Chapter Five

"Sanguinius. It should have been him. He has the vision and the strength to carry us to victory, and the wisdom to rule once victory is won. For all his aloof coolness, he alone has the Emperor's soul in his blood. Each of us carries part of our father within us, whether it is his hunger for battle, his psychic talent or his determination to succeed. Sanguinius holds it all. It should have been his…,"

The smell of burning is something that Sagnuinius thinks he is used to by now. He after all laid waste to many a world and more than once he had set entire planets aflame. Yet never once has he been used to the smell of burning in the air, especially after an operation is finished. The legacy of war after all and battle is not during the battle itself but in the after-effects of battle.

It has taken Sanguinius and the rest of the Cadian Tenth Light Infantry an entire day to secure the City Hab of Mitras. If he is flying and he has his sons with him, Sanguinius would be done with it in an hour. Yet he has neither, and thus he makes do with what he has. He leads personally at the front keeping away the Chaos Astartes, mostly Khornate Berserkers from steamrolling the Imperial Guardsmen with him. Captain Mira to her credit fights alongside him with bravery. If they are still at the Great Crusade, h might have pinned a medal to her. The young pretty captain has courage in spades, courage enough to fire point blank at the face of a charging Khornate Berserker with her last pistorls while Sanguinius is busy with another. Still, even with him at the helm and taking the brunt of the fight, the Cadian Tenth lost twenty men, brought down by ambushing Chaos Space Marines and Cultists.

Now here he is at the top of the tallest spire of Mitra overlooking the entire City Hub. The original Adept of the Administratum assigned here for governance has been thrown by the Cultists when they started their insurrection. They found his remains splattered down below the spire when they secured the building. Thus this leaves Sanguinius to be the only one responsible to bring this Hub to order after the ordeal that it has gotten through. This is not his first rodeo at governance. He's not the best at it like Roubutte Guilliman, but he's skilled enough. During the days of the Great Crusade after all, he has to reorder conquered and supplicant worlds under his governance before the logical ships of the Administratum follow behind and play clean up after him.

Work has been going on in the city hub. Sanguinius has been busy the past two days. Unlike from before, he is not commandeering expert logisticians of the Expeditionary Group of his legion, nor does he has unlimited resources at his command with the Ninth Legion under his back and call. No, all he has is a ragtag group of surviving low ranked officials that has escaped the slaughter to serve as his adepts and a hundred and twenty Imperial Guardsman of the Cadian Tenth, Twenty Arbites, and another hundred or so militia guards that manage to stay alive during the massacre. That is all the command he gets while dealing with a ten thousand survivors of the attack. It originally has been a fifty thousand estimate according to one of the adepts but twenty thousand has been presumed fallen and another ten thousand either missing or dead and another ten thousand unaccounted for. Suffice it to say, it is a logistical nightmare as all end of battles are and it all has fallen right smack dab at Sanguinius' self-taken responsibility.

Yet he has to admit that there is simplicity to command. He never feels more alive than he is right now reorganizing the City Hub from its fallen state once again. Sanguinius misses the normalcy of the Great Crusade when they are building their empire and bringing new worlds. Despite their setbacks, it is a great time to live, the honor, the glory, the great work of building new civilizations. All that ends with the Heresy and allies become foes where brother fought against brother.

He shakes his head however as he focuses on the here and now. They are making good progress after all. The past two days has not been wasted. They finally manage to collect the dead scattering all around the city and bury them respectfully outside the city walls. The cultists are simply loaded up in wagons and four-sleds and dragged to be piled up outside and set aflame. The same goes for the Chaos Marines and Khornate Berserkers. The Tech-Priest at his staff, designation, Curtis-01 moans unhappily that they cannot reuse their corrupted armor. That is what is causing the acrid smell surrounding Mitras right now, the smell of dead and burning cultists and Chaos Marines.

More people also are starting to arrive at the City Hub from all over. Sanguinius has given the order for messengers to be sent on every outpost and village that is under the purview of Mitras for aid, using the forced conscription rules of the Imperium. Thus they trickle now like a small river; militia men, new guards, more people to help out Mitras. Normally they might have been grumbling unhappily. Word however has spread like wildfire that a Saint has appeared and saved Mitras creating some kind of hopeful and fervent mood from the people that came. Now the blood on the streets are being washed, broken buildings and houses are being repaired, new jobs are appearing all over thanks to the death of the many of the populace and the usual herders are starting to appear once again. Much of the herds of Rochs and Grox remain alive after all. The enemy has been more focused on massacring the ranchers leading them than the animals themselves.

