NationStates Jolt Archive

Reken Secoundus

Aloura steps out of the stormbird, as it lands on the top of a predomiant plateau, with Adormange and Sternhammer flanking each side. The planet's barren surface has been long since forgotten from the days of when the people of reken first turned to malal.

"We must clean of all this planet of all who will not follow malal." Aloura states. Walking to the crest of cliff Aloura looks out and sees multiple cities dotting the landscape.

" Master, Tusulian is the capital we will be able to crush their entire infrastructure from that location." Sternhammer states as he points to one of the distant cities.

"good we will start our fun there" Aloura states as she leaps off the edge of the cliff.

Silently he waited standing on his ship so far over the planet. His ship was invisible and orbit even to the Rekenian ships which would come upon it. He wore chill and cold smile. When looking into the man's eyes it was like staring into the abyss although they were a brilliant frost blue they held no kindness at all. He wore snow white armor with frost blue trim. Standing 10' 5 his hair was black with what appeared to be frost clinging to the strands. In fact the bridge itself was covered in frost. His skin seemed sickly and pale belying his well muscled and powerful form. He spoke in a chilly voice that echoed across the Warp, "Sister...." Those very words would chill the bones of any who heard them.

Aloura races foward toward the outskirts of town, Adormange an Sternhammer both running at her heels. Looking forward she sees that the city has been prepared for a fierce defense. Every guardsman loaded to the teeth and dug in for a long haul. Las cannons and heavy bolters mounted onto the edges of the trenches. lay scattered throughout the entire trench system. As the three approach the trench line they spread out and Aloura cues her vox as the air is filled with las and bolter rounds. Adormange leaps out of the way of a bolter round as the clouds part to show drop pods falling toward the trenches.

Pausing only for a moment as almost a ghost seems to speak Aloura shrugs it off as the pods open up and the automated guns are revealed covering the area with dense firepower. Former marines of the Reken legion the sheer mass of fire in the area.

Finding cover from the pods behind a bunker Aloura clicks out some grenades from her micro dispenser, she throws them through the opening used as a gun mount only moments before the bunker is filled with flame and horrific screams. Three marines stumble out engulfed in flame, as Adormange turns around to corner to bring them into his sights. Raising his bolter one turns around and makes eye contact with him. The look of utter betrayal in his eyes triggers a memory given to Adormange when he was created. It was of the great heresy of the War master, Horus. The look in this marine's eyes matched that of the emperor and his sons when they too found of the great treachery of their brothers and sons. Shaking his head clear he pulls the trigger dropping the suffering marines only to feel a great pang of sadness and regret.

As the last of the automated weapons expels the last of its ammo Sternhammer and Aloura come around the corner to see Adormange kneeling before three charred bodies of marines. Tears soaking the fur on his face he looks at Aloura,

'What have we done? we are no better then the filth that we hunt down! These men did not deserve this! they were loyal to their world and the emperor! Aloura cant you see we have been deceived! Before you had started preaching of him many of the men had never heard of Malal and those that had only knew him of stories they were told as children! We are no better than those in the eye and you ne better than Horus. How can. . .

Backhanding Adormange Aloura rages, 'Hold your Tongue! before i take it as a spare! you may be in charge of a legion but only because i wish it! at my command you can be striped of your rank and title and made into a servitor.' Aloura turns to Sternhammer, 'you will watch him and if he makes any more accusations like this you will shoot him do you understand?'

'Yes my lord.' Sternhammer hangs his head as he speaks seemingly pained to say such words.

Aboard the Frost Blade

Xavier stood at the viewport then turned away and as he walked ice crystals appeared. He looked around and closed his eyes momentarily. He then opened them as a Captain appeared in his presence. With a brisk salute he began, "Lord it does appear that Aluora is on the surface. Monitoring of the voxnet on the surface seems to reveal the fact that there may be loyalists still among them. I believe we should contact your brother Kivpa. He and his Marines are tactically suited to this mission my Lord." Xavier became furious, "I survived the ice wastes of Glaciare and gained the chill touch of their gods all without the help of my brother Primarchs!" Xavier reached out and put his hand on the poor Captain's chestplate. He said, "Insubordination will not be tolerated!" In a scream and an extreme chilling wind the Captain was now flash frozen. Xavier proceeded to walk away and then with lightning speed spun a roundhouse kick into the Captain's head shattering it. He gripped his sword and said, "Prepare my transporter then retrieve the helm of Glaciare. Now I got to meet my sister and my......brother." He smiled his chill smile and again it echoed through the Warp. Aluora my sister I come to see you very soon.

