Chapter 2

Corporal Maraad of the Iron Warriors clutched his helmet in his hands as they sat in the hangar waiting for his orders. He had failed utterly, not by failing in battle or lack of courage, but by simply telling his primarch the truth.

Just a few months ago he had been a Lieutenant, never daring to speak to the Primarch before they reunited with the Lion on Diamat. Whilst The Crucible wasn't the most comfortable place for a straight-talking man like him, one needed to be there just to keep track of the Legion's politics. It wasn't a matter of liking it, just self-preservation.

He had been playing the new Siege of the Imperial Palace campaign, as all of the officers liked to do, just to keep up appearances. He had lost against one of the Trident, Warsmith Forrix. An unexpected honour to even play someone so high in rank, but it was apparently orders from the Primarch that all officers like him play scenarios like this with Forrix. Maraad suspected there was a promotion afoot. He gave it his all but just couldn't do break through the gates. He eventually admitted defeat to the Warsmith.

After he reset the game, Forrix explained that why we expect every officer to do these games isn't just for fun, it's so we can learn from these battles and gain wisdom. "But what's the point of this one? We're never going to tell anyone what we learn here so it'll be for nothing. The Imperium literally just views us as diggers and siege breakers, not the Crafters and Engineers we are! Perhaps if our Lord Primarch.." Maraad asked, finally speaking his mind.

"If I do what, Lieutenant Maraad?" A sharp, deep voice rumbled angrily from behind him

Maraad spun round and faced Perturabo and the Iron Circle.

"My... My lord I did not mean offence" Started Maraad, completely taken aback.

"You are already offending me by not answering a direct question, Maraad!" The Lord of Iron thundered. He had seemed in a foul mood ever since Olympia. Maraad had been thankful he had been injured by ship debris when onboard the Iron Blood when it barely escaped the Hrud. Subsequently he'd still been in the infirmary and not fit for duty during the Olympia "Campaign". He'd only just got back out of there a day ago when he could walk properly.

He took a deep breath. "If you informed the Emperor of our talents in finding fault with his beloved Palace."

"He won't care. If he cared for my opinion, he wouldn't have made us Siegebreakers just do sieges whilst amateurs did his fortress for him"

"Well could we at least tell Lord Dorn of the faults with the fortress? I'm sure he'd at least listen and be grateful for the help. It both will help our Legions patch things up and might demonstrate our talents on a big stage"

The silence was deafening.

Then after a sound like iron hitting flesh, his world turned black for a moment. After a few seconds he realised he was on the floor after his Primarch punched him.

"ARE YOU THE PRIMARCH OF THE 4TH LEGION? NO! I AM. SO DO NOT DARE PRESUME TO INSTRUCT ME IN MY DUTIES!"

He knew he should shut up now, but he could not help continuing. The Legion needed this. His Primarch needed this.

"I did not mean to order you about my lord of Iron. It was a suggestion? At least consider it my lord? We are exhausted and tired. We need a rest and to put our crafts to use other than splitting open ugly sieges. If you would just speak to Dorn..."

SMASH

Perturabo punched Maraad again and he went flying. Through bloody eye slits, he could see Forrix whispering to the Primarch. He was absurdly grateful as the Primarch looked furious. He then composed himself and walked to Maraad.

"If you want a break from duty Lieutenant Maraad, you can have it. Go to your bunk, and in the morning, you will be Regular Maraad. You are hereby stripped of your rank. If you do not comply this minute, I will kill you myself is that clear?"

He spoke through bloody lips. "Yes my lord"

He would not speak so bluntly again without thinking. Especially if his Primarch were deaf to reason of late. Ever since Olympia. He knew they rebelled so punishment was due, no mercy for traitors sure, but he never expected... that massacre. The citizens may not have any part in their lord's treachery if Olympia was anything like when he grew up there, but he knew such things couldn't be changed now. His own sister he killed himself if whispers were true. That was the lesson if there was any for both him and the wider Imperium. Do not upset the Primarch. Do not turn against the Iron Warriors or the Emperor. So, he'd obey his orders come what may.

So, he went to his bunk and took off his badges of office and then found in the morning he had been assigned to one of his chapter's squads. Flak Squad. The worst squad for mortality, the worst discipline record. Run by an incompetent, vicious snake named Astor. Who he once had to see himself overridden by command when he tried to discipline him for having a trooper shot for "Insubordination". The trooper had only questioned Astor in prosecuting a suicidal charge into a bunker.

*He's going to love this* Maraad said to himself.

As he put on his helmet and walked to the Legion's Stormbirds, he saw Astor waiting for him.

"How the mighty have fallen. By the Primarch himself no less. Your arrogance has finally cost you your rank Maraad!" Maraad was thankful he had his helmet on so Astor couldn't see his murderous expression. "Understand that in doing that insubordination or refusal to follow orders in my squad will result in a far less merciful punishment than our lord gave you, REGULAR Maraad", He gloated with emphasis on the word Regular.

"As you say, Sergeant" Maraad said reluctantly

"Sir, you will address me as Sir. I am your immediate superior, Regular" Sergeant Astor barked

*He's loving this, the bastard* Maraad thought. *Maybe I'll be lucky and hell order a suicide charge on the next battle so I can escape this hell*

"Yes sir!" He really hoped he sounded sincere.

A slimy, smug smile spread across Astor's face. "Good. Now be a good soldier and follow me for our briefing. Our lord has a message for us"

"Right behind you Sir" Maraad said glumly

With any luck he could earn some glory killing things at least...