Aboard the Transcendent, flagship of Lord Commander Eidolon, in the banquet hall.
The Emperor's Children held an unshakeable confidence in their martial perfection. Celebrating victory before battle was a long-standing tradition.
But the feasts were growing longer, almost matching the battles themselves.
Tarvitz looked around. The other captains were lost in their golden goblets of wine, their cheers echoing off the alabaster walls.
Except for him and Lucius, none of the others had been selected for the ground assault.
He remembered his oath-brother Nathaniel Garro's words, and the highly unusual deployment of the four Legions:
The Warmaster had not followed the traditional company-based deployment, but had drawn squads from different companies, forming a single army.
Even more unusual, not a single warrior from Eidolon's inner circle had been chosen.
An orbital assault that excluded all of his trusted warriors was an unprecedented slight. Yet Eidolon showed no displeasure.
He had even willingly given up the chance to lead the spearhead, to display his perfect command. Appointing another as commander was unheard of.
He accepted the captains' toasts with a smile, drinking deeply of the crimson wine.
The liquid, sloshing in his goblet, caught Tarvitz's eye.
He thought of Lucius's words: the Warmaster and their father were planning a purge on Isstvan III.
Squads fought together, lived and died together, their loyalties aligned.
The warrior lodges, promoted by the Warmaster, were also organized at the squad level.
But within a company, there could be dissenting voices.
'Could it really be a purge?'
He set down his goblet and rose.
There was little time. He had to know the truth.
"Tarvitz, leaving so soon?" Eidolon's gaze fixed on him.
"My lord, there is much to prepare before the orbital assault."
"Of course. Our cautious Brother Tarvitz always has much to prepare." Lucius knew Tarvitz was going to verify his words.
Eidolon's voice was slightly sharp. "Tarvitz, you should be prepared."
"Go."
Tarvitz bowed to Eidolon and strode through the golden doors.
He hurried to the elevator, pressing the button for the gun deck.
His hearts pounded, making the descent feel agonizingly slow.
Bang!
Before the elevator had fully stopped, Tarvitz was already striding out.
The laborers, seeing the purple-gold giant, bowed.
This area was far from the ship's ornate quarters; few Emperor's Children ever set foot here.
He walked onto a gantry, looking down at the steel framework below.
"Prepare for loading." The mechanical voice over the speakers. Tarvitz watched the iron ladder at the far end of the deck below.
Mechanical arms swung through blast doors, lifting tank-sized warheads.
The gunners and loaders heaved at the massive control levers, pulling heavy chains.
He watched the Tech-Priests tending the guns. 'They really are preparing for an orbital bombardment.'
He reviewed the battle plan, growing more uneasy.
The Emperor's Children always planned meticulously before a battle, to achieve perfect execution.
If there was a bombardment plan, it should have been announced and discussed.
Tarvitz stepped from the shadows, walking forward.
He had only taken a few steps when he met a Tech-Priest in a red robe.
Two beams of green light from his faceplate struck Tarvitz's armor.
"Captain, is there a problem?"
"No." Tarvitz forced himself to remain calm.
"I was just making sure everything was proceeding as planned."
"What warheads are you using? Are you on schedule?"
"Of course, Captain." The Tech-Priest, said.
"All guns are loaded with airburst warheads containing virus bombs."
'Lucius was telling the truth.' Tarvitz felt as if he'd been struck.
"We are following the orders precisely. We will fire before the second wave."
'Before the second wave...' The wine in his stomach churned. He felt nauseous.
'The first wave of assault troops is within the bombardment zone. I was selected for the first wave. I am among those to be bombarded.'
Tarvitz knew that releasing enough virus bombs to destroy the planet required the cooperation of many ships.
Only the Warmaster's command could compel the Mechanicum personnel on each vessel to obey.
So, this was not an independent action by the Emperor's Children.
The order must have come from the Warmaster.
He thought of nearly a quarter of the Emperor's Children being marked for purging, and felt dizzy.
'Fulgrim, Eidolon, Horus, why are you doing this?'
'I have to warn them.'
'I have to tell Nathaniel.'
"Captain, is everything all right?" The Tech-Priest stared at the Emperor's Child, whose legs were trembling slightly. His mechadendrites twitched.
"Fine. You can return to your post."
Tarvitz practically ran to the elevator. He slammed his fist against the keypad, then, at the last moment, gently pressed the button.
Crunch!
The key was forced to the bottom. The machine-spirit sensed his anger. Ancient chains spun.
He made his way to the flight deck as quickly as he could without drawing attention.
He shouted to his pilot. "Prepare for takeoff."
"Where to?"
"The Eisenstein. I need to see Nathaniel."
The Thunderhawk, without its pre-flight checks, shot from the Transcendent.
Tarvitz quickly changed comm channels, shouting: "Nathaniel, it's Solomon."
"Solomon, you sound urgent. What's happened?"
"The Warmaster has betrayed us. Our fathers have betrayed us." Tarvitz shouted.
"We have been betrayed. The fleet will virus-bomb the planet's surface after the first wave lands."
"By the Emperor, this sounds insane." Garro exclaimed.
"Nathaniel, I know it sounds absurd. But you are my oath-brother. You must believe me." Tarvitz struck his chest with his fist.
"I swear on my life, I am not lying to you."
"Solomon, I'm not sure." Garro hesitated.
Crackle!
A powerful burst of static cut through all channels.
"I am Lord Commander Vespasian of the Emperor's Children."
"I am warning all Emperor's warriors across the Legions: the Warmaster has betrayed the Imperium. Mortarion and Angron have become his dogs."
Vespasian paused. "My father, Fulgrim, has also fallen."
"All warriors selected for the drop on Isstvan III are to be purged."
"I swear on my life, on all the honors I have won on my loyalty to the emperor, that all I have said is true."
"From this moment, fight for your survival and your honor. Fight for the Emperor."
Tarvitz rose, pressing himself to the narrow viewport.
He saw purple-gold warships, their engines blazing, suddenly accelerating.
The Andronius fired broadsides from both sides, striking the Pride of the Emperor and the Transcendent.
'Vespasian and Lucius have begun their action. They are warning before the landing, fleeing Isstvan.'
He gripped the communicator. "Nathaniel, did you hear that?"
"I heard it, but I still find it hard to believe."
"You must believe it. As Vespasian said, we have little time."
"Prepare for warping. I'll be at your ship soon."
....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu