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Exordium
The Past
The darkness surrounded Syakotus like a black veil; both his arms in chains spread out across the crucifix, a large adamantium cross embedded into the concrete floor. Both feet were shackled together in chains wrapped tightly around his ankles, the pain burning of pulled ligaments. His short black hair damp from the sweat beads rolling down his face, in small droplets under the humid conditions. Though he was still conscious he could not speak, yet he shared his mind with another, a spirit stronger than his mortal soul though in his mental state within his inner sanctum his faith remained pure, and yet still Syakotus tried hard to move his fingers, but nothing. Chest bare revealing his scares from his previous battles, he could feel the humid heat bracing itself across his dank skin. From the waist down to his feet he was still attired in his midnight blue ceramite armour. Voices from within his brain screamed out using his own lips. “Free me, free me now. I am C’tan of the Necrosphere.” Necrosphere it all started to come back to him, now he understood he had become possessed by this thing a Necron spirit, but how? He could not remember. Syakotus started to understand he wasn’t chained up because he was under interrogation, the danger’s his mortal body now possessed unleashed would be a critical mistake the chains bound that insanity that consumed his soul. The spirit that controled of his mortal body was evil and far more dangerous to be let free. But why was he still alive surely the Imperium would have just executed him. Suddenly his conscious mind was disturbed. Stop fighting me you are mine now disappear human. The voice said to him. And then he saw a dark figure approach clanging a staff to the concrete floor leaving an echo with every thud sparks of yellow streaked up and down the pole. The man was as tall as him covered over in a black cloak with a large hood looming over his face, making him almost invisible even to his bionic eye. “Release me.” The spirit said once more using Syakotus’s lips though the voice deep and thunderous.
The stranger looked up with his hood slightly revealing part of his white face up to his nose. “Release you. HOW DARE YOU SPEAK, BEAST.” The stranger bellowed, with his voice echoing, loudly through the darkness that covered both. The stranger held his staff up high, then slammed it hard into the floor, the noise thudded whilst the top of the staff lit up in a yellow glow, the strangers hood fell back revealing a white face a face almost decayeding of flesh long since dead. Syakotus looked deep into the other’s yellow eyes glowing through the blanket of darkness. “It is time for you to leave this mortal body beast.” The stranger said, looking deep into his eyes. “Who are you to tell me what I can do.” The spirit screeched back. “I Krupeus know my name it is the last you shall hear.” Suddenly the
staff lit up with a blindingly bright yellow light
forcing Syakotus to lose sight. Bolts of white
lightening shot out across the darkness. Krupeus aimed
the staff towards the shackled Syakotus. “HOW DARE YOU.” The spirit screeched. “I dare. Now LEAVE.” Krupeus yelled back. “AAAAARRRRGggghhhh.” Screamed the spirit. Syakotus could feel all of his veins burning while his muscle’s felt as though they were about to rip out of his skin. He could feel his throat start to burn; with his teeth gripped tightly the pain from their roots flooded his jaw. The vision in his bionic eye began to lose clarity and turned into static. Yet with his other eye he watch bolts of lightening light up the darkness, and in parts he could just make out the large pillars towering upwards in the fleeting moments of light before dark he swore they were forms of angels, the lightening began to shoot out across his bionic arm, as it began to turn bronze with rust. “Stop, stop, stoooooooooop.” The spirit screamed repetitively. As the lightening bolts shot out from Krupeus’ S golden staff, Syakotus saw his ceramite armour was black with patterns of flames across his black ceramite legs, human bones formed a rib cage across his armoured chest. Again he started to understand he wasn’t in the possession of the Inquisition, nor the Imperium but one of the lost chapters. By the pattern across his black armour, this warrior was of the lost legions. Syakotus had seen these mysterious warriors once before when he was a young scout, they had come to aide the Crimson Fists who were losing a battle to the Ork’s. He remembered when they came they obliterated the Ork’s and then vanishing just as quick leaving no trace they were ever there. Without warning his train of though was distracted by the sudden stop to the convulsions and shivers within his body.
