A legion and Primarch United

## A Shattered Legion

It had been one hundred and fifty years since the Great Crusade began and the II Legion marched to war for the first time. For one hundred and seventeen years the second legion had brought death upon every world they visited, turning hundreds, if not thousands of worlds into toxic hell holes for daring to raise a hand against the Imperium. For one hundred and seventeen years had the Legion fought united under a council of six, a council made up of representatives from each section of the Legion and led by legion master Osmandiel. This came to an end when the Legion lost half of its council, including Osmandiel, during the Third Rangdan Xenocides. With half of its leadership gone and all their possible replacements dead at the hands of the vile xenos, the Legion was left in disarray.

The following thirty three years would forever be regarded as a black mark upon the Legion’s history, with many campaigns ending in disaster for the legion. Thousands died as the remaining three council members vied for control over the legion’s forces, each having a different idea on how they should pursue war. With the twins Tarik and Marius causing the greatest of problems due to their and their supporters constant quarrels on and off the battlefield. And then there was Julian Thorp who only got the title of legion master because there was no one else to fill the role. Yet even if there was no one better suited he was still wholly unqualified. Failing to unite the legion and often seeing his orders ignored. Only the respect he held with the rank and file marines allowed him to enforce some stability within the legion and enforce his commands off the battlefield.

During this time,  a portion of the Legion’s apothecaries, spurred on by Marius in the council, expanded their experimentation on their brothers and themselves to create ever greater and more powerful toxins and diseases, causing greater friction among the legion’s ranks even when far away from war. With hundreds of marines maimed to the point that they were incapable of fighting, and a total of two hundred and fifty three dying as a result of theses experiments, many of whom were the apothecaries themselves. Tarik and those loyal to him tried everything in their power to stop these experiments and prevent loss of life. But as they were the smallest faction and with Julian seeing this as dissent that needed to be quashed. There was little that could be done to stop these losses.

Over time, Julian too started to see the threat to the legion Marius’ actions posed and tried to put a stop to the experiments. Yet after years of allowing it there was little he could still do. As even in his faction many supported Marius to a degree and if he openly put a stop to the experiments the legion would collapse even further. As it was now the legion was stuck in a spiral of instability. Where the cause of dissent could not be dealt with lest the legion truly fall apart. As the legion spiralled further and further downward even the rank and file that had so far held the legion together under the command of Tarik began to split. As losses mounted both during and outside of battle Tarik’s leadership was being questioned. It was but a matter of time before the legion would collapse. Only the reunion of the legion with their father could unite the legion once more. And as though it was fated to be, the second legion got word from Shaaa himself. Their father was found.

Like men possessed, the legion acted as one for the first time in thirty years and went as quickly as they could to the world upon which their Primarch had been located. For the first time in decades, there was hope; hope that their legion could be made whole once more.

## A Father and His Sons

After months of travel, the legion finally arrived as a whole in the system of Jining where they would finally meet their father. The legion was in a strange state, the air thick with tension as well as excitement and hope for the rebirth their father might bring to pass.

All within the legion had heard the stories of their father, told to them by their cousins in the IV; how their father had raised a feudal world to the same level of technology of the Imperium. That he was a brilliant doctor and chemist that had cured his world from all known diseases. How he had built a prospering empire free of faith that had conquered a planet twice the size of Terra within a century.

With each story heard, tensions increased more as the whole legion debated which side their father would support. It was with great effort that peace was held by the remaining council members until they reached their father’s home, the world of Jining.

As the legion neared the planet, they received orders from their sire for the first time; even if it was a simple written message, it was followed to the letter. The legion landed outside the planetary capital and marched into its streets towards the palace to meet their father.

Upon entering the city, the Astartes were met by something the legion had only scarcely received, honest cheers. All the way to the palace, the legion was surrounded by cheering crowds, shouting words of praise in a language they didn’t understand, every Astartes being bombarded by pink rose petals. It was such a peculiar event that only a few noticed that they felt strange emotions as they marched and even fewer paid these emotions any heed. Perhaps the happiness they felt was just the result of being received with cheers instead of fear for the first time.

