Juliarus I
The debris of the former world of Weabaou drifted across the void of space, its once prosperous civilization now lay adrift in the cold embrace of space, the humor of the worlds magma core spilling like filling for a pastry lost to hungering space.
The populations of Weabaou had fallen to the vile pleasures of Slaneesh and engaged in heretical prosthesis that defiled the purity of human form. Their unsightly changes turned them into over robust women with lid less eyes that were constantly seducing the male population, however the men directed their lusts towards animated figures and made love or engaged in simulated copulation with artificial constructs. This was the level of damnation the worship of Slaneesh led towards, and that damnation was quick to come to fruition.
The planet was deemed nonessential, and a such was immediately declared forfeit. The writ of exterminatus was declared and the planet was thrice damned for heresy along with the entirety of it's inhabitants.
The sentence was carried out by Cyclonic Torpedo from High Orbit by the Inquisitorial Black Ship Doom Slayer under the Command of Lord Inquisitor Juliarus Manibulae.
The Lord Inquisitor was an old man with grey hair and wrinkled facial disposition and a deep voice that spoke with wise authority and respect, alongside 3 centuries of experience fighting against the heretic, xeno, Psyker and daemons for the Imperium. He vaguely aligned for the Ordo Malleus but pursued any and all threats regardless of jurisdiction whether against Astartes or members of the Mechanicus. He wore ancient Artificer Power Armor with a Psychic Hood to contain his Psychic Power, rarely seen outside the armor and in constant state of meditative silence when not carrying out official duties. Little was know about him, less so than other Inquisitors, he valued his privacy and that of others and it reflected on the men in his charge.
The Inquisitor valued his troops lives in high regard and would readily sacrifice war gear to save his men, this was furthered by his insistence that all men capable of being saved was to be saved regardless of costs which gained him admiration from his men and great ire from the Mechanicus.
Those he declared enemies of humanity however was not met with the same value, be they xeno, heretic, or daemon they were worth little to nothing to the Inquisitor, redemption was not in his vocabulary and mercy likewise was a bolter round in the head. He would willingly chase enemies across the vastness of the galaxy and use methods some would say borderline heretical in nature, yet he proved apt in its dispensation and effective in usage.
The Inquisitorial Black Ship Doomslayer was an equally ancient Gloriana class Battlecruiser of 12km in length accompanied by 2 Light cruiser and 3 frigates, the Doomslayer was a veteran of countless engagements from the Eye of Terror and to the farthest reaches of the Halo stars. The ship encountering perilous entities in the void, fought and survived massive void beasts, repelled Dark Eldar raids and persevered against the Ork Freebotas. With a long record of engagements and battles fought on known and unknown regions of space, dozens of skulls etched onto its Ram, signifying the ships its sent to oblivion.
The ships recorded its current history in art engraved across its main hallways and hull, giving ode to the ancient battles already sketched upon the mighty ship in its 10 millennia of service for the Imperium. The magnificence of the glorious domes depicted the witness of events the ancient ship bore witness to, from the Battle for Terra to the incursion into the Eye of Terror to the current end of Weabau, all etched or painted in beautiful art and sculptures.
The attached formations to the Inquisitors Fleet was equally historied and experienced from the dozen of campaigns they fought throughout the centuries, the 657th to 660th Juliarus Rosetteguard Regiments called the fleet home alongside a chapter of Grey Knights, Deathwatch Space Marines, Sister of Battle and Skitarii Maniples. These troops shared a bond of blood that was built upon the countless battles they fought together, those men, women superhuman and cyborg's all lived and died together in the service of the Inquisition.
These forces were accumulated and maintained by the countless worlds of the Imperium and the unquestionable authority of the Inquisition. Men and women some born and raised or made upon the esteemed fleet coming from Hive, Agri, Shrine, Fortress, or Backwater Worlds, of the millions of Imperial Worlds. The Lord Inquisitor shunned none and accepted all that were eager to bring fury to the enemies of humanity, and those who seeked revenge for the actions of xeno or heretics found their bloodlust founded in his retinue.
"Lord Inquisitor, urgent messages from the Ordo Malleus on Terra" Platocres said.
