The Destruction of Quietude

“This is an absolute affront to the Imperium and cannot go unpunished!” roared Antarus as he slammed his fists on the oak table. The two primarchs and their highest ranking officers from their legions, Solar Auxilia and Naval forces all sat around a magnificently carved and polished table in the antechamber of the Scorpion Guard’s flagship. Antarus’s outrage cracked the polished finish of the table and splintered the wood. The room itself was a vast chamber with tapestries, detailing the Scorpion Guards’ many victories hanging from the walls. They were intricate and highly detailed, with gold trim on the edges of every one. The ceiling was a stained glass window, the picture an artist's rendering of a scorpion holding scales in one claw, with the other open ready to strike.

To Antarus’s right stood his brother Veratal Dharma, the warrior monk amongst their brothers, he placed his hand on Antarus’ pauldron in a calming gesture.

“My dearest brother, I do agree that this means war. The Quietude mocked us, drove me out with violence and killed my closest emissaries, but I believe a calm mind will ensure our plans are well thought out and successful. Total destruction of this civilization, while deserved, could be costly.”

Antarus took a breath. He looked at his brother. His presence and words were a balm for his own anger. He loved that about his brother and it soothed him. “As always brother, you are right and you keep me focused. Where do our forces stand Destal? Dahari?”

Destal stood first and spoke. “The 6th company stands ready my lord. We have breaching teams equipped and ready on board stormbirds and dreadclaws, ready to assault the Orbital stations.”

He pressed down on a switch under the table that activated a holo-projector embedded in the table. The display flickered to life, a translucent blue light that illuminated the room. It displayed the planet and depicted several orbital stations with a high degree of detail.

“At this time, the shields that the Quietude are projecting over their subterranean cities will cause any of our orbital munitions to be ineffective. We will have to take the orbital stations to be able to launch effective landings to the surface in an attempt to disengage their protective systems. Our forces will begin with Orbital Stations 2 and 5. These will give us the best chances to create subsequent assaults and have the greatest capacities to support the other platforms due to their positions in orbit.”

Dahari spoke next. “The Takeda 88th will join the 1st Company and engage Station 2 while our cousins in the Scorpion Guard will engage and conquer Station 5 with their Solar Auxilia allies. Once actions are complete, we will begin actions on subsequent Stations. We have designated breaching points, and objectives to all squads. Tagmata forces are held in reserve to support and to hold any major gains on command. It will be close fighting but nothing our forces cannot handle through focus and unity of purpose my lords.”

Antarus nodded and examined the holoprojector, rotating each station from a control in his chair and observing all the different breach points. Each point had inlaid text to describe unit disposition and objectives, supporting units and weapons available.

“Very well, initiate the attack. Myself and Veratal will accompany the Seekers of Unity to Station Two. Destal, I leave the execution of the plan to take Station 5 in your capable hands. My brother and I could use some exercise I believe.”

Destal nodded and slammed his fist against his chest in salute to his lord and gene father.

“As you wish, brother. I look forward to our joint efforts in the pacification of the Queitude. It is always sad to end a civilization who we only wish to bring into the light, but those who vehemently resist have no place in this galaxy, like a virus in the body that must be expelled.”

“Well said Veratal. Now, let us begin.”

The combined fleet of the Scorpion Guard and the Seekers of Unity stood just outside high orbit over the planet of the Queitude. The ships held their distance from the orbital platforms, their human and legionnaire cargo prepared for the coming actions. The forces preparing weapons, breaching torpedoes, dropships, dreadclaws and all manner of boarding craft for the initial assault that would be the prelude of destruction for the race known as the Queitude.

At a designated moment and command from Antarus, the assault began. Swarms of attack craft launched from open bays to begin softening targets on the platforms. They were met with stiff resistance. Missiles and beams lashed out from the orbital platforms cutting through the attack craft. But for every ship the Quietude destroyed they lost a weapon system. The naval fighters and astartes craft began pre-planned attack runs on the stations. Jinxing past fire to cause massive damage in disciplined squadrons. Swarms of interceptors and fighter craft swarmed through the void. The space battle was a glitter of lights from weapons fire and explosive deaths.

