Heresy Bk. 01: Prophecy of Betraya

"On this matter and by this weapon, I swear," Sejanus said.

"Bring swift justice to the enemies of man," Horus told the men of the Fourth.

Kalus Ekaddon stood on the gatehouse, the corpses of its defenders laid broken beneath him. They had put up a fight, but to Ekaddon, it didn't even qualify as such. From the time he and his squad had activated their jump packs, soaring to the top of the wall on plumes of orange-white fire, securing the gatehouse had taken thirty seconds.

He raised Abaddon on the vox network. "Gatehouse secured, ready to lower the bridge."

"Excellent work. Anyone hurt?" Abaddon asked.

"Not even close," Ekaddon replied. He pulled the lever attached to the steel chains, lowering the drawbridge for the envoy and First Company, leaping down with the aid of his jump pack to meet them on the ground.

At the outbreak of fighting, most of the townsfolk had retreated indoors, not wanting to be though of as combatants. A few stood outside shops or stalls, ready to defend their property to the end. Fortunately for them, that time had not yet come. With First Company as guards, the envoy made haste to the citadel.

Those inside thought that barring the doors would prevent the Astartes from gaining access, they were very wrong. With one solid kick, Abaddon's drastically enhanced physique, augmented by the muscle fibers of his armor, blew the door open.

Those who thought to take up arms were quickly dissuaded by the gigantic forms of the Astartes. When the room was secure, Kharri Van Eisen stood before Hratli.

"Master Hratli, I told you I'd be back," Van Eisen said with a smug smile. "As you can see, your warriors are no match for us, will you listen to us, or will it be war?"

Hratli stood before his throne, tall and lean with muscles born from years of combat. His blue eyes gazing into her soul, as if judging her every word, her every action. He wore robes of crimson emblazoned with the symbol of the White Dragons.

"Your warriors are impressive indeed," he said, looking over the Astartes before him. "Tell me, mighty warrior, how many dragons have you slain?"

"A dozen or so, just this afternoon," Ekaddon replied. His meaning wasn't lost on Hratli.

"Those were fathers, husbands, brothers. Killed for what? Your Emperor? "he asked with great sadness. "What kind of man calls himself Emperor that would encourage his subjects to murder others?"

Abaddon moved forward, stopped only by Falkus Kibre and Kalus Ekaddon, his fury almost beyond containment. Kharri Van Eisen's eyes went wide.

"I would recommend choosing your words more carefully. Captain Abaddon has quite the temper," Van Eisen said.

"So I see," Hratli replied. "We will not submit, if that means war then so be it. My Master would never approve of your Imperium."

"Your Master?" Van Eisen asked.

"Darmios the Prophet, he speaks for our master and has kept our world safe from outsiders for thousands of years."

"Where is this, Darmios?" Abaddon demanded, his choler rising again.

"He lives in the mountain, on top of the highest peak. He knows you will be coming," Hratli said.

"Good," Abaddon said, cycling through the vox network to contact the fleet. He informed the vox officer of the need to find Darmios. When Abaddon was informed of Fourth Company's deployment, be flipped to Sejanus's channel.

"Captain Sejanus, we have need of your assistance," Abaddon said.

"We are at your disposal First Captain," Sejanus replied.

"On the highest peak is a man named Darmios, bring him to us as fast as possible," he said, glancing at Hratli. "If he resists, kill him."

"Already on it, First Captain."

Sisters Leilani Mollitas and a young novice stood on the command deck of the Vengeful Spirit, awaiting a meeting with the Warmaster. The news they brought would no doubt add to the already less than smooth compliance of the planet, but the Warmaster had final say in all deployments attached to his fleet.

Horus finished listening to a message, thanking the vox officer before turning to the Silent Sisters.

"What can I help you ladies with?" He asked them.

Sister Leilani made several quick hand gestures, the main form of communication in the Silent Sisterhood. Once a Sister takes the Oath of Tranquility, they may not speak until death. Horus looked a bit befuddled at her gestures.

"My lord Warmaster, Sister Leilani Mollitas greets you and wishes for a moment of your time," the young woman said. "I am Jerika Edriss, novice sister of the Brazen Sabre Cadre."

"Very well, what can I help you with?" Horus asked, his kind fatherly time coming to the fore.

