Thorbenus Alcander, the Fist of Ultramar

125.M31, just twelve light-years away from the Five Hundred Worlds..........

Callidon, a recently discovered world by the 12th Expeditionary Fleet of the XIII Legiones Astartes.

It was the high point of the Great Crusade, the Imperium expanding out into the stars. Whole star systems and worlds filled with human life were found by the fledgling Imperium, and uncharted worlds were colonized and made into new Imperial worlds.
Many were the worlds that willingly chose to join the Imperium and fight beside it. Many were the worlds that resisted compliance and were forced into a war they were destined to lose.

Callidon would be one of the former, a world that willingly wanted to join. Its people were once a star-faring race, but had lost the technology to craft starships and faster-than-light engines. They had interstellar vox communications and so had heard of the expanding Imperium, stretching out from its ancient homeworld of Terra.

Terra. Their ancestral home. The people of Callidon respected Terra, honored to be the descendants of this great planet. When they heard the transmissions of the Imperium, the people rejoiced. At last, they would be reunited with their lost Terran brothers and sisters! But first, they had to bring back the technology they had lost to travel the stars. Many attempts were tried, but they failed, and for the past forty years, Callidon remained in the dark backwaters of the eastern fringes of the galaxy.

Then came the hordes of green-skinned beasts, whom the Callidonians called stinkers and swampskins. To the Imperium, these were known as greenskins, Orks.

Invading Callidon, they fell upon it like a green tide. But Callidon was a warrior planet, and fought hard. Knowing their vox systems could reach out into the stars, the leaders sent out a distress call for aid. But the call was directed........at the Imperium, the Imperium they were so desperately trying to reach.
And it was answered.

Thus it was that the 12th Expeditionary Fleet came to Callidon and helped to rout the greenskin invasion, giving the people much-needed breathing room. The captains in command of the fleet came down to the capital to speak with the leaders. The people gasped at who they saw: living giants in battle-plate of shining blue, white, and gold. Their symbol: a white U.

The citizens of Callidon were truly grateful and fortunate. They had been found by the mighty Ultramarines.

Receiving them as foreign dignitaries, the leaders of Callidon explained who they were and what they had done for the past two centuries. The captains remained silent as they heard of how their engineers and mech-scientists tried to rebuild the lost star-faring technology to no avail. And then, they rejoiced when they heard of how the people of the entire planet wanted to join the Imperium, to reunite with their Terran brothers. It was then that the senior-most captain of the expedition spoke.

"Hear me, citizens of Callidon. Your leaders have told us of what you have tried to accomplish. It is truly honorable that you have attempted to recreate the lost era of your people, to travel the stars once again. You have failed, but you never gave up, and that is truly admirable. It is even more gratifying to see people willing, no, eager to join us. I can see it in your faces, in your eyes. You want to be part of our Imperium. You want to travel the stars again and reunite with your fellow kin amongst the stars. That gives my heart such joy to meet such a noble and honorable race like you. You have tried for so long to communicate with us. Try no more. We have come, and we shall help you destroy this greenskin menace!"

The people cheered as he spoke.

"You need not fear no longer! Your brothers and sisters from the stars will aid you! Not only in defeating this xenos horde, but in resurrecting your lost age! We shall help you in rebuilding the ships and technology you have lost, help you to establish yourselves as a star-faring race again! And our answer to your petition of admittance is yes! We of the Imperium gladly welcome you into our circle! Consider yourselves part of us, brothers and sisters of Callidon! Welcome to the Imperium of Man!"

There was much celebration as the natives of Callidon and Terrans alike dined and rejoiced at their union. For nearly three hundred years, Callidon was alone in the stars. Now it was part of a great empire once again. One of the newest member worlds of the Imperium. There was much to be done, but would have to wait.

First, the greenskins had to be destroyed. So began the war, a war that lasted four years...................

A squad of Ultramarines from the 75th Company moved along one of the war-torn cities of Callidon. The fight against the greenskins had taken much from the natives, but still they held on. Now with the might of six companies of the Ultramarines and twelve regiments of the Imperial Army, the people of Callidon went back on the offensive. Soon the Orks were routed, nearly defeated, their hordes dwindled to a few mere thousand. But still they fought, still they pillaged. They didn't know when to give up.

But in this warzone, a friendship was soon to be made. It would be recorded as one of the first friendships between a mortal, or in this case two, and an Astartes...........

A gunshot rang out, catching the attention of the squad.

"You heard that?" one of them asked. "Aye. Not a loud one." said another. "Came from a small-caliber weapon. Mortal design." spoke a third.

