Loyalists' Strategium

[simison]

Athrawes, any suggestions for the captain and name of the vessel?

[Athrawes]

Fleet Escort Evening Star, captained by Itachi Rhorr-An Astartes of the 14th Brotherhood, I Legion

[simison]

After a moment, the main screen was filled with an image of a different bridge. In the foreground's center, a single Lightning Bearer stood at attention in his pearl and black armour. "Greetings, commander of the Halcyon Wardens. I am Itachi Rhorr-An of the 14^th brotherhood, Captain of the Evening Star," he said as he bowed toward the screen.

 

No doubt Itachi was aware of Pyrrhicles' name and station, but it was Madrigal etiquette to allow close allies to introduce themselves. Long accustomed to the culture of Icarion's sons, Pyrrhicles came to attention before he returned the bow as deep as the one he received. "You do me great honor, Captain Rhorr-An. I am Pyrrhicles of Delos, Lord Protector of the Myrmidon and commander of the 18^th Expeditionary Fleet. I bring black tidings this day."

 

Itachi's face was hidden beneath his helm as he answered in a measured voice, "Tidings we are aware, honorable Pyrrhicles. My lord wishes for your fleet to follow my ship to the Akira shipyards. He intends to speak with you to address the strategic situation before it grows worse."

 

Pyrrhicles hadn't realized that Icarion himself was home, and his spirit swelled with hope with that knowledge. "The enemies of the Emperor will rue this day, lead on Captain. My fleet followed." 

 

A quick bow was given before communications were ended. Pyrrhicles turned to his navigation officer. "Follow the Evening Star. Communications, I want to speak with the other captains in transit for a situation report."

[simison]

So, I'm getting ready to write the next installment and focus on fleshing out the fleet and her ships along with previewing Malis and several other Warden officers when I ran into a snag.

 

How many ships are typically in an expeditionary fleet? Do we have more than a vague idea of the general roster for one? 

[Grifftofer]

I don't believe it is ever fleshed out given that Expeditionary fleets vary so massively in size. I could see some being as few as a half dozen ships though. (A bulk troop transport, a cruiser and some escorts) On the other hand the bigger fleets seem to have up to around a hundred ships normally with bigger concentrations being made when stiffer resistance is encountered.

[Slips]

IIRC, the largest canon Legion Fleet belonged to the Imperial Fists with ~1500 Ships.

 

The Battle of Phall had 1/3rd of the Legion Present which equated to 561 ships and 300 Companies, not counting for the Astra Militaris and Saturine Reserve Fleet that went along with them.

 

Maybe this might help you: http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Expedition_Fleet

[simison]

The 18^th Expeditionary Fleet comprised of fifty-seven vessels, including three battle barges, six battleships, and twelve cruisers. It was a modest command for a warrior who was arguably one step removed from the authority of a Primarch, but it played host to an unusually large gathering of the Order of the Shield. With the Imperium's anniversary upon the Great Crusade, Pyrrhicles believed it to be an auspicious time to re-unite as many veteran members of the order for a campaign to fight with one another and renew old bonds of brotherhood. Well over a third of the I Cohort's Citadels were aboard the fleet with a smaller showing representing the Bastions and the newly-inducted Gates. 

 

Pyrrhicles, Fortress of the Order of the Shield, stood at the highest rank within this august body, his flag carried by the battle barge the Dominion of Reason. While his chief lieutenant, Citadel Malis operated from the battle barge, Destiny's Fortune. Joining them were many other famed heroes of the V^th legion, such as Eadwegor, who had protected an entire city alone and unarmed save for his tower shield and fist against an Ork mob; Bolaro, who had earned his Citadel title by shielding a young Eagle Warriors captain from a witch's Warp bolt; and Varakal Akor, who was more machine than man after sacrificing his body to safeguard the diplomatic party to Azure Prime when rebels had fired a wave of plasma against them. For to be become a Citadel was not by counting the number of foes slain, but by the number of lives saved, three thousand to be precise.

 

And now, Pyrrhicles thought to himself as he studied the various, holographic faces of his subordinates. We must protect the Imperium from our own brothers.

