This is the history of my own chapter of Space Marines, the Chrome Falcons. Hope you like...
"My lord, I'm afraid that it is a long story." Inquisitor Torlus looked beseechingly at his superior, hoping that he would be released from the duty of a verbal report. "It is hardly an important matter."
He froze as the other glared at him chillingly. "The loss of eight companies of Space Marines is not a trivial matter. Even if it was, my time would still be occupied by reading your report. Why do you evade the issue?"
"The experience disturbed me, my lord. I thought that I had seen all the faces of Chaos, but this… and the other thing is what I saw from the loyalist Marines. They did things that would be unimaginable to any truly loyal to the Emperor, yet they did so with His name in their hearts. I must admit…" He paused, aware of the danger of his words, considering the listener. "I must admit, my faith has been shaken."
"Is that not why the Inquisition exists? To ensure that the Imperium's faith is ensured? Proceed."
The Dauntless-class cruiser Dominance slowly moved into orbit of Herpolaria Secunda. Around it lay the Battle Barge Diamond Asp, Strike Cruisers Emperor's Wrath, Cobra's Fury, Python's Embrace, Constrictor, Divine Retribution, Striking Fang, Relentless and Eternal Fury. Swarms of escorts moved through the fleet.
The Emerald Vipers Chapter was assembled.
A Valkyrie dropped from the Dominance, and moved towards the surface.
On board, Inquisitor Torlus braced himself. A relatively junior member of the Ordo Malleus, he was facing the task of 'analysing' a Chapter for the first time. He was also meeting the Vipers for the first time.
He sighed, and brought up the data on the Chapter again, looking for anything that would aid him in the ensuing meetings.
FILE 75938 LOADED
SUBJECT: ADEPTUS ASTARTES CHAPTER EMERALD VIPERS
ORIGIN: UNKNOWN – THEORETICAL DARK ANGEL ROOTS
SIZE: CODEX STANDARD
TACTICS: RANGED COMBAT SPECIALISTS
NOTES: THOUGHT TO HAVE UNORTHODOX METHODS OF EMPEROR-WORSHIP – REFERENCES TO 'VIPERSONG' SUGGESTED. UNCONFIRMED REPORTS SUGGEST USE OF A UNIQUE LANGUAGE BASED ON SERPENTINE HISSING. GENE-SEED HAS PASSED ALL TESTING TO DATE. NO EVIDENCE OF HERESY OR SIMILAR ANTI-IMPERIAL THOUGHTS. KNOWLEDGE SEEKERS – CROSS-REFERENCE BLOOD RAVEN CHAPTER.
FURTHER DATA?
The Valkyrie bounced as it passed through the atmosphere, and Torlus switched off the screen. He had been over it a thousand times. Re-reading the data would not help.
A tall, rocky fortress appeared on the horizon, with large turret emplacements scattered over it.
"Is that it?" he asked.
The pilot nodded. "That's Fort Herpolaria, sir. The only permanent stronghold owned by the Emerald Vipers."
A swarm of Thunderhawk gunships dropped from the clouds and moved into formation around the Valkyrie.
"Valkyrie, this is Serpent flight. Transmit your authorisation."
Torlus typed in his Inquisition code, and transmitted it to the lead gunship.
"Your code has been accepted. Welcome to Herpolaria Secunda, Inquisitor."
The Valkyrie flew on, and then, with a sickening drop, landed on the Fort's landing pad.
The ramp lowered, and, summoning all his courage and personality that he had learned in his service to the Inquisition, Torlus strode out onto the Fort.
Twelve Space Marines stood waiting next to the access port. At the head stood a tall, Terminator-armoured Marine with the iconography of a Chapter Master. Behind him stood the ten Company Captains. Bringing up the rear was a Marine in full Power Armour with the iconography of an Apothecary.
As he walked towards the solemn group, Torlus noted the dark green armour, the red highlights, and the chapter insignia – a green, coiled snake on a gold background.
