novelraw Chapter 25: Darnath Lysander
Chapter 25: Darnath Lysander
One standard Terran week after the mourning ended, Soshyan awaited the second group of guests coming to pay their respects—the parent Chapter of the Astral Knights, the Imperial Fists.
After the massive Stormbird landed on the platform, appearing not far from Soshyan was the much-renowned First Captain of the Imperial Fists, a warrior covered in legends: Darnath Lysander.
Soshyan did not know much about this distant parent Chapter. The Imperial Fists were one of the eighteen First Founding Chapters, ranked seventh, with Rogal Dorn as their Primarch.
Since the Great Crusade era, the Legion had been considered one of the most loyal to the Emperor and had spearheaded the construction of the Imperial Palace on Terra. After the outbreak of the Horus Heresy, the Imperial Fists remained loyal, using their tenacious resilience to help maintain the Empire's unity during its darkest hour.
Due to the Imperial Fists' momentous achievements, especially their active role in leading the defense of Terra at the end of the Horus Heresy, they were also awarded the honor of "Defenders of Terra," becoming the only Legion capable of permanently stationing on and directly recruiting from Terra.
During the Second Founding, the Imperial Fists were also divided and reorganized according to the Codex Astartes, forming several new Chapters, and continuously spawning newer Successor Chapters over the subsequent ten thousand years.
In terms of the number of Successor Chapters, the Imperial Fists were second only to the Ultramarines, though Soshyan was also unsure which era their Chapter was formed in; that segment of history had been strangely lost.
Regardless, at this time, being able to see people from their parent Chapter brought Soshyan some slight comfort.
At least their sacrifices had not been forgotten.
As that massive body stepped out of the Stormbird's hatch, a conspicuous dash of bright yellow was added to the drab space platform. The tall Terminator led an Honour Guard straight towards Soshyan.Every single one of their steps was perfectly uniform, even their weight and impact identical, as if conducting a military parade.
When he was five meters away from Soshyan, the Terminator stopped in his tracks, and the guard behind him stopped simultaneously in that same instant, moving as one man.
Amidst the hiss of air valves, the Terminator removed his mask, revealing a face full of scars and the vicissitudes of life, but still resolute and unyielding. The service studs on his forehead and his silver hair gleamed with a metallic luster in the lamplight.
Darnath Lysander, a Space Marine who had undergone countless bloody trials, had fought steadfastly for the Imperium without retreat since his service began.
In the Battle of Colonial Bridge in 567.M40, Lysander held the defense with outstanding performance, successfully suppressing the Chaos traitors in the end.
After becoming the Second Company Commander of the Imperial Fists, he spearheaded an assault on the Aeldari warship 'Blood of Khaine'. It was also during this battle that the former First Captain of the Imperial Fists, Cleander, passed the artifact 'Fist of Dorn' into Lysander's hands before his death.
Over the following nearly two centuries, Lysander led the Imperial Fists' First Company in active campaigns all over, earning supreme glory for the entire Chapter.
However, misfortune struck just as abruptly. The strike cruiser 'Shield of Courage', carrying the Imperial Fists' First Company, went missing in the Webway. Although the entire Imperial Fists Chapter prayed endlessly day and night, no positive clues regarding the 'Shield of Courage' were ever found.
The despairing Imperial Fists pessimistically assumed Lysander's fall. They listed him among the casualties and erected a statue to memorialize him in their Hall of Heroes.
Almost a millennium later, the Shield of Courage finally returned to realspace. However, as enemies bound to meet on a narrow path, they emerged right near a defense point established by the Iron Warriors on the edge of the Eye of Terror.
The strike cruiser was blown to pieces under the concentrated firepower of the enemy's three orbital fortresses. Lysander was one of the few survivors, but he was also captured.
Over the following weeks, he was relentlessly tortured by the Iron Warriors, but the First Captain did not yield. Much like the historically arrogant yet fearless Imperial Fists, Lysander never accepted his defeat.
Through another month of torture, the Iron Warriors left Lysander bloody and battered, yet he ultimately seized an opportunity to break free from his bonds. Without weapons or armor, relying solely on his bare fists and flesh, he carved out a bloody path, stole an Imperial shuttle, and escaped.
