“We shall ………. the guest ….. and show us………”
“Another ambush has been set into this sector, this is the fifth times this week,” the General can’t hide his frustration in his command chamber. Despite the imperial army's easy occupation with the planet, it seems the populations keep resisting in anyways for years. Previously the imperial missionary has been sent to pacify the locals, but the result has been bloody most of the time. The brutal and vulgar ritual seems being conducted in public as a way to taunt the off worlder. Any form of gesture is being used as an excuse for their tradition and it was done to make the imperial forces' life miserable. Mobs often formed and rioting in any settlement aligned to the imperium based on any excuse. But the worst of all is the constant of armed raid and harassment, unpredictable since they either employed advance or primitive gears.
The planet Beneng was recorded to once house some of the advanced technology based on the record of the surrounding system. And yet the imperium or the cult machine doesn’t find any concrete evidence to back it up, they only found a backward civilization filled with superstitions and religion. Perhaps being cut off during the Age of Strife has turned the world regressed in every aspect of life. This society seems to accrue the favor of their god based on an ominous message of their prophets and omen. Many of their past advance technology has been deemed heretical by their own religion or feudal society. The age of strife has indeed turned them into something that would shame their ancestor.
In the command center, the general and his staff are not the only ones assessing the situation. Astartes of the 17’th legion, known as the ‘Word Bearer’ grand company is with the occupation forces. They have learned the planet situation far before reaching the system. They were well aware of all of the chaos that’s giving the imperial army a difficult time asserting their authority. Zakeus, the leading of the grand company has a simple task, subdue the inhabitant physically and psychologically. His legion isn’t the only one arrived though, there are other groups interested in the report given by the imperial army. Zakeus aware of their interest, and so he makes a simple decision for such matters.
“General, we’re planning to march into these lands from this settlement,” Zakeus pointing at a sector on the holo map.
“I see, you want to march from one of our outposts in the settlement. But why would you wanted to come to that land?” the general cannot hide his curiosity. He somewhat anticipated the dreaded answer, because he should know why.
“This land is their sacred ground correct, that’s why we need to go there. We’ll destroy it, and the world will lose heart which the Imperial truth can be enforced,” the captain explained
“It will become a justification for holy war, the locals under our territory will do the same,” the general spat back, he knew well not to underestimate the local. He keeps hearing the report of attack as bold as an individual simply comes and tries to stab the soldier or the missionary. He continues, “These actions may stir the whole locals or even the whole population on the planet into action.”
“That’s why announce them, General,” He looked at him and then looked at the rest of the command staff, “I want every soul on this planet know that we are coming to destroy that place, in fact, announce the time when we will come. We are the Word Bearers and we shall deliver them the primordial truth. Our father has personally tasked us to spread the Emperor light, especially on this planet!”
The general says, “I was told that your grand company is sent here to aid us, but this is too much for the army.”
“You could face constant harassment by these locals for years, decades, or even centuries.” Zakeus makes sure his gaze penetrates deep into the general as he looked back at him. “Or you could face their furies for less than a decade, which would you choose? But know this general, the great crusade is meant to put any human civilization into compliance by force.” The general didn’t reply, he and the rest of his staff knew well that the astartes will commit their action with or without the general support. After all, the great crusade is planned to take anything by force in a short time and less relying on diplomats in forging relationships.
Showing a sign of resigned and acceptance, the general replied,” We’ll make the preparation, I’ll inform the army too….”
“Your forces will stay and guard the sector, it will be my grand company to enter the complex and systematically demolish it. But I do need support from your craft though,” Zakeus cuts in.
“Understood, what and when would I announce it?” the general asked.
During the redeployment, Zakeus doesn’t just busy himself in the reorganization, he’s making preaches to the nearby locals. He praised the emperor, “His light is being spread out into the entire universe, as HE is the savior of mankind!” He spread his arms to the sky and proclaimed, “We’re the Word Bearer, created by him to carry the word of salvation to all mankind.” He looked at the crowds, “Be feared to those who reject his salvation, for those would be burned eternally on his wrath!” During his preaching, he didn’t wear his skull-like helmet and left it dangling on his waist since it’s easier for him to preach without it. After all, it’s more satisfying to send the word of the emperor and his gene father Lorgar directly to the masses. The captain charisma and persuasion can be felt by each of his tone and syllables despite the locals’ lack of understanding of the imperial gothic language. And slowly, these people will plead their new allegiance and to their descendants.
