Date: 999 M41

  Location: Ark Mechanicus Iron Revenant (under attack), Outside orbit of Ksius, Strategy.

  Flowers of fire appeared before his eyes, as violent explosions illuminated the void in space.

  They weren't fireworks for victories or for holidays. In this Age of constant war, every grain of gunpowder was used only to take the lives of those who threatened humanity.

  But those red fming spheres that symbolise the death of another ship and its crew, loyalist or traitor, reminded the Custodian of Cadia's final moments.

  [Fshback]

  Abaddon had retired. He had been wounded by the Ardent Bde of Saint Celestine, but, although it was not fatal, it made clear to the Warmaster of Chaos that continuing the massacre would be of no use to him and ordered a retreat. But the Custodian saw in the reluctant eyes of the traitor something he never expected to see: respect. Not addressed to him, Celestine or Creed, but to every single soul on that pnet who has shown him that the spirit of Cadia cannot be broken easily. Not from steel, not from the powers of demons, not from terror.

  Now, the Elysion Fields, from a battlefield, has become an evacuation point. Every single soldier of every regiment who had so far been intent on bathing the ground in blood to prevent the archenemy from obtaining it was forced to retreat. Abaddon had used the destroyed remains of the Bckstone Fortress to destroy the pnet and, with it, the Pylons. The world was literally dying around them, overwhelmed by the evil energies of the Immaterium, freed from the pylons' destruction. The Chaos Demons fought and feasted with the souls of every man, woman, or child in the world, and like an endless horde, they were also descending upon the retreating ranks in the Elisyan Fields. Everyone knew that the situation required another sacrifice.

  ?The 8th and I will stay to allow the st transports to depart? said Lord Casteln Ursarkar E. Creed. ?We will defend Cadia one st time.?

  The statement left all the officers of the Astra Militarum stunned and erupted into a chorus of protests, as they fought each other to assume the role the Lord Casteln had just imposed on himself. Saint Celestine said nothing; Inquisitor Greyfax was trying to restore order in that violent storm, while Archmagos was more interested in communicating and coordinating its ships in orbit, ready to descend to pick up survivors.

  ?In the name of the Emperor! ORDER!? the Custodian roared, beating the Paragon Spear to the ground

  The voice thundered, silencing everyone. The golden giant, advancing with mighty steps through the crowd, stopped in front of the Lord Casteln. The Custodian towers over him, and usually, the mere presence of a member of the Adeptus Custodes is enough to intimidate anyone. But not Ursarkar E. Creed. Despite the wound and his severed hand, Creed stood on his back, his gaze fixed and fearless, with only determination to get what was necessary done.

  ?Lord Casteln Ursarkar E. Creed...? the Custodian calmly called him ?are you aware of the consequences of your statement??

  ?Yes, my lord.?

  ?Are you aware that death awaits you??

  ?Yes, my lord.?

  ?This pnet is doomed. The nd itself is turning against its inhabitants. Demons hungry for human souls travel the soil of this destroyed pnet. Cadia is dying.? he stated, looking at everyone present.

  The Custodian ducked, resting his knee on the ground and leaning slightly toward the wounded old commander. His armoured hand, with a decisive gesture but unexpected in its delicacy, rested on the shoulder of the Lord Casteln, who was surprised by the kindness of that touch.

  ?And even though your home pnet is dying, you have no hesitation in defending it. The pnet is dying, but right now you are embodying the spirit of the Cadians. A spirit that burns more alive than ever, and as long as even the st man or woman left carries this ardour, Cadia will never die. Lord Casteln, walk the path you have chosen with anyone willing to follow you. You will die, but as long as I have breath, you will never be forgotten, and I will make sure to personally transcribe your exploits and tell them to the Emperor himself.?

  ?My Lord...? Creed began with a fierce smile on his lips ?you should know by now. If the guard excels at anything, it's that we die standing.?

  ?Cadia stand!? the Custodian stated by banging his fist on the breastpte, expressing his respect for the old commander.

  ?Cadia stand!? the Lord Casteln roared, returning the greeting.

  ?????CADIA STAND!????? the commanders around them roared in unison.

