MLP / WARHAMMER 40,000 : THE INDOMITOUS CRUSADE

The echo of distant explosions going off is all that is reaching the ears of the lord commander. As he and a multitude of Ultramarines, Primaris and not, as he boarded a nearby StormTalon bound for the freighter-hulk, Zar-Quaesitor, falling back from the Hive-World of Bhundar as the order for Exterminatus was carried out upon the damned world, beyond any hope the primarch could give, after it had been tainted by Nurgle. Guilliman could only exhale after such an ordeal that would make even the most unfeeling of men feel utterly at a loss. That, however, was not the case for him, nor his company of Custodes, and Sisters of Silence. It was then that one of the Golden warriors looked to his superior.

“My lord, we have brought great shame to you this day.” The Custode grieved under his golden helm.

The First Lord of Ultramar simply looked back with a cold solemn look in his eyes, as one should know when speaking of Roboute. Yet his response was somewhat humble to the guardians of his father.“Today is a harsh proclamation made by our enemies. That we may save many a world, there are those few that are beyond even us. But, know that the worlds lost will sleep soundly knowing that swift vengeance will be cast in retaliation.”

He turned to both men and women of the high ranks, unphased by this defeat.

“The battle is lost, but this war has only begun.” the ancient lord proclaimed, now turned to the direction of the cockpit of the craft. “Pilot, patch me through to the Zar-Quaestor's bridge.”

“Yes, sir.” replied the pilot, through the vox haler. The static soon cleared, allowing Roboute to communicate with Archmagos Dominus Belisarius Cawl of the Adeptus Mechanicus, and one of the few responsible for his return. “Archmagos, prepare the fleet to leave this system. There is nothing we can save here.”

In a cold, mechanical voice, Cawl responded utterly uneasy. “Lord Guilliman, it appears we are experiencing rather strenuous difficulties, regarding our navigators. We are getting reports from several vessels that the influence of Chaos is attempting to sabotage our warp travel. Reports also show a large chaos fleet nearby, making its way towards this system.”

“Have the Chief Librarian do what he can about the Chaos interference, and prepare to leave,” Guilliman commanded. The signal was then cut short as the StormTalon approached the Hulking vessel before it, containing much of the crusade’s most valuable and powerful resources. Including those of the Ultima-Founding, and three lances of Imperial Knights from house Taranis. The engines of the massive war vessels of the Imperial Navy began to thrust the great warships forward in the darkness of space, as the fleet of the Indomitus Crusade prepared to enter their warp jumps. Once the way had been opened, the ships zipped in, one by one as they moved on to the next system.

As the war class ships traversed the unpredictable passage of the warp, Guilliman made his way towards the command bridge of the Zar-Quaesitor. There he recognized Chief Librarian Tigurius standing next to the ship’s Navigator. The blind astropath, to Tigurius’ understanding, was in immense pain. Pain inflicted by Chaos. “Lord Commander…” The Psyker spoke. “The pain is only further damaging our navigator. I am shielding him from its full blast, but I fear it may not be enough…should he, and the other inflicted fail soon, I fear we may be trapped in the warp.” Roboute looked to the blind soul, as the astropath reached out his hand.

“My lord…” As the astropath reached out, a sudden rush of pain pierced him like a sharpened point in his mind, letting out an agonizing scream from the navigator’s mouth. Tigurius knew he could not hold it back for much longer. “We must find a nearby system to recover, or risk being lost to the warp.” “I Agree,” Guilliman replied, turning to the distressed soul. “My lord…there is a system not too far from where we are…I am not familiar with it…but if it means salvation…I will give my life to see you safely pass.”

The primarch turned toward Tigurius, who nodded to him. Aware that the astropath’s time is short, and that the uncharted world may be a far better alternative than being stranded forever. “Know that your sacrifice will not be in vain.” With that stated, the astropath began to signal the other ships to prepare to diverge from their path. The ships began to pour out, once an opening had been made, and once the ships had cleared, the full pain became too much for the astropath, killing him in a matter of seconds. Though a majority of the fleet of the Indomitus crusade was now stranded, without any navigators, the attempt of entrapping the primarch’s forces by the forces of chaos had failed.

“Tigurius, what of the other vessels?” asked Guilliman. “Several vessels too have lost their navigators. Yet few have had little effect on theirs.” The two looked out to see the world that stood in front. From what they saw, it appeared to resemble that of a feudal world, due to the lack of any major hive colonies as far as they can tell. “Archmagos, what do you think?” The ancient tech priest scurried forward, as he examined the system. “

There are very little signs of any technological development. But there are signs of civilization, and massive life form reading as far as our naval computers can make out. I would suggest we approach the system with caution.” “What’s the damage situation?” asked the Chief Librarian. “The engines have suffered a great deal upon exiting the warp jump. It will take time to repair the vessel’s engines before we can press on.”

Once the situation had been looked over carefully by the lord commander, he turned to the two of them with his verdict. “Cawl, see what can be done about the damage. Tigurius, send word our intact vessels to call for aid.” The two bowed their heads, as they prepared to depart. That was until Archmagos Cawl turned back to the primarch. “Perhaps this is another lost colony yet uncharted. For all we know, the taint of chaos may be prominent here.”

“That is why I intend to investigate it,” Guilliman explained. “I have instructed Captain Acheran to prepare his company to prepare for a recon mission. I would advise that several squads of Skitarii accompany us to the planet’s surface.”

“Yes, my lord.” Cawl answered, “It will be done.” With the order stated, the Archmagos departed to complete the task at hand, leaving Guilliman to observe the uncharted world even further, pondering as to what secrets it has to offer. Could it possibly serve to further aid and grow The Imperium further, or will it sow the seeds of Chaos, bent on its destruction. Roboute just had to know. Unable to push the question back, he departed the bridge to join the Reconnaissance mission, and acquire the answers he sought.