Warhammer 40,000: Truth
Chapter 3: Repercussions.
Lyonus deciding that the only course of action, which could be deemed justified, was to alert the Imperium of the pretence the False Emperor had imposed upon them all. To free the Imperium from the shackles of tyranny it had oppressed since the God-Emperor last walked Holy Terra, to rid the galaxy of the bastion of oppression which was the Inquisition and the lies it had spread to control the Imperium of Man.
Lyonus made many trips around the nearby planets to round-up support for his cause, bringing in many Imperial Commissars, Governors, Marine Captains and various other people of power. Lyonus' name carried respect and people began to believe his stories. Whispers grew inside the Marine barracks, across the galaxy, of a new uprising inside the Imperium, of a new threat to the Emperor. And its name was Lyonus…
"You can't do this. You realise its nigh-on impossible to even think about opposing the Emperor, let alone doing it – without the Inquisition reigning hell down upon you…" A gruff voice suggested, speaking with experience. "You won't come out of this alive, Lyonus… you're opposing everything, everybody… you have such small support to launch such a campaign of propaganda…" he continued to advise.
"Propaganda? No, no… This isn't propaganda, Nuas, it's the real thing… and I'll be damned if I sit here and let that bastard Horus run this Empire into the ground…" Lyonus snapped. His mind was set; he knew what task lay before him. Nuas sighed, realising his friend would not listen to reason. He stood up with a heavy heart, knowing the course of action he was about to partake in would doom him; but did it with a sense of pride and honour, as is expected of a Space Marine.
"Fine Lyonus, fine… I'll stand by you; I do not expect us to live through this… I have no reason to doubt you; I've known you for most of my life… I have no reason to doubt you." Nuas softly said, it was unusual for a Marine to speak in such a sombre way, but given the nature of the topic at hand, it was understandable.
The radio transmitter inside Lyonus' office began to crackle and a feint voice was heard through it,
"Captain Lyonus? Captain Lyonus? This is the Blood Angel battle barge Sanguine. Commander Dante is awaiting your invitation."
"Dante?! How the hell?" Nuas interjected, surprised… how could Lyonus have such sway with such a powerful officer within the Imperium? His face turned to white, knowing this would be the moment in which the 'rebellion' of the False-Emperor would be determined, by how one of the most revered commanders in Space Marine history saw it.
"Tell Commander Dante I'm incredibly happy by his appearance here and grant him my warmest welcomes, I've granted permission for him to drop down onto the planet, to discuss a matter of urgency with me." Lyonus replied.
"Lyonus, how have you managed this? You're a Salamander, it's unusual for Marines to have connections in other chapters, especially one as high up as Dante." Imposed Nuas, he demanded an answer to the question – something seemed to unsettle him.
"Do not worry Nuas, I served with Dante on Armageddon, I advised him on a few of the tactical decisions he made during the campaign… I reminded him of the few favours I did for him, and he was happy to visit to hear me out… Simple as that really." Lyonus smiled as he recollected the missions on Armageddon, serving with his brethren in what was one of the most glorious campaigns the Imperium had ever witnessed.
A roar was heard overhead as the drop ship began to descend from the atmosphere, to landing outside the Chapel Barracks where Lyonus was based. Nuas, shaking, turning into a nervous wreck, to meet such an esteemed member of the Blood Angels, of the entire Space Marines, was a privilege and one he wish didn't have to occur under such extreme circumstances. Nuas and Lyonus stared each other in the face, mentally preparing themselves for what was the most crucial moment of Lyonus' campaign. After a few short moments of silence, the sound of footsteps could be heard approaching the office in which they resided, with a gentle mumbling heard in the background. With sudden swiftness the door to the office opened and there appeared an angel of the light, Dante's golden armour brightly illuminating the room.
"Lyonus! It's good to see you again, brother." Dante remarked, relieving his weapon to his standard bearer. "Come, let us discuss your issue I have a feeling this one will require more than just ten minutes of my time, dear friend." Dante chuckled, proceeding to sit down in a vacant seat near Lyonus.
Lyonus looking at Nuas signalled for him to leave the room, it was obviously a matter to discuss in private, between two commanders. Nuas slowly vacated the room, leaving behind only Dante and Lyonus to discuss the future.
"Now Lyonus, you realise… I know all of what you're about to tell me, you must think me naïve to be here and not know what the rumours were all about." Dante looked up at Lyonus, already changing his mood from the proud friend to the questioning officer. He tone demanded answers. "Perhaps then, you can explain why you're being labelled a heretic? Why you think I should listen to the heresy upon which you base your stories?" Dante continued, standing up out of his chair, proceeding to walk around Lyonus.
"Why did you come if you were so sure I was a heretic? Are you here to cleanse the planet from Chaos? What are you here for, if not to hear me out?" Lyonus replied, his nerves steady, he had to be prepared for any answer Dante would give.
"It is true; I would not be here if I did not suspect something was out of place… And for the millennium that I've served the Emperor, I've always felt like something was wrong… something is not right about all this… There are too many questions left unanswered by the Inquisition and the Council of Holy Terra about the status of the Emperor and frankly old friend, I'm beginning to see things from your point of view. For a while I've suspected a dark cloud was growing over the Imperium and for a while I've been happy to let it happen, I have my marines to command and I'll be with them until the end. I shall not however, let them die by the hands of some False Emperor… and for this reason I come to you. I believe, for some unknown reason that you hold the answer to all this… and I pledge my support to you, until this is all revealed."
The skies overhead cracked, when this revelation was given to Lyonus. The chatter on Lyonus' radio began to increase as deafening noise began to close in around the Chapel Barracks.
"Report!" Dante shouted down his headgear, picking up his power-axe in the process.
"Sir, we've got Inquisition ships coming down, three or four platoons of the Order are here to take you… they've tried to initiate communications with us, but we'…" The radio cut dead…
"And so it is. Lyonus, prepare your men… "He placed his hand back onto his head giving out orders to the Marines in his barge. "Sergeant, I want you to send down a detachment of First Company. Now!"
"Yes sir, right away sir." The Sergeant replied. The thunder of the engines from the drop ships were all that could be heard.
"Come Lyonus… we'll meet them in battle, and slaughter them all. For the Emperor!" commanded Dante, a gleaming beacon of mankind he began to storm out of the room, readying himself for the oncoming battle.
"Nuas, quickly… gather as many Marines as possible from the mess hall, we're going to need them…" Lyonus ordered down his headgear. Looking worried he picked up his bolter gun and proceeded to follow Dante to the arena of battle. Opening the doors of the barracks, all that could be seen were the Thunderhawks of the Inquisition releasing their squadrons of men to take captive Dante and Lyonus, and vanquish their forces.
"Dante, sir… The Inquisition battle barge has engaged us, permission to return fire, sir…"
"God damn it, just do it!" Dante shouted back, looking frustrated at the turn of events. He'd been in worse, but there was more to this fight… it felt like the beginning of a long campaign of war.