Edits made: Number of Tau troops.
Chapter 10 – Beginning Of The Coalition
The Despoiler comes forth once again, and he cannot be stopped by force of arms alone. It is his will that the stars be stained red with the blood of all who oppose him. An infinite horde of fiends, mutants and cacodaemons obey his command to devour Cadia alive. But he will not stop there. If our faith in the Emperor and our force of arms prove strong, the forces of Chaos can be driven back into hell. If we are found wanting,
Humanity will fall.- Lord Inquisitor Hephaestos Grudd of the Ordo Malleus
Hours later Solar begun to rise across the desert sky of Titania, the Tau Explorer craft Infinity hovered above the Cornerian/Chaos encampment as the Tau and Imperial Guard got to the task of recovering their dead and burning the fallen human's bodies. Already the smoke from the burning mounds of flesh were reaching the sky, the smell of burnt flesh mingled somehow with sulfur invaded the sinuses of everybody present.
One Guardsman helped a Tau Fire Warrior with a Cultist's body, which he grabbed one end and the Tau grabbed the other. They carried it over to a nearest burning mountainous pile, where three heaves later the Cultist was burning as well. The Guardsman wiped the moisture forming on his forehead, the heat of the fire inflaming his senses.
The Farsight Enclave Fire Warrior looked over at the Guardsman as he took off his helmet, "This is all just sickening, isn't it, gue'la?"
"Fuckin' A!" the masked Guardsman responded tiredly, "I don't see why we just can't leave the corpses for the mutants!"
"You should trust our leaders," the Fire Warrior said, "They know what they are doing. I see the sense in the destruction of these Chaos-warped bodies."
"You do?" the Guardsman asked, "What's that, blueskin?"
"To remove every single trace of the taint forever," the Fire Warrior replied firmly, "Beside the Orks, the Shas'O had fought Chaos on a number of occasions. And he had quickly adapted to their battle-tactics and the importance of quickly expunging the mad power that is Chaos."
The Guardsman shrugged, "Whatever you say. Help me with the rest of these rotting chunks of meat?"
The Fire Warrior smiled, "Gladly, vesa"
Krystal and Jacques from near the entrance into the command centre as the bodies were being exhumed, the sight and smell already getting to Krystal's stomach, where she turned away and found herself staring down, alongside the other heroes, at the corpse of the Sorcerer formally known as Artemis. The horrific expression on his face as he had witnessed pure righteous force before he had died was enough to disturb anyone. Krystal gripped her blood-soaked staff in her left hand, rubbing her forehead with the other.
Jacques sheathed his sword as he turned and said, "It would seem that this Sorcerer underestimated Jakob at his own fatality."
"I hear that," Falco agreed, then turned to Jakob and patted his shoulder, "Nice going, Jakob."
Jakob smiled, "Thanks. Though I think we should have kept him alive long enough to have picked his brain."
"No need," Alexander expressed as he got on one knee and reached forward for the Chaos medallion around Artemis' neck, "Jacques would have pried into the prick-of-a-Chaos Lord's mind after his mental defences went down. Am I right?"
Jacques nodded as he stepped forward and produced a flannel and wiped the blood off his power sword, "Yes, but he was so determined to keep me out that I did not see everything. But I did get something that confirms…"
He then sighed sadly, just as Krystal sheathed the staff behind her back.
"…our worse fears," he finished.
"What is that?" O'Shovah asked.
"That this is Abaddon the Despoiler's Fourteenth Black Crusade after all," Jacques explained, "He has decided to redirect his course from the Eye of Terror and the Cadian Gate to the Lylat System. Unfortunately Lord Ezekiel became bored with life before I could pry deeper."
Alexander looked over at Jacques with a worried frown, before he said, "Guess your mental impulses were right after all. I didn't think it would be in Abaddon's 'good' nature to try and fuck the Imperium from behind."
Katt looked up at hearing Alexander say that, "What'd you say?"
Alexander frowned, "You heard me, feline. In case you didn't catch it, Abaddon managed to grab the opportunity to set his next tainted wave of destruction upon the Imperium from behind, knowing that the majority of the defences are aimed at the Eye…"
Before he could explain further a Tau Orca transport descended from the Infinity above. All heads turned towards it, especially O'Shovah. He knew who was coming down personally onto the battlefield and mentally prepared himself for a righteous berating from the Aun'shi himself. He stepped towards the shuttle as it touched down on the asphalt.
Jakob shook his head softly and muttered, "Damn it all."
"It's that Ethereal jerk, eh?" Falco indicated with a smirk, "I had no idea he was attracted to the smell of barbequed human."
Jacques raised his hand towards him, "Be silent, Falco. It would not be in your best interest to wisecrack a Tau Ethereal. They would hold power over your life through the members of their Fire Cadre."
Falco shushed himself, but not before uttering, "Whatever you say, Helmethair."
Jacques caught that remark, and immediately begun to feel weary about the fact he was still hiding his face from them. Just as he was about to think further upon the subject the Orca's door opened and out stepped Aun'shi and escort of two T'au-aligned Fire Warriors and a battlesuit. O'Shovah stepped forward to greet the Councillor, but as predicted Aun'shi didn't waste time in dropping the hammer down on.
"What the do you think are doing, Shovah?" Aun'shi demanded, his escort gripping their weapons, "Now I know for sure you have lost your mind!"
"I am performing a service for my people and for the Greater Good, Ethereal," O'Shovah responded calmly, "These humans helped us take down these minions of Chaos. As soldiers for a mutual cause we fought…and won."
"Do you realise what you've done here?" he exclaimed, "Allying with Alexander himself? What do you think the rest of the Ethereal Caste will think of us! WHAT YOU DO THINK AUN'VI AND THE ENTIRE ETHEREAL CASTE WILL THINK OF US NOW?"
"Hey," Falco exclaimed, stepping forward, "Chill out, old timer…before you burst a vein."
Jakob cringed, Aun'shi's escorts raised their weapons at Falco. Immediately Jacques rushed before Falco with his metallic fists clinched, stepping between the avian and the Ethereal, just beside O'Shovah. Jacques let off a deep, throaty intimidating growl, shocking Krystal at seeing him put himself in harm's way
"You dare harm my companions over my dead body, Ethereal," he snapped, "We came in peace and you threaten us with plasma fire."
Aun'shi was not amused, "You stay out this Imperial, Lylatians. Especially you…"
He pointed at Alexander.
