Interrogator-Chaplain Aufidius strode through the hall with annoyance echoing in his step and the flames of annoyance in his eyes, his battle brothers rapidly leaving his path as he approached. Aufidius was annoyed by his recent summons by the Chapter Master requiring him to stop his interrogation of the Fallen, and report to a meeting with Master Titus and Inquisitor Cosca Immediately. Like all of the rest of the Unforgiven, the Inner Circle of the Angels of Vengeance had their secrets and Aufidius hoped his anger would help hide his.
Upon reaching the Masters chambers, Aufidius solidly rapped on the door.
"Enter"
Aufidius opened the door and hesitated as he saw librarian Coriolanus seated to the side of Titus' desk, for how could anyone know of the secrets they shared.
"Please be seated." said Titus as he gestured to one of the empty chairs.
"I called you two for this meeting early so we could go over some items before the others arrive. As you know, Inquisitor Cosca is currently here and has given us a special mission from the Administratum. This mission will involve a prolonged separation from the chapter, and requires a minimum of two members of the Inner Circle. I have chosen you two, and wanted to speak to you in private to remind you that the secrets of the unforgiven are not to be divulged to anyone under any circumstances. I would also like..."
With a single knock the Inquisitor entered and stood rigidly to one side, followed shortly by Veteran Sergeant Lepidus. With an arrogance rarely shown to a space marine, Cosca said; "Good, everyone’s here. I'll make this short, you three are to form a new chapter to be stationed here, and Commander Titus is to provide you with 50 marines, and all the necessary equipment to begin the formation of the new chapter. I expect full details from you three for Administratum records within the hour, and everything planetside within twenty four..."
The Founding
Icharus VII
Icharus VII, a feudal world on the fringe of humanity. When the 36th Ephadus Battalion landed they found a world in its renascence. Although its productions levels were well below that of an industrial world, the inhabitance had maintained some technology. A large percentage of the population was located on small to medium farms, crude gas powered tractors in common use. The planet was ruled by a noble elite that maintained the peace on protected their wards by the use of bike cavalry. These nobles had a unique outlook on there responsibilities, instead of what was seen throughout most of the empire, the nobility here looked on their position as more of a responsibility and duty, than a privilege. Within days of the Guardsmen’s landing, disaster struck.
The Arrival
When the Angels of Vengeance arrived in orbit above Icharus VII at the beginning of 729/M39, a battle had been raging for over six terran standard months between the Guardsmen who were to secure and occupy the world and the alien Eldar who had stuck from nowhere. The Angels of Vengeance immediately deployed three of the six companies they had brought to strengthen the guardsmen’s defenses and to assess the situation. After receiving a briefing of the situation, the remaining three companies were deployed in a strategically positioned zone to the Eldar forces rear. While two of the recently deployed companies feigned an assault on the enemies rear, the Angels of Vengeance’s Fast Attack company sped to the ancient ruins that had been found just prior to the alien attack, and was believed to be a warp portal. The Fast Attack company was easily able to destroy the light and unprepared defenders and destroy the warp portal. With the alien forces cut off from supplies and reinforcements, the battle was over in a matter of days.
With the Battle of Icharus VII over, Inquisitor Cosca, who had arrived shortly after the Angels of Vengeance, deemed that the surviving Guardsmen were unfit to protect the planet in the event of an alien threat. The Inquisitor ordered an emergency message sent to the Administratum detailing the situation, after a short delay during which the Angels of Vengeance maintained orbit aver Icharus VII, a reply was received authorizing and instructing Inquisitor Cosca to oversee the formation of a new successor chapter to be formed from members of the Angels of Vengeance.
A New Chapter
Inquisitor Cosca had been unwillingly diverted from investigating a suspected deamonic
cult, so he ordered the assembly of the minimum required troops in the minimum allowable
time. He was unwittingly assisted by the Angels of Vengeance who were anxious to continue
their hunt of a renegade raiding party that was rumored to include one of the Fallen. This
resulted in the formation of a chapter with the strength of only half of a company at full
strength, with limited support personnel and equipment.
Brother Lepidus, Librarian Coriolanus, and Interrogator-Chaplain Aufidius were given one
hour to come up with the required chapter details. Much of the required information was
self explanatory, such as from which chapter they were created from, but the chapter name,
chapter color, and chapter symbol were something they had no desire to rush. Those three
items would remain with the chapter for as long as it existed, and if they made poor
decisions, the chapter would be unable to change them in the future. After thirty minutes
of debate, Lepidus remembered a serpent he saw while they were on the surface.
Lepidus had been drawing his chain-sword and preparing to engage a squad of Banshees,
when a green serpent struck out from hiding. The serpent had tore a piece from the alien
bitch's leg larger than his hand. The screams from the banshee were so horrible that the
other banshees faltered in their charge. Seeing their hesitation, Lepidus ordered his
squad to charge the banshees.
The savage melee was over, the last banshee was clutching her chest where one of his
men had impaled her with his sword, when the dying banshee fell and knocked him off
balance, falling to the ground. Lepidus began to lift himself off the ground when the
serpent he had seen slithered out from underneath him. The serpent looked at Lepidus from
inches away, and hissed at him with more malice than he had ever felt before. Lepidus felt
a bead of sweat roll down to the tip of his nose as he stared at the serpent, unable to
move from its entrancing stare. The serpent opened its mouth revealing a not a pair of
venomous fangs, but two rows of them. A long crimson tongue flicked out from the serpents
mouth and brushed the sweat from his nose. With a slight nod of its head the serpent
slithered off towards the Eldar army.
Brother Lepidus told the other two of the serpent, with a quick search of the planetary
fauna data base, they found its entry. The Caducus Serpens, or as the locals called it,
The Serpent of Death. Reading the entry on these deadly snakes, all three felt that they
would be a fitting namesake for a new chapter. Thus the Serpents of Death were born with
chapter colors of the dark jade of the serpents scales, and the chapter emblem a snake
slithering through an alien skull.
The Battle for Success
The three founders had realized that the situation they were in was as much a battle as
any other they had fought, only this was against time and the loyalty of the population
instead of a physical enemy.
The founders saw four main obstacles in their path to victory; the need for a well
defended base, a lack of numbers, the need for popular support from the inhabitants, and
competition with the surviving guardsmen for the status of planetary protectors and
dominion over the world. The three of them knew that all of the marines they had been
given were ready for gene-seed harvesting, and that their battle for numbers was just a
matter of time. They also knew that the race for status with the Guardsmen hinged on the
acceptance of the people. With these facts in mind, they formulated their plans.
It was decided that Coriolanus would oversee the fortification of a temporary strongpoint
and coordinate the chapters resource distribution. Meanwhile, Lepidus would take nine of
their fifty battle brothers along with their two Land Speeders and single Thunderhawk to
search for and investigate a site for their permanent home, and Aufidius would take nine
men and the ten bikes provided to the chapter and start investigating the inhabitants.
