Herod was bored out of his mind, but being a vox operator of a fortress monastery was never the most stimulating of jobs but he could have never expected what was to come when one of the astartes walked through the door of the room, while the Solar Lions were an unusually talkative bunch none of them had ever, at least in Herod’s memory, entered the vox center. The astartes approached the Master of Vox, a real hardass that one, and said something to them which was obviously distressing as the Man recoiled and reached for his holstered bolt pistol, causing everyone in the room to panic, racing for whatever they could arm themselves with as the space marine tore the head off of the Master of Vox and began tearing apart the communications team until it was just Herod remaining. As the giant walked towards the cowering man Herod tried to reach for his microphone to report what had happened the beast grabbed him, lifting him off his feet and pulling him close. Herod had seen astartes before but this one was different, where the others were apathetic or even friendly towards the serf the only thing coming from this one was pure malice. It spoke in a deep, wet, growling voice that scared the life from the crying, bloodsoaked mortal in his grip “I want you to Vox to the serfs working in the teleportarium and generators that, and I quote ‘It is time’. It then threw the man back in his chair as he began to relay the monster's words; both messages were met with a swift “yes my lord”. Herod slowly spun his chair around to face the thing behind him “you have done well serf” it spat the words out like they were blood as it reached a gauntleted hand out toward Herod and wrapped it’s fingers around his head, the cold ceramite felt horrible as the hand began to squeeze, slow and sadistically as though the Astartes took pleasure in the murder. As the pressure slowly built, becoming unbearably painful as the joint of the space marines hand pinched Herod’s face and he could feel and hear his bones slowly cracking and breaking, his eyes popping out, blood filling his mouth and choking him as he tried to scream for help until it all suddenly stopped with a wet pop. The monster let the wretch slump down into his chair and lumbered it way towards the door. It spat out more wet words “override hydraulic door lock, Astartes identification; First Captain, Abel”. Abel then stepped into the hall and was soon met with Caine and Adam’s personal artificer, the disrespectful little bitch. He stopped Caine though as he seemed to brush Abel off uncharacteristically. “What's going on Caine, you’re supposed to be at the training grounds with Adam and the Marduk and the others.” “I was having one of my episodes earlier and am now running late if it seems i'm in a hurry” “Well i won't delay you but i must ask you one thing, Brother.” “That being?” “Will you always fight by my side as my brother and my best friend, come hell or high water.” Caine nodded, placing his hand on Abel’s shoulder “always, Brother”. Abel was now sure that Caine would join him but he still wished he’d have taught that insolent artificer her place, I am the first captain of the Solar Lions chapter of the Adeptus Astartes and that whelp speaks to me like she weren’t a pathetic gods damned mortal, I am the great Abel, my name is known far and wide and I am not your friend wench. No matter it would all be falling into place soon as the fleet arrived in orbit, an entire warfleet of the Black Legion, at his disposal, all his, finally he would no longer be held back by Adam, it should have been me, I should be chapter master, not him, and he dares pretend he were a better choice. Abel smiled to himself as he entered the council chambers, therein sat the captains of 4th, 6th and 8th companies as well as a representative of his own company, these were the men he believed he could sway to his banner and this meeting would put that belief to the test. “Gentlemen I’m sure you all have questions as to why I have called you all here” Abel began, praying to the powers that David, the 8th Captain would keep his mouth shut, “I have to ask you all to please allow me to finish before you pose them”. All but the man from first company were waiting with confusion painted on their faces. “This is the most important moment of our lives brothers, as we speak, a warfleet of Abbadon the Despoilers Black Legion masses on the outskirts of the system, do not panic brothers for this fleet is not here to bring our destruction, quite the opposite, in fact, this fleet is here to bring our salvation, should you rise to meet the occasion you will be given power unimaginable, you will be freed from the chains of the Imperium, you will be free to pursue the ambitions that the shackles of loyalty and the Gods damned codex forced you to repress”. Abel turns abruptly to face Mammon, the captain of the 4th company. “Mammon, my brother, to you the Black Legion can promise the wealth of resources you so desperately desire, Ceramite, bolt shells, adamantium, and every weapon that the bloated corpse that calls itself the Imperium denies you”. As Abel’s address to Mammon continues the 4th captain seems to consider what he’s saying. “Do you remember, brother, on Armageddon, when you and your men fought and died for a manufactorum as the armies of the mechanicus sat and watched and when the battle ended with your company’s near destruction and yet even though your men fought for that factory the machine cult swept in as though it was their battle and claimed every resource available, everything that you earned they stole and acted as though you were not even there”. Mammon now looked as though he had made up his mind, David however looked horrified abruptly standing up and pointing a judgmental finger at Abel. “You heretic bastard, you stand in the sacred meeting place of our chapter and stand where every hero of our chapter has stood and you preach treachery to us. I should kill you where you stand”. His eyes darted around the room as he searched for a glimmer of support from his brothers, and found none, as he always does, David stood alone, even Methuselah and the honored of first company glared at him with ridicule, panicked he looked toward Abel, this can’t be happening, i can’t be alone here, can I? Abel stared at him, expressionless as David’s face sunk from panic to horror. Abel still stared, smiling now as the realization struck David, and then motioned for him to retake his seat, and he did, broken and demoralized as all he believed was shattered before him. Abel now turned to Methuselah, and before Abel could begin the address Methuselah raised his hand to propose a motion. “I propose to the gathered assembly of the Solar Lions Chapter of the Adeptus Astartes, the 1st, 4th, 6th, and 8th companies of the Solar Lions and the wider planet of Leonis Prime declare immediate secession from the Imperium of Man and enter into an alliance with the Black Legion of Abbadon the Despoiler”. Abel looks around and cannot help but chuckle, “All in favor!” he called to which every man in the room raised their hand, “All opposed!” and not a hand raised to challenge him, Abel had already brought their companies into compliance, ready to kill their captain should they resist. The 1st captain leaned into the fortress wide vox system, broadcasting every word that was said in the meeting. The message was delivered and now there was no turning back, he took a breath and said only a few simple words into the microphone, “Brothers. We. Are. Free!”

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