Finally! I got myself a new set of paintbrushes, which means lots and lots of models being painted. As I'm writing this part before my half-yearly exams (hey, my brain does not take kindly to hours of study non-stop), I probably wont get to take them out of their packets for a couple more weeks yet. Oh well.

I have just realised something with this story. I used to use the sideways-pointing arrow things (the ones on the comma and full stop keys, so sue me, I don't know what they are called.) to denote scene changes. Since they don't seem to work on I guess I'll have to find another way to segment the story like it is supposed to be! Once I have something, I'll change all the chapters to have it. Should make it a little easier to read.

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Greetings, Inquisitor

File Reference: Adeptus Astartes: Swords Of The Emperor

The Swords of the Emperor chapter was borne out of the ashes of the great Heresy, ten thousand years ago. Although they feel great shame over their beginnings, the founding members of the chapter are seen as a shining example of honour to those who know the secret of the beginning of this fiercely loyal fighting force. Instead of being a part of the loyalist legions, which were broken up into the smaller chapters of today, the Swords of the Emperor mostly take their gene-seed from the most powerful of the Primarchs, the Warmaster who turned his back on the Imperium and after whom the great heresy was named.

When Horus, father of the Lunar Wolves (renamed the Sons of Horus, and later the Black Legion) virus-bombed Istvaan V and declared himself and his legion loyal to the Gods of Chaos, not all his forces followed his lead. Most of those who remained faithful to the Emperor were turned on by their former colleagues and slain, but those few who survived fled under the command of a captain named in the chapter records as Azeroth, later to be named the first chapter master. After seizing a battle barge and several strike cruisers, Azeroth led the equivalent of four companies of loyalists towards holy Terra, in an attempt to warn the rest of the Imperium of Horus's betrayal. After being attacked several times by the allies of the Warmaster of chaos, the survivors of the Lunar Wolves had their ranks swelled by the addition of stragglers from other traitor legions who chose to flee rather than turn against the Emperor. Now numbering nearly six hundred marines from a variety of different legions and having amassed a fleet of small escort and destroyer class ships, the forces of Azeroth finally reached Terra. Now the war was in full swing, and it took some time before the former members of the traitor legions were allowed passage to the surface to seek an audience with the Emperor. After convincing the almightily lord of the Imperium of their devotion, they proved themselves time and time again of their worth. After the war had ended, the survivors were allowed to continue fighting for the Imperium as the newly renamed Swords of the Emperor. Since then, their loyalty has been a benefit to humanity, and they have remained what they once were: a powerful fighting force with an unquenchable hatred for their former brothers.

Chapter Seven: Activation

Standing in the middle of a massive chamber, Hikari felt slightly embarrassed. Arrayed in a circle with her were the other teens who had been chosen for this task, each with closed eyes, listening to the sibilant chants of the chapter acolytes. Each tried to emulate the power she had shown the day before, and now even Hikari could do it again.

"Remember," sliced the sharp voice of Captain O'Malley through the low voices permeating the room, "Do not think, feel!"

Not really helped by this piece of often-heard dogma, Hikari searched her mind for the same sensation she had found in the beginning.

Nothing.

Pursing her lips tightly, the teen clenched her jaw in anger.

THERE!

Hikari pushed her consciousness towards that faint brush of power against her mind, clearing her mind of all the rage present within. Calmed, but with a rising sense of excitement, she pushed towards the crack through which the powers of the Empyrean were flowing through…

Nothing.

A burst of fury flashed through her mind, and she threw all her will against the barriers separating herself from power.

Instantly, a flood of energy coursed through her body, sending trills of pleasure down her arching spine. The very essence of life seemed to be distilled within her own mind, an intoxicating rush of pure power going straight to her limbs and back, causing her skin to prickle and her hairs to stand on end.

Somewhere deep within this flurry of swirling colour and light, Hikari heard a tiny voice, screaming a warning in a feeble voice.

Realizing what was happening, she bent her mind towards controlling the rampant energy she had unleashed, slowly wrestling with both her own desire and the warp itself. For what seemed to be an eternity, Hikari fought down the urge to simply surrender herself to the alluring power.

Breathing in ragged gasps of air, she opened hr eyes.

Arrayed around her were a half-dozen hulking forms, each pointing a bulky gauntlet directly at her chest. Shaking still, Hikari raised her hands in submission, and after a brief pause, the muzzles of the storm bolters dropped.