"Welcome, Inquisitor Torlus," said the leader. "I am Selarus, Master of the Emerald Vipers. These are my Captains: Evasario, Kaltharus, Dethralli, Lokarian, Herolex, Rialik, Korzoman, Siantrix, Lescario and Medasclo. This," he continued, indicating the Apothecary, "is Brother-Apothecary Torzian. He is in charge of our Gene-seeds."
"Thank you, Master Selarus," said Torlus with his best Inquisitorial tones. "You know the reason for my visit, of course."
"Yes, the Inquisition's 'routine check-up'. Let me assure you that we have nothing of importance to hide. I must impress upon you, however, that there are some things that we may not reveal even to the Inquisition."
Torlus nodded. Such secrecy was common among the Adeptus Astartes, and as previous Inquisitors had discovered, nothing could pry such secrets from them. There was even a record of one Chapter who killed one such Inquisitor for snooping too much.
"Good. What do you wish to look at first?"
"The implantation facilities and the products of your Gene-seed would seem to be the highest priority on the list."
"As you wish. Brother Torzian will be your guide. I fear that I and the Captains must leave you for the moment – we are getting reports of an Ork attack nearby that needs investigating."
The Apothecary beckoned, and Torlus followed him into the fortress.
"I take it you have not been in many such facilities, Inquisitor," said Torzian with a dry laugh. "I assure you, our cloning chambers are hardly of good quality compared to those of the Black Templars or Ultramarines. If you were to visit them, then you would see wonders."
Torlus dragged his attention away from a gently floating Black Carapace, and stopped in front of another tank.
"This is a Betcher's Gland, is it not?"
"Ah, yes. Our Chapter's pride and joy. Oh, other Chapters may have these little beauties, but they don't provide what ours can."
The Inquisitor looked piercingly at the Apothecary. "Why do you say that? They only provide acidic spittle – a useful trick, but hardly vital."
The Apothecary shrugged. "If that is what they are meant to do… it is certainly one of their purposes. I have only heard rumours of what other Chapters do with theirs, but ours give us…" He trailed off.
"Give you what?"
"Snake-tongue," the other muttered. "Do not ask me to explain, for it is not my place to do so. If Master Selarus wishes it, you will be honoured with that knowledge. Otherwise…"
Torlus looked carefully at the organ. It certainly looked similar to those he had seen in schematics before, but… there it was. A small deformity of some sort, that would protrude into the mouth slightly, and possibly alter speech. Snake-tongue… maybe this was the 'unconfirmed' hissing language of the Vipers.
Whatever it was, it couldn't be problematic. The Adeptus Mechanicus passed the Emerald Vipers' Gene-seed as being free of dangerous mutation. This was probably something harmless, similar to the Space Wolves elongated canines.
The Apothecary beckoned him forward to the next chamber, but at that moment, an ear-splitting alarm roared through the fortress.
"What is that?" Torlus roared.
"The call to war! We are all ordered to go to the Thunderhawks and leave for the ships in orbit!"
The noise cut off abruptly, and the doors at one end of the chamber opened. "Ah, Inquisitor," said Captain Kaltharus. "I thought you might still be here. Master Selarus has invited you to join the fleet in our mission. After all, what better way to observe us than in our element? The Relentless' Thunderhawks await."
Torlus smiled. "I would be honoured, Captain."
The full fleet of the Vipers moved out of orbit, leaving the Fort with only a few Marines to defend it. Torlus wondered at the wisdom of leaving the Chapter's entire store of Gene-seed, among other things, unguarded, but Kaltharus had waved him into silence when he voiced his concerns.
"Few know of Herpolaria's existence," he said. "And besides, we need everyone. The Orks attacking Paroliant are not just a small band, but a full Waaagh, numbering around a hundred thousand. The local defence corps will do what they can, and the Imperial Guard has been notified, but even so…"
Torlus settled himself in his seat, and prepared for the coming battle.