Rise of the Phoenix

[TrashMan]

Vixis. A moon orbiting a gas giant, located in the sub-sector Vaynar. Altough calling it a moon might be misleading, for it's size easily equals some planets. Life thrives on this remote world, for every part of it is covered in vast jungles and forests, themselves crawling with all kinds of creatrues, both big and small. It is also a very dangerous place. Great predators prowl beneth the green canopy, looking for prey to devour; trecherous terrain and hot, damp air sap the strength of travelers, and even the plant life itself can kill a man easily. Yet this is both a blessing and a curse – it was sparsely populated, with the imperium of man having only 3 major fortified cities on the main continent. While several smaller primitive towns and villages existed, for the most part one would be hard pressed to encounter a human unless one was specificly looking to. And avoiding humans is what the eldars were trying to do today.

The Farseers party has been on the moon for days, making their way trough the maze of wood and branches. Their mission was vital and urgent, and they would simply cut their way trough some obstacles to save time. As they were on the far side of the western continent, with no human settlement near, the chances of detection have been considered negligable.

 

 

* * *

 

„Knight-Brother, please respond!“

 

„Seargent, usage of vox was forbidden for this excercise. You better have a good reason.“

 

The giant man in power armor rose from a crouch, hand gesturing to the men behind to spread out. Like one, the men moved with amazing speed and coordination; something they gained by the grace of physique and their hunderds of years of combat experience. For they weren't mere mortal men – they were chosen of the Immortal God-Emperor of Mankind, blessed with his holy gene-seed. They were his Angels of Death, his wrath made manifest. They were the greatst warriors in the galaxy. They were space marines.

 

And today they were doing combat excercises, training the young recruits in the ways of war. Only after proving their worth would the scouts be granted the final implant and the honor of becoming a full battle-brother. To keep their skills and sense sharp, the chapter would often pit squads in mock combat in hostile enviroment. Two squads of marines were supervising two scout squads as they hunted eachoter in the shadows of the great trees. With that challenge over, the scout squads had to fight their older bretheren. And now that was interputed.

„Sir, we found traces of a xeno force moving trough the jungle.“

 

„Are you sure they are not human? Or just some beasts passing trough?“

 

„The smell in the air is not that of a human. I can't recognize it, but the path cut trough the underbrush is too clean...I'd guess a power weapon. No animal made this. And no humans on the planet but us possess power weapons.“

 

Uriel paused for a second. Power weapons were rare and while there were humans who possesed them outside of the Astartes or the Guard, they were rich individuals – noblemen, collectors or rouge traders. And on this planet the closest city was on another continent altogether.

 

„All squads, this is Knight-brother Uriel! Training session is on hold. We might have unwanted visitors on Vixis. Arm your bolters with live ammo and re-group. Scout squad B will provide coordinates.“

 

 

 

****

 

[reserved for battle scene]

[TrashMan]

The pitch, endless darkness was distubed by flashes of red. They wever barely visible at first, but started growing, becoming ever more vibrant. They were followed by a silent thump, it too growing lounder with each moment. Soon the blackness was dominated by periodic explosions of red, in perfect rythim with the pulsing sound. Her senses were coming back to her. And there were voices. Mon-keigh voices.

 

As her vision returned, she could make out the cold steel floor of a large cell and two men talking talking. One of them noticed her movement and turned to face her. Almost refelxively, she tried to use her pychic powers. But instead of lighting bursting from her fingers and striking down the marines, a wave of searing pain shot trough her, shocking her to the core. So sudden and intense was the pain that she couldn't even scream for the first few seconds. She fell to the floor, wilting in pain.

 

„Your warp powers will do you no good witch. We have placed an inhibitor on you.“ – said the large man as he casually walked towards her. The farseer lifted her twitching arm and moved it to her head. Beneath the fingers she could feel the cold steel of the device. How come she didn't notice it earlier? Was she still dazed?

 

"I wouldn't try to remove it if I were you...If you value your head that is..."

