Festum Gladius Chapter 46

Novak's guts still ached. Space Marines healed fast but even so he had required the attention of an Apothecary to overcome his injury. A vicious scar now covered his belly, adding to his ever growing collection and his muscles were yet knitting together. His armour had been ritually repaired, again, and now he stood in resplendent heraldry, waiting upon the masters of the Chapter. Idly he waited, musing upon recent events and the current state of affairs.

It had been several Terran days since the battle in the dock and they had been busy indeed. The Storm Heralds had annihilated every last ghoul, making sure none escaped. The area had been cleansed and then scoured for tainted artefacts, every last piece of the Aeterna Paradigm collected and destroyed, lest some aberrant mechanism survive to plague them once more. The Storm Herald's dead had been collected and their names recorded in the Scrolls of Honour, the Red Hunters abruptly stripped of their armour and incinerated with flamers. For the defeated no consideration was given.

Novak wondered what the other Chapters knew of events. The multitude of orders residing in the Fortress-Monastery must surely have heard something of the battle, but there was no way to know how much. Great efforts had been taken to ensure secrecy but rumours were rife and he knew all were speculating as to what had occurred. The looks he got from the other Chapter's warriors told him they knew something of what had occurred and were eager to know more.

Novak tutted under his breath as he gazed out the window. Once more he was in the Chapter Master's minaret, gazing over the island. Darkness swathed the Fortress-Monastery, broken by floodlights and blinking beacons that illuminated the island. Even with all that had occurred the serf population continued their labours, a Space Marine Chapter's preparations for war never ceased. Gossip had it several diplomatic missions were returning from their adventures, to be followed by the Companies and Novak was eager to see familiar faces and discourse with his closest Brothers once more.

His musing was interrupted by a summons. He turned and stepped past a waiting Honour Guard to enter the conference room beyond. Around the circular table Phalros, Jemiel and Nimodes sat, each one's eyes haunted by recent events yet their bearing was proud and their armour perfectly restored. There was one other present, Cato Sicarius, Knight Champion of Macragge, Grand Duke of Talassar, High Suzerain of Ultramar and commander of the Victrix Guard. His vision was stern and unforgiving, clearly disliking what he had been told.

Phalros waved Novak to be seated and said, "Welcome Champion, we have just finished briefing our honoured guest about recent events."

Cato leaned forward and his frown was disapproving as he hissed, "I am appalled by what I have heard. Treachery, deceit, murder and the theft of Heretical artefacts. You have a lot to explain, Champion."

"Me?!" Novak yelped, "I didn't do any of those things, it was the Red Hunters."

"But you suspected much," Cato retorted, "Why didn't you come straight to me with your suspicions? Why wasn't I summoned to battle the Red Hunters as soon as the truth became evident?!"

"Do you want the diplomatic answer or the honest one?" Novak snorted.

"Watch your tongue!" Nimodes spat irately.

But Cato held up a hand to say, "Let the Champion speak, I would hear this from his own lips."

Novak didn't care what the Captain wanted and stated bluntly, "Frankly, you were our prime suspect. The murders in the Feast were too easily carried out, too perfect in execution. We thought with your skills and resources you would be best placed to enact the conspiracy."

"And for what purpose would I sabotage my own competition?!" Cato hissed.

"You wanted to win," Novak replied, "You made it quite clear you would not allow any non-UItramarian to enter the Victrix Guard."

"From another soul I would take that as an insult, to insinuate the Ultramarines would stoop to cheating, but in your case I take it as the words of a fool."

Novak didn't care much for his tone and replied, "Take it however you want, the fact is the Red Hunters ran rings around us all."

"Why though," Cato pressed, "What drove them to such madness?"

"They resented the Primaris," Phalros stated, "They wanted to devise a way to drive them out and halt the reforms of the Imperium."

Cato sighed, "Hardly a novel idea, there are many who think they way they do. Change, they cannot abide change. Howling zealots and scheming politicians, shouting 'Imperium Eterna' at every turn. To think an Astartes would embrace such dishonour…"

Novak sighed, "No its deeper than that, more primal. I spoke to Maxath and saw his fear, the Red Hunter knew fear. He was afraid that he was no longer the best; he feared that he was obsolete and outmoded. He could not tolerate that idea; everything he did was driven by the terror of being surpassed."