"…Governor-Militant."
Alexander frowned, "You Ethereal Councillors are supposed to be the almighty benevolent leaders of your race, yet you threaten possibly one of the greatest Tau commanders in existence."
"For you information, Bloodspiller of Kronus," Aun'shi responded sharply, "O'Shovah has endangered his invitation back to T'au by allying with you. I was not at all eager to see him lost to the cause once again."
Katt nodded and turned to O'Shovah, fingers on her chin, "Yeah, of course. I heard that 'Commander Farsight' and his followers had been banished because of their battle tactics and their views on warfare."
'More than that, actually,' O'Shovah thought, 'The damned C'tan.'
Aun'shi looked interested as he suddenly asked, "How come you know so much about us, young feline?"
"I read it somewhere," Katt replied, "I can't remember what, but I did read about him. Or at least heard about him anyway."
"I'm flattered, Monroe," O'Shovah said, then reasoned, "Aun'shi is right, you should stay out of this. This is between me and him."
"Then you should resolve it as fast as humanely possible," Jacques said as he crossed his arms, "If we are to act together against the incursion of the Forces of Chaos, we must act fast."
"Together?" Aun'shi queried, "You mean…as an alliance?"
Alexander felt massive relief upon relaying that word 'alliance' to him, and that it got his attention. He knew what awaited the universe should Chaos get out of the Lylat System, and though he and his men were breakaways from the Imperium; they still had an obligation to protecting humanity, and especially the Emperor of Mankind.
"Why don't we just talk about all this?" Krystal suggested firmly, "On board the Infinity if that's alright with you?"
Aun'shi looked at the Cerinian and pondered on what she had just said, whose words sounded virtuous and of responsibility. He had immediately realised right away that she was the last of the Cerinian Royal Family, and was glad she had not forgotten her birthright in acting in such a responsible manner.
Nevertheless, he smiled, "Of course. I am sure we will be able to resolve all our grievances through words. And to…plan our next move."
"Glad you agree with us," Alexander smiled.
Aun'shi then narrowed his eyes, "But do not expect us to treat you as guests, Alexander and Mortensen."
"Fair enough," Jacques stated, "Let us go."
The Orca opened it's doors, immediately Falco, Katt, Krystal, O'Shovah and Aun'shi stepped towards it. Just as Jakob turned away to rejoin his team, O'Shovah called out to him…
"Shas'la?"
Jakob spun around, surprised O'Shovah was speaking to him.
"Yes, Shas'O?"
"Have you forgotten your obligation to guard our 'guests', La'Jakob?"
Now Jakob was really surprised. He smiled, "No, I haven't, Shas'O."
"Then get on board."
Jakob checked his watch: Thirty minutes and slowly yet painfully counting down. To him it was high time that he was getting back to his ship, where he had a very 'personal' matter to take care of. A very personal matter, which to him, was always unpleasant.
"On my way," he shouted back, where he ran towards the ship and hopped on board, just as the doors closed and the ship ascended up towards the Infinity.
----------
The Cultist screamed as he felt himself levitate in the and every bone in his body slowly being shattered as he twisted and contorted, blood spewing forth from the last gash across his chest. His terrified eyes were focused on the Sorcerer who had his hand stretched towards him, Chaotic energies flowing forth and engulfing him. Abaddon stood nearby, his pulsating daemon sword Drach'nyen in his left hand, which was coated in the blood of the Thousand Sons Cultist.
"Oh please my lord," the Cultist cried, "Have mercy!"
Abaddon sheathed his sword and turned to the Sorcerer.
"Let him down now, Zaraphiston."
The Sorcerer turned to him and nodded, "As you wish, Warmaster."
The Sorcerer clinched his hand and the Cultist fell back down to the Earth, completely shattered physically and mentally. He soon found himself back in the air as Abaddon grabbed him by the throat and lifted him, all the while being watched by other Cultists and Marines, who each dared not to step in and try to settle their master's anger.
"Anything else to report, servant?" Abaddon asked, as if daring the Cultist to continue giving bad news.
The Cultist shook his head slowly, "No…master. That's…that's about it."
The Despoiler moved his power claw towards the Cultist's head and etched a cross on his forehead, the blood seeping down into his eyes. Abaddon then let go of the Cultist, which he slid down the wall towards the floor, breathing harshly as he tried to get air into his lungs. He looked up to see his master smiling down at him.
"Because you were bold enough to personally deliver this news to me, I think I'll let you live," Abaddon announced, before signalling with his hand for two Marines, "Get him out of my sight!"
Two Marines complied, as they stepped towards the Cultist and grabbed him by the legs. They dragged him through the chamber door and down the hallway, all the while a wide smile crossed the Cultist's bloodied face as felt grateful for being spared his life, despite the fact he would probably bleed to death in about a few minutes.
The helmet-clad Sorcerer responsible for the torture was Zaraphiston, the Despoiler's personal Sorcerer, advisor and a master of torture and 'convincing' prisoners to hand over information vital towards the downfall of the Imperium. For thousands of years he had stood by Abaddon's side, ever since the end of the Horus Heresy and the banishment of the Traitor Legions into the Eye of Terror. He had been present for every one of Abaddon's accursed Black Crusades against the universe, or more accurately against the Gothic Sector which most of the wars outside Lylat had been fought up to this point.
The Sorcerer sensed something familiar in the eye, hanging above Abaddon's corrupted mind. He suddenly became emphatic, which would always make him very uncomfortable, as he couldn't care less what other people felt…but kept it to himself, especially around Warmaster Abaddon.
"I can feel your bitterness, Warmaster Abaddon," Zaraphiston stated suddenly, "And it perfectly mirrors that of what you felt of Horus."
"Thank you for pointing that out, Sorcerer," Abaddon replied with a dry chuckle, not facing him, before he continued sarcastically, "The Alpha Legion was as effective and triumphant as Horus when he fought the False Emperor."
"There are still more companies of the chapter to deploy yet," Zaraphiston pointed out, "And each one is more than eager to prove their loyalty to you and the Dark Gods."
"Bah!" Abaddon exclaimed, facing the Sorcerer and looking him in the eye, "Two conservative failures is quite enough. I am keeping them here on Corneria to finish off the remainder of the furry military and whip the cult groupsinto shape, fit to serve the Dark Gods our way."
