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[Karcen]

The Sanguinian Heresy​

Segmentum: Ultima

Sector: ghoul stars ( undefined)

System: Yulrecury

The system of Yulrecury was still and dead, it had been the first point the small crusade fleet had gone beyond the light of the astronomicon and into the truest of black gulfs. The system had been the only point that allowed the fleet to enter or exit the cursed stars thanks to all the anomalies and black holes in close proximity . The warp here was twisted and was almost like sailing between hurricanes in ancient seas. The whole place was very odd, in that such solar bodies should not act as they did, the stars were not old enough to have gone out and not massive enough to have collapsed. The whole place was not normal and the warp itself seemed to not like the place. Beyond the light of the emperor navigation had been hard, if not for the primarch Kelvis likely the fleet would have been flying blind between every jump and just guessing. Still to the mutant third eye of the navigator this place was just not right as beyond the wall of black holes and anomalies there had been nothing, a blank space as if the chaos of the warp was simply not allowed here. The threat in the truest dark of the void had been something truly bizarre, that no twisted warp powers could replicate. Still with four primarchs and most of their legions along with the guard the area had been pacified. Well that was what they had decided to say as no one truly believed anyone would ever seen this place again. That was at least those who didn't yearn to understand everything and sought to prove or disprove their theories.

This system was the best meeting point both before and after entering the dead zone beyond the wall of anomalies. here the light of Terra was dim, but it could still be seen and messages from the others could be received as beyond the anomalies the still warp had stopped any messages. Well it had been the anomalies that stopped messages not the calm warp. Either way this systems was the best place for the miniature crusade to meet up after they exited the warp and more or less let the back log of messages they might have gotten come in. The astropaths would of course need time to interpret anything that came in so it was decided to let the mortals celebrate . There had been little glory in this campaign, little to record or write about as nothing about it felt right the very memories of the place all seemed off.

Above the silent systems reality was torn asunder and unreality shone out from the tear before a dark shape emerged from the warp. The ship was huge, and yet sleek it was not a sharp angled thing forced together like most ships of the imperium, but rather seemingly made from one solid sheet of metal that flowed over the clearly human, but not normal design. The Beacon Of innovation The flag ship of The Reliquary entered real space with a grace few ships had anymore. it had been made before the age of strife, before the fall of humanity and even with Ixia and Perterabo both having tried to fully understand the ship it held many secrets.

"Translation to the materium complete disengaging gellar field" A void spoke over the vox system. The captain, a mortal spoke not just to the human crew members, but also the astartes and the remembrancers that were on board. All were glad to be beyond the wall as many had called it. Only with Ixa calculating their path through the warp and through the anomalies had the ships survived even entering the ghouls stars. Where any other being or even a cogitator to try to calculate a path they would have taken thousands of years to do what Ixia took only days to do.

" good move us to the planet" Ixia orders as she didn't want to be on the mandival point incase any other ship needed to exit the warp there. While there were other points to exist the warp Kelvis had explain how the navigators were nearly blind from the churning currents of the warp around the wall. So they might make a mistake ion where they came out, though Ixia doubted Kelvis would make any such mistakes for his ships.

The captain relayed Ixia's orders to the crew and the ship started to move again, though unlike other ships there was no shift at the sudden acceleration the grav platting changing the internal fields to compensate before even astartes could feel the change in direction. The system was an odd one having only one intact world. There was evidence of others ones in the form or orbits cluttered with asteroids, but either they had never formed or something had long ago destroyed the worlds. The imperium could bring such devastation upon a world itself, but still it was a thought that Ixia did not like to dwell on, that whatever had broken these worlds might still be lurking somewhere in the dark.

Ixia watched from the bridge as the ship moved through the void it's shields keeping it safe from any asteroid that got to close, though given the distances in space and speeds none would hit a ship like hers before it had long moved out of the way. As ixia watched what was a speck in the screen grew and grew till it was the desolate dead world that was where they would meet. The star it orbited flickered dimly and sent forth great gouts of radiation, it was not suitable for habitation. There had only been one system worth reclaiming and that had been pledged to the mechanicus. Sonn the ship would enter high orbit around the world and wait.

 

[Worthlessplebian]

The void of this system was dead, merciless, and frigid, bereft of the cosmic calmness commonly found in other systems. So corrupted, so twisted, that the navigators themselves seemed to balk at the background wails of the Warp. The Mandeville Point of Yulcrecury shimmered with witch-lightning, garish violet arcs brilliantly dancing at the surface of reality, before a ship's bow knifed into reality. Cleaving the void itself as if it were xeno-vegetation on a forest Deathworld. Its fattened adamantium hull bears the glorious scars proudly on its scarlet surface. The hunk of plasteel crawled with predatory glee from the gaping wound. A massive ship that belied her master's deception, swiftness, and stealth. With a crackle, the tear between real-space and the Warp shut tight as if it were never there. Magnificent scarlet reflected what little light there was, argent streaks slithered from the bridge to the starboard and port then jumping to its silver, ceramite bow. A skull stared down the near-starless void, blacker than an onyx gem, its eye sockets as burning and vivacious as a red dwarf's defiant glare of light.

The Mournful Night had arrived.

The bridge, just as dark as the void out there, bustled with silent life. Hololithic displays and cogitator viewscreens were the only sources of light, casting a thin sheet of cyan on the gothic-structures — pillars ornately decorated by shapes, while the ceiling was a rib vault with macabre portraits of winged mammals with gleaming charcoals for eyes. Serfs and servitors clicked away at rune-keys, eyes nearly permanently glued to their station screens, only departing to rest their weary, sunken eyes into the yawning darkness ahead of them. The communication pits were overlooked by the main deck, dotted by work-blocks of augur, enginarium, and gunnery. Near the foot of the main deck, a dais with a high-backed throne of marble, genuine marble. On one arm-support, an ancient Terran sigil of justice, a scale of gold with its stretcher held by one fist while the other bared the menacing symbol of the Scarlet Lords. Jasper-red fingers, clothed in ceramite, rested lethargically at the ends of the command throne's arms. The twin lightning claws, Vindication & Miseria, slept soundly within their moorings, yet still poised to the deploy at an instant.

A hooded giant sat loosely. Miserably. The startling, impassive blue lenses of his helm focused on the main cogitator viewscreens brought to his eyelevel by base-mounted arms. He analysed the detail then the helm's vox-unit rumbled awake, the voice through it came like a hard-whisper in the lone night. The voice held a palatable fairness to it, not warmth or coldness, through the vox's crackle. "Rotate. 180 degrees, clockwise. Tilt, 30 degrees downward."

The ship's captain looked to the throne-sitting giant. A pale, gaunt thing with black-irises and dim pupils. The impassive statue of scarlet ceramite peered down—armour servos purring—their eyes meet. Bloodchilling blue, the Primarch, Dumah Tzimiskes, spotted the innate shiver of fear in his captain's spine. It couldn't be helped. The worn-face of the captain told Dumah that it had been 127 solar days since he had last seen his wife and sons aboard the Mournful Night. Yet without voicing a word, the Captain nodded as if directed by Dumah's wordless gaze.

"Divert shield power, 30%, to engines."

------------------

After the reorientation of the Mournful Night, the Scarlet Lords' legion flew through the empty vacuum to the meeting point of their agreement. Augurs would spot them before they came into view, but the Beacon of Innovation shimmered brilliantly on their auger-array. Dumah ordered a pict from the bow to confirm their detection. A viewscreen wheeled up to the primarch's helm. Receiving only a nod before it was sent away with a blink-click.

