This is an interesting chapter, I'll admit. I've always disliked Logar, so seeing him in a good light and trying to find his people's place within the Ion Crown is unique.

Then there is Caprica. Haven't seen her for a bit. Glad to know she didn't just disappear within the sheer numbers that is the Ion Crown.

I am curious about Sarah Kerrigan and what she's been up to, along with the Zerg and Protoss in general.
Did any of the Protoss even join the Ion Crown? I can't remember. I'll have to go reread that bit.
@Kadaeux
With Delta having both Transformer tech and Battlemoons with AI inside them, are we going to see any moments where the 'Omnissah's 'God-Moons' (playing on the Admechs calling titans "God-Machines") decide to transform for any reason? Would be neat if they were needed to fight the forces of Chaos at some point.

And Delta having a 'personal avatar' or 'God-Star' (Sol sized), 'God-Vessel' (The Imperium/The Ship sized), or 'God-System' (Solar system sized) or 'God-Cluster' (Multiple Solar system sized) to fight the final fight against Chaos. Because we never get told just how big they are/would be in real space.
the warp has already be mostly cut off from real space
 
the warp has already be mostly cut off from real space

But does that mean the Chaos gods are not able to do much, or would it cost too much energy to 'breach' into the Real universe?

Or is it something they could do, but normally wouldn't. I really don't think the forces of Chaos will take this lying down, and while on the back foot right now, I can see them shaking off their shock and trying to strike back.
 
Chapter 382; The Night Haunter Part 1
Chapter 382;
The Night Haunter Part 1


Konrad Curze, the Night Haunter, probably the single biggest problem that I was likely to face now resided on the world below. And I stared out at it from the bridge of the Death. And it was here that the grim weight of decision rested with me. And next to me Jesse Faden looked down at the planet her face a mask, and with her, a team of the best psychiatric experts of the Ion Crown. "Sir?" Jesse asked and cocked my head.

"This is a world irredeemably tainted. Forget a kleptocracy, Nostromo is a rapeocracy. Dog eat dog. Without the Night Haunter nothing prevents even teenage children from murdering their neighbours for what they have. This is going to be a grim task Jesse, and I am unsure that Curze can even be redeemed. But my instructions here are going to be grotesquely more different than the orders I will issue at any other time for a human world in this galaxy." I said as I turned to the other element of this prosecution.

The commanding officer was Karianna Schmitt. Her armour was black, as were all of the forces I was deploying for this mission, all volunteers and issued potent weaponry. There was little if anything non-lethal in the arsenal here. I clicked and the strategic table emerged from the ground and projected a planetary hologram. "Karianna. The Blackguard have been formed for this duty, and anything I am forced to engage in. Your armour has balefire projectors as primary munitions and rapid fire antimatter missile packs on your back. Point-teleport units and Chi-Tag. The Chi-tag is to be used on anyone not in their teens. We will also be commencing with mass teleportation to try and catch anyone in that age bracket before you hit ground. But I included the system just in case."

Jesse and Karianna had moved up to examine the hologram. "The Blackguard will be assaulting the capitol city, where the Night Haunter calls home. We're not arriving in a manner that Curze's prescience would have predicted before I severed everyone from the warp, so he is likely to be panicked and respond with force. If he does not and we can secure him without force, that will be ideal, but if not he won't be able to hide, I have included a soul-tag on everyones armour that will highlight his location at all times. He is to be carefully subdued in those cases, zero actual injury. Use the Chi-tag's if possible and he can be teleported to a containment cell."

"This seems excessive?" Karianna said surprised.

"It is not. The Night Haunter is dangerous. But even so, that is only half of your duties." Her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"I do not like it. But the taint of this world is like an acid on the mind. Purge everything that resists. And..." I hesitated before giving the order. "Interrogate the mind of every single other being, if they are guilty of murder, rape or other crimes in those categories, they are to be executed immediately. Anyone guilty of more minor crimes is to be collected and taken to a staging facility where they can be removed from Nostromo to rehabilitation centres for further judgement."

Karianna frowned for a moment as she studied the city below. "And if they resist?"

