Chapter 9.7 – Brothers Reunited
Omegon watched the viewport as stars filled the void once more. This was their last jump. One more, and they would make it to Ultramar.
The damage taken during the last 2 jumps had been notable. Somehow the Nikaean Rebels always seemed to be right behind them, snapping at their heels as they continued their withdrawal to safer shores. It was almost as if the warp was clearing a path for the Phalanx's enemies to pursue. Vulkan, the Lion and Jaghatai were now right on their tail. This last jump might be their last if reinforcements didn't arrive.
Vulkan seemed to prey on civilian ships, spreading his infectious gifts to the mortals in something that he considered benevolent. Jaghatai was always after the Phalanx, yet another play thing the War Hawk had laid his eyes upon. The Lion's attacks seemed random, but Omegon had no doubt it was following a twisted logic that only he could understand.
All the Nikaean Rebel Legions had taken losses, both from the Vanguard Fleet and later engagements, but they still significantly outnumbered Loyalists. Only a fraction of the Imperial Fist, World Eaters and Death Guard ships remained, with the Mechanicum concentrating on protecting the Martian Parliament. Meanwhile ships of the White Scars, Salamanders, Dark Angels, Thousand Sons, Sons of Horus, Raven Guard, Sons of Sanguinius and Word Bearers all did their best to tear the fragile fleet apart.
The Emperor's light had been projecting through the warp, leading the Odessey Fleet on the safest path, and so far not even a single ship had been lost to the immaterium. The scraps in real space had been the biggest threat.
Omegon wondered if the Emperor could defeat all of the traitor Primarchs in combat.
The answer was probably, but if the Emperor got distracted in fighting the probability of the rest of the Odessey Fleet becoming scattered, lost or destroy increased significantly. There were key figures including the High Lords of Terra and key cultural and scientific individuals which the Emperor clearly wanted to preserve for future use.
Omegon respected that. The loss of the civilians and military units were unfortunate, but the options were limited.
The Phalanx needed to get to Ultramar.
"How long until we can jump again?" asked Omegon.
"At least an hour," reported the Imperial Fist, Alexis Polux, handing Omegon a data pad on the fleet's strength, "The Mechanicus vessels took a significant beating during the last conflict. The Tech Priests are demanding time to sooth the Machine Spirits. The Phalanx has also lost all the Auxiliary Power Supplies, and the Primary Generator is rapidly failing. We'll be down to the Secondary Supply with no back up in the near future. Ideally we'd like to stabilize the Primary, but if necessary we'll try and limp there without it."
"Keep me informed," ordered Omegon, turning back to view the star lit sky.
"Contact!" yelled the sensor station, "We have ships arriving in system."
"Quicker than expected," muttered Alexis, "Order the Fleet to screen the Phalanx. Set up a perimeter with every available warship we have. Tell the civilian ships to pull in close to the Phalanx, but ensure they don't block the lines of sight on our guns."
"Brother!" came the voice of Vulkan over the vox, "Do not waste your life defending the man who made you into a monster! Give him to us, and we shall ensure he has a fair trial!"
"Who cares about the false Khagan, I want that ship!" roared Jaghatai, "I am surrounded with incompetents who cannot bring me what I desire! I will make you my right hand Alpharius if you give me that ship."
"I know what games you are playing, Omegon," cooed the Lion, "You are but delaying the inevitable. The choice is always yours. Chose a different path. Choose to join us."
"Turn that racket off!" yelled Alexis.
"The enemy will probably break through at this point," said Omegon, turning to leave, "Captain Polux, I leave the command of the Fleet in your hands. Lock down the bridge and ensure no one enters except myself the Master of Mankind, is that understood?"
"As you command, my Lord," nodded Alexis, turning to give orders to the Imperial Fists' bridge guards to take up positions around every point of entry.
The doors slight shut with a mechanical clicking of locks as Omegon made he way down further in the Phalanx. Back on the bridge, Alexis Polux watched as the enemy warships descended on their prey.
The Invincible Reason. The Flamewrought. The Swordstorm. The Fidelitas Lex. Not to mention thousands of support ships, frigates and cruisers.
"Inform all ships they are to hold fire until they are in optimum firing range," commanded Alexis, "We cannot afford to waste a single shot."
It didn't matter. The White Scars vessels charged in towards the Phalanx, guns blazing. At their head was the Swordstorm. Nothing was going to stop them from seizing the finest ship in the combat zone.
The Phalanx and its defenders opened fire with volleys of every kind of ordinance imaginable. It didn't deter the oncoming blades.
"Dreadclaw assault pods incoming!" came the call, "The target is the lower decks."
"With luck the Primarch can hold them at bay…" grimaced Alexis, "Focus on the enemy fleet, do not let any more ships get close enough to deploy assault craft."
Omegon wasted no time as the White Scars flooded on the deck. Pale Spear in hand, the Primarch began to carve his way through the Astartes, the air thick with the perfumes and cocktails spilling forth from the White Scar's chemical emitters. These were not the proud warriors of before. These were hedonistic malcontents, desperate to please their Warlord in exchange for a boon.