While the City Hub of Mitras however is the enjoying the slow motion back to normalcy and security thanks to the extra hands and the presence of all the new guards and militia men, not to say the presence of the "Saint", Sanguinius is concerned about the news trickling in from all over.

This attack at the City Hub of Mitras is no isolated invasion by the forces of Khorne. Word from the grapevine of interconnected village chiefs that are present in the City Hub right now is that the invasion of the Bloody Hand, the war band of Chaos Forces under Khorne's purview is all over the planet. Other City Hubs have also been attacked and same goes with bigger villages. Unlike Mitras however, they are not so lucky to have a Saint appearing to fight for them. This is an Agri-World after all and is not high priority for any Imperial rescue.

This increases Sanguinius' concern the more. While he's concerned about the attacks, he is more concerned about the way the enemy is attacking. It reminds him of the Siege of Terra, of the Neverborn that assaulted the walls of the Imperial palace. While the cultists are implanted all over the populace and come out as traitors, the Khornate Bersekers and Chaos Space Marines walk out of portals as easy as if they are taking a stroll. Last time Sanguinius checks, to open a stable portal to the Warp like that, you either need a lot of sacrifice or there is a powerful sorcerer that can open a direct conduit to the Warp nearby. So far this world has seen neither. He's pretty sure a mass sacrifice would stand out like a sore thumb in an Agri-World like this. And there is no presence of a sorcerer anywhere also. So, why?

His eyes turn to stare at the sky once more, specifically at the purple and violet clouds that look like a Maelstrom and an ugly scar. He's got feeling that ugly design in the sky has something to do with it, he's just not sure what.

He blinks.

An entire city with at least two dozen spires is around him. He can see the entire city burning. Everyone is dead. The roads are slick with blood and cultists roam the blood-soaked streets alongside Khornate Berserkers. The bodies of innocents are scattered everywhere with their guts, entrails and skulls scattering through the streets like a road of the damned. Their lidless eyes stares with no life at the ones still moving. At the top of the tallest Spire of the city, a giant of an Astartes, throws a rotund man's head from the ramparts. The sky is blood red and black with the scar of purple above gleaming like a well-polished crystal through the eyes. The giant of an Astartes raises the head above his own and roars as he beats his own ceramite covered chest with his fists.

"BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!" he roars proudly before throwing the head down. Down it went before bouncing with small thuds on the space-port where Valkyries are unmoving. Above the sky, a chaos warship looms.

Sanguinis' opens his eyes with a barely seen jolt. It has been a while since he has utilized his foresight. It seems that it is still working properly. He's pretty sure that the city in his vision is the capital of this world, Liknik. Only the capital of an Agri-World has that many spires present. It seems that the enemy is also present there too. Judging by his vision, the capital has fallen already and the Planetary Governor slain. It seems that he has his answer also as to how the rifts are opened in this planet. A ship is above, looming over the Agri-World. That ship is probably where the ritual or the sorcerer can be found. If Sanguinius is to save this world, then he needs to get on that ship and put an end to all this madness by destroying the source. He recalls the Valkyries at the space-port. They are no thunderhawk but they will do. They have no choice, he has no choice. First things first however, he needs to take the capital.

It would not be easy with what forces he has in command.

"Your holiness," Captain Mira's voice catches his attention drawing Sanguinius' eyes from the smoke piles of dead cultists and Chaos Astartes.

"Captain Mira, you are here," says the Great Angel gesturing for the captain to come near him. "I am glad you have come,"

"So am I your holiness. Might I ask as to why you have summoned me?" asks the Cadian as she stands beside him, barely reaching to his waist with her height. She looks better than before, she obviously has washed and her hair doesn't look like a rat's nest anymore and has taken five rounds in a bath of tar.

