Warboss Mega Defroar was ultimately slain by Ezekyle Abaddon of the Luna Wolves. With their mission complete, the Knowledge Hunters of the Third Cohort carried their broken Captain back to his Battle Barge. Once all Astartes were clear of the Space Hulk, the Melta Charges were detonated, creating a chain reaction which shattered the hideous amalgam. With their command ship destroyed, the Ork armada fell to infighting, and the three Imperial fleets easily mopped up the smaller groups.

On the surface of Mytos, Warboss Battlekleava's demise proved to be the tipping point. Several Ork chieftains claimed leadership of the horde, and a bloody struggle soon erupted. Combined with the furious assault of the Knowledge Hunters, supported by their Titans and the Space Wolves, every single Ork on Mytos was butchered, thus saving the Confederation capital. The two Legions' Primarchs did not speak to one another until Horus met with them after the battle's completion.

With the death of the twin Warbosses and the complete annihilation of their armies around or on the capital world, the II, VI, and XVI Legions set themselves to task. Every last xenos was hunted down and their vessels were destroyed.

The worlds of the Confederation swore allegiance to the Imperium that day.

Kaius strode through the corridors of the Quest for Knowledge, flanked as always by Andion and the Praetores Venerabilia. He was garbed in a sleeveless, rust-coloured robe that flowed behind him as he walked. The thick, metallic taste of sacred oils wafted through the air, and Kaius could sense the pleasure of the Machine Spirits all around them.

A Rune Priest and his accompanying Servitor crossed an intersecting corridor ahead. He bowed in respect to Kaius before moving on.

The Battleship's prow was devoted to scientific study, and as such was mostly occupied by every kind of laboratory devoted to biological and mechanical pursuits. As the Primarch passed a doorway, he saw a Magos Xenologis overseeing the dissections of several corpses belonging to the second xenos threat he and his Legion had encountered. The thin, naked corpses were cut open by Servitors, their organs removed and placed in containers of embalming fluid for later study.

Kaius absorbed this information in the point-two seconds he viewed the scene.

In another chamber, a half dozen of the xenos, these ones still living, were each strapped to a neuro-reactive apparatus. A Magos Biologis Neuralis, aided by an Apothecary of the Knowledge Hunters, oversaw several Servitors and Tech Priest adepts who worked at the controls. At the Magos' command, the xenos were subjected to intense surges of pain through the neural connectors. Their lithe bodies tensed as their thin lips twisted into agonized snarls. Scans of their brain functions were displayed on a wall screen, and even a quick glance told Kaius that these xenos' synaptic pathways were many times more complex than those of Mankind, and their neurons fired three times as fast.

Eventually, Kaius arrived at his destination. Turning to Andion, he said "Wait here."

"Yes, my lord" the large Astartes replied with a deep, filtered voice that would most likely intimidate lesser beings.

The Lord of the II Legion walked to the end of the corridor, passing through the doorway into another laboratory. The Psyker who had led the xenos was strapped to a neuro-reactive apparatus, stripped of his elegant armour and weapons. Magos Biologis Benedold used his Mechadendrites to work the controls of the apparatus, while Artisan Markovius stood off to the side, next to a table where all of the Psyker's effects laid.

"Have you made any progress?" Kaius asked, reverting to Lingua Technis among his fellow Tech adepts.

"A few, my lord" Benedold replied, his multi-faceted eyes reflecting Kaius' face a hundred times over. "I have kept the subject sedated so as to dampen its psionic abilities."

As if sensing that he was being discussed, the Psyker rolled his head back and said "You animals think…you…can…keep me in…bondage? I am so far beyond…your…pitiful, primate minds."

Kaius took a step towards the xenos, examining it with his bionic eye. "It is remarkably resilient, despite its apparent frailty."

"Indeed" Benedold agreed. "It would seem they possess extremely efficient motor control and weight to muscle ratio."

"My lord, look at this" Markovius said.

Kaius turned and joined his oldest subordinate. The Artisan was examining the xenos' pistol, holding it with a Mechadendrite. The weapon was elegant, with a gleaming finish and a curved handle.

"From what you and your Astartes described, these xenos employ energy weapons in combat. However, I have determined that this weapon, and others taken from the battlefield, are not energy weapons. I detect no power cell of any kind, nor any sort of mechanism that would convert gas pockets into ionized plasma." To demonstrate his point, Markovius aimed the pistol at the half-shell of a dead Servitor and fired. It discharged glowing rounds into the metal, puncturing and driving deep into it.

