well this is my first warhammer fanfic i want to apologize if you read any syntax errors and so on since my english is not my native language so i spent a lot trying to translate it, enjoy
Chapter 1
Millennium 25
In a region of the solar system, an enormous fleet was preparing to depart. It consisted of 5 battleships, each nearly 25 kilometers in length, carrying troops and smaller-class ships. There were 10 destroyers, each 10 kilometers long, equipped with a vast arsenal for direct combat. They had been extensively used against the Xeno races that dared to confront humanity. Following them were 25 frigates, 3 kilometers in size, relatively light and intended for exploration missions and flanking maneuvers against enemy vessels. Lastly, there was a mega-battleship, colossal in size at almost 150 kilometers. This space Leviathan served as the flagship as well as the command center for the theaters of war.
Though it might have seemed brutal, it was merely a squadron compared to the true fleets of war. Such a number of ships and personnel, on another occasion, would have been employed for subduing an Ork assault or, at most, if the Eldars independently resumed hostilities against humans as they had done millennia ago. But now, these ships had a different purpose: to preserve humanity.
Six months earlier, the AI rebellion had begun. Humanity was, in a crude way of putting it, caught with its pants down and its rear exposed to the sun. The machines that were already present in every human settlement across the galaxy killed millions and caused terrifyingly systematic destruction. Terra's population was reduced by 25% in just a couple of weeks. People were horrified by everything that had happened; the government was also in a state of panic and ordered all humans to defend, regardless of civilian casualties. Contact with Mars was lost. Planetary defenses fired at any ship attempting to leave Earth, indiscriminately targeting both military and civilian vessels. This led to a large portion of the surviving military giving up on humanity. It was an almost one-sided massacre, although a glimmer of hope emerged with the presence of human troops and some non-rebellious AIs. This fleet managed to come together and organize through a series of miracles. On the flagship named "The Last Hope," they prepared to depart for a region far from the disaster's epicenter and any other conflict hotspot. With a bit more luck, they would arrive safe and sound in a secure sector where they could rebuild humanity.
"Attention all ships, we're preparing to jump into the Quantum Tunnel. Be ready and remember the procedures to follow," the admiral announced. He could see all indicators turning green on the massive holographic display in the control room.
The order was given, and the main ship fired a beam of white light that seemed to have literally punctured the darkness of space. The wormhole began visibly expanding. It was the most innovative and efficient mode of travel they had developed. It held the promise of eventually taking humanity beyond the Milky Way. After numerous tests, its effectiveness and safety were confirmed. This would be the first journey of a federation fleet using this method, not just experimental ships. Their destination lay at the other end of the galaxy. The rift in the fabric of space stopped growing, as planned. Another order was issued, and the ships advanced toward the light.
The crew now felt more at ease as they gazed upon the beautiful blue landscape while their ships navigated through hyperspace. This sight was much more pleasant than the disarray one witnessed in the warp, and for the moment, it was safer.
"Admiral McMillan, we're approaching the destination," commented an AI. This particular AI served as the navigation log, its hardware housed within a small solid-light robot that fluttered like an annoying fly. Several of these robots formed a fragmented yet efficiently linked memory. They ran the programs that constituted a significant portion of the primary navigation system.
"Thank you, Galileo. Have all ships prepare for tunnel exit," Admiral McMillan ordered, ensuring that the message would be relayed to the entire flee
The other ships positioned themselves while the capital ship fired the beam once again to open a new Rift, but this is where the problems began. Upon the second shot, the impact didn't open the Rift as intended; instead, the blue hue of the area shifted to an intense red. Immediate alarm signals were triggered.
"Galileo, what's happening?!" the admiral shouted as turbulence grew stronger.
"There has been a malfunction in the cannon firing system, sir. The cause is still unknown."
"What's the status of our shields?"
"Both energy and time stabilization layers are losing stability. So far, no ships have been destroyed."
"How much time do we have?"
There were a few seconds of silence, something highly unusual for advanced AIs like Galileo.
"Seven minutes, sir." A countdown timer began ticking.