Zaraphiston narrowed his eyes, hearing him reference the Alpha Legion's defeat on Tartarus and of their fall just hours ago, "I agree with you, Warmaster. Now…what is your next move?"
Abaddon brushed the dust of his armour and responded, "Send in Ahriman."
The door opened again to reveal the Sorcerer/Librarian Ahriman of the Thousand Sons' legion, adorned in his elaborate blue/gold armour and robe in all their glory, as well as the twisted staff he carried. Zaraphiston excused himself, stepping out just as Ahriman walked in, both fallen Psyker's making vehement eye contact as they passed one another, their rivalry making itself a reality.
"My lord," Ahriman greeted, facing Abaddon away from Zaraphiston as he left the chamber, "You summon me?"
"I have, Librarian," Abaddon said, "It would seem you and your Cabal would have to wait a while longer until you can spill the Cerinian's blood on the steps of the Imperator. I just received word that Star Fox has just received reinforcements."
"The remnants of the Cornerian military may I guess?" Ahriman asked with a smile, "Their weapons are ineffective against our armour."
Abaddon shook his head, "The Tau Empire and the Children of Eden."
Not sounding or looking surprised, Ahriman continued, "Is that so, my lord. Well, I wouldn't consider them a true threat, seeing that those refugees are been exhausted through years of being pursued by their own Inquisition. One has to wonder how they could survive for as long as the have. As for the Tau…"
"If you are going to say they too are no threat, hold your tongue!" Abaddon exclaimed, "It would only be a matter of time before these two unlikely servants of the False Emperor rally the support of the furries in this system. That is why you are here."
Ahriman kept silent as Abaddon continued, listening to the Warmaster of Chaos continued on. He looked out through the chamber's window and over Corneria, seeing massive mushroom clouds and fireballs appear on the continents as the fighting continued savagely.
"The Dark Gods have spoken to me, and have commanded that you and your Cabal are to begin your search for the Imperator," Abaddon explained, "First you will travel to Fortuna with your fellow Thousand Sons and help secure it. Then you will continue on from there."
"I must say that this is too good to be an honour, my lord," Ahriman observed, "We have always sought to unravel the artifacts of the Dark Gods, and them charging us with finding this ultimate weapon for them is, to me, a dream come true."
"Well I suggest you do not disappoint them," Abaddon pointed out sharply as he turned to face him, "Now I hope that you are now on good terms with your own chapter, and to spread the taint on your journeys throughout this accursed system."
Ahriman beat his chest in a salute, "For the Dark Gods."
He turned on his heels and stepped out of the doors, leaving Abaddon alone with the Marines and the Cultists present. One of the Chaos Champions stepped forward, got on his knees and bowed before the Despoiler.
"My lord," the Champion begun, "The warfleets are ready to move out on your command."
Abaddon nodded, and went over the Rules of Engagement in his twisted, corrupted mind. The four 'Dedicated' legions of Chaos would each move the invasion forward and secure a planet in the system and establish their base of operations while the other Undivided legions would be free to bring hurt and ruin to the system wherever they see fit.
The World Eaters, the Chosen of Khorne, would be deployed to Katina – The Cornerian Fortress World.
The Thousand Sons, the Chosen of Tzeentch, are to be sent to secure Fortuna – The Jungle World. Ahriman's Cabal would begin their search for the Imperator from there. And if they knew what was good and healthy for them they would find it fast, or feel the wrath of both the God of Pleasure or the Warmaster himself.
The ironically named Emperor's Children, the Chosen of Slaanesh, primary target is Macbeth – The Hollow Supply World.
And finally, the Death Guard's, the Chosen of Nurgle, has their sights aimed at Fichina – The Ice World. The Academy there would produce excellent minds for the growing Cornerian cult groups, which would soon to spread throughout the system.
As of Sauria, the Dinosaur Planet, it was not of any tactical importance…yet.
He smiled as he clasped his hands together sinisterly, "And to think the Imperium and the False Emperor know nothing of our grand mission here. But they will know, once we attack them from where they least suspect…"
His eyes glowed crimson as he felt the Chaos Gods' divine power flow through him…
"From the back, where they least suspect us!"
He then stepped towards the chamber's window away from the bowing Champion to see some of the Chaos fleet moving away from Corneria, en-route to conquer the rest of the Lylat and to crush all who oppose the evil power that is Chaos. Abaddon felt confident in the knowledge that the only people that could have stopped him would now be too late to stop the advance of the Traitor Legions now.
But still, he was curious to see what the Children of Eden and the Tau Expeditionary Force could throw at them, and especially the mercenary Star Fox and their leader, Fox McCloud. The son of James McCloud…whom Abaddon shared a rather brief acquaintance long ago.
'Your sons will pay for your arrogance, McCloud,' he thought bitterly, 'And I do mean the BOTH of them.'
----------
Meanwhile sailing slowly towards the Lylat System, in all it's elegance, was a fleet of Eldar Ulthwe vessels. Despite looking hostile with their numerous spear weaponry and cannons on their hull, they was truly some of the wonders to gaze at in the universe with pleasure. Seeing it's sleek shape and movements as unique and completely different to what Chaos, Imperium, Cornerian and practically what any other species had to offer in their fleets.
Within the command ship and kneeling before the energy-driven Webway gate alongside the Seer Warhost, Farseer Taldeer was once again in deep thought, recanting her new task. And that was taking her to the Lylat System, the place where she believed she would never have to travel too in a million years. In the eons of life the Eldar have lived she had only existed for nearly 400 years. To them, this was still quite young.
She couldn't believe that she could sense the taint in the relatively peaceful Lylat System, but she saw the tactical advantage it had if the Despoiler ever wanted to attack the Imperium, where even their Emperor wouldn't be able to foresee until it's too late. And once Chaos was done with him and the entire Imperium of Man, all other life would soon fall under the boltgun, chainsword and claw of the Forces of Chaos.
"Not since the Fall have we Eldar faced a crisis that even we ourselves may not be able to contain," she spoke to herself and to the Councillors near her, "The Great Enemy once again has the keys to bring about the final end of all that live. Chaos now doesn't seek to control the universe, but to destroy it. An everlasting sacrifice to the Dark Gods."
Taldeer than stood up to face the Webway, she then turned around to face her kind.
