Chapter 3: Proragare Super Terram
General Grey and Lord Silva were both half drunk in the tattered command tent that once was a proud symbol of the southern garrison dating back hundreds of years. They were drinking a new and most exquisite alcohol name amasaic, that went down as smooth as water compared to the harsh Whilic that could not be compared to what they were drinking. They were sitting in ornate chairs that has seen worse for wear from the General's private collection but he could care less, he should be dead with his entire southern Garrison that was lying of the ground. The only other survivors were around 300 horses from his cavalry that survived and was given as a gift to the Mayor of Tempest, which was a gift fit for a King in his mind not a simple mayor, the command tent was surrounded by five Black colored "Marines" as he finally found out what they were called, their official designation in the Church was the Adeptus Astartes but that meant as much to him as "Marine".
Grey was nervous, in all of history books he had read Generals that were caught alive never, never, never had a good ending, in fact, he had a knife in his boot and he the reason he was drinking so heavily was to take his own life but their was only one fatal flaw with his plan and that was that the Imperium had the power to bring people back to life without their consent. So here he was overlooking that carnage of the battle of Tempest that from start to finish only took one hour, a battle with almost 10,000 men and it took an hour, it was impossible but the Imperium strove in such things he supposed as he poured another glass saying nothing.
This was a form of torture if he had to guess, looking over his greatest failure, looking over the bodies of friends, rivals and even people he did not like but he felt sorry for them all, the poor bastards. Randolph Chlpsan they just called him "Chip" was about fifty feet in front of his with his guts torn out, Captain Iverson his faithful assistant for the last two years body was right in front of the tent with his hand still grasping his sword and his head was a ditch at his feet. Colonel Brinkhard his main rival who always kept him on his toes and a sharp mind his body was on top of "Chips" legs while his lower half was god knows where. A lot of the bodies were bifurcated or chopped in half so there was a lot of bodies that looked like that. Chip and Brinkhard must have been fighting together before they died it looked like to Grey, good for them he thought they were good friends it was a good way to die, poor old Brinkhard he had two kids and his wife just died, his kids were in military school, I wonder what the Republic would do for them? Suddenly all the emotions and gravity of it all sunk in and he wanted to drown them out, he reached for the amasaic and poured another.
"You might want to take it easy Grey after the clean up the battlefield the Grand Marshall is going to want our presence at the Mayor Tempests home for a formal diner." Silva said with a smile.
"Grey, I am still a General you know even though our fates are sealed to death, you should still show some respect! Do you think those fellas in the black robes have a hard time matching up bodies?" Grey snorted slurring his last word.
"Ha, hahahaha, oh, Grey my dear fellow, do you not see we are nothing but proud men brought low, can you not see the big picture? Of course you can't, I am a politician while you were just a warrior, this entire battle was set up front the start the machinations of which I have never seen before in my entire life at the court. We were to be made an example of, I was told by Dorn the leader of the Black Marines they could have defeated our entire Military with only 500 of their Marines, maybe less but they wanted to give the other units experience. These Marines are super soldiers, each one stronger than the 13 heros and product of decades of magic and research we could only wish to have access to, just think if we could produce those swords they carry, with that alone we could most likely conquer the world a few centuries ago, as Dorn told me we are one the wrong side of history and no one knows that better than the Grand Marshall."he said with a chuckle and a sip of his drink.
The words went down a as bitter as the root of the wormwood because he knew deep down it was ass true. He opened his mouth in rebuttal but nothing came out, and overwhelming feeling of doom and gloom washed over him. He could see the Imperial Guard with the Marine at the front Marching into the capital as an unstoppable force, like a tornado and then it would all be over. He wanted to cry but years of him being a soldier forbade it so he set his drink down and grabbed his head with both hands in sorrow.
Sliva knowing that Grey had finally seen the same thing that he did when the Marines were charging his position, he thought it was time to share what Dorn had shared with him before he went of although he had to admit he rather enjoyed see the high and mighty General Grey at the brink of tears. Before he could start though Grey swung his head so he was looking at Silva and said,
"You look as relaxed a a soldier on R and R who just walked into a pleasure girl parlor, so what exactly is going on?" Grey asked half suspiciously with a hint of hope in his voice.
