Crimson Slaughter - New Challenges: Quickly Kranon learned that the pressures of leading a Renegade warband of Chaos Space Marines were far different to merely commanding a Chapter of Space Marines. Amongst other challenges, it was far more dangerous. While they were no longer confined to the slavish dictates of the Imperium, there was also no unifying factor -- no binding oath or loyalty to cling fast upon. What laws would men follow when there were no laws? To hold the Crimson Slaughter together there was only Kranon, the latest plan and as much loot and ammunition as they could plunder. There was trouble within hours of declaring themselves as what the Imperium had already labelled them: Renegades. Under Kranon's direction, the officers and leaders reorganised their old companies, forming smaller warbands. These would prove more flexible as the Crimson Slaughter began to adapt to their life outside the Imperium. Several duels broke out over the right to lead, and in the ensuing confusion, a sizeable warband seized the warship Pride of Rhoghon and left the remaining fleet. It was composed mostly of the remnants of the old 4th Company, led by their Captain, Eli Dzarton. It seemed they had been covertly planning such an operation for some time and the last message sent before their voidship entered Warp travel was that they would remain Crimson Sabres and, should they meet again, it would not be as brothers -- blood would be spilt.During their next few battles -- seizing a fortified base upon an otherwise barren night world and capturing a space freighter whose Warp engines were malfunctioning -- several other squads took the opportunity to disappear into the void. From what Kranon could gather from the psychic readings supplied by Mannon, those smaller groups left to forge their own destinies. The stream of deserters was a problem for Kranon, as they weakened his command, yet they were not so dangerous as those that directly threatened his life. There was no weight of tradition to quell ambitious subordinates -- for Renegades take what they want and follow the strongest of their kind. Captain Barkman was the former commander of the 6th Company of Crimson Sabres. The voices in his head had convinced him of his own greatness, his right to seize control of the Crimson Slaughter for his own. They whispered to him that he was more fit to lead the killing, they said that Kranon was too weak. Barkman had always coveted the Chapter Master's role and had been passed over for promotion many times. Alone, he pledged his own dark pacts with the voices, promising mountains of skulls for the boon of power. Aboard the flagship Red Honour Barkman burst into the command room and hefted up his great Chainaxe to challenge Kranon to personal combat. Kranon could do nothing but accept, and a ring of onlookers formed -- eager to see who was strongest.Kranon had served alongside Barkman for over a century, during which time they had regularly trained against each other. Since their days as Scouts in the 10th Company, they had faced each other in all manner of hand-to-hand combat. This was no drill, however, for now they duelled for their lives and for ultimate mastery of the Crimson Slaughter. In an eerie parody of the Crimson Sabres combat training ritual, both Kranon and Barkman raised their weapons in ceremonial salute before stepping back and bowing. Then began the duel. Each warrior circled the other -- Barkman adjusting the grip upon his great Chainaxe, while Kranon waved the Imperator Blade back and forth so that the glowing daemonic faces traced bright patterns before him.Each man was wary of the other. They were both amongst the most accomplished close combat fighters in the Chapter, and they had trained enough with each other to know each others' tendencies, feints and favoured ruses. If either had expected the swordplay of days gone, however, they were greatly surprised. This was not a subtle scoring competition between comrades, but a death struggle. With unnatural speed for such a hulking figure, Barkman launched a savage series of wide-arcing strikes -- great two-handed hacks intended to sever Kranon in two. The Imperator Blade howled in protest, its bright blade parrying blows that would have cracked open a Land Raider. Such a flurry of vigour would have tired even the iron-strong limbs of a Space Marine, but now some power of the Warp coursed within them, and neither Barkman nor Kranon slowed in the least. Having taken his challenger's measure, Kranon went on the offensive. With his blade glowing ever brighter, Kranon methodically drove Barkman backwards before cleaving through his old comrade's Power Armour, cleanly lopping off his right arm from the elbow down. With a clang, Barkman's axe dropped, its whirring teeth grinding deeply into the ship's deck before becoming wedged in it. If Barkman had expected mercy from his former commander, he did not get it. With a whirl to gain momentum, Kranon spun around to deliver a final blow -- splitting his foe lengthwise from helm to groin. For a moment, Barkman remained still, but slowly, his two halves separated and fell wetly to either side. Despite the urgings of the voices, for a long while thereafter no further challenges were issued to Kranon.