They heard the same shot again, but this time a female voice accompanied it. It was strong and martial, but obviously not military. "Run, sister! The swampskin's coming! Run!"
Another female voice was heard, this one much younger and afraid.

"Form up. Arrow formation." the squad leader spoke, his massive gauntlets unsheathing an extremely long blade slung on his back. "Let's go kill some Orks."
..................................................

In one of the ruined courtyards of the city, two women were running from a quartet of greenskins. One had a pistol with her while the other had nothing. One cowered with fear, but the other was full of fury.

"Where are we going, sister?" said the younger, her voice tinged with fear.
"I don't know! Anywhere!" shouted the elder, her voice much lower and more grim, yet just as beautiful.

The two had been on the run from the greenskins for the past two hours, the beasts following them to kill them. The older sister, having served in the Callidonian military, knew how to survive, how to fight. Her younger sibling, however, didn't. But she loved her sister and would anything to protect her. I'll have to teach her how to fight, though. she thought. But none of that mattered now. The important thing was to get them to safety.

But it was too late. She realized she'd backed them into a corner, and the only way out was back the way they'd came. And the swampskins were in sight of them, blocking the path with their huge girths.

She heard their growling voices, chugging and smothered with raucous laughter. They'd have some fun with these women.
Her weeping sister tugged her shirt tightly. She was no younger than 20. "Helene, I'm scared." she said with fear. Helene embraced her sister lovingly.
"Don't worry, Katerina. I won't let them harm you." she reassured her. The Orks approached, and Helene fired the last rounds from her pistol. It did nothing.
"We'll be all right." she reassured her sister again and again as both awaited death.

Yes, death was ordained this day. But not theirs.

Suddenly, one of the Orks pitched forward, its torso mangled by numerous shots from a large-caliber weapon. The other three turned and were met by fierce blows from maces and swords, all dying instantly. The two women stared in disbelief, shocked that they were alive! Their saviors stood before them.

"Ultramarines." Katerina breathed, seeing the blue-clad giants stand stoically in front of her. Awe was in her eyes, and it took the stern voice of her sister to shake her out of it. "Katerina, stand up." her sister said, and she did.

The leader of the squad that saved them stepped forth. He was a true giant, standing taller than his brothers. His armor was ornate, inlaid with lovely gold filigree and winged eagles and golden "U"s. But, unlike his brothers, he wielded no firearm.
Instead, his hands were enormous, two giant gauntlets that seemed out of place even for him. They held an equally massive blade easily the size of any of his compatriots! It was sheened with blood and crackled with energy.

"Are you all right?" his stentorian voice spoke out, but both women were surprised at the kindness and humility that came out. He was not an arrogant brute, but a kind, honest giant who cared about the people.

"Y-yes." breathed Katerina, suddenly bowing in a curtsy. "Thank you for saving us."
The giant nodded. "Of course. It is my duty, and that of my brothers, to help mortals. We are not arrogant conquerors like you think."
"We didn't think any of that, brave warrior," the strong voice of Helene spoke out, "and we thank you for your timely arrival." she added, bowing in respect which the warrior returned.

"You have a strong voice." he said. "I can detect the tones of one who has lived a soldier life, who knows the hardships of war."
"You are correct." Helene said. "I once served in the military of my world, and fought with great honor. My sister hasn't tasted it yet, though I love her deeply."

"That is good." he said, then turned back to his squad. "Come. There's a shelter not far from here. We will escort you there." The two women followed, but no sooner had they begun to move than suddenly a roaring noise came out from everywhere.
"Orks!" shouted one of the Ultramarines keeping lookout. "They're everywhere! At least a hundred!"
"Form up! Circle formation!" the warrior shouted, sheathing his long blade behind his back, and then taking both women inside his gauntlets. Soon, the ladies' slim torsos were completely engulfed in the warrior's gauntlets, their arms and hands above his fingers.

"What are you doing!?" shouted the younger, struggling to free herself to no avail. "Keeping you safe." he said. "We're going to run," he added, "but neither of you can run as fast as we can. So I'll have to carry you. Don't worry, I won't crush you."

Reassured, but only slightly, the women stayed put as they were held in his hands. "Let's go!" the warrior shouted, his squad retreating to the east. For the next half hour, the squad of ten Ultramarines fought through a hundred Orks, killing many of them. Finally, they reached the safety of the shelter camp set up by support elements of the XIII Legion.

