Hephaistos sighed inside his helmet at Ferrus's ridiculous remark. This was totally a fair and honourable fight they were having when they were fighting opponents who had barely any ordinance to even severely damage their armour or adequate armour to defend themselves against his brothers' own exploding shells. Though the Astartes in black wasn't entirely wrong, Hephaistos relished being in situations that were stacked in his favour, as he was sure most fellow Astartes do anyway, he was likely just a lot more pragmatic about creating such situations than most.
Though who wouldn't when they had the power to change and shift reality and accomplish feats that mortals could only gaze in awe-struck wonder at?
Hephaistos' gaze shifted to his staff. His powers though useful, still seemed a bit superfluous at this point, and he had two factors that still made him nervous to use them: the fact that his father was no longer there to protect him from the potential backlash from using them too much, and the uncertainty of how his fellows would react even though none of them were part of their former legions and not likely in a position to enforce the Council of Nikaea's accords.
His thoughts were interrupted by the grenade launcher which had Prodigal Son busy for a moment, though once the fellow Astartes had the weapon in his own hands and its user turned into red paste, Hephaistos stepped out of the transport, following his more zealous brethren with his eyes peeled for enemies.
An idea struck him mid-stride. He should check for any other psykers in the vicinity. Whether they were capable sorcerers or just low-level communicators, any could pose potential problems to the squad whom were otherwise incapable of sensing such things.
He stopped and drew a circle around him with the end of his staff in the dirt near the transport. He carved a handful of basic runes around it at certain points in a practiced motion as he explained himself.
"Give me a moment, I'm going to see if we're truly only up against foes with guns and machines, or if this Governor took any extra precautions of the kind I'm more familiar with."
He would then kneel within the small circle, he staff planted straight in front of him, his head bowed, and his bolt pistol lying flat as his put his right arm on the ground for balance as he concentrated, gathering his energy about him so that he might peer through the very fabric of reality and glimpse at whatever may be hiding within their general vicinity.
