A Rebirth

Anna chuckles


"this was once where our political leaders gathered. Before the imperials invaded. they hit this place from orbit"

Omun: Hmph. Of course they would. On top of their barbarism, the Imperials have no appreciation for finely designed things.

"I am surprised by you human. and impressed"

Omun: In what way? That am I willing to have a civil discussion with you despite your being non-human? That am I can appreciate the culture of others?

"you have wisdom far greater than any human I have met"

Omun: Heh. That comes from having lived many lives. And it is a bitter breed of wisdom at that.

"How old are you may I ask?"

Omun: I stopped counting at three thousand, and am I certainly older then that. Although how much longer that will last I can't say.

"I was six thousand years old when I died. and that was dozens of centuries ago"

Omun: Is your species naturally so long lived?

"those of us who follow the path of the seer, the psyker, have enhanced lifespans. the more powerful the psyker, the longer they will live. the eldest I know of is well over ten thousand years old now"

Omun: Intriguing.....Mind over matter made manifest in perhaps the most beneficial way possible.

"indeed. so what questions do you have for me"

Omun: Well...I'm sure it's evident to you by now that the Consortium has been...very isolated for sometime now. And frankly, you seem more knowledgeable about the Imperials then the Imperials themselves if the worlds we've secured are any indicator. Then there is Chaos, of which we have...scant information at best.

"I understand."

Omun: Indeed. I was hoping you'd be able to at least provide us with information. Information that would preferably save lives where it could.

"It would be easier if you were more specific"

Omun: Forgive me. Perhaps information on the Imperials, especially these so-called "Space Marines". I'll admit to having...apprehension about sending young men and women to face these abominations.

"abominations? did not expect you to use that word to describe them"

Omun: From what information we have on them, their means of creating is horrific. Abducting young boys, vile genetic and physical alterations, cannibalism. The list goes on. I am not one to advocate genocide, but in the case of these monsters, from what information I have, I will gladly make an exception. And let us not forget that Space Marines are purported to lack morals in any capacity, and for that I fear for the lives of the civilians of the worlds we have secured.

"abducting *chuckles* no. the adeptus astartes.....vary wildly. there are thousands of 'chapters' of them across the galaxy. however to the best of my knowledge abduction is rare. they are more usually simply recruited. Before you ask, I am not defending them. it was they that ended my natural life. but I have never been one for slander. it simply spreads ignorance"

Omun: If I have been unknowingly speaking slander, then I apologize as that was not my intent. But perhaps you can see my dilemma. Our information comes from records stolen by the Inquisition, and we're still working to decrypt them, if only because the encryptions are so archaic compared to our systems that our computers literally have no point of easy reference for the decryption programs. Please, continue.

"their modifications are various, and i do not know all. but all seem to be useful. from enhanced strength, to secondary lungs, to the ability to spit acid. and then the one that allows them to gain information from a creature by eating its flesh. this is probably where you got their 'cannibalism' from. while it happens from what i hear, I have never witnessed it myself"

Omun: I see....*Very bitter chuckle.* Their modifications already sound like some the Tenders make use of...How ironic...

"their strength however is....surprising. they could tear a strong unaugmented human limb from limb with ease"

Omun: I see...That I expected. What else? There is more to a foe then their physical attributes.

"Space marines are soldiers before anything else. their whole life is to fight the foes of the imperium, and as such they spend decades training before they see their first battle. they are highly skilled as a result and well equipped also. Powered armour is standard issue for them"

Omun: That matches up with what our strike team reported. What about their mentality? Sometimes, the fortress that you must destroy above all others is that of you foe's mind and morale.

"the mentality.....varies wildley from chapter to chapter. some value honor above all else, some care about civilian casualties, others....would happily burn a world with innocents on it to defeat their foe"

Omun: I see....We are currently pressing into a region called Ultramar. A...rather helpful former Imperial governor has told us what she can about the Ultramarines and their successors, and she has been rather forthcoming and helpful, but I don't believe she has ever dealt with these Ultramarines themselves. Most of what she's told us came from records she had in the governor's palace, and frankly, given what I have seen of the Imperium, I have every reason to question how recent those records were.

"the ultramarines. If ever there was a cautionary tale of revering historical figures too greatly, it would be them"

Omun: How so? Do they venerate two corpses? Three? Even more?

"their primogenitor created the guidelines for the astartes chapter, from composition to tactics. intended to be, as i said, guidelines. that was ten thousand years ago. they have since decided these are strict rules all must follow, and hate and shun those who do not. They are highly competant as a military force, but if you know their tactics, easily outmaneuvered"

"The last thing you want to do when plotting a traverse through the fourth dimension, is to forget to carry the one" - _SQUIB_, 2016

horry shit

Omun: Interesting....Am I correct in assuming you know some of their tactics and strategies? If Consortium forces had some idea of how to counter these...beings, it could save many lives, both soldier and civilian.

"We do not know as much as we would like. they have been here exactly once, centuries ago"

Omun: I see...Still, anything you can tell me may prove useful.

"I will have to check the records, but I can do that"

Omun: That is all I ask. Now....from what I have been told, the Ultramarines are already fighting a losing battle. Is that true?

"i do not know the details of who is winning or losing. but they are already fighting. the forces of the great enemy descend upon them in force"

Omun: I see....Are they the only Space Marines in this sector?

"yes but there are many others very nearby"

Omun: How many more?

"i do not know the exact number"

Omun: Very well...What can you safely tell me about...Chaos? The Consortium has lost much knowledge about them, for good or ill, and if the Imperium regularly battles them, it is best we know all we can before an exchange of fire occurs.

he seems to go quiet and still
"do you know the tales you tell to children, of monsters and such, to scare them? chaos is that given form. Nightmares given flesh."

Omun: That much I know. I stared the Corrupter in the face. What concerns me, is how to effectively and efficient exterminate him and his ilk on the battlefield.

"the daemon...cannot be killed. all that can be done is to force them back from whence they came, and should their method of arrival still be open they can simply return instantly"

Omun: How does one close their "method of arrival" as you put it?

"through psychic means, the 'death' of the daemon commanding them as they keep it open, or simply waiting, although the amount of time one has to wait is often long enough for the daemons to gain victory"