Sister Leilani made some quick gestures and Jerika translated. "We wish to deploy more Sisters to the mountains. We believe there to be more that just one powerful psyker living there and, if it is true, your men will be in great danger."

"Sisters, I appreciate your help, but my men can handle it. Captain Sejanus is second only to the First Captain in martial skill. He has everything under control, I assure you."

"Lord please, let us send a few Sisters to the surface," Jerika begged.

"No, that's final. If we should need your help, you will be informed immediately." The Warmaster was firm, yet calm.

"As you command Warmaster," they bowed together and left the command deck. As they left, Leilani signed to Jerika.

"Monitor Captain Sejanus's men, I want to know what they find there."

They returned to their shuttle, set to return to their ship, the Moriens Lux. The Black Ship drifting at the edge of the fleet, invisible without some form of light behind it and as silent as the warriors within. From the command deck, Sister Leilani was monitoring both the vox network of the First and Fourth Companies.

Sejanus and two squads had traveled to the highest peak, searching for the home of Darmios. Concealed from most people, the door was built into the side of the mountain, with the home extending into the heart of it. On the door, strange runes had been carved; runes that made Sejanus's skin crawl. As the men advanced, weapons ready, the door opened and an old man stepped out in dirty, cream colored robes that Sejanus suspected were once white many years ago.

"Welcome Hastur Sejanus and members of the Fourth Company, I've been expecting you. I am Darmios, Prophet of Lamaranth. Please come in, we have much to discuss."

"First Captain, I've found him," Sejanus said over the vox network.

~Chapter 4~

~A Request

~Future

~Discovery

Camille Gaines had spent most of the afternoon in her room, putting the finishing touches on her latest painting. Stepping back to gaze upon it, she smiled, thinking it was perfect in every way. She had used several picts Ardarik Velas had provided to get shades and colors just right.

Yet she could help but wonder what that item was that Captain Abaddon had passed to Captain Kibre. The thoughts were driving her mad; she just had to find out. First though, she needed someone to ask.

Rumors had been floating around about warrior lodges on the Vengeful Spirit for some time now, usually spread by soldiers of the Byzant Janizars talking where they probably shouldn't. She knew each and every one of them would deny it, yet she had to find the truth.

She thought about who to ask, what to say and how to broach the subject. She pulled out her sketch pad and began to make notes. She listed several Astartes who she knew would deny everything: Abaddon, Kibre, Ekaddon, Maloghust, Torgaddon, and Little Horus. She found her list of those that may be willing to talk was much smaller. Garviel Loken and Hastur Sejanus. Now she just needed an in with them.

She grabbed the data slate that Velas had given her, grabbed her coat and headed for his room. Perhaps he will have some idea what to do, she thought. As she opened her door, she saw Ardarik Velas standing before her, just about to knock.

"Ardarik, what a pleasant surprise, I was just coming to find you," she said. "I'm all finished with those picts."

"Keep them, as a gift," Velas said as she tried handing him the data slate. "Care to walk with me?"

"Sure, there are some things I would like your opinion on actually," she said as they headed down the corridor. "I have an idea of who we can ask about that thing in the picts."

"Me too, who did you come up with?"

"Captains Loken or Sejanus," she told him.

"Captain Sejanus is away on mission and Captain Loken won't see us, I've tried." It was evident by his tone he was disappointed. "However, I met someone in the lounge who happens to be a documentarist. She is hoping to be the personal documentarist of Captain Sejanus."

"Wow, who is it?" Camille asked. She was almost bouncing with excitement.

"Marie Kardis. She said she would meet us whenever we are available."

"That's great, is that where we are headed?" Her excitement was barely contained.

"Yes," Velas said as they stopped by a door, knocking on it.

The door opened and Marie Kardis stood before them, her golden hair tied up in a pony tail.

"Ah Ardarik Velas, and you must be Camille," Marie said with some excitement. "Please come in."

They entered, taking a seat by the desk with a pict reader. She offered them a drink, which they accepted, and after getting them, she sat down to chat.

"So lets get down to it, what is this thing you want me to ask Captain Sejanus about, should I actually get to be his documentarist?" she asked.

Camille put the data slate in the reader and brought up the image. "This token, or coin, or whatever it is." She zoomed in on the item passing between the two Astartes.

"I see, may I have a copy of this, in case be asks to see it?"

"Of course," Velas said. "I'll get you one as soon as possible."

