[WH40K] - Colonizing A Peaceful Planet

Reaction's To The Warpline

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Indomitus Crusade
Macragge's Honour, Flagship of Lord-Regent Guilliman
Primarch Guilliman's Office
In Warp Transit
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Guilliman looked at the galaxy map in his personal quarters with a strange mix of frustration and relief. Weeks of planning sessions that tired even his Trans-human mind, up in smoke, and for a happy reason for a change. The appearance of the Warpline between Forge-World Delphi and Harkria Six (or whatever's left of it) in the Larilla's Grave Sub-sector had opened a third path through that damn Warp Rift splitting the galaxy, becoming one of the most important places in the Imperium. On top of that was the fact the travel time between the two points was measured in minutes, something beyond important on a galactic scale like this one is operating on. Reinforcements needed to be scrounged up, fleets sent to secure the passage, defenses built, the entire timetable of the Indomitus Crusade rewritten-

The Lord-Regent looked up at the face of a completely blank faced Yvraine. "I'm going to go ahead and assume you had nothing to do with this."

"If by this you mean something that will likely ensure the continued existence of the Imperium's forces beyond the rift, then no, I'm not." Yvraine answered honestly, quickly turning into a smirk. "But I am touched that the first thought that came to mind was me."

Guilliman managed to prevent himself from rolling his eyes. "The only current culprits are the Mechanicus, Heretics, and Craftworlder's."

"Not Drukhari?" The Eldar raised an eyebrow in response. "They are active in the Sub-sector the world that disappeared was in, and the Kabal there has made some surprising moves."

He sniffed in disdain at the idea. "This only helps the Imperium in the long run, will have massive amounts of warships moving through the Sector from the corridor, and turn that entire area into the worst target for their raiders, one that can fight back and win. If it was them, then it was the biggest mistake they will ever make."

"Other factions will come to claim it, it could let them run rampant in the background," argued Yvraine, but doubt filled her voice. "No, you're right, it would still be too dangerous for them, they'll have quotas to meet from their Haemonculus masters. Dodging warships and calling off raids due to massive fighting will have them fail, and likely used to fill their failed quotas."

Guilliman scowled at the reminder of the abominations that consider Humanity as resources. One day there would be a reckoning with the inhabitants of the Dark City, provided the Warp Rift quarantined in the city and the Daemons spewing through it don't kill them all first.

"Arch-Magos Cawl is on his way to Delphi to see if what happened there was the Mechanicus," Guilliman continued. "I personally doubt it was Chaos, the last thing they want is to assist the Imperium. Opening up a corridor in Imperium territory is crazy, even for them."

"Which leaves the Craftworlds," Yvraine sighed in acceptance. "I'll talk with them, but don't expect much. I'm not exactly popular with some groups at the moment."

"Biel-Tan," Guilliam stated with the subtlety of a tank.

"Apparently if I show up on a Craftworld it will end up destroyed," Yvraine responded in kind. "Honestly, how exactly were they even going to rebuild the Aeldari Empire if they kept attacking everything in their way? Someone would eventually muster a force able to attack them back and no one would lift a finger to help."

The Lord-Regent nodded in understanding. Biel-Tan had decimated many Imperium colonies and fleets that had unwittingly settled on Maiden Worlds. The only reason the Imperium didn't muster a Crusade to destroy them was that there were more important fires to put out, and Biel-Tan attacked everyone, inadvertently dealing with other enemies of the Imperium.

He himself figured that the leaders of Biel-Tan had lost themselves to the influence of the Aeldari War God. It was the only realistic reason why a group of leaders dedicated to war would fail to realize that people can't fight and conquer an entire galaxy and expect to actually win. Especially with only a few million people.

Even the Emperor during the Great Crusade spent a large amount of time being a diplomat and bringing in people peacefully instead of conquering them.

"I'll contact Eldrad," Yvraine decided after a second of thought. "If he of all seers cannot divine what occurred, then the odds of us repeating it are small at best."

Guilliman nodded in acceptance and returned his eyes to the galaxy map. This was likely the best he would get.

