As the Serg blasted another of the metal monsters in the head with a close range bolt pistol shot, Faberon and Nero were back to back. Even with the devestators now giving everything to keep their position together, it was too much. Yet this was war at its fullest; nothing could compare to this. Faberon unleashed promethium in a massive blast towards the enemy, glad of a recent modification by the techmarines allowing him to vary the intensity of the blast. He was nearly out of fuel, and was preparing to draw his bolt pistol when he heard Serg Antioch calling for reinforcements or extraction.
Another group of the machines were advancing when I noticed another small group of jetbike-like things, with their metal bodies attached to their rides and large weaponry, coming forwards: 3 of them, with one toting a heavier weapon. Two were brought down by the weapons of the archers, but the other, the one with the heavier weapon, had just enough time to blast a shot at Faberon. It hit him on the shoulder pad and broke through, cracking piercing his fused ribcage although it still held and sending him down to join Rephosus. The pure, raw agony of the experience was more than he could handel and as he fell he gave a noise something between a cry and a manic laugh. He raised his bolt pistol and fired a last shot at the offending jetbike.

Aloysus was furious. Five of his squad were down. FIVE! The Knights of the Basilisk had never lost so many marines in one engagement. He moved through the Necrons, these fleshless abominations of merciless steel. How dare they kill five of the most perfect warriors in the Galaxy. He hacked and slashed with the power sword, beating them back with a fury even their soulless malevolence couldn't hope to match. Then suddenly their were no more warriors to fight, only the side of the tank. Turning, Marius bellowed orders. "Meltagunner, kill that thing. Gannicus, with me, we protect his back, you others, fire support. We only have one chance at this!".

The Knights of the Basilisk formed a semicircle protecting the meltagunner, holding the silver tide at bay. The twin power weapons of Aloysus and Gannicus prevented any of the robotic creatures from reaching the meltagunner, while the support fire picked of any machine that looked like it might slip past the Sergeant and combat specialist. There was a his of super heated air particles from behid them. The Monolith veered sideways, a massive hole gouged into it by the meltagun causing critical damage. The Knights of the Basilisk barely dived out of the way in time, before the Monolith crashed to the ground, crushing several warriors and a lycheguard, before phasing out.

Aloysus and his squad stood, facing the remaining Necrons. There were fewer left, and without the reinforcements from the Monolith the tables had turned. Marius grinned. "Knights of the Basilisk. Children of the Emperor!" he shouted. "DEATH TO HIS FOES!" the Basilisks roared, launching themselves into the remaining Necrons with revenge on their minds.

"There are to many," Antioch whispered.. "We won't last."
The crowd of metal bodies never stopped coming, there were to many. The marines now resorted to the bolt pistols, that was the only thing they had left. One by one, every marine but Segari, Antioch, Faberon, Nero and Rephosus. All hope seemed lost when a voice came over the vox. "Sergent, do you need a ride?" Antioch beamed, "Yes, I do." The Rhino pulled up and the 5 marines got inside. As they restocked on ammo, Antioch opened the channel with Aloysus, "Brother, hold fast, we en-route to your position.

Dreph tried again, the obsidian walls blocking out Hectoris' words of wisdom. Another great shock later, and he was unconscious.

"Greetings, Kalar. Need a little help?"

Dreph sprang back into consciousness, his shackles broken on the floor.

He had paid a terrible price for freedom, however. Although his power was enhanced more than ever, Chaos had lodged into his mind. He was reborn. No longer was he Dreph Kalar of the 9th Company of the Emperor's Children. He was Trias, the Great Flame of Tzeentch.

Trias opened his eyes. Before him he could see every plan and scheme of the C'tan.

"Massive powers are under your command. Use them wisely."

Trias felt a great sensation in his body. A second of thought and a slight gesture later, he and the remainder of the Jaded Watch found themselves in the heart of the Labyrinth, facing the Emerald Core.

Inside the rhino i refilled my ammo, i took the plasma pistol i had found earlier and switched it with my bolt pistol. After that i, opened a vox channel to sergeant aloysus. ''Sergeant we are underway should we pick you up and move for extraction to the flagship or should we stay and fight?''

"We withdraw." Aloysus ground out bitterly, smashing another metal construct from its feet. "Squad, retreat to the Rhino."

The Basilisks fell back to the Rhino, climbing in. The Necrons also seemed to be disengaging. As he climbed in, Aloysus cast a glance back across the battlefield. A necron Lord stood watching him, a warscythe in one hand, surrounded by a swirlying black cloak of shadows. Marius pointed his sword at it, yelling "I'll be back for you. You and your kind will pay for what was done here today!" before climbing back into the Rhino. The Necron creature watched him go silently.

The Rhino sped towards the extraction point, and met a Stormeagle gunship. Aboard the Stormeagle transport back into orbit Aloysus swore a silent vow that he would never be defeated by the creatures plaguing Pyrona.

As the Storm Eagle flew into orbit, they received a vox from command,
"Are Kalar and The Watch aboard?"
Antioch had believed them to have been previously extracted. "No"
He returned,
"Do you have the coordinates of the last known location?"
Command patched the coordinates through to the ship, and the pilot set off, intent on recovering their commander.

Nero thought back to the flash of vision he had had when he was fighting earlier. He had been able to see into everything and he had liked it, he felt powerful and special, like that could make him a true part of the team. A servitor came over and began to work on his armor, removing the chest plate, arms and helmet. The new armor was a metallic olive green and the shoulder pads bore stylized eyes.
"We are out of Emperors Children armor, but our cousins in the Sons of Horus have left us with some suits, would you like us to paint it while we are en route to the Captain." A Techmarine asked, coming over when he saw the mismatch. Nero blacked out. He saw the visage of the Warmaster before him.
"Lupercal?" He asked, his words swimming from his mouth in this odd dream-state.
"My boy." The giant boomed, his pearly white armor glinting in the sunlight that came from nowhere and everywhere at the same time.
"Do you mean..." Nero began but trailed off.
"Yes Nero, you are a son of the wolf, born of Cthonian stock. You were left with the Emperors Children when we deemed them worthy of crusading alone, you now wear your original armor. It has sparked this connection and so it is that we are reunited. Stay with the Children, and assure that they find out of their own volition. It is imperative that the-" Horus never finished his statement as the dream-state exploded in a blaze of color. When Nero regained his sight, he saw a huge ball of sickly flesh in front of him, torn and scarred all over, blighted with pustules and moles. He gasped and a foul stench invaded him.
"I am Nug-leth, and you will live forever." It said.
"Nothing lives forever, even the Emperor's own Angels of Death." Nero said back defiantly.
"But that is only the now. To live forever one must think to the future. This Empire will decay and rot into a souless hulk of mass that retains none of its ideals. The Angels of Death will turn to daemons, but the true daemons will ascend to power. Chaos waxes with every passing hour, and soon none will be free from our power. Devote yourself to me and I promise that you will gain two things; eternal life and glory, and something within yourself that not even you know of. Will you give yourself to me?" The flesh-thing asked.
"What are we for if not to gather knowledge and to fight, from what you have said, you will help me do both of these things better. So I accept, I pledge myself to you Nug-leth, give me your boons." Nero said and he felt a hot wind press against himself.
"First I will tell you the secret about yourself. You are one of Horus' sons as you know, but what you dont know is that you are one of his psychic sons. You have the Terrorsight a power that allows you a few things. First off a form of psychic x-ray vision that slows down your perception of time and allows you to see all the weak points in an enemies defense. Secondly is the phase, which allows you to place parts of your body into solid objects as if they were nothing. Finally you are capable of restoring your own energy when it would otherwise be completely depleted." Nug-leth said and let it sink in.
"Should I report this to the Librarium or Chaplaincy?" Nero asked.
"No, because I will, out of the goodness of my heart, give you full training and use of these powers to the extent of your ability. Also I will let you gain massive resilience, but in exchange for that you must promise to never leave the next suit of armor you are given, are we clear?" It asked.
"Of course, Master Nug-leth." Nero replied.
'Good, then you will spend the rest of your days inside of the new suit of armor you are about to be given, awake." It said and Nero was catapulted back to consciousness. He became aware that only two seconds had passed since he had blacked out.
"No, I want you to get me the full suit of armor for the Sons of Horus, it will simply look better than being all mismatched." Nero said, and prepared to get the suit he would spend eternity in. It was a good suit, solid Mark II plate, a remnant of a better time. As he put on the helmet, he felt truly at home with himself.
"Now are there any extra flamers laying around this ship?" Nero asked.
"Yes actually, here is one I just crafted yesterday. It is a little rusty, but it just needs some breaking in." The Techmarine says.
"Thats okay, I love a little rust." Nero said and chuckled to himself. The Techmarine gave him a puzzled look and handed over the flamer. Now there was nothing that could stop him.

Trias stared at the gleaming heart of the Labyrinth. There wasn't much time.

He dropped the device into the core, and began to run.

Hectoris came up behind him.

"Sir, the metal men have captured my sword! Fulgrim needed that weapon!"

"Dammit, Hectoris, this placed will be nothing but rubble by the time that activates!"

Trias was caught in a brief flash, and was sent to the other marines.

"Captain!"

Hectoris was still stuck in the abandoned corridors of the Labyrinth.

In the dropship the techmarine walked up to me, took a look at my wounds, he looked at my leg and said. ''You will need some mechanical enhancements if you want to be able to continue.'' I accepted my fate and i was brought to the medicae bay, there they gave me the enhancements it took about a hour but during my sleep i was back and the deamon spoke. ''You have returned? It is time i reveal to you my real name. I am M'gash Fire lord from the forge of souls i will posses you and you will gain tremendous power. All the machines will bow to you, you will be supreme. But you will need to do a favor for me to make your possesion complete. You will make a engine for me and seek out the deamon trias he will help you with possessing it and then you and i can merge completely.''

I bowed down, i decided that with this power i could protect my sergeant and save captain dreph and terminator sergeant ceacilius. I said. ''M'gash i accept. Give me your power make me powerful but the first thing i need you to do is expel the necrodermis from my eye. Then i will allow you to posses me.'' It smiled, with a sudden rush i felt the pain from the necrodermis in my eye disappear. I woke up to find myself empowered, stronger, better even more intelligent. I could feel all the machinery on this ship i could feel their power and i found that i could easily manipulate their machine spirits. I could let them bow down to me. I walked out the medicae bay and picked up the plasma cannon that i laid out before the surgery.I felt it directly accepting my prescence. The machine spirit accepted its fate and it directly powered up without the need of soothing hymns.
I opened the vox channel. And surprisingly heard captain dreph say. ''Is it you Rephosus?'' Actually a little startled i said to the captain. ''Captain dreph we are en-route to your position are you able to give us your precise position?''

The Stormeagle touched down at the last know position of Captain Dreph and the Jaded Watch. The Brotherhood of Orion quickly disembarked, spreading out and forming a perimeter. They swiftly moved out searching the area. "Sgt Aloysus, I have contact with Captain Dreph!" Rephosus voxed. "Good job, brother," Aloysus replied "Lead us to him". Following Rephosus they passed throught the labyrinth of tunnels. It was eerily quiet, with no sign of the robotic legions that had assailed them before.

"Sergeant!" shouted one of the Knights of the Basilisk, raising his bolter. A Necron creature had stepped out of one of the side tunnels. It was the creature that Marius had seen across the battlefield as he embarked on the Rhino. "Hold your fire!" Marius barked. He drew his sword, the blade igniting with a blue flash of power. "Gannicus, you have command of the Basilisks. Antioch, take over command of the mission, find the Captain.". "What about you Sergeant?" Gannicus asked. Aloysus snarled "I am going to have a reckoning with this thing. The blood of 5 Basilisks is on its hands, I intend to pay that debt. Go now!"

The rest of the Brotherhood passed on through the tunnels, the Necron Lord watching them leave in silence. It raised it's Scythe as Aloysus stepped to meet it hissing a challenge. "Now you pay, creature!" Aloysus said and leapt towards it.

Antioch strode through the ruined labyrinth, looking for the path.. "Rephosus, find the path." A sliding metal sound came at their right, as the turned to face it, it came behind them. Antioch and Segari readied their blades, the others prepared the bolters. "We are all close now, to close to the enemy." Antioch mumbled "Griffith, Segari, Stay with me. Rephosus, take Faberon and and Nero, their flamers will light the way, Markus, take the other 2 Basilisks and secure our drop ship, we are in a more dangerous area than I first thought, be ready to pick us up"
As they prepared to move, 3 metal snake like beings, taller than a dreadnought burst from the ruins. "Rephosus, go find the Captain, we will finish these!" Antioch shouted. Rephosus led the 2 flamer marines down the corridor. Griffith, Segari and Antioch readied their blades, and the creatures closed in.

Trias was soon met with a flood of raw agony.

He looked up.

""

He stood up, eye to eye with the leader he had once faced.

"We meet again."

The man remained silent, instead getting ready to attack. The large scar still remained on his face from their last encounter.

Trias poised himself.

I ran towards the coordinates captain dreph laid out i almost reached the position and there i saw them, it was captain dreph. And on the other side there was a necron of some kind.
I felt weird when i saw captain dreph i felt a diffirent prescence but also like it was familiar. I took out my plasma cannon and screamed to captain dreph. ''Sir we are here we can provide fire support if needed.''
But something more pressing already approached. i saw 5 lichguard approaching, i fired my plasma cannon at full power and while normally it would overheat the machinespirit allowed me to fire at full power. I burned 2 of them to a crisp, i screamed to the 2 flamers. ''Open fire make sure not a single piece of them is left.''

The flamers made another two burn to a crisp and the last one assaulted me. With my plasma pistol in one hand and my bolt pistol in the other i began firing at it. The bolt pistol had no effect so threw it away when i prepared to fire again with my plasma pistol M'gash said.''Look in your hand i have a present for you.'' I looked in my hand and saw a weird blue orb i launched it at the lichguard and it blasted into smithereens.

I ran towards captain dreph and screamed''captain finish this off quickly we need to withdraw to the ship!''

Aloysus and the Necron Lord traded blows back and forth across the tunnel, the clear blue of the power sword's disruption field smashing aginst the sinister green glow of the Warscythe. The Necron tried a sweeping overhand blow, but Aloysus blocked it, locking their weapons in a test of strength - the Necron's implacable mechanical force against the muscle and willpower of Aloysus. Holding the Necron's blade at bay with one hand Marius launched a flurry of punches into its face, driving it backwards. He twisted his blade, disengaging it from the lock and ducked under the killing edge of the scythe, and slashed his blade across the Necron, carving a deep gouge across its front. The Necron stepped back, unleashing a torrent of small metal bugs at him. Marius swatted them aside with his blade, crisping their circuits, and ducked a swing of the scythe that would have taken his head off. He backed away from the Necron, circling it. The damage from his blade was completely gone. He snarled with frustration. The fight was evenly matched, his armour was dented and scratched from glancing blows from the automaton's scythe, and he had cut it at least the same amount. The Necron had the advantage though, he couldn't heal wounds like that. Something had to change to balance the fight, and quickly. A thought occured to him, yes, that would do it! He had a plan, the Necron would fall.

Antioch fired a few bolt rounds at the looming Spider-Snake machine. A small talon fell, but otherwise the damage was absorbed. On his right he saw Sergari pushing back the large talons with his sword. Griffith had had more luck, severing two large stabbing limbs with his axe. Antioch thrust his blade into the torso of the machine, but met a spectral form of it. It phased through reality, moving through him before coming back, as he turned to it, two slicing, whipping chains met him. He dodged one and quickly cut the other one off. Turning, He saw Segari had stabbed his machine in the center and it was stuttering back. Griffith had severed all of the machines slicing and stabbing talons, but now it was moving around more swiftly, trying to impale the marine with this tail. Antioch dove past the remaining chain and severed the tail with one blow, he turned and cut the chain, and in one fluid motion impaled the monster atop his sword. Segari had made his way around and climbed on the monster, slicing into its head and dropping it, before he finished it off. Griffith had finally met with the tail, it punctured into his thigh, but he did not stagger, he felt no pain. Instead Griffith smashed the tail off, leaving only a small section protruded from his leg, then he smashed the robotic head to sparking bits. They had held off the creatures.

Trias stared into the green eyes of the enemy. He lunged towards it.

He stabbed his talon, only to find it turned away by the staff in the skeletal warriors hand. Again he struck, to be turned away again.

The man struck back, bringing Trias to the floor and pinning him. He held his great staff up high, preparing for the killing blow.

Trias shut his eyes. He began to focus on the thought of the creature above him.

He opened his eyes, glowing a bright blue. He pushed upwards, finding new strength. The Lord looked at his eyes a final time, before being immolated in blue flame.

Trias stood high. He felt a kindred spirit in Rephosus. A marine raised his flamer at him.

"Stand down marine."

He followed Rephosus to the Stromeagle, finding himself on new terms with the once lowly Devastator.

Antioch and the others met with others at the Storm Eagle. (OOC: Remember, Storm Eagle = Small Gunship for about 20 marines Storm BIRD = Big Gunship with space for an entire company. We are in a Storm Eagle.)

Faberon barely made it to the Storm Eagle, and that with him being partially supported by Rephosus. A layer of scar tissue had formed over his wound but to stretch it was agony, terrible yet glorius agony. He fell to his knees once inside and the apothecary waiting there was forced to help him onto a seat where temporary help could be given. Soon after this, Faberon blacked out, unable to sustain either aspect of the pain.

As he waded through a thick field of unconsciousness, he encountered something strange: a she-daemon that seemed to be beckoning to him with its claws, as if it wanted him to join it. As his stream of unconscious thoughts pushed him closer and closer, he found himself close enough to hear the words it whispered.
"There are a group of the eldar that usse pain itsself to heal themsselvess. They do thiss becausse they are sso closse to uss. You could do the ssame, if we were to get clossse..."
Faberon felt a wave of glorious pain hit him as this was said, and felt what it meant through this. And it was good.
"But how can I get close... what would I sacrifice?"
"Ssacrifisse iss ssuch an inelegant word... you would ssimply sserve the dark masster... misstress... it doess not matter... the rewardss would be great... you would encounter emotsionss ssuch ass you never could otherwisse..."
"But... no... no, I sserve... I mean, I serve the Emperor... I couldn't..."
"Oh, but you could... and if you think about thiss offer, you will... No one elsse could give you thisss..."

Faberon felt himself drifting back into consciousness. He tried to stay with this daemonette of angelic pain, but could do nothing to sstop him-... I mean, stop himself from coming back.

Hectoris was furious. Dreph Kalar had left him and Magnus to die. His rage summonded up the burning flame in his chest again, this time great and hotter than before. He heard the oice of the Daemon inside his head.

"Caecilius, do not let him get away with this. Find weapons, find a way out and punish him for what he has done. He deserves nothing more. Make his back bleep."

Hectoris listened as he walked on, silently. Magnus Malvarian was speaking to him as well.

"Sergeant?"
"What, Malvarian?!" Hectoris demanded, angered by the interruption.
"I said the ship has made contact and said they can teleport us the the aptains location."
"Magnus, tell the ship to bring us back aboard , and to contact the Company. I must withdraw to the Pride immediately to inform the Primarch about the loss of the sword, and I also advise a Tactical withdrawal from the battle for a later attack"
"Will do Sergeant."

As the walked on through the laberynth, they came to the spot where they had battled the Necrons and ben taken hostage. Their weapons were lying scattered, including the Warscythe Hectoris had taken off the pilot of the spider-walker. Magnus picked up his hammer and shield, Hectoris his shield, but considered the advantage of knowing one's enemy, so took the scythe too. The also took as much shields and hammers as they could carry, leaving just the severed arm on one of their brothers, still clutching his weapon.
"Initiating teleportation."

Aloysus saw his chance, the Necron swinging its scythe at him. Instead of blocking the blow Aloysus allowed it to connect with him, feeling it sink into his upper body, causing massive damage to his secondary heart and multi-lung, causing him to drop his power sword. He grabbed the haft of the weapon, preventing the Necron from pulling it free. "Foolish mortal, why would you not block my attack? Or have you seen that to reist the forces of the Necrontyr is worthless, and decided that a quick death is better?" the creature hissed. Marius coughed up some blood, and smiled at the creature. "Never. Honour demands that I avenge my squad, and this was the only was to do so." he managed through the pain. Raising his combi-melta he pointed it at the creature's head. "You die before me!" he said, and unleashed the fury of the melta attachement, melting the creatures head and brain, utterly destroying it. The creature collapsed, dead, never to resurrect. Marius slid off the warscythe and collapsed.

OOC: Sorry if this is before admiral, but I'm about to go out, and have to post now.

Inside the dropship i walked to captain dreph and said.
''What did you see while you were imprisoned have you noticed something maybe about their weaknesses.''

I decided i should just go to the task at hand.
''Captain i have noticed something is wrong with you, what did they do toy you during your imprisonment. '' I said and i closed my eyes, i felt a prescence it felt strongest by the captain. ''Captain could you come with me?'' I walked to the armory. 2 servitors who were working there felt my presence and bowed down before me. And without me saying a word left. I came close to the captain and said. ''Captain i sense a presence inside of you. You cant deny it, you have also felt the touch. I saw it when you were fighting the necron lord. You and i have both felt the touch of TZEENTCH. Captain i request that you assist me in becoming completely blessed like you are. I need to find the Tzeentchian daemon trias. I think that if we work together we can locate him. I need his help to create a engine dedicated to tzeentch and allow a daemon to posses it, then my daemon will deem me worthy of becoming truly blessed so captain i beg you could you help me?

Trias turned to Rephosus. He stared into his eyes.

"I am Trias."

His eyes glowed.

"That's too easy."

Trias stared at his eyes.

"I am Trias."

Trias flew into the air, his arms stretched outwards. Blue lights flickered from his fingers, flooding into the half-construct of Rephosus.

Dreph Kalar plunged to the ground dead. Rephosus beckoned the Daemons of the Warp, drawing attention to the body of the Captain.

Hectoris first move when he reached the Pride was to go to the Armoury. Once there, he and Magnus barged into the Master of the Forge's chambers without knocking orannouncement, Hectoris was in little mood for either. Once there, he deposited his former squad's weapons on the floor. the Forge Master turned from where he hadbeen wroking on a new set of Artificer armour for Lord Commander Vespsien. He was just finishing the Aquila on the breastplate and the embelishments. Hectoris held out the Warscythe.
"They call themselves Necrons," he began. "They captured the Watch and the Captain. The captain was teleported out and rejoined the main force, but Magnus here, and I were left to die. 3 of the Watch were slain. These are their shilds and hammers. One of our Brothers had his hammer arm cut off and we felt wrong to disturb it. We lit fire to it using our fuel cells." Hectoris placed the green blade on the workbench. " I took this from them, hoing you could garner its secrets and you could fashion some defense against them." The Forge Master plicked up the scythe with one of his servo arms, spinning it to examine the edge.
"Very well, I shall begin work immediately after finishing this sit-"
"You will begijn NOW!" Hectoris bellowed, feeling the fire inside him flare again. Not as powerful as before but enough to create a bead of sweat upon his chest.
The Forge Master responded cautiously. "If I leave the sit now then itwill never be complete, and it shall be imperfect. I will not allow that. It should be done within the hour." Hectoris grumbled but subsided. "Leave your armour with my techmarines. It will be repaired or substituted shortly."

As Hectoris turned to follow Magnus, who was already at the armnour stands, the Master techmarine asked "£Hectoris, where is that sword?"

Hectoris paused, the heat within rising to almost unbearable temperature as he thought of the speeding Jetbike, corkscrewing, his sword shing blue, at odds with the greenglow around.

"Stolen."

I was startled with the daemon suddenly bursting from captain dreph. He lay dead on the floor i ran to him. ''Captain are you alright?''I said while shaking him. The daemon said. ''You were searching me right tell me what you wish.'' I regained my courage and said. ''Yes the fire lord M'gash has send me to ask you in assisting with the construction and possession of an engine.''

But before it could answer we arrived at the ship. It rushed back inside captain dreph's body. I carried him to his quarters but when i walked out of the armory the marines where looking at me with a weird look. I said.''Captain dreph passed out i am bringing him to his room.'' And 3 servitors rushed at me and took his body without me having to say a word. After bringing him to his room i left to go to the forge the second i stepped inside i felt the presence of all the machinery. I walked towards one of the techmarines and asked him. ''Could you bring some forging equipment to my chamber? I need to construct something.'' Using the machine part of his body to my advantage i influenced his answer, and he answered. ''Yes of course it will all be there in 2 hours.''

I walked to the training cages deciding i should train until everything was installed.

Antioch retired to his chamber. He had not slept in a long time, he needed it.

In his dreams, Antioch saw perfection, thought it was not as he previously thought. He not only saw perfection as skill in battle, he saw it in knowledge. The power to know all things was to defeat any foe, crush any adversary. Antioch desired to know, and to even see how things would become, to know the flow of time and how things change. A figure appeared to him, small and floating, with many mouths, out of which came blue fire. It told Antioch of vast knowledge, and informed him of many things that he had wondered about all of his life. It told him that the truth could be known to him.
Then it departed.

Nero felt that he needed to inform someone in the Librarium of his gift. He walked to the chapel and found Epistolary Jon Axian in a training cage. It was apparent that Axian shared the Terrorsight, as he was twisting at impossible speeds and sending combat ready servitors to the scrap heap in their scores. After ten minutes he disengaged and approached Nero.
"Brother, I have not seen you before, what do you desire?" Axian asked.
"I am a psyker like you sir, but I have just discovered my powers in my last engagement." Nero said, unable to find a way to phrase it more eloquently.
"Well that is interesting, what is your gift?" Axian asked.
"I have what is called Terrorsight." Nero replied, hoping to gain some edge with the shared bond between him and the Epistolary.
"Well I'll be, we share a gift. Duel me, if you win, I will train you and outfit you like a true Librarian of the Emperor's Children." Axian suggested.
"I accept your challenge, lets begin." Nero said and stepped into the practice cages to their rear. KILL HIM, Nero heard a voice in his head boom, KILL HIM AND I WILL REWARD YOU FURTHER! The voice belonged to his lord Nug-leth. But master, he said he could give me training and equipment, should I not accept this? Nero thought back, hoping it would work. Sacrifice him to me and I will give you equipment unmatched by mortal craftsmen. Nug-leth reasoned. Of course milord, it will be done in your name. Nero thought back and he heard faint laughter before the Epistolary lunged. Nero backhanded him and sent him crashing into the wall. The Epistolary rose and orange haze burst from his eyes as he activated his Terrorsight. Nero quickly mirrored the action and the two stood for a fraction of a second, eons through their eyes before lunging. Nero feinted high and went low, slamming into Axian around the midsection and grabbing the force sword from its sheath. He leapt up and brought it down, carving through the Epistolary in one stroke, the two sides falling apart. He grabbed his flamer.
"I send your soul to Nug-leth Brother" He said, layering the last word with sarcasm before torching the corpse in a burst of high intensity fire. Good, now go to the Techmarine Jurisian and ask him to forge you a flamer, I will send him an assistant to speed the process and ensure that your flamer is one of glory and prestiege. In addition, I bequeath upon you the first of five blessings on your road to ascension, a new psychic power. It will allow you to birth a storm of wind from my great garden from your fingeritps that will rot and destroy everything in front of you. Nug-leth said and reached through the warp to touch Nero. His olive grey armor rusted around the edges slightly, and he felt a great surge of power inside of him. Thank you master, what is your next mission? Nero though back. Go to the Eastern Fringe, link up with your true brothers and help them on Davin, bring your company and no others. Nug-leth thought and Nero silently nodded understanding. He marched off to tell Kalar of his new orders from the Warmaster

As Antioch slept, the dreams returned, the voice told him of Dreph, and the importance he was to play in Antioch's enlightenment, and how the same powers influenced the friends. He understood that they must go to find refuge, but where? The Emperor's Children would not tolerate the taint seeping into the 9th Company, flowing throughout it. In addition, slightly over half the company had been slain in the recent Xenos attacks. A single Stormbird, and 3 Storm eagles were all that remained for air support, excluding the land speeders the company had. 1 Land Raider and 2 Rhinos were the only ground vehicles that remained in the company. The destruction wrought on the company was enormous, and they must escape before they were all killed.

Antioch woke from his sleep, and rushed off to find Hectoris. He searched the ship till he finally found him, coming out of the Master Techmarine's work chamber. "Hectoris, he said quietly, I know a power of darkness has touched you, we must escape this place." He pulled up a holo-map of the fleet, and pointed out a Mechanicus ship, equipped with some of the highest technology in the fleet. "Rephosus has been touched by these powers as well. With his help, we can take this ship. We must leave the "Pride" immediately, and take what is left of our company and get away from this fleet. It is only a matter of time till we are all found out, and all killed. I cannot do this without a position of leadership, however. Dreph is in bad shape, maybe dead, so for now, you are our commander. Get us out of here, save the Brotherhood Of Orion."

Nero received a vox from Hectoris.
"Meet me at the shuttle bay with the remnants of your squad." Was all he said and then the transmission ended. This is your chance, go help the Warmaster! Nug-leth gurgled through his mind

Dreph lay dead still, the Daemon hiding inside of him.

I returned to my chambers. There i found the forging equipment, i got to work. I began with the design i decided it should have the form of a knight. I began forging But i found a huge obstacle the weaponry that was needed. I needed to find a mechanicum storage area. There i could take some of the rarer equipment and the weaponry to finish the construction. I returned to work i finished around half of the chassis when sergeant antioch walked in my room, he had a proposition.

Hectoris walked into Dreph's chamber.

"WHY DID YOU LEAVE US?!"

Dreph lay motionless.

"WHAT DID WE DO?!"

Still Dreph lay perfectly still.

"Kalar?"

Hectoris came closer.

"Captain?"

Swimming through the dreamworld created by his sus-an membrane in response to the damage wrought upon his body Marius Aloysus came to a dark place. Entering, he found the same Eightfold Star carved upon the floor. At each of the cardinal points there was a rune carved into the wall. Looking upon them made Marius sick to his stomach. To the North there was a brass rune that blazed with heat and dripped a constant stream of blood onto the floor. To the South, the rune seemed to whisper beautiful promises to the air, and was a joy to behold. To the East the rune seemed to pulse with a strange, other-worldly light, constantly change in style and colour. In the West the rune was cracked and rotten, and air of decay leaking into the atmosphere. A creature came into being before each of the runes, each matching the style of the rune they stood before. A creature of brass, fire and blood, roaring with anger and bloodlust. The she-daemon, seductive as never before. A creature that constantly changed it's shape and form, with an air of mystery and knowledge to it, and finally an creature of rot and decay, swollen and malformed.

"Welcome, warrior," they intoned as one. "Now is your time of testing, now you must choose which of our masters you will serve, as your brothers have."

The creature from the North step forwards. "You will serve my master, Kharnath. He seeks mighty warriors to lead the fight in his name. Your brother Hectoris has already sworn himself to my master. You have left a trail of blood across the Galaxy in your wake. Join my master, and you shall be a warrior as never before." it grated, its voice hoarse from bellowing praise on a million battlefields.

"A warrior I am, creature, but a warrior must know more than the joy of the battlefield. There is more to life than the spilling of blood. I reject your offer."

The creature roared, and lunged towards him, a sword coalescing in its grasp, before bursting into flames and vanishing.

The daemonette spoke, its voice silky and attractive, and Marius turned to face it. "You already know the offer of my master, Slaaneth. Will you now accept it as your brothers Faberon and Segari have?"

"I told you no once before, creature, and that answer still stands. Begone, and take your promises with you."

The creature hissed and vanished, leaving behind a cloud of bittersweet perfume.

He turned to the creature in the East. "And what offer do you wish to lay before me?"

The bird-headed creature chuckled. "My master, the Shaper of Ways, has no use for you. He has already claimed your Captain, Antioch and the neophyte Rephosus."

The creature vanished, folding in upon itself.

"I have an offer for you, from my master Nur'gul" gurgled the creature behind him. "Serve my master, and he will end your pain. Serve my master and you will never die. You will be an eternal warrior, knowing nothing of fear or pain or death. This is your path, as it is the path of Nero. You have proven this by banishing the others. My master is pleased!"

"I reject you as well, creature. I serve the Emperor, and I serve my lord Fulgrim. Begone, and let me be."

The creature burbled "The great Four will not forget this slight. Our wrath will seek you out, and you will drown in its storm."

With that the servant of Nur'gul collapsed into a pile of rotten gore, and the temple vanished, leaving Marius alone again.

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Antioch walked in to see Rephosus, clearly, the young marine's blessing was with machines. Perfect. "Rephosus, our company is in danger, we must take what we can, find Marius, and get the company out." He showed the young marine the frigate which he planned to hijack. "The Skitarii will be all that stand in our way if you can shut down the auto defenses. We need to get the company out soon, or I fear the worst."

Hectoris saw the Captain lying on the floor. H elooked rather dead.

"Leave him," said the Daemon "he is dead. Good riddence."
"That is my brother and Captain, I will not leave him here-"
"He is a damned sorceror!" the Daemon spat. "He serves my master's rival, Tzeentch and wields tricks and magik in battle, instead of fighting like a real warrior!"
This brought Hectoris up short. He hated psykers. He loathed them. He would never fight amongst them. He had refused even Fulgrim's direct orders to fight beside Librairan Malnier, and earned himself a week's penance in the process, a debt he had gladly paid. He hated them almot as much as he Angron or Dorn. He would tolerate Magnus the Red of the Thousand Sons, for he was of the Emperor's bloodline.
Hectoris spat on the captains body. He left and made immediately for the frigate. "Rephosus, I am coming. Those Skittrai will be dead by the time you get there. I swear it."
As he walked, Hectoris asked the Daemon, "Who are you?"
The Daemon took several moments in answering. "I am a Herald of Khorne."
"I thought your master was Kharnath?"
"He goes by many names. Your grey armoured brother, lead already found us weeks ago in the Warp. They sent some veterans, their armour the colour of blood, to learn. They all died but a score of them. Their leader was Called Argel Tal. You may know of his Legion. They have named the Dark Gods. My master has been named Khorne, and he is pleased with that."
Hectoris was not familiar with Argel tal, but he knew the Daemon spoke of the Word Bearers.
"But What is your name Herald?"
"I too have had many names. My favourite was Scarspite. ou may call me Spite or Scar if you wish."
At that point Hectoris turned a corner to see several humans worshipping. They were more cultists. The same, 8 pointed star as before was on the wall. It sickened him.
"Kill them." said the Daemon. "They worship the Dark Gods, but it shall be a nice excercise to test your power."
Hectoris was currently unarmoured and unarmed, save for his plateel whip. All of the cultists held laspistols or autoguns. Several hald chainswords and on, an enormous man the size of an Astartes, held a massive Power Axe he had to clutch in both hands, obviously stolen. Hectoris strode over. The group rose, aiming their weapons.
"My lord, "said the one closest to him, " we were, uh, just..."
hectoris swung the chain in a wide arc, wrapping it around the mans neck, before spinning. The chain followed his path and the man crashed into the wall, exploding in a tide of gore. The ones with guns raised their weapons. Before they could fire Hectoris' chain was out again, slicing through heads like a blade. He wrapped it around one man's body, the cultist struggling. Hectoris had crossed the distance in a single bound and punch his fist throgh the man's torso, blood and splinters of bone flying. Then there was only 3 left. one held the chainsword, the other a pair of daggers. The large man, who Hectoris was an Astartes, stepped forward. Hectoris recognised him as Kildreth of the 11th company, a recently promoted Terminator, by far hectoris' superior in combat skill. Kildreth was renowned for kill serveral of the Laer in personal combat, unarmed and alone. Kildreth swung his axe, Hectoris barely doging out of the way. He could not win.
"Allow me to aid you, Hectoris" came the harsh voice of Scarspite. "Allow me to become one with your body."
Hectoris felt a tug and then.he became Scarspite.and Scarspite became him.

Scarspite dodged from the next axe swing with speed and skill impossible for even an Astartes, leaning back enough so that the blade missed him by a hair's breadth. Scarspite whipped the chain, binding Kildreth in a vicelike constrictor. An evil grin spread across Scarspite's face as he twisted his hand slightly. Red flames shot up the chain, engulfing Kildreth. He screamed his agony as his flesh flayed and his bones turned to ask, all but his skull which was black as coals. His ashes and skull fell to the ground, his axe alongside them. Scarspite quickly took advantage of the horror that aparalysed the two remaining cultists. He lashed out with his still burning chain, as if whipping an animal, and the tip, just the tip, struck the man with the knives. His body exploded in a flash of gore. The last man dropped his chainsword and ran as fast as he could. Scarspite flicked the fallen of axe to his hand using his foot, catching it one handed and hurled it at the fleeing cultist. Scarspite girnned in satisfaction as the axe clove the man in tain. The Hectoris was back and Scarspite within him.