Krupues took the golden staff with both hands letting the lightening stop then held it high above his head. “Enim Armute Silencieux Sordus Quadria Lumentis Silencieux” He spoke his words softly opening his eyes a bright yellow glow flooded Syakotus. “Bregious Silencieux La Vailleur Bregious.” Only this time he yelled the words.
Again the convulsions started, Syakotus could feel the spirit within turning and fighting to stay hold of his flesh He felt a tremendous amount of pressure across his brain, the pressure turned into a burning feeling so intense he began to lose sight of what was happening to him, and then all went black.
Krupeus stood alone in the darkness watching the bright green apparition exit the fallen body Of Syakotus.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO” It screeched as it was forced from the mortal flesh it had consumed as it’s host. The spirit floated over the body of Krupeus who watched. Then the apparition began towards Krupeus. Krupeus pointed his golden staff towards it letting the glowing yellow light from the top absorb the spirit. Once the apparition became engulfed within Krupeus’ S staff, he raised his left knee and broke the staff into two.
From behind Krupeus, Etheane walked towards the fallen body of Syakotus still chained to the crucifix limp and unconscious. “Will he live?” Etheane asked, with a slithery tone.
“Yes. Rebuild his Bionics and put some symphetic flesh across his bionic arm.”
“How will we know if he is cured?” Etheane asked again.
“Tie him to a chair and interrogate him, we will soon know.” Krupeus said, as he turned away to leaving the darkness. “And now I need to rest, I have exhausted myself.” Krupeus finished leaving Etheane and another of the hooded Astartes alone in the darkness.
One Week Later
Etheane stood
motionlessly, shrouded in a blanket of darkness
surrounding him and his prisoner, Another Astartes,
strapped down on a chrome chair. Etheane adorned only
black sackcloth, drooping to the stone floor a deep hood
hid his face from sight. “Where are you from?” Asked Etheane slowly circling the chair. The other looked up his eyes the colour of red and his pupils black straining in the dark to see. “I do not know.” Answered the prisoner. “How did you get here?” “I do not know.” “What are you?” “I do not understand your question.” Etheane stopped circling the chair. “The question is simple. What are you?” He asked again. The prisoner looked up. “I do not understand your question.” He said once more. “The question is rhetorical. Are you human?” “I do not know. If my appearance looks human then I guess that I am Human.” “Who made you what you are today, what paths led to you being here before me at this point in time?” The prisoner looked up at Etheane. “I…I cannot remember.” He answered. “Do you have any memories?” “Memories, what are they?” Etheane began to slowly walk away from his prisoner. “A memory is something from your past. Something historical to you. A place or a time that you see.” “Then I have none.” Etheane left the darkness, leaving the prisoner alone. Moments later Krupeus entered, the darkness of the room, holding a tall golden staff, helping him to walk. The prisoner
watched Krupeus approach from what he could see within
the darkness of the room. “What is your name?” He asked watching the prisoner’s expressionless face. “I…Do not know.” He replied. Krupeus bent over looking directly into his face. “I will tell you your name. Your name is Syakotus. And you were once, from the crimson fists.” Syakotus looked up, his face still remained expressionless. “Do you know why you are here?” Krupeus asked stepping back. “I do not.” “You are here because you were possessed. But you are not anymore.” Krupeus explained whilst he un-strapped Syakotus from the chair. "What happened to make me this way? Why am I no longer possessed?" "There are some things that I cannot answer." "What will I do now?" "You are free to go." "Go where." "You have one last journey to take." "I...Do not understand." "You will." Syakotus closed his eye trying hard to remember something, yet nothing. “Some of your memories will return to you in time.” Krupeus said turning away from Syakotus, to leave. Syakotus watched Krupeus as he began to disappear from his sight. “Who are you?” He then asked. Krupeus turned to answer. "You do not need to know my name. What I will tell you, is. Like you I am cursed." Krupeus turned away from Syakotus, and began to leave, but stopped. “I lead the damned.” He replied.