Citadel of Serpents
Brother Octavius gestured to Brother Marullus who was piloting the speeder. Octavius had noticed a small valley entrance in the edge of the mountain range and wanted Marullus to fly the speeder over to investigate. The two marines were astounded by what they found as they entered the valley.
The valley was filled with a large bright blue lake, surrounded by lush forest. Out
of the center of the lake rose a large rocky island, on which was built a great
plasticrete citadel.
After two months of searching, one of the speeder crews found an abandoned citadel.
Questioning the inhabitants who lived in the vicinity, it was found that the area was
referred to as "The Valley of Serpents" due to the large numbers of serpents
residing in the area. The citadel was rumored to have belonged to a tyrannical warlord in
days long past, but know one had seen the citadel in living memory. On the belief that the
citadel was unoccupied, Lepidus lead ten marines to investigate. The citadel was found to
truly be uninhabited, but also to be in remarkably good shape. A search of the premises
found that the citadel had been the hideout of a group of rouge pirate marines from the
early years of the Imperium. There greatest finds were the discovery that its defenses
were still operational, and that its storerooms were full of early marine equipment,
including some early suits of tactical dreadnought armour, and an inactive dreadnought
chassis. After a the citadel was deemed secure, all of the chapters equipment and
personnel was transferred to their new home, the Citadel of Serpents.
The Hearts of the People
While Lepidus was leading the search for a new home, Aufidius lead his bike squad to contact the inhabitants and discover what would bring the marines into the people hearts and souls. Within two weeks, Aufidius had a plan he believed would work. Not only would they be able to endear themselves to the people, but they would be able to honor the local customs, and the customs of their own Dark Angle ancestry. Aufidius' plan would take advantage of the customs of Icharus VII, but would also call for some large changes by the marines. He had found that, by fate, the people of Icharus VII accepted the marines as a form of religious knighthood, most likely by their similarities to the knights of their nobility who would ride through the countryside aiding their people dressed in armour and riding crude versions of the bikes the marines rode. Aufidius' plan proposed that instead of remaining aloof, they would embrace the people such as the peoples code of nobility called for. His men were split into five teams, each to go out among the people and befriend them. Aufidius directed the men to forget their superiority over the people and assist them no matter the need; if they came across an old man struggling to remove a rock from his fields, remove it for him; if they found a widow overwhelmed by the chores of her dead husband, help here finish them; a farmer plagued by wild beasts, bring him the pelts. By the time the Serpent Citadel had been found, Aufidius' plan had succeeded beyond his greatest hopes. The seventy personnel they had landed with had grown to over two hundred, thirty of which were young men desiring to join the "knighthood". The truly surprising result was the change in the marines, their eyes shown with the light of the Emperor, for they had found something more powerful than any holy relic, they had found the love of the people.
New Scriptures
With a new base established, and the beginning of trust from the populace, Lepidus, Aufidius, and Coriolanus began to create the structure and doctrine forms of the new chapter. They decided that there would be several structural and social deviations from codex norms.
In honor of their heritage, and the heritage of the people of Icharus VII, it was decided that they would continue the Ravenwing tradition. They also acknowledged that many of the recruits they would receive already know the basics of cavalry tactics, and that bikes (although of a cruder design) were already in production among the people. Thus it was deemed that the ninth company would be dedicated to bike cavalry with land speeder training, and the tenth company would consist of the new recruits, and also be dedicated to bike cavalry. It was felt that the new recruits would be able to be trained in less time due to their familiarity of group bike tactics.
It was also decided that due to the lack of experienced troops, a veteran company would be dispensed with in favor of each company having its own veteran squad. Also, recognizing that they would have a large influx of bike trained marines, it was decided that each of the companies would contain two bike squads replacing one of the standard assault squads and one tactical squad.
Chaplain Aufidius also proposed several changes to their existing litany in order to speed the mental induction of recruits into the chapter. These included changing the standard reverence of the Emperor as the founder of the empire, to a more glorified version of an ancient knightly hero, similar to the view the local populace had in their beliefs, and including the local knightly virtues. He also proposed the inclusion of the peoples code of nobility, and codes of noble punishment to ensure that they would be one with the people instead of above them into the chapter laws.
It was never considered that the combinations of large numbers of bike trained marine "knights", the changes in the litany, and the additional laws would react with the standard doctrine of the Adeptus Astartes of the sacrifice of one marine would save thousands to result in a sense of duty to the people of the Empire, beyond that of any other organization in the Imperium. The marines developed a sense of duty so strong that they would gladly sacrifice themselves in order to save those they protect.
Gene Seed Disaster
Apothecaries of the Serpents of Death were soon shocked to find that of the thirty applicants into the chapter, only ten passed the tests to determine gene-seed compatibility, and of those only one was going to survive. Over the next year only twelve more potential initiates were found, of which two survived. The chapters two apothecaries searched frantically for answers to this dilemma, but could find none. The apothecaries were contemplating conducting a search for candidates in nearby systems, when one of the chapters techmarines brought an important file found in the citadels database to their attention.
This file detailed the biology of the caducus serpens. The apothecaries read how the
rouge marines had genetically altered some serpents inhabiting this valley to be able to
recognize those that would successfully accept the gene-seed implantation, and would be
able to recognize those that had all ready became marines. The file explained why the
caducus serpens would occasionally only lightly bite a victim, injecting a lethal venom
into the subject causing an agonizing death in three to six months, while other times it
would inject a dose that was lethal in minutes while tearing flesh from the victim. It was
detailed that those that were lightly bitten, had been selected by the serpents for
gene-seed implantation, with data that indicated that those bitten enjoyed a ninety-five
percent chance of survival when gene-seed was implanted within twenty eight days of being
bitten. The apothecaries immediately went to gather the items necessary to test this
information. One to recover one of those dying from a serpent bite, the other to capture a
live serpent.
Brother Marcus had parked his bike at the edge of the glade, and he now diligently
searched the grass for one of those serpents. He wondered if the serpents would still act
relatively tame towards marines after the long years in the wild. As the sun began to set,
Marcus headed back to his bike dejected by his failure again. Brother Galtus had recovered
two victims in this area weeks ago, and was currently studying their progress in the
gene-seed implantation, but Marcus had been unable to locate the serpent that had bitten
the initiates.
As Marcus contemplated his failure, a powerful blow to his armoured ankle caused him
to trip and fall to the side. Marcus instinctively rolled to face the direction the blow
came from and drew his bolt pistol. He was confronted by the sight of a large serpent
poised to strike with its glistening teeth barred. A quick glance at his ankle showed that
the blow from the serpent had actually cracked the cerimite and plasteel armour he wore.
As Marcus lay there unmoving with his bolt pistol pointing at the serpent, the serpent
gradually relaxed. Marcus slowly rose to his knees, keeping an eye and his pistol on the
serpent. Once he was to his knees, Marcus saw that the serpent was not alone, but was
guarding many young serpents which he would have crushed had the serpent not struck him.
Marcus reached out his arm, holding his hand near the serpents, as he held his arm out,
Marcus was pleased to see one of the young serpents slighter onto his hand, and coiled
itself around his wrist.