"Antioch, I am on my way. Tell Rephosus to send servitors to clean up corridor 33 Alpha. There is a little mess here."

Aloysus wandered for a while through the dreamspace, thinking on what he had been told. His brothers, most of his company, had succumbed to these powers or so they claimed. Even the Captain had fallen. He didn't want it too be true, but so many of them had been experiencing strange dreams and Segari had actually hosted one of these creatures within himself for a time. There was too much evidence for what the daemons had said for him to disregard their words.

As he walked he noticed the area around him change. It grew darker. Suddenly there was a door before him. He entered warily, keeping an eye out for the daemons that he had seen earlier. He came into a large vaulted room, with pillars around the edge of the room.

"You need not worry about the minions of my masters brother's here" hissed a voice. Marius was on his guard instantly. A pair of red eyes flicked into being across the room from him, in the shadows between two of the pillars.

"What are you, and what do you want with me?" Marius asked.

"As with my cousins, I have a proposal for you, from my master. As for what I am..." The creature stepped forwards into the light. It looked like a giant lizard of ancient Terran myth. It was pure white, with pitch black armoured scales running down it's back, tail and upper limbs with bright red eyes. It walked on it's hindlegs, in the crude parody of a man. "I am a Herald of Malal, fifth of the gods."

"Daemon" Aloysus breathed.

"Yes. But hear me, I feel my proposal may be more to your liking than those of my master's brothers. My master wishes to offer you the chance to bring retribution to those who have forsworn their oaths of brotherhood to you, to your Legion, to your genefather, and to the Emperor. He will grant you the power do do this if you promise to hunt the servants of his brothers wherever they may be found."

"I do not believe you, creature." Aloysus growled. "My brothers would never abandon me."

"My master does not expect you to. I will come to you again soon, when your eyes have been opened. You will be allowed to choose then. But now, awake, and see the truths I have told to you!" the creature commanded.

Marius awoke and cried out in pain. He looked at the chronometer on his helmet display, next to the pulsing orange rune representing his status on his visor.. A full day had passed since his wounding, yet his brothers were nowhere to be seen. They must have know that we was seriously wounded, yet they had left him on the field. He tried the vox, calling for help, but there was no response. The daemon had spoken truly - he was abandoned. He pulled himself to a pillar, propping himself up against it. The wait of this betrayal was too much for him to bear. Between the crushing realisation that his brothers had forsworn him and the pain of his wound he passed out into a deep and dreamless sleep, slumped against the pillar.

I accepted his request. With a grin summoned 10 servitors to bring my equipment to the ship. After that i left off to the docking bay i left in a shuttle underway to the mechanicum ship.
I arrived.

I saw them around 50 skitarii in perfect formation disabled until they where needed. I walked towards them and spoke an ancient incantation. ''Sharag uzgay mahin tzeentch give me your power.'' With a blast all of the machinery of the ship turned over to me. The skitarri awakened and hoarded all the human personnel in a holding cel. I walked up to the command area i saw a high ranking genetor around him lay 5 skitarri. I walked up to him and said. ''bow down to me. Follow me and i will empower you with the power of tzeentch.''
He said ''I will never bow down to the creatures of the emperean.'' I smiled and with a magical spell lifted him up in the air and i smacked him on the ground. After that 4 skitarri appeared and dragged him to the holding cells.
I opened my vox channel and said. ''Sergeant antioch i have dispatched a stormbird with 10 skitarri to pick up sergeant aloysus. You can take a shuttel to the ship nobody knows what happened here. My only request is that i get access to all the weaponry and technology here as well as the minds of the servitors.''

Antioch had another flash of wisdom, it revealed to him his Brother, Aloysus. He saw an image shimmering of Aloysus on the planet, propped against a pillar and severely injured. Antioch realized what he needed to do. This was to be his action to prove himself. He had used an unorthodox means to advance his knowledge, for the sake of perfection. Surely he could still be used by Fulgrim and the Emperor for a good purpose. Unfortunately, the actions of his company were to far gone. Though he was a son of Fulgrim, and of the Emperor, he was not of the Emperor's Children. The brothers of his company were his only brothers. They could still band together and fight for the Emperor, but they could not do it in this way. The next crusade would cause the destruction of the company, he must be the one to deliver them. Mightier warriors, like Dreph or Hectoris, would win the battles, but he must liberate the company first. "Rephosus, find Hectoris and Dreph, take the frigate from the Mechanicus. Find followers who are radical, not of the mindset of the rigid Mechanicus of Mars, but those who are willing to fight for the Emperor in a more secret way, not on simple crusades of mass destruction." After giving Rephosus this message, he went to the hangar. Stepping in, a techmarine walked up and asked his business. Having forseen this, Antioch had already drawn his sword, and the Machine marine was dead before his sentence finished. Several combat servitors turned to face him, he gunned them down with his bolter. Running to the Storm Eagle, one of the 9th Companies 4 remaining aircraft, he got in. He opened the hangar remotely and flew out of the hangar, toward the planets atmosphere. The foresight flared again, guiding Antioch to his brother. He saw something else, the flying vehicles, the ones who had taken the sword. He landed in the Labyrinth, so he wouldn't attract attention. Venturing back on the path the marines had taken many hours earlier, Antioch found the sight of the battle. Just as he began to search the rubble, the round, flying machines came from above. Antioch fired at them with his bolter, shooting several out of the air. Behind them there came a horrifying metal beast. Similar to the "Lords" they had fought on foot. This however, was flying. It was floating on a large square platform with one round edge. It came toward him, swinging a massive Scythe, somewhat axe like. It flew directly at him, as he made a sweep toward Antioch, he rolled under the massive blade, hitting a booster on the side. The hulking monster spun, and Antioch slashed at its opposite side, hitting another. He found, however, that all this did was level the platform out. The Lord could still hover though his ability to sustain flight higher than a few feet was now very limited. He came at Antioch again, this time, the marine saw that he could not avoid the blow, unless he.... "Yes" His thoughts echoed, "Do it". As the Lord swooped in with a stroke to cleave his head from his shoulder, he slid forward under the body. Antioch wasn't as fast as he had hoped, and his helmet was bashed upwards and off by the Warscythe, the top of his head burned with the heat of the a booster, burning the flesh on the top of his head. He was enraged, and prepared to impale the Lord on his next advance. His idea did not go as planned, though he impaled the Necron on his blade, the momentum carried them both to the ground, lodging Antioch under the machine. The lord seemed dead, but a few seconds later, its green eyes flickered back to life and it spoke, "You may have immobilized me, mortal, but your life will still end. The Scythe flew down toward Antioch, The foresight flashed again, though this time Antioch felt different.. He felt as if his foresight could provide a counter. As the weapon followed its deadly arc, a flash of blue light came from Antioch's eyes, and the instrument of his death exploded, along with the arm of the Lord. Antioch's new found hope faded when he saw the bladed fingers of the other robotic hand reaching down for his throat. "Go to hell, Damned Machine." He heard a voice say, and the chest and body of the Necron exploded in a white hot light. He pushed the body off of him just in time to see Aloysus fall, his smoking Combi-Melta still clutched in his hand. He retrieved the weapons of both of them, and picked up Aloysus. Though a few of his bones must have been fractured in the collision, somehow he carried Aloysus back to the Storm Eagle, where he set him down, and collapsed himself. He heard the voice of Rephosus, and replied "Do not dispatch what remains of our ships, I will bring him to you." He flew the Storm Eagle to the docking bay of the Mechanicus frigate, and when entering the hangar, he stumbled out, and collapsed.

Dreph Kalar twitched, then moved. He had been resurrected. Trias left his body in a bolt of blue light. The energies of the Daemon had blinded him.

"Wh-where am I?"

Hectoris entered arena B, where the entire 9th Company was assembled, or what was left. Previous engagements had left them with few squads left. His own squad, the Jaded Watch, had been at just 8 strong when he had left for Pyrona, 3 in care for injuries. Now there were just 5, including himself. Recent promotions to Battle Brother saw the Griffin Brethren and Archers of the Rayven at full strength. Only Segari, Rephosus, and Antioch was missing. Kalar too, but he was dead. Magnus with his Terminators wearing their new armour. An empty suit, for him, stood nearby. The Knights of basilisk were down their Sergeant, Aloysus. Two rhinoes were already prepped and loaded into ther Thunderhawk Transporter.

"Brotherhood of Orion! I call upon your services. The Warmaster, Horus L:upercal, has requested our presence at his war council. You all rember the kindness the Luna Wolves showed for us at our founding! Let us return the favour, and join the Sons of Horus, scions of the Warmaster. We will travel to the erastern Fringe, where we will met up with the a company from the Iron Snakes. the Iron Snakes are a chapter of the Ultramarines, their 3rd to be precise. We shall honour our brothers and stand before whatever foe awaits us. Brothers, will you answer the call to war." A massive warcry was his answer.
"Lord Fulrim is not to be informed, by order of the Warmasdter. this is covert mission.
Griffin Brethren, meet up with Sgt Antioch when he docks the Storm Eagle. When he gets there, get in. Tell Aloysus to head to the Thunderhawk Transporter. He will pilot. The Knights of Basilisk will go with him. Archers of the rayven, Sgt egari has been briefed and should be waiting by the Thunderhawk Gunship. He will pilot. The jaded watch will accompany me aboard the Stormbird. Rephosus will be on the bridge of the "Mechaniucii Venatus." It is a small firgate but is capable of harbouring the Stormbird, Storm Eagle, and both Thunderhawks. We will land in the hangers on the port side and then we will use the Warp Travel to travel there. You have 1 hour to gather equipment and supplies. ETA at the Eastern Fringe is 52hours, so pee before you go." This aroused a chuckle from the warriors assembled.

"Sir, what about Captain Kalar?"

"He is, in his room. he won't be joining us. As ranking marine on this mission, I will be Commander at Sail and Force Commander. I expect you to show me the same respect you do our Captain. Sergeants Aloysus, Segari and Antioch will be be my seconds and Rephosus, Nero, Faberon and Magnus, along with Gannicus and Markus after them. Dismissed."

Faberon, although barely able to remain conscious, felt great honour at having been named one of Hectoris' favoured. He walked as proudly as was possible for a crippled warrior towards the dock where Antioch would be arriving. He was thanking the Gods...
As he walked, a strange image drifted into his thoughts. It looked something like this and from behind it came a voice.
"...we sshall help your injuriess heal, give you the sstrength to fight a thoussand armiess, and much more, little one... What doess your emperor offer you...?"
Faberon gritted his teeth. Each ounce of his training was telling him to resist with all his might, but his hearts weren't into it.
"...you know that we offer you the besst deal of all... None elsse can offer thiss emotsion... Why not ssimply accsept...?"
Faberon found himself truly feeling what this... thing was saying, yet felt that it would be a big step to accept. He banished the image for a short while, thinking as he moved towards the hanger, revelling in each jolting pain his steps gifted him.
Eventually he reached both the hanger and a decision.
"Almighty God," he siad, and paused....

..."I accsept"...

The burning agony and power that coursed through his vains was pleasure like none other. He knew that he had made the wrong decision, that eternal torture and suffering awaited, that there was now no way out, and best of all was that he didn't care in the slightest.

I walked towards the hanger, i saw some of the ships leaving the flagship. I had 20 of the skitarri in perfect formation to give the brotherhood of orion a proper meeting.
All the systems were fully operational except for flying operations i got in a trance i saw M'gash again. And he said. ''You have made it far i will give you a mission if you succeed you and i will both grow in power you must take total control of the machine spirit of this ship if you do so you will have complete control over it, and we will be blessed. The soul grinder L'arash will owe us if we sacrifice the techpriests that are loyal to the dragon of mars he will allow us to summon him once in battle!''

I kept waiting. I accepted the challenges and blessings. M'gash dissapeared again with a smile. I opened my vox channel and said ''sergeant i am in full control of the Mechaniucii Venatus. As you can see i and through that you have complete control over the ship. All the prisoners are in the holding bay. You can use this ship as you please but i need to tend to some pressing matters. Now when you arrive you can find me in the armory some of my skitarii will lead you there.''

I walked off towards the holding bay and found some cultists in one of the holding bays. They where praying to chaos for salvation i opened the cage and said ''are you searching for chaos?'' They said. ''Yes my lord, lord nurgle has promised immortality and salvation!''
Hearing the name nurgle already filled me and M'gash with anger. I ordered their direct execution and be burned to ashes of the cultists. The skitarii got to work. I walked off to the holding area of the techpriests. I began making the sacrificial circle. But i heard someone running towards me it was the head electropriest. He bowed down before me and said. ''I am ready to serve master. Lord tzeentch will be pleased with you in control of this ship. I saw a very small group of tzeentch cultists behind him i ordered them to go to the armory and prepare weaponry at our arrival.''

Dreph staggered through the ship until he came to Aloysus' room.

"Sir? Is that you?"

Dreph turned about wildly.

"Aloysus? Where am I?!"

The Sergeant staggered up.

"You're on the Pride, Captain. Are you alright?"

Dreph walked aimlessly about.

"I think I'm blind. I can remember a prison.."

"Captain, why have you not been taken to the Apothecarium? Why has Hectoris or one of the others not taken you to have augmetics fitted? And why did you abandon me on the surface?" Marius asked angrily. "Come with me, I'll take you to the Apothecarium. What has happened to the Brotherhood of this Company? The Brotherhood of Orion, and yet you are left blind in your chambers and I am abandoned to die on a world swarming with enemies. Something is wrong with this Company, Captain. Once you have new eyes I suggest that you seek the Primarch's guidance, before this company collapses on itself."

They reached the Apothecarium. "Apothecary, the captain needs some augmetic eyes fitted. Call for me once the surgery is done." Aloysus went to one of the ship's dataengines. "Locate Sergeant Caecilius Hectoris." The machine whirred and produced the code of a launch deck. Marius set off for the flight decks at once.

Emerging on the flight deck Marius saw the remenants of his squad assembled. "Hectoris!" he bellowed as he marched onto the deck, resplendant in his newly patched power armour. "What is the meaning of this? Why is the company transferring ships, and why, in the two days that you have been in orbit since the fight on Pyrona, did you not take the Captain to the Apothecaries to have augmetic eyes fitted. You left him blind and alone in his room. I want answers, Hectoris, and they had better be good."

Antioch stepped in, hoping to settle things down.
"Hectoris had assumed command of the company and organizing them, although his lax behavior in this manner is unsettling, we must keep from fighting amongst ourselves. Right now our highest priority is to get off this ship. Hectoris, you take the company, head to the Mechanicus vessel where Rephosus awaits. Aloysus, our company is in trouble, let us go recover our captain, and get off this ship."
Antioch walked towards the door of the hangar.

Faberon was inside the storm eagle when the call came over the vox that something wasn't going to plan and that although we couldn't be told what, there would be a short delay before we left.
Content that nothing pressing would be happening too soon that I stood much of a chance of knowing about, I called forth the daemonette of slaanesh from inside me, and sank down into a seat, looking to the others as if I were simply meditating.
Following his daemonette guide, he stepped through paths that normally only psykers could see, and saw the vast majority of the crew possessed, showing up far brighter as dots in the endless void. He saw the anarchy that was going on; the warring that was happening and would continue to happen throughout the company. And he saw how those that served other Gods cared nothing for feelings or emotion. One only death, one only pestilence, and one only endless plotting that could never lead anywhere.
Then he looked upon his own guide through what would remain of his life. And he saw that it was good.
His guide would offer them all so much: The emotions, the power, the enhanced weaponry that would pour pure feeling into an opponent until their brain itself was overloaded.
He knew now that he had one task ahead. To unite the company, no, the chapter, or possibly the whole galaxy under she who thirsts. He spoke to his guide.
"You know what I want you to do right now." She nodded. "Do it," he said, and with that she prepared to call the daemons of the 9th company together.

After a new set of Optics had been integrated into his Auto-Senses, Dreph Kalar wandered through the halls of the ship.

Why had he left Aloysus for dead? What had made him so selfish?

Dreph came to his room and began to meditate on the questions.

I ordered all armed forces to gather in the ship docks.
There i saw them 200 skitarii lined up in perfect formation. Next to them i saw 30 of the famed legio cybernetica robots along with 2 of their handlers. On the other side 200 cultists armed with lasguns and some special weaponry from the forge. And there was my personal pride.
My recently finished knight. 20 Techpriests were still finishing some of the last configurations. I walked towards the command staff a group of 4 high ranking mechanicum officials that joined me. I stood before them and all four of them bowed to me. One of the magos explorators stood up and said to me. ''My lord we have over 300 prisoners i advice we convert them to skitarii and servitors. As they aren't willing to join our cause.'' I nodded and he and 25 techpriests left off. I walked towards my knight and asked. ''So how far are his configurations?'' The head forger said. ''Yes my lord the machine spirit is almost completely ready for being piloted. The only thing left for you to choose is its weapon configuration.'' I thought about it and decided that the best option for a command unit would be a long range configuration i ordered. ''Install a plasma destructor along with a power lance on it make sure that it is ready when my sergeant arrives!''

I opened my vox channel and said. ''Sergeant Ceacilius everything is ready for your arrival. I have successfully gathered around 500 soldiers to fight under my and through that your command, and that number is growing. Could you give a ETA of your arrival or should i send some escort craft? I am awaiting your arrival.'' I turned around and walked back to my position next to my command staff awaiting arrival.

Marius' vox bead buzzed. "Sergeant, the Captain's surgery is finished." Aloysus turned to Hectoris "This isn't over. I will be back, and I will have answers." he turned and spoke to the rest of the assembled marines "Until the Captain says otherwise noone leaves this ship. He might be my friend, but I don't care what Hectoris has said or will say on the matter. After leaving your captain blind I do not trust his judgement on this venture. This Legion has a chain of command, and it must be followed. Remember that. You get your orders from the captain, and you do not act unless told to by him, or by someone authourised to act in his stead, which at this moment in time Hectoris is not."

He noticed Hectoris swelling with rage but he ignored him. "Knights of the Basilisk, with me. We go to see the captain."

He turned his his back on Hectoris and headed for the exit, his marines falling in around him. His squad would not be involved in this foolishness.

Antioch stepped forward as Aloysus came behind him and ordered the Basilisks back to the loading area. "We may be attacked or stopped, going alone is better. Remember that Hectoris is the second in command of this company, Aloysus. He is, for now, the voice of Dreph, who is the voice of Fulgrim, Who is the voice of the Emperor." He opened a vox to Hectoris. "Leave a Storm Eagle for us, we will recover Dreph and escape."
He followed Aloysus, who had not even met his gaze yet. "The top priority is the whole company, not just one man Aloysus. I already broke that rule, when I flew back to the planet for you. We must hold together, we are brothers." Aloysus glanced back as if in deep thought. By this point the 2 marines had reached the med-bay where Dreph was being treated. As they prepared him to depart, an Apothecary walked up to them and said, "I have been ordered to hold Dreph here, to be investigated and for the questioning of the actions of his company." Antioch gazed into the eyes of the healing marine, he did not want to force his way out. He foresaw the potential repercussions of killing him. "Please Brother" He pleaded, in a voice so in a convincing voice he never realized he had possessed."Do not question our actions. Let us depart." The marine seemed in thought for a long while before finally saying. "Fine, you may pass, but I will not be held responsible."
Antioch went in front, while Aloysus ventured behind Dreph as the led him down the corridor to the bay. As he walked further, 2 marines stepped out in front of his path. "Brother, they said, we have been ordered to to detain you for questioning.." Just as Antioch was contemplating what to do, an explosion rocked the ship. Warning lights came on and a wall exploded, sending the marines in front of him flying into and through the opposite wall. "We have a hull breach," Antioch shouted "Run!" In the din and explosions, no one noticed the 3 marines slip into the the docking area, The rest of the company had already left in their shipsm and one Storm Eagle remained for them. He pushed Dreph and Aloysus into the Storm Eagle and they took off toward the frigate. A crescent shaped fighter appeared in front of them, and Antioch fired the Lascannons on the wings into its rear, and it exploded. Then he saw 2 more fighters behind him. They blew off the tail tip of his Storm Eagle, it was a good thing that they were in a vacuum, making the balance less important. As they neared the frigate, Antioch shouted in the vox, "Rephosus, get these damned things off my tail!"

Peering out of the dock-shield Nero saw a Storm Eagle in critical condition being chased by strange half-moon fighters.
"Nobody uses my mark." He said, silently hpoing that someone would hear him and make the connection to the Mournival. He ran to one of the autocannon turrets and opened fire, mulching the ships and allowing the damaged storm eagle to fly in safely

"This is ridiculous. What business do we have on a ship of the Mechanicus?"

I ordered the crew to run towards their stations I shouted ''Have all the anti aircraft weaponary prepared to shoot down anything that you spot. Do not falter smite the enemy from the skies don't give them a chance to fight back save your fellow humans!''

I opened my vox channel and asked sergeant antioch ''Did you save the captain? come here ASAP i have provided cover withdraw to the ship you will be save here.''

Nero was getting mad. He grabbed a jetpack from a rack and sealed the exhaust vents on his armor. Despite the shouts of confusion and disaproval rising from his company he had had enough gak. He hurled through space and landed in the hangar of the Pride, confusing the holy living hell out of Aloysus and Dreph.
"LISTEN TO ME YOU IDIOTS! WE ARE A COMPANY, WE ARE BROTHERS, WE ARE SPACE MARINES! I AM THE MOST OUT OF PLACE ONE HERE, AND THAT IS CURRENTLY YOUR GREATEST BLESSING, BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT I DO NOT FEAR TELLING YOU THAT YOU ARE BEING IDIOTS! WHEN THAT STORM EAGLE COMES BACK WE ARE GETTING ON IT AND GOING TO THE MECHANICUS SHIP! THERE IS A REASON, OUR WARMASTER HAS GIVEN US A MISSION! A MISSION THAT WE WILL DO, NOW GET READY TO MOVE YOUR ASSES WHEN THAT SHIP GETS BACK." Nero barked, frothing at the mouth inside his armor, literally shaking from fury.

I'll grab a Terminator spot. I've always like the Emperor's Children, mostly Prey Heresy. Terminator: Hestar Velamon

Hestar began as a lowly scout in the 9th Company of the Emperor's Children, and rose up to the position of a high Terminator. When not seen fighting alongside his brethren, he is seen fighting at the front lines.

It would be awesome if you could post your character with more info in the OOC thread.

The Storm Eagle touched down on the deck of the Mechanicus ship, and Antioch, Kalar and Aloysus disembarked. "You came after all!" Hectoris said. "Aye," replied Aloysus "It seems you have laid our path before us, and as your Brother I am bound to follow. We would not be the Brotherhood of Orion if I did not."

Aloysus turned to the Captain. "We had better get out of here. Where shall we head for?"

Antioch watched as Nero stepped forward and informed the Captain that the Warmaster needed their aid. "I think this would be the best course of action as well. Assisting Warmaster Horus should be our first priority."

Hectoris strode into the ship's Chapel, his fury burning like a furnace within him. It was the one place on the ship he had respite. It was filled with only 1 man. Confessor Jerimiah. Hectoris had heard of him briefly but had never met im. The chapel was established on this ship to act as a Reclusium for the Techmarines who were stationed on this frigate. The confessor turned to look at Hectoris as he entered, but snarled and turned away when he saw him.
Ingrate, Hectoris thought.
The first thing he had done as commander of this force was explain everything to the Chaplain and give him immunity from the command role. He had not meant to be there, it was just misfortune. Still Hectoris had a great respect for the Chaplaincy and he would honour the Confessor's role.
"Scarspite," he said, "tell me verything I need to know, about Chaos and this mission."
The Daemon stirred from its slumber. Hectoris could feel its annoyance.
"There is nothing you ned to know, except to slay. Oh, and watch that man of yours, Aloysus. He is strong willed that one."
"How so?"
"To resist the powers of all 4 Gods of Chaos is an astounding feat, but Malal too is great indeed."
"Who is Malal?"
"She is a eldar women, one of those who live not in the galaxy nor the Empyrean. A Dark Eldar as you call it. She is very powerful. She commands some lesser daemonic beings of her own."
"You sound fearful Scarspite."
A pulsing pain caused him to drop his hands in his head. He nearly fell off his seat. The pain subsided.
"Watch your tone! I fear no one, especially not Malal! She thinks herself a god, but compared to the powers of the almighty Khorne, greastest of the Dark Gods, or even Slaanesh, the weakest, she is little more than a fly from Nurgle's garden. A spark before a furnace, a candle before a dying star! She is not to be worried about. However, her servents are powerful indeed compared to those of the other gods. Her purpose is to hunt down those of the 4. Combined that with a warrior like yourself or Aloysus and it presents a real problem."
At that point, the Confessor turned and snarled something to Hetoris.
"What did you say, you ungrateful whelp?!" Hectoris demanded.
"I said if you are not here to ask forgiveness to the Emperor, then leave, treacherous bastard!"
hectoris, suddenly mournful, turned to see the statue of the Emperor, wearing his full war regalia, looking down, seemingly straight after him. The pounding in his head returned. Presumably Scarspite did not want him praying to anyone bar Khorne.
"Scarspite, leave, now. I wish to speak with the confessor privately."
The Daemon grumbled and Hectoris could feel the anger, but leave it did.
Muttering a small battlehymn to the statue of the Emperor, he placed his hand on the Aquila of his breastplate. He was not a traitor. he was pursueing perfect and trying to aid the Crusade in everyay he could. He turned to the Chaplain.
"Jerimiah. I wish to peak to you, to confess my wrongs."
"Then go and find and blade an impale yourself," came the spiteful reply.
hectoris was furious. But out of respect he contained it, and sat.
"Then just listen." Hectoris spoke for a while. Finally he said, " Jerimiah, do you think that I am foolhardy or reckless for doing what I am?"
Jerimih turned and sat opposite Hectoris. At this point, Hectoris first noticed Jerimiah's bionic leg. In truth it was little more than a pipe attached to his severed knee. "Indeed Hectoris. Very reckless."
Hectoris swallowed. He indicated the bionic leg. "How?" It was all he needed to say.
"Recklessness." Jerimiah replied with a wry smile. "And friendly fire. It was just after the Crusade left Terra, when the Legions were formed, before we came to Chemos and found ourn Primarch. I was the last of my squad. I was fighting some orks, dueling their Nob and warboss alone, a Chainaxe in each hand. I heard a vox for everyone to get clear. I ignored them, stubbornly refusing to budge untill I had avenged my squad. my anger was like a funace that day..." hectoris glanced up, knowing the feeling. "They thouight everyone was clear. A full company opened fire on the Mob watching the duel. I watched my glory taken away as the warboss came down followed by the Nob. I turned to leave. A Bolt shell hit the back of my leg, punturing the bonding at the back of my knee. My leg was blown clean in two, held together only by my armour. When I got patched up they tried to build a bionic, but the nerves were destroyed. There was no way I could fight again. Afterwards, I jusrt floated along, doing menial duties, hanging about the rembrencers. When we came to Chemos, well, you remember. We reunited with our beloved Primarch, Lord Fulgrim. All loved him but none moreso than I. But Fulgrim looked upon me and though he said nothing, I could see contempt in his eyes. A warrior who could not fight. I was a disgace and imperfection."
Hectoris' interest was now peaked, and he was litening with full conviction.
"When Magnus of the Thousand Sons was taken to Terra, the Council of Nikea decreed Chaplain would be established to control psykers. I decided to make myself useful and became a confessor, listening to the thoughts and prayers of others and guiding them. Through me, the Legion has remained faithful and I myself have learned many valueable lessons. I learned Perfect did not come being perfect, Hectoris. It came from imperfection. Don't ask me how I know or why I believe it, but I do."
A messenger came in, looking for hectoris. There was a matter that need his attention on the bridge and Rephosus had requested his presence. hectoris thanked the confessor for his time.Hectoris was just about to alk out the door when the confessor said something. An answer.
"I do believe you are foolhardy Hectoris. But as long as the end result is that man rules the stars, then I suppose, the means is justified. Now leave. Now leave, I will not speak to you again."

Hectoris nodded and left. then he heard the voice of Scarspite again.
"Do not make me regret my decision to possess you Hectoris. you serve Khorne and only Khorne, and the words of your Chaplains mean nothing. Dop not forget that"

I returned to meditation Awaiting sergeant ceacilius.
I found myself in the prescence of M'gash. He said. ''So have you made your decision about the sacrifice?''
I turned towards him and asked. ''M'gash what is your purpose here? What do you want? Why have you chosen me?''
He said ''i chose you because of your affinity for raw technology. You don't bind yourself to gods but technology. You even have forsaken the god of technology.
Do you know that the daemons who follow the forge of souls are seen as exiles in the eyes of their gods. That is why i chose you. No god can bind you not religion. You are a pure mechanician''
I replied ''You know M'gash i like your soberty even a daemon like you can be non-loyal to your god. I like that but there is one thing you always need to remember! I am the master of my body i have accepted your help but control will never be a thing you will get!'' After saying that i felt a painfull shock and he shouted. ''You are mine remember! My promises i will fulfill them but only if you are loyal to me!''

I woke up and saw sergeant ceacilius approaching, i said. ''Ah sergeant how do you like my ship? Perfect isn't it i have enough troops standing by to provide all of the support we need. But there are more pressing matters now. The necron fleet is underway their vanguard has already attacked. We need a way to get out of this area as soon of possible. I advice we gather the inner circle for a meeting about where to go next.'' I left walking towards the meeting hall. ''I will finally achieve the recognition of my superiors.'' I thought to myself. And i left ordering the servitors to prepare a grand feast like they would have in the halls of lord fulgrims halls.

As the Captain boarded the ship, a mighty tremor shook straight through the ship.

"WHAT ON TERRA WAS THAT?!"

A fleet of Obsidian spacecraft came up from the surface of the planet. Green bolts of lightning flew from their weapons, blowing out the airlock. In an instant, several Basilisks flew into the void of space, Dreph hanging onto a maintenance pipe.

Battle was starting. Faberon's body shook about, although on his mind this had almost no effect. Battle would soon start in the warp between the great forces of slaanesh and the lesser forces of the other chaos daemons. Hopefully this war would be restricted to words, although his mind was ready to lash out in defence of his cause.
His daemonette guide was calling out all the other daemons from their hosts, calling them to a council of alliance or war, as they would choose. Some were followed in spirit by the astartes they had power over, but others came alone, their hosts busy or even unaware of this encounter.]
"Daemonss of the Warp," his guide started by saying. "There are many enemiess; both in the pressent and the future, for our loyal asstartess to fasce." Faberon flinched slightly at the half-sarcasm, but it was well received by the majority there. "There will come a time when there will be a great fight acrosss this galaxsy, and either we daemonss will unite or we sshall sstand no chansce of victory. Indeed, with warring between uss this company may be wiped out even now by this enemy we and our wonderful hosstss are up againsst. I sshal put it like thiss, ssimple enough that even thosse of you sserving Khorne sshall undersstand..."

Nemesor Tokarn stood on the bridge of his flagship, looking out onto the imperial fleet. Even as he looked, he analysed each individual ship for structural weak spots. The ones he found he relayed to the Doom Scythes and Decimator Scythes that he had sent on ahead. The Imperial fleet was already in range, the Necron fleet's Tesla Annihilators cutting deep scars across the sides of many of the imperial vessels. After analysingmost of the immidiate area, Nemesor Tokarn judged that the battle would be won a lot quicker if the main Necron warships moved in closer, using thier speed to thier advantage. That would mean the Imperial Ordnance can't be used as well as it could be if the Necron ships remained stationary. Of course this would work in reverse on the Necron's own weaponry, but that would be more of a hinderance to the Imperium as their reliance on ranged Ordnance was far higher than that of the Necron warships.
"Move us in close" he instructed his pilot. "And charge up the Phase Lances"
The Warship sped up to four times what it was, and a large electronic buzzing resonated throughout the vessel. The Nemesor walked into the piloting chamber.
"Move" he ordered the pilot. After taking the piloting seat himself and pluging into the flight controls, the Nemesor was seeing through the Warship's targetting systems. He was flying the ship as easily as he could walk. He turned the Warship to the left and flew at one of the smaller imperial ships, firing the Tesla Annihilators. The arcane weapons carved great flaming tracks in the side of the small craft, totally disabling it's weapon systems before they could even move to intercept the Necron craft. As the distance to the Imperial vessel was lowered, Nemesor Tokarn fired the Phase Lance. As the energy projectiles approached the Imperial Warship they phased out, as Nemesor Tokarn had designed the weapons to do. The projectiles then phased back in once they were inside the ship, causing catastrophic damage, as neither the ship's shields nor armour was in the dimension through which they travelled. The Imperial craft detonated into three sizable chunks, each of which were cut into smaller bits by Tesla arcs from other Warships. The other warships tried to imitate the Nemesor's action on the Imperial flagship, but they weren't so lucky as to destroy it. The massive ship's engines were completely destroyed, and it's bridge went up in flames. However this did not stop the Imperial retaliation. After the Necron starships had made thier first pass, the Imperials brought thier massively superior weaponry to bear. The port-side Lance batteries made short work of one of the Necron's Warships. Another went down to an insanely lucky shot from a Nova Cannon. Nemesor Tokarn made a tight turn and destroyed another of the small imperial craft. He noticed that the smallest ship in the entire imperial fleet was firing an insanely powerful-looking gun, with unnerving accuracy. It had already downed one of the Nemesor's Warships and he would not allow it to claim a second. Nemesor Tokarn closed in and hit it with a Phase Lance. He then noticed the seal of the Mechanicus on the side of the vessel. The shot claimed the craft's gun, and the ruptured weapon caused crackling lightning to appear all across the hull of the midget star crusier. The Mechanicus ship seemed to squash into itelf as the Warp Drive and insane energies of the gun combined into an awesome vortex that was consuming the ship from the inside out. Nemesor Tokarn didn't care what happened to it. If it imploded, got jumped across the galaxy or shifted through time, it did not really budge the battle either way. The Necrons were winning, and the Nemesor knew it. Just befor the Mechanicus ship disappeared completely, Tokarn teleported a squad of deactivated, phased out Wraiths into the ship's cargo bay, there awaiting the order to activate and strike.

The second wave of Necrons saw several more Imperial ships share the fate of the first. Night Scythes outfitted as bombers crippled the Imperial Flagship completely, silencing the guns and killing most, if not all of the occupants. More Necron starfighters were claimed by the hungry guns of the Imperial Frigates, and unfortunately for Nemesor Tokarn, most of his Fleet's phase lances had overheated. This meant there would be less hit-and-run action on a Warship scale, and more Warship broardside firefights. Nemesor Tokarn did not fancy the chanes of a successful broardside duel against lance-toting astartes craft, so he ordered the Doom Scythes to disable as many of the Lance Batteries as they could. Once the Doom Scythes were either blown out of the sky or had completed their work on one of the ships, two or more of Nemesor Tokarn's ships would target the helpless crusier with Tesla Annihilators and the occasional Phase Lance, if any of them cooled off sufficiently to fire. One by one, the Astartes spacecraft were shot to pieces. However, the damage on the much smaller (but arguably much stronger) Necron fleet was taking a much heavier toll. While they had disabled or destroyed seventy-five percent of what the Astartes had, their own forces had been cut in half. Sometimes the Nemesor would order an attack on an Imperial crusier without knowing that it still had operational Lances. Without fail, this cost the Necrons a ship, maybe two. Continuing in this fashion, Nemesor Tokarn destroyed the remainder of the Imperial fleet, with the exception of the Flagship. After finally blowing the thing in half, Nemesor Tokarn ordered his forces to regroup and begin repairing any salvageable ships.