Kaius walked over to the shell and ran his metallic fingers over the thin puncture marks. "Fascinating. They must propel razor-sharp discs as projectiles."

"You…flail in the…dark, Mon-keigh" the Psyker said.

Ignoring it, Kaius walked back to the table and looked over its belongings. Beside the pistol was a finely wrought blade inscribed with alien glyphs, a suit of yellow armour with various runes upon it and a yellow cloak, and…

Looking back at the armour, Kaius examined it more closely. There was a bright blue gem inlaid in the chest piece, and its prominence suggested that the xenos valued it greatly. As delicately as he could, he used his Claw Mechadendrite to grip the gem and pull it loose. He held it close, observing how its ocean-blue surface reflected the lights of the laboratory. He could hear the Psyker beginning to thrash against his restraints, and a rapid beeping from the apparatus preceded Magos Benedold saying "My lord, the subject is starting to fully regain consciousness!"

Kaius turned, and the Psyker had evidently overcome the sedatives. It thrashed like a raging animal, growling as it tried in vain to free itself. "Take your filthy hands off that, primate! I will tear you apart with a thought! Release me! You will suffer for this! Give it back!"

With his bionic eye, Kaius could see a rapid rise in its body temperature. Its skin began to glow faintly, and he calculated a sixty four-point-three chance that it would use its psionic abilities to escape, and that probability was rapidly climbing.

He silently called Andion through his Vox implant.

The Psyker continued to struggle, and its right hand glowed red-hot, like a metal rod in a forge. The restraint on its right wrist melted like wax, and the right arm was freed. Just as the xenos held its hand at Kaius in what must have been the beginnings of an offensive spell, it suddenly tensed, straining against its restraints as its free hand clutched its chest.

Kaius turned and saw Andion approaching. The Praetores Prefect came to the doorway, and the Primarch held a hand, stopping him.

Kaius stepped in front of the Psyker and held the blue gem before him, just out of reach. "This clearly has emotional value for you" he said in Low Gothic. "You would not struggle so much if it were a mere bauble. Tell me what this means to you."

The xenos glared at him, defiantly silent.

Kaius gave a single command in Lingua Technis, and Andion took a step forward. The Psyker grunted, its pain clearly intensifying. With another command, Andion took two steps forward, and the Psyker could not contain a wail of pure agony. Kaius held the gem before it, maintaining eye contact. "Tell me what I wish to know. I do not know the pain threshold for your species, but I am curious to discover what it is, and I have several test subjects who are not as valuable as you are. Progress often requires…sacrifice."

Its tortured wails echoed through the corridors, likely reaching the ears of its comrades.

An hour later, Kaius gently placed the gem back on the table. The xenos had finally succumbed to the effects of Andion's presence, and had returned to a catatonic state. Fortunately, it had divulged a great deal, and the Primarch was very eager to explore the new paths of discovery this knowledge would lead him.

A transmission came through his Vox implant. "My lord, this is Admiral Konstantius. Lord Lupercal requests your presence aboard the Vengeful Spirit."

"Very well, Admiral. Inform him that I am on my way."

"My lord, what should be done with the subject?" Magos Benedold asked in Lingua Technis.

"It represents too great a security risk. Remove its brain for further study, and preserve the body. Have it transferred to my sanctum."

"Of course. Omnissiah be praised."

"Omnissiah be praised" Kaius echoed. With that, he walked out of the laboratory, Andion and the Praetores Venerabilia falling in step beside him. Leaving the prow section behind, the Primarch made his way to one of the port side hangar bays. Teams of Tech Priests and their accompanying Servitors repaired and maintained countless aircraft in the wake of the battle, and a squad of Astartes disembarked from a Stormbird nearby.

Kaius and his escort proceeded to board the transport, and he told the pilot "Take us to the Vengeful Spirit."

"Yes, my lord."

The boarding ramp was closed, and the ship vibrated as the engines were engaged. The trip to Horus' flagship lasted exactly eighteen-point-nine minutes; judging by the travel time, Kaius estimated that the Vengeful Spirit was maintaining orbit directly over Mytos' second continent, northeast of the equator.

The ramp lowered, and Kaius disembarked, Andion and his squad close by. Ezekyle Abaddon, First Captain of the Luna Wolves, was there to greet him, flanked by a squad of the elite Justaerin Company.

"Lord Caesarius" the First Captain greeted, inclining his head.

"Captain Abaddon."