While waiting in Veratal’s personal stormbird, Antarus held a data slate in his hand, he watched tactical readouts being sent to him instantly from across the battlefield. He watched the void battle unfolding before his eyes through rapid reports and data bursts. He noted that Veratal’s Garuda were performing quite well. Their skill in void and aerial combat had become well known. As he continued to monitor the situation, through his helmet’s display he blinked and activated a nonverbal command sent all across the fleet. He ordered assault craft to begin launch. The flagship shuttered beneath and could be felt in the stormbird as dreadclaws and boarding torpedoes were launched. Antarus felt the stormbird vibrate shortly after as it began to power up and the thrust pushed it into a hover position. Antarus took this moment to look up at his brother. Veratal sat strapped in, his helmet off, in a state of meditation. His eyes were closed and he seemed very much at peace. His sons were all strapped in as well. They were helmeted, in their screaming ape shaped helms, but immobile. All in an equal state of meditation, finding serenity before battle. Antarus continued to stare at his brother, as always, slightly perplexed at this little ritual his legion performed before combat.

Eyes still closed Veratal spoke, “something amiss my dearest brother?”

Antarus gave a snort of amusement. He never understood how he always knew. “Anyone ever tell you that your calm can sometimes be unnerving prior to a battle?”

“It has been brought to my attention. It brings us focus, it calms our minds and turbulent spirits. We are a rock in a storm, calm and peaceful no matter how the storm rages around us.”

Antarus chuckled to himself and shook his head. “If you say so brother,” Antarus lifted the data slate and showed it to his brother even though his eyes remained closed, “but there is a battle to observe.”

“I trust our sons brother. They have never failed us, nor will they now.”

“I prefer to stay on top of the situation.” Antarus went back to observing his data slate but after a moment he stopped. He looked back at Veratal and his sons, affected by his brothers demeanor and belief in control over mind and emotion. He put the slate away into a pouch at his side. Just as he began to try to calm his own mind,  the stormbird accelerated forward. Antarus and Veratal could feel the stormbird jinx back and forth, making sharp movements. Antarus had the squadron’s vox net active in his helm and he listened to the pilots of the VIth legion calmly communicate back and forth in textbook flight doctrine. They acted like it was a regular training exercise, no harsh inflections of their voice, no rushed statements. Clipped and precise, only necessary information and flight patterns.

“Coming about Garuda lead.”

“Copy, two flights of naval craft to cross port side, t-minus three minutes. Watch 300 meters.”

“Watch yourself Garuda 4, you're drifting out of formation.”

“Garuda 4 acknowledges Garuda 3, moving back into position.”

“All Garuda Prime squadron, prepare to pull to port in a 45 degree move, watch your stern vectors, defensive fire in bound. Pull on my command. Execute.”

Antarus felt the stormbird shift again.

“Garuda Prime squadron this is Garuda lead. Begin descent to orbital station, landing zone 2. Zone is open, I repeat zone 2 open.”

There was a sudden lurch and then moments later a clang as the magnetic landing gear of the storm bird extended and then touched down. Veratal put on his helmet and all the Seekers released their harnesses and stood as one. They turned in one crisp movement as the boarding ramp lowered. The compartment was immediately filled with the sound of battle.

“The docking bay is still contested, my lord. Forces from tactical squad Alara and tactical support squad Kitra have laid down fire to keep the Quietude back. For the Emperor! Spoke the pilot with a resounding shout through the vox.”

Antarus blinked an acknowledgement and as the ramp finished its descent the elite Pha Trelgen Sempa pushed out into the combat with Dahari Solas at the lead.

Dahari Solas, captain of the first company and closest confidant of Veratal Dharma rushed out from the idling stormbird at the head of a squad of Pha Trelgen Sempa. Veratal and Antarus followed behind the squad. Dahari, his Viper’s fangs in his hands, one hand gripped the beaded chain spinning the blade in a blurring wheel. The other blade was gripped in his left gauntlet at the haft. He rushed forward. A stream of superheated air shot out past him putting down one of his brothers in a pool of melted cerimite and flesh.

All across the deck the Seekers of Unity opened fire in a cohesive front. The robotic bodies of the Queitude ducked or were killed under the storm of bolter fire and Volkite. Dahari watched the digitized screaming faces from inside their domed helms. It was disturbing to see, and seemed to Dahari their humanity was truly lost.