[simison]

"Brother Pyrrhicles, is this meeting necessary?" Malis questioned, his voice affected by a synthetic tinge. Even through the mechanical weave, his voice was strong and as youthful as his looks were. Although he was well over a century old, Malis had worked hard to stave off the effects of time. No scars marred his face, he wore his curly, raven tresses, long and pulled back into a warrior's braid. Several brothers had quietly complained to Pyrrhicles that Malis was a vain man and made light of their order.

 

Pyrrhicles knew better. He remembered the early days when Malis was but a recruit. His first arete was chosen in mastering the art of propaganda. While Alexandros and many of his sons practiced humility and willingness to share the battlefield glory with their allies, it did not sit well with Malis. Instead, he strove to win great fame with his victories as a means to highlight his Primarch's quiet dignity with his own audacious displays. Thus, to maximise his impact on his performance on the legion's allies, he had protected his handsome visage and often wore a braggert's swagger. When the Council of Terra had let loose the remembrancers upon the Great Crusade, Malis had been at the forefront of that cause. On some days, Pyrrhicles privately wondered if the actor forgot he was merely playing a role.

 

"The Imperium is threatened by some of her greatest generals," Pyrrhicles quietly reminded his lieutenant. "Time is of the essence if we are to minimize the lives lost."

 

The hologram threw up his hands in an act of contrition. "I mean no disrespect, brother, but we are less than an hour from our meeting with the Stormborn. Would it not be wiser to wait and coordinate our efforts with our cousins? As far as our status, I doubt much has changed since the beginning of our journey."

 

A murmur of agreement echoed from a quarter of the assembly. Pyrrhicles easily batted aside a pang of annoyance. "That may be true, Malis, but we are Astartes, we leave little to chance. I want our inventories checked again, I want all units' weapon load-outs, legion and auxiliary, prepared for anti-Space Marine combat, and for drills to begin as soon as possible. Now, while most of our enemies may be unknown to us, one legion did stand out: the Eagle Warriors. Among the Wardens here, who served with their legion during time of service in the V^th Cohort?" 

 

A pause ensured as captains and commanders checked rosters. It ended when Bolaro spoke, "That distinction is mine, brother Pyrrhicles."

 

With a frown, Pyrrhicles answered, "Truly? Your stint ended eighty years ago, brother. Surely, one of the Gates or Bastions has served with them since then?"

 

Bolaro shook his head. "None have, brother. It is a rare Warden who will be allowed to serve with the XIII^th."

 

"Then, we will make do with what information we do have. Brothers, you have your orders. We will assemble again after Lord Icarion addresses us. Dismissed." One by one, the holographic emitters shut off, until only one remained. Pyrrhicles quirked an eyebrow. "Yes?"

 

Varakal's voice box replied, "A concern, brother. Laxshi, the Parisad aboard, he tells me he has tried to scry our enemy movements and cannot. He is...blocked."

 

"Blocked?" Pyrrhicles repeated disbelievingly. "Is it a foul trick by our errant cousins?"

 

"That was my first thought as well, but Laxshi believes the force preventing him from seeing the future is closer. Much closer."

 

"How close?"

 

Varakal shrug, a laborious gesture given his left side was machine. "He can't say for certain. He advises the fleet remain on full alert. If he is blind, he fears our cousins, the Bearers, may be unaware of this near threat."

 

"A wise precaution."

[simison]

Pyrrhicles watched as the last Warden frigate weighed anchor toward the rear of the formation. The 18^th was now in position at the outer edge of the shipyards with two lines of Lighting Bearer warships guarding both flanks. Not a few seconds later, the communications officer announced, "My lord, the Stormborn is ready to address the fleet."

 

With a nod, Pyrrhicles drew his attention to the main screen. An image of the shipyards silhouetted against Akira lingered for a moment before the image shifted. Icarion appeared. Even through a screen, the Primarch of the Lightning Bearers radiated grace and discipline. In these dark times, Pyrrhicles welcomed the sensation as he saw that Icarion was ready to fight the foes that threatened them.

 

"Greetings, Pyrrhicles, we have much to discuss," Icarion declared as he lightly bowed to him, eschewing the traditional greeting. Pyrrhicles began to bow in return, but Icarion interrupted. "Friend, we have fought together for over two hundred years. In many ways, I see you and the Wardens almost in the same light as I see my own sons."

 

It felt like Pyrrhicles' chest would burst with pride from those words, however he had never mastered a casual relationship with any primarch, much less Alexandros. "As you will, Stormborn. We have much work ahead of us."

