RWBY 40k – Salem, Immortal Empress of the Imperium.
[Opening 2 – Height of the Great Crusade].
[Theme – Got Mit Uns].
The opening began with Salem, dressed in her Remnant's outfits weeping in front of Ozma's body, with the staff on her hands in the horizontal. The camera approaches the emerald before coming back. Salem dressed in her Empress outfit, with now a much calmer face who quickly put the staff in a glass container in her room. Then she walked to the door of her room while the camera turns to the window displaying the whole Imperial Palace.
The title appears in the sun, it's named: "Salem, Mistress of the Inquisition – The Height of the Great Crusade".
Spent the night in formation. To the battle we march in the dawn. We were ready to die for our Emperor. On the battlefields of the Milky Way.
The opening shows the marks of the Imperium extending to the far reaches of the Galaxy, the next cut shows Horus with his legion charging toward to a Ork Warband. As he fights, his armour becomes more and more green along with his Legion to finally truly green with a golden laurel wealth on his head.
Fire at will. Aim for their artillery. Counter attack. Thunder of guns.
Rogal Dorn and Perturabo are on the walls of a Hive City, directing the plans to defend against a Horde of Greenskins. Then a cut shows them in company with Fulgrim and Konrad Curze for a Compliance mission. After that, a celebration shows them feasting, without Konrad Curze who is behind a wall, holding his head as his thoughts shows a Galaxy in flames.
Emperor with us! As we all stand united. All together, Emperor with us!
Magnus is shown fighting with his Thousand Sons but also Horus, Alpharius, Omegon, Rogal Dorn, Fulgrim, Edelgard and Roboute against a big horde of golems made of precious stones. But then, all turned to the sky, displaying two silhouettes hidden by the sun.
From the old world's demise. See an Imperium rise. From Terra reaching far, here we are!
A city is shown in flames with Lorgar Aurelian accompanied by Erebus and Kor Phaeron with all the Words Bearers, knelled against their will facing the Emperor. In another cut, Lorgar faced a woman and surrounded by people who has the chaos symbols on their bodies while Kor Phaeron and Erebus. The woman invites the Primarch to go inside of a cavern, and by the whispers of both Kor Phaeron and Erebus, Lorgar entered the cavern. When he comes back, he was smirking as he found a new faith to devote himself in.
On beginning of the 31th Millenium. We filled Xenos with fear. Twenty Legions attacked on that day. Several xeno races they broke.
The next scene shows the Dark Angels beginning their crusade against Xenos allied with Humans. And so, Lion El'Jonson is fighting. But his face was darkened, reminding himself of another moment of arguing with his mother Salem. She pointed a statue of Ozma while facing Lion with disappointment and disapprobation. Behind the wall, Lorgar observed him as he already decided what purpose he could give to him.
Astartes charge! Follow the banner! After the Emperor! Freedom we bring! Emperor is with us! As we all stand united. All together, Emperor with us!
Horus and Sanguinius are fighting against a Xeno species whose appearance are close to the humans. These two cooperating as the closest brothers they are. But as Sanguinius fights, a silhouette is lingering behind his shadow, observing him menacingly.
From the old world's demise. See an Imperium rise! From Terra reaching far! Here we are!
A great assemble of Primarchs are facing a gigantic procession. Fulgrim, Horus, Rogal Dorn, Perturabo, Jaghatai Khan, Angron, Magnus, Mortarion and Sanguinius are present. Salem is on the shoulder of Horus observing the procession. In another cut, Horus is crowned with the golden laurel, under the applause of the other Primarchs.
Breaking their lines. Thousands of Astartes. Charge for their Emperor. Legend Arise!
As an assault is leaded by Salem against Drukhari who is try to take slaves with them. Salem encounters Eldrad Ulthran who is fighting with his forces. The two faces as a possible talk are about to unfold. The next scene, Fulgrim exited a temple with a sword who is perfectly made, radiating a purple ominous power. Edelgard was looking at the blade with suspicion.
