Chapter Fifthteen.Atrex plugged his suit into Ozpin's archaic hololith. Light stuttered across the display, lines of static popped in and out as the image finally settled. It was that of a galactic map, several worlds were marked with symbols. Medusa, home of the Iron Tenth, Terra, home of the Emperor, the Master of Mankind. Nocturn, the home of the Salamanders, Deliverance of the Raven Guard. Other worlds appeared; Rust, Baal, Macragge, Cthonia, Chemos and finally stained in a splash of red, Isstvan
A new symbol appeared, this one marking Remnant. 'This,' Atrex pointed at Isstvan. 'Is the system which we made our escape from. This one,' he pointed at Remnant, 'is your system.'
The distance to the three mortals, Ozpin, Ironwood and Schnee, was staggering. 'That must be a thousand light years!' Schnee said.
'More or less,' Sharax said.
Ironwood spoke up. 'Who is it then that you fled?'
Sharax shook his head in shame. 'Traitors. Betrayers. Tyrants. We were betrayed by eight cousin Legions. Four already, the other four committed soon after. Our three Legions were butchered. We made good our escape. We do not know how many others did so.'
'So you say you are three Legions against eight?'
'Most definitely not,' Atrex said. 'There are three, perhaps four other Legions I can name that will fight for the Emperor. The Ultramarines, the largest of all. The Imperial Fists, the greatest siege warriors in the galaxy. And the Sixth, the Space Wolves. Perhaps the most loyal of all.'
'So six to eight? We can not commit to these odds. Especially if three of yours are so… decimated.'
'There are others. The Ninth I can not be certain of, neither can I be of the Fifth and Fifthteenth. Then come the first. They seem loyal from my experience. So perhaps an equal tiding.'
'Also,' said Sharax. 'The numbers of the Ultramarines alone could make up the wider losses of our three Legions.'
Ironwood nodded. 'This is… a complicated issue. We don't even know who you really are. How can I be certain that you are not the traitors here?'
Atrex rounded on Ironwood with barely caged anger. 'How dare you! I lost two fathers to those traitors! My gene-sire Ferrus Manus, the Gorgon slain by the brother he called friend! My Lord Commander, tutor and friend Amadeus DuCaine! I should strike you down here and now for the insinuation that I am a traitor.'
Tarsha put a hand on the Iron Father's shoulder in comfort. 'Peace my brother, I am certain that our General Ironwood did not intend to insult you or the loss of your kin. Nor mine or Sharax's.'
Taking a step back, Ironwood nodded apologetically. 'Yes, I am sorry for your losses. It's just that I am uncertain that I can assist you in any meaningful way.'
'Perhaps you are correct,' Sharax said. 'But understand this, your world will be invaded soon. The ways of the other Legions are known to us. If I were them, I would take every world leading to Terra, along with any that may pose as a threat or source of supply. As an unknwn, your world is likely to be visited.' He looked out the window. 'And from what I have seen. Your greatest resource will be your people.'
The Schnee woman grew pale. 'You can not mean… No one would do such a thing. Such a barbaric practice.'
'My brother only called your people the greatest resource. You have other resources.' Atrex said. 'Let me be clear on this. They will take your food and burn your fields. They will raze your cities and take your metals. They will then take your people, culling them and taking only the strong. This is what they will do to your world and your people.'
'Just how many do you number?' Ironwood asked.
'Some one hundred. But rest assured, with us at your side your world and people will endure. Noe gentlemen. I believe we should talk about updating your military forces.' The hololith turned to another image, this one of an surface-to-orbital missile.
Afterword. Again, short chapter, sorry. So Review responses. Firstly, Potato. Ah yes, Death of Hope, just beautiful. A truly amazing piece of work. Secondly, Jaalco. Sorry sir, but I just write this way because its easier to write and read for me. Third and finally, Ecinco. Sadly our loyalist friends will not speak of the warp and Chaos Gods. But i'm sure I can persuade the Word Bearers to do so. So my question now for what you want the next Chapter to be. 1. Backstory. 2. Continue the little subplot with the Word Bearers. 3. Continue with RWBY stuff. Till next time, I've been Jam.
