A single bolt to the head ended the life of the Brides' officer. Atharion lowered his smoking plasma pistol as he and the 2nd Company finally secured the gate.
With the area cleared, the two Warsmiths stepped forward, their servo-arms clicking into place. They began working on the massive gate, trying to unlock it from the inside. If that failed, they were ready to blow a hole large enough for the outside forces to storm through in full strength.
Behind them, the 2nd Company formed a defensive line, watching for any counterattack. Dreadnoughts stood like iron statues, their weapons hot from battle, scanning for more enemies.
In front of this line lay a floor soaked in blood and scattered with broken bodies. It was a cruel and brutal scene—one that should never have happened on Terra, the cradle of mankind, if not for the madness of Vandire.
How many of these fine warriors could have become heroes, champions of the Imperium, had they not been twisted by lies and fanaticism? How many lives wasted in blind obedience?
Atharion looked down at the fallen Brides, their faces frozen in rage or peace. Some still clutched weapons, others reached for comrades already gone. He felt no joy, only a heavy silence in his soul.
A sudden crackling of vox bring Atharion back to the reality.
"My lord," Caden mechanical voice come from the vox. "We have secure the hallway," He stop for a while. "But we're unable to breach the inner palace completely."
"No matter," Atharion reply as he look at the Warsmiths working on the gate's panel. "The moment the main gate open, the fate of Vandire is seal." He than turn towards the inner palace. "Pull back and regroup with us, no need to waste time on it."
"Your will." Caden answered before the vox went silent.
After a moment of silence, a creak sound can be hear coming from behind. Atharion turn back and see that the Warsmiths already leave the control panel and looking at the gate, the gate that currently opening.
The moment gape from the gate is enough, multiple Jetbikes charge through it. And as expected, Harald and his Wolves are the first that arrive.
Behind them, Rhinos and Razorbacks charge through it. From within, Astarte from different Chapters charge out, weapons ready for securing the breach that have been made.
But, all of them are stun from the carnage lie in front of them. While some of the Chapters are used to this, especially with those that hear of the carnage that Dark Knights can and will inflicted in their battle. But, some are not happy with this, especially the Salamander.
Atharion can feel the Salamanders Captain, T'ven disappointed and disapprove as he stepped out of his Rhino with his men behind him.
Atharion didn't flinch. He understood the Salamanders' ways, their care for civilians, their belief in mercy and honor in war. But this was not a battle where mercy could be afforded. Not when facing fanatics who threw themselves into death with smiles on their lips.
The two locked eyes for a moment.
"This was necessary," Atharion said simply, golden lightning still flickering faintly across his armor.
The Salamanders Captain gave a slow nod. "Perhaps. But necessary doesn't mean right."
Atharion said nothing. The Salamanders knew what's it take to protect humanity from the darkness reside in the galaxy. But, when face with humans that clearly have been manipulate by some individuals, they will try their best to wake them from the lies.
But, the fanatics that Vandire had raised were beyond saving by normal standard.
As the Astarte preparing for another attack upon the inner palace, Atharion have pulled his men back, resting and replenish their ammos from the crates that the servitors are bringing in.
From the hole that Atharion make beforehand, the 1st company exited it to regroup with main group, 100 of them have arrived with the rest returned to the ship using teleportation.
With the honor of breaking the Palace's wall have been taken by Atharion and Dark Knights, Atharion let the honor of first attack and possibly, breaking the Palace fall to the other Chapters that had just arrived. He had proven his point, his Chapter's strength displayed in brutal clarity. Now, it was time to let the rest of the Imperium's finest do their part.
But, none of this will be important as a small group of Custodes suddenly arrived at their place, a Hykanatoi squad. At the head of it, the previous Custodian that have meet them before, Valerian.
Clad in resplendent golden armor, his crimson-plumed helmet tucked under one arm, Valerian stepped forward with the same regal confidence that all Custodians carried. The Hykanatoi behind him stood silent, their guardian spears resting but ever ready.
Seeing their arrival, all the Astarte stop what their doing and glance towards the Custodes. Many return to what they doing, with some, mainly the officers of various Chapters.
