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[b]The Council of Nikaea
Interim[/b][/center]

The empty hallways echoed with the hurried footsteps of Ayushmatki Nanavna izva Kuznekhtinsk. The chief Librarian of the Sixteenth Legion walked briskly, her eyes grimly fixated on a point directly ahead of her - one of the myriad side rooms of the chambers of Nikaea. She had made sure to arrive over an hour before the agreed upon time for the meeting - while she did not believe in the inviolate superiority of the Primarchs, it would do little for the crucial task with which she had been entrusted to be late. 

Two members of the sixteenth legion followed her, their demeanor equally dour as that of the woman they followed. Upon entering the room, they unpacked various scanners and commenced a thorough sweep along with Ayushmatki herself, scouring every inch of the room for potential surveillance or other flaw that might risk the secrecy of what would be discussed here. Eventually, however, they were satisfied that the room was secure - and so they settled in to await the arrival of Daena. 

The Primarch of the Fourteenth entered the room by herself, her guards and attendants left outside of the chamber. She looked approvingly at the precautions Eiosha’s Daughters had taken before shifting her gaze to Ayushmatki. “Beloved of my sister, what news do you have for me that requires such secrecy?” she asked, foregoing any formality or ceremony in this place. The message requesting her presence had been far too secretive and dire to permit the delays of courtesy.

“Daena io Azrael, Legio XIV Doomsayers, Primarch, Angel of Death, High Oracle of Irkalla, Queen of Deathseers.” Ayushatki calmly listed her titles, rising from her seated position as she bowed before the Primarch of the Fourteenth Legion. “I apologize for the impromptu and secretive nature of this. I deeply apologize for the lack of proper courtesy and procedure, for I understand your conviction that they be upheld - however, I myself have only just received word of the events of which we must speak. My Primarch, Eiohsa, has instructed me to speak to you as rapidly and secretly as possible. Doubtless, her absence has been noted, and my presence in her stead has been a source of great contention.” She frowned, “For that, I apologize. I myself was unaware of the reasoning for which she was so delayed, as I had been informed I was not to know, less it color my judgement and demeanor during these proceedings. I have, however, now been informed - it concerns secret actions by the Ninth Legion, Sarghaul and his ‘spawn’.” 

After a moment’s pause, she continued, “The Sixteenth Legion is, as you are aware, at odds with many of its counterparts, and while thankfully this friction has rarely manifested in actual violence, there have been notable incidents where it has. Tell me, are you familiar with the events that occurred upon the mining world of Pyotrskov, in the Kreen Sector, within the Ultima Segmentum?”

“Kreen is a rather remote sector, I know little of it besides the fact that it was established by your own Legion prior to my own discovery,” Daena replied, inclining her head at Ayushmatki to continue.

“Correct. It housed a valuable mining world known as Pyotrskov, with heavy ties to Saravata due to favorable warp currents. The Sixteenth Legion had established a sizable garrison of three dedesay- companies, upon the world both to secure these valuable routes and to prevent possible predation on the world by corsairs or other forces.” She sighed, “Where are my manners, let us sit while we discuss this. Kumari, Devaki, you may wait outside. Thank you for your assistance.” She nodded to the two Astartes who had accompanied her, and with a sharp salute each, they swiftly exited the room. 

“The events upon Pyotrskov are infamous within the Legion. A Tempest of the Ninth Legion in the area, we believe investigating or following the signatures of Eldar vessels, detected their proximity to the world in question. While the world did not interact with the Eldar, the Tempest in question carried out punitive action against Pyotrskov for their failure to intervene against the Eldar in question. Though it was a hopeless battle, our garrison upon the world took it upon themselves to fight anyway, despite being as outnumbered as they were. When relief forces arrived, they found the planet completely scoured. Not via Exterminatus, but by manual action. Approximately eight million Imperial citizens were killed with two million successfully evacuated, three hundred members of the sixteenth legion and all supporting elements including one strike cruiser eliminated by hostile action.” She paused, carefully studying the Primarch across from her, watching for any change of expression.

Daena sat across from Ayushmatki, her face entirely still as she spoke. Almost calm, but the Librarian was able to detect an undercurrent of disgust on her too perfect features. But not surprise.

