My dearest Brother,
I write to you in hopes that we might speak in proper. I know you have a darkness in your Heart, and I share it as well. Our Brothers are lost in the darkness and need the return of light and leadership that they may find their fire again.
Our Primarch is gone, and Our Brothers have fallen to the heretical sway of the warp. This I accept with grave sadness, but we must move forth for the emperor and his children who still follow his plans. Those of us that remain still need your wisdom and guidance as it was only through your own humility and desire for responsibility that we still exist, censured as we are. I know we can make it through and prove once more to be the protectors of his intentions as we were before the Xenos taint affected our traitorous Brothers. I have some Ideas that may allow us to persist and put forth our energies in a way that will benefit our cousin legions, as well as to prove to ourselves and to others that we still hold the Imperiums needs and desires as important in our hearts and minds. There are several things that have come to my mind in the previous weeks. I hope that you may at least consider them, as I truly believe your thoughts on the matter will shape our future and allow it to be a long lasting one.
Firstly our Brothers who left due not to their loyalty to our father but due to the heartbreak of his betrayal may still be found. They may have cast off their colors and may have fled in shock or shame, I know not which, but I still believe if we might find them we might beg their return and support in hunting the traitors down. As well as finding others of our cousins who still serve the emperor in their hearts. There are members of both the Iron fists and the Iron warriors both, in my current employ, all of whom have shed the colors of their legion and taken a shield of black, in order to show their dismay, wroth and disbelief in how their own kin failed them. They too share our blackened heartbreak and lack the guidance of a leader whom they can truly trust. This I wish to return to them under your guidance, and understanding.
We may need to eschew the Purple and gold our emperor bestowed upon us as his once most trusted legion. I do not say this lightly as I have carried those colors with as much pride as I have in my time of learning and understanding I have gained through the members of the cult mechanicus. This also brings me to my second thought. Our feelings of Pride may very well be both symptom and cause of the fall we saw in our own legion. I know not where it truly comes from but I remember the posturing and demands for perfection that were so widespread in our legion, to the point that many were almost solitary in their pursuit of perfection. I too have felt it in my very blood and know that it kept us apart in the times we were not shoulder to shoulder in the fields of war. It is now more than ever that we must be as one and working together, not seperately. In the name of a common goal rather than the goal of being the best above all others. We must no longer cut each other down with barbed tongues and dueling blades and instead lift each other up. To protect the future of our Legion we must give up our Pride and Obsessive demands of perfection and in that matter I have done some Research. There are technologies and techniques I believe may be prudent if not outright necessary in order to continue together.
The first is a reference to a technology of the Dark Age of Technology I have found. In the texts it is called the Thespians Tiara, a circlet that deadens certain mental processes. At the time it was used by a Technological barbarian warlord on old Earth who needed his circus troupe to no longer be proud and fractious so that he might continue his own dark desires and enjoyments, and though it disgusts me to read what he used it for I feel that we might be able to twist it to our own use in the name of supporting the empire that remains. It may be unpleasant and few will want to take it on but I fear it may be necessary. The way it works is it numbs the emotions of those who are under its effect and causes pain in those who feel a desire to excell obove those around them, much like what I have read of the Nails our bretheren of the 12th legion now wear it was for forcing the people who are enslaved for the enjoyment and entertainment of their masters, though clearly the use in other circumstances can make the warriors who use them far more brutally efficient. It will be different but I hope much the same in that way.
The second is a direct tie to our own legions gene seed. In this the emperors works may be our salvation, despite the fact we are not allowed to gain neophytes in the way we once did.
Though we no longer need to worry about the wasting that once afflicted our bretheren it still has a tie to our past and potentially a way out in the future. The problem as I have read it is with the function of the Laramans Organ and its function of repairing damage. There appears to be a minor mutation that should it be pushed with the technologies of the techpriests of mars, may indeed allow us to heal from even greater wounds than we otherwise suffer, perhaps even to regenerate limbs and organs directly, through the application of various chemicals. This I fear still needs study but it's potential is a great boon and a balm to my feelings of hopelessness that plague me of late.
Finally, though we are disconnected from the cult of mars and their machinations and knowledge, the fact that most of our brethren are quite capable of maintaining and even improving our gear from what I have seen, we may be fully capable of relative autonomy. Many forgemasters of both the salamanders and the ravens appear to do this to great effect and should we be able to reach out for their assistance and council their may be a future for us, if not in excelling, certainly in supporting our cousin legions who also suffered great losses to their numbers. This in addition to the council from the sons of Ferrus Mannus, may he rest, I believe though our chances are slim we still have a spot in the Imperiums future.
I hope that you might consider our options and weigh your support and wise council to our brothers, for the future of us and the future of mankind. Their is still so much to be done.
I remain as ever your friend and confidant. I only hope we are not too late.
Fare thee well Captain, May the emperors desires guide you through the darkness.
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From the Desk Of the Forgemaster.
Letters to the Chapter Master From Forgemaster Petah Tubalkine
My dearest Brother,
Since Our last meeting I have had much success. The leaders of the legions Betrayed on Istvaan and the few Blackshield forces I have been able to contact have bolstered our ranks with Arms Armor and those willing to wield them. Though our numbers are still so few, we make progress against the traitors and dissidents in our path. Many holdouts of the 3rd 4th and 16th no longer plague this galaxy and still we more members to add to our cause. While we still face much scrutiny by those who do and rightly mistrust us I know they have some grudging respect for our efforts. While we still find ourselves oft reaching the field of battle late, the experience we are gaining in rescue operations, support, and retrieval of guerilla members of the betrayed legions. Means we have requests from on high to be where the fighting is worst and a measure of expectations given to us for positive outcomes. I can also report that much of our own legion who remain with us have found comfort or drive in order to fight back and Continue with our actions. The attrition rate of those who once fled due to the shame of our brother legionnaires actions has nearly stopped, and I am in communication with some who have cast aside old loyalties. Should they Return to our ranks they will be welcomed by many understanding brothers, and though some may hold their actions in contempt, I feel none under my command will turn them away, or judge them.