"Zero mercy. Zero hesitation. Level the building, city block. There is no tolerance here. At the end of the day, the Nostromans will have been removed to proper care, holding facilities, or exterminated. In three days. I am deploying a planet-grinder to consume the planet." I looked into the hologram. "I had hoped Nar Shadaa was the last to receive such treatment."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fear might have ruled the night, and yet, nothing could have prepared the Night Haunter for when the light came. The ships felt through the polluted skies towards the city with blinding floodlights blazing like miniature suns. There were far more ships than he had foreseen, far more than... the ships broke formation and scattered across the city and landed heavily, the one in the fore had landed in front of his own palace and the terrified mental gibbering of those around him were, for once, not aimed towards him.

They flinched as the lights blared into incandescent spears that seemed to reach for his very soul. All the Nostromans turned from the light, those who took too long were blinded permanently he knew. But the figures that were emerging from the vehicle, and the vehicles also disgorging from its belly...

But the figure at the front. "You are the Night Haunter." It said as it moved up and he felt hesitation.

"I am the Night Haunter, what brings you to Nostromo?" He resisted the urge to snarl them. There was something dangerous about them. Something... "What brings you to Nostromo."

The man cocked his head. "You do. And so does its people. They deserve justice, not just for the crimes you have committed in delivering fear upon them, in torture and murder aimed at a justice you were compelled to deliver by your very nature. But for their own crimes. I have come to purge Nostromo."

A blade of anger dug into the Night Haunter's spine and this time he did spit his words. "And what gives you the right!?"

A halo erupted behind the figures head and violet light filled the square.

And as he began to scream, the Ikthala showed him.
 
Chapter 383; The Night Haunter Part 2
Chapter 383;
The Night Haunter Part 2


Blood and fire washed across Nostromo as the forces of the Ion Crown enacted a purge that the Night Haunter felt as much as saw. The terror was nothing like his own brand. There was no pain and suffering no torture and torment. They moved, judged and purged with a cold and ruthless efficiency. They weren't trying to use justice to 'teach a lesson', they were simply delivering their brand with a ruthless methodology.

The Night Haunter stood within the palace and wondered what the next step would be. He had not seen events to come since the night of agony when the entire world felt like their souls had been plucked from something horrifying. And if the stranger thought he could prevent him from escaping then he was gravely mistaken. But did he want to escape? He had done evil in the pursuit of justice, it was all the people of Nostromo would respond to, but that didn't absolve him.

"Night Haunter, it is to me to let you know your given name is actually Konrad Curze, and while your father is not present here for your recovery, that is by my own requirement. You have been traumatised by the world of your awakening more than any of your brothers ever were." The one called Ikthala said suddenly and the Night Haunter actually jumped, fractionally, in surprise.

"Why then have I not been subjected to the same punishments as the rest of this accursed world?" He asked, standing tall. The Ikthala wasn't intimidated in the slightest, and he realised he felt small next to the physically much smaller man.

"Because, on a most basic level, your actions were technically in pursuit of justice and was largely waged against souls guilty of heinous crimes, as such, I am prepared to offer you a choice. The first is to remand you over to the Oldest House, there you'll get the psychological and psychic care you need to dispense of the trauma. This is what I would prefer to do, afterwards you could choose what you wish to do." The words were stated as clearly as if the Ikthala was describing the weather.

"And the, alternative?"

"I kill you and you face the judgement of the afterlife." No change in emotional depth. Almost like the Ikthala didn't care. And when he chose to be honest with himself, the thought of death didn't frighten him either. It was being presented as a very literal choice, not a threat.

"You would threaten me?" He asked, pushing, testing. The Ikthala didn't even dignify it with a response and he grunted. "And how would my father respond if he had learned you killed me?"

"He would understand your choice. You haven't exactly had a happy fun times life here. The only one of your brothers to lack even a basic concept of an adoptive family. The only one of your brothers to grow up alone. Quite frankly Curze, I don't know if you can be successfully treated for the trauma you've endured short of killing you and resurrecting you as an infant with your mind and memories purged like a faulty memory cell." The words of the Ikthala continued to be delivered with a level calm that troubled him. The Night Haunter was a figure of fear and terror. The Ikthala, and his people, seemed to have no such feelings for him at all. It was unsettling.

"If you take me for treatment does that not mean justice for thee but not for me? Are my crimes less deserving of the same punishment?" He changed tack to test the stranger's nature.

"No. Like I said, you however misguided were attempting to pursue justice in the context of the world of your birth. However tainted it was. If I can help you, I am willing to try. If I can't? I'll deliver the death blow myself. Just as I have for this very world." The Ikthala said with the same passionless voice.

