RWBY 40k – Salem, Mistress of Inquisition.
Ep 36: Dulan's Assault.
The 900th years of the 30th Millenium began smoothly in the Imperium of Man, especially in Terra.
In the now, fully constructed, richly decorated Sanctum Imperialis. One part was reserved to the Emperor in the center, another is reserved to Malcador the Sigilitte in the East when the West of the Sanctum is reserved to Salem.
The new High Lady of the Senatorum Imperialis was with Angron. The 12th Primarch was lied down a to a bed, put to an artificial coma when Salem was studying his Butcher's Nails. She was horrified from she has seen. The Butcher's nails are deeply inserted inside the brain of Angron. Especially in the part where emotions hormones are produced. She could see that a little box linking the Amygdala to the Hypothalamus. She has discovered it was a mean to the brain to produce without any limits, hormone who produces frustration and wrath while preventing the others to emerging. The Prefrontal Cortex whose capacity is to control the emotions has the box who reduces the hormones countering the Amygdala. The Limbic Cortex and the Grey Mater in the Right Praecuneus, responsible to produce pleasure have smalls boxes who reduces the effects of producing reward hormones, making almost impossible to Angron to feel happiness and pleasure. She could also see that the Oxytocin named the "Hormone of Love", normally produced by the Hypothalamus and liberated by the Hypophysis, what prevented by the Butcher's Nails to be produced. This last information shocked Salem to the highest because Angron couldn't feel her love towards him.
She was once again seized by anger. It was a cold and silent anger against the Nucerians, seeing her child going through so much torture. She clenched her fists so hard that blood comes from it.
She closed the head of Angron and heals it. Then Salem's face approached Angron and kissed his asleep face.
Salem: "I will save you Angron. I promise."
She leaves the room and locked it after walking a bit, encounters the Emperor.
Emperor: "Hello Salem."
Salem: "Hello…"
Emperor: "You have finished?"
Salem: "This is madness… Sending him to wage war when he is nothing more than a raging monster. What are you thinking?"
Emperor: "Even if I don't want to do this. He has to accomplish his role has a Primarch of the Imperium of Man."
Salem: "By destroying and killing everything? Do you realise how dangerous to himself and others when you send him to war?!"
Emperor: "The Great Crusade has no time. And so, our sons also don't have time to worrying to much complex problems. We'll think about it later when the Imperium is fully established to the Galaxy."
Salem (bitter tone): "While I have to hope Angron doesn't die halfway because of his Butcher's nails. He his a Primarch but not immortal… More time is passing, more I am disappointed from you. You supposed to be a father. But until now, but you are nothing more than an Emperor. A God who gives nothing to your own creations."
Emperor: "I am not a God. A God creates and gives nothing else. I have created the Imperium and giving it to Humanity."
Salem (cold): "Then why you don't give it to your sons, OUR sons? You said that they are your heirs! In the beginning of the Great Crusade! I am beginning to think that you don't want to give anything to them! And don't reply me with the response I have heard thousands of times: 'This is for humanity'. No, you have to give the Imperium to our sons. Because they have deserved to obtain it. The normal humans cannot rule the Imperium efficiently. They have not lived hundreds of years and learned the mistakes of the corruption overtime. They think about themselves before anyone else because we have been made like this, to survive in the wild. And so, I don't want a corrupt and slow Imperium in the end directed by morons who tries to cheat life by living 500 years old with medications. I better want to see our children in the summit because they have learned all they need to be efficient while applicating the greater good to everyone. If not, it would be a miracle that the Imperium survive while being corrupt and slow to react to dangers."
Emperor: "I don't want to see the Imperium depending from me. It was never my destiny, the situation forced me to become the Emperor of Mankind. This is just an urgent measure."
Salem: "You better learn to see that this 'Urgent Measure' will become the new reality of the human race. I can't believe that despite millenias of experience, you managed to become blind from this perspective… I wish you good afternoon."
Salem leaves the Emperor when she walks inside the corridors of the Sanctum.
After walked inside the Sanctum. She encounters Malcador.
Malcador: "Hello Salem… I see you are upset."
Salem: "Why he doesn't listen to me? He has sons and has to be their father."
