Even though it was Lord Antioch's suggestions that had given birth to this entire operation, he had given over tactical command of his forces to the Primarch of the XI Legion and had been subsequently relegated to the side-line. Instead of feeling passed over, he couldn't feel gladder about it. It was not weakness to come to the limit of one's experience, decided the Lord Commander, it was weakness to come to those limits and continue on regardless of cost.

 

No Lord Antioch would not allow himself to fall victim to jealousy or petty recriminations, he accepted the fact that he lacked the knowledge, experience and above all the sheer manpower that was necessary to conduct an operation such as this. Even then if he needed an emotional band aid to salve his wounded pride, after all it was his ideas that were decided to be the most appropriate to progress this campaign.

 

Since the landing for the first phase the gigantic floor plate was awash with personnel from various factions at large in the Imperium. There were four warriors whose armour and physiology was reminiscent of Astartes, but they seemed larger than Ultio's Astartes. Their armour was painfully ornate and golden, atop their conical shaped helms were scarlet horsehair plumes, he wondered what Legion these giants hailed from as the Lord Commander could tell they were quite different compared to the Emperors Judgement.

 

Not far from the golden warriors was a gaggle of Mechanicus adepts, they were all robed and heavily augmented they reminded the Lord Commander of Magos Zule –then on closer inspection he could see that the Explorator Magos was amongst their number. Standing close to the Magos was Princeps Majoris Alba Tallos, conversing with his opposite number from the Legio Astorum, beside them were other Princeps from Titan Legions he did not recognise.

 

Lord Militant General Agrippa caught his gaze lingering on the adepts. 'Like the 393rd we are honoured with the presence of Mechanicus factions, they are Magos from Centurio Ordinatus, Ordo Reductor, Legio Cybernetica, various Legions of the Adeptus Titanicus.' General Agrippa then turn to face Lord Antioch. 'We even have the presence of the Auxilia Myrmidon.'

 

Lord Commander Antioch snapped his head back to meet the Militant Generals gaze. 'Do you think they know of Myrmidon?'

 

'They do now.' Jested General Agrippa in good humour. 'I doubt that the adepts would think anything in regards to the similarity of the name such is their way.'

 

'Who are the Auxilia Myrmidon?' asked Lord Antioch.

 

'They are siege experts and war savants.' Put in Admiral Leopold. 'They are drawn to worlds that are tough to crack or like many in the Mechanicus they are drawn to the potential of lost Archeotech.'

 

Lord Antioch looked back to the adepts, here on this floor plate was a representative of just about every Mechanicus military faction. 'Is this common of all Legio Astartes to have such a significant Mechanicus presence?'

 

'Every Adeptus Astartes Legion have alliances with Mechanicus factions.' Replied Admiral Leopold. 'Although few can lay claim to such a significant presence as the Emperors Judgement.'

 

'How does Primarch Ultio Ultionis draw such a significant presence?' asked Lord Antioch.

 

'It is largely in part due to our home world Kerak, and the system it resides in.' put in General Agrippa. 'For centuries before the coming of Ultio our home world was beset by the greenskin menace, we were unable to repulse them from the system we could not even wrest the surface of the planet from them.

 

'We were able to keep them from our city states, through the boon of technology we could mount wondrous weapons that could decimate the Orks from our city walls. Walls that were so monumental that an Emperor-Class Titan could not see over their battlements.

 

'We did not know it at the time but this was all made possible as we had in our possession the rarest and sought after commodity in the entire galaxy. For we held in our grasp working Standard Template Constructs.'

 

Lord Antioch felt his jaw slacken, the teaching machines he had used in preparation of taking command of the 393rd taught him that working STC was lost and that the Mechanicus were searching the galaxy for the merest scrap of it. The teaching machines stated that working constructs were lost –perhaps this knowledge was being kept from the Imperium as a whole, then again if that was the case why was Lord Antioch being told?

 

'May I ask a bold and potentially provocative question?' asked Lord Antioch, something didn't now knowing what the Kerakian's had in their possession, the Orks did not add up.

 

General Agrippa and Admiral Leopold shared an uneasy glance, then the Admiral replied. 'You may but we may disincline to answer.'

