Chapter 8: The Calm Before The Storm

All was peaceful on the planet.

Andel was holding Kiri's hands as they make their way through the market square, buying groceries and anything that piques their interest. Kiri was wearing an Imperial robe with a hood and a mask to cover her face. She wore her Wych cloths under her body in case they get attacked, to Andel's dismay. He acquires potatoes, meats and all sorts of veggies. The food here was surprisingly similar to that of old Terra, in fact, the data from this food showed no signs of mutation or unwanted genetic modifications.

He travels back with Kiri, passing by some of the Beastmen in the regiment grazing nearby. From what he understands Beastmen are considered omnivores and can eat items similar to that of a human. His study also shows that the higher you go up the ranks of Beastmen, the more carnivorous they are and vice versa. These Beastmen are somewhere in the middle, yet find more pleasure from eating grass then meat.

Their gear was neatly placed in a pile nearby. The planet's tech-priests were scanning each and everyone for maintenance. Before they could take them however a Beastman went up to them and stated that they shall not touch their weapons, only Hayden and the regiment and touch and repair them. They withdraw as they don't want their arms to be ripped out and used as clubs against them.

I quickly left with Kiri, no reason to get involved. We head to an elevator operated by a servitor. He cranks a leaver and the lift goes down. The Underhive was vast and deep as the sounds of gunfire between rival gangs fight for medical supplies stolen from the Sororitas. One such gang was called "The Flowers of Saints" known for their reputation of planting flowers that can grant all sorts of benefits as well as poisons. They really don't like the guar and constantly poison them, to the point where the Sisters have to protect them.

We arrived at the underground barracks, a large metal building built inside a cave system. We entered the gates and pass by the garage, with Leman Russes at the ready. Kiri tries to keep pace as we pass by a sortie of Guardsmen infantry. We headed up to the tunnels and found our door at the end.

Entering my room, you could see a bed for Kiri, a charging station for me, a weapons rack, a workshop desk and a stuffed Bear toy for Kiri. She sat on the bed as she read a book about the Ultramarines and read out parts that fill her happiness. I crack a smile under my mask at her immaturity as I sat at my desk and opened my right cybernetic arm, fine-tuning my gears and wires. Waiting patiently for my next deployment.


At the command room...

The peace could only last as I look at a galactic map of current events. Apparently, the last remaining chaos cruiser headed to a nearby Slanneshi Daemon world, probably mustering new forces. Nearby Imperial worlds are asking for help against Khorne Warbands raiding their people, in fact, this information also says that massive chaos raid is being executed as of now, well shit.

I sigh as my brother brought up the regiment report I ask him to compose.

4th Terra Regiment

Units: 5000 men strong

Strengths: Usage of air support, Beastmen heavy support infantry, self-sufficient, Crusaders

Weaknesses: Poor communication, lack of heavy weapons, little to no armour fighting vehicles, infighting from culture clash

Reason of formation: More men for more wars

Options to increase war power: Drilling & training, better vox casters, recruiting more troops, have commissars to lessen infighting

Connections to use: Sisters of Battle, Crusader Houses, Emperor(emergency), etc

Hayden's opinion: Drilling & training should be prioritised

Welp, time to do some training. I ask my brother if we should return home as we have no current objective as of now, he simply shrugged and said it would be nice. I call all soldiers to be outside the Hive and in the rain, now.

Today's weather was a monthly shower that happens quite predictably, that last for a whole week. I order the men to dig two 5 meter wide trenches in an infertile ground, as to not to disturb the farmers, and told them to stay in there for a week. They were given standard rations and were told that across the field was the enemy and their job is to win a war of attrition. I dived the men into both tenches and sat on a nearby hill, occasionally going into the trenches to check them out.

They were all armed with non-lethal weaponry, Lasguns set to low, mortars and artillery with air rounds, airsoft Stubbers and rubber knives. You win by having the least casualties and deserters by the end of the week, the commissars will act as the referees.

The first day starts with each side firing ordnance at each other. The number of casualties was massive as both sides had not decided to use any form of top cover nor use of any underground burrows dug in the back of the trench. They soon learned their lesson after an hour of ordnance, by digging artillery holes underneath the edge of the trench.