 

"The danger is greater than you know," Icarion warned, his voice carrying itself through every Warden ship. "The roots of this betrayal are deep, but they are all linked to one source. If we are to establish lasting peace for the Imperium, we must eliminate this source. It is my profound desire that the Halcyon Wardens and my brother Alexandros join me to end this corruption, once and for all."

 

Pyrrhicles slammed an armored fist into his chest. "Have the Wardens ever failed the Bearers? Has Alexandros ever forsaken you? My lord, if we can stop this madness from ever afflicting our people, we are with you!"

 

Icarion allowed a small smile to cross his face, no doubt encouraged by the Warden's fidelity. "My heart is gladdened to hear this, for what I'm about to reveal to you will be a truth that will have the appearance of lies. Make no mistake, to exorcise this evil will require great bravery and much hardship."

 

"We are ready," Pyrrhicles assured the primarch. "What is this vile source?"

 

A pause came as Icarion's smile left him. "The Emperor."

[Athrawes]

Simison, considering how close Icarion and alexandros were, is this the first time pyrrhicles has met Icarion? The passage just seems really stiff/ overlay formal considering Icarion is attempting to inspire the Wardens and particularly Pyrrhilces to side with him.

 

It's true that Icarion isn't boisterous, that he is calm and controlled, and that formality is certainly important to him, he is also adept at reading people and at manipulation. He doesn't need to come across cold and restrained when it might benefit his goals more to feign a sense of belonging.

[simison]

Nope, it's not the first time they've met. I daresay that they've fought in quite a few battles together. Since there are so few portrayals of Icarion, I tend to be cautious in my writing. 

 

But this is something I can easily fix, I've already thought of a couple of details. Have Icarion interrupt the bowing and address Pyrrhicles by name from the get go. One question before I rewrite it, how casual should Pyrrhicles address Icarion? By nature, Pyrrhicles holds a lot of respect for Icarion, so I don't think he'd ever be comfortable enough to address Icarion on a first-name basis, but is there a good, middle-ground name/nickname Pyrrhicles could address Icarion?

[Athrawes]

That sounds good. Stormborn would probably be about as familiar as pyrrhicles would comfortable with.

[simison]

Revised it, how does it look now, Athrawes?

[bluntblade]

"Much less Alexandros?" I thought he'd be the only Primarch Pyrrhicles could relax around.

[simison]

"Much less Alexandros?" I thought he'd be the only Primarch Pyrrhicles could relax around.

 

There's a difference between being relaxed and casual. Pyrrhicles' admiration for Alex borders on idolization, and, as such, he only calls him 'Alex' because the primarch insists on it. If Pyrrhicles had his way, he'd be using much more formal titles to address Alex.

[bluntblade]

Ah, fair enough. Now I think about it, some equerries in the canonverse have a similar relationship with their Primarch. I guess Maloghurst and Yesugei are quite unusual in their familiarity.

[simison]

Shock was an understatement. Pyrrhicles felt his reality turned inside out. It was only because of his disoriented mental state, that he said what he said next, "You can't be serious, Ike." Icarion raised an eyebrow at the mention of Alex's nickname for him. Were it not for Pyrrhicles' horror, he would be ashamed at the grave breach of respect. 

 

After a pause, Icarion continued. "Unfortunately, I am. You know of my own talents at foresight. I have seen an Imperium where we, the legions, are betrayed by the Emperor. Is this so hard to believe after what happened to the II^nd and the XI^th? Make no mistake, their fates are merely a prelude to ours." Icarion leaned forward, righteous indignation mixing with remorse. "I will not allow this to happen to such noble servants. I will not stand by while the Emperor threatens my brothers, threatens Alex."

 

Pyrrhicles bristled at the casual violation of the Emperor's ban to speak of the lost legions, even as he struggled to comprehend the dire future Icarion spoke of. Remembering himself, he said, "Stormborn, perhaps this is a mistake? Alexandros has often warned of the hopelessness of looking toward the far future. The paths are so delicate they are liable to shift with the smallest of changes."

 

"Were it only a false vision," Icarion replied in subtle despair. "It is not what I've seen, it is what I've met. My own sons have traveled through the vagaries of the Warp from the future to warn me of events that will come to pass. Madrigal will burn," the Stormborn declared with unbreakable conviction. 

