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Aqui

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Aqui Venerable Brother

Aqui

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So I just had a reading binge to catch up on the story so far. Haven't even been in this sub forum since last year apparently.

 

Honestly I thought Gurg was going to end his life after the alpha legionnaire tore his arm off. I was pleasantly surprised to see he is loyal after all :smile.:

 

Btw, have you figured out how you'll incorporate the ultramarine successor retcon in chapters 1 and 2?

Thanks for the comments BassWave :happy.:

 

I had intended on G'Urg being a traitor after all and have this really epic fight scene similar to the one in episode III of Star Wars :laugh.: but at the last minute changed my mind. I'm still not sure if that was the right decision, but who knows?

 

As for the retcon, I had started editing the document I have saved on my hard drive, but haven't had time to finish it yet. I did consider leaving it in defiance to the fact, but I figured if I'm going to do this properly, I should accept it :laugh.:

  • 1 month later...
Aqui Venerable Brother

Aqui

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Once again, over a month between updates! :sad.: I really need to get some kind of work/life balance sorted out :dry.: Anyway, it's yet another smallish one to get me back on track. Writing this one was a little difficult, mainly as I thought I'd written myself into a corner. After all, most Chapters accused of betrayal either die or turn rogue. Hopefully, what I have planned will avoid this convincingly and allow me to expand on quite a few areas I want to explore :happy.:

 

Anyway...

 

 

Chapter 3 part 3:

 

The screams. Emperor preserve him! I have never seen such endurance to their Psychic abilities! Is he so blessed by unspeakable beings to survive such an onslaught? Or has he been nothing but a pawn in that Alpha Legionnaires game?

 

Inquisitor Lapidis stared at the initiate on the bench. Four days of unrelenting interrogation by his comrades had revealed nothing that he did not already know. Four days that had tired him, much less the now haggard and drawn being in front of him. Making a decision, he raised his hand.

 

The two hulking psychics stopped their assault.

 

"Leave us."

 

Obeying without question, the pair left the chamber. In the gloom, Lapidis could the bewilderment in the young man's eyes.

 

"You think this is a trick? Or a cruel jest? To let you gain a brief respite, before more of the same?" He asked.

 

G'Urg said nothing. He could barely feel or think anything coherent. Four days that pair had been in his mind, stripping every mental barrier he had. His mind was exposed, like a nerve. He felt nothing and everything at once.

 

Lapidis stepped forward with a glass of water. Offering it to G'Urg, he helped the stricken figure into a sitting position. G'Urg had swallowed the offering in one gulp. Setting the glass down shakily, G'Urg barked something Lapidis did not catch. Realising the initiate was trying to speak, he could see that G'Urg had shredded his vocal cords raw from screaming.

 

"Tell me your story, from the beginning. No lies. No embellishments. If you are being truthful, it may save you. It may even save your Chapter.

 

"Lie to me, and your ordeal with that of my subordinates will begin again anew until you die..."

 

 

++++

 

 

Chapter Master Alizarin had been allowed to withdraw to the Fortress' Sepulchre. Standing before his long distant predecessor, he felt like an Aspirant again.

 

The tall figure was wrapped in darkness, his armoured form seemingly inert. That made Alizarin as near to afraid as was possible for any Marine. It was Chapter tradition that all of the Dreadnoughts would be bathed in light at all times, but now the honoured ancestors were almost swallowed by the shadows.

 

"Honoured Candidus." His voice quavered for the barest instant and he cursed silently. It would not do now to give in to doubt, to fear. That was far worse than darkness.

 

"Young one." That at least gave Alizarin a brief smile. He hadn't been a 'young one' in centuries.

 

"I fear for our Chapter. I fear that our honour is stained, tarnished by something immaterial. Something that we can't fight against. What can we do to prove our innocence?"

 

The ancient being considered those words. "There is no such thing as innocence, as you well know, young one," he began, "But we still have a chance. I know of this Lapidis. He is harsh, brutal in his judgement, but he will not rush to conclusions. If we were truly damned, the Citadel of Light would have been bombarded from orbit the moment he arrived in system.

 

"We would not even be having this discussion."

 

"Honoured Candidus speaks true, Lord." Alizarin turned. Lapidis walked into the chamber, his gait showing every bit the confidence he felt. It was evident that he was used to being able to come and go as he pleased.