“That, at any rate, was the official version of events.” Ayushmatki continued after some time had elapsed. “We assumed our comrades had been lost, and we were thankful that in making their stand, they at least saved some of the planet’s population. We did not pursue any action outside of this, not wishing to risk further escalation and loss of life, and it became simply another list of the Ninth’s crimes.” Finally, Ayushatki’s expression lost its neutrality, slowly twisting into one filled with pain and anguish. “However, my Primarch has now informed me that this was not the case.” Her fingers began to beat a steady rhythm on the table as she spoke, the calm, composed demeanor she had maintained throughout the Council slowly chipping away. “Approximately one hundred Astartes of the legion were taken prisoner in the aftermath, unable to continue offering resistance due to their injuries. These Astartes were taken to Carcinus. And…” she trailed off, her fingers ceasing to tap their rhythm as her hand balled into a fist. “Experimentation was performed upon them. Vile, horrific things. The ‘Infestus’ utilized by the Ninth Legion, we now know, are not beasts from Carcinus or other monstrosities scooped up from the stars. They are human beings. Corrupted and twisted by the hand of the Ninth - and these same horrors were visited upon the Astartes of the Sixteenth legion. This alone, in itself, is one of the gravest crimes imaginable, that a Primarch and Legion could perpetrate it makes it only worse.” 

She gritted her teeth, silencing herself for a moment before continuing. “Among other experimentations, including those done upon the geneseed of the Legion itself, Eiohsa has reported to me that her Daughters were transformed into greater incarnations of the same Infestus, vivisected during various phases of mutation, implanted with material taken from the Charybdes, and more.” Her eyes blazed with anger as she spoke, but her voice remained icily smooth. “The geneseed of the sixteenth, as you well know, is uniquely malleable amongst the Legions, and it would seem that, according to the findings relayed me, some… [i]unholy[/i] fusion of this and the Charybdes beings has likewise been performed. She tells me that she has documented extensive evidence and secured specimens from her infiltration of Carcinus. Unfortunately, I myself do not have these on hand at the present time. Thus, I ask that you trust me when I say I speak nothing but the unvarnished truth of the matter and will answer any questions you have to the absolute best of my ability.” She sighed, “You know Eiohsa. You know her willfulness, and the extents to which she will go. It is a trait she believes you two share, after a fashion. In a… turn of events I would not have expected from her, she requests you not only stand by her when she arrives, but restrain her. She has indicated the entirety of the Sixteenth Legion, plus additional units from Saravata, are with her. Her demands will be the execution of every single Fleshweaver of the Ninth Legion, and wishes to personally execute Ormis, the man heading the experiments. As one who has known her for centuries, I can tell you now that if the Emperor does not side with her, or one such as you does not calm her, she is fully ready to wipe out the entire Ninth Legion if her demands are not met.”

The Angel said nothing as Ayushmatki spoke, her face remaining so still one could mistake her for a statue. But there were still tells. Extraneous movements ceased, breathing slowed, and eventually even blinking stopped as Daena willed herself to remain entirely and perfectly [i]still[/i]. Through immaterial sight, the lie was made clear, the woman a furor of activity. The temperature in the small chamber began to decrease as she went about her work, the Primarch’s psychic might turned upon herself.

When eventually she spoke, it was with a slow and painfully artificial voice purged entirely of emotion. “When will my sister arrive?”

Ayushmatki remained perfectly silent for a moment, carefully examining the Primarch before her. Though she was not Eiohsa, like all those who displayed psychic potential amongst the Legion, she had gained some small imprint of her ability. It was a common human trait to smother one’s own feelings on a matter, to project an air of indifference or neutrality in response to shocking news or to stress - but the Primarch’s psychic neutering of her own capacity to feel emotion was something she was unprepared for. When finally she too broke her silence, her own voice rang almost dead inside. It had been a herculean task not to lose her composure during her retelling of events, and she maintained that effort now. “Tomorrow. She entered a final warp jump shortly after sending me this missive. I predict she will be here by midday.”

Daena lurched forward as she released her control over herself, the Primarch taking in a gasp of air as the parade of forestalled emotions coursed through her mind and the room’s temperature snapped back to normal. Her perfect hair stuck, matted to her head when she finally looked back at the woman across from her, chest heaving as she recovered from the expenditure of psychic might.

“I will not permit such failings to destroy our entire endeavor. I promise you this, Ayushmatki.”

Ayushmatki nodded, “I thank you for this. The Sixteenth Legion and its Primarch thanks you for this. We owe you a debt of gratitude.”

Daena rose a hand, shaking her head softly. “Debts are owed when something of value is given. We can discuss gratitude and thanks after this storm has passed, not before.”

[b][...End Log.][/b]
[b][...Terminating.][/b]
[b][Imperial Thought for the Day: The defeat of the Malevolent is thy duty. Faith in the righteousness of thy cause, thy armor. Eternal vigilance, thy sword.][/b]