At this point Jemiel stepped in to say, "He did not act alone, the inquisition have infiltrated our Chapter's Forge and serfs, there's no telling how deep the rot runs."

"That may not be a problem," Nimodes countered.

"Explain," Phalros commanded.

Nimodes sighed as he picked up a data-slate and read aloud, "This very morning there have been a series of gruesome discoveries. Serf bodies found across the island. Twenty-one Storm Herald serfs and thirty-eight mortal attendants upon the Feast. Each one was shot in the same manner, a single needle round to the back of the head, with the same toxin marker. No trace of the killer was found but every wound was in the same location and angle, precise to within a millimetre, as far as autopsies can tell. Only Imperial Assassins are that precise."

"Somebody is clearing house," Novak commented, "Eliminating loose ends and closing avenues of investigation."

"Indeed," Phalros stated, "This Lazarus Progression were said to have adherents in the Mechanicus, Inquisition and more Adepta. They are still out there somewhere, hiding behind false smiles and biding their time. But at least we can be assured the Inquisition's spies are disposed of."

"Trusting fool," Cato Sicarius rebuked, "All this means is the spies they thought you might find have been culled. There will be more, there are always more."

"You've dealt with them before?" Nimodes asked.

"Not the Lazarus Progression, they are a new name but schismatic factions and power blocs abound in the Imperium. The Static Tendency, the Sons of the New Cog, the True Human league… all conspire against the Lord Regent's reforms and I must stand vigilant against their scheming."

"Sounds like you have your hands full," Novak quipped, "But what are we to do with the Red Hunters?"

Nimodes answered, "The other Chapters present know there has been a dispute and the Red Hunters are disgraced, but no more. If the full facts are revealed they will declare blood feuds upon the Red Hunters and storm the gates of hell to exact vengeance."

It was then that Jemiel declared, "I have sent an Astropathic message to the Imperial Regent, briefing him regarding these events. He has sent a reply, assuring us that steps have already been taken to rein in the errant Chapter."

Phalros glared at his First Captain and hissed, "You did this without consulting me."

Jemiel however merely sniffed, "I presumed you did not intend to hide the truth from our gene-father."

Novak had almost forgotten Jemiel was Guilliman's spy within the Chapter, sent to report on everything that occurred. Phalros didn't look happy about the blunt reminder of their place in the order of things but Novak didn't care for such lofty concerns and pressed, "What's he going to do?"

Jemiel replied, "Missives have been sent to the Chapter Master of the Red Hunters, demanding explanations. They reply that Maxath and his comrades were renegades, acting without orders from their master. Their names have been condemned as Heretics and their Brothers disavow any responsibility for their actions."

"Pah!" Nimodes spat, "They expect us to buy that steaming pile of Grox-dung?!"

Novak added, "They must take us for rubes. They knew what Maxath was doing, they're in this up to their necks."

"An accusation for which you have convincing proof?" Cato Sicarius retorted.

"Well… no," Novak admitted.

"Then we have no alternative save trust the Imperial Regents judgement," Cato stated firmly.

Yet Nimodes mused, "But If news of their deeds should leak to the other Chapters…"

"Absolutely not," Phalros rebuked him, "We are warriors not gossip-mongers, we do not let others claim our blood-debts, we do it ourselves. When the time comes to claim revenge I shall do so with my power fist. And there shall be retribution, this I swear."

Yet Jemiel stated, "That is not an option, the Imperial Regent has taken this matter in hand and commands you to stay out of it. The Lord Guilliman has publically announced he is sending a Torchbearer fleet to the Red Hunters, to inspect their conduct and present them with the gift of Primaris Marines."

Novak snorted in disgust, "That's it?! They'll refuse."

Yet Cato Sicarius retorted, "The events of the Feast will make it impossible for them to refuse, they must agree to his demands or reveal their complicity in Maxath's crimes. Rest assured the Red Hunters will be made to understand the price of defiance and shall concede to Lord Guilliman's demands. One does not defy the Imperial Regent, his wroth is singular in the galaxy. No Chapter has managed to withstand his will once set."

Novak thought they were getting off lightly but Nimodes chuckled, "Ha… hahaha…"

"Care to share the joke," Novak muttered.

