In Warhammer with Rogue Trader Mods.

457.M41.

Macragge, Fortress of Hera.

Marneus Calgar stood on the battlements, gazing at the verdant horizon of the surrounding forests. His furrowed brow betrayed his unease.

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A few days prior, the Ultramarines' Astropaths intercepted and decoded an astropathic transmission:

"Xenos invasion imminent on Macragge. Be wary."

It was a clear yet cryptic warning.

It was clear because the transmission explicitly identified the enemy as "xenos" and their target as Macragge. Yet, it was vague because it failed to specify the type of xenos or the exact timing of the attack.

Astropathic communications were often ambiguous, but this particular message was unusually so.

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Typically, when xenos threats loomed, astropaths included distinctive symbols to identify the type of enemy. For instance, an Ork invasion might be represented by peculiar, luminous anomalies, ominous smoke, or bleeding orifices in surreal visions.

If the astropaths involved were familiar with each other, their signals might convey stronger and more precise warnings. If their psychic powers were potent and the distance between them short, Calgar might have been able to engage in direct psychic communication—a rare and labor-intensive method that only allowed brief exchanges.

However, this message originated from the Maelstrom Zone, home to the Astral Claws, Lamenters, and Mantis Warriors Chapters.

Under normal circumstances, contact between these Chapters and the Ultramarines was rare, sometimes separated by millennia. Even during joint operations triggered by distress calls, astropathic communications were scarce—practically nonexistent.

Given the lack of familiarity between the respective astropaths, the vast interstellar distance, and the probable limits of their psychic prowess, it was fortunate the signal had reached them at all. But it left Calgar with scant intelligence.

Despite the clear mention of xenos, the message lacked any details about their specific nature.

Calgar refused to believe the Maelstrom Chapters would send a transmission as a jest. The only plausible explanation was grim: a previously unknown species of xenos was preparing to invade Macragge.

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This assumption troubled Calgar. It reminded him of the Tau incursions from years past, when early astropathic warnings referred to them only as "xenos" due to the Imperium's complete lack of familiarity with the Tau Empire.

The lack of specificity in the warning made Calgar uneasy. If an unknown xenos species were indeed encroaching on Macragge, how had the Maelstrom Chapters become aware of it first?

Yet, dismissing the warning as fearmongering seemed equally unlikely.

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Months earlier, several Imperial worlds on Macragge's frontier had fallen silent. At first, Calgar paid little attention, as such disruptions were not uncommon within the Imperium.

Astropathic communications were notoriously unreliable, draining the life force of their users and often failing over long distances. Even within a single sector, planetary contact might occur only once every few months. If warp entities intercepted the signals, gaps of one or two years were not unusual.

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However, this warning from the Maelstrom forced Calgar to reassess. Reviewing reports, he discovered that most of the silent worlds lay to Macragge's southeast. Among them was Tyran, one of the first planets to lose contact—cut off for over a year.

While warp storms might have severed these worlds from Macragge, Calgar began to suspect they had already fallen to xenos invasion.

Yet, he found it difficult to believe these planets had been overrun so completely without transmitting even a single distress call before their fall.

Unable to resolve this enigma, Calgar had no choice but to treat the warning with the utmost seriousness, even if it was part of an elaborate ploy.

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He ordered the Chapter's astropaths to send a reply, seeking more details about the xenos threat. However, given the delays in astropathic messaging, even an initial response would take weeks—months including decoding time.

Likewise, warp travel to the Maelstrom and back would take at least a year. If the xenos were already on Macragge's doorstep, Calgar lacked the time to seek further verification. He had to act preemptively.

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Calgar recalled all Ultramarine companies previously deployed to other war zones. He also summoned nearby Imperial fleets to converge on Macragge, dispatching some to the silent worlds to gather intelligence. Every effort was made to prepare for an unknown and potentially imminent threat.

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"Chapter Master, a combined fleet from the Maelstrom emerged from the Mandeville Point a few hours ago. They are en route to Macragge!"

The voice from the vox-bead snapped Calgar to attention. He rose abruptly from his seat.

The Maelstrom? That was the origin of the astropathic message!

But the Ultramarines had only deciphered the transmission two weeks ago. Even accounting for transit delays, it had been less than three months since the signal was sent.

How could this fleet have arrived so swiftly?

Calgar had no time for conjecture. He issued a command immediately:

"Verify their identity. If they are confirmed as allies, escort them to Fortress of Hera—no, I will meet them personally at Cirok Starport!"

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In the void of the Macragge System, a Strike Cruiser made its way toward the nearest Mandeville Point.

Demetrian Titus rose from his command throne. The golden trim on his pauldrons marked him as a sergeant of the Ultramarines' Second Company. His red helmet and knee insignia, adorned with the Chapter badge and a red skull, confirmed his rank.

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Days earlier, his squad had been assigned to a campaign in another system. However, their orders were abruptly countermanded by the Chapter Master himself.

Since then, they had patrolled the cold void, awaiting signs of an approaching enemy.

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"Confirmed: Imperial transponder codes!"

The cry from a bridge officer filled the air, accompanied by a tactical display. A vast fleet was moving through the darkness of space, its trajectory set for Macragge, the homeworld of the Ultramarines.

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Titus scrutinized the tactical readout:

Battle Barges:

Seraph of Judgement, Astral Claws

Mater Lachrymarum, Lamenters

Endless Redemption, Mantis Warriors

The combined fleet boasted three Battle Barges, two Battlecruisers, nine Strike Cruisers, fourteen Cruisers, and ninety-six Escort ships—a force larger than what many Chapters could muster in total strength.

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What puzzled Titus, however, was the fleet's flagship. At the forefront, marked prominently on the display, was a Lunar-class Cruiser.

Though a formidable vessel, a Lunar-class was overshadowed in stature by Battle Barges and Battlecruisers. Why, then, was it leading such a grand armada?

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The vessel bore the designation: Stellar, Von Valancius Dynasty.

"A Rogue Trader?" Titus muttered, his frown deepening.

While Rogue Traders theoretically held equal status to Chapter Masters, such parity was largely ceremonial.

The sight before him defied explanation.

....

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19. If You Think You Can, Then Do It.

20. Disclaimer: Proceed at Your Own Risk!

21. Does This Make Sense?

22. You're right, but this is—

23. Dealing with Xenos – No Need for Honor Among Warriors, Together We Stand.