The two apothecaries studied the progress of the two initiates, and found that as the
gene-seed took hold, the serpents venom was neutralized. The implantation progressed
remarkable, rivaling the perfect textbook examples. Finding that they had to spend minimal
time with the initiates, and were able to devote much of their time to studying the
serpents. The apothecaries study showed that the serpents were surpassingly docile around
marines, and that young serpents were very likely to form bond with marines that either
had shown or were beginning to show signs of good leadership abilities. Of the six young
serpents that were brought back to the citadel, all six had formed bonds, three with
sergeants, two with squad leaders, and one with one of the initiates.
With the validation of the recovered records, and the success of the two initiates, Commander Lepidus ordered the marines to pass word to the people that those struck by the serpents were not dying, but had been chosen by the serpents for their valor, courage and loyalty. Lepidus instructed the marines to have the people immediately sent those struck to the citadel for induction into their order.
The Serpents Rise
Bonds of Allegiance
For the next fifty years, the Serpents of Death were able to quietly and safely build up their strength. Although they had plenty of young men brought to them that had been selected, many had to be put out of their suffering due to a lack of gene-seed. By that time, they had been able to build full strength first and tenth companies with partial strength second and ninth companies. Commander Lepidus knew that even though they had not received the requested gene-seed and equipment, or their required space transport, preventing them from effectively responding to any call upon them due to lack of men and means to get to the required location, they would soon be called upon to perform their duties for the Emperor. With the Serpents of Death restricting their recruitment to those bitten, large numbers of young men had been joining the Guardsmen who believed that it was their right and duty to protect the planet in the name of the Imperium.
Due to Aufidius' unending efforts, the people trusted and supported the Serpents of Death because to them the Serpents were the ideal their society had been based on for thousands of years. The Guardsmen resented this and a bitter rivalry grew between them. Commander Lepidus felt that if he could form a bond between the guards and themselves, they would have a temporary solution to both of his fears, for the Guardsmen had been able to dramatically increase their numbers, and they still had an Imperial Styx class heavy cruiser with an escort squadron detached to provide assistance. Lepidus believed that with the use of the Imperial squadron, and the assistance of the Guardsmen they would be able to commit a significant number of troops when they were needed, and still be able to provide sufficient forces to defend Icharus VII.
Commander Lepidus gathered Coriolanus and two squads of veterans, and rode for the Guardsmen’s fortress with a message sent to Aufidius to meet them on their way. As the group approached the Guardsmen’s fortress, they began to encounter many bike mounted rough rider patrols made up of the local populace half hartedly performing their duties. After reprimanding and questioning one of the junior officers, Lepidus found that the original guardsman, and now their children, were exploiting the locals. They were using the rough rider platoons formed from the local recruits to enforce their laws, while the Guardsmen enjoyed the spoils. Lepidus and Aufidius were outraged and declared the Guardsmen and their families heretics and traitors. With orders to the rough riders to gather all of their brethren and make camp near the Serpent Citadel, the marines rode to the Guardsmen’s fortress. After a short battle with the untrained guardsmen, the original guardsmen and their families were rounded up and executed.
The fleet commander was notified of the events and told that he would now be working with the senior rough rider officer, who would be contacting him in the next few days. The marines gathered the rough riders and over the next few days conducted trials and executions, until only the most noble hearted officers were left, and all of the soldiers who had enjoyed abusing their power were hanging for all to see. Lepidus selected their new commander, and gave them new directions on how to operate. The Commander, grateful for his chance to prove himself, and make the guards as respected as the Serpents of Death, worked with Lepidus enthusiastically.
Portents of Doom
As the years passed, the Serpents of Death were able to continue building their strength, while they proceeded to perform operations as Commander Lepidus had predicted. The Serpents also found that they now had a new secret to keep hidden from the eyes of the Imperium, by some fate the psykers of the chapter had started to make rare predictions while meditating. These predictions were never recalled by the librarian, but painted a vivid picture of a bleak future for the chapter.
With the number of predictions on the rise, the Serpents of Death made a desperate gamble. The predictions that had been made pointed to a time when the chapter would be shattered in strength, and have almost no hope of recovering. One obscure prophesy suggested that at this time, a champion of the chapter would lead them to a secret cache of gene-seed and give them new hope. Gambling with the chapter, the new Commander ,Lepidus having recently been mortally wounded and interned in the chapters sole dreadnought, sent Aufidius, Coriolanus, and the twenty survivors of the chapters founding to find a secure vault to place their treasured gene-seed. Along with enough gene-seed to form an entire company, they took with them twenty of the caducus serpens to ensure that no gene-seed would be wasted.
With the passing of time, the portents and prophesies slowly ceased, this was believed to be a sign that the prophesies had been a sign from the Emperor, and that by sending the mission, the crisis had been averted. As the years became decades and the decades turned to centuries, the truth of the mission became a legend. The serpents waited for the day that their ancient brothers would return to save them during their time of need.
Crisis of Honour
Over the next few centuries, the Serpents of Death performed admirable for the Emperor, although they were often scorned and shunned for their beliefs, and their loyalty to the people of the Empire. Eventually the Ecclesiarchy was able to manipulate orders for the Serpents of Death to stop an Eldar invasion of Barrius III at all costs. The Ecclesiarchy hoped that the battle would critically weaken the Serpents of Death, allowing them to move in and purge Icharus VII and the Serpents of Death of their heretical ways, and allow the establishment of a permanent presence on Icharus VII.
The Serpents of Death had defended Barrius III for months when the Eldar forces
suddenly withdrew. The surviving brothers of the Serpents of Death, numbering little more
than a full company, returned to Icharus VII in the battered Styx class cruiser that was
all that remained of the Imperial task force that still supported them. As the cruiser
headed towards their home, a small task force headed out to meet them. Commander DeBrois
was confronted by a demand to submit himself and his men to heretical purges for promoting
unclean thoughts on Icharus VII.
With the sounding of General Quarters, the battered cruiser 'Emperors Grace' prepared
for the transition from warp to real space. Commander DeBrois, of the Serpents of Death,
silently stood at ease on the bridge, when the ships captain spoke.
"Commander, we've picked up an Imperial task force heading toward us from planetary orbit. Preliminary readings indicate a overlord class battlecruiser, two dauntless class light cruisers, and six escorts."
"Very well, maintain course."
After a short silence, Commander DeBrois was addressed by the communications
officer, "Sir, we're being hailed."
"Put them on, lets find out what this is about."
"This is Bishop Mulldoon, of the Redemptor Cydon. I hereby inform you that the Ecclesiarchy has taken it upon ourselves to protect this world in your weakened state, and to purge the rampant heresy from this planet. I hereby order you to stand to, so that the loyalty of all those on board can be confirmed prior to allowing you to return to your base. Any sign of refusal will be taken as an act of heresy and will result in your immediate destruction."