As they came closer to the palace, more and more of the legion started to notice the odd emotion, a feeling that seemed not their own. Some of the psykers recognised what it was before they saw its source; that the strange emotions they felt were their fathers. There were even those who tried to mentally call out to see if he could hear them, but all they heard was the cheering of the crowds.

After a march that felt like an eternity, the legion reached the palace, arrayed in neat rows in the plaza before the palace gates and awaited the coming of their father. The legion’s excitement reaching a boiling point as the moment they had waited for so long had finally come, and with their father’s emotions in their heads they stood. And when tensions reached their apex, the gates finally opened and the entire city fell silent, the only sound being the creaking of the gates.

First came what the astartes assumed was their father’s honour guard; equipped close to the standards of the solar auxilia, these guards formed up in two need rows, leaving a path for their sire. The astartes heard the entire crowd behind them drop to their knees and when they looked their way they saw that all the citizens had prostrated themselves.

It was then that a god among men stepped out of the gates; long black hair tied in a bun atop his head held there by a form of crown, a short black beard, dressed in silk robes of gold, jade and red, deep brown eyes that shone with great intelligence and compassion and a smile like that of a father. This man was the true picture of an emperor and all who looked upon him felt it.

Though the Astartes felt something different than just awe, when their father had stepped into view, they felt all the tension leave them. They felt the happiness of their father mixed with their own joy of having found him. As they looked upon their Primarch, they knew that their legion would not be split once more and never again would it tear itself apart. From this day forth they would forevermore be one.

## A Feast to be Remembered

The words spoken by the primarch that day would forever be lost to time. I and the other remembrancers present had all been too overwhelmed by everything to even think about recording anything. Yet even if we hadn’t recorded anything the Venom Stalkers certainly had. As I saw the legion entered the palace of their father. I saw, and this time recorded, something I had never dreamed to see. Smiles and tears of joy from Astartes of a legion known to use chemicals to inflict pain on billions without even batting an eye. Beings that slaughtered populations killing indiscriminately and turned every world they visited into toxic hell holes. It was terrifying in a way.

Yet that didn’t deter me from following the Astartes into the palace and record what could only be described as a feast. The entire courtyard of the palace had been prepared for the giants that now walked within it. Long tables and ten thousand seats placed on ground lowered specifically to still allow the servants to serve food and drinks to their giant guests. Over a thousand servants standing at the beck and call of the Astartes and the few normal humans present. Serving the finest teas during the day and even finer wines as the evening came. Food was plenty and just as decadent. Dozens of meats and local dishes prepared by the finest cooks. The finest of sweats comparable only to those served to nobles in the Imperium. Music I had never before heard that always seemed to follow the mood, from jovial to relaxing to exiting. It sped up and down and changed rhythm with the flow of conversation.  And in the middle of it all was the primarch of the second legion, Lu Yueh zhi Zi. Talking and laughing with his sons and a few mortals beside him, whom I later learned were some of his many adopted children. At many times it was as though he dictated every little thing. As his smile brightened so did the music and the conversations around me. Did he calm down then so did the music and the Astartes.

As the first day came to an end I had found that I had once more been so overwhelmed by everything around me that I had not even taken note of the palace itself. It was a true work of art. The red brown bricks that made up most of the walls with jade artwork covering every bit. The gate to the palace proper a masterpiece of gold and red, with one golden dragon upon each door made to look as though they guarded it. At least that is how I felt when I walked towards the gate, as though the dragons were living things that would eat all who dared come close without permission. It was enough to make me turn back for now, I contented myself with looking at the roof instead. It was a rectangular roof made of jade green bricks curving upwards until it reached the centre where it met a bar of gold. As I was looking It was then that I noticed something that I hadn’t noticed before. There was not a cincle sharp corner in the entire building. Everything was smoothed even where there would normally be corners the sharp parts were rounded or filled up to become smooth and rounded. It was an elegance you would not see in most imperial architecture. To be honest I don’t remember seeing corners in any of the buildings today. It is a nice change of pace. As I continued to study the building a servant came to guide me inside. The day was almost over and they wanted to prepare for the next. As i was guided back to the gate I found the dragons a lot less threatening all of a sudden. Maybe it was just me being alone that triggered the feeling, or maybe it was all just in my head. Still beautifully made though. The inside of the palace was much like the outside, though the floors were made of marble and had beautiful carpets laid down upon them the walls were much the same. It quickly became clear to me though that I was not led in the same direction as the Astartes. I and the other remembrancers were put in relatively normal rooms far away from them. As though they thought we were going to try and eavesdrop on them. They were not wrong. And we got lost in the giant maze of a palace during the night before being led back to our rooms by some guards in shame.

