A toast was drunk by the assembled leaders
"To the Memory of our Father and the Emperor!" they all sang before partaking some wine, which orderly servitors had poured and continued to do so, making sure the cups remained full.
Logistical issues, such as unit allotment and transportation were then arranged between the Lords and their retainers. Commander Dante offered to provide the transportation in the form of a strike cruiser and a battle barge, named Redemption and Might of Sanguinius respectively, which he had requested to be constructed by his brothers in the Ultramarines Chapter, the Ultramar system ship yards being known as fine producers of high class Astartes spacecraft. With the history the two Chapters are known to have had, fighting side by side on numerous occasions, notably twice on Armageddon, this was seen as an acceptable gesture between the Lords of Baal and Macragge.
Commander Darien of the Angels Sanguine then rose
"This is all good and well Lord Dante but who is it we give the monumental task of leading the first Quest (the name that they had agreed to refer to these armies as)? I don't think many of us here are in such a position to freely give away a Company Captain"
Cleutin stepped forward to Dante's side and bowed down "May I, my Lord?"
"Of course, old friend" Dante said with a nod of acknowledgement to the very sergeant who had trained Dante as a scout all those years ago and whom had become a close companion to the Chapter Master
"My Lords" Veteran Sergeant Cleutin said, addressing the collective "I have had the honour to be assigned the task of selecting such a leader from our very own ranks. It was by no means an easy task with potential leaders giving their lives to protecting the Imperium, but I have made a selection." He turned to Mephiston, who still stood motionless "Brother-Librarian?"
Taking his queue a silent Mephiston closed his eyes as blue lightning formed around his head and then entered his mouth as he opened it. Then he gave a psychically induced roar, almost deafening the collected leaders, but loud enough so it may be heard on the other side of the heavy stone doors of the grand hall.
"CAPTAIN! YOU MAY ENTER"
The doors behind the Lord of the Eagles of Baal, whose position was at the base of the table, opposite Dante, swung open and a red suit of power armour walked in, a blood red cape flowing behind him. The armour itself was not that of a standard Blood Angel. His armour and cap featured a black flame design around the base of the seemingly new cape and around the captain's ankles; his left knee pad showed his personal heraldic symbol of a diagonal chequered, black and white bar, going left to right, with a blood drop either side, all on a yellow background. The symbol was also replicated on his right shoulder pad, with his name written underneath it "Tyro". His ornate armour featured a crux medallion on a chain hanging from his waist-Terminator Honours, an indication he has, at some point, served in the First Company; his right shoulder pad, yellow bearing the symbol of the Blood Angels, and on the end of his right arm sat a giant power fist-switched off at the moment-with the black flame pattern around the wrist joint, above which the glove was yellow, but below which the armour was red.
The soldier marched to the right hand side of the table and halted with a stamp. He then proceeded to turn and stamp again before removing his helmet and then take up a stance of attention, with the helmet cradled under his left arm.
His hair was black, apart from the grey streaks either side of his head, starting from the temples a working their way backwards. His blue eyes and un-scarred face looked as a forty year old human would look, but as a Blood Angel his age could not even be estimated within fifty years, such is their longevity (a result of their genetic disposition)
Cleutin continued "My Lords, allow me to introduce to you Captain Rotarus Tyro, native of Baal and a Blood Angel of three hundred and forty two years. He has served, with distinction in every type of company-scout, reserve, battle and the First. He has earned over one hundred citations, three purity seals, two Iron Halos and four laurels. Also during his service he has been Standard bearer for our fourth company and some of the tactics he used in the passed are now part of our urban warfare training regime. All in all, he is one of the finest soldiers we have to offer."
"His qualifications are indeed remarkable, but may I ask him a question Sergeant Cleutin?" spoke Master Secutor of the Angels of Fire
"Of Course, My lord"
"Captain Tyro, what are your first orders going to be?"
