In the vastness of space, above the planet of Redna, a singular vessel of gothic architecture and militaristic design slowly moved along the orbit of Redna. The vessel itself was of intimidating size and stature as the emblazoned symbol of the Ultra Marines chapter was painted on the prow of the Cruiser astride the double-headed eagle of the Imperium.
Inside of the vessel itself was a cold and depressing atmosphere, the various members of the Navis Imperialis toiling in their tasks and objectives. Candles lit the long winding corridors and hallways of the vessel, stray servo skulls with their cybernetic augments and arrangements of cording hovering through the halls between tasks. Human soldiers trained and strained against the cold ceramite plating of the vessel as Commissars yelled at them in all manner of fowl dialects and hive-languages.
In a similar chamber to those of the Human Soldiers, two giants of immense size and strength clashed. Ripped muscle contending with the steel weaponry of the opponent.
"Haha! Brother Octavius, it seem you have lost your edge!" Another righteous swing of a sword's edge thundered towards the bare skin of the physically immense man. Muscle strained, tightened and tensed again as sword met sword, Octavius managing to receive the blow the deflect it off to the side, angling his right foot with his opponents ankle in an attempt to trip him.
"Not in the slightest, Brother Valefor, in fact, if you are not careful i may just win..." Valefor gritted his pearly white teeth as his green eyes seemed to pierce time itself so that he may win. He was not in fact doing that but his concentration was of such impressive quality and density that it made you question if it was not so. Octavius's kick failed in the next moments as he landed on his right foot, bringing his sword forwards to slash at his brother. Valefor had dodged backwards and prepared his own strike, once again their swords clashed and bounced.
"You do yourself honour Octavius, taking this many of my blows usually entails dying."
"Valefor, it seems you are not finished in your egotistical displays yet."
They both assumed stances and were prepared to lunge in once more for melee. Just as the tension within their limbs and in their muscles reached breaking point, a point in which they would leap forwards once more, one of the doors to training pit opened. This drew both of their attention as they turned their heads in the same direction.
Standing before them was a Chaplain of the Ultra Marines chapter. Armour clad in blue and black power armour a figure of 8 feet height strut into the room, the crozius swaying lightly at the side of his power armour. The armour was an immaculate colour of bright and dark blues with blacks added in for his position as a chaplain. On his left pauldron the symbol of the Ultra Marines Chapter was painted, the symbol itself a stark white in contrast to the blue background colour. On his right pauldron was a large golden double headed eagle, white skulls lightly lining the corners of the black background. The Power Armour itself was lined in gold and gleamed with a holy countenance that left no room to deny the faith that the man below the armour held. The helmet of the chaplain was a deep bone white, black making the recesses and amplifying the skull motif of the helm. The two brothers instantly ceased their match, turning in his direction and dropping their heads.
""Brother Chaplain.""
"It is good to meet you once more Brother Valefor, Brother Octavius." The chaplain's voice was a sickly distorted sound that made it seem as if he was more instrument than man. Valefor and Octavius raised their heads as they sheathed their blades, the metal still making grinding noises as they slid into their blunt sheathes.
"You as well Chaplain!"
"Good. Good." The helm of the chaplain, the spiritual leader of the Ultra Marines chapter itself, moved to the side and looked towards the bundles of robes that had been abandoned in preference to the combat outfit of the training hall. This lasted mere moments however as the skull helm turned back to the two brothers.
"Do you know why we come here?" The two brothers looked at each other in idle thought before turning their heads back to the chaplain.
"To slay foul Xenos, Chaplain?"
"Destroy the wicked and lay low the Xenos invasion?"
The chaplain did not speak and simply stared towards them, his emotions incomprehensible and thoughts ever more so. The hum of servo-skulls soon filled the room as several passed in and out in 'quick' succession, the noise painting the scene even more awkward than it was already.
"Partly you are right... We have indeed come to slay the vile foes of the God Emperor, he who is might and salvation incarnate. But, there is something else... I was not just sent here for mere trifle such as a Xenos invasion, no matter if it is from the Great Enemy."
Valefor and Octavius turned to each other, their expressions turning towards the dark side as their own minds churned with a need to know information, the bloodline of Guilliman fuelling a fire within them.
"Then what is our goal?"
"What drives us forwards then?"
The Chaplain took a moment before looking down towards the floor of the training pit, the sand and ceramite mixing to make interesting patterns.
"That is what I wish to find out... I have come to prepare you, you will meet our father, the Primarch of the Ultra Marines, and be presented before him as personal escorts."
Elation pumped through the bodies and minds of Octavius and Valefor as their wishes had all but been granted... What better honour than to serve a son of the God Emperor, what better honour than to serve their Primarch!?
...
Onboard an Imperial Battleship inside the warp Guilliman steepled his fingers whilst analysing the celestial chart for Segmentum Ultima. Red dotted the extensive map, skulls showing on these red dots, the dots that represented planets. Another turned red in moments as several that were violent and previously controlled by enemies turned blue. It was infuriating for him, to see the results of death and blood whilst being incapable of personally aiding. But, this was another case of aid being needed at a grander scale. He could not aid everyone, everywhere... The Imperium needed direction and he was it. There was no one else and even if there was, it was not likely that they could be as efficient as him.
"Lord Commander! We have received a report from Chaplain Cassius, It seems as if a large fleet has emerged above the planet of Redna."
"Hmmm. Who do they belong to?"
"From the psychic message we received through our Astropath they are of a foreign design, completely foreign... And their largest vessel spans 120KM in length."
Guilliman's eyes raised slightly at the information. New encounters with new alien species was not unheard of or even uncommon but it was odd that this occurred at such speed, without warning and with such a large number of vessels.
"What is our projected exit time?"
"At least half an hour Lord Commander, at most? It is unknowable..."
His eyes closed slightly as the fist within his massive power armour tightened, the armour itself whirring a little as the action called to the machine spirit within.
'It seems that my time will not be easy or without new problems...'
The vessel carrying Guilliman shuttled through the hellscape known as the warp, the insatiable mass of purple-pink thought energy poking at the Gellar fields of the battleship as it strived to appear where it wished.
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