He sat in the council chamber listening to the reports of a half dozen different campaigns. Some involving his brothers and others not. Most were going well save two. Though one of those two was far worse than the other. He stroked his beard as heard about some fool of a governor named Guy del Lusignan lead a quarter million men into a trap made by feral Orks on Hattin Prime. The damn fool was lucky he died in the battle or Luis would have killed himself. While most of the force had been made of local PDF forces it had included four of the five Tercio Divisions stationed on the planet. As expected of such well equipped and trained Divisions as it was the Tercios under the command of Brigadier General Franciso Núñez who led the desperate breakout that prevented the defeat from becoming a massacre. The remaining PDF and Tercio forces have withdrawn and are preparing defensive positions while PDF bombers attempt to destroy as much of the equipment left behind as possible.
Duke Diego de Navarra, the Pilot of the Knight Castellan: Sanctus Ignis Montis, said, "Were the forces truly so decimated that a counterattack to prevent the scavenging of the equipment impossible"?
The envoy replied, "Yes, my lord. Three of the four Tercio divisions caught in the encirclement have been reduced to half strength and the fourth was reduced to a third of their strength. The PDF divisions suffered worst with none of the divisions that were caught in the encirclement being above half strength and much of their remaining strength was made up of the walking wounded".
This triggered an angered response by one of his brothers, Jarl Magmar the Red, Jarl of the Hell Claws.
Magmar shouted, "BY THE ALLFATHER AND THE RUSS!? HOW DID THE GREENSKIN PESTS GROW TO SUCH STRENGTH! WERE YOU TOO BUSY SITTING ON YOUR LAZY ARSE TO GO AND PURGE THE GREENSKIN FILTH"!
The envoy recoiled at the roar of a Lord of the Chapter, but he managed a reply, "The late Lord Governor decided to change strategies when dealing the Feral Orks, he decided on a more reactive response, preferring to only launch purges when they attacked a major settlement or strategically important target. He was forced to take a more offensive approach when the nobles, guild masters, and magisters of the world threatened to take his inaction as treason and seek judgment from you or one of your brothers, my lord.
Another of his brothers, Sven Ironfang, Jarl of the Iron Lancers, said, "Such stupidity should have been reported the moment the fool enacted it. The regular purges of feral orks are a necessity to prevent them from becoming a true Waagh. Now it may require a full deployment of a Great Company, Legio Auxilla, and possibly even Knight Lances".
Archmagos Gilean de Zygan said in the monotone tone of a follower of the Machine god, "Regardless of the truth of that, Jarl Ironfang. It is imperative that we send a response force to reinforce the planet and purge the Greenskins. Hattin Prime is a vital mining world for rare minerals and metals essential to my Forgeworld's production of blessed warmachines".
Field Marshall Felipe del Cantabria said, "I must agree with the Archmagos. The campaign on Vaknar Prime is proving to be more taxing than expected and vehicles are requiring maintenance or replacement at a much greater rate than expected. Along with higher casualties from the local Xenos".
Grand Admiral Fernnado de Navarra said, "In addition, patrol squadrons have reported increased contact with Xenos raiders and some of the more remote voidborne colonies and mining stations have reported strange sightings and occurrences. A few have even gone dark with no trace of the crew or settlers. I want to commission three Dauntless Class Light Cruisers and a squadron of Sword Class Frigates to increase patrols along the borders".
The Great Wolf, Bjorn Krakenslayer, sitting on his throne raised above the main floor of the council chamber, finally decided the course of action. With a voice that carried an authority earned by centuries of combat experience that evoked the complete attention of his boisterous brothers, the furiously debating officers, noble Knights, and blessed maidens of the Allmother's Grove. The Krakenslayer said, "We shall send a Crusade force to reinforce the planet and begin a purge of the Greenskins.", he turned to Sven, "Ironfang, you shall lead your Great Company to Hattin Prime and overall command will be yours".
Sven rose and slammed a fist against his warplate, "It will be done, Great Wolf. I vow that my Great Company will crush the Greenskins under our steel mounts and run them through with our lances".
Bjorn nodded before turning to the Field Marshall, "You shall organize six Tercio Divisions, an Armored Division, and two mechanized divisions as part of an expeditionary force".
