Author's Note: We wanna thank you guys for everyone who loves and enjoys Chaos Chosen also the answers to some peoples questions that I forgot to fully mention in the last chapter are answered here such as what variation of power-armor Orius uses are answered along with new things and to be added later along with Horus Heresy Era characters whom shall eventually make an appearance and be at Orius's side besides Astrean and Uriah Olathaire from the last church on terra.
Besides that we want to thank you all for continuing to support this story and see you all in the next chapter :)
Chapter V: Faith & Steel
The Fleet had emerged from The Warp within orbit over Dantooine as they had exited, transports deployed to the surface bringing forth the might of each Traitor Legion to the people of the Warmasters homeworld. Many villagers and people withdrew into their own homes quickly as the Chaos Marines marched through the streets watching the people cower in fear at their approach.
Yet some watched from the corners of the larget and only city on Dantooine as the Chaos Marines marched forth. Those leading the march were the Word Bearers with priests in red robes holding incense as they passed on, while others within the ranks held the Star Of Undivided as they marched forth. As they marched upon the streets of the city some members held Vox-Casters as the speaker spoke, it gave a cold chill down everyone's spines as they watched and listened.
"People of Dantooine. Do not fear for you have been liberated of false idols and corruption. Rejoice for the Warmaster has come to bring your planet to glory, rejoice for all of you will know the glory of Chaos Undivided." The speaker stated as they continued to march.
Each Legion that followed Orius in the march was followed by the Honor Guard of Orius each a member of his own choosing from each legion.
This consisted of a member of the Iron Circle of the Iron Warriors, an Atramentar of the Night Lords, a member of the Death Shroud of the Death Guard, a Sekhmet of the Thousand Sons, another being a Gal Vorbak of the Word Bearers. And finally a Lernaean of the Alpha Legion who stayed close to Orius as they marched on.
Orius and his Honor Guard marched forth as he looked on at the people of his homeworld many looked in both a form of awe and fear. Yet he simply nodded to them all as he passed as they made the marched forth toward the capital building that held Dantooine's ruling council members.
The journey to the cities capital wasn't a long one as Dantooine only had a small minuscule police force they were no match for the Chaos Marines who brushed them aside as Dantooine's Council appeared before them.
"What is happening here?" Councilor Ortek stated. "Who are you, people!?"
"We represent the Word Bearers Legion." The Apostle stated. "The Warmaster seeks council with you."
"Warmaster!?" Ortek stated. "We are not part of the war with the Republic or Separatists."
"We know," Orius stated.
Councilor Ortek looked on alongside the others as Orius made his way forth in his Terminator Armour, Ortek and the other Councilors felt small as Orius looked upon them all yet he gave a simple smile as he began speaking.
"Councilors of Dantooine, you may not remember who I am." Orius started. "But I remember all of you, I am Orius Karr from settlement Zakarr."
"Wait!?" One of the councilors spoke up. "You're Kevira's son!?" the woman stated as she couldn't believe it as she looked on.
"I am yes." Orius's eyes lowered as he continued. "Is my mother still here?"
"N-No she left some years ago." the counselor stated. "She tried receiving help from the Republic but no one came. Now with the war happening, we are alone out here, she... never came back."
Orius looked on at the councilors as he looked down at the ground beneath his feet thoughts of his mother, his village, and everything burning as his fists clenched. Looking up his resolve remained as he spoke.
"From this day forward Dantooine is under my protection," Orius stated.
"Protection!?" Ortek stated. "Who are these people you bring. They look unnatural and... monstrous."
"It matters not to you," Orius said. "As I've stated Dantooine. My home is now under my protection and you will allow my men to begin the necessary steps to fortify our world and begin construction."
"Construction of what?" Ortek asked.
"Of everything that will make Dantooine what it should be," Orius stated as he walked past. "Apostles with me."
"Yes, Warmaster." They followed behind closely as the moved on.
Ortek and the others watched as they were powerless to do anything to stop Orius from taking control of Dantooine. Many of the ships had begun pulling resources and supplies to be delivered to the surface as construction was underway for the city to be built upon, Orius looked from the council chamber.
