Cassandra followed the first captain of her sister's legion. All the while she ran through the possible outcomes and proceedings of her soon meeting between her siblings. How would they react to her? Would they treat her differently than Maga? Would she have to defend the action she made? Pushing those thoughts aside she refocused her thoughts on Legatus' advice.
"People tend to respect those who are in control of themselves, even if they don't like them. Remain in control of yourself and the rest will stay quiet or out themselves as impulsive." He had told her on the flight over.
It made sense to Cassandra, as long as she maintained a visage of dignity and self-control her siblings would fall in line. She would not hide her failures if they came to light, she couldn't allow them to cloud her judgment of the now. Learning from them of course, yet not allow the possibility of failure to lessen her resolve.
The First Captain soon arrived at the door guarded by two legionaries, who stood to attention at their approach. Abaddon stepped aside and gestured with her clawed hand towards the door. At Cassandra's approach the door parted, revealing a command room with a holographic display of the world beyond the fleet. To either side of the console stood the two other primarchs.
To the right was Hathor Lupercal, she wore terminator armor like her first captain, with the notable difference of golden accents instead of black. She also wore a wolf pelt upon her armor's carapus with its head resting on her right pauldron. The only armament she carried was a sheathed sword that hung from her belt region. From reports Cassandra knew that her sister mostly made use of a larger sword different from the one on her waist and a massive power claw. An amber eye shaped gem seemed to decorate her armor's limbs and chest plate. As the XVIth primarch turned to look at Cassandra, she saw the gray, if not silverish hair, she had. Cassandra noted that the way her sister's short hair was styled almost made it look like she had canine ears. her frontal hair curved upward giving off this illusion. As her violet eyes met Cassandra's blackened, the VIIIth primarch bowed slightly in greetings.
"Greetings sister, come we were going over the battle plan for our assault." Hathor gestured for the newly arrived primarch to join them.
Cassandra began moving towards the table, the door behind her closing and sealing. As she walked she took a moment to look at her other sister standing on the other side of the table, one hand resting on the table's edge while the other rested on the pommel of her curved sword.
Like Hathor, the Vth primarch Hana Khan wore white armor with golden accents. Unlike Hathor however, the Khan's armor was more painted white while Hathor's was a steely white. She also had some red detailing and more golden crests reminiscent of her homeworld's culture. Her black hair was also far more stylized than Hathor's. The Khan's hair was combed back with two qilliqti in Inuktitut to either side of her head and a ponytail, the end of which was dyed red, and some of the frontal hair rising to one side of her head. Most notably was the red lightning bolt that began at the center of her forehead and ended at her right upper cheek. She had golden amber eyes that tracked Cassandra's movement like a hawk.
'Perhaps Lazarus might like it if I styled my hair.' Cassandra thought she never really took her appearance into account. Sure, Lazarus never brought up her appearance in the sense she needed to change it but maybe he would appreciate the effort to look nice for him.
Cassandra's eyes drifted to her side, expecting her Legatus to be there. Even if she knew he wasn't. She didn't like having him away, she allowed it on her ship, but this was not her ship. Trouble seemed to seek out her Legatus, she could better protect him when he was near, and he gave her advice. She would have to consult him if he had knowledge of the upcoming battle. The legion would be better prepared for the battle if she knew the enemy's tactics and hidden units.
She pushed those thoughts aside as she stepped up to the table. Cassandra quickly scanned the room with her eyes. It was adorned with Luna Wolves banners and other decorations from Terra with windows running the length of the room's upper walls showing the stars and other ships of the fleet.
"What of our battle plans?" Cassandra asked, looking back to her sisters.
Responding to Hathor's will the hologram zoomed on the world's main capital city. It was a fortress to be sure, many infixed gun positions, walls within walls, defensive positions for both armor and infantry. However, she already spotted a few positions where Cassandra could insert a demolition squad to clear away defenses.
