Hey Guys, something I have been working on.
In this story, The Imperium of Man finds an army from the past that just might help turn the tide in their favour.
It follows a similar principle to the Dark Age of War by BanterHorse and this story has been published with his permission.
The Curtain of War
Chapter 1
Senatorum Imperialis, Imperial Palace, Holy Terra, Sub-Sector Sol, Solar Sector, Segmentum Solar 0 564.998.M41
Twelve individuals one by one slowly entered a room grander and greater than any other in the Imperium short of the Golden Throne Room itself.
They gathered around a long elegant table, forged from the rarest and most expensive resource in the galaxy, ebony wood grown from the soil of Terra itself. The chairs were solid mahogany oak, specially designed for comfort and the incredible weight the people had both in status and physical bulk.
They were old, their names have not been used for a millennia; they were only recognised by their title, nothing more.
The Master of the Adeptus Administratum a hooded man of sizeable bulk, his form covered with countless manuscripts, records and figures. To call him a walking filing cabinet would be accurate but also a one way ticket to a firing squad.
The Representative of the Inquisition, a man with peculiar taste. A cybernetic eye and heavy armour clashed with a fancy cane and fur coat. His reputation alone made his colleagues nervous and when he spoke they all listened. But he was not as arrogant as his predecessor, who 'disappeared' after deciding it was appropriate to investigate the Paternoval Envoy for corruption.
The Ecclesiarch of the Adeptus Ministorum, a flamboyant man who smelt of incense and draped with white and gold. A large book containing copies of the Imperium's Holy text hung from his waist. His form held by a large staff with a flame lit at the top.
The Fabricator-General of the Adeptus Mechanicus the least humanoid of them all, he did not so much as walk but crawl under spindly insectoid legs. His mere presence was accompanied with mechanical hisses and beeping emitted under his red robes.
The Grand Provost Marshal of the Adeptus Arbites, a man with a perpetual look of anger and irritation. Proud of his roots as an Arbitrator maintained his black armour and modified Shock Mauler. Whether it was out of symbolism or to hit people over the head is a question still lingering on everyone's minds.
The Paternoval Envoy of the Navigators, a member of the Magisterial House Belisarius. Dressed in house colours, he has been the unquestioned and unrivalled Paternoval Envoy for some time. However, that streak is at risk since the Inquisition has taken notice of him on suspicion of corruption. He wears a black band across his forehead shielding others from his third eye. He plays his cards close to his chest and shares with no one.
The Master of the Astronomican, the manager of the most secure place in the galaxy after the Golden Throne itself. A man entranced by the eternal duty of maintaining the beacon of the Imperium, he sacrificed much of his flesh for tireless cybernetics. He seemed less like a man of great importance, and more an impatient, overworked and frustrated clerk.
The Grand Master of the Officio Assassinorum, the most unassuming and mysterious of them all. One would barely notice him much less consider him the leader of one of the deadliest organisations in the galaxy. That is of course assuming he was indeed a 'he'.
The Master of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica, a balding man of small stature but his gaze hid a terrifying intellect and even more horrifying abilities. Rumoured to have trained the Grey Knights in psyker combat, to hold a conversation with him was impossible for everything you could possibly say had already crossed his mind.
Lord Commander of the Segmentum Solar, the newest addition to the group, his young age, a mere three hundred years old, startled many of the senior members. Some considered him a poor substitute for the previous holder of his chair, the Lord Commander Militant of the Imperial Guard. But his inventiveness and dedication to protecting the heart of the Imperium has earned him some respect amongst his peers.
Lord High Admiral of the Imperial Navy, an imposing moustached man clad in a simple blue tunic weighed down by medals so numerous they could have been mistaken for armour. A silent man, who rarely spoke he watched his colleagues cautiously.
Captain-General of the Adeptus Custodes the grandest of them all. A man taller than the rest, he could have dwarfed a space marine. His armour forged from bright gold. He looked more like a grand eagle than a man, he carried his Guardian Spear with pride, the blade so sharp it looked capable of cutting through the hardiest of armour.
These individuals were the High Lords of Terra, the most important people in the Imperium of Man, perhaps even the galaxy itself. Together, they formed the Council of the High Lords of Terra.
"This had better be important." The Master of the Astronomican grumbled.
"What does the Adeptus Administratum have for us?" The Grand Provost Marshal of the Adeptus Arbites turned to the Master of the Adeptus Administratum; the most powerful of the High Lords and the de facto leader of the Council.
"I presumed you were the one who called me." The Master blinked slowly.
"You did not call this meeting?" The Representative of the Inquisition blanched and immediately zeroed in on the Grand Master of the Officio Assassinorum.
Despite the millennia that have past Drakan Vangorich and his bloody coup was a bitter and incredibly well documented stain in the Officio Assassinorum's history. It has haunted them ever since. The Grand Master held up his hands in distaste. "It was not me."
"Really?" The Inquisitor tightened the grip on his cane revealing a hidden metal blade. The Grand Master though impassive readied himself in every way he knew how. Drakan Vangorich had ensured many things apart from never having the trust of the High Lords ever again, Grand Masters have an exceptionally short life expectancy. If even the slightest thing was out of place, the Office of Assassins was the first to blame, followed by the Inquisition in a close second.
"Please stay your hand," a voice responded curtly, "the Grand Master did not call the meeting. I did."