 

There was no doubt in Pyrrhicles' mind that Icarion honestly believed his own words, which inflicted a shadow of fear on Pyrrhicles' heart. If only he were a true space marine. "If, if what you speak of is true, Stormborn, then shouldn't we allow Alexandros to interview them? He knows men's hearts better than they know it themselves. There may be a possibility that something was overlooked, or maybe together the two of you can reason with the Emperor and avoid this looming disaster? There is still time to make things right, my lord."

 

Icarion shook his head, and Pyrrhicles' spirit sank. "Time is the one resource we no longer have. We are too close to the appointed hour, and it demands that I act now to prevent this nightmare by any means necessary."

 

Pyrrhicles squinted, sensing a deeper meaning. Then, understanding slammed into him. "Rebellion, Stormborn?" He whispered. Alexos, the bastard primarch, had been a disgrace to the Great Crusade and to the XIII^th, allowed to serve only by the Emperor's and the Warmaster's mercy. All could see Travier as a traitor, despite his recent good showings of obedience. But Icarion? The First-born? "You've sided with the Eagle Warriors?"

 

"As I said, I will not allow this threat to destroy those whom I love," Icarion delicately said. "Even if it requires that I take drastic steps."

 

Grasping for some kind of anchor, Pyrrhicles replied, "But, you are the Stormborn! Your legion bears the Emperor's lightning!?"

 

"No longer," Icarion said with heavy weight as Pyrrhicles watched another piece of his reality break away. "We are the Harbingers, heralds of the Emperor's true nature, and we stand against him. I am the Stormlord, the leader of these turbulent times. I will guide us through this period of chaos into a new, glorious future, free of the Emperor's perfidy. 

[simison]

Icarion continued as he reached out with an open palm toward Pyrrhicles. "Please, my friend, the die is cast. Nothing would bring me greater happiness than to know Alex stands with me. I need your help if I am to have any hope of persuading him the threat the Emperor poses."

 

There was an uncomfortable truth in those words as Pyrrhicles stared at the Stormborn, no, the Stormlord. Given the exhaustive nature of his position, Alexandros had come to place a greater emphasis on delegation and listening to advice since he couldn't be everywhere at once, and there were few others that Alexandros trusted as much as Pyrrhicles. His mind thought of what the Stormlord said. It seemed too incredible to be true, but when had Icarion led them astray? What if he was right? Privately, he always believed that if the Emperor had fallen, Alexandros and Icarion could replace him. Perhaps even they could best him in battle. What would Alexandros think of that? The thought lodged itself in Pyrrhicles' mind as his thoughts turned to the Warmaster. If some of my brothers came from the future with dire warnings, what would he do? After centuries by the primarch's side, the answers came quickly to him. He would seek counsel. He would do everything he could to verify the accuracy of these warnings. He wouldn't hide it from his trusted brothers before launching a rebellion. He would never strike first against his kin, unless he had exhausted every single other option.

 

Icarion saw the shift on his face. "Pyrrhicles..."

 

The half-man had never heard his name whispered with so much pain and anguish before. He almost halted his next order. Almost. "This is Lord Protector Pyrrhicles to the 18^th fleet. I order an immediate withdrawal from the Madrigal system and full speed to Terra. If any, Harbinger ship attempts to delay you, you are to engage in evasive maneuvers. If any open Harbinger ship opens fire, consider all Harbinger forces hostile enemies and traitors to the Emperor and return fire."

 

"Pyrrhicles..." Icarion's offered open palm was now a closed fist. "If didn't have to end this way." The words said, the channel was cut. 

 

"Belay that order."

 

Pyrrhicles breathed deeply as raw anger overcame his inner conflict over this deteriorating situation. "Malis!" Pyrrhicles barked over the comms, acutely aware that the fleet channel was still open. "You forget your rank!"

 

"And you forget yourself," Malis spat back. "Our first loyalty is to our primarch. The facts are clear. Icarion has never made a charge that he was unsure of. The Emperor abandoned us and has hid himself away with no word of his mission or goal. The weight of the evidence lies with Icarion. We should join him and save Alexandros from this plot."

