The Primarch of the Second Legion winced in horror as, in a single moment, over seventy collars stopped transmitting information, and another fifteen detonated. Swiftly, he used the manipulator to move additional screens to himself, beginning to study the information. But it was all too obvious, what he had disliked from the very beginning was now out of control.
Moiran also stopped communicating, "Fortuna" simply remained silent and what was happening on it was unknown. On the planet, a completely unequal battle continued, where millions died for the right to possess a piece of scorched earth. The madness reached its peak and with each passing moment those whose gaze the Primarch of the Second could not sense became stronger.
Another attempt to get an answer from "Fortuna" ended in failure and wheezing in pain the Primarch of the second did what he had to. With great difficulty and relying on the staff of absolute zero he brought, he gave the order to his legion, which had never been such due to its low numbers. However, despite all the poisonous lies, the second legion had always served Mankind and although it could not make a serious contribution to this fight, but now everything has changed.
However, the Primarch of the Second didn't care about all this. The only thing that really interested him was the fate of his brother Moiran, the only one who had not turned away from him and despite all the hidden pain was by his side. He wanted to help Moiran and so he slowly hobbled to the shuttle. Only this made him not give up, because the Primarch of the Second had long since stopped believing in any kind of forgiveness from the Emperor. The disposal of the Second Legion was only a matter of time, because they were too dangerous for the plans of the Father and, apparently, already God.
But even though death was inevitable, Moiran had to accept it in his own mind, and not as a puppet of alien forces.
"Error calling Fortuna, please respond," the primarch asked once again, already loading onto the shuttle, and was no longer waiting for an answer when the vox suddenly came to life.
- Betrayed... betrayed... the bridge is lost... - intermittent screams were heard mixed with gunfire.
The Primarch's hearing was not the best, but the devices instantly displayed the sound wave and Shai's voice was already deciphered in it. My Primarch of the Second Legion believed in many things, but in betrayal and treason... apparently the scale of the problem was growing exponentially. It was possible to predict individual errors, but it seems that in his conclusions and desire to help his brother, the Primarch of the Second was blinded by stupidity and naivety.
Well, even then, any warp spawn would be destroyed, even at the cost of the lives of those who accidentally got into the null aura's range. The cruiser switched all systems to combat status, and immediately the aura began to press on the entire Fortuna, while shuttles with advanced stealth systems moved towards the docks, sending hundreds of decoys ahead, as well as combat squads of servitors.
The Second Legion was weak and terrible mutations had even crippled the gene-seed that the Emperor had worked so hard on, creating an enemy next to himself out of pride and arrogance, thereby exposing the entire project of creating primarchs to unnecessary risk. But although it was forbidden to speak of Erda, Moiran had always been more persistent in his desire to get to the truth than any of his brothers. It was a pity that the enemy apparently took advantage of this.
One way or another, the second legion had an impressive arsenal and it was impossible to underestimate it. In addition, all its weapons were strictly classified, because no one should know that the legion dabbled in xenotech and developed AI. Therefore, even with a small number, the traitors from the Imperial Army will have a hard time, and in addition to this, Shai already commanded the Arbiters of Fates, which means two legions will definitely defeat everyone.
The cruiser, by the time of the Damned Mars, had already begun to strengthen the void field, just as the Primarch of the Second Legion himself was removing the fuses from his armor. Even the Officio Assassinorum, or rather the Culexus Temple, had not received such technology into their hands. The most sinister assassins, the main fear of the psykers shining in the warp, they also had no reflection and tried in every possible way to hide their presence, because the void aura stood out strongly.
And in these attempts the second legion went incredibly far, because their pariah mutation was supposedly strengthened by someone. Of course, this someone was the Emperor, at least everything pointed to him and the desire to create a weapon against his sworn enemies. However, for some reason the Emperor changed his original plans. Perhaps because he managed to create something unimaginably powerful, which in case of getting out of control would be able not only to inflict a serious wound on the Imperium, but also to destroy it.
But still, the second legion had not tried to find answers to questions for a long time. After everything that had happened, they decided to simply turn the page of their history and forget about everything that connected them with the Emperor. It was impossible to change their past and somehow influence the Father's decisions, which meant they had to learn to live in a new and cruel world, not allowing false hopes to cause even more pain.
"The hangar has been secured, loyal units of the Imperial Army have been located and have joined us," the voice of his neophyte, who had remained so for five decades due to the too high risks of death during the next stage of becoming a Space Marine, was heard in the vox of the Primarch of the Second Legion.