"Well I was just about to tell you that, you know that even with the help of the council if they even fight that the war is doomed and that the war with the Empire was to gain experience for their units and fine tune their Military. The Imperium is in the middle of some major restructuring, making the entire Empire into a type of theocratic government with the God Emperor in the middle. That is all I know about that until they come out with more announcements but as you know the entire structure of the Empire of Nazarick is changing to the Imperium of the God Emperor and what we saw today was the beginning of that, an entire Empire structured around war and every one knows war is the best thing to keep an economy booming, is simple and genius." Silva stopped to take a drink.
While he was doing taking a drink Grey said, "So what does that have to do with us?
"I was getting to that, did you know that the Imperium sustained only just over 150 minor wounds during the battle and get this only one fatality, and that fatality was caused by Marine a friendly (one of the Red Templars drew his chainsword so far back it cut his battle brothers head in half by accident) and due to machinations contained within the suit he was instantly revived!" Silva said in amazement, "but I digress Tempest will be used a a entry point into the nation along with other towns along other strategic towns only the way to the capital. The Imperial Guard will go through the small towns and subdue them while the Marines will fight any major Armies but as one of our greatest war philosophers said the best battle fought is the ones you don't have to. The Imperium will need a group of men that can spread the word of the Imperium's superiority and opportunities it gives!"
"So priests" Grey said.
"NO! Their will be priests but what I am talking about is a unit of individuals that makes sure the Imperial Guard keeps the faith of the Imperium but most importantly be the military embodiment of what the Empire is!"
"Whats is the name of this unit, I am at the edge of my seat." Grey said sarcastically.
"Commissars, they are a politically appointed officers outside of the chain of command , they have the power to execute anyone except Adeptus Astartes and Inquisitors that is considered a Heretic or a coward. Think of them as the mouthpiece of the different military campaigns, you know as well as I the soldiers do not know how to give interviews in the newspapers or give picto-casts, so it would the commissars job to tell the public what they need to hear along with keeping the average soldier in line." Sliva said as he leaned back and lit an Imperial brand cigarette and took a drag and held it in to savor it since it had been six months since he had one.
Grey unconsciously reached for Sliva's pack and then looked at him for permission, Silva nodded and he proceeded to do the same then. He forgot how smooth and full of rich flavor, he could taste chocolate, a touch of brown sugar and many other earthy undertones. It was not the best brand out there but it was heaven, he exhaled and then asked the question he already knew the answer to, "So what does this have to do with us?"
"As I said when we first started talking, we are on the wrong side of history and high command had their eye on both of us for years so they don't take any decision like this without careful consideration and they know exactly what kind of person your are, they...!" Silva was interrupted by Grey.
"Wait a minute they have be watching us for years I don't believe it!" He said crossing his arms.
Now the General is just being childish he thought but he asked the same thing so he had to give him some slack, "Dorn told me that if you wish, you can ask your personal assassin to show himself just this once, I have already seen mine." Sliva said with a drink and a drag off the cigarette that was almost gone.
Grey looked around first all around him, he even got up and looked behind everything in the room, then he say back down took a drag and exhaled and said, "The assassin assigned to me show yourself." he said with a sarcastic tone.
Suddenly, right in front of him a figure took shape, it stood on two legs and had six arms each with a sword in its hands, it was covered in black tights and had his face covered with a fearsome mask! Grey shocked but not fully convinced, they could have been conquered when he called.
Silva seeing this said, "Go ahead ask him what you were doing two years ago at night when you were alone, something only you would know."
"Two years ago was two nights before you left for the southern garrison, you held a party and then afterward you retired to your room where you got into the chest in your closet that no one is allowed to go, you pulled out a picture and started to…" "Stop! That is enough! You may leave I believe you!" he said with a quiver voice. The Eight Edge Assassin left the way it came." Grey shouted.
Grey was white as a sheet, it was not only that he not been alone for the last two years but the day he picked was possibly the worst date he could have picked, that night was the the one year anniversary of the death of his wife and daughter. Silva knew of the event but did not know the date but from his expression he could deduce what was causing the man such pain. He also knew that he would not want to speak about it and they spent the next ten minutes drinking and smoking in silence.
Finally, Grey gathered himself together and said, "So by what you are saying and us being alive the logical conclusion would be that the Imperium wants to give us a commission to be Commissars of the Imperium." Grey said while putting out his cigarette while looking at Silva.
