The Living O-Zone, Tales of glory! "The Wrath of the Phoenecian"

Part 1

Equerry Demeiter entered the Phoenacarium and bowed low. The Phoenacarium was a massive space. The walls were covered with colorful banners. The banners fluttered lightly as air was forced into the chamber from vents below. High above, the vaulted ceiling was covered with paintings depicting glorious battles between daemons and massive armored men. Hanging from the ceiling were braziers with incense spilling over the lip. The incense gave the chamber an eerie feel. At the front of the chamber, the only furniture in the entire room, sat an impressive throne.

A massive figure sat idly in the throne looking out the massive window. Below could be seen the temple grounds, were daemons cavorted amongst the crystalline structures. A long snake tail could be seen wrapping around the base of the throne, the bladed tip twitching lightly like a sleeping cat. A whisper came from the massive figure, "Speak Demeiter".

Demeiter rose from his bow and spoke. "Lord De'Valtus. We have intercepted several Imperial transmissions that you may find interesting. The first was an incomplete message. It was broken by several pauses of static. It seems that that an important Imperial world is under attack from some unknown force. There have been several transmissions that followed up to the first. It seems that several forces have been mobilized and dispatched to the system."

The tail slowly uncoiled from the base of the throne. Aradian De'Valtus rose. The figure was no longer simply a man. He had been transformed into a massive figure. His legs had been replaced by the snake body. Extra arms had sprouted from his sides, tipped with enormous claws. As he stood. he stretched to his full height, extending great feathered wings above his head. Fully extended, Aradian's wing tips brushed the ceiling 30 feet above. "Demeiter, fetch me my captains".

"Yes my lord", Demeiter said as he turned and left the Phoenacarium.

Later.......

Demeiter once again entered the Phoenacarium. "My lord, the commanders have arrived"

"Bring them in!"

Four marines, armored in four completely different armors entered the chamber.

The first was Julious Vespacean, Lord Commander of the Emperors Children. Like his commander, his legs had been transformed into a snake body. His armor was painted a bright purple and trimmed with a garish shade of green. Small leathery wings sprouted from his back and he carried an immense power halberd.

Following behind Julious came Arestus Dominikus, Lord Commander of the Thousand Sons, his armor resplendent in the colors of his legion. Bright blue armor trimmed in gold, and the two rubric's proudly fashioned like shoulder guards at each side of the terminator armor. He carried with him a staff of intricate design.

Next came Ghorne Bloodfist, Lord Commander of the World Eaters. His blood red and bronze armor glittering in the afternoon light spilling through the window. Across his back, two enormous chain axes hung crossed.

And finally Primarius Omegus, Lord Commander of the Alpha Legion. The color of his armor constantly shifted depending on were in the room he stood, and strapped across his back a bolter of unknown design.

"Demeiter, give me the star map". As Aradian spoke, the simple push of a button closed shutters over the windows and a three dimensional representation of the galaxy appeared on the floor of the chamber.

Aradian began, "There is a new chance for us to put bolter to the forces of the False Emperor. This system here," and with a poke of a staff at the galaxy map, the image zoomed into a single system. "Imperial forces are on route to this system for what appears to be an interdiction. The system is under attack from an unknown force."

"My Lord, let us bring the rain upon them with all our might" Ghorne said, drawing his axes and taking a battle stance.

Aradian held up his hand, "Settle yourself Ghorne. The time for blood will be upon us soon enough. First we should find out what is really happening. Primarius, you and Arestus will depart immediately to investigate. In the meantime we shall prepare the fleet. We will follow behind you but will remain out of the system until such time as we are fully aware of what is happening. Now let us prepare for war."