Thus Did The Imperium of Mankind Fight There

Part 35 Strange Guests

Expeditionary Army Categis HQ

Arik Taranis furrowed his brow as he mulled over his war plans. Leaning over a holoprojector in the meeting room that displayed maps, graphs, and charts, all the information a general would need to lead an army and prepare for war.

That was until a new variable had been thrown into the equation. The introduction of a third player into the conflict raging on Falmart.

This caused no small amount of consternation for the Primarch who could ill afford to fight a war on two fronts. If his objective was only to secure the Gate then that mission was already complete and he had supreme confidence in his ability and that of his army to repel whatever offensive the Saderans and these new actors could potentially initiate.

However, his orders were clear. The entirety of the Adeptus Terra, Adeptus Mars, and Custodes demanded the complete compliance of Falmart. Anything less was unacceptable, for what message would it send to the Imperium's citizens if their defenders were not able to take a world literally no more than a gateway from Terra itself?

Falmart had to be conquered and that posed a challenge, even to the Lightning Bearer. With further reinforcements impossible until the completion of the orbital station, his forces were woefully insufficient for the task. This was no secret among the officers of the army.

Already, during the most recent war meeting, some had questioned the viability of even limited strikes against the enemy. That was when the army's complete focus was on Sadera and now they were faced with the possibility of contending with a second power.

Arik knew he would have to play his hand cautiously. There was little room for error in this delicate tight rope he was balancing upon.

However, all these events made him realize that he needed to make "friends" on this new world, sooner than he'd expected. Such plans were already in place with his agreement with Princess Alice. These would now have to be brought forward.

It was with these considerations that he'd sent a message to the Sigillite earlier to send the Callidus assassin he requested over immediately to save a certain royal.

It was also why he ordered five certain individuals to be brought to him. A 7th Legion Marshal-Sergeant entered and brought a clenched fist over his primary heart in salute to the Proto-Primarch. "My Lord, I have brought the...individuals you wished for."

"Good," Arik responded. "Bring them in." The Solar Warden nodded and stepped to the right of the entrance.

The first to step in were four more Solar Wardens and right behind them followed, Rory, Tuka, Lelei, Master Cato and Hodor, trailed by the remaining five members of the Space Marine squad.

The Astartes then spread out, standing against the walls of the enclosure. The Marshal-Sergeant stepped behind the Primarch to his left. Outside the room and surrounding the HQ were Solar Auxiliaries and Ghota.

The extensive security was due to the nature of his guests. Rory Mercury alone would have warranted this much and far greater. Normally the presence of so many powerful and psychic individuals in a single room would have necessitated the deployment of the Imperium's more specialized and shadowy forces. 

However, such forces were even more spread out than the Legions with the Silver Knights, Black Sentinals, Sisters of Silence, and Custodes being stretched thinly across the galaxy, snuffing out a hundred thousand fires only to immediately move on to put out a million more. Quite frankly, the Imperium was expanding so quickly that its reserves were virtually nonexistent. 

The fact that he'd managed to convince Malcador to deploy just a single assassin was in of itself a minor miracle. 

Of course, he was confident in his own ability to - if not kill - than to disable this odd bunch, including Rory. After all, despite the apparent ability of apostles to regenerate, even the two perpetual primarchs couldn't revive instantly and he was the one who'd acted as the drill instructor of the Emperor's own sons. He'd damn himself if he couldn't defeat a false profit from a feudal backwater.

As a precaution, however, he'd ordered a battery of manticore missile launchers to zero in on the HQ building and fire upon receiving a predetermined signal.

Hoping such measures wouldn't have to be used though, he greeted his guests.

"Elves from the Forest Clan, Mages from Cota Village and Apostle of Emroy, I am Arik Taranis and although I possess many titles, all that you must know as of now, is that I am the leader of this army."

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Lelei, Tuka, Hodor, Rory and Cato POV

Before Arik had even spoken, the Falmaritians were taken aback. The only exception was Rory -who although inwardly impressed - didn't let it show, having seen much over her nearly millennia-long life.

They'd expected this "Lord Taranis" to be like the giant warriors who sacrificed themselves to slay the Flame Dragon and the ones who'd escorted them here. What they saw upon finally laying eyes on the leader of this otherworldly force was that and so much more.

The mammoth of a man who'd ordered them here towered over even the "Space Marines" just as they towered over mortal men. His face looked as though it could be struck with a mace and it would be the mace that suffered. His armor was of a bronze hew with an image of a raptor surrounded by lightning bolts emblazoned upon the center of his chest piece. His presence overshadowed the already intimidating aura of the other giants that would've led many of them to shake where they stood had they not just escaped becoming the infamous Flame Dragon's next meal.

Even then, except for the apostle, all felt fear welling up from their guts and Rory herself - though not afraid - was doubtful as to her chances of beating this colossus. Something inside, instincts honed over centuries, told her this man had seen far worse than the likes of her.

When he spoke, his voice was gruff and deep but not threatening. After he introduced himself, they collected themselves as best they could and began to introduce themselves as well. Tuka was first, by far the most eager and innocent of them all despite recent events. 

"Hello Lord Taranis, I am Tuka Luna Marceau," she spoke formally with an excited expression. 

Next to speak was her father, "Greetings Sir, I am Hodor Marceau."

Then the mages began, "A thousand pardons for the delay My Lord, but allow me to welcome you to Falmart, I am Cato El Altestan." 

Lelei picked up after her teacher, "I am Lelei La Lelena, apprentice to Cato." She then bowed in respect as the others did.

Finally, only Rory was left to speak and all eyes focused on her. Seconds ticked by until a full minute had passed but Rory still hadn't spoken.

Her face remained expressionless, staring up at the towering visage of the Emperor's bastard son.

The tension in the air thickened and just as Arik was about to demand the impudent demi-goddess to speak, her face cracked open into a beaming smile.

"Oh, aren't you a big one, strong too, I can tell. The smell of death surrounds you like a miasma, oh it is delectable," Rory spoke in a sultry voice before licking her lips.

The tension only grew worse after Rory's disturbing speech, the Solar Wardens lifting their weapons ever so slightly. The rest of the natives took a step back, fearing conflict would break out.

Arik narrowed his eyes at the Apostle before ordering, "Everyone but Lady Mercury, leave."