A blast of searing plasma bypassed Rouboute's conversion field and exploded against his shoulderguard, vaporising a fist sized chunk of cermite. In response, he lashed out his powersword and decapitated his attacker.
The Hrud were strange foes, Rouboute didnt understand their odd warp-plasma weaponry or how they moved forces around so fast. But he did know that a well placed bolt shell ended their lives the same as it would any other Xenos!
He smashed his powerfist into another enemy and sent it flying 20 meters to impact a bulkhead.
He marvelled at how the aliens could step through into warpspace at will, to change positions on the battlefield - such tactical flexibility could be acutely deadly in the hands of a tactician like Rouboute. He would study the empire's remains and learn how they moved and adapted so fast, he would work with his Librarians and the Mechanics to unlock some of their secrets, once the Hrud were dead.
Guilliman blasted a trio of bolts from his underslung bolter and punched more enemies from their feet. For now, he was savouring the feel of battle!
Rouboute was aboard his flagship, The Fist of Maccragge. The battle was over and minimal losses were sustained due to the perfect timing of the Ultramarines and Raven Guard strikes. He wrote a message to Corax, congratulating him on a solid battleplan and inviting him to talk and discuss the campaign on Rouboute's flagship, as it made way back to Terra. He had yet to meet with his brother Horus and to get recent specimens to the laboratories on Terra and Mars, it would not do to delay.
He read his messages. His brothers had fared well in their own battles it seemed. Minimal losses for all Legions. He half smiled; a part of him thought that perhaps the leadership of the new Warmaster was a good thing to unite the Legions, after all...
More reports. A new race of trans-human Beastmen have been brought into the Imperial fold. A new mutation, a change for the better perhaps? Adapted to excel at close quarters warfare. He nodded and sent a message of congratulations to Mortarian for his good work with finding new resources, the beastmen could be used in the grand scheme of things - if kept separate from regular human troops so they did not effect morale.
Guilliman put down his slate. He was surprised with himself, a few months ago he would have abhorred any change to the human genes - mutation or deviance from the human form of perfection - he would have petitioned to exterminate the beastmen.
But recent events... including the discovery that one of his most loved brothers, Angron, was privy to mutation and mutable changes to the standard genetic template... had made Rouboute come to embrace these ... adaptations.
Like any good predator knows, adaptation is an essential part of the evolution process. He picked up his slate again and continued to read.
+++Rouboute Guilliman to Horus Lupercal+++
Brother Horus,
I head straight back to Terra to meet with you - I have had a rare chance to get my gauntlets dirty defending Terra from Xenos who strayed too close. It was a most enlightening conflict.
I trust you can find ample to occupy you at the Terran system; with the Mechanicus, the laboratories and Father - perhaps you can coax him to talk, out from his bunker he has grown so fond of.
Brother Rouboute+++
+++Rouboute Guilliman to Mortarian+++
My congratulations with bringing these new "Beastmen" into the imperial fold, brother. Im glad to see you have blossomed with your new legion and are carving your own path through the stars. I wish you much success with future campaigns. And please send a few beastman specimens back to terra for study, it would be good to divine the nature of their adaptations.
Brother Rouboute++++
+++Rouboute Guilliman to Corax+++
Well fought, Brother! Our combined might meant the Xenos had no chance to resist! I hope you can find time to visit my flagship on the journey back to Terra, if you are travelling in that direction. It was an honour to fight alongside you again.
Brother Rouboute++++