The High Lords turned to the source. "Why would the Captain-General of the Adeptus Custodes call the Council into session?" The Inquisitor barked. "I cannot even recall an event when the Custodes ever did such a thing."
"Since the foundation of the Council, the Captain-General has only called a session only three times, not including this." The Fabricator General beeped.
"I assure you I would not call this meeting if it was not important." The Captain-General soothed.
"And the fact that you have ordered a closed session?" The Inquistor gestured to the legion of scribes writing everything that was said and done, or at least where they should have been. Apart from the twelve High Lords, the Senatorum was eerily empty.
"What I must say cannot be placed in public record." The Captain-General's voice was like a whisper, his voice carried on the stagnant air. "We do not know who else might be listening." The Inquisitor seemed to be the most accommodating, an organisation founded on the principles of worst-case scenario and paranoia was well acquainted with the concept of spies and traitors. Even on Holy Terra.
"So what is the issue?" The Ecclesiarch tapped the desk with a mechanical digit.
"We need to conduct an expedition to the Guli System." The Golden armoured giant titled his head to the side.
"That is not a system I have heard of." The Grand Provost Marshal scoffed.
"I have. It is one of mine." The High Lords looked upon the Lord Commander of Segmentum Solar, "It is in Sub-Sector Fu, in the Galvas Sector."
"Galvas Sector?" The Master of the Administratum blinked. "There is nothing there. It is filled with worlds lost to solar winds and radiation."
"That's all?" The Lord Commander of Segmentum Solar glanced at his counterpart in the Imperial Navy, the Lord High Admiral. "We can organise a team tomorrow."
"No I don't mean you. I mean we; the Adeptus Custodes included. We will be in charge of the operation." As the Captain-General expected many in the room paused some in disbelief, some in suspicion.
"Why?" The Inquisitor's suspicion boiled.
"It is a matter of the utmost secrecy." The Captain-General waved a hand. "I wished to inform you out of courtesy. I know how unorthodox that is."
"I'll say." The Grand Provost Marshall leant forward.
"Aren't you bound by oath to never leave Terra?" The Lord Commander raised a brow.
"That is only a rumour." The Captain-General allowed a chuckle. "We can conduct operations outside of the Imperial Palace and indeed off Terra, but it is very rare."
"Which brings us back to 'why'." The Inquisitor frowned. "Why would the Adeptus Custodes need to conduct something as insignificant as an expedition of a system filled with Dead Worlds?"
"As you all know, we have a problem. The problem happens to be everything and everywhere." The Captain-General breathed. "We have Orks and Tau in Ultima Segmentum, Tyranids have a fleet right next to Segementum Solar, Chaos in Segmentum Obscuras. We have Dark Eldar hiding the Warp and the Eldar and Necrons could be anywhere."
"We have faced these threats for millennia." The Lord Commander titled his head.
"But we have a time limit." The Captain-General looked uncomfortable. "The God-Emperor's light will wane. The Golden Throne is failing him. When that happens, not just the Imperium but the human race itself is finished." The news always made everyone uncomfortable. The Ecclesiarch whispered a silent prayer while the Fabricator-General was silently cursing in binary. "What we have done is encourage stalemate. We need to change our tactics."
"And how does this expedition to the Guli System help us?" The Inquisitor asked.
"I don't know." The Captain-General sighed. "But my duty demands it."
"Duty?" The Paternoval Envoy dismissed the claim. "We have the highest authority in the Imperium. We would not order such a task."
"My mission comes from THE authority." The Captain-General looked the leader of the Administratum dead in the eye. "I should be clearer with my language. I am not asking you; I am telling you."
For once the High Lords were unpleasantly silent, a similar thought passing through all their minds. He couldn't possibly mean that….could he? While the claim could be a lie, no one could exactly challenge him, not even the Inquisitorial Representative; and he thought every single word the Captain-General spoke was pure heresy. But to accuse the Adeptus Custodes of heresy would be the gravest of all acts; their loyalty has been tried and tested under the Inquisition and found it pure and unscathed, not to mention that to level such an accusation in the Imperial Palace the home ground of the famed guards is just suicidal.
"However," the Captain-General broke the silence, "I cannot do this alone." The Captain-General puffed his chest. "The Adeptus Custodes has many abilities, but I do not know what awaits us. We need to be prepared for any eventuality. This ensures the greatest chance of success." If nothing else, that put the Council's mind at ease, each of them having their own eyes on the operation will ensure a certain degree of trust.
"What do you need from us?" The Master of the Administratum replied eagerly.
"I need each of you to contribute your best and most trusted people for the expedition." The Captain-General looked at each High Lord in turn. "This is something that must be done with the most absolute secrecy, but everyone plays a part. I don't want people being purged or disappearing for no reason."
The Inquisitor and Grand Master knew full well that the Captain-General's viewpoint was meant for them. That meant no Grey Knights or Eversor Assassins. The Inquisitor was not bothered, if Adeptus Custodes was willing to let them peek over their shoulder, the Inquisition will gladly do so. The Inquisitorial Representative already had someone in mind.
"Just more one question." The Inquisitor sensing the meetings inevitable conclusion. "Presuming you did have contact from Him; what does He expect us to find?"
The entire Council focused on the Captain General, their eyes boring into the golden armoured warrior. He whispered his response.
"Hope."
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