Terra in Turmoil
The Imperial Palace, once the epitome of power and stability, was thrown into chaos as a small band of Harlequins, led by the enigmatic Shadowseer Lhaerial Rey, infiltrated its walls. The Eldar claimed to have come in peace, bearing a message from Farseer Eldrad Ulthran, but their words were met with skepticism and hostility. As they navigated the treacherous corridors, they encountered fierce resistance from the Custodes, who would stop at nothing to protect the Golden Throne.
A Desperate Gamble
Despite being vastly outnumbered, the Harlequins fought valiantly, but their attempt to reach the Emperor’s throneroom ultimately failed. Lhaerial, the last surviving member of the group, was captured by the Custodes at the foot of the Eternity Gate. However, her fate took an unexpected turn when Captain-General Beyreuth was persuaded by Grand Master of Assassins Drakan Vangorich and Inquisitorial Representative Veritus to transfer her to their care for interrogation.
Uncovering the Truth
Lhaerial’s revelations during her interrogation at the Inquisitorial Fortress of Terra sent shockwaves throughout the Imperium. She claimed that Eldrad had dispatched her on a mission to deliver a message of peace to the Emperor himself, accompanied by a token of goodwill – the tooth of a Nocturne drake said to have been gifted by Vulkan. Moreover, she revealed that Ulthwe had managed to calm the Warp around Terra, aiding the Imperial war effort against the Orks, but warned of a greater threat gathering on the horizon.
The Last Wall
As the dust settled, the combined force of Imperial Fists Successors, known as the Last Wall, finally arrived in the Sol System. Led by High Marshal Bohemond and the last surviving Imperial Fist, Koorland, they brought with them 20 Battle Barges and Strike Cruisers carrying 2,800 Battle-Brothers from the Black Templars, Crimson Fists, Fists Exemplar, and Excoriators. Their arrival marked a turning point in the war against the Orks, as they joined forces with the Mechanicum to launch a massive assault on the Attack Moon plaguing Terra.
A New Alliance
In the heat of battle, an uneasy truce was forged between the Black Templars and the Warsmiths of the Mechanicum. For the first time in 1,500 years, sons of Rogal Dorn and Perturabo fought side by side, united against a common enemy. As the tide of the battle turned in their favor, the Imperials withdrew, exhausted but victorious.
Aftermath
In the aftermath of the battle, victory celebrations were broadcast across the beleaguered Terra, with the High Lords taking credit for the triumph. However, in a private meeting with the leaders of the Last Wall, Lord Commander Udin Macht Udo scolded the Astartes, condemning their unification as borderline heretical and demanding that their fleets be broken up. The Astartes Masters were furious, but Koorland ultimately swayed them to maintain the Emperor’s vision and listen to the Chairman of the Senatorum.
A New Era
As the Imperium teetered on the brink of collapse, Koorland realized that the High Lords were proving too ineffectual to secure victory. With the cooperation of Drakan Vangorich, Veritus, Wienand, and Vernor Zeck, he led a political coup, declaring himself the new Lord Commander of the Imperium. The writing was on the wall – a new era had begun, one that would see the Imperium rise from the ashes or succumb to the darkness.
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