Commander Debrois seethed as he contemplated his only choice. He had seen how many of the Imperium’s worlds had been reduced to mindless slaves by the Ecclesiarchy's doctrines. Planets where the entire population was afraid to give their best because of the threat of being declared a heretic. Nowhere had he saw subjects as loyal and devoted to the Emperor, or with the sense of pride and determination of the people of Icharus VII. He knew that the leash of the Ecclesiarchy would break his people as it had broken the people of countless other worlds. While DeBrois thought about the fate of his people, and the sorrow of being unable to save them, the ships captain interrupted him.
"Commander, there is an additional task force of five ships approaching from astern. Preliminary power reading indicate one heavy cruiser and four cruisers of older design. They are hailing us."
Commander DeBrois faced the holoscreen and spoke in a clipped voice, full of anger.
"This is Commander DeBrois of the Serpents of Death, to Imperial task force, channels are open."
Commander DeBrois was surpassed to see an officer wearing the armour of a Serpents of Death Captain.
"Commander DeBrois, this is Captain Typhus onboard the heavy cruiser Striking Serpent. I bear a message from the Adeptus Astartes acknowledging the formation of the Serpents of Death chapter, and informing you that due to material limitations, the said chapter is being provided with five Imperial fleet training cruisers and orders for the immediate transfer of the Imperial ship 'Emperors Grace' instead of the standard rapid deployment force provided to Adeptus Astartes forces. Also, I currently have five hundred marines who have completed gene-seed implantation, and a full gene-seed stoke on board. I hope our delay due to an encounter with a warp storm did not inconvenience you adversely."
Commander DeBrois smiled as he said; "Captain, have your ships man battle stations, the Ecclesiarchy is attempting to place the planet, and indirectly us, under their thumb in violation of Imperial Law. If they do not remove themselves from the system, we will be forced to destroy them as rebels and traitors."
"Yes Commander."
Commander DeBrois secured the channel, and turned to the ships captain.
"Join the rest of the fleet immediately, and open a channel to the Cydon."
The holoscreen came to life with the Bishop on screen.
"Ah, Commander DeBrois, I see you are a heretic after all. It will be my pleasure to destroy you, and all of your corrupted follower."
"No Bishop, what you are doing is a violation of Imperial law. By attempting to place a chapter of the Adeptus Astartes under Ecclesiarchy control, you are placing yourself in rebellion against the Empire. I demand that you leave this system immediately."
The Bishop turned to his left, and DeBrois heard him question his subordinates sensor readings. As the Bishop turned to face the Commander, Commander DeBrois snapped.
"Bishop, once again I order you to leave the system immediately, or I will send you to answer before the Emperor as atoms!"
"Very well Commander, we'll leave, but your actions will not go
unrecorded."
The Serpents of Death, returning from a devastating battle with Eldar warriors, found
Ecclesiarchy forces attempting to subjugate them and their homeworld. Only the arrival of
their initial founding equipment and supplies, which had been lost in the warp for over
three hundred years, allowed them to drive off the Ecclesiarchy forces. However, they were
to find that the Ecclesiarchy had already founded a convent on Icharus VII before the
Serpents had returned. The Serpents of Death were forced to either accept the presence of
the Sisters, or risk open war and massive bloodshed to remove them.
Over the next centuries, the Serpents of Death, and the Sisters were to gain a grudging respect for each other. Eventually the Serpents of Death and Sister began to provide support for each other and form a more friendly sense of competition between them.
Building Tensions
Erik sat under his favorite apple tree on the far side of the orchard. He absentmindedly fondled the medal his uncle had given him the week before. Erik's uncle Gunther had been visiting his family for his sixth birthday and had given him the medal for a birthday present. Gunther had said that he thought it would make a good present, and that he could always get another one.
As Erik sat enjoying the fresh spring breeze, he daydreamed of becoming a Commissar in the Serpent Guard like his uncle. Erik was startled awake by the loud snap of a breaking twig. Walking towards him was one of the black armoured Serpent Knights. Erik rose to greet the knight when the Knight spoke.
"Awfully young to have earned such a honor, how old are you boy?"
"Oh, I didn't earn it, my uncle gave it to me for my birthday last week. I just turned six!"
"I'm sorry, I thought it would have been a family heirloom you were playing with, not something just given to you."
"An 'air loom'? Naw, its just a medal my uncle got recently, he gave it to me as a present because he didn't need it, and could always get another one. And my names Erik."
The black armoured knight knelt next to Erik, and he saw that the Knight wore the same medal.
"An heirloom is a precious family treasure Erik, as that medal should be. That’s called the Emperors Star, and is only given to the Emperors finest warriors."
"Why is it supposed to be such a treasure if my uncle can get another one?"
"Because those that receive it never live to see their next one, that why most soldiers also call it the Emperors Sacrifice."
As realization of what the knight had said occurred to Erik, his eyes began to water. The more he thought about his uncle, the harder Erik cried. The Knight picked up Erik, and carried him toward the farmhouse, sadness deeply etched into his face.
With a string of closely spaced victories, the Serpents reputation began to spread.
They were looked at as champions of the people, and saw as the embodiment of the Emperors
will. This resulted in tensions between them and the Ecclesiarchy reaching new levels.
Erik sat under his thinking tree, ever since his uncle had found out about the Emperors
Star eleven years ago, since then it was where he would go when he was depressed to think
about his failures in life. It had been five years now since his uncle had died on an
alien world, since then he had been determined to follow in his footsteps, but just today
he had received a letter of rejection from the Serpent Guard. he had been told that he was
being passed by due to his lack of riding experience and that they currently had a very
limited number of billets open, and he was three years past the age to become initiated
into the knights. Erik slowly drifted into dreams of disappointment and despair.
A soft rustling noise awoke Erik, opening his eyes, Erik saw a serpent slowly slithering through the grass towards him. Erik sat unmovingly, willing the serpent to pass him by, for he knew that he had passed the age of acceptance, and that if the serpent struck, it would be to feed, not select.
The serpent slithered up Eriks leg. Erik held himself motionless, as he watched the serpent, and noted to himself its size. As Erik stared into the eyes of the serpent, it lifted its head back to strike. The serpent barred its fangs, showing its many sharp teeth dripping with venom, and struck Erik in the neck.
The apothecary closely watched the new initiate. This case looked as if it may become
the most difficult gene-seed implantation in chapter records. One of the wandering marines
had happened to see the selection, except that this was no selection; this was a bonding.
Chapter records indicated that about one percent of the brothers would be bonded at some
point by a young serpent. This was indicated by a light bite to the brothers neck, in
which the serpent would refrain from injecting any venom. Only, this serpent was not
young, it was one of the great serpents, of which none have ever been recorded as having
bonded with a marine, and was the largest one anyone had lived to record the sighting of.
Not only was this a fully grown male measuring three and a half meters long, instead of
the soft bite that was normal, this serpent had bitten hard enough for every one of its
teeth to sink into the young mans neck, and it had injected enough venom to kill within a
week. Now it was his responsibility to ensure that the initiate survived for the gene-seed
to neutralize the poison in his blood, and the snake looked as if it knew that, and was
ready to rip his throat out if he failed. He also had knowledge known to only a few of the
brethren; every brother that had been bonded by a male serpent had become the Commander
eventually, and this was the first one to be bitten not only by a male, but by one of the
great males.