The figure rose out of its seat, towering over the Astartes sons that gathered around him. "Open a vox-hail to the Beacon of Innovation." Ordered Nostramo's Judge.

"Hail, Sister."

Karcen

 

[Soviet Panda]

Real space trembled, then it was torn asunder as the Intomitable Will crawled it's way into real space. It had not been a smooth journey through the Warp. Due to the unique properties of the Ghoul Stars making traveling via the warp difficult, the Mathan Mor were forced to drop out of the Warp several times just to get their bearings. Artio had only grown more and more frustrated with the whole situation with each forced exit. To say he was relieved once the returns from the augurs showed the flagships Beacon of Innovation and Mournful Night

"Finally! I was thinking we were to be lost in these damnable stars until our magpie Kelvis came to find us." Artio bellowed from his throne on the bridge. Though he was a woefully poor captain compared to his brother Kelvis, he was the equal to many of the greatest mortal captains of the fleet. "As soon as we are in Vox range, send a hail to my siblings. Let them know their brother has arrived."

 

[RikuXIII]

Out of the warp sprang La Pionera, the flag ship of the Imperial Privateers, into the real space of the Yulrecury System. Or as real space as the Ghoul Stars got. The sector was under some kind of curse, even the astartes whispered about it. The navigators among the legion had been hard pressed to guide thier ships through the roiling warp. The primarch of the 11th legion, Kelvis Redbeard, had been overseeing every warp jump the La Pionera made to spearhead the Imperium's expansion efforts in the sector. Such was the peril and responsibility of this that Kelvis refused to place that burden on any of his sons, but on his alone.
With the ship's warp drive cooling down, Captain Illyana Bradshaw marched onto thew bridge carrying a polished wood box. She nodded to a few members of the bridge crew as she scanned the stations of for the massive bulk of the ship's master. Not spotting him, the white clad captain headed for a cabin the primarch had installed off the bridge for his personal use. The door to the cabin was flanked by two Privateer Astartes who merely nodded their respect for Bradshaw as she went directly in the cabin without knocking, a right she had been granted by the primarch himself. Inside the cabin was dark, displays along the walls now switched off now that they had made it back to real space. The only light came from a smaller copy of the star chart table that was on the main bridge. Hunched over it was Kelvis Redbeard. After a moment of just listening to the big man's deep, even breaths, Bradshaw advanced to his side. She looked up into the hairy face, all three of his eyes closed as he breathed in through his nose and out through his mouth. After another moment, Bradshaw politely cleared his throat. Kelvis's eyes fluttered open, but the one set in his forehead shut again as his normal eyes adjusted down to focus on his human captain.
"Stations reporting in all green, sir." Bradshaw reported. "We are proceeding further into the system to the rendezvous point."
Kelvis nodded as his eyes flickered to the chart table. He had intentionally exited the warp a little apart from the other legion flagships to give himself a little time to recollect himself from the jump. Navigating the Ghoul Stars was a challenge and not the kind Kelvis enjoyed. These little moments of weakness were not things he was willing to share with his brothers and sister. He was loathed to even share it with his sons, though the ones who shared their primarch's gift probably knew it. One of the few he trusted was Bradshaw, who had proven herself an excellent officer and confidant through the Great Crusade. At first, he brought her into his inner circle in hopes of using her as an introduction to her Rogue Trader family, but he had grown to value her intelligence and loyalty over her familial connections any day.
As Kelvis glanced back at Bradshaw, he noticed the wood box she had carried in, which was now open to display a selection of large, black cigars. His own blend made from his home system on a tropical planet he had zealously guarded from being spoiled by too much industry. It was potent enough to give even him a buzz. One of these cigars and some Fenrisian Ale he imported was exactly what he wanted right now, but with a meeting with his siblings coming up, he'd have to settle with just the cigar.
"You could have had Cortez bring this." He said, glancing over the selection before picking one up.
"Yes." Bradshaw agreed as she lit an old fashioned match from a small partition of them inside the cigar box.
She held up the match for Kelvis to lean in and light the cigar. The embers burned green as he leaned back and took a long drag. He held the smoke for a moment before taking out the cigar and blowing a perfect smoke ring.
"Well then, thank you Captain." Kelvis said, getting some of his usual joviality back in his tone. "If you'll give me a minute, I'll join you on the bridge. If Hector is out there, tell him to stop worrying."
"Very well, sir." Captain Bradshaw replied, a slight smile touching her lips.
Bradshaw left with the box, leaving the tri-cloptic primarch of the 11th legion alone. He took a few more puffs as he studied the planet he and his siblings were converging on. Another dead world in this forsaken sector. When first sent to the Ghoul Stars, Kelvis had relished the chance to explore such a place. Now? The sooner he got his sons, ships, and siblings out of here, the better.
With the still glowing cigar between his teeth, Kelvis rejoined his crew on the bridge. Bradshaw already had the vox channels ready for him, ready to transmit to the three other warships congregating.
"Good to see you all made it on time." He said into the transmitter, a self amused smile touching his lips and showing in his voice. "I'm about ready to start charging fees for finding stragglers."

 

[Karcen]

Long range augurs read the arrival of the ships long before the vox hails started coming in. Each ship identified by scanners far more precise than any the imperium could be made now. Ixia listened as the chips were announced by the bridge crew as they exited the warp each seemingly in good enough condition to continue. That was good the calculations had been as best as one could get without sitting here for years to figure out every last variable. There likely would be ships lost in the anomalies, but there were ships lost in the warp all the time so over all the numbers balanced out to acceptable losses. Then came the hails even as the ships moved into position. Most of the astropaths would be busy as the warp here was likely filled with lost messages and ones sent for the fleet before and after they had crossed the stars.

Ixia did wonder what things were happening in the greater imperium, with their father having left Sanguinius to lead them, all had known that the crusade was nearing it's end. Ixia did wonder what would happen when at least the endless wars were over, she had only joined her father because of the golden age he wanted, but what of the great armies? Well there would always be something that needed dealing with, new Xenos, people rising up, the unknown, there would always be something that would need the astartes to deal with it. For now most of the galaxy was dealt with, they had only gone this far out because the galaxy was becoming a less threatening place.

Once all the ships had checked in Ixia stood upon a slightly raised dais and a pillar of light rose up around her. The other might be okay with just a vox message, but Ixia always had a bit of a flair and thought it was inspiring to let other see what humans had once been able to do. This dais was a different kind of messenger sending not just her voice but her image. It as a hololith projector capable of projecting where there was no emitter and thus let Ixia send her messages.

On the bridges of the ships just before the command throne Ixia or rather an image of her appeared, while hololiths had been worked to no longer be grainy or glitchy aboard such ships, this projection from her ship made it look like she was there. Still aside from the unaugmented mortals it was clear to all the imperfections, how nothing on her interacted with the world. It would be almost instantly clear she had not teleported to the ship.