Malcador: "Hm… I agreed a bit with you."
Salem looks at him, a bit surprised.
Salem: "Really?"
Malcador: "Yes. I never understand why he is so distant when he created the Primarch with your eggs and Erda's. I dare also say that he has should give you at least one girl. A sister within the Primarchs brotherhood, with her presence could subside tensions between them. But without her, and even the daughters of the Primarchs. This is not enough to correctly subside the tensions between your sons because since they are daughter, they cannot influence their fathers and uncles so much."
Salem: "This is infuriating. I am alone to deal with this problem. Alone to reunite a shattered family. Forced to act with restrain to not break my sons."
Malcador: "I know. I wanted to help you. But my duty as a Regent takes too much time from me."
Salem: "I hope I will succeed. I really hope…"
Malcador: "Excuse me. I have to go now. Good luck."
Salem: "Okay…"
Malcador leaves Salem alone. She walked on the Sanctum Imperialis and came across to Horus who was discussing with Sanguinius.
Horus: "Mom. Are you okay?"
Sanguinius: "You look like angry. What happened to Angron."
Salem: "I am afraid that his case is more serious."
Sanguinius: "What really?"
Salem: "Yes… I think removing his Butcher's nails will be more difficult that I excepted. This is linking to important parts to the brain with emotions. If I miss myself, Angron could end mad or worse if he doesn't die in the first place."
Sanguinius: "I don't believe it... So much cruelty."
Horus: "There is a solution, right?"
Salem: "Not for now. I will engage the best Genetors and Magos from the Mechanicum to study about the nature of the Butcher's nails and try to understand how to remove it. I have a lot of prisoners inside my lands recently given to me by the Senatorum."
Horus: "What? You will be ready to do that?! This is horrible!"
Salem: "I will only use selected convicts sentenced to death, rape convicts and other criminals. No innocent will be used. I am not such a monster."
Sanguinius: "You have no other alternatives?"
Salem: "No. I have no choice. But if sacrificing thousands of lives to save my son who is your brother, I will do it. I am the only who is ready to go such an extent and I won't regret it if I succeeded it. Setting that aside. I can see you are worried. What's happening?"
Sanguinius (sighed): "Leman Russ and Lion El'Jonson fought each other on Dulan."
Salem eyes widened and after a moment of silence.
Salem (silent yet surprised voice): "What? What's happened? Why I wasn't been tell about this incident at this Crusade?"
Horus: "We have been afraid from your reaction about this incident."
Salem: "But you have to tell me! If not, I can't take action to resolve these problems! What just happen?"
Horus: "It's a long story…"
A few months earlier…
The Ist Legion Fleet was going to the center of the Dulan System, controlled by the Faash Empire. This cause of this intervention was the Tyrant of Dulan has personally insulted the Emperor and sacrificed thousands of Imperium envoys to his Patron Daemon.
Such provocation against the Imperium was not accepted and so a part of the VIth Legion to teach a lesson against this traitor.
But the campaign who was supposed to be a quick war was drag in length for a month. And so, the critics of Leman Russ inside the Senatorum Imperialis.
Lion El'Jonson has learned that Leman Russ has joined the war against Dulan. The Knight of Caliban was far from stupid; he knows that Leman Russ was deeply jealous of him and proves his superiority at any moment.
Since, Leman Russ was engaged in the East of the Faash Empire. Lion El'Jonson launched a surprise attack in the West of the Faash Empire.
He succeeded to take over several worlds of the Faash Empire by deduction and more prepared battle plans while Leman Russ struggles to advance.
Lion El'Jonson was inside the bridge of the Invincible Reason, facing the throne world of Dulan from afar. He was talking with the other Space Marine captains.
Lion El'Jonson: "You will form a triangle formation. The Battleships will be in the first line to pierce the enemies' defenses."
All Dark Angel Chapter Captains: "Yes, father."
The holograms closes and the fleet began to organise itself. The smaller ships slowed down or/and deviate themselves to let pass the larger ships. Battleships and all Cruiser-classes passed, forming a solid tip in front of the Ist Legion fleet.
They arrived in a lower orbit, seeing the assembled fleet of Dulan, protecting the planet of the Tyrant.
