Chapter I

    I often pondered how I would start this tale, but I could never find the words to start. I have tons of notes on things I have seen and heard before and after the battles took place. I saw the wounded, the dead, and the dying on the flight decks of the various ships in the 707th Expeditionary Fleet. I watched Astartes leave and never return. The transports returning damaged if they returned at all.  I once saw a battle unfold before my eyes, it was battle that should not have happened, nor should I have seen in person or even been there to witness it.  I am getting way ahead of myself. My name is Landon Mar-Garet. I am from Albia on Terra. I have written books on historical figures and events from Albia and eventually from around Terra. My writings gathered the attention of the Emperor and I was chosen to be an Imperial Remembrancer.

    As a Remembrancer, my job as given to me by Holy Terra, is that of a documenter, as journalist, if you will. Even as I write this, I wonder if it will be read by others. I am one of lucky few, given the opportunity to join the Emperor’s Great Crusade, as the Legions bring the worlds back under the Emperor’s light. This will be the story of my time, or better yet, retelling of the battles of that the Adeptus Astartes, I witnessed. I am full of fear, dread and worried about my death, yet these Superhuman warriors of the Adeptus Astartes, train, fight, and appear invincible. I know they are not, and some of them will be injured, lose limbs, and some will even face death. These individuals know no fear.

  While I would loved to been assigned to the XVIth Legion and seen the Warmaster, it was not meant to be. I was assigned to 707th Expeditionary Fleet. I did see a Primarch, I did not speak to him, but I was in his presence. It was the Raven Lord. The Primarch of the XIXth Legion, Raven Guard, Corvus Corax. My hands are still trembling. His sons are massive, and they are dwarfed by him. I do not want to speak ill or make assumptions about him, but he seem irritated and full of rage, but I am not sure that is the right words. There were others in the room, ranking Raven Guard Officers, I believe. I did see a marking on one their legs, an eagle head with lightning bolts behind it, that seemed like it was honorific marking. These Astartes looked as to be child being reprimanded for something they did wrong, And then he told the largest one of the Astartes in the room that he was  "Fleet Commander of 707th Expeditionary Fleet" and to make way as soon as possible. And then the Raven Lord looked at the assembled Remembrancers and said "take them with you," in a growl. And with that I never saw The Raven Lord again. 

  During our Journey to the Khymara System, our (the Remembrancers ) main point of contact was with XIXth Legion Chaplain Luang Pu. He would instruct us on the traditions and doctrines of the XIXth Legion. Chaplain Luang Pu was well spoken, was able to provide spiritual and moral guidance and held many meetings with all the Remembrancers. If it was not for him the journey to Khymara would have been a lot worse. Traveling through Warp is a very hard on the soul.  As hospitable as Chaplain Luang Pu, he was intimidating. His armor was dull black like his XIXth Legion Brothers, he stood out by the orange robes he wore when out of his armor and the orange sash while in his armor. He calls it his "Kasaya".  I am not sure if he named his robes or is it part of the XIXth Legion tradition. Chaplain Luang Pu's right leg is cybernetic from the knee down, but thanks to his Astartes Physiology, he is still fast.

  All the Astartes of the XIXth Legion in the 707th  Expeditionary Fleet wear the same campaign badge, the Raptor Imperialis, or so I was told that what it is. During the Great Crusade, the Raptor Imperialis was a sigil worn by those Imperial troops who had personally fought alongside the Emperor. In the latter years of the Great Crusade, the honour was usually found only amongst the more senior Terran Astartes of the Space Marine Legions who had seen significant action during the final campaigns of the Wars of Unification.  As I would later find out, all the XIXth Legion Astartes in the 707th Expeditionary Fleet, were Terran Born.

  Other Officers of the XIXth Legion interacted with the Remembrancers. Not necessarily in friendly fashion either .  Commander Ya Ksha of the XIXth Legion avoided me, well all of the Remembrancers in the 707th Expeditionary Fleet, for a long time. Commander Ya Ksha was large, even for an Astartes. It was not until we departed Khymara that he spoke to us.  

  “I have fought in the Great Crusade. I fought next to the Emperor. I fought next to my Primarch, Corvus Corax. I have proven my loyalty to XIXth Legion and the Emperor, time and time again. I have earned my laurels of command. I have been made the overall commander of the XIXth Legion assigned to the 707th Expeditionary Fleet . The 707th Expeditionary Fleet served with the Warmaster Horus Lupercal before our Primarch rejoined the Imperium. Our Primarch had the 707th Expeditionary Fleet was deployed to Khymara on the fringes away from many of the battles bringing worlds into Imperial Compliance. Now the 707th Expeditionary Fleet has been recalled and deployed to Tarkath Front. My Brothers and I are not from Deliverance, we are Terran, and we wear the Raptor Imperials with Pride. I am Ya Ksha of the XIXth Legion, Fleet Commander of the 707th Expeditionary Fleet and Commander of the 505th Assault Company.  I have fought next to the Traitorous Warmaster Horus Lupercal, and I will bury my Raven’s Talons all the way to the knuckles into Horus’s chest at the first chance I get, for the honor of my brothers, the Emperor and prove my loyalty to my Primarch. ”

But I am digressing, again. I don't think I am ready to talk to Khymara,  yet. I saw things, I am scared, and I am afraid to write about it.