(Author's note: So this story is Warhammer 40k fanfiction, hopefully it won't be as bad as my immortal.)

Chapter 1

The planetary governor, Douglas Orann looked tirelessly at a screen. The warp storm was closing in on the star system of Baraban Jocalis and this servant of the immortal emperor knew that this event would end their two hundred years of prosperity after the conversion of the feral world, Jocalis into a powerful forge world that rivalled Mars, and the mining operations within Jocalis' two moons Sigmunt and New Reichspell.

The founding of the Astartes chapter, The Great Defenders was what made the star system grand, holding as a barrier against dark elder incursions, Tyrannid hive fleets and tau invasions. The bright black fist against a background of gold was their insignia and was held high by both the battle brother and planetary defence forces alike. A unifying symbol of the system's power against the forces that would destroy the imperium of man.

Douglas looked at his comrades, the other men who safeguarded the planets of his beloved system were well respected, but fat and withered with age, now more machine than human and followed by admiring tech priests. "Do not fear Douglas", said the fattest and most mechanical of them all, governor Gerault of the agri-world, Panada, "This is common to our system, and The Chapter Master of The Great Defenders has recorded several logs on the warp and its irrational behaviour in our sector. I needn't remind you that the storms collapse in on themselves as soon as they reach our territory."

"But this is a cautious matter, Father. We have to treat it as such. Do you remember the times that the Xenos swept at us like a storm? We faced only a small portion of the Tyrannid hive fleet but the only way we pushed them back is by getting our people safe and getting our people safe. The same went for the Cabals which we beat with trickery and why their corpses now hang preserved in tar to show their brethren what happens to any force that takes vengeance. We must take precautions, if our imperial tithe leaves today, it will not reach its destination and we'll bring shame on the imperium."

"But if what we don't send it, Governor Orann?" The most powerful contractor of New Reichspell and Jocalis, Governor Krat inquired.

"Then the inquisition can place the blame on me and me alone," Orann replied. "If my actions prove to be seen as cowardly then I'll gladly accept their punishment and in so doing, purify my soul for The God Emperor and his great power does not find me wanting."

Gerault's second chin vibrated with his baritone voice as he scolded Orann with, "You shall do no such thing. You will not halt the Tithe unless I give you the permission to do so, do I make myself clear?"

Orann looked his adoptive father straight in his one unprocessed eye and said, "with all due respect, you haven't the authority." Orann pressed the intercom, "Imperial fleet Jocalis, this is Governor Douglas Orann. By my decree and foresight, I demand that all Tithe and trade ships are to re-dock and await further orders until the warpstorms are no longer a threat, I advise that this time is spent on training exercises for the guardsmen but the fleet will engage in a system wide blockade." Shouts of anger and admiration flooded the hall, he finished with, "The emperor protects." Before turning the intercom off.