Of Templars And Angels 2

2.

Anaru sat with his head in his hands. In all his years he had never been this afraid. He was being accused of murder and treason, a crime that would take his life and also the light of the Emperor.  He shook his head over and over in disbelief. 

His cell opened.

Two space marines now stood before him, their black armor covered in robes and seals and symbols of their faith and devotion to the Emperor.

Anaru had but a few faded gang tattoos and the Imperial Aquila on his body. His fath was strong though and he had prayed non-stop since speaking with the psyker days ago.

“Good evening Captain, on your feet please. The Marshal needs words with you.”  One of the Astartes stated.

Anaru stood and walked out his cell, grateful to stretch his legs.

“Will the psyker be there?” he asked them.

Both Templars shook their heads slowly.

“This is not your interrogation; the Marshal wants to merely meet with you. No individual with the taint of the warp is allowed in our living quarters.”

They escorted him through the higher decks of their ship. Every neophyte and serf and Astarte gave him cold nods. They were not looks of hate, rather, severe acknowledgment.  He was a captain of the Imperial Guard, someone who commanded and was trusted. Someone now in their custody.

Every few meters he would take notice of the war banners, murals or some other curio. Items that would have been used in war now enshrined as holy artifacts in baroque cases. This ship must have seen thousands of campaigns based on their battle honors. A whole hallway was filled with the names of fallen Templars, so that they would be remembered by all who walked the hallways of the Reconquista. So many great deeds, all done in the name of the Emperor. It made Anaru feel proud he was in their presence. If only the circumstances were different.

The Marshal was sitting at his desk, an ornate slab of marble carved with the images of Rogal Dorn and the heraldry of the Black Templars. Data slates and scrolls piled around his desk, his personal servo skull and servitor prepping more information for him to go over. He looked up Anaru and pushed the scrolls he was reading to one side. He motioned for Anaru to be seated. He kept his gaze the entire time. Sizing him up and receiving a data slate from his servitor.

“I am Marshal Kraus, Captain Anaru. I have been meaning to speak to you about the incident aboard your companies’ ship. I am not one to blindly judge, Captain. I wish to know the truth and every detail of it. I would hate to send a man such as yourself to his end in shame. The Emperor forgives as well as he protects. Your Colonel seems to think you are worthy enough of salvation of some kind. I am quite curious as to how you ended up in the position that we found you in.”

Anaru kept the Marshals gaze. Mildly, he shrugged and let out a heavy sigh.

“I will do my best to answer all your requests, Marshal Kraus.”

Marshal Kraus sat upright and cracked the tension from his neck.

“You have been Captain of the first company for five years. Two years serving as First Lieutenant directly under Colonel Ogati. You made first sergeant for your platoon in your first year fighting with the 21^st. You’ve campaigned on the front lines most of your career, Captain. The only blemish I can even see is before your time with the Astra Militarum. We all have a past though, even I was involved in the violence that is youth gangs, though that seems centuries ago. You are highly decorated, a warrior and a leader of men in the Holy Emperors Name. So can’t help but hold some faint notion that I do not believe the evidence against you one hundred percent.”

Anaru’s eyes lit up with hope. He felt the blackness in his heart lift and he cleared his throat.

“I thank you Marshal Kraus, for allowing me the benefit of the doubt.”

The Marshal nodded his head and poured the Captain a cup of recaff. His servo skull floating jut behind him, no doubt pict recording the entire conversation.

 “Now, tell me about your mission and the events leading up to your fleet entering the asteroid field, Captain. What you remember may not only save your soul, but the souls of all those on Salessia IV.”

Anaru sipped from the recaff goblet. He leveled his gaze upon the Marshals cold gray eyes. His servitor lumbered over to Anaru, offering him a tin of cigaros.

Anaru took one and lit it. Savoring the flavor and exhaling his nervousness out.