The apothecary went through the stock of gene-seed, but thinking of the great serpent that had bitten the initiate, there were only three choices that he could consider using, that of Lepidus, Aufidius, or Coriolanus. As he reached for the gene-seed of Lepidus, the serpent smashed into the back of his hand, causing a spear of agony to go up his arm. The serpent stretched out to reach the gene-seed of Aufidius, and indicated that it was the only acceptable one.
Erik awoke to a soft tickling on his nose. Opening his eyes, he was shocked to see
the serpent smiling at him. The serpent slithered off his chest, and Erik noticed the
unfamiliar surroundings. As he surveyed his resting place, a white knight entered the
room. Erik jumped off the bed, and started to kneel. The white knight spoke to him
quickly.
"Quit kneeling, your one of us now, although you will not be a full fledged
brother until you graduate from the tenth company. Morning Vemon, how about some
breakfast?"
The serpent hissed and went to a bowl in the corner as the white knight tossed a steak into it.
"Is that your serpent Sir Knight?"
"I'm called Brother Solumus, I'm the chief Apothecary, stop calling me a knight, we're all brothers in arms here. The serpents not mine though, he's yours. Normally the bonded one chooses the name, but seeing you've been unconscious for a while, and the nature of your serpent, he let us know what we were to call him. Now hurry and put on this robe, you need to go to the naming ceremony."
As Erik kneeled in front of the assembled chapter, the Commander began to speak.
"Initiate, on your first day as a Serpent of Death, you begin a new life as a Serpent Brother today. To represent this, you will no longer go by the name Erik, for he died in the orchard near his home. You come to us a nameless orphan, and as the lord of this house, it is my right and duty to give you a name. Rise Brother Atraikius, for you are now one of our family."
Atraikius rose to his foot, and with one voice, a thousand of his brothers said;
"Welcome home Brother Atraikius."
Unknown to the Serpents of Death, a sense of urgency griped them. The numbers of initiates were growing dramatically, and their tenth company had reached unprecedented numbers and was still growing. However, these facts did not go completely unnoticed, for once again, the Ecclesiarchy was influencing the Imperium to reduce the strength of the Serpents of Death.
Brother Atraikius surveyed the wargames battlefield. Due to his natural aptitude for
tactics and combat, he had rapidly became the assistant squad leader in second squad,
tenth company. Today he had been placed in command of the even numbered squads with
Brother Zor, who was his younger brother by blood, as his second. They would be facing the
odd numbered squads in a classic capture the flag scenario, while the squad leaders
observed and evaluated to determine who would be promoted out of the tenth company.
Training had been excellerated as much as possible due to the situation on Archos II, and
they needed as many of the younger brothers promoted to other companies before they were
called to assist. Atraikius had taken advantage of the fifteen minutes before breakfast to
requisition some surprises for the excursus today, he hoped that this would give him an
advantage that his opponent would not expect. As he put down his field glasses, Brother
Atraikius smiled wickedly, and issued the orders to carry out his plan.
Brother Atraikius swooped down on the opposing teams flag defenders. He already knew
that the exercise was over, he had caught the defenders completely by surprise. Three of
the five defenders dropped as simulated casualties as they closed with their bolt pistols,
and the surviving two were quickly overcome. Atraikius ripped the flag from the ground and
waved it over his head, the exercise was over, and he had won.
The battle on Archos II was escalating. A general call for assistance had been made, and now the Serpents of Death, and a several companies of the Serpent Guard were to provide assistance to the Ecclesiarchy forces. Imperial forces had complete control of space around Archos II, but the Eldar continued to pour forces in. With the Sisters earlier arrival, Imperial forces still held the capitol and space port, but little else. A coordinated assault by the Serpent Guard from the space port, and a drop pod assault by the Serpents of Death rapidly secured the plains around the capitol all the way to the mountains in the north and west.
Sergeant Atraikius observed the deployment of his troops. he and his four subordinates had proven themselves worthy to become full brothers during the last months training, especially during the last week long exercise which turned out to be against both the odd squads of the tenth company, and six squads of the fourth company. Not only had the four of them been made full brothers along with him, Both Zor and himself had been made sergeants in the fourth company as a reward for their success.
Atraikius had been left with five squads as a reserve, while the rest of the fourth company and the seventh company advanced through a pass to the northwest. They were to provide reinforcements for both their brothers and a combined Ecclesiarchy and Guardsmen force advancing though a pass to the north. It hadn't been long before reports of Eldar counter attacks in both passes were made. Atraikius' men had set out to assist their brothers, when Captain Jameson reported that the Ecclesiarchy forces were falling back, and he was in dire need of reinforcements. Atraikius had decided to assist the Serpent Guard Captain, and rushed to the northern pass.
Atraikius had ordered his scout squad, and his bike squad to scout out the pass to find out the situation. He was inspecting the deployment of his tactical, devastator, and assault squad, when Sergeant Zor returned with the bike squad.
"Brother Atraikius, the Ecclesiarchy forces are in full retreat, from those questioned I understand that a Guard infantry platoon and mortar squad are providing a rearguard. I left Sergeant Carracus to investigate the progress of the enemy, while I returned to inform you of our findings."
"Very well Brother Zor, hold your men around the bend for a counter attack."
Atraikius stood in the middle of the road and waited for the fleeing troops to arrive. Atraikius identified the leader of the fleeing troops, and let the others pass by. As the fleeing reverend passed by, Atraikius reached out, grabbing the reverend by the throat and lifting him from the ground.
"Your a coward, now rally your men before you and your men are dealt with as the traitors you are."
After ordering the reverend to rally his men, Atraikius threw the reverend to the ground.
"How dare you strike a priest of the Imperium like that!" The reverend stood and continued to confront Atraikius. "I'll have your head for this, now get out of my way you oaf!"
Atraikius backhanded the reverend, with the crunching of bone, the reverend collapsed to the ground. Atraikius calmly rolled him over with a boot and placed his foot on the reverends throat.
"In the name of the Empire, I charge and sentence you and your men treason and cowardice in the face of the enemy, the sentence is death."
Atraikius drew his pistol and fired. He calmly faced his men, ignoring the red and
gray gore on his greaves as he said;
"Mow these cowards down like the traitors they are!"
The screams of the dying militia echoed through the pass as the marines executed
them as deserters and traitors.
Silence had once again settled in upon the marines, when a mortar squad came into view.
The squad approached Sergeant Atraikius, and was quickly directed where they were to
deploy. Shortly after the mortar squad had finished deploying, the remnants of the
infantry platoon appeared. The tattered lieutenant reported to Atraikius.
"Sir, eighth Serpent Guard, third company, second platoon reporting."
"What do you have lieutenant."
"Your scout squad directed us to report to you sir, while they provided us with a rear guard. I have twenty three men including myself and two heavy weapons teams left. The other ten men were following five hundred meters behind as a precaution sir."
