The Blood Angels paraded in full battle dress through the crowd that had gathered at this yearly spectacle. The companies march from the drop site, in column's five wide, as companies, each led by their captain, chaplain, apothecary and standard bearer, who proudly waves the company colours. Each banner is centuries old and along with the company motif, features the battle honours that company have earn since the very beginning, hence carrying the standard is an immense honour given to a soldier of that company who committed an act of extreme bravery in the face of the enemy, whether it be single handedly saving brother marines or even reclaiming the standard itself, should it fall into enemy hands.
The sight must have been awe-inspiring for the crowd who have gathered in Angel Falls, as they watch company after company march towards the statue of the entire population's saviour, Sanguinius, pay their respects and assemble before the Chapter Master, who was also adorned in his golden battle armour, including the terrifying Death Mask of Sanguinius.
But this time, the ceremony was different, it wasn't only the Blood Angels who had gathered, but companies from the Blood Angel Successor Chapters were present, each representing their own Chapter.
With the Death Company closing the procession it was time for Dante to make his speech
"Today marks an historical day in our existence my fellow brothers, and indeed the population of Baal who are here today, for without you, we could not exist!"
The crowd let off an amazing roar of applause. Indeed, as with all other Space Marine Chapters, the Blood Angels remain very close with the population of their home world, who maintain the sacred sites on Baal, some crew for the Blood Angel fleet and not to mention that the actual marines themselves come from the general population. So such an acknowledgement was obviously good for their pride.
"As you have no doubt noticed," Dante continued "Our fraternal brothers from other Chapters, who can trace their roots back to our Primarch's very legion, have joined us to celebrate our father, but that is not the only reason. We all know our Primarch bestowed upon us an internal test we marines must face together, with our families and battle-brothers, to keep us strong and loyal, but it also causes grief when we lose brothers and sons to it.
But this is no more, for in a moment when we all pay our respects as the Bell of Armaro tolls, a select few of our number from all of our Chapters present begin a quest to find a cure for our brothers, so they once again march along side us. Until then we must continue to fight and prove ourselves. Always remember, The Flaw doesn't make us weak, it makes us stronger because we must fight it every day of our lives! Victory and Glory to the Emperor and Sanguinius!"
Space Marines and civilians alike roared in response to the final line, which symbolised the opening of the celebrations and games which would last for the next seven days and nights
The cheers subsided and the Black bell at the Top of the Tower of Armaro tolled and there was a deadly silence on Baal as they remembered the sacrifice made by the super-human primarch all those millennia ago.
Baal was not the only place that was silent. Throughout the Imperium all Adeptii loyal enough to be wearing the blood red badge of St Sanguinius stopped what they were doing and stood in silence paying their respects. Indeed the only noises heard on the Might of Sanguinius and the Redemption, both holding orbit around Baal, was that of the necessary ship systems, all those that could be turned off were off, the ship's master had seen to that.
On the bridge Ship's Master Ailanthus, his flight deck officers and Captain Tyro stood watching the beamed recording of Dante's speech in silence as the bell tolled. They had led the parade this year-a huge honour in itself, but had to leave and miss out on the celebrations this year, for their task was too important to postpone. Every delay could cost the life and sanity of any of his brethren. The captain knew this and looked at the chrono.
1247 hours its digital display showed.
"Ship's Master, start the departure sequence" Captain Tyro instructed
"Aye, aye m'Lord," Master Ailanthus replied turning to the only non-Blood Angel onboard "Navigator, prepare a course for Malini in the Hegemony system"
Without turning around the psychic acknowledged the command and went about His duties. He sat in a chair with numerous wires and connectors linking his head to the chair, and thus the ship's navigational computers. Then he closed his eyes and began to use his extraordinary talent.
Navigators themselves are extremely powerful psychics who are necessary to all Imperial ships, since they are the only collection of humans who possess the ability to see the warp storms and winds (the Warp being the alternate dimension to our galaxy, home of the Dark Gods and Forces of Chaos) which allows them to guide the ship to any destination by psychically locking on to a psychic beacon, whether it be the Astronomican chorus on Terra or a planetary matrix, and then from this beacon using the warp's winds and tides and a variety of calculations to travel vast distances, just like sailors of the pre-20th centuries did with stars and winds.
