Festum Gladius Chapter 30

"A Morgawr," Phalros lamented, "I can't believe it."

"Believe it," Novak answered, "The wretched thing killed Chogai before my eyes, it would have killed us all had it the chance."

Nimodes added, "Good job we were watching via orbital surveillance, gave us time to fly a Storm Raven in and blow it to bits with concussive charges before it could attack anyone else."

"But to attack in equatorial waters," Phalros mused, "This is no coincidence, the unseen killers have struck again. It is inarguable."

Nimodes hissed, "But to use a Morgawr as a weapon, how could they know of such a monster?"

Novak replied, "They have agents within our serfs, they must have recited tales of the beast. Hell, any man or woman of Lujan knows to fear the Morgawr."

It was then Jemiel interjected, "What is a Morgawr?" That brought the conversation to a halt as everybody looked at him. They were standing in the observation blister of the outer wall, looking out over the endless ocean. The pounding of the waves and the cawing of seabirds rang loud as the sun began its inexorable slide towards the horizon. Days away by Terran reckoning but inevitable in its coming. Novak could feel the dropping temperatures upon his face, though his armour covered the rest of him. They were all armoured and armed and escorted by Honour Guards. Given the recent state of affairs nobody was going anywhere without an escort.

Nimodes answered the First Captain's question, "Lujan II's apex predator, a sea monster of evil repute."

Jemiel didn't sound impressed as he remarked, "Strange, I was not aware this planet had any dangerous beasts. The briefings made it seem tame and banal, for an Astartes homeworld. Firstborn general favour some dank pit filled with horrors to recruit from."

Novak informed him, "Morgawr's are cold beasts, they generally don't stray into warm climates. They are mostly a threat only to artic fishermen and Promethium-ice collectors."

"A devious plot," Phalros mused, "To use a beast as their agent. This displays a distressing level of subtly and foreknowledge. We were careful to isolate the coordinates of the trial and screen all those who knew. Yet still the killers found out and laid a trap."

Nimodes chewed his jaw as he muttered, "The part that really bothers me is how they pulled this off unnoticed. We had the whole region under orbital surveillance, if a stray bird moved, we would have seen it."

Jemiel frowned as he said, "We must screen the serfs again, check the names of everyone who knew of the Trial. Compare them to the names of those organising the other trials and we may find a match. Interview everyone involved, one careless word may lead us to our quarry."

Nimodes added, "I shall double the watch on the other Champions and their escorts. They are proving too elusive for my tastes, always slipping away or confusing the eyes upon them. We must know where they are at all times."

Phalros nodded as he confirmed, "Do so, and I shall keep a close eye upon Cato Sicarius. So far he has given away no sign of treachery but I still do not trust him. He is too ardent to continue the Feast, even with all the deaths."

"On that I cannot fault him," Jemiel interjected, "I would not care to explain to our Gene-father what has occurred here. Roboute Guilliman expects results, for all his acclaimed rationality and forbearance he yet demands immediate execution of his orders. A commander who cannot deliver victory will soon find himself replaced by an officer who can."

"That assumes Cato Sicarius is innocent," Novak argued, "I am certain he knows more than he is letting on."

"Which is why you must continue to compete," Phalros stated, "You must keep provoking action from the claimants so we can learn more."

Novak sighed, "This duty grows more onerous day by day."

But Nimodes countered, "Cheer up, only eleven competitors remain. One or two more trials and the final contest will be upon us."

"Wonderful," Novak scoffed.

Phalros ignored his bitter remark as he ordered, "Go forth and prepare yourself. I shall assign two Honour Guards to watch over you."

"I don't need babysitters!"

"Like the Exorcists and Angels Sanguine didn't? No, all Champions will be escorted at all times, this is my will. It is to keep them from slitting each other's throats as much as anything else. This is my order, now go and steel yourself for what is to come."

Novak was left with no option other than to make the sign of the Aquila and depart. As he left he overheard Phalros saying, "Now to our other problem, what has Smyth reported from the Forges?"

Novak strode down the worn steps with a weary tread, the bulk of his armour heavier than it had ever been. The task before him was so vast and he could not see how to resolve the situation. His feeble efforts to penetrate the veil of mystery had come to nothing and every lead had turned out to be a trap. Give him an enemy he could hit with a sword and he would prevail but this web of misdirection left him fuming in impotence. Deep within his heart he missed the days when he was a mere company champion, with no greater concerns than the next fight.

He reached the bottom and found two Honour Guards awaiting him. He eyed the pair resentfully but covered by quipping, "You boys fancy getting a bowl of Synthi-Gruel?" Silence was the only response and Novak sighed as he set off, Honour Guards in tow. He walked briskly over the Fortress-Monastery, barely seeing the serfs at work. Yet he was brought up short when he saw five Astartes bearing down on him. Maxath of the Red Hunters, his face stone and his bearing grim, escorted by two Storm Herald Honour Guards and two more Red Hunters, guarding the guards.

Novak pulled up short and spat, "You!"

Maxath however stopped short and said, "I wish you no harm, I need to talk."

"Talk?! you have some nerve."

Yet Maxath lifted his hands to implore, "By the Golden Throne I mean you no ill-will. Can we not talk warrior to warrior?"

"Two minutes then," Novak spat begrudgingly.

"Give us room," Maxath said to his guards.

"Step back," Novak said to his own but when they didn't move he barked, "He's not going to stab me in front of witnesses. Give us a moment."

The Honour Guards stepped back but not very far as Maxath said, "I heard about Chogai... a tragedy."

