8

High Admiral Jaurvarr sipped his amasec and stared at the Eye of Terror. It was sometime rare in his mission where he got to sit down and enjoy a meal. Watching the eye was no easy task, even for a fleet like his.

Suddenly he was brought out of his reprieve by an announcement. A vessel was coming out of the warp. He rushed towards his command station. He got to his station just in time to see the vessel emerge from the warp. He was relieved to see that it was a Space Marine Battle Barge.

He was a little apprehensive that he couldn't identify the colour scheme. The ship was purple and black. The emblem it wore was a purple scorpion with an Aeldari rune speared on its tail.

One of Admiral Jaurvarr's officers spoke "Sir, the vessel seems to be hailing us." Jaurvarr nodded "Put it up on the holovid." Jaurvarr was stunned when the image came up with a Astartes sized woman. The woman's ebony hair fell over her power armour. And dark hard eyes took in the Admiral impatiently.

The woman had the build of a Space Marine, but there were no female Space Marines. The woman spoke "This is Captain Ruiz of the 'Nieces of Valaria' the Imperium must be informed we have lost our quarry. Our last report on where they were headed was this 'Eye of Terror.'

Admiral Jaurvarr was at loss for words. After a while searching for what to say he finally managed "Who are these 'Nieces of Valaria' you speak of." The woman seemed only annoyed by the question "From what we understand we have been wiped from Imperial records. We do not speak the name of our quarry as they have also been wiped. All you need to do is report that we have lost them to the Imperium."

Admiral Jaurvarr stammered to one of his officers "send the message." The young officer only asked back "What should we say Sir." Admiral Jaurvarr thought for a moment. "Say that women claiming to be the 'Nieces of Valaria' Space marines say they have lost their quarry. Ask what our are orders."

As the message made its way out to the broader Imperium cogitators latched on to the phrase "Nieces of Valaria." A signal was sent to the Imperial palace where it was seen personally by Roboute Guilliman. The Imperial palace sent back a simple instruction.

Admiral Jaurvarr stammered the response to the impatient woman. "You are to head for Terra, Lord Guilliman wishes to meet with your..." He hesitated to say the next words, finally managing "..Primarch, personally."

Weeks later an "Ultramarine" Warship was docked along side the "Nieces of Valaria" Battle Barge. Captain Vosthemus had been selected to be part of his father's honour guard. Captain Vosthemus was still stunned by the news of the previous weeks. He had an aunt, and what was more he was to be present for the first meeting between her and his father since her banishment.

Guilliman and his honour guard were guided through the Battle Barge towards a chamber were the other Primarch awaited them. They came to a chamber were the Primarch Madelena Vosh and a group of Battle Sisters were praying to an alter. Madelena was waving a censer before the alter. On the alter was a pict of a young mortal woman.

Captain Vosthemus took the young woman on the pict to be the Valaria the lost chapter was named for. As Madelena and her daughters rose to meet them Captain Vosthemus took a searching look at the Battle Sisters. He wondered what it did to an Astares to be made to venerate a mortal woman.

Madelena, the other Primarch, proved to be an impressive woman. Madelena was nearly at height with Guilliman. Long black hair spilled over the chest piece of her armour. Beautiful yet hard eyes were set in a cinnamon coloured face.

"Madelena" Guilliman acknowledged the other Primarch. Madelena snorted derisively "You remember my name brother? It seems the rest of the Imperium has forgotten." Guilliman chose to only stare at his sister.

Finally Madelena spoke again "Is it true Horus turned traitor, and waged war against father?" "It is true" Guilliman responded simply. Madelena snorted derisively again. Guilliman knit his brow at her "You mock the death of Father's dream?"

"Why should I not mock him? Father threw my daughters, and I to the void without a second thought!" Madelena shot back. "You were favoured among us second only to Horus. If you had only shown the slightest remorse, you may have been forgiven" Guilliman responded. Madelena shook with rage "I should not need forgiveness for fighting for the Imperium's people! Do you know what I saw in that valley."

Madelena paused, clearly expecting Guilliman to express curiosity about her experience. Guilliman showed no curiosity, as if he already knew what she had witnessed. Madelena gave Guilliman a quizzical look, and then strode back towards the alter. She kissed her armoured fingers, and then pressed her fingers to the pict.

Guilliman watched this silently, and then asked "You still mourn Valaria after all this time?" Madelena gave her brother an icy warning glare. Guilliman seemed to miss the warning. "It has been over ten thousand years, even if the Aeldari had not killed her she would be long dead."

Guilliman barely had time to finish before Madelena exploded into motion. With speed impressive even for a Primarch, Madelena picked up the censer, and hurled it at Guilliman. The censer collided with Guilliman's breastplate sending incense into Guilliman's face.

Madelena jabbed a finger in Guilliman's direction. "I mourn not just my adopted sister. I mourn my own failure. I, a demigod, one of father's greatest creations bowed before that monster. Yet a mortal woman stood." She jabbed her armoured finger forward again "You could do well to learn the lesson of my sorrow. All of you, save Vulkan seem to view mortals, as not but chaff. You forget too easily, that it is often that trans-human super beings break before the horrors of this galaxy. When that happens it falls upon the mortal men and women of the Imperium to stand before the terror."

Guilliman only brushed the still burning incense from his face. "Regardless, I am declaring your Penitent Crusade over. The Imperium has need of you and your daughters" Guilliman responded almost as if bored. Madelena nodded acknowledgement, but still wore an expression of anger.

Guilliman turned and began to leave, his honour guard followed. After a few strides Madelena called to Guilliman "Guilliman?" Captain Vosthemus turned towards Madelena. She was in the middle of picking up the censer. She continued "What drove Horus to betray father?" Guilliman did not turn around only standing still. Guilliman stood in silence for a moment then continued to leave. Madelena seemed to take this for an answer she expected. Her face became a mask of pure rage. There was a sound of crumpling metal as she crushed the censer with a single hand.