Two of the legions head members stood before Orius the Apostle of the Word Bearers and the Warsmith of the Iron Warriors. Both looked to the other with some hint of disgust and dislike of the other, yet Orius turned to face them as he continued thinking to himself.
"I've called you both here for my own reasons." Orius started as he walked toward them. "I've been told by Uriah of your histories, how Monarchia burned because of the Ultramarines and the Emperor. How the Iron Warriors never received the respect nor glory you deserved."
"Yes, Warmaster. Yet we will prove ourselves here." The Warsmith said his tone was determined as he stepped forth.
"Yes you shall, both of you. That is why I am giving you both these." Orius handed over schematics to Warsmith and had the Apostle look over the designs.
Both looked on at the Warmaster as he nodded to them both as the Apostle spoke up first to answer about this gift given to them.
"You wish to build a city in resemblance to Monarchia?" The Apostle said.
"Indeed but more than that it will be a legacy to what we shall all build. All we will achieve and change for the galaxy, the city will be undivided in its faith to the gods. While the outer layers each dedicated to each of the gods." Orius stated as his eyes ignited with enthusiasm.
"This city will be a testament to our craft Warmaster." The Warsmith stated. "We shall begin preparations at once.
"Very good Warsmith now go." Orius dismissed them both. "Uriah shall be here shortly."
"Of course." The Apostle bowed as both men left Orius alone.
Orius listened as the door closed to the Council's Chamber. As he stood there looking over the city he could feel the memories coming back, running across the green fields of the gorvek hills clawing at the sky to see what would be.
The door to the chamber opened as Uriah walked forth with his staff of the Undivided Star, the man now immaterial being stood beside Orius as he spoke in a low yet calming tone.
"A calming scene indeed," Uriah said as he looked up toward to meet Orius's gaze. "Was your home always like this?"
"Yes," Orius stated. "I remember when this city was the only collection of huts and minor stoneworks for the village elders. Now we will build upon it all make it strong and a testament to what we shall create." Orius turned his gaze to Uriah.
"Warmaster with the reclaiming of your homeworld and the preparations prepared for the Word Bearers and Iron Warriors," Uriah said as he looked outward. "The people here will come to understand your way of thinking but you must show them that yourself."
"Uriah, I've not seen my home in ten years," Orius stated as he saw the people outside listening to the words of one Apostle. "They seem so content now. The war has not reached them, and yet they fear we are the aggressors."
"Fear is natural Warmaster," Uriah stated as he stood at the Orius's side. "Sometimes fearing the unknown is what makes us human. Humanity after all has never been simply a series of emotions wrapped nicely in a fleshy exterior, it's our thoughts, ideas, beliefs, and feelings that make us what we are and that is our strength."
A small smile came visibly over Orius's face as he looked to Uriah. "You have a very interesting outlook on humanity Uriah. I thank you for speaking with me."
"Of course Warmaster." Uriah bowed slightly as he turned to walk away. "Warmaster if I may say if you wish to invigorate the people of your homeworld. Show to them why things must change, and why it is you who shall keep them safe."
Orius gave a solemn nod as he looked out over his planet as below everyone was hard at work building fortifications and installations for use for their armies. Even civilians were given training into the use of new weapons to be added to defend their homeworld as the Chaos Marines watched on.
As Uriah walked forth from the council chamber he was met by the sight of the Thousand Sons Sorcerer Astrean, Uriah looked on at the sorcerer as both stared back into the other's eyes.
"So I see you are busy whispering away with the Warmaster, priest." Astrean leaned forward staring beneath Uriah's hood.
"We were merely speaking of the people of his homeworld Astrean," Uriah said. "If you consider it a problem I would suggest you speak with the Warmaster on it."
"Don't try and fool a master sorcerer such as I Uriah," Astrean said as he pushed Uriah against a wall. "You and those zealous dogs may have fooled him. But I know your kind, and this Faith Of Undivided is making me sick to continue hearing."
