Post by MagusKariusPrelune on Sept 30, 2004 16:14:29 GMT -5
Originally posted by BrotherCaptainArkhan
Orbital battlestation Phalanx, in orbit over Terra
A council of the Captains of the Companies had been called. Only six of them had been able to come; the others were in far reaches of the galaxy, either fighting Abaddon's hordes or stamping down corruption in an attempt to strengthen the Imperium from within.
The semicircular table that Ludvos Arkhan had once been sent before in his trial seemed sparse, with only six of its occupants present.
Chapter Master Vladimir Pugh stood before the assembled Captains. The old veteran bore an expression of unspeakable sorrow.
No, not sorrow. Rage.
He spoke.
"My brothers..."
"Aye, Lord Pugh." came the intoned chorus from the six war-leaders before Pugh.
"I have assembled most of the Chapter here today, not to a day of celebration or thanksgiving to the Emperor, and not even to guard Phalanx.
"I have assembled six hundred Imperial Fists here today to hear the blackest injustice our Chapter has suffered in millenia."
Pugh motioned with his hand, and a Terminator stepped up from behind him, carrying a vid-screen. The bodyguard set it down so that all the Captains could see.
Vladimir Pugh looked around the circle of Captains, looking into each Marine's eyes, before he turned on the vid-screen and revealed its image.
There was a low gasp from the Captains, almost in unison. The picture was a bad one, distorted by the light-years it had travelled, but it was clear enough.
Clear enough to show a Terminator in blazing yellow armour tearing apart Imperial crewmen with a pair of lightning claws.
Clear enough to reveal the icon of a clenched black fist on a white background, deliberately stricken through as if from a sword-blow.
Vladimir Pugh did not look at the image. As soon as he was certain that the Captains had all taken in the picture, he slammed his gauntlet into the screen, destroying the image. He gestured for the Terminator bodyguard to remove it.
Then he turned back to his war-leaders. Each one knew full well what the image was of. Pugh saw only rage and disgust in the eyes of the Chapter's leaders.
"The Errant Company has turned against the Imperium."
Slowly, the Captains nodded, one by one.
"This image came in from an Imperial waystation bordering the Xenos enclave known as the Tau Empire. It is dated as being over a week old."
More looks of disgust. Pugh grimaced, and continued.
"Other reports of Space Marines near the Tau region have been pieced together, and it is likely that the Errant Company has been active around that region of space. It was found out less than an hour ago that Arkhan was responsible for the utter destruction of the Imperial planet Gaspadevj.
"Needless to say, everyone below the rank of Segmentum staff who came into contact with this vid-file has been purged, per dictate of the Inquisition, and the Segmentum staff members have been sworn to secrecy under pain of Excommunication."
One of the Captains spoke.
"The Inquisition is aware of this?"
Pugh nodded grudgingly.
"Only the highest members of Ordo Malleus are aware. I have alerted them to this danger. They are, as we speak, holding conference with their Chamber Militant as to how to find a quick means of eradicating this threat."
The youngest Captain present, the leader of the Tenth Company, stood up.
"Lord Pugh, we should never have let Arkhan live. We have payed the price for our mistake. Allow us to hunt the sleeperson down and dispose of this insult to the Chapter."
Pugh grimaced.
"Indeed we should not, Brother-Captain. Rest assured that we will avenge ourselves now."
Pugh began to walk around the table, looking at each Captain.
"From this day on, the Space Marines who make up the so-called Errant Company are declared Excommunicate Traitoris. Our honour - the honour of ten millenia past, steeped in the blood of true heroes - has been violated. The name of Lord Rogal Dorn has been cast into the blackest of pits with this treachery. Arkhan the Traitor, Arkhan the Impure, Arkhan the Vile is responsible for this."
The voice of the old Chapter Master shook with emotion.
"Ludvos Haerlad Arkhan has betrayed us all. He has betrayed the martial honour of our Chapter. Words alone cannot describe what he has done. Emotions alone cannot begin to feel the enormity of his actions.
"And the sword alone cannot make him pay for his sins."
Pugh stopped, in the center of his Captains.
"From today, our Chapter has no goal, no purpose, but to see Arkhan the Betrayer and the Traitor Company eradicated. Find them. Kill them. Rip the blessed genes of Lord Dorn from their unworthy bodies. Tear apart the tainted armour they wear. Shatter their cursed weapons. Burn the earth which bears their spilt blood.
"Bring Ludvos Arkhan to Phalanx so that we may have ultimate vengeance. He will be punished as no soul within the Imperium has ever been punished before. Go now, and find Arkhan. Emperor speed your path."