"Thank you, brother captain, if not you have need of me i will be in my quarters" Juliarus stated and left.
The urgent message was sent to the Lord Inquisitors personal cogitator in his chambers, at which Juliarus quickly reached and swept the room for any foreign objects using his Psyker power, and found none. Juliarus sat himself down and started the rites of activation for the cogitator, which hummed a steady tune of activation and the message popped out in front of the cogitator.
The message was written in cyphers decodable only by an Inquisitorial Rosette, or by a sufficiently well studied and experienced Inquisitor, all of which Juliarus qualified for.
The news was concerning and warranted the attention of multiple Inquisitors, at which a call went out for a small conclave to assemble for those in and around the Somnium Stars. The only other Inquisitors around that part was himself and two others, therefore only one or the other called upon the small conclave. The designated place of meeting was Asylus, a once active battleground against the Ork and Tyranid xenos, but now acquired and made into an Inquisitorial Bastion World early in the 40th millennia.
The time Juliarus spent fighting that desperate war against the Tyranids and orks was still fresh in his mind, the endless sea of acid and claw, the green tide that shouted Waaagh smashed against the walls of lasfire and bolt round. The faithful men of the Rosetteguard and other Imperial Guard regiments with the support of the Deathwatch and Grey Knight Marines fought with the tide with equal fury, but victory was not won by them. The imminent loss after an entire year of fighting was overturned when the legendary Legion of the Damned swept the favor of the entire war into the Imperial side within a fortnight.
It was that moment that his faith turned into adamantium, the despair that he fought against was washed away by the purifying flames of the Legion along side the enemies of man, on that particular planet he found the Emperors reality, and would forever be loyal to the end.
Lord Juliarus's quickly relayed his orders to his forces after remembering the entire message and disposing of the evidence of the message as if it never existed. The mighty Inquisitorial Fleet set a course for the Somnium Stars, speeding away from the System's gravity well and aligned itself towards the relative direction of the Somnium Stars, afterwards they began their arduous journey in the warp.
The fleet traveled across the warp with little interruption, occasional Warp madness beset upon a few unlucky crew members was easily dealt with by the Grey Knights. For most of the forces inside the fleet the travel in the Warp was no longer terrifying since most of them already traveled inside for great tracts of time across light years of space, this did not mean they were lax in their preparedness.
The great tracts of time inside the warp was the perfect time for the forces to hone their fighting skill in shipboard combat and urban environments, the Rosetteguard and their Mk 3 Rosette Pattern Lasguns excelled in close quarters combat with its shortened barrel and foldable stock, manufactured exclusively for the Inquisitor by the NG72WS forge world in the Formosa subsector. The Grey Knights and Deathwatch constantly practiced combat upon each other using real Lasguns to attempt to enhance their formidable martial skills, the Sisters of Battle occasionally joined them but usually found the intensity of the fighting too much for their mortal bodies, as such the fleet traveled across the warp always armed and prepared to fight.
The Inquisitorial Bastion World of Asylus was once a heavily scarred and desolate world where the Imperium fought against the xenos menace, but it has been transformed by the Inquisition to a frontier fortress with millions of Guardsmen that stood resolute against the enemies of humanity. The descent upon the Thunderhawks magnified the awe inspiring might of the Inquisitorial Bastion as giant planetary lance batteries reached to the heavens like mountains of technological might. The rows upon rows of Imperial Machines standing idly by waiting for their call to war. The local commander and his guard was mediocre in comparison.
"Welcome back Lord Inquisitor" the Commander said.
"I hoped never to return Baert Simpsorn" answered Juliarus.
"You remembered me my lord, a lowly guardsman 40 years ago" Baert said.
"I remember both vile enemies and loyal warriors of the Imperium, tell me Baert where can I find the Daeff" Juliarus asked.
"In the central spire down 30 levels and inside the train my lord" Baert said.
"Lead the way then" Juliarus said.
The central spire was the shortest structure around and appeared to have no strategic importance. The levels below however contained the nervous system of the entire Bastion, 30 subterranean levels of command, communication, caches was stationed beneath the surface away from prying eyes and weaponry. The deepest of the levels was devoid of equipment except a table with 3 cogitators and basic lighting.
