Tales of the Amber Vipers Chapter 376

"All units secured, cryo-tubes are intact and the Machine Spirits are appeased," Kerubim reported proudly.

"Excellent work," Coluber accepted.

"Nine thousand Primaris in our vaults, " Reddam breathed, "Nine Chapter's worth, imagine it."

"And all for the damned Regent's use," Ferrac grumbled.

"We still get the Primaris technology," Coluber pointed out.

"You mean I get the job of making it work," Shrios snorted, "And from what I've looked at so far, it will be no easy task."

Coluber grimaced at the announcement. Deep within the Serpens Rex they gathered, overseeing the instalment of the Cryo-tubes into the secured compartments. Vast areas of the Nest had been cleared for this task, by specially trained Tech-priests despatched by Cawl. From a high gantry they looked down upon the rows of steaming cryo-tubes, each filled with bluish fluids and vague impressions of giant forms. The compartment stank of chemical preservatives and sacred oils applied liberally to arcane devices. Thousands of years had these devices worked in isolation, Coluber could not help but worry that some would be offended by their relocation and fail, but none had so far.

This was but one vault among many but the sight stirred Coluber's soul. Thousands of Transhumans waiting to be awoken, armies that would blaze across the stars. Other vaults were fit to burst with early-model Repulsors and Overlord gunships, vast warehouses stacked with bolt rifles and power armour. Munitions, armaments, war machines and gene-tech. Cawl had left everything these nascent Chapters would require upon awakening. Such power, such majesty. Never had he been entrusted with such might, the power of a single Chapter paled in comparison to this.

"You are sure we have to take it all back?" Shrios asked.

"All of it is earmarked for the Indomitus Crusade," Coluber affirmed.

"We could open a few tubes, and tell the Regent a small portion of them failed in storage."

"Don't tempt me," Coluber sighed, "To induct a few hundred Primaris into our ranks…"

Ferrac placed his hands on the railing, "A few hundred, out of nine thousand, he'd never notice."

"Cawl would notice," Kerubim snorted, "Trust me on this."

"A few tanks then, some gunships," Ferrac urged.

"No," Coluber stated firmly.

Shrios didn't sound convinced, "You bring us all this way, without recompense? I thought more of you."

Coluber's ire grew, "You have the Primaris gene-tech, be content with that. We have a mission, to retrieve these warriors and put them to the Imperium's service. Not for our own sake but for the strengthening of Terra's rule. To take these forces for our own benefit would be to fail that mission."

That shut them up. Despite the Amber Viper's dubious methods they remained Space Marines, and the mission was all to an Astartes. Failure was not an option, even the lowest and most covetous among them would not countenance it. Coluber understood their impulses, but this was not an outcome he would allow.

Reddam cleared his throat, "Why are we sailing on conventional drives, when we could just drop into the Ghostwind at any time?"

"I am in no hurry," Coluber deflected.

"Still concerned about the side effects?" Reddam asked.

"The stilling is a problem, but our Chattels were replenished with press-ganging from Dimmamar," Kerubim volunteered, "We should have enough to return to Imperium Sanctus without serious loss of manpower."

"Then why linger?" Reddam pressed.

Coluber shook his head, "There are matters to consider before we leave."

Shrios' eyes narrowed, "Don't tell me you're moping about the Blood Talons."

"They are left to fend for themselves," Coluber sighed, "And we never cleared up the mystery of why they accused us of theft."

Ferrac grinned, "In their place, I would suspect us of anything."

"Not funny," Coluber growled.

But Shrios snorted, "Why do you care for wastrels like them?"

Coluber glared, "They remain Space Marines, loyal Astartes. They fight alone in the horrors of Imperium Nihilus. Despite all our differences I do not wish such a fate on any Marine. To leave them like this is an issue that vexes me."

"You're going soft in your old age," Shrios spat.

Coluber was growing weary of Shrios' bitter jibes, but then a commotion demanded his attention. Maru Kysoto stormed in, the Librarian-Dreadnought marching with a booming stride. The ancient warrior seemed agitated, as far as a blank war machine could be, his pace swift and his purpose dire.

"News!" he cried, "I bring important news!"

"You could have voxed us," Ferrac snorted.

"Not for this," Maru remonstrated, "We have detected an alert from the system defence force. Dimmamar is under threat; the Space Wolves have caught up!"

Coluber's jaw dropped at the news. How, from where, he could not conceive it. Skoll and his rabid monsters had been left behind in the wild of Nihilus, Coluber had never believed they would catch up. Fool, he cursed himself, he should have known the corrupted filth would hound them to the end. There was no safe place in Imperium Nihilus where Skoll would not intrude.

"Are they on an intercept vector?!" Coluber barked.

"Negative," Maru replied, "The report states that abomination of a ship heads for Dimmamar."

"Probably hasn't seen us leave orbit," Kerubim mused, "We have time to get away before their auspex detects us."

"Quickly drop into the Ghostwind," Reddam urged, "We can evade before they realise we are no longer where they think we are."

Coluber however countered, "Wait, what of the Blood Talons?"

Maru replied, "They sail to block the Space Wolves' path."

"They do what?!" Ferrac started, "Rutting idiots, the Space Wolves will tear them to shreds."

Reddam concurred, "We seen Skoll hand them their asses repeatedly. The Blood Talons haven't a chance, this is suicide."

