I'm sorry for the delay, but I had to study Warhammer 40k lore a lot to know everything that happens in the Segmentus Obscurus before continuing, including the marine chapters that operate there and other forces. Not including that I just remembered that Cadia is around. So I'll see how to connect everything without modifying the lore much.

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Tairon: - Marshal Werhner, Colonel Tairon and Commissioner Harrus reporting for duty. -

In a dark chamber inside one of the battleships orbiting the hive planet Malfi, the colonel and the commissar presented themselves to their new superior: an enormous eight-foot-tall Astarte wearing the characteristic black power armor of the Black Templars. .

His pose was magnificent, as the pose of one of the Emperor's angels should be. Crucifixes and sacred writings decorated his armor while a golden crown rose behind his helmet, just above the power generator. And in his hands, a fine sword, extremely sharp and forged with materials incomprehensible to miserable mortals, on whose blade you could see the determination of its bearer engraved on the metal. Then, a powerful voice emerged from inside his black helmet.

Werhner: - Colonel. We were waiting for his arrival. We are ready to leave immediately. -

Tairon: - So soon? I thought we had to wait for reinforcements from the Dark Sons before leaving. And the Night Legion? -

Werhner: - Unfortunately we don't have time to wait for them. We have just been informed that the horde of orks are heading to the industrial world Aten III. If we lose it, the entire sector will be affected. -

Tairon: - And the reinforcements from Cadia? -

Werhner: - Cadia has bigger problems than us right now. We must start with what we have. Prepare your troops colonel. We will leave immediately. -

Tairon: - Yes sir. -

As soon as they received the order, Tairon and Harrus turned around and left their place. Neither of them had said a word, but they were quite nervous in the presence of the Astarte. And from a marshal of the Black Templars nothing more and nothing less. That was something that very few humans could have the luxury of contemplating. Still, there was something else that worried them.

Harrus: - This is not right. -

Tairon: - Did you also notice? -

Harrus: - I know that it is said that space marines are extremely effective in battle, but I don't know if it will be enough to face the greenskin horde. -

Tairon: -I have not seen one of them in action either, but his exploits were not written on paper out of mere fantasy. Still... I agree with you. I don't know if we are enough. Also... These orks act too out of the ordinary. -

Harrus: - Do you think this is a force that broke off from the Horde of Armaggedon? Perhaps a group that rebelled against Ghazhkull? -

Tairon: - I find it unlikely. These orks may act a little strange, but they are still orks after all. If this were the case, they would continue with the horde towards the next world to attack. -

Harrus: - So... Do you think this is another Ork Warlord? -

Tairon: - It's just a theory... But I think it's most likely. -

Harrus: - I just hope we're enough to stop them. -

Tairon: - What can you tell me about your troops? -

Harrus: - One hundred thousand troops of the Astra Militarum. -

Tairon: - Fence. A big leap for a simple commissioner. -

Harrus: - I'm as surprised as you are. I guess we're short of officers. But if I'm honest... Between you and me... I don't feel prepared to have so many men under my command. I'm just a simple war commissioner. -

Tairon:-One who faced a horde and managed to stop its advance. One who knew how to handle the battlefield before he even arrived. One who was willing to give his life for the Emperor... Have more confidence in yourself, Commissar. Plus, you'll be under my command, so don't worry, you're not alone. -

Harrus: - Your words are a relief, colonel. -

Tairon: - Also... I understand that most of your troops come from Cantun. It seems like you've become something of a local hero. -

Harrus: - They couldn't be more wrong... We lost... We knew we couldn't win... And we couldn't do anything to prevent it. -

Tairon: - And yet, he decided to turn around and face death. Remember Commissar, a soldier's faith in his superior is as valuable as faith in the Emperor himself. -

Harrus: - Ha... Bold words for someone like you. -He said as a mockery.

Tairon: - A shame you're not from Krieg. It would have been a great honor to call him brother. -

Harrus: - It flatters me too much. -

And for the first time, Harrus heard the colonel's almost imperceptible laugh.

Tairon: - Well... I have to organize my men, and you yours. See you at the rear guard when it's ready.-

Harrus: - I'll be there, Colonel Tairon. -

Tairon: - I'll wait for you there, Commissioner Harrus. -

Both showed their respect in an energetic military salute, which echoed in the corridor of the ship along with the echo of the soles of their boots hitting the ground. That day in Cantus a bond of arms was formed between both officers, no matter how different their origins and customs were. The silent and calm Colonel Tairon, and the energetic and enthusiastic Commissioner Harrus, would face the horrors that the galaxy threw at them... united.

Still, Colonel Tairon's words to Marshal Werhner may not have been without truth. Although the improvised army had enormous strength, those who saw the strength of the greenskin horde doubted if it was enough.

Two million troops of the Astra Militarum, one million soldiers of the Krieg Corps, a part of the 339th Steel Legion of Armageddon, six hundred and twenty-three Astartes of the Black Templars, of which three hundred were neophytes. One hundred astartes of the Iron Serpents, seventy-nine astartes of the Night's Watch, and fifty-four astartes of the Storm Falcons. And yet, Tairon and Harrus felt that perhaps it was not enough. That's not counting the dozen ships that were available for such an army and the Mechanicus support units.

And so, at 0:00 hours marked by the campaign clock, Marshal Werhner spoke through each ship's loudspeaker.

Werhnel:-¨Soldiers!¨-His imposing voice caught everyone's attention. - ¨Today we will march into battle, bringing honor and victory to humanity, to holy Terra and to the Emperor. Today we will give eternal rest to the fallen, and we will avenge their deaths in their name! Raise your swords and your bolters. Because today we will start the Calixus crusade! DEATH TO THE DIRTY XENO AND ENEMY OF HUMANITY! PRAISE BE THE EMPLOYER!¨ -

And so, filled with the cries of euphoria of the millions of men and women who made up the ranks of the army, the enormous ships started their engines and headed toward their destination.

The members of the Adeptus Astronomicia, psychics specialized in sensing the Astronomicon known as Navigators, used their powers to direct the enormous ships through the Warp thanks to their third eye, even as this consumed their own lives in the process.

Huge warp portals opened before their eyes, and the nerves were on edge for those more novices. And it was no wonder, because only a madman would enter hell itself and navigate its murky waters of miasma and negative energy to get from one place to another. But for the crew of the ships and the most veterans, that was the most normal thing in the universe.

That Kanan's boys were ready, because they were about to experience the greatest and most epic battle that their eyes had ever witnessed. His long-awaited moment had arrived.