Chapter 7 – The March On Terra
Chapter 7.1 An Old Crow Calls at Midnight
Mortarion looked out at the array of ships before him, sat upon his grand command throne aboard his command ship, the Endurance.
A sizable portion of Perturabo's Legion, plus elements of several other Legions including the Warmaster's forces and Lorgar's Word Bearers. Why the Lord of Iron was waiting at the edges of the system Mortarion wasn't sure, but he must have received the summons much like the Pale King.
Why these additional forces were under his command was also another question Mortarion wanted an answer to. This was all very irregular. Command of such a force, held an arms reach from where it was needed…
The Master of the Death Guard waved a hand for communications to be established. The distress call from Rogal had mentioned Magnus. If the Witch King had turned on the Emperor, Mortarion would waste no time in ensure the Cyclops would pay with every son for such treason. He would carve through them like a farmer through a field of ripe wheat.
Mortarion was still smarting over the death of Typhon. Investigation after investigation found no evidence of it being anything other than an accident due to poor maintenance… but the amount of accidental deaths had been rising inside the Death Guard. It was not a significant portion, but a number of key commanders had one way or another been rendered incapable of command.
This hadn't hampered the Death Guard, in fact the Legion was now operating at an efficiency far greater than any time before Mortarion could remember. Still, something was amiss, and with the call from Terra Mortarion was no longer in a mood for games.
"Brother," said Mortarion, addressing the image of Perturabo now hovering before him, "I assume you have received the message from Rogal on Terra. There is an urgency to his call. Why do you delay here? We must advance at once to Terra's aid."
"Mortarion," greeted Perturabo almost dismissively, "I'm afraid we cannot advance into the system, there is more to events that are transpiring than you know. I am here by order of the Warmaster."
"I know these events include Magnus and his sorceries…" hissed Mortarion, "I know your thoughts on such things, brother. We must stop the schemes of the Crimson King lest his hubris bring down the very Imperium itself…"
"It isn't that simple…" growled Perturabo, "I'm afraid any orders from Dorn have been countermanded by my own from the Warmaster. Believe me brother, it is better we wait here."
"Perturabo…" rumbled Mortarion, "If you fail to remove your fleet from my path I will have no choice but to move it out of my way. In pieces, if need be."
Perturabo sighed a long sigh, the sound of a man dealing with a petulant child that refuses to see reason.
"Mortarion, there is more taking place here than you know. Events are playing out that will shape the future of the Imperium."
"I don't care if the entire Imperium were about to be disbanded by the Emperor's command!" snarled Mortarion, "I am beginning to think you are part of some treachery, Perturabo, and if that is the case you should be prepared for a challenge. The Death Guard will not tolerate treason from you OR the Warmaster. Stand in my way and you will not live to regret it."
'The Emperor never cared for his sons," growled Perturabo, "You know this as much as I, Mortarion. We were pawns, tools to achieve his Imperium. We were to be discarded once the mission was complete. The Warmaster has plans, to share the Truth with us, to forge a new Imperium where we are more than just pieces to be moved across a regicide board."
"So you have finally submitted yourself to the sorceries of Magnus and the Warmaster," sneered Mortarion, "I thought better of you, brother, but clearly I was wrong."
"I have done no such thing. I keep my suspicions as much as I ever have. But I have seen it myself, brother," replied Perturabo, "We must find a way to harness it, or let it engulf us. Our Father has betrayed us to gain this power. He defies his own Edicts to gain the power to perform his own machinations. It is madness to defend him whilst he covets witchery in secret for his own use."
"It is YOU who have turned to madness, brother," retorted Mortarion, "I do not know what evil you seek to perform on Terra, but know I will NOT let you or the Warmaster have victory here."
"You're outnumbered, Mortarion," replied Perturabo simply, "I'd prefer you to join with us, but I have more than enough force to stop your Legion and continue my work here without significant interruption. If you wish to sacrifice your Legion against my guns, please be my guest. Unless you wish to reconsider your position, I have work to do."
The image of Perturabo flickered and vanished in an instant. Mortarion narrowed his eyes.
The Lord of Iron wasn't wrong. He had over a Legion and half at his command amongst all the ships and troop carriers. The Fourteenth Legion, Mortarion's Death Guard, were strong and resilient, but if he engaged in battle here he would have scant few warriors left by the time he reached Terra. A victory here would be pyrrhic at best. What use was his Legion if by the time he arrived on Terra his force was depleted?
"Signal Garro and Seventh through to Fifteenth Company Commanders," ordered Mortarion, "Inform them they are to screen the rest of the Legion by any means possible, even at the cost of their own lives. It is vital that we break through this blockade and reach Terra with all haste. Nothing must be allowed to interfere with this objective."
"Incoming transmission my Lord."
Mortarion raised an eyebrow, responding, "Perturabo wishes to speak again?"
"No, my Lord. We have a transmission from the Nightfall. It has just emerged into Real-Space at the edge of the Iron Warrior's flank."
"Brother..." came the mocking call of Curze across the bridge of the Endurance, "You must go now. Your place is not here! It is on Mars! Terra awaits your sons! Go! At once!"
"Curze?" muttered Mortarion with a slight edge of confusion, "Last I heard you were wanted for attacking the Warmaster unprovoked."
"Not unprovoked! The Warmaster chose the path of ruin! He must destroyed," garbled Konrad incoherently, "But I am meant to be here now, at this place, at this time. I shall carve the way for you to reach Terra! Do not delay! It has become your destiny to answer the call of the Praetorian!"
