"There’s a book in the library, The Book of Astartes. It records how our Ultramarines Chapter once provided the gene-seed for nearly 60% of all Space Marine Chapters. We were already unmatched. But raw strength alone is meaningless. The fmes may destroy more effectively, and the sledgehammer may strike harder, but only the sword remains in the knight’s hand. Jacob, we are the Emperor’s sword. Don’t fet that."

  Jaodded slowly, the fear in his heart easing. "I uand."

  "Good. Then go and gratute Kayvaan. He’s our neter master, and he’ll need your support. The Eastern Fringe is critical to the Imperium’s future, and we rong leaders there." Maruro leave but stopped at the doorway. "Oh, and tell Adams and his team to take care the penal training cadre. Let them refle their failures while preparing our neophytes for the battles ahead. Discipline is fed through duty, not leniency."

  He than gnced back at the thin figure in the arena. A strange feeling stirred in his chest, as though this man would bring moal ge to the Imperium. Whether it would be for better or worse, none could yet say.___________The m, Jacob found a sealed part bearing the Chapter Master's sigil on his desk. It was an official reassig order issued by Marneus Calgar himself. He read it owice, and finally a third time, the weight of the words sinking in. "The neter?" Jacob whispered. "I’m… being reassigo serve as a tactical advisor to the neter?"

  In one month, Jacob would leave the Ultramarines and begin his new role. For now, though, he remaihe deputy strategist for the Ultramarines “Do your best to help them? Ugh, easier said than done,” he muttered to himself.

  Jacob uood Marneus’s reasoning perfectly. In fact, he eve a sense of gratitude toward him. His previous as had been reckless, iently offending a newly established Chapter fa. While such a blunder might seem trivial to the Ultramarines, who feared no for the universe, it was still a mistake. And si was his mistake, Jacob knew he had to make amends. Yet, on aional level, letting go of his role with the Ultramarines was difficult. He had served them for two turies—an almost inceivable span of time for ordinary humaing to nearly two lifetimes.

  Jacob sighed, but being a practical man, he quickly pushed his emotions aside. With just a cup of tea, he cleared his mind a off to find Kayvaan.

  Kayvaan, meanwhile, was buried under an avanche of dots and forms from various imperial departments. The newly formed chapter was little more than a name in the Administratum’s records, and Kayvaan could only imagine what it might bee years down the line.

  He was pletely out of his depth. His time on Terra and the bat lessons from his mentor had dohing to prepare him for the maddening bureaucracy of the Imperium. Eveablishing a minuild on Terra required navigating at least seventeen differements—health, taxation, local enforcers, trade guilds, and even the Ecclesiarchy. Starting a Space Marine Chapter? That was bureaucra airely different scale.

  It was in this dire situation that Jacob arrived, like an angel desding from the heavens. "Emperrace, a whole room packed with dots! This sight never gets old," Jacob said with a wry smile as he stepped inside. He g Kayvaan, his tone pyful. "Need some help, Chapter Master?"

  Kayvaan looked up, his face a mix of exhaustion and relief. Jacob’s words felt like a lifeline. He nodded quickly, grateful beyond words.

  Jacob chuckled, pig up a few forms and skimming them before setting them aside. "Taking on three Space Marierans as an unaugmented human? Easy. But a pile of Administratum paperwork? Now that’s your true enemy."

  "I’d rather face a Chaos Warmaster in open bat than deal with this pile of Administratum drivel," Kayvaan groaned. "It’ll take me an lifetime to get through all of this."

  Jacob chuckled, shaking his head. "An lifetime? You’re an Astartes—you’ve got all the time in the gaxy."

  Kayvaan sighed, his voice grim. "Exactly. That’s what makes it so horrifying."

  Jacob couldn’t help but ugh again. He uood Kayvaan’s frustration. Most Astartes felt the same way. Space Marines were fed for war—humanity’s ultimate defenders, not glorified clerks. “Rex. It’s not as bad as it seems,” Jacob said, rolling up his sleeves. “Only about a tenth of this is actually important, ahan one pert needs your personal attention.” He began s through the piles with practiced efficy. “This is just a game the Administratum pys with anyone who doesn’t know the ropes or fails to show them proper respect. It’s their way of keeping you… overwhelmed.”

  “Well, it’s w,” Kayvaan muttered.

  “Do you hate these bureaucrats?” Jacob asked, gng at him.

  “Absolutely,” Kayvaan said without hesitation. “They’ve got a little power, and they act like they rule the gaxy. They don’t respect the responsibility they’ve been given. Worse, they don’t produything. They don’t mine ore, fe ons, grow crops, or sew uniforms. They don’t fight the enemies of the Imperium. All they do is push papers and shuffle resources, yet they walk around like they’re the bae of the Imperium.”

  Jacob paused, raising an eyebrow. “Shuffle resources?

  “Yes,” Kayvaan replied, his tone sharp. “They don't create value; they just shuffle resources around,” he said with a dismissive wave. “Of course, that’s just me being dramatic. Don’t take it too seriously. I just ’t stand their style—their smug expressions, their rigid procedures. None of it sits well with me.”

  Jacob turo face him, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Master Kayvaan, why are you tellihis? These aren’t the kind of thoughts you should share openly.”Kayvaan shrugged. "We're at hht now."

  Jacob raised an eyebrow. "Even so, we’ve only known each other a short time. Aren’t you worried I might tell someone?"

  Kayvaan chuckled lightly. "And if you did? What’s the worst that could happen? I’m just venting."

  Jacob shook his head. "Words like that make enemies, ones you ’t see. Individually, they might hold little power, but together, they use their authority to make your life difficult. Look at what you faced today. And remember, you’re not Marneus. Lord Calgar say what he pleases. His words might ruffle feathers, but he’s the Chapter Master of the Ultramarines. His position alone protects him. You, Master Kayvaan, don’t have that kind of shield."