Chapter 7.5 The Rebels of Nikaea
"So. They are here."
Omegon looked through the range finders to the advancing horde that approached his lines. It had not exactly been peaceful since he had taken command, but this was about to change the dimensions of the conflict significantly.
The Custodes and Sisters of Silence had been desperately holding against the unending wave after wave Daemons immediately after Magnus' attack, but the arrival of the Imperial Fists with Omegon had given some stark relief to the beleaguered servants of the Emperor. Without the Astartes the Emperor's chosen would have suffered catastrophic losses against the forces of the warp. Instead, they had suffered a mere light decimation.
The Astartes had been more than capable of holding the lines, allowing the Sisters of Silence to spread themselves thinly behind to project cones of null. This had stemmed the losses the Astartes were facing when brought face to face with beings that only vaguely followed the laws of science.
The Custodes had become a reserve, committing only to the most necessary fields of battle. Omegon knew when the Legions arrived he would need every Custodes to slow them. The Emperor's personal guard were almost bred to fight Astartes, and each one counted for several Astartes on their own, something that had not gone unnoticed by the Primarch of the Alpha Legion.
The World Eaters had fragmented as soon as they entered the webway. Omegon had organized the former War Hounds into 3 groups. Those he could rely on like Captain Kharn could be cycled with the Imperial Fists and Death Guard, and were the most valuable. Those like Angron could be deployed like a blunt force at weak points in the line, and would sometimes obey overall commands but could just as easily wander off for their own interests. And finally, those units who in a mad blood lust had chased fleeing daemons deeper into the Webway, never to be seen again. Omegon didn't know if any of these squads would survive, but they would not be able to contribute to the coming battle.
The Imperial Fists and Death Guard had acquitted themselves admirably. The rotations of position meant several key choke-points in the Webway had been held. Despite the endless shifting nature of the Aeldarii Webway areas had been held with slow losses. Those losses were like a death by a thousand cuts, and within time the daemons would have overwhelmed the defenders, but it could take years or even centuries depending on how careful they were.
The Imperial Fists were masters of fortifications, but the ability to build anything within the Webway was difficult at best. Omegon had no doubt the fortifications on the surface of Terra under Rogal Dorn's supervision would be robust, if he had the time to finish them. Down here, however, there was a limit to what could be achieved. If the Seventh Legion had been given a few years then possibly something significant could have been established. However the barricades were a thing of desperate and urgent necessity, hardly the structural works of art the Praetorian was known for.
The approaching force however would ensure any breakthrough would swift and devastating. Rotations would need to be cancelled. No more rest for the Astartes. Now was the time to do or die.
As Omegon watched, he noticed an envoy detaching from the main force. A small host of Primarchs and their bodyguards seemed to be approaching the lines, most likely for a parley.
Omegon was tempted just to give the order to open fire and rush the Primarchs, but he knew breaking formation would simply make a breakthrough easier. Besides, none of the immediate forces could bring down a Primarch on their own. The sons of the Emperor were not so easily killed.
The Custodes were in the rearguard, and it would take time to get them forward in significant numbers. However, this meeting could buy the time needed to get them into positions.
Issuing orders to a handful of Imperial Fist and Death Guard warriors, the Twentieth Primarch was swiftly joined by Constantine Valdor - Captain General of the Custodes, Sigismund - the most senior Imperial Fist commander, Ullis Temeter - the new First Captain of the Death Guard, and Amendera Kendel - the most senior Sister of Silence available.
"The forces of Magnus finally show themselves," rumbled Valdor, "No more holding back."
'If the Red Son comes with them, my sisters and I shall be very busy,' signed Kendel with the unique sign language of her order.
"I don't expect anything to come of our meeting with them," admitted Omegon, "But it will give us time to arrange our forces for Legion combat. Preparations are underway. The longer we can stall them, the better."
'Isn't all of this basically just one big stalling action?' signed the Oblivion Knight.
"Perhaps," agreed Valdor, "But we must take as many of the traitors with us, whatever the final fate of this battle is."
"Onward then," nodded Omegon.
And so the Primarch of the Alpha Legion would come face to face with the fateful three. Those who had started this path of destruction.
Magnus, Lorgar and, in the centre of them all, Sanguinius the Warmaster.
Abaddon and Askaellon continued to guard their Lord's flanks from attack, not that the Great Angel needed any aid in that regard. Omegon and his companions saw the scar across the Warmaster's face. Beauty made ugly, an irony not lost on Omegon.