Nimodes grinned, "Merely imagining the Inquisition's collective face when they find out their pet Chapter has been filled with Guilliman's spies… sorry… stalwart troops. Hundreds of new Primaris, watching, observing and reporting to the Imperial Regent."

Phalros' lip twitched as he mused, "A lot of closed doors are about to be prised open, things the Red Hunters do not want to be known. This 'gift' will be far from their liking, in fact it sets a leash about the Inquisition's neck, one Roboute Guilliman will hold firmly in his grip. And if they seek to defy him in the future…"

"He will have hundreds of heavily armed troops inside their ranks," Jemiel affirmed, "All willing to open fire at a single word from their gene-father. He's just neutered the Red Hunters with a stroke."

"Still it seems a light scolding," Novak muttered.

"Indeed," Phalros concurred, "But the memory of Astartes is long and the Storm Heralds shall not forget this affront. If it takes a thousand years we will have redress for the blood the Red Hunters have shed."

Cato Sicarius rapped the table loudly and said, "You have problems closer to home. Like this Cybermantic relic and a demented Dreadnought."

Phalros sniffed, "The Techmarines assure me all is well, the relic was a lone fossil and is destroyed. Honourable Ajax is returned to his senses, the matter is under control."

"For which we have only their word," Cato snapped, "Your Techmarines hid tainted relics for centuries, they allowed the Lazarus Progression to roam free."

Phalros concurred, "Troubling facts, ones I intend to investigate. Rest assured the Sodality shall find my eye upon them henceforth. Their freedom to do as they will has reached its end."

Nimodes leaned back and remarked, "I'm just glad we found out how the Lazarus Progression were getting past us at every turn. It was driving me crazy. A submersible aircraft carrier, I should have remembered it was there. Well, this time I'm going to make sure it's properly decommissioned, even if I have to go down there and rip out its gears myself."

Novak grinned as he said, "So all's well that ends well."

But Cato replied, "Not quite, we still have the Feast to conclude."

"You… you want to continue?!" Novak yelped in surprise, "After all that's happened?!"

"Indeed," Cato stated, "While you were occupied Iventus defeated Teremund of the Black Templars. That leaves two champions, mine and yours."

Novak's jaw fell and he gasped, "You can't be serious."

"He is," Phalros snapped, "We all are, you must duel Iventus and win the Feast of Blades. The honour of the Chapter rests upon it."

"But with everything that's occurred, surely we can waive the rest of the Feast," Novak protested.

Yet Nimodes cut in, "The price is of being the best is having to always be the best. The Ultramarines claim to be the greatest of all Chapters but that means they must confront any and all challengers. They must win, every time, there is no other way."

"He speaks truth," the Knight Champion of Macragge declared, "The Victrix Guard are the best of the best, as are the Ultramarines. This is no hollow boast, I Cato Sicarius know I lead the finest warriors in the galaxy because we must earn that laurel every day. To waive a member through on a technicality, to win by default, would strike at the very heart of us. All must look upon the Victrix Guard and know each member has won his place fairly and without trickery, and so come to fear our skill at arms. This is what you failed to grasp when you suspected me. Our reputation is a weapon as much as our swords are, the merest whisper of our names has stopped many threats. Iventus must win for all to see, else leave a chink in our lord's defence."

Phalros firmly stated, "You must duel Novak, you have no other option. You knew this when you accepted the burden of Chapter Champion. Honour demands you fight, unless..."

However Jemiel stated, "Unless of course your injuries are too severe and you forfeit your place to another Storm Herald…"

Novak saw they were offering him a way out but he could not take it. His pride wouldn't let him slink away with his tail between his legs. As much as it galled him he knew he was fit and able, he could and must fight Iventus. Reluctantly he conceded, "No, I can fight. For the Chapter I will face Iventus and defeat him."

"You shall not win, Cato declared, "But we shall meet in the Arena Victorum tomorrow and end the Feast of Blades in the traditional fashion."

"Make your preparations, you have a stern challenge ahead," Phalros commanded.

Novak nodded solemnly but his hearts were heavy. He had thought this affair was over but it looked like he had one last task to complete. He didn't care for the prize anymore but honour left him with no recourse save to duel. It seemed like he was going to join the Victrix Guard whether he wanted to or not.