"Thank you. What do you think it is?"

"I believe it is a lodge coin," Camille exclaimed.

Darmios was seated at a large stone desk with Hastur Sejanus and several of his men standing around it, the Sisters of Silence had been requested to wait outside. On the table was a book that looked about as old as Darmios did, his skin wrinkled and his beard long and white.

"This is the Book of Atum, written long before your great ancestors even lived. It tells many things, but what I want to show you is this," Darmios explained as he flipped through the pages.

"This is a prophecy made long before even your Emperor was born. It took me years to decipher it."

He turned the book so they could read it. His handwriting was barely legible, but much more legible than the original script, which was a string of pictographs. The words shocked Sejanus to the very core.

"I am Horus, forged of the oldest gods, I am be who gave way to Khaos. I am the great destroyer of all. I am he who did what seemed good to him, and set doom in the palace of my will. Mine is the fate of those who move along this serpentine path."

"What makes you believe this heresy will come to pass?" Sejanus asked, trying to keep his rage down.

"I am the prophet of Fate, it has been shown to me that Horus will rise, then fall. This must not be allowed to happen," Darmios explained, closing the book.

"May I see that?" Sejanus asked Darmios before he could put it back in the shelf.

"Yes, But please be gentle, it is very old," Darmios said, handing the book to Sejanus.

Sejanus flipped through several pages, reading what words he could understand. Those written were not of any ancient Terran dialect he had ever seen and some of the inscriptions made him want to turn away in disgust. He folded up the book and handed it to one of his men.

"Excuse me a moment," Sejanus said, stepping out to flip through the vox network, he contacted the fleet. "Inform the Warmaster that the Silent Sisterhood needs to be deployed to reinforce our men on the surface immediately."

His order was acknowledged and he knew he had to buy some time, ten minutes at the most. He decided to engage Darmios in conversation. He returned to the group.

"Darmios, what do you know of my future?" Sejanus asked.

"Is that curiosity or fear?" Darmios asked with a laugh.

"Curiosity."

"Very well Captain, I shall reveal what I know of your future," Darmios said as he sat down. His eyes turned to a glassy white and the room thrummed with mystic energy. His head tilted back as he began to shake.

Then, as quickly as it began, it was over. Darmios sat up and looked to Sejanus with a wide smile, almost unnaturally wide.

"You will be chosen to make first contact with Terra. The Emperor will deny your words, resist compliance. You will fight bravely, yet you shall fall to the Emperor's guards."

"What are you saying? We're already in contact with Terra," Sejanus exclaimed dumbfounded. His vox link beeped, signaling an incoming transmission.

"Captain Sejanus, drop pods inbound, ETA sixty seconds." The woman's voice was soft and commanding. Sejanus sent an acknowledgment.

"That's what the Fates have sent to me Captain," Darmios told him. "I'm sorry I don't have more information.". Darmios sighed, "I know you have brought your null maidens to kill or arrest me. My death will mean little, the others have been informed and this world shall resist."

Kharri Van Eisen stood with one of her aides, listening to the vox transmissions passing between Captain Sejanus and the Vengeful Spirit. Having the Silent Sisterhood called down was not something she wanted to hear, knowing they were only deployed against psykers. She wondered to herself about what Captain Sejanus had found up there.

She turned her attention to Captain Abaddon, keeping a watchful eye on Hratli while they talked about the history of the planet and its people. Something about Hratli disturbed her, though she couldn't pinpoint it. Something about his eyes.

That's when it happened.

Abaddon was ready for it, years of training had sharpened his senses. Hratli drew a dagger from beneath his robes and slashed for Abaddon's exposed throat. His eyes were wild, like those of a madman. That changed when Abaddon grabbed the dagger in his massive armored fist and crushed the blade.

Abaddon's strike back was swift, backhanding the master of the White Dragons across the room. Those with quick access to weapons rose to fight, bringing great swords and axes down upon the Space Marines, though none could pierce the sacred armor.

Kharri Van Eisen dropped to the floor as the bark of bolter fire erupted within the citadel. Practiced efficiency saw those who would strike at the Astartes dead in seconds, their inside blown apart from the mass reactive ammo.

Ordering a search of the grounds, Abaddon contacted the Warmaster and informed him of the verdict. This planet chose war, and war it would be. Horus informed him that the Second was deploying to other castles, and that the Fourth would get the same orders.

