A Monster in Hell: A 40K Story

Chapter-33

"Crap!" I cursed.

Huron had not sprung the trap. I had resolved to end Huron and the Red Crusade before he could become too powerful. But as it appeared, even the traps at Diamat had not drawn him to the location I needed him to be. He had sent Typhus and Eidolon to fight at Diamat, and seize what was presumed to be there.

Worse, Forge-Worlds like Lucius and Ryza had been assailed again. Even worse, even Macragge had been hit badly, and a third strike on Macragge could lead to its utter destruction. Literally all the original Legion homeworlds except Macragge had fallen, with Nocturne and Deliverance recently being razed to the ground. Worse, I needed to return to Mars shortly, because apparently Dark Mechanicus and Conservative Tech-Priest Cultists had allied together, and the Noctis Labyrinth was under attack. Did they know about Mag'ladroth the Void Dragon? Unleashing a potent C'tan shard could have devastating consequences for the Imperium. The stealing of Space Marine corpses and the apparent corrupted genetic experiments being performed on them was concerning.

I put out an order for the capture of Warsmith Honsou. Or his assassination, failing that. And the death of all the corrupted scientists associated with him.

The drop-pods landed on the ground, and I looked at the expanse of hard ground, coated with the ruins of burned war machines and corpses of dead humans.  The Guardsmen marched, the banners and colors of their Regiments mounted atop war machines accompanying these soldiers, the Imperial Aquila flying atop them all. Following them were the Space Marines, adorned in the armors of their respective Legions, intimidating all those with a weak heart. Artillery and Siege Engines of various shapes and sizes were wheeled alongside them all, slow and steady. Space Marine Dreadnoughts stood out amongst the crowd, stomping on and making the earth beneath shake with the combined forces of their movement. Skitarii and various Mechanicus Legions scurried along, lost in the even formations of the marching forces. Tanks formed a line behind: from Luna Russ to Regalia Dorn to Land Raiders to Rhinos to Baneblades to Fellblades, bringing up the rear. Hover Bikes scouted ahead, speeding away into the horizon, and would be the first to bring war to everything. Dark Troopers marched, uncaring and cold, mechanical movements blending in perfectly with the atmosphere, unaware of anything else. Clone Troopers marched in their colossal Units, bred for war, with the professionalism of trained veterans since their conception in their cradle. Walkers stomped along, slow and purposeful, high and mighty, every step heard by the onlookers. Transports sped along, trying to ensure that all the supplies were provided where they would be needed. Other war machines, powerful and visible, stood out in their own remarkable ways to those seeing the march towards the horizon. And the Titans stood above them all, towering over them, each the size of a city block, behemoths who could level strategic targets and cities alone.

"We march to war then, my Lord?" asked General Arcus.

"You may. The Fortress of Guy Saw must be defended with all our might. The vaults under the Fortress, as you may know, are of key importance. They must be preserved. Kill. them. all. Do not leave even one alive." I spoke, my voice clear to all present. "Commander Invictus will accompany your directive and take command shall anything befall you, General. This battle, I believe... will turn the fate of the war."

It would. 

"My Lord," asked Cardinal Orion, the Representative of the Imperial Faith, "What does the Empress tell you?"

"What?!" I turned to him, surprised.

"My Lord... you do receive the visions from the Empress, correct? She speaks to you, does she not?"

Remember... I had not abolished the Imperial Truth because not even a Primarch was capable of such a deed. I had used the excuse of corruption to remove the worst of the Faith. So I had to tread carefully about this topic.