"Congratulations," rumbled the voice of Captain O'Malley from one of the suits of terminator armour, "You've passed the first test."

xxx

The roar of a bolter is an unmistakable sound, once heard it is instantly recognisable. Even from a fair distance, battle-brother Faxon allowed himself a weak smile as he heard the noise of his brethren approaching. Clutching his own weapon, the wounded marine shifted slightly, careful not to dislodge any of the broken masonry that hid his mangled and blood-encrusted form. Satisfied, he closed his eyes against the encompassing darkness of his hiding-place, mentally thanking the Emperor for his imminent salvation.

Another sound intruded on his thoughts, this one representing a much closer and more dangerous being. Faxon held his breath and tensed himself, in case of being discovered.

The seconds dragged by, and the Marine realised he was sweating. He curled an armoured forefinger around the trigger of his bolter, and waited. He silently screamed to the slowly approaching rescue party, and prayed that he would stay hidden.

"Mmmm… your fear is… refreshing…"

Faxon gulped. It knew he was here! The damn thing was toying with him. The marine desperately hoped that he could stall the beast until reinforcements could arrive.

"And hope… what a strange sensation… one I have not felt in many, many years…"

The soft, almost feminine voice of his tormenter sent a cold chill down Faxon's spine, and he suddenly felt clammy under his bulky power armour. He kept silent, holding onto the sliver of hope that the Daemon didn't know exactly where he was, and was trying to find him.

Almost instantly, a slab of permacrete was lifted away from his face and tossed aside. Standing above the shaking marine was a being of pure darkness, like every nightmare combined. The feature that held Faxon's attention, however, was the Daemon's face. It was an almost human visage, with silvery hair and blood-red eyes.

Screaming an unintelligible obscenity, Faxon swung his bolter upwards and squeezed the trigger. A four-round burst of .75 calibre, high explosive bolts slammed the Daemon in the centre of what Faxon assumed to be its chest. Before he could fire again, the weapon was plucked from his grasp with blinding speed. Standing straight, the Daemon gave Faxon a better look at its monstrous form. Clad in what appeared to be a gigantic, distorted suit of Terminator armour, the massive Daemon spread its tattered wings and extended a clawed hand, pointing at the quivering marine. Faxon could feel energy building up, the very air around him becoming thick with ionisation.

The last sound Battle-brother Faxon, brave marine of Tactical squad Dreimen, part of the second Company of the glorious Swords of the Emperor Chapter of the illustrious Adeptus Astartes, was his own scream.

xxx

"Captain, I assume you have something to report?"

"Of course, Inquisitor. I would hardly contact you otherwise."

O'Malley was sitting before the hologram depiction of the attractive female Inquisitor, the second time in as many days. However, this time he was more confident about how she would react to his update.

"They are nearly ready."

The floating head looked surprised, an emotion O'Malley had rarely seen in an Inquisitor.

"All of them? I was under the impression that only one of the children was making any progress."

"She has helped the others improve. Their progress is nothing short of astounding, I have never seen such raw talent before."

Misato Katsuragi smiled, the action being repeated on the hologram transmission. "Excellent. We may need to employ their skills much sooner than anticipated."

"I said they were nearly ready, Inquisitor. Not yet. They are still not strong or skilled enough in combat."

"I am sorry, captain. But the decision is out of my hands. There is a situation in the Sayda system, and the Ordo Malleus has decreed that the EVAs will be involved."

"Why was I not informed before now?" growled the stocky marine.

"Because I only received the message ten minutes ago. Your chapter master would have only just been told about it. Bring the children here, we have little time to lose. Katsuragi out."

The holographic picture of the Inquisitor winked out of existence, and O'Malley sank back into his chair.

xxx

Ooo… Next chapter sees the first activation of the EVA battlesuits, and the final preparations towards the children's first military encounter: the warzone of Sayda V. Awaiting them there is the most potentially dangerous foe the Imperium has ever encountered, a mighty Daemon Prince known as Tabris.

Just as a test, I am thinking of thinking up some rules that can be used in the tabletop game of Warhammer 40,000. They will represent the children when using their EVA battlesuits and Tabris himself. I have a vague idea so far as to how to do this, however any suggestions for any special rules for either of the two rule sets will be greatly appreciated! (I need inspiration for special rules and psychic powers for both – the stat-lines themselves I have nearly figured out.)