The second day started as I began lowering the food rations. this, in turn, caused mass wide desertion from the trenches. The leading officers had to ration the foods causing mass unrest.

The next few days pass by with more deserters as well as casualties until one side finally lost it and began a mass charge across no man's land. It failed, spectacularly. The winning side is awarded extra alcohol while both sides were given a feast and lecture on how to survive and even thrive wars of attrition.

They are soon drilled in counter-charges to combat enemy charges, no one expects someone to attack while they are in mid-attack. Bayonets are useful in these situations. Having drilling my men for some time they can now respond to orders with quick efficiency and are able to switch tactics on the go.

The last drill was the usage of hand signals and combat language for better communication. It had quite the effect as inside jokes became codenames and swears became orders, for example, "Piss the sky!" means a grenade volley while "Moon them!" means flashing them with really bright lights.

I ended the day by telling the men that we are staying on the planet until needed again, they accepted this as they needed the break. I head back to the same hill from yesterday, sitting down and observing the golden Titan and the red hair woman. This time they were just resting, Emma waving her hand at me. I waved back.


At the landing pads...

Lord Inquisitor Bergen Yunnan of Ordo Heraticus was brought here because an entire regiment of Guardsmen has been recently baptized and cleansed by the Shrine world, he would think otherwise. He had asked some nearby Sisters to accompany him in case they needed to cleanse them with bolters.

He headed towards the Barracks, passing by some nearby trenches. The Sisters told him that the regiment did a mock trench war earlier today. He adds this as suspicious as this could be a sign of arming for a battle, two of the Sisters roll their eyes at this, dad would never go to war against the imperium.

He arrives at the barracks, seeing Rolf and Kelvin playing cards. "Guardsmen! I request the presence of your colonel!" He demanded, the two men looked at each other, then at the inquisitor, they nod and called for their officer.

John walked out of the barracks to see the Inquisitor in front of him. He gestures to a table near him and John agreed.

"So, is there anything you wish to ask my Lord?" John asks as he hopes this does not turn sour.

"Yes, I wish to see if your regiment has any taint left from your last battle." He gestures to our banner standard, a great helm in forest camo and two blue swords on a yellow base.

"You may my Lord." Thankfully I can hide my warp presence.

He calls for his Psykers as he checks Rolf and Kelvin first, a little disgusted that they are not wearing pants and in green boxers. I told him they were with the sisters for cleaning so he'll probably see a lot of boxers and panties, he felt very uncomfortable for the next hour. He felt even more uncomfortable as he intrudes into Natalia's room to find her masturbating with no panties on while reading a Sister of Battle porn magazine she borrowed from Rolf, she grabbed her Laspistol and aimed it at Bergen as he got the fuck out of there.

By the end, none of the Guardsmen has no signs of corruption, Natalia doesn't count as he does not want to be eaten. He did take one good look at two of the Sisters, one has one strand of purple hair while the other was...giggling. Creepy even for him. He leaves but with the feeling of missing something.


At the Sister of Battle convent...

Jessica went back to her room, an empty cell with a barred window to let in the sun. The communal toilets are down the halls with a pillory inside in case a sister gets rowdy. She wore nothing and sat in the cold dark cell as rainwater enters through the window. She hums a soft tune as she lays on her back and then raises her lower body with her legs, revealing a puffy vagina to the rain. The water gives her pleasure as she bites on some hard cloth to fight the moans so her sisters don't hear her. Her mind slowly dreams of her in a waterfall laughing and moaning. She is joined by purple-haired women who caress and group her body. But in reality, she was on the floor creasing herself.

In the cell next door...

Ayla was praying to her Emperor to remove these afflictions she has on her. First, her eyes turn a darker shade of green, then a strand of hair turned purple and now she has these Emperor dammed vampire's teeth. She prays that these mutations would cleanse away. Her prayers are answered, but by two gods instead.


Meanwhile in the warp...