Silva took a big gulp of amasaic and put the glass down, then he took the same hand and reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper that looked like it was coated in glass and metal bean and handed them Grey.
"This is your Identification Card from the Commissariat, the metal piece is your vox, think of it message spell that works for anyone in a few mile radius around you, the is how you will receive your instructions, missions, meeting times, and news and entertainment channels, it even has an alarm clock as well it is quite amazing I have been messing around with mine for a few hours. You have a higher clearance the the normal soldier so you will need to memorized your commiserate codes to gain access to some channels. The head Commissar has been elected and is a man by the name Tellus Cain and from what I have heard he has been a noble loyal since the Imperium was the Sorceress Kingdom so his election was pretty much guaranteed but I heard his son just graduated and is a chip off the old block." Silva said as he handed them both over to Grey.
They both watched as all the bodies on the ground were carefully examined and then tagged and then teleported somewhere, "What are those "things" collecting the bodies?" He asked as he lit another cigarette.
"Oh I asked too they are called "Reclaimers" creepy little bastards, they are human, I think they can asses the damage of each body and decide what they do with them, in the Imperium. Some are turned into servitors, which are those half people you see running around doing tasks, and others are turned into undead to work in mines while others are turned into death knights that guard cities all over the Empire, remember the undead are the base of the Imperium's economy so that makes bodies are a resource," Silva said.
Grey found the whole thing ghastly but he thought it was best not to think about just as he was thinking about this a servator came into the tent holding two Commissars uniforms, they were very sharp Silva thought. They had two caps with skulls on the front a black button up uniform with white shoulder epaulets, bloused pants with boots and a sash. There servitor said, "The Grand Marshall requested you to come to dinner and for you to wear your uniforms afterward you will be shown to your quarters and given your assignments" it said in a upper-class tone.
Silva looked at the servitor in his gown and pale face and wondered it he or she was alive or dead? He then shook such ideas out of his head and said, "Just leave them on the table and tell your master we shall be at the dinner as expected." Silva said.
"Yes sir, very good sir" he laid the folded cloths down on the table then sped off as quickly as he came. He looked at Grey who looked like he a dozens of questions but said, "It is best not to think about it, I believe we shall learn in time, just think of them as slaves right now!" Silva said as he walked over to his new uniform and began to put it on, Grey stood up and followed suit as there was a good distance between them and the town of Tempest.
Both dressed in their new uniforms they hopped into a vehicle that looked like a carriage but with no horses or top and pulled away from the war torn tent. They sped down a pathway that had been used enough that ruts had started to appear, Grey looked out and saw the reclaimers finishing up their jobs, they were only left with the most gruesome jigsaws of piled bodies left, while Silva was looking at a nice field were all the horse bodies had been but were all gone, it was a pleasant view except for the stench of blood but that would be cleaned up by the morning by the druids he though. Silva also noticed that the ride was rather smooth compared to a carriage and much, much faster, he would have to learned this new means of convenience, he thought. One of nicest parts of the metal wagon was the lights at the front the illuminated the way so they could drive even in the dark safely,
Sliva was rather enjoying himself while Grey simply looked like a shell of a man who had been stripped of everything. Sliva was reminded of the Emperor's words "Pride is not knowing one's limits" or something like that he would ask for a holy text because when he heard Dorn say it in the dual it stirred something deep within him, that never happened to him when they read the ancient dragon tomes. They pulled into the outskirts of the city when they started to see civilians and Marines along with servitors and Tech Priest which was something else entirely he did not understand at all, he would need to read a book about or speak with an expert he learned that Marine although smart did not know much outside of Military Tactics and Scriptures about the God Emperor.
The Town was booming and lively, he could hear laughing and music, he would bet they had no idea what happened a few kiloms away from their town. Then he saw it a flying castle! It was floating above the town's center unloading vehicles like he was in, wood, Imperial guards, and tons of other building supplies. He could also see a caravan of vehicle loaded up as far as the eye could see coming into Tempest. The only way he could see them was because the sun was almost set and he could see lights all the way to Tempest he swore. That of course was impossible but he would like to visit Tempest and the Holy City of Carne then the Capital Nazarick when he had the first chance he thought.