Emperor with us! As we all stand united. All together, Emperor with us! Emperor with us! As we all stand united. All together, Emperor with us! Emperor with us! As we all stand united. All together, Emperor with us!
A crowd is assembled inside of a room, with Primarchs debating each other about an important thing. But especially, Magnus and Mortarion opposed each other in vehement manner. Under the eyes of a worried Salem.
From the old world's demise. See an Imperium rise. From Terra reaching far. Here we are!
Horus is inside of a planet with Abaddon. He faced an old man on a throne and without a word. He killed with an electric magic ball. He turned toward a new Chapter Captain who has managed to break inside of the throne room before him and giving him a salute of respect.
From the old world's demise. See an Imperium rise. From Terra reaching far. Here we are!
Salem sited on the Emperor's throne, then looked at the sky with anticipation and curiosity. As she is slowly surrounded by her sons who looks in the stars altogether. Without forgetting her granddaughters.
Ep 76: Reencounter with the Chaosbender.
974.M30. In the East of the Galaxy.
The fleet of the Phoenix Empire was travelling inside of the void. With huge vessel transports in the middle protected by the fleet.
Inside of the flagship, Asuka was examining the monocle of truth that Kariady has given her.
She takes it and looking inside of it.
She could obverse around the room the past of the room. When it was just an unfinished construction made of iron beams and plates.
"Hm… It can reveal the Truth around." Asuka muttered.
She quarter-turned the handle of the monocle. It's usually purple colour in the glass turned orange.
Asuka looked inside and could see the inner parts of the walls, revealing the other rooms all around her, especially above and under. Asuka only smirked.
"Heh… I wonder if it can reveal the soon-to-be truth." Asuka said.
She turned the handle back of the monocle, who goes in blue colour. But as she inspects the wall, nothing different could be seen. Asuka rolled her eyes.
"Of course…" Asuka said.
She turned the handle to the normal size, returning the monocle back to the purple colour.
"Hmph… Of course, it would be too simple if I could directly see the future right now." Asuka grumbled.
She rose up from her bed and sited down on her desk. She lights up a small stellar map. It was a small map with three planets. A rocky planet closest to the red dwarf. A green planet in the middle planet. A frozen planet is the furthest.
"Hmph… let's hope it's doesn't anything bad." Asuka said.
A few weeks later…
The Phoenix Fleet arrived above the planet and began its analysis. Asuka was inside of the bridge of her flagship
"So, what we have?" Asuka asked.
"A planet whose revolution lasts around 30 hours. It has twice the size of Yitai. It has composed a giant plain of grass and forests." The analyser said.
"Hm… it's not too bad. For the atmosphere?" Asuka asked.
"About 76 % in nitrogen, 21% in oxygen, and the rest in little quantity." The analyser said.
"Not too bad… It would suitable enough…" Asuka said.
"What about the two other planets?" the analyser asked.
"We'll send two expeditions each for further analysis. If we can see something of any value." Asuka said.
"Okay…" the analyser said.
"It is time to pose down!" Asuka ordered.
She goes out from the bridge.
After a few moments, a giant red barge, followed by a small fleet of barge posed on the grassland of the planet.
She exited the ship, with a tight red astronaut kit on herself, who are the same construct than the Adorian space suits. She is followed by her own guards from the former Earth Empire dressed in green armoured astronaut kit. Behind, there are the Huoshan Zhanshi Astartes the 11th Legion.
"Hm… let's see if we have some secrets revealed with this monocle." Asuka smirked. Before taking out the magnifying glass from her pocket and firmly grabbed in hand.
They exited the ship and began to walk on the grass who were all around them. Asuka looked inside of the monocle in Current Truth handle position. Nothing comes out from the ordinary in the plains. She turns to the Past position. Nothing out too.
"Hmph… it has been inhabited for a long time." Asuka said.
"What do we do, my lady?" the Astartes asked.