 

'Of course I appreciate that.' Stated Lord Antioch, while trying to mentally phrase his question in a way that would not sound offensive. 'Considering that your world had the boon of working Standard Template Constructs, how were the people of Kerak unable to wrest control of your system from the Orks?'

 

General Agrippa's and Admiral Leopold's faces darkened and an eerie silence settled on this section of the floor plate as a direct result of what the Lord Commander had asked. The Admiral and Militant General were just staring at Lord Antioch, then the Lord Commander realised that they were not staring at him but behind him.

 

'Now that is a provocative question.' Stated a profoundly deep voice.

 

Lord Antioch spun on his heals only to be greeted by the armoured stomach of Ultio Ultionis, the Lord Commander took several steps back and had to crane his neck up to see the Primarch's face.

 

'I apologise for any offense caused, my lord.' Stated Lord Antioch, he knew now he should have kept his mouth shut as he had besmirched the honour of their home world. Throne, Lord Antioch had lead a rebellion against his planetary governor when an exarch demanded half his grox herd. Who knew what recriminations he would suffer for his loose tongue, he just waited now in silence.

 

Relief flooded through Lord Antioch when Ultio smiled, then his face turned to stone. 'Now if you had of insulted my brother Angron over his inability to lay claim to domination over Nuceria then you would now be chopped into a pulped, ragged and bloody mess by his chain axes Gorefather and Gorechild

 

'Thankfully for you the Emperors Judgement and the Kerakian Feudal Guard are not so quick to feel insult or anger. Although I appreciate that the presence of Standard Template Constructs would present a paradox when the wielders of such technology could not win back their planet. However you have failed to factor in two variables from the equation, they are human emotions. They are pride and greed.

 

'Before my coming to Kerak the rulers of these city states declared themselves Kings and refused to share power. They used their Standard Template Constructs to defend their domains and…'

 

'My Lord?' interrupted Lord Gromwell, he was joined by Lord Commander Tiberius.

 

Ultio paused in his story turning to face Lord Gromwell, Lord Antioch felt relief at being free from the Primarch's unrelenting gaze. 'Yes, Lord Gromwell?'

 

'I apologise for such an intrusion.' The Lord of one of the Orders spared Lord Antioch the briefest smile before he spoke again. 'Sergeant Riddick leading one of my Tactical squads in the mountain range east of the valley where the Myrmidon were attacked has come into aggressive contact upon a rocky outcrop.'

 

Ultio took a sidelong glance at Lord Antioch and inclined his head in recognition before turning back to Lord Gromwell. 'Has Sergeant Riddick identified the race of said aggressors?'

 

'That he has, sire.' Despite his power armour Lord Gromwell's chest visible swelled with pride beneath his war plate. 'They are human.'

 

'Let it be known!' bellowed Ultio, while making a three hundred and sixty degree turn around the floor plate. 'Let it be known that it was Lord Commander Victor Antioch of the 393rd Expedition hailing from the hive world of Myrmidon whom had the foresight to know that we would find a lost stand of humanity in the mountain ranges!'

 

Ultio Ultionis turned back to Lord Gromwell. 'I trust Sergeant Riddick did not initiate hostilities.'

 

'No sire.' Replied Lord Gromwell. 'As he was descending to the surface with the Guard forces they took fire from small arms fire, Sergeant Riddick called the Guard off and took the Stormbird down alone. He used the Stormbird to fix the attention of the humans, he has them now in a pincer movement, although the humans know it not. Sergeant Riddick requests orders on how to proceed.'

 

'Patch him through to the bridges vox casters.' Within moments Ultio was connected to the sergeant. 'Sergeant Riddick, how is it going groundside?'

 

'My lord, they are definitely human but have been hostile since the outset.' Replied Riddick, his voice booming out over the bridge, everyone on the floorplate stopped to listen. 'They have given us enough grounds to make legitimate war against them…'

 

Ultio could sense the sergeant's unease at the prospect of firing upon fellow humans, he finished his son's sentence for him.

 

'…but you do not wish to fire upon fellow humans. I appreciate your position, sergeant. You know as well as I do that the opening stages of First Contact are crucial, we have seen that entire wars have been started through rash actions or misunderstandings. You have my full trust, if you have to put these humans to the sword I know that this was not your doing. I apologise I am not with you, but you have my full backing.'