 

"Forgive my intrusion of this most sacred place, but I have reached my verdict." Lapidis was in no hurry to reveal it. Standing before the living embodiment of the Chapter, he bowed deeply. Such a genuine show of respect, despite the power he had over the entire Chapter. Lapidis was someone who had encountered Honoured Candidus before.

 

"I have reached my decision. It will be harsh, as I am known for, but at the conclusion, it will show that this Chapter has not strayed from the light. That it will be allowed to continue to serve Him on Earth." The tension was palpable, unbearable.

 

"It will be harsh."

Aqui Venerable Brother

Aqui

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In a way I can see where this is going (well in my mind :blink.: ).

*stares at DSS7 suspiciously* Are you are Psyker?! :laugh.:

Glad  to see a update ,when I do a dread for my RW on one shoulder it will say I'm not G'Urg.

I actually laughed out loud at that! :laugh.: It reminds me of something Granny Weatherwax (Discworld) used to have on a board when she went borrowing (taking control of animals etc) "I aten't dead" Rather apt for a Dreadnought! :laugh.:
Aqui Venerable Brother

Aqui

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Granny Weatherwax would make a good Veteran Sister Superior in a line Squad (though you'd have to rename her - the character would be interesting)

I might just do something along those lines, but I have to make sure it wasn't too obvious :laugh.:
  • 2 weeks later...
Aqui Venerable Brother

Aqui

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Here is the prelude to part Four.  I've renamed the Chapter Master to something more suitably Aztec sounding (Nacuametl), and when I have chance will edit the other parts to reflect this :smile.:  It's a short entry, but at least it's something :laugh.:

 

Chapter 4:  Prelude.

 

"It was a very long journey, all the longer for our so called travelling companions.  Their mistrust of anything or anyone not their own was abrasive from the outset, but over time it seemed to most of us that it was deliberate.  In any case, the Sisters of the Order of the Valorous Heart kept a sharp eye on everything we did. Everything.  It would seem that even the most mundane tasks were suspected of heresy after all... - Brother Captain Varagol, from his own personal notes

 

The flagship, Light of the Inti had been en route for a week.  Carrying three Companies of Marines and five squads of Scouts, it was bound for a small cluster of stars on the very edge of the local system.  Also aboard was most of the Sisters who had accompanied the Inquisitor known as Lapidis.  The Sisters own ship followed behind, as did Lapidis' like Remora following a shark.  The Chapter Master had insisted that he led the Marines into battle, but was refused outright.  Furious, he had instead elected to give leadership of the detachment to Brother Captain Necalli of the Third Company.  A stout Brother who had the respect of all.  In the brief ceremony that passed the duties and burden to him, he stood in resolute silence as Necuametl performed the rites.

 

It was an emotional time, but one that he could not pause to reflect upon.

 

Standing on the bridge, he eyed his new compatriots warily.  Lapidis was talking in hushed tones to the ships' Captain, the Canoness a few respectful feet away.  Despite himself, his chest tightened as he remembered that this ship was no longer commanded by a native of Pochutec.  It was shameful, galling, but the sooner that this mission was completed, the closer they were to redeeming the Chapters honour.

 

The Inquisitor finished his discussion with the ships' Captain, and approached Necalli.  His face was unreadable, body language guarded.  It was evident that whatever he had to discuss with him was not going to something he wanted to hear.


"Brother-Captain."


"Lord Inquisitor."


Lapidis paused, the as yet unspoken pronouncement hanging in the air.


"You have by now, been told where we are headed?"  It was a statement, not a question.  Of course he knew, damn him.  The others had yet to be told however.


"Then you know the importance of our involvement in the coming campaign?"


"Let us cut to the chase.  You still doubt our innocence.  You doubt our commitment to clear our name.  You trust no one, and question everything.  This, I can see, may be a boon in your work.  But let me be clear.  We will clear our name.  We will prove our innocence.

 

"We will go where the Inti wills.  If that helps you in your own scheming, then so be it."