Upon hearing the news that Lysander was still alive, the entire Imperial Fists Chapter was thrilled beyond entirely, warmly welcoming the hero's return.
Over the following months, the Chapter's Chief Apothecary, Librarian, and Chaplain mobilized all of their technology to examine Lysander, even detailing every inch of him. However, whether in flesh, mind, or thought, not a single trace of corruption was ultimately found.
Thereafter, Darnath Lysander was once again elected as the First Captain of the Imperial Fists' Terminators, while also being the oldest member of the Chapter—at the time, none of the current Imperial Fists members had even been born before the Shield of Courage went missing.
With such an immortal legend appearing before him, Soshyan could not help but feel somewhat excited and nervous. However, he was now the Chapter Master and had to maintain his bearing.
So he opted to take a deep breath and said in a deep voice,
"Soshyan Alexey, the sixty-ninth Chapter Master of the Astral Knights Chapter, welcomes your arrival, First Captain Darnath Lysander."
Lysander tucked his helmet under his arm, snapped his legs together, and offered a crisp, standard military salute, as did the guard behind him.
"Darnath Lysander, representing all warriors of the Imperial Fists, pays the highest tribute to the fallen!"
After the salute, Soshyan and Lysander walked shoulder to shoulder towards the monument.
Gazing at the towering black monolith and the giant number [771] upon it, Lysander's gaze was solemn, as if paying his respects at the Hall of Heroes aboard the Phalanx. Meanwhile, the speakers on the side were looping the names of those who died in battle.
After staring in such silence for a long while, Lysander said loudly,
"You are worthy of the bloodline of Rogal Dorn! You are worthy of the legion's glory! Your sacrifice is the eternal testament to the Seventh Legion's loyalty! We are proud of you, and the Hall of Heroes on the Phalanx will forever sing your names!!"
With that, Lysander forcefully raised his fist, as did the guard behind him.
"By the Primarch, for your glory and the Lord of Terra's!"
"By the Primarch, for your glory and the Lord of Terra's!"
This shocking roar of fury was joined not only by the Imperial Fists warriors, but Soshyan and the warriors of the Invaders Chapter as well—this was the inextricable bond between a parent Chapter and its Successors.
After the mourning concluded, Lysander invited Soshyan to be a guest on his flagship, the Shield of Courage.
Although he was a guest, there was no excessive red tape. The two sides simply conversed in a somber atmosphere.
"Your former Chapter Master requested to make the assault on his own initiative?"
"Yes."
After getting Soshyan's answer, Lysander frowned.
"Forgive me for being blunt, but that does not seem very rational."
Soshyan had no words in response. There were many things he could not say, so he could only simply recount the course of events.
Lysander sighed, stood up from the massive chair, walked to Soshyan's side, and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Regardless, it has already happened. We can only face it."
"Yes."
Soshyan nodded.
"As the Chapter Master, no matter how bad the situation is, I must find a way to rebuild the Chapter. This is my responsibility."
Looking at the hopeful look in Soshyan's eyes, Lysander knew what the other was hinting at. He shook his head and said helplessly,
"Due to the rebellions in the Maelstrom Zone, Mars has recently tightened its management of the tithe. We temporarily do not have any spare gene-seed to support your rebuilding."
Lysander suddenly leaned close and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear,
"And... the situation might be far worse than you think."
Hearing this comment, Soshyan's heart skipped a beat.
The Imperial Fists were permanently stationed on Terra. Of all the Chapters, they were the most sensitive to Terra's political winds. Words spoken from their mouths would definitely not be false.
"How bad?"
"A new Chapter has already been formed. The High Lords' Council has already issued the writ of commission after receiving the news from here."
At this point, nothing more needed to be said.
Lysander straightened his back, looking at Soshyan's somewhat ashen face, and encouraged him,
"The sons of Dorn will never be disheartened by temporary failure. Have you given up, young man?"
Soshyan lifted his head, almost gritting his teeth as he said,
"Never."
"Excellent. Then I suggest you hurry back to your Chapter Monastery and sort everything out. If necessary, the Shield of Courage will personally escort you back to your Chapter's homeworld."