"Thank you, warrior." said Helene. "You saved us yet again."
The warrior nodded. "My pleasure. Here, you'll both be safe."
"Um, thanks for protecting us," said Katerina, the young girl awkward at being held off the ground by a giant fist, "but could you put us down now?"
The way she said those words awkwardly made her sister and the warrior laugh in amusement. "Certainly. My apologies." he said, putting both women down on the ground. Katerina, in particular, felt around her waist and torso, amazed to find no bruises anywhere! She was fine.
...................................

For the next year, the fighting continued, until finally, the Orks were defeated. Now the people of Callidon looked to rebuild their home, and the Ultramarines remained to help.
Helene and Katerina stayed in their home after the war was over, relaxing until they heard a knock at their front door.

A very loud knock.

Katerina walked over and opened the door. She gave out a light gasp as she saw who it was. It was the same warrior who had saved them, out of his armor and clad in blue traveling robes.

"Greetings." he said. "May I come in?" At a loss for words, Katerina nodded and admitted him. He had to bend just to enter, and even inside, he still had to bend under the ceiling.
"Welcome." said Helene, nodding in greeting. "To what do we owe your visit?"
"I only wanted to see how you two were doing." he responded. "We never did part on good terms due to the fighting."
"True." said Helene, looking at her sister, who lay in awe. "Katerina." she admonished her sister. "Stop gawking, will you? He's not some god to abase to. He's a warrior who cared about our safety. Control yourself."

"Right. Sorry." her sister said, gathering herself. "Something to drink?" she asked the warrior. "Tea?"
He nodded. "Yes, please." She rushed off to the kitchen to gather some teacups and make a fresh pot. When she returned, she further gasped as the warrior took his cup; it looked absurdly small in his hand.

For a long while, the three spoke on different matters. The warrior then told them of where he hailed from, and they listened as he spoke of his realm.

"Sounds beautiful, this Ultramar." said Katerina, amazed at his tale. The warrior smiled, glad to have met such a captive audience.
"It is beautiful, young one." he told them. "In fact, I'd like to tell you. Your world is actually being considered by the Lord Guilliman to become the 501st world of our realm."

That shocked them both. "Really?" said Helene. "That's interesting. And grateful."
"Yes, it is." said the warrior. "Unless you feel we're being arrogant in our decision."
"Not at all. We Callidonians respect unity and friendship between different peoples, and your Ultramar has shown that." Helene responded. "We'd be honored to become part of your frontier realm."

"How I would love to travel the stars." Katerina said dreamily. "I would make such great ballads and songs."
"You are a singer?" the warrior said. She nodded. "Yes. I enjoy singing and writing poetry, especially of distant worlds and far-off places. I've always wished to explore the stars beyond my home."
"Be careful what you wish for." he said. "The galaxy is as much as hostile as it is beautiful. You don't know how many enemies I've fought in my service."

Chastened, Katerina apologized. The warrior turned to the elder sister. "And what of you? You say you served in your world's armed forces. What do you do now?"
"Oh, I am a photographer." Helene answered, but the warrior was puzzled. "A what?"
"Photographer. Someone who takes shots of certain scenes with a camera." she replied, holding out a device that looked like a picter.

"Ah." he said, understanding. "I understand. Where I come from, photographers are called imagists, and this camera we call a picter."
"Oh. All right." Helene replied. "Yes, I've fought in wars, but my true calling is as a historian. I like to record the past so that future generations will remember what their ancestors did."

"Truly noble." he told her. "Perhaps both of you would be interested in joining the remembrancers."
"The what?" both sisters asked. He chuckled. Now it was his turn to explain. He told them what remembrancers were. Essentially, they were a general word for imagists, composers, artisans, writers, reporters, journalists, and others who recorded the glories of the Imperium. In some Legions, they were reviled or disliked at best, but in others, they were liked and respected. The XIII was one of those Legions that respected remembrancers.

"Really?" asked Katerina, filled with glee. "You mean I could travel the stars as a remembrancer?"
The warrior nodded yes. "Of course. As a remembrancer, it would be your duty to record all that we've accomplished in your songs and ballads, as well as make some of your own. We Ultramarines do not believe ourselves to be simply warriors. We do other things too to pass the time. Believe it or not, I myself enjoy sculpting."
That interested the women. Here, they thought was only a warrior, nothing more.

"In fact, that's the reason why I came here." he further explained. "In all the worlds I've fought in, I've met many people who simply view me with awe and shock. I don't like that. I'm simply a warrior, genetically enhanced, yes, but a warrior. I have feelings, and I care for others. To see the two of you react normally to me was a burden off my chest, because I thought I'd have to deal with pomp and idol worshipping by you two."