Etheane reappeared holding a thunder hammer. Syakotus rose from the chair as he accepted the thunder hammer Etheane handed to him. “What is this?” He asked. “It belonged to one of your men.” Etheane said. Two more hooded figures entered the room holding weapons. Syakotus clenched the thunder hammer tightly in both hands, he lifted it to his face. Across the bronze handle it had the word Korde inscribed across it. But to Syakotus it didn’t mean anything, for he couldn’t remember. The other two hooded figures placed a bolter plasma combi at his feet, and a power sword. Etheane watched Syakotus as he looked with an emptiness at the sword. “The Sword was yours forge from the finest of metals of your home world Rynn’s World.” He Explained Syakotus looked down on the floor at the sword for a few moments then looked up again. Only to find he was stood alone in the darkness.
Prologue Three Years Later
The lights of the bridge consoles chimed softly under the low light, Anuska watched the three Imperial pilots as they steered the ship through the stars. She was sat in the Captains chair with her white husky at her side. Behind her stood Commander Steven’s, attired in his black tunic down to his grey trousers. At his waist hung his holstered las pistol. His face was stern yet smooth. “Enjoying the view little Anuska.” He asked, holding a half smile. “Oh yes.” She said back. Anuska was a small little girl; her hair was golden and tied in pig tails at either side of her head. She wore pink top and blue trousers. She leant forwards to stroke the Husky, who tilted his head back to let her. One of the three pilots swivelled his chair around to face her. “Would you like to fly the Ave Deluxe.” He asked. Anuska looked up from stroking the Husky. “Can I.” “Only for a few minutes little girl.” Commander Steven’s interrupted. With that she jumped down from the Captain’s chair and onto the pilot’s knee. He swivelled the chair back around to the flashing console. “See that stick there, if you take a hold of it you can steer the Ave Deluxe.” She looked up at the dark skinned man and smiled as she took a hold of the stick he’d pointed to. “Hold it firmly though and don’t point it down.” He said with a chuckle. The bridge of the Ave Deluxe was small, yet it had a relaxing feel the floor was covered in a dark red carpet. Three large windows covered the front looking out into the stars. Behind them the door opened letting in a gentle blue light flood the doorway. Commander Steven’s turned to great Dr Corbeck. “Just letting Anuska get a feel of the Ave Deluxe sir.” He said. Corbeck smiled. “No problem.” He said patting the Commander on the shoulder. “How long before we reach Kylle He asked. “No more the fifteen minutes Sir.” Steven’s replied. “I have a party of five guardsmen to accompany your excavation team, under the command of Lieutenant Jackson.” He continued. “Thank you commander.” Corbeck replied. “Do you think this space hulk we’ve been sent to find will still be on Kylle.” “I certainly hope so; we’ve come along way from Terra for nothing if it isn't there. Plus the high lords seem to think it is on Kylle.” Corbeck finished stepping past the Commander. “Anuska its time to go.” He said patting her shoulder. “Ok farther. Can Rex come too? Oh please.” She asked stepping down from the pilots lap. “I don’t see why not.”
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“Commander I’m picking up a blip on the sensors.” crewman Crisp announced. Commander Steven’s leant across his shoulder to see for himself. “That’s strange this sector is supposed to be devoid of life it has been now for nearly twenty years if not more.” “Could it be Xenos?” Crisp asked. “I doubt that Something would have been reported it’s too small to be anything of Tyranid origin.” “It’s still a fair distance away.” Crisp explained, while looking down at the reader. “It’s proberly a rogue trader smuggling illegal goods trying to avoid Imperial detection.” “Shall I report it?” “No point, by the time the authorities get the message he will be two weeks gone. Ignore it.” Crewman Riker swivelled around towards Commander Steven’s “The excavation team are ready to depart Commander.” “Ok open the docking bay and wish them luck.”
