Mission Lore
(1) Along the fringes of the Segmentum Ultima lies the near-forgotten system of Kolozs. Before the Fall of Cadia and the emergence of the Cicatrix Maledictum, this system was a minor footnote in the records of the Astra Cartographica, being off the main travel routes leading deeper into the Segmentum. As the Cicatrix Maledictum tore the galaxy in two, roiling warp storms cut the system off from the majority of the Segmentum. The last message from Imperial forces that managed to break through the warp storms to the wider Imperium spoke of a Chaos invasion, exacerbated by a meteoric rise in the numbers of the local Ork population that, for centuries, had been a minor but constant plague across the system. With the Imperium reeling across the galaxy , the system was considered lost.
Recently, strange messages have been received by nearby Imperial systems that appear to originate from Kolozs. Augurs from the Astra Telepathica have confirmed that the warp storms surrounding Kolozs have receded, opening up a possible weakness in the defensive lines of the Imperium in the Segmentum.
To prevent supply routes from being cut off, Segmentum command has gathered a massive force of Imperial Knights, Space Marines of the Blood Angels and Black Templars, and Adeptus Mechanicus , who also secured the support of a Titan war machine . On the eve of the fleet's departure, the Imperial forces were bolstered by a large contingent of Adeptus Custodes, their Captain-General sanctioning the deployment of the Emperor's personal bodyguards for the pacification of the system.
After several weeks of turbulent warp travel, the majority of Imperial vessels successfully translated into the system. As the fleet headed to what used to be the primary planet in the system, the hive world of Kolozs Prime, long-range augurs painted a grim picture of the situation on the planet.
(2) The seven main hives on the planet were all but destroyed, having fallen to invaders long ago. Several warships in orbit around the planet were identified as belonging to the Emperor's Children, while several junk craft were believed to belong to the local Ork warbands. The most disconcerting discovery, however, was the presence of a full Necron Dynasty, apparently recently awakened in the system and in the middle of purging the system of intruders.
As the Imperial fleet closed upon Kolozs Prime, they received an unexpected communique on a secure channel, bearing the seal of the Inquisition. "Imperial forces currently approaching Kolozs Prime, by order of His Holy Inquisition, you are hereby forbidden from engaging any non-Imperial forces in the system. You are forthwith ordered to disengage and extricate yourself from this system."
After much deliberation among the commanders of the fleet and Imperial forces, with the sanction of the Adeptus Custodes commander present (in case the message was a ruse by the Enemy), the Imperial forces decided to disregard the message and continued their approach. They would need to secure the primary hive on Kolozs Prime, Kulusuar, as the hive 's central location made it both easy to defend, once taken, and a strategically vital location to launch future operations from. Already, enemy forces were converging en masse on the hive , adamant that they would not cede this world to the Imperium.
Lore - Team Imperium
Adeptus Custodes
"Trajann..."
"Trajaaaaannnn..."
Trajann did not dream. He just rested. He was always alert, always aware of his surroundings, so he did not dream. He could not. The enemies of the Emperor and mankind were relentless, so he could not afford such luxuries.
But that voice...
It wasn't real. But it WAS familiar. Where did he hear that voice? His mind desperately tried to answer that question, he did not like uncertainty. Knowledge is power, and power is the only thing that keeps humanity afloat in the sea of chaos and suffering.
"Traaaaaaaaaaajjjjjjjjjaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnn....."
He was sure now. He was dreaming. It's been so long, he forgot how it felt. But that means... no. He wasnt poisoned, he couldnt be. He was a custodian, his body and armor were impervious to such things. Was it magic? Was it chaos treachery? Couldnt be. The wards around the imperial palace were holding fast, renewed daily.
And he was a custodian of the God Emperor of mankind, born from his gene seed. Immaculate. Uncorruptable. Steadfast.
Suddenly he was on a beach. But the thing is, there are no beaches on Terra, there is no water. He wasnt even alive when all the water got evaporated from the planet. So many questions.
Something moved.
His reflexes kicked in and in an instant he was ready for battle. But there was no need. The thing that moved, was a glass. A glass with a little umbrella in it, some ice cubes, green leaf. The Emperor was sitting in a laid back chair, sipping on the drink.
"Finally, Trajann. Join me. I still remember this beach, I have spent decades here, just fishing, only the sea and me. Simpler times." - there was longing in the voice of the Emperor.
"What is my purpose here my Lord?" - asked Trajann.
"I have to send you away from the palace my son. Something very dear to me has come under danger on a forgotten world. Assemble the might of the Custodes and travel to a planet called Kolozs. There you will find enemies who will become your allies, and friends who will betray you.