Nemesor Tokarn looked at the floating lumps that were all that remained of the imperial fleet. He could actually see some Space Marines floating around, alive.
"Bring me a Guass Cannon" Nemesor Tokarn requested. "I am going to kill those mortals."
After finishing this task, the Nemesor recieved a message from the Imperial Flagship. It was an audio file that lasted all of fifteen seconds:
"You have destroyed that which you should not have even scratched. You have angered Him. He is not pleased. You have just signed your own death warrants, by order of Lord Fulgrim"

Nero felt the shudder as he entered the Warp. He saw the battle behind him fade away and he grimly turned away. He knew that many of his cousins and possibly even his Uncle Fulgrim were dead, and more would die. He felt a massive force hurl him to the ground and when he looked up a bolt pistol was at his head.
"I am Chaplain Eidos, come with me." The skull faced man holding the pistol said. He led Nero to the Chapel of the Emperor and had him kneel. Then he disengaged the mask and Nero was instantly aware of who stood before him.
"Brother..." Nero managed before Little Horus Aximand silenced him with a look.
"Oh Nero, sweet Nero, third of the sleeping sons, you were always my favorite. Now I know of your deal with Nurgle, and I approve, if I had been in your position I would have accepted as well. But there will soon come a point where a decision must be made by you, and it will be made for you. This will set things in motion that can not be reversed, and it will end with the galaxy in flames and a new ruling body. The powers of Chaos will storm the space and you will see it happen. May luck and glory be with you Nero, 3rd sleeper son of the warmaster and favorite of the mournival, do not expect this to be the last time I see you." Aximand said and he melted into the shadows, gone without a trace. A real chaplain produced himself from the shadows behind Nero.
"Well shouldn't we be honored, favorite Son of the Mournival, very fancy. This is why you took us to Davin isn't it? But no matter the others will decide what to do with you. Im telling them all about this treacher-" The chaplain stopped talking as Nero slashed his throat with the Plauge Sword. Nero picked up his helmet and spoke through the vox.
"This is Chaplain Atlaran speaking. I have discovered an unnerving, but good secret. I have figured out that Nero is not the child we think he is, but a son of the warmaster. We are fortunate of this connection and we expect him to be treated as you would any other distinguished cousin. And just because he has different blood does not mean he isn't our brother, he has fought and bled just like any other, he is a true child of many faces." Nero said, mimicking the chaplain. He did it well enough as several affirmative runes flashed. Nero immolated the body in a nearby smelter. Then he went to his chambers and fell asleep.

"You have pleased me Nero, your third task is done, now the two hardest ones begin. As a reward for this third task I will give you the knowledge of Blight Grenades and a few to start with. These are grenades that release a fog of toxins and other such hells that will give you some room in a pinch." Nurgle said, his bulk jiggling as he chuckled.
"Thank you Papa, whats the fourth task?" Nero asked, ready to be a daemon prince already.
"Take the place of Torik Torgaddon in the Mournival." Nurgle said and the dream ended. Looking on his belt he found a set of unfamilliar grenades and a scroll with how to challenge a Mournival member on it.

As Dreph clung onto the pipe for dear life, a great gaping hole spawned in front of the ship.

"WHAT THE FETH IS THAT?!"

His question was never answered, however, as the ship had flown into the gaping maw of nothing.

Dreph dropped to the floor. He was safe for now. It was time to find out the meaning of this unorthodox visit.

I smiled. I had prepared the hall for the meeting the largest and most ornamental seat was prepared for captain dreph. The seat next to that was for sergeant ceacilius. The rest of the seats where prepared in a circle.
Behind my seat i prepared the equipment for showing my recent improvements and inventions. I walked towards my seat and saw everyone walk in one for one. I greeted them and said .''Good day gentleman please take your seat i have wine and food prepared. The war councel has opened!
Alright first things first the experimental nova cannon mounted on the ship has been destroyed and we have been send on a journey to a unknown destination. I have ordered the ship's crew to begin the repairs immediately.
Now there are multiple parts about this ship that needs to be discussed first of all there is the prisoners we need to convince them we fight for the emperor one of us needs to speak to them. Does anyone volunteer?
Secondly. The production capability for this ship has been confirmed. I can produce either for 200 marines including equipment. Or 140 marines and 20 terminators also including equipment. I leave this choice up to captain dreph
Also our forces and recruitment we have around 30-40 marines left we need to find a human population when we get out of the warp and find suitable recruits. We need a volunteer for that too.
Now the good part. I have produce and improved certain things first of all my command vehicle. The knight! It is a miniature titan equipped with one titan weapon and a close combat weapon I will use it to command the mechanicum forces. So i can provide ample support. Next i have the ability to deploy aircraft for bombing runs when needed.
Now it appears we have a guest between us. Battle brother nero who apparently is a luna Wolfe. He is still our battle brother and we must give him our utmost support to return him to his father legion. If that is okay with you of course captain dreph.
One of the more troubling things still needs to be spoken of. We have all been troubled by daemons I know it and most of you will also know it we can't ignore it and we must'' Just before i spoke i managed to disable the daemons ability to hear what i speak for a short while using a special spell. ''Contain our daemons! And make sure they wont control us but that we have full control over them.
And captain i apologize that i need to request this, but i ask of you if you would allow me to gain full control over the ship and remove all dissident elements?

Aloysus listened to the proceeding of the warcouncil. Some of what was said disturbed him greatly, although it was for the best. He was still loyal to the Emperor, and he felt like the only one left in the Brotherhood of Orion who was. He did not know who to trust. He rose "Excuse me, brothers, but I have nothing to add to this. You can continue well enough without me, not that any of you listen to my council anymore, else we might not be here." he added bitterly.

He headed for the door, intent on heading to the Reclusiam to seek the guidance of a Chaplain.

As Faberon listened to the council he was only vaguely aware of the words washing over his head. He was far more interested in the debate that had finally started in earnest in the warp, between the daemons of the 4 true Gods.
The current situation was that the daemons of Khorne were arguing simply because it was a form of war, those of Tzeench were spending a long time over an elaborate plot involving this council somehow, and those of Nurgle were abstaining until he heard at least one of the other two agree to the deal. Still, Tzeentch was nearing the logical step that yes, they could only succeed with all four gods allied, and this would lead to Nurgle agreeing as well, leaving them with a large enough majority that it wouldn't matter whether Khorne agreed or not. Still, it was far from certain.
"How, horrors of the great plotter, do you expect to spin any delecate plans without any of the Astartes on your side still alive? Even your master's plans can't stop death outright."
"It is true that our great master needs followers, but the few down there in the council will make little difference in the long run. And you seem to forget that most of his great plans are to stop you Userpers from taking what is his, rather than sharing his great knowledge with you." This flamer had been the one who spoke most for tzeench, as if they had decided to make him a leader. Doubtless, the others had great schemes to overthrow him.
"Why ally? Just fight anything that attacks!" Khorne's daemons continues their attack, both relentless and pointless, and would do so until they hit a wall.
Apparently something was going on in the council now. Aloysus seemed to be leaving for some reason. It wouldn't make any difference. All that mattered was that all turned to the great Slaanesh, She who Thirsts.

Antioch's revealing sight flashed, it revealed at least the partial thoughts of his brother, or at least partially. Aloyus needed to know and understand that his loyalty was to the Emperor, not the warp beasts which had caused the company so much trouble.
"Rephosus, if you are skilled enough, crafting the finest power armour possible would be more beneficial than Terminator Armour. We are few, and we must strike fast, and although Tactical Dreadnought Armour is the most resistant to damage, it is to slow for the assaults we must make. We cannot take sustained damage in battle."

After he had spoke, Antioch stood up and followed Aloysus, preparing to discuss these things with him.

Nero rose, his olive armor glinting in the harsh illum light.
"Men of the Emperors Children, it is apparent that our company has fallen from grace. But this is not a problem for the Warmaster. He has sent one of his favored sons, Aximand of the Mournival to tell me of the battle on Davin. We must go there and aid his forces. I know that there may be some distrust towards me and my motives, but I assure you that nothing has changed. I found out not long before you all did that I am a Son of Horus. I still consider you my brothers, for if I have bled and fought amongst you, what does the color of my armor matter? Whether I am purple or olive, I am still a Space Marine, I still fight with you. And while I do not share Fulgrim's legacy, it is not the first time our forces have been together. I am old, even amongst our ranks. With my full memory returned to me, I am over eight-hundred years of age. I remember fighting with Emperor's Children when our two legions were combined. There was no animosity then, and I do not see why there should be any now. So when I say that we should go to Davin, it is not so that I can help MY father, but so that WE can help OUR Warmaster. Thank you." Nero said and took his seat. There was a murmur of general agreement amongst the crowd gathered.
"I also must make it clear that we are not a full strength company. We have taken heavy casualties, and so before we are able to go help our Warmaster, we must go to other planets and recruit new men. I will train these recruits, and before we arrive at Davin, I promise that we will be a well drilled, well trained, and well outfitted company." Nero said.

Unknown to the entire war council, six necron wraiths where hovering way above them. The lead Wraith was actually shooting the entire room with a Transdimensional Beamer, sending the sound of the Astartes' conversation back to Nemesor Tokarn.

Dreph leaned forwards in his seat.

"We need as much manpower as we can muster. 200 suits of Power Armour. We are not aware of the dangers of this region."

"And on the subject of possession, I would like to offer all of the victims a choice. Repent, and be absolved of your sins. Fight and conquer until you perish or have purged the beasts from your soul. If you refuse either option, you will have to be executed."

"And Brother Rephosus, I shall place you as Captain."

Dreph Kalar stood up and walked away. This string of possessions are no minor problem.

This is War.

Hectoris had only been half listening to the council. He was examining his arms. They were thinner than he thought they were. He musculature was much more defined. Maybe there was something wrong. Perhaps he had taken a blow to the head. To tell the truth they reminded him of the arms of Scarspite. Thin , built strong and muscular. The was only two points he had been paying attention. First when Captain Dreph Kalar had decreed the execution of those who wouild not cast out the Daemon. To this he had point blank refused.

"I am not the servent of anyone, save the Emperor and lord Fulgrim. The Daemon offered power in return for slaying. All I must do to obtain the power, and thus further myself to perfection in war, is kill and fight. This is what I am, what we all are. There is no problem here. The daemon is not in control, I control it."

Scarspite had been absent for ages, engaged in its own war council with the other daemons. Hectoris had not been paying much attention to that either. The only other time he had been listening to either discussion was when Kalar announced;

" Brother Rephosus, I shall place you as Captain."

With these words, Hectoris fury, the burning pain inside his chest, flared with a heat unmatched so far. He was now familiar with this sensation. He had come to realise that this was power from Scarspite, fueling him. it grew more powerful with each successive time, and was relative to his anger. He stood up so fast as to knock over his chair.

"How dare you! How dare you, Kalar!" It was a point of insult to refer to his superior by name, but one he fully intended. "I led this company with distinction, sacrifising myself to ensure the Legion was perfect, while you cowered in the Apothecarium, scrathed up and bruised. I have served with distinction for centuries. What has this snivelling Neophyte down to deserve such an honour.?" Hectoris was acutely aware of the chain in his hand, though he did not remember lifting it. He was also aware of the Daemonic concave in silence, listening to the outburst.

I was very happy with the announcement of captain dreph And said. ''My lord i will have complete control of this daemon within 3 days i promise you otherwise you can punish me personally.''
While i looked around i suddenly saw sergeant ceacilius burst out in anger and running towards me. I kept a cool head and just before he attacked me because of his anger his arms where bound. I stood up and bowed before him and said. ''Sergeant have i done anything to displease you?'' The chains released him and i continued speaking ''I am an emperors children and thats why i will always adhere to my superiors so could you forgive me for my mistakes?''

Aloysus made all haste he could for the Reclusiam, almost running at times. When he arrived he spoke to one of the Chaplains. "Chaplain Mattheus, I need your guidance and help. If anyone asks tell them I am not here." Marius pleaded. "I have no help for traitors" came the venemous response. "I know that Chaplain. I do not wish to be here any more than you do, and my obedience is still to the Emperor and the Lord Fulgrim. I do not wish to be caught up in this madness, and yet here I am, carried along by my brothers to a place I did not wish to go." Marius replied. The Chaplains face softened "You to have been caught up in the tides of madness then. Speak, brother, and I will offer what help I can." "Chaplain, my brothers have made pacts with powers, gods they call themselves. They claim that it makes them stronger, and brings them closer to perfection. They seek to shortcut the hard graft required to attain perfection, when it is the very journey and effort that makes perfection worth chasing. But I too have seen these powers and each has offered me its hand. I have rejected them all, although one still believes he can sway me to his cause." Seeing the Chaplain's look he added "I will refuse him, of course. Help me, Chaplain! Where my brothers once listened to me and respected me they now ignore me and shun my advice. I am lost. Without loyalty we are nothing, but without my brothers I am also nothing."

There was a disturbance at the back of the Reclusiam. mattheus rose and headed towards the back of the chapel. "I must speak to Aloysus!" rang the voice of Antioch. "He is not here" came the voice of a serf. "You lie, I know he is here, I have....." "You have what, brother?" Mattheus asked. "Nothing." Antioch replied "But I must see Aloysus, I must make him understand. I know how it can be done now!" "He is not here." answered Mattheus stonily.

"Let him in, Mattheus." Called Aloysus. "I will speak with him."

The Chaplain nodded and stood aside, allowing Antioch into the chapel. Antioch came and sat beside Aloysus. "Talk to me then, Antioch. Make me understand why you have done this thing." Aloysus said.

"CAECILLUS CALM YOURSELF!" Nero said as the terminator sergeant exploded in fury. Nero held up his hands and winds from Nurgle's Garden threw the Sergeant into his chair.
"THIS COUNCIL WILL GO ON IN PEACE!" Nero barked, slamming his fist on the table.

Antioch strode toward Aloysus, he could feel the raw emotion coming off his brother. "Aloysus, I must tell you, I do not trust these warp powers, or the sorcery they bring. I am loyal to my company, to my captain, to my father Fulgrim and our great father the Emperor. No promise of power can sway me. I have banished this "Daemon" from my mind. It no longer can speak to me, but I have had a strange dream. A shining light in the warp stood near the daemon who I saw, it pulsed with a great radiance, and a voice said that I would be delivered of I sought retribution. It told me that the knowledge I sought would be mine, through my company and my brothers. The beacon dismissed the daemon with a flash of light. I believe this was the light of the Emperor. Even in this damned twisted realm, he shines forth to guide us. Those who seem retribution may be saved from these dark powers, we must seek them out and enlighten them. We shall spread the beacon of the of the Emperor's light wherever we go. We should consult Dreph, we must form a new legion. This shall be called "The Beacon's of Retribution". We shall bring the fallen back to the Emperor, redeem ourselves, and use the cleansing light to complete this task.

Scarspite was with him again.
"Hectoris, do not let this injustice go unpunished. Make them pay, especially Rephosus. That infant does not deserve such an award."
"I can't. They have sorceries and powers that prevent me from attacking."
"I told you before, " hissed the Daemon." my master dispises sorcerers and trickery in battle. He has giving you his blessing, and you will be able to stride through their spells like it was nothing."
Hectoris was encouraged by this, his fury returned anew. he stood up and began to walk towards Rephosus at an aggressive pace.
Nero shouted from the side, "I said sit down!" The green wind whipped up around Hectoris but touched him it did not. It did not even ruffle his hair. he stopped for one moment to chuckle at Nero's efforts. Then he struck. He lashed out with his chain, the links wrapping themselves around Rephosus' neck. The devastator, Hectoris would not call him Captain, struggled instantly. The Terminator pulled, his strength enhanced by Scarspite enough to send Rephosus flying at him. He released the chain, and sent a snap-kick to Rephosus ribs that knocked him clean to the ground. Hectoris was on top of him immediately, smashing his fist into the marines face and torso. The others protested and shouted for the brawl to cease, but Hectoris ignored them. Rephosus was fighting back, but a combat veteran like Hectoris, augmented by a Herald of Khorne, was far out of his league. Even the 2 Skitarii that moved to defend him where destroyed, the first trying to stab Hectoris with a knife, but its arm was torn clean off. The knife was hurled at Rephosus, now on his feet who dodged it, but the knife still impacted into ther faceplate of the second combat servitor, ending it.

The fight was short but brutal, Rephsosu came off worse than Hectoris. Hectoris wasn't unscathed either, several burn marks from the laser in Rephosus' bionic eye and cracked ribs, though the devastator had several bleeding wounds. Just as he was preparing a final strike to the Devastator's neck, he came up short. A small green glimmer, a laser, caught his eye. None of the others seemed to notice it. He also heard a slight whirring noise coming from above. he stopped, and look up. The others followed his gaze. The 6 necron wraiths stared back.

I was hurled back by the devastating attack done bye sergeant ceacilius. Just before the final blow arrived he stopped in his tracks. I followed his eyes and saw 6 wraiths hovering above us.

A group of three legio cybernetica robots arrived to aid me they where intended to fight sergeant ceacilius but i stopped them then i said out loud ''follow them'' and the robots chased the wraiths. I also began running after them. One for one more skitarii and crew members began following me.
But faster then all of us was sergeant ceacilius he charged at them with inhuman strength and hurled one of the wraiths to the ground. He literally split the wraith in two by crushing its tail. One of the skitarii wanted to help but was smashed by sergeant ceacilius fist. In his rage it almost seemed like pure bloodlust. He raged and stomped. The wraith.was near dead when he cooled off. I ordered that the wraith were to be contained for research. And a net with electromagnetic pulsations numbed the wraith. He was transported to my lab.
I turned to the council and said. Captain, sergeant's. I excuse that i need to interrupt the war council but i need to commence a chase to catch those wraiths.
After that i ran off towards the area they ran towards along with a decently sized security detail.

"I understand what you are trying to say, brother. I do not agree with what you and the others have done, but we must make the best out of what we have." He held out a hand to Antioch, who smiled and took it, wrist to wrist in a warriors grasp. A klaxon rang out across the vessel.

Aloysus triggered the vox "Captain what is going on?"

"Some of those metal monstrosities have boarded us. We are triggering search and destroy actions. Stand by for orders."

Aloysus and Antioch looked at each other.

"Battle is upon us, then?" Antioch asked. "Aye. We fight for the Emperor and mankind!" Marius Aloysus replied.

Faberon was startled back into the mortal realm as a battle began between tzeench and khorne. Hopefully this would convince tzeench to work with them.

His daemonette broke the sudden silence by saying, "beings of the warp, of whatever God, do you now see what is happening? We are tearing ourselves apart, while these metal enemies watch. Daemons, go to your hosts and calm them. Faberon, go down and talk words of peace. The greatest war we shall face shall be the striving for peace. Let this skirmish remind us all of this."
The words had the desired effect, as far as Faberon could see, although Khorne wouldn't be joining the alliance any time soon. That much would never change. His mind span back to the other meeting, and his mouth started another battle.

"STOP!" he cried after the chaos that was ensuing, slowing it, and making at least a few gathered there listen. "We must all unite! It is now or never!"

Segari stared deep into the eyes of the machine. He thought about whether there was even a soul behind those dull green eyes. Blood gushed from his mouth, his inner organs bursting from the claw buried into his chest. How had he failed? The things had come out of no where, tearing apart his squad as he desparately fired at the ghosts. In the confines of the ships corridor the flying killers had all the advantage fading in and out of reality.

Segari's body jerked as another claw entered into his shoulder, which was then torn out of it's socket. It's other claw repeatedly punching in and out of his chest making a mess of his innards. Segari knew he was dead. With his free arm he grabbed a grenade from his belt, shoving it into the machines empty ribcage. All the while it was still mutilating his body with swipes of it's deadly claws. "THIS.. urghh.. IS... OUR SHIP!"

A deep crack schoed through the halls. Both men and machine were sucked into space as the explosion ripped a wound in the ship.

Broken and alone he drifted. Or what was left of Segari floated through the emptiness.

Hectoris stalked through the corridor, his unarmoured body much quieter than the clattering of combat Servitors. He had not gotten time to put on armour. as he walked, he examined his form in the mirrored walls of the hallway. it was changed, he knew that much was certain. his hips were narrower, his knees bent. He noticerd himself walking on his toes as well, and forced himself to stamp along. His frame was slightly lighter built than he remebered, but overall he was quicker, and stronger. This must be what the Daemon Scarspite had meant by power. He realised he now looked a little like Scarspite. he also noticed small lumps forming, one on each side of his jaw and 2 on top of his head. He would have that examined.

He clutched his chain, still caked in blood of Rephosus and the green fluid from the Wraith. Without warning a thud and sreech spun him on the spot. he caught a glimps of a tail flying through the wall, and 9 dead servitors behind him. He was alone. The wraith flew at him, a whir of deadly sharp blades. he rolled out of the way, hurling hischain, wrapping it around the creature. The chain stuck and Hectoris pulled. The creature vasnished, the chain knotted and tangled, fell to the ground,. He cursed and untangled it, just as the wraith punched a talon through his chest. It was about to phase into his body, he could feel it. He spun, aiming a punch straight for the creatures head, determined to go down fighting. His fist went through, and he left it there, through the transparent faceplate, waiting. The wraith did nothing. Hectoris realised it couldn't. It couldn't phase in without being destroyed, his blood vessels and nerves would intermingle with circuitry and the wraith destroyed. He froze in place, and waited. Wiothout a vox comm system, he was helpless untill someone else came.

I shouted when sergeant segari flew out of the ship. I ordered one of the legio cybernetica robots to get him. His parts where collected and he was transported towards my lab. One of the foundings from the ship where a dreadnought chassis. And i knew what needed to be done i installed sergeant segari inside the sacrophagus and began installing some systems to enhance his speaking and fighting capability.
It worked!

He woke up. And with a slightly mechanical voice he said. ''I have returned.'' He looked towards me. And said ''Rephosus... you have saved me.''
I actually smiled towards him and began work on a special combat weapon i was gonna use the living metal of the wraith as an outer layer.
I said ''sergeant segari i have revived you with a special dreadnought chassis. It is one of the oldest designs and by that the most advanced. It was supposed to be brought to mars but we got it, it is one of the most advanced dreadnoughts to date.''
I asked him what kind of long range weapon he would prefer to be installed I had access to everything he would need.

Aloysus and Antioch burst into the corridor, to find Hectoris trapped, unable to move, with his hand throught the head of a Wraith. Aloysus crept up . behind it, wis power weapon glowing, while Antioch drew a bead on it with his bolter. "Now, Hectoris!" Aloysus cried.

Hectoris removed his hand from the Wraith, jumping backwards. Aloysus swung as it materialised, lunging after Hectoris, and removed its head from its shoulders, before dropping to the floor. Antiocch fired, destroying its body. Hectoris picked up its head and crushed it with his bare hands. The Wraith phased out.

"Well met, brother!" Aloysus said, offering Hectoris his hand to help him to his feet.

Antioch ran behind Aloysus, but as he shot the Wraith, another burst from the shadows behind them, Antioch hit it with several bolt shots, but its tail entangled his feet and dragged him down, it was moving in for the kill.

Nemesor Tokarn's second in command was Caldrek, the Nemesor's bodyguard, a humble lychguard. He had a pair of pistols capable of puching through even terminator armour with ease, and these where encased within single-handed Warscythe blades. The Nemesor had gifted Caldrek with a Phase Shifter and a Gravity Displacement pack upon his promotion to Vargard.

As soon as the transmission from the Wraith showed that they had been caught, Nemesor Tokarn had ordered his second in command to take 100 immortals, 10 lords & 10 Lychguard to the Imperial vessel. It was Vargard Caldrek who Nemesor Tokarn sent to assist the Wraiths. With the boarding party following him, Caldrek teleported to the wraiths, appearing in the main launch bay. The 20 Skitarii that were on deck at that particular moment barely had time to raise their lasguns before being reduced to smouldering scraps by crackling Guass fire. A techmarine taking a power sword to be tested happened to be passing. He was enraged at the destruction of his fellow machines, and ran towards the Necrons with the power sword lifted to strike. Caldrek stepped forward, drawing his own weapons. 1 second and 3 blows was all it took to overpower the techmarine. First the power sword was knocked from his grasp; second Caldrek stabbed him in the stomach. Third, Caldrek fired the pistol embedded within the blade, reducing the techmarine to a cloud of red mist. A lasgun ricocheted off Caldrek’s back, and he swung round and fired the second pistol at the offending Skitarii. It fell into sparking scraps.

“Fan out” ordered Caldrek. “Lords, take 10 Immortals each. Your resurrection orbs will keep them alive. Lychguard, with me. We are going to hunt the VIPs. Wreak havoc.”

Dreph left the Vox caster and strolled down the hallway, unaware of the danger that lay before him.

I stood still i heard messages from everywhere that raids had started, and that over 80 elite necrons where spotted.
I concentrated and managed to make all the security systems (That means missile launchers, heavy bolters and multi lazors everything.) work. they where meant to be given a fix first but there was no time. One of the lords happened to be near the cybernetica bay and was ambushed by them. They swarmed around them and their high tech equipment managed to directly destroy 6 immortals. Then they charged into close combat. The remaining 4 immortals and the lord managed to destroy 2 robots but they where overpowered. I ordered them to be torn apart and be burnt in the furnaces so they wouldn't return. A second group appeared right before me I was surrounded they managed to enclose me and cut of all roads of escape. I laughed and said. ''You fools do you wish to be destroyed that fast?'' And at that moment 10 missile launchers activated and blasted them immortals to smithereens. 3 of them stood back up and along with the lord assaulted me. I used my plasma pistols to kill two of them by melting there faces. The other one tried to strike at me but a force field appeared and its attack was ricocheted back to him. I thought to myself. ''I knew it would be easy to harness the warp powers for a training like this.'' I gathered a sizable force of skitarii and ordered them to seek out and help captain dreph and sergeant ceacilius. ''They may not be harmed.'' I shouted.
I heard one of my upper circle advisors scream through the vox that he successfully eliminated another group. But that he shamefully had lost over 40 skitarii in the process. I walked towards the area where the most problematic reports where coming from intending to eliminate the leader.

Aloysus, Hectoris and Antioch belted through the corridors heading for the arming chambers. They heard reports form all over the ship of the Necron attack. Several squads on both sides had been killed, but noone knew how many Necrons were aboard. Aloysus had voxed the five remaining Knights of the Basilisk and ordered them to meet him in the arming chambers, from where they would begin search and destroy missions.

Arriving in the chambers Hectoris hurried off, anxious to get armoured. Aloysus noticed that he seemed slimmer, and seemed to walk in a slightly hunched, but predatory stance. He put it from his mind, now was not the time to risk a confrontation with the increasingly volatile Hectoris.

His Knights arrived in the Arming Chambers. "Are you all armed and ready?" he asked. His marines answered with the affirmative. "Then let us hunt some Necron. Rephosus, where do you need my squad to head to?"

Nero smashed a Wraith in the face with the but of his sword as it materialized in front of him. Its circuitry corroded and wore away as the Nurglitch blade touched it. Nero smiled as it keeled over. Then he took a bolt of green lightning to the chest and was thrown back. He activated his flamer and acidic bile sprayed across the hallway, melting away the Neccrons and causing a small breach in the hull. Then Nero saw it. A huge Battle-Barge of the Sons of Horus Legion. He voxed the others.
"I have located the ship of my very first company, back when I was just a scout. They will merge with us as we head to Davin, I can convince them. I will vox my old Captain when we come within range." Nero said and stared longingly at the shimmering metallic olive beast that came towards him.
"Sedaire." Nero whispered.

Hectoris barreled into the squad of immortals, their leader clutching an enormous warscythe that spat green light on the surrounding corridor. Now fully armoured in his Tactical Dreadnought plate, and cluthing his trusty Thunder Hammer and stylised Storm Shield. He moved much quicker than anyone else in the company now. His powers were much greater than any normal Astartes. But mostly because he embrased the powers. Dreph Kalar had the chance to become more powerful than even he, and he had refused. Fool. Within moments, without noticing it, the necrons were gone, destroyed and phased out. The Necron Lord got up, stupidly. Hetoris simply kept bashing it to the ground untill it was little more than scrap metal and oozing green liquid.
"Very good Hectoris, " Said Scarspite, " you have become extremely powerful." Hectoris smiled at the confirmation. "Do not let yourself get carried away. There aremany things out there more poweful than I, and they shall easily defeat you as you are now."

as Hectoris rounded the corner, he came to find 5 Lychguard and the Necron commander systematically executing the Griffin Brethren, who had been caught in a trap. 3 of the Emperor's Children lay dead already, and as Hectoris began to sprint down the hall like an out of control juggernaut, Hectoris caught a glimpse of the blue blade of an Imperial power sword, shearing through the neckline of his brother. A long, two handed power sword with an emeald cube for the pommel. His sword.

Antioch listened to the desperate vox messages of his squadmates, they were being killed off. He sprinted down the hall where Hectoris had gone, watching the metal bodies that Hectoris destroyed melt away. He turned a corner, and saw Hectoris sprinting toward the enemy attacking his squad, like a battering ram. Hectoris was nearly as fast in his Dreadnought armour as Antioch in his simple powered armour, this perplexed him but he pushed it aside. He rushed in alongside of Hectoris. Before the Lychguard could react, Hectoris had felled 2 of them, and was shield bashing a third. Antioch stabbed around a shield and sliced up through the robot in front of him, severing the arm holding its shield, and a leg in the same movement. He spun his blade around and stabbed the warrior engaged with Hectoris. It turned to analyze its attacker, and Hectoris took the moment to smash it aside with his hammer. Antioch thrust past the last on and cut its waist and head of in 2 clean sweeps. He and Hectoris stood, facing the large machine wielding a sword, standing in front of them.

Faberon was back inside his body: It was that or be killed. Even so, the Griffin Brethren were being killed far too quickly, and his flamer would run out of fuel at this rate. Then the enemies made a bad move: They charged. He spun out his combat blade and bolt pistol and cut a path through the enemy that would have been bloody had it not been metal warriors he was fighting. The daemonette inside him allowed him to cut through each and every one with terrifying speed, his blade taking on a life of its own and rending through everything. This battle would be good.

Nero saw the rest of his squad fly down the hallway, fighting elite necrons with shields and axes. Nero silently drew his sword and stabbed one in the back, tearing up through its spinal chord and bisecting its head. He spun and kicked another one, sending it crashing against the wall and shattering it. An axe bit into his back and he turned around abruptly. He let lose a shot of acid into the face of the offending Necron.
"My brothers of the 13th Company have arrived, Sedaire has sensed the commotion on board and dispatched a Thunderhawk. I'm already picking up life signs of my old squad, we have Cthonian Reavers coming to back us up. Hold for ten more minutes max and these guys will tear some metal ass up." Nero shouted over the din of the battle, belting another Necron with a haymaker to the face as he yelled.

Dreph walked down the corridor, unawares of the Necron party ahead.

"You may have destroyed my master, Kalar, but you haven't ended me yet."

A Lychguard walked out of the shadows and poised himself, shield primed for the charge.

Dreph began to build up power, preparing to throw himself at the metal man.

He never made the charge.

A massive screech rang through the ship, and the sound of the jungle could be heard. The occupants of the ship were tossed back like children's toys. The airlock blew open, and Dreph seized the opportunity. He grabbed a Bolter, and in his suit of ornamental Power Armour, he jumped out of the airlock onto the surface of the planet, and began to run through the jungle.

"NERO ARE YOU OKAY!?!?!?!!?!" Nero heard his old Sergeant, Salar Cator, scream through the vox. The ship had literally fallen out of orbit over some jungle planet. The Reavers had sped after it and as soon as Nero bashed his way out of the metal shell he was in, he saw nine meteors hurling towards him. They all landed in unison, nine shimmering black giants crashing into the ground on wings of fire. They all stood up and Nero smiled. His oldest friends had never replaced his position in their squad. Eight of them fanned out into the jungle, and only Sergeant Cator stayed to greet Nero.
"He came to me too you know." Cator said.
"What do you mean Sal?" Nero asked, hoping it wasnt what he thought.
"Nug-leth. I accepted him, but the Warmaster found out. The Warmaster told me that he was evil and I had to drive him out. I agreed, and here I am today. You must do the same, or Horus won't be pleased." Cator said.
"But how could he be evil when he offers so much and takes so little?" Nero asked.
"There are four others like him, but he is the worst. You must turn him away, I promise that there are greater gifts. Also, he is no sight for sore eyes, and do you want to meet the Warmaster looking like a giant shitsack?" Cator replied.
"No, of course not! But how do I turn him away?" Nero asked.
"First cast away your gifts." Cator said and Nero threw away his flamer, sword, and grenades.
"But one of these gifts was a psychic power, how can I throw that away?" Nero asked. Cator grabbed him and looked straight into his eyes. All the rust and dirt fled his armor and Nero could feel the filth and plague escape him.
"It is gone, but there is another step, you must break the seal that binds your contract." Cator said. Nero removed his helmet and there was a great shriek as all Nurglitch power fled his body.
"Am I cleansed?" He asked.
"Yes, now other gods will come to you, but reserve your pledge until you meet Horus, he will show you the way." Cator said, just as the others all came back. They brought with them a team of servitors.
"What are these for brothers?" He asked and his best friend, Cerberus, laughed merrily.
"You've been grounded long enough ya damn baby, we are gettin you your WINGS!" Cerberus said, playing as he always did on the fact that he was ten minutes older than Nero.
"Shut your mouth grandpa, and did these guys bring an extra jump pack?" Nero asked. Each servitor, four in total, took a piece of themselves off and combined them to make a jump pack. Then the two with both arms remaining removed his backpack and attached his jump pack. The others spray-painted his armor black and drew in a styled Eye of Horus on his right shoulder.
"Now you look like a damn Cthonian!" His squad mates shouted, clapping him on the back and shoving him around.
"Wish I could say the same for you sorry bastards, I see they let the workout regime get loose since I left, friggin chubs." Nero joked.
"Now lets go find that 'new squad' of yours and see how they match up, eh?" Cerberus said.
"Yeah, where are those guys? Also, vox Sedaire and tell him to get his lazy ass down here, I haven't seen him in too long." Nero said as they set off into the jungle.

I got up after the blast. (this is after the fight so IHateNids's post will still be valid)
2 Skitarii helped me up i looked around i heard several vox reports of surrounded forces and confused men. I ordered a rally in the cybernetica bay.
I managed to gather 40 skitarii myself and there i met up with the majority of the forces. I rushed towards the holding bay. They were still alive the 30 valuable robots i ordered my men to look for a suitable camp positions while i retrieve some special issue equipment.
I walked towards my personal forge to retrieve sergeant segari and my own knight. While rushing there i found one of the lord's. Half of the immortals died in the crash i decided that discretion would be the greater virtue, i left some mines just in case.
I arrived in my forge i walked towards sergeant segari and dialed in his activation code. He woke up and said. ''Where are we? Rephosus report.'' I said. ''Yes sergeant we have crashed i came here to retrieve you and my own personal armor.''
I walked towards the knight and took my seat i had only made little test rides but nothing major like this. I activated the systems and felt the machine spirit make direct contact with me. I felt the machine like it was a part of my own body.
We walked towards the ships exit. Every step felt different but also familiar. I exited together with sergeant segari and met up with a group of astartes in black armor. I walked up to them and opened my vox. ''Good day fellow astartes i am devestator rephosus and captain of this ship. I have run into some troubles so i am mustering my forces in a nearby camp. I advice you you go with me its too dangerous here.'' I walked towards the camp and met up with captain kalar. I opened the cockpit and said to him. ''Greetings captain it seems you survived the crash too. I have set-up a camp to the north-west would you follow us?''

Marius Aloysus and his squad had been on their way to counter the Necron threat when the ship had fallen out of the warp. Picking himself off the floor he activated a nearby databank. It claimed they were landed on some backwater jungle planet. Sealing his suit Marius opened a hatch ans stepped onto the side of the ship. He found himself 1km up the side of the ship, with a clear view over the jungle canopy. "Well me!" he said. He opened a vox link to Captain Kalar as the Basilisks assembled ready to descend to the planet floor "We appear to be on a deathwprld, Captain. What are your orders?"

Dreph stopped. Aloysus' voice crackled over the Vox.

"Sergeant? Head towards my coordinates. Rephosus has located an Imperial Base."

At that moment a great hulking exoskeleton crashed through the undergrowth. At the helm was Rephosus, and Segari wasn't far behind.

"Sir?"

Nemesor Tokarn was back with his fleet, pondering this early defeat in the sure-to-be-long campaign against the Emperor's Children. He could not understand how his forces had been ripped apart. His plan had been carried out perfectly: the Wraiths had done reconnaissance and eliminated anyone standing on thier own, as they had been told; Caldrek had taken the main bulk of the force and put a severe dent in the Imperial numbers, then disappeared; then the Nemesor himself had arrived and cut down three quarters of all that remained, using an Imperial Power Sword. It was, in fact, the sword that a Tomb Blade had stolen from the Terminator 'Hectoris' back on Pyrona. As Tokarn new, the Sword's pommel held a Tesseract Labyrinth and within that Labyrinth there was a Shard of the Nightbringer, taken before the C'tan went into hibernation. Also as he had predicted, the Shard had eaten the essence of the Avatar that Hectoris had imprisoned within the Labyrinth. As soon as he had the Sword, Tokarn had removed the C'tan from the Labyrinth, and the C'tan tried to melt it's prison. All it succeded to do was half-melt the blade into a twisted mess, and reduce the Immortal holding it to a pool of fizzling metal. Tokarn then had it imprisoned in a stronger Labyrinth. It was more furious than a raging Daemon when he had encased it in the new Labyrinth.

