Sol System, Mars
544.M32
Magos Dominus Fabistus
His day began like many others over the past few months. Constant preparations and planning, combined, of course, with seeking guidance from the Omnissiah.
The appearance of these more intelligent members of the xenos race known as Orks was a surprise to the Imperium, but also to them, to the Mechanicus, whose calculations had completely disregarded such a thing.
For them, however, the most important event was the appearance of a massive green-skinned xenos battle station, as large as a moon. Capturing it, or at least the fragments they could salvage, became their priority.
It was while analysing the data and considering available options that the tremors struck, followed by alarms, and the first information reached them about what was happening outside on the planet's surface. Mars was under attack, and not by Orks.
The subsequent information was so incredible that he had to see it with his own mechanical eyes. Making his way to the command centre, where the rest of the highest-ranking Mechanicus were likely headed, he began analysing the data he was receiving.
When he reached his destination, the room was filled with his enraged and confused brethren. The Fabricator-General was on Terra. Archmagos Dominus Theodius, therefore, took command.
Fabristus scanned the numerous screens and projections in the room, and what he saw stirred within him a mixture of emotions he hadn't felt since most of his body was still flesh.
Disbelief, anger, delight, and envy. And many other long-forgotten emotions. And even his logical mind couldn't hide his delight.
Legion after legion. Hundreds of Titans of varying sizes attacked their most important outposts and defences on the planet's surface.
However, he couldn't tell which faction they belonged to, for despite their sleeker and unnecessarily stylish appearance, they were more massive and heavily armoured.
He was particularly impressed by the sheer number of these largest units, comparable to or surpassing even those of the Emperor class. Moreover, their own Titans, which had entered the fray and begun to offer resistance, were clearly outnumbered, both in numbers and, above all, in terms of armament, even shields.
He felt an almost palpable pang of pain as he saw one of the Warmaster-class god-engines shredded by projectiles that had managed to penetrate its shields without difficulty.
Right behind it, two more, smaller Titans suffered a similar fate. But they weren't the only ones, as they could see a similar sight on other battlefields. The infrastructure itself was also completely disintegrated in many places.
He watched with despair as more smaller enemy units, resembling Imperial Knights, entered the battlefield. These units, however, seemed faster and more agile than those of the Imperium, and there were so many of them – thousands of them.
"Archmagos Theodius, I can't get through to the Fabricator-General; something's blocking our channels," came the voice of one of the magos, Bacchus. "And not only that, the entire planet is cut off not only from the outside but also from the fleet in orbit, the shipyards, and the moons, and communications on Mars itself have collapsed."
"By the Omnisiah, they must have some heretical xenos technology," Fabistus himself replied.
The Archmagos didn't respond at first, but his metal hands gripped the steel tabletop tightly, creating dents.
"This is absurd," he finally spoke with rarely audible fury. "There's no logic to it. Who attacked us, and how did they transport such a force to the surface undetected, without alerting the fleets?"
Suddenly, even more violent tremors shook the room. The fact that they reached many kilometres underground meant the explosion must have been massive. And indeed, on one of the monitors, they saw the entire front of the Mechanicus Headquarters practically erased from existence, replaced by a three-mile-wide crater.
"Archmagos," Bacchus spoke again, horror in his voice. "Someone has gained entry."
"That's not difficult to achieve right now, fool. Don't you see that crater at the entrance?" Theodosius replied with obvious irritation.
Not here, my lord. Someone has entered the Noctis Labyrinth. Some powerful psyker. Readings off the charts. At least Alpha, probably Alpha Plus. The same energy was used to create the explosion from moments ago.
"Everyone follow me immediately! Without exception! This attack is a diversion. Their goal is different!" the Archmagos ordered, and Fabistus could have sworn he heard fear in the other's binary voice. What could these sealed crypts possibly hold?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sol System, Mars
544.M32
Sanguinius
The risk they took by opening the Warpgate from the Webway directly on Mars was indeed great, risking tearing the planet apart if Seeker and Mind's calculations proved even slightly wrong.
If he had been able to wield the Spear of Destiny, this wouldn't have been a problem. The divine relic was intended to allow passages from the Webway to both the Immaterium and the Materium to be opened instantly and risk-free.
Another risk was accidentally breaking into the Warp and inviting daemons here, but the Old Ones weren't once called the Empyrean Gods for nothing.