As the last of the marines loyal to the emperor are cut down Aloura begins to set up a base camp. A knock on the door as Adormange and Sternhammer enter the command tent.
'you called for us master?' Adresses Sternhammer and Adormange stands in his shadow the encounter with the marine still troubling his thoughts,

'Yes we have much to discuss. Sternhammer you and Adormange will take the western flank of the assault force and sweep around to the rear of the cit. . .' Aloura pauses as a voice enters her mind. She stands as Sternhammer notices a sence of urgency in her eyes. ' Delay that order, you and Adormange will set up our right flank and prepare for orbital attack while the Fleet under Commander dureak's command will move to the far side of the planet in preparation of engagemenbt of the enemy fleet also orbiting this planet.'

'master?' Sternhammer questions.

Aloura looks at him with fir ein her eyes, 'The Dratherians have arrived'

Xavier smiled he would not bring his fleet here this was not an attack. No it was a......visit he was free of the Dratherian Empire......loyal only to humanity....he looked at his armor the frost glittering like diamonds across it. His armor had been master crafted for him to withstand to chill touch which was the byproduct of his psychic legacy. Stepping onto the teleportation pad he looked around as he placed the Norse-style helm on his head. His Marines were wary they knew he sought Aluora and Adormange for unknown reasons. He spoke his voice rasping as the air in front of him frosted, "Stay cloaked in orbit. They will not be able to detect the Frost Blade." In an instant the chamber filled with crackling and Xavier was gone.

Xavier walked on the surface the ground turning to frost and ice blowing around him. His form appeared everywhere he smiled and spoke to Adormange and Aluora through the Warp, Brother, sister I am here to meet you I am Xavier the Ice God of Glaciare. Meet me where the ice rules. Only you two will be able to pass the ice shield. I hope to see you soon.

Rebuilding the trenches they had recently destroyed the wolfen begin to mount weapons for not only a ground assault but also an aerial one. just behind the usable trench system more drop pods land and open to reveal supplies and munitions.

-Sternhammer Report.- Aloura voxes through her secure command line.

-The trenches ground defence are now being put into place and the arial are set.- Returns Sternhammer

-Good, rig each line with uranium claymores, if any trench is over run they will pay more than we will for it.-

-Wilco master-

-out-
Cutting the com with Sternhammer Aloura removes her helm and grabs a orbital com encripter, amplifier and secures it to her helm before replacing it.

-Bloody Heart come in this Aloura. Contract the Blade of Shadows and relay the following,- Aloura pauses as the recording device is prepared.

-We are ready master.- replies the officer on the other side of the vox.

-Tusanco, Our plans on the surface have been compramised. A third party is aproaching orbit of the planet that may become a major hinderance to the operations here on ground. You are to rendevous with the fleet on the far side of this planet and prepare the trigun. Also have the 1st company of the Darkwolves prepare for deployment on my command tactic tengo 1 2 papa helo. send acess codes to the fleet before exiting the warp or you shall be fired upon. Aloura out-

Almost on que, as Aloura removed her helm to remove the apparations of Xavier apeared. Once it had finished Aloura replaced her helm,

-Bloody Heart this is Aloura Contact the main planet. Notify them to begin study of the hellfire marines I had planned for when I returned it cannot wait we will need them sooner than I anticipated. Xavier has landed on the planet and we will need their expertiese.

Sitting on one of three thrones made from ice Xavier listened to the Warp. He listened to the chatter of the armies. Their worries, their hopes, their dreams, their memories, even their lust for battle. He smiled looking around at the chairs the sigils of their respective Legions were emblazoned on the backs. he looked at the table where the symbol of Black and White skull of Malal rested next to the Imperial Aquila. It was meant as a sign of their alliances in the past. He looked down thinking. The Dratherians hadn't sent him....no he had come to meet his brother and sister. He listened to the comm chatter from the Frost Blade and smiled as heard the reports of Rekenian vessels trying hopelessly to find his ship. They would not find anything unless he had deemed it so. He was not in overwhelming control but he would not have come to the surface if he had not had some measure of control in his favor. So he waited for them to arrive.

Adormange stands as a land speeder aproaches to reveal Sternhammer and Aloura in the craft.

'Get In, Xavier has come and he better pray he is alone.'

Jumping onto the bach of the craft he gets his grip only moments beforre the ship starts to move again.

'Sternhammer once we arrive you shall wait outside and stand watch, if anyone comes non-lethal shots only, I want prisoners.'