The Night Haunter thought, "We will see what the Oldest House can do."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Silence filled his mind and he almost screamed. He had followed the one called Jesse Faden into one portal after another culminating in the Oldest House. And as soon as he stepped through the psychic hum of minds had cut off abruptly, but even before then as soon as he had departed from Nostromo the psionic sickness that he had mentally associated with human minds had, if not completely departed had faded into a general sense of good will. There were no rapists minds, no murderers and criminals. Just people going about their lives. But this silence was almost haunting.

He almost felt the scream building in his throat again, and then something inhuman entered and took over from Director Faden, she looked almost human, but the skin colouring was wrong, and where hair should be tentacle-like structures were pulled back across the skull. "I am known as Sha'ira, it is an honour to meet you Mister Curze."

They passed through doors and the scream threatened to... and on passing through his senses returned and he sensed a number of souls. Their minds were calm, controlled and not all were human. But he plucked the general theme to the thread of thought. "This is an asylum."

The woman didn't cease her movement, "Not quite. Despite severing people from the warp, in numerous universes there are individuals with psychic talent and power who may be influenced, those we believe can be treated and healed are brought here to the Silentium. Here, Blackstone is used to suppress and control psionics in lieu of inhibitor collars that may cause severe psychiatric reactions. Some people react violently to being collared, and while extremely potent individuals may choose to use inhibitors until their control improves, for this place it is deemed too antagonistic, and so instead we staff it with what we've come to call greysouls. Specialists who have learned to quiet their minds."

"If they lack sufficient control, might it not be safer to have them killed?" He asked plainly.

"Like a young boy emerging from his incubation pod, gaining decades of trauma at the touch of tainted criminal minds and becoming a murderous batman intent on forcing his sense of justice on an entire world at the point of his claws?" Sha'ira said as she continued walking, no sense of rancour in her voice, "No Mr Curze, we are not in the habit of killing people simply for ignorance. If the Emperor believed as you suggest, then nothing would survive." She said cocking her head and looking back, and up at him with a slight smile, "A chance to grow and become a new person is in your grasp. We will help you, but most of the healing will have to come from you, from wanting to heal. Grandmaster Satele Shan and Darth Marr will see you first, the Ikthala felt you might respond best to human health professionals first, those of warrior classes." She held out an arm towards a door.

"My... thanks." He said, unsure.

"But Mr Curze, be careful. The Oldest House is not entirely... passive. It may seek to show you what it thinks you need."
 
Chapter 384: Mortarion Part 1
Chapter 384:
Mortarion Part 1


Circumstances had changed. Something had gone wrong and the atmosphere of Barbarus changed. With his forces he rose against his adoptive father Necare, surging up into the poisonous fog to assault his mansion, their rebreathers eventually failing, the toxic atmosphere in the peaks too terrible to overcome, and yet the Overlords armies were less than they had been. Nothing unliving came against them, and even the more daemonic of creatures seemed to be greatly crippled by the event that had precipitated his rise. And when his people fell to the toxins... they disappeared in a flash of light.

Each breath came harder as he climbed before ascending past the wall his father had built and as he mounted the plateau upon which his father's mansion rested a man stood there, the incongruity of it was so strange that Mortarion felt himself nearly unbalance and tip back over the wall, but the man walked over, unzipped his trousers and began to quite literally piss over the edge. "Hi Morty." A wet burp filled the air. "Modifying this body to tolerate this atmosphere was a minor task, but you're not doing so great so let's do something about that." The man clapped his hands and a bubble of clear air erupted out from his hands to a diameter nearly reaching the mansion. Mortarion clutched his mask from his face and reached for the Scythe on his back when the man turned from the cliff and looked back towards the Mansion.

"Who are you!?" Mortarion almost snarled.

"Morty, you don't recognise your Rick?" The man said before chuckling, "I'm sorry, forgive me, i'll ask you to forgive me again when you've gained enough context to understand that joke." His face was suddenly absent of any mirth. "I'm the Liege Lord of your actual creator/father, and after you and your brothers were scattered to the twenty corners of the universe I arrived, took over, and have come to help him recover you."

"Why?" Suspicion laced his voice.