The Ist Legion waste no time and engage the defending fleet of the planet. The first layer of the enemy fleet is devastated but they replicated by destroying a small part of the Battleships in the front row.
Finally, like Lion El'Jonson has excepted. The Ist Legion opens a hole in the fleets of Dulan. Other 1st Legion ships pierced the armour of the ships, letting the Dark Angels entering and fighting the enemies in their own vessels.
Lion El'Jonson: "Every battle is won before it began."
Dark Angel: "Father!"
Lion El'Jonson: "What?"
Dark Angel: "We have received that the fleet of the VIth Legion is coming."
Lion El'Jonson: "Good. I was waiting for them."
When the second layer of the defending fleet was pierced by the Ist Legion. The VIth Legion arrived and engage the enemies at their turn. The encirclement destroyed possibility of winning for Dulan's fleet who began to be overwhelmed and destroyed.
But something horrible happens.
Lion El'Jonson could see that a Space Wolves was firing on an enemy vessel but it was linked to a Battleship of the Ist Legion.
Lion El'Jonson: "I can't believe it (try to contact Leman Russ). Russ! Tell your ship to go back from attacking the Battleship on the right side of your attacking zone! There are ten squads on this enemy battleship!"
But he gained no response from him. He could see the enemy Battleship on the brink of explosion and collapse. He tries to call Leman Russ again, with a more vehement tone.
Lion El'Jonson: "Rus! Stop attacking this Battleship! My sons are still there! Stop for the love of Knights!"
But the tragedy happens. And the Battleship is destroyed before the very eyes of the Ist Legion. Ten squads taken away by the explosion.
The closest Battleship of the Ist Legion fires to the Space Wolves battleship responsible for this. Lion El'Jonson was about to let his sons avenge themselves.
The hologram lights up and Leman Russ was inside.
Leman Russ: "What's happening, Lion? Why are you calling so vehemently?"
Lion El'Jonson (furious tone): "You killed my sons! Why didn't you tell your sons to back away from my side of the battle! You have to explain yourself after the destruction of the fleet!"
He closes the hologram and looks at the enemy's fleet being destroyed to the last ship.
A few moments later, in the Invincible Reason. It was a deeply irritated Lion El'Jonson with his sons equally angered by the bold action of Leman Russ who receives the Primarch in question.
Lion El'Jonson: "You know the weight of your actions, right?"
Leman Russ: "I know and I am sorry."
Lion El'Jonson: "Being sorry won't bring them back! What the hell you let your sons destroying one-ten of my Legion?!"
Leman Russ: "I am sorry I am said! I know that I make an error and I swear on my beard that it won't do it again. I will put punishment on my sons for this bold action. Trust me. Because I am your brother after all."
Lion El'Jonson: "I hope so…"
Leman Russ: "Also, I have something to say to you."
He makes a sign to Lion to approach his ear, Lion does it.
Leman Russ (whispers to his hear): "If you dare to touch my sons. I will slice your throat. (He recedes and turn his back). Let's go depose this Tyrant."
Lion El'Jonson frown and doesn't say anything when Leman Russ turn to the battle plan.
Lion El'Jonson: "Now. This is my plan. I will take over the cities of Dulan when you will storm the Red Fortress of the Tyrant. You have to wait that I will disable the shields of the planet."
Leman Russ (smirkes): "I like this plan. Let's go now when we can!"
And so, they descended to the planet, the VIth Legion besiege the Red Fortress when the Ist Legion launched the attack to each city.
In a VIth Legion side. The Space Wolves are slaughtering everything they encounter.
But someone was worried and it was a Wolve Lord named Jorin Bloodhowl. He was searching with three packs of the VIth Legion inside the enemy zone a captured Astartes
Jorin was running inside the forest and kills everyone on his sight.
When he finally arrived to a camp, he could see his fellow Astartes imprisoned in the base, brutalized by the soldiers.
With wasting time, he rushes to the camp.
Jorin Bloodhowl: "Kill them to the last!"
The human soldiers of the camp couldn't do anything against them and were massacred.
Jorin Bloodhowl turned to the Astartes who tries to free himself.
Jorin Bloodhowl: "I am here, brother. Don't move."