As the craft slows to a hault Adormange already notices the affects of his brothers presence as he sees the entire area, once a dirt covered wasteland, frozen over with a thick coat of ice.

A giant cathedral entrance opens in front of Aluora and Adormange and Xavier's whispers can be heard in a chill voice, Come brother.....sister.....come. As the would walk inside they would see their walkway lined with the statues of the Primarchs. The Phoenecian, The Warmaster, The Lion, The Wolf of Fenris, The Night Haunter, The Khan, The Emperor's Fist, Perturabo, The Angel of the Blood, Manus, Angron, Mortarion, Guilliman, Magnus, Corax, Vulkan, Alpharius, The Angel of Death, The Hunter, Xander, Aloura, Adormange, Peras, Thor, Xavier, and finally the Emperor himself. Each in their original glory the hall was warm but everything was made of ice. Xavier laughed this time it was his voice, "Like this it is my grand hall I built it especially for us to meet in. Such things are easy for me to do." He stood tall in his glistening frost covered armor and said, "Sit....please."

Walking through the hall the stop infrount of their own statues. Aloura looks at it and smiles as she stands there,

'your renderance of me is so juvinal, the statue must have been made when we first met. yet this palace was not here then. so you would do best to take in a full view while youi can i do not plan to be here long nor will i sit so lets get on with it.'

Looking at Aloura as she speaks Adormange gradually sits down only to get more comfortable as she speaks.

'Brother! how good it is to see you!' Adormange cuts in, 'Its been to long there is much we must speak of. How are the others?'

Xavier smiled at Adormange, "It is great to see you again too my brother. They are quite well otherwise engaged in bloodshed on a massive scale. To which I am sure they have requested your help. The Republic attacks us for aiding them something about not asking their permission before saving their pitiful human hides from the Necron." He looked at Aloura and said, "It seems you have changed much since I last saw you." He smiled warmly and seated himself saying, "I do not officially represent the Imperium in any way but I have come here to do two things. The first is request your assistance against these fools who assail the Imperium. The second is to help you in whatever Crusade you are currently undertaking. I'm sure you could use my and my Marines.................unique talents. A match for Peras' own in many ways."

'You do not understand, for we have already heard of your conquests and we have already started to deal with that problem. Tusanco has already made contact with mercer and is dealing with the problem as we speak. As for here i do not see how you could help, there is nothing going on here we are simpoly removing some unwanted guests from my planet and no more. if you do intend to help here you will take Adormange and his ship with you to go help mercer and tusanco.'

Xavier breathed a cold breath and looked across at Adormange. Looking over at Aluora he said, "Aye we shall go." Looking with chill eyes across the way his Thunderhawk rested in an ice cradle. He looked to Adormange and said, "You need a lift?"

'Lets leave now.' Replies Adormange as he and alorua stand. Turning Alora looks at Adormange,
'I shall return to the foward base and prepare for the assault on the ground. you will help Tusnaco and quelch this rebellion in the stars and preport to me as soon as it is done. If i am to finish before i am contacted by you i will join you in the battle and settle it once and for all. do you understand me Adormange?'

'Yes master' Adoirmange says as he joins Xavier as they head to his thunderhawk.

Leaving the ice palace in just as much haste Aloura Jumps into the Landspeeder as sternhammer speeds toward the Fob.
----
Aloura arrives at the base as the final preparation are made for the upcomming battle. Heading toward he command tent she enters the war room to the dimming of the light. Her blades glinting in the dimming light.
' Sternhammer You will lead a contingent of Termuinators up the main causeway toward the chapel while Captian Delians will lead his jet troops overhead with areial cover. Captians Armoan and Captian Intranas will lead sililar forces up paralel roads toward our objective.

An orbital bombardm,ent will be covering the objective with fire until a danger close situation is observed in wich case it will be averted to behind the objective covering andy land retreat. We have discovered a tunnel syatem underneath the chappel and do not know its expanse. be prepared for tunnel warfare.

Sternhammer Crouches behind the rubble as the rounds impact on the other side. Looking accrost the causeway he sees the other terminator squad similary pinned down behind a corner. Observing vox silence considering the enemy he directs the second squad through a series of hand and arm signals. Signaling back the ranking terminator signals his squad back down the alley they were pinned in. Turning to two of his own squad he motions the same to them as they head around their own side. grabbing a krak grenade from his belt he sets the timer for four secounds as he lobs it over the barracade. as the ground shiivers from the detonation he stands along with the remaining three terminators and opens fire his bolters spitting fire at the dugin astartes. moving round the barricade he charges the encampments drawing their fire while the others make their slow march up the center.

