Opening an old-fashio star map of the Milky rovided only a simplistic perspective. The gaxy was divided into five majions, as cssified by the Adeptus Administratum. At the ter was the Segmentum Sor, home to Terra and the Sol System. This heart of the Imperium was densely poputed, hosting tless historid critical worlds. Surrounding it were four vast regions: the Segmentum Obscurus to the north, the Segmentum Tempestus to the south, the Segmentum Pacificus to the west, and the Segmentum Ultima to the east.

  Among these, the Eastern Frihin Segmentum Ultima was the rgest, occupying much of the gaxy. However, it was a wild, sparsely poputed frontier where the Imperium’s grip was weakest. Many of humanity’s greatest threats ihere, making it both perilous and promising.

  In the Imperial Pace, the Master of the Administratum traced his finger across the holographic star map, pointing to a distant cluster in the Eastern Frihe three star systems are located in this region,” he announced.

  The Lord Inquisitor frowned slightly. “That’s quite far,” he said. “Does the Imperium even have trol over that area?”

  The Master hesitated, then admitted, “Even the Emperor’s authority struggles to fully reach such a distant pce.”

  “That’s… problematic,” the Lord replied, his tone skeptical.

  At first, the reward seemed incredibly generous—three ear systems, a prize of staggering proportions. But as they studied the map, the reality became apparent. These systems, while vast, were strategically insignifit. They were so far from the Imperium’s core that even the Emperor’s reach grew faint.

  “If this is the case,” the Fabricateneral chimed in, his voice meical and cold, “then I have no objes. The Imperium’s presen the Eastern Fringe is already fragile. We ot effectively supply resources or provide military prote to such a remote location. A localized force would be necessary to establish any foothold in such a votile region.”

  The Master of the Administratum nodded, a faint smile crossing his face. “Exactly. These three systems have been fortuo remain untouched by signifit threats for the past housand years, but the future is uain. A stable human presehere will allow us to projefluence deeper into the Eastern Fringe, supp both defense and expansion. This serves the Imperium’s is.”

  “And he will act as a wat for the Imperium,” the Lord Inquisitor added. “Evidence suggests new dangers are stirring in the Eastern Fringe—green-skinned Orks, the Tau, and other xenos we barely uand. This remains a perilous frontier. Even if Kayvaan turns out to be less than fully loyal, the damage he could inflict from such a distant position would be limited. More importantly, he could help us uncover and assess the enemy.”

  The versation seemed to be leaning treement when a deep, gravelly voice broke the momentum. “You’re all moving too quickly,” rumbled the Lord ander. He was an imposing figure, with a broad jaw and a chest adorned with medals that told of tless battles fought in the Emperor’s name. As the leader of the Astra Militarum, his voice carried immense weight.

  “Granting the title of Imperial ander is ohing,” he tinued, his toeady as a war engine. “But the position of Chapter Master? That is not something to be decided lightly.”

  The Master of the Administratum tilted his head slightly. “He’s a war hero—a veteran of the legendary Raven Guard. He carries a direct appoi from the Emperor himself. Why wouldn’t he qualify?”

  The Lord ander’s expression darkened. “By merit alone, he is more than capable. But have you examined his medical records iail? That peculiar affli he endured has left his body weakened, reverting to an almost unaugmeate. While he appears unged outwardly, his internal injuries persist. The most ret reports firm that his body o longer withstand another surgical enha.”

  A heavy siletled over the chamber. Finally, the Master of the Administratum broke it with a sigh. “If that is the case, then there is no point in discussing this further. But I must ask—how do you io address the Emperor’s decree on this matter?”

  “Of course, I will honor the Emperor’s will,” the Lord ander said calmly. “However, the Adeptus Astartes have their own s, and I ot interfere with their traditions. Ohing is certain: no weakling has ever risen among their ranks, let alone bee a Chapter Master. They will duct their own trials, as they always have, to determine if Kayvaan is fit to serve. This matter will resolve itself. Let us foore pressing s.”

  “I uand.” The Master of the Administratum nodded. Without wasting time, he shifted the meeting to the opic. The Imperium was vast, and new crises emerged daily, each demanding immediate a. There was always more work than there were hours to address it.

  “You’re saying I have the right to i the family estate?” Kayvaan stared at the white-haired man before him, disbelief etched on his face. His voice dropped to a murmur. “Today’s been… surreal. First, an appoi letter from the Emperor, and now a notice of iance…”

  The old man stood tall, exuding an air of dignity and and. Dressed in a fiailored bck butler’s uniform, his white gloves immacute, he appeared as though he had stepped out of an a portrait. His silver-white hair was ly groomed, and gold-rimmed spectacles rested on his nose, lending him a schorly presehis was no ordinary butler—he ecial envoy from the Navis Nobilite.

  “This should not e as a surprise, Lord Kayvaan,” the man said evenly, his gaze unwavering. “The duties of the Shrike family now fall to you. By accepting the name ‘Shrike,’ you have also accepted its obligations.” He leaned slightly forward, his voiyielding. “This is not a responsibility you evade, is it?”

  “Evade? Certainly not.” Kayvaan’s thoughts raced. ‘Why would I run from something like this? This is an opportunity, not a burden.’ A faint smirk pyed on his lips as he reflected on the irony. The Kayvaan who had once fled his family years ago was an impulsive teenager, a far cry from the man he had bee.

  The life and legacy Kayvaan ied were far from ordinary. His grandfather had been a renowned Rogue Trader, granted a le and a charter by the Emperor himself, eventually being a Sub-Sectovernor. In the Imperium, such titles and roles followed a hereditary system remi of the feudal traditions of aerra. Uheir Terran aors, who ruled over nd, Sub-Sectovernoverire star systems.