"EDWAAAARRRRRDD! Did you dilute my corruption?" Sally, the sane piece of Slaanesh's soul, in a white toga that does not cover her breasts, asked one of the souls of her throne-bound husband, Starchild. His form being held together with some of John's warp gifts.

"Um, no I don't think so?" He looks at Slaanesh with a serious face. "Also, are you corrupting John's kids?"

"It was going to be for a short as a prank while but something went wrong and now they both have half-corruption. One with the mind and another with the body, no soul corruption as you requested" She pouted as Edward laughs at her antics, he ruffles her hair a bit.

"Well, at least you kept your promise." He turns to leave before sensing a different chaos god. "Tzeentch." He says with pure malice as he turns around to see the fucking blue bird floating in front of him. Out of all the gods he was the absolute worse as he actively hurts chaos as much as he provides for it. Even his own followers hated him.

Starchild and Slaanesh look at him with pure rage. Slaanesh throws a warp spear at him as he ducks and retreats back to whence he came. They soon realised that he may have made this permanent.

Slaanesh looks down at the girl and slightly tears up. "I'm so sorry my child for this fate I have given you both." She sends down a large book through the mail on how Daemonettes work and the analysis on their biology. Starchild sighs and hugs his wife before Celestine appears out of a warp portal.

"My lord it is time." She looks down to see the two children of Parker "What happened?" She gets a brief overview before getting sad as well. She and Starchild say their goodbyes before leaving. She starts to cry as Daemonettes cry with her.

In the Throne room...

Edward felt guilty for having his best friend be in such a horrible situation, all thanks to him. He looks around to see Dorn and the Custodians were not here at the moment, perfect. He temporally possesses a scribe and wrote transfer orders for John and his regiment with his special pen he summons from the warp, this really hurts but it will be worth it.


Back with John...

I was in a blacksmith forge sharpening my broadsword, something that happens rarely. I look into this simple blade that was my current weapon since the end of the war of the beast. My old Claymore was placed inside Edward's throne room. I reminisce the days during the Horus heresy. Where I led dead men against Word Bearers to defend a small girl, the time where Edward rode the Void Dragon to fight an ancient old one in the warp and that one time where I help Eldrad save his two teen daughters.

By the end of the War of the Beast, I knew I had to go into hiding, for the Inquisition and the chaos gods were getting quite interested with me. I hid my sword on Terra and my armour on Craftworld Ulthwé where only me and Eldrad know.

I remember where I had to personally execute a woman and her 12-year old child when they were exposed to the ruinous powers, their faces were that of horror as I swing my blade down unto their necks, first the mother then the child, with the disgusting sound of flesh meeting steel. The burning of an entire planet with continued Melta bombing. Repeated shows of force by executing civilians that refuse to pay their tithe. The many war crimes are too numerous to count

I grit my teeth as sparks fly from the sword, I stop as I catch my breath. I look at my blade, it's edge now sharpen. I get up and walk back to my room before I was requested into the command room. As I arrived I was given a scroll, I opened it to see Terra's signature on it. My new orders were to return to Holy Terra for garrisoning until needed otherwise. Strange as Terra had Custodes and the numerous military wings of the Imperium to protect it, though it was whisked away a few of its defences when the Chair dude got teleported as well as the rest of insane children courtesy of Magnus. I study the scroll to see it was Edwards handwriting, he always writes in gold.

I chuckle to myself, the Emperor himself summons me? I sigh, he has something in store for me. I packed the scroll into my greatcoat and turned on the Barracks speakers. "Attention, this is the colonel. We have orders to be transferred to Holy Terra itself, pack up." I turn the vox off as I hear many cheers and celebrations as I walk through halls filled with joy.

I get word from Hayden that the Shield Breaker will be repaired earlier today as several damages were heeled with a mysterious golden hue, they say it is the Emperor who helped. Thank you, Edward.


Hours later with Kelvin...

