Tales of the Amber Vipers Chapter 329
In the Deosil dock the Amber Vipers gathered, hundreds of Transhumans stacked in ranks. Their faces were stern and their bearing proud. Such assemblies were rare and they were determined to show their best faces. Many among them remembered the name Kerubim, many more did not, but they had been ordered to present themselves for a guest of the highest standing and so they did.
Primus, Secundus and Tertius cohorts, altogether numbering four hundred souls. The Snakelets wore scout-plate, as befit their role as reconnaissance and sabotage, but the fully mature brothers wore power armour to a Marine. The Amber Vipers had gathered plate from many sources, and finally boasted their own manufactorum, so at last could properly fit their squads for war. Many of them bore Xenos pulse rifles, agonisers and Phosphor-blasters, but the Heretical mix had become traditional and so none commented upon it.
Coluber stood at their front, head held high. At his flanks Hasak and Seyda, the Brother-Exemplars waited, their bearing equally proud. To his left Battle-Captain Ferrac, Strike-Captain Reddam and Drill-Captain Thaddis abided. Brave brothers and true, but to the right were more exotic comrades. Maru Kysoto loomed, the Librarian-Dreadnought casting all into shadow. At his rear stood three young Brothers in Librarius blue; his apprentices. The only survivors of a score of Psykers, brought from the Adeptus Astra Telepathica, they were the nascent seed of a Librarius order, though none were yet counted a Lexicanum.
Further along Shrios stood before the half-dozen sawbones who called themselves Apothecaries. One day they would be his equal in knowledge and skill, but not yet. Next to them the frail mortal Nathanal fidgeted. An old man with a thinning hairline and leaning heavily on a cane. He too had several apprentices, but none could dare to call themselves a Techmarine. Nathanal had taught them all he knew, but that wasn't much, the Mechanicus was jealous of its secrets and the mysteries of logic and circuit impenetrable to the uninitiated.
One more stood in the line-up, Berio, Claviger of the Cerberii. He was a brutal Marine, clad in black and the helm at his belt bore the mark of the red hand. His frame was heavily augmetic, his face sallow and threaded with rad-scoring. The Cerberii were a punishment detail, tasked to guard the most odious and perilous of artefacts. Beholden to none save themselves, even Coluber could not order them to release their charges, only matters of import to the Imperium Entire could move them to act. That Berio chose to be present suggested he suspected their returning Brother would bring questionable items with him.
"Where is he?" Ferrac growled.
"Give him time," Maru chided, "Long voyages promote reflection."
"We didn't build this Chapter by gazing at our navels," Ferrac spat.
Shrios butted in, "You didn't build this Chapter, I did!"
"Knock it off," Coluber snapped, "Don't disgrace us before our returning Brother."
Nathanal sighed, "It's been so long since Kerubim left, I am glad he returned before I died of old age."
"You're not dying today," Coluber affirmed.
"You sure?" Ferrac jested, "He looks like one stiff breeze would stop his heart."
Coluber growled, "Brother, I know you are vexed at being left to guard our home, but watch your tongue."
The sudden grind of an airlock cycling rang forth, echoing in the vaulted chamber. The bay was wide and gleaming, freshly laid panels on the floor still wet with anointing oils. Stone gargoyles hung among the overhead girders, to ward off gremlins and data-djinns in the workings of the Machine. Crisp purity seals wafted as atmospheric processors pumped out chill air, which had yet to take on the tang of unwashed bodies common to most human starships. This dock had only been restored months prior, and the Sparrowhawk was the first ship to berth there. It seemed fitting, for their returning Brother.
A pair of grey doors slid apart and Coluber made to greet their comrade, but was stunned into silence by what emerged. From the docking bridge strode a Marine in red plate, his form heavy with bulky enhancements and arcane tools upon his belt. Stark contrast was found in his pauldron, which was vibrant amber and bore the snake and goblet proudly. He carried the squared barrel of an Adrathic rifle at his hip and a short handle of some form of energy blade on the other. This would have been shocking enough but what stilled Coluber's tongue was the visitor wore Mark X plate, Primaris armour.
He strode into the dock and the harsh lighting gleamed off a helm unlike any the Amber Vipers owned. He was tall, too tall for a Firstborn, and his gorget was high. Armoured flaps covered his hips and his kneecaps were crested in the manner of the new Paradigm. The broad chest was level with Coluber's chin and the armour of the forearms was glistening silver. Coluber didn't understand, Kerubim had been Firstborn, all Amber Vipers were. The Primaris paradigm had been denied to them, by the scorn of a Regent who saw them fit only to do his dirty work.
"Stop right there!" Coluber barked, "Who are you?!"
The visitor paused out of sword's reach and uttered, "I am Kerubim, Techmarne Kerubim."
"You are not Kerubim!"
"I assure you I am," the stranger replied.
"I don't believe you."
The visitor reached up his gleaming gauntlets and gripped his helm. It spilt open to reveal bizarreness beyond understanding. A face familiar to Coluber, but different too. Kerubim's features were as they had been, but his entire head was gleaning silver. Every inch of skin resembled liquid metal, moving in accordance with muscle twitches. His scalp was bereft of hair, his eyebrows gone and his eyes were irisless pools of mercury. Coluber's vision flashed to the forearms and he realised this was no affectation, for there was no armour below the elbow. Kerubim's entire body must be coated in this strange substance.
"Kerubim?" Nathanal breathed, "What happened to you boy?"