And tearing consciousness apart with his very presence, among hundreds of thousands of bright lights, carrying with him absolute emptiness, the Primarch of the Second Legion stepped aboard the Fortuna. His legs were weak and decrepit, constantly rotting hands, barely holding a staff, but still everyone who found the strength to look at the Leper, saw only a determination that could eclipse other Primarchs. For his body was as weak as his will was strong, tempered by such a hell, which only three of all the Primarchs could understand, two of whom had already fallen into the abyss of madness, unable to cope with the unbearable burden.
"Where is Captain Shai?" the Primarch asked the bowed Imperial Army unit directly, also emphasizing that he still had not accepted Moiran's decision to remove his most loyal son from command of the First Company.
- Fighting at the bridge.
— Why hasn't the connection been restored yet?
"The Vox Master was killed. He was unable to fulfill his duty, and the relays themselves..." the Imperial Army soldier suddenly fell silent and dared to look up.
The Primarch of the Second was a horrific and unnatural sight. Each felt fear deep within, for the Primarchs were considered demigods and such a sickly appearance... each wondered, if a demigod cannot fight this, then what can I do? However, for some, this was just another reason to do more. If the Primarch could not cope with something, then billions must compensate for his failure bit by bit.
And the question of the Primarch of the Second Legion did not require an answer, moreover, it was an order, which, albeit belatedly, reached the soldier. Standing up to his full height, he folded his hands in an aquila and went with the unit to solve the problem of communication, without waiting for help from anyone. In the darkest hour, a man could rely only on himself and his own strength, only this could grant the opportunity to break out of the thickening darkness.
The look of the Primarch of the Second Legion spoke about it best of all, and everyone who met him on the way to the bridge was filled with a grim fatalism. The legionaries of the Second worked precisely, finishing off the remnants of the daemons and burning out all the filth with fire, while combat servitors and real robots walked ahead, taking the shots of the traitors.
"After the inevitable victory, we will need to find out how the Imperial Army was persuaded to rebel. This is not the first time that humans have betrayed us," the Primarch of the Second said out loud, addressing his advisor, who was always nearby and was gaining experience, preparing to become his replacement, because the life of the Primarch always hung by a thread.
There was no response, but the Primarch knew the councillor had nodded. Her vocal cords had been completely destroyed by the horrific mutations, and dozens of tubes ran from her lungs and internal organs through her mouth and connected to vessels attached to her back. Her condition was poor, but stable, thanks to the technology she had looted from the fleeing Eldar. She would live much longer.
"A Space Marine, one of the Fatebringers," reported the AI leading the vanguard forces.
"Let him through," the Primarch ordered hoarsely, and an Astartes warrior, just like the Legionaries of the Second, came up to him. "Report on the situation, what of Moiran? Are other Imperial Navy ships out of control? How many have you lost?"
And at that moment the darkness thickened to the limit. The unshakable foundations on which the greatness of the Imperium was based were trampled by meanness and treachery. The Space Marine, who found himself near the Primarch, suddenly raised his Melta-cannon and pulled the trigger. A furious stream of incandescent energy burst from the muzzle of a dangerous weapon capable of destroying heavy armored vehicles.
At that moment, for the first time in a long time, the Primarch of the Second Legion felt something that he seemed to have long forgotten. Fear bound him hand and foot for a moment, but the advisor and AI responded without delay. All of the Primarch's defense systems were activated, the force field sparkled so brightly that it blinded the Space Marine. Also, the advisor, who had her own force field, immediately appeared in front of the Primarch himself. The observer drones flying around and everywhere in a swarm rushed to their master to become a living shield and, of course, a split second later, dozens of shots thundered, bringing death to the traitor.
But much earlier, a single shot rang out, piercing the power helmet of a traitor space marine.
"The last one," Shai announced, reloading his energy rifle as he went towards the primarch.
The Primarch himself placed his hand on the advisor's shoulder, after which he began to take the red-hot energy cells out of her backpack, while the drones brought new ones. This Space Marine's weapon was clearly modernized, and experience suggested that xenotech was involved. Only the drones, who rushed under the shot in time, were able to save the advisor from being shot.
"I'm glad you're alive," said Shai, who barely grimaced at the presence of the primarch, having visited the flagship of the Second Legion several times himself, helping Moiran pave the way through the warp under the pressure of the void. "He almost succeeded, if not for the reaction of your advisor…"
"Even if I stood and advanced, his weapon would have overheated before my force field discharged," the Primarch croaked. "I was not the target. The killer knew she would rush forward and by shooting at me he planned to kill her. My fate has already been sealed, but apparently that is not enough for someone and he wants to destroy our entire Legion.
After that, Shai turned his gaze to the corpse of the Space Marine, closely watching the color and even the shape of the power armor change along with the Primarch. An incredibly advanced camouflage system allowed eleven saboteurs to infiltrate the ranks of the Fatebringers. Although there were probably even more, because Shai knew that he had hardly figured out everyone.