He freed the Astartes as he finished to release the last cord, the Astartes smash him to gut. He sends him three meters away.
Jorin Bloodhowl: "What the? Why did you do that?!"
The enraged and bloodlusted Astartes removes in animalistic way is helmet and tearing the armor on the level of his back. Everyone on sight was shocked by this.
The Astartes has wolf ears on his head, a big furred tail on his back, small claws and his eyes was one of a wolf. But he was perfectly human in the rest of his body, like he has inherited superficial attributes of a wolf without losing his human shape. But his expression of rage was here, he was not human spirited anymore, just an enraged wolf.
He launched himself to an Astartes engaging a hand-to-hand fight. Under the confused eyes of Jorin Bloodhowl.
He sighed and with a grim look. He aimed his bolter to him and shot him to his head, killing his brother on sight.
Space Wolf: "The rumours were true, this is horrible…"
But they hear a cough and could see a human, deeply wounded who has a holo-camera.
Jorin Bloodhowl: "No! He is recording!"
He shot the human and destroy the holo-camera in a second row.
At this moment, Leman Russ arrived after hearing the mess.
Leman Russ: "What happened?!"
He sees the Fauna-like Space Wolf body and his expression darken.
Space Wolf: "Father. Why did you hide them from us?"
Leman Russ: "Because they are mutated, even though they are your brothers. I should have asked my mother sooner and I will do it after this campaign. Let's secures this zone before launching the assault… Also, someone bring this body to the ship."
Space Wolf: "Yes father."
A few hours later…
Leman Russ charged to the Red Fortress after securing the area when the shields were down for a long time.
He forced open the double door of the throne room. He was eager to see the Tyrant death by his hands.
But the scene before him shocked him. Lion El'Jonson was here with dozens of the Dark Angels and on the ground were the beheaded Tyran of Dulan.
Lion El'Jonson: "You are late, Russ. I am disappointed from you."
Leman Russ was seized with rage.
Leman Russ: "Enough! You have stolen my victory from me! The victory I deserved from this campaign!"
Lion El'Jonson: "If you were alone on this campaign this conflict who have lasted for years! The Senatorum Imperialis doesn't like to wait!"
Leman Russ was livid about this fact.
Leman Russ: "I never asked anyone to disturb me in my Crusade! And you stole everything in this campaign. From the last stand to the victory!"
Lion El'Jonson: "And what do you want to do?"
Leman Russ takes his sword and charge to him.
Leman Russ: "Beating you up! You victory-stealer!"
The Ist Primarch has no choice but taking his sword too. And so, the dual began, under the encouragement of both Dark Angels and Space Wolves.
The fight last for hours and hours, accompanied by insults, low blows, swords, kicks and punches. Leman Russ use his brutality when Lion El'Jonson use his skills.
At a moment, Leman Russ lose his sword, the Kraken's mouth. He smashes the Dark Angel Alajos to a wall and take his axe named Urthand ("Forged by Hatred" in Calibanite Language) before lauching back to Lion El'Jonson.
And hours later, after seeing his armour shattered, and his bones fractured. Leman Russ laugh at the absurdity of the fight, resembling more as fight between two drunkards in a bar than a real fight between Primarchs. His laugh was uncontrollable and childish.
He receives a devastating blow in his face from Lion El'Jonson, knocking him out.
Lion El'Jonson looks at his brother with disgust, breathing heavily.
Lion El'Jonson: "Idiot."
Dark Angel: "And what about the Space Wolf mutant that I seen in the imperial hologram?"
Lion El'Jonson: "Leave him be. I don't want to create more problems. Now let's go…"
Return to present time…
Horus: "…This is why they despise each other from now on."
Salem was stunned about this incident before facepalming herself.
Salem: "Leman Russ, what the hell are you doing? He has to explain himself!"
Horus: "Since we are on the subject… Leman Russ is coming to Terra; he wants to talk with you privately about an important subject."
Salem sighed.
Salem: "At least, he his coming to explain himself because I cannot take this incident lightly…"
Horus: "… I know."
A few days later.
Salem was facing Leman Russ, clearly irritated and arms crossed.
Salem: "Do you realise the weight of your actions? I am disappointed from you… Why are you so bold to your own brothers?"