 

She didn't respond and he lifted his arm to his helmet, activating his vox.

 

"Knight brother, the prisoner is awake."

 

She couldn't hear a response, but the space marine walked back to the froor and waited. Not even a minute later another marine entered the room. His armor bore the same colors as the others, but in a different order and a larger use of black. What caught her attention the most was the breastplate - instead of the imperial aquila another symbol adorned his armor. A different kind of bird, with three long plumes, sleeker and with fiery wings. He carried in his arms a helmet that differed significantly from those of his bretheren.

He look at the captive and then adressed the marines that called him.

"Brother Corvus, you can return to your other duties. Brother Elestor, you are with me."

 

The new arrival passed his helm to Elestor and approached the eldar, eying her suspiciously.

 

Still suffering from the effect of the inhibitor, the farseer spat out a question between heavy breaths "Who...Who are you?"

 

"Uriel Ingins, Knight of the 2nd company, Phoenix Knights chapter of our glorious God-Emperor." – the voice was calm and steady, not betraying any emotion behind it – „Now, I'd have your name.“

 

The Farseer forced herself up, trying to hide the still shaking feet. She still had her pride and dignity, and would not give those away lightly. The voice with which she responded resonated with more strength than she felt she had.

"Farseer Tyranel Alanaya of craftworld Ilyaden."

 

"Well then farseer... what were you doing on our planet?"

 

Tyranel didn't answer. Her eyes darted around the room, looking for a way out. Uriel grabbed the farseer by the neck and lifted her in the air like she was nothing. There was no change in his expression at all.

 

"What were you doing back there Eldar witch? What was that device you carried?"

 

The farseer didn't respond, her eyes locked defiantly onto his. The grip tightened as he lifted her higher. The space marines words were cold as steel.

 

"My patience is wearing thin. You would be wise to answer."

 

"I do not fear death, human!" - Tyranel spat back defiantly

 

Uriel chuckled "Perhaps not. But I never said I'd kill you right away." - His grip tightened even more. She was now fighting for air. – "You have information I want and you will not die before I get them. One way or another. I can break your body piece by piece untill you talk. Or I can kill you now and feast on your brain."

The other marine quickly stepped in, placing a hand on Uriels shoulder

"Knight-Brother! You're not seriosuly thinking of absorbing memories from a xeno? It will poison your mind!"

 

"Be still brother Elestor! I know what I'm doing. Think you my mind is so weak? We are made of sterner stuff." Uriel rebuke was harsh and instant. Elestor removed his hand.

 

"No knight-brother, I do not think you weak, but I worry still. It is a farseer after all. What would the others think?... Best we call in a inquisitor. Surely he will make her talk."

 

 

Uriel said nothing and turned his atention back towards the eldar captive. He could see panic and confusion in her eyes.

"You didn't know we space marines could absorb some of the memories of the enemy, did you? I do not enjoy the thought of eating your heretical brain, but I WILL do it if I consider it necessary. Do you understand that?"

 

He relaxed his grip a bit and Tyranel took a deep breath. She was afraid now. Afraid of what would happen to her people if her mission was to fail. She couldn't afford to die, not now, not like this. She had to buy some time, somehow. Tell them something they would be willing to believe.

"It was...an ancient relic. Remains of one of our greatest ancestor. This planet once held a shine of ours...You can't understand the importance of it to my people."

 

His hand opened and the farseer fell to the ground. Uriels face was unreadable.

"You would be wrong there eldar... but I am not convinced you're telling the truth. Your only worth to me is as a source of information, and I'm begining to doubt you have anything of worth to offer."

 

"Wait human!" – Tyranel was getting desperate. Her mind raced as she tried to find some way to get out of this. Without thinking she grabbed onto the first posibility that came to her – "I know the location of one of your ancient structures. I will reveal to you it's location.“

 

Elestor made a sweeping hand gesture, dismissing her claim "This planet is ours witch. If there was any structure of worth, we would have found it by now."

 

"It was well hidden, that's why you couldn't find it. An armored entrance beneath a mountain. I only stubled upon it by accident myself."