Horus' favoured officer took a moment to glance at Andion. At a quick glance, Kaius could tell that the two Astartes were roughly the same size. Andion's bionic enhancements increased his overall profile and bulk, but in terms of organic physiology, they were equal. The other Luna Wolves with Abaddon shifted where they stood. The motions were miniscule, almost too subtle to see, but Kaius' superior vision told him that they felt uncomfortable.

As they would be naturally familiar with Abaddon's size and strength, their discomfort must have come from new stimuli. Kaius glanced at the Praetores Prefect, pondering the implications. The xenos Psyker had violently reacted to his presence, to the point where close proximity induced catatonia. If Andion possessed some natural, hostile trait to Psykers, then was it possible that it affected non-Psykers, as well?

It was certainly an idea worth exploring.

"I'm here to escort you to my lord's quarters" the First Captain explained. With another glance at Andion, he turned on his heel and began to lead Kaius out of the hangar. The walk through the formidable battleship was mostly silent, but after seven minutes, Abaddon said "Your Third Captain, Monokar. Did he survive?"

"His injuries were extensive. He has been interred within a Dreadnought."

Abaddon nodded. "Then he has more chances to fight. Good. Who will take his place in command of the Third Cohort?"

"No one. He will resume his post once the transition is complete."

The First Captain was silent, his surprise only partially hidden.

"We believe that the flesh can be elevated through bionic enhancement" Kaius replied to the question on the Astartes' mind. "Those that infuse themselves with sacred tech honour our Emperor, the Omnissiah. An Astartes who becomes a Dreadnought is a living embodiment of that ideal, and they are to be honoured for their achievement."

"As you say."

Eventually, they reached Horus' quarters, and both squads of Astartes remained in the corridor, standing opposite one another. The door slid open, and Kaius stepped inside.

Horus sat on a couch opposite the door, looking down at reports from the planet's surface. When Kaius entered, he looked up and smiled. "Thank you for coming, brother. Please, have a seat."

Kaius glanced at the empty couch to his brother's left. "I do not require rest" he said, his filtered voice neutral in tone. A snort drew his gaze to Horus' right, where Russ reclined on a couch, one leg propped up on his knee. "I see you managed to recover your weapon."

The Wolf King sneered at him. "No thanks to you. I had to dig my way through half a mile of corpses and wreckage to get it back."

"That seems highly inefficient. Can you not craft another?"

"I've been wielding this Frost Blade since the Allfather gave me command of my Legion. I tore the fangs from a Fenrisian Kraken and tempered it in the forges of my homeworld for five days! It has tasted the blood of Orks and a hundred other species!"

"From what I understand, Fenrisian Krakens are not an extinct species."

"That's not the point, Kaius! This blade has value to me. You should have just let me retrieve it."

Kaius stared into Russ' eyes and said "A weapon can be replaced. A Primarch cannot."

"We have won a great victory this day" Horus said, interposing himself into the argument. "We saved four prosperous human worlds from annihilation at the hands of the Greenskins. We did that by fighting together, as our father intended. We can't afford to bicker like children."

Russ grumbled as he crossed his arms. Kaius stood still.

"Kaius, how does your Legion fare?"

"We suffered eleven-point-three percent casualties, which I consider to be within an acceptable margin considering the size of the Ork horde we faced. The recruits from Mytos' population will restore that amount and increase the size of my forces by six percent."

Horus nodded approvingly.

When the Emperor had given Kaius command over the II Legion, there were extenuating circumstances in regards to recruitment. Normally, a Primarch's homeworld would serve as the source of recruits for his Legion, but since Portentia was a Forge World, there were no possible recruits that fit the necessary criteria for Gene-Seed implantation. Also, according to the Treaty of Olympus Mons, the Adeptus Mechanicus was an independent entity with assured sovereignty over its own worlds. The Emperor had thus cast the Decree of Harshor, granting Kaius the right to recruit new Astartes for the Knowledge Hunters from the populations of the worlds they brought to Imperial Compliance.

"I have finished my study of the second xenos species we encountered" Kaius said.

"They call themselves 'Eldar'" Horus explained. "They used to command an ancient empire, but have since fragmented. They are a manipulative, capricious, and arrogant race of xenos."

"They have proven to be a wealth of information. Their leader was a Psyker, far more powerful than anything humanity has produced. Its interrogation revealed that it had lured the Orks to this system in an effort to destroy both us and the Confederation of Mytos."

"Perhaps it would have been better if the svikari had been obliterated."

Horus was silent for a moment, then said "Our father has declared every human to be a part of the Imperium, brother. To resist Compliance is to die."