The Field Marshall stood up in full attention and saluted, replying, "It will be done, my King".
Bjorn looked at the Grand Admiral, "They shall require transports and escorts, Grand Admiral".
The Grand Admiral followed in his fellow's mortal officer's example.
Finally he announced to the nobles, "If any Knight wishes to join this Hunt, then speak now. For I shall send a lance no larger than six of your number".
Many of the older knights remained seated, they knew as much as the Great Wolf that this was a hunt for the pups. The young Knights who had yet to test themselves in the fires of war.
Even with it being planned as a baptism of fire, there still needed to be a senior knight in command of the Lance who could ensure that none would be so reckless as to cause their ancient and priceless warmachines to be lost.
A Knight from his human father's House stood up, if Luis was not mistaken this was his sister's grandson. The Knight was tall for a baseline human with hair that was still dark with only a hint of salt in his hair and beard.
The Knight spoke, "I am Sir Juan de Henriquez y Valentine. My steed is the Knight Crusader: Invictus Ferrus. I volunteer for this Hunt".
The Great Wolf selected the five younger knights and appointed Sir Juan as the Commander of the Lance.
Bjorn said, "Is there anything else that one wishes to petition the War Council"?
One of the Maidens of the Allmother's Grove stood up and said, "My noble lords and ladies, I speak now not as a petitioner, but as a messenger from the Allmother ''.
This got the full attention of the council, the Maidens of the Allmother's Grove were known to receive visions of the future and could work miracles in healing. Which is why they persisted even through the Age of Strife.
The Maiden continued, "There comes a great storm. Of Pestilence and old foes who owe a debt of blood to the Sons of Russ and the Knights of Loborrak. Who defiled maiden worlds. A foe that we cannot defeat alone. Yet a hero will be forged from the fires of war. One who will be counted among the greatest of the Sons of Russ. One favored by the Allfather and Allmother. That hero will lead the chapter into a new age. Reborn like a Phoenix".
Erak Tempestwolf asked, "Is this all of your vision"?
The Maiden said, "It is not my vision, oh Lord of the Runes and Tempests. It is the vision of the Lady".
Luis folded his hands, covering his lower face to hide the feral smile on his face. The Lady was one he was very familiar with. Afterall, she had borne him his children. His mate might be waiting for him in his estate within his human family's domain.
It had been a long time since he had last seen her outside of his mind or the flames. Perhaps this vision foretells the glory of their son or a future son. A future son would surely be fun to create.
The Tempestwolf said, "While I have not seen this in the runes, we should not dismiss the visions out of hand. Allfather knows the truth hidden in those visions. My own visions speak of a great enemy that is preparing to strike and a coming shatterpoint, but beyond that I have not been able to discern the identity of the enemy or the nature of the shatterpoint".
Ulrich Morkaison said, "I concur with Erak. Our fate is tied to the runes and the visions of our Priests. We would be fools to disregard such premonitions.", Morkaison turned to him and said, "Lord Firewolf, you are the Knight most favored by the Lady, you must make a pilgrimage to the grove and see if you can discover more about her prophecies".
Luis replied, "As you command, High Priest".
With that, the Great Wolf declared the War Council adjourned. Luis left the chamber and was walking to the hanger that housed the aircraft possessed by his Great Company, to have a stormfang gunship be prepared for his pilgrimage.
As he was making his way to the hanger he was stopped by a Chapter Serf who bore the markings of one who attended to Vox systems.
The Serf bowed and said, "My lord, I bring you a message from Lady Elinor of the Blessed Maidens".
The Serf held out a sealed envelope that contained the transcribed message.
He took it from the serf and broke the seal. He read it and despite being a battle hardened Astartes and a Son of Russ at that, he was completely shocked by the contents of the message. A Human-Aeldari hybrid child had entered into her personal manor through the Webway Gate that his mate had installed to allow her to visit him and their children with ease and discretion.
He then remembered how his mate had told them that her sister had fallen in love with a baseline human and had a child with him. This hybrid child must be the child that he was told of. It seems like he would need to stop at the manor before he would make the pilgrimage. His own children were a treasure trove of surprises, so he wondered what this child would be like.