 “We received our orders on the third Sunday of last month. We had only just returned to Poirua from an offensive against the greenskins on Kristzurch IX. We were briefed shortly, as we were getting reports slowly through the Astronomicon. From what the pict and text data had showed, the renegades launched a blitzkrieg assault, taking the PDF by surprise and securing two major Diocese in less than a week. For some reason they were able to contact us for aid, but we had no confirmation that they had received any of our messages via the Astrotelapathica. Nevertheless we had our objectives.Commissar Erastus had gave the lads a pep talk about what were up against. As time went on we had seen images of these renegades. They were butchering civilians as they went, and doing worse to the women. We had agreed that no quarter was to be given and we had instructed all infantry to fix bayonets before deployment. There was talk about the renegades not yet having access to the PDLB’s. This was to be or advantage, as we would be dropped straight into enemy controlled zones, from the Fleet ships in orbit. Each company had specific targets and instructions given to us by command. Colonel Otagi had tasked the 1^st with assaulting the Diocese of Saint Mendoza, as Arch Bishop Jerall was under siege and his Apostle Guard were outnumbered nearly six to one. Jerall’s protection or extraction was of the utmost importance, for whatever reasons they may be. Commissar Erastus and I had agreed he could not fall into the hands of traitors, as we both knew what traitors do to a man of the cloth. “

Anaru lit another cigaro and drank the remnants of the recaffin his goblet. Noticing that the servitor was already refilling another goblet and Marshal Kraus was paying very close attention, his hand scribing away on a small scroll.

“Planetfall was set for 0300 hours Salessia time. The Fleet had entered the warp all at the same time, though our own ship was delayed buy a mere half hour, some malfunction with our void shields. The problem was dealt with and we were on our way. To my knowledge we were supposed to come out of the warp directly above Salessia. I do not know what happened as we were knocked around by the constant bombardment of the asteroids.  I just remember seeing the fleet being obliterated before my eyes and not being able to do damn thing about it.”

Marshal Kraus made a note and stirred in his seat.

“I woke up here, with a headache worse than any hangover ever and that psyker telling me I had killed my astropath and navigator. I’m sorry. That’s all I can remember so far, Marshal.”

The servo skull flew off into the darkness of the Marshals’ chamber and Kraus slowly stood.

“Thank you for your honesty Captain. I would hope you will remember more without the aid of your pimaris psyker. I have no trust of such…beings. I would like to think you would also remember more before you go before Interrogator Zephael. He is not known to be as pleasant as myself.”

Anaru stood and saluted the Marshal .

He was escorted back to his cell in silence. 

Of Templars And Angels 1

1.

    The silence was beginning to get the better of Captain Anaru. Not that he was bothered by the dark, mote irritated by the fact he had awaken in the pitch with no clue to his location and whether or not he was a prisoner. He knew he had been conscious for several hours now. He knew he was in a walled room. Growing up in the Underhive, he was more than familiar with the darkness and and the suffocating feeling of tight places. Despite his rising anger, he remained calm, trying to remember what happened. All he could keep seeing was the the millions of asteroids destroying the Fleet as the ships came out of warp space where Salessia IV was supposed to be. So many ships ripped to nothing. So many souls lost. He shook the memory and made the sign of the Aquila.

Anaru began whispering to himself the events in order, but he seemed to have gaps in his memory. It hurt to think, no doubt he had a concussion. He cursed himself for coming up blank. His head seemed to hurt twice as bad if he tried to push aside his thoughts. His body hurt and the air itself seemed thick and heavy. It was almost as if he was being punished for not remembering how he got here.

"YOU ARE."

Anaru nearly jumped out of his skin as he heard the cold voice echo and bounce from wall to wall, ear to ear and through his mind and down his spine. He was paralyzed by the voice. It was then that he realized he was in a cell and the voice was that of a psyker.

"EASY"

The voice released his grip on Anaru's mind and body.

Gasping for air and trying to stand, Anaru nearly double over in agony and loss of equilibrium.

"What have I done...to..to deserve this and who.....who.. are you ?" He asked the voice.

"WHO I AM IS NO CONCERN. WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IS PUNISHABLE BY DEATH."

The voice boomed at Anaru, nearly making him vomit.

"TELL ME WHY YOU MURDERED YOUR ASTROPAT.,"

Anaru's mind swam with half images and blurred memory. Bloody carnage and screams. Sounds of violent destruction.

"I...can't remember." Anaru cried out.

"THE MORE LIES THE WORSE THE JUDGEMENT."

"WHY DID YOU MURDER YOUR NAVIGATOR?"

The voice rang like a thousand death bells in his skull.

Anaru was on his knees, clutching at his skull.