"Now then!" Yvraine suddenly exclaimed with cheer, causing Guilliman to snap his eyes back up, wary. "I believe it is around time for dinner. I managed to convince your guards that the food we brought along was not an attempt to poison you after all the effort it took to save your life, so tonight's food will be far more impressive than the bland gruel Humanity usually prepares for itself."

He thought fast. "There are still orders in need of issuing."

"Your Astropaths need time to rest and eat themselves after all the messages that have been sent," Yvraine instantly countered with a smile. "It's only fair that you relax for a little bit as well."

His eyebrow twitched in frustration. A reminder that he was saved because of her to make him feel indebted, a sudden gift of likely very good food that he would be rude to turn away, and there was no way for him to gracefully retreat.

'The Victorious' had just been soundly defeated.

'I wonder how the world's in Larilla's Grave are reacting to all this,' Guilliman groused to himself as he followed a smug Aeldari (as if there was any other kind) to the dining hall.

'Actually, I had completely forgotten about Momi ʻōmaʻomaʻo and those Sharkhounds of theirs due to Magnus. Maybe Yvraine will know.'

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Diesyxris XI
Emperor's Reavers Fortress-Monastery
Chapter Master's Office
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*Thud*

*Thud*

*Thud*

"I assume you need some time to digest this news."

With a final and resounding *THUD* Chapter Master Praytaris looked up at Chief Librarian Steles Aethemus in frustration. "No, I'm ecstatic that our world is likely to be the frontline for quite possibly the largest chaos incursion in this Sub-sector to date."

"I wasn't aware you were a psyker," Aethemus joked in return before frowning. "There's a large chance that Chaos will attack Delphi instead of Harkria, there simply is no place for them to fortify in Harkria, the only possible place was Harkria Six, with it gone all that's left are airless worlds, not easy places to fortify."

"Definitely not for idiot warbands, they would be wondering why nothing is being built while their slaves die due to not having life support equipment," Praytaris sardonically responded. "I'm aware they likely won't attack the Sub-sector in force, between the Primaris Marines, House Larilla, and the reinforcements I'm positive are on the way, the Traitor's will never hold these worlds."

Aethemus realized what his Chapter Master was thinking. "The Traitor attack will be to keep us from aiding the defense of Delphi."

Praytaris nodded grimly. "Just enough to keep us busy, while the rest swarm the Forge-world to enact a ritual to close the passage. The enemy fleet will likely split up and raid the influx of ships that will be coming through the Sub-sector to use the passage, forcing us to spread out to defend shipping and the planets themselves if they decide to try for them."

Aethemus sighed in anger and annoyance. "I'll alert the Sub-Sector and the Imperial Navy to prepare for enemy raids."

Praytaris nodded. "I'll tell the rest of the Chapter."

The Chief Librarian began to walk out of the room, but before leaving called back, "At least the Despoiler is likely as frustrated as we are."

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The Warp
Vengeful Spirit
Lupercal's Court
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The head of the slave that brought the recent news rolled to a halt against the feet of Vortigern, member of the Ezekarion and Fallen, revealing a look of pure horror. He calmly ignored it, for something more dangerous demanded his attention.

Abaddon the Despoiler, Warmaster of Chaos, leaned back in his throne, eyes burning with pure fury. Drach'nyen remained impaled into the body of the slave. "Less than two decades. Two mere decades, and already the 'Great Rift' has holes appearing in it. What happened."

Ceraxia, Heretek and the Warmaster's Master of the Arsenal, began. There is zero chance that this was planned by the Mechanicus of Mars. If they had discovered a possible way to part the Warp Storms, we would have noticed them testing it. They would not do it next to a Forge-world.

Moriana, the personal prophetess for Abaddon continued. "I have looked through the skeins of Fate and found no evidence of any plans to create a corridor through the Rift. If it was the Imperium, I would have seen it."

Abaddon gripped his throne tight enough to pulverize bone. "The Eldar caused this then. The Xenos of Commorragh may have the technology, but would also be far happier if the Imperium was cut off from their world's, allowing them to raid freely. No warband or Legion dedicated to Chaos would consider it."

Falkus Kibre, one of Abaddon's bodyguards and leader of his own warband, added his own thoughts. "It could have been the Necrons Ezekyle, they would easily have the technology to part the Rift."

