Chapter 5
It's been two days since the firefights in proxima, two days since he traveled to terra. Two days since Horus's recon mission arrived in sector. Reports flowed in with alarming quickness in comparison to the now considered old ways. Instead of days, months or even years, it now took minute's maybe hours.
The main conference room on board the phalanx was crowded with the Emperor, Primarch's, high magos, and imperial army leadership. All viewing the images captured from sol system, proxima and Vega systems. The plans were being drawn up and finalized for OPERATION PRELIMENARY JUSTICE!
All in all it would be simple the White Scars with its contingent of the imperial army forces would go to Vega, which appeared to only have 100 enemy ships, and a few mines. A human population of around 15,000 in the mines on the planets and asteroid's, the Khan would relish the chance to kill these xenos. Thou many thought it was overkill to send such numbers after a clearly so weak an enemy.
For Proxima the Imperial Fist, along with a titan legion: Legio Gryphonicus (War Gryphons), would take the system that intelligence revealed to have over forty thousand human slaves and upwards of two hundred ships and a large ground force. The fist would handle the enemy navy and rescue the humans on wherever they could find them. While the titan legion eradicated the enemy ground forces, and turning their cities to rubble.
The Luna wolves and its imperial army group would launch hit and run attacks inside sol with the aim of weakening enemy forces and if possible rescue missions. The Ultramarines and titan legion: Legio Ignatium (Fire Wasps), would go for the major supply and construction facilities of the centauri military whose locations were discovered when the primus was captured.
The plan was to bleed the centauri from several locations as to make it impossible for them to reinforce sol system. The rest of the forces would stage themselves in designated Quick reaction areas should help be needed.
It would begin in three days.
The meeting was concluded and all left except for the Primarch's
"Brothers there is no doubt in our inevitable victory, so I propose that once this is done we begin construction of new fortress monasteries and home worlds for our legions." Horus Lupercal spoke out as he looked into the star map.
Moving forward and placing his hands on the projector, but only leaning a little bit so his tremendous builds weight wouldn't destroy the thing. "I don't know Lupercal; we don't know how well these planets will suit our legions… personalities. Can't just choose a new home world for us, we are all unique because of the worlds we matured on and now recruit to our legions."
"Rouboute is right, we must be very careful in our choice of new lands. We cannot be too hasty." The khan stroking his beard walks over to a seat and unceremoniously occupies it. "I need to ride a steed again been far too long."
This gets a collective laugh from the others, "Can any steed carry your large arse brother?" Lupercal jest his brother. Which a response of a cup being thrown at him which manages too narrowly miss, and a mocking laugh in retort.
A few moments go by with the Primarch's acting... like brothers before they calm down. Dorn is the first to speak up next, "What of our few blood angels? Sanguineous is not here and we can't simply integrate them into one of our legions. I can't imagine them agreeing to it, even with your charisma and diplomacy Horus."
They all shake their head in agreement; the meeting goes on for a few more hours before they return to their legions to oversee the preparations.
Centauri prime
The Emperors royal court was one of usual joy, festivity and sometimes malicious delight, but not this day. Crumpling up a piece of paper he was just handed from his minister of the defense. A migraine was forming; trying to sooth it some he rubbed his temples. "I pray to the gods that this report is some kind of joke, Refa." The statement was carried with such distaste and venom that he almost wishes it was false.
Dropping to his knee and bowing his head, " I wish it were so your majesty but we have lost contact with over two dozen vessels, and found numerous debris fields of centauri warships but no other ships. This also started shortly after a strange yellow light and vast unknown energy readings occurred several days ago. As of yet we still can't identify the energy in question."
"What can you add to this grand fleet admiral?"
Mimicking the gesture of Refa, "Your majesty I have ordered all forces to alert and to begin aggressive patrolling. However the races that border our territory show no sign of any increase in activity. Which leads me to believe in two options; the first being that they are not responsible and we face a new and unknown enemy, the second that they have somehow found a way to penetrate our territory undetected."
"What races posses the ability to do that?"
This time the minister of intelligence spoke up, "Sire the only ones I believe capable of this are the rumored Vorlons. However from all our limited understanding on them this is not there method."
The mention of the Vorlons causes many to mutter and whisper amongst themselves.
"Enough bring me the lady prophetess supreme perhaps she can give us better answers." The Emperor demands his growing agitation clear and worrying many present.
Several minutes later the gates open and five women enter. The lead one is dressed in black, crimson and emerald dress, her face is stoic and set one used to being in the presence of such powerful members of the republic. Her four servants were all veiled and wore more practical dress then ceremonial for it was their duty to protect the prophetess against all threats.
They approach to within ten feet and as one bow before the emperor.
"Tell me prophetess what threat has befallen our realm?"
Closing her eyes and concentrating, she found it did not take long to find what was needed; she quickly regretted what she saw. Fire, death, screams of pain and sorrow, warriors in great armor, lightning striking from the sky burning centauri prime. Everywhere centauri died, the palace guard was helpless against them. A large crashing sound and a shadow envelopes her, turning she sees a giant armored foot crush her.
The vision was too much and she collapses to the ground with a shriek of terrible pain.
A great uproar of voices went out the four guardians surrounding their charge and attempting to wake her. The court was in disarray seeing that it must have been a vision of great doom.
After almost half an hour she finally awakens the terror in her eyes horrified many around her. "Your majesty I saw what can only be described as the death of us all. An enemy the likes of which we have never imagined is coming and they will kill us all. The palace guards were helpless, our armies brushed aside and our navy obliterated." She quickly broke into tears the weight of what she saw and spoke aloud too much for her to remain stoic.
Panic gripped nearly all in attendance, before the Emperor screamed for order.
"We will not be defeated, ready all the forces, increase all munitions and ship production. Call up every man and strong lad able to bear arms. And for the sake of our people begin fortifying our worlds. Send out the signal so that we may weather this storm!" Emperor Turhan spoke only feeling half the confidence of what he ordered.
On vorlon home planet to the vorlon empire
They were just now awakening from the great and terrible psychic scream that caused the entirety of the race to lose consciousness for over a week. The pain was unrecognizable, it had been countless centuries possibly millennia since the last time something of this magnitude occurred.
Kosh slowly rose up into the air his squid like body floated very unsteadily in comparison to normal circumstances. Then it hit him and he felt the power, the sheer almost limitless of it. Whatever device this power came from was causing a race to feel fear the first time in millennia. No one creature could dare handle such power. It would take almost a thousand Vorlons at full power to equal the psychic might that they all felt.
It originated in the direction of the centauri, which made no sense. No centauri could ever hold such power and they were not allowed to develop such technology. Unless the dark ones had helped them, but no that couldn't be either for it would be the ruin of them as well.
Turning to his rival and reluctant friend, Kosh naranek called to ulkesh naranek about his worries. They had to get to the minbari and warn them about this threat and use them to figure out what it was. Thou he would never admit it; fear grips his heart as strong as ice grips a comet.