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Silver Knights ~ The Forges II

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Highseat. Gryphonne IV. 997 M41.

Everyone called it the Highseat. It had some long unpronounceable name in Mechanicus binary-code, but few non-Mechanicus personal had much time for that. On Gryphonne IV it was the capital forge complex and center of operations across the entire planet.

Massive spires jutted high into the air while thousands of factories obscured the sky with thick black smoke and ash from their exhaust stacks. Below the place was filled with countless weapons emplacements and armored fortified bunkers.

The doors to the inner sanctum of the Highseat opened before the giant silver figure of Vandius. The rest of Kill-Team Gladius were waiting elsewhere on the capital city at readiness. Nicander had chosen to volunteer in the Medicae centers to lend his expertise to the wounded.

It was all typical Mechanicus architecture. Privately Vandius found it heavy-handed and gauche in terms of their construction methods and architecture sensibility. He much preferred the more elegant buildings back home on Talassar.

Vandius spotted Guardsmen of all types. He recognized uniforms belonging to the Cadians, the Krieg, the Valhallans, the Vostroyans and many more. He recognized the unit marks of many famous regiments. Good, he thought. Good to have good men backing him up.

The Ultramarine himself had no close love for the Guard like Cestus or Dovah did. While he did not hold normal humans in contempt, to Vandius they were simply too…mortal for lack of a better term to meet most of his high standards.

There were units that did meet his approval. The Cadian Kasrkin. The Volpone Bluebloods, the Jantine Patricians, the Harkoni Warhawks and of course regiments raised from Ultramar itself. All disciplined and reliable units.

Vandius came up to a pair of massive brass doors. A single crimson eye appeared as a section on the doors slid back. The Silver Knights paused to let the scanner verify his identity before the doors slid open to admit him.

The command room of Highseat was filled with milling Tech-Priests and even more Guard officers. In the center, around a massive holo-table, were the grey figures of the Space Wolves and the crimson figures of the Genesis Chapter.

The Ultramarine was familiar with both. The reputation of Russ's chapter spoke for themselves while the Genesis Chapter was one of the more famous successor chapters the Ultramarines had produced. They were officially speaking, the first of the Second Founding Chapters to be created when the breaking of the Legions was decreed.

Currently Bjorn Stormwolf and the Genesis Chapter Second Company were present at Highseat itself. Of course there were others Astartes all over the planet and fighting in orbit, but as of now these were the two units holding the capital city itself.

''Ah, it looks like our latest arrival decided to show up,'' One of the Space Wolves called. Vandius recognized him as Bjorn Stormwolf, a massive figure in storm grey terminator plate with a massive white wolfpelt over his shoulder guards. His skin was tanned and weatherbeaten and he had a great blonde beard draped over his armor gorget.

The Silver Knight had read his psych-profile on the way here. He was a very aggressive and headstrong commander known for his bluntness and direct nature. It was no surprise he had essentially wielded his forces like a hammer against the Tyranids.

''My apologies. My Thunderhawk was shot down. I had to fight my way back to friendly lines,'' Vandius told him.

''Funny that, I had thought you Ultramarines suffered a heart attack every time your schedule slipped-'' Stormwolf began.

''I'm not quite sure how that's relevant. We have a more pressing situation,'' interrupted Captain Tullius of the Genesis Chapter. He wore crimson power armor with gold trim. He wore a blue cloak over his shoulder guards. A horsehair-crested helm was held tightly by his side.

Vandius nodded to the man. The Silver Knight was well aware of Tullius's cautious nature. Due to the Genesis's close proximity to Ultramar, they had cooperated extensively with the Ultramarines in wargames. Vandius knew Tullius to be a cautious and reserved commander, much like himself.

''Is there a problem here?'' Vandius asked. It was a rather rhetorical question. With these kinds of commanders conflict was only to be expected.

''Just a difference of opinion. Nothing more,'' Bjorn told him.