Nemesor Tokarn thoughts trailed off. That was why he had lost. Daemons. He began re-playing the fight between him and Hectoris in his head, looking for the tell-tale signs of Daemonic Possesion.
Nemesor Tokarn swung the sword down, attempting to decapitate the marine as he charged. The Terminator, who Tokarn recognised as Hectoris, doged by rocking back and slightly bending his knees. Hectoris had then lunged for the Nemesor's head with his shield, which the Necron doged, then stepped forwards to smash him in with the Thunder Hammer. Tokarn phased out to avoid the blow, and grabbed his Warscythe from the phased-out state in which it was floating. As he had phased back in, Tokarn had stabbed the mauled blade through the Terminator's shield and into the wall. The two of them had hammered blows on each other for a long while, which only stopped when Nemesor Tokarn cleaved the Thunder Hamme in two. The next strike would have claimed Hectoris' head, but with a below of fury the Terminator had yanked the sword and shield out of the wall in one movement, and thrown the shield at the Nemesor's head, which Tokarn ducked under. At this point, Hectoris' eyes were a deep, blood red and he was sweating like he was being heated from the inside out. Hectoris had rushed at Tokarn with an almighty roar, lifting the Power Sword above his head to split Tokarn down the centre. Instead of phasing out, Tokarn had activated his Whip Coils and tripped the Terminator over, as he was moving too fast to doge them. After this the Nemesor phased out and reappeared behind the Terminator, who was getting up off the floor. Hectoris got up and looked in the direction the Nemesor used to be, so Tokarn stabbed him in the back. Hectoris gasped and spluttered, so Tokarn new his lungs were filling with blood. the Nemesor would have ended the Terminator's suffering right there by firing his weapon and reducing him to ashes, but a flurry of bolter shells bounced off the Nemesor's back, so he just phased out and left the Terminator to die. He reappeared behind the marine that were firing at him moments before and killed them all in seconds. Turning back to Hectoris body, the Nemesor was amazed to see it was on fire. After a moment, the fire went out and Hectoris just stood up with no hint of damage, not even a scratch on his armour, turned to look at the Necron, and charged with a snarl. Nemesor Tokarn phased out, back to his ship.
Yes, thought Nemesor Tokarn, deffinately a Daemon inside him. The fast movement, insane strength, and the reanimation blaze all pointed to the Daemon god they called Khorne.
He made a mental note to warn Caldrek at the next opportunity.

"Rephosus."

He looked at the gleaming metal of The Knight; truly it was as much an engine of style as it was as destruction.

"Segari."

The great Contemptor stood and turned to him.

"Yes, my lord?"

The words echoed around his body, creating a ghostly voice that rang out with the inner mechanics of the Dreadnought.

"We head to the Imperial Army base. We may need reinforcements against this menace."

Hectoris placed his whetstone back on the jungle floor. He had just finished reforging his blade. The weapon had been irriversily damaged when the Necron creature, having devoured the firey energy of the Avatar, had melted it. Once all the melted spile had been cut away, and the blade straightend, Hectoris couldn't help but be reminded of the sword Scarspite wieldedwhen they had first met. Scarspite had obviously been eavesdropping on his thoughts and answered, "Yes, it does resemble my Hellblade. Tzeentch, the damned sorceror, works in mysterious ways."

Hectoris had already patched up his shield. He was livid that the Overlord had escaped, after defiling hi shield's perfection. The power sword had been sent through it, leaving a great rift across the Pheonix, symbolic of Fulgrim and the Legion. It was an insult he endure untill the next time they met. Nemesor Tokern was its name. And he swore to end it.


As he stalked through the jungle, Hectoris thought back to those last few moments of battle with the Necron. The blade pierced his Black Carapace ribcage and went through pinning him to the ground. Hectoris had been stabbed through many times before, but not like this.Normally such a blow tunred him cold, but the fire in his soul, for he now concluded what it was, burned hooter than ever before. Hectoris could see fire rippling from his chest, consuming his body, as Sacrspite took over. This was different to the last time though. The last time it had been like he had been a spereate entity, watching the battle on a moniter. But this, was like he was a 3rd person to Nemesor and Scarspite, watching from Scarspite's eye. The fire consumed his body and healed all of his wounds. All of them. The grisly sacer on his face was no more.

As he walked, he examined his body. It was definately changed. His head had large lumps on the forehead and the chin. It must be to help with balance, he had thought. His spine had become very knobbly and ronounced and he no walked with a hunched, predator gait. His fingernails had grown very long and talon like, and his lips constantly pulled back in a snarl. He was as fast in his Tactical Dreadnought armour as any others were in Power Armour. Emperor-forbid how agile he would be in Power or scout armour, or unarmoured altogether. He was also much stronger. These 2 characteristics were augmented by his armour to make him very powerful indeed. He reckoned he could even take on a Custodes if he needed to.

_________________________

Unbeknownst to anyone save itself, Tzeentch chuckled from his lair in the Warp. "You may indeed need to yet, Marine..."

I walked in my knight the feeling becoming completely similar to normal walking. Although still all my feelings and movements where augmented and they felt stronger. I could feel my mind and the machine spirit mix. And i thought about the numerous titan princeps that became undetachable from their titans because their mind became a complete mix of their titan and them selfs.
We came upon one of the predatory creatures of this planet it was a purplish half scorpion creature but then very large. It was my first time to shine as it charged towards me. I activated my power lance and ruptured him in two with a powerful push.
I came upon more and more of my scattered forces.I was able to gather around 80 men. My forces where severely tinned out i needed to find a forge and some servitors or willing serfs.
luckily i met up with the force that i ordered to secure my robots that lightened the situation up a little again. I had 5 of them latch onto my armor so i could fully experience what they have found on this planet. It seemed very weird to the other marines but for me it seemed like a normal conversation.
I had sent another 6 robots with 15 skitarii and 1 techpriest to scout ahead I didn't want any serious surprises.
I went into the trance again. I saw M'gash the fight also had weakened, him i spoke. ''M'gash what have you seen? where should i go?'' He said. ''Another 2 kilometers and you will find the imperial base. Make sure to avoid contact with hostile mechanicum forces we will need to subjecate them. Otherwise the fabricator locum on mars will hear word of our endeavors.'' I agreed.
The night began to dawn i asked to captain dreph. ''Captain do you think we will need to set up camp or do you want to move on i estimate another 3 or 4 kilometers before we reach the base. What are your orders?''

Nero and his squad strode after the mechanized brigade, feeling fairly out of place. Nero saw a predator of some sort lurking after them. It was giant and scaly, like a mammoth with a rock exoskeleton. He shot five times with his bolt pistol to no effect. The Reavers picked up and soon the creature was alive with weapons fire. The flamers and pistols of the squad could scarcely penetrate the rock armor and only served to make the animal mad. They all heard a screeching roar and the creature exploded in a wave of gore. In the center, an embellished Sons of Horus Drop Pod stood. Its doors flew open and crunched the remaining bones. A lone Assault Marine, dressed in the black and gold of a Justaerian Warrior stood inside of it. As he disengaged his helm, Nero rushed forward and grabbed him in a mighty bear hug.
"LUC!" He shouted, lifting his Captain up much to Sedaire's discomfort.
"Hello Nero, how long has it been?" Sedaire asked, clapping Nero so hard on the shoulder that he smashed into the frame of the drop pod. Nero laughed like a wild predator.
"To long old friend, have you brought the whole thirteenth to join us?" Nero asked.
"That I have, we were on our way to Davin at the request of the Warmaster and Aximand told me that he picked up your signal, so I thought we'd join you. Children and Sons together again eh? Reminds me of the days we spent in white." Luc said, trailing off somewhat.
"We all miss those days brother, but whats done is done. And we are no lesser legion for it, hell we're the spawns of the greatest warrior in the galaxy." Nero reassured his captain.
"Of course, and theres a pride in that. You gonna introduce me to your friends?" Sedaire asked.
"Hell yeah, boys sound off for Captain Luc Sedaire of the Sons of Horus 13th Assault Company!" Nero laughed to the purple armored crowd.

"We march onwards."

Dreph began to walk, the golden shimmer of his armour making him quite inconspicuous. The great shining light attracted several of the Jungle creatures, and they sprang.

Hectoris snarled as Nero greeted his old friend. When the Sons of Horus came to meet them, Hectoris strolled away, pratising his stances. Sedaire came over to meet him. Hectoris had never met Sedaire before, but Hectoris knew he was a lot older than the Luna Wolf. Hectoris was one of the oldest Marines alive by a good few decades. sedaire greeted him warmly.

"Sergeant Hectoris, I presume? Nero speaks highly of you. I am Luc Sedaire."
Hectoris glanced at him and replied with a grunt before going back to his tances.
"I understand you were created on terra. Not many of your era are left, even among our..."
Hectoris was barely listening, having sheated his blade and was trying to walk off. sedaire stopped him, with effort, by p[lacing his hand on Hectoris breastplate. Hectoris snarled at him.
"I don't know what your problem is Hectoris, but remember that I still rank above you and you will obey my commands."
Hectoris turned to face him full on, rising up top his full height. His new stance, hunched over, hid the fact that he had grown nearly a foot., In hios large armour he towardeed over the Luna Wolf at a lofty 14ft. Sedaire shrunk back a little but puffed out his chest in an effort to remain in control. Hectoris spoke quietly, growling lightly.
"I was there when the Emperor embarked on his Great Crusade leaving Terra. I was there when we found your precious Primarch Horus on Cthonia. I was fighting Orks and Eldar and other, unspeakable horrors while youwere nuzzling your mother's breast and gaking your yourself. I was there when the first Space marine fell, never to rise. I have served my Legion and the Emperor for longer than you have been a Space marine. Do not lecture me about who is in command. If we should come to blows it shall be you who comes off worse, brother." Hectoris spat corrosive phlemg on the ground before skulking off. As he walked a large scorpian lept at him. The marines behind him raised their bolters but before they could draw a bead he had cleaved the beast in two and resheathed his blade, now eternally burning at the edges, yet never consuming it, and black as coal, without breaking stride. Sedaire watched as the Terminator Sergeant moved faster than he could in his Power Armour.

Nero rushed after his brother, feeling the rage emmanating from him.
"HECTORIS! STOP RUNNING!" Nero shouted, Hectoris abided long enough to look into Nero's eyes.
"You gave up your gifts, I won't be so foolish." He said and stormed off, plants catching fire around him from the heat coming off his body.

"Hectoris, it is time to fully dedicate yourself to Khorne, Lord of battle!" said Scarspite. It had been weeks since he had been in that dreamlike Warp space. But here he was. Scaraspite was changed too. He looked more human. Very much like an Astartes in fact, though unmistakably Daemon.

I got out of my knight deciding that i should make a formal meeting with this sedirea man.
I walked up to him in the suit that was needed to ride in the knight.
I took out my hand and said. ''So you are captain sedirea? its good to meet you and your men'' I said while looking at the laughing astartes.
I said. ''It seems our brother nero has taken quite a liking to you make sure you treat him with respect captain.'' I walked of to my knight again when i saw a predatory creature walk up to captain sedirea without hesitating. I sprinted off to the beast and rammed it in the chest it fell to the ground.
I took out my plasma pistol and shot it in the face after making sure it was dead i asked captain sedirea. ''Are you alright?''

Caldrek had visited the forge after the battle concluded. There he found a full suit of Assault Marine armour, still being worked on by the Master of the Forge, who had his back to the Necron. Caldrek raised his weapon and shot the elderly Techmarine between the shoulder blades. The space marine stumbled to the floor trying to support himself on his workbench. Caldrek walked over slowly and executed the marine. Then he replaced his pistol in it's phase-bubble holster and donned the suit of armour, even though he had to remove his own jump pack and phase it out. He then walked to the Lexicanum. Halfway there, an almighty crash sent tremors through the ship as it impacted on a planet. Caldrek used the confusion to remove the helmet of the armour and rip the integrated systems out, so they wouldn't conflict with his own. The next thing he knew, Caldrek was flying along carrying his 'borrowed' Bolter and thinking about the battle that had just concluded.

Like his master, he was going over the fight in his head, analysing for where he could do better.
The marine rushed at Caldrek, not caring at all for his own personal safety. Caldrek drew both of his Sword-pistols and took aim at the charging marine's legs. Those shots would have removed his ability to walk had he not suddenly jumped over the projectiles. In response to this, Caldrek had jumped and kicked the young marine in the face, breaking his nose and sending him back down the corridoor he had just charged out of. The Necron followed this by shooting at the marine again, but this time a crackling purple shield erupted out of nowhere and sent the projectiles back at Caldrek, who phased out at the last possible second to avoid getting vapourised by his own weapons. Concluding that the duel would be easier to win in hand to hand combat, Caldrek activated the blades on his weapons and rushed forwards. As he closed in on the rising marine, Caldrek fired his Gravity displacement pack and shot fifteen feet into the air. Caldrek used the height of the jump to lend power to his swing, coming down to decapitate the marine. As he did so, the marine looed up at Caldrek, his one organic eye glowing purple. A massive concussive force smacked Caldrek out of the air and into a wall. The Vargard picked himself up and adopted a ready pose.
"Drop your weapons, and we will fight like men" challenged the Psyker.
"But you have Psychic powers" replied the Necron coldly, energising the weapons.
"And you can disappear at a moment's notice"
Caldrek deactivated his weapons and sheathed them. Then he phased out and walked right up to the marine. He drew back his arm to punch and phased in as he swung forward, catching the marine unaware. Caldrek felt the hinge of the marine's jaw break against his hand as the head snapped backwards, then rammed his knee into the marine's chest, making a loud clang of Living Metal on Power Armour. Caldrek followed up by swiping the marine's legs out from under him. The Necron moved to stamp on the marine's head, but time seemed to slow down. Caldrek was fully aware of what was happening, but he was just moving so slowly. The marine managed to get up from the floor and steal one of Caldrek's weapons before time resumed it's course. Whirling round, Vargard Caldrek was looking down the barrel of one of his own guns. The marine snapped his jawbone back into place
"My name is Rephosus, get the hell off my ship" snarled the Psyker, and fired. The Vargard phased out to avoid the shot and kicked the Astartes in the fork of his legs, with another resounding clonk. The marine just laughed, his eye turning purple again.
"was that your best shot?"
"No, I just forgot that space marines have no balls."
Caldrek rolled out of the way as a massive shockwave of purple energy crackled towards him. Caldrek had an idea that would mean he didn't have to fight this Psyker for much longer. Slamming into the marine, Caldrek half phased out and dived through a wall, draging the marine's backpack into the wall and trapping the marine there. Caldrek snatched his weapon out of the marine's hand and sheathed it. He then kicked the Rephosus in the face again, knocking him out cold. Then Vargard Caldrek ran to find somewhere to hide. Segari stomped up to where the duel had taken place, and upon seeing Rephosus stuck in a wall by his backpack, obliterated the wall with one blast from his gun, freeing the Psyker and re-awakening him at the same time.
"Are you alright?" asked Segari.
"I'm fine now, thanks Sarge" replied Rephosus, cracking his nose back into position. "It's just that Necron got away".

Caldrek was puzzled. He had done everything right, but had been bested to the point of sticking his advesary inside a wall. He couldn't understand it at all.
'Oh well', he thought to himself. 'I'll just pretend I am a marine untill the Nemesor tells me what to do

Sedaire gave the Marine a clap on the shoulder.
"Thanks for the save buddy, that thing might of nicked my blade if I'd killed it." He jested, handing Rephosus a clip of bolt pistol ammo. Rephosus eyed it with confusion.
"Its a custom in the Reavers to give someone the bullets you would have used if they kill a potential threat first, take em." Nero said and Rephosus agreed.
"Now if you don't mind, my little special wepons kid has been grounded to long, I'm taking him up for some air duels." Sedaire said and took off. Nero followed him, his old skill rusty but coming back. Seaire was above him for all of five seconds before he attacked. Nero rolled in the air to avoid being stuck by the diving Sedaire's blade. Nero drew his chainsword and the throaty beast roared to life. It was an old weapon, but a good one. The teeth were Medusan steel, a gift from the Primarch Ferrus Manus for saving him from an ork sneak attack once. It had an etching on the case that read If you follow the light, the light will guide this blade. Nero swung it down and deflected Sedaire's blade again. He kicked off the canopy of the jungle and gave himself a boost from the pack. Luc followed and Nero lunged down, grabbing him by the waist and smashing the both of them through the canopy and into the ground. Neor stood and put the deactivated blade to Sedaire's face plate. He activated it for a brief second and left a tiny notch between the eyes. Then he picked him up and dusted him off. Sedaire and Nero both took off their helmets and let their hair down. Both of them had always been very proud of their hair in the company, seeing it as a mark of honor to have the long blonde hair of their uncle Sanguinius.
"Damn these Children made you good." Sedaire said with a laugh.
"I think your ass has been sitting on the 13th throne to long, its starting to rust." Nero replied. A chuckle rose from his squad.
"Well if I rust over, then your the one who has to get the WD40,000." Sedaire said back, causing another bout of laughter.
"That'd be a waste of good scrap metal." Nero said and the black squad all whooped with laughter.
"Hey there little tyke, will you shut your damn mouth long enough for some of us to get a word in." Cerberus jested.
"As soon as you can catch me on your walker." Nero shot back. They continued walking while firing insults and jests at each other, slaying the occasional predator and then laughing about it. Nero was reminded of old times again.

As the other Marines went about their business, Dreph continued to the camp.

"Hurry up, men, we aren't safe yet!"

With that, Bolters and Knives were raised once more, and they headed northwards.

His mechanical body whined and creaked as they climbed the jungle path. Segari felt like he was half unconcious being intombed like this. Unable to feel the world around him, using only his optical sights to guide his way.

Most of Apollus' body was missing, burnt or torn of during the explosion. Now however he was fighting fit again, in fact stronger than he had ever been. Unfortunately being revived into the war machine had been traumatic on his mind, making simple task such as speaking or even remembering his brother's faces difficult. Still he felt glad he could continue the fight in the chapter's name.

They emerged from the thick jungle wall into a valley. The contemptor had made quite a mess behind it, snapping and crushing anything unlucky enough to get in the way.
"My lord.... I see... movement ahead" Segari said with a laboured breath. The comms system within the tomb made him sound deeply metallic.
"They are...human, moving in...tactical for--mation"

Nero's squad jumped into the air to look for the movement found by the Dreadnought.
"IT'S THE IMPERIAL ARMY! EMPEROR'S BLOOD THERE'S A LOT OF THEM!" Nero shouted down and him and his squad dove down to the center of the columns. Several lasgun shots dinged into his armor and Cerberus caught a frag missile in the chest. He shook off the explosion and raised his meltagun at the team that had fired.
"Hold fire!" Sedaire barked, his sword crackling and glowing as he waved it in the air. The Imperial Army let up after they realized that they were firing on Space Marines. A fat man bustled forward.
"Oh my lords I'm so verry sorry, so sorry indeed, please forgive the incompe-" His speech was ended by a las bolt through the back of his head.
"Failure is no excuse for cowardice." The grim faced Commisar said, his gun smoking.
"And who might you be, good Commisar?" Cerberus asked, not lowering his melta.
"I am Commisar Dorian Lupus. Born on Cthonia, taken to the Schola and packed into a ship to be dragged out here to this damn death world. Thanks for the excuse to execute tubz, we need a competant leader." Dorian said, his expression unchanged.

"What must I do?" Hectoris asked.
"You.must brand yourself with this." Sacrspite was holding a brass brand, presumably a Mark of Khorne.
"I cannot. The Emperor crafted my body and I shall not abuse his gift."
Scarspite's eyes flickered in annoyance, and set the brand down. "I will do it for you then!"
Hectoris thought for a moment. "If you can disarm me, vdry well." He held out his sword between two fingers, dangling to the ground. The Daemon licked its maw and ripped the sword, a mirror of its own Hellblade, and placed his claw on Hectoris' chest. The misshapen marine screamed as it burnt into his flesh.

As Caldrek flew along, he noticed another one of those massive scorpions was just ahead of the column, which had now been joined by some ragtag Imperial Guardsmen. He cut the power on his Jump Pack, and landed lightly in front of the creature. Caldrek emptied the clip of his Bolter into the scorpion, attracting the attention of the rest of the column. Seeing that the creature was still alive, Caldrek dropped his Bolter and drew his Bolt Pistol. After emptying that clip, and finally killing the beast, another of the creatures turned up.

Being caught with both his guns empty, Caldrek turned to his only remaining option: his Chainsword. Diving forward, drawing the snarling blade, Caldrek slashed across one of the monster's front legs, removing it. The snarl of the bloody Chainsword was drowned out by the roar of the scorpion-thing as Caldrek stabed it where the head should have been. It retaliated by punching it's tail into Caldrek's chest. Caldrek was forced to phase out within the suit of Power Armour to avoid being damaged to the point of irreversible damage. The venom from the monster gushed out of the hole in the armour like blood from a wound.

After seeing Caldrek take the wound that would have slain any Astartes, the rest of the marines that were close opened fire at the beast, reducing it to a cloud of green innards and a foul smell.
"You ok, mate?" asked one of the marines, reloading his bolter.
"I'm fine" replied Caldrek, doing an acceptable impression of a space marine.
The other marine looked amazed that the should-be corpse was still walking and reloading a bolter, but he just walked off shaking his head in disbelief

I heard the explosion from the frag missile.
I prepared for battle and screamed to the captain ''Take cover.'' I deployed my skitarii in a very formidable line of well trained forces with the hyspasists up front with the Sagitarii deployed in back. I zoomed around in my knight and saw a group of guardsmen from where the attack came.
I decided i should try to talk it out with a couple of the utmost valuable praetorians with me i advanced towards the captain. Just before i could speak a las bolt penetrated his head and he dropped dead.
I looked at the commisar with a confused face and ordered him to show me to their highest ranking tech priest without delay.
He said. ''My lord we don't have any mechanicum personnel with us.''
I looked to the man and grabbed him up and looked him straight in the face and said. ''Such incompetance are you saying you let your mechanicum personnel die? I will punish you for that!'' But just before i could sergeant segari walked up to me and said. ''No.....he ..must...be....for..given.'' I withdrawed and walked off with my men deciding i wouldn't be in the presence of such an unworthy person.

After Rephosus dropped the commissar Neor ran over and helped him up.
"Goddamnit Reph, this man is a perfectly respectable soldier! Just because none of the men from the Red Planet wanted to live on this damn rock doesn't mean you can slaughter the best Imperial Army officer I've ever seen." Nero growled, only protecting the man because of his Cthonian blood.
"Thank you milord, please allow me to introduce you. This is the Catachan 223rd Regiment, currently waiting for anything to do." Dornian said and the men shifted uncomfortably.
"We are the first Space Marines they've seen aren't we?" Nero asked.
"For most of them yes. A few of the older veterans had the honor of fighting alongside the White Scars legion, but other than that they are unaccustomed to your kind." Dornian replied.
"Which Legion did you fight beside Ser Lupus?" Nero asked.
"I was at Ullanor milord." Dornian replied. The Reavers dropped to their knees at the mention of the name.
"Then you should come with us, wherever our destination may be. Ser Lupus, will you accompany us across the galaxy to Davin and beyond, to look upon the radiance of the Warmaster again?" Sedairae asked.
"It would be my honor to go with you milords." Dornian said.
"We are no lords of you Ser Lupus, you fought at Ullanor." Cerberus replied.

"Greetings, Catachan Soldiers. Could you show me to the commanding Officer?"

A gap appeared in the line of Catachans, and a tall, striking figure strode out to the marines. He wore a Beret on his head, and a striking plasma burn ran down the side of his face.

"My lord."

He knelt on one knee.

"Stand, trooper. We are but mortals too."

The officer rose.

"I am Officer Drax Carvio. What is to be done?"

Dreph pointed out to the horizons, where a great cloud of smoke hung in the air.

"That is where our ship crashed, Carvio. All systems are functional, but a greater menace prevents us from our travels. Everliving men made of metal have stowed in the workings of the hull, and have attacked many Marines in the ship. Several of these creatures still remain, and we cannot embark our ship without assistance. Will your men aid our plight?"

The Officer agreed, and the two went into the Command Bunker.

Hectoris awoke. He was in a baracks of some kind, yet he remembered not how he got there. He got up and storde to the makeshift washing basin. He looked in the mirror, at.the.point where Scarspite had branded him. Sure enough, Khorne's symbol was upon his sternum. He stepped back and armoured himself. When he was dressed.his checked his reflection again.

The mark wasn't all that had changed. He looked up at his face and cried out in fear as the Daemon stared back. He cried out as the Daemon in the.mirror struck, its blade passing through the pane and into his chest. His armour shattered and he saw his flesh. Blood red, hard as brass, scaly. He wore a long coat of skulls, and carried a Hellblade. The Daemon inside the mirror was gone. Instead he saw himself as he was. He had become Scarspite and it had become him. Hectoris, now in Scarspite's form, turned to the.mirror, looked himself in the eye, and shattered it.

______________________


Hectoris woke up, truly awake. He was in the baracks but he was himself, no mark upon his chest, though he could still feel it there. He thought back to the dream. He was dreaming, he told himself. Dreams are a load of nonsense.

I walked off after i made the camp a couple of hundred metres away. I decided that i should go back in my mind again.
I found a secluded space where i sat down and entered a trance.
I saw M'gash again. I said to him. ''So what have you found? Have you decided something?''
He looked up to me with a confused face and said. ''what is the matter with you? You seem different.''
I smiled up at him and without warning said to him. ''Mind if i enslave you?''
He screamed out of anger and shouted. ''You belong to me remember. Or do i need to teach you a lesson?'' He said while spreading his wings.
I lifted up my fists and rushed towards him. He spewed flames but i evaded them. I send a magical bolt towards him it blasted one of his wing's. He fell to the ground but before he reached it he transformed into a flaming tornado and rushed towards me. I was too late and i got hit. But luckily i was able to save myself with my magical ward.
I opened my organic eye and with a spell i tried to lift him up and smack him to the ground. But his psychic powers where to great. He got very close to me and tried to bite my head of. But just before he succeeded i used my laser eye and i wounded him.
I walked up to him and said. ''I have won the psychic battle you will listen and serve me now! I will use your power to serve the emperor and my captain and the primarch!''
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I woke up again i felt stronger and completely in control. I walked to a open space and i felt a rush going through me as fiery wings sprouted from my back. I could fly up high in the sky and soared through the air. I felt the new power i felt the submission of M'gash. I soared through the air and landed 20 metres from the base. I walked towards the command bunker deciding that i should speak with captain dreph about what happened.

Dreph studied maps and charts as Carvio showed him the planet.

"This is Catachan, a Death World that is covered by Jungle. We are the 223rd Regiment of Catachan Jungle Fighters. My men specialize in the art of hit and run warfare, utilizing Sentinels, Flamers and Camouflage to their full advantage. We pride ourselves on mobility."

Dreph turned to see a squad of 4 Jungle Fighters.

"Would you like to meet my Command Squad?"

I entered the command bunker i walked up to captrain dreph and said. ''Captain dreph i need to talk to you right now!''
He looked up to me with a confused face and said. ''Sorry rephosus but i don't have the time right now.''
I looked around and saw a group of those guardsman standing before him. One of them adorned some medals i guessed he was the new commander.
I walked up to him and said. ''So you are the new commander of these army soldiers? Here.'' I gave him one of my own master crafted plasma pistols and said ''Consider it a gift and a sign of our collaboration.''

Aloysus and his squad entered the camp and Marius hurried to the Command Bunker.

Entering he saw Captain Dreph in discussion with a scarred commander of one of the local regiments. "What is the situation, Captain, and who is this?"

"Marines, may I introduce you to Officer Drax Carvio."

The commander bowed down.

"He was explaining the area around us. We're on the planet of Catachan. As the Commissar told you, this is the 223rd Regiment of Catachan Jungle Fighters."

Dreph walked over to the command squad. As each soldier introduced himself, Dreph asked whether he could see them train.

Aloysus liked the look of Drax Carvio. He appeared to be a hard and capable man, and his men seemed very loyal to him. He watched the Catachan regiment train, noting the professional manner in which they moved, noting how their combat style was uniquely adapted to fighting on their harsh planet. They seemed to melt into and out of their jungle surrounds. These were a hard men, and were clearly capable fighters.

He noticed another marine observing the Catachan's training. It was an assault marine, although Marius did not recognise his armour. There was a huge hole in the front of it, right over the marine's primary heart. Aloysus walked over to him. "Brother, do you require medical attention?" he called as he approached the assault marine. The marine glanced at him and shook his head, before igniting his jump pack and leaping away into the forest. "Captain" Marius voxed "Did any of our assault marines survive the battle on Pyrona?"

I walked off to the mech bays seeing some of their mechanics working on their sentinels. I decided that i should find some prospective tech-priests. I found one especially capable man he was welding a plasma cannon on one of the sentinels plasma cannons where extremely hazardous. So only the most capable could weld those with ease. I walked up to them when i suddenly heard a explosion i looked around and saw 5 guardsman throwing some explosives to what seemed to be targets. When i turned around again the guardsman was gone i decided that i would find this prospective techpriest. I walked off to the training ground relaxing while watching the soldiers train.

"I believe a single squadron managed to escape. The rest were destroyed."

Dreph watched the training. The soldiers were clearly masters of Hit and Run. They sprang in between trees, keeping a stable aim on the targets. Sentinels sprinted through the area, obliterating the paper templates in a hail of flames and autocannon shells.

However he felt uneasy. As they trained, he saw a set of glowing green staring into the camp.

"We need to go into the armoury and prepare our weapons, Carvio."

"Ok, it's just over..."

"No, we all need to get ready."

Segari's shell remained still. Inside he was in a meditative trance, pondering his inner memories... or what was left of them. He was not alone in his thoughts. Whispers penetrated his mind pulling at his already feeble sanity. He opened his eyes just in time, the whispers retreating, fading into echoes.

His captain knocked on one of his legs, making a loud clanging that vibrated throughout the tank.
"Awake Apollus we have work to do!"
He activated his suit with a simple thought, power coursed its way through his metal limbs and a great engine burst to life.
"Yes... brother-captain, I am ready to serve... again".
He wished to activate his weaponary but he was still famaliarising himself with his new arms. His old sword, "Steel Faith", which he had lovingly crafted had been attached to his left arm, now crackling with bright blue power. To accompany his melee weapon was a chainsaw with the teeth taken from a Tokrok was underslung on his wrist. In his right arm's arsenal was a power fist. He also bore an assualt cannon that was attached to his right breast plate. No enemy would stand before him.

After hearing the order to gear up i returned to my camp.
I gathered my men and returned to captain dreph. I formed my men up in a strict line with me at the head in my knight. Behind me the 4 tribunes walked. After that the tech-priests and the cybernetica robots. And lastly the Hyspasists and Sagitarii. I deployed a vanguard of Cataphractii to sweep the area for enemies.
I arrived at the camp i found the captain standing in front of the remaining marines. I walked towards him and said. ''Captain i have gathered my forces i have 4 platoons of 50 skitarii ready for battle what are your orders?''

The remaining Basilisks gathered around Aloysus. "The flora and fauna of this planet is incredibly deadly. There are plants and animals here that can threaten even a Space Marine. I want you at your most vigilant. Listen to the Catachans and respect their knowledge. We can ill afford more casualties, we are few enough as things stand, and I am the closest thing to an Apothecary that we have remaining."

He voxed the Captain. "My Basilisks are ready to move. We await your orders."

The Captain stormed into the Armoury, grabbing a Power Sword and Storm Shield.

Segari made his way through the encampment buzzing with activity as men scuttled around him trying not to be crushed by his powerful steps. The ominous glow in the distance had now become brighter bathing everything in a green shadow. A line of defences on the outskirts of the camp were being filled with troops and weaponry.

Apollus made his way into the communication trench which was wide enough to fit vehicles such as himself. Scanners and vox were being prepared in the many dugouts trying to pinpoint the enemy and recieve intel from scout units who had already been engaged.

I deployed my forces in reserve and walked towards the captain. I said. ''Captain dreph i think we should make a strategy so we have a plan. I advice we gather the inner circle allong with the imperial guard commander and begin planning.''

Aloysus led his squad into position on the front line. There was a strange weight to the air, and a feeling of tension. The troopers nearby looked at the Space Marines in awe, and stood taller in their presence. They would not run in the face of the enemy this day, Aloysus could tell. The Emperor's Children watched them, and they would not be found wanting.

Dreph pushed aside Rephosus.

"You are to listen to the Catachans. If anybody knows how to fight here, it's them."

Dreph joined the Command Squad, priming his Storm Shield for the initial assault.

"Vox all squads. They are to hide and ambush. Aim to get in combat. The Emperor's Children have provided us with intel. The enemy is slow, but their weapons are incredibly powerful. They regenerate, so you must sever them completely."

Hectoris stalked through the underbrush. Imperial Soldiers were climbing up trees to get scouting views. Hectoris wasn't willing to wait. He removed his gauntlets, revealing inch long fingernails, daggerlike, with as hard as stone. He was really enjoying his new powers. He took a running start and lept, straining his super enhanced legs straining their limit to propel his bulk and armour into the air. He gripped into the wood with his talons and smashed his toes into the trunk, just as a burst of Lightning struck the tree. He heard guardsmen scream in agony. "Should've been careful," he said aloud. He lept out agai, jumping backwards onto the trunk behind him. As he was about to leap back the original trunk, he heard another scream, and caught a glance of a Catachan soldier falling from the treeline, lightning crackling from his body. Something was wrong. He lept another few length of the tree. Hd was exhausted. His armour was too heavy. He activated the emergeancy switch, a new function to the suits, that caused all.of his armour to decouple, and drop to the ground. He wasn't concerned about the armour or the soldiers below. In fact, he chuckled a little as one cried out in pain, and was answered by cries of "What the... a boot? Where the feth did that come from?"

Hectoris, now clutching his sword in his teeth, lept up and found a branch thick.enough to support him. He gripped his sword hilt, and stalked up the branches towards a man he recognised as a Sergeant. As he approached he lept back as a bolt of electricity his the soldier and hurled him off the tree. Hectoris bolted towards where the human.had just been.

I marched of to one of the few open areas deciding i would meet them in a fair fight.
My platoons marched in strict formation to the clearing. Once there i deployed them in 2 thick lines. With the Cataphractii deployed in reserve to be sure that all flankers would be repelled.
I was at the front i stalked forward with my own preatorian's behind me. I saw them breaking the treeline it was that same necron the one that almost killed me. I roared out and ordered all forces to advance.
I jumped up into the sky as i forced M'gash to allow me to use his wings again the sprouted from the knight's back. 2 huge fiery wings appeared and i soared into the sky. I analyzed his forces and spotted around 200 warriors with some barges i smiled and fired my plasma annihilator at the warriors. Around 40 warriors where consumed by the fiery plasma.
I landed and rushed towards them. My forces almost clashed with the necrons and i wanted to make a hole in their defence for them to rush into. I activated my power lance and clashed with one of their lords he was ripped apart by the lance. I continued rushing. I cut a bloody swathe through their lines. Around that moment i heard the battle screams of the arriving hyspasists and the explosions of the Sagitarii's autocannons and mortars. My praetorians caught up with me and they formed a bodyguard formation around me. Just at that moment a group of lychguard phased in and began attacking me. I ripped 2 of them completely apart when he arrived. Caldrek came i dismounted my knight and said. ''You and i will fight like men! No weapons no help!'' I said as i threw away my plasma pistols and combat sword. I walked up to him and took a fighting stance.

Aloysus and his men opened fire, scything down the first wave of Necrons, to whoops from the guardsmen. The crys of joy turned to mutters of disbelief as nearly three quarters of the fallen Necrons stood up again.

"Stand fast, men of the Imperial Army!" yelled Aloysus, putting some steel in their spines. "They dislike what you do best: massed firepower. Open fire, and lets see you much scrap metal we can make!"

The troopers cheered and opened fire, the sheer volume of firepower ensuring many did not rise again.