"Good job lieutenant, deploy you men behind that ridge."
Serpents Betrayed
Robes of Shame
The battle of Archos II had been a brutal and bloody affair, of the five thousand Guardsmen and Marines sent, less that one thousand returned. For fourteen months the situation on Archos II had been a story of grim orders and heroic deeds. Only the Serpents of Death kept the planet from falling, but at a heavy price. Eight hundred brothers had left for Archos II, but less than four hundred returned, but without their support, the Ecclesiarchy force would have been massacred. After the Ecclesiarchy's humiliating defeat and panicked rout, the marines had held the alien invaders while they gathered the survivors to fight under their orders. However, the shattered pride of the Ecclesiarchy demanded vengeance. With the battle over, Ecclesiarchy officials condemned the Serpents of Deaths' brutal actions as excessive and unnecessary, magnifying Imperial losses, and prolonging the campaign. With these charges, the Ecclesiarchy demanded disciplinary measures be taken against select Serpents of Death officers. Now instead of returning home in honor, they returned home in disgrace.
As Sergeant Atraikius stood with his wrists lashed to the poles of dishonor and the coarse wool of his robes of shame scratching his shoulders and back, he contemplated the mornings events.
At first light he had been called before the Force Captain, it was there that he learnt that he was to be placed on the dishonored list for twenty days, and was to be given twenty lashes per day in accordance with chapter regulations. He had protested the charges on the fact that there was no grounds to warrant them. He had been informed that although the entire chapter saw the circumstances the same as he did, the Ecclesiarchy believed that the brutal treatment of the reverend had been excessive and unnecessary. It was the views of the Ecclesiarchy that the reverend would have regrouped his troops and returned to battle once they were in a position to do so. Atraikius began to protest, but was cut short by the Captain.
"It does not matter at this point. In their formal protest, they demanded that you are either disciplined appropriately, or they will formally charge you with charges of heresy against the Empire. All brothers not in the infirmary will be attending with robes of shame over their armour, for what you do is for the honor of the chapter, and of the people we protect. Now report to the Master at Arms for punishment."
"Yes, sir."
Atraikius now stood in silence, he could see his brothers standing in robes of shame, their heads bowed in respect for his sacrifice. To the other side of the circle, the Ecclesiarchy officials stood leering at his punishment, laughing at his plight. After what seemed like hours, he heard slow footsteps approaching from behind him. Atraikius saw the steel barbed whip in the Force Captains hand, and was surprised to find that he would be honored by the Captain executing the punishment personally.
Black Crusade
The Serpents of Death only had a few years to rebuild before they were once again called upon. This time it was to destroy an offshoot of the Ninth Black Crusade. One of the renegade lords had assaulted and conquered the planet Tyrus II, and the Serpents were ordered to retake the planet. Do to the loses from their last campaign, the Serpents of Death were only able to field five companies, but it was estimated that the renegades numbers were only slightly greater, with less than half comprising of traitor marines.
Arriving in the Tyrus system, the Serpents of Death found a small renegade fleet in orbit around the planet. After a short battle, sustaining only minor damage, the renegade fleet had been destroyed or driven off. The Serpents of Death rapidly deployed to the planet, only to find that their intelligence had been wildly inaccurate. The traitor marines themselves outnumbered the Serpents of Death, and the cultist that followed them had twice their numbers. In a bold stroke, the Serpents of Death threw themselves at the traitors in the hopes that by destroying them, the cultists would be broken, and they would be able to clean up the cultists piecemeal.
The Serpents of Death found themselves overmatched, as their attack faltered and the Serpents of Death began to slowly give way. As the Serpents of Death were about to be overrun, the traitor lord was struck down in single combat. With their Lord defeated, and the blessing of Khorne withdrawn, the remaining traitor marines fled the field by the use of a newly opened gateway. With the sudden retreat of the traitors, the cultist followers broke and ran, only to be run down as they fled.
From the rise, Atraikius could see Zor, now one of the companies chaplains, leading lightning strikes against the advancing Traitor to protect his falling back brethren. Atraikius knew that he would not be able to make it back to the rest of his brothers with his five remaining men because he had advanced too far, now all of them would pay for his arrogance with their lives. Atraikius had only one option, to attack hard, and take as many of the Traitors with them as they could. Signaling a charge, Atraikius activated his jump pack and leapt forward, his serpent Venom wrapped tightly around his waist.
Atraikius and his men drove towards the heart of the Traitors forces, only vaguely aware of the blood dripping from his sword or the building heat as he continuously fired his plasma pistol. As Atraikius finished off his last opponent, he spotted the Traitorous Warlord. Gathering his remaining men, Atraikius sprang towards the Warlord and his guards. Maintaining a steady stream of fire as he closed, Atraikius was pleased to see two of the guards turned to ashes by the intense heat of expanding plasma when the searing heat from his pistol broke his concentration. Dropping the rapidly heating gun from his hand, Atraikius was suddenly knocked to the ground by the blast from the exploding pistol.
Atraikius recovered from the blast in time to see the Warlord striding towards him. Struggling to his feet, Atraikius prepared to face the Warlord when the Warlord suddenly staggered off balance. Venom had bought Atraikius time to prepare for the Warlords advance, but in return the Warlord stomped on the serpent, the crunch of bones audible to all those around. The Warlord continued advancing towards Atraikius, his chain-axe held in both hands. Atraikius rose his sword and strode towards the Warlord determined to make him pay for what he had done.
With a cry of rage, the Warlord attacked. Although Atraikius withstood the Warlords assault, he realized that he was hopelessly overmatched. Atraikius put all of his energy and skill into defending himself from the warlords relentless blows. he was not sure how long they had been fighting, but Atraikius was beginning to feel himself slowing from the exhaustion of the battle when he noticed the Warlords weakness.
Knowing it would cost him his life, Atraikius deliberately hesitated, leaving his left side open. In a berserk rage, the Warlord swung his axe with both hands. As the chain-axe began to bite into the ceramite of his armour, Atraikius clamped his left arm down on the axe, and grabbed the haft to prevent the Warlord from pulling away. With all the strength he had left, Atraikius swung his sword at the Warlords head. With the sword nearing the Warlords temple, Atraikius began to feel the teeth of the chain-axe biting into his flesh. The agony grew in his side, blood and gore splattering across the Warlords chest as Atraikius' sword connected just above the Warlords ear. A field of blue crackling energy formed around the sword as it cleaved through the Warlords Skull. Feeling the chain-axe grinding through his ribs, Atraikius watched his sword slice through the Warlords eye, nose and cheek. As the sword finished its path through the Warlords head, both the Warlord, and Atraikius fell to the ground motionless.
Slowly awareness returned to Atraikius, the sound of battle was faint, and all he could see were the dead. Although he was very week, Atraikius felt that as long as an apothecary found him, he would live. Atraikius started dragging himself towards a bolt pistol one of his men had dropped, he was too weak to defend himself with a sword, but he was determined to make sure he could take a few of the Traitors with him before they could kill him. He was almost to the pistol, when a Traitor Marine walked over and picked up the weapon. Atraikius looked up at the Traitor, and marked that the Traitor wore the black armour of a chaplain, and was studying him. With a sigh, the Traitor flung the pistol away, saying; "I'm afraid I can't let you have the gun boy."