The Ship Master bellowed more orders out, such as "Release the fuel lines" and "Contact the Redemption and synchronise launch vectors", but the final order of preparing for warp travel was followed by a siren which wailed throughout the vastness of the battle barge. Everyone onboard completed their tasks and then secured themselves for the jump to warp space-an experience that can drive even a Space Marine insane. The last thing to be done was for all view ports to be sealed shut.
"Launch in five, four, three, two, one, GO!" bellowed Master Ailanthus.
Nothing could bee seen from the inside, but had there been any observers they would have saw a warp rift in front of each ship open up and as soon as it was big enough the ships went at maximum thrust into the vortices, which were closed behind them by the Navigators who created them.
Whilst in warp space the crew onboard all went about their duties- weaponry was checked over or repaired if need be, various drill were carried out- boarding, space combat, mid-battle repairs and so on, meals were made and served to the Space Marines contingent and of course daily prayers were recited. All was as you would expect on one of the Emperor's finest battleships, crewed by his loyalist and most elite subjects. That was until a strange signal was picked up by the astropath onboard the Might of Sanguinius.
"Captain Tyro, report to the bridge please" requested the Ship's Master over the intercom.
Captain Tyro acknowledged the message and left his quarters and made his way to the bridge in his power armour, it being standard doctrine for a Space Marine to always wear his armour during space travel, so should the hull breach the Imperium's elite can survive in vacuum due to their suit's air supply, improving their chances of survival and the Imperium's chances of not losing it's finest warriors in a meaningless way.
"What is it Ailanthus?" He asked as he enter the bridge
"Sir, Astropath Xantes believes he has picked up an Imperial distress call, coming from a system close to our target" Replied the Might'scaptain
"Is he still at his post?"
"No sir, he left the conduit and is currently linking himself to the briefing room display module"
"Very well, Master Ailanthus leave your number two in charge, have Librarian Dracul summoned to the briefing room and then follow me"
Ailanthus carried out his orders and walked side-by-side with Tyro down the ships artificially lit corridor, having to avoid walking into three ratings along the way, until they both entered the briefing room. Dracul was already present by the time they arrived.
"Greetings Brother-Captain, I came as quickly as possible"
"Brother-Librarian" Tyro acknowledged with a nod and then turned to the motionless figure of the astropath who stood there silent whilst the message was interpreted by the module. Astropath Xantes was wearing traditional astropath clothing-a crimson robe, lined with golden silk. The hood was down, showing his face- slime yet young for an astropath. Naturally, his eyes were closed- as part and parcel of having the psychic gift of transmitting and receiving telepathic messages from around the galaxy, the powers of the psychic's assimilation to the life of an astropath burnt out his optical nerves, though his powers do allow him to 'see'. To the side of his head was a metal socket-a modification for naval astropaths- to which wires ran to the interpretation module.
"It is done my Lords" announced the astropath
The module automatically started, showing a screen of message's script, which was accompanied by the 'voice' of the transmitting astropath.
"Mayday, Mayday, this is Our Divine Lord's ship Hammer of Judgement, asking for assistance in the Prax system. Our situation is extremely hostile. Our patrol group was ambushed from the asteroid belt between the ice world of Prax and the gas giant Sindor by Ork pirates numbering two capital ships and four full escort complements, curse their souls! We lost four of our six escorts, and our commander told the rest to go to Kuat base and call reinforcements. We've heard no response in four hours and the Orks have begun to close in. We believe they will intend to take us over, but by the Emperor's Throne we will not let the Hammer fall into Ork hands. Please, any receivers pass this on to segmentum command and help us. May the Emperor guide you swiftly to our aid!"
There was no doubt in Captain Tyro's mind of the course of action to be taken
"Astropath, how long ago was that message transmitted?"
"We've been ever so fortunate my Lord; the message is only eight and three quarter hours old"
"Luck isn't an issue; the Emperor has guided us this way. Transmit a reply, tell The Hammer that the Emperor's Astartes are responding, and then announce our intentions to the Redemption; Brother Dracul, chaplains are to go over our company and then ready the brothers to full boarding status. Have them organised into the torpedoes and Thunderhawks; Master Ailanthus set course for Prax and with haste Ship's Master, that ship won't survive another eight and three quarter hours without our help. Today, we go into battle!"
