Warhammer 30k: The Ferrian Heresy: Lions of the Thunder

Prologue

Archais.

An undisputed jewel in the vastness of space. Free of war and the turmoils of the Great Crusade. Yet, darkness begins to reap the fruits it had sown centuries ago.

Never had the Thunder Wardens and Maidens thought to be called into a war council this early. As the dark forces had sprung from the Warp and disturbed the peace on Archais, Primarch Kiroch had called his war council.

It was only preliminary and he had not yet decided what to do about the apparent imperial civil war.
The Angels of Death. Still no better than we were. He had thought with a smirk on his face as he had first heard the news.
He had prepared for this day. His Thunder Wardens and Thunder Maidens stood at the ready to go to war for him. And he had left them the very thing which he had retained throughout the trials and tribulations which came with being a Thunder Warrior, his free will.
He hadn't broken them, hadn't twisted their mind away from what they were as humans. It had been his most sacred of creeds ever since that creature had changed him. Had given him an eternal body.
Once he had made the vow to make the Thunder Warriors legacy known. To teach the galaxy what sacrifices he and his brothers had made to bring this Imperium to fruition. He didn't hate it, he wanted to teach it and to spit in the face of his creator.
But out of that vow had become so much more. Archais now was more to him, like a home. He ruled the planet and was admired by its population. For their sake he would remain. He would continue to protect them, be it from Xenos or Imperium itself.

On the other side of the room Eskior Maras took a glance over the Tactica Holo-Table in front of him, displaying the space battle from days ago. His face was ugly, decorated by scars and a grey eye which he would continuously refuse to have covered by an eye patch or be replaced by a bionic eye.
,,What will we do now, my Primarch." he grumbled with his raspy voice.
Kiroch turned away from the table and looked out of the enormous window opening up the view to the capital city of Archais.
,,Mobilise the Legion.", he said finally after a long moment of silence, ,,All of it."
Eskior crossed his arms when these words left Kiroch's mouth. He grunted and breathed out heavily.
Even though the Thunder Wardens were of better quality than Kiroch and his brethren, their insides still were a hot mess. The mutations made their insides more or less into srambled eggs so they all had some sort of bodily defect, but mostly breathing problems or missing sight.
An aide now approached them. Compared to them and the table, he was small. Barely being able to look over the Holo Table.
,,My Lord.", he whispered, ,,How may I serve you?"
,,Alert Sesha. Have her prepare the Legion for battle. And have my ship ready by sunset." he said calmly.

The aide bowed and went off out of the room.
,,Of course, my Lord." he said as he left the room.

Now they were alone with nothing but the soft humming of the Tactica Holo Table. While Kiroch still looked out of the window at the busy streets below him, Eskior put on his helmet. With a silent hiss the helmet closed and the visor of it began glowing with a light blue colour. The Servos of his armour whirred as his heavy figure stomped towards Kiroch.

,,This moment came too soon.", Kiroch said, ,,I hadn't expected the war to find us this early."
,,And yet I feel that we are ready.", said Eskior with heavy breathing, ,,Ready to do our duty, to show them your legacy."
,,My brothers legacy." Kiroch corrected his second in command.
,,Indeed." agreed Eskior.

Kiroch smiled for a moment before putting on his helmet.
While Eskior was a loyal warrior who had endured as much pain as Kiroch himself, he could never understand the weight of the burden he carried upon his shoulders. But he was right, they would show the galaxy the legacy of the Thunder Warriors.

And maybe, Kiroch thought, when we are done I can finally rest.