Lightning crashed down all around Nero and his squad. He heard fires break out and men screaming. A massive metal scorpion burst from the ground next to the squad and whipped them all with a massive tail swipe. Commissar Lupus burst from the undergrowth and jumped onto its head. It shook and clawed furiously but Lupus held on. He produced a melta bomb from his jacket and jammed it into the beasts eye. He jumped off and started to run, but Nero grabbed him and curled up in a protective ball. The charge turned the beasts important sensors to slag and the whole thing crunched down. Metal men carrying massive blades men came through the foliage only to land on the Reaver's bolt fire. Sedirae danced through them, mulching their heads with his blade. He fired his plasma pistol and melted one that charged him before cutting down its friend. A stray lightning bolt caught Nero in the face and knocked him out. He saw a pantheon with four great thrones surrounding him. One of skulls, one of writhing tentacles, one of multi-colored fire, and one of smog. Shadowed figures sat on top of the thrones, but clearer figures came to him. Each a daemon of the gods. They each talked at length about how many benefits he would come across if he just gave in to their god, but he ignored them. A golden man then descended from the unseen ceiling of the chamber and cut them all apart.
"I am the First Son. I am one in the same with those creatures, but I serve the Emperor. Allow me to possess you and you will be granted with His blessing for the years to come." The man said.
"You may have me." Nero replied and the man disolved into light and flew into Nero.

He woke up and tore off his helm. It clanged to the ground and he stood up.
"FOR HORUS AND THE EMPEROR!" He shouted, crashing into the Necron lines with a new fury and skill.

Dreph stood stalwart, waiting for the metal creatures.

A green glow grew in the background. A faint whine could be heard.

"Prepare your men for the ambush."

The glow strengthened as Jungle Fighters began to take their positions.

The whine became louder.

A gleaming metal sliver shone.

"Go! Go! Go!"

Brave Soldiers threw themselves at the Destroyers, bringing 2 down in a hail of flame.

As this happened, Dreph noticed a strange silhouette jumping between the trees.

"Stand and fight!"

The Captain climbed up a tree and chased the eerie figure through the thick canopy.

Caldrek silently cursed himself for being so stupid as to remove his helmet to talk to Nemesor Tokarn. Rephosus had recognised him and requested a duel, with fists. Caldrek phased out and let his Power Armour fall away, re-entering reality with both his Gravity Displacement Pack on his back and his own weapons back in thier sheaths, where they should be.

Caldrek wasted no time in attacking the marine, boosting forward with his Gravity Pack and punching him in the face, once again breaking his nose. Caldrek swiftly followed up by grabbing the reeling marine and jumping about two hundered feet into the air, As he did, Caldrek released Rephosus and kicked him hard in the abdomen, flipping him upside down. Now in freefall, Caldrek and Rephosus traded blows for a short time. This ended when Rephosus landed a heavy hit in Caldrek's face, breaking his knuckles. Now being only fifty feet from the ground, Caldrek once again noticed the marine's eyes glowing purple. Knowing that his adversary was about to go psychic on him, Caldrek grabbed hold of the marine and spun so that he was higher than his opponant. Once again Caldrek fired his Gravity Pack, and accelerated to triple his speed straight down. The Marine hit the ground first, breaking his back, Caldrek simply phased out to avoid the impact.

After phasing back in, Caldrek just drew his weapons and began carving a bloody path through the Catachanian warriors, trying to regroup with Nemesor Tokarn

Apollus made his way through the smoke and dust towards the impact of the falling marine he had seen from afar. The battle was being waged fiercely with necrons barely being held back by the what seemed to be the necrons distant human counterparts.

It was brutal and calculative warfare watching machine tear apart machine. Scrap metal and transmisson fluids soaked the battlefield. Wild fires had started from flames meeting the chemical soaked dead or decommisioned causing a heat haze and thick smoke to hang over the writhing machines. Shells flew in all directions devastating scores of friend and foe who were packed into a deadly factory line of melee.

Apollus made his way to the fallen marine, crushing the thick layer of dead under him causing a loud crunch wherever he went. He was already covered in oil and green fluid and he had barely reached the frontline of the advancing Cataphractii who were reinforcing the line. Apollus also noticed the Catachan fighters moving into position, looking obviously out of place in the flattened jungle. Flesh would not last long in this battle.

Apollus had reached the crumpled form of Rephosus. His broken body had shattered most of his armour off including his helmet. With pleading eyes Rephosus looked up at his intombed brother. Lifting his arm with great effort he pointed at a path of destruction left by a lone Necron warrior who was steadily making his escape.
"You...shall be avenged... old friend", Apollus said with what little emotion he had left in his deep, booming voice.
"Return him... he must be saved" he said to a group of Catachan who had taken refuge in a crater. They were relieved to be pardoned from the meat grinder of battle and tended to Rephosus.

With all his might Apollus pushed his contemptor into a sprint after the necron who had crippled his brother.

Nero saw the Contemptor run and held back for a second, taking potshots with his bolt pistol. He saw a marine fall, power maul clanging to the ground. He rann and scooped it up, the First Son bristling with excitement as he touched it. A Necon warrior coated with still bleedfing flesh burst out of the under brush. With the first swing, Nero broke its talons, with the second he destroyed its legs.
"They say that a true Son of Horus can do great things normally, but if you give him a mace and a lightning claw, The Emperor himself shudders." Nero said as he bashed in the Necrons skull. Then he chased after the massive dreadnought, providing cover as it charged with reckless abandon.

Dreph leaped from tree to tree, coming closer and closer to the figure. At last, he jumped on it, bringing it down to the forest floor. He drew his power sword and pointed down towards where it's neck would be.

Hectoris rolled over.

"Hectoris?"

The Terminator Sergeant stared at him, his eyes filled with burning hatred. He rose up.

Aloysus saw Rephosus fall. He raced over to his side, assessing his injuries. His face was a bloody ruin, and his back was broken. He would likely need bionic replacements if he was ever to walk again. Aloysus cursed at the damage done to another marine. He had had enough of seeing marines fall never to rise, he had to do something about it.

He opened the vox to Captain Dreph. "Captain, we need a dedicated medicae, and I am the only one with the required medical training. I request the honour of becoming the Brotherhood's Apothecary. Will you grant me permission to don the white?"

Watching the Catachans and Aloysus tending to Rephosus, Antioch stepped out in front of them, with Faberon by his side. He fired shots off at the green eyed, metal forms in front of him, he and the Basilisks cutting down all of the enemy in front of them. He watched as Segari rushed after the warrior who had felled Rephosus. The only Griffin left was Faberon, the rest had been killed. His squad had been shattered, and he didn't know what to do. He thought on this a while, contemplating his future as he fought.

Nemesor Tokarn finished off the Imperial Commissar with one swift stroke, decapitating him. As he did, three Sentinels appeared and began firing Lascannons at him. Tokarn phased out to avoid one of them, and transmitted his position along Caldrek's frequency, hoping he would be heard. Nemesor Tokarn then swung his Warscythe and sent two bolts of lightning through one of the Imperial Walker pilots. A crackling jet sound filled the air momentarily, and Caldrek dropped onto one of the Sentinels, throwing the pilot to the floor. He then fired the Lascannon through the other Sentinel, cutting both of it's legs off. Caldrek dismounted the Sentinel and wrenched the Lascannon from it's mount, testing it's weight.
"Caldrek, what are you going to do with that?" asked the astounded Nemesor Tokarn, finishing off the only remaining Sentinal pilot. In response, Caldrek walked to a squad of Deathmarks and gave it to them.
"Take this, dig yourselves in and do some damage" the Vargard ordered. The Deathmarks disappeared.
"Now, lets hunt some Marines" said Caldrek to Nemesor Tokarn and the surrounding Lychguard.

Nero saw a Necron decapitate Dornian Lupus and flew into a rage. He killed a squad of Deathmarks that were holding a mighty lascannon and some Lychguard, but two fled the scene. He gave the one of them that had killed Lupus a grevious leg wound with a pistol shot and the other just ran on. He eschewed the use of his conventional weapons and grabbed two opposing mag-locks from his backpacks. He pinned the Necron to the ground with the powerful magnetic forces and laid into it with anything he could get his hands on, beatiing it to death only to have it recharge seconds later. His Reavers saw and ran in to help, hacking down with chainswords and a powerfist repeatedly.

Dreph stood up.

"What are you doing, Sergeant?"

Silence.

"Why are you slaughtering our allies?!"

Hectoris turned to the forest.

"WHAT ARE Y-"

Caldrek stormed through the forest, charging into Caecilus.

Hectoris was fully armoured again, having pulled his shoe from the grisly remains of a soldier's torso. He had just buckled his power sword, now ragged and black, the shining blue of perfection long gone, when Dreph Kalar had reached him. Before he could say anything the Necron scum had flown out of the trees and straight in to him, causing him to drop his shield. He rolled, watching the Necron rise out of the ground. Hectoris reached back and picked up a power sword, once possessed by a Commissar. It was shining steel, short bladed, but he wielded it as easily as a man might a dagger. He took a fighting stance, a sword in each hand, the Xenos the same. The Necron struck first, firing the pistols at his head. He bolcked one and dodged the second. He did not strike back. Instead he roared "Coward! Fight with honour! No flight, no guns, no phasing out! A good, hard fight, with blades! Give me that, and I shall let you die with dignity!"

At this point.the Necron hit the ground. He chuckled menacingly, and replied while tKing of his flight equipment "It shall you who shall vapoursie on my blades, swine!"

With this Hectoris lept, swinging a sword in each hand, shining steel and blackened fire. Caldrek parried the first, dodged the second and struck his own assault, stabbing with.one.blade while lashing out with a fist with the other, smashing his faceplate, but it was barely a scratch on Terminator Armour. Hectoris and Caldrek dueled for at least an hour, each strike going back and forth, equally matched, neither side gaining an advantage. Necrons and Astartes clashed on either side of them. Brother Apollus ranged weapons sliced apart hundreds if not thousands of scarab like insects sent towards him, his heavy flamer doing equal. When the first necron Stalker, a Large, spiderlike walker, appeared, Apollus tore it asunder with his fist, before crushing the withheld warriors underfoot.

Hectoris was tiring. How could he not with next to no sleep or food for days. Astartes could go for weeks without the latter, and the former could be postponed, but it did take its toll. The machine did not tire nor eat. Hectoris turned to Sacrspite, pleading, "Help me, take my place, give me your power!".
"You asked for a fair fight. Khorne is.not only Lord of Blood but also of martial respect. He has forbidden me to intervene unless the machine cheats first."
He was on his own. Suddenly, sensing his distraction, Caldrek swung, scoring a cut along his cheek through his helmet. Seeing as it was no protection and only weighed him down, Hectoris activated the emergeancy deactivator. His suit fell away to reveal him, his transformation complete. His skin was spined and the colour of blood, his head sprouting horns and backward jointed legs, talons instead of fingers and toes. He had become the Daemon, he had become Chaos' form. All this he saw reflected in Caldrek's body. It renewed his strength, and he fought like the Daemon he had become, raining a fusilade of blows, three managing to cause Caldrek to drop a sword. His advantage was immediatly nullified by Caldrek kicking the smaller, imperial sword from his hand, before grabbing it from the air. Hectoris' ragged sword, a twin to Sacrspite's Hellblade was outnumbered. The necron smashed blow after blow, sending Hectoris to one knee. He placed his Hellblade lengthwise, blocking a rain of blows. It seemed hopeless.

Then he caught a glint of metal, and saw the Necron sword lying on the ground. He reached with his left hand, gripping the hilt. He lashed out a kick, sending Caldrek to his own knees. He spun a 360, aiming a strike to decapitate the machine. The necron tried to block with the Imperial sword, but Hectoris hit with enough force to shatter the weapon along its length and would've slain Caldrek had he not phased out. A roar instantsly reverbrated his skull. Sacrspite's mind merged with his. It was almost as if they were one. He could feel the pure rage from beyond his being. And then he realised. They were not almost one. He, was one. Scarspite was him and they were the same. With a feral roar They struck, a mighty punch, that just missed Caldrek, instead smashing an enormous tree. Together They were indeed powerful. The tree was knocked over, smashing apart a line of Immortals. As Caldrek, who had gotten both weapons back was about to strike, a scissor attack to Their neck, Scarspite/Hectoris attacked quicker, knocking the Necron to the ground. before Caldrek could react or phase out, the Hellblade,.now truly a Hellblade, was buried hilt deep in his chest. The barbs prevented his movement. Victory. Caldrek stared. "You are no human."
They roared to the heavens, every comabatant now turning to see him in full glory! "We are Scarspite! Herald and Champion of the Blood Go-"
Hectoris looked down to see a long spear portruding from his chest. He turned to see Dreph Kalar standing behind him, guilt and hatred, along with contempt on his face. Scarspite receded, leaving Hectoris dominant to pass out.

With my last strength i turned to Aloysus and said. ''Sergeant...put....me..in....the...knight'' I fell unconcious.

Aloysus rushed Rephosus through the ships corridors until they reached the Apothecarium. Hastily punching in the code that Captain Kalar had given him, he rushed Rephosus inside and placed him on one of the beds. He ran a scanner over the young marine's body. It was not good. The blow had severed his spinal cord, and they would not be able to attach bionics. Aloysus sighed, and turned, picking up a bolt pistol to grant Rephosus the Emperor's Peace. "I am sorry, brother, there is nothing I can do for you. It will be better to end your suffering." he said. ''Sergeant...put....me..in....the...knight'' Rephosus gasped, and passed out. Aloysus though about it. Yes, that would work. He opened the vox "Recover Rephosus's Knight and modify it to hold an amniotic tank." he turned to a legion serf "Prepare a Dreadnought sarcophagus to recieve Brother Rephosus." he ordered.

Ensuring that Rephosus was stable, Marius moved to the back of the Apothecarium. He placed his trusty combi-melta down on a table. "Farewell, old friend." He said "I hope you serve your next owner as well as you served me.". Reaching up he slid his left arm through a Narthecium on the wall, feeling it clamp onto his armour. He locked a holstered bolt pistol to his right hip, opposite his power sword, and clamped his combat knife onto his backpack so it could be drawn over his shoulder. He attached medical vials and bandages to his waist. So armed and armoured he marched from the ship back towards the battle. No longer would he be Sgt Marius Aloysus of the Knights of the Basilisk.

Now he was Apothecary Marius Aloysus, Guardian of the Brotherhood.

Dreph held the crackling glaive in place, blood running down the blade. He twisted it, and threw Hectoris onto the floor.

"You have fallen from the Emperor's light, brother. I ought to end your pathetic husk of a glorious life here and now."

Dreph bent down and picked up Hectoris, slinging him over his shoulders, blood running across the golden ornaments on his armour. He turned on his vox, and began to talk to Aloysus.

"Looks like you have your second casualty, Apothecary."

A surprised Aloysus replied

"Who would that be, sir?"

"Hectoris. As soon as I return he is to be placed in a statis chamber."

Dreph ran onwards through the forest, Hectoris hanging limp over him.

Hectoris awoke. He was still a Daemon, but his mind was his own again. he was in some sort of holding cage.. A mammal was in with him, cowering in the corner. Surprising too, for the beast was massive, at least the size of a Dreadnought. It was grey, leathery skinned and sprouted a huge, curved ivory horn on its head. Hectoris recognised it as a rhinoceros, one of the few creatures to actualy survive all trough these millenia. records said these went back further than the Emperor, asfar as before ther year 1937, possibly more. It was amazing really that one was here. He still clutched his Hellblade. The fools had left it with him. He saw that the hilt had changed, and now resembled the mark emblazeoned on his chest . The power field was gone, but that blade was sharper than Fireblade could ever be. He was naked but for a raged cloth to cover his waist. There were female soldiers still on the ship, as far as he was awarwe, and modesty was a must, if not for his sake, then theirs.
Sacrspite was also aware. He was speaking in the background, apparemntly grovelling, but Hectoris ignored him. He spotted a soldier near the gate, guarding it, watching him. A lasgun was traied on him, the red markerdot on his horned chin. He got up and walked over to the cage door. he looked the man, who was terrified as he only came up to Hectoris' waist, and looked at him. Hectoris had grown enormously over the last few weeks and hours, and now stood a might 13ft as he was now, unarmoured. If he were to put his Tartarus armour on again he would be able to Segari's torso almost. He was monstrously strong, and even without his servos he was certain he could smash apart this gate. He drew back his fist and smashed it hard against the metal. Before he could connect a force field sent bolts of pain through jhis body. He reeled as the soldier took aim. He stepped back and drew his sword. the soldier fired a warning sot that struck his shoulder but did nothing. He sliced at the force field but the blade rebounded and nearly cl;ove his skull in half. The guard openeed fire, losing a few rbursts at him. They barely scrathed his skin, and those that did hurt were quickly repair, fire flowing out, resealing the skin. the guard was joined by 5 servitors sporting heavy weaponry. Plasma Cannons and Reaper Autocannons. The guard put down his lasgun and picked up a plasma pistool and infernus pistol. He was clearly of high rank to own such weapons. hectoris conceded and sat down beside the rhino. Scarspite came.
"I have beseehed my lord."
"QWhat for?"
"The priveledge to ride a brazen beast, the Juggernaut."
Hectopris perked upat this.
"What must I do?"
"Coat this animal in the blood of an enemy, and carve the Mark of Khorne on one shoulkder. A Chaos tar should be carved anywhere on the body."

Hectoris stood and went to the middle of the room. The soldier had sent the servitors and was facing away.
Hectoris spoke. "I wish to speak to Captain Kalar." the soldier ignored him. He shouted it. Still ignored. he roared and waved his arms. the guardmen spun around raising his weapon and deactivated the force field. Apparently sound couldn't go through. hectoris repaeted his uestion.
The reply was "I do not have authorisation to speak to you."
hectoris could have tried deploymacy, bt he was never much of a talker, even less in recent times. He moved with supernatural sopeed, reaching through the bars and tearing the guard through the bars in a flash of gore. The Daemonhost picked up the remote ontrol and resealerd the force field. It was solid adamantium, 1ft thick, with a layer of ceramite, so he wouldn't be able to burn through.
he performed the ritual, carving the symbols into the beast, the screams of pain echoing in his cell, before coating it from horn to toe in the man's blood. the servitors were not even alerted by the man's absence. Presumably they were alerted to the force field activating when he hit it. Once he had done that he asked Scarspite what was next. His answer was the feeling of oneness, that Scarspite wqas fusing their ebings. They watched as Scarspite raised Their calwed hands, one on the chaos star on its shoulder, another on the Khornate brand. The squeels increased tenfold as smoke rose from the brands.

I looked around i was lying in a weird fusing and seperating area. M'gash stood high above me he laughed and said. ''You will belong to me now that you are weakened i will control you!'' He made a dive towards me i managed to roll away and evaded him just in time. He screamed and spew ever changing fire at me. Just before it hit me i felt a sudden rush. Unknowing to me my body was being put into the sarcophagus. I felt my power return and fired a bolt of pure energy at him. It hit on his tail and he crashed. I walked up to him and said. ''Remember you will always be mine!'' As i said that i carved the imperial aquila on one of his shoulders he screamed it out and i said. ''Remember this sign you belong to me and the emperor!''

I woke up i felt different i looked around and saw everything through a weird greenish light. I saw sergeant aloysus now equipped in apothecary armor. I said. ''Sergeant.....You have healed my? I am.....ever grateful'' I said I looked around and saw some cybernetica robots walk towards their holding bay. I called them and i felt them hatch onto me. I began treating them like my pets I turned around and said. ''Where.... is the captain?''

Aloysus oversaw Rephosus' internment into the Knight. He awoke and thanked Aloysus before enquiring after the captain. At that moment the alarm sounded, warning that Hectoris was active and dangerous. Hectoris would not know of it though, so he would not know of Aloysus' arrival. "I must go!" Aloysus told Rephosus, before breaking into a sprint, heading for the cells.

Aloysus stepped into the holding cell with Hectoris. The alarms had sounded moments before and he had arrived as soon as possible. He ignited his power sword and aimed his bolt pistol at Hectoris' head. Hectoris was huge, and his form was twisted and misshapen. "Step away from the creature, Hectoris!" he commanded. Hectoris remained where he was. He turned his head towards Aloysus. "We are Scarspite and Hectoris, brother." the daemonhost growled. "You are no longer any brother of mine." Aloysus replied and charged Hectoris. He parried one claw and stabbed Hectoris with the narthecium, unloading a sedative strong enough to put out even an Astartes for a day into Hectoris. Hectoris-Scarspite struck him a powerful back-handed blow that sent him flying across the cell. He rebounded off the shock barrier which fired its full force into him due to the power at which he hit it and collapsed to the floor, unconcious from the massive electrical discharge.

Caldrek reinitalised to find himself in a cell guarded by a bored looking Imperial with a Meltagun. Caldrek stood up, his wound completely gone, and walked to his cell bars. He looked around, noticing his weapons and Gravity Pack in a pile in the corner. Looking the other way, Caldrek saw the monstrously tall, red lunatic who had stabbed him backhand a white armoured marine across the face. Caldrek looked back at the guard.
"Maybe you should go break up the fight"
The guard whirled around, shocked at who had spoken. He raised his gun at Caldrek.
"Sit down, and shut up" came the brisk reply. Caldrek pointed to his left. The meltagunner followed his hand, and when he gazed upon the daemon about to kill the Apothecary, he ran across to the next cell, deactivated the field and shot the daemon in the chest, knocking it out. The Guardsman then dragged the unconcious Apothecary out of the cell and re-activated the field. The guard then turned, only to see the Necron and it's weaponry gone.

Nero flew through one of the holes in the ship. He saw his brothers fighting. A meltagunner put Hectoris out long enough to drag Marius away, but he rose back up. Nero saw a blow coming that would have felled one of the guards that had come in to calm the rhino and let The First Son take his body. It strode threw the power field like it wasn't there and raised its mace, striking Hectoris to the ground. Scarspite lept up after the blow and launched a series of attacks at Nero. The speed granted to him outclassed Hectoris by a mile, but he couldn't hit with near the same amount of force and wasn't capable of the same endurance. He still hit hard enough to drive Hectoris to his knees and fight a good battle while guards distracted the poor creature in the corner. Sedirae and Cerebus watched the duel incredulously. Hectoris lifted him and slammed him into the wall, driving several claws into his midsection. Nero cursed and spat at the pain and slammed the mace into his deformed face. Hectoris recoiled and Nero smacked him with the haft. Nero dropped to the floor and grabbed his wound. Then he lunged for the knees and toppled the giant Scarspite. Emptying a bolt pistol clip into his legs he made sure that he wouldn't move. A fire jumped up around the legs and he began to heal. Nero was reminded of fighting the Necron and brutally smashed him again and again and again with the mace, impacting with enough force to kill even a regular Space Marine. Nero activated his Terrorsight and put his fist into Scarspite's chest, taking hold of one of his hearts and crushing it. Hectoris howled in pain as the fire rebuilt him. Hectoris whipped out a hand and hit Nero into the roof. Nero thought he heard a snap and felt a small but strong hand grab his collar and drag him out of the ship. But he didn't feel any falling, and when he opened his eyes he was standing in a blue tunnel with massive wood doors cased in blue flame lining the walls. He was standing next to a lithe figure wearing pointed white and orange armor. It sneered at his look of shock.
"You've never seen a White Flame before boy?" It said in a disgusted tone.
"You are Eldar aren't you?" Nero asked, slightly stupefied by his new surroundings.
"The best of the best, I'm a nobleman from the house of the White Flames." It said.
"I take it you are one of the youngest?" Nero asked.
"I am, how did you know?" The nobleman asked.
"I have dealt with nobility quite a bit and its always the young ones with the snobby, pompus, self-important drivel." Nero replied. The nobleman cracked him across the face with a punch that was faster than Nero could ever have imagined.
"Learn respect or pain, your choice. But I still have a use for you, so I won't kill you yet." The nobleman said and turned on his heel, stalking off down the tunnel. Nero rushed after him.
"What do you need me for?" He shouted.
"You will be my protector while I fight my war against the Solar Cults. If you survive, I give you full reign to go home." The Eldar said without breaking stride.
"Well whats your name?" Nero pleaded.
"Call me Yllithan." The Eldar said and opened one of the great doors.

Aloysus turned on the vox.

"Captain.... Hectoris... Daemon..."

"That's all I need to hear."

He ran to the armoury, taking up the hallowed Blade of Lost Souls. This weapon would burn out his very soul, destroying him. But the Daemon must be purged.

He sprinted to the Med Bay. Hectoris was knocked back by a Guardsmen with a melta.

"TURN AROUND! GET THE BLOODY PRISONER!"

Too late. He was decapitated by a green blade.

Dreph barged his way through, discharging the soldier's Melta into the Necron's face, deactivating it temporarily.

He came to Hectoris.

"I have payed the ultimate price to end you. This blade shall burn through you like it burns through my very soul. By Orion, Fulgrim and the Emperor, so shall it be!"

He hefted the mighty sword above his head, bringing it down on Hectoris.

Silence.

Antioch ran into the holding area, he hoisted the apothecary up on his should an carried him to the med bay. He noticed a hull breach, and saw Nero flying through the hole. He jumped and felt the weightlessness of space, but Nero was nowhere to be seen.

Caldrek was walking along the outside of the ship. He had escaped the cell the moment his guard had gone to shoot Hectoris, by phasing out and walking to where his stuff was, the phasing back in altough remaining invisible. He had picked up his weapons and quickly dispatched the handfull of Skitarii with a few well-placed blows. After they had been killed, all Caldrek had to do was decapitate the guard and nick his meltagun. The weapon had made short work of the wall on the cruiser and Caldrek had just jumped out. As the ship was already in orbit, he was firing his Gravity pack in reverse to keep him down on the surface. Fortunately, the pressure had not crushed the Meltagun, so Caldrek could go to the engines, and disable them.

Dreph turned around and attended to Aloysus.

"FOOLISH MORTAL!"

He turned to see Hectoris in midair, blood dripping from his hands, eyes ablaze with light.

"WHAT MADE YOU THINK THAT YOU COULD END ME?!"

He cackled manically. Dreph turned to him.

"MY MASTER KHORNE NEEDS BLOOD!"

A great red portal opened up. The ship began to distort around them as a huge menacing steed came through it, bigger than a Dreadnought, coated in ichor and skulls.

"FOR THE BLOOD GOD!"

He mounted on the Dreadnought. Dreph grabbed Aloysus and ran.

Hectoris/Sacrspite waited untill Kalar had nearly reached the end of the corridor, Aloysus over his shoulder. They turned towards the Juggernaut, the beast he had sacrifised, reincarnated in brazen brass, its head higher up than Thery, its shoulders the height of a Dreadnought. Its bras-shod hooves pounded the ground in anticipation. Its horn, now bladed, scraped the floor, as if it needed sharpening. As Kalar turned the corner, They mounted the beast, taking the black chain wrapped around its neck, standing upon its waist, Hellblade in talon. "BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! sKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!" the roared echoed throughout the ship. Several humans armed with plasma weaponry and autocannon emplacements and weaponised servitors arranged themselves in firing lines at the end of the corridor. The servitors would motionless, but the men were frightened to death. The Daemonhost noticed a slightly dark patch around a gunner's groin, and the stench of urine caught his attention. He roared aain and several men abandoned their position, including the man who has pissed himself. The roar was a sinal. With deliberate slowness, the Juggernaut lift its forehoof from the ground, and took a step, the impact shaking several weapons porrpoed up to fall. Then another. Then two more. The Juggernaut gathered speed, and broke into a run. The humans abandoned faith altogether and fled, but the emotionless servitors opedned fire, plasma bolts and las-blasts ricocheting off the beast's brazen armour plates. The Juggernaut was rather slow for a mount, but the sheer bulk and impact made it just as deadly. It's horned carved a servitor in half, another crushed between the wall and it's shin. The servitors were destroyed without breaking stride, and as the Juggernaut turned the corner it crashed into the wall, leaving a gaping hole. Servitor debris fled out into space before the systems could lock it down. He saw Kalar at the end, still looking back across the wave of fleeing people. Scarspite grinned as the Juggernaut began another run. Soldiers sprinted for their lives, but they were no match for the brazen creature. One man fell, and was crushed by metal hoof, his torso and head completely liquified. Men screamed as the crushed smashed apart, flattened and one was even eaten whole by the animal. Scarspite swung his blade in a flaming arc, decapitating three men at once, before reaching his claw down to grab another by the skull. He loked the man straight in the eye. He laughed maniacally, and plunged his talon into the man's stomach. His neck imploded as Scarspite ripped his head and spine through the openning.

Kalar stood motionless at the end of the corridor. Two figures, cloaked in white, stood beside him. One was taller than Scarspite, though not by much, and much wider, though still quite slim. The other was human sized. The Juggernaut roared pure hatred and fury and barreled down the long corridor towards them. When they were about one hundreed meters aay the cloaked huiman lifted his hands, and the enormous form of Apollus, the Dreadnought, stod between them and Their quarry. Scarspite lept as the two titans clashed, leaping over the sarcophaus, horns scratching the ceiling. The Daemonhost hit the ground runnin, hurtling down the pasage at the figures. His master's patronage safeguarded him against psykers. The next thing he knew he was on the floor, a palid fist in his minds eye. He realised the large figure had falcon punched him, sending him to his spined back. he rose, roaring, his sword tracing sparks across the flooring, his rage hot enough to leaving glowing, molten footprints on the adamantium. He swung his sword, confident the man would die. A blade with the fire to match his own parried his own, and the Primarch of the Emperor's children threw off his concealment, fully adorned in his purple battle armour, the gold Aqila across his chest rippling with the firey collision of the two weapons. When he spoke, the Hectoris part of Them could feel ancient an unforivable rivalries between tow gods raging, as if the Dark Gods themselves were battling. The Daemonhost lept back, his purple, forked tongue lashing out as he hissed. Fulgrim roared as he swung, jut about parried by the Daemonhost, and the other cloaked figure threw off his cloak, his hands raised. Scarspite dropped to his knees as his ears seemed to implode, sound destroying his nerves, blinded by light only he could see. He heard Fulgrim shout "Malcador, destroy him!"
Then the pain stopped. He was in the Reclusium, bound by iron chains that burned his flesh. the unmistakable smell of salt perfumated the air and Scarspite/Hectoris caught a glance of silver. The assorted marines were gathered, weapons raised, Fulgrim clutching both the Fireblade and Their Hellblade, both aimed at his chest. Confessor Jerimiah and Malcador, stood to one side, pouring a liqid over a silver knife,. They could see the salt clinging to it. Malcador strode over. "Everyone leave, " he ordered. Enchantment hung on his every word, and the Daemonhost growled at the sound. No one m,oved. "Everyone, OUT!" he shouted. Everyone left bar the confessor and Fulgrim, and Kalar, who was standing in the rear. "Everyone, Fulgrim." Fulgrim glared at this challenge to his power, but conceded and left, taking the Captain with him.

Malcador took the knife and stood next to the prisoner. He asked his first question. "What is your name Daemon, the one who possesses Hectoris?"
They growled his reply, "We are Scarspite, Herald and Champion of Khorne, Lord of Battles, God of Blood and Skulls!" He roared his patron's name, which turned to howls of agony as the Sigilite plunged the knife, coated in Holy Water and salt, a Daemon's anathame, into his stomach.
"I ask again, what is your name Daemon?"
"We are Scarspite and Caeclius Hectoris! We are two beings in one body, but posse-AAAAAAAAAAAEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYIIIIIAAAAAAA!" The psyker stabbed again, deeper this time, with more pain.
"I ask again, what is your name! Your true name this time!"
They growled load enough for a chalice of water, full to the birm, to spill over. He strained and struggled at his bonds, trying to tear free, but to no avail. Malcador nodded. "I see." He struck again, this time in the chest.

I woke up because of the tons of explosions.
I saw soldiers running away. I heard a strange roar. I walked out of the med-bay and saw it. It was a huge brass creature it came to about 3 quarters of my hight it was eating one of the soldiers when it saw me. He released a terrifying roar i didn't move an inch and when he noticed i wouldn't be scared off he launched his attack. It was a slow but very strong charge but only thing is. He never knew about the void shields. Just before the Juggernaut collided with me the void shields sprung to live and blasted him away. This time i prepared to counter charge and before he got up.
I was already charging with my power lance held up high. He was surprisingly agile for his size and i only managed to disable one of his legs. Just before i got away he hit me with his horn right in the torso and i felt his strength. I decided i should move towards ranged combat and made some distance from him. I aimed my plasma annihilator at him awaiting his charge.
It was a very aggressive charge it felt like he gathered all his strength into this last attack. With a bestial roar that would even scare a marine he charged at me. Just before we clashed i fired the annihilator. His head was transformed into a heap of molten liquid and he just fell to the ground.
I walked up to him and said. ''Get the hell of my ship!'' And with that i kicked him into one of the openings he created.
I opened my vox and made contact with captain dreph. ''Captain i have neutralized the Juggernaut where do you need me?'' I said while i walked around assessing the damage done. I realized that to contain the situation i should move up to the next stage of control. I walked towards the room where the machine spirit was hold. I realized that what i was doing was very dangerous and i would have to fight 2 very powerful entities to succeed.

"The fight never ends in the dark city my boy, but it is not the type of fight you are used to. It is a war of assassins and trickery. No Space Marine could fight fully in this war, barring those of the Alpha Legion or Raven Guard, but you make such excellent body guards. So today you begin training as a counter-assassin. You must constantly employ your enhanced senses to notice attackers coming from any angle. Especially the wayward 'Kabal' of the slave boy Vect. He thinks to lead a revolution against the Noble Houses. But we will crush him like the rest, despite his support from the lesser houses. The White Flames will rule forever!" Yllithan said as they walked through bustling side streets.
"Why don't you all have Space Marines then? Hell why haven't any of you stolen the Emperor?" Nero asked.
"Because to bring any psyker here is dangerous, so to bring the most powerful one to ever live would be suicide." Yllithan explained.
"Well I'm a psyker, why aren't I a danger?" Nero asked.
"Because your power, the Terrorsight, is not drawn from the Warp like all others, it is drawn from the power inside of you." Yllithan explained, coming to a halt next to a shop that bore a strange seal and said Coven Wares, for all your fleshcrafting needs. Yllithan led them inside and Nero was shocked to see lengths of skin hanging on racks, organs floating loosely in jars, some human, some... other. A hunched gaunt Eldar came swooping out of the back rooms, he appeared spider-like due to his four sets of arms and quadrupedal legs.
"Why have you brought this boy? Is he for training, or selling?" The spider asked in a thick accent that belonged to the near eastern countries of Terra.
"I want you to train him. Make him bigger, tougher, and stronger. I will leave you to your work." Yllithan said, turning on his heel and marching out of the shop.
"Come with Master Aemon, you will get your training." The spider said and scuttled into the back rooms, Nero close at his heels

Antioch jumped back down and ran to the armory down the hall from the breach in the hull. He demagnetized his backpack and secured the jet pack on his body, then went back, and flew through the breach. He came up and saw Caldrek, walking on the side of the ship, he hurtled toward him, Caldrek raised the Meltagun in his direction, and he spiraled out of the way. Drawing his blade he flew in and snapped the weapon in twain. Caldrek's deadly combat weapon appeared in his own hand, but Antioch had no fear. He could match Dreph or Hectoris in skill, one on one, however, the formidable armour they both possessed, as well as the strength of Hectoris, and Dreph's mind, which was at least as powerful as Antioch's own. He had no reason to fear this metal man, he could match him. They moved, the flurry of the blows impressive, especially in the vacuum of space. All of their hits glanced off, space gave them no ability to use gravity or weight to their advantage. "Rephosus, I need a little help here", He said into the vox. As he spoke, another breach appeared, and Hectoris's brazen steed flew out of it.

Dreph gathered up Aloysus.

"Are you alright, Apothecary?"

He went to put him in his room, but buckled over in pain, a searing sensation coming from deep within. The Blade of Lost Souls had begun to harvest on him.

He staggered up, but his resistance was weakened. The creatures of the Warp drew close.

Hectoris screeched.

The constant pain enthralled him, clouding his mind.