His power armor though less armored kept him faster than his terminator squad allowing him to make the daring diversion he now required of himself. Two of the defending darkwolves that were closest to the explosion finally regain their feet as Sternhammer closes the gap to a merely 100 meters. regaining control of the heavy bolter emplacement they were at they reload the weapon and get off one round only to be covered by a hail of crossfire as the second terminator squad opens up from an adjacent rooftop.

dodging sideways, his hair energised by a las beam, Sternhammer Drops his bolters, now spent, and grabs his frostaxe. Rolling to his feet he clears the second encampment with a single swing of his weapon.

Surveying the area He looks back to see only one of the three terminators still standing. the first caught a las blast to the helm while the other lays on the ground his leg taken off from a bolter round. Signaling the squads they occupy and redeploy the heavy weapons while they ytend to the wounded.

The ground shook as Sternhammer stood. Two predators rolled into sight one a annihilator and the other a baal. Howling out a war cry Sternhammer charges from the encampments opening up with a bolter, spraying fire as the Baal predator opens catching him in the shoulder. Spinning from the hit he stumbles and almost looses his footing. The terminators open fire with the fixes encampments as Sternhammer Stands strait again, only to look towards the on coming tanks and be frozen solid.

The tanks had stopped firing, and a figure in white armor of an apothecary walks out between them. Sternhammer drops his bolter as the Terminators see the figure and similarly cease fire in responce to their leaders actions.

-All units stand down!-Sternhammer calls over the vox. Falling to a knee as the being approaches Sternhammer bows his head. 'Master Diousan i thought you and your lab was destroyed after the primarchs were made.'

'That is only half true, but we cannot speak of such things here instruct your men to continue the assault' States the apothecary.

'Sir?'

'My men have already fallen back to my stronghold they will receive no resistance and once we are there all will be revealed.' Diousan states as he helps Sternhammer to his feet.

-All men press on and secure the objective!-Sternhammer orders over the vox.Signaling to the entrenched terminators they join him as they walk down the road toward the building.

Stepping out of the elevator Sternhammer and Diousan walk down the sterile corridor to a single white door. Sternhammer, now in simple fatigues looks at Diousan and gets a reassuring nod before he steps into the small room. Diousan closes the door behind them as they are sterilized made static free.
the door in front of them opens as Diousan approaches it and walks through the door way. 'It cant be. . ' whispers Sternhammer. Walking through the doorway he sees six large cylinders against the wall, three on each side. Large wires and pipes protrude from each of them. Walking up to the first one he rubs his hand over the looking glass of the first one and stumbles back. Two black eyes stare back at him.
'She ordered this place destroyed! you are fooling with my thoughts. what have you done to me!' Sternhammer rambles as he takes a step toward Diousan.

'I have done nothing to you everything you see here is real why do you think Aloura only now decided to destroy us? she knows that i have succeeded.' replies Diousan.

'Succeeded? in what?'

'I have created beings that would rival that of the Warmaster!' Diousan says with a grin.

'What do you mean rival the warmaster?' asks Sternhammer.

'Not only are they as fast and courageous as horus was but they also are great leaders. but unlike horus they are more devout than master Dorn.' stated Diousan.

'Them? are all of these full?' Sternhammer questions.

'Not anymore, originally they were but most of their abilities were not able to be controlled and destroyed the primarch its self. now only two remain and they are completely under control of their massive powers.' Walking over to another tank Sternhammer looks cautiously into it to find another set of eyes staring at him this time they are the color of the purest ice. 'but that is not the worst thing there is something about Aloura you must know, her blades, do you recal where she got them?'

'Yes the Emperor sent them to her from mighty Tera.' Sternhammer replied.

'have you not noticed how blood never stays on that blade long, almost as if the blades absorbs it?' Diousan states as he leads Sternhammer into another room. as they walk into the room Sternhammer notices every inch of the walls are covered with weapons and the tables filling it the same. walking to the furthest wall Diousan removes two weapons and turns to reveal two chain axes.
'These are the weapons the emperor sent, i recovered them from a rebellion not 6 months after she received the blades she now carries. yet i did not realize what they were till most recently when suddenly the blades turned on. the weapons she now holds are blades of Khorne, and every day she holds them she becomes more controlled by the daemon they contain.'