 

'Sire, if you were here what would you do?' replied Riddick, everyone on the floorplate turned to look upon Ultio for his reply would have a direct impact on how the compliance would progress.

 

'I would try and exhaust every possibility before violence was the only option.'

 

'Thank you my lord.' Replied Sergeant Riddick. 'I know what I need to do.'

 

'Good luck my son.' Stated Ultio, before he gestured for the link to be cut he then turned to Lord Gromwell. 'How will he handle the situation?'

 

'I can assure you my Lord that in all of my companies we could not ask for a greater Imperial Ambassador than Sergeant Riddick.' Replied Lord Gromwell.

 

'Then First Contact is in good hands.' Ultio then looked to Tiberius. 'You have other tidings?'

 

'My Primarch.' Replied Lord Commander Tiberius. 'I appreciate finding a human strand is momentous, however I do indeed bring more tidings. The sensors are installed across the surface of the planet we are prepared for the second phase.'

 

'Very well, monitor any communications from Sergeant Riddick in regards to First Contact.' Stated Ultio, he turned to the assembled crowd. 'Magos Zule, Princeps Majoris Tallos, if you will?'

 

Lord Antioch watched how Ultio Ultionis comported himself, he had been careful to utilize the entirety of the forces whom had attempted to subjugate Paradise before his coming. Ultio was a consummate leader of men. The Primarch was utilizing these forces to keep moral, the same way he was using the Myrmidon as landing forces, for Ultio knew when this undertaking was done the Explorator Fleet and the Myrmidon Lancers would have to forge forward together –although he doubted Magos Zule was worried about such a trivial emotion such as moral.

 

The Princeps Majoris and Magos Zule stepped forward, the former had supplied a Warmonger Titan for the operation and the latter had constructed the sensors in his forge ships. The Princeps deferred to the Magos Explorator to speak first.

 

'Yes, Lord Primarch?' asked the Magos, his vocaliser unit sounding harsh compared to Ultio's deep drawl.

 

'Commence phase two if you will.'

 

The Magos inclined his head then set off to the edge of the floor plate, personnel moved to allow his passing, he made his way to large work stations that sat where to floor plate joined the rest of the bridge. The Magos used his servo-arms to type commands and his megerendrites physically joined with the consoles. Within moments a colossal hololith projection filled the entire bridges armour glass canopy, it was an incredibly detailed representation showing river basins, valleys and mountains as well as a multitude of other geological features.

 

Then it was as if Paradise had come over with some malign disease for thousands of red spots appeared across the planet's surface in low lying or otherwise flat areas, as soon as the red dots appeared did they turn white.

 

'The sensors are activated, Lord Primarch.' Stated Magos Zule, turning to the centre of the floor plate.

 

'How long until we can anticipate the sensors picking up activity?' asked Tiberius.

 

It was a needless question as the hololith projection of Paradise spun to show a large red mass moving through the plains of Paradise, the mass was in a region several hundred leagues to the south of where the Myrmidon Lancers had come under attack, the mass was moving away from the attack site.

 

'Magos Zule would you provide commentary to make sense of what we are seeing?' asked Ultio Ultionis.

 

'Of course Lord Primarch.' Replied the Magos. 'The mass we are seeing is currently submerged beneath the world's surface, the sensors are calibrated to turn the representation of the mass white if it emerges from beneath the surface.'

 

'Do you have any idea of its size?' asked Lord Gromwell.

 

'Of course.' Replied Magos Zule. 'The mass is approximately twenty six kilometres in length, the size of Primarch Roboute Guillimans's flagship Macragge's Honour. My calculations tell me that the best way to draw in this illusive foe is to teleport the Princeps Warmonger from several kilometres above the surface in order to create as much as a vibration as possible.'

 

'You concur with this?' asked Ultio looking towards the Princeps Majoris.

 

'I do Lord Primarch.' Replied the Princeps. 'I have our Warmonger-Class Emperor Titan Mortem Incarnatum, prepped for teleportation, it should come from such a drop unharmed.'

 

'Should come out of it ok?' asked Ultio. 'I do not wish to risk losing such a mighty war machine.'

 

'Lord Primarch,' countered Princeps Majoris. 'I would not risk Mortem Incarnatum on a whim, our tech-priests, adepts and the Magos himself have conducted countless calculations to see if the Warmonger can withstand the force. Our calculations are favourable but we cannot truly know for sure as no one has thought to teleport a Titan in mid-air.'

