499
edits
Changes
From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
m
→Plot
== Plot ==
[[Warmaster]] [[Horus]] has fallen to [[Chaos]], but his plans of rebellion against the [[Emperor]] are known only to a few he trusts to side with him. [[Primarchs|Primarch]] [[Angron]], [[Mortarion]] and [[Fulgrim]] of the [[World Eaters]], [[Death Guard]] and [[Emperor's Children]] respectively have all sided with Horus and their four Legions gather in the Isstvan system on the pretence of crushing a rebellion by the Isstvanians. The unconscious [[Euphrati Keeler]] has developed a cult following who believe the [[Emperor]] is a deity and she is a saint, [[Kyril Sindermann]] chief among them. The group gets word that forces loyal to Horus are coming to kill her and [[Titus Cassar]] of the Legio Mortis [[Titan]] Legion begs his friend [[Jonah Aruken]] to help him save her. Aruken grudgingly agrees and he, Cassar and Sindermann go to rescue Keeler, only to find Maggard, former bodyguard of remembrancer [[Petronella Vivar]] but now genetically-enhanced enforcer for Horus about to kill her. Maggard attacks them but becomes unable to move, the bullets from his gun moving very slowly, and the three men realize that Keeler has awoken and is using her powers to save herself and them. Before Maggard can stop them they carry Keeler to safety amidst the bowels of the Vengeful Spirit's lower decks.
The assault force that will descend to the surface of Isstvan III to persecute the war is chosen squad-by-squad, which is unorthodox, piquing the suspicion of [[Saul Tarvitz]] of the Emperor's Children. Tarvitz talks his way into remaining in the fleet when the assault force deploys and on the gun decks discovers the ship's crew loading lethal Virus Bombs into the ship's weapons. Realizing that the Space Marines deployed to the surface are about to be betrayed and wiped out, Tarvitz steals a [[Thunderhawk]] and flies for the surface to warn them. He is pursued by members of his own Legion who are part of the betrayal and in desperation communicates with [[Nathaniel Garro]], Battle-Captain of the Death Guard 7th Great Company who is stuck in-fleet after losing a leg in a preliminary engagement against the rebel Isstvanians. Garro, an old friend of Tarvitz's, believes him when he tells him of the imminent betrayal and orders his friagte Eisenstein to fire on the Thunderhawks pursuing Tarvitz. The resulting cloud of debris hides Tarvitz from the fleet's sensors as he lands on Isstvan and Garro reports that Tarvitz is dead before preparing to jump to the [[Warp]] and bring warning of Horus's betrayal to the [[Emperor]].