''He's too reckless and he's putting the Second Company in danger,'' Tullius told him.

Vandius never truly got along with Chapters like the Space Wolves or the World Eaters. They were far too reckless and undisciplined. Plus in Vandius's personal opinion they held an unhealthy amount of arrogance and disregard for protocol. But he kept his features schooled. It would not do to cause needless conflict.

This appeared to be a rather tense situation. He was not criticizing some low-ranking Guardsmen. Apparently two high-ranking Astartes officers were having some sort of personal issue over tactics. Given the nature of the Genesis Chapter and the Space Wolves, Vandius guessed it was not too surprising.

''I do not hide. I do not sulk. I crush my enemies without fear. I appreciate it if you don't get in the way,'' Bjorn snarled disdainfully. Vandius paused to look at the holo-figures on the data-table and the various combat reports being displayed. As he already guessed, Stormwolf was smashing into the Tyranids in a blunt manner.

Then the Ultramarine leaned in, taking in the figures being displayed. He saw something quite disturbing in the patterns of the Tyranid assaults. He had seen this before, in the after action reports compiled by Guilliman himself in the aftermath of the First Tyrannic War. He pulled some of them up on his bionic eye display and cross-checked them to be sure.

''Get in the way?'' Tullius's voice started to rise.

''Your system of regulations, your Codex Astartes, you forget son of Guilliman, that not everyone shares your adherence to that dusty old-''

''If I may respectfully cut in, you're being suckered in,'' Vandius interrupted, pointing to a piece on the holo-map.

''What?'' the Wolf Lord turned sharply to look at him with lupine eyes.

''They're suckering you on. I've seen the data-reports. Only a few of their higher synapse beasts have shown up here. They're trying to wear you down. You've been hitting them far too bluntly and taking the offensive too aggressively. Your forces are exhausted and spread thin,'' Vandius told him bluntly.

''Listen Ultramarine, I have fought the murder-make across the stars. I have hunted kraken-'' The Wolf Lord began.

''-And I do not deny your combat record Space Wolf, but I'm calling it how I see it. My chapter has fought the Tyranids. We have committed our wisdom down in the Codex. You will not win this way with the current numbers you have. They will strike back unless you can get reinforcements,'' Vandius told him.

''Ah, I see your taking his side then. Progenitor supports successor chapter then,'' Bjorn told him.

''That's not my point, I'm trying to give you advice on how to fight this based of my own experiences,'' Vandius replied, started to get annoyed. That was the kind of reaction he was dreading. He had studied the Space Wolf combat doctrines extensively, and he knew that each Great Company tended to he shaped by the Wolf Lord in charge, regardless of any other reason. Stormwolf had a very direct way of dealing with things and a very low tolerance for an Ultramarine telling him what to do.

How annoying, he thought.

''My lords, Primarch Russ and Senshi Thora are about to join the conference in twenty-five seconds, the Space Wolf flagship is approaching our tight-beam range,'' one of the Tech-Priests told them.

All of the Astartes suddenly fell silent and straightened up. Eventually two crackling holograms flashed into existence before them. Vandius recognized the massive form of Lord Russ, Master of the Space Wolves Chapter, his armor bedecked with wolf pelts and trophies. Next to him was the smaller form of Lady Thora, clad in her Sororitas-pattern power armor.

''Bjorn, how goes the war on the ground? I hope you aren't stealing all the glory quite yet,'' Russ laughed.

''Everything is proceeding fine, despite some opposition to my personal way of doing things,'' Bjorn told him Primarch.

''That is not the issue. Your forces are too overconfident on the ground, the Tyranids are no fools, they will strike back in greater numbers,'' Vandius warned him.

''Who are you?'' Russ looked at him with those wintery eyes of his.

''Knight-Captain Marcus Vandius of the Silver Knights, here by the orders of Lady Neptune as part of the latest reinforcements,'' The Silver Knight told him.

''Oh yes, Amphithoe mentioned him,'' Thora commented.

