In the grim darkness of the forty-first millenium, there is only war. With the Imperium of Man still reeling from the Twelth Black Crusade led by Warmaster Abbadon the Despoiler, leader of the forces of the Ruinous Powers of Chaos, numerous xenos forces took it as a sign to increase their attacks upon the newly fractured Imperium. Yet, many more plan the same, and alas, only the Imperium knows of it, and prepares for it.
Reports of unrest came from the Segmentum Obscurus, inciting the valiant forces of the Imperium to put an end to them, and then turn to other issues. These reports were that of Orkish incursions upon the Imperium's borders, attacking several Agri-Worlds and a singular Forge World, whilst attempting to reach a Hive World guarded by the Imperial Navy. Their first destination would be the Hive World of Scintilla, located within the Calixis Sector, to support the defense of the planet, which was, although ready at the least in orbit, woefully unprepared for the horrors of Orkish combat.
As the ship left the Warp, it's brilliance and magnificance showed once more to the Imperial Navy. It was a Gloriana-class Battleship, ordaned with blue paint, a golden eagle on the front and gold as far as the eye could see. There was no spot where there was not at least a speck of gold, and even if there was, nobody would notice, either due to their awe, or due to their deaths at the hands of its cannons. As the ship came into a position most optimal for the planet's defense, it was contacted from the surface by their brothers-in-arms, the fabled Iron Fists of the Legio Astartes, the Emperor's wrath.
"Hail to the Macragge's Honour, brother Guilliman."
"Hail to the Phalanx, brother Dorn."
"What brings you into the Segmentum Obscurus? I had sworn that you were in the Segmentum Tempestus and that you would not return for another few centuries."
"So I had thought as well, brother. But Father has replaced me, insisting that I be here and help you with cleansing the Segmentum Obscurus of immediate threats."
"So it would seem. Father has had many reasons for his actions, and I am sure there was one behind this choice, as well."
"Indeed. But enough of Father, what are the defenses of this planet, and when can we expect the Orks to strike?"
"The planetary defenses on the ground are quite formidable, with numerous Land Raiders to support our fellow Space Marines and Imperial Guardsmen, alongside artillery, defensive fortifications, three companies of the Death Korps of Krieg, one company of Vostroyan Firstborn, and twenty companies from Cadia. We are also expecting the Adeptus Mechanicus to arrive before the attack begins. But as for the defenses in orbit, that is where we are critically weak. With only five Dauntless-class Light Cruisers and seven Tempest-class Strike Cruisers, the planet's orbit is virtually undefended. I would have came with the Phalanx, but it was tied down by repeated attacks of traitors, and the Mechanicus ships are still ways from here. However, with your ship here, I believe that the Imperial Navy could hold out long enough until the Adeptus Mechanicus ships arrive in the case of their delayed coming."
"Thank you brother, for sharing this information with me. It will prove most useful for the coming battle. Expect five hundred of my finest to aid you in battle on the ground should the enemy land. They will be of invaluable use to you."
"Indeed they shall. I suppose it is time to make final preparations, for the Orks come in five standard hours."
"Agreed. Contact me if anything changes. I shall do the same for you."
"As you say, brother. Vigilanti semper manere frater."
"Tu quoque, frater."
Hours earlier, before the fateful meeting of the two Space Marine Primarchs, Roboute Guilliman and Rogal Dorn, the Emperor of Mankind, leader of the Imperium of Man and saviour of man, along with his loyal guard, his most elite, the Legio Custodes, were travelling to the ends of the Segmentum Tempestus in search for something that disturbed the wise Emperor. Two planets have been cut off from the Imperium, and he feared that the worst has happened. If his suspicions were confirmed to be true, then the Imperium would need to mobilize everyone it can, and deal with the threat. But as it stands, it could simply be Chaos, or even the vile xenos known as the Tyranids, a hivemind species hellbent on devouring the galaxy. As the Emperor looked out into the void of space, having left the Warp minutes ago, he turned around to face one of his most trusted, most elite, and deadliest of warriors, whom had wore brilliantly ordaned golden armour, to reflect his status.
"Captain-General Valoris, how much longer until we reach the planet?"
"Not long, my Emperor. We expect to arrive in twenty minutes, shipboard time."
"Good. Make contact with the VI Legion, and tell them that they are needed by I. No matter who we encounter here, I fear that the Custodes and I would not be able to last long on our own."
"As you say, my Emperor."
Putting his left arm unto his chest, the Captain-General left as to send word for the VI Legion - the Space Wolves, and their Primarch, Leman Russ. Whilst occupied by the Emperor's command, the Emperor himself continued to stare at the endless void, slowly seeing the planet that grew with each passing moment as his ship, the Bucephelus, crept ever closer. But as it came ever closer to the planet, it came under xenos attack. Small crafts going faster than most Imperium starfighters, probing the defenses of the Bucephelus, with only one of the twenty xenos fighters breaking off from the main group after dodging three cannon shots that only Aeldari vessels could dodge with such ease. One of the other Custodes, a Shield-Captain, had interrupted the Emperor's moment of peace despite the gunfire, as to report the grave news.
"My Emperor, forgive me for disturbing you, but I have identified the xenos alongside the Adeptus Mechanicus Archmagos. They bear Universal Union signatures."
"These are most grave news. Shield-Captain Kalim Varanor, tell the pilots to take-off momentarily, inform every crew member to stay on full alert, and tell the Archmagos to scan for any Realspace ruptures that these xenos attempt to use. They shall not live to see the end of this day."
"As you say, my Emperor."
As the Shield-Captain left, the Emperor continued to stare into the void, thinking about the approaching dawn of the Fifth Grand Invasion of this powerful xenos race. Alas, his concentration was disrupted as he saw one of the xenos crafts hover directly in front of him, only separated by glass. The craft had elegance, the smoothness of its build would make even the Aeldari jealous. Standing at around three meters tall, and seven meters long, it had a design similar to that of an organic avian without its wings. The craft was organic underneath that pitch black metal, and the Emperor knew it. These xenos utilized other races' strengths, and forcefully improved them for their own cause. They sickened him, but intrigued him at the same time. His deep thought was once more disturbed by the same craft exploding, making the Emperor hear a mere four seconds of its near daemonic screech, in spite of the laws of science forbidding sound from travelling through space. The explosion did little to damage the glass, but it did make the other craft quickly move over to its remains, blasting away at the remains in the hopes of leaving absolutely nothing for the Adeptus Mechanicus to study. Before the Imperium's finest fighters, the Primaris-Lightning Strike Fighters could be deployed, the xenos already destroyed the wreckage, and were now entering an engagement with the best pilots of the Imperium, handpicked by the Emperor himself, to accompany him on his journey to unite the galaxy. This engagement reminded him of how woefully unprepared the Imperium was in the waking hours of the Solaris Expeditionem - The Solar Expedition, which took place near the very end of the dreaded Horus Heresy.
Yes, I am crazy. I am starting yet another fanfiction.
I have an obsession with the Combine, don't I? Well, it matters not, for I have given them tech and units I conceived in my own spare time.
How did the Emperor survive? Well, find out in the next, and longest chapter in the first ten chapters of this fanfic, for this was merely an introduction.
Expect me to publish a new chapter of The Light of Remnant in a week or two. As for Vandread: Second Incursion, give me a week or two as well. I'm really not feeling good right now.