"Over two and a half Chapters' worth of Unforgiven led by the
Invincible Reason, our Primarch's flagship, and what do we have to show for it?" says Grand Master Nadael of the Dark Angels, once just Master of their 3rd Company and one of the few members of their Inner Circle who had not been at the Asgardia Sector
Nobody answers him as everyone here knows the truth. That they have nothing to show for one of the Unforgiven's greatest deaths.
When Annas first learnt of the Fallen, he thought he knew shame in truth yet that shame failed to compare to what he felt after he failed at Hive World Vanaheim. He hadn't been in command there as Grand Master Gabriel of the Angels of Redemption had held overall command for that mission. But he was still the Master of the Dark Angels' 4th Company and that mission had seen almost half of the Unforgiven deployed there dead with no Fallen slain or captured to show for it.
Yes, the Angels of Vengeance had broken the battle-plan to go after the lying heretic Torvald Thunderson for understandable reasons. Yes, they hadn't expected those Astartes from a fourth unknown Chapter to slay Grand Master Gabriel and break the back of the Angels of Redemption's 1st Company. It was a clear defeat and somehow it was Annas who had seen the most success of the secret crusade.
At homeworld of the Storm Avengers, two strike cruisers had been lost while barely over a company's worth of survivors had escaped on the last. A fortress-monastery of unknown origin with forbidden heretical weapons while the world had been defended by more than mere PDF. Entire regiments of Traitor Guard had been dug in and waiting for the Unforgiven to land. And neither Grand Master Nemath of the Angels of Vengeance or any veterans from his Chapter's 1st Company had been amongst the survivors.
At Mjolnir, results had been mixed. From a certain perspective, they had seen success with the defenders killed to the last and the fortress-monastery of the traitorous Iron Sentinels were utterly destroyed. But the price? Every brother sent to the world had died for that victory and the Persecutors of Darkness had lost their strike cruiser too.
In the Beowulf Sub-Sector? Where those wretched Fallen had made a new home for themselves? It was a total disaster with the only silver lining being that some of the Unforgiven there had survived to spread news of what befell the sons of the Lion there. Close to two thousand Astartes, five battle barges, a dozen strike cruisers and the
Invincible Reason herself had been deployed to that front and only one battle barge and one strike cruiser with barely a company of Astartes between them had returned.
Of every disaster that happened there, Annas considers the defections to be the worst aspect of it. Death and defeat is one thing, but for uninitiated brothers to be swayed to heresy by the words of the Fallen? The deaths of Grand Master Aradiel and the entirety of Deathwing? The loss of the
Invincible Reason? All pale before the fact that half of Ravenwing amongst others had willingly believed the Fallen and thrown their lot in with them.
Whatever shame that Annas had felt for the failure at Vanaheim paled compared to what he felt when he learnt how the rest of the crusade had gone. His personal failures were nothing to the failure of the Unforgiven. Especially when there was no easy way to right that shame for the time being.
"Annas," says Nadael, "You will take command of the new Deathwing."
What? No, he is not worthy of such an honour.
"Brother!" exclaims Annas, "I cannot! I am not-"
"We do not have time for such recriminations," says Nadael, "Our Chapter needs to rebuild and more importantly, we need a worthy Inner Circle capable of righting this shame."
"Nadael is right, brother," says Supreme Grand Master Asmane of the Angels of Absolution, "Events have shown that the uninitiated can no longer be trusted to act appropriately. If we are to engage with these Fallen, it must be with those of the Inner Circle. The next time we return to the Asgardia Sector, it will be with the Deathwings of the Unforgiven. And as for those who have proven themselves to be trusted, as the Supreme Grand Master of the Unforgiven, I am giving the order to begin the initiation process for all those who survived this disaster of a crusade."
"Supreme Grand Master, are you certain?" asks Annas.
"Yes," answers Asmane firmly and confidently, "In the Asgardia Sector, our brothers were forced to make a choice and those of them who remain with us made the right one. Even if their exposure to the truth was unconventional, they have already passed their first test of loyalty."
"For the Dark Angels Chapter, I shall be forming the new Deathwing from the survivors of 4th, 8th and 9th Companies," says Nadael, "They have proven their loyalties and had their crucible of fire. Their skill may be lacking compared to what we expected from our 1st Company, but ensuring that they meet standards will be your first duty as the new Master of Deathwing, Annas. Take that shame you feel and use it to fuel your motivation to do better, to forged the weapon that we shall use to expunge that shame."
"I will, Grand Master," promises Annas.
"In the meantime, we shall call upon our debts and favours to rebuild," says Asmane, "The Twenty-Sixth Founding will be taking place in the next century or two. We shall convince the High Lords to make a few more of them of Dark Angel descent and we shall make use of the Lionheart engine. If we are careful with which Forge Worlds we grant a copy to, we can maximise how much new wargear and warships will be provided to the Unforgiven. And we will need that wargear and those warships to crush this upstart Asgardian Triumvirate and reclaim the
Invincible Reason."
"For the Lion and the Imperium," reply Annas and Nadael.
"For the Lion and the Imperium," Asmane replies right back.
***
A little snapshot into how the Unforgiven are acting to their failures in the Asgardia Sector. I meant to have it done sooner, but I had trouble getting the right words and vibe. Anyway, they are doubling down on not trusting those who have not been initiated into the Inner Circle and going all-out on rebuilding their strength so they can crush you next time.
Please point out any spelling or grammar mistakes that you spot. Please quote them in the thread and explain what you think is wrong so I know what you are referring to.