"Under normal circumstances, my Legion would have conquered them. However, the presence of the Orks complicated matters. I calculated a ninety seven-point-four percent probability that they would invade. If we had declared war on the Confederation, we would have expended valuable munitions and be caught in a vulnerable position. Besides, it would have taken considerably more time for the people of the Confederation to be made Compliant after conquest. Coming to them in their time of need presented us as their saviours. They now feel indebted to us and the Imperium, and their advanced infrastructure is intact."

"There is little glory in rewarding treachery" Russ quipped. "You should have punished them for denying the Allfather's will!"

"Animals seek glory and recognition. We are Primarchs; ours is to seek the elevation of Mankind. You would do well to remember the difference and not place such emphasis on your primitive values."

The Wolf King growled, baring his fangs as he flipped the table in the centre of the room. "Say that to my face, you Rusted Coward!"

Horus stood and placed himself between them. "Calm down!"

Russ turned in response and stormed out of the room, muttering curses in his native tongue as he shoved past First Captain Abaddon. The doors slid shut once more, and Horus looked at Kaius, a disappointed frown on his face. "You deliberately provoked him."

"I was proving a point."

"And what would that be?"

"We were created for a specific purpose, brother" Kaius replied. "Everything in the universe operates in tandem to ensure functionality, and our father imbued us with that same design. You are Mankind's greatest general. I design and create technology and weapons that will elevate us as the greatest species this galaxy has ever known."

"And Russ?" Horus asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Russ is a savage, a weapon meant to be loosed against the Emperor's enemies. He was raised on a feral world by wolves and then by a culture that valued the acts of war and killing."

"But father didn't have any control over that" Horus said. "We were stolen as infants."

"He is the Omnissiah, Horus. The collection of all knowledge and understanding. Nothing happens that is not according to His design, and I have come to believe that He scattered us around the galaxy so we would acquire diverse knowledge and abilities. He did not tell us because we are expected to discover this for ourselves, and thus be worthy of Him. We are all Primarchs, but," he paused to look at the door, "some of us are more expendable than others."

Kaius examined his surroundings, scanning the area with his bionic eye. All around him, Astartes of the First Cohort secured the chamber as Stormbirds continually deposited more troops and Tech Priests.

"You have done well, Darius" he told his First Captain.

"Thank you, my lord." He stood next to Kaius, his helmet in the crook of his elbow.

It had been a day since Kaius had conferred with his brothers. In that time, Darius had managed to locate the vessel the 'Eldar' had used to infiltrate the system. The First Captain and his warriors had located a transport hidden among the mountains to the west of the Confederation capital city. Darius had deciphered the alien cogitator systems and traced its flight path to a frigate analogue left dormant in orbit over one of the five dead worlds. There were no crew to speak of, and it appeared that the xenos Psyker and his force had been the only ones aboard.

Artisan Markovius approached, flanked by two Explorators from Krakzon's detachment and a number of lobotomized Servitors. Kaius knew that his old subordinate's legs were gone, long since replaced by a nest of Mechadendrites that sprouted below the waist that were concealed by his rust-coloured robes. They offered unparalleled mobility as well as several defensive weapons in combat.

"My lord" he greeted, the Vox-grill that served as a mouth twinkling with blue light. He spoke in Lingua-Technis, which Kaius had been teaching his Legion. "This vessel is quite the find."

"That it is. Darius, secure every deck. Ensure that our orbit is stable, then await my order. Markovius, let us see what we can discover."

With that, Kaius and Markovius strode forward, surrounded by Andion and the Praetores. They began to probe the Eldar vessel's corridors, attempting to discern where the primary control centres and data cores were located. It was difficult work, as everything around them operated on non-human planes. The geometry of its construction was utterly foreign, the layout appeared to be counter-intuitive, and what cogitator systems they could locate resisted every effort of connection.

However, Kaius' superior intellect guided them through the twisting corridors until they reached what must have been the vessel's bridge. Markovius and the two Explorators set to work, examining what cogitators they could identify. The Servitors stood by the door, unmoving as they awaited their next commands.

Kaius took stock of the bridge, running his metallic hand over the walls. There was a presence running through the systems, a complex set of programs that rivalled, and perhaps surpassed, the Machine Spirits of the Mechanicum. The Primarch had always possessed a powerful influence over Machine Spirits, even those of the fearsome Titan god-engines. They always acquiesced to his desires, recognizing his superiority. This alien intelligence would learn to supplicate itself before him.

Upon locating what he deemed to be an access port, he extended a logic probe from the palm of his artificial hand and inserted it.

A wave of sensation washed over him. He could feel the construction materials, the artificial pathways snaking through the vessel like a circulatory system. Kaius knew he could not control the ship this way, as it was not designed with such operations in mind, but he could force it to activate the ship's functions for him.

The alien programs converged on his intruding consciousness, intending to snuff him out, but they were sorely lacking in ability. Kaius mustered his considerable will and mentally lashed out against them. They reeled back in pain and alarm, and he belatedly heard Markovius saying "… detecting activity in the cogitators."

The programs then attempted to flee, but Kaius reached out and ensnared them. They were bound to his will, and with a thought, he coaxed the xenos vessel to life.

Around them, pale blue lighting illuminated the interior, while screens came to life as the ship systems activated.

"Well done, my lord" Markovius said. "We now have full access."

Kaius Voxed his First Captain and said "Darius, contact Horus. Have him meet me here."

"Of course, my lord."

Just then, a high-pitched beeping could be heard. Kaius turned, scanning the bridge using his Vox implant. "There" he said, pointing to a nearby console. He and Markovius walked over to it, and saw that a set of alien glyphs covered the console in an irregular elliptical pattern. One of them was glowing.

"Could it be a self-destruct measure?"

Kaius considered that possibility. He scanned the console with his bionic eye, then said "I detect no connections to explosive devices or overload protocols. This appears to connect to the long-range communications equipment."

"Perhaps the Psyker's superior seeks to make contact."

"That was also my hypothesis" Kaius said. He nodded to Markovius, who summoned a Servitor over to him. The cybernetic servant shuffled over to the Artisan. A vid-screen replaced its chest, and both arms had been removed with connector sockets placed on the shoulders. Markovius interfaced a Mechadendrite into the communications console, while plugging another into one of the shoulder sockets.

"I stand ready."

Kaius nodded, then pressed the glowing rune.

"Oroseth, report" a voice said, its voice high-pitched and imperious. Kaius suspected it was female. "What is the status of your mission?"

Kaius glanced at Markovius, who nodded. The Servitor's chest screen cycled through various star systems as the Artisan attempted to triangulate the origin point for the signal. The Primarch modified the Vox-grill on his throat, modulating the harmonics of his voice until it matched that of the Psyker.

"This is Oroseth" he said, satisfied that he had sufficiently replicated the xenos' voice.

"How did your mission proceed? Were you discovered?"

Kaius glanced at the Servitor, and saw that the trace was beginning to narrow. "The human invaders detected us, but we decapitated their leadership. The foul Orks annihilated them and the local inhabitants."

"That is a relief" the female xenos said. "The Craftworld is still incapable of flight, but the Farseers predict that we should be able to leave this world within the year. With the success of your mission, we now have the time to complete our repairs."

The Servitor's screen finally stopped shifting, and it showed a binary star system containing an asteroid belt and a single dead world where the signal originated.

"We will depart with all haste. The Orks still infest this system, but we will slip through their clumsy armada soon enough."

"Very well, I shall be expecting you. Leirdalag out."

With that, the transmission ended, and Markovius unplugged his Mechadendrites. "We have located them, my lord. The binary star system is no more than fifty parsecs away. We should reach them via Warp travel within a week's time."

Kaius nodded in approval.

Just then, he heard footsteps as at least two individuals approached the bridge. The Primarch turned around and saw Horus stepping through the door, accompanied by a Tech Priest that Kaius did not recognize. Judging by her implants, she was a Magos of high station. "Kaius" Horus greeted with a smile. "This is Ocayria, the Mechanicum representative to my Legion."

"My lord Primarch, it is an honour" Ocayria greeted, her Vox-grill making her voice crackle.

"Likewise, Magos" Kaius replied, speaking in Lingua-Technis. The shutters around her bionic eyes widened in surprise. "This is Artisan Cybersmith Markovius, of the Forge World Portentia."

The two priests inclined their heads in respect.

"Horus," Kaius said, reverting to Low Gothic, "we have just finished interfacing with this vessel's cogitators. They have proven to be most fascinating."

"You… have interfaced with foul xenos tech?" Ocayria asked, the horror evident in her simulated voice.

Kaius and Markovius exchanged a glance, and the latter said "We have taken the proper precautions."

"This vessel and its systems are an abomination! They are an affront to the Machine God, and must be destroyed!" The Magos turned to look at Horus and added "My lord Primarch, the mind of the xenos is heretical and unknowable. Their foul technocraft must be purged, lest it pollute the sacred designs of the Machine God."

