Forgotten hope

[Dark Apostle Thirst]

"How did this happen?"

 

Captain Recaird stood alone, save for the apothecary. He had not expected... this... when he had been asked to speak with the apothecary privately.

 

"I do not know. You know the rumours surrounding those of the Thirteenth Founding... perhaps they are true."

 

Recaird shook his head. "Why would Mars do such a thing?" The apothecary began to speak again, but Recaird cared not. He merely looked out across the plain, knowing that the other captains were waiting for him to return to the command post, wondering what was so important that the apothecary had interuptted the war council. None of them could possible geuss.

 

A single tear formed in his eye. How many would die because of this? Worse, did not the majority deserve it? Would the Hunters of Truth fall too, their only crime being that they were brothers to traitors?

 

Traitors. For nothing less than what their primarch led his once proud legion to do. What no true Lord of Shadow would do.

 

"My lord?" The apothecary's voice was filled with worry. Recaird let himself wonder why, a distraction, a blessing. Why did the apothecary care what Recaird thought. He and every other Lord of Shadow deserved death for bearing the geneseed of the Alpha Legion.

 

Recaird looked over the plain again. Perhaps it would have been better for the Lords of Shadow to have never come here. Let another generation be the last. Let another captain find out this monstrous stain on their souls.

 

If they had never come... But the Lords of Shadow did come, and Recaird had volunteered to lead them. He did not know, as his captains did not know now. He had not known...

 

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"I will lead this expedition, Lord Valtirr. I will lead the Lords of Shadow alongside our brother, the Hunters of Truth."

 

Chapter Master Valtirr nodded. "Of the availible cpatains you are the most capable, and the most willing to take the burden of leadership. You will lead three companies, your own, the Seventh and the Ninth, Lord Mirhu?"

 

The Chapter Master of the Hunters of Truth nodded from his command throne in the conjoined room from which the two chapters mutually conducted their combined forces. "Captain Mrikre will lead the Second, the Sixth and the Fourth alongside you, Captain Recaird, to crush this rebelious chapter." As he spoke, Lord Mirhu indicated the selected captains of the Hunters of Truth, who inclined their heads and began voxing their commands.

 

Recaird knew he should be voxing his own command squad, so that they would organise the Third, but the honor of the moment stopped him. This event was not an event he was likely to experience for a long time again, and he considered it worth taking the time to remember it.

 

After a few seconds, the captains began walking away to join their companies, and the moment was over. Captain Recaird finally began making his own preparations as well, and the room lapsed back into the murmur of voices wondering of what could turn an entire chapter of astartes.