"I have already formulated a battle plan to best make use of our legions' advantages." Hathor began as legion simples began to take shape around the fortress. "We shall lead an assault on their capital city, while the rest of our legions attack the lesser cities. Hana shall lead her daughters on probing strikes to keep the defenders guessing as to our main attack location." A few more White Scars legion heraldry appeared around the fortress and began to move around the city. "Angelica and I will then lead the spearhead in their most vulnerable position." Multiple Luna Wolves and Blood Angels legions symbols formed in a spear shape and moved towards the city.
"Meanwhile your legion shall infiltrate the city and cause chaos among their ranks." Night Lord symbols appeared in the city and began to move around creating spots of red around them. "Meanwhile the Ultramarines shall secure my flanks as we push deeper into the city." Ultramarine symbols began appearing behind the Luna Wolves' and Blood Angels' advance stopping incoming red arrows. Having finished her explanation Hathor looked up from the hologram to judge Cassandra's reaction.
She kept a neutral face. It was a sound plan, simple enough to allow for adjustments should the situation on the ground change. "A well thought out plan sister, however my legion numbers around half strength. In full I can deploy 120 battalions of marines."
A pungent silence fell in the room.
"Have you just come from a… costly campaign?" The Khan asked, speaking for the first time.
"No, the Empress' regent ordered the decommission of of my legion after a review of the legion's marine quality. Many of them were not but inmates from my former home world's prisons. Following this betrayal I revoked my home world's status as the VIIIth's home world. We have not come across a world with a suitable population to draw recruits from." Cassandra admitted, maintaining her stone faced expression.
"We shall compensate for the VIIIth legion." Hathor broke the following silence, The hologram deactivating. "Let us put this off until our other sisters arrive with their legions."
Cassandra noted the emphasis on the word "Legion". It would seem her worries had come to pass. She watched, Hathor stand to her full height standing about a foot and a half taller then Cassandra. She crossed her arms while looking down at her sister.
"Why did you not communicate that your legion is at half strength?" Hathor asked, not hiding her frustration.
"The Empress ordered us here." Cassandra replied as a matter of fact.
"And did you hide this information from our mother as well?"
"She is aware, she was present when we departed from our last operation."
"Did you even object or ask her for more forces before you came? We are Mother's generals, she should not need to baby us in the operation of our legions. I expected more from you sister."
Cassandra swallowed a more pointed reply. "Your objection is noted, sister. Yet, unnecessary, my legion shall do our part. We shall assist you in taking this world as you requested."
"I suppose we shall see." Hathor commented, doubt dripping from her tone. "You're dismissed."
Cassandra felt anger welling up in her at her sister's dismissal. She turned and made for the exit. She did not walk quickly nor storm away. She would not give Hathor the satisfaction in seeing her anger. As the door closed behind her she felt the eyes of the two Luna Wolves guarding the door on her, though they had not moved.
"Lady Curze." Cassandra saw the Luna Wolves First Captain looking at her confused but stern face. She must have expected the meeting to have taken much longer than the time it took for them to have a single conversation. "Is something amiss?"
"I will be returning to my ship. I must prepare my legion for the battle ahead." Cassandra answered.
For a moment there had been a more confused look on Abaddon's face. However, she quickly schooled her expression and nodded. "As you will it, lady Primarch." She then turned and began to lead Cassandra back to the hanger.
Cassandra's thoughts turned inward as she walked. Hathor had no idea what she had endured. No idea how poisoned her legion had become. The decommission of the of the legion was necessary to save the rest. Better to cut off the arm then let the whole body become infected. She had thought this would be a moment for her to bond with her sisters. Not for her sister to chastise her shortcomings, and dismiss her like a mortal general. This is not how a family should act. Lazarus would never do as Hathor had just done. He would have understood and helped her overcome. Now more than ever she wished she would have been more forceful in keeping Lazarus with her.
'No, it's better this way.' Cassandra thought. Better for her to take the focus of her sister's scorn than him. If he had been here, then the subject matter would have switched to him and thus also casting doubt on the Legatus as a whole. Now it was up to her to beat her sister's expectations of her legion even if they were at half strength. She needed to begin planning.
