Greetings, fellow seekers of the truth hidden within the chronicles of the 40th Millennium! Today, we shall delve into the tale of a man whose actions have been both reviled and revered – Kelbor Hal, the true Fabricator General of the Sacred Mars.
In the annals of Imperial history, the Horus Heresy is often depicted as a great fire that engulfed the galaxy. The Primarch Lorgar, the instigator, is symbolically represented as the spark that ignited this cataclysmic conflagration. However, let us divert our attention from the fire itself and focus on the fuel that fed the flames. This fuel, this indispensable entity, is none other than Kelbor Hal.
Once the greatest Tech Priest, Kelbor Hal was a fervent believer in the teachings of the Omnissiah. His leadership of the Mechanicum, however, is viewed as one of the greatest tragedies in the history of the Imperium. The question that baffles historias to this day is – why did such a wise man commit the ultimate act of treachery and side with the traitorous Horus?
When the Age of Strife ended, the Emperor of Mankind managed to unite the desperate factions of old Terra. His gaze then turned towards the endless void, eventually landing upon Mars. The Tech Priests of Mars, recognizing a kindred spirit in this golden warrior, welcomed him with open arms. The Emperor reciprocated their trust by allying with the Martians, marking the birth of the Imperium of Man.
Yet, Kelbor Hal saw through the half-truths and deliberate omissions of the Emperor. He remembered the days of the Dark Age of Technology when Mars and Terra, two interstellar empires, existed independently but cooperated closely. But the Age of Strife changed everything. Terra regressed into technobarbarism, while Mars fared even worse, with its terraforming left incomplete and the planet’s atmosphere, plants, and industrial complexes decaying over time. The planet’s population was decimated by waves of epidemics and the survivors turned into mutants and cannibals.
However, amidst this desolation, emerged the Tech Priests. They dedicated their lives to rediscovering lost technology and knowledge. They built underground havens to protect against radiation storms and designed new oxygen generators and food processing machines. Slowly, life in the shelters stabilized. The horrors they endured only strengthened their resolve and confirmed their faith in the Machine God.
As the Emperor and his warlords battled over the remnants of Terra, the Tech Priests rebuilt Mars. They eradicated the tribes of mutants and built the first temples and settlements in honor of the Omnissiah. The Mechanicum scoured every corner of the planet, from calderas to dormant volcanoes, unearthing ancient artifacts and delivering them to the Temple of All Knowledge. Mars was reborn, its spires reaching towards the pink sky, a testament to the indomitable spirit of its people.
This is the legacy that Kelbor Hal understood and the knowledge he carried when he chose to side with Horus. His betrayal, viewed with the lens of Imperial dogma, is a tragedy. Yet, seen from his perspective, it becomes a story of resilience, defiance, and the quest for truth. The flames of the Horus Heresy burned bright indeed, but they were fueled by the ambitions, beliefs, and choices of men like Kelbor Hal.
Our journey into the depths of the 40th Millennium is far from over. Stay tuned, as we continue to unravel the complex tapestry of Imperial history. The secrets of the past are waiting to be discovered…
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