"I did," answers Sanguinius clasping his hands behind his back. Up here at the very topmost of the spire, the wind blows on his golden locks making it look windswept enhancing the already regal look of the noblest of the Emperor's sons. For a moment, the Captain simply stares in awe before she manages to compose herself to an air of professionalism. Sanguinius lets his lips twitch at the action. She reminds him of a feline like creature called "cat" at Terra; cute and cuddly but ferocious as hell once its claws and fangs are bared.

"Out of all that I command here at Mitras, you are the closest that I have to a second-in-command Captain Mira. You also do the Imperium proud by your courage. Not everyone can stand against Space Marines and live to tell the tale. Most would rather run than face them. You however, not only do you charge them with me, but you also fight them and more importantly survive them, though I deal the killing blows. It still is however worthy of mention," says Sanguinius making Mira bow from her waist to him.

"You honor me with your words of praise, honored Saint. Yet it is not I but you who leads us to victory," she responds making Sanguinius give off a little shrug of his shoulders.

"Maybe, but honor is given to where it is due and I want to honor you. Yet I unfortunately do not call you here to tell you, your accolades simply I am afraid. I have questions Captain Mira and I hope that in this time of silence before we venture to battle once again, you can satisfy some of my curiosity,"

"Anything your holiness,"

"This year," Sanguinius begins. "What year is it?" he asks still looking far ahead.

"The year? VCM 41 your holiness," answers the woman.

"And that means exactly what?" asks Sanguinius.

"Ten Thousand years since the end of the Horus Heresy your holiness. Maybe add a few decades or so since Cadia fell. I am a Second Generation Cadian, born from Cadian parents but never set foot there," explains Mira with a small chuckle not noticing the sudden rigidity of the Great Angel at her words.

Everything seems to have been put to a stop inside Sanguinius' mind. His heart literally skips a beat and if he is any regular man, he might have been hyperventilating. He can sense no lie on Captain Mira's words. But has it really been ten thousand years? He has been expecting that it is only a few months, a year at most. But ten thousand? He might have felt sick if his Primarch physiology is not hard-wired to be unable to get sick. This doesn't answer his questions about why he is here in this world, and it certainly adds the question of why he is even still alive and looking exactly the same as the day that Horus "slew" him?

"So, ten thousand years since the Lupercarl got defeated by fa-, the Emperor huh?" says Sanguinius taking control of his emotions and not letting the turmoil surface in his tone or emotion. "It is good to know that he still rules the Imperium on Terra. Does he still tour the stars as he wont to do every decade or so with the Custodes Captain?" asks Sanguinius referring to the old habit of his father to check on random planets before he started that personal project of his about the Human Webway at the center of the Imperial Palace.

He lets a small frown slips his façade of calm and serenity as the Captain looks at him as if he has grown another second head. "Is there something wrong captain?" he asks as she still continues staring at him like an alien.

"I have no idea where you might have come from your holiness, but almost all your information is outdated and wrong," she says with fervor, her expression hard before softening. "But you are an Imperial Saint; you must have died before knowing all the changes that happened. Don't worry your holiness for I will tell you. This is basic information for all of us Imperial citizens," she says before standing at his side looking at the view ahead.

"The God-Emperor of Mankind rules over all of us from the Golden Throne of Terra. According to the Lectitio Divinatus, he sits there eternally lighting up the Astronomican which guides all ships in the void. His spirit gives courage to all his servants granting us blessings with his will. He gives us strength to destroy the mutant, the alien and the heretic. For Ten Thousand Years according to the book, he sits there immobile on the Golden Throne, his presence stretching from one end of the galaxy to the beyond, a shining beacon to all mankind," finishes Mira with fervor in her eyes not noticing that Sanguinius at her side has turned a nasty shade of green at her explanation, his ears not willing to believe what he is hearing.

"The Custodes or the Honored Guard of the Emperor, guards his throne eternally in the Imperium palace though last chatter I heard from command before the breaking of the Imperium in half since Cadia fell by The Scar is that the Emperor's Bodyguards are abroad helping the Imperium and shoring up its defenses,"

"The Imperium…..is cut in half?" Sanguinius' melodic voice asks haltingly hiding the horror at what he is hearing.