Valerian's eyes swept across the gathered warriors before settling again on Atharion. Atharion can feel that the he knew his existence, his unique
But, Valerian didn't said anything and turn towards the other.
"You will step no further." Valerian said calmly.
At his signal, the Hykanatoi stepped forward. Their Guardian Spears lowered slightly, not pointed, but clear in meaning. A warning.
A reminder to every Astartes present, the Custodes were not their allies, not truly. They served only the Emperor, and any who defy Him shall be punish.
Hearing what the Custodes have said, much of the Astarte are furious of this, a thing that Atharion sure the Custodes knew but care not.
"What do you mean by this?" High Marshal Sigenandus of the Black Templars stepped forward, his voice heavy with barely contained rage. "Do you understand the cost we've paid to reach this place? The lives, the blood, the honor spent to bring justice to Vandire, while you all sat behind the Palace walls, blind to the suffering of the Imperium?"
Valerian turned his head slightly, looking at the Marshal. "We were not blind," He answered evenly. "We waited. Because the Emperor does not act in haste. His will is not moved by emotion, nor vengeance."
Sigenandus took a step forward, but Atharion put a hand on his shoulder to stop him.
Atharion can already see the Custodes on the left of Valerian tighten his grip upon his Spear. Even when his eye hide behind his helmet, Atharion can feel his gaze upon Seigenandus, more specifically, upon his neck.
Atharion need to make sure none of this happen. If fighting broke out between them, the rift between Astarte and Custodes will only become wider and the nemesis Custodes have on Astarte will become worse.
The Imperium stood at the edge of collapse, held together by will, faith, war, and sacrifice. If the Emperor's Angels and His Sentinels turned on one another, the damage would be beyond repair.
Atharion stepped between them. "Then what is His will now, Valerian? Why stop us here?"
Valerian looked at him, eyes sharp. "Because the time has come. But it will not be you who ends this. It will be them."
The heavy gate groaned as it opened, the sound echoing across the bloodied courtyard like the toll of a great bell. All eyes turned to the figures emerging from the darkness within.
Six Brides of the Emperor, their white armor stained with ash and shadow, stepped forward in solemn formation. Behind them marched a small group of Custodes, silent, golden sentinels whose mere presence spoke of finality.
All the Astarte look closely upon the Brides as they walk closer to Atharion and the other officers of the various Chapters. Some of the more aggressive Chapters Astarte already gripping thier weapons, ready to strike while the rest started to rest their hands near their holsters or hilts, waiting for a signal, any sign that this was another trick, another trap born of Vandire's madness.
But no such sign came.
The Brides approached without any of their weapons on them, only one of them holding a box upon her hands.
When they arrive, Longinus, one of the Custodes that come out with the Brides nodded towards Valerian. After than, all the Custodes turn and leave the area.
As they are leaving, the Astarte still have their eyes upon the Brides. But, Atharion have his eyes upon the Custodes, more specifically, Valerian.
Atharion know that in lore, Longinus is a member of Companions, an elite sect within the Custodian Guard that serving as the personal attendants to the Emperor himself. Meaning even when the Emperor current situation, they still hold with high regard.
But, Valerian, who while didn't introduced himself, Atharion guess that he's from the normal Hykanatoi. If he indeed a normal Custodes, than why does Longinus walk behind him and not beside him.
Just then, Valerian turned his head slightly.
Atharion felt his gaze, sharp, judging… and something else. Was that suspicion? Or envy?
The look lasted only a moment. Valerian turned away and walked on, his golden form disappearing into the shadows of the palace.
As Atharion thought on this, the Brides opened the box.
Inside it rested a severed head, pale, lifeless, with wide open eyes full of madness even in death.
Goge Vandire.
The Reign of Blood, Vandire's reign have ended by the ones that supposed to protect him.
________________________________________
After the dead of Goge Vandire, the Senatorum Imperialis are reinstated, under the watch of Adeptus Custodes and Adeptus Astartes.
While the High Lords are not happy with the Astartes that overseeing their reestablishment, they have no choices but to accept it as this send a clear message to the wider Imperium, especially the other Astarte Chapters. The current High Lords are endorse by the Astarte that have high reputation, especially the First Founding and the Second Founding Chapters.