I was walking towards the machine spirit holding bay when i heard sergeant antioch vox. ''Reph i need some help.''
I picked up the pace and arived in the holding bay. I walked towards the giant machine where the machine spirit was resting and hooked myself to it.
I felt a huge shock and i fell in a trance i had to fight the machine spirit.
The machine spirit manifested as a titan and he said. ''Who dares disturb me?!'' I shouted. ''Me rephosus of the brotherhood of orion. I will control you and the ship and you will bow down to me!'' My powers began to work fully and he fell to a knee and said. '' My lord i will bow down to you your power is supreme.' And with that i took complete control of the ship. The first thing to do was help sergeant antioch. I made a couple of machine arms appear and began restraining caldrek. I opened the ships speakers and said. ''All ship members i have taken control .i advice the marines deploy to support sergeant antioch as soon as possible.''

Aloysus climbed to his feet. "I've had worse, Captain. What about you, are you injured?" He asked, checking the captain for injuries.

The arms came down to restrain Caldrek, but he phased through them and charged at Antioch. He jetted backwards, and then sent himself spiraling toward Caldrek, blade out, hoping to impale the robot.

Caldrek ducked under the blade and swiped upward, removing the marine's jetpack, and grabbed him, using his gravity pack to slam them both off the side of the ship, hard. Caldrek then phased through the wall, marooning Antioch outside the cruiser without the means to move.

Caldrek ran down one of the coridoors, hoping to find the engine room and disable the engines, and came face to face with a pink thing with claws standing in front of a shimmering haze. Caldrek tilted his head slightly to the left, analysing these new creatures, assessing them for possible dangers. The creature was unmistakably female, and was clearly supposed to be seducing male soldiers. Caldrek knew that before biotransferrance, their lack of clothing may have meant something to him, but no longer. The woman walked up to him and began walking around him, running one of her claws over him. Caldrek figured she was just trying to figure out what he was, just as he was trying to figure out what she was.

At that moment, a sword erupted from Caldrek's chest, glowing red. Caldrek recognised it as one of the ones that the daemon-hectoris had stabbed him with down on Catachan. The penny dropped, he was looking at a Daemonette. Phasing out, and taking the sword with him, Caldrek moved to behind the deamonette and wrenched the sword from his back, finding it to be a Hellblade. Caldrek impaled the Daemonette, just as the Bloodletter had impaled him, and phased back in. The Bloodletter charged at Caldrek. Caldrek kicked the Daemonette off the end of his new sword, distracting the Bloodletter momentarily, and drew one of his pistols. One shot, and the red Demon fell, dead. Caldrek continued on his search for the engine room, Hellblade in one hand, pistol in the other.

Nero had been rebuilt. The flesh-crafter had made him thicker and his skin denser. His bones had been reinforced with extra ceramite and he was unbelievably tough. He could easily shoulder wounds that would kill other marines and his senses had been updated to focus in the darkness of the Eternal City. He could also move as fast as any of the Eldar, with the exception of the dread wyches. Aemon was training him now, swinging razor-edged blades while Nero ducked and swayed. Meanwhile, back in the materium, Sedirae was making preperations to leave, he had lost contact with Nero and nothing else was holding him with the Children. He went and joined the Warmaster on Davin, and later word came that Horus was gravely injured in the fighting.

"I am fine, Aloy-"

Dreph doubled over in agony, the blade tearing out his very soul as it tears through bone and flesh.

He fumbled about, gasping for air.

Aloysus hesitated for a moment, then turned him over and began to treat him.

"Stay with me, sir!"

At that moment Caldrek burst around the corner, leaping over the marines before another Daemon followed after him.

Aloysus looked the Captain over, but he could see no signs of any injuries. He had to get him to the Apothecarium. At that moment a Necron had rounded the corner and vaulted the marines, followed by a daemon. Rising, he drew his bolt pistol and slung the Captain over his shoulder.He took aim and fired a shot at the daemon, destroying its head and causing it to dematerialise. He turned and shot at the Necron, breaking its leg and causing it to fall. "Rephosus!" he shouted into the vox "Activate the magnets in hallway 09-30, Section C." There was an electrical whirring, and the electromagnets started, clamping the Necron to the floor, so that i t could not rise. "There's a present for you there, Rephosus. Your Necron friend!" he chuckled. The laugh faded in his throat as a horde of monstrosities burst round the corner. Firing a burst into them Aloysus took off down a side corridor, still carrying the Captain, headed for the psychically warded Apothecarium.

caldrek mended his leg without a thought. Then he phased out, heading for where the screams of Hectoris-Daemon were coming from. caldrek happened to have a Tesseract Labyrinth on him, so the once-proud astartes will be going into the device.

When Caldrek arrived, still phased out, the chaplain was finishing the interrogation. One final scream of difiant rage saw the chaplian's blade sink deep into the Terminator-Daemon's side. All to soon the Damonic growths all over the astartes' body started reversing themselves, and a fine red dust seemed to float out of hectoris. The dust grouped together and solidified into Scarspite, who roared at the Chaplian and began charging at him. Caldrek reacted with a practiced timing, drawing the small knife that was his Tessseract Labyrinth. He threw it across the room, where it embedded up to the hilt in Scarspite's back. The Daemon seemed to implode around the puncture wound as it was drawn into the device. Caldrek walked to where the Labyrinth was on the floor, picked it up & sheathed it, then phased in. Hectoris sat up, still wounded and opened his mouth to warn the Chaplain of who Caldrek was, but Caldrek punched him in the face, knocking him out cold. The chaplain ran from the room.

Antioch's suit was now unpowered, without either the jetpack or his backpack, he knew that he had about 3 minutes of auxilary power, he was, however, adrift in the void. He drew his bolter and fired, propelling himself onto the side of the ship. As he grabbed it and climbed closer to the hole, his armour lost power. He shed his armour and climbed into the hole. He saw Antioch run past with Dreph on his shoulders. He ran with them as they went, and made it to the Apothecary bay first, unsealing it. He voxed Rephosus, "I need a new set of armour, can you build me an artificer suit?"

Dreph hung limp. A strange feeling of power rippled over his skin.

"Aloysus..."

"What, sir?"

"Stand me up."

Dreph propped himself up on the hilt of the sword. He focused on the Daemons that leapt towards him.

Zap.

Great arcs of lightning leapt from his fingers. A flurry of razor sharp fragments of pure energy tore apart their flesh.

Dreph's eyes began to glow an incredible blue, the same colour that emanated from the runes on the side of the blade.

Apollus was sleeping. A deep sleep until the next time his company needed him for battle. His head snapped awake. Rustling and scratching could be heard outside of his suit. It sounded like a loud drone of an insect swarm. Using his mind impulse link he activated the armour's joints. His cognitive sensors flickered open revealing his surroundings.

Monsters. Abominations. Daemons. A great horde was screaming past his motionless form, crawling, slivering and clawing there way through the docking bay. All manners of horrors were materialising themselves from the walls. No two creatures were alike, some adorned horns, some with thousands of eyes and skin that seemed to be alive with the agonised souls of humans. Wailing beasts with great sythes for arms, fat waddling giants putrified and bloated, red daemons blazing with fire carrying terrifying weaponry.

The moment Apollus could move his limbs was the moment he began sweeping his great fist and swinging his mighty sword. His assault cannon began whining to life, spinning the chambers until a great roar burst from it's barrel. The immediate area around Apollus became a killzone. His sword cleaving through rotten flesh, his fist crushing skulls and his cannon ripping apart torsos. The daemons tried to press their numbers against him, trying grab hold of his limbs and pin him down.

A small horned gimp tried to grasp his wrist but had not anticipated the chainsaw attachment. It whirred to life trapping the gimp's pathetic body in its teeth. The chain was clogged with gore but managed to push most of it out with a quick but throaty burst. Apollus gave a hearty laugh at the sad beasts attempts.
"COME TO ME... WARP SCUM, MEET... YOUR DEATH!"

As if answering his challenge a giant muscle bound champion came forth. Killing all in it's way the great daemon stood twice as tall, carrying a mighty axe the half bull, half goat rushed forwards.
"Emperor... preserve me" thought Apollus. However daunting this new opponent, he would still face it in battle. The daemon gave a furious roar with enough force to remove the blood and bile off Segari's armour. He charged forward swinging a punch into it's stomach. With all the forward momentum of his attack Apollus kept stomping forward with the champion still bent over his fist until they reached a wall which he slammed the beast into. The deamon pinned to the wall lifted it's great axe above his head, bringing it down with great force onto Apollus' rear engine.

This was a grave mistake. The daemon was now weaponless, it's axe buried into his back luckly missing vital machinary. If only the goatman could see the contemptor disformed smile on his mutalated face. His sword punched through it's guts, then sliced it's way up and through the daemon's disgusting face cleaving it in two. As the champion fell into two pieces Segari turned to face the horde once more.

He was not suprised to find twelve more similar to what he had just killed. Not to mention the ever growing mob around them.
"This was going to be a... glorius day" said Apollus.

The Red monsters emerged from the Psychic blast relatively unscathed, Antioch thought of Hectoris, resistant to the Psychic powers thrown at him. He rushed forward to meet the 4 red Daemons who charged at the stooping Dreph. He was fast for a Space Marine, but unarmoured, this speed nearly doubled. He impaled the first, then slid under a second, carving it in half from groin to chest. The third he punched in the face before stabbing it in the chest. The final Daemon approached him, as it did, he spun and lopped of the blade arm, and slicing the second arm of with the backstroke. The he stood up tall and severed its head. "Aloysus," He said, "Get Dreph into the med-bay". As he hoisted the captain through the door, Antioch sealed it.

Hectoris let out another scream, which turned to a splutter as Holy Water was poured down his throat. He coughed it up. He looked as normal, all transformation gone, but Malcador insisted that his pain at the contact of salt and silver proved he was possessed.
"How are there Daemons on this ship? How did they get here?!" Malcdor screamed in his face.
"There was a warp gate opened in my holding cell, the one my Juggernaut came through, "the Hectoris side of Them, now dominant, cried out, the pain unbearable. He blacked out for a moment.

____________________

He was back in the Warp, Scarspite stood before him. Scarspite looked different though, clad in brass plates with symbols of Skulls upon it. A cloak of skulls flowed from his shoulders.
"Hello Hectoris, " he hised, his purple tonguie flicking out.
"What is this, I saw you destroyed!"
Scarspite paced around like a caged lion, his Hellblade scraping the floor as he stalked around. "You are strong of body to contain a Daemon, and strong of soul too, but weak of mind. These characteristics makes you perfect for our plan."
"Our?"
Scarspite turned, and grinned, his exposed fangs barred in evil joy. "We are in your soul Caecilius, the part that resides in the Warp. It just so happens to reside near Khorne's Skull Throne." He paused before delivering his final line. "There are thousands of us in here. The one you saw absorbed into the alien's weapon was just a Lesser daemon, foolish enough to strike before it was time."
At his words the darkness fell away like a cloak, revealing there was thousands, if not millions of Bloodletters, arrayed in ranks, swords in hands, the lust for blood and skulls like a howl to the heavens. Daemonic canines stalked up and down, Bloodletters riding Juggernauts in behind. A Chariot pulled, by what seemed to be a Jugernaut, and the head of the one Hectoris had summoned. Suddenly, the rest of it appeared in a blaze of fire and gore.
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Far away, in space, the headless Juggernaut imploded in the same manner
____________________

Hectoris looked at Scarspite, who had given him power beyond that he could gain on his own, someone he believed he could use, if not trust. "Why does Malador ask for your true name? Who are you, Scarspite?"
The Daemon move in a supernatural blur, tearing a hole in his chest with his claw. Hectoris sank to his knee, stunned. He saw the colossal sillouette of a humanoid figure rise behind the horde, a great axe large enough to level a mountain, wings that could block out a star. The daemon Herald raored a signal.
"I am the Skulltaker, Chamion of Khorne!"
His roar was taken up by the legion of Daemons. The collosus, raised its horned head, the power of its roar shocking Hectoris to full awareness.
________________________
Confessor Jerimiah stood before him. Hectoris suddenly realised he was seeing both scenes at the same time. Scarpite, or Skulltaker as he was truly known, was riding towards him, streams of Bloodcrushers leading the charge, Flesh Hounds at their heels, followed by the foot soldiers. The collosus took flight, the liftoff shaking the very ground.
"Run Confessor!"
The elderly Chaplain stepped back, just as the Chariot exploded from his chest. Malcador vanished in a flash. Skulltaker's sword flashed down, and Hectoris saw the spray of blood against the wal, and the headless corpse fall to the ground. Juggernauts and Hounds lept from his chest, and Skulltaker led the charge, racing through the door, the brazen beasts taking him to enormous speeds, hacking at those before him, each stroke taking a life and head. Jugernaut-mounted Bloodcrushers followed suit, preading into nearby corridors, whiler Flesh hounds raced ahead, taring apart those which were too slow to escape. Hectoris screamed as the wound widened, and the stream of Daemons increased, coming out as many as 3 or 4 infantryat a time.
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Far away, in the holding bay, the portal where Hectoris had been held was the same, a tide of bloodhungry Daemons pouring into reality. Even the Emperor's children could not stand against such a force, the one squad of Luna Wolves already wiped out, and almost all of the living, whether human, animal or Servitor were already dead. None would be able to stop this tide.

My anger grew and grew and when the creatures burst from hectoris i screamed into the warp and realspace. ''ALL OF YOU GET THE FETH OUT OF MY BLOODY SHIP!!''
The anger and power was so large that they where stunned for a moment and some where weakened. Just before they regained their power. I summoned over 800 automated heavy flamer turrets and i hid all the allied members using force shields using my augmented magic powers.
The ship was being purged for 2 hours straight now and there didn't seem to be an end to it. When i heard a colossal scream come out. Through the camera feed i could see it was a giant blood red monster clad in brass armor. But just before he could rush out of the room a stunning surprise was awaiting him. I had the claws that where normally used to stop boarding ships turn inside out. And i had 4 of those giant claws aiming at him. With a giant burst the claws launched and his body transformed into bloody gush of red black and brass armor.
I saw caldrek was still alive and put him into a stasis field to be imprisoned later. I wanted to open the vox when i saw their leader storm through the holding cells running towards me wanting revenge.
I would be able to hold out for a while but my powers where severely weakened by my actions so i needed to be rescued or i would be massacred.

The vox crackled "This is Rephosus to anyone who can hear me. I require your assistance immediately. I can keep the ship running as long as the daemons are kept off me. I need help. If you recieve this please respond!"

Aloysus replied. "Rephosus, this is Aloysus, I am with Captain Dreph and Sgt Antioch. We will try to assist you. Hold firm, brother, for the Phoenician and the Emperor." He turned to his brothers. "We must assist Rephosus." "I will need armour then, Aloysus." replied Antioch.

"That will not be a problem, Sergeant Antioch." rang a deep, fluid voice. The three marines turned and immediately dropped to their knees. "My Lord!" muttered Aloysus. "It so happens that there is a suit of artificier armour hidden in this Apothecarium, waiting for this moment, as Malcador foresaw." Fulgrim continued, opening a hidden panel in the wall to reveal a master crafted suit of power armour. "Don it, Antioch. It was made for you!" he laughed as Antioch moved to put on the plate, touching it reverently, before growing serious "I do not know where your path leads you, Dreph. You and your marines have felt the touch of a darkness that mankind was never meant to know, and you have all succumbed. Many of you have broken those chains and risen stronger, while others believe themselves these powers masters. Except one. I sense that your Apothecary, Aloysus, is different." Dreph and Antioch immediately raised their bolters, aiming at Aloysus. "Put your bolters away, my sons. He, alone among you, has stood true to his path while others faltered and failed. Listen well to his council, Dreph, for it is pure. I also sense that there is an unresolved choice over him, you must watch him carefully. But enough of this. I do not know your Company's path, Kalar, but I have been warned to let you be, and so I shall. Your Techmarine, Rephosus, calls for our aid, and we must answer. To arms, my sons, and we will yet prevail!"

Fulgim opened the door to the corridor and stepped forth, weilding Fireblade and smiting the daemons as Kalar, Antioch and Aloysus flanked him, cutting down daemons by the score. "CHILDREN OF THE EMPEROR!" Fulgrim shouted. "DEATH TO HIS FOES!" chorused the Captain, Apothecary and Sergeant.

Nero heard the screams of his comrades as Yllithan showed him the portal to the Materium. Nero's grip on his bolt pistol tightened. A slave bearing a cask of wine stepped forward and Nero smattered him against a wall with a backhanded swing. He had felt empty since the First Son burned away due to the stress of living in Comorragh.
"Give me men. I will lead the host to help them." Nero said.
"And what would that give me? Its all about the benefits in the dark city." Yllithan said, boredly toying with his knife.
"You can have the Imperial Army Regiment. All of them. They will keep the pits filled for a week at least." Nero responded, perfectly willing to give up a few thousand guardsmen for his squad mates.
"Fair enough, I will assemble the banners. For your service I want you to accept this as a gift." Yllithan said and gave Nero an eldritch blade of alabaster steel. He felt a warm touch as he grabbed its handle and allowed himself a shudder of pleasure.
"It may seem a normal power weapon now, but wait for its blessing and it will help you in your time of need. Now my banners are ready, lets bring the pain to these daemons." Yllithan said and tossed a disk from his belt. A whirling black portal whipped up as it hit the ground and they jumped through.


Nero came into the materium fighting. He parried a swing from a gnarled black Hellblade and repaid its wielder in kind with a bolt shell. He spun and hacked down another two of the warriors. He saw Yllithan vaulting and slicing, killing a score of the red beasts within a few seconds of his arrival. More portals popped up across the ship and soon the white and orange of the White Flames filled the room. Splinter fire tore open their daemonic hide while darklight vaporized mighty tunnels of them. Nero saw the Reavers fly out of a portal just as a team of bloodcrushers made themselves apparent from around a corner. The Arena Champion Drakh-Nye-a gave a curt nod to the slavering warhost and revved his bike. Their mounts pawed the ground and the Reavers took off. They shot back and forth down the corridor, banking and making more runs at each end. Thin blades raked deep gorges across the steel flesh of the mounts, occasionally shooting out to dismantle a rider. Soon five dead Juggernauts lay amongst an equal amount of riders and the Reavers had shot down the hall to find more fun. A mighty greater daemon rose from the carnage and roared, its new form dripping with carnage. Nero whistled and it turned. Hatred boiled up in its eyes, each piercing the darkness with the fury of a new-born sun. Nero twirled his blade and holstered his pistol. The Bloodthirster cracked his whip and charged at Nero. He took his new blade in two hands and crouched low. At the last second he hurled the gift that Aemon had given him to the ground. It was a dense black sphere that had absorbed the energy of every one of Aemon's victims for the past millenia. Mixing his own psychic energy into the burst of purple light that came from the orb as it shattered he sent a bolt more powerful than a lascannon straight into the beasts chest. It was lifted to the roof and crashed down, a hole smoking where its armored torso had been. He ran towards where his squad icons were all deployed, the Apothecarium.

Great gout of flames and smoke came out of Dreph's hand, the runes on the Blade of Lost Souls again changing to the colour of the fire. The white light that replaced his eyes turned whiter as he charged onwards, burning through Daemons like hot butter.

So was born Dreph Kalar, first and last Librarian of the Emperor's Children Legion, one of the most powerful Psykers to ever grace the galaxy.

"FOR THE EMPEROR!"

He ran forth, entities flying from hand, cutting through the foe.

Apollus could not move his armour. The ground around him had become a quagmire of melted steel and roasted daemon flesh. The docking bay had been completely purged with fire, evaporting all life except for the Contemptor. The dreadnought had barely made it through the inferno. He was scorched to a black crisp, joints unable to move after being wielded together by the insane heat. Everything else in the bay hadn't fared as well as Segari.

Most died where they stood, their black rigid statues all that remained of the great army that had penetrated the ship. Ooze from the rotting beasts collected and bubbled, sizzling on the white hot surface. There was not much he could do, except wait and watch the barbequed battlefield.

Skulltaker sweeped his blade down, decapitating yet another Eldar with a sinle stroke, her speed no mtach for his. Daemon Princes hammered gigantic swords and weapons at the enomous walker again, wearing its shielding away. Abominations to daemonkind! he thought. Mortals in a Daemon's form! Still, they had their uses. Skulltaker's left hand Juggernaut growled and bit another Eldar in half, while the right hand one reared and smashed a flimsy Jetbike underfoot, the pilot trnd to puree and the bike to debris.

"DAEMON!!!" came a roar as Fulgrim, flanked by Aloysus, Kalar and A ntioch. Skulltaker lept from his Chariot, blade in hand, taking a Predator stance, blade raised above his head in a eagle's grip, pointing towards the ceiling and slightly behind him. Daemon's moved to intercept them, but the 3 marines shot them to bits. A Flesh Hound lept at the Primarch who spun, slicing it in half, his sword burning with as much fury as Skulltaker's own. Skulltaker roared his own challenge, "You bested me once mortal, while I wasa trapped inside that moron! He slowed me down. But now you won't do that again! I challenge you to single combat, a fight to the death. A fair fight as dictated by my Lord Khorne! No psykers, no tricks, no interference!"

Fulgrim pointed his Fireblade at the Skull covered Daemon. "I accept your challenge! Should I win, when I win, you shall leave. No Daemon shall fight untill our battle is won!"
"Agreed." The Daemon Princes stopped, and turned to watch the duel.
"Name yourself daemon."
Skulltaker grinned. He enjoyed calling his name. "I am the Skulltaker. First Bloodletterof Khorne, slayer of Champions, Herald and Champion of Khorne and the best duelist that ever existed in this world or the Warp! I am made for single combat and I shall not lose!"
Fulgrim drew his sword in an arc, switching hands as he did.

"we shall see." he mutered. He was interupted by a Anticoh, who appeared at his elbow.
"Please my Lord, allow me to duel on your behalf, as the Company, Chapter and legion's Champion. You need to live my lord, should this Daemon lie and cheat, your death would destroy this Legion. Allow me to repent my sins my being your Champion." he pleaded, his head bowed.
Fulgrim stared at this at this marine, the one who had once been a Tactical Squad sergeant. now a Champion of the III Legion.
"Perfection in all things, my son!" Fulgrim cried, his voice filled with pride, as he planted the Fireblade into the ground before Antioch, and stepped back. Antioch stared at the magnifcent blade, unfit for any hand but the pale white of his Primarch, or the mercury of its maker, Ferrus Manus. He stared at Fuklgrim, who nodded his approval. Fulgrim turned to the Skulltaker.

"Anticoh shall be my Cham,pion, and represent me, the Legion, the Emperor in this duel!" he declared, as Antioch drew his Primarch's sword, imbedded in the floor, and stepped to meet the Daemmon in single combat. Daemonic runes flowed to the floor. a firey shield went up. None woukld disturb this duel.
_______________________
Far away, in theReclusium, Hectoris cried out as a massive Daemon Prince clawed its way out of his chest. he could not take much more. he had to seal this portal. He strained as hard as he could against his iron bonds but to no avail. He should have been able to break these.he had punched through Ferrocrete and plasteel but could not break a soft metal like iron? The thought disgusted him. His anger built p into a firey inferno that poured out from the great rent inside his chest, and the chains snapped as he heaved them from the wall. He raced to the table and poured holy water on the rift, followed by salt. The wou8nd started to shrink but did not close. He lifted a torch from its brazier. He took a breath, and pressed it to his flesh. The Bloodcrusher sqeezing through wascut in half, its head severed. Thus cauterised, Hectoris picked up a Bloodletters blade, and his shield which was on the table. Even without Scarspite, or Skulltaker's aid, he could still be faster and stronger than anyother marine, his physique greatly enhanced though no where near the monstrosity he was before. he set off at a run, heading to the holding cell where the second warp rift was. he woukld not let that colossus on this ship.

Dreph halted. He heard the massive psychic scream let out by Hectoris. Without hesitation he ran.

Dreph had remembered when he was a servant of the dark gods. He despised his past self for being so blind to this.

His augmented eyes had been removed. The great light had blinded him once more, but now his psychic talents allowed him to see again.

"HECTORIS!"

He met him running down the corridor and followed.

Segari tugged and strained in his mind trying to get the dreadnought to budge. A crack was heard and his foot dislodged from the lava like sludge on the deck. Another pull and his arm moved, the layer of caked ash cracking apart and falling off. His suit had cooled so much that it was far more hardened than before making movement difficult. Slowly he trudged foward causing his armour to creak and more of the hardened magma to break apart. He was glad to be able to move again.

Scanning his immediate area he found an exit . Great fires raged in the docking bay, caches of weaponary and vehicles erupted in enourmous explosions. Segari was crumbling the burnt statues of his enemies as he walked. Apollus tried to make use of his vox.
"Emporer's Children... this is Contemptor Apollus."

Skulltaker struck first, swinging his blade a huge sweeping attack that was parried with ease, as it was meant to be. he was moving much slower than normally he would. Luring the marine into a flase sense of security./ Antioch backstepped, and launched a series of attacks that Skulltaker appeared to be on the defensive. Antioch raised his blade to stroke downwards. As his blade descended, the Herald paried it to the side, pushing his Hellblade against it in a circle before stabbing it halfway up its length into Antiochs chest. The Champion dropped his sword and collapse gasping for air. Skulltaker kicked him and sent him towards the stunned Primarch. Aloysus was quick to react, immdiately working on Antioch to save him. The wound was not fatal. Fulgrim gripped the silver hilt of the Laeran blade, feeling emotion flood through him. He caught his firey sword lobbed to him buy the filthy creature, who turned to the large Daemons. they continued to smash away at the void shields. Suddenly, Skulltaker raoraed, and collapsed into dust, absorbed by the Tesseract Knife Vargard Cladrek stabbed into him. Caldrek stood eyeing up ther marines. He nodded his respect to ther mighty warrior. Even Fulgrim wopuild need to recognise his aid, and returned the gesture.
Without warning the Knife exploded in a mass of green shards and fire, and Skulltaker reappeared. "Foll! You think you can trap me in the materium, without a fair fight. Lord Khorne is my master and his patronage will mean I shall slay you, with my bare talons if need be!" He lept forward with a bestial roar, Caldrek phasing out to avoid the blow, but suddenly he phased back in, the God of war's powers blocking him from doing anything but fight. His Gravity Pack wouldn't work either. he drew his weapons and prepared to fight.
_____________________
Hectoris turned to face kalr as he came towards him, swinging a strike at the Captain, who parried and struck in return. hectoris blocked with his shield and punch his sword hand into Kalar, who rolled with the punch and then sent a blue bolt of energy into him. hectoris was knocked to the ground.
"Hectoris enough! We must not fight, we can't! There are daemons and we must stop more from coming through!" kalr lowered a hand, offering a help up to his feet.
"You are a Psyker?"
"Yes"
Hectoris snarled, but accepted the hand.
"The rift is in my holding cell before Skulltaker called the beast. They are trying to summmon something. A colossus, a Daemon Lord."
Kalr was stunned. "We can't let it happen!"
"They need to sacrifce 888 skulls to the rift before him can come through. If we deny them even one we will suceed."
Kalar nodded. The two set off at a run for the holding bay.
___________________
Fulgrim raced towards the trio of daemons. He lept into the air, the Fireblade cleaving into the shoulder of one. he wasn't as tall as them, but he still came up to their shoulders and was just as powerful. He dodged an enormous maul swung at him and stabbed the owner in the chest, staggering it.

Dreph charged down the corridor, his mind set on the task.

His mind had been opened. He could sense the slightest taint of daemonic possession and could solve problems in seconds that Horus himself would struggle upon.

At that moment, a great tide of Daemons began to pour in, screeching his name.

Antioch dueled with the Skulltaker, but he soon realized this for was beyond him. This creature was not mortal, it was from the immaterium. He felt the sword pierce through his chest, decimating organs, destroying flesh and armor. Antioch watched Aloysus run to his side, and then he blacked out.

ignore

Caldrek didn't care about Khorne's rules. He didn't care about anyone's rules for that matter. He was phasing in and out, locking blades and shooting the daemon as often as he could. Skulltaker had already accrued several wounds, none of which seemed to be serious. The daemon was confused about Caldrek himself though. Serving the Blood God, Skulltaker was used to spilling blood. Caldrek had no blood to spill, so Skulltaker kept on trying to live up to his name and decapitate the Necron. This meant the blows could easily be anticipated and parried, countered or, if necessary, phase out to avoid. This enabled Caldrek to get the daemon angry, so it's blows were unco-ordinated, but fast and heavy. Caldrek saw the daemon swing down, aiming to cleave the Vargard in two, and Caldrek swung his own, short, sword to meet his adversary's. Upon connecting the blades, Caldrek twisted his own sword to be pointing at Skulltaker's shoulder. Caldrek fired the weapon, blowing Skulltaker's arm clean off. As the daemon howled in pain, Caldrek said loudly "Skulltaker, I take your skull!"

Caldrek swung up and around, coming down like an executioner on Skulltaker and the head of the daemon bounced away across the floor. The headless corpse fell on it's side. All of Skulltaker's bits caught fire, and burnt to ash at an inconceiveably fast rate, except the Hellblade. Caldrek sheathed his own weapons and picked it up.

Caldrek looked at the crowd of marines. If he could have smiled, he would have done. Then he phased out, and returned to his Dynasty.

Sorry, double post

"WE ARE HERE FOR THE ONE CALLED KALAR!" rang the hideous scream.

"Very well, Daemon. Here I am." Dreph replied, unconcerned about the ever growing tide of Chaos scum. A great howl rang out, and the two marines were smothered.

Dreph swung his blade in a great arc, cutting through bone and flesh with ease. Bolts of lightning and gouts of flame poured from his imbued hands.

Hectoris was still more powerful than anyother marine, thanks to the musclelature enhancements his time as a Daemonhost had granted him. He was smashing Daemons apart, left, right and centre. And then there were none. They were all dead.
"Kalar, we must get to the rift.
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They arrived. They ran out but quickly ducked behind a wall. A half finished pyramid was being built in the centre of the room, surrounded by headless corpses of humans, Luna Wolves and a few of the III Legion. Daemons stalked around, patroling, Flesh Hounds sniffing the air. Without warning an exceptionly large, 3 headed Hound howled, and sxores of Hellish canines raced towards their position. The Daemon's stacking the skulls speeded up, but each bloody cranium was placed with care, prefectly stacked. Hectoris stabbed the first beast as it lept, and slashed another as it fell. Then he was bowled over as the 3 headed one smashed into him.

The daemon princes where hammering on the void shield i raised to protect myself. I saw skulltaker falling to the ground behind me but i knew that i wouldn't get help soon. I would be crushed i could already feel parts of my body submitting to the exhaustion.
I decided i would give the last of my strength to captain dreph hoping he would use it well. I concentrated all of my remaining powers and a pure beam of energy struck captain dreph. His powers increased along with that i sent a psychic message to him. It said. ''Captain i hope you can hear this in time. I don't think i will make it the amount of enemies is too high. I will send you the last of my power so you can expel these daemon scum. Maybe i will see you in the future but now im afraid i won't make it.'' But i fell unconscious directly after. I knew that the void shields would only last for 20 minutes before it would disappear . I fell into a deep sleep hoping i would be saved.

Aloysus worked quickly. The damage to Antioch was serious, but he could save him. Removing Antioch's breastplate he began stitching and patching, the narthecium on his left arm whining as it unloaded painkillers and stimulants to speed the healing process. Once he was finished he reattached Antioch breastplate and propped him up against a wall, before returning to the fighting. Fulgrim was engaged with two Daemon Princes, and a third lay dead at his feet. He was marshal perfection, and the two Daemons were hard pressed to defend themselves. As he watched Fulgrim felled another with a graceful swing that took the head off the Prince before turning to press the third back down the corridor, forcing the daemons back. Aloysus spotted an opening and took it. Drawing his power sword he charged down the corridor. "For the Emperor!" he yelled. He lowered his shoulder and used the point of his sword as a lance, his momentum smashing daemons aside while his sword drove clean through several, causing them to dematerialise. He was through the daemon lines. Fulgrim was in his element, the third Daemon Prince had fallen and he was scattering the lesser daemons like chaff. Antioch was on his feet again and was guarding the Primarch flank. "Go, my son!" Fulgrim shouted. "Help your Techmarine!". Aloysus turned and ran through the corridors, heading to Rephosus' side.

Nero spun and cut down a Bloodcrusher. He was running to join Hectoris and Kalar when he fell to his knees, his mind overloaded by a greater power.


Feel no fear, it is only me, Malcador. I am using you as a psychic beacon to attract a force of Custodes. They are the eyes of the Emperor and I am sending them to you so that the Emperor will know of the danger these daemons pose. Hold these things for five more hours and you will be successful, the Custodes will help you ensure that. Goodbye son of Horus, make not his mistakes


Nero stood shakily, deeply unsettled by Malcador's last words. Yllithan was beside him cracking his Agonizer and killing all the daemons that ran towards them. Barrages of holy water splinter fire drove back the lines of daemons. Nero could vaugely hear Aemon shouting until Yllithan gave him a smack to the helm. This returned Nero to his full consciousness and he pulled up his bolter firing at the crowded corridor. Aemon lobbed a Dark Gate into the center and a mass of daemons disappeared. Nero led his warriors through the halls and came to the location of the second rift where Kalar and Hectoris stood embattled with a pack of Flesh Hounds.
"THE DARK KIN WILL NOT BE DENIED!" Nero shouted and lept up, beheading one of the creatures with his sword before spinning and stabbing another through the neck.
"Dreph, should I take care of those builders with the pyramid?" Nero asked, shouldering another of Khornes favoured beasts aside.

Caldrek phased in, splattered with gore and scorch marks, next to Nemesor Tokarn, who was deep in conversation with a handful of Crypteks. Tokarn looked up.
"Vargard, what happened?"
With great care to each detail, Caldrek informed his commander what was happening to the Astartes. After concluding, Caldrek went to get himself cleaned up. Upon returning, Nemesor Tokarn told Caldrek to oversee the Dynasty and to gather 50 Lychguards.

_______________________________________________________________

Rephosus was in deep trouble. The Void Shields had almost gone, and the daemons were not letting up.

______________________________________________________________________

Nemesor Tokarn phased in with the Lychguards and made quick work of the daemons surrounding the shielded marine. After the damons were dead, Tokarn ordered 20 of his Lychguards to defend the marine and took the remainder of the squad hunting for Eldar of the dark variety.

Voices crackled through the vox, although Dreph couldn't understand a word.

"I will send you that last of my power..."

A great surge of energy pumped through Dreph. His heart beat faster, his palms crackled with electricity, his eyes began to burn.

"FOR THE EMPEROR!"

A gargantuan tide of pure force burst from his frame. The daemons were strewn across the floor, entombed in the skulls.

"I need to focus on the rift to shut it! Keep me safe!"

Hectoris nodded. He jumped back up and watched.

Dreph began to shut the rift.

I fell into a state of deactivation lacking the power to continue.
Because i was hooked to the ship i could still watch out for my allies and i activated some emergency systems. Using that i put up a protective void shield around captain kalar and sergeant hectoris.
I felt the nurturing power from the ships power generators slowly but surely powering me up again. I knew that i would be back in the fight after a couple of hours.

Aloysus burst into room where Rephosus was linked into the ship's machine spirit, sword at the ready. As he came through the door 20 mechanical robots with halberds and shields dropped into fighting stances. They were surrounding Rephosus who was cocooned in a void shield. Aloysus knew that the odds were stacked against him in this battle, but he had to try. He prepared for his last fight as an Emperor's Child. The enemy warriors straightened up out of combat stances and formed protective ranks around Rephosus, standing aside to allow Marius to approach him. Aloysus advanced slowly between their ranks, wary of a trick, but he reached the void shield unmolested. A small portal appeared before him and he stepped through and hurried to Rephosus' side as the portal sealed itself behind him. He looked over Rephosus. He had exhausted himself in defence of the ship, and required rest. Aloysus gave him a shot of stimulant to help him recover quicker, before drawing his pistol and sword. He would stand guard over Rephosus until he was recovered enough to fight.

Kalar's hands and eyes crackled as he tried to shut off the giant purple hole. Nero swore as he saw that the demons only had five skulls left to stack. He fired his entire bolter clip and tossed a grenade, but the Flesh Hounds all took the fire.
"WHITE FLAMES, BRING IT DOWN!" He shouted and fifty warriors flooded into the corridor, drenching the pile in splinter fire. Skulls cracked and smashed as the shredders and dark lances were brought to bear and the ritual was totally disturbed, shattering the mighty Daemon Lord's connection to the materium and killing off many of his host.

