It was an odd feeling, going to see the Emperor. Not many people had been given the privilege and the only reason I knew I wasn't dreaming was the constant punches from Julianos, who also couldn't believe it. I could only recall of one person who had ever been to see the emperor in person, Arik Taranis and he was more of character from myth rather than a battle brother. I was not on the same level as Arik Taranis.
The camp was based in a forest, not too far from where the main events of the battle had taken place. It was said that the Emperor preferred woodland and rural areas to densely built up regions as it reminded him of the farmlands that he was born on. The air was moist and cold and the dirt beneath my feet was sodden causing my foot to sink slightly with every step.
As I drew closer to the camp I became increasingly aware of eyes on me; The Emperors bodyguard, the Legio Custodes. They were slightly intimidating even for a Proto-Astartes. After all they could rival us for most aspects, speed, strength and defiantly knowledge - but us Thunder Warriors work together, and all of the Legio Custodes couldn't stand against the might of the combined legions of the Astartes. They were also unbelievably arrogant pricks; always gloating to the Astartes that we had to do the field work while they had been chosen to guard the Emperor. They also got far better kit than us, all of it Gold plated right off a production line, whereas most Thunder Warrior armour was salvaged Dark Age armour.
At last I was close enough to the camp to see structures pronounce themselves. Huge tents surrounded by a rapidly put up makeshift wall, made of logs and sand bags, It reminded me of something I had seen once in a book about an Ancient empire of old earth.
The gateway to the temporary camp was grand design though, with multiple logs crossing over in a grand structure to create the Aquila hanging high above the ground. Directly underneath the Aquila, practically taking up the entire gateway, stood the Emperor himself.
"Tiberius! Come, quickly now, we don't have all night," He ordered, but did it in such a manner that made it sound like a request. I willingly obliged, doubling my pace. Once I drew close to him, he extended his arms; at first I thought it was simply a gesture of greeting, but then he surprised me. He embraced me. I was dumbfounded. It felt as if all the evil in the word had suddenly been forced from my mind, as if by simply being in his presence cast an aura of protection over me.
Once he let go he clapped me on the shoulder. It made me stagger slightly which made the Emperor laugh.
"Oh calm yourself Tiberius," he laughed. "I'm nothing too special." This comment made me laugh.
"You are the Emperor, my lord and master, off course you are special"
"I am not, as I said, anything special Tiberius. I am a father, and you are my son. I would expect you to address me with the same respect that you would a father."
"Yes, my lor-" I hesitated then said "Father." He was right; it felt much more comfortable this way. A broad grin spread across his face at the word Father.
"Yes…. Father. I like the sound of that Tiberius." He said, stroking his chin. "Anyway, down to business. You are probably wondering why I called you here." It was true, I had been wondering that but I wandered if this was the correct answer to tell him. I decided it was pointless to lie to him, as he would probably know.
"Yes father; it puzzles me why, out of all the Astartes under your command, you would summon me?" I replied, trying to be as honest as I could.
"It is because, Tiberius, you are unique." He used the word unique in a manner that made me think there was something especially special about me. Not just that it was to do with my acts at Franc, but something… else.
"You see Tiberius the Thunder Warriors, glorious as they may be, are bred purely for war," he began, sounding as if he was starting a bard's tale of old earth. "They are bred to destroy, and to conquer- not to think. Your act on the fields of Franc amazed me; an Astartes that thought tactically and with more in mind than simple destruction. It was very… different to say the least, I do believe you may be the first Astartes in the wars to seek pacification of the enemy, rather than complete annihilation." He took a deep breath, and then suddenly froze.
"It appears, Tiberius, that our meeting is going to be cut short," he said, slowly and quietly.
"I don't understand Father, what's happening?" I asked him, bewildered by his sudden change in character.
"You shall see soon enough, my son," he replied. Then he drew the Power Sword from his belt. As soon as the sound of the metal scrapping against the scabbard had finished resounding in the cool night air a voice cried out.
"Incoming!" It roared as a mortar round screamed through the air. I tackled the Emperor to the ground, shielding him from any shrapnel that may fly our way. The mortar round made contact with the ground a few meters away from us and exploded in a tremendous fireball. The explosion deafened me slightly, and the noise shook my bones, but my power armour held firm, blocking out the vast majority of any damage that could have been caused by the explosion. I stood up and reached down to help the Emperor up.
"Are you alright Father?" I asked him as he took my hand and leapt to his feet.
"I'm fine Tiberius but we must move quickly though to stop whoever this is though, surely there will be more than a single mortar round," As if in response to the emperors statement another mortar round wailed overhead, this time travelling high enough and fast enough to be of no real danger.
The emperor stayed perfectly composed, and ignited his power sword. The colour was unique, a red glow that blazed with the shimmering colours of a fire. It lit up the Emperor's face as if he were shinning himself. It was a glorious sight to see. He stood tall and proud, nearly half a head taller than I, practically emanating power. He was physical perfection and human perfection, his stature was the most proud looking in the galaxy, as resolute as an old world stronghold he stood.
"Come Tiberius; let us illuminate this last pocket of resistance together, as father and son, as Emperor and his Favoured. Let us crush them under my iron fist, and stomp them into the ground under the heel of your boot," The Emperor proclaimed, his voice dripping with power. A sense of pride overwhelmed me that he was even considering me as worthy to stand next to him in the field of battle and from that pride I suddenly bellowed at the top of my lungs, as an almost knee-jerk reaction "FOR THE EMPEROR!" and charged towards the gate to meet up with the Legio Custodes, who I was sure would be mobilising and preparing a counter-attack. The emperor chuckled quietly and started jogging along behind me.
"No, my son, for humanity." He whispered.