" It is good to see everyone made it in one piece " Ixia's image said though as she couldn't see anything on the ships she might just be talking to air before the command throne on the ships. " Though it might take a bit longer for the rest to catch up, a few hours at most" As while the four ships here were the tip of the spear there were still other ships, guard, mechanicum, supply, and other various small ships that were in any expedition fleet. " Which should give the astropaths the time they need to figure out anything we missed" She said rather dismissive of the psykers, she respected magnus and Kelvis and her daughter, but the astropaths she almost found more a headache than a help. It was mostly them needed to encode things multiple times before they could tell what a message even was. This little stop was even mostly to benefit them so they could rest and argue over what this dream or that meant or however their little code worked. " So while we wait for them to sort our inbox out shall we have our celebration upon my ship?" Ixia half asked as this had all been agreed upon already , but it never hurt to make sure. " I will have the shuttle bays ready"

 

[Worthlessplebian]

Even when he was seated, Dumah of Nostramo dwarfed his sons, the Master of the Scarlet Lords, a vast, imposing judge whose adjudications were quiet as a bat's wing flap, but utterly irreversible. The cloak of cameleoline and Nostraman silk wrapped Dumah, much of his Scarlet warplate disappeared into the uniquely-made folds of his darkened shroud, slimming the Judge's silhouette greatly. Unseen were the dozens of silver bonding studs that peppered the greaves, or the pauldrons, sleek and smooth, jasper-crimson with dark-purple teeth lining their edge. A sliver of the black skull across his chestplate was visible, wicked fangs jutting down while the blood-red dots ever in search of criminals, contrasting the reserved, measured blue lenses of the Scarlet Shade's bat-snouted helm. More dreadful were the pair of lightning claws he wore. Christened Vindication and Miseria, these two implements of destruction and justice have ferried countless enemies to their ultimate ends. The carnage the Scarlet Shade unleashes stupefies his sons when he first draws them.

He stood at the centre of the bridge's main deck, awaiting for the hails of his brothers and sisters. Patiently and nearly-deathly silent. The entire suit of his specialized battleplate thrummed with the terrible power necessary to keep active its thick servo-bundles, but with a thought, it goes silent and the helm's lenses dimmer than before. One or two of the younger serfs had dared to steal a glance at their lord, it inspired and terrified them when the giant's helm shifted slightly, surveying the communication pits below him. As if he expected it, one of the older serfs, voice riven with weariness and age, called out to their lord.

"My Lord, receiving communication transmissions." Announced the serf.
"Receive." Responded Dumah, the word scraping through his vox-grille like a massive glacier sliding.

Beneath the stolid facade of the Scarlet Shade's helm, a phantom of a smile parted his thin lips as he listened to his siblings' chatter. "More tolls, Brother?" The Scarlet Shade replied, his voice bearing the faintest hints of humour, or what passes for such in Dumah's strait-laced world of law and order. His brother, Kelvis Redbeard, was a peculiarity to Dumah. A warrior, like the rest of them, yet this sibling found joy in making striplings of political opponents through clever trades and backroom deals. Equally, he found respect for Kelvis in his handling of his 'crew' in his brother's own words. "Regardless, it is well to see you. Both of you," Dumah then addressed Artio.

Before another word was uttered, behind Dumah's back, at the foot of his throne-dais, the darkness of the ship was cleaved by the flickering hololithic projection of Ixia, their sister. The Primarch turned slowly, a whir of servos as ceramite sabatons scraped the deck's metal frame.

Dumah murmured in amusement as Ixia spoke to an empty throne, flanked by two Honour Guards in their tactical dreadnought armour, decorated with purity seals and both wore a lion's head talisman of auramite. A single figure stood slightly to the side, scarlet armor denoted by silver lightning streaks, the same as the one on the Mournful Night's hull, an Adeptes Astartes sanctioned psyker-brother, a librarian.

He paced through the hololithic projection, flickering its form briefly before properly addressing his sister. Her message delivered, the Scarlet Shade nodded in response.

"Prepare my shuttle." Dumah said. His helm turned to the back of Captain Nathaniel. "Captain," The captain whipped his head around the instant. "you are granted a reprieve, appoint your second for now." Dumah could spot the dimmest sparkle in his captain's sunken, black eyes, the thin smile plastered below his nose. His heartrate spiked with an unannounced joy.

-------------------

Arriving in the shuttle bay of the Beacon of Innovation, Dumah suppressed the flickers of awe at the marvels of this ancient battleship's construction. His feet part the cloak as he paces down the ramp of his personal shuttle, he had ordered his personal guard and sons to remain aboard the Mournful Night, to safe guard its crew and integrity. His own safety, his own fate, is always in the palm of his hand.

He surveys the bay impassively. The illumination stung his darkness-adapted eyes before the blue lenses automatically blocked and adjusted their sensitivity. He willed the cameleoline cloak to cease its photo-adaptive features, remaining its purple hue. Beneath his cloak, maglocked to his lower back was Judicator. A horror-instrument of Justice, a bolt rifle that delivers silent death to the enemies of mankind and criminals, outfitted with an enhanced barrel-extension that suppresses a boltgun's unique rocketing thud with that of a blade slicing air, many foes have told tale of how their commander found his head vaporized in a fine, red mist.

Why am I always the first to arrive before my brethren.

 

[Soviet Panda]

The hololith message projected before Artio, his sister ever eager to show off her advanced equipment. And though this was clearly a pointless attempt to impress him, he couldn't help but grudgingly admit that it did. Killenroch hadn't been the most advanced planet in the Imperium, and so he always held some awe towards the more advanced technologies, such as the hololithic projectors. He sat and listened patiently to what she had to say before the image flickered out. Then he turned to his master of the vox and motioned for him to patch him through to his brothers Dumah, Kelvis, and Ixia.

"Oh? And who had managed to beat you here, Kelvis? Are you sure you want to be setting a fee if I can find my way here faster than you?" Though they could not see his mischievous, good natured grin, it was heard through the comms. "And sister, I will be arriving shortly. I expect a lot of meat, we need to keep up our strength! You never know what could be found out here." And with that, he signaled for the connection to be severed as he stood from his command throne.