"Calculate the probability of enduring until we exit hyperspace versus leaving earlier with another shot."
There were a few more extended seconds of delay.
"The probabilities are..."
"Which one is higher?!"
"Firing the cannon a second time."
"Then fire it as soon as another charge is ready!"
In the face of such a crisis, the admiral felt as alone as an ordinary man. In fact, he felt like a grain of sand floating in the cosmos. That's how insignificant he felt. He wondered if forgetting that feeling had led to the arrogance that had brought them so much harm. With less than a minute left, they launched a third shot.
The distinct sound of a shot echoed, and a new Rift opened in front of the ship. Seeing the cold expanse of space was a tremendous relief for them. The ships raced through the Rift before all coming to a halt in the same location. The admiral could feel his soul returning to his body after what had transpired.
"Galileo, report on the damage," the admiral requested from his navigation AI, who took mere milliseconds to provide an answer.
"All ships report no significant damage beyond dents or minor malfunctions. Do you want me to conduct a deeper analysis?" The AI was fluttering around the admiral, who, after the incident, could only wipe the sweat from his forehead due to what had transpired.
They had been drifting for an unknown amount of time alongside the fleet. He received orders from one of the battleships to begin taking inventory and analyzing the ship, making sure the crew and civilians were alright after the journey. As all of this was taking place, the admiral could only gaze at the image of space, something he had seen hundreds of times in his life, yet it always fascinated him. However, now he was experiencing emotions he hadn't felt since he was a cadet. It was the fear of the unknown. Many questions raced through his mind: Where do we go now? Can we survive? How long until humanity falls? These were some of the questions he pondered.
"Sir, we have a problem," Galileo's synthetic voice made the admiral let out a heavy sigh.
"What's happening?"
"The Navigator has just passed away, sir, and we don't have another Navigator in stasis to replace them," Galileo reported.
The admiral rubbed his temples as he tried to think of a solution. The Navigator, although he disliked the use of human beings in such a way, had been taught at the academy how they functioned. Despite their importance, he never liked the idea of subjecting a human to such work. He had often questioned why, when they had AIs for even tying shoelaces, they couldn't use one for navigating within the warp. However, the answers he received were even less appealing.
"Contact a ship in the fleet, inquire if they have a Navigator in stasis due to ours passing away," the admiral ordered as the other human officers in the cabin began communicating.
"Sir, General Tiamath requests permission to board," Galileo said, causing the admiral to rise from his seat before leaving the cabin to authorize her entry.
On the way to the landing platform, accompanied by a welcoming escort, he was solely focused on the individual who wished to board his ship. This woman, Tiamath, was a legend among the civilian population and the military. No one knew her true name or origins; all they knew was that she was as ancient as the federation itself. She was a heroine of countless wars, born in the 15th millennium when humanity began its journey into space. She was the first and the last to receive such perfect genetic enhancements that have kept her alive all this time. Not only was she an exceptionally skilled soldier, but also a brilliant scientist who revolutionized various scientific fields with countless contributions. However, after reaching the 24th millennium, she chose to retire from everything and live out the rest of her life in peace. Even though she lived as long as those who had been granted this honor, they had to continue administering a serum every few hundred years to keep them alive.
They arrived at the platform, which was packed with various types of ships, from civilian freighters to military vessels. Very few light corvettes and orbital dropships were visible in the area, but what was abundant were the Fighter-class ships, all ready to launch from the capital ship and attack the designated target.
The capital ship's gate opened, shielded by an energy field, and the admiral caught sight of General Tiamath's transport ship. It bore a highly scientific and unattractive name that the admiral didn't bother remembering. When the transport ship landed, the gates of "The Last Hope" closed while those of the transport ship opened, allowing the general to disembark.
