This fluff follows the earlier fluff written up for Lord of Terra in July 2010 which is here
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/308148.page
Fluff for Clash of the Titans, Sydney Australia, February 2011
Helios looked away from the steel capsule as it closed over Eos, encasing him in the healing gel that would speed his recovery from the grievous wounds sustained in the last action. The mighty captain had returned victorious however at ferocious cost. The arch traitor Kharne, known as The Betrayer far and wide, had inflicted staggering injuries on the captain before the counter charge of Captain Ares and his terminator bodyguard had driven the Betrayer back.
Ulysses and Persius had both sustained casualties, Ulysses had borne the charge of the Khorne Berserkers, standing fast around Eos, and lost half its number. Leonidas had distinguished himself in battle and in Eos’ absence Helios had given him permission to join first company’s Vanguard where his unparalleled skills at close combat would be most utilised. Bellerophon was with both squads at present, seeing to their shattered morale. All too well Helios understood the troops bitter disappointment, seven marines dead for countless hundreds of tyranids and dozens of traitor marines, and yet the loss of even 7 experienced Aurorians was a staggering blow.
Helios left the apocotharium however he could not shake the feeling something was wrong. His armour was streaming information to him about the contested planet below as well as requests from the cruiser crew to return to the main fleet. Other theatres required urgent assistance, and yet Helios tarried. Over the centuries he had learned to trust his instincts and those instincts told him something was seriously wrong.
Helios closed his eyes and felt the familiar warmth of his psychic hood within his terminator armour sparkle to life, amplifying his already prestigious psychic capabilities. With his hood Helios always had to resist the temptation to send his consciousness searing through the warp like a great sun, burning the foul demons that inhabited the wretched half world with the purity of humanity’s unquestioned supremacy and the Emperor’s divine grace. He knew however the terrible fate that awaited those that gave so little respect to the warp.
His consciousness flew out of the strike cruiser and sped to encompass the war torn planet below. His trained mind felt through the psychic exhaust of the life forms below, searching. In a blinding instant his warp awareness was blinded by a new presence, he had felt nothing of it approaching, only the glory and majesty of its presence as it eased besides him. For a minute he thought the great Sigillite of Terra had joined him so reassuring and powerful was this newcomer. Helios felt his very essence suffused with light and power. His eye was drawn to the strike cruiser and a thought occurred to him. How foolish to travel in a metal box when the limitless promise of true warp travel was open to him.
Helios snatched back his control, his mental and psychic defences slamming up. His consciousness gathered together slowly, sluggishly, as though oil pooling down the bowl of a sink, blocked by something. Anger flared in Helios and he lashed out with psychic fury, piercing streams of darkness that seems to be trying to smother him. He felt it recoil, although it almost felt wrong, or disappointing, to have to push this being away. In a final surge Helios gathered himself and called the fury of a sun down on the manifestation that sought to obscure and confuse him. He felt the tentacles withdraw and took the opportunity to return to his physical body.
His eyes opened to look into the steely blue grey of the mighty Bellerophon. Helios looked around. He was in his quarters, his terminator armour stowed on its stand and his force staff in its rightful place. The company chaplain looked down on the librarian sternly and spoke.
“Whatever it was that kept you from us I trust you made it pay.”
Helios nodded.
“Tzeentch” he sneered.” A sorcerer with more power than I have felt or even heard of before. He is down below, on Zavaphir.”
Bellerophon waited, watching the librarian closely. Helios noticed for the first time his Crozius, “Duty First”, was in his gauntleted hand, a finger on the arming switch.
Helios levered himself up using his elbows. His body felt naked without the massive plate of his terminator armour. As reassuring as his psychic awareness was, the streams of information the sensors in his armour provided, as well as his communication and ancillary life support systems, added a very tangible level of comfort.
Bellerophon moved aside as Helios stood. For the first time he saw the terminators arrayed outside, armed with the mightiest weapons the chapter possessed, the awesome thunder hammer. Each hammer’s head was larger than a space marine helmet and once energised would give off enough power with a stike to fell a dreadnought or tip a rhino on its side.
“Doubtless you will want to go purge his taint Librarian?” Bellerophon asked, his eyes boring into Helios even if he kept the mistrust from his tone.
Helios knew it needed to be done. A chaos psyker of that power needed to be exterminated or whole systems could be compromised. He nodded.
“Yes Chaplain. Although I dislike chaos I reserve my true choler for the followers of that serpent. The first time he caught me unaware and I barely escaped, although I daresay he is suffering as we speak as it was not all a one sided meeting.”
Bellerophon nodded.
“As you say Helios. Ares’ kill team are anxious to return to Zavaphir, as is the Colossos, given the presence of the Betrayer and the chance to avenge the wounds done to Captain Eos and end his centuries of terror. The rest of the second company stands ready.”
Helios nodded, then a thought occurred to him.
“This is not a mission for the company but a surgical strike. Tell me, are Squads Ulysses and Persius fit to return to the surface?”
Bellerophon nodded.
“Their Sergeants are outside asking exactly that. The Captain did appoint command to you however Ulysses I would advise against given their squad is nearly combat ineffective at only 5 men.”
Helios knew with certainty the righteous anger of the men would only protect them against the taint and confusion that confrontations with the Lord of Lies always featured.
“Have both squads meet me on the embarkation deck in one hour with double first line. I would appreciate you briefing the men given I will be suiting up?”
Bellerophon nodded again.
“Of course. My brothers are always prepared to take on the great enemy, squishing followers of the great serpent will be their pleasure. I will ensure they are suitably.. of the right mindset for this mission.”
Helios smiled at the crusty old chaplain, knowing full well the troopers would arrive blazing of hatred and cold lethality from whatever it was he said.
Bellerophon stalked out of the room, the terminator escort falling in behind him.
Helios turned to his armour’s stand and psychically summoned his attendants. He cleared his mind of doubt and anxiety, neither would help in this conflict ahead, one he knew the fate of billions would depend on.