"Why not?" The man answered, "I am known by more names than I'm really happy with, but the usual ones I go by are Emperor, Ikthala or Delta Imperator. Here." In a haze of green light an injector appeared in his hands, "A counteragent for the toxins in the atmosphere, as a Primarch you would eventually be able to clear this shit, I also secured the rest of your Death Guard as they fell, recovering them wasn't difficult, but they are suspicious and won't believe I mean them no harm until I produce you."

"Let me guess. Now you will give me an ultimatum, to fight my adoptive father alone or join you?"

"Nope. You can fight your father alone, with your Death Guard who have been innoculated against the atmosphere or with an army of monsters if you want. You are here to bring down the last of the Overlords, the job is yours not mine. I'm happy to help, not to do it for you." A chair appeared and the man sat down in it, one hand tossed the injector, the other began rolling something that looked like a miniature sun. It wouldn't have elicited notice if Mortarion couldn't also feel the heat from that sun.

"And if I refuse your aid."

"Then you can go, fight him alone and die, then i'll resurrect you and give you another chance. You shouldn't need it though, cutting sentient life off from the warp has greatly weakened those creatures, he won't have any warp sorceries to counter your physical advantage." A violet light limned the Ikthala and Mortarion nodded considering his words. Suddenly the Ikthala spoke once more, and Mortarion felt haunted by the words, "Mortarion. I have no use or desire for slaves. I am here, in this universe, to help as many souls as I can, to unfuck this crapsack universe and put the people onto a greater path, here is where for all I have gained, I need my redemption. Accept my aid, or don't, the choice is yours and I will honour it."

"Redemption for what?"

"Omnicide." The Ikthala said. "Against an entire universe."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Death Guard began to appear. One after another, each healthy and hale and bearing strange armour and helmets. They were no Barbarussian artifice. Mortarion counted them, watched them form up into their ranks and stare out at the cloud beyond the clear space provided by the Ikthala, they bore crystals in their wrists now that glowed with light. But their weapons were Barbarus make. And with that, another clap and the air bubble collapsed and they were thrown back into the toxic fog. But...

Mortarion breathed deeply and couldn't so much as imagine the taste of the toxins in the air, the life support abilities of the helms provided by the Ikthala completely negated the toxins, and with that, the Death Guard stormed the mansion with weapons in hand. Half-dead caricatures of living beings opposed them, but they were lethargic and sickly, dying from ailments that they had not even noticed before. There were no undead humans facing against them, the guardians of the Manse were cut down and at the forefront Mortarion swung the great scythe and cut down all those who opposed. And through it, the man walked alongside him. Moving with almost a bored stroll, and whenever a denizen of the manse came near he'd tell it to 'hold this' and toss the tiny sun at them. Before it lifted from the ashes of the being catching it and returned to its creators hand.

Mortarion shuddered at such a demonstration of power. He and his people were fighting for their lives and freedom. This being wasn't even feeling threatened. Then it stopped. "This is your stop." He said and the chair reappeared and he sat down in it, rolling that small sun around the palm of his hand.

Mortarion nodded and the doors swung open ahead of him and....

Necare waited. And deprived of his sorceries, with a single swing of his scythe, Necare died.
 
I guess Delta is taking Mortarion as a bit of a break after the absolute horror that was trying to figure out Lorgar and Konrad Curze.

Indeed. Though on another note, Curze and Lorgar are really the most *problematic* overall. Angron and Mortarion are "easy fixes" because they just needed to be allowed to complete their chosen questlines without some kill-thief interrupting them.

*Most* of the remaining Primarchs aren't really problematic, many may only qualify a single chapter. Russ could be an amusing one. Challenges Delta to three challenges.

Eating Challenge: Delta just keeps on eating, Leman gets really worried.
Drinking Challenge: Delta just sculls an entire cruisers storage tanks worth of mjod. Russ gets scared.
Single Combat: Delta starts by having one hand strapped behind his back. *Sweating begins.*
 
Great chapter. Hope I'll see more Ikthala!Rick and Mortarion!Morty in the form of an actual TV show series in Imperium.
 
Eating Challenge: Delta just keeps on eating, Leman gets really worried.
Drinking Challenge: Delta just sculls an entire cruisers storage tanks worth of mjod. Russ gets scared.
Single Combat: Delta starts by having one hand strapped behind his back. *Sweating begins.*

Yeah, challenging a literal black hole to an eating contest sounds like a losing proposition, no matter who tries it.
 