The design of the conclave space was well made, and only a Rosette was capable of activating the correct cogitator, to open the secret door, if not collapse of tons of rock upon the fools who attempted to try the Inquisition.
Juliarus bid his companions to stay inside the elevator and wait for his word to step inside. He approached the cogitator and activated them in the correct order, with a hiss the fake wall slide aside and the veil of warp trickery lifted revealing a lit hallway. He quietly called for his companions to exit the elevator, the Grey Knights and Deathwatch strode forward followed by confused mortals. They walked the hallways until they were stopped upon a adamantium door.
"This is where I continue alone, the hallway to the left is where you can await my return" Juliarus said.
The companions did not argue and walked down the left hallway until the Inquisitor was out of sight. There was a room at its end and opened for them, inside there was Grey Knights and Deathwatch with presumably members of the Assasinorum.
Juliarus presented his Rosette and spoke 'the hardest choice is between bad and worst', the adamantium door hissed aside, inside was a small round table which seated two of his colleagues.
"Scopio, Vriutai, pardon my tardiness" Juliarus said.
"The warp has been unstable, we all just arrived today" Scopio said.
"Within 4 hours of each other, is no coincidence" Vriutai stated.
"This is either the work of the Emperor or Tzeentch, since we are not dead yet I am inclined to believe the former" Juliarus stated.
"The Emperors Tarot corroborates the claim, that this meeting was divined by the Emperor" Vriutai stated.
"The Death Spectres Chapter also corroborates the claim with their Megir reporting unusual warp activity" Scopio added.
"Commander Baert also reported a significant decrease in Daemonic activity on the nearby worlds, maybe just the bleed over effect from the weakening warp storms, I am not sure" Juliarus stated.
"The commander did not inform us when we got here" Scopio said.
"He regularly reports the state of the worlds around the Somnium Stars,this news was bad as such I kept it privy only to myself to prevent mass panic across the sector" Juliarus said.
"The Lord Inquisitor did not deem us worthy of his knowledge on these matters" Vriutai said.
"We are Inquisitors knowledge is power and we guard it well, but right now I called this conclave to discuss the most recent and disturbing report from the Death Spectres and a few notable Psyker both Sanctioned and unsanctioned, a faint glow of something resembling the Astronomicon was perceived by for a brief window of time inside the space surrounded by warp storms" Scopio stated.
"Resembling the Astronomicon is easily attainable through Warp Sorcery, the implication that it could be perceived from around the area is most concerning" Juliarus stated.
"This news in both confusing and terrifying, either it is some warp anomaly that is causing this or there is a Alpha Plus Psyker beyond those Storms capable of resembling the Astronomicon and Emperors warp signatures" Vriutai.
"If so this matter is of utmost importance and will be a threat to the Imperium in both regards" Scopio said.
"I suggest we begin pooling forces around the Somnium Stars, prepare for the worst situation" Juliarus said.
"Troops and resources are stretched thin for the Segmentum, as we speak there are hundreds of wars being fought on hundreds of planets, against Tyranids, Necrons, Traitors, Tau, and an assortment of other Xenos, especially around these areas with 2 Tyranid Hivefleets and the reawakened Oruscar and Sautek Necron Dynasties smashing against our forces" Scopio stated.
"Can we afford to pull troops from current war zones, or possibly Exterminatus the least valued planets to free troops and resources" Vriutai stated.
"I can vouch for any liberal use of Exterminatus after and only after we attempt to pool enough troops from war zones, no earlier" Juliarus said.
"That would waste valuable time, we have little resources and lots to prepare for what may come we cannot afford to wait that long." Vriutai stated.
"Then I will leave you to the mercy of the other Inquisitors, worlds that are fought for are within reasonable parameters of use, and destroying them are a strategic loss in all regards, rash actions may aggregate our precarious position" Juliarus stated.
"Then our course of action is clear, prepare as best we can and pray to the Emperor we are prepared, we shall reconvene in the near future" Scopio said.
"I see sense in the Lord Inquisitor's words and I argree, I will attempt to rally troops from the Galactic Northwest, Scopio I understand you are well known through the Halo Stars I suggest you try your luck there, Lord Juliarus you can attempt to rally the space otherwise assigned" Vriutai stated.