Dahari and his Pha Trelgen Sempa wasted no time in pushing forward and utilizing the suppressive fire. Once in range Dahari leapt into the air and let go of the spinning blade of the Viper’s Fang. It shot forward the momentum carrying it just past one foe’s mechanical shoulders. While still in the air Dahari twisted, for all the limited grace power armor gave, the twist yanking the blade back with ferocious force. The sickle blade cut through the shoulder and pulled the warrior forward violently over the crates he had been using as cover. A second blade whipped through the air from one of Dahari’s fellow warriors. It pierced through the Quietude warriors domed head, and killed the brain inside. All along the Quietude lines and defenses this occured. So many died from the advancing synchronized blades of the Seekers and the marines firing in support. However as fearsome as this assault was, it was nowhere near as deadly as two Primarch’s fighting in tantum.

Antarus and Veratal were quickly on the Quietude warriors. Felling warriors left and right. They fought back to back in complete synchronization. To Dahari it was unadulterated proof of Veratal’s teachings of Enlightenment and Unity. The pair moved and rotated, each strike timed with the other. Veratal would swing his staff and Antarus would instinctively duck and cut from below, when Antarus would strike high Veratal would block a strike heading towards his brother and strike out with his staff in kind. It was a perfect dance, each brother just knowing the other’s moves, and thoughts, they moved as one entity, fought as one, killed as one and there was an unfathomable amount of carnage from the combined pair. It made Dahari stop briefly to stare. It was beautiful to behold, yet terrifying even to one geneforged like himself.

In Dahari’s brief moment of observation one of the Quietude lunged at him. It had a power maul like weapon that it swung at Dahari’s head. At the last second Dahari’s mind came back to the battle at hand and sidestepped the strike. He sunk low and cut at the robotic legs of his attacker taking out his legs in a rip of wires and metal joints at the knees. The Robust crumpled to the floor. The screaming face roaring its fury at Dahari. Dahari crushed the domed clear head with his ceramite boot. The Robusts were beginning to be pushed back. They fled through arched and circle corridors, bulk heads closing behind them as they moved away from the Astartes onslaught. The two Primarchs stood in the moment of quiet. Having a conversation only they could hear. Antarus was still at the ready, posed for a counter attack, weapons still raised. His wrist mounted bolter searching for the next target. He was nodding at something Veratal was saying. Veratal stood at ease. His staff held loosely at his side.

Behind Dahari more stormbirds were landing in the newly claimed hanger. Dahari was sending reports back to the fleet to be disseminated. Antarus turned and walked towards Dahari. His presence ever inspiring, yet always made Dahari feel on edge, like he was just waiting for the next challenger and could strike out like a storm waiting on the horizon.

“Little monk, pull up the orbital station’s schematics,” ordered Antarus

Dahari obeyed and pulled up the schematics obtained through the fleet’s sensors onto his helmet’s display. It was a rough sketch at best but provided a good basis for knowing where potential priority objectives may be.

“Follow down this route with the forces just arriving,” a passage lit up on his display and moved along towards a large cavernous room. “Veratal and I will take the opposite route with forces currently here. There is a good chance the path I have indicated is some form of generator, take that position and hold it. Our route should lead us to any sort of command and control node as pointed out in our original plan. Seems the strike team hasn’t reached that location yet and we will move to assist.”

Dahari nodded and slammed his fist against his chest. The chain’s of his weapon wrapped around his wrist rattled against the ceramite. “Your voice is heard, with unity of purpose we obey. As one my lord.”

“As one my son,” responded Veratal for Antarus.

Antarus nodded and turned to Veratal, “shall we continue brother? There is still much to be done.”

Veratal bowed slightly, “there is always more to be done, it is our fate.”

Antarus and Veratal moved down the corridor as a pair, cutting down Rubosts as they approached. Melta blasts and graviton beams shot out at the pair as they moved through the Queitude defenders. The corridor was a large circular tunnel easily able to fit a battle tank through. The Robusts had set up multiple stages of defense utilizing makeshift barricades of whatever they could find. Some had brought forward quick deploying defenses and barricades of military grade but they seemed sparse or rushed to be assembled. The two Primarchs and their Seekers of Unity contingent pushed forward trading shots with the Robusts as they drew in closer. Many Astartes were killed in these brutal close quarters fighting but more kept arriving from the secured dock and reports of other successful beach-heads had come through the general vox net. The Quietude numbers on this station were dwindling.

