And They Shall Know No Fear (Warhammer 30K-40K Astartes Quest)

With permission from @Tinkerer I present the first Omake for And They Shall Know No Fear. I don't really know where this would fit on the cannon spectrum.
Constantin Valdor stares down at legion master Tyrian. The fool who's mere existence has caused the bodyguards of the Emperor no end of shame. The fool whose usual stern face is now split in a knowing smirk.

Around them, the other legion masters had gathered for a final grand meeting before the Emperor officially started the Great Crusade. The Custodes had ensured that each of the attendee and their retinues had been bereft of their armaments while in the presence of the Emperor.

Tyrian though had not arrived with any weapon. No, his retinue had consisted of two sergeants and most insulting of all, a small child. A child who wore a small toy dagger, and who had a crude rendition of the Aquila stitch upon his tunic.

"Why is this mortal child here Legion Master Tyrian," Valdor said almost grinding his teeth together.

Tyrian's vexing smirk only seemed to grow fractiously. "My lord Valdor I only wish to ensure that the next generation can witness to this momentous occasion."

"And the symbol and toy that this child wears."

"Nothing more than a child wishing to be like the heroes he has heard so much about. Is that not correct little one."

At this, the boy took a timid step forward. "H-he-hello your lordship, lord Tyrian has talked a lot about you. He says that you protect the Emperor, that you fought the bad people."

Valdor paused to stare down at the mortal trying to gain a measure of his worth. What he saw did not impress him, the boy did not bear any of the markings of Terran nobility. He was painfully average not sporting anything that would allow him to stand out among the masses of other mortals.

In the eyes of Valdor, this was just another way Tyrian had found to mock them. "Again Legion Master Tryian why is this mortal here? Should he not be with his elders?"

"He is an orphan who I have found has the right temperament for the Fifteenth." Tyrian says with a shrug, "I wanted to show him how the greatest and mightiest warriors in the Imperium Police the safety of the Emperor."

Valdor's eye almost twitches at that word, why did the Emperor have to allow this fool that knowledge.

"After all it is a momentous occasion, we are all about to become Krusaders. The next generation should have someone see it with their own eyes."

Valdor felt a great burning rage start to build up in his chest. A burning rage that only doubled when he realizes that he cannot release his frustrations upon the said source. Maintaining a stoic expression Valdor gestured to the podium reserved for the Fifteenth.

As Tyrian and his retinue moved forward Valdor could only stare at where they once were. His hearing catching the laughter of the mortal as his early timidity melting away to childlike excitement. "Do you think I could be as great a hero like Lord Valdor, Lord Tyrian?"

"I find that anything is possible in this universe little Seraphis. All one has to do is be willing to take the chance to grab at their goal."

Breathing in Valdor calmed is rage and prepared to standby his Emperor's side. Hoping that one day the shame would be wiped from the record.

"Accompany me Sergeant Ohrmuzd, I have need of your expertise." Motioning for the younger Astartes to follow you begin heading towards the ship's command center. You were planning on honing the amiable young man's natural charisma as best you could. It would not only help in the future with further attempts for peaceful compliance of newly discovered colonies of mankind but in fact help shore up your utterly abysmal attempts at diplomacy with other Legions and factions within the Crusade as a whole.
THE BOY SMELLS OF DUPLICITY AND CORRUPTION! SLAY HIM!
"Of course Legion Master, may I ask as to the purpose you have in mind for me?" Ohrmuzd asks as falls into step behind you. "I mean no disrespect, but I do not see what a lowly Sergeant like myself could possibly offer you."
KILL! KILL! KILLLLLLL!
You chuckle at that before responding, "Young Ohrmuzd, my being Legion Master did not suddenly make me utterly without flaw or weakness. Every man, be they Astartes or not has their own talents and foibles. Skills that they come to naturally, as easily as breathing where others may falter and struggle. They too also have tasks that are simply beyond them, things that simply they are unable to accomplish by no fault but their lack of affinity for them." You pause to let your words sink in before continuing "I for example, am particularly weak at the tasks required of a Legion Master that do not involve battle. I say with no hyperbole that in the galaxy the amount of beings which can match me in single combat can barely be counted with two hands. But when it comes to seeing that the fleet is properly supplied or ensuring I avoid saying something that may offend other members of the crusade I am as helpless as a newborn grox in comparison to others."
The duplicitous crow favors this one.
Ohrmuzd seems outright shocked you would confide such things in him. Having stopped dead in the corridor the two of you were traversing down. Stillness is death.
He finally finds his voice as he catches back up to you. "S-s-surely you jest Legion Master, you lead us with a firm hand and ensure your brothers do not step out of line. Even those who would normally chafe under your words respect you." He's trying to cheer you up. Heh, how adorable. DISGUSTING!
With a small grin you respond to his belief. "Yes, but that is solely in battle. I do not have the tongue or the wit to hold the Legion together in dire straights outside of that purview. I cannot soothe a brother grieving for comrades lost and I do not have the capacity to defuse the strife should something threaten our unity. It is because of that I need men like you Ohrmuzd." You state before continuing. "I need those who have the heart and the voice to speak to our brothers and comrades when we are not at war, and when we need bonds forged with words."
The Black Carapace is the last organ needed by an initiate in order for him to become an Astartes. In order to install, first thread the organic fiber optics through is central nervous system, wrapping the cords around his nerves.
The Sergeant seems to wrack his brain for a moment before speaking. "But what coul-"

KATHOOOOOM! BRAKARAK!

Whatever the Marine was about to say is cut off by a deafening explosion that nearly knocks the both of you off your feet. Followed by the noise of several bulkheads cracking from the impact. You quickly tap into the ship's vox network to reach Aventus in the command center. "Aventus! What just happened! Did we suffer a Gellar breach?" You hear alarms going off over the vox before your second-in-command responds. "We are under attack Legion Master!" His voice sounds hurried as he quickly barks out a few orders off-vox before continuing. "Strange ships just knocked us out of the Warp and began opening fire. We've been cut off from the rest of the fleet at the moment and they've begun attempting to disable our Void Shields." He pauses, checking ship data then speaks. "The rest of the fleet is going need time to find us and drop out of Warp. We are on our own for now Legion Master."
The Witching Hour has Come.
The idea seems almost insane. Who would have the nerve, or more accurately the madness to directly attack a heavily armored target such as your ship? You ponder that thought for a second before asking. "Do we have any idea who they might be according to their ship design?" You hear your subordinate press a few buttons and speak to someone before answering. "They appear to be similar to records on Eldar ships, but they're all wrong to actually be Eldar. Too angular and they're covered in different sized blades and spikes."
The wolves circle.
Blast, that doesn't make it any easier figuring a proper strategy. You think for moment before responding. "What's the make up of their fleet and their current behaviors?"
DEATH COMES FOR US ALL.
Another pause. "At least six ships, most of them are smaller harrying vessels though they have enough firepower that they are actually endangering our shields. Those ones are performing high speed pinpoint strikes, before flying as quickly out of range as possible. There's also a larger one that seems to be hanging back outside of our own ranges. Almost as if they already know our weapons limits." Sound of tapping fills the vox for a moment. "The crew, the techpriests, and the machine spirits are telling me that we have to act quickly or else we're simply going to be picked apart. First the Void Shields, then the ship itself." He reports before asking a question. "What are your orders Legion Master?"


What is your strategy?
[] Write-In


GM's Note: Sorry it took so long, it took a while to deal with some problems I was having with this post. Say thanks to Altered for helping me finish this.