300.M36
Thirty years had passed since Atharion left Terra, with Mina and Arabella by his side.
His proposal to form a personal realm of approximately 400 worlds, unsurprisingly, was not well received by the High Lords of Terra. Fierce bickering erupted, dragging on for months as various factions debated the implications of such power being concentrated in one man's hands, especially one that is a Chapter Mastar of a powerful Astartes Chapter.
Eventually, an agreement was reached, reluctantly, and with no shortage of whispered dissent.
Atharion would be officially named High Warden of the newly formed realm, granted absolute authority within its borders. However, compromises were made to prevent the realm from becoming a fully independent power bloc.
Out of the 400 worlds, five were promised to Sebastian Thor and his faction, to be governed by themselves.
295 of the remaining worlds would have their planetary governors assigned by Terra. However, Atharion inserted a critical clause: only when the appointment documents bore the official seal and signature of the Senatorum Imperialis would he acknowledge the authority of those governors. Without it, the appointments were meaningless in his eyes, and the individuals would have no legitimacy within his realm.
The remaining 100 worlds, strategically chosen, rich in resources, and highly defensible, would fall under the direct rule of Atharion and the Dark Knights Chapter.
Next, the Tithes. The only reason why they agree to this proposal is mainly because of Atharion willingness to submit tithes to Terra.
But of course, not all 100% of the Tithes will be pay to Terra. After much debates, two things have been decided on.
First, the worlds within the realm will only need to pay 60% of the Tithes. This applied regardless of classification, be they Agri-worlds, Hive-worlds, or otherwise. The remaining 40% would be retained within the realm, allocated to fortify defenses, maintain infrastructure, and support the ongoing campaigns of the Dark Knights and their allied forces.
Second, Atharion secured a rare and powerful authority, the right to halt, seize, or redirect a Tithe before it could be processed and shipped to Terra. Whether the cause was local instability, critical war efforts, or suspected corruption among planetary governors, Atharion had the final say within his realm.
However, such power did not come without restrictions.
To appease the more paranoid members of the Senatorum Imperialis, who feared this clause could be exploited by Atharion to build his war machine, strict limitations were imposed. Atharion could invoke this authority only twice within a single millennium.
Each invocation would require an official declaration, recorded and verified by both the Adeptus Administratum and a neutral High Lords, ensuring transparency and limiting abuse.
Despite this restriction, the clause still granted Atharion unprecedented leverage. Used wisely, even a single redirection could arm a crusade, stabilize a war-torn sector, or break a siege.
Third, came the matter of law and governance within the realm.
As previously dictated, Atharion held absolute authority over the realm's administration. This meant he had the power to alter, reinterpret, or even nullify aspects of Imperial Law within his borders, should he deem them inefficient or bloated, an issue the Imperium's legal framework had long suffered from.
Though many High Lords apposed this, after much pursuing and deals behind the back, most of them have at least didn't voice their opinion on the matter anymore.
But perhaps the most controversial concession was this:
Atharion was granted the authority to execute or banish any planetary governor within his realm, regardless of who appointed them. Whether a governor was placed by Atharion himself, or officially sanctioned by the Senatorum Imperialis, their position was not protected from the High Warden's judgment.
This clause, more than any other, sparked fierce criticism. Even Sebastian Thor, who had previously supported Atharion, remained silent this time.
But, in the end, the High Lords relented, permitting the clause under one condition, Atharion must document the reasons for such a sentence and ensure the notice reached the Senatorum within ten standard years. Only once it arrived on Terra would the action be formally recognized.
However, once that notice was submitted, the decision could not be overturned, regardless of its nature or target.
With these concessions, it was clear that the title of High Warden was no ceremonial honor. It was a mantle of immense authority, one that reshaped not only the governance of 400 worlds, but also shifted the political gravity of the surrounding regions.
Before Atharion leave Terra, a gift from Sebastian Thor, the thing that Atharion want the most, after the official recognition of established a personal realm, the star fort that had enough firepower to single-handedly challenge a cruiser squadron and was one of the most powerful space vessels in the Imperium, Raptorus Rex.
With this, Dark Knights void fleet strength have arrived on a new height. The Raptorus Rex not only a powerful vessel, but also a mobile fortress-monastry. It's not only can serve as a vessel to transport supplies and soldiers to war, but also serve as a mobile home for the Chapter. Capable of housing the Librarium, the Armoury, the Reclusiam, Apothecarion, gene-seed vaults, training arenas, command halls, and more, the Raptorus Rex was effectively a fortress-monastery in the void, one that could move, strike, and defend with equal purpose.
With this, Atharion leave Terra back to Segmentum Tempestus with a delightful feeling. But, after all those political agreement, he bound to leave something behind.
As part of the secret deal with each of the permanent High Lords, except the Fabricator-General of Mars, each of them and the future successors of the positions would receive a permanent squad of five Astartes to serve as honor guards and symbols of alliance.
These squads were drawn from a specially-formed detachment within the 2nd company serving as the Sergeants for the squads, and the the rest of the members will be fill by introduction from the rest of the companies, other than the 1st company.
Officially, they were called the Sentinels of Accord, but within the Chapter, they were known by a different name, the Watchful Few.
Though small in number, their presence in the halls of the Senatorum Imperialis and the ancestral estates of the High Lords served multiple purposes. To the High Lords, they were proof of Atharion's loyalty and willingness to "play the game" of politics. To Atharion, they were listening ears, warriors of shadow and oath, ensuring that if ever the High Lords turned against him, they would not move unseen.
Clad in a unique variant of the Chapter's power armor, polished to a dark obsidian gleam and adorned with gold-trimmed seals of allegiance, each member of the Sentinels bore the dual insignia of the Dark Knights and the High Lord they served.