“……..come and………. Me………” Odd voices keep appearing inside his helmet as if it’s picking something loose. Zakeus wonder that such voices and perhaps illusion he and even his lieutenants started to experience. Is it true that the planet holds some sort of mysticism that the populace held to be true? Zakeus still doubts it, after planets to sectors he and his legion encounter most of them are false. He suspects that this might have some scientific explanation after all the so-called levitation people often claimed revealed to be magnetic tricks.
Assassinations or similar attempt did happen, but it was useless if it was meant to snuff the preaching. Zakeus and his royal guard was no ordinary human, they also have anticipated such action. With their advanced power armor, snuffing and deducing of possibilities of snipers was rather easy. Some would be bold enough tries to stab or hit Zakeus and his royal guard from close range, which also pointless since none of them could’ve damage the ceramite armor. Sometimes, they did use stubber which is rare enough that they can use it effectively. Some of these ‘disturbance’ often met with extreme replies as Zakeus often done it at the same time as his preach. These people would often ‘forced’ by Zakeus to pray for their god, and only then he slowly executes them. Some would be crushed by his hand or leg, some would be burned alive, and some would be swiftly executed by his crozius. These people would be demanded to ‘pray’ as loud as possible and halfway cut short when Zakeus execute them personally. But the message would always be clear, no one can harm him and none of their gods can stop him either.
His grand company also present at the settlement, although only his royal guard was present that ensure his safety. The rest of his grand company though was busied themselves with the redeployment and preparation for the march. Their special ‘guest’ was housed at the outpost headquarter, busy with their own ritual. Nevertheless, their appearance on the outpost and inside the settlement has already awed the locals. The locals never saw them before, for the imperial army they resemble the old armies being fielded by them in the past. They move efficiently by only moved if it’s necessary or not, even their moves show how inhuman as they could act in an instant. All of their faces are covered in mask except to the one in preaching on the town plaza, his voice sounded like he himself are not human. It wouldn’t be long that some people start to view them as angels, the messenger of God that comes to save their souls.
Scouts have been reporting that the sacred temple complex has been flooded by pilgrims more often than before. It seems the announcement of the impending destruction has convinced the population to act more. Estimation, it took at least a hundred thousand pilgrim presents at the area. At the designated times, the Word Bearers march to the sacred land while the imperial army fortified their position and any aligned settlement. The road that they use to get there seems to be un-kept for generations and yet it still persists. The road that still intact surprisingly large enough, to the point for eight-column of the astartes can march side by side at a steady pace. Their march has accrued the attention of the local inhabitant, gathered for a less friendly reason. These people shout in acerb, some scream of mourning, but they all refrain from attacking the Word Bearer or the guess. Some eventually did, but then reduced into slab of burned flesh by the legion. Perhaps seeing the demonstration of the astartes before has shown why they shouldn’t attack in larger scale, for most of the time.
As they approaching the land, he saw statues that might have been used to decorate the grand road, whatever there were left. Most of these figures are acephalous but the size itself speaks of how massive they used to be, Zakeus can’t help to wonder what this statue used to be. Based on the vandalism it took on its scale he assumes that whatever the statues where is unfavorable and systematically purged. They finally reach near the destination and unsurprised with the company they meet at that sacred land. The suburb or pilgrim tent that surrounding the sacred land been hastily fortified with little effort. Even for the Iron Warriors or Imperial Fist standard, these kinds of fortifications could have been done better in a shorter time. A bunch of carts or outomobile and whatever thing solid objects have been formed into an improvised wall, a rather fragile wall that an astartes can simply just walkthrough.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
“…….We are the……… and ………end …….Because we’re……..champion…….” The voices started to be picked more often with his grand company vox communication device.
From man to women, from young to old, from healthy and sickly, they all manned the wall for one reason. Most of them are wearing crude armor, while their women seem to cover their entire less armor than cloth. There are at least a hundred thousand of them, not counting the one gathering on their rear and flanks. All of their eyes share one thing in common, fanatical belief with devotion above all. The mob that gathered between the army and the sacred land armed with stubber weapons that might be impressive but worthless due to the lack of maintenance. The rest of the people that gathered are armed with unsurprisingly primitive weapons like spear, sword, mace, or even knife. But some gathered there unarmed as if they’re given some sort of spiritual power or perhaps a psychic power.