"Captain Cormag, the ship is yours until I return. Neacal, Padruig, get the rest of the Reis. Should Kelvis bring those 'cigars' of his, and Ixia provides plenty, I may need help finding my way back to the lander." The doors shut out any more of the conversation that the mortals could hear. But not before hearing Artio's wry bark of a laugh.
~~~~~~~~~~~
The trip across the void was uneventful, if a little cramped. The Reis, much like Horus' Mournival, served as advisors of sorts. They were captains of the legion all, though where the Mournival had only 4 members at any given time, the Reis was much more fluid in it's count. If they could all agree someone belonged as a member, then they became a member. Artio had little say in the matter aside from hearing and recognizing the decision of adding a new member. Currently, the two leaders of this council of equals was Neacal and Padruig, two sides of a coin. Where Neacal was squat and stocky, like a boulder with a face to match, Padruig was whip cord thin by astartes standards and stood almost eye to eye with Artio's smaller siblings. And it was these two that were struggling in vain to reason with Artio's need to celebrate.

"She said it her self, it is a celebration! Why should I sit and sip daintily on whatever is offered? It is rude to deny a host's hospitality, you two should know that more than the others."

"Yes, Lord," began Neacal, "But do you think it would be just the smallest bit embarrassing to have your own sons drag you back to your ship?"

"Bah, that's only if Kelvis does bring those cigars I know he has ferreted away, and only if Ixia also manages to have enough drink to sate my thirst! An unlikely thing, don't you think?"

"But, Lord," started Padruig before being cut off by the lowering of the shuttle's ramp and Artio raising his hand to silence him.

"Enough of this. This is cause for a celebration, the end of the Great Crusade! Mankind is no longer shattered and thrown across this vast and unforgiving universe, but united as one. If that is not a cause to celebrate, than I must confess I have celebrated far less grand things." As he spoke, he locked eyes with the armored figure of Dumah. Artio had also arrived armored, though King Slayer had been left aboard The Indomitable Will, and Flesh Render was sheathed across his back.

"How are you always the first one?"

 

[RikuXIII]

Kelvis feigned a hurt look at Artio's comments, but Ixia's invitation postponed his retort. Yes, a celebration was needed after pacifying this region, and before Father's next decree sent them after some other ass crack of the galaxy.
"Oh, a party, little angel?" the Red Whale said, a twinkle in his eye. "Why didn't you lead with that? I'll bring over some personal reserves."
He looked to Bradshaw who was already issuing orders for a shuttle to be made ready and loaded with goods.
"Be there in a few minutes." He announced before the feed was cut.
Taking a few puffs on his cigar, Kelvis was rather looking forward to the gathering. Most parties he went to were another kind of battlefield, this one relying one looks and words rather than blades and bullets. He generally liked spending time with his siblings, as long as Father wasn't there. The Emperor's presence was a sure way to ensure that everyone had a metal rod up their asses. Extra bonus that Kelvis didn't have to share a drink with Rogal and Perturabo in the same room.
"All is prepared, Primarch." Captain Bradshaw said, breaking into Kelvis's thoughts. "The shuttle is awaiting your arrival."
"Excellent, Captain." Kelvis replied. "Care to join me for the festivities?"
"No, sir. I thank you for the offer, but I would rather make sure La Pionera is ready for the trek out."
"Fair enough. Though I do expect as you are ordering extra grog for the crew, you don't leave yourself out."
A thin smile toughed the navel officer's lips.
"Of course, sir."
******
The 11th Primarch's shuttle touched down aboard the Beacon Of innovation with the sound of laughter echoing within. Young Bruce, one of the newer additions to the legion had been re-calling one of his first assignments as an astartes, before he had been brought aboard La Pionera. It was an embarrassing tale that left Kelvis wondering how the lad still had all his fingers. But importantly, it showed Bruce was building bonds with his brothers and felt the confidence to speak up around his primarch. Good signs.
Kelvis Redbeard marched off the shuttle with four of his sons behind him, two carrying a monstrous keg of Fenrisian Ale, and the last two carry a large trunk carrying various culinary delicacies from around the Imperium, including a box of cigars. A mischievous grin played across his lips as he spotted Dumah and Artio.
"Because he hasn't learned it's fashionable to be late." He interjected as he closed on his brothers. "At least he didn't try to jump out and scare us, eh?"
Despite his ribbing, Kelvis had a deep respect for most of his siblings. Dumah and his Scarlet Lords use of terror fascinated Kelvis. He knew how to unbalance foes using fear, but Dumah was a master at it. Perhaps more importantly, those terror tactics were used as a scalpel to quickly and efficiently remove opposition. That the Scarlet Lords could do this and not descend into sadistic pleasure and pointless slaughter was a testament to 8th Primarch. As for Artio, Kelvis found his straightforward way refreshing. A good man to share a drink with and a sword arm you could depend on if things got rowdy. Artio and his Bears were generally a delight to partner with as they'd figure out and execute a plan to obliterate the enemy forces with only minimal support from the Privateers, leaving them with more time for looting.
"Any sign of our host?" Redbeard asked, scanning the deck for his sister.

 

[Karcen]

As if on que a grav lift on the upper hsntues woukd open. The lift was nothing soecial as while Ixia did like to use more advanced technology sometimes what everyone had was good enough. The servitors that came out along with mortal workers to make sure the ships were refused and repair anything that needed, were special. While Ixia did not share her father's hate of A.I and often flaunted his rules she had compromised on them. A normal servitor was a crude, to her, mix of flesh and metal, hers were elegant. They were only a little bigger than human, but were seemingly lacking any flesh seeming pure machine, but unlike even tech priests they were no Mish mash of augmetics. These were simple at least on the outside almost being mannequins below that was artifical muscles and bones woth only a little brain left in the skull. They had been vat born imprinted with a stored mind and had anything that might be even a little human cut out. Ixia would rather her old men of iron do the role, but they were all gone now.

Ixia walked out from the lift in her gold and silver armor, much like their brother sanguinius or rogal down she didn't fully wear her legions' colors. In her hand she was thumbing through a tome quickly scanning the pages easily memorizing the contents in an instant. Ixia closed the book looking from it to her brothers and jumped. The landing bays were massive and Ixia jped down a fall that would kill a mortal and likely heavily injure an astartes, but for her and her brothers it would be an annoyance. Still before she landed golden wings flared to life slowing her enough that her landing was more like stepping down a stair than actulky landing. The wings would instantly vanish once Ixia landed.

" Sorry about that I was delayed. Ixia said though that was obvious " my daughter really wanted to help the astropaths, said she had a strange feeling Ixia sighed her tone very much that of a mother explaining why their frustrating shut in child isn't coming to a family event. While all prinarchs had children as all astartes were in a sense their children, when Ixia spoke of her daughter it was always Ebreta she spoke of. " And it looks like Horus is rather lax with father's decrees " Her chuckle saying she wasn't serious as she held the tome so all could see the title. Lectitio Divinitatus

" Looks like they just can't stop worshiping father " Ixia couldn't stop the sarcasm in her voice from showing as no primarch didn't know that she and the emperor had a rocky relationship and so why anyone would see him as a god was beyond Ixia. " I do wonder if Horus is actully trying when the author put their name one it?" the name Euphrati Keeler was clear upon the tome so there was no way the suthor couldn't be found. " Anyways enough of my rambling I am sure we all want to get the celebration started "

 

[Worthlessplebian]

As if on cue, Dumah's brother, Artio, appeared behind him. The cloaked primarch turned, dark purple shroud swishing in response, helmeted head swinging to address him. Suit servos emitting a soft purr beneath the folds of the cloak. He gave the briefest nods of acknowledgement to Artio's entourage before his ursine brother spoke. Dumah entertained the idea that Artio had been a psyker-mind scrier, but dismissed that motion. An instant before he spoke, the 11th Primarch marched fashionably and glorious with sons in tow. Bringing forth gifts of drink, food, and cigars, the pallid Primarch could smell it through his helmet's grill.

Dumah half-turned to put his brother on his side, before extending a gauntlet beneath his cloak to greet him. The lightning claws gave a wicked edge to Dumah's gauntlet, the moored blades glinted, their pale edge whiter than marble, before fading beneath the cameleoline cloak. A slow, hearty chuckle escaped Dumah's vox grill like rocks scraping across a metal sheet.