The door to the hanger opened and the sound of battle immediately registered on Cassandra's ears. Before Abaddon could react, Cassandra had already exited the elevator and was sprinting towards the sound of battle. An area of the hanger was surrounded by the daughters of Hathor and her daughters to one side. In the middle, Lazarus was fighting one of the Luna Wolves' captains by the look of her armor.
Cassandra's mood turned murderous. She vaulted over the line of marines closed with the captain fighting her Legatus. Before the captain could register the new threat, Cassandra had grabbed her by her neck guard and thrown her into the nearest thunderhawk some 30 feet away.
The whole dropship shuttered and slid a few feet to the side from the impact. On its side the lodged form of the Luna Wolves captain stuck in the bent metal plates. The captain had just begun to shake off the daze when Cassandra was in front of her with her thunder claws alight and closing in for the kill.
"Cassandra stop!"
"What is the meaning of this!?"
Have you ever had a quick time event happen in real life? Well I can say I just had one.
I looked down at where Torgaddon was kissing me.
'I would like to thank my gamer years for this moment.'
My hand was over my mouth stopping her lips from making contact with mine. I had only a few seconds to move my hand after I realized what she was about to do. I could only imagine what Cass would have done if she saw this. Given the rule63 nature of this universe this next reaction would be appropriate. My Psionics flared and a shockwave of psionic energy shot out around me. The resulting shock wave knocked Torgaddon back and skidding along the floor. Her boots kicking up sparks from the floor.
I lowered my hand. "Don't do that again."
She stood from her braced stance. "You move fast."
"And much more marine."
She smiled. "Psykers can't summon up such power so quickly, what else can you do?"
"You're taking a huge risk messing with me, captain, Lady Cassandra might have words with you over this." I countered.
"I do enjoy living on the edge." Captain Torgaddon replied. "I remember you asking what the Luna Wolves do for fun. If you're still interested I can show you." She placed a hand on the handle of her sword. A clear indication of what she meant.
Refusing might be wise, but at the same time it might look bad on the legion and Legatus if I refused. I was not all too confident in my ability to 1v1 a captain even if I spent a few years training with the Empress' personal guards. My gut was also telling me that it was a bad idea, but I won't lie and say that smug look on her face did not urge me on.
I looked back to Cass' honor guards. "Marine, might I borrow your sword."
One of the Night Lords grabbed her sheathed sword and presented it to my handle first. I took the sword and turned back to the Luna Wolves captain who drew her own blade. My power sword was something of an odd middle ground between a longsword and a greatsword in my hands. The handle was also a little too big for me but not to the point where it was unwieldy. Marines began to form a circle around us as we approached each other. Another question I had to answer as if I was going to use my psionics, with them I could lean the battle in my favor. Without them, Torgaddon had a clear advantage, sword locking and wrestling was out of the question. I leaned towards not using them given the overall view of "magic mind powers" and that me winning here would cause many to think "he only won because of magic."
Torgaddon lunged forward, stabbing her sword at me. I dodged out of the way and went for a sideways slash under her sword. She moved her sword down, knocking my blade away from her body. She lunged again going for a grab but with my reflexes I kept her just out of range. As I mannered myself I stepped into her guard and stabbed my sword into her side. With her forward movement, she was unable to pull back, allowing the tip of my sword to strike her armor and scratch it as the power field was not on.
We disengaged from each other. The captain looked down where her armor had been scratched. She nodded at the successful hit then got back into a battle stance. I followed and she got close with me again. This time however she focused on quick strikes while always closing in. I kept just out of her range while I bade my time waiting for an opening. I had to use my sword to defend from her strikes that got a little too close for comfort more than a few times.
I was so busy being mindful of my surroundings and defending myself that I did not notice the sudden onslaught of anger and aggression. One moment I was dueling Captain Torgaddon then in the next she was gone followed by the sound of crunching metal. I only needed a moment to register who had just forced the captain to exit stage left.
Turning my head I saw Cassandra bearing down on the captain, her power claws alight and inches away from piercing the Captain's neck.
"Cassandra stop!" I cried using my psionic abilities to send her calming feelings.
"What is the meaning of this!?" Captain Abaddon demanded.