Leman Russ: "What are you talking about? This was my Crusade and nobody has to interrupt me! Why you sent Lion to me?!"
Salem: "I was not responsible! I was against the decision of the Senatorum Imperialis! I was opposed to them but it was me against the rest!"
Leman Russ: "This is a lie! You favorise Horus and Lion right?!"
Salem: "Why do you say that?! I never do that! I remind you that you are the second son that I found with the Emperor!"
Leman Russ: "I always see you with the other Primarchs, especially some they have daughters! And I am invisible!"
Salem: "You are delusional! I'll never do that to my own children! I visit you as much as the others Primarchs! I'll take the small time that I have to be with all of you? And this what you thank me?!"
Leman Russ: "I don't want anyone who disturb me in my crusades! I don't want idiots with cowardly techniques who stole my victory and brags about it! And I don't want…! (SLAP!)"
A furious Salem slapped hard Leman Russ in the cheek, shutting him up.
Salem: "I have said that nobody insults their brothers to this extent. We are a family and supposed to support each other! I am trying to hold all of this together while restraining myself to break apart my fragile relations with my sons... And I don't want that you stir the knife in the wound! I could let everyone develop resentment with no insight like your father. But no, I won't do that! Even if I have to punish the Primarchs who are delusional like you!"
Leman Russ: "You will punish me so?"
Salem (cold): "No… But this is my last warning. Step aside one more time and I will send a whole pack of Custodes to watch you for the rest of the Great Crusade. I'll spare you from punishment because of the good times passed together. But don't test me Leman. Don't do it."
The silence falls to the room and the two doesn't say anything to each other. After calming themselves down.
Salem: "You can go now."
Leman Russ: "This is not this reason why I come to Terra."
Salem: "So what?"
Leman Russ: "I… I have hidden a secret a secret from you for a long time."
Salem eyes widened.
Salem: "What?"
Leman Russ: "Something bad is happening to my Legion and I run out of ideas. I'll have no other choice that your advice."
Salem: "Then what's happening?"
Leman Russ: "Not here, in the Hrafnkel Fate."
Salem (sighed): "Okay…"
A few moments later, in the Hrafnkel Fate.
Salem was facing the corpse of the dead Space Wolves, with the superficial mutations on his body. She inspects the ears and the tails with her hands and her magic.
Salem: "Unbelievable…"
Leman Russ: "What?"
Salem: "This is not a mutation. It was a transformation. A functioning tail and functioning ears."
Leman Russ: "And?"
Salem: "Be patient, by the Twins!"
Leman shuts up and Salem inspects the body again with her magic.
Salem: "Hm… I think I have detected the origin. These mutations come from me, especially my existence as creation of the Twin Gods."
Leman: "What?"
Salem: "Yeah… I recognise the residual creation of the Twins from my blood and soul, passed to yours and so passed to this Astartes. Look."
She moves the hair of the Astartes, revealing the human ears of the Astartes.
Leman: "You mean that my son has two pairs of ears…? This is impossible!"
Salem: "But the effects are here. Two pairs of harmoniously functioning ears, a healthy wolf tail and a healthy wolf eye. Except, he has not is human spirit. If he would have stayed like that, he could benefit significantly to the VIth Legion. You are more like that don't you?"
Leman Russ turn his head to the side.
Salem: "Do you have more like that?"
Leman Russ slowly nodded.
Salem: "Hm… I would like to meet them. I have a last question. Some of them have still their minds?"
Leman Russ: "Yes, one third of them has no repercussions to their mutation."
Salem: "Good. Because this is important to know how far the Material creation can go."
To be continued… Xenocide of Kamenka Troika – Episode 37.
Magnus and the Emperor lead the XVth Legion and the Legion Astorum of the Titans against the Orks of the Kamenka Troika System, who is besieging the Forge-World of Kamenka Ulizarna by inhabiting the three satellite planets. Magnus will show his progress has the greatest magician of the Imperium to his father.
The Compliance of 47-10 (Khur) – Episode 38.
Lorgar after conquering the world of Khur, decided to build the most beautiful religious city of all Imperium. To show before all his devotion to his father, the Emperor of Mankind.