"Obviously, it is my precognition." He half-joked about the psychic portents that he occasionally receives, they were a useful tool, but ultimately, not a blade that Dumah could wield effectively. It is one that cut both ways, and sometimes, those cuts were deeper than the Scarlet Shade's wishes. "As for frightening you, there'll be another time."

He shifted his head to see past his brother again, scanning his sons that brought the presents. "Largesse as always, eh, brother? Kosh'eth tay, our next celebration, I'll supply Nostraman wine."

The Scarlet Shades eyes wandered up when the thrum of golden wings heralded Ixia's arrival. An elegant, if unnecessary display, sometimes Dumah wondered how she acted so freely, her and her legion, but he's learned not to intermingle his judgements with his siblings' way of doing things. As agreeable or disagreeable as he found them. "It goes against our father's wishes to be worshipped, however, the belief is too entrenched now." He gave his thoughts on the matter.

He gestured for their sister to lead on.

 

[RikuXIII]

Ixia's arrival tore Kelvis's thoughts away from the desire of Nostraman wine that Dumah had mentioned. The rotund primarch was considering a little ribbing of his sister, but decided against it when the reason was giving. The state of his own sons were of the utmost importance for Kelvis, so he could hardly fault any of his siblings from doing the same.
The tome Lectitio Divinitatus Ixia brought caught the tri-clops's eyes. He had a copy and read it through, at first for a laugh, then with more concerned attention. While father had been clear in his anti-religious stance, Kelvis couldn't shake the idea that maybe the old bastard wasn't steering people to this direction. He had the power of a god, even if he didn't claim the mantel of one. And the reluctant act played so well for the legends to be told of his forging of paradise.
"I wonder if it's going to be more expedient for father to crush this cult or utilize it?" Kelvis mused out loud. "That kind of loyalty could be potent to command."
Kelvis watched his siblings closely for there reaction to the thought. He felt certain none here liked the idea of the Emperor's worship, but there were potential upsides to allowing it. Ixia's taste and intellect would like reject the idea. Kelvis appreciated his sister's ability not to be pulled in by whatever bullshit father decided to shovel for everyone. Another reason Kelvis wished for an end to the crusade was the hope Ixia would spend sometime comparing notes with the Mechanicus and let everyone know what was actually going on with the imperial tech, cutting through some of the mumbo jumbo that had built up. The Red Whale figured the answer was a mix of Ixia's point of view and that of the techpriests. It just would be helpful to know which bits were real.

 

[Soviet Panda]

"You are only late if you aren't where you're supposed to be when you're supposed to be there." Artio said, giving Kelvis a pointed look, referring to one of the many times the two had worked together. All he had wanted was a bit of orbital support in his frontal assault, and he hadn't gotten any until the enemy warlord had made their presence known. While he appreciated the sword stroke that severed the head from the body and paved the way for Compliance, he could have done it a bit sooner.

Then his sister appeared. She always had a flair for the dramatic, as she leapt from on high and used some sort of gravchute technology to slow her fall with the ethereal assistance of wings. She held a book that caused Artio to sneer in disgust. "Something for the Iterators to contend with. I do not have the head for talking the theoretical existence of mankind beyond conquering the galaxy. Perhaps Guilliman would love to debate them."

"This cult will only serve in twisting the Emperor's vision of mankind. That I am certain." Artio refused to speak anymore on the matter. It was putting him in a decidedly bad mood, so he turned towards other things. Like the keg of Fenrisian ale and the container of delicacies that were close behind.

"I see you brought only the best dishes, Brother. Killenroch isn't known for it's culinary arts, but I'm sure I'll find something for next time to bring as well."

 

[Karcen]

The reactions were about what Ixia had expected, though the question of using it was not something she had thought of. The emperor had warned them of things in the warp beings with some intellect formed of emotions, but nothing to extreme. Still having humans all humans worshiping their father who knew what that would cause. He already tapped so deep into the warp that god was an accurate description of him according to some definitions of god. Still if Ixia thought that the emperor wanted to become a god she would not be here, she saw his goal of protecting humanity as good, but his means were not right to her. Ixia didn't share his hate of the alien, actually she was fairly certain none of her "family" believed as strongly as him. She also felt things seemed rushed with no real explanation, she just couldn't understand her father parts were missing. Their father didn't want to be worshiped, Ixia was sure of it he wanted humans to be strong on their own like they once had been before the fall. Still what would he do after ? That was always a question as with the council of terra being formed he was seemingly stepping back even on civil matters.

" Well father does have three angels serving him" Ixia said with a wry smile clearly just a joke. She Sanguinius and Angron all had the moniker angel.

There was a pause before the grav lift door opened, the exact one she had come in. Well that would either make it look like she had planned all this or got rather lucky in her timing. The latter was the truth but few ever would think a primarch would make such a tiny mistake as forgetting which floor to get off on, when they were on their own ship. Though, few would be walking, reading and thinking of several other things all at once. The genecraft of their father was amazing, but even Primarchs made mistakes. " There is the lift, I decided i would have things be a bit of a surprise" She explained not telling her brother what would be at the party even for them.

Sometime latter in a private dining area overlooking a large hall in the ship.

From where the primarchs stood, or rather sat they could easily look over the mortals and astartes that were mingling below. Given this was no military function most of Ixia's children were not in their battle plate and instead mostly were dressed in robes and other simple clothing, though some had her flair and wore more expressive clothing. The mixing was well.... they were trying was about the that could be said. Both sides had issues dealing with the others and while one on one there were relaxed interactions, a party was very different between the two types of human. As for the primarch's table it was only Ixia, her brothers and one or two of their sons as Eberta was still working. As for the spread along with what her brother's had brought there were delicacies from over a dozen worlds. While they didn't all use the exact ingredients, they had at least been made by people who would know know what was the best substitute. That was those remembrancers that had along with their various artistic skills had a gift for cooking. The foods each came with a drink that suited them, or was said to suit them that had likewise been made by the remembrancers and had been helped by the librarians to age it properly. So the family gathering had plenty to pick from to eat and drink even if the alcohol would be as potent as water for astartes let alone primarchs.

" Hopefully there is enough for all of us" Ixia joked as she and her brothers got settled in, though she was wondering how long her daughter would be away. If only her navigator brother was an astropath then she was sure the messages would be figured out in minutes instead of the hours if not days it normally took.

 

[Worthlessplebian]

The Scarlet Shade moved fluidly, the only sound being the muffled especial-servos of his ceramite warplate masked by the bustling noises of the hanger-chambers, even his ceramite boots did not elicit a snap from the plasteel flooring. Deep in the darkest reaches of his mind, he had been contemplating the implications of this fanatical cult that sprang up about his father. Clenching and unclenching his fists, holding back his lightning talons from deploying with a thought. The long tapestry of his cameleo-cloak whispering against the grey floor.

His helm turned, a soft servo whir as Dumah eyed Ixia's word-choice. He has doubts about what this surprise will be exactly, his sister seldom does spontaneously, this will likely be no exception.

He padded into the lift, feeling the self-imposed constraint of having four God-spawn—by his Father, now he's doing it too—and two of their retinue climbing into a cramped space. "Cosy" Dumah said coldly, words toughened by his vox-grill. His Lymen ear silenced the grinding noises of the elevator as it carried them through the ship's levels. After a brief walk, Ixia ferried them to a private dining nook that overlooked a large hall.