"Agreed and as Lord Inquisitor I call this Somnium Conclave to end, Emperor guide us in this endeavor" Juliarus stated.
The impending dissolution of the warp storms that surrounded the Somnium Stars was a dangerous event since steady streams of xenos battered against the Imperial Bastions and Fortresses along the Eastern Fringe, the freeing of this pocket of space would extend the lines of defence by 3 sectors beside the possible xenos residing inside the pocket to wreak havoc across Imperial Sectors.
The Bastion World of Asylus stirred into a frenzy of activity, dormant machines of war roared to life as countless millions of guardsmen assembled in the main parade grounds and formed themselves in neat rows. The black and chrome of the Inquisition proudly colored their Flak armor and lasguns, their vehicles and artillery pieces equally displaying the Inquisitorial colors, the greatest of which stood at the farthest rear of the formation and cast their shadow upon the assembled lesser, 2 Warhound Titans and a venerable Imperator Titan stood overcasting its shadow upon the entire garrison.
"Faithful Servants of the Emperor, once again the enemies of mankind are massing to deny us our rightful place upon the galaxy, they mass in ever greater number and upon numberless worlds they seek to burn our great civilization, but worry not for it is the Emperors Light that fires from your Lasguns and the wrath of Humanity fired from each bolt and shell, the waves of xeno, daemons and heretics have smashed themselves upon the wall that is the Imperium, and time and time again we have repelled them, because no army is big enough to conquer the galaxy but faith alone can overturn the universe, so speak these words and greet the enemies of mankind with unbendding faith and show them their folly through bolt and blade" Spoke Juliarus.
A chorus of cheers erupted from the assembled guardsmen, their war machines belched a thick black smoke and revved to a fever pitch. The zeal was roused in the Guardsmen and their war machines, the nervousness upon their faces replaced by smiles of sheer determination and assurance in victory, these men would now walk into the Eye of Terror without pause and fight without fear, the fire of faith has been relit in their hearts.
The departure from Asylus was without incident, the speech delivered by the proxy made an amazing distraction. The knowledge of this new enemy from the reaches of the Somnium Stars was to be kept within the Inquisition, the implications that could arise from its discovery could teeter the knife edge the Imperium was on to disaster.
As the Doomslayer positioned itself towards its intended direction, the fleet returned to its eerie calm. The Lord Inquisitor once again secluded himself in his chambers, the myriad of forces in his service returned to their calm practice and training. The Grey Knights and Deathwatch begun their assessment of the new recruits from Asylus, those they found wanting left in the tender care of the Grey Knights, and those found adequate to the brutal training under the Deathwatch, life upon the Inquisitors Fleet had returned to normal.
The sky was bathed in a crimson glow, shimmering of countless lights peered through the blood red sky, the surface scorched to a thick black ash that invaded the mind and body across the entire planet, the the armies of countless automatoms marching against countless other automatons in wading across sea of claw and acid, between the two great forces stood a gold and black throne.
These were the visions that plagued Juliarus since that faithful day the Death Spectres reported their strange sighting, his trusted retinue of Grey Knights gave no concrete answers, the Emperors Tarot gave vague omens of peace and war. The uncertainty of these visions Juliarus vowed to Divine, if it would take every other waking moment between his duties as an Inquisitor he would give it just to lift this feeling of hopeful dread that he carried.
Juliarus often sought solace and answers in the Warp, this is where battles and decisions too hard to contemplate in short amounts of time was made possible. The perception of the warp as pitch darkness but powerful place, was courtesy of his Psychic Hood and the centuries of practice from the Grey Knights.
"The answers you seek are within my reach" a voice said.
"The answers I seek are not from some deceitful creature of the warp" Juliarus answered.
"The answers you seek can only be found in the Warp" the voice said.
"I will endeavor to find it without the aid of you, begone Daemon" Juliarus stated.
"The blood of countless millions will cover the sector, for your inability to see" the voice stated.
