Warhammer World Birthday Battle: The Hunt for Cawl

The lone Custodes Shield Captain scythed through Kamron Delta Rho as though he were made of parchment, and strode up to confront Cawl as three remaining Skitarii Rangers dashed to face the newly appeared Guilliman – a last ditch effort to buy the Archmagos the time he needed.  Katarinya Greyfax, ashamed at her failure, summoned up her remaining energy to cast a psychic smite on Cawl from range.  She managed to inflict a number of wounds before Cawl could react to the Custodes threat, but the Archmagos stood firm.  The Shield Captain unleashed a volley at his target but the defensive systems of Cawl deflected every blow.  Annoyed at the disruption, Cawl brought his enhanced weapon systems online and in the blink of an eye had vaporised the pesky imperial servant.  Simultaneously however, Guilliman brushed the last Skitarii aside and before the Archmagos could return to his work, the Lord Commander of the Imperium charged at Cawl, fury boiling in his eyes.

“Archmagos Belisarius Cawl!  Heed my words!” Guilliman spat out the words with a venom he had not felt for centuries.  “You are not above my rule.  You are not exempt from Imperial law.  You will come willingly, now, or you will be destroyed.  Your choice, Archmagos.”

“You are too late Guilliman.  My work here is done.  I have completed my greatest creation and in just a few seconds every living thing in the vicinity that is not connected to the noosphere will be rendered senseless.  I will then return to Mars and restore the Adeptus Mechanicus to the true power in this…this..Imperium!”

“A few seconds you say?” Guilliman scoffed. “That’s all I need.  Goodbye Belisarius.”

With a speed that even the super enhanced cognitive capability of Cawl could not quite comprehend, Guilliman whirled and plunged the Sword of the Emperor deep into the mass of cables, tubes and ancient technology that represented the unhuman body of the Archmagos.  Instantly the stricken shell powered down and lay still, defeated.  It was over.

Back in his sanctum on Macragge’s Honour, Guilliman shook his head disappointedly.  Is this what his once great Imperium has become?  Cawl, He’stan, Greyfax.  They all failed.  Who could he rely on now?  He was a Primarch, yes, but he was still just one man.  He could not be everywhere at once.  If he allowed it, he would feel weary.  But he would not allow it.  Not when there was still so much to done.

What remained of the living organs of the once-human named Belisarius Cawl would be saved and spared, and made to face severe punishment for his crimes.  Guilliman hoped that perhaps one day, maybe, he could once more call Cawl his ally.  But this day was not that day.

THE END