I checked my Lasgun to find any loose parts, he checks his manual again to see that he was not missing anything. Rolf and Natalia were praying to alter in the corner. The room itself was similar to that of a long-distance train you can find on worlds who are either on or past the industrial era, there was even a window to see space from. Considering all 3 of them got promoted to the ranks of majors, they had a lot of changes in the span of a month. Natalia was having hard difficulty commanding a battalion as she was born a soldier and not a commander while Rolf had trouble with having to command a battalion of women and I was having trouble having to prove myself in front of the men that I was able to command.

Their only saving grace was the tutoring they got from John, even now he still helps them out. He was considered a saint to the men and women of the regiment as he regularly defended guardsmen from asshole priest who keep saying "You're a heretic, die!" or "Your faith is weak, die!" if you try and ask mundane questions about the Imperial truth, even the commissars were a better alternative.

I look out of the reinforced warp-proof window to see the warp, it was very purple. Rolf and Natalia join me in sightseeing the vast warp, see several daemons fighting. All of them were Daemonettes. At times when the ship slowed down as to not run into warp storms, the Daemons come and observe us through the window. Thank Emperor that the window was blessed to prevent corruption. Natalia scared them a lot by just looking at them, Rolf and I were also equally scared as we had piss our pants.

In the chapel onboard...

Many Sisters of Battle were ignoring the beasts by praying, resting, weapons practice or even reading the Imperial truth. Only two, in their rooms, were looking at the Daemons, both with different reactions.

Ayla was busy nonchalantly giving them the finger while also reading a book that appeared in her mail, it was interesting, to say the least. It's contents was that of the biology of Daemonnetts as well as their society, similar to that of the Imperium. They had a feudal hierarchy with Slannesh on top, farming communities with roaming Steeds of Slannesh acting as cattle, legions and all of this without bureaucratic bullshit.

Their biology was also, unique. the only thing that as standard was human organs and a hole connecting the mouth and anus. I actually vomit at a picture of seeing a Daemonette with a hot brass rod through her body. I closed the book and placed it in a hidden place. I went to my bed and just slept. What she had done would be considered heresy but it had the Imperial seal as well as the Custodian seal, sleep does not come easy.

Jessica, in her amour but with the crotch part taken off, was busy masturbating to a Daemonette who was masturbating to her. She had locked her door so no one would see or hear what is happening. She was standing and had a hand on the glass for keeping her up while the other was furiously fingering her. The Daemonette in front had an 8-inch dick and was playing with it with grace. Jess had her nipples pierced with Imperial blessed golden rings as to decrease the chance of being possessed, given freely by the happy Sisters Repentia who are always looking for any sister to repent.

Jessica goes crosseyed as she squirts on the floor, the beast outside does the same and sprays her fluid unto the glass. They both smile at each other as Jess puts back her groin armour while the Daemonette leaves into the warp, sleep come easy.

With the Daemonettes...

"Our Sisters are so beautiful, shame we're not allowed to corrupt them," Mikiya told her sisters as they fuck their way through the warp."They would have been great Daemonettes."


Somewhere else on the ship...

Hayden was busy going over his projects and thus far, he needed resources. Most if not all these projects require large amounts of manpower, energy and lots of refined materials. The only project that he could do was the H.V.H but that required me to get a blueprint copy of a Space Marine's hud and gods know how hard that would be. I keep trying to contact Richard after the battle on Sparteria through an old morse radio that I told him was just some reliable Archeotech that I found. All I got was the word +STILL ALIVE+ and that's it. He was quite an interesting character as he was a man that upholds his end of the bargain, one way or another. It showed when then captain John helped him by reorganising his entire house, a house of 555 family members. In exchange, he offered several weapons and ammunition to his company out of gratitude. What started was a great friendship between the two they really fought together against hordes of Orks and the like.

However, when Richard murdered a fellow knight in a bar over on how they treated the Footmen that fought with them, John helped his ass. When the other knight insulted him by saying that his father was simple Footman and his mother was a Knight whore, he punched him in the face. The knight fell back and hit the back of his head unto the floor, killing his brain from the impact. He got the fuck out of there as John bought him time by starting a drunken brawl, getting a black eye in the progress.

Ever since then, Richard was always on the run with his family. John and I used all our connections to get him a Claymore-class corvette to house his entire household as well as their knights. I even gave him Andel as extra protection.