Finally, he could see her in person. McMillan had heard stories about this woman his whole life, whether from his grandfather who fought against the growing threat of the Corox theocracy or from his father, who boasted about once having taken her and a battalion of Crimson Guards to Catachan. But the most astonishing tales were in the academy, as someone who had enlisted in the federation fleet, he studied history from its inception. But now, he could see her, observing her in detail. She didn't seem to be taller than six feet, platinum hair flowing loosely, a body that didn't necessarily take one's breath away, but with evident muscularity, and pale skin, a result of the periodic injections of serums that kept her alive. Unlike her companions, who wore impeccably neat army uniforms, hers was a bit worn. The pants, which should have been pristine white, were an aged gray; her black shirt came with the tie slightly lower and the top button open, and her uniform coat was worn like a cape. She wore two silver-toned plasma pistols on her belt, distinctively yellow in color—designs McMillan had never seen before. Slung across her back, he could see a Gauss rifle, folded and compact. It surprised him to see one still in operation; they were so ancient, but this one looked brand new. A belt ran across her chest, carrying an extensive collection of various knives, made from a material that would have been implemented if not for the AI rebellion.
"Admiral," Tiamath commented, eyeing McMillan, who straightened up and saluted.
"General Tiamath, welcome aboard," he responded in a protocol-driven manner. She raised her hand, and he stood at ease.
"Thank you, Admiral. This visit is quite brief; I was in a hurry and didn't have the chance to inform the other captains, correct?" Tiamath lit a cigarette and offered one to the admiral, who declined.
"Come to think of it, no. In the rush to escape, there were many mishaps. There were barely any officers left after the initial attacks."
"And your assumptions are correct. I've been in contact with the other ships. Every single captain is a novice, in small frigates or even some civilian vessels. By the way, any reason for your absence from the meeting?" She commented while walking to the opposite end of the embarkation room.
"Apologies, but the ship sustained significant internal damage, including the death of my Navigator, and it appears we've been having communication failures. We're repairing the damages, but we lack another Navigator," McMillan sighed heavily.
"That can be fixed. We have two in stasis on my battleship. I'll have one brought over to your ship."
"Thank you. What was discussed in the meeting?" the admiral inquired as they boarded a kind of elevator that would take them back to the ship's control room.
"It was mostly about the fleet's status and what resources we have with us. Fortunately, we have a lot of military, medical, and construction equipment, as well as a total of 507 PCE across different fields," Tiamath commented. The admiral merely stroked his chin, lost in thought.
"Only that few? Well, we might survive. How many civilians are on the various ships?"
"According to reports, we have nearly 14 million civilians combined. How about this ship?"
"We have around seven million spread throughout different sections of the ship, along with some animals. Mostly livestock, some canines, felines, and a few animals salvaged from zoos," McMillan shared as the elevator came to a halt.
"An acceptable number to start anew with terraforming," Tiamath said.
"Can I be honest, General?" the admiral looked at her, and she nodded.
"Well, I feel like we shouldn't have left. We should have kept fighting. It's only been a few months, and we gave up," the admiral spoke, his frustration evident.
"I understand how you feel, but this wasn't rushed. The Noah's Ark protocol was activated. The original plan was to save the civilian population, leave them on a planet where they could thrive, and return all military forces to combat, without exception. But we didn't expect what happened," Tiamath explained, and the admiral let out a small laugh.
"Being stranded in space isn't that bad, is it? It's not the first time it's happened," the admiral quipped, but Tiamath's stern look silenced him.
They arrived at the control room. In the main hologram, only one indicator remained in orange; the rest had shifted to yellow and some even to green. Automatic repairs and adjustments were doing their job, so the fleet shouldn't take too long to recover entirely.
"Admiral... there's something I need to inform you about," Tiamath turned to face him, her jaw tense. "It turns out this fleet has traveled through time, as impossible as that may sound."
"That... that's impossible. Are you sure?" the admiral asked.
"The different ships share the same information. Radio signals are silent, not even static. The Dyzon spheres are unresponsive, and there's a significant shift in the stars according to the galaxy maps. Several stars have vanished or moved, and we don't know how much time has passed, but it's estimated to be around ten to fifteen thousand years. Taking into account that the Dyzon spheres, without maintenance, can endure that amount of active time," Tiamath explained. The admiral's response was to lean against the ship's wall and extend his hand.
"Now I'd accept that cigarette."