 

Lapidis raised an eyebrow slightly at the word Inti, but made no comment.  He knew what the word meant, and was harmless enough as deviations went.  The outburst did not go unnoticed either.  The Canoness, Eliza Cho had taken a step forward when Necalli raised his voice, her hand went straight for her relic Melta Pistol, but she had noticed the signal, and stayed her own hand.


"If you will excuse me, I have to inform my troops.  Inquisitor.  Lady Canoness."


Watching his massive form walk towards the exit, Cho raised her own concerns to her superior.


"He is an honourable man," Lapidis replied, "But honourable men are harder to predict than despicable ones.  I do believe that they will help us achieve that which others have failed."

 

The Canoness glanced at the hol display.  The planet hung in the air wreathed in a sickly pallor.  It was one that looked no different to the countless others in the Imperium of Man, but this one was marked by the touch of Chaos.  It was not too late to redeem it, however.  But it needed troops to liberate it from the dark.

 

A lot of troops.

 

If the Rainbow Warriors were truly loyal, they would fight without question.  Whether they lived or died was irrelevant if it ensured the liberation of that world.

 

If they were traitors however, then the Sisters would ensure that they never leave that planet.

  • 1 month later...
Aqui Venerable Brother

Aqui

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Better late than never! :happy.:

 

Regarding the final scene, I wasn't sure of specifics, so I decided to have things as I have written them. In any case, the story has arrived at a stage I've been looking forward to for some time! :happy.:

 

 

Chapter 4, part 1

 

"Why?!"

 

The punch landed squarely in the solar plexus, taking the wind out of the intended victim. The still healing wound in his side made him roar in pain, but compared to but a few days ago...

 

Varagol could not contain his anger when he saw the perpetual thorn in his side, a red haze enveloped his vision. Launching himself at G'Urg with no thought of the consequences, he had covered the entire span of the initiates' quarters in a moment. Eh'Tor and Brun'El had no time to react, their own shock at the sight of the most uniformly hated member of their group leaving them stunned in their tracks.

 

Varagol's fists were a blur, connecting to G'Urg's head and body again and again, but he did not fight back. That angered Varagol even more. Did the dirty Hattaka think him beneath his notice that we would not defend himself?! A remaining portion of his mind realised that G'Urg was not retaliating because he could not. Varagol had overwhelmed his opponent so completely that his victim was trying to curl up into the smallest ball possible.

 

Many hands tried to pull him away, but to no avail, Varagol would not be denied.

 

Not this time.

 

"Traitor! Heretic!"

 

Another pair of hands griped his shoulder and spun him around. In his anger, he shrugged them off and raised his own in preparation to renew the assault, but one gauntleted fist held them fast. The pressure was agonising, but Varagol realised that the owner of those powerful fists had used but a fraction of his strength.

 

"Initiate Varagol!"

 

He closed his eyes and cursed silently. He hadn't seen the full Marine in the room, but he regretted his actions more when he realised who it was.

 

Brother-Chaplain Rustar.

 

"You will stand down. Now."

 

The words were spoken softly, but the inflection brooked no argument.

 

Varagol, rage ebbing rapidly in the face of his ancestor, staggered away from G'Urg. He was prone, wheezing raggedly, trying to draw in breath. One of the other initiates had managed to get him to his feet and Varagol could truly see him for the first time since their sojourn back to the Citadel of Light. He was not well. An ugly augmetic had been grafted to replace the limb torn off by the Traitor Marine. Functional, but graceless, the arm being a stand-in until G'Urg reached full Astartes status. If he reached it.

 

But there were other wounds. His skin was ashen, where it was ruddy. Scabs criss-crossed across his exposed torso hinted at severe torture, but it was his eyes that betrayed his true agony. Previously wide and bright, his gaze was sunken, the whites of his eyes were red, two pinpricks of darkness that hinted at torments that no one, the Chaplain included wished to experience.

 

He was the very shadow of the cocky, arrogant youth he had been.

 

"Initiate G'Urg. Step forward." Rustar commanded not unkindly. His own visage was unreadable, revealing no emotion but one. Respect.

 

"At the command of the Lord Inquisitor, I hereby declare you to be found pure of hearts, your spirit clean and your purpose true. So it has been decreed it so, so shall it be. Whilst your...involvement in recent events are still under investigation, your are not guilty of betraying our Chapter, nor directly responsible for our current fate." Varagol had noticed the purity seals attached to G'Urg's robes. They were heavy, with details picked out in Adamantium, the scrolls were written in a beautiful curved script, each paragraph picked out in gold leaf. True works of art, but ones with a grim purpose and a visual reminder.