"Hail brother," called Sanguinius when Omegon was within earshot, "We come not as destroyers or conquerors, we come as heralds of a new age."
Omegon looked behind Sanguinius at the rows upon rows of Astartes, Titans and other war machines.
"Quite a lot of friends you brought for someone claiming not to be conqueror."
This brought a smirk to the Great Angel's lips.
"Alpharius, we have not had the time to get to know each other as well as I would have liked. Let us talk like civilized beings. I would prefer to resolve this without bloodshed, but I am not so foolish as to think it might not occur. Father would have destroyed me and my Legion for asking questions had I not done so at the head of a force this grand."
"Traitor…" growled Valdor, but Omegon held up his hand for silence.
"Warmaster-" began Omegon.
"Sanguinius, please," smiled the Great Angel, "Even now, even if we come to blows you are my brother and I will not have you stand on ceremony."
"Sanguinius, I must urge you. I looked up to you, as younger sibling looks up to their greater, older brother. I aspire to your greatness, your success and your magnanimousness. It is in that spirit I beg you to listen to me when I tell you – you are on the wrong side."
Sanguinius smiled vanished into a frowned in confusion.
"The wrong side? There is only my side, brother. I founded the Crusade Vitae for the good of the people of the Imperium. To seek out truth and honesty, and make the Imperium work for its people. To find a way to use the power stolen by our Father to give life to the deserving. How can this side, my side, be the wrong side?"
"Crusade Vitae," spat Valdor, "Is that what you Nikaean Rebels call yourselves? The 'Crusade Vitae'? The arrogance…"
"Nikaean Rebels?" said Sanguinius, raising an eyebrow, "How very droll of you Constantine. Yes, Nikaea was a mistake. Father put himself against us on that day, but had he only spoken with us instead of holding the truth from us in his OWN arrogance I would not be here now."
"Please, Sanguinius," appealed Omegon, "Lorgar is not as he seems. Neither is Magnus now I see him. They have been broken by the forces of the warp. Jaghatai too most likely. Maybe even Perturabo. But in you I still see hope. Your fate is not yet set. Turn now from your path of destruction, stand with us against those behind you that seek to use you for their own benefit."
"I am sorry, Alpharius," sighed Sanguinius, "But you are wrong. They are not using me. I am leading them. They follow by my command. They would turn back now if I ordered it. I am the one in control here. I do what must be done because our Father has denied the truth. If he surrenders, I am happy to treat with him here. If not we will speak, willingly or not."
"Do you even know the pain our Father is in?" asked Omegon, "Magnus brought destruction to the Emperor's work. Even now he sits beyond, agony on his face as he fights to keep this very realm stable for us to talk. Even if you prevail you will be lucky if our Father is able to speak a word."
"Magnus…" growled Sanguinius, rounding on the Crimson King, "I thought you said breaching this realm would not have any adverse effects?"
"I did not think it would," lied Magnus with an air of honesty, "I had no idea our Father himself was tied into these machines. Another consequence of him not telling us the truth when he had the chance."
"Be that as it may…" said Omegon, knowing a liar when he saw one, "Regardless, the forces of chaos are not be trifled with. You cannot control them. They inherently corrupt everything they touch. If you continue down this path, Sanguinius, you will only find horrors and terror beyond imagining."
"Fear is understandable, Alpharius" soothed Sanguinius, "If you have concerns with my Crusade Vitae and what I seek to accomplish, then the one who needs to stand on a different side is you. I would welcome you with open arms if you so chose. I listen to my brothers, my advisers. Know that we do not treat with the Primordial Essences or serve them, but seek to create our own. The best way to keep your brothers in check is to stand with them, and provided proof as to why they should be more cautious. I would listen to your council, Alpharius, if you stood with me."
This caused Omegon a moments pause to consider. The future prediction models had never mentioned possibly changing the Warmaster's actions by standing with him. The army was here, nothing could be done to prevent it now. If the Warmaster could be held here as they discussed the nature of the warp, perhaps a better outcome was possible. It was worth considering at least.
"My Father the Praetorian would never stand for this," growled Sigismund, "My Lord, do not listen to them. They have already broken the Edicts. They have thrown the Emperor into a pit of agony. There is nothing that could be said which could remedy that."
"Then I'll meet your blade on the field, Sigismund," smiled Abaddon with smirk, "You might be the only person here worthy of my attention, and even then not for very long."