 

Ultio grinned then laughed. 'Fair enough, I have the utmost trust in the Mechanicus, transport the Titan as soon as you can.'

 

The Princeps Majoris inclined his head and made the sign of the Opus Machina with his hands, he was unable to correct his mistake for a blinding teleportation flare stole him from the bridge. A murmur of surprise reverberated across the bridge from those personnel not used to teleportation technology, a great many more were trying to blink away the blinding after effects.

 

'The die is cast.' Stated Ultio, who was unaffected by the teleportation flare, he turned his gaze to Lord Antioch who was just about over the effects of teleportation. 'Now where were we?'

 

'I was about to be chopped into pieces by Gorefather and Gorechild.' Replied Lord Antioch.

 

'Ah yes I remember.' Chuckled Ultio. 'As I was saying each so called King of their city state refused to use their technology for anything other than protecting their high walls. That is why the Kerakian's were unable to wrest the system from the Orks. As it served the Kings best interest as individually they held absolute power over the citizens within their walls for they could hardly leave in protest for they would be slaughtered by the greenskins.'

 

Lord Antioch felt honoured to be told information about the Emperors Judgements history for he knew such lore was a treasured and often a private thing not shared lightly, the Lord Commander felt the veracious hunger he felt when he first used the teaching machines the Imperium provided. Lord Antioch desperately wanted to know what happened when Ultio came to Kerak, he wished to know why the Lord Militant General Agrippa's face darkened when he mentioned the coming of the Emperor, he also wanted to know how the Primarch's had come to be scattered in the first place.

 

'Now as for the rest of our history I think that is for another time.' Stated Ultio.

 

Instead of feeling deflated the Lord Commander felt his pupils dilate in shock, did Ultio know what he had been thinking was the Primarch of the XI Legion a psyker. If he was Ultio did not show it as he was looking at the hololith representation, several leagues north of their foe another large mass appeared this one was heralded by every sensor within hundreds of kilometres around going crazy as they were hit by shockwaves. With every set of eyes on the bridge staring at the hololithic projection of the surface of Paradise, they saw that the mass equal to the size of the Ultramarines flagship change its trajectory, it turned north headed right for the Mortem Incarnatum.

 

Before Ultio could turn to congratulate Lord Antioch, Lord Gromwell approached his Primarch with a look of severe unease.

 

'What is it Lord Gromwell?' asked Ultio.

 

'I bring grave tidings.' Replied Lord Gromwell, his face darkening. 'They are concerning Sergeant Riddick and his attempt at First Contact with the humans he encountered on the surface.'

 

Ultio's face betrayed real in regards to the fate of the humans. 'The sergeant had to kill the humans?'

 

'Yes, my Lord.' Replied Lord Gromwell, he took a sidelong look at the representation of Paradise. 'It is much worse than that, Sergeant Riddick made a breakthrough and actually began peaceful dialogue with them. That was until there was an accusation made against the Emperors Judgement, in the aftermath shots were fire and Sergeant Riddick had no choice other than kill them.'

 

'Accusation?' cut in Lord Commander Tiberius, in response to this news all seven Astartes officers come to stand near the conversation, joining them were the giants in golden armour. 'What accusation?'

 

'That we have taken their leader.' Deadpanned Lord Gromwell.

 

'That is ridiculous.' Put in Ultio, his face darkened at the news.

 

'Sergeant Riddick told them as much.' Replied Lord Gromwell. 'But the human who accused him was given an exact description of what an Emperors Judgement Astartes looked like in terms of armour and colours by someone who had not seen the Sergeant.'

 

Ultio's face darkened further his eyes were beginning to line with rage. 'Where is Sergeant Riddick is now I want him fully debriefed?'

 

'We have lost contact.' Replied Lord Gromwell. 'The rocky outcrop upon which he and his squad were standing overlooked where the Mortem Incarnatum came down, it took a direct his from the shockwaves, I have reviewed picts of the area it looks as if they fell victim of a landslide.'

 

'They are dead?' asked Ultio, he looked heartbroken at the prospect of losing his sons.