"Who is this?" Shai asked, kicking the corpse. "Could the Rangdans have captured one of our own and subjugated him like the other slaves?"
"The Hydra has come," the Primarch of the Second, although he lived in isolation, knew much more than others about the other legions, including the mysterious Trefoil, which consisted of three legions.
They were feared and misunderstood by all, because the very fact of their existence was hidden for a long time. They were trained and educated separately, in isolated systems, which also affected their characters. Against this background, their relations with other legions were difficult. In addition, the Primarch of the Second even had the opportunity to communicate with his brothers who led this Trefoil, because like the Second Legion, these three Legions faced serious genetic problems, which were solved only after the reunification of the Legions with the Primarchs.
How ironic, once the Alpha Legion came to the Second Legion, offering aid, and now… now the Emperor himself spoke with their actions. These Space Marines were not traitors, on the contrary, these loyal sons were ready to carry out any order of the Emperor, which is what they did. This assassination attempt was a warning to the Primarch of the Second Legion and…
"I need a list of losses," the Primarch of the second said, turning to Shai. "And bring me to your father."
"Moiran went to the landing zone, deciding that only his personal presence could change the situation," Shai responded lightning fast, already sending the list of the dead through his personal cogitator.
"Go back to the ship and take two thirds of our legionaries with you," the Primarch ordered his advisor, who, with just a glance at the list of the dead, instantly put all the pieces of the puzzle together and saw his own future.
The Alpha Legion worked very precisely, the losses of "Fortuna" after their work could be considered insignificant. Among the dead was also the new adviser of Moiran, that liar who was foolishly allowed too close to them. After him, several more space marines who were too close to the traitor or whose collars failed went to hell.
The Emperor's handwriting was perfectly legible in what had happened. Pursuing his personal goals, he gave the order and moved forward, not paying attention to the fact that he was helping his enemies or hindering his allies. The Emperor simultaneously wanted to dispose of the Second Legion, but at the same time did not want the Eleventh Legion to finally and irrevocably fall into heresy before his arrival. He wanted to preserve the best of the best and perhaps then, on the remains of the legions, repeat the attempt to create those instruments that the Second and Eleventh Legions should have become, but did not. Or…
There were a great many options and quickly abandoning attempts to understand his Father's plan, the Primarch of the Second Legion switched to the original task. Moiran's landing on the planet meant only one thing, he was ready to use all his trump cards and judging by the fact that his brother did not contact him... he had already fallen too low to soberly assess the situation, otherwise he would not have refused help.
Even at the cost of everything, Moiran planned to complete the task and do the impossible, and the Primarch of the Second Legion could prevent this. It was a kind of escape and a jump into the abyss. Moiran was driven to incredible despair, since he lost it to such a thing.
And having reached the bridge, the Primarch of the Second began to quickly solve the problems caused by the sabotage, carried out reshuffles in the command staff and personally made adjustments to further plans for the capture of Gereliana. The main man on the bridge was Shai, who had a lot of work ahead of him, because Moiran was fully concentrated on the land operation and did not participate in the management of the Fortuna.
"If I had known that the fact of my existence would lead to all this..." the Primarch of the second said bitterly, taking his silver medallion in his hands and opening its lid.
This medallion was made by Moiran himself when he fled from his strategos and mentors to the lower levels of Terra. Malcador was so angry then that he almost threw lightning from his eyes, literally. That same day, Moiran visited the jewelry workshop, wanting to look at the world through a new prism, one that had nothing to do with the war to which the Imperium was forcibly linking his fate.
There he spent three long days, until rumors of the incredible master reached the agents of Siggilite. But before he could be caught, Moiran himself appeared, bringing with him more than three dozen masterpieces of art. Some he had made himself, others he had asked his master to help create, and several he had bought, realizing that they were better suited to their future owners than anything Moiran could create himself.
Not everyone accepted these gifts with joy, some simply did not understand such a gesture, others managed to see it as an insult, and some... some simply did not care. Moiran did not have time to give away some of them, because out of all the medallions, twenty were supposed to be given to his brothers, whose fate had not yet been determined. And although the first refusal hurt Moiran significantly, he did not give up on his idea and later gave gifts to all his mentors and even to Siggilite, who pretended to belong to the group of those who did not care.
The hour came and the Primarch of the Second Legion received his medallion. The silver medallion was covered with a complex of many patterns and sometimes the Primarch of the Second Legion would sit for hours and stare at the surface, trying to understand where the lines began and ended. An incredible optical illusion or some strong magic prevented this. Although it was probably the former, because magic could not exist near the Second Legion.
And inside was one of Moiran's favorite quotes, which was perfect for the Second Legion, even though Moiran knew nothing about them at the time of their creation.
"Fate never closes one door without opening another," the Primarch of the Second Legion read, before giving the order to prepare for landing.
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