Orbital battlestation Phalanx, in orbit over Terra
A council of the Captains of the Companies had been called. Only six of them had been able to come; the others were in far reaches of the galaxy, either fighting Abaddon's hordes or stamping down corruption in an attempt to strengthen the Imperium from within.
The semicircular table that Ludvos Arkhan had once been sent before in his trial seemed sparse, with only six of its occupants present.
Chapter Master Vladimir Pugh stood before the assembled Captains. The old veteran bore an expression of unspeakable sorrow.
No, not sorrow. Rage.
He spoke.
"My brothers..."
"Aye, Lord Pugh." came the intoned chorus from the six war-leaders before Pugh.
"I have assembled most of the Chapter here today, not to a day of celebration or thanksgiving to the Emperor, and not even to guard Phalanx.
"I have assembled six hundred Imperial Fists here today to hear the blackest injustice our Chapter has suffered in millenia."
Pugh motioned with his hand, and a Terminator stepped up from behind him, carrying a vid-screen. The bodyguard set it down so that all the Captains could see.
Vladimir Pugh looked around the circle of Captains, looking into each Marine's eyes, before he turned on the vid-screen and revealed its image.
There was a low gasp from the Captains, almost in unison. The picture was a bad one, distorted by the light-years it had travelled, but it was clear enough.
Clear enough to show a Terminator in blazing yellow armour tearing apart Imperial crewmen with a pair of lightning claws.
Clear enough to reveal the icon of a clenched black fist on a white background, deliberately stricken through as if from a sword-blow.
Vladimir Pugh did not look at the image. As soon as he was certain that the Captains had all taken in the picture, he slammed his gauntlet into the screen, destroying the image. He gestured for the Terminator bodyguard to remove it.
Then he turned back to his war-leaders. Each one knew full well what the image was of. Pugh saw only rage and disgust in the eyes of the Chapter's leaders.
"The Errant Company has turned against the Imperium."
Slowly, the Captains nodded, one by one.
"This image came in from an Imperial waystation bordering the Xenos enclave known as the Tau Empire. It is dated as being over a week old."
More looks of disgust. Pugh grimaced, and continued.
"Other reports of Space Marines near the Tau region have been pieced together, and it is likely that the Errant Company has been active around that region of space. It was found out less than an hour ago that Arkhan was responsible for the utter destruction of the Imperial planet Gaspadevj.
"Needless to say, everyone below the rank of Segmentum staff who came into contact with this vid-file has been purged, per dictate of the Inquisition, and the Segmentum staff members have been sworn to secrecy under pain of Excommunication."
One of the Captains spoke.
"The Inquisition is aware of this?"
Pugh nodded grudgingly.
"Only the highest members of Ordo Malleus are aware. I have alerted them to this danger. They are, as we speak, holding conference with their Chamber Militant as to how to find a quick means of eradicating this threat."
The youngest Captain present, the leader of the Tenth Company, stood up.
"Lord Pugh, we should never have let Arkhan live. We have payed the price for our mistake. Allow us to hunt the sleeperson down and dispose of this insult to the Chapter."
Pugh grimaced.
"Indeed we should not, Brother-Captain. Rest assured that we will avenge ourselves now."
Pugh began to walk around the table, looking at each Captain.
"From this day on, the Space Marines who make up the so-called Errant Company are declared Excommunicate Traitoris. Our honour - the honour of ten millenia past, steeped in the blood of true heroes - has been violated. The name of Lord Rogal Dorn has been cast into the blackest of pits with this treachery. Arkhan the Traitor, Arkhan the Impure, Arkhan the Vile is responsible for this."
The voice of the old Chapter Master shook with emotion.
"Ludvos Haerlad Arkhan has betrayed us all. He has betrayed the martial honour of our Chapter. Words alone cannot describe what he has done. Emotions alone cannot begin to feel the enormity of his actions.
"And the sword alone cannot make him pay for his sins."
Pugh stopped, in the center of his Captains.
"From today, our Chapter has no goal, no purpose, but to see Arkhan the Betrayer and the Traitor Company eradicated. Find them. Kill them. Rip the blessed genes of Lord Dorn from their unworthy bodies. Tear apart the tainted armour they wear. Shatter their cursed weapons. Burn the earth which bears their spilt blood.
"Bring Ludvos Arkhan to Phalanx so that we may have ultimate vengeance. He will be punished as no soul within the Imperium has ever been punished before. Go now, and find Arkhan. Emperor speed your path."