembled a mark etched by some ancient will in the boundless chaos.
This power approached silently, not tearing at the senses like a common storm, but rather like a pervasive presence, gently enveloping the entire fleet into a surreal domain.
The usual profane colors of the outside world, representing disorder and malice—the swirling purples, sickly greens, and angry crimson—were diluted and purified here.
In their place was a grander, almost indifferent visual symphony: silver eddies like liquid memories slowly rotated in a pale golden halo, interspersed with points of light that were not stars, yet more constant than stars.
They arranged themselves into patterns that defied all geometric common sense yet contained profound laws, like maintaining silent singularities amidst eternal clamor.
It had no sound, yet it seemed to directly tap into consciousness; it had no form, yet one could "feel" a guided flow.
The mad whispers that typically tried to bore into the mind's crevices during normal Warp travel were here drowned out by a more vast, more ancient "silence."
This silence was not an absence of sound, but rather absorbed and reconfigured all extraneous noise into a unidirectional, undeniable will to propel.
The fleet was no longer struggling against raging waves, but was placed on a smooth track constructed of pure intent, "gliding" towards its sole destination in a manner that transcended the concept of speed.
"No need to worry," Alaric's voice came through the comms, with a hint of surprise and absolute confirmation, "This energy flow... it bears no malice. It is guiding us, pushing us.
I have never seen such a... docile yet powerful Warp tide. It is opening an unprecedented fast track for us."
This torrent, guided and tamed by an invisible force, propelled the fleet through the Warp's waves at an unprecedented speed, defying physical laws. The vast distances that would normally take a long time to cross were now greatly compressed.
When the eternal crusade's prow once again tore through the veil of the real universe, emerging from the Warp, the planet bathed in the golden light of the astronomican, carrying the Imperium of Man's central hub—Holy Terra—was already suspended directly ahead in the main view.
They had reached their destination with incredible efficiency.
This journey, once fraught with obstacles and nearly aborted, finally concluded in such a way, almost as if "escorted."
This abnormal smoothness, along with the peculiar Warp storm that the astropath personally confirmed as "harmless" and "guiding," subtly pointed to a possibility beyond mortal comprehension—the Emperor's will had perhaps already paved the final path for this fleet carrying crucial information.