"It’s not lies, I can't remember! PLEASE! STOP!"

The lights came on so sudden it blinded Anaru. He collapsed to the floor, squinting to focus on the shape in front of him.

It was most definitely a psyker.

Tall and pale. Eyes like twin suns. He wondered if this psyker was going to kill him now.

“I am not your judge or jury Captain Anaru. I have been sent here to help you by your Regimental Command. Though, I am not sure I can help you."

"I didn't kill anyone !" Anaru pleaded. " We were dead in the sky before we even reached the surface, I'm not sure how I even managed to survive..."

The psyker looked at him quizzically and coldly.

"Your ship ripped through warp space after avoiding total destruction in the asteroid field some hundred light years from Salessia IV. You then crashed into a small Mechanicus freighter upon re-entering real space about five light years from Salessia Prime. The Priests called for aid and the nearest Imperial force answered the call."

"All the men under your command were found deceased. Some had obviously been butchered and others appeared to have died in the impact. Others...others appear to have been vaporized right where they stood. They found you near your astropath, his throat was cut from ear to ear and your navigator was found with no head. You were covered in blood, Captain. The evidence against you is towering and your loss of memory does not aid you."

Anaru was in disbelief. He had no recollection of anything and no words to give his thoughts a voice. Only panic and confusion in his heart and eyes.

 "You are now on the lower decks of the Reconquista and will remain here until the Black Templars decide what to do with you. That is if they decide at all. The call for aid was also received by a small force of Dark Angels in this sector as well and they are en route as we speak. I will do my best to help you, as Colonel Ogotai has bid me to get to the truth of this matter. He felt that no soldier of his should be left alone to be interrogated by the Astartes alone."

THE FUED PART 3

M 41. 12.5.000:
The Ganoga Rebellion
Captain Aric and the 5th Company Of Imperial Fists responded to the emergency beacon that a brave loyalist faction had sent out just before their commanding officer had ordered his Commissars to be executed and any members of the Ecclesiarch to be burned alive. The majority of the planet was now under control of traitor guardsmen and vile Chaos cultists. Women, children and the elderly were butchered or forced into slave labor. It was from orbit that Captain Aric made note of the mass trench lines criss-crossing the landscape on the main continent. He knew that the Iron Warriors were here. Nearing the capital city in their Thunderhawks, Captain Aric's suspicions were confirmed. A dozen Storm Birds and a sea of steel colored Rhinos, Land Raiders and Vindicators lay behind huge earth and stone walls.  Quickly he dispatched his assault units to the traitor guard front lines and led his most veteran tactical squads directly into battle with their rival fallen brethren, while the remainder of the company pacified the surrounding settlements. Despite the fortifications and well placed fire power of the Iron Warriors and traitor army, the swift action and precision attacks of Captain Aric's Marines, over ran them in a brutal fifteen hour siege , that forced the Iron Warriors to retreat. Without the leadership of their Chaos Marine masters ,the guard army and cultists scrambled for survival, though no mercy was shown for the enemy of the glorious Emperor.

THE FUED PART 2

 M 40. 4. 11-15.999:

The Talpas Space Hulk Incident-

A Rogue Trader named Duke Caardo Nakamura reported a space hulk drfting near the Leandra system. Imperial records listed it as the frigate Talpas , which had been lost in the warp some one hundred and fifty years prior. Fearing that an Ork warband might try and capture it, Captain Aric of the Imperial Fists scout company was dispatched along with two units of Terminators to pacify the vessel and return it to the Imperial Navy.

The space hulk was not only infested with genestealers who nearly decimated the scout company, but a small force of Iron Warriors had used the Talpas as bait to once again lure Captian Aric into another battle. The Iron Warriors had booby trapped much of the space hulk resulting in more losses to the Imperial Fists. The small force of Iron Warriors were dealt with in brutal close quarters fighting with the help of the Terminators. Captain Aric saved what was left of the scout company by retreating back to their strike crusier. The brave Terminators gave their lives that day holding back the genestealer horde.

The Talpas is still missing in the warp.

THE FUED PART 1

M 40. 09.15.996:

The Decimation of Alamos Hive

Iron Warriors laid seige to the world of Laredo for three months fighting from Hive to Hive untill finally laying waste to the planets capitol city, Alamos.