''I see then, a professional disagreement. Do I have to come down there?'' Russ asked.

''No, I have this under control my Jarl,'' Stormwolf told him.

''I merely offer advice. What's more I believe the Swarmlord is present here,'' Vandius interjected.

''The Swarmlord?'' Thora inquired. Everyone was aware of the notorious Tyranid bio-form. Imperial tacticians had identified it was one of the most dangerous leader-beasts that the swarm produced..

''Yes, I've looked over the reports. I think I've recognized its hand in this,'' Vandius told her.

''I concur, the sons of Guilliman have studied the beast's past actions. I had my suspicions as well,'' Tullius told them.

''I…have seen nothing so far to indicate that, but I would not discount the possibility,'' Stormwolf admitted.

''I think it's best if I come down, just in case, I trust nobody had any objections?'' Thora inquired.

Nobody had any.

''As for any other issues, Bjorn has my full confidence in such matters. I trust everyone to play nice while I'm in orbit. After all, we are all on the same side,'' Russ told them all.

This part Vandius sensed he was not going win. He personally did not blame Russ. It would be only natural to support a member of his own Chapter over an outsider.

''Yes Lord Russ.,' He said, his face betraying nothing as he crossed his arms.

''So this is one of the Mechanicus's greatest forge worlds?'' Cestus asked as he gripped the railing and looked out.

''Of course. For the Mechanicus this is a crown jewel of their organization. I've been here before,'' Khaden told him. They had all read up on the planet but it was another thing to see its massive forges n person.

''Rather impressive, if rather dirty,'' The White Consul noted.

''That's the way the Mechanicus are. All industry with no humanity,'' Khaden noted

''Perhaps, in a way, but they create impressive works of art still,'' Dovah came up, power armor humming lightly. His Chapter had special treaties with both the Mechanicus and Mercurians. Nocturne often produced enormous amount of minerals and metals during each of its tumultuous seasons.

Below them, Cestus's gene-enhanced eyes spotted the forms of hundreds of Valhallan Guardsmen moving in from the front for some R & R at Highseat. The place really was a frenzy of activity almost constantly, with tanks and troops moving about.

''The Valhallan 597th, a rather illustrious unit,'' Cestus noted.

''Have you served with them?'' Dovah asked.

''No, but I've served with Valhallan regiments many times before and Guard units in a close level during my time as a Coadjutor,'' Cestus told him. Dovah recalled the White Consuls' own chapter traditions of having officers spend time in their protectorate planets.

''And besides, that's Cain's unit. The Hero of the Imperium used to serve in that unit before he retired,'' Khaden remarked.

Behind them the doors to their balcony room split open and Vandius walked in, helmet at his side.

''How did the meeting go Captain?'' Khaden asked.

''Essentially as I expected. The Space Wolf commander was rather stubborn,'' Vandius noted. There was no obvious sign, but Dovah detected a hunt of annoyance in his voice.

''Well, this is essentially Russ's show,'' Dovah reminded him. True, technically speaking there was no official obligation for the various other Chapters to obey the leader of another chapter, but few Astartes would contemplate refusing a Primarch and a Senshi.

''True enough, but the Genesis Chapter and the Praetors fought and bled to hold this place, the lack of respect or regard for our advice is galling, but I suppose that's the sons of Russ for you,'' Vandius shrugged.

''You don't like the sons of Russ do you?'' Dovah inquired. He suspected that as much, Vandius was very much a straight up and down Ultramarine, a stickler to protocol and order.

''I believe them to be too reckless and irresponsible for their own good, but no, I do not hate them. I reserve my hatred for the enemies of the Imperium,'' The Ultramarine crossed his arms.

''Yes, the Wolves don't quite adhere as much to our Captain's personal standards,'' Cestus got up. '' So what's our next operation Captain?''

''What else? We continue our mission. Search and Destroy. We will seek out the Tyranid synapse-beasts. We do our best to help our gene-cousins, despite whatever problems we have face.''