At the start of the second day different festivities had been arranged.  There was still food and drink. Yet now instead of music, plays were put up depicting the history of the world during the age of strife. Much of it was simply about war and wasn’t of much interest to me. When scenes changed I tried to sneak peaks at the Primarch. Yet I often found him having gone somewhere with one or two of his sons only ever seeing his back as he left the courtyard and entered the palace proper. Most likely to discuss one thing or another. I could sadly never sneak away and follow them. A guard would find me and send me back, though I couldn’t understand them they were clearly annoyed at my actions. So I just gave up. The others had just as much luck. It was starting to become clear that we were not the guests of honour here and would only be able to make some of the most basic of stories and picts here. Though we were still much closer to the second legion then we had ever been, probably closer than many others had ever gotten to a legion. We could only do so much.

By the third day things had calmed down further. With little celebration still being held. Many of the astartes still talked with each other about battles they had fought or they discussed their research. And though they were much more open and welcoming than I had ever seen them be in my years of traveling with them. They still kept me at a distance, so I never could overhear them. At least they didn’t act as though looking at me was beneath them. As I walked around this day I noticed quite a few specific Astartes missing among the many along with their Primarch. The apothecaries under Tarik. The few who would actually talk to me and the other remembrancers. I was hoping to at least ask them some questions. Was hoping that they would actually answer them for once, since they were all a lot more open. This day sadly had little of note to really write down in the books. If only I hadn’t been as overwhelmed during the Primarch’s speech. I could have written something none of the others had.

The fourth day was much like the third. Though now a great many more mortals walked around to talk to the Astartes. Apparently these were the adopted children of Lu Yueh. Some were as young as nine. At least they spoke some gothic and I could get a few interesting bits on how many would at least try to join the legion. Talking to them was not much of a fun experience though. As each of them was a prodigy of some kind and I felt rather out of place when a child thirty years younger then me started to talk about how spaceship engines worked.

On the fifth day something different had been planned. The festivities were at an end and Lu Yueh would speak to his sons together once more before leaving for Terra. Everyone gathered outside the castle grounds in the same place where they stood only five days before. Yet now they had arranged themselves as though three groups had formed. With at the front of each one of the legions leaders. The twin apothecaries Tarik and Marius and Julian Thorp, the new legion master I think. The groups behind each of the leaders were clearly of different sizes and there was some tension in the air like five days ago. Yet it was different. It makes me want to run. If not for their father I might have. As he stood there on his podium, smiling the same smile he did five days ago. Though there was something different about it, strained almost. It still reassured me things would be alright somehow. This time I would write down every word spoken. I even found a great spot where I could see the faces of everyone, even if only from the side.

“My sons,” he began in the same deep voice that carried emotions of joy that felt more complex than I could understand. “Over the past few days I have had the joy of speaking to each and every one of you for the first time.”

“I have heard of the battles you have fought, the achievements you have made in medicine, biology and chemistry, all the glories you have reaped over the last century and I have heard about the legions you fought beside.” I could see some of the Astartes… fidgeting. There was clearly something wrong. Maybe that disastrous war from thirty years ago? But what has that to do with the other legions?