Falkus Kibre came up to Abaddon, waiting until he was done on the vox to speak with him.

"Sir, we've found something you may be interested in," Kibre told him. "Follow me."

The two descended into a large vault beneath the castle. Before them stood thousands of suits of armor, all silently waiting for orders that would never come.

"Are these constructs?" Abaddon asked.

"I believe so. I'll bet the Mechanicum would be very excited to see these," Kibre said with a grin.

"I wonder if the other clan leaders have anything like this at their disposal," Abaddon wondered out loud.

"If so," Kibre mused, "this could turn into a real fight."

Abaddon contacted the fleet again. "Send a Mechanicum Adept to my location, Regulus will be happy with what we found."

~Chapter 5~

~Knights

~Legio Mortis

~Secret Meetings

Hastur Sejanus stood outside the ruins of the home of Darmios. The place little more than a collapsed ruin save for the front door, which stood as it always had. When the dust leaking from beneath it settles, there will be no indication anyone ever lived here.

Darmios had begun to drawn power from some unknown force, causing lightning to crackle from his fingers and lifting him off the ground. When the Sisterhood's null zone made contact with him, he dropped to the ground, spent.

Sejanus would never forget the look of pure amusement on his face just before he died, nor the words he said. "You can destroy me, but you cannot destroy destiny."

Captain Abaddon contacted him just as the thunderhawks came in to pick them up.

"Sejanus, use caution when assaulting the castles, it seems these rulers have access to mechanical constructs. We found thousands of them beneath White Dragon Castle."

He acknowledged the warning and briefed his men on the flight down from the mountains. Below him, he could see Tarik Torgaddon's Second Company thunderhawks on route to the impending conflicts. Their orders were to travel to the coast and secure three castles along the sea.

They flew over the first castle to be taken, its warriors arrayed along the parapet. They fired arrows from crude bows at the thunderhawks, but they did little in the way of damage. Then they saw the real threat.

What looked like an old mine entrance had hundreds of knights pouring out of it in perfect formation. Each one had a glowing red emblem on their chest and glowing red eyes. Some carried swords or mauls, others rode on mechanical horses and carried lances with shields.

"Prepare for battle men, and may the Emperor guide you," Sejanus said as the thunderhawk circled to set down.

The gunship set down, the ramp dropping with a thud on the ground. Men of the Fourth Company rushed out and quickly formed a battle line, out of range of the archers and well away from the knights coming towards them. The thunderhawk lifted off, taking up an overhead watch pattern.

Sejanus took in the view, looking at the castle walls and the banners flying above it. They were white cloth with a red bird, an eagle perhaps. The knights with mechanical steeds lined up in columns three bodies wide, while those on foot formed neat and orderly ranks behind them. Each one had a glowing red rune similar to the emblem on the castle. Between the ranks, he noticed the castle walls had the same glowing runes on them.

The charge was swift, covering the distance between them faster than Sejanus would have thought possible. Behind the charging knights came those on foot, running faster than men should be able to run. Sejanus smiled, knowing this would be a good fight.

"Open fire!"

The Warmaster stood on the command deck, listening to vox transmissions from the surface. His men had met the enemy, though it wasn't the intended targets. These were machines, controlled by unknown means and sent to war in their masters place.

These constructs went down easy enough, but his men would soon run out of ammo. He needed bigger, more effective weapons, and he knew just where they were kept.

"Adept Regulus," Horus called across the command deck. Regulus had been trying to divulge the source of the constructs power.

"Yes lord," came his static filled response.

"We need the Legio Mortis Titans deployed to the surface, can you make that happen?"

"Of course lord, how many would you like?" Regulus asked.

"One to each of the thickest pockets of fighting."

"Right away lord," Regulus replied. He gathered some data and sent it to the Mortis Probati, receiving a quick response.

"Titans will be deployed within the hour my lord," Regulus told the Warmaster.

"Excellent, have you been able to figure out what powers these machines?"

"Not yet lord, we are working on it though."

"Inform me when you figure it out," the Warmaster said as he turned to leave.

"Of course lord."

The Vengeful Spirit was old, one of the oldest ships in the fleet. As such, her deepest bowels had begun to rot, home to nothing but rats and filth, a damp and nasty place. Yet, in the rank darkness, a gathering took place.