"Master?" Kerubim replied with a nod of the head, "I return to you changed, but I was once the boy you taught."
"Explain… this…" Coluber demanded.
Kerubim sniffed, "I have crossed the Rubicon Primaris."
"The what?"
Nathanal agreed, "Start at the beginning, tell us what happened when you departed."
Kerubim drew in a breath, "I left with the machine Brontes, as you ordered. We wandered a few systems, searching for lost outposts of the Hegemony, when we ran into the outriders of the Indomitus Crusade. How they found us I do not know, but they knew exactly what they were looking for. They tore information about the Amber Vipers from our cogitators, then dragged us to Belisarius Cawl, for containment and study."
Ferrac growled, "So that's how the bastard Regent found us, you told him everything!"
"Not by choice!"
"It matters not," Coluber barked, "Continue your tale."
Kerubim sighed, "We were Cawl's prisoners for a time, but useful ones. We traded our services for knowledge, in exchange for our labour he undertook to school me in the mysteries of the Machine. Over time revealing the deepest mysteries of logic and science. There were battles and betrayals, terrible threats from the Dark Age of Technology we confronted and destroyed. I was… injured… badly. My life was over, till Cawl attempted to make me a Primaris."
Shrios sounded intrigued, "There have been rumours, whispers he works to make a Firstborn into a Primaris. Are you saying he has succeeded?"
Kerubim nodded, "The Calgarian Rites, they call it. Marneus Calgar himself has crossed the Rubicon and become Primaris."
Ferrac snorted, "Did Cawl plate his ass in chrome too?"
Kerubim sighed, "I was but a step on the road, an early experiment, not entirely successful. I cannot claim to be the first to cross over, but I live and breathe. And I return to you bearing the rank of Techmarines, ready to serve as your first Forgemaster."
Berio broke in, "Before you start awarding yourself titles, explain what became of the Abominable Intelligence!"
Kerubim blinked, "Brontes died, fighting to stop a travesty of the Dark Age from returning to plague the stars once more."
"Good," Berio uttered.
Kerubim's silver brow furrowed, "Do not speak ill of Brontes."
But Berio snorted, "It was a Silica Animus, a Heresy in Machine form. Its destruction was commanded by the Edicts of Terra."
"He was a hero, he saved my life many times. Brontes gave his all for the galaxy, speak against him again and you will make an enemy of me."
Berio growled, "Cawl has poisoned your mind. It was nothing but a weapon, one built to kill humans. The ancients were fools to let their guns think for themselves, I would never let a Bolter tell me who to kill. I guard the Gates of Perdition, I stand vigil over the mistakes of the past. Do not lecture me on what is Heresy and what is not!"
Coluber sensed a brewing conflict but Maru interrupted, "The Machine Man is dead Berio, let that satisfy your wroth. And Kerubim, we know not what adventures you shared, we cannot speak to your comrades' valour. Yet know the law of the Most Glorious Emperor, even we cannot break this edict. Brontes could never return to with you, this you knew when you set forth. Blame us not for the way things are."
Kerubim's silver face grimaced but he allowed, "I know the Universal Laws better than any of you. I know what can be, and what cannot. It changes nothing and I must inform you I come bearing glorious purpose."
"You what?" Ferrac growled.
"The timing of my return is not random, I carry orders for the Amber Vipers."
That sent a rustle of dismay through the crowd and Coluber growled, "We do not take orders from Belisarius Cawl."
But Kerubim pulled a scroll from his belt and clenched it in his silver fist, "This missive bears the twin marks of the Archmagos Dominus and the Imperial Regent. You do take orders from the Lord Commander of the Imperium Entire, and it is his will that you commit to this mission."
Shrios grumbled, "Oh hell, I knew there'd be a catch to all this help, didn't I say there'd be a catch?!"
Coluber scowled, "Kerubim, you forget yourself. You may have been taught by Cawl but you remain an Amber Viper. You walked through that door as if you were lord and master of the Serpens Rex, but you have sworn oaths to obey my command."
Kerubim frowned, "I have also sworn to honour the will of the Omnissiah, and his appointed vassals."
"Then you serve two masters," Coluber growled, "This I will not tolerate. You can be an Amber Viper or a lackey of the Archmagos… not both. Bend the knee to me, or leave immediately and take this bit of parchment with you. You can explain to Cawl how you failed so completely."
Kerubim gritted his teeth but bent before his lord and avowed, "I give my solemn word to serve the Master of the Amber Vipers. I shall obey your commands and fight where and when you decree. The wisdom of the Cult Technis shall further your cause, though its secrets shall never pass my lips. Your enemy is my enemy; your wish is my command. From this moment till my death, I shall be your leal servant."
Coluber nodded, "I accept your vow and shall respect the creeds that bind your order. By the ancient oaths sworn between Astartes and the Mechanicus, the secrets of Mars are to be shared with the Techmarines alone. Now rise and tell me what this mission is."
Kerubim rose but glanced about, "Perhaps this would be better done in private."
"We are not the Dark Angels, to hide our purpose in shadows. The Amber Vipers will learn sooner or later, so tell us what brought you here."
Kerubim reached up and unfurled his scroll, "It is the command of the Prime Conduit of the Omnissiah, and the Lord Regent of Terra, that we take our ships and Starfort and cross the Cicatrix Maledictum. Through his appointed vassals the Emperor makes his will known that the Amber Vipers shall voyage into the lost half of the galaxy and probe the mysteries of Imperium Nihilus."