"The Machine God blesses those with the desire to seek out knowledge, no matter the source" Kaius countered. "Only the narrow-minded would hinder the sacred Quest for Knowledge with a lack of vision."

"Have you gleaned anything useful, brother?" Horus asked, stepping in before Ocayria could speak.

Kaius gestured to the Servitor which still displayed the astral coordinates. "We have. The Eldar strike force originated from this world, fifty parsecs from this system. I deceived their leadership into believing the mission here was a success. They are trapped and vulnerable on that world. The combined forces of three Astartes Legions should be more than sufficient to eliminate them."

Horus nodded as he spoke, staring at the screen intently. Kaius was pleased that a backward-thinking priest like Ocayria did not have ultimate authority here. That resided in his brother, one of the most sensibly minded individuals Kaius had ever known.

"Very well. We shall make arrangements to launch an attack. In the meantime, recall your forces from this vessel and destroy it."

Kaius' superior and enhanced mind suffered from a two second delay as he processed his brother's words. "Destroy it? Surely there is no need; we have it secured, and it does not present a threat to our fleet."

"I meant what I said, Kaius" Horus said, his tone gentle but firm as he placed a hand on Kaius' shoulder.

"Perhaps I can have it disassembled and disperse the pieces throughout my fleet. That would ensure that it is inert and harmless."

"Ocayria is right, brother. Our prerogative is to promote human endeavours, not those of hostile aliens. You've already extracted the information we need, and so there is no need to keep this vessel intact." Kaius furrowed the organic side of his brow, and Horus' expression softened. "I will make this easier for you, and have my ships destroy it. Does that suit you?"

"Yes" Kaius said simply.

"Then it's settled. I'll see you and Russ aboard the Vengeful Spirit in a few hours to plan the attack." With that, Horus and Ocayria exited the bridge, leaving Kaius with Markovius and the Servitors.

"My lord, we cannot let this vessel be destroyed" the Artisan said. "We were taught that all knowledge is sacred, no matter where it originates."

"We have no choice. Record your findings, and recall all personnel back to the Quest for Knowledge. This is an unfortunate setback, but we shall have more opportunities. This Eldar 'Craftworld' presents an intriguing target. If it is their base of operations, then the likelihood of finding their most advanced technologies is high."

Markovius bowed his head. "As you say, Scion of the Machine God."

Despite himself, Kaius allowed a miniscule smile on the organic side of his lips.

Leirdalag stared up at the sky, concern gripping her heart. Oroseth and his strike force were long overdue, and he should have reported any sort of setback. Though the mission to the human worlds was successful, the Autarch suspected their troubles were far from over.

The fact that the Farseers' visions were unable to pierce the turbulent tides of the Warp did nothing to ease her fears.

She turned and stepped over to the other side of the balcony. From here, she had a clear line of sight to most of the Craftworld as her people affected repairs. It had been scarcely sixty years since it had crashed on this dead world, no more than the blink of an eye to the Eldar. Leirdalag remembered the cataclysm that had consumed the heart of their empire; the Warp had torn open a massive rift in space, and the shockwaves had damaged her Craftworld's engines, forcing them to make an emergency landing.

As long as they were trapped on this world, they were vulnerable. And with the majority of the Eldar race consumed by She Who Thirsts, there were too few of them to afford the loss of an entire Craftworld.

The Autarch gripped the railing of her balcony, wringing it with her fingers. She would not let her kin die like vermin in a cage!

Her psychic senses tingled, and she looked up to see the angry red/pink tear of a ship exiting the Warp. "Oroseth, at last!" she said to herself, exhaling with relief. That relief instantly withered and died as a thick, blocky vessel emerged from the tear. It clearly wasn't an Eldar vessel, and only the Mon-keigh would create something so vulgar. Countless dozens of tears appeared in the space around the planet, depositing an entire human armada.

Treachery! Deceit! Somehow, they had recreated Oroseth's voice. But why hadn't she seen it?

No matter. The Eldar would triumph against these savages. "Warriors of Kurnous! The primitives are at our doorstep! Take up your arms, don your armour, and prepare yourselves for battle! The history of our people and our world lies with us, and we shall not see it torn from our grasp! Fight for the fallen!"

Darius invoked a silent prayer to his wargear as the Stormbird penetrated the planet's thin atmosphere. The First Company of the First Cohort was with him, all 100 Battle-Brothers armed and prepared for the battle ahead.