Coluber knew it was true. Despite their zeal the former allies had proved lacking in war. The Space Wolves were tougher, more bloodthirsty and violent. The Amber Vipers had held them at bay with superior numbers and their starfort's guns, but without back-up the Blood Talons would never survive. Aronyx must surely know this, he couldn't believe they would survive, let alone win. The conclusion was inescapable, the Blood Talons were committing to a battle they would surely lose.

Coluber lifted his chin, "Frak that! Ready the Revenge for immediate departure, summon Primus and Secundus Cohorts and tell the squads to make ready for battle."

Stunned faces turned to him and Ferrac blinked, "You want to do what?!"

"I said make ready to engage the enemy," Coluber uttered, "We are going back!"

Glances between confused Brothers swept the gathering and Reddam said, "This is not the mission."

Kerubim concurred, "We have retrieved the objective, further conflict in this system offers no benefit, only risk."

Coluber however glared, "I don't care if it benefits us or not, we are going back for the Blood Talons!"

Shrios' jaw dropped, "Fight for those pathetic fools?! You would lay down Amber Viper lives to help those who turned on us. You have gone mad!"

"Mad or not this is my order," Coluber growled.

Ferrac cocked his head, "Oh, I see. You mean to let the Blood Talons engage and weaken the Space Wolves for us, and when they're dead we swoop in and finish the kill, then claim Lamentantor for our own."

"A second capital ship," Reddam nodded, "A worthy addition to our fleet."

Coluber however grew angry at their implication. His cheeks flushed and his jaw clenched so tight his teeth groaned from the strain. These were his Brothers, but in this moment he barely recognised them. So far they had come, so many compromises; too many. They had become accustomed to taking the easy road, always with one eye looking for advantage. He had to make them see this time was different.

Coluber declared, "No, we are not doing this for our own sake. We are going back to fight because duty demands we stand with Brother Astartes against the forces of ruin. Dimmamar is an Imperial world, we are duty-bound to defend it. We speak of Imperium Sanctus and Nihilus as separate realms, but they are both of the Imperium Entire. We have a duty to fight for them all, to defend the Emperor's realm against all threats. To run now is to forsake all honour."

Maru sounded puzzled, "Talk of honour, from you?"

"Have you hit your head on something?" Ferrac mused.

Coluber snapped back, "Do not cast doubt upon my intent. Every day I have navigated the narrow line between honour and survival, holding us back from disaster, but always looking towards the day we can act as a proper Chapter of the Astartes. How many times have I said the day will come when we can stand equal to the Ultramarines or Imperial Fists?! Always that day was always tomorrow, always just out of reach. No more, I say that day is today! Here at Dimmamar we are the strong ones, the ones with the power to save or destroy, and how we choose to act with that power will be the defining judgement upon us. In this moment we must choose who we are: the warriors we always dreamed we could be, or accept that we will never be any better than we are right now."

Doubt crept over their faces but Kerubim pressed, "Chapter Master, what has made you speak so?"

"Because I need to prove I am not Sarpedon!" Coluber spat.

That flummoxed everyone and Ferrac murmured, "Nobody ever said you were."

"He did," Coluber confessed, "When we crossed the river of the dead, the shade of Sarpedon came to me. He taunted me and said I was no better than him. He claimed we were of the same spirit, both thinking only of our own self-aggrandisement. I denied him, I clung to my duty, as if that drew a line between us. Yet that was only words, the time to prove it is at hand. I must show the universe I am not like Sarpedon, that I will not shirk my duty, that the Amber Vipers will fight for the Imperium Entire!"

Silence reigned as the revelation struck home. None could refute his words, not deny the truth he championed. It fell to Reddam to tap his spear on the deck, "When we crossed the river, I was confronted by the Marine I took this from. His words struck to the core of me: traitor, faithless, brigand. I too feel a great need to prove him wrong."

Ferrac brushed his axe-rake, "I met the ghost of Excelsium. The Heretic's rebuke was more flagrant, nearly burned my ears off. I would not be placed in the same category as that cur."

"Jordig," Kerubim confessed, "You never met him, but he was my old friend and he warned me hard choices lay ahead. I see now what he meant."

Maru uttered, "Tsumetai, my old Chapter Master. He reminded me of the proud legacy I must uphold. For the first time I believe your ruffians may live up to the mark set by my lost kinsmen."

Only one remained and Shrios crossed his arms, "You are all damned fools and this is madness. My ghosts are none of your business and I will have no part of this."

"Then it's a good thing this is not up to you," Coluber spat, "You disappointment me, my old friend, but I remain Chapter Master and I am ordering the Amber Vipers back into battle."

Ferrac grinned, "It didn't feel right anyway, running from a battle I prefer to face my enemies as I carve their hearts out."

Reddam concurred, "I want another crack at Skoll."

Kerubim agreed, "Serpens Rex can fend for itself. I shall see to it the Revenge is ready to sail within the hour."

"I shall ready my most potent arts," Maru affirmed.

Coluber was glad they understood and uttered, "Do so, while I summon the Cerberii. I will make them see that Skoll is a threat to the Imperium Entire, and I am sure they will have the means to destroy him utterly. You shall summon all squads and board our Battlebarge, for we sail within the hour. The Amber Vipers shall not turn from their duty. The Blood Talons will not stand alone, not this day!"