 

"Any initiate found to treat Initiate G'Urg in any fashion other than decorum or respect will be punished. Severely. Return to your cells now, for you all will continue upon your own journey's to become full Marines on the morrow."

 

There was nothing else to be said.

 

++++

 

G'Urg limped painfully back to his own cell. The anger Varagol had felt was...understandable. He felt responsible for letting that jackal inside that vaunted bastion, but it was how willing he had been to let his hatred for his Brother to be so ready to do almost anything to be rid of him, that worried him. Why did he hate Varagol so? So wrapped up in those thoughts he was, that he had not noticed that Rustar had been behind him for a few minutes. As per custom, he stood aside, his back against the wall, his head lowered to allow his spiritual liege passage.

 

"Stand easy, lad."

 

The informal mode of speech stunned G'Urg and it must have showed, as Rustar smiled briefly, a friendly ghost on the weathered features of that giant of a man.

 

"You acquitted yourself admirably, initate. Whilst I have an...inkling as to why you allowed yourself to be manipulated by that Traitor, I must ask one thing."

 

G'urg stiffened. He had been asked the question upon the Chaplain's lips so many times, he barely knew of any other.

 

"The Chapter. To which Chapter did he belong?"

 

Raising his eyes to meet his superiors, his voice quavered. "I know not. He was not of any Chapter we have been taught. He gave an aura of age. Such age."

 

Rustar nodded, knowing the answer G'Urg had given the Inquisitor already. It did not hurt to ask again in less stressful environs, however.

 

"I wish to tell you, initiate. I...I do believe that I could not have withstood such agony myself. A tribute to your tenacity. And ultimately, loyalty to our Chapter."

 

The trip of the tongue left G'Urg in awe. Rustar emanated such total command of himself and everything about him. To witness such a thing was unnerving.

 

"I would tell you to be mindful of being totally clear in your own mind of everything in your life. Hate can be used as a weapon. Hate the Xeno! Hate the Heretic and the Mutant! But hatred of your Brothers leads to other things.

 

"Other things that lead to damnation."

 

Nodding in punctuation at his advice, Rustar strode away, leaving G'Urg with a lot to think upon.

 

++++

 

"Ah! It has been a long time!"

 

Varagol, smiled slightly as he entered the Bringer of Light's Apothecarion. Chief Apothecary Be'Chup was waiting for him. His form had changed, however. He was still heavily augmented, but his limbs were more in keeping with that of a conventional Marine. Be'Chup had noticed Varagol's stare and his smile grew wider.

 

"As we are far from Pochutec, I elected for a form that will allow me to aid the fallen in situ than waste precious moments having them come to me." He sniffed slightly trying to stifle another smile. It was widely, but quietly known that the Master of the Forge had been instrumental in his renewed ability to leave the Apothecarion until his own locomotion. And how joyful Be'Chup was to be able to do so.

 

"Today we are at a crucial stage in your development!" Be'Chup enthused. "Your Progenoids and Black Carapace! Once these are truly part of you, you only have one last task to complete before your induction to full Marine status.

 

"Scout training."

 

Lying on that cold hard metal bench, Varagol's mind raced. Warp Storms in the vicinity of the target system had meant that it would take longer to reach than previously thought. Many smaller, more reliable Warp jumps would be needed to arrive intact. During that time, the remaining initiates would receive their final implants and commence training within the Tenth Company. It was clear that such eventualities was considered before leaving Pochutec. Otherwise, why take initiates? Sinking into chemical slumber, Varagol dreamed of the day he received his own power armour, and saw the vindication of his Chapter.

Aqui Venerable Brother

Aqui

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Finally:D Well have to say I'm beginning to to have a little respect for G'urg:yes:.A Good read Brother:tu:

Hopefully the next update won't take nearly as long to get done :smile.:

 

I'm still working out how the eventual outcome between the Sisters and the Rainbow Warriors will turn out, but I hope to find something suitably epic :laugh.:

  • 1 month later...
Aqui Venerable Brother

Aqui

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And nearly three months later, I'm back with a little more! :blink.:

 

 

Chapter 4, part 2:

 

"Wake up!"

