Chapter 397 The Secret of the Spirit Tribe (Part 1)
As the highest priority target, Dietrian's shuttle was the first escape device to leave the impending destruction of the Cursed Echo.
Slaves and bishops, as well as 24 servants and robed crew members, all watched holographic projections that served as tactical maps and eyeball displays.
Unlike Echo's holographic image, Dietrian's image flashed watery from time to time, making Septimus's naked eyes feel pain.
Fortunately, after his bionic device started operating, the pain disappeared and it also helped solve some flickering interference.
Only then did Septimus realize that this was a projection designed to be seen by prosthetic eyes.
The ship has a round shape, like a bloated beetle, but it is covered with defensive turrets, and almost three-quarters of its length is given to the drive engine and subspace engine.
Bulkheads separated these areas of the ship from habitable areas, and Septimus saw several Mechanicus wearing breath masks entering and exiting the engine deck.
The whole ship was packed to the point of going crazy.
To make room for the ship's armor, weapons systems and propulsion systems, each tunnel is a narrow walkway and each bay is a low box that houses basic systems and enough space for an operator.
use.
The command deck is the most spacious place in the entire ship, and even then there is no more room to move if eight people are present at the same time.
Septimus watched as the ship's identifier pulsed across an asteroid, where it had hidden itself from alien scans.
On that flashing water screen, the rune representing the Echo was just a small dot among a pile of angry signals.
"The Echo is coming soon, they will succeed."
Just as Septimus finished speaking, he heard footsteps behind him and immediately turned his head.
Apothecary Valiel walked in, his armor's joints making noise with every movement.
"Tell me what happened."
The pharmacist asked, as calmly as ever.
"The Eldar don't seem to know we're here."
Septimus' eyes returned to the holographic screen.
"I'm not asking the Eldar, tell me about the cursed echo, stupid mortal."
Septimus smiled gracefully to hide his embarrassment. After all, his mistake was too obvious.
"They will succeed, Lord Valere."
The apothecary had no sense of the use of honorifics, just as Septimus had used honorifics many times or never, and such a thing meant nothing to him.
Valere knew what Septimus meant by success.
Curse the Echo to its inevitable death.
"Shall I assume that we will be leaving soon?"
The pharmacist turned to the Mechanical Bishop and asked softly.
Dietrian nodded, trying his best to imitate the movements of humans on his neck.
But the neck wasn't designed to curve in this subtle way, there was something locked at the top of his spine, and he had to take a moment to let the spinal connection relax.
"Can you explain it."
Valere walked to where Septimus stood and observed the hologram for himself.
"what is that?"
He pointed to another runic symbol.
"that……"
Septimus walked to the helmsman's console and tapped a few buttons to adjust the holographic display.
"...is the Empire's orbital defense station."
Valier said nothing, which was not surprising to Septimus.
The pharmacist's light blue eyes blinked. When he looked at the holographic image of the broken orbital station, the cursed echo was already very close to it.
He leaned down to enlarge the photo.
"It was a particularly satisfying kill."
"Yes, sir."
Valier glanced at Septimus with uneasy eyes.
After serving in the Eighth Legion for nearly ten years, Septimus often thought that nothing could shake his courage anymore, but it seemed that Valier's eyes were a rare exception.
"What’s wrong with you?"
the pharmacist asked.
"Your heart rate has increased, and you're exuding a sense of imbecile excitement."
Septimus tilted his head toward the screen.
"I've spent most of my adult life serving the Legion, and without that, I wouldn't even know who I am."
"Yes, yes, it's fascinating."
The pharmacist turned to Dietrian again.
"Mechanic Bishop, there is one thing that can relieve my boredom. I want to listen to the Eldar's communications. Can you hack into their signals?"
"Of course."
Dietrian unfolded his two auxiliary legs so that they were hunched over his shoulders and worked on an independent console.
"But I don't have the ability to translate the pronunciation of the Eldar language."
This caused Valler to laugh.
"Really? I thought you were smarter."
"A mechanical exarch has more pressing matters to attend to than the mumbling antics of a hapless alien."
"No need to be angry."
Valere gave a brief smile, albeit a fake one.
"I can speak several Eldar dialects, just listen to the signal if you can."
Dietrian paused before pulling the last lever.
"Can you explain your mastery of foreign languages?"
"There is nothing to explain, venerable Bishop, I do not like ignorance and when the opportunity to learn arises I will seize it."
He looked at the robed Mechanicus.
"Do you think the Red Corsairs only fight against the corrupt empire? No, we have fought against the Eldar countless times, and there were no prisoners in the process. Guess who got the information from them through torture."
"I see."
Dietrian accepted the answer and tried again to pretend to nod.
His spine is made of various precious metals, plus pieces of ceramic, making clicking sounds with movement.
As Dietrian grasped the joystick, the bridge was filled with alien whispers and distorted by distorted crackles.
Valere said a word of thanks and then turned his attention back to the holographic screen.
Septimus stood with him, his attention alternating between the unfolding battle and Valier's pale face.
"Stop looking at me."
Valere said after a minute.
"You're getting more and more annoying."
"I'm sorry, my lord, but what are the Eldar talking about?"
Valier listened for another half minute and didn't seem to pay much attention.
"They were talking in three dimensions, comparing the movements of warships to ghosts and beasts of the sea. It was all very poetic, but mundane and worthless. There were no casualties reported, and there were no Eldar captains among them.
The scream of a lost soul."
Septimus suddenly understood what Valier was really hearing.
First Claw was right, Valiel was indeed a member of the Eighth Legion, no matter where his gene-seed came from.
"Wait."
The pharmacist suddenly let out a low voice of surprise, and then fell silent again.
The background was still filled with the whispers of the Eldar. Septimus took a breath and asked:
"They were in-"
Valier glared at him to silence him, and the pharmacist's pale eyes narrowed to slits and he watched intently.
The Mechanicus crossed his arms over his chest and waited, hoping for an explanation, but had little hope of getting one.
"etc."
Valere finally spoke, closing his eyes to better focus on the alien's words.