Turning to Atraikius, the Traitor spoke, his voice calm and friendly.
"Congratulations on the victory," gesturing to the fallen Warlord, "well done." and softly clapped his hands.
"I have no need of your words traitorous scum." spat Atraikius.
"Scum?, maybe, but traitor?, that’s just a matter of perspective. Am I a traitor for opposing a repressive, xenophobic empire that hides behind a false god as an icon of hope? One that those who rule use as a puppet to keep themselves in power. Or are you the traitor to those under your protection for supporting them? Well, I must be going, we will meet again."
As the Traitor walked away, he turned and spoke one last time. "Look well at your victory son, for this victory is all yours. With the defeat of Khorne’s Champion, the Legion you fought against lost his support and fled the battlefield. This victory is all your, remember it well, you may even get the Emperors Sacrifice for it." With that said, the Traitor walked out of sight.
Although the battle had been won, the Serpents of Death had taken once again taken heavy losses. Due to the Serpents depleted state, the Imperium spared them the duty of hunting out the hiding cultists. The planet Tyrus II was ordered to be placed under quarantine, and subjected to an exterminus.
All surviving brothers of the Serpents of Death watched silently in respect for the innocent people of Tyrus II. On the surface of the planet, the remaining planetary guard continued fighting to remove the last of the cultists, and innocent women and children mourned the losses of their loved ones, not knowing that above them an Imperial fleet prepared to perform the exterminus. The Serpents of Death stood their deathwatch, and when the last glow from the planet died, they returned home, not with victory, but with the bitter taste of failure.
Impending Doom
The Serpents of Death struggled to rebuild, but they found themselves cursed after their failure at Tyrus. For every two initiates the Serpents gained, one veteran was lost. The Serpents of Death felt their first true defeat, and many of the battles that were won tore at the Serpents of Deaths sense of pride. Through this time, one thing gnawed at their souls more than any; their failure to protect the innocent on Tyrus II.
Atraikius stood facing the men about to be executed. The Imperium considered in cleansing, but it was still an execution.
While recovering after the battle of Tyrus II, it was found that the trauma of his duel with the Warlord had broken loose something in his mind that had blocked his psychic awareness. For fifteen years he had underwent psychic training at the Serpent Citadel, and now he was on his first mission with the fourth company. They had been detailed to stop an uprising on Sleisius III. The uprising had turned out to be instigated by a chaos coven, but luckily it had been restricted to one isolated city. With only minor loses, the Fourth Company had destroyed the cultists, but they were now faced with the cleansing of the city.
Today the cleansing was to begin. Before dawn, the companies captain had came to him in shackle and wearing the robes of shame. Atraikius had been informed that the Captain had announced that he was a heretic for doubting the wisdom of the Imperium, and ordered himself to be executed with the first batch of civilians in the morning. With the death of the companies chaplain during the last assault on the cultists, Atraikius was now left in charge of the Fourth Company.
Now, as they prepared for the execution, five of the companies veterans had dropped their weapons and joined the ranks of those about to be 'cleansed'. Atraikius studied his men, he could see the black look of despair on their faces, and the way their shoulders slumped under the weight of their robes that were being worn in respect for those that were truly innocent. Already more men would be lost due to the men’s black despair, than had been lost in battle with the cultists, and they wouldn't be 'cleansing' the women and children until tomorrow. Atraikius could tell that this was tearing his men apart, and would count himself lucky if he could return home with over fifty men.
The Turn from the Light
Despair and failure weighed heavily on the Serpents of Death. Many of the brothers had either went renegade, or had turned themselves over for heretical thoughts by the time the order to stop a revolt on Cretus came. The depleted chapter had to scrape together everything they had in order to even field six companies. Arriving on Cretus, they found that it wasn't a just a revolt, but were faced with an entire continent that had sworn itself to chaos. Due to the extensive manufacturing completes on the unaffected continent, an exterminus was out of the question. This had left the Imperium with the only option of sending in a group of marines to somehow close the chaos gate that had been opened, and prevent any more enemy forces from arriving.
Atraikius hadn't been the chief librarian for long, when the Serpents of Death were called to Cretus. The situation was sever enough that it required the presence of Commander Drysus, and the newly promoted High Chaplain Zor along with himself. Every marine the chapter had went to Cretus, but after three months of fighting they were down to less than two hundred. There support fleet was still intact, although they had received some battering while preventing additional hostile forces from reaching the planet. It had been estimated that there would be at least another month before any friendly reinforcements could arrive, and that was if their call for assistance had gotten through.
Atraikius stood, studying the map of the disposition of forces with Zor, as the Commander outlined his plan. Atraikius felt that the plan was an unnecessary gamble, but the Commander was determined to follow through with it, and spring the renegade trap in a desperate gamble to allow a portion of the remaining forces to withdraw.
"Commander, I must protest. This plan cannot work, and it will cost us direly needed men and equipment. If it fails, it will not only cost us yourself, but it will cost us our only remaining assault squad. That squad has been necessary for our defense in this rough terrain."
"Enough Atraikius, Sergeant Lodovico has earned the right to be promoted to captain, if I fall, you two can promote him to commander. All three of us know of the prophesy of our doom, when have we faced a greater threat to our survival? What greater sacrifice could we give, than to sacrifice myself and half of our men in order to save the rest?"
"I don't know, but I don't think sacrificing half our numbers so that the others can escape is what was meant."
"I said enough! Now start preparing the rest of the men to fall back to the mountains while I attack. You two are the only officers left, and you have thirty minutes to get out of here!"
The Commander took Atraikius' jump pack, and went off to start the counter attack. As the minutes passed, Atraikius continued studying the mad and his notes of previous battles.
"Atraikius, we need to get going, our orders were to get the rest of the men out."
"No Zor, I think I know what must be done, though I fear that we must take the first step to the true sacrifice we must perform."
"You know what the sacrifice is?"
"Not now, go gather the men."
Atraikius laid out his plan to the men. Although it shocked them, they realized that it was the only way they could save their brothers, and the first step in redeeming their failure. As the men cheered, Atraikius saw hope and pride on their faces for the first time in years.
Atraikius had realized that there had been a pattern to the traitors attacks, as he pondered the pattern, it occurred to him that they had not been able to see the pattern before because they would not allow themselves to think like the traitors. Atraikius finally saw their mistake, and their sacrifice. Atraikius finally saw what was defeating them, not the renegades, but themselves. Thinking back over their victories against chaos he had found the pattern, in their victories, they had unknowingly given themselves to the forces of chaos, thus knowing their enemies, and themselves. His review of their losses here had shown that they had not been able to let themselves go. In order to survive they must commit the unthinkable, they must open themselves to chaos to defeat chaos.