 

Uriel took a few paces around the room, thinking.

"So you just happen to come across it while looking for your relic? Quite a coincidence, isn't it?"

He stopped and locked eyes with her again

 

"You are lying about something. Either the relic of the structure.... Are you trying to lead us into a trap? Or perhaps you were there, stealing Imperial relics?"

 

She looked away, breaking the eye contact for a fraction of a second. That might have escaped a normal human, but not the keen eyesight of a space marine. Did he guess right? If she was human, he would say yes – but she wasn't. As much as eldar look like humans he wasn't sure if he could read them. The chapter didn't face eldar before, but even if it did, he doubted it would have changed anything. She was alien.

He turned towards the door, motioning Elestor to follow. They locked the door and exited the cell complex. The sun greeted them as they walked into the courtyard of the small outpost. The chapter mantained several of these simple fortifications on this and other planets.

 

"Brother, ready two squads and chain the witch...And fetch a brother Tech-marine. We will find out if there is any truth in this."

 

"If that is your command Knight-brother. However I urge you to take a larger force. It could be trap."

 

"Very well. Make it three squads. We will set forth in one hour."

 

Elestor nodded and hurried to make the arrangements, as Uriel tooks a walk around the outpost. Normally he wouldn't bother with rumors like these, but his Chapter Masters orders were clear - the Chapter was to take every opportunity to look for ancient knowledge and technology, regardless of risks. The chapter already earned the good will of the Adeptus Mechanicus by salvaging an ancient warship three years ago, so it seemed unnecessary. Yet he could not deny Arturians wisdom. His Chapter Master and mentor was a man unlike any other he met before.

 

The Chapter was barely 200 men strong when Arturian took over. They lost most of their fighting force, their chapter master, chaplain and most commanders in a terrible battle and and warp accidents. Arturian was still young, but possesed exceptional charisma and a keen mind, and he quickly took the position in an unprecedented move, when Avernus, the chief Librarian and most likely sucessor endorsed him. But that was only a warm-up. In the following years, Arturian took complete control of the entire system, replacing the incompetent and corrupt governor. He started massive reforms, in both the chapter and the system. Chapter practices, teachings, recruiting and organization were changed; planetary policies, offices and insitutions were re-formed. Such was the extent of these changes, that at one point it looked like a full-scale rebellion or inquisitorial damnation were inevitable. Yet Arturian held the course. He acted with endless determination and zeal, securing favors and agreements everywhere he could, securing allies and support, using his oratory skills and sharp mind to sway former enemies to his side, or play them like puppets. In the end, even the inquisition was divided and no decisive action agaisnt the chapter ever materialized.

 

As time passed, Arturians reforms started to bear fruit. The massive wealth taken from the governor and the crime lords was carefully invested back. Criminals were trained (or turned) into an endless army of tech-priests, engineers and servitors as parts of special pardons. With such a capable workforce massive construction projects were underway trought the whole system. As the power and glory of Avalon spread, more and more systems flocked under it's protection. Interestingly enough, at the same time Arturians rivals in those system faced their most difficult times - accidents, discrediting campaigns and rising riots. While Uriel never saw anything that would confirm it, it has always been speculated Arturian was behind those events. It wasn't long untill the entire sub-sector was under Arturians control, one way or another. The chapter itself prospered too, as the forge world of Van Secundus repayed Arturians generous patronage with equipment. Then Uriels mind drifted to the memeories of many ork attacks, their shamfull faliure at the defense of their homeworld, and the Vengance Crusade that followed. Long and bloody was the crusade, and several planets have been cleansed of the foul xenos, but the losses were high. Even now, the chapter was at half strength; the gene-seed mutation that granted them enhanced regeneration and lifespan being both a blessing and a curse, for the implant rejection rate among recruits was higher than normal.

 

Uriel shook his head to clear his mind and concetrate on the now. As he stepped into the armory one thing was clear to him - He had his orders and was determined to follow them.