High in what was known as the Atheron Mountains, strange energies began to stir. They moved in faint waves, kicking up dust and ash as they swept across a plateau which was covered in corpses. Slowly, the power grew stronger. Invisible forces pulled at the flames rising from wrecked tanks on the battlefield's remains, making the smoke swirl in slow circles.
A few dark warriors remained on that dry mountaintop: Chaos Space Marines. These Chaos Space Marines were wearing the heavy, corrupted and spiked armour of the Black Legion, identifying them as Black Legionnaires. They stood among the piles of corpses from a most recent battle, with a few of their own fallen men scattered among heaps of local Ultramar Defence Auxilia. So many Imperial Guardsmen had been killed in the fighting, trying to defend the integrity of the Macragge System.
The traitors checked their auspex scanners and raised their spiked Bolters, looking around for the source of the rising aetheric energy. Loud voices barked through fanged vox grills, while sensors swept the cobalt-blue sky above and the large mountains, expecting an attack at any time.
Still, no enemy appeared.
But then, with a sudden roar of power, the building energy exploded outwards, knocking the Heretic Astartes off their feet. The surging power pulled inward to a single point, forming a massive, towering structure. Tall and with Eldari beauty, the curved structure shimmered into view as if it had stood there for a thousand years. The air pulsed around the portal, which appeared, and from inside, a storm of gunfire erupted.
The traitors screamed in anger and pain as monomolecular discs cut through armour and shattered eye lenses. Dark corrupted blood sprayed dark across sun-bleached stone and hissed as it did. Severed limbs encased in black power armour clanged to the ground as the ancient heretics were cut to pieces by the sudden attack.
As the Chaos Space Marines reeled from the blitz attack, the Ynnari and the Celestinians burst out of the Webway gate. The leaders of the Ynnari, Yvraine, and the Visarch led a smaller group than the one that had travelled through the Webway. They felt it was unwise to arrive inside of Ultramar with a giant Xenos warhost, so many of their followers had left for other missions.
Guided by Eldrad Ulthran and the Autarch Meliniel, they departed. Eldrad was more than happy to be gone from the presence of the Sisters of Silence, despite what Gerhard had done to reduce their presence.
The two remaining Eldar leaders sprinted across the plateau with breathtaking speed. They got stronger by the deaths of their enemies, dodging around Bolt shells like dancers. The Visarch slid under a volley of fire to drive his blade through a traitor's chestplate. Meanwhile, Yvraine jumped over a hail of shots, stepped on a Legionnaire's gun in a ludicrous show of dexterity, and flipped over his head. Her blade flashed in an arc, causing the Chaos Marine's head to leave its neck before his body crumbled to glowing ash.
More warriors shot out of the Webway to join the fight. Fast-moving Dire Avengers, which were Craftworlders, and klaive-wielding Incubi, powerful Dark Eldar warriors, charged out alongside shouting Black Templars Space Marines. Even though they usually hated each other and still didn't trust one another, they put their feelings aside to fight a common enemy.
Marshal Amalrich and Inquisitor Greyfax stormed out side by side, their blades cutting down heretics. The winged Saint Celestine flew above them, her two protectors, the Geminae Superia, leaping beside her while firing their Bolters wildly. The Sisters of Our Martyred Lady followed them, their weapons spitting fire at the most hated of their traitorous foes.
Behind them all came Belisarius Cawl, walking, or rather skittering like a mechanical insect, on many mechanical legs while his auto-reliquary trundled along behind him. Skitarii and Battle Servitors advanced with him, and the ground shook at the tread of a pair of towering House Taranis Knights that brought up the rear.
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The Skitarii were the cybernetic infantry of the Adeptus Mechanicus and served as their primary military force. Often called the Tech-Guard, these soldiers were mind-wiped cyborgs whose bodies had been heavily upgraded with mechanical parts.
They fought as the main backbone of the Machine Cult's armies, alongside the massive war machines of the Collegia Titanica and the elite warrior groups of the Cult Mechanicus.
Collectively, these highly disciplined military forces were known as the Legiones Skitarii.
Servitors were mindless drones made of flesh and metal, built to perform simple manual labour. They were one of the few types of robotics allowed within the Imperium because they were not true Artificial Intelligence. Instead, they were "cyborganic" slaves, living beings who had been surgically altered, fitted with mechanical parts, and mostly lobotomized to ensure total obedience.