Finally, they pulled up in front of the Mayor's home, Silva looked over at Grey and realized they had not said one word, "Chin up Grey, you look good in that hat and sash let's go eat some fine food at someone else's expense!" Silva said with a pat on Grey's back. Gray smiled and opened the door facing the Mansion and got out with Silva right behind him. They were greeted by various local nobles that thought they had been Commissars in the Imperium since the first founding and gave them great respect as they were very rare at this point in the Imperium. They made their way into the the mansion which was they found to be quite nice for the Southern Republic and were ushered to the dining room. They were shown to their seats where Silva was surrounded by young noblesse and Grey was sat by himself for the time being with two empty seats next to him.
After awhile all the nobles who wanted to be the last in finally came or were forced to come in and everyone sat down. The Mayor sat up and said, "It is my honor to congratulate Grand Marshal Martellus on his outstanding victory who told us the exact time and date that the battle would take place and promised no damage would happen to our town. We were able able to shut our doors and shutter our windows to keep out children and families free from seeing the ravages of war! So without an old man prattling on about a great men Grand Marshall Martellus!" Mayor Tempus sat down while everyone took their champagne glasses and struck them with forks. Martellus stood up and bowed and said thank you serval time before he made the motions with his hand to be quite.
"First off all I would like to talk about the current nature of this nation and its future. Now we have learned that like the Republic has land the land to the South and the North while there is a swafr in the Middle the is considered the heart of the place called the Argland Council State the has a semi-autonomous nature but also rules the rest of the nation by proxy by the council. The council consist of four demihumans and one human who make the laws and five dragon lords that approve the laws. Now I have tried to understand this system but have been left scratching my head like the rest of you not doubt. The crux of the matter is that the Imperium believe all are being have the right to exist and crushed the bigotry of the Slane's. That in mind when this nation becomes the North Western Nations State of the Imperium it will be ruled by our crown prince Momanga Albedo Ooal Gown and all that helped us with this endeavor like the Mayor Tempest "Martellus exclaimed, to a thunderous applause.
"Second of all I would like to thank Mayor Tempest on the sale of the Land to the East of Town to build a new Fortress Monastery for a new chapter of Marines and a military base that will bring' prosperity to Tempest! For those who are wondering what they saw in the square supplies arrived today along with the Golem's and if you have seen those magnificent things work then you will believe me they will be done within a week. The Base Martellus will hold 10,000 troops and will be the staging area for the entire southern provinces economy and local law will be run by Governor Tempest! Everyone should congratulate him after the meal and I know most of the nobles at this table have been picked to be on his staff so congratulations to all of you on your new positions and welcome to the Imperium!
Everyone at the table was smiling Silva knew due to his time at council and politics that all of this was already done with back deals, bribes, and maybe a little blackmail. "Then to the next line of business I have two new Commissars who are in charge of propaganda in Republic Theater of War, Commissar Lord SIlva Gillscale! Martellus said.
An eruption of clapping and cheering came as everyone heard his name and recognized it as one of the most influential Houses in the Republic, he stood up and put on his hat and took it off as he bowed, he always did have a flare for the dramatic.
"We have another defection from the Republic the a previous General and War hero Commissar Connor Grey everyone!" Martellus said as everyone clapped mostly out of courtesy as most people did not know who their higher ranking military personnel was and only Nobles knew if they had to deal with them and usually it was not pleasant as it usually meant confiscating gain for the Military if they were on their land.
Now Commissar Grey stood a completely broken man the last bit of pride he had was broken, this was the last straw, after all he did for his country, bled, watched his friend die, spent all that time away from his family only to lose to a house fire, and this kid gets all this praise for his last name, it was all too much. He decided tonight he would got to his room and drink a bottle of dragonlock, one of the most poisonous herbs known in the world and the quickly most painless way to die. Grey put on a brave face and smiled and waved then said. "I served the Republic like most of you with my blood and tears and it turned its back on me a left me to fend on my own just like all of you. I say to hell with the Republic and The Emperor Protects!" He shouted. Everyone else shouted back what Grey had said Grey really meant it will all he was. "Damn the Republic to hell!"
