Starhammer 50K: Wave 2
Episode 7: Let's Go, Mechwarriors!
Chapter 1: The Immortal Words
"The goal of humanity is not to live forever, but to create something meaningful."
-Words of Wisdom for the day
Make sure you read all of SH50K Wave 1 before you start this episode! It'll make more sense that way.
Not that this crazy multiverse at war makes much sense regardless...
Let's have a partial recap, and repeat some of the events that have occurred so far.
It has been 6 months since the Wingfeather siblings left their homeworld of Aerwiar to rejoin the fight against the enemies of freedom and democracy in the multiverse, accompanied by House Anniera's most trusted Battlemech pilots.
While the other Great Houses of Mechwarriors were all occupied with carrying out their own crusades, House Anniera was readily available to accept a very dangerous but undeniably very rewarding assignment- tracking down the Covenant fleet that stole Time Lord technology from a fortified treasure vault on Hoth, followed up by boarding and capturing the Forerunner Dreadnought, so it could be flown towards a destination where a known Collector of archaeotech (and his shipbuilding company) resided.
That's pretty much the basis for the plot of Episode 8.
The plot of Episode 7 will be different, though... because we need to find out who is training these Mechwarriors to go out into the stars and to lend the armies of democracy a hand, as well as what is keeping them disciplined and motivated.
The path to investiture is long and arduous... only a select few will be deemed worthy of becoming a Knight of the Republic.
This is the tale of one such ambitious individual who found his determination, and used it to pursue his dream...
Cassius Clay: Finding Your Flame
A Fanfiction Autobiography, set in the 51st Millennium's Multiverse
Yes, this character is named after a figure from real-world history, specifically a white abolitionist during the American Civil War who fought to end slavery. That, and I just really liked the name, to be truthful.
"Who am I? My name's Cassius... but where I come from, it's considered good manners to introduce yourself first, then ask who the other person is."
"Please, Readers... listen to my story. You won't regret it."
Part 1: Where The Road Began
"For as long as I could remember, I've dreamed of joining the Knights of the Republic. Ever since I was a child, I've believed in the idea that freedom is the right of all sapient beings."
"That principle alone makes freedom worth fighting for. We all must do our part in one way or another, or liberty will die, with thunderous applause."
"How could I make a difference, though?"
"I was born into a farming community, growing up among small folk who kept to themselves. We would watch the starfighters that streaked through our night skies. Their pilots defended our world from attack by invaders and monsters."
"I wanted to become strong and help those in need, like they did."
"However, I didn't really know how hard it would be to shape my own destiny... that is, until tragedy struck my hometown."
Part 2: Seeking Justice
"I was 11 years old when it happened. A pirate ship belonging to the Dark Eldar- twisted sadistic elves with goat horns- arrived on the planet that our group of farmers called home, our fertile land of Nyara."
"We all had heard horrifying stories of the Dark Elves' boundless cruelty, from off-world travelers. They literally turned the pain and suffering of other people into an addictive drug to be sold on the black market."
"And so we prayed to whatever gods we had, that the Republic's soldiers would show up, and spare us from a terrible fate, by giving the pirates a taste of their own medicine. But to no avail."
"The Dark Elves made landfall, and approached our village slowly, on foot, as if they were eagerly anticipating and savoring the upcoming raid. Once they reached us, we were surprised and relieved to learn, that shockingly, they wanted to make a deal with us."
"If we gave them all of our harvest, they would leave us alone. At this moment, food supplies were more important to the raiders than ingredients for torture drugs."
"Honestly, though, could we trust these vile criminals? There was only one way to find out. The villagers, my parents and the chieftain included, believed that struggling to survive in the winter with insufficient food supplies was better than being gruesomely tortured in captivity for years on end."
"So we agreed to give the pirates our crops- only to realize that it was all a ruse, and the shadowy elves were here to claim our souls all along."
"It all happened so quickly, and my memory got hazy because of how much stress and pain I was under at the time. From what I remember, the captain of the raiders unveiled a remote control of some kind, and pressed a button, causing everyone in the town hall to fall helplessly to the ground and writhe in agony. For me, it was like catching fire on the inside."
"Then, the one with the remote in his hands pressed another button, and all our bodies moved against our own will, limping slowly towards a group of specially prepared cages on the outskirts of the village. Once we were inside, we were to be loaded up into the pirate ship, and condemned to a fate far worse than death."
"But before the party of dark elves could herd us into the pitch black cages, we all suddenly recognized the unmistakable sound of a Republic starfighter's plasma jet engine, switching to hovering mode."
"Right when all hope had died, and the moment of doom was at hand, the Knights came. I remembered a quote I once read, in that life-changing moment- a knight is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."
