ANME-0

=Prologue=
==Ancient Memories==
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”Legends, myths, campfire stories. Every culture has them. Tales of monsters that go bump in the night. Wondrous but terrible creatures that would make any sane person piss themselves if they met one.Well I met one.And you know what? Despite everything I didn’t piss myself.I suppose now you’ll be expecting me to say that humans are the real monsters. Sure I met a good number that would qualify as monsters. I even killed quite a few and thus might qualify as one myself Indeed humanity can do some pretty monstrous stuff to itself all on its own.So I’ll meet you part way. Monster isn’t what you’re born as, it is what you choose to be. Fate always allows some choice in that matter but it’s not always an easy choice nor is it a good, true proper choice, but it is always a choice. I made mine. Now I walk a path that I don’t know where it leads. But I do know I would be ill prepared for it if I hadn’t come into the service of Mike’s Murderhobos.I suspect my soul will always be tainted by what I did. Who knows.”Audio diary of Ceilidh Markus-Time stamp 21-Dec-3072Recovered from the wreckage of Dropship Summer’s Wrath''
Cthulhu Machula
Pluto, Sol System
21st December, 3083
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”Damnest thing about that recording. According to the timestamps of when it started and stopped, it matches up perfectly with the Winter Solstice on Terra. Right down to the point where the sun slips past the gap in Stonehenge. A rather superstitious friend of mine did the calculations and confirmed it.”
”He’s big into that astrology and mysticism stuff despite being a damn astrophysicist.””While I don’t give that stuff much stock I still have to admit it was creepy when he proved it. He took us out to Stonehenge for Winter Solstice 3104 and hit play. Damned creepy. Especially when you consider when and where we found it.””So yeah I put in my papers. Enough was enough.”Sergeant(Retired) Trellane GoffreService departure InterviewRepublic of the Sphere Armed Forces21st June, 3105
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===The Ancient Oath===
Dunrobin Castle
Northern Scotland
Terra, Word of Blake Protectorate
3078
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As Stone’s Coalition was landing on Terra
The quiet crackling of the fire joined with the flickers of flame in providing ambience to the bedroom.
Outside it was a cold foggy morning in Scotland. Which was nothing new.
Looking out a window to the south was a young blond woman in a simple white dress. A black metal collar on her neck with a similar black metal band on each wrist.
Another figure came into the room, tossing another piece of wood on the fire.
The woman looked at the new arrival with a faint smile on her face.
A man in a professional blue suit with black tie. His black hair and brown eyes and fair skin tone given slight hues of other colors as the fire flickered and shadows danced over his features.
“This is it isn’t it? The end of our story.” The man asked.
“Yes. It may be a few days yet before they actually find us, weeks, or even months. But it is the end for us.” The woman stepped towards the man.
“All our time together, all our time apart. Who would have thought it would end like this…” The man embarrassed the woman.
“I think we both did. In another life. We just denied it in this one.”
“Then what are we waiting for?” The man asked.
“Nothing now. It is time for us to complete our ancient oaths.” The woman nodded and allowed herself to be taken to the bed.
“Dawnstar of the Goldscales.”
“Michael!…Ooooh.”
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===The Hunt===
South of Dunrobin Castle
Colonel Samual Wallace had been given very specific instructions. They were somewhat unusual but there was no questioning them.
The rolling hills were the only cover on approach to Dunrobin Castle.
Outside its gates was the Thug that had become infamous across the Inner sphere. No one else dared configure their Thug in this manner, nor did they dare use the paint scheme or wear the crest.
It was all far too good of a way to get oneself dead and in a hurry, even more so in the less civilized parts of human occupied space.
Colonel Wallace and his special operation company would soon join battle.
This isn't to be war, 'tis pest-control. Finishing the band of "mercenaries" for good, cutting their head off so it can't regenerate, cauterizing it.
Bringing an end to a mercenary unit less famous than the Bounty Hunter, but only because the Bounty Hunter exists. 
Mike's Murderhobos goes back a long time, Sam knew, a succession over history, on the fringes, really, maybe back as far as the Third Succession War? The Bounty Hunter's prices are high, his victims high profile and high priority.
The man that Thug belongs to? Will kill anyone, for anyone, had done so, even, and by reputation, for rates that were as inconsistent as they could possibly be. The rumors had it, Mike and his Murderhobos once dismantled a Pirate Battalion for less than the price of a pallet of autocannon ammunition. Their client being a poor survivor of a raid, it was enough, so the stories say, that it was all that that refugee had. 
The Murderhobos will kill whomever you want, but it costs you everything you have.
They'd come here, to Terra, just ahead of Stone's Coalition, to kill someone…and they were still here.
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"Their location is confirmed, My Master."
"The instructions were given, I trust?" The Master asked his…friend? Confidante?
"Yes sir. They won't get away, it's the last of them, you know…just Michael and their handler."
"The Creature." he nodded. "The selected unit was chosen correctly?"
"Yes sir. There were some doubts about your choices…"
"Men with no stain, you mean? The lack of experience?"
"Yes sir…and the…purity you insisted on. I do not understand why, Sir?"
"Necessarily, an act of such…importance must be carried out by men unstained and untainted. Single men, men whom are…pure of heart, and resistant to temptations from that heart. Faithful, loyal, and unstained by questionable actions."
"Yes, my Master."
In the skies, the approaching Coalition of allies, carefully arranged through numerous cut-outs, and the chosen Messiah were burning toward Earth.
This, will cleanse the taint and allow mankind to advance at long last. It's a small price to pay-to be rid of the Alien and her final servant. a small sacrifice-for the future of mankind.
No matter how else things shake out, the future of humanity would be in human hands, not the plaything of an ancient outsider…
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