Hectoris fought with the strength of a thousand desperate men, each blow felling a Daemon. The three headed beast lay bleeding in a corner, immobile. he would deal with it later. His heart lept as he saw Nero come roaring in to the chamber, reinforcements welcome, but then fell again, as he saw the manner in which theior reinforcement's arived. Dark Eldar. His heart lept back up when the Xenos opened fire, causing several skulls in the pyramid to shatter. It would not be enough. Only 8 more skulls were needed.The 7 to make the capstone and one to top it all. But there no more bodies to take skulls from, and the portal was almost closed. e rejoced. It would be over.

Without warning, a Bloodcrusher swept by, decapitating a number of Xenos. 5 to be precise. hectoris panicked as the Bloodcrusher picked the up, lept from its mount and assembled them in the pryamid. Only 3. But those three would not be found, for none of the remaining warriors would die, their skill marking them out as commanders and combat specialists. Hectoris caught a glimpse of red blur by, and the 3 headed beast leap into the air. The Bloodletter cuaght it one handed and cut off all 3 heads, two falling in to place. Hectoris began to climb the pyramid. A black laser shot out and obliterated the last head of the Flesh Hound before it could connect with the structure. Hectoris breathed a sigh. They were saved. The Bloodletter was the last Daemon, and it would not be able to kill any of them.

Without warning, the portal, nearly sealed, exploded open, throwing everyone into the air. Hectoris was deafened as a roar enough to terrify ther Emperor himself shook the chamber. hectoris saw the headless body of the bloodletter fall to the ground as the pyramid collapsed and flew into the portal in a Maelstrom of bone and blood, the Daemons own skull in the centre. Hectoris' vision flickered as he began precieving oth realities at once. He saw the colossus rise up, face level with the rapidly expanding portal. Within minutes it would allow the creature to move onto their ship. No one would be able to stop it. Kalar sprinted to him, as best he could, struggling against the chaotic winds pulling them all into the vortex. A dark Eldar screamed past him as his arms were ripped off in a shower of blood, disappearing into the spiral.
"Hec-tor-is! What do we do!" shouted the psyker, barely audible over the raor of pure hatred enminating stil around the ship. Hectoris whispered, so that no one would hear. "The Unbound comes. There is nothing we can do."

Then Hectois saw hope. A sword, embedded in the floor. At first he thought it was a Hellblade, but then he saw that th hilt was Imperial, and its pomel was an emrald cube. It was his sword. With the Tesseract Laberynth! The one that contains the Necron God, that devoured the Avatar! He could save them all. He dropped his shield and sprinted, straight for the sword. It lay right in front of the portal. In his alternate vision he saw the Daemon Lord riase its head, about to push through into the world of reality. Hectoris gripped the sword underhand with both hands, hearing the echos of Kalar's voice calling his name. He lept, raising the blade above both hands, into the portal.

Reality vanished, replaced by the warpspace, and the leering face of An'ngrath the Unbound, Hectoris stabbed down with all his might as he fell, the ragged blade sinking to the hilt in the Exalted Daemon's forehead. The Daemon fell backwards as Hectoris detached the Tsseract from the weapon, and fell the next 500 feet, landing on his front. He screamed as he fet his ribs break, and both his lungs exploded. He gasped momentarily before the Multi-Lung could take over. He staggered to hisfeet as An'ngrath rose up. He was [i]enormous[./i]. Enomous didn't even apply here. He was bigger than the Knight Rephosus was piloting. Hectoris had never seen a Reaver or Warlord Titan, but from the specs he read on them, Khorne's Exalted Champion was bigger than them. He axe was the size of a Baneblade, and that was only just the grip. That blade could level mountains. hectoris stood firm, gazing past the monstrousity to see legion upon leion upon legion of Daemons. Too many to possibly count.
An'ngrath bellowed, hi voice to loud to hear, yet somehow penetraing the m,ind, his very words painful to the nerves, searing pain lashing through his body as the sound waves battered his form. "I am An'ngrath, th Unbound. You shall die, human sum, betrayer of the Lord of battles! Speak your name so that I may smite you!"
The Daemon's arrogance was disgusting. Hetoris returned the creature's gaze, its eye bigger than a Dreadnought. He held his nerve as he answered.
"I am Caecilius Hectoris, Sergeant of the Jaded Watch, First Assault Terminator Squad of the Brotherhood of Orion, 9th Company of the Emperor's Children. We are sons of the Pheonix, Lord Fulgrim, our grandfather the almighty Emperor, and the only Legion Perfect enough to wear his Aquila upon their breasts, and I shall be the death of you, Destroyer of Worlds!" He cried out, atrianing his voice to reach that high. He prayed he did not sound as frihtened as he was. The beast laughed, a deep, menacing sound that battered his ribs with the volume. "And how, do you plan to do that, mortal.?"
hectoris winced as he raised the Tesseract, unleashing the Nightbringer.

I slowly returned to conciousness. I saw aloysus standing beside me and behind my holding room 20 necron constructs were standing
I slowly began to speak to aloysus ''A..aloysus you st...stayed with me? He looked up to me and said. ''Its only my job.'' I decided that i should directly assess the situation and provide help. I had all my remaining tech-guard soldiers gathered and deployed in a room next to mine.
I heard the alerted screams of captain drep and i rushed towards them deciding that help was all i could and should give. And suddenly my wings of fire awakened again and i was flying at full speed towards the construct. I will melt it into a heaping pool of plasma!

Antioch got up, he made his way down the hall to the armoury, and grabbed a jump pack, securing it on his armour. He ran back to the room, and saw Rephosus rise on fiery wings, but he did not head toward Dreph, as he was originally. Antioch jetted into Rephosus, knocking him out of the air. He received visions of the young marines mind, and of the Daemons malicious intent. He picked up his sword, and stabbed Rephosus's machines knee, making it far less mobile. He backed up, and ran, jetting forward into the knight, knocking it down to the floor. He pinned the knee completely down using his blade. The Knight sparked and fizzled, damaged from the attack. Antioch strode up to the cockpit, "Forgive me for damaging your machine brother, I had to stop him."

Dreph was struggling. Several of the Xenos had already disappeared into the void, and he couldn't hold on much longer.

His mind fought with the warp, trying to shut the rift. His feet left the ground.

For a moment, Dreph felt weightless. A thousand civilizations rose and collapsed in a matter of seconds. Stars flickered in and out of existence. He could see every reality at every time, like the shattered fragments of a mirror.

Thud!

Dreph looked up. Surely he should be in some sort of Daemonic bastion, walls made of flesh and brass.

But this was not the case.

He had been rescued by a group of Eldar. This was no bastion, this was the Black Library.

Nero called a council of the Dark Eldar. Yllithan, Master of the White Flames, Aemon, Leader of the Coven Contingent, and Hellaria, Lady of the Cults, were all present.
"My friends, it has been a great honor to work with you. You have shown ferocity, precision, and tactical comprehension beyond that of even a Space Marine. I would like nothing more than to travel with you and join your noble House, but my place is here, with the Emperor's Children. This saddens me as much as any of you, but it must be so. As a badge to ensure that you are always on my mind, I will paint my right shoulder pad white and emblazon it with the sigil of your house. In times of need, please call upon me and I will do all I can to help." He said, tears glistening on his garnet eyes.
"And I urge you to do the same. And as a parting gift, the eye displayed on your other shoulder pad shall appear on my personal banner from here on out. I would also like to leave you with my Blast Pistol. Its a finely crafted weapon, and it'll take a chunk out of man or metal or whatever else you point it at. Think of me when you kill with it." Yllithan said, a sad smile creeping across his gaunt face.
"Old Aemon will always be there for you, no matter the time. Take this webway portal, it leads directly to my office. Use it to get out of a sticky situation, or if you want more gear from the Dark City." Aemon said, his blind eyes vacantly looking into the distance.
"Well Nero, it is sufficient to say that we have not known each other for long, but I saw you fight, and you showed great courage. Not my favored type of fight, but it is undeniable that you are a worthy one. I would be proud to call you my kin, take my hellglaive. Its specially blessed by the Dark Muse Hekatii. Its blade will never dull, and it will fill you with vigor and speed half again what you already have. Keep her fed." Hellaria said with a chuckle.
"Now it appears that your Captain will need some assistance. Goodbye Nero, we will see you." Yllithan said and Nero looked up to see Kalar floating towards the rift. Nero thought he saw Aemon twitch and in an instant they were all gone, Kalar, the Eldar, the bodies, everything. He felt himself mouth a word to Yllithan, but even he couldn't be sure what it was.

A score of Daemons charged him, and Hectoris felt his battlelust return, strong as ever. The Warp was messing with his mind. He disarmed the first creature and slew it with its own blade, before parrying a sceond Daemon, and killing a third before breaking the second's neck, twisting its head off. Hectoris looked past the next dozen and half and saw the billions more make for a small, shining light. Another rift. A way out.

The Nightbringer Shard rose out of the Tesseract Labyrinth and was immediately enraged by the fact it was in the Warp. The marine that held the device looked up at the towering Shard with terror, even though he was surrounded by bloodthirsty daemons. The Shard snapped his fingers and the marine shot up in the air, dropping his sword, and the Shard punched it through a hole into reality that was above the his head. The Shard seen the marine bounce off the ceiling of whatever the room above was, and fall onto a small pile of skulls.

A daemon that was twice the size of the Shard, wielding an enormous axe in one hand, roared as the hole began to grow smaller at the C’tan’s presence. The daemon swung it’s mighty axe around to decapitate the C’tan but the blow passed straight through without leaving any damage at all. The Shard gathered a handful of transdimensional energy in his hand and fired it into the daemon’s face, vaporising one eye. The deamon roared in pain and swung again, but being half-blind it missed and hit the Tesseract Labyrinth, which absorbed the axe. Now unarmed, the deamon reached for the C’tan with both hands, aiming to crush him. The Shard had other ideas, and cut one of the damons hands clean off. The hand crushed twenty bloodletters as it hit the floor.

The Warp was now starting to weaken the C’tan, so he began absorbing the life force from around him. The hand degraded into nothing at a breakneck pace and several bloodletters collapsed dead as their bodies lost the energy to keep their hearts beating. Revitalised, the C’tan Shard charged at An’ngrath and began attacking everything he could, dodging the occasional punch and blocking the occasional horn thrust, succeeding in smashing in half of the daemon’s skull and ripping it’s wings out of it’s torso, leaving most of it’s back a ragged mess. The daemon then landed one blow in the C’tan’s torso, which sent him sprawling into the crowd of Bloodletters.

As An’ngrath began lumbering closer, the smaller Khorne daemons began swarming the Nightbringer. The Shard, which was now almost being killed by this accursed place, once again killed all of his surroundings, making himself feel slightly better. The Shard then had an idea. Extending his arm, he sent the fallen Power Sword into the daemon’s chest. The Tesseract Labyrinth went off again, absorbing the daemon. The plan would have worked, had An’ngrath not been too large for the Labyrinth. The device exploded, releasing it’s contents including An’ngrath’s torso (which was destroyed in the detonation) and axe. Three smaller daemon princes started attacking the Nightbringer at once, and although he had killed one of them and crippled another, the Shard went down to weight of attacks. Almost dead, the Nightbringer did one last thing. He jumped up ran at An’ngrath, discharging the last of his energy as Transdimensional electricity, cutting deep wounds along An’ngrath’s body.

The C’tan then collapsed at the almost-dead An’ngrath’s feet. The huge daemon lifted on of it’s immense feet and brought it down on the Shard. The Shard’s Necrodermis was breached, and the energy released disintegrated An’ngrath’s leg and killed a score of daemons. The falling Behemoth also crushed a clear five hundred Bloodletters, marking the end of An’ngrath’s current form.

The daemon smirked inside his prison he felt his power return and felt the portal to the wall right open. In my weakened state he succeeded to capture my body and bring me there without me knowing about it in the slightest.
I was flying at immense speeds when i saw sergeant antioch suddenly appear and with the soft words. ''I'm sorry reph.'' He stabbed me. I fell to the ground the pain brought me back to my original. After a while i looked up to the sergeant. ''It seems he needs some more punishing.'' I said as i smiled. After that i looked towards his armor and said. ''The day we have the time again i will forge a special issue armor just for you my brother it will have a far superior jump pack don't worry brother i will repay my debt.''
I saw our rescuer walk with his guard he was hunting down the remaining daemon when i saw the last daemon prince ambush him. He used his weapon i could see from the forge of souls to cut off his hand but his guards noticed and assaulted him turning him into a heap of bloody organs.
I summoned some machine tendrils and took a look at his arm i saw the problem and used the necrodermis's flexibility to reforge it to its former strength. I held it out to him and said. ''Even a lord needs 2 hand even a xenos lord.''
He accepted it but i fell to sleep shortly after. You could hear the haunted screams of M'gash through the warp as i carved yet another aquila this time on his chest.

Dreph struggled to get up. The power that he had was gone, most of it used in fighting.

"Greetings Captain."

An Eldar warrior stood above him, covered in checkers and bright jewels. Her voice was like silk, smooth and clear.

"Greetings Eldar."

She offered her hand, which Dreph refused to take.

"You have entered the Black Library. I am Elerion, a Harlequin of the Laughing God. May I show you about?"

Dreph reluctantly accepted. He couldn't navigate this on his own.

"Your talents are impressive, Captain. When you see what I plan to show you, they will be unlocked."

She gripped the hilt of the wraithbone sword on her slender waist and set off.

Hectoris and the other marines of the Brotherhood of Orion regrouped on their Primarch. Malcador had reappeared, and Fulgrim and the Sigilite appeared to be in heated debate.
"You psyker coward! You left when there was a slight whiff of danger, leaving my sons and I to fight these monstrosities alone! When my father hears of this-"
"He'll what?" The gathered marines became slilent. They had never heard anyone speak to Fulgrim, nor indeed, any Primarch in that tone. "Your father, the Emperor, granted his blessing to my abilities, and sent me here personally to investiate rumours of supernatural creatures in this Legion. I am his closest friend and most trusted advisor. He has shown on two occassions one of his sons is expendable. "
The marines exchanged confused glances, but he, eing the ancient veteran he was, and Fulgrim, both knew what Malcador spoke of. The lost Legions, II and XI, the one before theirs and the one after the Iron hands, their closest brothers, and their Primarchs. Fulgrim stood threateningly over Malcador.
"I could crush you without blinking and eye and i wouldn't lose a wink of sleep over it. Your life may be important to the Emperor, but to me,-"
"SILENCE!"
The Sglites order to the Primarch was enough to make him take a step back, Fulgrim obviously shocked at being chastised so.

Malcador stared at the Primarch a moment longer, before turning and chanting in a strange language. In moments, the image of a Necron, the Overlord, appeared. Its graining, metallic voice hurt his ears.
"I am Nemesor Tokern, speak your name, human."
"I am Malcador, the Sigilite. I was sent by the Emperor of mankind to investigate rumours of Warp creatures in the Legion of Emperor's Children pace marines. I noticed your bodyguard carries a device capable of of capturing these creatures. Although his attempt was unsuccessful, I wish to engage in parley, and negotiate for a supply of these devices. we would be meting on the planet below, on neatral rounds. "
The machine made a sound that came across as a breath. "And what would we gain in return?"
"We shall discuss that dwon there. Are we in agreement?"
The machine sighed again. "Each may be accompanied by a retinue of no more than 4, only one of which may accompany you as a bodyguard to the table of debate. I have realyed the coordinates to your ship. You have 1 hour or we shall leave."
Malcador nodded and the image evaportaed.
"Fulgrim, pick three of your finest and meet me in the Stormeagle in 10 minutes." Fulgrim nodded, sulkily. He called out the names he wanted.
"Nero, Aloysus, and Hectoris, " he called. Hectoris noted a hint of disgust as his name was spoken. "Prep for battel and meet me there."
malcador called out behind him "Bring Rephsosus too, I may need him."
Puzzled, Hectoris headed to the armoury, but when he got there, Fulgrim, his Primarch, was there.
"My lord..." he began.
"Silence!. You are a disgrace to me and the III Legion! You lost my sword, hand crafted for me by my brother Vulkan, and also lost the Avatar! Not only that, but you then released the creature that consumed it, allowed it to be destroyed, and left the sword in the warp! You allowedDaemons and corruption into this legion, costing hundreds of your brothers!"
"My lord, I am sorry..."
Hectrosi was lifted into the air, choking, as his father's hands coiled around his neck.
"When this is over, there will be a rening. I should have you killed, but due to your long service record I will allow you your life."
Hectoris dropped to the floor.
________________
As the Storm eagle, the last remainin craft of the company, swept in, Hectoris doubled over, and vomited on the floor, all over Nero's boot. He hated flying. Fulgrim was thankfully in the pilot's seat. Malcador was below in the holding bay. They landed, and upon disembarkin, Hectoris saw the Necrons alread there. 3 of them clutched long staffs the had a green enegry col at the top, and wore some sort of grav pack. Two had their taffs crossed over the Nemesor, while another stood in front of Vargard Caldrek. They seemed to be restraining the to rather than protecting them. Hectoris clutched his Thunder Hammer and his shield, the eagle's wins freshly polished on his breastplate of his Tartarus suit. The image on his shield was repainted by master remembrancer artists before they had debarked, now also showing a leaping Astartes, sword held above his head but pointing downward, leaping towards and enormous Daemon. regardless of circumstance, such a feat was duely recognised.
Nero, now wiping omit from his boot, held an eldar pistol in one hand, a Lightning claw attacked to his other, jump pack attached to his Mk IV plate. Aloysus white armour stood out in the purple brthern, his combimelta clutched in one hand, the Narthecarium attached to his left hand.
Fulgrimstood in his most regal battle palte, the fFireblade sheathed, but the heat from it evident.
By contrast, malcador wore only a simple black claok to over his form, hood up, and peaked like an Eagle's bak.
2Fulgrim, come." He said, and walked to the left, the Primarch in tow. Nemesor Tokern followed, the two Triarch Praetorians allowing him to pass. Caldrek followed. Hectoris eyed up the Praetorian on the right of the three, as the machine was doing to him. Without looking, he knew Nero and Aloysus were doing the same to the others. They were ready to fight, fi things went south. Hectoris only fear was that the enemy ships would blast them down before they could get clear, or Rephosus, just teleported dwon to the plains, would not get attacked.

The arguing between malcador and fulgrim was very heated When malcador said. "SILENCE!" I startled and felt a weird feeling of i didn't know what is was it wasn't fear but it came very close to it.
When malcador said to me that i would accompany them to the field i bowed to one knee even though it was still damaged and said. ''My lord i am not worthy.'' He looked up to me with a stern look and said. ''You will come down with us right now!''
I raised and said. ''Of course my lord i will prepare transportation directly.''
I walked towards one of the storm eagles. I took seat and opened the vox over the ship and said. ''Lord fulgrim i am ready to leave i await your orders.'' (BTW just so you know i am hooked inside the ship so i can control it myself so i am not sitting on the pilot seat but i am controlling it)
In 15 minutes they where all inside the ship and i took of after a 20 minutes ride i landed and everyone dismounted. I came out last after cutting myself of the ship. I saw everyone standing in front of eachother. The vargard was standing next to the nemesor and i greeted them. ''Good day vargard and good day nemesor of the tomb.'' With that the negotiations began.

Nemesor Tokarn noted the mechanical spirit speaking directly into his head with cold calculation, deciphering a contaminant from another dimension. At least it had the decency to call him in a formal manner.
"Machine, I do not know you. Please stop talking to me until this meeting is over" replied the Nemesor, also directly to the machine's mind.
The Phearon and his Vargard walked towards the Imperial officers, noting thier height, build and weaponry. Caldrek noted that one of them seemed unarmed, so to focus in the other if things went bad. He relayed instructions to the three Triarch Preatorians behind him to just gun the whole lot of the Imperials down if things took a turn for the worst. Caldrek was satisfied with the "Yes, Vargard" that came back to him from the Praetorians.

Tokarn reached the middle of 'no-man's-land' and stuck one end of his Warscythe in the ground, the way a Guardsman would plant his regimental banner. Caldrek stopped and loitered about one and a half meters behind his left shoulder, the Preatorians five meters behind him. The Imperials mirrored this setup, but with another trying to hide from them near the Storm Eagle. Tokarn thought this was fair, as a squad of Deathmarks had thier weapons trained on the Imperials, just in case.
"Greetings, Malcador." said the Phaeron flatly. He hated pleasentries. "What is it that you want from us?"
"You know why I am here. I offer you the chance to leave, without hassle. You will be excused from your earlier conflict and the damage you have brought, on condition you provide these devices. I possess enough power to pulp you, your warriors and your entire fleet. I could crush you all and still walk away with every piece of technology you possess!" replied the Imperial, spitting his words through his teeth.
"Except most of what you crushed would arise and stab you in the back. You seek Tesseract Labyrinths. We will not part with them easily."
"Skip your whole 'we will not give them to you' thing, what do you want from us in exchange? We will get them, even if we must destroy you to get them".
"Three of your most powerful weapons. We do not care what they are mounted on, but bring them here and we will give you as many Tesseracts as you desire".
Fulgrim's mouth fell open. Exterminatus Cannons. He wants Exterminatus Cannons.
"We cannot just give you Exterminatus-grade Firepower. The Emperor himself will ta-"
"Quiet, Fulgrim!" interrupted Malcador. "We need this technology! I do not care if I have to give him the new Contemptor in exchange for it".
"Do you have an answer?" inquired Caldrek.
"Shut up." came the Nemesor's voice inside Caldrek's head.
"We can give you the blueprints for Cyclonic Missile Launchers and the shells that it fires. IF you give us as many Tesseracts as we want, whenever we want, and the shell designs for the gun that you used to criple the Emperor's Pride"
"No weapons are worth Tesseracts and Phase Lance munitions. No deal." The Nemesor turned to leave.

"Wait!" cried one of the marines, coming forward. The Phaeron turned "One of my men, the knight pilot, was gravely injured by your bodyguard. He is very adept at machinery, and has implanted himself into a large, bipedal machine we call a Knight. Obviously this machine is quite restrictive, so my request is that you grant him a body like yours"
Fulgrim drew back his fist to punch Hectoris in the face, but Malcador raised one of his hands. "Let him speak".
Fulgrim reluctantly lowered his hand, and Hectoris walked past and went on.
"It will allow him to transfer his conciousness to it, and pilot the Knight, while being able to detach, investigate small areas and be less in the way all the time. If you do this, we can not only give you the weapon you requested, but all varients of it with plenty of ammo, and a Battleship that holds them. What say you, Necron?"
Fulgrim looked as though someone had just filled him with boiling water, and even Macaldor looked suprised.
"That might work, well done Sergeant" said Malcador

Nemesor Tokarn thought for a moment.
"Allow me a moment to discuss it"
Nemesor Tokarn bekonned Caldrek to come over.
"Isn't that one the one you paralysed?" he asked quietly
"Yes, Nemesor" replied the Vargard
"Hmm. What do you think about getting the Warship & the weapons?"
"I'd say do it. When I was down on the planet Catachan, I heard a group of the Guardsmen discussing how dangerous the weapons were"
"And?" asked the Nemesor.
"One shot kills an entire planet, Nemesor" answered Caldrek.
"Ok. Step back now" Caldrek stepped back to where he was originally, and Nemesor Tokarn looed back at the Imperials, one of which was still staring at Hectoris wanting to punch him.
"I will take your offer. I expect the Warship to be in orbit, with the only person on board the one you want me to Biotransfer, in five hours. After he has been intergrated to his new body and tested to make sure it is working correctly, we shall return to this spot with your Tesseracts, Munition blueprints and your Necron".

With that all the Necrons turned on their heels and walked away.

Antioch stood beside Dreph and Faberon, He did not know what was fully coming, though he knew that whatever it was, something would go wrong. He had set about repairing the damage done by the Daemons to the ship. There were only a hundred and fifty or so servitors left standing, and almost no Skiitari. While the council on the ground was going, he had prepared the ship. They were prepared to jump into the warp and depart, because no matter the result of this council, The Emperor's Children would never have them back. Though his foresight was clouded, he saw a dark future the entire legion. These creatures of the warp... These... Daemons, were not finished with his legion.

Nero was honored that he had been chosen to go to the surface, but the result was unsatisfying to him. Rephosus was to be permanently interred in his dreadnought, which saddened him, he had always liked Reph, the Necrons would gain a warship along with some Exterminatus rounds, and they would get some daemon catching cubes and designs for a gun. He could feel Fulgrim's anger radiating from him as he stood and watched the exchange. After it was all over, Fulgrim pulled him aside.
"Nero, son of my brother, I have a job for you. I have been shown great and terrible things by beings of untold power, and they revealed the future to me. And it involves you. You are the only one who can keep Horus open to the change that will usher in a new golden age of humanity, you must fill one of the vacancies left in the Mournival. Tarik Torgaddon and Gavriel Loken will betray your lord father, and you must take a trusted friend of your legion and replace them. I would recommend Cerberus, I saw him fight and he seemed level headed and skillful." Fulgrim said.
"Permission to speak openly milord?" Nero asked.
"Speak as though I am your brother." Fulgrim replied.
"You are bullshitting sir, I know of the Chaos that will consume my legion, and yours, and seven more. I am not afraid, I know that I must help, but you are clearly inexperienced with the ways of my legion. The Mournival must be balanced. Two men from one squad would upset this balance, thus ruining the compound. I will enter the pantheon if I am asked, but Cerberus may not come with me. It must be a Tactical Squad Sergeant. Assuming you are correct and Tarik and Gavriel betray my father, then the two who come in must be their direct replacements. I will fill the role of Gavriel Loken, New Moon. I must fill in novel ideas and out of the box solutions to the problems we face. The other person inducted, I propose Grael Noctua, will take the role of Gibbous moon, a figure that understands finality and will not be deterred by the possibility of losing his life. I can only tell you this at the moment Lord Fulgrim, whichever way the wind blows, I will stand by Horus to the end." Nero said resolutely.
I was hoping to hear that Crackled a familiar voice through the vox. Nero had heard it before in a speech somewhere. His mind flashed to Ullanor.
"Father?" Nero replied hopefully.
I have come for you my son, know no fear Horus said again and Nero swore that he saw another ship enter orbit

Carvio hacked through the dense undergrowth, his skin dappled with sunlight. He and his Command Squad moved silently, communicating with the slightest nod.

Then he came to a clearance. There lay a huge crevice in the ground, and the dark, smoke ridden hull of the Mechanicus Ship. He ordered the go ahead.

"Slaza? Open up a Vox to the 9th Company. Tell 'em we're coming for a home visit."

He opened the door, and grabbed his Laspistol. A metal man stood in the hallway.

Malcador and i walked towards an open plain, he said to me with his powerful but rather old voice. ''Prepare yourself marine we are going to the nearest forge world with a completed emperor class.''
I felt the power rush through me there was a huge flash of white as we where teleporting to the forge world. I felt daemons riping on my soul but the protection from malcador kept the daemon far away.
We arrived at the ship with his captain directly seated on the bridge. The complete crew startled by the sudden flash and directly bowed down to malcador..
He spoke. ''All of you in the name of the emperor i command you to leave this ship and leave me with this man as the only ones!''
The unloading began directly and in 1 hour everyone was out. I left for the main control room and left malcador to control the warp travel and speed.
I hooked myself to the ship but this time used my fully able powers to control the machine spirit with one command.
I began the travel towards the moon on catachan.
The warp travel begun and we launched i was able to push it to its direct limit and we arrived at the moon in 5 hours there we opened planetary communications and said ''We have arrived''.

After returning from the negotiations Aloysus returned to his chambers and fell into a deep and troubled sleep.Hi mind was tormented by visions. A wolf savaging its father, a golden brother dead by its feet. Perfection marred by excess and ecstacy. A brother turned into a mechanical abomination. A god with an ever changing face turning his back on Aloysus, as a father descended into madness. A whirl of images each more maddening and painful than the last. And throughout it all a pair of glowing red eyes watched him. A reptilian voice hissed "Your time is coming soon. The time of your decision draws nearer!". Aloysus snapped awake, shaking and covered in cold sweat. "Not now! I cannot!" he cried.

Caldrek recived the vox from the Warship.
"Nemesor, the Imperials have arrived, and appear to be ready for trading"
"Good. Go aboard and get that moody douchebag to come and get his Tesseracts"
Caldrek phase-jumped on to the Warship, appearing right behind Malcador. Without warning, the Vargard grabbed him, and phase-jumped back to the surface of the moon. Malcador broke free of Caldrek the moment they had appeared and turned around to face him drawing his Plasma Pistol. The Vargard, however, had drawn his own weapon much faster, and one well-placed shot destroyed the Plasma Pistol.
"What are you doing?!" began Malcador furiously, discarding the remains of his firearm. "We were going to land next to you"
"No need" answered Nemesor Tokarn, walking up ahead of a floating casket full of Tesseract Labyrinths. "We will simply go aboard and tell him were to fly. Once we are backon my Crown World, we sort him out, kit out the Warship with faster engines, Phase Lances and such, the we fly him back to Catachan. We might even jump start your ship, depends on how I am feeling at the time."
malcador seemed to be happy with the Necron's plan, but didn't show any slight indication of emotion.
"How many Labyrinths are there?" he asked flatly.
"3000, and, as you call them, blueprints for more. There is also a Phase Lance going to be brought along with your friend when we return him to you."
"Good." smiled Malcador. "The man needing to be *fixed* is on board the ship waiting for you"
"Thank you." acknowledged Nemesor Tokarn. "We will back within a week." Tokarn phase-jumped aboard the Warship.
"Now you need to find a way off this rock" sneered Caldrek, and phase-jumped to the Warship, leaving Malcador to swear into the sky and vox for an evac.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

One week later, Malcador was talking to the company Commissar.
"What do you mean, you can't spare any armoured vehicles?" asked Malcador
"I mean we barely have enough for ourown needs. I'm sorry, but we just don't have the resorces out here" replied the grim-faced Commissar.
Malcador opened his mouth to speak again, but a shadow fell across him, causing him to look up. The Emperor Class Warship had just exited the Necron equivalent of Warp Travel. The Exterminatus Cannon pivoted downward, and fired. A massive Drop Pod of sorts came screaming down from orbit, and the Warship disappeared again. The Pod hit the ground and burst open, hissing steam and glowing red hot. Rephosus exited the Pod astride his Knight. A massive cannon of some kind was also in the Pod. Malcador ordered some nearby Guardsmen to go and retrieve the cannon.
He attempted to talk to Rephosus, but he just strode straight by. Rephosus was looking for the one person he was going to talk to: Hectoris

Dreph came to an ancient hall. The warpage of time had made the journey seem less than an hour.

"So, Elerion, what is it that you wish to show me?"

She moved to the huge doors, smoothly and silently opening and closing them as they went through.

A small jewelery box lay on a plinth before them. Gold and bone decorations seemed to flow about the small black chest, runes crackling with light on it's surface.

"This, Captain, is the White Talisman. It's bearer is immediately transformed in body and in mind. Your mind will be opened, your frame will become enchanted with the runes that cover the container."

She opened it, and in it lay a simple jewel in a small cage, with a fine chain. Dreph picked it up and inspected the jewel. He couldn't believe such a small item could be so perfect in it's design. This was flawless. It embodies what he strives to achieve as a Child of the Emperor's Children.

He placed it over his head, and a great pulse shook his body. His body had become perfect. No bionics or augmentations. His muscles were well toned and streamlined. His skin was covered in tiny runes, glowing the same pure white as the jewel.

And his mind was definitely open, to say the least.

"Thank you, Elerion. Would you care to join me in my battles?"

The Harlequin took his hand.

"Yes."

I arrived at the necron tomb world i was informed bye nemesor caldrek of the trials. I would be true and steadfast.
I got pushed into a chamber filled with tiny scarab like creatures and when they saw me they began engulfing me. They where completely removing my organic body and slowly but surely replacing it with necrodermis. Ehen it began M'gash screamed out and began being expelled. His power began manifesting and he appeared in the real world. His wings of fire in full activity. He was engulfing the scarabs in blue colored fire and said. ''Fools i will have that body or nobody will!'' Just before he could attack again a sickly green electric beam pierced his head and he fell to the ground. I saw the vargard stand behind him he looked at the scarabs and they continued the flesh being bitten off ripped off piece by piece.
I could feel my body be replaced, my soul becoming eternal and my imperfection disappearing. I was perfect! My body had no imperfections no organic flaws i was a pure being of the machine i was utmost perfection.
The nemesor walked towards me and said through a channel that apparently only the necrons could use. ''You are one of us now a perfect being. We have given you the body of the cryptek he is a technician in our society.''
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The drop pod hit the ground with excessive force. As the doors hissed open i saw malcador standing with a commisar. I walked outside and ignored him i only had one person on my mind and that was sergeant hectoris.

I arrived at the sergeants tent.
I dismounted my knight and all the guardsman could see my new perfect form. I entered the tent and without warning gave sergeant ceacilius a brotherly hug and whispered. ''Without you the daemon would have devoured me. You have brought me perfection thank you sergeant.''
And when i let him loose he could see a sword. It was forged out of the recovered bits of the old one. I said. ''Atleast some of your honor is restored like this.'' I left deciding i should up with the other members of the brotherhood.

Acting as a temporary captain, Antioch ordered the crew to take the ship into orbit. The Storm Eagles were still on the ground, ready to ferry the remaining troops up. He prepared the ship to leave when the rest returned. He wandered through the ship and into the Apothecary room, where he saw the Combi-melta of Aloysus lying. He retrieved the weapon and strode out to wait for the others.

Aloysus saw Antioch enter, bearing his old weapon. "Do you like it brother?" he asked "It is yours if you want it, think of it as a gift for your new honour, I have no use for it in my new capacity. It has never jammed or failed on me in any way. I hope she serves you as well as she served me if you choose to bear her. She is the perfect weapon, fit for the acting captain! I am glad that it is you who leads us in the Captain's absence. I can think of none better."

He tried to keep up his usual calm demeanour, so that the others would not know that anything was amiss. It was hard, the visions troubled him greatly, but who could he tell? Better to tell noone, he decided, there had been too much corruption in the chapter already. He would bear this burden in silence until he could be rid of the daemon that haunted his dreams.

Dreph met Elerion at the portal.

"Where are we headed, Eldar?"

She didn't reply. She jumped through the portal, yanking on Dreph's arm.

Dreph landed on his feet, right in front of Aloysus.

"WHAT?!"

He was shocked by the sudden appearance of his once Captain, covered in glowing runes, alongside a Harlequin.

"Look out, Sir!"

He raised his bolter before it was hit aside by the Captain.

"Captain?" Aloysus asked "What is going on? Why do you sully the 9th's already tainted reputation by bringing this Eldar scum here?"

The deserts of Catachan were strangely soothing as the Drop Pod came down. He had stayed behind with three of Malcador's Custodian retinue to receive Horus. It crashed down into the sand and sent up a wave of dust. The Custodian's, much to Nero's surprise, cocked their Guardian Spears. As the doors slammed open and Horus, Abaddon, and Aximand came out of the pod, the Custodians lowered their spears, pointing the barrels directly at Horus' face.
"By the order of the Sigillite, you are placed under arrest." The head one said. Horus laughed.
"What Father doesn't know can't hurt him." Horus said and nodded. Nero unsheated his sword and lopped off the Custodian's head in one fluid motion. Before the other two could act Horus was on them, slicing one open with a swing from his claws, then bashing in the final one's head.
"Son, there's something we have to tell you." Horus said.
"I killed a soldier of the Emperor, one of his loyal guards." Nero said, shell-shocked.
"Yes you did, and he won't be the last. Nero, the Imperium is crumbling. We stand on the verge of the biggest tragedy that will happen to it since my brothers... Never mind. But anyway you must come with me to Istvaan, I will explain everything on the way. Also, Aximand has made a suggestion. Will you take a position in the Mournival once it is cleaned?" Horus said. Nero looked at the blood on his blade.
"Yes." He said as a smile crept across his face, a familiar power building inside of him.

Hectoris spun, hiding his bleeding back from Rephosus as he entered. When he had left, Hectoris dropped back to being seated. He felt the cold air tickle his exposed spine and ribs. He placed his head in his hands, thinking back to his punishment. No, his toture. He wept.

__________________________________________

Fulgrim marched him into a dungeon. The only light came from the braziers, purple, unnatural flames flickering from them. There were only three other people. Magnus, his second in the Jaded Watch. He clutched the plasteel chain Hectoris used to flog his marines with for failure, insolence and general imperfection. Magnus was always flogged more than anyone else. He had served longer and was most disobediant. The others were Malcador and Fulgrim. Hectoris was led to the centre of the room where he was bound and restrained. He wasn't too worried. The maximum sentence he would get was 120 lashes, and he knew he could take that. The shock almost made him stagger when Fulgrim sentenced him
"40,000 lashes!"