But to the man with the weird mustache cannot come any harm. He is the one who will rebuild. Bring him to me, tell him it's time to come home, he served his penance." - and warmth radiated from the Emperor.
"Ever the cryptic my Lord, but your will be done." - answered Trajann dutifully.
The Emperor turned to Trajann and offered a glass of drink with the little umbrella. Trajann reluctantly accepted, and sipped from it. It was good. But it made sense, after all the Emperor was drinking it too, he wouldnt drink something bad, would he?
He was awake once again. Back in the palace, where he spent the last couple of millenia, but now he had a purpose, a message, a quest from the Emperor himself. With haste he gave the commands and began preparations for the might of the Custodian forces to leave the planet. And as they were leaving the planet he remembered that little umbrella and the taste of the drink, and let himself smile one last time before bloodshed would commence.
Adeptus Mechanicus/Adeptus Titanicus
PRIORITY: ALPHA-NON-OMNISIAH/COMMUNIQUE-ENCRYPTED
TRANSMISSION LOG: 772.M41.998.KOLOZS.REC/SCOUT-KAPTAR-77 → ARK MECHANICUS OMNIA REVERTITUR
++BEGIN TRANSMISSION++
Source: Explorator Scout Vessel KAPTAR-77
Destination: Ark Mechanicus OMNIA REVERTITUR
Encryption: Magos-level | Theta-Cypher | Sub-Protocol: Archaeotech Recovery
Cog-Authorisation: Magos Explorator Yharnax-Theta-9
Status: Non-hostile orbit | Upper atmosphere of Kolozs Prime
"Blessings of the Omnissiah upon the Machine Eternal. Praise be the Cogs that Turn."
We submit this communique under Sub-Protocol Theta, pursuant to the Directive of Anomalous Artefact Recovery (DAAR), Article 179: “All items of pre-Imperial or unidentified manufacture bearing signs of STC heritage shall be treated as sacred.”
During sub-surface auspex probing beneath Hive Kulusuar’s western manufactorum ruins (sector designation: K-PHI-112), KAPTAR-77 has uncovered a resonant technosignature emitting stable binaric psalms on loop cycle 4.99Hz. Initial visual drone capture confirms the presence of a small, appliance-shaped construct composed of auramite-alloy plating. Dimensions approximately 0.42m x 0.25m x 0.20m.
Most holy detail: the construct is clearly modeled in the ancient Terran "toaster" pattern. Exterior casing bears inscriptions in unknown hexamantic dialect, potentially pre-Unity. Engraving partially decodable as: “BREAD UNTO GOLD, THE BLESSING OF HEAT DIVINE.”
Local Skitarii have been placed in sacred perimeter stance. No contact has been made until full Rite of Relic Sanctification can be conducted.
Requesting immediate deployment of Archmagos Lexmechanic Rho-Vellus and a fully sanctified servo-reliquary team for extraction, cataloguing, and blessing. We believe this item may possess STC origin or be a long-lost relic of the Omnissiah’s First Circuit.
Secondary note: Necron presence in adjacent substrata detected. Retrieval window is limited to 14.88 standard minutes before probable enemy interference.
"The Toast of Ages awaits. Let it be retrieved, lest its golden coils be corrupted by unclean code."
++END TRANSMISSION++
Binary Addendum: 01010100.01101111.01100001.01110011.01110100.00100000.01101000.01101111.01101100.01111001.00100001
Imperial Knights
On the distant planet of Thoros Tyrr, home of hundreds of knights and heroes, peace had reigned for millennia. War was a distant memory, and most of the noble knights had taken to using their ancient war machines for... recreational purposes. Jousting tournaments, lumber relocation, and the occasional competitive boulder toss. Life was good.
But then, five years ago, something changed.
Strange gates of crackling energy began to appear across the surface of the planet. The noble knights, puzzled but polite, chose not to interact with them. “They’re probably Mechanicus art installations,” some reasoned.
Unfortunately, the gates had other plans.
Within days, the gates began to fracture — and from within them poured beasts, horrors, and nightmares torn from the Immaterium itself. Daemons spilled into Thoros Tyrr like an uninvited guest at a formal garden party.
House Iron Bark was caught off guard, but not unprepared. The ancient lances were reactivated, reactor cores hummed to life, and the meadows were soon filled with the thunderous sound of war. From that day forward, the knights of Thoros Tyrr fought back against the invaders and began studying the gates.