As he began to smoke, many thoughts crossed his mind, including the idea that they could be the last humans in the galaxy or the last form of organic life. To him, the droids wouldn't stop until everything was gone, and he doubted the Eldar or the Orks would last long against those machines.
...
On the command bridge, Galileo provided more detailed information about the ship's damages. The ship was so vast that data reports took over two minutes to reach, unlike other vessels. McMillan sat down on an available chair, attempting to process everything that had happened. Hours passed from the time they contacted the general's battleship for a new Navigator to when the ship was operational once again.
"Admiral, we've detected a strange Xenos detection signal in the system," Galileo reappeared.
"How strange is it?" General Tiamath inquired.
"It's similar to those used by the federation, but in a slightly more primitive manner. It's been ruled out that it belongs to humans, as the signal has been shifted to the Xenos transmission radar," Galileo explained.
"Put it on the speakers," the Admiral ordered.
"Right away." The room fell silent as they listened.
"Anyone out there? ...(static)... If anyone can hear me, this is Soldier Jenkins...(static)... from the 3rd Planetary Guard Regiment of the Astra Milita...(static)... all my comrades are dead...(static)... a gene-cult...(static)... invading the planet...(static)... requesting reinforcements...(static)... over." The message ended, leaving everyone present in silence.
"General?" the Admiral inquired.
"I'll go in my battleship and take three ships with me. Keep the fleet safe, Admiral," General Tiamath said as she quickly departed.
...
On the battleship, preparations were being made to jump into hyperspace after receiving the distress signal's coordinates. The destination wasn't far, so they wouldn't need to enter the warp.
"Whenever you're ready, General," the captain of her ship remarked.
"Let's go," General Tiamath ordered.
The ship seemed to watch a holographic recording as planets and stars appeared and vanished in brief moments. According to her navigation AI, they wouldn't take more than ten minutes to reach the planet. She put out her cigarette in an ashtray before lighting another, exhaling smoke impatiently as she paced. It was a long few minutes until the countdown timer reached zero.
"We've arrived at the planet, General," the captain informed her.
The ship abruptly stopped, revealing a planet the size of Jupiter in front of them. Tiamath observed it for a moment before letting out a sigh of resignation.
"Is something wrong?" the captain asked.
"I know this planet. It's Apolion, the planet I had planned to live on before all of this happened. But enough nostalgia. Are the troops ready?" The ship's AI reappeared.
"Two regiments of Federated Rangers, a minor assault mech team, and six Extermination Droids are ready and awaiting your orders."
"Thank you, Américo. Launch a teleportation beacon to the planet," the General ordered before leaving the command room towards where the troops were preparing.
The General's arrival at the hangar didn't go unnoticed by anyone. Even so, amidst the glances, Tiamath headed to a locker where her combat suit was supposed to be.
To everyone's surprise, the only things in that locker, unlike the others, were a few white armor plates, a helmet that covered the face and head, and holsters for her weapons. Tiamath removed her military uniform, revealing a body highly toned by battle, covered in numerous scars. Several soldiers looked at her in astonishment. Once she donned her armor, which appeared relatively light, her battle experience was evident. On her wrists, compartments protruded, revealing retractable blade handles. The shins were the only areas where the armor didn't cover.
"Not to offend you, General, but that armor is old compared to what we're wearing," a soldier remarked upon seeing her, and she smiled a little.
"'Beware the old man in a profession where men usually die young.' Maybe that answers your question," she laughed as she walked towards the troops.
"To be honest, it doesn't," the soldier commented as he moved to join the others in formation.
One by one, they fell into formation. In total, she had a modest number of soldiers. Unlike hers, their battle suits were so robust they seemed like full combat armor, pale white with black accents. Each soldier wore a helmet with a visor loaded with a limited-capacity combat-focused AI, along with a backpack on their back carrying various tools or extra ammunition.
All the soldiers were ready as Tiamath deployed a holographic panel in front of her. Activating the command, the troops vanished from the hangar, only to reappear on the planet's surface. The view from space was accurate: the planet looked desolate. The sky was gray and cloudy, and the grass was a dead-looking brown instead of green. In the distance lay a city, silent and still.
