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According to Black Library's Horus Heresy Series editor Laurie Goulding, "Garro is not a collection of short stories - it's James Swallow's full novelisation of Nathaniel Garro's story arc, something we've previously only seen (in part) in the audio dramas and novella. There are new and extended scenes, whole new chapters in fact, making this just about the most definitive exploration of the founding of the Knights Errant, and everything that comes after."
==Story==
===Part One===
;See also [[Garro: Oath of Moment (Audio Book)]]
On Luna's Sea of Crises, Garro reflected on his arriva and the events on the ''Eisenstein'' while kept as a prisoner in the Somnus Citadel by the Sisters of Silence. Malcador appeared, and Garro expressed his anger at being kept idle and without purpose. Malcador responded that Garro was like a ghost, no longer of a legion and stuck between the light and the dark. Garro would be used for a different purpose. Malcador then led Garro to a tech-adept who marked his armor with Malcador's symbol. Garro pledged his fealty to Malcador, but only if it served the Emperor. Malcador then told him that another agent would provide him a list of names to recruit, and Garro speculated that it was possibly Severian's doing. In total, there would be 20 warriors to be recruited.{{fn|2a}}
Garro traveled to Calth, the Ultramarine staging world that was beseiged by the traitorous surprise attack by the Word Bearers. On the planet, Lieutenant Olen and his men of the Imperial Auxilia from Espandor fought on the surface as they tried to cross the Plains of Dera to the underground cave network that would provide shelter. However, they were prevented from reaching safety by the appearance of daemons. Before they were overrun, a grey Stormbird appeared and Garro dropped amongst the daemons as the ship left once again. With his great sword ''Libertas'', Garro cut through the daemons, relieving the soldiers before he confronted them, demanding information on where the 21st Company of the Ultramarines and Brother-Captain Erikon Gaius was located. Olen told him that the 21st were seen near Numinus, then asked for his identity, to which Garro assented and said he was of his own Legion.{{fn|2a}}
The 21st Company was battered in the initial assault, and many were dead. It was only through the strength of their leader, their Captain known as the hero of the Haddir Uprising, "the Strong," and "the Unflinching," that they were able to survive and fight back. However, they were stuck in Niminus City guarding a railway, fighting back Word Bearer forces trying to take the city, including the cultist forces of the Brotherhood of the Knife. Gaius pulled Tylos Rubio from the watch and led him to the fallen form of Apothecary Mieles for funeral ritual and for his progenoid to be removed. Gaius then spoke to his men, telling them that madness overcame Lorgar and the Warmaster, and that their duty was clear. Rubio slipped away, feeling guilty that he was too slow to prevent the death of the Apothecary, and he regreted no longer being able to use his psyker powers due to the Nikaean Decree. Gaius came to him, inquiring as to what was wrong, but they were interrupted by Garro's approach.{{fn|2a}}
Garro made his way across the ruined planet and past the combat zones to Niminus City. As he was spotted, the Ultramarines approached, deeming him a threat.{{fn|2a}} Garro's lack of Legion colours confused the Ultramarines, demanding that Garro halt. However, Garro made it clear that he was there to find Gaius, and Rubio wished that he could use his powers to scan him. Garro told them that he was formerly a Brother-Captain but no onger, and Rubio questioned him further regarding his lack of insignia. He accused Garro of "[courting] death, like some ancient knight errant," and Garro appreciated the new title. Gaius questioned Garro further, and Garro revealed the Sigil of Malcador to show that he had greater authority, but refused to say more about his mission. Garro then approached Rubio as the other Ultramarines returned to their guard duty. Rubio watched Garro, wondering what his purpose was, as Garro quietly examined his surroundings.{{fn|2b}}
A vision came over Rubio, and he saw a battle in which Gaius was felled. Garro called his name, pulling him out of it and warning him of an attack. Rubio finally pulled out of it, and he hurried to Gaius's position to fight by his side as more cultists attacked. Gaius charged into them, fighting deep in their massive wave, but they were able to pull him down by their number. Gaius was able to push forward and break free as Rubio moved into them with Garro. As they fought, Garro spotted the true enemy force, and a [[Defiler]] attacked. The Ultramarines weapons were unaffective. Rubio recognized the scene from his vision, and he charged forward, but he was blasted from his feet before he could reach Gaius. The Chaos machine then rammed a leg into Gaius, but Rubio was able to pull him free soon after. Before the Defiler could blast Rubio, Garro charged forward and jumped onto the machine's turrent. Using ''Libertas'', he was able to stab into it as Devastators were able to move into position and blasted it. It detonated soon after, with Garro able to get free, breaking the cultists' attack.{{fn|2b}}
Garro went to Rubio and Gaius, seeing Word Bearer legionaries approaching now. Rubio honored Gaius as he lay dead, and Garro told him that he could have used his power to prevent it. Rubio lashed out, saying he was bound by orders to refuse, but he was torn. Garro admited that he came for him, not for anyone else, to help form a host of legionaries to serve the Imperium. Rubio refused to leave his brothers, denying the Sigillite's order, and Garro felt in agreement with Rubio so he promised to fight with him. They fought the Word Bearers together, but they were outnumbered five to one. They were fervent and militant warriors, which eventually led to them being chastised by the Emperor for their idolatrous devotion to Him. They obviously turned away from Him at that point, worshipping others, and they were now fueled by hate. Garro was filled with disgust when the Word Bearers desecrated the dead.{{fn|2b}}
The battle was too much, and Rubio ordered the Ultramarines to fall back to the rail tunnel at their back. Word Bearer Terminators moved forward then, devastating the remaining Ultramarines. Garro told Rubio that they must pull back from the attack, and Rubio said they could not. Garro prodded him forward, pushing him to rely on his psyker powers to win. Rubio couldn't take it anymore, and he lashed out with his powers. The massive blast hit the Terminators and the tunnel mouth collapsed on top of them. Although the Ultramarines won, they no longer trusted Rubio and shunned him for his deed. Garro offered him the blade of ''Libertas'' and had Rubio swear his allegiance to Malcador.{{fn|2b}}
==Notable Characters==
*{{Endn|1}}: [http://www.blacklibrary.com/whats-coming-soon/february/garro-bk42-ebook.html Black Library]
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*''Garro''
**{{Endn|2a}} Ch. 1
**{{Endn|2b}} Ch. 2
[[Category:Anthologies]]