"But there is hope, my kin," she continued, this time with some degree of relief, "For the Archon himself lives, and has reunited with the remnants of his people alongside the Imperium's downtrodden and persecuted. He has selflessly thrown himself into the fray to protect those he holds dear, one of whom he shares deep affection for, but is yet to realise it. She in return realises her feelings for him, but dares not tell for the sake of whom she thought she was in love with."
"Our old foe General Sturnn and the 412th slowly approach the system from the other side. But we need not be concerned of him, for he and his men will have no choice but to ally with us once again in eradicating this evil."
One of the Seers got stood up and faced the Farseer.
"What does the records say of these individuals, exalted Farseer?" he asked, "One of which has the power to stop the Despoiler himself?"
The Farseer nodded, "The Black Library holds within it's shelves a certain individual who holds the key to strike Chaos deep in the heart. A Messiah if you will. His past is torn with tragedy, but he has persevered despite all the odds."
"Who is he then?"
"The Black Library does not say," Taldeer replied, "It is down to us to find him and to steel him against the Forces of Disorder. My brothers and sisters, the end of this age is drawing to a close and we must now fight one more battle to ensure the survival of our species. The entire universe even, not just reserved in our galaxy."
She the raised her Singing Sword into the air, where the Seers each stood up and drew their own blades.
"For I have foreseen in the coming months we the Black Guardians, who can never be pulled back by the tides of the Eye shall once again BE AT WAR!"
The whole chamber was then lit up to find every member of the fleet, all 6,000 of them, each kneeling on the ground with the Farseer, the Seers and the Webway gate in the centre. Upon Taldeer's declaration they each drew their swords into the air and each cried out into the air in a singular cry of war.
----------
"DAMN THE GREY KNIGHT AND HIS FUCKING FURRY…er?"
Ezekiel woke up with a loud, cursed-filled start. Upon realising that he was still alive despite feeling like he was on fire as the skin around his neck and head were seared from the explosion. He grunted in pain as he felt blood trickle down the sides of his head, as well as a piece of metal through his chest. He quickly pulled it out of his chest, felt the deep wound immediately close up, and healed itself.
His vision gradually cleared and found he was trapped underneath several tons of the bunker's rubble, massive burns gracing over his head and face, his armour now charred, but still intact. He gritted his teeth, screamed in might as he forced himself up from his grave. With Warp-driven energy surging through him he practically drilled himself up through the concrete until he punched his way out onto the surface, letting out another roar of might as he reached for his scythe.
"YOU THINK YOU CAN KILL ME AND STOP THE TA…damn it."
He saw that the abandoned Cornerian outpost was now deserted once again. He looked up, saw the rapidly vanishing Tau and Imperial dropships ascending into the air, before disappearing into the atmosphere. Looking around he saw the burning piles of tainted humans and mutated Titanian lifeforms, the smell immediately assaulting his nostrils.
His face turned to anger as he threw his scythe onto the ground and fell to his knees, opening his mouth to scream out in frustration as he held his hands up almost in anguish.
"DARK GODS!" he cried out into the air, "WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"
He knew that if he ever returned to the Despoiler his skull would immediately be removed and thrown before Khorne's Skull Throne. For losing both this battle and his Cerinian prey he knew he was now dishonoured and his life was forfeit. The Alpha Legion was once again branded as failures and the black sheep of the Traitor Legions once again.
Overall, he saw himself as a complete and total liability, walking in the footsteps of Lord Bale and Sorcerer Sindri Myr, the two Alpha Legion commanders to have failed their grand tasks on the planet Tartarus so may years ago. Now in a system, which was completely hostile to him, he was now not only threatened by the native furries but by his former brothers, who would jump at the first opportunity to claim his failed head. He would now have to fight everything and everyone to survive another day here in the Lylat System.
Or would he? He noticed that he was still alive, that the Dark Gods themselves had not struck him down or withdrew their gifts from him. Predicably, he took this as a sign. He looked up at the sky and could sense the small fleet of six Imperial ships and one Tau craft, and immediately remembered that there was one good-working Cornerian transport in the underground hangar below him.
He bent over and recovered his scythe, still sensing the power of Chaos within the blade. He smiled, feeling his faith strengthen.
'Khorne, Nurgle, Tzeentch, Slaanesh,' he thought determinedly, 'Forgive me for my failure and for my outburst, I realise now what my purpose is in being kept alive. And all it took was the loss of my men and…'
He looked over at the still recognisable body of Sorcerer Artemis as it burned at the top of the nearest funeral pyre.
'…my closest companion. I shall hunt down the Cerinian vixen known as Krystal and bring her in for sacrifice. I do not care if my brothers will deem me a traitor on sight and will seek to kill me in your name…'
He stood up with his head still bowed.
'…it is not of any importance or even annoyance. I shall apprehend the Crown Princess of Cerinia and slay anyone who stand in the way between me and our goal of finally ridding this universe of all who both stand in your way and…'
His eyes flared up in anger as he held his scythe in the air, as if allowing the Gods to bless it.
'…defile your name.'
He then lowered his arms and straightened his neck, before he pulled his cape behind him and marched towards the entrance to the underground hangar, past the burning bodies of his men, the charred wreckage of his broken war machines and the rotting corpses of his mutant allies. Religious fanaticism was fresh in his corrupted mind and vengeance coursed through his tainted veins.
"Fox McCloud, Jacques Mortensen and Krystal," he recanted the names to himself, "Three future sacrifices for the Dark Gods."
----------
Slowly leaving Titania's orbit, the Children of Eden fleet of six ships plus the Tau Explorer with the wrecked Great Fox in tow begun their venture into a rapidly changing, practically unknown void that at one time used to be called the Lylat System.
On board the Mars-class Battlecruiser known as the Augustusit's crew kept a steady vigil as they steered the vessel away from Titania, with the others ships of this small fleet following close behind as it practically led them, aside from the Tau Explorer Infinity which was beside it. The Captain of the cruiser softly watched the Tau craft from the bridge.
"Captain," a youthful deckhand stepped up to him and saluted, "Permission to speak freely, sir?"
The middle-aged black-haired Captain turned to him and nodded, "Granted."
"Should we be on high alert unless the Tau charge their ship's weapon systems, sir?" he asked, "And what of Governor Alexander and Commander Mortensen?"
"Relax steward," the Captain reassured him, "Mortensen will know how to stay on the aliens' good side and besides…that's why we're even here at all."