"You may not believe in the gods nor those they choose." Uriah moved Astrean's hand from him. "But I know he was chosen to be the one who shall unite the divided and once this done we shall become whole."
Astrean could see in Uriah's eyes this fool fully believed what he was saying letting go of the priest he turned to walk away giving one final warning to the last priest of terra before he departed.
"Remember this priest, there's a difference being chosen and knowing how to lead," Astrean stated. "If there was one thing I agreed with the Emperor before all this is that faith is what can divide us so easily."
Uriah said nothing as Astrean departed from the chamber along with Harmony who followed closely behind.
/Hyperspace Route/ Zygerria
On route to Zygerria, the diplomatic team consisting of Bail Organa, Padme Amidala, the two Jedi Anakin Skywalker, and Obi-Wan Kenobi alongside a detachment of senate guard journeyed to the planet.
"We should be arriving at Zygerria soon master," Anakin stated.
"Well let us hope the guests there are more welcoming than we want to give them credit for," Obi-Wan said as he stroked his beard.
Padme turned to look to the two Jedi. "If we can make peace with these strange visitors than perhaps there is hope for peace between us and the Separatists."
"I highly doubt that senator." Anakin chimed in. "They would rather fight and destroy everything we try and preserve."
Padme rolled her eyes in annoyance at Anakin's attitude toward the Separatists as she knew not everyone in the Separatist Alliance was like Dooku or Nute Gunray. Yet she sometimes felt hopeless at the situations that have been occurring during the war.
The need for more troops, the de-regulation of the banks, and many other things pointing to more war and death and a loss of in her eyes what the Republic stood for democracy.
"Alright, we are exiting hyperspace," Anakin stated. "Let's hope they let us pass."
As the ship exited hyperspace they were all greeted to the sight of Zygerria, yet there was no fleet nor apparent force guarding the planet as they flew toward the world of the Zygerrians.
"I thought there was a fleet over Zygerria?" Bail said as he looked to the Jedi.
"There was the last time we were here," Anakin stated. "Seems like they tuck tail and ran it seems."
"I doubt it Anakin." Obi-Wan turned to look at his former padawan. "Do you sense it?"
"Yea... it's the same I felt when I and Ahsoka arrived the first time but more diminished somehow." Anakin took them in closer as they flew towards Zygerria's capital.
"It's faint masters" Ahsoka chimed in.
"I'm not picking up any readings on the planet there are life signs." Bail stated. "But something about them is odd."
"What do you mean?" Padme asked.
"It's almost like they are there yet aren't. We won't know for sure till we get down there I'm taking us down." Bail said as he took the ship down toward a landing pad.
As the ship landed, both Bail and Padme departed the vessel with Anakin and Obi-Wan close behind with the senate guard as they walked from the platform. They saw scattered debris and some burned ruined structures and even blood trails yet no signs of any life in the vicinity.
Both Anakin and Obi-Wan took the lead as they all made their way through the ruined city of Zygerria. Broken buildings and holes from what appeared to be slugthrowers but on this level seemed almost strange.
"Anakin do you sense it?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Yes. Whatever it is, I think we need to be ready. Ahsoka?" Anakin looked over to his padawan.
"Yes, master?" Ahsoka asked.
"Get to those rooftops and see what you can see from there," Anakin stated. "I'll call you up if we need back up ok."
"Gotcha." Ahsoka ran off quickly jumping to the rooftops.
While Ahsoka ran to the rooftops to cover the high ground, Anakin and Obi-Wan and the others continued there march through the abandoned streets. Till finally reaching the market square and once there they saw it, hundreds of dead Zygerrians all appearing to have been ritualistically sacrificed.
At the center of the massacre, strange noises could be heard as tall massive figures adorned in purple, black, and pink colored armor that seemed almost impossible to wear as the figures wielded strange weapons that emitted a strange sonic noise.
"Masters...are you seeing this?" Ahsoka's tone felt sickened and grim as she looked from above.
"We are snips. J-J-Just be ready." Anakin stated as his fist clenched.