"Set a new spot for the colony. It's flat and there is free space to build it. Us, we'll see the rest." Asuka said.
"Yes, my lady…" the Huoshan captain responded.
"Let's explore this planet!" Asuka said.
A few days passed and a giant exploration began. As the colony was beginning to be built with its first foundations. Asuka tried to see there is something hiding inside of the forests and grass. But apart from different appearances of the forest and positions of the river from past and present. Nothing came out, to her frustration.
In the mountain, it revealed caverns with ores. Who was quite positive but she expected it in the end. She only marked their position on the holo-maps to make the colony aware of these potential mines.
After two weeks of verification, her group arrived in the highest mountain chain of the planet.
She was looking through the monocle as she walked inside of the snow.
But as she turns to the Past position, she notices some pieces of metal appearing inside of her feet. It surprised her and she quickly looked to her feet. Of course, nothing pierces it.
"Ouch… I shouldn't be scared… these visions of past are terrifying." Asuka said.
"What is happening, my lady?" the Astarte captain asked.
"I think, I have discovered something." Asuka said.
She pointed the monocle to the mountain above. It shows it was ruins of a very well-constructed castle, whose quality was above the Imperium's standards.
"Hmph… what do we have here?" Asuka asked herself as she put the monocle back inside of her pocket.
She looked to the mountain actually, it has a weird form, hidden under the snow. She turned to her Earthbender guards.
"You! Pull me a bridge to this mountain!" Asuka ordered.
The soldiers nodded and makes some moves and giant chunk of Earth rise from the ground and forms a curved bridge, breaking away ice while the snow fall.
Then Asuka engaged first with her soldiers behind.
And when she arrived in front of the ice.
"Let's go…" Asuka said.
She makes a Firebending move and began to launch waves after waves of fire at the ice formation. The fire is so hot that the ice began to melt quickly.
Until it reveals a giant entry, or more like a window in front.
"Let's go…" Asuka said.
She shots a fire blasts who break down the glass inside. She engaged slowly along with her guards, the Astartes draw out their flammers.
Inside was some kind of main hall, with broken pieces of plates. It seems that it was a diner hall. Spared from the cold outside until now.
She takes out her monocle and observed it through it.
What is shows shocked her.
There were people eating in this reflection glass, and it was no other than Eldars. But these Eldars were quite different, their traits were less gracious, shorter in height, their ears were clearly shorter and rounder. Compared to Ilil and Allarielle.
They were eating small pieces of meat, and they were emaciated. Barely surviving. She put back the monocle in her pocket.
"What the hell is that?" Asuka asked.
"What is happening, my lady?" the Astartes Captain asked.
"It seems we are in the ruins of a Xeno Eldar base. Or something close to it." Asuka said.
The whole group was surprised by this statement. Then they lightened up their lights before engaging inside.
Asuka further engaged inside of the base, inside of the corridors who were stuck in time. She remarked inside of there are many skeletons in armour. Fallen in combat facing an enemy that the group didn't know right now.
"What happened?" Asuka asked.
She looked through the monocle once again.
She could see they were massacred by hordes of Daemons. It was way worse than the Chaosbender of her world.
But one question remained. How this place is apparently cleaned from Chaos while they are the very reason of the demise of these people?
As she progressed, she discovered bedrooms, living rooms, etc.
Deeper it was, less the damage was by the time. Sometimes, huge walls of ice were stuck in the way. Only to the Earthbenders to clean them out and making huge solid metal pillars.
Asuka at one moment, arrived to a main hall, where all the corridors joined. She could two ruined statues in front of wall staircases leading the upper-floor.
One was an Eldar man dressed in armour, while the woman was a human dressed in a great coat.
Asuka at this very moment, understood where she was.
"I can't believe it… It has happened…" Asuka said.
"What happened? What these two statues means?" the Astarte captain asked.
"Isn't that obvious? An Eldar and a human woman, with likely some followers procreated and populated this place with hybrids." Asuka said.
