Chapter 5 – Orders from Ultramar
The void was calm as the Stormbird Iron Oath slid from the roiling madness of the Immaterium into the clear, cold light of realspace. Before it lay the Ultramar system, seven worlds bound by duty, industry, and the unshakable discipline of their Chapter.
The "seven worlds" refer to the core worlds directly tied to the Chapter's operations, recruitment, industry, and defense. Collectively known as the Seven Worlds of Ultramar, they include: Macragge, Chapter homeworld and site of the fortress-monastery.
Talassar – Key naval base and trade hub.
Calth – Major shipyard and forge world (now mostly subterranean after Heresy-era damage).
Prandium – Fertile agri-world.
Espandor – Civilized world, renowned for producing officers and diplomats.
Tarentus – Industrial powerhouse.
Iax – Garden world and primary military training center.
Though Ultramar rules over five hundred worlds, these seven form its political and military heart.
Through the forward canopy, Gaius Maximor Thassor could see the proud curve of Macragge, its ice-bound poles gleaming under the distant sun. Orbital bastions and shipyards ringed the planet like a crown of steel. The vast fortress-monastery rose from the northern continent like a mountain built by the Emperor's own hand, immovable, unyielding.
It had been decades since Gaius last set foot here. In truth, the planet had changed little; Macragge did not need to change. That was its strength.
The Stormbird banked gently, joining the traffic of voidcraft moving between the surface and the battlefleet anchored above. Its engines rumbled through the deck plating, steady and sure. Gaius stood in the troop bay, helmet held loosely in one hand, watching the slow rotation of the planet as the craft descended.
....
In the centuries since the opening of the Great Rift, much had been lost. The Indomitus Crusade, glorious, terrible, and unrelenting, had ended. Roboute Guilliman, Primarch of the Ultramarines, now ruled from Terra itself, guiding the fractured Imperium through an age of near-constant war.
Gaius was among the first-born Primaris, created in the forges of Archmagos Belisarius Cawl. He had fought in the spearhead of Guilliman's armies, serving with The Blade of the Primarch, a strike cadre entrusted with the most decisive, most dangerous missions.
Those days were gone. Now the wars were slower, drawn-out campaigns to retake and hold fractured worlds. The enemies were no less dangerous, but the work was different. Less conquest. More endurance.
....
The Stormbird touched down on the Fortress of Hera's upper landing tier. The deck crews moved with silent precision as the craft's engines wound down.
A serf in the blue livery of the Chapter approached and bowed deeply."Brother-Captain Thassor, the Chapter Master requests your presence. The vox-hall is prepared."
Gaius inclined his head and followed without a word.
Minutes later, he stood before a massive hololith. It shimmered, then resolved into the form of Marneus Calgar, Chapter Master of the Ultramarines, his ornate armour reflecting the golden light of the chamber he stood in.
"Brother-Captain," Calgar began, voice firm but calm, "we have received word of renewed activity in the Helisar Reaches. A cluster of worlds there, two agri-worlds, one forge-world, have regained limited contact after long silence. Reports indicate enemy occupation. Possibly Chaos Space Marin. Possibly worse."
His gaze sharpened."You are to lead a reclamation force. The mission is surgical, eliminate command elements, secure orbital control, and establish a forward bastion for follow-on forces. You will be assigned twelve warriors, ten battle-brothers, two Primaris reinforcements fresh from the Pharos. Equipment and materiel are preloaded on the Oath of Rectitude. She will meet you at the staging moon in two days."
Calgar's tone left no space for hesitation."You will have full autonomy once deployed. The Imperium does not have the time or the strength for drawn-out consultation. Do you understand?"
Gaius bowed his head fractionally."In the name of The Emperor, I obey."
Calgar gave a single, satisfied nod before the hololith dissolved into motes of blue light.
....
The hours that followed were precise and deliberate. Gaius oversaw the transfer of his war-plate from the Stormbird's hold to the vaults of the Oath of Rectitude, which was even now preparing for warp Departure at the edge of the system.
By the time he stepped aboard the strike cruiser, the ship was alive with motion, Techmarines inspecting weapon batteries, Chaplains walking the decks offering words of faith, serfs moving in ordered columns bearing munitions to the armouries. The Oath was no stranger to war; her very bulkheads seemed to hum in anticipation.
Gaius kept apart from his assigned squad for now. Bonds would be forged in battle, not in idle conversation. For the moment, they needed to prepare as he did, in their own way.
He retired to a private chamber near the strategium. It was small by Astartes standards, just enough for a war-desk, a rack for his armour, and a shrine alcove bearing the sigil of the Emperor.
.....
Gaius sits before his sealed armor's helm, linking with the Multiversal Chat. The icons flicker to life, icons resolving into familiar Image and Texts.
[Naruto Uzumaki]: Oi, Saeko! My Rasengan's way stronger now, lasts longer too! Believe it!
[Saeko]: Impressive. Keep that up and you'll reach Hokage level sooner than you think.
[Naruto Uzumaki]: Heh… you really think so?
[Tony Stark]: Alright, what'd I miss? I've been busy in the workshop. (sends photo of unpainted, silver Mark 3 armor)
[Naruto Uzumaki]: Whoa! Is that armor? Kinda reminds me of Gaius' stuff and smaller… but shinier!
[Tony Stark]: Yeah, well, it's a work in progress. Needs a little color before it's "save the world" ready.
Gaius did not speak. His icon stayed dim, but he watched. Their words were simple, almost mundane. It was conversation without, strategy, without battle reports or casualty counts.
For him, it was like listening to the sound of rainfall after centuries of thunder.
Quite peaceful
...
Tony finally set his tools aside. "That's me done for today. Pepper's calling. Stay sharp out there." then his icon dimmed.
The others lingered a little longer, Naruto promising to show Saeko some training moves next time.
Then the chime sounded through Gaius's cabin:"Transition to warp in ten minutes."
He closed the connection without a word.
Reaching for the comm built into his desk, he spoke evenly:"Summon the squad. Briefing in two hours. Prepare for groundfall deployment of anytime."
The Oath of Rectitude swung on her axis, prow aimed toward the star's edge. Energy crackled along her Geller Field projectors as the warp drives roared to life.
From the fortress-world of Macragge, she dwindled into a single point of light before vanishing into the Immaterium, bound for another war, on another world that had waited too long for salvation.
For Gaius Maximor Thassor, it was the familiar cycle: receive the order, make the strike, hold the ground. But somewhere in the back of his mind, the faint echoes of mundane conversation lingered, stubborn and strange.
Not enough to distract him. But enough to remind him there was more to the galaxy than the endless march of war, in this grim dark galaxy.
End of Chapter 5
(Made this chapter, to more like an introduction of Gaius, And current timeline, of warhammer and a foreshadowing, Though i don't know much about timeline of warhammer it might be a bit mess up, but bear with me. Give power stones if you like the story (~￣³￣)~)