This can help in restoring the trust between the Terra and the Chapters, increasing the stability across the Imperium.
Next, the Daughters of Emperor, like the original timeline, are reorganize into Adepta Sororitas. This time however, Atharion have requested the assistance of Thor to assigned both Mina and Arabella with their respective force to attach with Dark Knights.
Mina, or Saint Mina have reputation for being fierce, mysterious and deadly in battle. She served as Alicia Dominica's champion and slew many warriors in hand-to-hand combat during the Wars of Apostasy. It is even said when Custodians entered the Ecclesiarchal Palace to summon Alicia Dominica to the Golden Throne, she dueled their leader to a standstill. In her lifetime she led a small group of Sisters which served as the bodyguards of Ecclesiarch Deacis V
Ultimately Mina was murdered on Hydraphur by a Khornate blood cult, whose agents had attacked her while praying. Her body was found along with the shrine, covered in the blood and the corpses of twenty of her attackers. Her symbol, the red rose, represents her strong character and her final death. Thus, the Order of the Bloody Rose was created to honour her spirit and her martyrdom.
Arabella, or Saint Arabella the Liberator was renowned for her calm nature in the face of horror and was known as the most even-tempered of Dominica's guard. She was said to be instrumental in the negotiations between Dominica and the Custodians that led them before the Golden Throne. She subsequently earned the honorific of "Liberator", for she sought to break the shackles of fear and doubt that bound the faithful.
Though a formidable combatant, her true strength sprang from the miracles that are said to have happened in her presence. There are stories of heretics imploding into lumps of smouldering flesh as her gaze fell upon them, crushed by the weight of their own wickedness, or having their eyes melt as they beheld her glory. During her life she performed countless miracles as she travelled the Imperium serving as a commander and beacon of faith for many decades.
Arabella was the last surviving Sister of the six who stood before the Golden Throne but disappeared in late M36 shortly after the death of Sister Mina, leaving her fate unknown.
Both Order of the Bloody Rose, form in honor of Saint Mina and Order of the Scared Rose, form in honor of Saint Arabella are form in 878.M38 by Ecclesiarch Deacis VI. Form 2500 years later than the other four major Orders.
The reason Atharion think that both Orders form late is because their lack of merit, though he himself only guess this is the reason. So, assigning both of them to his entourage, they can gain enough merit that the Ministorum have to form Orders in their honor.
Though both Orders still gain enough honor and their names shine above minor Orders and stood with their sister Orders. Late forming still resulting them having lesser numbers and equipments than the other 4 Orders.
So, Atharion hope that by forming both Orders earlier will strengthen the Imperium in the long game. At the same time, he also hoped to build a bond of friendship with Arabella, so that the Order of the Sacred Rose would one day become close allies with the Dark Knights. If successful, Atharion could even requested they to build fortresses on worlds within Atharion's domain, helping to defend them and guide their people in faith.
Luckily, both Sister accept this order without hesitation. As Atharion worried that they will not accept this because of how much dead have Dark Knights inflicted on them when Vandire still alive.
Lastly, came the ascension of Sebastian Thor as the Ecclesiarch and High Lord of the Adeptus Ministorum.
Unlike in the original timeline, where Thor hesitated to accept the position until he was persuaded by a private conversation with Captain-General Excelsior, this time, Thor accepted the role just two weeks after the death of Goge Vandire.
Atharion had personally met with Thor during a period of relative calm, offering his reasoning that the Imperium needed someone who truly understood the weight and meaning of leadership. With the state of the Imperium in ruin, it needed a strong, wise, and convincing figure to guide it back to stability.
Aside from Atharion's reasoning, Thor also received a letter, personally handed to him by a Custodian. The letter was written by none other than Captain-General Excelsior himself—or at least, Thor believed it was personally penned by the Captain-General.
Atharion's words alone weren't enough to sway Thor. But the letter from the Captain-General was. Whatever message it held, it was enough to silence all of Thor's remaining doubts.
Though his ascension came earlier than in the original history, Thor still chose to leave Terra soon after, traveling across the Imperium. With the full backing of the newly reformed Senatorum Imperialis, he became a symbol of renewal and faith across the stars.
With that, the Reign of Blood was finally over.