This was one of the less pleasurable ends for criminals and those who chose it over starving.
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Right to Belisarius' side walked Gerhard with his retinue. Lencillus, who had an impressive presence on the battlefield, kept watch over him and thanks to his Allarus Pattern Terminator Armour, this was far easier than it would have been if Gerhard hadn't created it.
The four Sisters of Silence were also ready for battle, and when they saw the Archenemy, they charged in as well, following Gerhard's nod.
Hans and Gustav drove behind Gerhard, with Sera, Captain Erevan and Navigator Slovo inside the tank. Without needing Gerhard to say anything, those inside the tank started to aim for the sky-bound daemon engines and larger Chaos Marine machines and fired.
The Black Legionnaires did not panic. They were experienced fighters from ages past, but they were outnumbered and taken completely by surprise. A few of the attackers were killed in the chaos, but, between the fast blades of the Eldar, the humans' enthusiasm, and Gustav's insane power, most of the traitors were quickly cut down.
The last few tried to retreat in an orderly way, hoping to warn their masters about what they had seen, but most were taken out by Gustav's powerful, calculated, precise strikes.
So, they didn't make it.
The giant Imperial Knights locked their monstrous legs and fired their massive cannons and missiles, as if they were competing with Gustav. Fire and metal fragments flew through the air, and the fleeing traitors were blown to bits in thunderous detonations.
...
Just as quickly as it had started, the one-sided massacre was over.
The winners stood among the dead with smoking weapons and grim satisfaction. Orders were barked, and soldiers moved out to set up a circle of guns around the gate, ensuring its safety against potential Chaos retribution. Even though the Eldar and humans had fought together, they still didn't trust each other, leaving space between their groups as they took their positions.
Gerhard had not intervened, knowing that his intervention would be overkill. He was still gathering as much information as he could to prepare for future confrontations. Now, the Eldar weren't really necessary anymore. Since he was here, the goal of this 'Celestinian Crusade' would succeed 100%.
But he didn't act just yet, seeing the Eldar as an interesting specimen for him to study. Which was also why he had manipulated the events and 'abducted' one of them in the chaos, after the Eldar had 'tragically' died.
Was that disgusting?
Disgustingly effective, yes.
Gerhard felt compassion towards humanity, not arrogant Eldar who had single-handedly created a Chaos God. But he was smart enough to bide his time and use them until they were no longer useful. And it was a fact that the Webway was not yet fully mapped by Gerhard.
That's right, Gerhard used the time to map every single path they took in the Webway. The Emperor saw it as the solution for humanity to starve the Ruinous Powers of human souls. So Gerhard would use this chance to broaden his horizons.
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Thus shielded, the leaders of the Ynnari and the Celestinians gathered. Gerhard was also present, mostly because Lencillus, as a 'Custodes', no one knew that he was no longer active, was allowed to be present. Only Saint Celestine had an idea of who Gerhard was and what he was capable of.
"Have we arrived in the Macragge system? We don't know the situation. The Black Legion seems to have arrived before us, which points to the emergence of the Warp rift."
They needed to establish facts and plan what to do next.
"Macragge is invaded," Inquisitor Greyfax said. "This alone is grave news."
"You are working under a misapprehension," said Cawl. "According to my internal gyro-cartolog, we do not stand upon the surface of Macragge. We are located one hundred and sixty million miles spinward of our intended destination, allowing for variable positioning and empyric distort."
"Then where are we?" demanded the Inquisitor, looking at the tall Xenos priestess standing nearby.
Yvraine turned to Greyfax with a cold, unflinching look. The Ynnari leader lowered her blade with slow movements, her head cocked to one side as though listening to something only she could hear. Her movements were, even now, filled with grace. No movement was wasted, and she didn't allow herself to be hurried. When she spoke, her voice was cold, and Greyfax felt a shiver at the faint, insectile susurrus that scratched behind the alien's words.
"Would you have been gladdened, mon-keigh, to find that my people kept a hidden way upon the surface of one of your most prized worlds? I think not."
"No," growled Marshal Amalrich, "we would not."
The Black Templar had been more grim than ever since the battle on Klaisus. Greyfax knew that he had taken the fall of Cadia and the subsequent alliance with the Xenos very badly.