"Search team here. Soberano, do you copy?" Tiamath called her ship.
"Soberano here, loud and clear," the captain's voice responded.
"Understood. We'll split into two groups to cover more ground. Release planetary probes for more precise mapping." Both groups prepared to split up. While the Extermination Droids went alone towards the city, the rest of the organic troops headed into the nearby forest.
"Why leave those robots alone? Aren't you afraid they might rebel?" one soldier questioned.
"They won't, so stay calm," Tiamath ordered as she walked ahead of the troops.
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because they're not Artificial Intelligences, they're Virtual Intelligences. Just as precise but without their own knowledge or consciousness—great replacements for AIs."
"Yeah, haha! Can you imagine if we'd won the war, only to stop using AIs and start modifying humans? God, if that were the case, we'd deserve extinction," a soldier joked. Suddenly, everyone froze and went silent, listening to something...the cry of a baby.
"It's coming from that cave," a soldier said, and while some stood guard to ensure nothing and no one approached, another group ventured into the cave.
The atmosphere within the cave was silent. They took care to make no noise, maintaining the stillness as they descended. They realized how deep it was as they continued their journey, eventually arriving at a fork.
"Which way?" a soldier asked.
"The path to the right shows heat signatures, likely survivors," Tiamath responded.
They continued further until they reached a flat area, far from any exterior light. Readings indicated there should be life present.
"If anyone can hear us, don't be afraid. We're here to rescue you," a soldier said, illuminating the surroundings.
"Oh, by the Emperor, they've come to save us," a male voice emerged from the darkness.
"Emperor?" several soldiers thought, surprised by the reference.
"I am General Tiamath. We came to help. Does anyone need immediate attention?" Tiamath slowly moved her hand towards her gauss rifle, feeling that this wasn't going to end well.
"We have wounded here. Why don't you come closer to check them?" the same voice commented.
"No need, I can scan them from here," the General ordered the medic soldier to do so.
When he did, the helmet readings of that soldier's suit triggered strong alarms based on what it detected. Whatever they were talking about was categorized as "Unknown." This made the soldier feel fear, and he sent the information to the General.
"What are they?!" out of sheer terror, the soldier instinctively aimed his weapon into the darkness.
In response, a shot grazed the soldier's helmet. He backed away slightly but didn't return fire. Everyone illuminated the area to see the mysterious individuals. They were bald humanoid creatures with a purple hue who seemed bewildered upon seeing the troops. However, it was enough time for Tiamath and her soldiers to open fire. The gunfire from their weapons practically turned those beings into ashes, leaving them no time to react.
"What the hell were those things?" one of the soldiers asked.
"I have no idea, but I won't complain about these armors again," the soldier who had been shot remarked, noticing his readings showed no damage. The others couldn't find any dents or traces of incineration on his helmet either.
"It's a pity no bodies remained. We could have studied them," Tiamath said. "Have one group stay to explore these caves, while the other returns to the surface to report on these creatures."
Part of the troop exited the cave, while those outside observed them, already on high alert due to the sound of gunfire.
"Is everything alright? What did you find?" a soldier asked.
"Only unknown enemies. One team stayed to explore the cave. Send reinforcements; we'll head towards the city," Tiamath ordered.
City: "The Light of Sanguinius," capital of Apolion
In one of the city's many buildings, a soldier of the Astra Militarum could be seen running down a long corridor as numerous shots barely missed her. She glanced back for a moment to see a large number of Genestealers chasing her. She entered a storage room and locked the door, using her soldier ID to enable the security protocol. There wasn't much in the room. She stepped back with her weapon in hand, taking cover behind some crates in a feeble attempt to find more protection.
"Oh Emperor, please help me," the soldier pleaded as she could hear the Genestealers trying to force open the door.
"I hope they heard that transmission, even if it's not the Empire; maybe it's the Tau. Emperor, I hope those reports of a nearby Tau fleet are true," the Imperial Guardsman thought, adjusting her rifle and also grabbing a commissar's bolt pistol. She didn't care if accepting help from xenos was considered treason. She just didn't want to die.