“Charge!!” shouts Zakeus as he and the rest of the grand company began their assault. At that moment the grand company spread out and began the advance. Such sight of grey giant warriors awed or terrified the defender. The zealous defender started to falter by the obvious lack of battle cry as the Word Bearer approach delivering judgment. Behind him, the armored collum supported his grand company and started to open fire.
The battle is nothing but one-sided, despite the mob zeal it meant nothing under the weight of bolters and heavy ordinance. The wall that should be a barricade crumble the moment the astartes started the break-in with little effort. The bodies of these fanatics would also turn into red mist by the bolters or burned by the plasma. The stubber would’ve created some damage and yet it’s also worthless, lack of maintenance or deliberately design could be the cause. The sharp object that they carried is lethal for the mortal, but it’s nothing for the ceramite armor or the black carapace. Some try to charge a marine with their body and then crushed by the marine's own weight. Some would try to duel the astartes only to be cut into few pieces by single slash. Their inferior body also useless when a group tries to take down a single marine as even, they were crushed by the astartes pulls. Some even desperate enough that they sent their woman and children as human barricades, which were simply stomped by the astartes if they were even noticed. Soon the mobs that charged at them started to waver as bodies started to piling up.
Zakeus has predicted this number would’ve been against him. However, he has no plan to be tied down by the mobs, as such the air power he requested has been prepared. Up in the sky, imperial and astartes craft are flying over the battlefield. The craft started to begin their run on the designated target, with dropping the promethium load the suburb complex has become a field of fire in an instant. The fire simply ate everything on its path, soon cries of the burned can be heard. Fortunately, none of the promethium fire has injured any of his grand company due to be protected by the power armor.
The Ashen Circle soon descent into the holy complex, as they descent it began to look like the angel of judgment. They weren’t the only squad that descent, assault squads follow suit to support the Ashen Circle. The moment they landed in the moment people being judged and sentenced by death for their false worship. Chain sword and bolter or plasma pistols sounds soon fill and deafened the temple complex and followed by screams if it can be heard. Soon the temple complex inner complex was being repainted by blood and gore. Resistance was less since most of the mob was tied in facing Zakeus ground forces. In the end, most of the resistance within the complex was started and ended in minimal resistance for the astartes.
“The catacombs have been secured,” the Ashen Claw leader reported
“Very well, secure the place and we’ll meet you there,” Zakeus replies, then he contacts the craft, “You may land Magos.”
“Affirmative,” the Magos replies in a flat tone.
Zakeus decided to order the rest of the grand company to secure the area and it’s surrounding for the magos to come. They will start to mop any resistances that survive the fire or the clash, if unlucky enough. His honor guard will follow him as he entered into the so-called heaven gate. Soon the craft landed and the magos and his company come out soon after. The magos body is obviously covered by his robe, but Zakeus isn’t sure what kind of mechanism that moved the Magos body. The rest is simply a dozen servitors which are almost as large as an astartes and an adept accompanying him. Surprisingly most of the adept body hasn’t been covered with bionics, for now. With the whole party gathered, they entered the forbidden gate, believed to be where the realm of god lived.
As Zakeus and his royal guard with the admech descent deeper into the ‘holy’ catacombs, it was a different sight. He would expect some sort of carved stone rocks of temples decorated with whatever these people consider as valuables. The corridor was rather mundane and having no decoration or some sort, instead it looked like some sort of forgotten installment. Flat wall and ceiling are the only thing that ‘decorated’ the hall as they push deep. He was told that the religion on the planet prohibits idolatry, but the place seems made to be for another purpose.
As they reach deeper into the catacombs, it started to become clear on what it really is. The cables are shown to spurted out from the ceiling, walls, and even the floors itself. The walls looked dull and grey, their rooms around the corridor. Despite being abandoned some of these rooms looked more advanced than any place on this planet.
Zakeus and his company started to feel this so-called vision and voices stronger and more often than before. The voices, however it was oddly still static but with his enhanced hearing and his helmet, it’s clearly some sort of message. It sounds more like a transmission, transmission that doesn’t make any sense.