Brother Captain Aric of the Imperial Fists 3rd company led the remnants of his strike force against the Iron Warriors under Warsmith Forrfax at the cities main gates. The battle raged for hours, though the Warsmiths' army over ran the loyal marines time after time, laying waste to the gate and bringing the walls down.

The Imperial Fists were slaughtered to the man and Captain Aric was captured at the climax of the battle, his command squad crushed under the pounding of the Iron Warriors battle cannons and demon engines. After weeks of torture the Iron Warriors let the Captain go, though stripped him naked and had severed his right hand as a warning to the Imperial Fists.

PRIDE

Pride. That’s what he had felt in the core of his being as he led his men across the open fields littered with the broken bodies of the enemy and of fallen brothers. Pride is what kept his head high and voice strong as wave after wave of enemy warriors attacked and fell back and attacked again. Pride. It was enough to keep him going as long as he could lift his weapons and serve the Emperor. Chapter Master Matthias raised the Blades of Hate and gave the command to attack.

What Marines remained of the 2^nd company he led himself, they charged out of the trenches, boltguns roaring as the ground shook from the heavy artillery of the enemy. The intense rain made the earth wet and muddy, some places it was hard maneuver but they pressed on. Every step they took brought more incoming fire and more his brothers fell as they were almost out in the open.

The enemy outnumbered them and could match them in every way possible, as they were once Astartes, like themselves. They were traitors though, worshippers of false gods, they had turned from the light of the Emperor and they meant to kill every last loyalist Asartes on this rock. They were the Sons of Malice and they were near victory.

“ Dragon Hawks! “ Mathias screamed as he cleaved a Traitors head clean from his shoulders, the blood spraying across his blade and quickly running off from the heavy down pour above.

“ Show these dogs how the Emperors chosen fight!”

He ducked a Sons power axe and slammed him to the ground, smashing his helmet to pulp with the butt of his own axe over and over.

“ Squad Gilleand! Swing right and take out that Predator! Squad Santori with me, we need to break through this blockade. Sky Hawks! Advance on the next trench system we will meet you there! “ The Chapter Master gave his orders without waiting for response. He needed to get his men some cover and the traitorous Sons had dug enough trench line to offer them some respite.

Two-dozen Sons of Malice stood in-between the Dragon Hawks and the next trench line. Two enemy Rhinos were on the move, probably intending to give the Sons some cover. Squad Santori and Matthias zigzagged across the flooded craters and muddied debris, the Sons empting clip after clip of bolter rounds into them. They had the Emperor’s blessings though as not a single brother fell in the sprint.

The Sons Rhinos unloaded their smoke canisters, fogging the locale and the sounds of chainswords and chain axes being turned on filled the air.

The Sky Hawks on their jump packs screamed above them as they launched themselves to the trench line.

“ Brothers! Ready bayonets if you still have them, combat knives at the ready! I hope you have your side arms yet- looks like these heathen dogs want a real fight! “ Sgt. Santori bellowed as he activated his power glove, it’s ancient generator humming louder as he flexed it.

“ Aye my brothers, strike hard and true and be swift in the name of the Emperor!
We are Dragon Hawks and we shall not fall this day!” Master Matthias added.

They charged through the smoke, the Sons meeting them with bolt pistol fire as the broke through the makeshift Rhino barricade. Two Dragon Hawks rammed into a Son of Malice, their combined weight and strength sending him reeling of his feet. Sgt. Santori backhanded another Son, his black and white armor crunching under the devastating blow. The squad was holding their own, their bravado a perfect match for the brutality of the Sons.

Chapter Master Matthias parried chainsword and combat blade alike, swatting them away with his sword and rending into black and white armor with his axe. Both of his weapons were chained to his wrists, both powered and forged by a High Priest of the Mechanicum.

They were dubbed the Blades of Hate, as they were Blessed by the High Chaplains of the Chapter, inscribed was the name of every Chapter Master that had wielded the blades and died. Matthias fought like savage youth from his home world, slashing, elbowing, kicking and head butting. He showed no mercy to the renegades and made every Son who squared off with him die as painful a death as he could offer.

The swirl of combat blurred away as the last Son of Malice was kicked to the soggy turf, a bayonet yanked out his chest plate. Sgt. Santori winced as he adjusted the lens of his cybernetic eye. He gave a thumbs up to his Chapter Master as he took in the carnage around them.

