Captain Vauss of the Omega Marines could still barely believe his situation. Only a few short years ago, his chapter had been warring against those who were now his allies. But... excommunicated by the ministorum for their chapter rites and by the Inquisition for their brutal campaigns, they had no other choice than to turn to the Imperium's enemies for aid. And so, he found himself on Taneloth, the great centre of the Imperial cult, fighting alongside nothing less than the warriors of the Traitor Legions. Now, their combined forces had broken through an Imperial line held by the Soritas. How things could change, he mused.

World Eater marines - a few years ago, he would have known them as nothing except Berserkers - checked weapons and prepared to move with more discipline than he would have expected from such savages. As if in answer to his unspoken question, a calm voice spoke from behind.

"Discipline is part of the warrior's path. Courage and savagery are worthless without it.; strategy and tactics are effective tools for destroying Khorne's enemies."

Vauss turned to face the speaker - a World Eater in ornate, hound-headed armour. Their leader, he knew - Sagoth.

"The legion's reputation precedes us, I see. I am not a fool, Captain." Sagoth almost sneered the rank. "I hold the rank of Lieutenant Commander. I held it when I last spoke to the Emperor. And these imbeciles make a god of him, to cover their own uncertainties."

Vauss nodded in agreement. "Even those chapters loyal to the Imperium resent the ministorum. They dared presume themselves above us, and..."

"And so you ran to Chaos. What do you know of Chaos, Captain? It is a thing of fire and blood. The power of Khorne is greater than you can know. But like any power, it bends those too weak to make their own way - many of my Legion succumbed to the madness. They forgot the discipline and honour that was as much our blood-right as ferocity and battle skill. Before the Imperium, before the Legions, I swore an oath of loyalty to the greatest warrior ever to walk our homeworld.. Angron. A figure of myth to you, no doubt. But to follow him was to be part of a myth. It was... glorious. He foresaw what we fight against today - a decadent cult, using the Emperor's name to trick the galaxy into submission. An empire led not by warriors and heroes, but by thieves and charlatans."

He gestured at a low rise, littered with the corpses of battle-sisters.

"They fought bravely enough - for what? Fat priests in a temple, half a continent away."

"You mentioned the madness, Sagoth. How true are the stories, then?"

"True enough. I almost envy you, Captain. You still have a chapter to call home. Many of those who call themselves World Eaters know nothing of our traditions or history. They are the fallen, who could not master their own savagery. But it does not matter. The war goes on. And we must make ready to fight it. Attend to your troops - we move in five minutes."

Sagoth strode away. The renegade could not understand, he mused. The war went on, as it had for ten thousand years. For that, he was glad - it was the one certainty he had left. His sole purpose was to fight that war as well as he could; not out of pleasure, or for gain, but because it was his duty as a World Eater. As long as he could maintain a few warriors who understood that duty, who still kept the old codes, the Legion was not dead. Angron would understand, he knew... but it had been so many years since he had last seen his Primarch. Some of the other Legions were scarcely any better than the Imperium, worshipping gods who promised succour and ease. No, as he had said to the captain, a god was a thing of fire and blood - to be revered, not entreatied. Hefting his rune-axe, he boarded his command Land Raider. The crew, along with his retinue, fell silent as he entered.

"Move as soon as the Omega commander signals ready. There is more work to be done today."

His followers chorused their approval and readiness - and for a moment his mood lifted. To fight alongside these warriors, to face worthy opponents, was an honour. And after ten thousand years of war, his honour was all he had left.

By Karnexxus

You can meet Karnexxus over at the Skull Throne Message Board