They discovered that each gate was a portal — a dungeon-like realm or corrupted planet, home to monstrous warbands and led by a powerful Warmaster. To seal a gate permanently, the Warmaster must be slain. The size of the gate indicated the scale of the threat: the larger the gate, the more dangerous the realm — and the greater the force required to close it.
Then came the Red Gate.
It was the largest gate they had ever seen — glowing like a wound in the sky, stinking of blood and rot. The King of Thoros Tyrr, summoned the greatest company of knights ever assembled. Assassins, wandering heroes, even one guy who claimed to be a psyker (though he mostly just talked to rocks) answered the call.
Before the gate, the King raised his lance high. A bone-shaking war cry echoed through the portal and back. Then, without a word, he stepped through.
The heroes followed.
They emerged on planet Kolosz, in the midst of a warzone — trapped between the hive city of Kolosz Prime and the monstrous legions preparing to overrun it. And through the Red Gate, these same horrors now threatened to flood back toward Thoros Tyrr.
But they hadn’t come to save the city.
They had come to defend their home.
With engines roaring and banners whipping in the war-torn wind, the knights of Thoros Tyrr charged — not to hold the line, but to slaughter every last enemy that threatened the soil of their world.
Lore - Team Chaos
Imperial Guard/Ordo Chronos
The Imperial forces landed just on the heels of an orbital bombardment, clearing the way for drop pods, thunderhawks and bulk landers. Almost immediately, they were beset by foes on all sides. Xenos and heretics, seemingly oblivious to each other's presence, swarmed the hastily erected positions. Predictions were good, casualties within acceptable parameters.
And then the fabric of reality tore open, revealing the exact same landscape, but from another time. Instead of ruins, proud imperial buildings. Instead of waste clogged roads, statuaries and boulevards. Instead of a mound of corpses, rank upon rank of guardsmen, backed by artillery and battle tanks. The rift shimmered, then closed, leaving behind a fresh force to occupy the hellscape of Kulusuar.
The Imperial line raised a ragged cheer, amplified by vox emitters and warhorns - just as the first shells started landing among them.
Necrons
Ah, Orikan! Feast your optics on this glorious piece I just acquired! A fully preserved Emperor's Children noise marine—mid-solo—so loud it actually short-circuited a Mechanicus delegation 30 feet away! It really ties my collection together, don’t you think?
Where did you get that from? You better be careful not to –
“A deafening guitar noise of thousand decibels shrieks towards what would have been Orikans organic ear pre-transferance.”
You blistering imbecile. We are on a remnant Szarekhan tomb world. This might awaken…
[Sudden rumble shakes the ground. Dust falls from the ceiling. Monolith begins to rise in the distance.]
Well that’s unfortunate. It’s going to be a sad ending for the other races squabbling on this planet. I’ve had my fun, Orikan, old bastard, but now I got to catalogue this new artifact.
“A portal blooms in the sky, not torn, but peeled open like the layers of a perfect equation. Then—He arrives. From within steps a figure of impossible power. The King descends slowly to the ground. He does not speak—he does not need to. Not only that, but we personally controls 3 c’tan shards“
Phaeron 1: “Trazyn and Orikan..”
Phaeron 2: “ His highness was already aware of your presence”
Phaeron 1: “And he wishes for you to lead the charge onto the enemies”
Phaeron 2: “Your reanimation will depend on your performance”
I almost wish we both died just I don’t have to see you ever again, Trazyn.
Orks
The tide was rising.
And the tide is green.
Seemingly endless waves of Orks were on the warpath, moving at a deceptively fast pace.
Ghazkull Mag Uruk Thraka looked upon his horde of boys, his iron will forcing them to move faster.
Most of the Orks on this Mork (and possibly Gork)-forsaken world were finally united under his boss pole. Some of the local nobs and bosses had needed some convincing to join him, but after a couple of the bigger ones had been properly convinced (and their skulls added to Ghazghkull's favourite Battlewagon) most of the others didn't need much convincing.
Now, with all the lads coming together, Ghazghkull could feel the Waagh energy growing steadily stronger.
He knew that it made his lads itch to get stuck in.
He had learned that a large army of 'Umies had arrived in the system and were making their way to one of the bigger 'Umie cities.
Nothing quite beats fighting Da Emprah's Gits for a good laugh.
Ghazghkull wasn't gonna miss this fight for all da teef in the system (most of said teef would be at Da Big Fight anyways).
The Prophet of Gork and Mork smiled viciously.
This was gon' be fun.
The tide is rising.
And Kolosz will be green.
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