Lord Caesarius had been perfectly clear: while he and his brother Primarchs led the bulk of their forces against the Eldar host, Darius and elements of the First and Fourth Cohorts were to launch a raid into the xenos craft from the rear. Darius' Primarch desired biological and technological samples to be taken for further study. These Eldar were a highly advanced species, and the sacred Quest for Knowledge demanded that their secrets belong to the Emperor and His Imperium.

"Darius" Lord Caesarius called to him through his Vox-implant. His father's voice sounded different, even when accounting the Vox-grill on his throat; he did not sound strained, but rather focused, as if his enormous, Emperor-given will was entirely dedicated to one purpose, but still had more than enough capacity to communicate with Darius. "The battle has commenced. Begin the raid."

"It shall be done, my lord. We will not fail you." Darius contacted the other two Stormbirds with his Vox-implant. "Strike Force, deploy. For the Primarch! For the Emperor!"

He could feel the Stormbird accelerating, and it was not long before the pilot Voxed "We have identified a hangar large enough to accommodate us. Securing ingress." The Stormbird shook with the discharge of missiles and its primary autocannon. Darius drew his Plasma Gun, bracing for the approaching battle.

The guns fell silent, and the pilot reported "Targets eliminated. Landing now."

With a final vibration, the Stormbird stilled.

Darius nodded to Company Alpha Samos, who pressed the button to lower the rear hatch. "Move out!" Darius ordered. He and the other 100 Battle-Brothers filtered out of the Stormbird. The other two transports had landed beside theirs, and were depositing the rest of the Strike Force: a second Company of Astartes led by Daxus Monokar, now interred in the form of a mighty Dreadnought, along with Andion and a contingent of Praetores, and a Maniple of Skitarii led by a Magos of Portentia.

They gathered at the front of their transports, and Darius took a moment to marvel at the xenos craft.

The fleets had scanned it from orbit, estimating its size to be astronomically larger than even the colossal Gloriana-Class Battleships that served as flagships for the Primarchs. Much like the xenos frigate in the Mytos System, this craft had been built using inhuman geometry, the material resembling a sturdy, bleached bone that, if the war construct on Mytos was made of something similar, could regenerate damage. Here, within the craft's hull, gleaming spires speared up high while bulbous domes loomed overhead. This was not merely a void ship, but a mobile city, meant to house an entire people as they traveled through the stars.

And they were trapped, at the mercy of the Emperor's Primarchs and Astartes.

"Hurry, brothers. The xenos will not be able to stand up to the combined might of three Legions. Acquire any xenos tech and individual specimens you can find. Time is of the essence."

They wasted no time in entering the great cityscape, blasting through doors and walls in an effort to discover the Eldar's hidden secrets. Even here, Darius could hear the booming of the battle that raged on the surface of the dead world, mere tens of kilometres from the craft. Most of the Eldar appeared to be gone, likely participating in their home's defense.

Darius and a few squads came to a sealed doorway. The structure was only two storeys tall, and the lack of fortification or unique insignia indicated that it was a personal dwelling. He ordered one of the Squad Sergeants to breach the doorway. The Sergeant smashed his Power Fist into the door, shattering the bone-like material into splinters.

When they entered the dwelling, they found fifteen Eldar, all huddled against the far wall. None of them were armed, and at least half their number were children. They were most likely a family unit.

Darius motioned to the Skitarii Ranger squad with him, and they entered the dwelling, brandishing their Taser Goads. They had configured their weapons to provide the optimal electrical discharge to stun an Eldar individual, using information obtained from captured specimens on Mytos. The Rangers disabled the family, the electricity interspersed with the cries of the children.

The family was bound and taken back to the transports.

Moving on, Darius and his units joined the rest of the Strike Force as they entered what appeared to be an armoured citadel of sorts. The most valuable tech would be there. Inside, they encountered a number of guards, but between their superior firepower and Andion's as-yet unexplained hostile aura, the Strike Force prevailed.

They spread out through the citadel, and Darius, accompanied by Andion, made their way to what must have been an inner sanctum. Upon breaching the door, they found a small, circular chamber that was empty apart from a single occupant. The Eldar appeared to be female, dressed in fine robes and wielding a finely crafted spear. It knelt by the far wall, a hand pressed against a glowing blue vein along the bone-like material.

Darius traced the vein, and others like it, to the ceiling, where they converged before snaking off elsewhere. He remembered seeing similar veins all through the Eldar craft, in the buildings and floors and walls.

The Eldar glared at them, its lips curled in a sneer. "So, it is not enough that you slaughter my kindred, but you dare to ransack our home? You are nothing but animals, slaves to your baser natures!"