More Pods slammed into the vessels. This time not White Scars.
Mechanical Dark Angels poured forth from the Assault Craft, bolters blazing. Nearby Imperial Fists returned fire, the bolts simply passing through the empty shells of armour. These soulless husks simply advanced without hesitation, cutting down anyone who stood in their way. They did nothing but obey the will of the Dark Angel Sorcerers that followed behind, reciting dark majiks from forbidden tomes of Caliban granted by the Lion.
Joining them soon were the Salamanders, their pestilent auras summoning clouds of flies as they walked forward, their flamers spreading a toxic spray before them. They were the only Nikaea Rebels to offer surrender to their foes, but for most it was a fate worse than death. The decaying flesh of the Salamanders brought down a plague on any who surrendered, their skin developing rashes and poxes that overwhelmed their body until they either stood again as an ally of the Salamanders, or fell to the ground dead.
As the lower decks began to be overrun by the forces of the Nikaean Rebels, a figure in Gold suddenly appeared on the field of battle. Escorted by a handful of Custodes and group of Imperial Fist Librarians, the Emperor charged into the fray, cutting and hacking away at the fallen Astartes like a farmer in a wheat field.
None could stand before the Emperor.
The Imperial Fist Librarians almost seemed like an afterthought, their capabilities so limited compared to the Master of Mankind, but they used their talents to tear into the Salamanders and Dark Angel Sorcerers with a righteous fury few could with stand.
Omegon continued to cut down the enemy. There was no retreat, not anymore. This was the last great battle.
He knew victory here would mean the survival of the Emperor, and as he fought through the halls of the Phalanx, the final move long planned finally clicked into place.
"New contacts!" yelled the sensor station to Alexis.
"Where? What vector?" demanded the Imperial Fist Captain.
"They… they're in system!" said the officer with surprise, "There was no warp translation. They must have been waiting, in system, powered down."
"Get me an ident. Now," ordered Alexis.
"A whole fleet…" muttered the Officer, "A pair of Gloriana class are leading. It's the Alpha and the Beta, My Lord! Confirmed Twentieth Legion Fleet!"
Alexis Polux grinned.
"The sneaky bas-"
The Alpha Legion vessels opened up their guns onto the Nikaean Rebels. It had taken some time for the Astartes to emerge from hibernation after the Phalanx arrived in system, but now they were ready. This was the moment they had long prepared for.
"Engage the Invincible Reason," ordered Alpharius from his command throne aboard the Alpha, "Instruct the Beta to draw off the Flamewrought. Sow as much confusion as possible and try to divide the enemy between us and the Phalanx. We don't have the numbers to destroy them utterly, but if the Phalanx can make the jump on time then we will have our victory. When she does so, all ships are to disengage and follow."
A chorus of affirmations responded across the vox.
The Nikaean rebels were thrown into disarray. Many ships, especially those whose Primarch was not present, scattered in the face of organized opposition. Only the Lion faced down the forces of the Alpha Legion without flinching.
"Alpharius…" voxed the Lion, "You were always the True Primarch of the Legion. Omegon is but your shadow! Your reflection! With him gone, you can be made whole again. One Primarch, one Legion, the way it was always meant to be!"
"Your offer is tempting," replied Alpharius, "But we have a prediction model for you, 'Lion', and it doesn't end well for you."
The Lion laughed.
"You cannot possibly know my future. I am the Fate Weaver. I know all paths to the future."
"Except of course my brother is a significant part of your make up, and he would do everything in his power to hide paths from you," smiled Alpharius, "How much of the future and your sight has been clouded by the true Lion as he messes with your mind?"
"Stop this," roared the Lion, "STOP THIS! YOU LIE! I SEE ALL! I KNOW ALL!"
"Indeed I do," said another of the Lion's 3 heads.
"SHUT UP! SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!"
"Fire," said Alpharius.
The Alpha tore into the flank of the Invincible Reason. Chunks of the vessel were ripped off and scattered into space. Shields failed. Power dropped. Engines flicked with the cough of significant damage.
The Lion's face relaxed back into a smile.
"I saw that attack coming. I know I will withdraw from the battle at this time, but we will meet again, Alpharius. As I said, I see all. I know all."
"We shall see," responded Alpharius.
And with that, the Dark Angels began to disengage as their Primarch retreated back into the warp. The Lion's command pulled away First Legion ships from key engagement zones, crippling the already divided enemy. Battle lines collapsed as the Alpha Legion drove on towards the Odessey Fleet.
"Phalanx, how long until you can jump," asked Alpharius over the vox.
"About two minutes," called Alexis Polux after a moment of confirmation, unaware he was speaking with a Primarch.
"Jump as soon as you are able. We will follow," responded Alpharius, "See you at Macragge, Phalanx."
"Thank you, Alpha."
Alpharius watched as the Phalanx and the survivors of Odessey Fleet escaped into the void. The enemy still had the numerical advantage, but the Emperor was away. The greatest possible defeat had been avoided. The forces of the Imperium would endure.
"See you soon, brother," muttered the Primarch, "This is our victory."