Far to starboard, hundreds of vessels emerged from the warp, their guns blazing as they did so. The entire Night Lords Legion, under the command of the Night Haunter's flag ship the Nightfall, descended on Perturabo's forces like a predatory avian snatching a frightened vole in its claws. The Iron Warriors, Word Bearers, Sons of Sanguinius and Sons of Horus tried to rally at this surprise attack, but the talons of the Eighth Legion bit deep into their flank.
Mortarion didn't waste the opportunity.
"All ships, follow the Endurance," he bellowed, "Ignore all attempts to stop our advance. Use whatever gaps in the line possible created by the Night Lords to bring the Legion through the blockade. We make for Terra. Let nothing hold you back."
"Brother!" called Konrad Curze with some urgency, "The enemies plans are far in the making. Mars must be secured if the future is to be saved. You MUST see to this personally."
"I will take this under advisement, brother," replied Mortarion with some hesitance in his voice. The Night Haunter had clearly gone mad, though fortunately whilst he might be insane his brother still seemed at least loyal in his delirium. That said, the Pale King was not going to argue the nature of circumstance at this moment.
The Death Guard charged through the blockade, not wasting a single moment. The Endurance blasted a collection of escorts to pieces as it rammed through the enemy.
"We're through the lines, my Lord. The rest of the Legion reports minimal casualties. The Eighth Legion is taking a punishing but they're holding enough breaks in the line for the rest to get through."
"As soon as we can I want a clear communication's line with Terra," ordered Mortarion, "Connect me with the Praetorian."
The forces of the Fourteenth Legion pressed on, shielded by their comrades in the Eighth.
On various displays, many eyes watched as the Nightfall and Iron Blood showed their teeth and cut down all that came between them. The guns of the Iron Warriors savaged every Night Lords vessel, but this did not deter or dissuade them. Many Night Lords willingly threw themselves on the blades of the Iron Warriors to allow the Death Guard ships through. Escape pods, transports and assault vehicles speared out from every dying Night Lords ship, delivering Astartes to battle deck by deck, corridor by corridor until every last traitor could be slain.
The Endurance drove on, the Death Guard Legion mostly intact as it entered the system. They pushed on to the inner system, past Saturn, past Jupiter, their final destination finally in sight.
"Mortarion?" came a static covered voice of Rogal Dorn after a few moments, "We a-… voidships… entire… full strength?"
"Lord Praetorian, this is Mortarion commanding the Fourteenth Legion. We are responding to your call for aid. Do you read us?"
"It is good to see you, Mortarion," answered Rogal, with some sound of relief as the interference slackened, "We need all the able bodied we can get on Terra. Many of our brothers have risen up in rebellion, and I will have need of stout warriors such as your Death Guard if we are to have any hope of saving the Imperium."
"I should warn you, Lord Praetorian," said Mortarion smoothly, "The Lord of Iron has set up a blockade around Terra. It is a subtle thing, but we managed to break through thanks to the aid of the Night Haunter."
"Perturabo…" cursed Dorn, "I can hardly be surprised. But you say Curze aided your arrival?"
"Indeed, Lord Praetorian. He seems to have gone quite mad, but in this case he was the diversion we needed to arrive without loss."
"I'll take good news wherever I can take it…" sighed the Praetorian.
"I am afraid I still have further news, if it is news to you," rumbled Mortarion, "The Lord of Iron was claiming to act on the orders of the Warmaster. His forces included ships of the Ninth, Sixteenth and Seventeenth Legions. It would not be unreasonable to assume both Lorgar and the Warmaster are in league with this treason."
Rogal was silent for a moment, clearly mulling over this news.
"I had conflicting reports about the Ninth Legion. We knew the Sixteenth was in rebellion, but the Word Bearers are a new element. I just can't believe Sanguinius would DO something like this. It isn't in his nature."
"I can," growled Mortarion, "Perturabo is in league with Magnus over some form of witchery. A lot of what we could take for granted about the nature of our brothers must be reconsidered."
"Until I have definitive proof of Sanguinius' betrayal I will not allow judgement to fall on him," growled Dorn, "However we can confirm that Magnus, Lorgar, Perturabo, and Jaghatai are in open rebellion, along with the Sixteenth Legion possibly using Ninth Legion vessels."
"Have any others managed to reach Terra yet?" asked Mortarion.
"Surprisingly Angron, his forces are deployed with mine in Terra's defense. Also Fulgrim, though he has departed to gather more forces. Alpharius is here, but where his Legion is I do not know."
"So we have three Legions on Terra, along with whatever damage Curze manages to accomplish, against at least Six Legions worth of force which might be brought to bear…"
"That… would be an accurate assessment," admitted Dorn begrudgingly, "We are likely outnumbered two to one at best, possibly more. Who knows how many more we will find when it comes to battle."
"I have heard of a conflict on Mars," continued Mortarion, "Are these reports accurate?"
"Indeed. There is a civil war currently taking place. Whilst we have been arming the true successor to the Fabricator General, it is very likely Perturabo has been arming his rival. I haven't had the forces to spare to send to end the conflict."
"Then let me alleviate this problem for you, Lord Praetorian," replied Mortarion, thinking back on the words of Curze, "I will send the majority of my Legion to your command, and will take detachment to end the civil war in our favour. With the war resolved, we can once against commit the might of the Mechanius to the defence of Terra. Every loyal Titan, every loyal Tech Priest, every loyal Skitarii and more would boost our forces significantly."
"That would be most helpful," agreed Dorn, "With the conflict on Mars resolved we can focus entirely on the threat of the traitor Legions. I will await the arrival of your Legion forces at Lion's Gate spaceport. I shall assign a few of my Captains to coordinate the landing."
"As commanded, Lord Praetorian," concluded Mortarion, "Mars shall be liberated, and brought back into compliance once more. And from there, we shall crush the traitors that dare to threaten Terra."