As Antarus pushed into combat, he felt anger rise. “The audacity, the insult of such to think they can claim descendancy of Terra and carry its light.” Antarus thought to himself. He let loose another volley from his wrist mounted bolter. A pair of Robusts were gunned down fragments of metal flying away as the mass reactive shells penetrated the armored bodies. As he began to feed his ire and it drove him in combat he briefly looked to his brother.

Veratal moved forward his staff a blur as he spun it from side to side. He pushed into enemy positions at a rapid pace. He blocked attacks from swords, gun butts and shock mauls. Each block or deflection was met with a swift and sudden strike that would shatter limbs, chest armor and heads. He was grace incarnate. He resonated calm, even though the war mask that made up his helm showed a face of rage. He was not the most ferocious of Antarus’ brothers and not the most skilled, but his calm was contagious and when he fought it was a dance, he was certainly one of the more enjoyable ones to watch in combat. His staff was a constant blur, his movements perfectly succinct with his staff’s strikes. Many of the Robusts fell to Veratal’s assault. His legionaries were always on his heels fighting and firing in perfect unity as they called out targets, laid down suppressive fire and eliminated exposed foes. Veratal was constantly covered, his sons seeming to know the flow of his movements as if it were their own. Once again they may not have been the most fierce legion but the way they fought was an art form that Antarus could only admire and appreciate. The serenity Veratal resonated was almost dispassionate. There was no rage, no anger, just calm determination. It brought peace to his own thoughts. He logged away the feeling of watching his brother and the calm and serene manner in which he and his sons fought. This would be something catalogued away for further analysis, but at the moment his anger was cooled and his own focus returned.

Antarus raised his mighty mace and let out a roar of defiance. “Bring the Emperor’s justice to these fools nephews! Let them know their wrongs through their destruction!”

The Seekers of unity fighting alongside Antarus let out a roar, the noise resonating from their vox grills. “As one!” and they pushed forward a tide of scarlett and amber supporting Antarus as he broke through a barricade and crashed into the foe.

The Breacher squads formed a wall of ceramite in front of the Pha Trelgen Sempa. The bolters of the breachers kicked as they laid down a volley of fire and slowly advanced down the hall inch by inch. Their shields in truth were little defense against the melta weapons the robusts were utilizing, when a Breacher would fall, another would move forward to take his place. Just behind the Seekers of Unity breachers, the Pha Trelgen Sempa walked, their Viper’s fangs spinning as they waited for the Robusts. As Dahari had anticipated, the Robusts pushed from their cover in an attempted counter attack, dozens of the robotic forces charged and fired. As they closed the gap with the scarlet wall of shields, Viper’s Fangs blades shot passed the breachers’ heads and shields, cutting through the advancing Robusts. Over and over the blades would strike with sudden speed and ferocity and then be drawn back in, never once touching the ground, only the armored bodies of the Robusts. The power fields caused the blades to rip through the Robusts and lay them low, cutting and ripping as they were pulled back to the Pha Trelgen Sempa. The remaining Robusts fell back to their defensive positions and once again the wall of ceramite moved forward, inch by inch. It was bloody, it was brutal but Dahari Solas would not fail. His father was counting on him. He would die before he let him down.

“Push brothers! Push! We will not fail this day. We are the avalanche from the mountain tops, the devastation of nature made manifest. We spread our father’s teachings through our words and our actions and if they will not be heard we will cut down those who oppose us, we are the sickle and they are the grain. Bring Unity! Bring Enlightenment! For Humanity!”

“We strike as one!” his brothers bellowed and they continued their bloody advance.

Veratal and Antarus stood in front of a large circular door that took up the entirety of the corridor's width. It was heavily armored and locked from the inside.The door was a simple gunmetal grey with no intricate designs or engravings. Destroyed auto turret defenses and Robusts laid strewn about the deck mingled among the Astartes dead, Seekers moved about executing any Robusts that still lived. Two Seekers of Unity stood in front of the doors adding breaching charges along the center of the door where it would split to allow entry.

Veratal stood as still as a statue. He watched his sons work, a look of pride across his face.

“Your sons fight well brother, the Emperor’s justice was brought today by their hands. I would say you should be proud but I can see you already are. Your sons fight with a sense of unity that gives credit to their name.”

Veratal turned his head to look upon his brother. Pride turned to a look of brotherly love. “Thank you for your kind words brother. I am indeed proud of them and where they have come since their days before my arrival. I hope one day however they do not have to bloody their hands in such a way and can know peace. Each death brings me sadness. I know I should rise above such things in my quest for enlightenment but I feel it so keenly.”