Juliarus awoke startled, there was a cold sweat dripping down from his head, he felt tired and exhausted both mentally and physically. That malignant creature has hounded his search for answers in the Warp since the beginning, always whispering into his ear of the answer he possessed. Too many times he became close to accommodating the creature in his dealings, to finally find the reprieve he so desperately craved, but his resolve was unshakeable as his faith and it would seem him through every attempt.
The Inquisitorial Fleet exited the warp. They found themselves within .2 light years from their intended destination, the precision of their jump was a surprise to Julairus and all others inside the bridge. The other ships in the fleet also arrived safely within reasonable distance from each other, all wondering how in the Throne they managed to jump so precisely.
Once more Juliarus felt that his travels were being manipulated by someone, the best of the Navigators could jump this close with great effort near the Astronomicon, but this far into the Eastern Fringe it was highly unlikely that their Navigator managed such a jump himself. The precision was not unheard of, and it would seem at the Emperor was truly guiding their hands.
The planet of Occuldus was unimpressive in any sense it sported a few cities and the sight from high orbit was a small ball of tiny lights concentrated around one massive structure. The continent was simply one big continent surrounded by water, the central mountain ranges was visible from orbit. The only other figure to stand out amongst the simple looking world was that a giant black spire protruded from the center of the mountain range.
The fortress monastery was otherwise impressive than the planet it resided upon, built into the side of the mountains and its entire structure built from Plasteel with turrets afixed atop its bastion walls it was a well built fortress in all regard. The other outlying structures were anti-orbital lance batteries camouflaged as mountain peaks and large pillboxes overlooking the single pathway towards the gates of the complex.
The massive gates swung, and its inhabitants marched out from its dark interior. The rapid march of an entire company of Space Marines flooding outside the gates of. Most of them wore Tactical Dreadnought Armor, more than half a ton of Space Marine had no business moving that slowly, or receiving Juliarus with an entire companies worth of terminators all with their Bolters pointed towards his group.
"The Inquisition has already collected the information they require, our order will no longer tolerate more disregard for our Autonomy" a terminator stated.
"His Holy Majesties Inquisition answers only to the God-Emperor himself as such the Adeptus Astartes answer whenever called upon, and the Inquisition is calling more Astartes" Platocres stated.
"Our brothers are stretched across the Ghoul Stars, we have non to spare" the same terminator said.
"I see no less than an entire company of Astartes here today, I believe the Death Spectres have a great deal left to spare" Juliarus said.
"We have no brothers to spare Lord Inquisitor, seek Astartes elsewhere" the terminator said.
"Do you make a mockery of the Inquisition, all here can see that you are in no shortage of Astartes" Platocres said.
Platocres raised his bolter and leveled it upon the head piece of the insulting terminator, at the movement all attending forces levels their weapons towards each other.
"This is folly brother, we hold numerical and tactical superiority this course of action will lead only to your deaths" the terminator stated.
"The Doomslayer orbits this planet and with it are exterminatus weapons, this cousem of action is detrimental to all involved so I suggest you explain to us why you refuse our demands" Juliarus asked.
"I have already told you Inquisitor we have no brothers to spare" the terminator insisted.
"You leave me no choice" Juliarus said.
Juliarus quickly raised his Bolter and fired towards the offending terminator. The surrounding Death Spectres dove for cover as the Deathwatch and Grey Knights raised their own bolters preparing to engage. The bolter round impacted behind the said terminator and exploded the boulder it had hit, with Juliarus's bolter still smoking from the shot, Platocres already powered his Power Claw which glowed with nascent energy ready to rend the terminator in half.
"Hold, the Astartes tell the truth, they have no brothers to spare" Juliarus stated.
"I told you Inquisitor" the terminator stated.
"There were no Astartes in those suits of armor, Astartes know no fear more so for Death Spectres, after that first shot we should all be filled with Bolter rounds, yet those armours ran for cover in fear, serfs I assume reside in the terminators" Juliarus stated.
"Tactical Dreadnought Armor is no simple Lasgun, what forced you to risk the lives of your serfs to put on this farce" Platocres stated.
"The Death Spectres have been tasked of guarding the Imperium from the xenos in the Ghoul Stars, as such panic would erupt if ever they find we have a severe lack of Astartes" the terminator replied.
"True, even so we require fighting men as many as you can spare" Juliarus said.