Twenty-two dead Sons of Malice, three dead Dragon Hawks and three Sons unaccounted for. The Rhinos were abandoned and melta charges were placed before the squad marched on. Never leave behind anything for anyone.

“ It’s only three hundred yards to the trench line my brothers, the Sky Hawks have engaged a large force of traitor marines minutes ago.” Matthias said.

“ Move out Hawks.” Santori ordered as the remaining squad as they ran double time across the killing fields.

“ What’s their numbers? “ asked Santori.

“ Not sure yet, they are too busy exchanging fire to report back. We just need to rendezvous ASAP and give them sweeping support fire. “

Matthias clicked on his vox bead again, trying to hail Squad Gilleand.

“ Status report Sergeant.”

The vox link creaked with pure static for a few moments as Matthias and squad Santori hustled across the open plain coming closer to the dug in Sons of Malice.

Finally the vox linked clicked back on.

“ My Lord, we have destroyed the Predator and are en route to your position. We would have been there sooner but the heretics had several Obliterator teams hiding in the hills west of here that we had to enlighten. See you soon my Lord.”

Sgt. Gilleand switched off his vox line and Matthias smiled inside his ancient helmet. They had done well despite the odds stacked against them.

Coming over several mounds of earthworks, the squad was immediately spotted and several missiles were fired in their direction. The drove hard to the ground, taking what cover they could from the upturned soil. The blast sent chunks of gravel showering over them but none of the squad was injured. They kept their heads low as they pushed forward, firing controlled burst of bolter fire at the dug in renegade marines.

The enemy was now fighting on two fronts. The Sky Hawks under command of Chaplain Aceves were engaged in close quarters combat on one end and now faced Master Matthias and Squad Santori on their rear.

“ For our Father and for the Emperor! “ Matthias roared, leaping over the first set of barbed wire lines and nearly decapitating a Son of Malice with a mighty kick.

His men followed suite, each screaming their war cries and firing madly down the trench lines. They stabbed with bayoneted bolters and combat blades, lobbed grenades where crowded black and white armored traitors stood and grappled with those that had lost grips on their weapons. The incredible noise of combat was deafening. Armor scraped on armor and chainswords bit through bone and flesh. The screams of both loyal and renegade Astartes filled the air with sheer havoc. The trenches, already flooded with several days worth of rain, turned crimson as Dragon Hawks and Sons alike took their final blood choked breaths.

Matthias stood atop several dead traitors his mind lost in the sea of violence that surrounded them. He witnessed a massive Son of Malice swinging a two handed chain axe, dealing death blow after blow to the Sky Hawks- their numbers now dwindled almost to the man. He seemed to command the other renegades and Matthias knew what must be done.

He opened up a vox line to both his sergeants and to Chaplain Aceves.

“ My brothers, we our outnumbered still, but we have fought well this day, when you see make contact with the enemy commander break off the attack and head for the orchards east of the trench line. Captain Durran and what is left of the 1^st should be there soon with Thunder Hawk transports. The Emperor protects.”

He shut off the vox link and charged towards the enemy, the Blades of Hate gripped firmly in his power-armored hands.

He slashed a few would be opponents in two as he grinded his way to the center of the melee.

Bolting right at the giant traitor he slammed into his spine before he had a chance to turn about. The momentum knocked the Son to the sopping floor. Matthias kicked him square in the jaw, sending his helmet out of reach.

The enemy now stood slowly, the rain washing his pock marked and twisted face. His teeth had begun to rot Matthias noticed and he realized this was no ordinary Marine but one that had been touched by the foul powers of chaos. His eyes were pale amber and his skin was leathery and beginning to show signs of forming scales. The steam from his skull leapt up and Matthias thought he looked more reptilian than human, more beast than man.

“ In the name of the almighty Emperor I will have vengeance for my brothers, my chapter! “ Matthias blared hefting his axe over his shoulder and raising his sword in challenge.

The beast laughed as he looked down at Matthias. He only nodded his head though and hit the ignition stud on his chain axe.

“ Corpse god lackey !” he spat. “ I’ll have your head same as your young captain- Astartes! Swine all of you… you have lost but still you punish yourselves with more bloodshed. So be it. “ He snarled at Matthias and whipped his weapon towards his head, Matthias barely blocking it in time.

