M30

Unknown System

Lunar-class Cruiser Vermilion Dawn

"My lord Astartes, there is no easier way for me to say this but... we are lost."

Raphien Moiraeus, Virtue of the Blade of a company in the Blood Angel's Third Sphere, may be the only other astartes besides his captain here, but he was sure he wasn't alone in his astonishment amongst the other mortal officers and crewmen in the bridge.

The ship's senior Navigator now stood before Dominion Jopheus Astrael, senior most commanding officer of the cruiser who still towered over the mutant even when seated, tone of voice and demeanour exuding a great deal of shame for he and his compatriot's great failure as he continued his report.

"The warp storm which came upon the ship and the transports manifested as if from nowhere my lord. My colleagues and I worked tirelessly to maintain a constant vigilance as we guided the ship through the immaterial tides, but we were unable to see the threat until it was too late." The man then bowed lower, extreme shame and sorrow clear on what Raphien could see of his face. "And to my deepest shame we... have lost sight of the Astronomican."

A deepening silence pervaded the atmosphere of the bridge. Indeed, such was the awful magnitude of the news the navigator relayed that any minor whispered conversations ceased, those still manning their stations stopped and turned towards them, and a few others even forgot how to breathe in their shock. Because losing sight of the Astronomican just wasn't possible when, last he recalled, they were still well within the illumination zone, far from the edges where the guiding light of Terra slowly expands outwards. Everyone else here is well aware of that fact too.

Dominion Jopheus' expression can be well described as carved marble, frozen as it were in a stern manner as he continued to gaze down on the navigator. His armour, crimson plate gilded with gold decorations, numerous battle honours of past victories and the precious rubies of Baal shone under the dim emergency lights of the bridge. His features, fair and noble and unmarred cast the image of the angels which the legion strove to be as, following the path their gene sire laid for them. The sight of the captain had stoked courage in the hearts of their Auxilia many times, just as he had struck fear in their enemies' in turn. Long seconds passed this way, the nervous mutant losing more of his nerves as time passed before finally the captain's face softened somewhat.

"You may rise, navigator Norallo. Hear my judgement." The man rose from his deep bow, and stared pensively as the Dominion spoke, his voice resonant and strong like all of us of the Blood. "I have meditated on your words and heard your explanations. Thus I have decided that this disaster has happened through no fault of yours or your compatriots. In fact, I should congratulate you and your fellows, for I know you and yours have fought long and to get us out of the roiling warp intact and alive."

The navigator's sigh of relief was loud, and he once again bowed deeply towards Dominion Jopheus. "I thank you my lord, and know that it is our great honour to serve the angels of the ninth. I shall relay your words to my colleagues."

"So you shall." His nod towards the navigator was magnanimous. "You are dismissed, navigator Norallo, to your well deserved rest. But before you do, assign some of your more rested colleagues to cooperate with the astronavigators so they may triangulate our rough location if possible. It will not do for us to be fully lost."

"By your will." And after a final bow, the navigator made his way out of the bridge through the main doors. Afterwards the Dominion sweeped his gaze across the various stations of the bridge, and that prompted the mortals to snap out of it and get back to work. Conversation made a return, light and made up mostly of casualty and damage reports that was relayed to the bridge from the cruiser's many compartments and command nodes. Such reports are currently being collated into a suitable format by designated mortal officers to present to him, Raphien, that he may relay it in turn to his captain. Speaking of...

"Lieutenant Raphien." Dominion Jopheus called out to him, and Raphien dismissed the senior mortal officer he was discussing pressing matters with to turn and salute, planting a fist to his chest.

"Yes my lord?" Be replied, voice younger sounding to the Terran born veteran before him.

"Gather your fellow Virtues and Powers. In one standard hour, we shall meet in the Hall of War to... discuss our current predicament and the steps we'll take forward." The Dominion then rose from his throne, absentmindedly fixing the clasps of his cloak as he did and walked over to him. Raphien then got a friendly pat on his shoulder from his commander. "For even now, lost in the uncharted regions of space, we must endeavour to keep to the Primarch's command."

His helmet hides his face from the world, but a smile formed unbidden on the young legionnaire's face. The memory of his first meeting with the Primarch came unbidden from his mind, and heartfelt devotion spurred him to answer back.

"For Sanguinius."

Raphien then strode out of the bridge, his mind going over the brother legionnaires he will be calling. Absentmindedly, his ears caught the captain's order for the ship to head for the first planet from the system's star to investigate the signals traffic coming from it.


A young girl shudderedy in fright, held tight in the arms of her parents as they hid in the shelter being attacked by the aliens. A family amongst many others hiding there. Still, many more had already been lost to the aliens, any hope for their future crushed by the tragic reality, their hearts resigned to a future of misery and toil under the whips of the Batarians.

In the future that was, that would be the case.

Until the Angels came.


Author's Note:

The Blood Angels Legion, like many other space marine legions at the time of the Great Crusade had replaced the standard rank names of sergeant, lieutenant, captain and so on with their own.

From High to Low: Ranks relevant to this story...

Archein - Praetor (Leader of a chapter/Blood Angels Host)

Dominion - Captain

Virtue - Lieutenant and probable Champions/Exemplars

Power - Sergeant

Titles can also be attached to the ranks, such as "Archein of Wisdom" or "Power of the Blade." Such titles are marks of respect from their brother legionnaires and also serve as a tactical designation in the legion of Sanguinius, who wished for them to be more than just simple weapons.

Once again, inspiration hit me from another source. Hahaha... I had to write it down or it'll bug me for several days more.

Sorry about not updating the other stories but I'm working on them I swear on Sanguinius' feathers!