"I cannot vouch for the men who you might draft for your needs, our Megir is Lord of this world and he is the one you must consult, follow me" the terminator said.
The endless hallways and reinforced doorways snaked althorugh the labyrinthine passages inside the fortress-monastery of the Death Spectres. The inconsistent paths that go every which way, left followed by down and an endless mix of every direction known. The hallways and chambers sported features, skulls and battles alongside the statues of their primarch and countless heroes of their brotherhood lined the path in some massive chambers a glorious statue of the Emperor was the center piece.
The uniqueness of every Fortress-Monastery truly surprised Juliarus, the color scheme and decorations completely unique to each other in their arrangement. The Death Spectres seemed to favor the eeireness of grey and fear in black, and walking through their home likewise exuded the same feelings. There were only a single instance in where all Chapters shared the same.
Those innocent statues and decorations held sinister uses and deadly facades. The skulls that laced the upper parts of the halls were like those found in Imperial Cathedrals glaring down upon those walking below them, many of the Adeptus Sororitas took note as well, they employed the same defences, skulls that breathed Holy Promethium. The awe inspiring statues that watched over those walking their hallways, know to be inspired by the Imperial Fists and some were probably sortie doors to harass the rear lines of those who attempt to fight through the entirety of the interior. The other myriad of defences employed by Chapters in their own creative ways to varied to distinquish, but all of them meant to make attackers fear every step taken inside, furthered by those Astartes that defend them.
The walked for a couple of hours inside the massive fortress and came upon a massive gateway made of reinforced adamantium. The lone terminator walked up to it and spat upon a glass cogitator that whizzed into activation. A few moments later the massive door groaned and swung open.
Inside the massive throne of black glass shimmered with unnatural light, Juliarus and the other Psykers exposed felt the Psychic pressure exuded by the Black Throne. The lone frame of an Astartes sitting upon it, a body of skin and bone.
"I am no Psyker my presence here is of no help. I will take my leave" the lone terminator said.
"I am Lord Inquisitor Juliarus of His Holy Majesties Inquisition, and I am here to requisition the resources of Occuldus" Juliarus stated.
'Greeting Lord Inquisitor it has been a long while since I have had a conversation, albeit a telepathic one' the Megir said.
"I believe that the Megir has long lost his vocal capabilities, he is no more than a husk of skin and bone" Platocres said.
"The Megir speaks through Telepathy, I suggest most of you lower your Psychic defences to accommodate him" Juliarus stated.
'Welcome to Asylus, members of the Inquisition' the Megir said.
'A warm welcome here and a cold one earlier Master-brother' Platocres said.
'I admit Xaja has an unnatural hostility to members of the Inquisition' the Megir stated.
'The reactions is normal I assure you, much enmity exists between the Adeptus Astartes and the Inquisition' Juliarus stated.
'I thank you for your understanding Juliarus, but the enemies of man are without end as such I must return to my vigil, the souls in Asylus are dedicated to the Emperor and I give permission for you to take no more than 30% of the remaining defence forces and their equipment' the Megir said.
'Thank you' Juliarus said.
The group walked towards the doorway, it swung open and closed the moment they left. The lone terminator noticed their exit.
"I assume your business with our Megir is over" Xaja stated.
"Aye Xaja, a tithe of 30% of the defences present" Juliarus stated.
"Then leave our home and take your tithe, I assume one as exalted as you remembers the way out" Xaja said.
"Yes we do" Juliarus said.
The Inquisitorial Retinue left the planet of Occuldus with 3 million new recruits and a good amount of equipment. The people pressed into Juliarus's service looked very content and easy, a lifetime of protection afforded from being a chapter worlder evident in their actions. The equipments they carried was likewise badly maintained to the ire of the Mechanicus aboard, some barely ran and more than a few would regularly break down.
These people would need to be broken in to the hard and brutal life of being in the greater galaxy, their softness would result in their deaths and others and needed to be addressed. The Deathwatch and other Veterans would gladly oblige in their training, a few broken bones and prosthetics was due to happen, but it would all serve a greater cause.
As the Fleet moved out of the gravity well of the star they prepared to once again travel to distant stars, and prepare to face unreal terrors that lurk in them.