"Understood, sir," the steward replied, "I would guess that Mortensen knew what he was doing when he and the 'Edenians' asked the Governor to steer the fleet here?"
A bridge technician's eyes perked up at hearing that. He looked up from to his console to see both the captain and the steward. He frowned slightly at them, hearing that he and his people have now been mentioned into the conversation.
"Something like that," the Captain muttered, before exclaiming, "Now back to your post!"
The steward saluted, "Yes, sir!"
The technician lowered his head when the steward passed by him and left the bridge. He glanced briefly over at him as he disappeared through the door, before looking over at the captain and exhaled gently.
'The Archon speaks for us,' he thought, 'He is the greatest of all of us. He knows what he is doing.'
The Tau Explorer Infinity stayed close to the Imperial fleet, the wreckage from the Great Fox II in town. Earth Caste Builder robots were working tirelessly on repairing the Cornerian carrier and were determined to bring it back to full life, as it was in their program. On board the Infinity all were present in the rather elaborately decorated conference room, with Jacques, Alexander, Aun'shi, Krystal, Falco and Katt seated at the large table. Falco shuffled uncomfortably in his seat.
"Man, your butts must have natural padding to even think of sitting on these chairs," Falco complained rather humorously, noting how the seat felt hard on his backside.
"Sorry, we do not have cushions, Lombardi," Aun'shi noted.
"Hey, where'd Farsight go?" Falco then asked, "He vanished after we got back on this…"
The door into the room opend and revealed a Tau individual in a red and blue coloured armour, a different variation of the Tau symbol on his chest plating. He did not look any different from the other Tau, with his flat-faced, blue skinned features, yet his face was cragged more with age. He smiled as he saw that all eyes were focused on him. Aun'shi turned his seat towards him.
"So you decided to come out of hiding?" Aun'shi asked, "After how long?"
"Too long, Ethereal."
Everyone was facing O'Shovah as he was finally out of his battlesuit, where he then stepped over towards the Ethereal's side and stood there by him. Aun'shi exhaled gently as he faced down the table towards Alexander, the militant staring back with his clasped hands on the table and twiddling his thumbs gently. A smile spread across the Governor-Militant's face as he decided to speak first.
"I told you we came in peace, Aun," Alexander said, "I know we've had our differences in the past, but I believe our combined might and victory this day more than makes up for our indiscretions on Kronus."
Aun'shi shook his head slowly and grimly, "No, it does not human. Your victory on Kronus costed the lives of nearly every Tau and righteous gue'la civilians on our world and if it was for the fact that O'Shovah spoke for you, you humans would be dead."
"Alright!" Katt exclaimed as she got tired with all this verbal jousting, "Jeez, enough with the vague threats already. For now I'd like to think of Chaos as my enemy, not a minority from the Tau Empire."
"Vague?" Aun'shi questioned, "Minority?"
O'Shovah turned to the Ethereal, "Aun, what we have before us are representatives of the victims of Imperial persecution. Mortensen, the three thousand surviving Children that had managed to get off the planet and somehow escape from Imperial control. Whilst Alexander represents the remainder of the Kronus 1st Regiment…"
He paused for a moment, recollecting himself.
"…the same unfortunate Imperial Guard regiment to have devastated our colony, but having become part of the Children eight years earlier he and the four-thousand Guardsmen serve as the protectorate of these groups of refugees."
Aun'shi rolled his eyes slightly, "Please spare me, Commander."
Jacques continued this conversation, "There used to be more than seven-thousand of these survivors, but frequent attacks courtesy of the Inquisition have drastically lowered our numbers. We would all be dead by now if we had not come here, in order to stand against the Forces of Chaos."
He was silent for a moment, thinking on his words, and sorting through his thoughts.
"It is to be expected that the Imperium has not sensed the taint all the way here," he continued, "Which I must say is partly a blessing. For if they were to send the majority of their forces here, Lylat would surely be destroyed."
"I don't doubt that, Jac," Falco groaned.
Krystal sighed as she closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead, "We should be concentrating on how we're going to continue fighting Chaos and still have be in one piece. It will be a matter of time before they send more troops after us."
"Yes," O'Shovah agreed, "We must act quickly lest we fall to the Dark Tides. But we must ask you: How is it that Chaos got into this system despite your rather resilient Border Defences?"
"That you must know we used our stealth technology to bypass," Aun'shi added with glee, "Without a single lost life, mind you."
Katt shuddered as she remembered, "They came in through the Beltino Orbital Gate."
Jacques eyebrows crossed in surprise, "That can not be possible. Chaos can only come into the material universe through the Eye of Terror."
"That's what we all thought, buddy," Falco related, "Obviously they found another way in. And that way just happened to be her in good ol' Lylat."
"And if you want to keep your system," Aun'shi said, "You are going to need more men with arms to hold them back."
Alexander looked his way confusingly, "You realise you don't have to stick around. Though we need all the help we can get…"
O'Shovah waved his hand sideways in a 'silence' motion, "No. We are done running from the evil power that is Chaos. For too long these mad gue'la have brought death to our people. Though our numbers are weak yet our hearts are not lacking, we shall stand our ground and if necessary, fight alongside even humanity against this evil."
Katt smiled, "Now that's reassuring."
Aun'shi smiled back, "Besides, I could just contact T'au for reinforcements, though it would take a month for them to arrive here. I doubt we will survive that long to greet them."
Krystal sensed the fatalism evident in the air, with them all talking about fighting Chaos and risking their own lives. She was bewildered by these humanoids outside the Lylat System and how they did not fear death, as if once oblivion embraces them they will ascend to a greater plane. This would seem true for the Imperials.
She turned to Jacques and saw that he still had his helmet on. This saddened Krystal greatly, as she longed to see her saviour and spiritual brother's face once more. She could not handle it much longer; she had to ask of him…
"Jacques?"
The Grey Knight, home was seat across from her, turned his head and acknowledged, "Krystal?"
"Could you take your helmet off, please?"
Silence suddenly overtook the entire room, with all eyes turned to both Krystal and her odd request. Through his red eye ports, Krystal could look into Jacques' soul and sense he was starting to feel uncomfortable, which was strange even for him.
"My…helmet?" Jacques queried.
Krystal nodded and smiled softly, "I need to know if you really are Jacques."
Falco rolled his eye around and thought, 'Great, this is where it really gets emotional.'