Abaddon nodded at the idea. "While true, I doubt that they have the knowledge to direct the Warpline between the two systems to be that fast. They don't use Warp technology, unless it's to reinforce the barriers between reality and the Warp.

Vortigern asked the important question. "What is our next move?"

Abaddon leaned forward toward his trusted subordinates. "Alert the warbands near Forge-world Delphi and the Larilla's Grave Sub-sector. I'm offering two ships of equal tonnage for every loyalist ship destroyed. That will ensure they will attack. Falkus, you will go and gather what sorcerers you need to close the Warpline again. Ceraxia, make whatever promises to the Dark Mechanicus you need to for their support, I'd be shocked if Titans were not either there or on the way. They'll want the technology on the planet. It's all theirs for as much support you can get. To ensure the warbands stick around to fight when the Imperium arrives in force, tell them that every commander that stays to ensure the closing of the channel will be made one of my lieutenants."

"The warbands are likely to die anyway," Falkus noted.

"They don't need to know that."

He nodded in acceptance. "And contingencies if we lose?"

If it was not one of the Ezekarion who asked that it would have been a session of horrific torture. But Abaddon was certain of their loyalty to him, so he simply gave him a grin that spoke of malice and evil.

"It's incredibly likely that the warbands will fall to infighting, so ensure to remember the myriad betrayals that will play out in order to tell all that if their forces do not follow my orders and only care about themselves, the Imperium will crush them."

Vortigern smiled. "We win, we close one of the routes through the Rift. We lose, we can tighten our grip on the rest of our forces to ensure the battles to come are easier."

"I would prefer not to lose to begin with, but I'll take a wrecked Forge-world and more loyal forces."

The Warmaster of Chaos rose from his throne and calmly reclaimed his daemonic sword.

"Now then, let us talk about planet Vigilus."

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Unknown location
Headquarters of the Kabal of Unfettered Hope
Throne room of Elan Shadowlance
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Elan Shadowlance snarled at the hologram of her Haemonculus superior. "There is no way we can continue operating in that pathetic Sub-sector, it is about to become far too dangerous for your 'experiments'."

Experiments, ha! It was so far nothing more than throwing inferior species at others to see what happens. The Rak'gol were simple enough, let them have the resources of the colony and they were all too happy to join the raid. Of course, then the eternally damned Mon'keigh Titan awoke and vaporized nearly all of them. In the name of the Dark Muses, how did the blasted machine not immediately fall through the ground of the Cenote world when it stood up anyway?

"The information we would acquire about different combat scenarios will be well worth the cost."

Shadowlance wished she could look into the Haemonculus' eyes, but the image was purposefully distorted, in case she decided to sell the information on who she was reporting to directly to the coven's rivals. In the Dark City, paranoia is a survival trait.

"That Warpline is going to draw massive amounts of military vessels and armies to the Sub-sector, any experiment could easily be cut short in the fighting, and not even we will be able to hide easily with all the patrols that will arrive to ensure the safety of the passage. We still have the rest of the Sector to run experiments on, we should move our efforts there."

The hologram was silent for a time. "Very well. Move operations as you see fit, just keep an eye on our parting gift to that wretched planet. I want to see their little paradise burn for the trouble it caused us."

Now that was an order she could enjoy. "As you command, Master."

At least the small gift of Orks will keep them busy forever when they realize what happened and ruin their efforts to make the planet a Pleasure World. And if the tiny group of Orks somehow conquer it? That will cause a distraction for the factions moving into the Sector and strip more ships from patrols, allowing more raids of these pathetic Mon'keigh.

It was good to be Drukhari in this age, now if only she could deal with her idiotic Master.

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Author's Note: I didn't want to make an omake until someone else wrote one, but I'll consider the Elder Sharkhound picture good enough.

Edit: Forgot to have the Kabal's reaction. Give me a little bit.
Edit 2: Now we're done. And of course the Orks that appeared on planet was caused by the Kabal. Five Orks just appear on a planet with head injuries? They were obviously knocked out and dropped there. Because Dark Eldar are spiteful fuckers.