 

Clenching his fists, Pyrrhicles countered, "The facts are not clear. We don't know how reliable the information Icarion has based his decision on. One of the most consistent lessons the Warmaster has imparted upon us is that the far future is constantly changing. We will withdraw!"

 

"To all Halcyon Wardens who love our father, rally to the Destiny's Fortune and make way to the Harbinger lines," Malis ordered.

 

Pyrrhicles gritted his teeth before he shouted, "Remember the loyalty that the Emperor and the Warmaster have earned from us. They have never led us astray, would you abandon them now? Remember who you are. We are the Halcyon Wardens! And my orders are clear: withdraw!"

 

Turning his back to the empty screen, Pyrrhicles addressed Alden. "Captain, full speed to the edge of the system. I want the fleet to translate into the Warp the moment it becomes possible." He paused as he considered his next distasteful question. "How many ships are moving towards the Destiny's Fortune?" 

 

Seated on the command throne, no doubt processing a constant stream of information, Captain Alden grimaced. "Ten ships so far. Forty-one vessels have begun to change course away from Akira, the remaining six are holding." 

 

"What of the Harbinger ships?"

 

Another pause. "The ones flanking our lines are moving on interception courses."

[bluntblade]

Just two minor things: "flanking are lines" and "never made a charge he was never sure of".

[simison]

Fixed. How's the overall quality?

[bluntblade]

I like it, but perhaps the dialogue should be more abrupt between Malis and Pyrrhicles. "The Emperor's abandoned us- hidden away with no word of his goal" might give more of a sense of urgency.

 

I'd also add reactions from people around Pyrrhicles.

[MikhalLeNoir]

I second blunt here. I like the story, especially the dynamic between Icarion and Pyr. But somehow the dialogue between Malis and Pyr doesn't fit for me. For me it takes the tension away.stealing the momentum of the situation. And Icarion becomes a minor role even for mere seconds. What shouldn't be the case to me. I know why you implemented it, but adtef reading it again and left that part out, it functions better for me. Maybe change it that first there is silencd, then icarion says thst it shouldn't end this way. Then as pyr rushes for the warp jump point, alden tells him that the destinys fortune and some other ships head for icarion. Pyr asks how many. Alden tells him. Then pyr contacts malis. The dialogue happens and Alden jumps into the dialogue ststing that harbingers ships are in interception course.

 

Just an idea.

[simison]

The news relayed to him, Pyrrhicles let his head droop towards the floor. He was infuriated by the small sign of weakness, but the weight on him was enormous. The Imperium betrayed by the First Son, and now his own brothers had turned their backs on every oath they had every made. Not just brothers, but members of the Order of the Shield. Despair nipped at his heels, whispering for him to embrace it, to lay down and weep. "I will not fail Alexandros," he mumbled to himself as he straightened his posture. He turned and saw most of the crews' eyes on him. In their faces, he saw a range of reactions that he had experiences, from misery to fear to rage. 

 

The words came to him easily after standing so long in the shadow of the master. "No matter what doubts may be speaking to you, know that you are not alone. We have been forced into a situation none of us have ever prepared for," he spoke softly as he stretched his arms out to his sides. "But know this as well. We are no fools or villains. The Warmaster has guided the Imperium for these forty years without failure. As he has not failed us, we will not fail him. To your duties, heroes of the Imperium. We have a message to deliver."

 

Alexandros had once joked that any speech that doesn't drive your audience to the nearest airlock was a success. He had gone on, any speech that could convince people to follow you to the gates of the underworld was worthy of recording for the ages, no matter how long or short. Pyrrhicles stared into the mortal men and women facing him and saw new resolve renew their spirits. With a nod, Tactical Officer Glen returned to his station, the balding veteran's hands flying over his controls as he readied for battle. 

[Sigismund229]

"Sergeant: We are the bulwark against the night!

The torch which banishes the dark!

Battle brothers: And we know no fear!".

Battle cry of the Nightguard.

 

Brother Cornelius Xolt of the Nightguard moved forward carefully, placing one foot in front of the other with a lightness that meant he made virtually no sound as he moved through the bowels of the Vengeful Spirit. He carried heavy bolter and yet despite that he still made no sound save for the small, low hum emitted by his armour. Beside him, his three black armoured brothers did the same and somewhere in the shadows up ahead was the fifth member of the kill team, sweeping through the ship and killing any who might alert the Harbingers to their presence. They weren't there to kill Harbingers. They had another, bigger target. It was a likely suicide run true but if succesful it would throw the Insurrectionists into confusion and deprive the Chaos God of their greatest champion.

