In 2010.018M42, Stahl, still apoplectic with rage from the loss of all the Iron Warriors hard won gains from their weakling allies, made a surprising demand of them: decimation.“The weak must be purged from your ranks. For your continued failings, 1 in 10 must be purged, comply or be destroyed”.
The order sent a panic through the Chaos forces, for years the Stahl's 144th Grand Company had held sway over the forces of Chaos, and had on several occasions the Iron Warriors have purged the Chaos ranks, most recently the Tzeentch Legion and the rendering of Marcus, which had terrified the daemons into submissions.
For all these reasons, it was a surprise that when the emissaries of the Stahl arrived to deliver his demands, the Death Guard promptly opened fire upon them. Shocked at the reaction, the Iron Warriors return fire was uncoordinated, though the mortal Thorakitai, remembering their implanted training were able to bring down three of the monstrous Death Guard through weight of fire. Reinforcements from both sides rushed to the area. Iron Warrior Obliterators tore into reality, attempting a decapitation strike on the Death Guard Daemon Prince. If they hoped for a repeat of Marcus they were sorely mistaken, the bloated form of the Nurgle Daemon Prince proving far harder to destroy than the scions of Tzeentch.
The Iron Warriors fire patterns never recovered from the Death Guards treachery and were forced to fight the Sons of Barbarus blade to blade. The Blightlord Terminators managed to cut down the Havocs only to be cut down in turn by Sorcerery, magick appeared as though it would turn the battle in the Iron Warriors favour. Howevr Sorcery is subject to the whims of the Chaos Gods, and the Death Guard were very much in Nurgles favour, which tore into the Sorcerers of the Iron Warriors as they drew too deep. Knowing the battle lost, the remaining Iron Warriors withdrew.
Warsmith Stahl drummed his fingers together as the screed of raw data passed his eyes, his emissaries to the Death Guard had failed, there were casualties among the true sons of the IV, something he sought to avoid if possible, however they failed and so were themselves shown to be weak.
The data from subjects T09831191/1 to /27 interested him, with a flick of his fingers he brought up the genetic history of the Thorakitai warriors, copies of the same soldiers with the same core memories through multiple warzones, stretching to the rebellion. Each time, the image repeated itself, accuracy significantly expectations, discipline again above expectation, involved in several engagements where geneseed of the IV would be lost. The bodies in the latest engagement had not survived, but that did not matter, the core battle data had been downloaded and would be implanted into the next clone. Satisfied, he made a gesture and the Thorakitai designations changed from orange to green - “IMPLANTATION SEQUENCE INITIATED” was added to the file data.
“Warsmith?” a robotic voice from a corner of the room intoned.
Arrayed around the hunched adept were 12 warriors of the IV, stripped of armour and chained to slabs. All were severely injured in one way or another and looked sickly to varying degrees. To most they would already be dead, but the former Chief Apothecary of the IV would not allow them to die.
“What is to be done with them Warsmith? The Rot has already set in”
Looking to his Lieutenant, Ceraunacus, Stahl sighed. He could not bring himself to let them die, to consider it brought memories that haunted him, being surrounded by the dying, helpless....
“I will not execute you Ceraunacus, you will not be granted the mercy of death for your failure.”
“Please... War...Smith” bubbled the broken form of Ceraunacus, the triple boil riven over his flesh, “They... turned on us. The, Gods”
“They are not Gods!” growled Stahl, reacting to the Lieutenant. “I will not kill you, I will not kill my brothers. But punishment is required, Adept? Prepare them for sarcophagus implantation”
The terminally wounded Legionaries started straining against their restraints in desperation.
“Lycurgus!” screamed Ceraunacus with all the strength he could muster “Please... just let us die!”
“No” whispered Stahl, “Never again”.
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