The belly of the Imperial frigate Ave Deluxe slowly opened up, letting a smaller vessel depart. The vessel looked more like a small white Valyrie. Slowly it drifted downwards beginning to float away from the under belly of the Ave Deluxe. Once a fair distance from the frigate, the shuttles aft engines began to ignite with a slow boost of blue flame before changing to a wide ride giving the vessel a boost from the Ave Deluxe.
[center][color=red]***[/color][/center]
Lieutenant Jackson sat at the small flight deck looking out at the stars, to his side was Dr Corbeck brushing his short black hair back with his hands. Behind him sat Anuska with the fluffy Husky on her lap. “We should reach Kylle in about three minutes in this beauty.” Jackson explained as he softly steered the small vessel further away from the Deluxe. Once he’d engaged the main engines the Vessel, Rubicon began to speed up, the whole crew felt a slight wrenching to their stomachs. “Farther what are we looking for?” She asked. Corbeck turned to face her. “Well my little princess we are looking for an ancient ship buried deep in a lake of ice on a cold world called Kylle. When we find it, it will help the Imperium learn of some of the old and forgotten technology. It’s a very important lead to our past. And a very exciting time.” He explained. Jackson steered the Rubicon looking back with a slight smile. Anuska stood up from her seat to look out the side window as she watched the Ave Deluxe disappear from sight.
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Crewman Crisp watched from the bridge window as the Rubicon disappeared from his sight.taking a moment he looked down his console his sight caught by the flashing of a red light as the reader began beeping loudly and flashing constantly red. “Commander the blip is approaching us. And it’s getting bigger by the readings I’m getting.” Steven’s looked down for himself. “Ok that’s no rogue trader; I’m not sure what it is.” The other two pilots stopped doing what they were doing to watch the blip became bigger and closer. Suddenly Commander Steven’s looked up out the bridge window. “Holy Emperor.” He said in shock. The three crewmen dared a look up to witness the size of a large battle cruiser drift towards them. The Cruiser was large in size and coloured in a dirty red with large black flags from its side hanging motionless in the atmosphere. The sheer volume was intimidating very gothic and extremely sinister. The front was covered in large lance cannons; The Hugh warship’s broadside’s boasted a very impressive display of lance and plasma cannon’s. Steven’s turned to Riker realisation hitting home that was no cruiser the ship was a traitor battle barge a very devastating ship of war. “Call the Rubicon back its time we left.” Suddenly a bright light lit up the corner of Steven’s left eye. He turned to see the oncoming streaks of laser fire head towards the Ave Deluxe. “Oh shi…” The bridge became engulfed in a back draft of flames.
The Ave Deluxe combust into a large ball of flames, large chunks of hull blew away burning up. Within seconds the Deluxe was disintegrated, leaving no trace it ever existed.
+++++
The planet Kylle came into view Lieutenant Jackson steered the ship towards it his finger’s dancing acuratly across his flight pad. Anuska watched herself howthe planet became closer growing even closer. Jackson flipped the com to signal the Ave Deluxe they had arrived. “Commander Steven’s we have reached the orbit of Kylle.” He said, waiting for a response. “That’s strange there’s no signal coming back from the Ave Deluxe. I don’t understand.” Suddenly the bio scanner started to bleep and flash red. “Jackson looked down at the scanner. “What is it?” Corbeck asked. Without warning they were all forced forwards Jackson hit his face into the console a splurt of blood spread across the control’s knocking him out. “Farther what was that?” Anuska asked while wiping some blood from her forehead from were she’d hit her head on the dash board. “I don’t know little princess.” He replied the man a shade of white. Rex the Husky began to bark constantly, while jumping up at Anuska. Again they were wrenched forwards from another thud slamming into the aft engines of the Raven.