Atraikius had told his men what they must do, and why they must do it. The men were disgusted by the thought, but as they slowly realized that it was the only way they could save their brethren, and that but stopping the traitors here, they would have their first true success since their failure on Tyrus. The men pictured the lives they would save by preventing the forces of chaos from taking the other continent, they thought of the lives that would be spared by stopping the them from ever leaving this world, and the light of hope and pride returned to them.
Instead of using the vehicles they had to escape, the Serpents loaded everyone onto them in order to speed around and strike the chaos forces from behind. The surprise attack was a total success, the chaos forces that battled the rest of the Serpents were annihilated, and the raptors that had been plaguing them were cut down to the last man.
Taking the equipment they needed from those they struck down, the surviving Serpents of Death rapidly struck and withdrew to places of safety before the traitors could react. Atraikius lead assaults, leaping into battle followed closely by assault marines with captured jump packs, driving the traitor before him in fear, Zor strode through combat with his crozius in one hand and a lightning claw on his other, leaving a trail of blood everywhere he went, Lodovico rode down traitors as they fled, laughing as they were slashed by the blades on his captured bike, Librarian Canidius relentlessly destroyed traitor supply trains, and Apothecary Mutius grimly went through the scenes of battle, extracting gene-seed from all of the fallen. After eight months of raiding, the Serpents of Death were finally able to reach and close the chaos gate. Less that one hundred survivors returned to their ships to watch the final cleansing of the northern continent from orbit.
The Serpents of Death had been fighting on Cretus for over a year, but they were finally returning home in success. Throughout the voyage home, the surviving marines prayed and meditated, attempting to purge the taint of their actions from their souls.
The Black Secret
For two months, the fleet traveled through the warp, finally leaving the warp on the far side of their moon. All hands were watching as the fleet brought their home into view. Stunned silence engulfed the fleet, as the last flashes of an exterminus flared from their homeworld, and a task force of eight cruisers headed towards them.
Atraikius stood in silence, watching the last of the glow fade from his home, his brooding violently disturbed by the chime signaling an incoming message. Atraikius activated the holoscreen, and was greeted by a space marine captain of the Aurora Chapter.
"Greetings, I congratulate you on your victory over the traitors on Cretus, although I must inform you that due to the taint of chaos that your chapter obtained during that battle has resulted in the order that all of your men an crew must be purified immediately. Please stand to while we come along side."
The screen went blank, leaving Atraikius, Zor, and the ship captain once again in silence. The silence was soon broken by the slow measured stride of someone approaching in power armour.
Atraikius turned to find a Serpents of Death chaplain striding towards him, with the eight pointed star of chaos proudly displayed on his chest. Atraikius began drawing his sword, when the chaplain rose his hand and spoke; "Hold Son." Memories slammed into Atraikius, bringing him to his knees. He remembered the 'Black Knight' who told him of the Emperors Star, he remembered the Traitor who talked to him on the battlefield of Archos, dozens of fleeting memories passed in front of his eyes, all with the same face. Finally he saw the dining hall of the Serpent Citadel, the same face, the same armour, but without the sign of chaos, this was one of their saints, this was Aufidius.
Atraikius glared at Aufidius, his voice crackling with hatred, awe, and confusion.
"Aufidius. Why?" Although he knew the answer even as he spoke.
"You already know the answer son, so do the two with you, and all of you would make the same choice as I did, for the same reasons."
As Aufidius began to speak, time slowed around the Serpent Fleet. Aufidius began to tell the three of them how years before the founding of the Serpents of Death, a Fallen Dark Angle had began whispering during an interrogation. Aufidius had leaned closer in order to hear what was said, for he hoped that this would be his first confession. Instead of a confession, Aufidius was faced with a prophesy that burned into his mind, that he could not forget. The prophesy had foretold that a new chapter descended from the Dark Angel blood would again fall to chaos, and that he was to lead them to their fall, although he would not lead the fallen. Aufidius should have been discovered as he left the interrogation chambers, but the librarian assign to verify that no interrogator was tainted, saw himself in the vision that had burned itself into Aufidius' mind. Over the years, both Aufidius and Coriolanus found their souls gnawed by this knowledge. Aufidius began to question the Imperium and what it stood for. After the founding of the Serpents of Death, both Aufidius and Coriolanus found more freedom in searching for their answers. By the time that they had left on their final mission, both Aufidius and Coriolanus were disgusted by what they had found, they gathered those that saw the same flaws that they did, and prepared for this day. Aufidius told of how he had questioned thousands from various worlds and pieced together the puzzle of their tales, and how the puzzle only began to fit together after questioning one of the sensei. He explained to them how the High Lords of Terra puppetted the Emperor around in order to keep power to themselves, not to further the Emperors visions. Aufidius told how they only keep the Emperor barley alive, in order to prevent his return in order to maintain their power. Aufidius related how the Empires policies only made chaos stronger by their regime of hate, fear, and terror. They listened to how the Fallen Angels and themselves could only be forgiven by the return of the true Emperor, not the false one represented by the high Lords of Terra, and the empty shell they held before them. They understood, and accepted his reasoning that for the Emperor to return, he must be allowed to die. Aufidius described how the death of the Emperor would cause chaos to spread unhindered through the universe, and that only the Emperors return could stop it. Aufidius finished his tale by telling them that in order to succeed, they must take the responsibility of forging the peoples souls upon themselves in order to ensure that mankind would survive the onslaught of chaos in order for their hope and love for the Emperor to bring him back. For only a wave of death and destruction, leading to the destruction of the Golden Throne itself, provide mankind with the experience, and strength to survive the age of chaos before the Emperors return.
Atraikius agreed with what Aufidius said, along with Zor and the Captain. Atraikius went to break the news to his men, while the Captain prepared the fleet for battle, with assurances that Aufidius' ship, the Serpents Fang, would arrive with its escorts for the battle.
Atraikius was nearing the end of his speech. He had seen his men go from despair to outrage, and now to resolve and determination. As his men began to believe in him, and their new goals, he had seen the years begin to catch up to Aufidius. Aufidius now appeared a feeble old man, leaning against the far wall.
"... and we must make the Empire fear us for we are the wrath of the people. Our only salvation, the destruction of the Golden Throne."
Atraikius lifted a goblet and raised it towards his men, Venom lying across his
shoulder at ease with the situation.
"To the destruction of the Golden Throne, the proverbial pulling of the Emperors
plug. May he rest in peace, and return to save us."
The chamber echoed with the men’s roar.
"Pull the Plug!"
As the echoes died, Venom lifted his head, and Atraikius heard a soft whisper.
"Well done my son, your on your own now, but I'll return when I’m once again needed. Follow the charts on the Serpents Fang to your new home."
Atraikius looked to see Aufidius, but he was nowhere to be seen.
With the Disappearance of Aufidius, time once again resumed its normal course. The Serpent Fleet engaged the Imperial task force in a battle to the death. With the Imperial fleet engaged in battle, they didn't notice the Despoiler class battleship, Serpents Fang, and its two slaughter class escorts until it was too late.