"By the force what is this!?" Obi-Wan stated in somewhat of a shock
As they grew closer the scene became more visual sickening it wasn't just sacrifice and ritual it was a scene straight out of something darker than they could imagine. An orgy of hedonistic base desires and murder upon each other as many Zygerrians present gave into an insane amount of base desires from sexual appetites to mutilation to even cannibalism.
All while the Noise Marines amplified their sonic weapons as they hit the Zygerrians which drove them into a deeper hedonistic frenzy.
While some prostrated themselves upon a makeshift altar to Slaanesh some sacrificing themselves upon while others had commenced an orgy of blood and sex upon it in an insane cackling of depravity. Yet one of the Noise Marines turned seeing the shocked Jedi and ambassadors, which caused the noise from their weapons to cease
"Who dares to interrupt our music to the Dark Prince!?" A noise marine bellowed.
"Master tell me we aren't going to go through with this?" Anakin asked wanting to at this moment activate his lightsaber.
"Anakin in any other situation I would say yes but..." Obi-Wan turned to his former padawan and nodded. "This I believe is not one of those times." As both Jedi ignited their lightsabers.
"Senators get behind us now!" Anakin yelled.
Both Bail and Padme ran for cover while the Senate Guards took up positions as the Noise Marines and new devotees of Slaanesh looked on in silence before one spoke up first.
"Aaaaagh!" A noise marine bellowed. "Make them hear the music!"
One of the Noise Marines unleashed a blast from the sonic blaster as it rushed toward the Jedi they dodged out of the way. Unfortunately, however, one of the senate guards was caught in the blast he was ripped apart and armor torn asunder as he fell to the ground dead his eyes exposed and bleeding from them and his ears.
Anakin looked up to the roof activating his comm. "Ahsoka now!"
A Noise Marine looked upwards only to see a green blade come slashing downward as he tried to block it only for the blade to melt through his gun and find it's way deep into the marine's helmet killing him.
Ahsoka jumped off the giant and joined Anakin and Obi-Wan as the other remaining Noise Marines and cultists of Slaanesh gathered around. The marines opened fire on the Jedi with their sonic weapons while the remaining senate guard fired shots at the cultists while the Jedi took on the Noise Marines.
The Noise Marines fired sonic blasts at the Jedi only for them to dodge quickly out of the way of each shot that tore apart the structures of the buildings. Using the force, Anakin quickly ripped apart some of the broken buildings and flung it toward one of the Noise Marines who simply blasted through it with ease.
"Is that all you've got jumpy boy!" The marines synthetic voice sputtered.
"No but gotta admit that's an interesting weapon." Anakin retorted as he jumped over the marine slicing at his back with ease cutting through the metal and flesh yet he still stood.
"Flesh! The sensation it burns with passion and strength HA! BLESS ME, MY DARK PRINCE!" The marine sputtered out as it enjoyed the cut Anakin gave him
Anakin quickly dodged as the Noise Marine swung his sonic weapon toward him, as he dodged he brought the lightsaber upward cutting through the marine's upper forearm taking it clean off.
"That was easy," Anakin stated.
"Think not little man!" The marine sputtered as it tried swinging his one good arm into Anakin's face only to be force-pushed away by Ahsoka.
"Thanks, snips." Anakin smiled as he went to help Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan was on the backpedal as he dodged each attack from not just the cultists but the Noise Marines as sonic blasts tore through trying to get to the Jedi. Obi-Wan rushed forth and slid beneath the marine cutting at the back of the marines calf muscle bringing him to his knees.
With one swift motion, Obi-Wan removed the marines head from his shoulders as the massive body came tumbling down quickly. Turning his attention to Anakin who arrived at his side.
"You sure took your sweet time Anakin," Obi-Wan said amusingly.
"Was a little busy master," Anakin stated.
"As always," Obi-Wan said his tone with a hint of humor in it.
The few remaining Noise Marines and cultists gathered and prepared as they drew ritual daggers to attack. Ahsoka and the few other remaining senate guards readied their weapons as well.