And finally, there was the fact that in the final stages of the passage's creation, they divided it into three separate gates.
The Titans immediately demonstrated their effectiveness, razing the fortifications and all defensive weapons, including many inactive Titan Mechanicus.
Knights followed, eliminating the defending Skitarii units, while Titans attacked larger targets and any armoured units.
Twenty special Titans, resembling colossal four-legged beasts, each mounted with powerful, scaled-down Nova Cannons.
They positioned themselves at strategic points, stabilising themselves on the ground, then aimed their cannons into the atmosphere, targeting the fleet above the planet. They likely wouldn't be enough to destroy it, but they would certainly be able to keep larger ships at bay.
Sanguinius watched all this from a height, hovering several kilometres above the ground and closely observing the unfolding situation.
The few projectiles and energy beams heading his way were stopped by a massive golden barrier of psychic energy.
He raised his right hand palm up and focused on channelling the required amount of psychic energy, then focused it into his palm, shaping it to his will.
A small ball of fire began to grow in his hand. When it grew to the size of his fist, he stopped it but instead focused on condensing all the remaining energy within it. It also began to change colour, changing from orange-red to yellow and white, and finally stabilising into a small blue ball of fire, so hot that he had to control the temperature around it.
He then thrust it towards the Mechanicus Headquarters, which flew at tremendous speed in seconds, reaching its target before exploding in a massive explosion, destroying all barriers and powerful fortifications capable of withstanding fire from even Titans.
Thus, the path to the interior was clear for him. He could probably teleport outside, but with his own dislike for the Mechanicus, he figured it wouldn't hurt to crush their pride a bit.
And nothing would hurt those mad priests more than the fact that their mechanical creations were so useless against the enemy.
Satisfied with the result of his work, he teleported to his true destination. Noctis Labyrinth.
Frankly, he hadn't expected everything to go so easily. Of course, if the Mechanicus forces had been mobilised earlier and had had time to prepare for defence, his losses would likely have been significant.
He glanced at the gauge attached to his forearm armour, which indicated how long he could hold his materialised body together. He had a little over 80 % of it left, so about 35 minutes. That should be enough.
He phased through solid rock and metal into the hidden underground complex, easily sensing the Shard. Mag'ladroth, or at least the part of his consciousness locked within the Shard, had been whispering to him ever since he set foot on Mars.
He felt the pull of the C'tan, who had clearly decided that Sanguinius was his key to freedom. He emerged from the ceiling, floating into a massive chamber illuminated by a blue light generated by the Warp energy.
Two exits led from it: one to the outside world, the other to the Void Dragon prison. These were enormous and clearly not made with human technology. He saw traces of both Eldar and Necron technology, but he also felt the distinct psychic imprint of his father, the Emperor.
This made sense, since Prophet claimed that when the Necrons imprisoned the Shard here, it had attempted to escape twice. It was resealed once by Vaul, the Eldar god of smithing, and a second time by the Emperor.
It turned out, however, that he wasn't alone. A dozen or so metres away stood a woman dressed in red robes and one of the Protectors of the Mechanicum.
They both stared at him with surprise and wariness, but he also saw recognition in their eyes.
"Lord Sanguinius." He was surprised to hear his name spoken by the woman, who bowed low, while the Protector guarding her fell to one knee before him.
Sanguinius nodded in response. "Indeed, it is I, though I would like to know your names."
"Dalia Cythera and Rho-Mu 31 guard me," the woman replied without hesitation. "I am the guardian of the Dragon of Mars."
Sanguinius looked at her carefully, then asked, "That's interesting. It seems as if you were expecting me. How is it possible that you haven't heard of my death?"
"Semyon, the former guardian, has passed on to me the Emperor's words: 'The day will come when the one of my sons who shines brightest will come here to fight the Dragon and claim it for his own. Then your service will be at an end.'"
Sanguinius was speechless at these words. Did the Emperor know he would come here someday? But that was impossible. He would have to know he would survive and, moreover, seek the Shard of Mag'lodroth.
This changed everything he knew and assumed and confirmed what he had seen in his vision when he met the Emperor in the Immaterium was true. His father had deliberately placed a small C'tan shard and a fragment of Asuryan's soul within him when Sanguinius was but an embryo, making him a hybrid of human, Eldar god, and cosmic being of pure energy.
What else was true and what was false, and what exactly was the Emperor's plan, and how far into the future did it extend?