He surveyed the heavy tables before him, long and mixed with the presence of the Astartes sons and daughters of his sister. Mostly unarmoured, some wore silken robes, others in more extravagant homespun with gold or silver filigree lining the seams. He sees their skins, warm and pinkish, flowing with life as opposed to his sons' paleness and dull, black eyes. However, he notices the similarities as well, skins puckered with scars and dermal ports of the black carapace for their armours, reveling in conversation. The adamantium doors snapped shut behind them and Dumah made his way to the Primarch's table. Before him, he saw the table lined with foods and ingredients far more elevated than what a Hive-ganger could imagine. Real cherries and berries of multicoloured pericarps, meat harvested from the hardiest animals, not vat-grown like the ones in his ships, and dressings and salads from the finest vegetation. He wondered the cost of it all, before Nostramo's domination and summary reformation in a respectable civilized world, its gang-occupants could not fathom or imagine such indulgence. Dumah admits this reminds him more of a gathering of Terran nobles, he half-expects the Adeptes to begin gossiping about the Lord Governor's latest in a long line of scandals. It soured the taste in his mouth, like phlegm scratching at his throat.

He pulled down the hood that obscured his scarlet helm, its cold-blue lenses dimming as Dumah unclamped it then maglocking the helmet to his belt. His jet hair rolled down the back of his neck and hung around his wide shoulders, the eyes were as black as pyrolusite, while skin deathly pallid and cracked like a marble statue with scars. His face, lean and cheeks taut, a cruel and unusual sense of nobility. The years of war and governance have not been kind to the Shade clad in Scarlet.

He procures a glass of whiskey and begins pouring the amber fluid into as his eyes wandered to his brothers and sister. "It'd be an impressive feat if we did." His voice silky-smooth, now unhampered by the vox-grill's crackle, a dark baritone. "A toast then, to our Sister and this excursion." Dumah said, raising the ornately decorated glass. Taking the prerogative might've seen like an unusual move, but his mood had been uplifted at the moment as well.

Once enough time has passed, enough food eaten, enough drinks imbibed, enough idle chit-chat, Dumah turned to his sister. "So, sister, do you have an inkling as to why we were here?" Dumah asked tersely, his psychic portents have left him as of late.

 

[RikuXIII]

Ah, this was the life. A bountiful banquet before him. A full flagon in his hand. Almost made this whole trip worth it. Between the hanger and the banquet hall, Kelvis had already been drinking. It was mainly for airs, but after this mission, he felt he deserved it. He was starting a pleasant buzz when Ixia expressed her hope that there was enough food.
“A hearty feast, sister!” Kelvis congratulated. “But I see my food, where is everyone else’s?”
With a twinkle in his eye from his little joke, the Tri-clops lifted his flagon to answer Dumah’s call for a toast.
“Aye, to Ixia and surviving this quagmire!”
After a large gulp of his drink, Kelvis took his seat at the head table, sending his sons to go carousing with the other partygoers with a nod. He took his time with the meal, savoring this time of revelry to recharge his spirit from whatever the universe had next for them. After a little unwinding, Dumah brought up a question that had also been nagging Kelvis.
“I have been wondering that myself.” He said between mouthfuls. “There are the surface reasons to be here, but father rarely acts merely on the surface.”

 

[Soviet Panda]

Artio had silently followed his brothers and sister, still clearly eyeballing the delicacies Kelvis had brought even as the doors to the elevator closed. Giving a sigh of disappointment, he stays silent until the feast begins proper. Neacal and Padruig had been nominated, as was their right, to accompany their lord to the high table where all could see. They held a silent vigil, helmed faces giving nothing away. But Artio knew better, they were planning how best to keep him away from the Fenrisian ale Kelvis had undoubtedly packed away. But for his part, Artio satisfied himself with wolfing down mouthfuls of meat and gulps of watered down alcohol. To be fair, it was undoubtedly good stuff, but compared with the only thing known to get even an Astartes drunk, everything tasted watered down.

He spared a nasty glare towards Kelvis at the jab about not bringing any food of his own, but the slight was quickly forgotten in favor of the celebration. And he, to, raised his glass in toast alongside the others. Listening to the conversation, Artio swallows his mouthful of food to give his two cents.

"That's what he wants you to think, Brother," Artio began. "Our Father is a brilliant man and far smarter than any of us. So he would know best that the more convoluted the plan, the more chances someone will cock it up. Something I think Alpharius needs to learn."

 

[Karcen]

Why had they gone to the ghoul stars was a good question, one she almost didn't want to know the answer to. The Rangdan had been a horror themselves and yet the ghoul stars were their own kind of strange. Ixia had felt the whole place was off, and not the off like some place close to the warp it was like the place was touching something else. Ixia had her own ideas what was lurking in the stars as the ships had encountered many anomalies in real space that should not have been there. wounds in space that let you skip near lightyears like two bits of fabric had been stitched together. Well the answer was clear to watch for threats. Well they had gone there to explore and get rid of xenos threats, but the wall of blackholes and gravity wells effectively sealed off the stars so what threat could have come from them? There had been Xenos things that didn't operate like all other creatures, but they had never been seen outside the ghoul stars so were they a threat? It didn't matter the stars were odd, and part of ixia wanted to know more to figure out all the mysteries , but another part of her never wanted to return.

" Well the official line would be to search for xenos threats, find any lost humans, and map the area. That i doubt the place isn't right not even the warp is so odd, so i think Father knows something is there and told the warmaster it needed checking. " That was just a guess but it was the best best guess she had. Perhaps after the crusade she would return to figure things our or probe their father for answers. His goal and hers were aligned until the end of the crusade at least, but beyond that she didn't know.

Ixia let there be a bit of silence as the music and sounds of the people in the hall below filled any uncomfortable silence the siblings and their guards had. This moment these feelings would never leave the room no human should know that even the primarchs could be so disturbed by the galaxy that humans claimed. They also should no know that the primarchs doubted and questioned their father it would cause division and all knew humanity needed to be united. The fact that the emperor was the key to that unity was uncomfortable and reminded Ixia of the words in the supposed holy book.

" Well enough uncomf...." Ixia started before she and likely her bothers with their enhanced hearing would hear the sound of power armored feet running. They were running not like they were late but each step was seemingly trying to gain speed, like some prey creature running for it's life. That was not normal and the sounds were heavier than normal armor it must be terminator plate. Why would someone in such heavy armor be running so desperately? The sound drew closer and closer till it was just before the door.

The door flew open and Ixia saw it was Erebra who despite being an astartes was out of breath as she crossed the threshold Ixia wondered if Erebra had run all the way here from the astropath's chambers. Ixia was about to speak when Erebra spoke up " Mother there... " She panted like a mortal gasping for air as she had pushed her body as enhanced as it was to it's limits " News ..." She continued as the world seemed to fade away as it felt let the words Eerebra was about to speak would change everything " The warmaster has betrayed the emperor " she finished speaking words it sounded like even she couldn't believe were true. The warmaster the greatest of them had... betrayed them?

" Wha..." Ixia started her eyes wide if any other astartes had brought this news Ixia woudl never trust it. She would have likely cut them down for speaking such lies as how could their brother turn against them? It was impossible wasn't it? No it wasn't Ixia realized once she processed it many of her brothers had issues with their father, she had issues with him, but Sanguineus he was if not father's favorite then he was close he was loved by all the paragon of the emperor's work. Why would he turn?

" Is there more who else does the new name what else is there" Ixia questioned her daughter moving swiftly seeing some papers and grabbing them. " Istvaan 3, The blood angels, the fists, the ultramarines... " Ixia spoke as she read the names were legions she couldn't imagine turning.

" There is more this was months ago there is already a response " Erebra said pointing out the page.

Ixia turned to it "World eaters, alpha legion, raven guard, luna wolves, dark angels, Istavaan 5 " She muttered it seemed father had already decided to get rid of three of his legions.

Ixia looked to Erebra who she saw once more as the sacared little girl she had freed from a prison and managed to calm herself. " Get a drink catch your breath and then gather up anoyone not at the party, find the captain and bridge crew the party is ending now" Ixia said as she knew what they must do. Ixia returned to the table and put the report down " Read it if you need but you heard my daughter and I the warmaster has betrayed us " she said firmly as if there was no doubt despite her wishing there was " We need to go to the istvaan system, we might be late but perhaps we can help in some way" She continued wishing to be there already to see what was going on for herself.

 