"Sir, I will take the fleet to the planet of Malini, in the Hegemony system. It is a newly Imperialised system and the planet Malini is believed to be the only source of the Xalitain plant, which can be converted into a clear, viscous fluid, apparently capable of healing most physical injuries. Research is to be carried out and the results sent to Lord Dante. After that, I shall go wherever any research, rumours or even the Emperor's guidance takes me, Sir"
Dante sat forward in his chair "Thank you captain, you are dismissed to prepare for departure after the parade of Angels Fall, in which your force will feature."
"Yes, my Lord" the captain bowed, turned on his heels and went to prepare. Dante stood "Now my fellow Masters, let us celebrate this day with a feast and throw games with the rest of Baal in honour of our fallen brothers, those whom hope now exists and our Primarch's sacrifice!"
They all stood and began to file out of the room, the Master of the Blood Ravens waiting behind the rest for Dante. Cleutin's orders of attention were executed perfectly by the hall guards. Mephiston, Cleutin and Dante began to follow the others out of the southern entrance, at the opposite side of the room, when they were approached.
"Lord Dante, may I have a private word about your lineage research?" asked Master Gabriel of the Blood Ravens
"Certainly brother, Cleutin would you care to release the guards and make sure our esteemed guests don't get lost, we'll be fine here?"
"Consider it done Dante"
The guards followed Cleutin out of the room as the remaining inhabitants slowly walked out of the chamber.
"What is it that troubles you Brother Gabriel?"
"Brother Dante, my Chapter has spent centuries tracing our origins and found nothing, and yet you have found a link between my Chapter and the Great Crusade within two hundred years, how is this possible?"
"Gabriel, the Blood Ravens are a young Chapter and yet to have tap into the vastness of the Universe. It seems we simply had more sources of research that you are yet to possess, but given time Lord Gabriel, you will discover your history"
"My Chapter has been in existence for centuries, even millennia; don't tell me we are young Dante. What are the sources you speak of? Consider telling me as part of the Blood Pact I signed no more than an hour ago."
Dante looked at Mephiston and gave a nod. Before walking to a window in the corridor, and looking across the Fortress-Monastery at the building itself, the Thunderhawk gunships in the sky taking marines to the parade at Angel Falls, celebrations in which the Blood Angels mix with the citizenry of Baal in a celebration of their combined survival and history.
"My Lord Gabriel" Mephiston began in a deep tone "It was during the battle for Armageddon when a company of Blood Angels, led by Commander Dante, a company which I was detailed to, came across another battle. Battles between the traitorous forces of Chaos Space Marines, Emperor curse their souls, and a small force of Eldar from the Ava-Nile craftworld. In such a situation a company alone would not have matched up to two separate forces, so in his wisdom, Commander Dante ordered use all to the aid of the Eldar. Together the Chaos forces were beaten off, but unknown to us the chief farseer and lord of that craftworld was amongst those Eldar we had saved. The way Eldar law works, for each of those Eldar we had helped survive and those whose souls we had prevented from being consumed by the Dark Gods, Commander Dante and his Chapter, we were owed a life debt. It is this debt that was called in by Lord Dante when he began his research, and that farseer told him, and only him, details of the successors of the Blood Angels legion. The use of the farseer's powers in such a way and the information alone was worth all those life debts. That is how you were discovered to be our brothers. Indeed Lord Dante may know more information, but it will be left to his judgement whether or not it should be revealed, and if so when."
Dante returned to the vicinity of the lord of Death and Commander Gabriel, his genetically enhanced hearing had obviously been used during the explanation.
"Brother Gabriel, this has been told to you in confidence, for I do not want others knowing I have used alien forces in such a way. I see this as an exceptionally important issue, and such exceptional solutions must be found. It seems an important issue, so the physical evidence of your ancestry will be given to you before you leave, you have my word"
"I understand brother and thank you" Gabriel said with conviction and a new sense of pride and existence "Now come brothers, let us all give thanks to our Primarch as one, for tomorrow a new era of unity is upon us!"