Soterios

**Soterios** would be the bright star heralding a new generation of Halcyon Wardens. These Wardens would have the unique privilege and challenge of becoming commanders in time for the Halcyon Age. He ascended to the rank of Centurion in time to first-hand witness the Vanishing, be blooded by the ensuing discord as the Imperium scrambled for control, and earned his way to Tribune in time for the Second Ruin to strike. He would come to represent the generational shift of the Halcyon Age among macro leaders, both in good and in ill. Halcyon Warden leadership had been conditioned to be humble and eager to bring the strengths of all the various cogs of the Imperial war machine together into a mighty behemoth. The Halcyon Age would minimize the once valued humility and intensify the expertise at creating cohesion.

## **History**

Long had the Fifth Legion been satisfied to operate more as a background force, as much as a Legion could operate as such. Battlefield honours were often shared and given to others to promote camaraderie and loyalty between the Halcyon Wardens, their cousins, and the other warriors of the Great Crusade. That charitable nature would fade once Alexandros became the High Regent. On Soterios' fourth deployment as a Centurion, he would fight in a joint campaign with the Fire Keepers to stamp down the Ontanidon Rebellion. Although the Legionaries numbered less than three thousand, a member of the Order of the Open Hand was able to coordinate with local Loyalist PDF forces. In the ensuing campaign, the Fire Keepers often served as the anvil to the Halcyon Wardens' hammer. While Tribune Athanasios took pains to give moments of glory to the Fire Keepers, Soterios resisted such efforts. As he stated and has maintained, now that the Fifth Legion was the Regent's Own, they had an image of excellence to maintain, not to their personal standard, but to uphold for the entire Imperium.

In the final battle of the Onanidon Rebellion, Soterios disregarded orders to wait for Fire Keeper support and led the assault which captured the rebellion's hierarchy. No retribution followed, though Athanasios pointedly did not give any personal commendations to Soterios, only to his unit.

While critics complained about this, this new behaviour did grant a new level of prestige and dignity which the Halcyon Wardens transformed into a strength. Their more public successes translated into a stronger authority. Where before they wielded a subtle manipulation to accomplish the cohesion they sought, now Halcyon Wardens could simply announce their presence, and the other military branches would pay them far more heed and respect. The exception to this were a number of their brother Legions, who, either out of past or new grudges, spurned and were exacerbated by this new authority. Soterios, who had begun this trend of strengthening the Fifth Legion's image on the battlefield, would see the consequences of his command style first-hand during the Ullanor campaign. Performing a similar assault from the Oniadan Rebellion, Soterios engaged and slew an Ork Warboss, claiming its head on behalf of himself and his Legion. This time, however, it had required leaving the flank open for an allied Godslayer force, which suffered heavy casualties. Their commander became enraged and challenged Soterios to an honour duel, the first recorded instance of such a threat happening between the two Legions. While cooler heads were able to persuade the Godslayer from the duel, it would become another sour note between the Wardens and Godslayers.

As to the controversial figure himself, Soterios privately admitted that he was committing a necessary evil. Before the Vanishing, he had aspired to the Warden leadership of old and had plans to do so. The election of Alexandros changed those ideals, and, with regret, Soterios believed the change to be necessary. Bold and effective would label him.

For all of his quiet mourning of what had been lost, the upheaval of the Halcyon Age gave him almost unending opportunities to prove himself. In the wars to follow, Soterios rose to the challenge again and again, spurring a meteoric rise through the ranks. A campaign served with Lord Protector Malis would further enhance his skill of transforming moments of the glory on the battlefield into greater prestige off of it. It would not be long before Alexandros would begin observing him and becoming a Legate candidate. When neither duty or opportunity called him, Soterios could often be found in his flagship's sanctum, enjoying a calm night of cards with his brothers and his shipmates.