[Worthlessplebian]

A small, phantom smile played across Dumah's hard, pale features. Black eyes with milk-droplets for pupils, a twinkle of light surrounded by the darkness. Scanning the tables as ceramite digits gently tapping the edge of their table. Watching the revelry before him, partaking himself with just a few hints of Fenrisian Ale now. He shifted his head to Kelvis then Artio, the latter of which began to espouse their father's methodology when it comes to long-term planning. Dumah's eyes were on the decorated cup of his, watching the amber fluid swirl as he jostled the cup, seeming small in his gauntlets. "Heh, our father plots for the short and long-term, brother. As for Alpharius... Well, convolution is his specialty. To the detriment of his foes and allies alike." Dumah added with minute humour in his tone.

The celebration continued as Ixia began to explain their purpose for being in the grim hood of the Ghoul Stars. As always, Father's reasons left more questions than answers, but Dumah doubted that this had been a simple order to investigate. Unfortunate then, that his psyker-precognition is entirely blind to this dread corner of the galactic plane. Just as Dumah sat his glass down however, his mind was assaulted by a vision. The depthless void with its curtain of glimmering stars, a planetoid massive yet shrouded in impenetrable darkness; It was Nostramo, perpetually plunged into unending night by the haze of pollutants pumped into the atmosphere, then a ripple across its surface, molten and bubbling cracked across like a power hammer upon glasscrete. Then it ruptured in a hailstorm of rock. A trillion-billion souls extinguished, with nothing but the fleet of his brethren above it.

Dumah's hearts, or whatever passes for it in his physiology, surged. Weary turned to fear as it broke apart his composure. The fork that he had been using snapped in half and away from their table, skidding on the floor. His throat became, breathing quickened. Dumah returned to them conscious the moment Erebra entered their private quarters, delivering the omen of horrible events. Events that he knew would happen, he foresaw decades ago. Ixia had been the first to act, snatching the papers from her daughter's hands and reading them aloud. There was a click as Dumah's scarlet helm detached from its maglock. He replaced the helmet on his head, a sealing-hiss as it settled into his gorget again. Sensing the brothers and sisters of Ixia's Legion bristle at the news.

Its blue lenses flared as Dumah looked to his brethren. "It has begun," Dumah's voice rasped from his helm's vox, burdened with knowledge. He wished he'd share this with them when he first learned of it, but the Scarlet Shade knew better than to splash in the waters of fate, it can be quite... Resistant to large-scale change.

 

[RikuXIII]

Kelvis bellowed with laughter at Artio's observation on their brother Alpharius.
"Alph and his lads would turn any operation into a incomprehensible maze of meaning and actions." The whale said between laughs.
The 11th Primarch and the 20th had actually worked together often, their style of conquest working well together. Still, the Alpha Legion's apparent need for secrecy could just make things more complicated than they really should be.
Over the sound of revelry and Kelvis topping off his flagon came the sound of running, armored feet. The Primarch tensed up at the sound, thinking it had to be some form of problem the damned Ghoul Stars was throwing at them as a farewell gift. What one of Ixia's daughters brought to the primarchs was far worst than Kelvis could have thought of. Sanguinius? Betray the Imperium? Unlike other of his siblings, Kelvis didn't mind the idea of turning one's back on the Imperium as he planned to do that when the Crusade was over, but to openly defy father when freedom was so close? And Sanguinius of all people?
A glance from Kelvis was all one of his honor guard needed to excuse himself from the room and make haste to the shuttle. Contacts from across the Imperium would be called to gain more information, and La Pionera's engines would be warmed up for another trip through the warp.
"If we make haste, we might be able to prevent blows between our brothers." Kelvis said, his jolly facade completely abandoned for such dire circumstances. "There has to be some explanation for this."
All other sounds took on a muffled quality as a pin dropped in his head from a simple sentence.
"It has begun"
Kelvis slowly turned to Dumah, all three of his eyes narrowed at his brother.
"What has begun?" Kelvis asked in a clam tone the belied the tension in his face. "What have you seen?"

 

[Soviet Panda]

Artio sat in silence at the news, glass held firmly in his hand. The unfortunate glass shattered at the word 'betrayed'. "You made a mistake" he said flatly, refusing to accept that Sanguinius and several other of his brothers turned upon him and the Emperor. "Interference. An anomaly caused by these accursed stars." He tried to wave it away, as if it were nothing more than the annoying buzzing of a gnat. But then his brother Dumah spoke.

"Nothing has begun," he growled his annoyance at it all, his good mood suddenly gone. "He has seen a future, an impossible one. I will go on this fools errand to the Istvaan system, and we shall all see what a waste of time it was."

With that, he stood up from his place at the table, brushing the glass shards off his hands as if they were crumbs of bread. As he began his march back to the Indomitable Will, the Reis fell in around him. Artio did not acknowledge his guard, he acknowledged nothing on his return to the lander. They were so close to finish the Crusade, to finally being at peace. He had started to become curious at the prospect of such a thing. But now, all of that was about to be wrenched away. Something he refused to believe to be happening.

 

[Karcen]

Ixia heard the words that Dumah said as if he saw it coming like this betrayal was expected and Kelvis had a similar reaction to her. It Artio that had the reaction Ixia most wanted to have to absolutely reject the news to think it was some mistake some mistranslation, but she trusted Erbra to not make such a screw up so she had to accept it. Their father didn't inspire all her siblings to absolute loyalty, but to turn on him went aginst something deep in them.

Artio quickly left and Ixia didn't try to stop him instead woth a thought sending the command to those still on duty in the hanger to make ready for him. She on truth did this for all her brothers ships they would need to be with their sons. In the hall below the sounds of the party faded as instruments fell silent and chatter was silenced as armored astartes moved in and started to herd everyone out. Those astartes that had taken part in the party were almost running to get their arms and armor.

" I have sent word to the hanger your ships will be ready to depart when you are " Ixia said trying and failing to hide her anger and disbelief at the situation. " If Artio could be right them that would be great " She sighed but she knew he couldn't the impossible had happened once it wasn't happening twice.

 

[Worthlessplebian]

The hard shadow stretched as Dumah moved, shifting like that of a ghastly creature on the prowl. Making it halfway from their table, to the chamber's sliding exit, the Scarlet Shade halted firmly. Turning so deceptively easy that it belied the dire bulk of the scarlet-coated warplate. The Primarch's ghoulish features were unreadable beneath his wicked helm. Scowling. Mournful. For a moment, Dumah was glad he had not taken his sons with him. He would be burning with shame if they could see their father now. Dumah did not speak, nor did he continue to move. The black skull on his chest glared forward, the graven eyes gleamed with crimson fury and judgement. His helm shifted to Ixia then to Artio who denied the vision's veracity. Then back to Kelvis. His vox-grill crackled, words teetering on the precipice of his lips, a low drone.

These visions always bringing consequences, good or bad, tire him.

But he was the Scarlet Lord. As a judicator of his father's Imperium, he will endure any verdicts. For the Good of the Imperium, he will be unwavering. "It is as Artio said, I've received omens and visions of this... Betrayal" The word bitter on his pallid lips. "Nine grueling years of war, cousin against cousin, brother against brother and their ships blotting out the skies of planets, their corpses smothering the rockcrete grey with ceramite and flesh, transhuman blood pooling in the streets, the alleys, the outskirts. I never committed the portents to writing, nor have I told Him or Sanguinius. This will be followed by aeons of stalemated war, our father's dreams sliding backwards, clawing at the bedrock, nails bloodied and chipped, fingers swollen to stop a futile descent. A future of eternal war between degraded forces." Now Dumah swept his eyes across the occupants of the festivity chamber, he raised a clenched fist before him, to examine it. Drawing his gaze to Kelvis and Ixia, offering final advice. "When you arrive at Istvaan, be vigilant, our brothers will abuse our bonds, try to strike us unawares while they flock at our ranks. Trust no one, save for us four. The real loyalties will be revealed with gunfire." Dumah said. He lingered there, allowing the shadows from his hood hanging heavy about the scarlet helm. Only his blue lenses peering beneath the shadows, softly illuminating the ceramite slits.