"We are the Legiones Astartes" Darius replied firmly. "The Emperor of Mankind has decreed that this galaxy is ours, and no xenos will hinder our path."

The Eldar stood, brandishing her spear. "Impudent wretch! I am a Farseer of Craftworld Kurnous, and I will not—" She suddenly screamed in pure agony as Andion entered the room, stepping close. The 'Farseer', having lost the ability to speak, grunted as it fell to the floor, its spear clanging as it was dropped.

Darius picked up the weapon, examining it with his organic and bionic eyes. It was master-crafted, and his bionic eye registered a latent electromagnetic signature indicating psychic potential. Lord Caesarius would be most intrigued.

His gaze returned to the glowing vein on the wall. Something told him it was important.

"Andion, remove this section of wall" he told the Praetores Prefect. "I believe it warrants close examination."

The massive Prefect smashed the butt of his Thunder Hammer into the wall surrounding the vein. "No, not…the Infinity Circuit!" the Farseer cried. Andion continued, first chipping, then breaking off the section of wall. The vein continued to glow, indicating that whatever powered it was not completely connected to the rest.

Andion left the sanctum with the vein. Darius followed, but stopped as the Farseer spoke. "I see now" it said, drawing his gaze. "The turbulence of the Warp, the ease in which you primitives deceived us…It was all perpetrated by the Architect of Fate."

Could the xenos be referring to the Omnissiah, the Architect of Knowledge? He who had given Kaius' mentor the visions which led to the creation of the Exploratores?

"What do you know of this?" Darius asked, approaching the Farseer.

"I know that your species is doomed, if you have attracted the attention of the Lord of Change" it replied. "Its cunning is endless, its machinations legion. For every move or countermove, its plans are accomplished. Take heed, Mon-keigh, for you are the playthings of powers darker and more ancient than your primitive selves."

Darius received reports from the rest of the Strike Force. Most had accomplished their mission, and were returning to the Stormbirds. Time was critical, as the Legions were approaching the Eldar craft.

The First Captain saw a chain around the Farseer's neck. It contained a large, blue gem, similar to those of the Eldar at Mytos. He tore the chain from its neck, holding it in one hand.

"No! No! I would gladly die for my people, but do not send me to the clutches of She Who Thirsts! Let me die properly, where my spirit can join my ancestors."

Darius regarded it with a cold, unfeeling gaze. "You are now my prisoner. Resist, and I will destroy your Soulstone." Without waiting for a response, he handed his Plasma Gun to one of his Command Squad, then grabbed the Farseer by the throat and dragged her beside him. He kept a closed fist over the Farseer's Soulstone, ready to smash it at the first sign of defiance.

There was none.

Loading everything into the Stormbirds, Darius and the Strike Force departed the Eldar Craft. They witnessed from orbit as the Legions assaulted the Eldar's home, partially buried in the surface of a dead world. Soon after, once the protective barrier was down, the ships in orbit launched a combined barrage on the craft, utterly obliterating it and every last trace of the Eldar.

Kaius stood within one of the larger laboratories in the Quest For Knowledge's prow, Andion and Darius beside him. Markovius stood off to the side, beginning the work of cataloguing everything.

"You have done well" he told them. "Very well."

"Thank you, my lord" Darius replied. "I live to serve you and the Emperor."

Kaius appraised the treasures his First Captain had acquired from the Eldar vessel, which from interrogations he knew was called a Craftworld. It would take him some time to fully process the weapons and specimens. Daxus had even managed to acquire a handful of small Eldar vehicles.

"These tech and specimens will give us a wealth of knowledge" Markovius said.

"Indeed" Kaius agreed.

"My lord, shall we inform Lord Horus about these spoils?" Darius asked. "Surely he would appreciate the need to apply any advanced understanding towards the betterment of humanity."

Kaius thought the matter over. Horus was reasonable, always presenting a level head in any discussion, especially when Russ was present. However, the incident with the Eldar frigate in the Mytos System was still fresh in Kaius' memory. Horus simply did not understand that knowledge came from an infinite number of sources, not just human endeavour. In time, when he and their Father saw what benefits Kaius would reap for their species, they would understand.

"No. For now, the existence of these spoils will remain within the Legion. I will inform Horus when the time is right."

Hello, one and all! To celebrate the release of Battlefleet Gothic: Armada II, here's a new chapter of the Prodigal Sons! This rounds out the Mytos Arc, and plants the seeds for future discoveries and conflicts.

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