The Sons strength was double what a normal Marine could put out, his body aided by the ruinous powers. Matthias took several blows to the chest and head, though none ripping through his armor, the pain was incredible nonetheless. The Son would attack and Matthias did his best to dodge the blow or block it away. He just needed to hold his ground long enough for his men to flee to safety.

He continued to take the pain as the beast hammered away on Matthias. Finally, Matthias faltered as he over extended a sword swing, the beast bore into his left side with his enormous chain axe. Matthias dropped on one knee, the blood pouring down like a waterfall, mixing with the rain and the mud.

“ This is how a wounded dog is dealt with!” The Son taunted kicking the Chapter Master aside.

He rolled over on his chest and forced himself to stand. Up on his feet, he let his axe dangle from its fastened chain as his left arm was damaged badly from the massive trauma. His vision began to blur and the mud had smeared his visor on his helmet. He unfastened it and he let the cold air wake him up as his enemy waited to deliver his final strike.

Matthias gripped his sword and helmet tightly as he readied himself for death. The beast raised his chain axe both hands over his head, the gross smile stretching from ear to ear.

The killing blow never came down, Matthias looked upwards as did the possessed Son.

Three jade green Thunder Hawks now hovered above the trench line and the enemy commander stood dumb founded, realizing he was the one trapped now.

Matthias wasted no time; he swung his helmet upward crushing the chin and cheek bones of the heretic traitor. He screamed as Matthias laid into him again and again with his ancient helmet. Finally Matthias stood above his enemy.

“ The Emperor Protects” he said quietly, thrusting his blade downwards until he heard bone and armor crunch and he could feel the soft earth with the tip of his sword.

The Thunder Hawks gunned down the fleeing Sons of Malice while the veteran Terminator armored brethren swept the area of those who chose to stay and fight.

Chapter Master William Matthias cleaned the mud of his helmet and donned it again, letting the rain cleanse his battered and faded jade green armor of the enemy’s blood.

His vox link kicked in as he peered into the gray sky.

“ Lord, this is Captain Durran. Shall we prepare for dust off? “

“ Aye Captain, see to it we collect as much gene seed of our brothers as we can. They died bravely and I’m proud to have fought with them. “

“ Understood my Lord. Glad to see your still in one piece.”

Matthias shook his head in agreement. He was proud his brothers had followed orders and turned the tide. Proud they came back for him when all seemed lost.

As long as the Emperor allowed him to fight the enemy he would. As long as he was Chapter Master he would proudly led his troops and die with them if need be. So long as he was alive he would stand proud, as a Dragon Hawk.

JUSTICE ROCK

Before the start of the Great Crusade and the Emperor of Mankind’s Galactic conquest, a small barren planet was nearly driven to the brink of extinction and anarchy. Feuding warlords finally banded together, calling truce to save their home world and brought law and order to those who sought to destroy their lifeblood. They slaughtered thousands who opposed their will and enslaved millions more.

Once order had been restored they began building the first Correctional Facilities and the first Laws were passed. These Correctional Facilities were little more than massive prisons built by the very people that had been enslaved. They numbered in the hundreds and towered over all other edifices. Built to punish those who failed to follow the Law, the prison population swelled in the tens of thousands, while free men lived in fear.

Absolute power of the planet twisted the minds and hearts of the ruling elite. The warlords now in power, they became the judges, juries and executioners. Anyone found guilty of treason or lesser crimes was severely punished. They declared the planet to now be called “ Justice Rock”, a fitting name for a world now ruled by martial law.

The warlords dressed themselves in a puritan manner, plain black attire and jet sheen armor. Their helms fashioned in the shape of grim reaper but void of eyes, as justice knew right without sight. They bore large caliber rifles and carried high powered energy pistols at their side. The population began calling them the “ Black Judges”, walking dealers of twisted retribution, clothed in black. For hundreds of years life was hell on Justice Rock.

The Black Judges, now confident in their righteousness began to pacify the entire system and brought their brand of Law and Order to less willing populations. The mass graves were seen from orbit by traders and smugglers passing through or fleeing from the Black Judges and their armies. Distress signals were sent out and the nearby world of Olympia answered the call.