Chapter 385: Mortarion Part 2
Chapter 385:
Mortarion Part 2


The fog began to clear as the one called Ikthala made his way over to Mortarion and the deceased form of Necare. Once more a billowing shockwave parted the poisonous gasses of his homeworld and he turned to face the man. "I confess, I did not know what Necare would appear like. Somehow I find myself disappointed." He shrugged and stepped over Necare's bisected corpse. "Morty, the great works will be beginning shortly, but before I turn my attentions, do you want me to restore Barbarus into a paradise world?"

The surprise on his face must have been evident as the Ikthala's face twisted in a momentary grin. "Why? What does it serve you to do that for a people you have never met?"

"Because Mortarion, this is not the first, nor last, world that will receive my gifts. I've already lived a life as the great destroyer, its time to be a builder." Green light exploded around the Ikthala and Mortarion felt himself bathed in it and around him the Manse of his adoptive father was stripped away and greenery began to erupt from the ground. Vast redwood trees climbing into the heavens intertwined with other more exotic plants.

He looked down the mountains towards the plains where the people he united against the Overlords toiled. "You expect me to serve you?"

"I expect none to serve me. I do as I wish, people who want to help me are free to do so, those who simply wish to live in my Empire and benefit from it can do so with no obligation or expectation. Though if you wish to meet your father, I can arrange that as well." The Ikthala said as he walked.

"Very well. Show me."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The portal had snapped open and they stepped through and Mortarion felt his knees buckle, not at the sight of his father. But over the fact they had crossed an unknown amount of space and now he was beholding the homeworld of humanity. He knew it was, it called to him on an almost spiritual level. His gaze turned from the jewel floating in space to the massive habitat rings orbiting it. Within the rings Mortarion could see forests beneath shielded and armoured materials. "Welcome to Terra, Mars is the next to receive a facelift and terraformation, next couple of days or so."

"How many people live in those rings?" Mortarion asked. Alexander shined with his golden light as he came over to greet his son.

He turned to face the sight for a moment. "Three hundred and twelve billion. It is good to see you Mortarion. You seem well." Mortarion found himself surprised as Alexander turned to the Ikthala, "Should I introduce him to his brothers?"

"Not yet, Angron is still acclimatising to having his self restored, Curze... the reports I receive from the Oldest House are promising but Director Faden's staff doesn't think he will be ready for integration with a society without a psi-dampening collar and a few more decades of therapy, if not psychic memory editation." The Ikthala said and Mortarion found it strange the almost casual way they interacted, and then recalled the informal manner with which he had been spoken to 'Morty'.

"You propose to do this to Barbarus?" He asked waving a hand at the world below.

Ikthala cocked his head, "That, oh no. The sheer effort required to restore this rock is far and above what Barbarus needs, and I have no need or desire to move the entire population off of Barbarus, unlike Terra here. I don't intend to allow any souls to ever set foot on the homeworld again, preserve it as the jewel it should be. No, I intend to speak with you and find out what your dreams are for your adopted birthworld."

"My dreams?"

"Yes. Your dreams, if you choose to join the Ion Crown I want you to choose your own place in it, but whether you do or do not I will aid in restoring your world to a safe and prosperous future." The Ikthala said plainly before heading deeper into the vessel they were on, Mortarion was left standing there with his genefather. The man called Alexander.

"Can he be trusted?" Mortarion asked his father plainly. Staring into his eyes for the truth.

A low chuckle emitted. "That body is just like a blood cell to us. You are standing in him right now, any time you move on an Ionian construct you are quite literally within the Ikthala. So he just heard that question. And, yes he is trustworthy. The armies of the Ion Crown don't serve because he wants them to, he doesn't need any of us to wage war. We serve in the military because we choose to."

"In exchange for what however? What do they gain for their service?" Mortarion asked, suspicious.

"Nothing anyone else doesn't also get." Alexander said, taking a seat and looking out, "Mortarion, my son, the Ikthala doesn't need us... he doesn't need any of us, even his wives and children. Here." He passed over a datapad, "Learn about your host and make your own decision. I won't command you, or ask you. One time I created people, and treated them like tools and nearly lost the universe for it. I won't make the mistake of forgetting my sons aren't also people." Mortarion thought he heard a near subliminal again whispered at the end.
 
Good chapter! Also first!

Glad to see Morty getting a good beginning. Also Alexander was very apt about Delta.
 
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