On the matter We spoke of prior and the research into the Thespians Tiara, I may be close to being able to implement it into our Armors mechanics soon. Some of those who volunteered to be test subjects have shown good progress and though they show a measure of emotional degredation, there have been signs of progress and more are interested in its use, though perhaps only to numb their depression, and allow them to lose themselves in their duties. I feel that your council to make sure the use of and understanding of such a technology, is not one we demand of our brothers. As well as keeping the more unpleasent aspects of it to a minimum were correct. The full use of the pieces we have on initial testing rendered those who used it mentally mechanical, similar to servitors though with more capability and intelligence in many ways, it still makes it complicated to guide the brothers as they continue their duties until told to stop. Exhaustion had taken the lives of a few of our test subjects and the Apothecaries could not help them. The direct stimulation of the centers of the brain dealing with pride seems to be our best outcome. As such I will continue with that work.
I have found little success with the gene-seed manipulation as of yet. The loss of Bile though he was a greasy and vile creature has hampered our immediate ability to work on this project as he left with a great deal of his notes and destroyed many more. I am still asking for more time but the timeline I noted in our meetings may need to be extended. Let me know if my time in this matter is still desired and I will follow your commands.
Keep hope close to you, and Know that your efforts have not been in vain. We can be proud of that at least.
As ever I remain your Loyal friend,
From the Desk Of the Forgemaster Petah Tubalkine
To Captain Asterious
Our Research and actions have shown success. The modified Tiara structures we have been working on are now in a state of readiness and replicatable on mass, the STC we have for it is fully repaired and read. I myself now have one equipped. I no longer feel the pull of perfection. I am now working with harmony with the others of my team. The Use-case you requested is ready to be implemented. Now our blackshield brethren are ready to be equipped with and supported by these additions. In my own experience it will work.
In the studies of our mutatable organs, I have had success as well. Now we can have our brothers returned to the field of battle by the ministrations of our Medicae and apothecaries, even after nearly catastrophic damage. This is fortunate as we have few Dreadnought sarcophagi remaining intact.
I can also report that the Retrieval and rescue operations are going smoothly and while fewer engagements take us, there is still much to do on battlefields no longer in contention. Perhaps we might be able to use the armor and resources of those fallen to still boost our ranks and repair that which we have lost.
Relay your orders and concerns and we shall work towards the future.
May this find you well.
Your loyal servant
From the Desk Of the Forgemaster Petah Tubalkine
Letters to the Chapter Master From Forgemaster Petah Tubalkine
Chapter-Master,
Our efforts progress and our duty to our kin continues to bring commendations though I have no immediate feelings on the matter, it does mean our duty can continue to support the imperium.
The addition of the Thespians tiara to the members of our legions continues to progress and the outcome we have striven for is as you desired and dictated.
Though frustrating There is little progress on our continued problems with warp travel. Our time spent in the Warp has been extended each time we travel and none of our Navigators or techpriests can figure out the cause. It is of little concern however, as it means we can repair and prepare our equipment and technology with greater efficiency. The Others of us who remain in the warp appear to have been unaffected by this and take their time to do martial drills, maintain their weapons and to spend time in meditation. The Chaplains seem to have their hands full with some project of their own and those of the librarius are working closely with them, on matters pertaining to warp taint. Im sure they will tell me if anything worries them and I will relay to you their concerns should they arise. Our loss of numbers has held almost exactly steady.
No further matters to report,
Duty and honor, in the Emperors name
From the Desk Of the Forgemaster Petah Tubalkine
Chapter Master,
From our last corrospondance I have pushed forward with the research in our use of the Thespians Tiara. The total adoption of it by our legionnaires has shown fruit. There is next to no more solitary actions taken by our members and company cohesion is up.The loss of our artisans is notable but not relevant, we do not need artistic flourishes when the consistant progress of our members in their teamwork and how narrow our average times of engagements has become, we are in sync an this has been a positive event to our appearance to the primarchs. I find this to be useful.
The Raven guard set to observe our actions and activities, have been given orders by the primarch Corvus Corax to allow us to call us members of his legion as they are the most populous of the Astartes we have found in our search for blackshields, and returning them to the fold. This means we do not get slowed by the administratum and members of those still fighting the traitors as our own vox-codes are still that of the 3rd legion. No further attacks have been made on our companies when arriving in aid of the loyalists.
I can take enough of the pain to note I am proud of our efforts, though I shall cease thinking about this topic for now.
Our gene-smiths are working towards something of a crossing with the Raven guard, so if we are interrogated we will appear under their wing, as it were.
I do not know how this will affect our ability to make new marines, nor do I know how it will affect the progenoid gland function or structure, though the Chaplains tell me I need not worry.
This is fair as We are still not allowed to acquire neophytes through the traditional means but I don't know if this is what they are talking about. There is a strange event occuring, and while I am not yet worried, I am saddened to say a measure of our legionnaires appear to be coming down with cases of amnesia.
Perhaps a problem with the Tiaras, It will require more research and study. But that is a matter for the future.
I will corospond again with you in the future, emperor willing.
Duty and honor, in the Emperors name
From the Desk Of the Forgemaster Petah Tubalkine
No further corospondance found.
First Death of Forgemaster Petah Tubalkine noted as [M31.312]