The Adeptus Astartes of the Iron Warriors Legion demanded that the Black Judges cease all acts of aggression and show fealty to their Lord and Primacrh, Perturabo. The Black Judges scoffed at the notion of an Emperor, blaspheming his name and disregarding the Legions mandate, they continued their madness and cut contact off.

The total lack of reason was the Black Judges undoing.

Perturabo had only recently taken control of his Legion and the heretical violence and arrogance of the Black Judges was the perfect target for the Iron Warriors to show their devotion to their Primacrh and Emperor as well as a way for the new recruits of Olympia to prove their worth.

In a matter of days the Entire Legion mobilized and invaded Justice Rock, hundreds of drop pods and storm birds slammed down onto the planets rugged surface. The Black Army caught off guard they were broken into piecemeal defensive units by the sheer onslaught of the Iron Warriors.

The precision and dogged manner the Iron Warriors fought with left the Black Army retreating to their Correctional Facilities, only to have the Legion demolish them to rubble with massive cannons and siege tanks.

Millions of soldiers loyal to the Black Judges died in the first three days of fighting. The Iron Warriors relentless assault took the Legion to the gates of the Black Judges palace. Perturabo himself led the attack on their fortress, Iron Warriors jump troops dropped from the skies as tactical squads advanced through servitor built trench lines. The walls of the palace shook and moaned as it was bombarded every hour from orbit as well as by ground artillery. The trenches and open killing fields were flooded with the blood of the Black Judges army, bodies piled so high they had no use for sandbags.

Justice Rocks three moons were clouded in smoke when Perturabo mounted his personal Land Raider and gave the order to breach the palace. The Legion stormed forward the sound of a hundred rhinos and Land Raiders shaking the very ground, the sound dwarfing even the most extreme of ordinance explosions.

The Iron Warriors slaughtered all who raised weapons in last defense and those who fled were ripped apart by bolter fire or stampeded by the steel boots of the Space Marines. One by one the strongholds of the Black Judges were cleansed with righteous fury. Until only three Black Judges remained, the three High Marshals.

Perturabo had sent three squads of his newly formed Terminator armored Iron Warriors to apprehend the heretics, only to be cut down by the cunning and lethal Marshals. Pure rage pulsed through the Primarchs head as he exited his command tank and squared off against the last of the Black Judges. Imperil Records state that a Captain Thalza was witness to the wrath of his Primarch.

“A dozen Iron Warriors stood watching in awe as our Lord sidestepped a volley of gunfire and decapitated one of the Black Judges with a single blow from his power mace. Both Judges attacked the Primarch at once, their super charged combat batons not even stunning our mighty Lord. One handed he swung his mace again, swatting one Judge to the floor, his bones and innards pulverized from the impact, Perturabo charged headlong, ramming the final Judge up against a marble effigy, splintering it in two. He raised the heathen by his neck and strangled the life from him in silence, his dark eyes starring coldly as the Black Judges final breathe left his lips in a gasp of blood.”

Dragon Hawks

The Dragon Hawks Adeptus Astartes have served the Emperor for thousands of years. The Chapter was formed just before the Badab Wars and have proved their loyalty to the Imperium since their first Crusade against the Eldar Exodites of the Galactic South.

Chapter records claim a lineage to the Primarch Rogal Dorn of the Imperial Fists. Although the Black Templars dispute their claim. Their home world, Tal'Set, is a humble "back water" planet far to the south of Holy Terra. It's as savage a world as the nomadic tribes that inhabit the highlands and dense jungles. Large reptiles are hunted for sport and livelihood , the chapter taking it's name from the giant winged reptilian predators that inhabits Tal' Set's skies.

Over the many centuries, the Dragon Hawks have become experts in guerilla and siege warfare and have been made notorious for their Scout Companies "Dragon Riders". Well known for their hatred of the Eldar, they have fought the Slaneesh worshipping corsairs of Ming The Star Snake and the Craft World of Raagen-Asha many times. During the reign of Chapter Master Alaric DeGomez they crushed a small Tyranid invasion, designated as Hive Fleet Minotuar, preventing another tragedy. Currently the chapter has once again gone on crusade, dividing its companies for two wars.This time, they are hunting down the renegade Marines of the Sons of Malice and defending the hive world of Akoyen from an Ork despot.