Antarus shook his head. “I understand brother but if Justice and the Imperial Truth is to be brought to the galaxy, then this is the way it must be done. We were not made to know peace, only to bring it. We must fight so that humanity can be saved.”

“But what of after this? After the galaxy is brought together in unity? What happens to us?”

“I don’t believe there will be an after for us brother, there will always be a threat for us to face, something to fight,” said Antarus, a shadow came across his face and a grim expression as memories and previous concerns crossed his mind. If he had not been bearing his helm Veratal would most certainly have seen his dismay.

Veratal gave a smile to his dear brother. “So pessimistic Antarus. We shall know peace and enlightenment, it is the Enlightened One’s will and we shall see it done. Show a little bit of optimism, you shall see that not all is in darkness in this ocean of life. Some waters are as clear as crystal and you can see the sun shine through.”

Antarus laughed and smiled behind his helm, his good mood returning. “If only I shared your optimism and hope brother.”

“Maybe if we continue to fight alongside one another, it might rub off on you,” joked Veratal as he moved his hand to the helm mag-locked to his hip to put it back on.

Antarus gave a slight chuckle, that sounded like a growl from his vox grille. The two VIth legion marines at the armored door had finished laying charges and moved a safe distance from the door. Veratal and Antarus moved aside and into the cover of half circular beams of metal that extended from the walls like ribs in the carcass of an animal. With Antarus’s nod one of the Seekers detonated the breaching charges. With a loud bang the charges directed all their explosive might towards the doors. The doors blasted inwards, the metal wrenching and curving away from the blast leaving a blackened wound large enough to assault through and a heavy cloud of smoke. Fire immediately streamed from the door dropping a handful of Seekers before the smoke cleared. Melta beams lanced through armor and a gravity weapon caused armor to crumple like paper. The Seekers responded with several frag grenades and bursts of Bolter fire, the flash and bangs from the weapons filling the corridor. The corridor was all thunder and lights until the thuds of the grenades detonating silenced the other side. Antarus was through the door first, his arm raised and his wrist mounted bolter tracked targets. Targeting reticles blinked on his visor but found nothing to lock onto, there were several Robusts on the ground, two of which being different than those they had previously encountered. They were larger in stature. Having four arms, armed with power swords or piston driven hammers, and two heads. These “super” Robusts looked like formidable foes. Just as Antarus made the thought the two Super Robusts stood suddenly, faces appearing in their odd domed heads, showing anger and rage their weapons brought to the ready. The first activated its hammer and it slammed down, Antarus stepping aside at the last second and bringing up his mace to smash the Robust in the chest. The chest cracked and leaked steam. Antarus raised his gauntlet mounted bolter and fired a burst of shots into the Super Robust shattering its chest further. Antarus was about to turn to face the other warrior but there was a quick succession of cracks followed by a crash of body and limbs. Veratal had followed his brother in and dispatched the warrior.

The room was dark, besides several screens and a large glowing object of hard glass that stood the better part of two stories tall, shaped much like an egg. It thrummed with power and arches of lightning could be seen within. Antarus analyzed it and stepped to one of the screens that lined the walls of the chamber. His primarch’s enhanced mind working quickly to decipher the machine's intention. It quickly dawned on him. This was a relay. The Robusts had spoken of their “network” in the first encounters when the Imperium sent ambassadors. The network apparently must have a core and this was a massive relay so all their Robusts could stay connected. The rest of the Seekers were moving through the room, setting up a perimeter, but before they could complete it, the Quietude ambushed the Imperial Forces. The room lit up with attacks from several Super Robusts, with more continuing to enter form passages in the shadows of the room.

Antarus opened a vox link to Dahari as he raised his wrist mounted bolter and fired into the closest target, “Captain forget what you are doing, get to my position now. We found their network relay. This takes priority, but we are under heavy attack. We take this, we take the station, then we must analyze its signature and find the core planetside and in the other stations. That is how we will eliminate these lost souls.”

There was a crack in the vox and then the sound of bolter fire could be heard over Dahari’s voice. “Acknowledged my lord. We are diverting forces now. We will be with you shortly.” The vox cut out.

Antarus gripped his mace tightly and looked for his next target. He would bring judgement to these Quietude, and they would be found wanting.