Magnus had Malcador stared at him for a full minute before he repeated his order. Hectoris had said to do it, and gritted his teeth. He sucked in air as the first lash struck his back.

He last only 30000. After that he broke. He was hanging down, his back shredded, bloodied and all but destroyed. Magnus dropped the chain, refusing to go on..Fulgrim backhanded him and picked up the chain, determined to see the sentence complete. He had heard Malcador shout for a cease. The whip hit harder than ever.
"ENOUGH!" came Malcador's voice. Still the whip struck. Hectoris cried out, and begged for forgiveness and mercy, moreso for his mental and spiritual sake than physical. He passed out after the 7th, just about seeing Fulgrim fly across the room, as Malcador's sigilic spell took affect.

I walked out over the plains i felt lonely. Nobody from the company had thought about meeting me. I was away for over a week and nobody even missed me. I left for the ship deciding i would just enter hibernation until i was needed again.

"Aloysus, remember your place!" snapped Dreph. "I am still Captain, and you will do as I say, no questions asked! I'm surprised at this behaviour, it is most unlike you."

Aloysus flinched. "I am sorry, Captain. I have been under a great deal of stress recently.I am not myself" Marius apologised. It may have been his imagination, but the Captain's eyes seemed red.

Dreph's face softened "As have we all, brother. But still, new glory awaits, I shall reveal all when the others arrive."

Antioch ran into Rephosus while moving to rendezvous with Dreph, "Come with me brother," He said, as he walked toward where they stood, waiting.

Dreph saw Aloysus look at Elerion harshly.

"This is Elerion, Aloysus, an Eldar Harlequin. I have asked for her to come to arms with me, and she accepted."

Aloysus just turned his head.

I turned to sergeant antioch and asked ''Sergeant do you still consider me a part of this company? I feel myself being separated like you don't think i belong. I am scared that i will be shunned by the company tell me sergeant do you still consider me a part of this company?''

Aloysus couldn't look at the Eldar creature. It had scales instead of skin, and its red eyes seemed to look right through to his soul.

"Aloysus!" Dreph said, clapping him on the shoulder "What is wrong, brother?"

"Nothing, captain, it is nothing." Aloysus replied, before hastily turning away, pretending to fiddle with the settings on his Narthecium.

Nero was strapped to the altar.
"It is okay my boy, the pain is temporary, the power is forever." The old cracked Chaplain Erebus said, cutting a line down Nero's chest.
"Kill my son and I'll blast you out of the air-lock bitch." Horus growled.
"Shut up dog, I'll do as I please." Erebus replied. Horus bristled with anger but stayed calm.
"I can see them coming for me. They're huge. NO NO NO WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYY WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY" Nero shouted as his mind flickered into the Warp and he saw the gods fighting over him. They each had a foot on one of his limbs and were hammering each other with mighty blows. Nurgle knocked Tzeentch away with a mighty hack of his sword only to be backhanded away himself by Khorne. Now only Slaanesh and Khorne remained, and they were clubbing the crap out of each other. Khorne hacked and slashed, but Slaanesh dodged every blow and lunged at the opening. Gallons of the gods ichor flowed down onto him and he drank mightily. He felt invested with power. In one motion he let out a psychic shockwave that knocked them both back.
"I WILL CHOOSE MY FATE!" He shouted and jumped into Slaaneshes arms. In the Materium, Erebus lay against a wall, a smoldering hole in his power armor, seared open by the shockwave of the psychic blast. Pieces of machinery and glass lay everywhere, dead cultists littered the floor. Horus stood with a look of shock on his face.
"Son, you have made a choice. It is a good one, and the one I needed from you. I want you to kill your friend Cerberus. He has rejected the will of chaos, I will bring him here if you can manage it." Horus said.
"Show me his face." Nero said and Horus snapped. Cerberus was translated to his position, standing resplendent in his black armor. He took one look at Nero and turned on his Lightning Claws. Nero psychically pulled a power sword from across the room. He ran at his old friend and swung, quickened to an unfamiliar degree. He ducked a right hook and drove his foot into Cerberus' knee, sending him to the ground. He wasted no time in pressing this advantage and was on top of his old brother, beating him, before Cerberus could react. Cerberus, with his face a mess of bloody tatters tried to swing, but Nero was pinning his hands down. Nero reached into himself and built up a psychic lance. He summoned it and released it straight into Cerberus' chest. A dark green beam destroyed the entire mid-section of Cerberus and Nero stood slowly. He spiked the head on his sword and brought it up to his eye level.
"You could have been great, but you chose this. Goodbye you putrid excuse for a marine." Nero said and flicked the head into one of the fires around where Nero had been blessed.
"My boy, you have changed. That was a work of art, it was captivating, invigorating even." Horus said.
"What can I say father, I'm a new man." Nero said with a shrug.
"See Master Fabius, he will ensure that." Horus said and turned away, exiting the room.

Dreph turned away along with Elerion, stumbling across the Imperial Soldiers.

"Carvio? How did you get here?"

The officer said nothing. His head hung low.

A voice screamed through the Vox.

"ALL UNITS PREPARE FOR DEPARTURE!"

Dreph walked to the bridge. A Cryptek wandered in.

The captain raised his bolter, unaware of the treaty.

"Captain! It's me, Rephosus!"

He kept the bolter poised.

"You aren't Rephosus."

The Cryptek cowered.

Hectoris had been lying there for hours when Aloysus walked in. He greeted his old friend, his voice confusingly mellow and rather childish.
"Hello Marius..."
Aloysus looked at him, though Hectoris couldn't see.
"Hello Caecilius. Everything ok?"
Hectoris smiled and answered "Everything.is just dandy."
"Dandy? What do you mean."
"Dandy like a dandylion. Its a weed that grew millions of years ago on Terra. The phrase means I'm ok."
Aloysus asked "Are you feeling ok?"
Hectoris didn't here, his mind far away. He came back to say "I hear we are getting a new captain."
"Yeah. Dreph is a psyker. He has been removed from office. Our captaincy won't be announced untill Fulgrim returns to the Heliopolis, but I here Sergeant Krysander is a shoo-in"
Suddenly a Klaxon sounded and Aloysus raced for the dorr. He turned back to see Hectoris hadn't moved.
"Arn't you coming?"
"No."


"What do you mean no?"
"I don't want to fight anymore. I don't like fighting."
Aloysus was about to speak but left as the klaxon sounded again.
Hectoris blinked for the first time since laying down.

Rephosus held his hand up and said captain you are a psyker you can feel my soul. He said as he walked towards him slowly he put Dreph's hand on rephosus's head and Dreph felt it he felt the pain i felt on the tomb world but he also felt that it was me rephosus and that i was still the same.
Rephosus said to the captain. ''Captain dreph can't you understand this way i can walk again. Otherwise i would be trapped in that knight forever haunted by my daemon you must understand that it is for the greater good.''

Aloysus watched the exchange between Dreph and the Rephosus-necron thing in disbelief. "Captain, this is unacceptable! Why has this been allowed. He is not our battle brother anymore, he is some sort of xenos construct. It will not stand. You must end his existence right now!"

"That is not for you to decide, Aloysus." Dreph replied "I have seen his soul and he is pure. That is the end of it. Now remember your place and obey. You forget yourself too much today, and my patience grows thin."

"No, Dreph, it is not the end. It is just the latest of this companies disgraces. We have a marine who will not fight, our Captain and brothers consort with daemons and xenos, and now our own brother has been made into some form of xenos plaything. We are no longer the pround brotherhood we once were. Your honour lies trampled in the dust, and you have taken mine along with it."

Aloysus turned and strode from the chamber, ignoring Kalar's orders that he return to speak to him. He saw his path now. He was ready to face the red eyes, and do what must be done.

Dreph raised his Bolter, leveling it with the Apothecary's head.

"Turn to me now, Aloysus!"

He kept on walking.

"NOW!"

He kept on walking.

Dreph took aim. All he needed to do was pull the trigger...

All he needed to do...

He couldn't draw himself to do it. Aloysus turned to him.

Red eyes.

A stoney silence befell the chamber. A silence so deep and cold it nearly penetrated Apollus' hull. He had been silent the whole time, listening with his ancient ears to the bickering and distrust that had nearly destroyed their company. He raised his might hand, slamming it down with force into the metal floor. The steel gave way leaving a massive dent and an explosive sound that obliterated the silence.

"ENOUGH!"

After the silence returned Rephosus turned to apollus and said. ''Thank you brother now i can explain it.''
He turned to the rest of his brothers and began speaking. ''First of all this was the only way for me to walk. And second of all as long as we follow the base prinicpal of our legion i have reached a form of it. I have found perfection on the inside as my daemon is expelled and i am pure again. And perfection on the outside as i can walk again. And last of all perfection in skill, because i can become the ultimate technician now i am one with the machine now i can fulfill my duties without the slightest problem. Now i hope you can all understand that i have found my own form of perfection like you all have.''

Antioch strode forward holding a helmet, not his, just a spare from the armory. He tossed it at Rephosus, who caught it.
"At least put on a suit of armour.... Techmarine.."
Then he spoke to the others "It is times like these that I recall our mortality. In war, we are gods, nigh invulnerable in our element, Angels of Death.. Here however, we are still men. Our company has been shattered and tainted, but we will resist. We must hold to what we have always believed as Emperor's Children, that the pursuit of perfection through war will bring us there. We must continue as brothers. Though my sight is clouded, and I cannot be sure, I see the fall of our legion. Our pursuit of perfection in all things shall be our ultimate demise. Brothers, we must continue to fight for the Emperor. We must weather the storm which may destroy the legion and father we know. The Imperium may yet accept us back. We must go to Istaan and see what awaits us, no matter what that is. Bind yourselves together, what has happened in our past matters not, what matters is our loyalty now. All of us, I believe, are still willing to fight and die to protect the Imperium, let us continue our mission, as a brotherhood, and as Emperor's Children. We will prevail."

\Hectoris rose from his bedding for te first time in days. He noticed a group of marines, along with Malcador and Fulgrim nearing one particular tent. |He walked over, identifying the marines as the Sergeants and officers of the Company, along with Magnus who was acting as squad leader in his absence. They fell silent as he approached. He wore a robe to conceal his flayed back, Fulgrim staring with hatred at him. Malcador spoke as he approached.
"Hectoris, finally. I have been waiting for all of you. As you all know, corrupton and Daemons have massecred this Legion. While they have been expunged, I cannot allow you to retain any memory of the encounter. I will begin mind wiping in this tent, and implant constructed memories as replacments. Start sending your underlings in. I shall entrust you to come last to ensure everyone is wiped."
"Look here Siglite," the Primarch exclaimed, "I won't allow you to remove my hildren's memories-"
"I meant you too Pheonician. Everyone means everyone."
Fulgrim and the rest of them stared at Malcador, except Hectoris.
"My father used to beat me, " he said, a dazed lok on his face, as if he could not remember who or where he was. "When I was bad he got out a chain and would beat my back untill I bled. He would do it all the time. It was aweful." Hectoris looked close to tears. he turned and left without another word.

The group stared after him, "What has happened to him?" asked Antioch.
"He has beome a broken and shrivenn husk of the man he was. Question is, how did that happen? The Hectoris I knew, and fought the Ork alongside, was strong, vibrant, and would never back down from a fight. You know what he said to me in there? he didn't want to fight anymore! An Astartes, of the III legion, not fighting?"
Rephosus followed their lead "What causes a man to be like that, to die inside?"
Malcador answered. "Ask your Primarch."
His words were like a thunderbolt. Every head turned to first him, then Fulgrim, his face contorted in anger.
"What is the meaning of this witch?!" he exclaimed.
Antioch and Rephosus stared, and Dreph shook hishead in disbelief, knowing his primarch, their father, had nothing to do with this. Apollus' voice boomed, claiming lies.
"It is lies, my lord?" inquired Al;oysus.
"Yes."
"You are the liar Fulgrim!" Malcador spat, his voice hateful and angry. It was strange to see this man yelling at the giant, beautiful being, only just reaching his waist. "You had Caeiclius tortured in the most obscene fashion!"
"What is the meaning of this Siglite?" demanded tyhe enormous form of Apollus, who towered over even Fulgrim.
"Your friend and brother was flogged on Fulgrim's orders. Forty, Thousand, Lashes.2 he paused between each word, letting the message sink in. Cies of disbelief were answered. "Ask Magnus, he was there!" All eyes now fell for the Terminator, who looked down. He looked at hisfather, then at Malcador. He eyes came to rest on the flap of Hectoris tent.
"Its true. Caeclius would always flog you when the squad disobeyed him. I was flogged most because of my long service and disobediance. Lord Fulgrim thought it ironic if I were to carry out the sentence."
"Shut your fething mouth you worm!" growled Fulgrim, reaching for the silver handled blade at hi waist. The Laeran Blade.
"Silence Fulgrim! Continue please," Malcador shouted.
Magnus continued, tears of shame flooding down his face. "I did it. I thought it would be only 40 or so. Hectoris asked me to do it. After about 30000 or so, he broke. He wanted out. He had learned his lesson. Fulgrim would not allow him respite. I refused to go on, earnt myself a dozen lashes, and Fulgrim finished the other 10, 000 himself. hectoris was out cold by the time he was done. I thought he was dead." Magnus looked up.
"How could you?" demanded Dreph. "Your son, one o your geneseed?"
"I don't need to explain myself to you, Kalar. I am still Primarch of this Legion. He is an old dog anyway. Sometimes old dogs need to be put down." Fulgrim stormed off.


After he had left, Malcador said, sadly, "He's right." Faces and cockpits turned to him, grief anddistress on display. "Hectoris is broken and empty, andold. Maybe its time your legion reclaimed what was theirs." Her looked at the reductor on Aloysus' Narthecarium, the device for extracting geneseed. "Have your marines assembled here in an hour for the mind wipe." he left. The group disbanded, heading to their tents to gather their men. Aloysus headed back to the Medical tent where Hectoris was resting. he glanced at his Marthecarium, the reductor's shining steel.

"You go to far, Malcador. Sigillite or no, he is a borther of our legion with a long and honourable service behind him. I will not do this, and nor will my brothers." Aloysus strode from the chamber, furious.

In the hour that had been granted to him Aloysus prepared to meet the choice that haunted him. He went to his chambers and called the daemon forth. They met in the same room as before, the deamon cawing triumphantly.

"You have come to make your choice? That is good. My master is pleased that you chose him!"

Aloysus smiled "My bretheren were corrupted by your kind. I alone stayed untouched, I upheld the honour of our Company, Chapter and Brotherhood. I may not be the fastest, or the strongest, or the wisest or the best fighter, but I am on thing, and one thing only. I am the Loyalist. I know my master and who I serve. I, of all my brothers. must never fall from the Emperor's Grace. I show them the true path, and lead where I hope they will follow." he spat at the creatures feet "That for your offer."

With that he turned and strode from the chamber, and back to conciousness.

Antioch stood still, thinking. He was stunned and appalled by the actions of the Primarch, their leader and follower, and distressed by the words of the Sigilite. He turned and spoke again "This is no place for us, this legion is no longer our own, I don't know if I speak for only myself, but I believe this is no service to the Emperor. Bound by these damned rules, and unable to be free from the tyranny of those who claim to speak for him. From now onwards I receive my orders from what he sends to me through visions, not through another man or false servant."

Antioch strode back to his quarters down the hall.

Elsewhere, Nemesor Tokarn was standing on the bridge of his flagship, in front of the hologram table. He was watching the plight of the ninth company with both interest and disgust; each important member on a different holo-screen. The Nemesor was in absolute disbelief that the midget they called Malcador, the one that had given the Emperor class Battleship that Tokarn was now standing in, was going to eradicate all memories of the unfortunate trail of events. Not only would it effectivley destroy what remained of the 9th, but also make them unknown to the facts of what Chaos, and his own armada (currently docked within the Empeoro class) for that matter, can do to them. The Necron general was contemplating stepping in and helping the ninth by temporarily bio-leeching thier memories, so that Malcador wiped what was not there, then putting them back with a forged memory of a conversation saying what had happened and to keep thier mouths shut.

As these thoughts were flying around inside the Nemesor's head, Varguard Caldrek called him up to the bridge front.
"What is it Caldrek?"
"Nemesor, three Imperial warships have dropped out of warp travel on the otherside of the Craftworld, and are moving as though to engage us." replied the Vargard quickly.
Nemesor Tokarn looked down towards the burnt-out husk of the Eldar Craftworld, recently Exterminated, and wondered how the ships could even hope to damage his vessel.
"What size are the ships, and what legion are they from?" asked the Nemesor
"Three Battle Barges, bearing no insignia at all. They must be here on Malcador's orders."
"Nemesor, we are being contancted by the Imperials" informed one of the bridge workers; Servitors bent to keep the ship operational while the Nemesor's soldiers slept.
"Put it on the main screen" ordered Caldrek, correctly interpreting his commander's silence as planning how to destroy the Imperial warships, which had just rounded the Craftworld's lifeless hulk and entered the Necron's field of view. A grey-haired admiral of the Imperial Navy appeared on the large holo-screen at the front of the bridge, just as the Nemesor silently ordered the ship's weapons to be energised.
"What do you want, Imperial?" asked Caldrek. "I will speak on behalf of my master".
The Imperial on the screen looked angry that he had to negotiate with Xenos, but got straight to the point.
"Necron, you are currently flying in an ilegally obtained Imperial Warship. We have been sent by Lord Malcador to claim back the Warship."
Caldrek laughed mechanicly.
"What is so funny, Xeno?" barked the Imperial.
Nemesor Tokarn stepped up. "It is funny because this is not the same ship that Malcador gave to us. We have upgraded the shields, weaponry, and engines. If we turn over the ship to you, it will go straight to a furnace to be melted down because of all the 'Xenos technology' that has tainted the ship"
The Imperial actually smiled, and then it was Tokarn's turn to ask what was funny,
"It means we have to destroy your ship, and considering you are on your ship, it means destroying you too" explained the Imperial, very slowly as though to a child.
"Not if we destroy you first" replied Caldrek, mockingly.
Now the Imperial admiral actually laughed.
"Battle Barge weaponry goes further than Emperor class weaponry, so you are out of range." laughed the admiral, as did his bridge, from what the Necrons could see.
"Prepare to fire. All weapons, target the Exterminatus cannon at the front, if we can get one of tose shells to detonate the ship will be destroyed." finished the admiral, now ordering his own fleet around. Fifteen seconds later, thirty torpedos were flying towards the Necron capital ship. Nemesor Tokarn looked up at the holo-screen.
"Bad move" Tokarn waited until all the totpedos had crossed seventy of the hundred miles between the his ship and the Battle Barges, the ordered a phase jump fifty miles forward.

Now in range with all of his ship's weapons, Nemesor Tokarn didn'tneven need to say 'open fire'. All of the weapons on the ship, except the Exterminatus cannon at the front, began tearing into the battle barges. Caldrek witnessed two direct PhaseLance hits on the central Barge's bridge, cutting the transmission from the holo-screen, which was mostly disarrayed screaming and incoherent orders, into static. The sheer amount of shots landing on the Imperial Warships soon had them completely destroyed, thier wreckages added to the floating debris around the Craftworld's remains.

Engaging the Transdimensional Hyperdrive, Nemesor Tokarn ordered his ship to go to where the ninth company was currently camped, staying in cloak. He momentarily overtook Rephosus and used his vox to tell the rest of the important ninth members that salvation from Malcador was possible if they desired it.

Apollus looked into the night sky filled with brightly lit stars and three moons basking the jungle floor. Even he was still impressed with such magnificant sights as these. How many planets lay out there, beyond even the reach of the mighty imperium. It made him feel small, smaller than he had for a very long time. His former self would have ignored such spectacals as these, brushing them off with rash bravado. Now in his ghostly state of mind he thought less about himself, about his honor and his glory.

Being rendered in this form had taught him to appreciate the things he had taken for granted. Things long forgotten. A cool night breeze carressing bare flesh. The taste of food, fine music not played through a connection of audio systems connected to his half concious mind. The touch of grass, the scrape of silk....

The heat of explosions, the rasps of wind as bulllets let fligh, the blood splashing against his face, the feeling of crushing a skull with bare hands....

Servos whined with stress in his power fist. He realised he was nearly crushing his own armoured hand. He released without hesatation. Memories of old fell away and he again made his mind's home inside the cold lonesome shell.
"Are you ok venerable-brother?"
A marine crouched in the foliage beside him had spoken up.
"Yes... young... Valks"
He turned away from the curious marines eyes and once again stared into the night sky. Brillant stars of all colors and shape once again fell upon his staring eyes. Something caught his attention. A sudden disturbance of light amongst countless others. More followed. Little in comparison they seemed to expand and then die away. Segari realised they were explosions. Some distant battle raging away, interrupting the beauty of it all. For a moment he pondered the futility of it all....
He quickly snuffed those thoughts out as heretical... but it hid in the shadows. A scratch at the back of his mind he knew he would never forget.
"We are required at the tents" interupted Valks.
Apollus took one last look into the sky, but the disturbance had ceased as quickly as it had started. He strode back again to his brothers gathered by the tents, preparing for the inevitable. So futile it all was...

Aloysus felt stonger than ever. He had faced his last temptation, and turned it aside, he had learned and he had grown. The hour was up, and it was time to face Malcador . He strode through the corridors, full of confidence, with a question in his mind.

He arrived before his brothers, moving onto the deck, his white armour gleaming. "Malcador, I would speak with you." he called.

"What is it, Apothecary?" Malcador replied.

"I have a question. Why must we forget what we have learned? We have faced a great enemy and learned how to best it. We may have taken a hard path and made many bad decisions, but in the end we have come out stronger, and our knowledge may benefit the Imperium in many ways. We have earned this knowledge in fire, and paid for it with the blood of our brothers, I will not give that up easily without a good reason. Tell me, that I might understand the reaspn that this must be taken from me, tell me truly - even if I must forget the reason too."

"How dare you question me Apothecary!" Malcador stepped behind his desk, turning away, muttering curses. he knew this question was coming. "What i do is not your concern.
"Malcador, this is my company, my legion, my father and brothers. It is completely my concern.
Malcador turned back, anger alight in his eyes. "Fine," he said. "You want to know?" Aloysus nodded. "It is because I don't trust you. Once a theif, always a theif. Once a traitor, always a traitor. I believe their possession came about due to temptation. By emlimating those memeroies I also wipe the memory of the power they wielded while possessed. I hope to remove the temptation to go back. By deleting what they were temptated by, though can't be tempted again.
"My brothers would never go back, nor my father after what we have just lived through. I know that for sure."
Malcador slammed his fist into the desk, sending a purple spark that made even a space marine flicnch in surprise.
"You know NOTHING. Your brothers have colaberated with Xenos, tried to harnass warppawn in the form of Daemons and that Eldar Avatar to become more powerful than the Emperor intended, disobeying him, and nearly killed all of your friends in the process. The II legion were annihilated for less!" Malcador stopped himself. He had said too much.
"Be at the mind wipe shortly. You shall go second, after Fulgrim."

The current events had concerned rephosus greatly he was now wearing full techmarine armor. He decided he should go speak to brother antioch he was walking towards his tent when he heard a transmission from the necrons. They said. ''We can bring you salvation from malcador.''
Rephosus turned around and tried to open a vox to them but heard nothing just at that moment a group of imperial army soldiers approached him. With guns raised they said. ''On order of malcador you have been placed under arrest under the pretences of mingling with xenos technology.''
I raised my head towards them and said. ''So it has come to this you want to eradicate me? You want to erase me and the company from history? I advice you that you have made a very very bad mistake'' He said when he began charging towards them he crushed two of them with his bare hands by pressing the heads of two soldiers together.

"Your reason is not satisfactory. I will not go at all. Knowlege is power, as Magnus always says. I intend to keep it and guard it, with my life if neccessary."

Nemesor Tokarn sent Caldrek to assist the ninth. Phase-Jumping to infront of Rephosus, the Vargard dispatched the two remainig imperials without even drawing one of his weapons, snapping ones neck and stabbing the other with his own bayonet.
"Why are you helping us Caldrek?" enquired the Techmarine.
"That two faced sigilite Malcador just tried to have our Emperor class shot down, so we want people who can get right up to him without raising suspicion, such as your brothers, and assassinate him for us." answered the Necron quickly. "We can protect and extract you after, so you wont be executed"
Rephosus shuffled a little, his question already answered. He skipped to the next in his list.
"So how are you going to prevent a mindwipe?"
"With these." replied Caldrek holding up numerous pairs of small devices. "You must swallow one, and put the other in onemof you ears. There is a pair for each prominent member of the company, save Fulgrim and yourself. You dont need one because Necrons are practically immune to such arcane forms of Psychic powers. Fulgrim dosent get one, plain and simple. Prominent members being the Captain, Apothacary and the squad sergeants, including whats left of Hectoris. You must give them out, I will prevent anyone getting in your way, astartes or otherwise"

Rephosus took the devices and began walking away. A marine rounded the corner, stopping dead in his tracks when he caught sight of the Necron, the Techmarine and the bodies. Before he could even raise his bolter, the ruby red beam from one of Caldrek's weapons lanced through the marines head. He was dead before he began falling.
"Go." ordered Caldrek. Rephosus didnt need telling twice

Name: Marcus Leviath
Posistion: Terminator
Personality: Hate all chaos scum and will never fall back or surrender, even after death. With storm sheild and hammer I shall beat the xenos hordes back into the abiss, and then I shall follow and hunt them down should my commander will it so.

We're all going to end this now. No more new people.

but did i get in PLZ

Gaunt32 wrote:but did i get in PLZ

No. We are finished/finishing this off now. Feel free to join any other RPGs if you want to.

Nothing good can last forever-Caecilius Maximus Hectoris, Sereant of the Jaded Watch, Terminator Assaut Squad of the Emperor's Children 9th company.

And so came
The End of Brotherhood of Orion


As the officers of the company gathered, Librarian Kalar looked at each and every one of their faces, trying to read their expressions, refraining fromtheir minds. Sergeant Antioch and Apothecary Aloysus stood shoulder to sholder, Brother Apollus towering above their backs. Sergeant Hectoris stood,dazed, next to them. He was recovering, but slowly. Brothers Faberon, Nero and Malvarian stood behind them. Rephosus stood apart, his new form causing distain and in some cases, hatred, for hisCryptek body. Gannicus and Markus stood beside Faberon.
Kalar stood and addressed the asembly.
"As you all know, Malcador has declared our minds unsafe, and so our company, our Brotherhood, has been mindwiped. Our brothers and subbordiantes have undergone treatment, and we are all that are remain. But he shall not allow us life brothers!" He yelled, smashing his fist into the wartable. "I had a vision, of our Wolven Brothers of the VI Legion, coming to detroy us. moments ago a vessel of Russ arrived in orbit, and engaged the ork fleet, destroying three ships with the wormhole and a further Kruiser with its guns. They descend even now to destroy us. We must strike back, and kill before we are killed ourselves."

The room wa silent. Apollus' voice boomed "Then let us away my brothers! I shall not die without a fight!"

Cheers chorused through the tent. They made plans. Malcador had only two guardsmen as bodyguards. Kalar and Feberon would assassinate Malcador, Kalar beating down his defenses so Faberon could strike. A golden blade emerged from the depths of the armoury Rephosus had set up. It was an ancient blade, unused in battle. Malcador's blood would be its first stain. A beautiful set of armour came with it, enchanted with runes of warding, protecting the wearer from all psychic attacks as well as physical harm. kalar took up hi force sword and a suit of Cataphractii Terminator armour. if was mopre cumbersome than Indomitus of Tartauros but much heavily armoured.

|Meanwhile, Antioch, Nero and Aloysus, as well as Hectoris, for his life was Aloysus' charge, would be teleported aboard the Icefang and crash it into malcador's flaship, ensuring none of his henchmen wouldlive to tell the tale. Apollus, Rephosus, Magnus and Markus would hold the fort and try to hack the teleport arrays in the camp, to transport their Primarch and Fulgrim away. Rephsosu would perform the invasion with the others as defense. Brother Gannicus came in, late again, and was assigned to Rephsosus task force. With tasks set, the headed out.
______________________________________
Rephosus and his battlegroup arrived at the teleport controls, and the CrypTechmarine began the interface. Within moments he was through, his machine interface enhanced to ungodly levels. He laughed, robotic and hollow as he watched his brothers and Primarch vanish, spirited away to the main fleet of the legion. But the joy was short lived. Rephosus heard a ound, and the flash of a teleporter. He turned, with the others, to find a force of Space Wolves, the VI Legion, arrayed before them. One hundred of them arrayed, wolf pelts and ice grey armour stark against the greenery. a Trio of Dreadnoughts stood to the side, ready for battle, armed with Powerfists and chainblades. Apollus was now glad he had swapped to a dual powerfist loadout. Elite warriors in Terminator Armour led the charge, and a great warrior led the force, wearing a bearskin cloak and wielding a pair of ice-like axes. With a savge roar they charged, and the 5 went to meet them.
_________________________________
Antioch, Aloysus and Nero land on the 15th deck, several hundred meters from the engines. It would cake. if they had landed on the right ship. They arrived on Malcador's ship, which was a good thing, for moments later the Space Wolves' battlebarge exploded as firey kannon shells hit the bridge and engines. They would have only 1 problem. the 20 Custodes arrayed before them, as if waiting. Without a doubt, the 4 ran, heading the opposite way, firing bolt rounds and hurling grenades. 3 custodes fell, though they did not return fire, their spears older than the current mark, and not equipped with the inbuilt bolter. They ran, for their lives and their brothers'
_________________________
Malcador spun, a noise sounding behind him. 2 marines stood before him. kalar and Faberon. The former wielding bolts of lightning that incinerated his guards, the latter a golden blade and masterfully crafted armour.
"You know we have come," said Kalar. "You have seen it as I have."
"Indeed." Without a word, Malcador drew a pair of curved blades, before folding them in on themselves, a broadsword in their place. A battery of psychic attacks tore his mind, and Faberon lept, instantly seeking to slay with a crushing stroke. He parried both mentally and physically, stabbing both mind and blade. His attackers fought as a pair, each strike timed to through him offguard so the other could finish thim. He parried and cut yet no blows landed on either side. A bolt of lightning lept at him, and he raised his sword to deflect it, the mirrored sheen sending it into Faberon. His armour shone bright, the runes glowing as they absorbed the energy. No spll would touch him. Malcador saw. he changed tactics, instead focusing his mind into battering kalar out, who staggered. It was all he needed. He drew his power, ptting into his knuckle,. He punched out at Faberons chest. ther blow satggered him but moreimportantly, the ancient plate cracked. It was tiny, just small enough to let in air. But it was enough. Calling his power again, |Malcaor drew up dormant bateria, merging them untill the were the same as those found in virus bombs. There were few, but enough fo the job at hand. He fire them n a tiny sphere, the handfull of enzyes seeping through the crack. Black liquid immediately began to seeop as Faberon's body turned to sldge. His empty armour clanged on the floor.
Kalar recovered, takin in the horo of his brother and riend'sdeath. He aimed a mentl lance at Malcador, aiming to destroy him where he was weakest. He shot the spear, only to hae it shatter against the psychic shields. Malcador's mind touchd his and only then did he fully appreciate Malcador's power. He watched, horrified, as his shinguard bckled, followed by a shoulder. His chest next. More and more parts dentd as he imploded. He screamed a final curse before being condensed into a cue he sizeof a bolt round. Malcador tore out of the tent to find the battle, crushing the cube as he went.
__________________________
Hectoris' miond awoke. He was running, through a ship, golden Custodians chaing them. he stopped. Aloysus pulled to a stop. He turned to the others.
"Run!" he shouted. Hectoris was armoured once more, a hammer and his shield, bearing his imagery. He turned to the oncoming enemy.
"Go on Marius. I shall hold them!" He wasn't going to die a coward or broken. He would die in battle.
As if reading his thoughts, Aloysus said the same. He would die to do this. He drew his on sword, and togther they rushed, Hectoris in front, bashing the golden warriors' first ranks asunder, and Aloysus danced through, finish the survivors.
He felt stronger than ever, thn when hehadbeen a Daemonhost. He was perfecton. True completion. he had been to the brink and back, to where no Astartes should go. And reurned. He broke skulls and armour with every sipe, and Aloysus blade finished them.
_________________________
Nero and Antioch reached the engine room. They stopped at a contol panel, pullin out supply of meltabombs and hooking them up to the drives. They tinkered and toyed, trying to connectthe detonator. A brighter-than-usual lasround knocked it away. Stormtroopers, carrying enhanced hellgun Patern Laguns and Pistols, swarmed in, opening fire. They dived behind cover, the bolts powerful enough to cut their armour like butter with a hot knife. They caught each others eye. Knowing the plan imediately, they rose, a bolter and pistol each, killing guardsmen with every round. They dived back as they reloaded. Nero noticed the detonator within reach. It was now or never. He dived for it as Antioch open fire again. He snatched up the datapad, only to find it manled beyond recovery. Antioch turned to him briefly and staggered. Malcador assailed his mind, bttering aay. Through him he saw a company of Space Wolves, butchering through the Emperor's children. Gannicus fell, axe in hand, a frost axe embedded in his head. Brave brother markus fired from a standoff with a rifle, only to be felled by an autocannon round. Brave, brave Apllosus fell to the third dreadnought, rent apart by the whirring chainblades ashe fleed the first two, the reactor exploding and tank several marines and the dreadnought with him.Magnus Malvarian crushed many Astartes, only to be butchered by the wolf lord, who Antioch recognised as none other than one of Russ' closest, Vorick Darktooth himself. Only Rephosus stood, firing engy that sent the ground rumbling through a stave, plasma weapons and flamer blasting away as he impaled enemies on a power spear. Antioch wept as he struld to hold it off, to give Nero more time. Nero atched in horror, still rying to activate the bombs in this suicide run. A plasma bolt flashed and Antioch's head andchest vanished, rplaced by slag and green glowing flesh. Nero pressed the button once more. Nothing. The guardsmen swept around as he fired his last rounds at the bomb, trying to etonate it, but it wouldn't work. A soldier in garis red stood over him, a smoking plasma pistol in hand. he took careful aim atNero's chest. The trigger squeezed,and Nero was gone. Dead. His death spams occured slowly, but enough so that the trigger on hi bolt pistol slammed off a last shell. As if by design, the round flew true, striking the bomb on the detonation pin. With a sound to shake the stars themselves, the entire rear of the ship exploded in a devasting chain reaction
___________
Rephosus fired bolt after bolt of transgeographic energy, rupturing the ground. It was too late. He could not hold them. He was out of bolt ammo and his servo harnass was out ofpower, the strain too great to sustain his armour and weapons. His stave shattered as a bolt pistol round hit the head. he collapsed to his knees, shocked toh his core by Aploosu' death. His sergeant and mentor, and all of his friends an brothers. A Wolf lord towered above him, xe raised for a final strike. He closed hi optic circuitry, praying for salvation. He poened his eyes knowing it wouldnot arrive. An eerie green light danced over the Wolf Lords head, and a green pulse struc him between the eyes. His head exploded along with those around him, similarly marked. Deathmarked. Rephosus rose, seeing a squad of no less than 9 Lychguard cutting through the wolves like a blade, as their warscythes cleaved armour asunder. Caldrek was at their head, slaying all before him.
"Rephosus, " he called, "come quickly!"
____________________________________
The explosion rocked the ship, and Aloysus sword clattered away. The Apothacary looked up, just in time to see the lasrblade spear pierce the Aquila on his chest, shattering it asunder. He azed at the emblem as he dropped off the blade, dead beforehe hit the floor.
"NNOOOOOOOOOO!" Hectoris screamed, beating the life from the killer. A rage overtook him and hi armour fused with his skin. he grew, taller than any Astartes or even Primarch. He towered over the Custodes. He dropped his weapons, crshing them with his bare fists. he had become a Daemon, and Daemon Pnce, truly and finally.
From the depths of the ranks came a sinle warrior, clutching a shining blue sword. Its light stung hectoris like a cursed wound and he shielded his eyes. The blade bit deep into his leg, and he fell, unable to move. The being moved to his head. hi power vanish in the wake of this weapon, unable to remain, and he lay naked, pinned by a golden boot.

He did have last words left for when the warrior asked.
"I am Caecilius Maximus Hectoris! Son of the III and Fulgrim. May the Emperor have mercy on your, because when I find you, I shall destroy you. In this life or the next."


A thrust of the blade.