Warhammer 40k : Space Marine Kayvaan

"We're supposed to risk our lives to defend an archaeological site?" Kayvaan tilted his head, his tone flat. 'Honestly, I couldn't care less.' His thoughts mirrored his words. Not only was he uninterested, but if he had the choice, he'd leave immediately. Let the 101st Regiment fight to the death for Coca-Cola. It wasn't fear of combat that drove his apathy—it was practicality. If they won but found nothing of value, this whole endeavor would be a waste. Gustav had compared the excavation to buying a lottery ticket, and Kayvaan wasn't the gambling type. The odds of winning seemed far too slim.

What would history record as the Templars' first great victory? 'The warriors of the Knights Templar fought bravely on Aion and shattered an evil conspiracy. It was a historic victory, the dawn of their legend. Or perhaps The Templars won an epic battle, their first war and their first victory, heroically defending Coca-Cola for the Imperium. They ensured it did not fall into the hands of Chaos.' Kayvaan snorted at the thought. If that were the case, he'd disband the war group himself.

"This isn't just about interest," Gustav interrupted, his tone steady. "According to ancient covenants, Imperial soldiers are duty-bound to protect relics deemed sacred by the Mechanicus. And rest assured, the Mechanicus will not let its allies fight in vain. We'll provide… suitable compensation."

Kayvaan's eyebrow rose. "Compensation, you say? That's not bad. But let's not leave it at vague promises. If there's a thank-you gift, I'd also like some souvenirs. Is that fair?"

"It depends on the souvenir," Gustav replied cautiously. "Artifacts from the ancient city are cultural relics. Their value must be assessed by experts."

"I'm not talking about random trinkets," Kayvaan said with a smirk. "I'm talking about the Coca-Cola STC. Can I have it?"

"That's a sacred relic! It cannot be handed over so casually."

"But you just said it's useless."

Gustav stiffened. "I also said, 'May the Machine God forgive me.' The Machine God's will is not to be taken lightly."

"True enough," Kayvaan conceded with a shrug. "The Machine God may forgive you, but I wonder if your superiors on Mars will be as understanding. I'll make sure to write them a detailed report."

Gustav glared at him but relented. "Fine. I'll authorize a copy. The Coca-Cola STC template isn't particularly complex. Its schematics can be transcribed into a manuscript. You'll receive a detailed copy of the manufacturing process and production line setup. The original template, however, must be delivered to Mars."

"Good enough." Kayvaan stood, his mood visibly lightened, and turned to examine the map on the wall.

Elizabeth, who had been quietly observing the exchange, suddenly interjected. "Kayvaan, why are you so obsessed with that Coca-Cola template?"

"Because I want to drink it," Kayvaan replied without missing a beat. "I've never tasted anything like it before—a black, fizzy drink. How could I resist? Besides, future recruits need to know what sparked the Templars' first great battle."

Elizabeth stared at him, her expression a mix of disbelief and disdain. "You're unbelievable."

"Alright, let's leave the Coca-Cola debate for later," Kayvaan said, tapping the map with a cane to draw everyone's attention. Pointing to the map, Kayvaan continued, "Here's the plan. Our objective is clear: destroy the enemy's ritual within three days and prevent the warp rift from stabilizing. If possible, we're also taking down the Eldar Rosina. According to my research, she's a wanted criminal responsible for killing multiple Imperial Inquisitors. Her head carries a hefty bounty. The Inquisition will reward us handsomely for her demise."

Kayvaan paused to let the weight of his words sink in before adding, "Naturally, the bounty will be distributed according to an agreement between Elizabeth and me. Now, about the Eldar—initially, we didn't consider working with them. They're not exactly trustworthy, and we had no way of locating the enemy reliably. Aion is a vast planet, and Rosina could've been hiding anywhere. Even the Eldar rangers, with all their tracking skills, couldn't pin her down. But now we know she's likely in the underground ancient city. That simplifies things. We team up with the Eldar, storm the city, eliminate Rosina, and dismantle her summoning ritual."

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "Why involve the Eldar? You just said they can't be trusted."

Kayvaan smirked. "They can't, but they bring firepower and knowledge about our enemy. If their information checks out, we're dealing with a powerful foe. We might win on our own, but it'll cost us lives. With the Eldar alongside us, we minimize losses. Besides, the underground city's terrain is complex and confined. It suits your Sisters perfectly, Elizabeth. Combine their close-quarters expertise with the Eldar rangers, and we'll have the upper hand."

Elizabeth's voice dripped with sarcasm. "So the grand plan is to gather a band of misfits and charge in?"

Kayvaan ignored her jab. "On the third day, Marlborough, your regiment will move to this location." He tapped a spot on the map.

Marlborough leaned forward, studying the map. "Chapter Master Kayvaan, do you want us to block the entrance to the underground city?"

"Exactly," Kayvaan confirmed. "You'll establish two lines of defense—one inside and one outside—with Gustav's assistance. The ancient city is vast, and if we don't achieve our objectives in three days, the warp rift might stabilize. If that happens, Serapheas will likely start pouring out. Your regiment's job is to hold the line and buy us time to finish the fight in the city. Once we destroy Rosina's altar, the rift will collapse. It's unstable, so taking down the altar should close it."

"That's correct," Gustav interjected.

"Good. That's the framework of the plan," Kayvaan said, stepping back. "Now, I'll let the Inquisitor explain the finer points."

Elizabeth stood, her expression grim. "No matter the type of Seraphea we face, priority one is to close the dimensional gate. Without the gate, Serapheas lose their anchor to this world. Until the gate is closed, killing a Seraphea is essentially impossible. At best, you destroy its physical form, but it can return through the gate in the same or a different guise. Once the gate is shut, their power diminishes. Only then can we truly banish them." She turned to Marlborough, her voice firm. "Be prepared. Closing the gate is the turning point of the battle. When Serapheas sense their failure, they'll become more frenzied and violent. Their desperation will make them more dangerous. Your fortifications must be strong enough to withstand their assault during this critical phase. The more desperate they become, the harder they'll strike."

Marlborough swallowed hard, his face pale. "You mean my people are supposed to hold the line against those... things? That can't be right. Most of my troops think Serapheas are just myths. Even I've never seen anything like them."