Alexander, O'Shovah and Aun'shi turned to Jacques, where even Jakob stepped away from the door to get a closer look, interested in what Jacques could be hiding behind his helmet. They heard Jacques exhale loudly in a sigh.
"If you wish, Krystal," Jacques responded, "I know for sure that you will not look at me any differently."
Krystal shook her head and said firmly, "Never."
He hesitantly raised his hands towards his helmet. They heard him exhale gently, which Alexander didn't look surprised about what was about to transpire. He narrowed his eyes and wiped his brow. Falco and Katt looked closely at him as Krystal noticed the silence having crept itself into the air once again. She wondered if she asked the right thing from him.
'I'm about to find out,' Krystal thought to herself and privately, knowing that Jacques wouldn't tap into her mind out of respect.
The sound of armour creaking could be heard as Jacques pulled off his helmet and put it on the table before her, and before her only. Falco suppressed a smirk upon seeing him whilst Katt held back a cry of surprise. Krystal, however, just looked at him quietly, and with much sadness, finally seeing the face of her best friend.
"Jacques?"
Everything about the Space Marine known as Jacques Mortensen was there: His short brown hair arranged in a flattop, his piercing fox-like green eyes, the two small mechanical implants above his right eye, Krystal's emerald necklace he now wore over his neck. And that scar across his forehead courtesy of the explosion near the Great Fox's airlock a year ago. But what was now different about him apart from being a Grey Knight was that it would appear that his age was now catching up to him, as he now looked about thirty years old. He had another rather deep facial scar, which was down his face diagonally. It connected with his other scar, almost forming the number 7 on his face. He also had two smaller scars under his jaw near his jugular where his spit glands would be. Krystal immediately guessed that the Space Marine Gene-seed, the Betcher's Gland, which would make his saliva acidic was removed.
Possibly to stop him from trying to escape, though he wouldn't have wanted to escape at all.
Jacques smiled gently at Krystal, glad to have finally taken that accursed helmet off and the images it had been projecting into his mind and in allowing her to see his face. It faded with surprise when Krystal scrambled onto the table and knelt before him, where she stretched her hand forward and caressed the side of his face gently, seeing that the newest large scar barely missed being in contact with his left eye. Sadness crossed his face as she caressed.
"I heard you call out…to me," Krystal said softly, retracting her hand gently, "What did they do to you?"
Jacques tried to focus his eyes away from her, but couldn't as she touched his face and drawing all of his attention to look into her eyes, finding this experience strangely soothing. He shook his head slightly, exhaled gently and spoke in his normal, British-sounding tone of voice, "I do not know. But where I regained my mind, a part of the horrible truth conveniently revealed itself."
"You can say that," Alexander joined in the conversation, standing next to Jacques, "We found him lying in a sea of blood and surrounded by nearly dozens of human bodies on some Feral World that was to be scheduled for Exterminatus. His sword was stained with their blood and he looked almost literally like fucking shit. It took him nearly a week to recover…emotionally and spiritually, that is."
"What exactly happened to you, dude?" Falco queried, "How'd you end up like this anyway? Sounds like you're holding back something you really wanna tell us."
Jacques nodded and explained, "After a successful mission involving Eldar help I was put on trial before the three Ordos of the Emperor's Holy Inquisition and charged with consorting with alien powers."
Krystal shook her head sadly as she now sat firmly on the table before him, shocked, "Oh, no. Jacques."
Jacques continued, "I was sent spiralling into that place where there is no pain nor through after I was sentenced to a cruel fate reserved for heretics. Afterwards the next thing I realised after I returned back to reality, I was lying on a table and I find myself adorned in Grey Knight armour aboard a rogue battleship belonging to the Kronus Liberators. They told me what had happened…"
"I don't doubt he suffered memory loss due to becoming a Grey Knight," Alexander interrupted, before he frowned, "Or if he's refusing to tell us what happened between his trial and joining the Children of Eden."
Jacques narrowed his eyes and said, "I swear on the Golden Throne of Terra that I honestly have no idea what happened to me in the time following my incorporation into the Children of Eden. But guessing what had happened on that primitive world, killing all those civilians, the Inquisition made me accomplish their dirty work for them. And afterwards they left me to die, all in the name of Humanity."
Krystal was now not only feeling shocked and devastated, but angry. She thought, 'Damn you, Inquisition! How could you do this to him?'
In the background Jacques frowned and thought, 'You mean you're humanity, Imperial. Not the Gue'vesa of the Tau.'
That is what I meant, Jakob. I will not bring your definition of humanity into this conversation, Shas'la.
Jakob gasped, hearing Jacques talk to him in his mind. He quickly shook his head and stood back, noticing Jacques glancing at him sadly.
Krystal shook her head again and placed a hand on Jacques' shoulder, she said reassuringly and thought about his words, "Don't say that, Jacques. Whatever did happen to you and what they made you do afterwards I'm sure there was no way you had any say in it."
"I know that," Jacques said as he looked over at her, "But still…"
He shrugged.
"…what is the extent of the damage and suffering I myself inflicted? It will pain me to never know."
O'Shovah hovered forward towards the campfire and said, "If we're quite finished sympathising with Mortensen, we have an enemy whom as we continue to speak is preparing to bring down his blood-covered fist on this system. We must act fast."
Alexander nodded, "Yes. But we going to have to play it smart as well."
"I agree with you, Alexander, O'Shovah," Jacques said, his warrior spirit taking over and pushing back all traces of his sorrow, "We must locate and secure this 'Site #2' we have heard over our own communication lines. If the remaining majority of the Cornerian army has withdrawn there, we can organise and launch a series of counter-attacks."
"With precision if I may add," Jakob added, "It's four-thousand Imperial Guardsman plus six-hundred and thirty three Fire Warriors (including the Farsight Enclaves may I add) against almost all the Chaos Traitor Legions. With a little luck if we reach the Cornerian army we might have another, what? Four thousand to eight thousand troops?"
Krystal shook her head sadly, "It's bound to be less than that. But at least it's something."
"They must also know of the obvious question," Jacques reasoned surprisingly, "And the answer."
"What's the obvious question?" Jakob asked, curious, "And the answer?"
Jacques and Alexander looked over at him as he continued, "The Question: Why has Warmaster Abaddon the Despoiler decided to launch his 14th Black Crusade here? The Answer: In order to engage the Imperium from the rear.