"The next experience I had here was to go on to inspire my life's grand aspirations and dreams. Here, a mentor, a teacher, took me under his wing, just as he had done with his two other students. Before that, though, these three warriors had to engage in a brutal, gruesome battle... the aftermath of which still scars my memory and gives me nightmares to this day."
Part 3: Ten Minutes Of Dark Eldar Getting Mangled And Mauled
"I couldn't tell this story without going into detail about how those pointy-eared, devil-horned bastards got some real comeuppance. So here's the whole event, from what the Maker would call a third person perspective."
As the captive villagers were gathered into crowds and sorted by age, no longer having control over their own bodies, something completely unexpected and counterintuitive happened.
The Nayaran locals all believed that the Republic had abandoned them by now- turns out that was far from the truth.
The sudden appearance of a Jedi starfighter firmly dispelled their doubts, while also making some of the cruel pirates seem fearful, and reluctant to open fire. As it landed, three figures emerged from the starfighter's cockpit.
The first two figures were teenage girls of radically different appearance and size- one looked human, save for the fact that she was nearly 9 feet tall and weighed in at 200 kilograms of pure muscle, and the other was a blue-skinned humanoid alien with catlike eyes and an orifice for a nose, who wasn't any taller than the average female Homo Sapiens.
Their outfits contrasted as well- the giantess wore a blue tunic, cold-weather pants and furred boots, while the alluring alien exposed a considerable amount of her indigo skin, with a sleeveless tube top, scarf, ragged jeans, and an absence of footwear, since her feet ended in cloven hooves like those of a horse.
Then there was the third individual, likely a fully-fledged Jedi, judging by the lightsaber hung on his robe, a tall, dark-skinned human male built like a brick wall, who radiated stoic energy.
The sadistic raiders, while cowardly and hesitant at first, quickly regained their morale when they inevitably realized that there were 500 of them against just 3 Republic agents.
"You're trapped here with us!," the dark elf pirate captain shouted. "There is no escape! Once you're dead, our precious cargo will have the fine experience of having no mouth or skin while wanting to scream!"
Then, out of nowhere, the big girl in blue began to laugh at this statement.
"No... you're TRAPPED HERE WITH ME! If you think I'm somehow afraid of you, think again. Because me and my homies are going to rip you all a new asshole."
The captain didn't know what to say... but even without orders from him, the rest of the marauding warband charged in to fight the newcomers.
As the battle erupted, he tried to press another button on his nervous system manipulator remote, but the robed Jedi used telekinesis to knock it out of his hands and crush it to pieces.
The villagers, seeing an opportunity, now that they had full control of their bodies again, proceeded to flee for cover as fast as they could. Things were about to get ugly...
The fight is on!!!
Moving like lightning, the giantess barreled into her enemies with the force of a truck, scattering dark elves as if they were bowling pins and trampling them like a raging bantha bull. She knocked the horned, pointy-eared pirates aside as easily as a human child would do with a soft model snowman, then butchered them in a spray of gore, by impaling them with her hybrid weapon guardian spear and pulling the trigger on its machine gun component.
A few needle rounds fired by the raiders managed to dig their way into her skin, injecting doses of poison that would kill 100 normal men, but through sheer magical willpower, she shrugged off the effects of the toxins and continued her righteous rampage.
Thianna Frostborn, as the young half-giant was known, had proven to be a formidable prodigy in the arts of war at just 17 years old, and was respected by many in the Republic Grand Army's ranks.
Even when faced with hundreds of nimble elven space pirates, she was all but unstoppable. Her every shot was perfectly placed, her every cut, thrust and stab was a masterclass in swordsmanship, footwork, and combat awareness, demonstrating a level of mighty skill that tore through the enemy ranks in the same way a circular saw would slice up timber.
Though Thianna's performance in the bloody skirmish was impressive, her Master and her fellow student were equally reliable. Facing death together on numerous occasions had only strengthened the trio's bonds and teamwork.
Gale Amaranth, the Jedi Master whose starfighter squadron protected the Nyara system, wielded a purple lightsaber, which he used with unparalleled proficiency to vaporize the limbs and heads of the dark elves shooting at him.
He knew that being hit by just one needle bullet would end him, so he immediately began using the Force to protect himself from the toxic projectiles, by deflecting them back at their senders.
This had a profound effect on the fortitude of the enemy, who were getting the equivalent of laser-guided karma, as their own excruciating toxins were visited upon them.
Amaranth struck and parried at speeds almost too fast to observe with the naked eye, and to say that fighting in this way using a lightsaber was dangerous, was a massive understatement. The Jedi was essentially "blitzing" his opponents in a barrage of slashes and jabs, a technique perfectly combining discipline with aggression, which could result in a severed limb if he made one wrong movement.
...Which is precisely why his shorter, younger apprentice was at his back, ferociously defending him, and making sure that no dark elf would catch him off guard or be able to capitalize on the closest thing to a mistake.