The Rubicon began to fall into the atmosphere of Kylle its aft engines leaving a trail of flames in their wake. Seconds past while the Rubicon succumbed by the violent windy atmosphere of Kylle began a rapid descent changing into a spiral gaining speed . The vessel rocked from side to side as the storms began to get there grip of the Rubicon.
Inside the cockpit Corbeck tried hard to fight for control of the pilots stick. Behind him one of the guardsmen entered rocking from side to side. “Let me try sir.” He said while pushing past the unconscious Lieutenant and taking his seat. Corbeck bent down and grabbed Anuska in a hug holding her tight. With a smile she looked into her tearful eyes. “Don’t be scared my little thing, I want you to do something for me curl up into a bowl and hide under the console.” He said as he gently placed her under the co-pilots console. “What about Rex.” She asked. Rex crawled under with her as the pair snuggled up together. Corbeck managed to get back to his seat after a few staggering moments his body and movements fighting the powerful grip of G-force watching as the other pilot dance his long fingers across the panel trying hard to regain control of the Rubicon. The wind slammed hard against the windows, with the whole ship shaking the crew all felt the wrenching of their bodies been shoved side to side arms and shoulders been the first to bruise from the sheer violence of the assault. Then the sides of the Rubicon began to tear under the strain of the outside storms and the rapidly fast spiralling descent. Snow slammed against the front windows causing them to crack from the sheer impact. The seats he and the pilot sat rocked violently the sounds of creaking of hull ever present while the seats themselves began to rip away from the flooring. “I…I can’t seem to gain control Sir…brace yourself for a crash.” The pilot bellowed, over the noise of the vessel been rocked from side to side, as it screeched through the sky towards the impeding ground. Without warning the left wing broke away as though a hand had ripped it from the ligament, the wind taking a firm grip pulled the cracked and smouldering wing far from the base of the vessel. “This is gonna be rough” The Guard bellowed again. “Brace for impact.” The guard called out. With that both Corbeck and the guard raised their arms to shield their face’s from the oncoming impact. With an almighty and violent thud the front of the Rubicon slammed hard and fast into the snow. The wind blew the vessel back upward into the air forcing it on a roll flipping the now buckled and severely damaged craft up and down before finally crashing back into the thickly laid snow upside down. The side exploded into a small ball of flames, the wind lifted the Rubicon again. Only this time it landed, it began to roll down hill past a set of trees, knocking them down as its other wing split away, and flew off into the violent winds fragments of small flames dissipating away landing harmlessly into the white of the snow. The centre of the Rubicon split and separated creating two balls of metal, rolling down hill two of the crew ejected from the forcing through the torn hull, both killed instantly either crushed or simply by broken necks. Gush’s of black smoke poured from the rolling vessel. Flames started to ignite across the tail and aft engines, while they came to a sudden halt, with a large bang. Large pieces of the hull from the tail shot upwards into the blizzards set about into flames, then showered down, with the storm and thudded across the thick layers of snow, turning the white into black. The front of the Rubicon came to a stop slamming hard into two trees snapping their trunks. The falling blizzard soon covered over the top of the vessel in thick layers on snow dampening out any lingering flames.
Inside the cockpit Anuska laid under the co-pilots console unconscious, with bruising to her arms. The white Husky, Rex licked her face trying to wake her, but to no luck. The Husky then bit into her clothing around her shoulders and started to drag her from the cockpit and out of the large hole in the side made by the crash. Slowly Rex dragged her out using all of his strength, once outside Rex started to drag her towards some nearby trees and pulled her under one of the broken ones. Then he returned to the cockpit and bit into a large blanket and pulled it out also dragging it towards the trees then covered it over Anuska and laid beside her as soon as he heard the sound of feet thudding in the snow approaching the crashed and burning wreckage of the Rubicon.
More Coming Soon!!
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