  [End Fshback]

  Even though that memory had been repeated several times in his head, he was proud of that man who had risked his life to allow others to recount the events that had occurred. That soldier and his regiment were symbols of courage and heroism in this eternal war. He decided to remember the name of Ursarkar E. Creed and the 8th Cadian, keeping their memory alive. As he focused on this, his ears picked up on the argument between Archmagos Cawl, Inquisitor Greyfax, Marshal Amalrich of the Bck Temprs, and Saint Celestine over the tter's vision.

  ?She's a heretic!?

  The Custodian struck his spear against the metal floor; the resulting dry sound forced silence within the Strategium.

  ?Inquisitor...? called the Custodian, slowly turning ?your "reservations" towards Celestine are well known to me. I will not order or ask you to change your mind. However, given the situation we find ourselves in, I would urge you not to sow discord. In particur, not in front of me.?

  Greyfax's body trembled slightly as she was hit by the opposition of a member of the Ten-Thousand.

  ?And your accusations are bold? Cawl hissed toward the Inquisitor ?for one whose blood boils with necron artifices. Don't deny it. I detect nanomachines crawling under your skin.?

  The Strategium's mood changed again, and Amalrich's expression became suspicious.

  After all, the zeal of the Bck Temprs Space Marines to purge the Emperor's enemies has spread within the Imperial Pace. If it were not for their religious fanaticism, they would be the only ones still following the dictates and edicts issued by the Emperor of Humanity when he was still walking among mortals.

  ?I was not corrupted? Greyfax stated angrily.

  ?Stop pying who's accused of what.? the Custodian said, approaching the group. ?This is all pointless unless we survive the current situation.?

  ?I agree.? Cawl said after intently observing Greyfax and then shifting his attention to Celestine ?What else did the vision show you? What should we do??

  The saint pointed to Kisus on the holographic projector.

  ?We will find salvation in the ice, and then our crusade will begin again.?

  Amalrich nodded

  ?Your crusade, dy. We will follow you as long as we have strength.?

  *****

  Date: 999 M41

  Location: Ice World Ksius.

  As night fell, the final echo of the battle fought in the valley below resounded, marking its end.

  The Despoiler wouldn't let go. He chased them even through the icy slopes of this world. Some Bck Tempr volunteers served as a rearguard. Thus, they allowed the imperial forces, led by Celestine, to gain as much time as possible to continue.

  The weather, however, was bad, wasting the time gained and allowing the enemy to reach them.

  The Imperial Knights of House Taranis rained death on the enemies as they retreated. The engagement was a combat retreat, and the Archmagos's auto-reliquary was experiencing problems due to snow, and the vehicle could not be abandoned because it was carrying an important relic that the Archmagos absolutely had to deliver to someone.

  But time was up. The roar of the Bck Legion's armoured vehicles was now upon them. The Custodian looked at the column of smoke, impassive, a statue in front of the raging storm, while Cawl cursed in binary nguage to restart the self-reliquary.

  Under the golden helmet, the Custodian smiled and looked up at the sky.

  I came here by chance. I followed the path you offered me. For 2543 years, I served you without hesitation. I became duty and discipline. I fought where you wanted. If I have to die here, only one regret remains. But I don't regret the choice. Ultimately, it was instructive.

  ?My Lord.? he was called by a female voice he knew well. ?I wish to thank you. It was an honour to serve and fight alongside you.?

  Turning his head, the Custodian saw the emaciated and exhausted face of Katarina, the Commissar dispatched to the 9th Cadian, now the sole survivor of that regiment.

  ?Are you making peace with your conscience, Katarina??

  ?......?

  ?There is nothing wrong with doing so.? the Custodian stated in an amused tone. ?All of us, in the face of death, try to come to terms with our ghosts so that we can have a more peaceful passing.? He passed the Commissar as he spoke.

  ?You too, my lord?---!!!? she asked and then covered her mouth, realising she had said too much.

  ?Who knows.? he chuckled. ?And even if I had truly made peace with my conscience, something tells me our journey is far from over.?

  Also, because I have a pce I absolutely have to go back to.