Cassandra stopped herself from killing the second captain. Instead of holding her against the gunship, Cassandra's claws remained close to the captain's neck. If Cassandra or Torgaddon so much as twitch blood would start flowing.
I really did not need Cass gutting a Luna Wolf, least of all a captain, with a military operation so close.
Cassandra locked eyes with the Luna Wolves First Captain. "I was promised no harm would come to my daughters or. my. LEGATUS!"
Oh yeah she was pissed, and from my sense it was not just because I was rough housing with someone other than her. The meeting between her siblings must have gone poorly.
"Captain Torgaddon, what is the meaning of this?" Abbadon sternly asked the still embedded Second Captain.
"Just a little friendly spar." Torgaddon replied, sounding still dazed from being tossed around. "My apologies for stealing away your Legatus for a mom-"
She didn't finish her commentary as Cassandra closed her fist crunching the space marine's upper plate. The resulting screech of metal found Torgaddon's armor now digging into her under armor. Not enough to do damage, but enough that she could most likely feel the twisted parts of her armor poking into her.
Instead, Abbadon turned to me and asked. "Did you accept the duel or did the second captain attack you?"
"I accepted the duel, I'm sure Captain Torgaddon did not mean disrespect or hostel intent by it." I replied to her, before looking at Cassandra. "It was my fault for accepting, even after hearing your expectations of our hosts."
Abaddon made no additive to my comment, choosing instead to see if my apology satisfied Cassandra. Cassandra's thunder claws retracted back into her armor and she pulled the marine out of the thunderhawk's side then dropped her on the ground unceremoniously. Captain Torgaddon landed on a hand and knees, one hand had gone to her ruined upper chest plate.
"We are returning to the Nightfall my Legatus." Cassandra ordered walking passed us towards our thunderhawk.
I fell in behind her not sparing the two captains a look. Cass' honor guard parted as we both boarded the dropship, they followed in after we took our seats. The front door of the dropship closed and we were airborne soon after. I turned to Cassandra and opened my mouth to speak but Cass cut me off.
"What happened, Lazarus?" She was still looking forward.
I swallowed. "Wellll, after you left, Second Captain Tariqa Torgaddon approached me and began a conversation. She was interested in Legatus as to what we do, we had a disagreement about who could assist the primarchs better. Legatus or Marines which led to her duel challenge after she got a little too close."
I tactically decided to leave out the kiss part.
"She kissed him." One of the marines added.
I felt the temperature of the gunship drop.
I half turned my head towards the marine in question who did not even have the courtesy to read the room.
'I'm going to beat you so hard your mother will be jealous.'
Cassandra turned her head towards me. It wasn't a murderous look, but it was definitely a look that demanded an explanation.
"Well yes, she did kiss me, however I managed to block my lips with my hand. She ultimately kissed the back of my hand." I pointed out.
Cassandra held eye contact.
I passed along the memory of the event through my psionics.
After a tense moment, the temperature in the thunderhawk returned to normal and Cass turned her head to look forward again. "I see. It would seem my sister's captain has no respect for boundaries nor consideration for guests."
I breathed a mental sigh of relief as I had just dogged a volcano cannon. I had honestly expected more of an outburst or at least a ping of hostile intent towards the second captain. Yet, I detected no such thought. No, Cass was instead forced on calculations and war planning. The speed in which she was processing information was staggering.
The rest of the fly back passed in silence, when we landed Cassandra escorted me to the upper deck and her private war room. All the while she remained silent and mentally closed off, despite my attempts to start a conversation. I could have used my psionics to better understand her mental state but it was very likely she would detect the attempt, and given that just happened I didn't want to try it.
She typed in a few commands to her warroom's cogitator and a 3d hologram of the world below appeared. She then synced the cogitator with her armor so she could control the system mentally. The hologram zoomed on the capital city not unlike a hive world that the Imperium was starting to turn out, but this was wider. The area surrounding the hive-like structure somewhat resembled the cities of my time. More urban setting with plots of greenery leading up to the central city with all the skyscrapers.