A huge silence falls inside of the room for a few seconds. Until, a small wave of grunts of disgust comes out from her subordinates. Asuka herself was disgusted. Humans mating with Eldars? Nonsense. It was way worse than seeing the hostages of her own grandmother.
"Despite that… Let's see if we can find something useful…" Asuka said.
They searched inside of the other corridors and rooms. But they only found some objects and furniture and more skeletons.
After a long moment, they arrived to an aisle who was reinforced by several metal walls who has a giant hole inside.
Asuka entered inside and sees a giant armoury. But it was almost completely empty. There is only ruined armour who has been badly placed on stands. For the weapons, they were scattered on the ground and none of them seems to function.
Asuka grunted, seeming that she would meet another disappointment.
"Four of you, you will test if one of these weapons are loaded." Asuka ordered.
Four space Marines nodded and goes further inside of the room. The rest of group goes out and returned to the main hall.
Asuka now wanted to see what is happening upstairs.
She climbed the stairs going behind the statues. After dozens of marches, she arrived to the next floor.
The next floor was a giant dome covered by a thick layer of ice, with a soil with some dead tree trunk.
"Hm…" Asuka hummed.
She takes out the monocle and began to see inside of it. It shows it was a small field with huge wheat plants, where the half-eldars were feeding it with water.
"Okay…" Asuka said before putting back the monocle.
She explored on the soil and inspected the dead trees. Nothing comes out of the ordinary from them. These are just trees.
"Grmbl…" Asuka grumbled.
She goes back inside of the main hall, facing back the two statues. She couldn't believe that there is a colony who has been made from hybrids between humans and eldars. For what reason they have done that?
Even the monocle couldn't answer the question since it was just a small window to a silent truth past or current.
But something makes her wonder. How these demons have managed to find them anyway? This is the true question.
As she was plunged inside of her thoughts.
"My lady!" An Astartes called.
"Yes?" Asuka responded with mild annoyance.
She turned back and sees the four Astartes left in the armoury, with rifles of Eldar construct on bags in their bags.
"Did you find something?" Asuka asked.
"Yes, these rifles are the ones who are still functional." One of them said.
Asuka smirked.
"Go out of the building immediately. These weapons are a really great value. Secure them as a fast possible." Asuka ordered.
The Astartes makes the Phoenix Empire salute before leaving the corridor to the exit corridor.
"What about this place?" One of the Astartes asked.
"We will inspect it a bit more before we task some archaeologist from our planet to better investigate it. Because I want to gather as much information as possible before the Empress discovers it and bans the investigators to replace with her own." Asuka said.
"But why do want to hide this from our Empress? Her authority goes above yours in the end." other of the Huoshan Astartes asked.
"Because… hum… Because like it we will be able to better organise before the arrival of her own investigators." Asuka tried to explain.
"Hm… it seems to be so." The Huoshan Astartes said.
Asuka was internally furious, even if they are under the leadership of Zorai. They are still loyal to the end of the Emperor and Empress. And they would certainly tell everything to her grandma. In the end, no matter what she does, her grandmother will simply be in front of her.
But as this moment, a Shandi Shouwèi guard came back at full speed and stopped in front of the group, exhausted.
"My lady! We have found something in the caves!" the guard.
"What thing?" Asuka asked.
"A weird deactivated gate!" the guard said.
Asuka lifted her eyebrow up. Then she realised… maybe it's a Webway portal, like the Eldar described it to Salem before she heard about it.
If this is the case, this is even great news.
"I want to see this immediately! Lead me there!" Asuka ordered.
A few moments later…
Inside of deep caves, especially in a very large one. Asuka hopes were crushed down.
It wasn't a Webway portal, rather is a warp gate who is deactivated.
It was made with decrepit wood structure reinforced by iron bars and it was round with eight piques. And all around, there are bones of half-eldars with symbols of Slaanesh scarified on their very bones.
"Okay… I understand more why this outpost has been extinguished…" Asuka said.
She takes out her monocle and looked inside.