Owing their loyalty first to the Emperor, second to Atharion, and only third to the High Lord they were assigned to protect. This was something all the High Lords knew, but they chose to ignore it. They understood clearly, these Astartes would not turn on them unless the High Lords committed crimes too great to be hidden behind political games.
Other than this, Atharion also left behind two full squads from the 5th Company, a personal gift to Sebastian Thor, not as part of political negotiation, but as a gesture of sincere respect and acknowledgment. These warriors were not bound by the same symbolic oaths as the Sentinels of Accord. Instead, they were tasked solely with the protection of Thor himself, and by extension, the preservation of the fragile balance he had brought to the Imperium.
Clad in white and gold, colors that specially use just for Thor. Each of their power armors are decorate by the priests with purity seals penned in High Gothic scriptures of unity and renewal fluttered from their armor like silent prayers. Etched along their vambraces and chestplates were verses from the Lectitio Divinitatus.
After finishing all arrangements, Atharion finally left Terra, accompanied by the Fire Hawks and Angels of Wrath. They journeyed together back toward Segmentum Tempestus. Harald and his Great Company had already departed the moment Vandire died.
Though the original alliance with the Fire Hawks and Angels of Wrath had been made to bring down Vandire, both Chapter Masters decided to continue the bond of brotherhood.
For the Fire Hawks, the reason was clear. Atharion had once promised to help them find a new homeworld, something that had seemed like an empty hope. But after witnessing the deals Atharion made with the High Lords, that promise suddenly felt real, even achievable.
The Angels of Wrath, however, were harder to understand. They gave the same reason as the Fire Hawks, a desire for a permanent homeworld, but Atharion wasn't fully convinced. He knew that most Chapters longed for a home, as it symbolized survival, legacy, and stability. But the Angels of Wrath were different.
They were a successor of the Dark Angels, part of the Unforgiven. Chapters like them rarely sought a fixed world to settle on. Their duty, their secrecy, and their eternal hunt for the Fallen made them wanderers by nature.
But, for now, Atharion will believe the Agenls of Wrafh's Grand Master word. As in the future, they might become the bridge that connect the Dark Knights with the Dark Angels.
After a short but important meeting with both Grand Master Garron of the Fire Hawks and Grand Master Tristan Dare of the Angels of Wrath, a formal alliance was officially sealed. Words were exchanged, oaths were spoken, and blades touched in ritual affirmation.
For now, the Raptorus Rex would serve as the temporary headquarters of the alliance. Until a suitable world or vessel was chosen to represent the unity between the three Chapters, the mighty star fort would be their shared command center.
An oath based upon honor was sworn. When one Chapter called for aid, the others would answer, no matter the distance, no matter the cost.
And of course, there was one special agreement that made this alliance different. The leadership would not be permanent. Instead, it would rotate between the Chapter Masters of the three Chapters, with each serving a 50-year term as the alliance's head.
This was decided to ensure no one individual could hold too much power for too long, preventing the rise of another rebellion like the Horus Heresy, or even something smaller but just as dangerous, like the Badab War in M41.
While some individuals and Chapters would naturally hold more influence, due to experience, resources, or connections, it was understood that the alliance must remain balanced. Mutual respect, honor, and a shared purpose would be the pillars that held it together.
In the past thirty years, the three Chapters had fought side by side in multiple campaigns, learning to understand each other's battle doctrines and specialties. This cooperation steadily improved their coordination, allowing them to operate more unified.
Mina and Arabella also earned great glory during these years. They led forces that freed countless worlds from Xenos, tyrants and cultist that had conquer or overrun the worlds because of the chaos Vandire make and the warp storm.
At the same time, Atharion worked closely with Nine to gather the resources needed for the upcoming Crusade into the Dark Marches, a campaign meant to carve out a realm of stability and strength. Originally, Atharion had planned to join the larger Dark Marches Crusade in 610.M36, believing that fighting alongside a larger Imperial force would help him secure key systems more easily and with less effort.
However, he remembered how much resistance the High Lords had shown when he first proposed the idea. They had only accepted it after many backdoor deals and compromises. Atharion knew that the Segmentum Tempestus administration would not be any better. They would likely try to delay his efforts, demand a share of his gains, or even block his plans, whether through orders from Terra or their own ambitions.
So, Atharion made the decision to launch his own Crusade with the resources he had already gathered, three Space Marine Chapters, the forces of the Adepta Sororitas, Nine's Skitarii legions, and the Auxiliary forces he had personally created.
After thirty years of careful planning and preparation, Atharion officially declared the start of the Crusade during the annual meeting held aboard the Raptorus Rex.
With the Crusade beginning, it was necessary to choose a temporary war leader, someone who could command all the forces and keep the campaign organized, without confusion or shifting goals every time a new leader rotated in.
Because the final objective of the Crusade was to claim territory for Atharion's personal realm, all present voted to appoint him as the war leader for the duration of the Crusade.
With the meeting complete, Atharion started to spread news of a Crusade into unknown region to crave territory for the God-Emperor, hoping that this will gain the attention of other Astarte Chapters and other factions within the Imperium.
Atharion also reached out to Sebastian Thor, who was still active in Segmentum Obscurus, asking for his help in spreading news of the Crusade among the faithful. His goal was to inspire a surge of support from the zealous and the devout, gathering a large numbers of Frateris Militia, masses of the faithful gathered by the Ecclesiarchy to fight Wars of Faith against enemies of the Emperor and mankind.
As their name suggests, the Frateris Militia were not trained soldiers. They lacked proper weapons and equipment, but what they lacked in discipline, they made up for with fanatical devotion. Their burning faith often closed the gap, if only slightly, between themselves and professional troops. Even when they could not fight well, they served another purpose, an ideal source of settlers for the worlds that would be conquered and brought under the Imperium's light.