Charging forth Anakin, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan cut their way through the cultists as the Noise Marines unleashed torrents of sonic blasts into the crowd. Yet the Jedi got around them quickly, Ahsoka using the force threw her lightsaber as it impaled directly into one of the marines heads quickly ending them on impact.
Anakin reached out with the force crushing the end of the marine's sonic gun causing it to explode on itself as he jumped forth onto the marine's chest and with a clean-cut removed his head.
Obi-Wan however, dodged between the sonic attacks with ease as he got beneath the gun slicing it in two. Following up his attack with removing the arms of the marine at the elbows and his blue blade piercing the last Noise Marines chest as both stared at the other for a moment.
"A-An excellent dance. S-So elegant and precise, the Dark Prince would enjoy you most heh." The Noise Marine declared as he slumped over dead at Obi-Wan's feet who withdrew his blade.
"Unfortunately I'm not quite into your form of dancing." Obi-Wan snarkily retorted as he placed his blade on his hip. "Is everyone alright?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Yes, we are Master Kenobi." Bail stated as he looked to the bodies of both the dead Zygerrians and Noise Marines. "What did these things do to them?"
"Not sure exactly," Obi-Wan commented. "Yet we best return to Coruscant at once to inform the chancellor about what has occurred."
"Yes... we should." Padme felt a cold unnerving chill run up her spine at the images of what she just witnessed and the ritual these people were doing. "Um, Master Skywalker please can we depart."
"Of course senator." Anakin in agreement as he could feel his wife was sickened and disturbed by what she just witnessed.
"Anakin," Obi-Wan yelled. "I and Ahsoka will need your help."
"With what?" Anakin asked as he turned to see for himself and he knew what Obi-Wan wanted to do as his master looked at the dead Noise Marine. "Oh no, no, no we are not bringing that thing back to Coruscant."
"And why not?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Because you saw what that thing or those things can do," Anakin stated. "Who knows what it will do since it's dead now. For all, we know it could explode or worse."
"I doubt it can get much worse than what we just had to see." Obi-Wan pointed out. "Now please assist me and Ahsoka before it starts to smell. Or would you like this to be like the Gundark incident all over again?" He said jokingly.
Anakin rubbed his forehead in frustration as he, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan used the force to lift the dead Noise Marine toward the ship to be strapped down for transport off Zygerria. With the body taken care of and everyone aboard the Jedi left with the knowledge of what they learned recorded and the body as proof as they departed for Coruscant.
/Dantooine/ Warmaster's Sanctum.
Orius sat listening to all the words of the legions who chose to follow, along with those of the Dark Mechanicum who had been gifted the two moons to begin their production of foundries and bases. The talks were short as Orius wanted the next few hours alone to himself as he sat alone in his darkroom with no noise to interrupt the rest he desired.
Yet as his eyes closed he felt something touch his cheek it was a tender caress and felt somewhat soothing as his eyes opened as he saw it standing before him it had the form of Kera yet it had horns and flowing silvery hair and deep purple eyes. Orius knew who it was it was the Prince Of Pleasure Slaanesh.
"What do you want?" Orius asked his tone somewhat annoyed as Slaanesh stood before him averting his eyes.
"Ohh do not avert your eyes Orius." Slaanesh teased as she grew closer. "Does this form not suit your tastes, perhaps something blending the two mm or maybe more masculine to your taste or heh maybe a nice mixture of both anatomies. So forbidden and tempting heh."
"No." Orius stated as he turned from Slaanesh. "I wish for you to leave."
"Why? Oh, you are so determined to not let desires run are you heh. I've met many so stubborn much like those who produced me but heh they are all dead. They still futility resist heh but they will fall, why resist my beauty."
"Because I don't desire you," Orius stated simply, Slaanesh was silent as her eyes somewhat flared at that remark.
"Resist all you wish the more you deny. The more my thirst and yours will boil over little Warmaster heh than you shall come to me and it will be beyond any experience anyone mortal can give you heh." Slaanesh stated as she vanished.
Orius stood alone in his sanctum as silence filled the room but he simply returned to his chair and closed his eyes wanting to have a moment of silence before all that would follow soon.