The vision of the past almost made her throw up and scream in disgust.
Scenes of absolute depravity could be seen from here. Their bodies were rubbing each other in sweat as they drawn themselves in their carnal desires. It was so extreme that some of them were bleeding from biting or other cuts.
She quickly put the monocle back inside of her pocket, breathing hard in shock.
"What is happening, my lady?" The Huoshan Astartes asked.
"I understand why Kariady said to me that some Truth should remain undiscovered… Destroy this portal, it's too dangerous to be left alone!" Asuka said.
The Huoshan Astartes positioned in front of the portal and prepare their fires before launching flames on it to burn it down. But the flames became purple and the whole portal began to glow.
"No… No, I can't believe it! The error!" Asuka shouted.
The interior of the portal glowed in purple energy. Immediately, Asuka heard inhuman screams but worse, she saw the beings inside of it.
Demons from all over the Chaos dimension, in their true nightmarish form, were turning inside of a giant spiral disappearing in the infinite. Their faces were the reflection of absolute madness and pain while their bodies were mixing or separating all the time.
Asuka now understood why her father has destroyed the Chaosbenders, why Salem and the Emperor considers the Chaos Daemons as the worst spawn that the universe ever bore.
But then, she saw something coming from the spiral. A form detaching itself from it. A mix of the four main energies of the Chaos were coming together. He steps on the faces of the other demons, then it slowly forms in shape. Looking more and more feminine and familiar to Asuka.
Then, it steps out from the Gate. Asuka couldn't believe what she is seeing.
This thing took her own appearance. But it was dressed in a revealing leather cloth resembling to an exhibitionist with Slaanesh symbols on it, with shoulder pads rough with Khorne symbols, gauntlets in spiral with Tzeentch symbols and fleshy boots with Nurgle symbol scarified on it. This twisted reflection of herself as eyes who were pure black. While four horns come from its head. Each one represents one God. One is big and thick like Khorne, the second is spiralled like Tzeentch, the third is crackled and torn up like Nurgle and the final is thin and finely made, like Slaanesh.
The being smirks at Asuka.
"Hm… providence has smiled to me. Thanks to have given me a new appearance." The being said.
"Who the heck are you?!" Asuka asked in a mix of terror and repulsion.
"You don't know me? I met your father long ago when you were just a teenager." The being said.
"Oh! You are the chief of the Chaosbenders!" Asuka realised.
"Yes, my name is Hùndùn yuánsù (Note: In traditional Chinese it means: "Element of Chaos"). I have come back to resume my work to distribute the goodness of the Chaos Gods in your population. They ordered me to do that after your father mercilessly destroyed my tribe." The Chaosbender explained.
"Not in my watch!" Asuka replied putting herself in position.
"Of course, you would say that…" The Chaosbender said before himself in position.
The other Astartes put themselves in position. Then, the group all launched fire toward the demon, who blocked it with its own fire before launching rocks to the Astartes who are pushed back. The Shandi Shouwèi guards used their Earthbending moves to protect their Fire Lady.
"My Lady! We have to go in the surface! Our movements are limited in these caves!" One of the Shandi Showèi guard said.
"Hm… I hate to recognize that but I have to fight freely! Lead me to the quickest way to the surface!" Asuka ordered.
While the Demon was fighting fiercely against the Huoshan Astartes, the Earthbenders bend the Earth to open a hole and makes a platform. They climbed on with their Fire Lady, then they lifted themselves with the platform and closed it from behind.
After a long moment, the earth opened and tore the ice apart. Revealing the group of the bodyguards and their Fire Lady. The cold outside was freezing.
"There… we will be better." Asuka said.
She takes out her spacesuit, revealing only a red skinsuit.
But as she finishes, the earth trembles and giant hole is torn from the ice. The Demon comes out and looked upon to Asuka.
"Hm… a place like it will be better for our fight!" Hùndùn yuánsù declared.
"Let's see!" Asuka said.