Almost as if on cue Aloura enters the room, drawing her blades upon seeing the two tougher. ‘What has this heretic and follower of the false emperor been telling you Sternhammer? ’She questions. Slowly she recognizes the vats that stand against each wall and charges toward Diousan. Quickly thinking Sternhammer grabs the chain axes from Diousan and catches Aloura’s blades as she came in at an angle, showering Diousan with sparks as the weapons collide. His inner beast unleashed at the sudden attack, Sternhammer pulls Aloura’s blades down with the hook of the axe almost throwing her off balance. Using the momentum she spins around to attack again. Seeing this happen Sternhammer brings one axe up to bear while the thrusting the other one toward her abdomen. Both blades catching the shaft of the raised axe. She only catches sight of the other axe as it connects with her body, throwing her against the far wall. Leering at her opponent she calls out ‘Sternhammer what do you think you are doing? Why do you protect this traitor, he has fallen from the grace of our gods.’
‘No he has fallen from the grace of the gods that are controlling you through those cursed blades!’ Sternhammer challenged back.
‘These blades were given to me by the emperor!’ she reminds. Leaping forward, now at Sternhammer, she is caught off guard as he ducks as she approaches and throws her over him to the other side of the room. Throwing her blades at him hoping to catch him and pull her with him he turns in time to entangle the chains of the blades on the axes with the blades themselves wrapping around the heads of his axes. Grabbing the now taught blades she lands on her feet creating a tug of war affect.
‘Yes and isn’t so convenient that the gods you now follow allow you to carry weapons that were give and blessed by him?’ he snaps back. ‘Those blades are of chaos and they hold a daemon that is slowly taking over your mind and body like they have done many times before. These axes are the weapons sent to you by the emperor intercepted by the followers of chaos and replaced with those accursed things.’ Sternhammer yanks the blades past him launching Aloura off of her feet once again. Diousan Moves to the vat containing the black eyed primarch and starts entering encryption codes and glyphs on a hidden control panel under the viewing plate.
Tossing the axes behind him Sternhammer pulls on the chains attached to the chaos blades again pulling Aloura toward him. Sliding feet first toward her advisory she catches an imperfection in the floor and is sprung into the air. Coming down upon the wolfen leader she catches one of her knees in his face knocking him on his back. Flipping to his feet the wolfen barely misses two eldritch shurikens that cut through the air where his head had been. Using his weight as he is becomes upright he lands a punch upon Aloura’s jaw. A sickening crunch is heard as blood sprays from her mouth. Snapping her head back to face Sternhammer she whips her foot around in a roundhouse kick and puts him to the ground with it. Grabbing him by the knot of the top of his head she pulls him up and puts him in a rear naked choke. Reaching for his throat Sternhammer tries desperately to remove her grip as he begins to loose consciousness. The world closes in on Sternhammer as the final bits of consciousness fades away.
A voice not from this plane of existence comes like a whisper in Sternhammer’s mind.
‘This is what happens to those who betray the true masters of the galaxy. You and those who have chosen to follow you will face the same fate as you. When you finally meet your torturers let them know it was. . ‘The voice cuts out as he feels the arm loosen and fall from his throat as the world comes back to light. As everything comes back to him he notices the two beings from the vats in front of him.
‘Sternhammer are you ok?’ Diousan as he steps between them as they help him up. Looking back at Aloura he sees her unconscious, her hands and feet bound with her mouth gagged. ‘I will need to take that out as soon as possible.’ Diousan nods at a dagger protruding from his side. Grabbing it firmly he pulls it out the same way it was inserted. Sternhammer groans as the eight inch blade slides out of him. As the blade comes free the wound begins to bleed heavily, reaching forward the blue eyed being touches the wound as Sternhammer is filled with an unusual tingling feeling. Looking down at the wound he notices the bleeding has stopped and it is only half as large as it had been. Gazing at Diousan dumbfounded Diousan seems to have an epiphany and gestures at the two men. ‘Where are my manners?’ he asks rhetorically as he gestures to the blue eyed primarch. ‘This Is Loki, primarch by Astartes’ standards, yet through his testing and training he has come to be known as the angel of death.’ Sternhammer looks at Loki as the slightest smirk graces his face and lighting seems to fill his pupils. ‘And this is Azrael who has come to be known as the great tormenter. It’s also said that he rivals Sanguinius’ rage that has become so legendary by the blood angels. Nether have had legions made from their geneseeds, nor do they need them. Four such things would be impossible due to the things they are capable of. You will take them with you as you go to assist your son Adormange. I have heard many of our Dratherian primarchs will also be at this battle so thus would be a good time to expose our best kept secret.