 

Moving silently and swiftly through the winding, bare metal corridoors of the ship, they soon arrived at a door emblazoned with a giant I beside two lightning bolts. This was the chamber they had been looking for. Standing in front of it was the fifth member of their kill team,a former Stygian Jackal, Aulus Tirus, the severed head of a Harbinger, their way into the chamber, in his hand, his long combat blade still dripping blood. Sheathing his knife, he drew his bolter and checked the clip was full. Any advantage in a fight against a primarch was appreciated. Then, as the rest of the kill team took up positions behind him he picked up the head and held its lips against the doorway's scanner. Sensing Harbinger DNA, the door began to trundle open. It's task served, he threw away the head.

 

In front of them was Icarion, the Stormborn. His face was remarkably peaceful, his features calm and his legs crossed. He wasn't dressed in battle plate. Instead, he wore functional silk robes. In front of him were five tarot cards. Aulus fired a shot at him. It was a certain head shot. It would hit Icarion in the eye and blow his brains out through the back of his skull. It didn't.

 

The bullet stopped in mid air, freezing in front of the Stormborn's face and when it did, his eyes snapled open. "I foresaw your coming" said Icarion, his eyes glowing a strange blue as he spoke. "You have come to kill me. You know that if you do then my sons will hunt you down and kill you? Of course you do. How could you not? But you're willing to die for the Imperium and the Emperor, for what you believe in. I admire that". Cornelius shouldn't be listening. He should be firing his heavy bolter straight at the Stormborn, cleansing his heresy from the galaxy but something stops him, some deep seated sense of admiration holding him back. He knows he shouldn't be listening but he listens. "It saddens me that such fine warriors as yourselves, warriors who have seen the darkest secrets of the galaxy and stood unbowed, should be sent here to die in service of a tyrant" continued Icarion, his mesmerising gaze turning onto the five members of the Nightguard. "I can offer you a way out of that" said Icarion, his words soft and persuasive, gently pushing their way into Cornelius' mind and taking root there "I seek no more than my due, humanity's due. Surely you can see that? The Emperor is willing to sacrifice humanity, to sacrifice you, on his quest for godhood. Even me and my brothers mean nothing to him. Join me and that will change. All will be counted as equal, their right to live the same as the next man's. I wouldn't sacrifice you in service of vain ideals but ask you to give your lives willingly to protect humanity".

 

Yes. It made sense, came a whisper in the back of Cornelius' mind. After all, how many brothers had he lost to the Great Crusade? How many... Cornelius snarled and crushed the thought, angered by how close he'd come to treachery. "Witch!" he spat as he opened fire with his heavy bolter. It broke the mystical spell he and his brothers had been under and they all began to fire. Icarion growled as they rejected his offer and began moving, the bolter shots that came near him freezing in mid air. He slammed into Aulus, ripping out his trachea and sending him flying across the room, trailing blood as he went. He kicked Farran, caving his chest in and likely puncturing both his lungs. He ripped off Priamus' head, letting the body drop to the floor, Priamus' blood mingling with that of Aulus and the tiny droplets of Icarion's blood that had fallen from the half dozen or so bolter wounds in his flesh.

 

Instead of continuing with a bolter, Aelius drew his heavy cutlass, perfectly designed for cutting in a confined space, a relic from his days as a Void Eagle, and a plasma pistol. As the Stormborn closed with him like an enraged aurox, the former Void Eagle fired twice, once hitting Icarions arm, causing the flesh to blacken and burn, and once in the abdomen. When the Stormborn drove his fist forward, towards Aelius' head, Aelius moved and brought his cutlass cutting down into Icarion's wrist, almost chopping through to the bone and eliciting a howl of pain from the primarch of the I. Dodging a few more strikes, he managed to get one more strike in, a cutlass chop the Stormborn's side, driving it in deeply. However, he couldn't defeat a primarch. Icarion sent a fist into Aelius' belly and ripped out his entrails, dumping them in a steaming pile on the floor. Aelius had lasted twelve seconds.