He hates it when foresight dogs his actions, weighing them down.

He turns, the soft folds of his cloak flicking and following a second later, moving to the exit. He opened a vox-channel to the Mournful Night, make ready for departure.

Damn you, Sanguinius. Damn you...

 

[Karcen]

Segmentium: Obscurus

Sector: Istvaan

system: Istvaan

The trip through the warp had been tense, as the news that there might be a rebellion of the legions going on spread. It didn't matter how much any primarch tried to claim down on it the rumors somehow spread. Paranoia grew as even astartes started to doubt one another. There were secret searches conducted as at least The Reliquary wondered just how far this could have spread and how it had. Right now there were no answers only questions as there was doubt that this was even happening.

Reality once more tore asunder as in the warp the small group of primarchs reached their destination. The trip had aside from the paranoia been smooth enough, at least until just before they got to the system where there was a mild storm. Ixia didn't know what caused such storms and while she wasn't superstitious as she like their father said science could explain everything, this felt like an omen. She didn't like giving into something so against the imperial truth and its doctrine of scientific understanding. Still the warp was a place where science, at least the science of the material, stopped working. Ixia did wonder that if there were 2 dimensions there might be another safer less twisted place they could travel through. The ghoul stars had proved there was something else, but was it better or worse?

As soon as translation from the warp was complete, Ixia sent out her fastest ship to do recon as already there was something wrong. They were here unexpected and yet there was no defense force coming, and no vox hails from stations that should be nearby. It was quiet far to quiet. Ixia stood on the bridge looking out into the twinkling void. She silently cursed that the Mandeville Point was not closer to the systems. Still her augurs were better than the others, her ship systems dating back to the dark age.

The scans of the system would reveal the planets istvann 3 and 5 which till recently had held populations that had been brought to compliance by horus were both dead. Well three was dead. Where the planet had once been green and blue like so many, it was now a dead grey the world had been bombed with the life eater. On 5 there were disturbances to the scans and while life might endure it was hard to tell if those were just auspex ghosts.

" The warp is disturbed here there is something wrong " Erbra said Ixia hadn't even noticed her daughter coming and only nodded not really understanding what that meant.

" That would explain the interference with the scan " Ixia said thinking of it in terms of how a storm might mess with their systems. There had been fights with warp spawned xenos, but that was something of a secret.

Erebra shook her head " That is the least of the symptoms, this place the veil is thin as if it has been torn and knit back together. " Erbra clarified. It was funny to her how despite being with her mother for so long Ixia seemed to be unable to really grasp the warp refusing to understand it despite not being against it's use.

" we have fought such things before, we can deal with them again " Ixia said the idea the warp was messing with this place both disturbing and oddly hopeful as perhaps this was all one huge misunderstanding. It was a vain hope and ixia knew that instantly, but it was one she wanted to be true. At least they had a starting point Istvaan 5 might have life, none warp life, on it so they might get answers there.

Ixiia waited for her brother's flag ships to arrive before sending out a vox broadcast as now was not the time for theatrics. " Brothers there is something wrong here. My augurs say that Istvaan 3 has been subjected to exterminatus with the life eater virus. Istvaan 5 however, might still hold life, but i am getting strange auspex ghosts so i can't tell who or what is down there." She sent to get them all up to date on the situation " We should go do to the surface of Istvaan 5 and search for anyone that can explain what happened "

 

[Soviet Panda]

Reality trembled once more as, again, Indomitable Will crawled it's way from the Warp. It had been more turbulent than expect, almost as if it hadn't wanted them to come here, to hide whatever shameful act was done here. But Artio would not be denied once he had set his path. With thrusters burning brilliantly, the great flagship of the Mathan Mor pulled ahead of the others, offering itself as a target for any would be attackers. The air in and around the grand cruiser was tense, the news of a potential betrayal spreading no matter how hard Artio had tried to stop it. This was a rebellion they were putting down, nothing more and nothing less, that was the official statement. A grueling fight similar to that of the Ullanor Crusade or the Rangan Xenocides.

"The Mathan Mor shall be the first to land upon the surface of Istvaan 5." He stated over an open vox channel, challenging anyone to contest him on this. He would be the hammer blow that brought this rebellion, for that was all it was, to it's knees. "I, Artio Llewellynw, give those resisting the Emperor and the Imperium this one chance to surrender." And with that, he unceremoniously ended his transmission. Already the drop pods were being loaded and potential strategic strong points located. Indomitable Will brought it's teeth to bear as it approached the orbit of Istvaan 5, it's guns loaded and ready, it's void shielding powered to full. He would overwhelm the enemy with the unrelenting, terrifying power the Imperium could field. Those that survived would comply, but only after realizing the futility in resisting.

 

[Worthlessplebian]

The void of the Isstvan system hollered with shimmering lightning, purple as the netherworld, flickering at the surface of reality. The flagship of the Scarlet Lords rose from the cavernous depths of the Warp like a bat out of hell, escaping into the cool, night air, the scarlet vessel bleeding streams of hellish ectoplasm and clusters of purple witchfire in its wake. The daemonic foes of Man were frenzied, scratching and screeching in the minds of the ship's crew, from serf to marine, as they left that hell-realm, they were more frantic than ever to stop them. On board the Mourning Night the usual silence that gripped the gothic bridge was shattered by the rapid key-clicking of serf and servitor hands, a sickly ominous air swathed the deck brought about by the dire portents of the Scarlet Shade himself. Below the throne's dais, luminaries of the Scarlet Lords were gathered around the hololithic star-chart, visors honed as the cyan display flickered alive with updates from the array's returns.

The returns mirrored Dumah's dark omens. Isstvan III's atmosphere burned with the cleansing fury of a virus bombing, the planet stripped of life down to the microorganisms, leaving only bare rockrete and material, once brimmed with life now a desolate place, choked by flame and the dust on the wind. The blue lenses of the Scarlet Shade's stared grimly at the holochart, the decimation's readouts panned across on the fuzzy, cyan display. As it zoomed out to the ship's immediate surroundings, the holochart identified several artificial energy signatures, picked out by the sensor arrays. It was the vessels of his brothers and sister.

Captain Nathaniel turned to speak, his gaunt features and inky black eyes even more ghoulish in the bright illumination, reporting the Mourning Night's status as it finished reentry into Real Space. Immediately their communication pits were filled with Artio's declaration, delineating the strategy with a simple spear formation, with him as the tip. Quietly, Dumah assented to the ploy. The first time prophecy weighed down on his mind, it was Ixia or Kelvis who lead first, now with Artio, things could be different, for better or worse.

"Set a course for Isstvan V," Dumah told the Captain. "Mark four on the engines, swiftly but steady. Route one-third from the weapon batteries to shields, port and starboard." Ordered Dumah. "Jasca, Lord" Replied Nathaniel. The plasma drives spun to life, thrusts burning iridescently against the void.

"Continue scanning. Open a channel to the Beacon of Innovation." Dumah closed one fist, popping Miseria's wicked claw, wrapped in blue energy, an electrified crack filled the deck.

"Sister, have your augur sensors detected void contacts? Ships hidden out of sight?" He asked, it was what he would do, an ambush just as soon as the flagships left the Warp behind them. Perhaps, not enough to scatter them to the solar winds, but inflict crippling wounds? That was a possibility. Or the presence of four Primarchs' flagships and their escorts would be best attacked during geosynchronous orbit or anchorage above Isstvan V. While awaiting his sister's word, the armouries of the Scarlet Lords' flagship brimmed with activity. Bolter magazines clipping into place, the soft whir of plasma weaponry springing to life, and pieces of armour clamping together, a few of the battle brothers recited canticles in solemn silence. The mood among the Legion and, with quiet admittance, Dumah's was a sorrowful one. But also, the desire to see justice meted out rivaled the sorrow in presence.