“Julian step forward.” The legion master did as he was asked and stepped a few paces forward. “You have done a great service to the legion over the last few years. I know you were put somewhere where you know you don’t belong. But since there is not yet a suitable replacement I will ask you to fulfil the role at least for another few years.” Julian answered his father. “Thank you for your kind words. I will serve the role as long as is needed. Though with you with us once more, father. I think it won’t be as difficult.” Lu Yueh smiled to his son as he stepped back into the strange formation. I could see it was a sad smile. As though he told his son to do something he knows must be done but will cost his son dearly. Yet wanted to reassure him in some way. Then the air grew cold. As for the first time in five days the Primarch’s smile was gone. All sound died, on the plaza and in the rest of the city. Only the wind made even the smallest noise. Yet as I looked at the Astartes it seemed as though they felt much more.

“I am disappointed in you.” Those words felt like hammers upon my own heart. Even if they were not directed at me. The way they were spoken made me feel as though I was being judged for all my failures in life. I wonder what the Astartes felt.

“Many of you must have felt it already as I spoke. To you in person.” He looked around the crowd of Astartes before him, his eyes judging every one of them. Before finally stopping at the Astartes behind Marius. “The slander I have heard you speak about your cousins in the last few days. The slander you spoke about my brothers.” “Fath…” Marius spoke before being cut off. “Silence.” The word alone was like a vice around my neck. The Astarte looked almost in pain. But the Primach didn’t stop as he moved his gaze to those behind Julius.

“The division you let happen within your ranks. The tension between you that almost sparked bloodshed.” No sound from them. Though a good few including Julius looked unaffected. As though knowing they were not the targets of the words. Yet the great majority simply showed shame. Lu Yueh moved on to the last group. “A distrust of your brothers so deep as to toss fuel on the fire.” Tarik and those behind him simply showed knowing shame. Yet the Primarch was not done yet. He turned back to Marius and those behind him.

“Marius, step forward.” He did as asked and said no word. “Two hundred and fifty three.” The Primarch almost spat. His words filled with what could only be hate. I did not know what that number meant but looking at the fear on Marius’ face he certainly did.

“Father I ca...” He was cut off again.

“Silence.” The hate in his words was so strong that my heart almost stopped. And the Astartes felt the same. Some even seemed so panicked that it almost looked like their hearts had actually stopped.

“There is nothing you can say that could possibly warrant what you have done. What you have allowed to be done.” The Primarch looked at me now. I almost fainted as his cold gaze rested on me. “Don’t write these words down remembrancer. You may hear them if you wish but the words do not leave this place.” I could only nod. Even if for a moment he looked at me the anger on his face was gone it was still there in his words. Even if I wanted to write I could no longer.

“The sons who have lost so much for so little. All the lives lost in the experiments you encouraged. All the sons I will never meet. The bright minds lost forever. The actions that could have caused the legion to truly split and tear itself apart.”

“I cannot overlook this. I cannot forgive this. For the coming years you and all those who followed you are stripped of your rank and title. None in the legion are allowed to perform experiments in any form until I allow them again. And prey, my sons, that all of this is just a gene seed flaw. For if it is not. You will never leave the scout core and will see all your achievement stricken from the records.” Marius and all those behind him looked horrified. And Marius turned towards his twin with hate.

“You told him this didn’t you! You are laughing right now aren’t you!” He yelled.

“Silence” Lu yueh repeated and started to speak but stopped before turning towards Tarik. For the first time truly raising his voice.

“If you dare say something or laugh you will meet the same fate! Am I clear?!” Silence. “I said, Am I clear!”

“Yes father.” A silent voice came from Tarik, barely audible.

“Good. Now, I did not wish to see you off like this my sons. But with your actions you have left me little choice.” He sighs deeply before continuing. “After I leave for Terra, Julian will be in charge along with a few select individuals. All others are stripped of any higher rank and will be replaced by Demi-Astartes selected by me and Julian. You will not leave before these recruits are brought up to speed. Further any ongoing experiments will be shut down by the remaining apothecaries until further notice. I will leave for Terra by the end of the day. Now get out of my sight.” The Primarch turned and entered the palace with his guards. The gates shut behind him with an almost deafeningly loud bang in the silence that followed.