"From the rear?" Krystal was startled, "You mean…?"
"Like I was going to say before. The Lylat System lies at least one million light years from the edges of the Segmentum Pacificus, one of the five intergalactic regions that are part of the Segmentae Majoris. These regions surround and guard Holy Terra itself," Alexander explained fervently, "If one of those sectors were to fall, Terra would be open to direct attack."
Krystal rubbed her chin and pondered slightly, where it immediately came to her, "They wouldn't be expecting Chaos to attack those regions, as the bulk of the defences against it would be situated at the Cadian Gate near the Eye of…"
Her eyes widened in horror as she realised.
"…Terror?"
"You catch on pretty quick, vixen," Alexander commented, "With the Despoiler at the helm of every single Fallen Space Marine Legion, the Imperium of Man would fall…"
"We know," Aun'shi ruled out, "Then Chaos will concentrate their efforts on bleeding out the other powers in the universe. Most likely the Tau first."
Suddenly they all heard a rapid beeping sound, which came from Jakob and his wristwatch. He looked at it and for a second he felt he couldn't breath when the numbers counting down reached zero. Jakob sighed and stood from his seat.
"Excuse me, gentlemen," Jakob announced, "I've got a private matter to take care off. Permission to see to it?"
Aun'shi nodded, "Of course, Shas'la."
Jakob smiled, slightly painfully, "Thank you, Ethereal."
As turned to leave the conference room, Krystal called out to him as she got off the table and her feet firmly on the marble-like ground.
"Jakob, wait!"
He stopped in his tracks just as the door opened, he turned to her suddenly, still smiling, "Yes, Krystal?"
The Cerulean vixen smiled, "Thank you for helping us today, La'Jakob. We wouldn't have survived if wasn't for you."
Jakob smile widened, where it then faded for a second as a slight twitch begun to form in the corner of his left eye, "Anytime, Krystal. Anytime."
Both Jacques and Krystal watching him curiously until he disappeared through the doors, noticing that he had formed a twitch in his eyes and had detected beads of sweats rolling down the sides of his head. They then looked back at Aun'shi questioningly.
"You should not blame him for detesting humanity," Aun'shi suggested, "He, like you, suffered at their very hands."
Jacques nodded, as he could not have helped but peer into his fragile mind and to find out why he had been uncomfortable in his presence besides being (formerly) Imperial. He agreed, "I know that for sure, Ethereal."
"All right," Alexander said, "Now, about this Site #2?"
"Last I heard Venom was the agreed spot for all Cornerian forces to run off to if they get their asses whipped," Katt explained.
"That confirms what our sensors have picked up," Aun'shi agreed, "A massive concentration of Cornerian military are on the planet. Heh…"
Aun'shi smiled slightly, something humorous springing up in his mind.
"…ironic is it not? Venom was the base planet of the so-called Venomian Empire, Corneria's archenemy. And now it's the secondary staging area of the Cornerian military."
"Yeah, funny. Look, If we're gonna recruit those eagerly awaiting troops we'll have to keep to the outer edges of Lylat away from the advancing Chaos fleets," Alexander explained, then said determinedly as he stood up, hands flat on the table, "Then we'll take the war against Chaos slowly and…."
He sighed and looked back down at the table.
"…hope that we live long enough to do some good."
"Yes," Jacques stated, "We can not allow them to leave this system, be it on our very lives we stop them here and now."
Falco was confused, so he asked, "Can't we just get the Imperium to come here and clean up their mess?"
"Most certainly not!" Aun'shi exclaimed, "Did you not just here Jacques say that if the Imperium gets wind of all this, they will destroy us all, including every single person here in the Lylat System. We have heard of Imperial/Lylat truce and we can only assume that they waiting for the perfect excuse to finally bring this system on it's knees."
"Alright, alright, Jeez!" Falco groaned, "I'm dumb, you're smart!"
Alexander frowned, 'Damn right, birdy.'
"What I had said, and what Aun'shi had confirmed, is all true," Jacques said, "We are on our own. But we will prevail…we MUST prevail if life is to continue on it's course. And that includes the trillions of innocent Lylatian and human lives who are yet to live out their existences."
Krystal looked at Jacques with much admiration. Despite being put through Hell by his own people, he was still willing to go to extreme lengths to protect the innocent, and not the ones who had tormented him, unless they themselves did not understand what they had been doing. And those lengths were always extreme, especially when it comes to his life. That was the definite thing she thought of him the way she did, as her spiritual brother and her protector.
Krystal knew that the chapter he had belonged to, the Ultramarines, were possibly the most noble branch of Space Marine ever to exist, seeing to it that the people of the Imperium, even if it would mean their own lives, survive. She deduced that was the reason why he wore the Omega symbol on his armour, as not to forget where he came from.
'Possibly the most noble Space Marine in all of existence. He will never stop as long as he draws breath,' she thought with a smile, blinking away tears as all this made her feel a bit bad inside, as she was starting to think of him as…
Her thoughts were immediately interrupted when the room intercom beeped.
"Yes, Control?" Aun'shi spoke, answering the call.
Ethereal, we have a dire situation, the Air Caste member from the other line reported, nearly panicked, Imperial ships detected approaching the other side of the Lylat System.
Alexander's eyes widened, "Huh?"
"What?" Aun'shi cried, "How?"
Ten Imperial Navy ships and three Space Marine vessels are en-route. Possible destination is the planet Aquas, the line continued, The three Space Marine ships have been verified as two strike cruisers and one Marine Battle-Barge.
Jacques was shocked immensely, exclaiming, "Damnation! They have followed us here."
"How long until they arrive?" Aun'shi asked.
The Border Defences will intercept them in approximately six hours, Ethereal.
"What a time for them to catch up!" Alexander growled, "Looks like things have just gotten complicated once again."
Falco eyes widened and he suppressed a cry of frustration, "Hey, isn't the Beltino Research Station near Aquas?"
"And that's where Slippy is!" Krystal exclaimed, alarmed, "He's in trouble!"
Jacques rubbed his forehead, as things became clear to him once again. The Imperium, who had always being pursuing the Children of Eden, had followed them here and were coming in from the other side of the system, where one of his closest friends Slippy would be in their path. They would capture him, imprison him, torture him and possibly kill him just to find out where the Children would be.
How could he be so careless? How could he let his personal feelings and desire to be reunited with his friends and Krystal override his judgement? Now he had possibly sped up Lylat's demise, with Chaos attacking from within and the Imperium striking from outside.
