Forge the narrative #6 Blood Angels - The Shattered Command

Captain Marcus Trabulus looked grimly up from the control panel.
"It's been a long time since I've been this worried about how to keep our forces together, Tyrhin. Dante keeps sending us conflicting messages. Be ready to defend with all the assault capabilities we have, he says. Then, the next second, he brings me this nonsense".
Attempting to stymie his superior's renowned temper, Chaplain Tyrhin Pardonless used his calmest, most measured tones.
"Sir, my Captain, I believe we can make good use of these men and these vehicles. We haven't seen any actual physical combat in a number of years, yet these machines have constantly in the throng of war. Now that we face greater threats than previously, I believe that Dante is right to send more reinforcements our way. As for his orders, I believe he means we should do both – make the most of what we have, and your incredible control over our troops, and also make the most of what he has given to us. Surely, with both elements together, we will be unstoppable".
"I can't believe you're taking his side, Tyrhin. For year after year we've trained our Marines to be the best there is, and the number of elite troops I've sent to fight for Dante, I'd expect more in return. I mean, what good are a load of Land Speeders and a few tanks to me? I barely even know what they are capable of. I'm not the right man..."
Interrupting, despite knowing what a bad idea it was, Tyrhin raised his voice and wished to give his Captain some tough love.
"But YOU are Captain Marcus Trabulus. It is YOU who Dante must rely on for supply of fully-trained, elite troops to fill his ranks. You have never let him down, and you will not now. You have not commanded a real battle in too long, and yet I do not worry that you are the man for the job at this time, in this location. We NEED you - Dante needs you, everybody needs you, and you are more than capable. You know exactly how to handle our troops, and as for these machines and these men of green armour, you are worrying too much..."
"But I do not know these..."
"...you are overly anxious because you have had it too easy for too long. All has been quiet around here for years, which is why you've been in charge of training rather than fighting. The enemy now knows this full well. We don't know how they know it, but they do. You need to adapt to the truth..."
"The truth is that this is not the kind of army I have commanded before..."
"...but everyone knows you can adapt. Dante knows it. Otherwise, why would he put you in charge?"
"Because he's too busy dealing with the Black Rage. He works based on hope rather than confidence."
"Maybe, but..."
Another voice came from the back of the control room:
"Sir, we are scheduled for morning training in five minutes."
Chaplain Tyrhin turned to meet the young Marine at the door, and suddenly switched his tact to an abrupt tone.
"We will be with you shortly. We have important business here, and..."
As the Chaplain began his protestation, his Captain began heavily wheezing.
"Tyr...Tyr...Tyr..."
"MY CAPTAIN, WHAT IS THIS?"
The Captain fell against a control desk, wheezing and unable to speak fluently.
"Prepare...the...la"
Thud. It was over in a matter of three seconds. His corpse hit the floor before Chaplain Tyrhin could even hold him.


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Angry and impetuous, Chaplain Tyrhin Pardonless was stomping across the floor of the control room, seeking counsel from Veteran Sergeant Eumetios Ariuk and Veteran Sergeant Abractus Tabris.
"The green machines are useless. They will never be ready in time! I can't believe the situation we're in, and it's Dante's fault. He knew they were already well-beaten, and would take further knocks in transit! Some of them are even rusting! Useless, all of them!"
"But, Sir" Sgt. Ariuk ventured, "we have many good men; many good weapons. We'll be fine. It's just a few artifacts. We'll fire up the Land Raider and we can be there in no ti..."
"That's not the point, and you know it" retorted his angry superior. Taking a deep breath, he continued: "We have become a recycling plant for Dante. This is frustrating,and now the one man capable of controlling our forces is lost to...some...some...bloody black magic of some kind"
"A question, Sir, and please take this in the right way..." Ariuk's extreme tact was obvious. "Is his sudden demise anything related to... you know... the Rage?"
"That would be too obscure an explanation. Absolutely, categorically not, according to our medics. They absolutely cannot fathom what happened to him. The only thing that is certain is that there was a large obstruction that presumably suddenly appeared. Something got in there and basically exploded his breathing system. It's disgusting, and it's never been seen before. There is something dark at work".
"Our best man" Sgt. Tabris bowed his head and solemnly declared.
"Yes indeed, a great man, but not our only hope." Sgt. Ariuk seemed more optimistic in tone and in body language at this stage than either of his two colleagues.
Breaking out of his depression suddenly, the Chaplain seemed to fire up. "Now is not the time. I need solutions to this problem. If I'm to assume control of Command Port B213 788, then I want us to prioritise two things at this time: number one, we get those DAMN green things to work. See to it that we get them cleaned, get them serviced and ready for action. Speak to Avurnon Verchiel in the Tech Bay, and tell him he's got one week until we need those things working for us, not looking like a joke sad enough for our Dear Sanguinius to shed a tear in his grave... Number two, this message we've intercepted, our experts have been working all of yesterday, all night and all of today, and have managed to work out the believed location of the artifacts." Pulling up a digital map on the screen behind him, he pointed and traced for the Sergeants' benefit. "Here is where we believe they've landed, and here is the route that we have worked out to be the most tactful. "
"You say "they". Who are "they", exactly?" Quizzed Ariuk.
The Chaplain's response was confident and almost arrogant in tone, possibly designed to boost the confidence of his trusted squad leaders. "Hmm, maybe more like "what" than "whom". The communication suggested things that may or may not be alive. Almost certainly an easy mission, boys. It'll just be you and a few of them, and we're guessing they won't have much in the way of weaponry, based on our monitoring of the area in recent times. There's no way a horde or even a force of any magnitude could have amassed. Certainly nothing to truly trouble us."
Buying into the Chaplain's confidence, Sgt. Ariuk beamed: "Haha, we'll burn them alive, me and my boys! Abractus, you and your boys can take out any heavily-armoured targets?"
Sgt. Tabris smiled: "I got the new shooter this week, my friend. Verchiel did a wonderful job, I'm looking forward to using it. The others will be ready to melt some metal. It's been too long, and that was only target practice!"
"To conclude matters, gentlemen". Tyrhin broke the sudden jovial air with a lowered voice and a firm look at his charges. "I won't have you do this alone. Calditor Ecanus will lead the mission. He'll be perfectly-suited to taking out a load of useless scum, and his Cursewind of Baal will be useful if there are more of them than we think likely. I'll also send a single Speeder with