“Come and get your……….. It’s time to destroy the………….. and reclaim your wa………. To the stars and beyond ……….. It will finally be ………. Come on my ……….. I’m ……. Fans of the ……..” Static and garble, nothing else and it doesn’t sound anything divine at all. In fact, it sounded more like what mortal do to bargain for whatever reason.
Soon they reached what the magos consider as the asset located, the entrance seems to be slightly reinforced compare to the other. The rooms were surprisingly larger than any other room and it seems it stores many types of equipment, it can’t identify since most of it is dilapidated and even impossible to be recognized after all this time. They continue their advance into the center of the massive room, a device seems to be working after all this time despite the betrayal by the surrounding. In haste, the magos and his company immediately swarmed the machine and began their inspection.
“How’s is your assessment of the device, Magos?”
The magos replied casually, “The technology seems to be xenos based on the design, but it works almost the same as other stc we’ve recovered before. It’s possible that it’s been into existence during the Dark Age which explains the dilapidated components.”
“What could’ve caused the so-called visions and voices randomly, the device? The people often make claims about it, some would be supported while some are condemned.” Zakeus wondered
“It’s emitting low frequencies and vibration of sounds that can only be picked up by males. It might also cause some hallucination to some when at a certain state of mind, probably consuming hallucinogen.” He stayed where he is, but his mind starts processing another stream of information. “I’ve scanned the place when we’re still outside the complex and it seems there are amplifiers around it. Their condition also dilapidated and covered by these natives buildings, which explains why the phenomenon occurs more often at this site. There might be amplifier across the planet where the populace creates temples around it.”
“Is that the secret behind their omen and god whisper doesn’t explain much of the rest?”
“That might be caused by their perception when witnessing something. An environmental event might be interpreted as some sort of divine message. The machine seems to keep looping back whatever they’ve broadcast” He replies back.
The adept then continues, “These primitive people are simply can’t comprehend any of our technology or knowledge. They might interpret something that in our mind as logical into superstitious. Based on the scanning, it’s nothing but an advance vox communication technology”
“I see, how long would the removal process finish?” Zakeus asked
The magos answer, “Despite the condition, the core machine works surprisingly well albeit component surrounding it is in a worse state. It wouldn’t be that difficult since the machine spirit behaves rather tame.”
Zakeus answered, “Then magos, let’s extract it before some inconvenience happens while we’re still safe.”
In the end, the device was hauled by the servitor to the transport craft for the mechanicus to study. As he watches the process unfolding, he started to take notice of the surrounding. The fire has finally been subsidized and the rest of the holy land landscape can be seen. Unfortunately, not much was left since the fire has consumed most of the structures or any bodies left. Most of the hostile carcass are either burned or ripped apart beyond recognition. He did be constantly reported about the riot happens across the imperial army and yet the opposite happens here. It was quiet, the settlement around seems in contempt than fall into a revolt. Perhaps after witnessing such battle, they lose the stomach to fight and also their false faith. Or perhaps, they bide their time for an opportunity. As the cargo been hauled, the magos transport leaves the planet and heads for their ship.
Zakeus notices a fox com and patched it through, He decided to explain what’ve probably caused the so-called miracle of divinity. The general seems somewhat satisfied with the report and answered, “Because the chaos you have caused it seems violence will increase for the incoming months. But I assumed the people will become more contempt since their so-called god voices no longer exist.“ Zakeus smiles and answered, “What these primitives can do now since their so-called religion is nothing than their weak minds byproduct? They will pray, they will scream louder, they will do anything to called their god, but it will be futile since the voices will never return and their holy land no longer standing”
The general asked, “I assume this is where we parted ways, Captain?” The general expected that his legion would leave, but instead, Zakeus replies, “You’re mistaken general, we the Word Bearer are not just here as conquerors. Unlike our fellow legion that leaves after destroying the opposing army, we ensure a planet will become compliant by body and mind. Not to mention, some of the population also needed to contribute to the great crusade.” The general was indeed surprised and Zakeus knows it despite the general best effort in hiding his voices. He was hesitant for a moment before he answered back,” That sounds, comforting. Then what would be the next plan you have in mind on this planet, captain?” Zakeus answered, “I’ve heard that there are some cults that operate in the mountains, is that true? Because it was still true then my grand company will enlighten them in anyways.”