She launched giant flames toward the demon who blocked before launching its own purple flames, concentrated in pure Chaos power. Then, the chosen one of the Chaos Power bends the earth and launched them toward the Fire Lady who avoided them with difficulty.
She prepared a giant lightning blast before blasting it toward the Demon who blocked it and deflected it away.
"I can't believe it!" Asuka exclaimed in shock.
"Hum… Chaos is everything and everything is Chaos! You are finite and I am not!" Hùndùn yuánsù said.
He pointed his arm and it transforms into flesh tentacle who tries to catch Asuka. The Fire Lady avoids them and burns them despite the difficulty of this fight.
"Oh my… You can avoid… But you cannot avoid that…" Hùndùn yuánsù commented.
He opened his mouth and launched at psychic shriek who strike Asuka head-on.
"KYAAAAAAH!" Asuka screamed in pain.
She falls on her knees and hold her head. She feels like her soul was pierced and burned.
"Hehehe… You will be a magnificent servitor of Chaos." Hùndùn yuánsù said.
The Shandi Shouwèi guards launched rocks to counter the Demon who makes a giant chunk of rock bouncing them away.
But as it was approaching the Fire Lady. The demon froze in its steps. Asuka lifted her head to him, confused.
"WOUAAAAAH!" The demon screamed in agony and its whole body began to dissolve in the air.
"Oh! The Huoshan Astartes has destroyed the gate." Asuka said.
"NO! MY GODS! HELP ME! HEEeeee…" Hùndùn yuánsù begged but he is cut off as he disappeared in the air completely.
Asuka stood up with difficulty, the other Earthbenders comes to her.
"Finally…" Asuka said before she faints.
A few weeks later…
The Infinite hovered above the colony planet.
Meanwhile, in the building community of the Phoenix Empire, moreover in the recently finished palace of the planet.
Inside of a private room with a lower table, Salem is facing Asuka. There are photos and one of the Eldar weapons collected.
Salem's expression was a mix of surprise but also a bit of annoyance.
"I see that you have collected quite a treasure, my dear granddaughter." Salem said.
"Hmph…" Asuka said.
"You know that hiding these kinds of things from are useless. Because this kind of technology, if reverse engineered is possible. It could save untold amounts of human life." Salem explained.
"The Phoenix Empire found it first…" Asuka replied with irritation.
"I know and I don't mind if you monopolise some technology but that is a discovery beyond anything else. So, now you have made you part, I shall take the lead." Salem said.
"Hm…" Asuka grumbled.
Salem approached her and posed her hand one of her cheeks.
"Also, I am doing that for your own safety. The Chaosbender has almost killed you. Even if I am disposed to let do things in your way. Please, don't worry me like that again." Salem explained.
"I know…" Asuka said.
Salem extended her hand to Asuka.
"Now, give back the Monocle of Truth. I think you have used it sufficiently. Kariady needs it back." Salem said.
Asuka froze for a moment before reluctantly gives the monocle back to Salem.
"Thanks…" The Empress said.
"Now, since the settlement of these colonists are going well. I think it is time for you to return. I will take care of the rest." Salem said.
"Okay…" Asuka said.
"Before that, let's drink some tea." Salem said.
She stood up and takes the cultery with the tea before sitting back. It was time to drink now.
To be continued… The Compliance of Dwell.
The Ultramarines led by Roboute Guilliman arrives on a world who seems to be a colony of Molech. The technology discovered here is absolutely formidable.
(Note: I changed the title of my fanfiction since my idea from the beginning was just Salem founding the Inquisition and nothing else. But the concept has overtime become so much more than that. Also, all the titles in the heightest part of my pages since the Chapter 69 have the new title in a manner to separates small eras of the Great Crusade. So the chapters before Chapter 69 is sort of 'Inquisitorial Salem' era with the original title and after is the 'Empress Pre-Heresy Era' for example with the new title. I hope you will understand more about this kind of change. Thanks in advance).
GundamNinshu.