Lukovus' question made everyone tense up, except Talos who still had that calm attitude.
Later, he replied with an elaborative tone:
"I can't tell for sure. Maybe a few hours, maybe a few days. Everything depends on the power they use to hunt us. Assuming they land an army, we may not be able to hold on for too long, but at least it will be better than in a battle." A fair fight bleeds more brutally, hours and days are longer than minutes, and I know which one I will choose.”
After hearing his words, the warriors leaned forward with weapons in hand - the atmosphere changed, all reluctance disappeared.
Talos continued.
"It's also unlikely that the Cursed Echoes will survive. Once the Eldar are free of the Scream's influence, it will stick to us like a second skin. Everyone who wants to survive must be ready to evacuate the ship, and then In order to prevent the orbital station from causing us more trouble, I will let the Cursed Echo crash into it."
"What about the crew? How many souls are on board?"
"We can't be sure, maybe 20,000 or 30,000."
"We can't evacuate that many people, and we can't afford to have essential crew members leave their posts. What would you say to them?"
"Say nothing."
Talos answered frankly.
"As captain, I will stay on the bridge with them until the very end.
That way the crew wouldn't realize the Legion was abandoning them. "
"How cold-blooded."
Selion made a teasing comment, which caused laughter all around.
Talos just rolled his eyes helplessly.
"A necessary act, thinking this is a last-ditch battle, and no one will be spared... The First Talon will stay with me to arrange the final surprise for our Eldar, and the rest of you will descend to the planet via lander and Thunderhawk surface, and then establish a stronghold ready for whatever comes next.”
Talos put his hands on the imaging device with a solemn tone.
"But everyone must remember that even if we escape the catastrophe of the Eldar, the empire's punishment will come soon. Don't think about being able to escape unscathed... This may sound bad, but at least the empire will find it. We remain survivors on the planet and spread our deeds, but the Eldar have no mercy on humanity, they come for our flesh and blood."
Lukovus smiled evilly.
"All of a sudden, you're talking about survival? Man, what are the chances that we're going to survive?"
Talos' only reply was an unusually unpleasant smile.
A few hours later, the Prophet walked with Valiel through his private apothecary. The facilities here were more specific in scope than those of the Mechanic Bishop, and there were far fewer slaves and servants.
“How many jobs do you want me to give up?”
Valier's voice was filled with reluctance. Beside him, the servitors were busy carrying the Petri dishes and the sleeping Transformers in them.
Talos kept looking at the people in the petri dish, those teenagers.
"Valiel, listen to me—for a moment."
"I'm listening."
"You can't fight with us on Nathan Six."
Valier's ice-blue eyes slowly narrowed and he stared at Talos coldly.
"You told a funny joke."
"No kidding, Valier, you hold the key to the future of the legion. I want to send you away before the battle. Dietrian's spaceship can fly in subspace... You go with him, your instruments and your Work results also mean something.”
"No, I refuse."
"This is not a debate, this is not a sharing of opinions, man, this is an order."
"No."
Valiel tore the flayed skin from his visor to reveal a winged skull beneath - the symbol of the Eighth Legion looking back at Talos through its sunken eye sockets.
"I, like you, wear the badge of the Eighth Legion, and I will fight with you until death, in that worthless little world."
"You don't owe me anything, Valier... not anymore."
This time Valier looked almost stunned.
"Owe you? Owe you!? Is this how you view our brotherhood? A series of favors that need to be repaid? I will stand with you because we are all soldiers of the Eighth Legion! Brother, Talos, we They are comrades who will accompany you in life and death.”
"I appreciate your approval, but not this time."
"you can not--"
"I can do whatever I want. Captain Markarian agrees with me, so I decided like this. Moreover, there is no extra space on Dietrian's ship to accommodate more than ten warriors. It is best to use To house relics that must be returned to the Legion, you and your work must be protected first."
Valere took a breath.
"Have you ever realized how often you interrupt people? It's almost as annoying as Ursus' constant licking of his teeth."
"I will remember."
Talos replied.
"I will spend the rest of my life trying to remedy this alarming character flaw... Now, are you ready? If I give you 12 hours and as many servants as you want, can you promise Load all your equipment on Dietrian's ship?"
Valere bared his teeth and gave an unusual smile.
"Can."
"That's good. Speaking of which, I haven't seen you lose your temper yet."
Valere rubbed his closed eyes with his fingertips.
"You ask too much of me."
"Is that so? By the way, I need you to do something else, Valier."
The pharmacist met the prophet's eyes again and felt some uneasiness in the other person's tone.
"What?"
"After you leave, I want you to find Malek of the Black Armor Guard."
Valere raised a thin eyebrow.
"I will never return to the Maelstrom again, Talos. Huron will chop my head off."
"I don't believe that Malek would leave Huron there, nor do I believe that the Black Armored Guards would be willing to join the Blood Reavers. They must have boarded the Red Pirates' ship for another reason, although I don't know what the reason is, but No matter what happens I believe in him... If you can find him, tell him that the plan worked, that Markaryon has been reborn, and that the War Philosopher continues to command, leading the Tenth Company once again on the final night."
"I'm going to pretend I don't understand these words, which are very much like last words... is that all?"
"Also, apologize to him on my behalf."
Valier looked at Talos deeply, and then nodded slowly.
"That's all fine, but Dietrian's ship can't go very far. It's too small for long-distance voyages, and we all know that."
"It doesn't have to go far, it just needs to get out of here."
Valere snorted dissatisfied.
"The Eldar may catch up with us."
"Yeah, they might, so, any other complaints? You're wasting the last bit of time I can give you."
"Where's Octavia? How can we sail the Sea of Souls without a pilot."
Talos smiled.
"Because of this, she will go with you."