Novak snorted, "I thought your lot didn't care for Primaris."

Maxath jaw clenched as he retorted, "One can fight an opponent while honouring the warrior himself. We oppose the Primaris in principle but Chogai was as fine a soul as any I have met. His skill and purity were exemplary. To lose him in this fashion is harrowing."

"You inquisitorial lapdogs and your meaningless double-talk," Novak growled, "I am famous for my sharp tongue but you run rings around the truth."

"Speak not of what you don't understand!" Maxath spat as anger flashed in his eyes but then he softened, "Novak, I don't mean to fight you. I sought you out to tell you I no longer believe you are behind these attacks. I was... wrong."

Novak would not have been more surprised if the Red Hunter had declared the Emperor had risen from the Golden Throne and spluttered, "You... what?!"

"I suspected you, I suspect everyone, it is how I am trained. But I have seen you struggling to dig up the truth, fighting for your life at every turn. If this is an act it is the finest I have seen. I eliminate you personally from the list of suspects... if not your Chapter."

"Thanks," Novak muttered insincerely.

Maxath leaned in and said, "We are getting nowhere by working at cross purposes... I need to ask you: what do you know?"

"You want to share information?!"

Maxath nodded, "These attacks are meant to sow distrust as much as anything, to keep us fighting among ourselves. Each of us is working away at an unsolvable puzzle, individually we will get nowhere but if we pool our resources..."

Novak shook his head and said, "I'm not sure I can tell you anything, it is classified."

Maxath was silent a moment then said, "We hate the Primaris for who made them."

"Er... what?" Novak uttered at the non-sequitur.

"You asked why the Red Hunters hate Primaris, it is because of Belisarius Cawl."

"Why..." Novak breathed.

Maxath's eyes went distant as he said, "Cawl's convinced everyone he pulled these Primaris out of stasis fresh and new, perfect from conception, it is a lie. Cawl hasn't spent ten millennia in a lab tinkering with genomes. He's been out there, experimenting, testing ideas, collecting data and dumping mistakes. He's had failures and catastrophes, missteps that birthed aberrant nightmares. Things that have no right to exist. The Cursed Founding, you've heard of that, that was his most public mistake. Those blighted Chapters spawned in the misguided attempt to improve the gene-seed, mutated filth polluting the Adeptus Astartes with their corruption. Oh, he did an excellent job keeping his name out of it but we know he was there, his fingerprints were all over those abominations. Did he grow impatient with his slow progress or did he think he'd cracked the problem at last, were they supposed to be triumphs or was it nothing but a field experiment of his alterations? We cannot say but he unleashed them regardless."

"You believe Cawl set loose flawed Astartes on the galaxy?" Novak breathed.

"We know he did! We have fought them, the Red Hunters have tracked those nightmares wherever they lurk. On Vinchar IV we tracked down an enclave of Flame Falcons, survivors lurking in the shadows so long after they were declared extinct, trying to rebuild. We assaulted at full Chapter strength but still we were barely a match for them. So strong and so fast, Chaos Champions have less potency. It took two of us to bring down one of them and that was before they burst into flames. Fire wreathed warriors charged our lines, shrugging off bolt-rounds and plasma like it was rain. They embraced us and our Brothers died screaming in their warp fires. Flesh and ceramite ran like wax before my eyes. I fought and fought, watching my squadmates die as I hacked with my sword, the blade glowing red from the heat. Only our weight of numbers carried the day but when the last Flame Falcon fell they had taken two hundred Red Hunters with them. I was left in the ashes to weep over my squadmates and I swore it would never happen again."

"That's why the Red Hunters hate Primaris, you think they are similarly tainted?" Novak pressed.

"Without a doubt. Cawl has hidden the flaws well this time, burying them deep within the flesh but they remain there, waiting to be unleashed. Their boasts that no Primaris has fallen to Chaos ring hollow, a castle built on sand. As the Flame Falcons appeared normal until the corruption broke free so too will the Primaris fall, Chaos will take them sooner or later. The Red Hunters will not allow it, we will be ready for the moment they betray us and will strike as soon as the first Primaris falls to Chaos."

"Why are you telling me this?" Novak asked.

"So you know why I came to the Feast," Maxath cried, "Guilliman does not see the danger, he thinks the Primaris are incorruptible. We cannot allow him to be surrounded by these abortions. A Firstborn Marine must win the Feast and ascend to his side, to caution him against trusting those who would destroy him. I thought I would be the one but perhaps you could stand in the Victrix Guard as a watchman. I could help you, if you tell me what you know."

Novak was silent for a moment as he turned the matter over, debating what he could say. Finally he settled on, "I can't reveal much but you should be watching Cato Sicarius."

"The Commander?!"

"He cares not about Firstborn or Primaris, only that the winner is Ultramarian. He has more to gain than anyone, he has the means and the will to orchestrate these murders. But be wary, he is powerful, neither of us can bring him down alone."

Maxath was silent as his eyes narrowed and he whispered, "Indeed, who benefits more than he? I thank you Novak, you have earned my trust. I shall watch the Ultramarines closely. If I find anything I shall tell you immediately."

"That's all I ask," Novak said.

Maxath departed without another word, leaving Novak behind. The Storm Herald resumed his march with his escorts but inside he was brimming with excitement. He finally had an ally among the Champions and for the first time felt the truth may be in reach. With Maxath on his side maybe they could root out the conspiracy and exact the justice so richly deserved. So with a confident step Novak moved on, heading for the next trial.