I stop trying and got up. I took a beer to my left and drank it, today was calm. But what of tomorrow?


With Richard...

The radio Hayden gave to me was missing. I check within my quarters to see that it was stolen. I asked my family if they had seen it and most thought it was a microwave. I sighed and asked the Astropath if they can find the Shield Breaker, she said that the Astropath was killed. It would be worrying but I know those two well enough to know they can survive the ruinous powers of Chaos, even seen John decapitate a Chaos Space Marine one time.

We were heading to Holy Terra as John says he can arrange for a pardon for him on the planet from an Imperial Guard officer he knows. My family and our Knights had been through hell. I had lost 5 brothers and 2 uncles, has left was my little sister, Thea. She was only 16 when she got her Knight, an Armiger Knight Helverin. I took her under my wing as a squire and so far she showed promise. My knowledge of maintenance transfers to her as she gained the ability to overload her rate of rate by 5 for a whole minute.

None of them was at the battle of Sparteria because their Knights were under heavy repair after Dark Eldar heavy weapon knocked out our core which unleashed an EMP disabling the Knights' systems, only the machine spirts survived. My knight had an inbuilt counter-EMP thanks to Andel so it was the only one that worked.

The ship exits warp space as we enter into view of Holy Terra. Many members of my household got to their knees and prayed while Thea cut her palm with a religious knife and closed her fist, dripping blood into a bowl to her Emperor. She had odd ways to praise and pray to the Manperor.

The sounds of another warp portal opening make me turn to my right to see the Shield Breaker, which looks great even though it got boarded. I went back to my room to find the damm radio only to trip over it as I enter my room, is that where I put it?!


With Hayden again...

I look out the window to see the Normandy still functional and running. I hear morse code coming out of my radio as I get a message back. +I see you're still alive.+

We text back and forth as I tell him of the many things that have happened in the past month. He seemed quite sceptical when I told him that Andel is the guardian of the girl he had met back on Sparteria, saying he seemed more of a soldier than a babysitter. I told him you made him go to orphanages to read them fictional stories. He just morse back the word +Oh+. Fucking hilarious this dude.

A few hours later at Londinium's airport...

I exit the Valkyrie as my kids follow me, both just being in awe at the large clock tower in front of them, it never gets old. I see Hayden leading Richard to the pardoning officer, with 10 family members in tow. I call my daughters to follow me as the last time I lost them was when they were kids. We were buying groceries in the market square, for 2 whole hours I searched and found them in front of a very old Black Prince tank in an abandoned building with no tracks, several holes and a missing engine. My brother fixed it up and now it's in our garage room where my daughters like to drink a cup of tea sometimes.

Our house was where the old Westminister Abby was. It was quite surprising to find it largely intact after the Age of strife and Edward's church burning. I moved in after I moved out of the Imperial Palace, the reason being is that I just didn't want to be involved with the High Lords and go into the public light. I have a life dammit. Only the oldest and veteran members of the Custodian guards know I existed. They vowed to stay silent until my return.

The door to the Abby has reinforced steel for a door and could tower normal men. I enter the door with my daughters and walk down stone hallways. We enter another door, this time a wooden door. There was a scanner next to it and I took off my gloves and scanned my right hand. The door opens inwards as a chime plays.

The entire floor was concrete as an old Roomba, which my brother lies other Tech-Priests it has a human brain inside, cleans the floor. Jessica sits on a sofa and turns on the TV while Ayla goes to the kitchen to make a sandwich. I went to the library, in it were vast amounts of books that reached the 20 feet tall ceiling. I pulled a book from a shelf as the entire bookcase swings open. I enter and descended a flight of stairs, finding myself in front of an old train. I entered the train as it starts up and heads to Edinburgh at a quick pace.

After 30 minutes...

I exit out of the tube and enter a glass elevator. It goes up as it passes by a large underground basement that was filled with military equipment. Titans, Men of Bronze, Heavy Black Princes, Plasma Seige Guns, 1000 degree Shovels, rows upon rows of reliable Plasma Bulpulp Rifles, a fuckton of IFVs and APCs, body armour made of ceramics and steel, power armour with dual Gatling guns and last but not least 500,000 A-20s with a triple-barrel 100mm Rotary cannon and two multi rocket pods filled with Melta warheads.