 

'Two are confirmed dead, sire.' Replied Lord Gromwell. 'Their biometrics flat lined fast but the rest of the squad as far as I can tell they are still alive, if I had to guess they made it into the mountain. I cannot confirm as either their communications are being jammed or they are too deep for us to make meaningful contact.'

 

'Or they're dead.' Deadpanned Master Techmarine Grimwald, who had been entirely silent since the landing of phase one.

 

Lord Gromwell rounded on the Master Techmarine. 'Nothing not even a landslide would lay low thirty five of my Astartes with such ease, they are alive I know it.'

 

'I think you should have joined the Thousand Sons.' Countered the Techmarine, the seven Astartes broke into laughter at Grimwald's quip instantly bleeding the tension from the air, he then turned to Ultio. 'Perhaps we should conduct a squad to squad check to see if there is any truth in what was claimed?'

 

'That won't be necessary.' Replied Ultio, anger still evident in his eyes.

 

'My Lord?' asked Master Techmarine Grimwald.

 

'I already know it was not one of our Astartes whom took their leader.' Stated Ultio, he took a sidelong glance to Chief Librarian Dorvus whom nodded slowly. 'They are here.'

 

'That's not possible.' Interjected Lord Commander Tiberius. 'We would have known. They could not have infiltrated the operation let alone the First Great Order.'

 

'That is exactly what they do.' Cut in one of the conical helmed golden giants. 'They hide in plain sight, strike with impunity and exfiltrate before anyone knows they're there.'

 

'Not this time. Not my Legion.' Said Ultio through gritted teeth, he then turned to Lord Commander Tiberius and Master Grimwald. 'I want you two to personally check and re-check every Stormbird and Valkyrie that headed down to the surface of Paradise match them with serial numbers and transponders of our fleet's cogitators. If you find an anomaly with a craft I want to know if it has headed back to orbit or if it is still down there.'

 

'You will not catch them.' Stated the golden giant.

 

'We will see about that, Vendatha.' Replied Ultio. 'We will see about that.'

 

The conversation was cut short as Magos Zule approached Ultio. 'Lord Primarch.'

 

'Yes, Explorator Magos?' asked Ultio, composing himself instantly.

 

'The large mass is headed for the Mortem Incarnatum it is barely a hundred kilometres away.' Stated the Magos. 'However there is a problem.'

 

Ultio laughed but there is no humour in it. 'Which is?'

 

'One of my escort frigates has broken off formation with my fleet.' Replied the Magos. 'It is headed into the atmosphere of Paradise under the express orders to fire upon the submerged mass in order to disable, destroy or lure it to the surface.'

 

'Who ordered such a thing!' roared Ultio, with a sudden roar of frustration.

 

If the Magos was able to look threatened he did so now, he took several steps back and his megerendrites were shaking. 'Lord Primarch, they claimed that I did.'

 

'Then call them off!' demanded Ultio.

 

'I have tried, Lord Primarch.' Replied Magos Zule, he took a further step back. 'But they have now shut off their vox.'

 

Ultio suppressed a roar of anger, he looked to the hololith, it showed the representation of the colossal mass heading for the Warmonger. Ultio then looked out into the cold void of space, he could see that there was indeed a ship that was under its own power which had broken formation and was headed for Paradise.

 

Ultio took a sidelong glance to Admiral Leopold. 'Warm up the Nova Cannon in case we need it.'

 

The Admiral moved off to enact his commander's orders, whereas Ultio was left to fend of the protestations of Magos Zule.

 

Lord Commander Antioch's head was swimming with the current events, the mass that murdered his Myrmidon was barrelling towards the Warmonger Titan and one of Magos Zule's frigates was going to fire upon it seemingly acting under his orders. Not only that the Emperors Judgement had been accused of kidnapping the human's leader from the surface, were the two things connected, Lord Antioch certainly hoped not. The whole thing seemed so surreal, the Lord Commander was left standing by Lord Militant General Agrippa.

 

Lord Antioch puzzled by the cryptic talk about who had taken the humans leader, he took a sidelong glance at General Agrippa he used his fingers to quotation mark his speak. 'Who are "they?"'

 

General Agrippa looked to Ultio who was still fending off the Magos, the General shifted uneasily then looked back to the Lord Commander. 'The XX Legio Astartes, the so called "Ghost Legion."