 

Varagol was rudely made aware of his surroundings by the blast of ordinance before the words sunk in. The battle was not going well. Despite the evidence presented to them, the enemy was far better prepared for the upcoming attack.

 

Too prepared.

 

The question on the lips of the great and good would remain unanswered for some time as there were more pressing matters to attend to. Ensuring that the bulk of the liberation force is able to land without being fired upon for a start. That was where the Scouts of the Rainbow Warriors came in. Infiltrate the capital hive, disable the command systems and thus allow the bulk of the fleet to move in closer to unload the remainder of the taskforce. That was three days ago, the scouts having to get closer on foot. It was an arduous journey, two squads lost to enemy patrols, their bodies incinerated by a Chimera. The landscape was treacherous before the rebellion, the lay of the land sculpted by a harsh climate and extensive industry. In the last few days, the Scouts saw the corruption of the planet at its fullest extent. Lakes of blood, fields of rotten crops, the skies etched with a lightning that defied description and livestock twisted into a mockery of their former selves.

 

And that was just the beginning.

 

Sergeant Eztli slapped Varagol at the back of his head, the impact finally jolting him back to the present. Berating himself for his mind pondering on things he had little or no control over, he looked around him. The shelling was intense, the Chimera adjusting its main weapons pitch to score a direct hit. Eztli pushed his squad forward, hoping that getting close enough would render the tanks cannon useless at close range. A missile passed overhead, forcing his charges to drop into the mud. Their clothing was already saturated by it. It stank, both of ordure and corruption, each scout hoping fervently that any taint would not begin its evil hex upon themselves. His squad included Burrom, Varagol, Brun'El and G'Urg. The later's inclusion was subject to much speculation. Whilst the pronouncement stated the Scout was pure and should be treated as such, his actions even before the events that caused the Chapters predicament meant that he was shunned, often left to his own devices. Even his former companions were wary of him, their own paths diverging away from him. In a Chapter of Brothers, he was literally alone.

 

It had taken the entire journey to recover, and even now he was still not up to full strength. More than once, his footing gave way, or was too exhausted to keep up with the others. Varagol voiced his concerns to Eztli more than once, not unkindly, that perhaps he should have remained aboard The light of the Inti, but was silenced every time. Eztli was a fair man, and an excellent Sergeant, but the members of his squad knew his patience was not unlimited.

 

"Burrom, Brun'El. Charges."

 

The two removed small packages from their packs and set about to circle the vehicle whilst the others drew its fire. Clambering up on its chassis, the maglock took purchase to its skin. Whilst clambering off, Brun'El noticed the eye aching livery hastily painted on the top. It was not the first time he had seen them since planet fall. Shuddering, he jumped. As he impacted on the soft ground the turret exploded, screams from within could be heard over the noise. Over the vox, he heard the recall command in the Chapter battle cant. They must move on quickly to avoid the units that must have heard the detonation and come to investigate.

 

"Easy." Burrom laughed as he rejoined his squad.

 

"Makes up for the slagging time you set the detonation count wrong!" snarled Eztli. "Can you count past five?"

 

Varagol snorted despite himself. G'Urg made no attempt to join in, his concentration was all around him at once, his eyes searching for any tale of further enemies. There were none. Eztli stared at him briefly, before making a decision.

 

"G'Urg. You're on point. Varagol. Cover our hides." G'Urg's eyes seem to plead with his commanding officer, but the gaze that met his own brooked no argument. Turning on his heels, he ignored the rude noise made by Burrom. Falling into a standard formation, they continued onwards. In the distance they could see their target.

 

Prime Hive Aspirtus.

 

 

Just a little one to get me back into it :happy.:

Aqui Venerable Brother

Aqui

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Glad to see the boys back in action.:thumbsup:

 

 

about time... glad to see you're back to it!

Thank you both! :happy.:

 

I've had far too much work related stuff going on lately, and when I'm at home I've been to bushed to write anything :sad.: I still need to get around to giving the other stories an update. The Sisters haven't had one since April '13! :blink.:

 

Hopefully sometime on Sunday (got family related stuff on Saturday) :smile.:

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