 

With the Stormborn coming towards him, Cornelius let loose, firing shot after shot. He knew it wasn't going to be of any use but he did it anyway. Most shots were stopped by the primarch of the I but a few got through, punching bloody holes in his flesh. These didn't even slow Icarion however, and he was soon face to face with Cornelius. Cornelius lost his left arm, torn off by the vengeful primarch, and Icarion punched his fist through Cornelius' stomach before hurling him into the metal wall. On impact, Cornelius felt pain surge through all his limbs and his armour told him most of his bones were broken. Beside him, the wheezing Farran made one last shot with his bolt pistol but it exploded harmlessly. Rushing across the room, Icarion drove his foot down, smashing apart Faran's skull. Then he knelt, panting as his body sought to repair itself. Harbingers rushed into the room. Comendable speed, Cornelius thought. The engagement had lasted less than a minute.

 

As Icarion stood and began to leave, Cornelius coughed blood and spittle into his helmet grille and laughed. Turning, Icarion looked at him and said "You're dying Nightguard. You failed. I don't see what's funny about that". Cornelius let loose a wheezy, hacking cough as laughing got the better of him and said "I may be dying but so are you. We hurt you you bastard. We hurt you like you've never been hurt before". As the Harbingers filed into the room, Icarion said "I will heal. You, on the other hand, most certainly won't". Cornelius chuckled and said "We are the bulwark against the night, the torch that banishes the dark". A grin spread across his face as his armour's power pack began to go into overdrive, turned into a crude bomb.

 

"And we know no fear" he said as the power pack exploded, swallowing him, Icarion, the Harbingers and his dead brothers his white hot fire.

[simison]

The doors opened to a hall worthy of a giant. Gold was the hall's colour, a shade that could represent welcoming majesty to new visitors or dwarf enemies in priceless might. For such a grand room, twenty pillars of ancient Korinsian design lined the path from entrance to the room's purpose. Between each pillar was a warrior. Half were the famed Custodians, the Emperor's personal guard assigned to guard another. The other half consisted of warriors of gold and purple. It was odd to see Halcyon Wardens without the signature red on their pauldrons, but these were Wardens were separated from their kin. The Terran Guard, the man thought as he marched down the center of the room with his retinue. These Halcyon Wardens were chosen among their brethren for a single task. An assignment that no doubt the Fifth Legion believed more important than even preserving the Imperium.

 

That reason sat in a throne fit for an emperor. No emperor resided there this day, at least, not one who would claim that title. But a Warmaster differed little from an emperor, according to the thoughts of a few. The Warmaster wasn't alone. He was joined by another brother, a Primarch of few words but of great fiery spirit. Niklaas watched the visitor approach with suspicious eyes, but the Warmaster sat unarmoured. It was not merely the guardians that safeguarded the Warmaster's life. The visitor knew that if he had intended harm against the Warmaster, this meeting would never have taken place. 

 

The visitor finished his trek to the throne. He paused before taking a knee, an act of humbling apology. The speech which he had recited since making for Terra was on the cusp of leaving his lips when he was interrupted as the Warmaster stood and approached. "Please, Koschei. There is no need." Reaching down, Alexandros lifted his brother from the floor. With a happy grin, the Seer embraced the Dreamer.

 

With a hesitance, Koschei returned the embrace. "It is good to see you again, Alex."

 

"You trust too easily, Alexandros," Niklaas criticized, his voice sharpening as he mentioned the Warmaster's name.

 

With a chuckle, Alex released his brother from his grip. "Ah, but today is a day of celebration! One of our lost brothers has found his way home. No longer can Icarion rely on an advantage of legions to destroy the Imperium in a thousand cuts. Now, it is the Imperium that has the initiative. And, if one brother can return to us, so can the others. Today," Alex continued, his voice rousing the spirits in the room as it gained in strength. "Is the end of the Insurrection!"

 

Eldrad watched the vision for a moment longer before sighing. He saw the path beyond this moment. With the fracturing of the Insurrectionists and Koschei's defection, the tide of the war had firmly tipped toward the loyalists, now that they outnumbered the traitors eight-to-six legions. The Imperium would soon receive another boon as Gwalchavad rallied to the loyalist cause.

 

It matters not, Eldrad thought to himself as he began to search for other paths to guide the future toward. Koschei's fate had been sealed this day. It was bound to Nurgle.