7124815.M41, addendum:
Judging from what I saw of our captors, they are undoubtedly members of the Emperor’s own forces, a regiment of the Imperial Guard from Aquaria, no less! This is the homeworld of Brother Ambrosius, with whom I had the honor to serve in the Deathwatch, and who himself has a keen interest in learning more about Xenos, particularly the Eldar. Knowing him and what he told me about his homeworld, I would have expected a treatment rather different from their silly insistence that we were disguised Eldar and should cease our charade at once. What nonsense! No argument, no evidence could sway their certainty. How can one be so blind to reality?
Their disrespectful treatment was outrageous, even bordering on heretical. Towards Lady Fitheak, considering common Imperial teachings, I can understand it, although it pained me to see it then and pains me to say so now. But towards members of an old and honorable Chapter of the Astartes? I cannot comprehend it. Our demands to talk to a superior officer were studiously ignored, even though it cannot be in their interest to prevent the Eldar’s mission on this planet. If only they knew what is at stake, they must see reason. They must be warned, but they would not listen. How can the Imperium prosper and grow if we shut our ears and eyes from knowledge and facts? Blessed may be the mind too small for doubt, but is ignorance really a virtue to be groomed?
A good amount of caution when dealing with xenos is certainly highly commendable, but here on Rausina, the Aquarian officer’s damned xenophobia may well prove our undoing.
Excerpt from Brother Ezekiel’s diarium
ADS
Deutsch
Of an entire unit of Blood Angels stationed in one building, only four Marines miraculously survived the bombing and subsequent collapse, thanks to the intervention of Eldar fighter Fitheak, who was in the same room and eventually buried under the rubble herself. Brother-Sergeant Azrael, Brother Damian, Brother Bethor, and veteran Brother Calidus were the lucky survivors, all of whom experienced a common vision – a tall figure with wings spread wide, enveloping them in a bright light. They believed they had been blessed with a vision of their revered primarch, Sanguinius himself.
After extricating themselves from the wreckage, the Marines searched for the source of their vision and discovered the unconscious Battleseer. Although they realized she was an unlikely vessel for their beloved Primarch’s intervention, they still felt compelled to save her life. In doing so, they abandoned their post, allied with aliens, and disobeyed direct orders. By returning the Eldar to her people, they actually saved her life.
In return for their act of kindness, the Battleseer decided to help the Marines when they were to be returned to their command by the Eldar bone singers. The Marines faced serious accusations of committing crimes against their Emperor and Chapter. They were also classified as delusional and most likely subject to Black Rage – a condition often preceded by vivid visions of Sanguinius’ self-sacrifice. This terrible future seemed inevitable for the Marines, but the Eldar, not wanting to condemn their rescuers to certain death, “forgot” to send them back, despite the uproar this caused on their Craftworld.
Possibly thanks to the intervention of Inquisitor Lucius, this situation went unchallenged, as the Marines were believed to be well on their way to becoming Red Thirst and eventually Black Wrath, so they had to be removed from active duty. Therefore, the four Marines were allowed to stay with the Eldar fighter, whom they continued to believe was touched by Sanguinius. They built a strong bond with her, and the Eldar eventually accepted their life with the four half-mad Marines.
Over time, the five developed a deep bond with each other and were intimately familiar with each other’s strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes. Their unconventional partnership and unyielding belief in the Battleseer’s connection to Sanguinius led them to stick together and face whatever challenges their uncertain fate might bring.