Beidou Haishan, a 14-year old female Tau who was Master Amaranth's most recent Padawan, could probably be considered a prodigy in her field of expertise too, just like Thianna.
She of course wielded a lightsaber, in this case one with a jade-green plasma blade, but she also relied just as much upon her bare fists and hoofed feet as she did upon her swordplay.
In one instance, Beidou was dicing bits of dark elf flesh like soft butter, in the next, she was delivering punches and kicks that sent foes flying and crashing into each other with stunning force.
In fact, many adepts of the Republic claimed that if she was given a good deal more training, and time to hone her craft, she could very much become the Jedi Knight equivalent of mythological heroes like Chun-Li or Lara Croft!
Grabbing a foe by the arm, Beidou hurled him into his comrades, bowling them over. She then crushed their heads with her sharp, heavy hooves, while having a wicked grin on her face. Vaulting over another one, she followed up with a Force-powered jump kick that made direct contact with a satisfying crunch!
"COME ON, YOU WANT SOME OF THIS?"
"YOU'RE GONNA DIE, JEDI SCUM!"
"EAT MY POLEARM, SHOVE IT UP YOUR ASS!"
The rest of the little war went in the same direction, with the undisciplined dark elves getting utterly pasted by the Knights of the Republic. Both sides hurled corny insults and cheesy battle cries, especially Amaranth's apprentices, but it was ultimately pure skill and teamwork that let just three agents repel an entire space pirate raiding party, the survivors fleeing in terror and possibly even abandoning their sadistic ways.
However, while the conflict had been brought to an end, and the immeasurably grateful residents of the village had been saved from eternal torment, the traumatic scars of war had already made an impact upon the minds of the innocent. There was collateral damage everywhere to be seen, and life would never be the same for the Nyaran farmers.
Compared to what would have happened if the Knights never came, though, this outcome was unanimously preferable.
Part 4: The True Cost Of War
Going back to Cassius's perspective...
"I was happy to know that I was still alive, and safe, thanks to our unexpected saviors. But there is no doubt in my mind that what I saw that day was horrific beyond words. And some of the people I cared about most had suffered because of it."
"A good friend of mine from school hours, Verne, had been rendered permanently paralyzed by dark elf poisons, with his arms and legs now being completely useless. I helped get him into a mechanized wheelchair with artificial limbs, which was really the only option on the table- then afterwards, I had to come to terms with the fact that my father Marcus, to my horror and sorrow, was stuck in a venom-induced coma."
"I cried more in that hospital than I ever had in the rest of my life. But there was nothing I could do about what happened to Dad and Verne and all the other unfortunate people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"My mom, whose name is Calliope, was distraught by the death and suffering that had taken place, and nothing I did could alleviate her sadness. Like many of us townsfolk on a peaceful, rural planet, she didn't have an especially strong will, and couldn't deal with the loss and grief."
"Suddenly, I remembered that the Knights were still here in our village, watching over us and making sure the cruel space pirates didn't come back. As that detail arose in my mind, I also recalled another quote from the guardians of the Republic:"
"Sudden loss, grief, regret, trauma, and sorrow. If you have experienced these things, it can help you understand how precious sapient life is, so you will do anything to protect it. A person is a person, no matter how small."
Maybe my calling was to protect people who couldn't help themselves!
"I couldn't just leave Mom and Dad here, alone... but truth be told, I wanted to go out into the stars and make a difference, to put an end to injustice like the kind that was shown here. I wanted to find a cure for fates worse than death, so the cycle of suffering would finally be over."
"So I would make the decision to change my life, and shape my destiny. I asked our village's three protectors, Amaranth, Beidou, and Thianna, about the possibility of me joining the Knights of the Republic, and told them my chief motivations."
"I sense great potential in you, young man," Jedi Master Amaranth informed 11-year old Cassius. "You have noble intentions, and a strong desire to fulfill them. I very much believe you could achieve great things, since you have a lot of spirit."
"But you must know that the path of a Knight is not an easy one. Are you prepared to do anything it takes to stand for what is right, and keep your promise, even in a universe ravaged and divided by war? Your resolve will be tested, and you must prove yourself worthy before you can truly handle this responsibility."
"I would need to think about this choice... was this really what I wanted to do with my life? The wise Jedi did say he could see me doing great things and going down in history, but would it be for a good reason? What did it really mean to be a Knight of the Republic? And what if my standards of morals and ethics didn't line up with those of the people I would one day work with?"
"I needed to better understand the meaning behind Knighthood in order to pursue it as a life goal and job. As much as I loved reading history, especially books about the Republic's military organizations, law enforcement and first responders, I still had no idea what specific code of ethics and honor the Jedi and their allies followed."
"So naturally, I sought to know more, and continued the discussion."