"Do it" Martellus heard in his vox, We have two more guest of honor that were able to make there way here all the way from near the Capital as a special surprise from someone in the Royal family nonetheless, a gift for the new Commissar Lilly and Rachel Grey the daughter and wife of the commissar who will be living in Tempest! To Grey's total shock he wife and daughter walked into the room in dresses that were picked for them to fit into the occasion and walked next to Martellus bowed and then made their way to the two empty seat next to Grey. He was speechless, of course no one else except Silva knew what was going on but in the Imperium such things were possible and Martellus was walking proof,
Rachel smiled and sat down next to Grey who was smiling back and Lilly proceeded to do the same thing. Grey put his hand on Rachel's hand that was on her lap and it was warm and alive, that moment all his fears disappeared he had so many questions but those could wait for later and he enjoyed the rest of the night like it was a dream.
Only the Mayor, Grey, Silva and the Lord Grand Marshall Martellus retired to the study for drinks and talk of the war. Martellus got straight to business, pour himself a drink and pointed to Silva.
"Silva, what do you think the next step the council will take in your opinion?" Martellus asked.
"Well Sir the council in remarkably slow in making decision as the five dragon lords have to assemble to pass something and that alone will take months and if I were to guess three and then another month to make a decision so four months total, Now I know they know the South was lost due to them being pro-Imperium they liked it as a buffer from the rest of the nation, that is why they allowed it but the further up your go the more demi-human tribal politics you will hit and that can be a land mine if you want to keep them in the Imperium but you could also just kill them all, I am joking of course. Then the furthest North is where all the dragons live, that will take the longest to conquer but rumor has it there is another continent to the west were they originally came from any many are taking about fleeing to that land instead of fighting." Silva finished.
"Excellent, that was almost the same as our latest spies report from the capital word for word! Normally, I would attach just attach you to a unit where you would do your normal duties but I have an Inquisitor, then one that wrote that report, that wants to work with you to turn as many influential families to stay and to switch sides, remember every noble dragon family we can welcome into the Imperium is a heretic we will not have to kill are you up to it? Martellus asked.
"Yes Sir!" Silva said.
"Good I will attach you onto a the Black Templar's since Dorn has said good things about you so you will have the honor of being attached to them and when you have to go on clandestine mission no one will wonder where you are, Normally only on special occasions commissars are attached to Marine units so do not get used to it." Martellus cautioned.
"Sir, Thank you!" Silva barked out.
"Now Commissar Grey we had our doubts about your but after that speech, I think we now see eye to eye is that correct."
"The blessed Emperor has given me a new life, I will go into the pits of Hell if he asked" Grey said with total conviction.
"Good and you just might, now we had re-claimers snuck into the city and had your families bodies moved to a special facility like were I was, they were resurrected, but unlike me I was preserved for resurrection, the decay was not bad but bad enough for some memory loss, mainly the day they died and some other sporadic memories, I would caution you not to talk about the day they died until a few years, we told them they ate some poisonous mushrooms on accident and went into a catatonic state for several years before they were healed at our facility."
"Yes Sire but may I ask why I cannot tell them about the day they died," Grey asked.
"They both were brought back without their permission and some people that are brought back this way will forget their deaths as a safety measure, if they are told and remember too soon they will die, in your case burst into flames right in front of you." Martellus said.
"Thank you Sir for tell me I will make sure they know when the time is right." Grey replied.
"Good lad, now about the job I have for you is that you are going to be the public face of the Southern Republics pro-Imperium you will go on the picto-casts and tell them how great the Imperium is, how they defeated the Southern Army in an hour, every time we go into a village I want you to talk to the elder to see if they will peacefully join the Imperium, you will work with the Imperial Guard but also work hand in hand with the Ordos Prorgare in turning the Republic with the littlest bloodshed possible, So are you up to it, you will be called a traitor by your friends and family?" Martellus asked.
"No disrespect Sir but friends and family be Fracked, if things went the way the Republic wanted I would have died alone thing morning but now I have my family and my life back along with a position in the Imperium, I have all the family I have here." Grey said with the first smile on his face in over two years.
"Good Man, I knew you were the guy for the job, now boys it won't be easy but The Emperor Protects!" Martellus said.
"The Emperor Protects", everyone replied.
"I have to go to Carne for the First Meeting of the Holy Trinity Council of the Imperium for some establishment of some ecclesiastical bickering over if the God King is Material or the Holy Avatar of his being, I think, but I think the war can go on without me for one day,"
No one in the room had any idea how big the occasion was and how the Imperium would change for ever and not in a way anyone expected.