'No!' he thought determinedly, 'This was bound to happen eventually. It would only be a matter of time before the Imperium attacks Lylat. On my head be it if they start with Slippy, the amphibian Techpriest.'
And he was not going to let that happen, but that was also for what the other leaders had to decide on.
"Governor, Commander, Ethereal," Jacques addressed Alexander, O'Shovah and Aun'shi, "Innocent people are in danger from the Imperium, one of which is a close companion of mine. I elect we head down there and see if we can pull him and those around him out of the fire."
Aun'shi shook his head, "That is completely out of the question, Mortensen. O'Shovah?"
The renegade Fire Caste Commander crossed his arms, "Jacques is right, innocents are in danger. And besides, we can not allow the technology there to fall into Imperial hands. I elect that we head to Aquas and these people…and bring them into service for us and this campaign."
"Same here," Falco sounded off as he raised his left hand.
Katt followed suit, "Me too."
Krystal nodded, "Me three."
"Me four!"
All eyes immediately turned to the door, all eyes widened at what they saw standing there on his own too feet, with the bandage still around his bare chest and his pants on. A smile stretched across Krystal's face…
"FOX!"
…and she ran to him, embracing him suddenly. Jacques smiled and stepped over to him, alongside Falco and Katt. Fox hugged Krystal back and felt her lips against his, followed by a friendly pat on the shoulder by Falco.
"Guess a fridge handle through the chest and a hospital bed can't keep you down," Falco joked sharply, "Mr. Invincible."
"Thanks again, Falco," Fox smirked, then turned to Jacques, "Hey!"
Falco and Katt stood aside and allowed the Grey Knight to stand before Fox. He looked down at the vulpine, immediately alarmed at seeing that he had been seriously injured, and as to how he recovered from his near-life threatening chest wound in a small amount of time. He turned to O'Shovah, questioningly.
"Fear not, Mortensen," O'Shovah reassured him, "It would seem our own medical devices worked better on him than we thought."
Jacques nodded, where he turned back to Fox, seeing the smile on his face as the vulpine looked up at him, arms crossed.
"I like your armour, Jacques," Fox expressed surprisingly, "It suits you a lot."
Jacques smiled back, "Thank you, brother."
They then shook hands firmly, which the vulpine flinched slightly as it felt like his hand was being crushed by the Grey Knight's armoured hand. Jacques then let go and patted his shoulder, his smile fading as a dead serious look embedded itself on his face.
"Welcome back to the fight, Fox McCloud!" Jacques said with authority, "The Forces of Chaos will meet it's match in you and the Star Fox team in the trials to come."
Fox nodded appreciatively. He then turned to Aun'shi…
"We're going to Aquas, Councillor," he said firmly, "I'm not leaving Slippy to die by those xenophobes. And if we have to take on the entire Imperium itself and we die for it, so be it."
Aun'shi sighed in defeat, "Very well. It would seem I am defeated in this matter. We will head there immediately. The fastest and theoretically safest way will be to pass Solar, away from the advancing Chaos fleets."
Fox exhaled gently, "That sounds like a plan."
"This meeting is now over," O'Shovah announced, "We best be prepared. On the morrow, we will be in conflict once again. Aun'shi…"
He turned to the Ethereal, where he then sighed.
"I am afraid our trip back to T'au has been postponed for now."
Aun'shi frowned, "There is no point and logic in me complaining, since we will all die one way or another. But I pray that it is you that is speaking and not the forces which allegedly corrupted you."
O'Shovah shook his head, "Never."
Everyone else looked at the two questioningly, then Aun'shi turned to Jacques.
"Captain Mortensen?"
"It is just 'Mortensen', Ethereal," Jacques corrected, "I have not earned that rank through my years as a Space Marine. And I never shall..."
"Mortensen, then," Aun'shi interrupted, "I do hope your reputation would precede you."
Confused, Jacques asked, "Reputation?"
"They say you fight for a cause equal to that of the Greater Good," O'Shovah informed him, smiling, "That you fight not for yourself and for the ideals of your Imperium, but selflessly for the people around you. And if that is the case, you and your people would be welcome among us. The path of the Tau'va…"
Hearing those words, and especially 'Greater Good,' Jacques responded quickly, "I choose my own destiny, Shas'O, and though our causes may be similar, if not equal in terms of ideals, me and my people walk our own paths."
Aun'shi nodded, understanding, "So do we all."
The Ethereal stood up from his seat.
"Somehow I feel I can trust you," Aun'shi continued, "Just like how a brother Ethereal trusted another Space Marines decades ago. Please…do not let it be misplaced."
Jacques nodded, "You have my word, Ethereal."
Falco watched Aun'shi as he walked out of the room, narrowing his eyes as he once again pondered about the Ethereal and the renegade Fire Caste Commander…
'What the hell is up with those two?' Falco thought, 'Better ask Katt. She knows something about these blueskins and what in God's name they really stand for.'
He then focused on O'Shovah as he left the room, narrowing his eyes at the red-armoured humanoid commander.
'Especially 'Commander Farsight'. Something about him causing that old bluey to breathe down his neck smells like stinkin' red herring.'
----------
"Alright…here we go, again. Ow!"
With his shoulder-armour off and exposing his skin to the air, Jakob gripped the mechanical injector firmly in his hands as he stuck the point into a vein on his arm. He gritted his teeth as he bared the substance he was administering into himself, slowly feeling the twitching in his eyes lessened slightly. He closed his eye shut as he thought of nice, pleasant things…whatever they might be.
'Calth, mum, dad,' he thought over and over deliriously, then he thought of two names, 'Mikki, John…'
Solution administered, the injector announced in a mechanical voice, Vital signs normal. Time to next administration…ten hours, fifty-nine minutes and fifty-five seconds. Be in perfect health for the Greater Good, Shas'la Jakob.
With a frustrated cry he tossed the injector away from him and collapsed on his bed, the experiences of today and what he had just gone through having worn him out. He wrapped his arms around himself as he felt the substance he injected take effect on him, causing his eyes lids to become heavy and he felt himself grow tired. He allowed himself to drift into slumber, as he wanted to get away from the pressure that was real life and for this day to end.
But before his mind switched off and he fell into induced sleep…
"Mortensen," he said to himself, "Why did…you have to be here?"