"The Marshal is right," said Saint Celestine. "Such knowledge would have unsettled us. But it would, perhaps, have eased our road. Where, then, do we stand? And how shall we proceed along our appointed path?"
All looked to Yvraine. She, in turn, made a show of staring off to the far horizon, the Gyrinx, her psychic feline, wound around the train of her dress, rumbling a leonine growl of affection.
Before she could answer, though, Gerhard finally spoke. He cared not for the games or the arrogance the Eldar showed, and he was not interested in the petty squabbling.
"This is Laphis, a Shrine World. We are in the Macragge system at least," he said.
Yvraine looked at Gerhard with an expression no human could clearly identify. The Eldar had far more powerful emotions and a wider range of them. Gerhard simply didn't care and ignored her.
"How do you know that?" Greyfax asked.
"The same way I know each of your names, your skills and the danger anyone poses. I am resourceful and can identify and learn anything. The reason why the Black Legion is already here is that the Great Rift has messed up the galaxy. The Warmaster of Chaos most likely knows what our dear Archmagos carries inside the auto-relinquery and wants to stop it at all costs.
To get off here, we will have to approach the Ultramarines on this planet and explain our situation."
"And what if they are disinclined to lend us their assistance?" prodded Eleanor, one of Celestine's Geminae Superia. "We walk with xenos at our side, and come uninvited to their world. Are they not as likely to shoot us as to offer welcome?"
"That is your concern, not ours," replied Yvraine, her tone dismissive. "These are your Emperor's finest warriors, are they not? Surely they have the mental discipline to discern friend from foe."
"Again with that arrogance. Thankfully, they are one of, if not the most logical Space Marine Chapter in the Imperium and won't outright kill us when we approach them in the company of Eldar."
"They have the mental discipline to remain wary of Xenos trickery," growled Amalrich. "And to suspect those who traffic with such creatures."
"We pilgrims will convince them that our cause is holy and just," said Celestine forcefully, shooting a stern glance at the scowling Marshal. "And that our alliance is an honest one. But not by standing here and arguing. We must move at once, for darkness draws close, and time grows short."
"Celestine is right. We should make haste," Gerhard agreed.
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In the final years of the 41st Millennium, the stellar realm of Ultramar, which stretched across several star systems, faced a massive wave of attacks. Dangerous threats began to emerge from the darkness of space, as the Tyranids of Hive Fleet Leviathan drifted toward the territory of the Ultramarines.
At the same time, one of the greatest Ork Warlord of the galaxy, known as the Arch-Arsonist of Charadon led a monstrous, chaotic Waaagh! Intending to overrun the eastern defences.
However, the most dangerous threat came from the servants of Chaos. A massive horde of traitors, mutants, and madmen, led by the Daemon Prince M'kar the Reborn, attacked Ultramar. This invasion plunged dozens of planets into bloody battlefields, with war spreading across worlds such as Espandor, Tarentus, and the ocean world of Talassar.
After months of heavy losses, the Ultramarines finally won. M'kar was defeated, and his broken armies were chased back into deep space, beyond the boundaries of Ultramar.
Peace returned briefly as Marneus Calgar, the famous Chapter Master of the Ultramarines, and his Space Marines began to rebuild and strengthen their defences. Unfortunately, this period of recovery was cut short, far too soon.
Guided by the visions of the chaos sorcerer called Zaraphiston, Abaddon the Despoiler sent a new coalition of Chaos warbands to attack Ultramar's defences once again. Even though Abaddon was busy fighting around the shattered planet Cadia, his influence was vast.
He gathered a large traitor force with Space Marines from the Black Legion, the Iron Warriors, the Night Lords and other renegade factions, to strike the heart of the realm. While some groups attacked the outer systems to distract the defenders, the main enemy fleet travelled through the Warp to strike at Macragge itself.
With this, a desperate and bloody war for survival and the future of the galaxy had begun. It was at that time that the Ynnari and the Celestinians arrived and were going to change what would have surely been a terrible ending.
The coalition was larger than it would have been originally. Abaddon had been hit hard by Gerhard's arrival on Klaisus and had a bad premonition. If he had been his genefather, Horus Luprecal, he might have come in person, but his arrogance went too far, and he only sent a larger force.
A big mistake, as it would turn out. The Gamer would not be labelled and was a wildcard in any situation.