Sigismund's hand lowered to the hilt of his blade.
"Mortarion likewise will have no patience for this," agreed Ullis Temeter, "There is no moderation with those who conspire with the warp. There is only punishment for the denial of Nikaea."
"It saddens me to hear you say that," sighed Sanguinius, "Sons of my brothers. I never wished for it to come to this. I do not wish to harm you, but if you stand in my way I will have no choice to continue forward, no matter the cost."
"You can try," scoffed Valdor, "You would not be the First Legion we have scoured from the face of the galaxy."
"One perhaps, but how will you stand against Five?" asked Sanguinius, "You are noble Valdor, as are your kin, but you do not have the numbers. I see the armour of Three Legions amongst your defenses. A single Primarch comes to parlay. Even with your Ten Thousand you are hopelessly outnumbered. I have far more Titans. I have entire worlds worth of Astra Militarum at my back. There are Four more Legions on their way to Terra as we speak. I am leading a popular revolution here my friends. I beg you not to stand in our way. I do not wish you harm but you cannot possibly hope to prevail."
"Then I'll die fighting," growled Valdor.
"I'll guarantee that," said Askaellon with defiance.
"You at least, Alpharius," said Sanguinius, stretching a hand out to his brother, "Will you at least not stand with me? If it must come to war, will you not at least be the moderating voice I need in my court?"
"I-" began Omegon.
"BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! SKUUUULLLS FOR THE THROOOONEEE!"
An almighty roar came from the lines of the Crusade Vitae. Running full speed, claws outstretched, came the Bloody Raven. His eyes burned with a red fire of rage and hatred that none had ever seen before. Behind him came his sons, the warped and twisted Raven Guard, ravenous beasts gnashing and champing at the bit to get their blades into the enemy.
"I GAVE NO CALL TO ADVANCE!" roared Sanguinius, but the Bloody Raven was deaf to his commands. All that mattered now was blood, and blood he would have.
"TO WAAAAAR!" came a rival call from the loyalist lines.
From over the barricades came Angron, axes in hand. Behind him, the World Eaters came like a wave of white sea foam on a coastal beach. White and black charged at each other, deaf to the world and deaf to the commands of their leaders. Blades clashed, blood began to spill across the Aeldari constructs and the roars of insane berserkers began to fill the air.
"Fall back!" called Omegon to his companions, giving one last look at the Warmaster, "For what its worth, I'm sorry. We did not wish it to turn out this way."
"Nor did I…" whispered Sanguinius at the retreating figure of Omegon and his commanders.
Magnus drew his hand back, ready to bring down the powers of the warp onto the figures of Omegon and his fellows as they fell back.
"No," commanded Sanguinius, grabbing Magnus' arm, "I will not have them shot in the back from a parley. When they die, it shall be on their feet with a weapon in hand. This is the Crusade Vitae, not some cruel butchery. And I am still angry at you Magnus. I said no harm was to come of our advance on Terra. I wished to negotiate with our Father on fair terms, not crippled by our first strike."
"It was the only way to create the path to Terra," said Magnus sardonically, "If Father had not blocked the way I would not have needed to take such actions. I apologize, Sanguinius but it was the only way. You wished for a short war where we could seize Terra and the Emperor without excessive bloodshed. There was no other option."
"We will speak of this again, Magnus," scowled Sanguinius, his anger rising, "For now I need you to focus on the advance and completing the ritual when we reach the body of Horus."
"Yes, yes," Magnus waved his free hand in dismissal, "We simply need his mortal remains and then Horus will be restored once more. All is in hand my brother."
"I will hold you to that, Magnus," muttered Sanguinius, examining the face of the Crimson King. Despite his protests the Lord of Prospero had changed. There was a… malignity that wasn't there before…
"Now, brothers," said Lorgar, sliding between the bickering siblings, "Corvus and Angron have started what we must finish. We can discuss such matters when we stand within the halls of the Imperial Palace. Rally your Legion, Magnus. Warmaster, Sanguinius, command your Crusade."
"Yes… you are right Lorgar," nodded Sanguinius, bringing his attention back to the matter at hand, "Now is not the time for internal divisions."
The Great Angel turned back to the forces arrayed behind him. He flapped his wings and soared into the air and proclaimed loud with a voice as hard as steel. Gesturing with the Spear of Telesto he gave the first great command of the Battle for the Webway.
"Noble Warriors of the Crusade Vitae! First Wave! Advance!"