Looking at the layout myself I did notice that some of the buildings looked different. It occurred to me that many of the outer ground level hives looked to have undergone massive renovations as military buildings were added onto civilian structures. Like a building that had a shop on the base level and housing on the upper levels. Instead of shops there were bunkers and infixed gun positions.
'It's like they knew the imperium was coming and went full on military mode.' I thought, looking over the display. 'Hold on there sir, woman first, military second.'
"Cass, I'm sorry if Captain Torgaddon attempt on me-"
"I'm not angry at you Lazarus." Cassandra interrupted me, still looking at the projection. "I know you would never betray me, the blame lies solely with that captain. I am a primarch, not some insecure mortal."
'Alright… I'm happy she's not latching onto that but that dismissal was rather… blunt for her.' I walked up to her side and gently took her armored hand.
She stopped what she was doing and looked down at me. For a moment I almost felt like she would have struck me for touching her. Yet quickly remembered who she was with.
"Cass, tell me what happened." I requested meeting her gaze.
She stepped away from the table and turned away from me, closing one fist.
After a moment she began in a whispered tone. "I was disrespected by my own sister."
"The legion numbers?" I guessed.
Cass nodded. "It's what started it. I met the problem head on. I was ready to explain it, even being criticized… but I was dismissed as if I were some mortal general. I do not ask for them to like me, I don't ask for them to revere me, but I am a primarch same as them! I have shed blood for my mother's Imperium, exterminated xeno races from the galaxy, and ordered my daughters to their deaths! I am owed respect at the very least! If not as a military leader, then a sibling at the least!" She stopped her shouting for a moment and turned to me.
"But no, one mention of my legions numbers and I am to be considered their lesser! Hathor had the gall to question my capabilities of me and my legion, and Hana… she said nothing! Should I have done as they did with my sisters? Judged Furia for her plight? Should I have simply dismissed her plight as HER plight?" She shook her head.
"And how could I forget that one of Hathor's daughters assaulted MY LEGATUS!" The room began to shake and an unnatural darkness began to creep out despite the light sources in the room. "Worse yet she dares lay her lips on what is mine! I should have killed her where she stood for such an insult."
"I should kill her, it would be no different then snuffing out a noble of Nostramo." Her voice became a whisper as she fell to her knees and covered her face with her hands. I began to worry I was no longer talking to Cassandra. "I could begin slaughtering the inhabitants of her flagship, would that be impressive?"
The darkness was creeping up even further, to a point where the room was almost pitch black. I swallowed, feeling all the energies of the warp flow around me. "Maybe I should have gone with you."
"NO!" She immediately answered, peering out at me from in-between her fingers. "They would have attacked you as well, they would have jeopardized the Legatus project. It would have made it more difficult for you to complete your task."
"That is my burden to overcome." I countered, her mind was a rush of emotions. "This challenge you have with Hathor is just another obstacle for you to overcome. You are a primarch, you were created to conquer and overcome." I approached her ignoring an unknown weight pressing down on me. Flashes of past sins appear in my mind, many of which were committed by a dumb child.
I channeled my psionics and began to push back the warp energies pressing down on me. As I reached her I grabbed on to her hands and tried to pull them back but she resisted and she was far stronger than me.
"Don't look at me, Lazarus." Cassandra pleaded from behind her hands. "Don't look at me, at my weakness. I don't want to look weak in front of you."
I tried to come up with some words of encouragement. Then a quote seemed to pop in my mind.
"We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame," Cassandra looked up at me and the warp energies seemed to be pushed back. "because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
Cassandra's hands began to give way as I continued to pull. As they were removed, I cupped her face and kissed her lips. Our lips stayed connected for a few moments before I pulled away and stared deeply into her black eyes.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking," tears began to well up in Cassandra's eyes. "it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
I whipped away her tears with my thumbs. "I will never judge you, my Night Angel, be it at your weakest, nor when you are uncertain, or when you war with yourself. Because I love you and I shall stand with you for all time. As I promised you."
"Lazarus, my legatus." Cassandra breathed.
"I would have preferred to walk in on an attack."
Cassandra and I both turned to see Jago Sevatarion and Cass' honor guards standing in the entrance way.