The elevator finally arrives at the surface. A wide courtyard that was empty with tall walls of stone standing tall. I head to my old office and opened my computer to check if anyone left any emails for me. None so far. I sent a message to Andel to move the Wych cult to the barracks here as to protect them as well as educate them on Imperial life.

I close my computer and look out the windows, sightseeing the radioactive wastes of old Scotland. I will visit Edward tomorrow.

End of chapter 8


Omake(Semi-cannon) If the Emperor and his sons reacted to the last knight (from Spacebattle's If the Emperor reacted to TTS Extras Thread)

"Alright, what tape do we watch next?" Leman asks his family.

Magnus brought out a tape "This one says "The Last Knight" and this knight has a connection with father." The Emperor interest perks up as he recognizes the Hospitaller symbol on it, that could only mean one thing.

"Really? Well, play the damm thing." Angron says as he gestures to the screen

Before the Emperor could interject the tape was already in as the screen flickers on. Many of the Primarchs looked at the screen with wide-open eyes.

The screen showed the Emperor in his armour with two women next to him. Nameplates over there heads showed they were Isha and Slaanesh. While on the far right was a man in Hospitaller armour and holding a Claymore upside down. His eyes slits glowed green as his nameplate said "Johnny William Parker, The Last Knight". His great helm had an olive branch crown on it. His chest bore the symbol of a cross while his armour had lines of green between the joints that glowed. His black hooded cloak had embers flaking off the bottom, not at all damaging the cloak.

Magnus was the first to get out of the shock. "Father, what the warp is this?" The rest of the family also had questions as the Emperor wished someone would help him.

"That would be your father and his wives." A figure behind them says as all of the Primarchs ready their weapons. The Emperor raises his hand as to tell them to stand down.

The figure, the same from the picture appears into the light. His helm under his arm as he walks towards them, his face carrying an annoyed face. He looks to the seated Emperor "Edward."

"John. Is this you're doing?" He gestures to the screen.

"Nope, it's theirs." He thumbs over his shoulder to gesture a very tall Isha and a tall nude Slaanesh dragging a very scared Eldrad with his teen daughters following him as well as all the phoenix lords. Grace also enters, many Primarchs greet her with Leman giving her a keg of beer.

"You owe us a family." Isha stares with daggers as Edward sinks in his chair while Slaanesh crosses her arms under her boobs. Roboute Guilliman requested that she wears something. She looks down and looks at him. "Nope, sorry sonny." She smirks as Roboute is really embarrassed, looking at your supposed mom's boobs is not a nice thing. Slannesh laughs as Isha sighs. John handed Slaanesh some robes and a t-shirt to wear, she pouted.

Grace sat between Leman and Magnus while the Eldar sit near Isha, with teen Macha and Taldeer sitting on Isha's lap. Mortarion eyes the small Taldeer as she stares at him, slightly scared. Isha looks at him and mouths please play nice. He sighs and nods, Isha hands him Taldeer as she sits on his lap. He plays with her hair as she giggles a bit. The screen flickers a bit showing a photo of Mortarion with smol Lofn on his head reading a book. It swiftly transitions back to the first photo with Mortarion and Isha noticing it. Isha smiles at her son's newfound compassion. Mortarion just dumbly sat there and laughs a bit.

John: "I have brought you all here today to react to shit, that's it. I'm fucking bored" He deploys a beanbag and lay in it while Isha and Slaanesh sat on thrones next to Edward, they both punch his dick with supersonic speed.

Edward holding his nuts: "I deserve that." All males in the room flinched at the sheer force of the impact, even John.

John:" Magos Lehm, play the vid." The now stunned Magos complied and played the vid. "Ladies and Gentleman, may I introduce to you future me." The screen transitions to John wearing a Guardsmen outfit while also fighting Necrons with ghost English Foot-knights and Longbowmen.