"Aye your holiness," nods the Captain, her ponytail swishing behind her. "The Eye of Terror spills into reality and a rather large rent from one end of the galaxy cuts the Imperium into two after Abaddon destroyed my home planet, Cadia. Imperium Sanctus and Imperium Nihilus. We are unfortunately at Imperium Nihilus, cutting us off from the light of the Emperor. This is why none of the usual tithes visit this Agri-World any longer. Void travel is nearly impossible with the light of the Astronomican unable to pierce our way. As much as I am to bear the sad news your holiness. We, all here are at the wrong side of the Imperium, the darker side,"

"You are telling me that that purple colored scar at the sky is the…," Sanguinius begins his mind trying and failing to grasp details. Abaddon, Horus' favored son, Cadia, a planet he does not know about, the Eye of Terror spilling out. All is a mess in his head right now. Not to mention the things he learn about the Emperor.

"Rent in reality your holiness, yes," answers Mira with a wry unhappy smile. "It is visible to all worlds almost at Imperium Nihilus. It makes it near impossible for ships at Imperium Sanctus to reach us, and us them,"

"What about the legions Mira? This catastrophe of such a large scale would attract the attention of the Legions. My bro-, the Primarchs, the sons of the Emperor and their Space Marine Legions would never let this happen," says Sanguinius, his composure dropping a bit.

If possible, the sadness in Mira's face deepens even more. "You must be really old your holiness if you do not know that. The Primarchs, the sons of the God-Emperor of Mankind are all gone. I do not really know their names but I know that almost all perished in one form or another. Terra and the Imperium as a whole is led by the High Lords of Terra and the Senatorium Imperialis," she explains.

"Those bureaucrats?" thinks Sanguinius with disgust. Last he recalls, the Senate and the High Lords of Terra are a bunch of baying bureaucrats unable to make a decision and unity, even if their lives depend on it. It takes the presence usually of his father or one of his brothers to silence their baying.

"And what about the Space Marine Legions? The sons of the Primarchs?" asks Sanguinius praying hopefully that they are at least still present. The Chaos Marines are present. If they are not, there would be no counterbalance against them by the Imperium. The thought also of his sons, the Ninth no longer in the world of the living is something that he is not willing to think about.

"I am not familiar about any Space Marine Legion your holiness, but the Space Marine Chapters are still around," answers Mira. "I….personally have not seen the Angels of Death of the God-Emperor your holiness but I hear that they are still around. My father and mother once tell me stories about them fighting along them at Cadia before its fall. I personally wish there are Chapters present in this part of the Imperium your holiness. In this dark time, the presence of the Angels of Death would be a welcome boon,"

"They will surely be very useful," Sanguinius answers with a thoughtful tone. He has no idea why they are called Chapters now instead of Legions and something in the Great Angel's gut is telling him that he will not like what he will learn.

"So my father is worshipped as a god and stuck on the Golden Throne powering that psychic beacon of his, my brothers are gone. It has been ten thousand years, the Imperium is no longer a secular place where the Imperial Truth that my father has lauded during the Great Crusade not even being mentioned once. The Imperium is in trouble being cut into two by Horus' favored son and Warp travel is almost impossible with that Scar in the sky which is the Eye of Terror. The Space Marine Legions are apparently now Chapters whatever that means and he is in an Agri-World facing what would seem to be a Khornate war-band with none of his sons to help him; and no idea how many his foes are or how to deal with them," Sanguinius enumerates all that he has learned so far. He still has trouble believing any of that except the latter parts.

"Captain, tell me more. Tell me everything that you can," says Sanguinius looking to the slowly setting two suns of Thracia in the horizon with Mira at his side.

He will save this world tomorrow, but for now. He will gather all the information that Captain Mira can give him and think about it. Maybe after he can mourn for the world that he knows is no more, for he is slowly realizing that he is an Angel lost in the tides of time.

….

Author's Note:

Okay another chapter done. So Sanguinius is being bitch slapped with reality and he is against a Chaos warband with no Astartes to help him but only mortals. What is a Primarch going to do right?

Anyway thanks for the reviews last chapter. I am trying to wrack my head who would be the main antagonist in this story. Who can fight a Primarch and how without being obsceningly powerful?

Okay now I tried to make Mira as ignorant as the regular Imperial Citizen in the 40k Universe with only being a bit useful since she's a Captain and a Cadian. I hope I did her character justice in this chapter.

Anyway that is for me to worry about. As usual please review for your reviews are the song to this writer's heart.