"What you're going to have to do first is swear the oath, and say the Immortal Words," Thianna noted, answering Cassius. "If you really want to devote yourself to the cause, you should probably say farewell to your loved ones. It would be the kindest and best thing to do... because once you say the words, there's no going back to your previous life. Once you become a Knight, you'll remain a Knight, for the rest of your days, until death eventually comes."
Part 5: A Tearful Goodbye, An Oath Sworn
Music: Undertale- Main Theme
"As much as I'll miss you, and worry about you going on this dangerous journey... I'm glad you're chasing your dreams," Calliope said softly to her only son.
"I'll make sure to send letters, and let you know how I'm doing. Maybe someday, when I'm wiser and I'm older, we'll see each other again," a now baptized Cassius replied to his mother. "And by then, I'll have a way to wake Dad from his coma, and also a way to give our village a better future."
"I'll take good care of your son," Amaranth told Calliope and her terribly comatose husband. "He will become a fine Knight, I can guarantee that."
"Cassius won't be alone in his new endeavors," Beidou added. "If someone messes with him, they'll have to answer to ME! Point is, we'll look out for each other. Siblings in arms are siblings for life."
"Are you really sure you want to leave now?," Calliope asked, tears running down her eyes. She knew her son all too well, though- the truth could not be denied. "You will always have a place to call home, here, if you by chance change your mind about things later on."
Cassius stood by his choice.
"I can't ignore this feeling... it's my destiny. You told me to chase my dreams, Mom. It's now or never. This is my best opportunity."
"Very well then. Be brave, believe in yourself, and don't look back... I love you."
And with that, the whole village said goodbye to the boy who found his flame, Cassius Clay. Some people cheered, others cried, but all of them were proud of the young man on the path to Knighthood.
He boarded the Jedi's starship, and left behind Nyara, heading to Holy Terra (also known as Coruscant,) the capital of the Milky Way Republic, where he would join hundreds of other initiates from across the stars, in saying The Immortal Words:
Ambient Music: Zelda: The Wind Waker- Intro Theme
This is but one of the legends of which the people speak... a continuation of tales told as the Wheel of Time turns...
Credits: Brandon Sanderson, the author behind the Stormlight Archive series, and Robert Jordan, for cranking out a fantasy book series with nearly 5 million words (the aforementioned Wheel of Time)
I edited the Immortal Words slightly to fit the fanfiction plot better.
The First Ideal:
Life before death - The Knight seeks to defend life, always. He never kills unnecessarily, and never risks his own life for frivolous reasons. Living is harder than dying. The Knight's duty is to live.
Strength before weakness - All men are weak at some time in their lives. The Knight protects those who are weak, and uses his strength for others. Strength does not make one capable of rule; it makes one capable of service.
Journey before destination - There are always several ways to achieve a goal. Failure is preferable to winning through unjust means. Protecting ten innocents is not worth killing one. In the end, all men die. How you lived will be far more important to the Maker than what you accomplished.
The Second Ideal:
I will protect those who cannot protect themselves.
I will put the law before all else.
I will remember those who have been forgotten.
I will seek freedom for those who are in bondage.
I will unite instead of divide. I will bring people together.
The Third Ideal:
I will protect even those I hate, so long as it is right.
I will protect those I hate. Even if the one I hate most is myself.
I will listen to those who have been ignored.
The Fourth Ideal:
I will take responsibility for what I have done, if I must fall, I will rise each time a better man.
Should I break the law, and willingly give into fear and hatred, I will accept the consequences for my actions.
I accept that there will be those I cannot protect... or even save.
The Fifth Ideal:
Now that you have said the words, and sworn the oath, the rest is up to you. In the eternal struggle between good and evil... everyone will play a part... and history will repeat itself, for better or for worse.
A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS... THE MULTIVERSE SAGA CONTINUES...
Author's Note:
I read a review from one of my other fanfics, (The Neckbeard Wars,) which did point out some issues with my writing. In that particular fanfic, I brought up all the main characters and plot points in one big blob at the start, which I now know wasn't a good idea, because the characters and plot points should've instead been addressed and introduced as the story progressed.
According to the reviewer, bringing them up all at the start would make it more likely for readers to forget about them later on.
Going back to SH50K, I should make it clear that I've decided to fix the feature creep problem by not adding any more franchises to the multiverse mix. The only exception, as you read in this part of the story, was the whole Immortal Words idea from the Stormlight Archive.
But other than that, I'd say that I've already included enough franchises in this crossover to build a narrative and plot, as well as to establish the whole worldbuilding aspect that goes into combining so much content.
Next Time:
Cassius Clay and his new cadet comrades will go through the trials of Republic Knighthood in this new story arc... and well, let's just say it'll make a man out of him!
Stick around for more, I'll inevitably be back with more updates.
-Spuddies