They all left with haste, going to battle stations, and to carry out the Captain's orders. Tyro himself went to his private shrine to pray to the Primarch and Emperor for strength and then wrote a status report which was to be sent to Baal before the assault began.
Two hours later the Might of Sanguinius and Redemption arrived back into charted space, broadside to the Ork fleet and the Imperial ship.
"Sensor readings, Master Surveyor?" asked Master Ailanthus
"Sir, two Ork cruisers, both of Dethdeala classification, six Brute Rammers, two Ravager squadrons and three Savage gunships" replied the balding junior officer, whose face featured two obvious bionic eyes, linked to a console
"And the Hammer of Judgement?"
"It appears to have sustained almost crippling damage to the engines and has numerous hull breaches on the lower decks, with more Ork transports flying to and from the capital ships"
Ship's Master Ailanthus turned to Captain Tyro, who was currently the only Space Marine present outside of the boarding torpedoes and Thunderhawk gunships "Orders sir?"
Looking through the viewport with a disgusted look he snarled, briefly showing his Chapter's trademark overdeveloped fangs and turned the ship's Commanding Officer
"Get me and my men as close as you can to the Hammer of Judgement, launching the torpedoes at the lower decks, whilst our gunships will enter at the top of the ship and work our way down. The rest, I leave up to you"
He put on his helmet and left the bridge running towards his self-assigned Thunderhawk
"Aye, aye m'Lord" replied Ailanthus, who turned back to face the ongoing engagement. He took a deep breath and muttered under his breath "Sanguinius give us your might"
"Sir!" shouted the communication's officer-a young officer who's body rejected the Space Marine implants, leaving him with bad mutations on half his body
"What is it Lieutenant?"
"Incoming message on the local comm.-system (a system which requires no psychic help in transmitting images and audio across a small area of space) from the Hammer"
"On screen"
A transparent panel folded down from the bridge's rafters and blinked on to show a bruised and cut Imperial Naval officer.
"Thank the Emperor you arrived, please Sir, you must help us. The Orks, they've, they've…"
Ship's Master Ailanthus could sense the fear in his quivering voice
"Calm yourself Captain and tell me your situation and status"
The officer on screen took a deep breath and composed himself.
"It's Lieutenant Sir, Captain Ko'Iron died in the initial Ork bombardment, however, we've sealed off the lower twelve decks, Orks have taken them, there are fears they'll break through the bulkhead doors and swarm the lower decks. They're as of yet attempted to invade the upper part of the ship"
"Well Lieutenant sit tight and keep them at bay for as long as you can, we'll be there shortly. Be strong in your Faith Lieutenant"
The screen went blank and Ailanthus felt for the Lieutenant, only able to imagine how hard it must be for a junior officer to be in charge of a battleship. He needed help and Ailanthus was going to provide it, or die trying.
"Pilot!" he yelled "Full speed ahead, get us as close to the Hammer as you can and quickly; Lieutenant Morius instruct the Redemption to use the Bombardment cannon on those Ork capital ships, it's Thunderhawks are to be act as ordinance defence; Master Gunner, when we are in range use every and all weapons on those escort squadrons, remember the salvoes of torpedoes are Space Marines, get them launched as soon as possible, and with minimal chance of interception; Surveyor, keep me posted on enemy movements and the status of the Hammer and Commander Faultus.."
"Yes sir?" replied the number two
"Tell the gun crews, first kills in each squadron win double rations for that crew."
Number Two just smirked at the use of such a basic psychological technique for driving the crew, normally reserved for the Imperial Navy, not the better trained crews of an Astartes vessel.
The manoeuvres began with the Might of Sanguinius raising the power output of its reactors so not only would it move faster, but so the bombard cannons and all weapons systems could be brought online. Meanwhile Redemption showed off its agility and the abilities of its crew as it banked off away from the accompanying battle barge to get a firing position in the aft blind spot of the two Ork Capital ships. The captain just had one thought in his mind- "I hope we're not too late"…