The strong sound of Genestealers attempting to open the doors was deafening and terrifying. Some emitted screeches, others shouted and cursed. Only a few spoke, as if trying to negotiate with the soldier... or deceive her.
"Threat detected," that automated voice caught her attention. It was so cold and soulless that for a moment she thought they might be dealing with the Necrons; after that, the last thing heard was the sound of gunfire.
The detonations were so thunderous that she felt as if the entire building shook. Her ears were left ringing in the silence that followed.
"Threat eliminated. Do you require medical assistance?" the doors swung open as if they were mere paper. The soldier raised her weapon and fired at the strange beings, but the projectiles ricocheted without causing any harm, not even a small burn.
"High fear levels, defensive action triggered by a reflex. Repeating question: Do you require medical assistance?"
The soldier observed those beings. They stood nearly four meters tall. Their heads almost brushed against the ceiling of the building. They had a single blue eye. They wore nothing, but they also didn't have any sexual organs. The arms of two of them had a shape resembling a cannon, so she arrived at a conclusion...
"They... they're Abominable Intelligences," the woman went into a state of shock. All she had been taught about those things was that they nearly wiped out humanity. Out of panic, this time she drew the bolter she was carrying, but it yielded the same result.
"Human displaying signs of panic. Excessive increase in heart rate. Preparing sedative," as if the metal were mere water, the cannon on its arm changed shape. It became smaller and finer. In the instant she realized she had lifted it to aim at her, it shot something. A slight hit on her arm drew her attention. She saw a silver dart embedded in the spot. Her last thought was to question how it had managed to pierce her armor without causing an impact that would have blown her entire arm away. Then, everything turned dark.
Some time later
Soldier Jenkins woke up in what seemed to be a medical wing. What set this apart was how blindingly white it was; it almost hurt her eyes. She attempted to sit up, but without success. She could see that she was strapped to a gurney with various cables and tubes embedded.
"Could they be Tau after all?" she thought, trying to make sense of where she was. At that moment, a door opened.
A group of humans in lab coats emerged from it. They were speaking in the High Gothic of the Imperial upper classes.
"I want the planet sterilized as soon as possible so we can land. Look for areas where we can set up a laboratory properly," a woman was saying. She appeared to be around twenty years old. Her light brown hair reached her shoulders.
"Boss, the patient has awakened," one of the doctors commented.
The woman turned around, and their gazes met.
"Welcome to the land of the living, soldier. Can you understand me?" the woman started speaking to her calmly. Jenkins, at first, didn't know what to answer or say. She was disoriented and nervous.
"Are... are you humans who joined the Tau?" Jenkins asked.
"What are these Tau? You've mentioned them unconsciously, as well as a certain god emperor," the woman remarked.
"Don't you know about the god emperor? Who are you people?" Jenkins asked, bewildered.
"We are... how should I put it? Remnants of the Terran Federation from the 25th millennium, to be precise," the scientist responded.
That revelation only caused Jenkins to faint again, facing people who claimed to be from the dark age of technology.
Meanwhile, aboard the Sovereign
Tiamath was observing space from her cabin, arms crossed, smoking. Many things had crossed her mind in the past couple of hours. From not finding survivors to these beings who claimed to be part of this so-called Genes cult, and then there was that unconscious soldier.
"Madam, a report on your daughter's investigation," her AI Américo said.
"What does Lilith say?" Tiamath asked.
"It seems that soldier has awakened, but she fell unconscious again after a brief interrogation. Autopsies and vivisections of those beings show a combination of human DNA with unknown entities. We're still analyzing the information on this planet."
"Is their cryptography so advanced?" Tiamath raised an eyebrow.
"On the contrary, it's so archaic or barbaric that finding anything useful is a challenge. We've discovered humans modified entirely to serve as scribes, and it's been difficult to extract information from the corpses. This might take some time," Américo commented.
"Try to gather the information quickly, and notify the fleet to come... we might have company," Tiamath commented as she observed on a radar that multiple targets were approaching. What was curious was that these targets weren't ships... they were marked as biological entities.