The two ladies giggled as they heard his words. "But no, you respect me and treat me as an equal. That is something I like. I could vouch for you and get you places on the 12th Fleet. The only stipulation you'd have to do would be to become my personal remembrancers until you are settled in."

Katerina was beyond shocked. "Why help us?"
"Because I want the galaxy to remember our deeds." he answered. "But more importantly, because I want the galaxy to have humility and kindness towards others. I do not hate xenos, though I kill them. I prefer to feel humble rather than hoard power and become arrogant. I've seen that in too many of my brothers."

He stood up, patting them on the shoulder. "And the two show the same sense of humility that I have. You care for others. I've seen you. In the war against the greenskin, you sacrificed much of your time to help others. That is something I value, and that I want to see rewarded."

"But more importantly, I wish to be your friend."

"Friend?" asked Katerina. "Yes. A way to foster good relations between our peoples, and to establish friendships between mortals and Astartes. Unless you think I'm being crazy."

Both women laughed and looked at each other. Afterwards, they stood and curtsied in thanks. "Thank you, warrior." said Helene. "This is a great oppurtunity for us. We'd honored to be your personal remembrancers."
"Definitely!" Katerina said enthusiastically. The warrior smiled.

"My thanks. Oh, we never properly introduced yourselves." he said. The women smiled.

Helene, the woman of 24 years of age, she with the orange-red hair, introduced herself. "My name is Helene Evandre, warrior. Pleased to meet you."
Katerina, the woman of 20 years of age, she with the crimson hair, introduced herself, adding a curtsy. "My name is Katerina Evandre. It's a pleasure."

The warrior surprised her by taking her pale hand in his large one and kissing it. "Enchanted. A pleasure to meet you both. In my Legion, my brothers call me "the Fist of Ultramar", but my name is Thorbenus Alcander, Company Sergeant and Champion of the 75th Company."

Thus, it was sealed. Callidon arose from the ashes of the Ork invasion stronger than ever before, rebuilt and glorious once more. And for two women, two natives of Callidon, their future was a bright one, made possible by a warrior of the Ultramarines, one who was known throughout the Legion as the Fist of Ultramar.

Thorbenus Alcander was known for being a brawler, emulating his lord Guilliman by adopting two Power Fists in place of his normal gauntlets. But he was also a superlative swordsman, and for that, he forged himself a master-crafted blade twice as long as a mortal spear, crafted specially for his enormous gauntlets. For his excellent fighting skills and humility, he was elevated to become the champion of the 75th Company of the Ultramarines, a role he has held for the past fifty years.

He took Helene and Katerina under his wing, ensuring their admittance into the Remembrancer Order and giving them quarters and accomodations aboard the ship of his company, the Glory of Iax. The two women would see success for the next sixty years, and he would remain champion of his company for another seventy.

In fact, Helene and Katerina were known for being the very first natives of their world to travel the stars with the 12th Fleet. Helene became a very well-known imagist and historian, her books known far and wide and her picts displayed across many Imperial worlds.

As for Katerina, she followed her dreams and became an incredible singer. The minute she stepped onto the ship, she was courted by many men. Soon, her beauty was known throughout the 12th Fleet. Even Ultramarines came aboard the Glory of Iax just to hear her sing. She possessed the most beautiful singing voice, and even sang once for Roboute Guilliman himself, making her the only Callidonian to ever meet the primarch of the Ultramarines. He praised her singing and said she was a true beauty.

While Helene was content with her lot, Katerina became a star. But neither let their newfound fame and respect get to them, their humility and kindness remaining intact. And their friendship with Thorbenus, one of a very few between a mortal and a Space Marine, remained strong over the years. Thorbenus even trained them in self-defense, Helene learning very quickly and Katerina taking a little time to learn. The three remained good friends ever since.


185.M31, sixty years later.......

Thorbenus walked along the corridors of his ship, heading for the guest quarters given to the women who were aboard. He looked slightly aged, despite being almost 300 years old. His black hair was still glossy, his blue eyes still sharp.

He finally arrived at their quarters and smoothed his robes before entering. When he entered, he was amazed at how beautiful they were.

Helene was sitting on a chaise longue, writing her latest story on a righteous crusade by the Ultramarines to free an oppressed people by a cannibalistic race of aliens who ruled over them like the tyrants they were. Though she was now eighty-four years old, juvenat treatments and the unusually long lifespan of a Callidonian kept her young. She also continued her military lifestyle, keeping fit and healthy. She looked beautiful, still, looking like a 34-year old woman; her pale skin, fine body, aqua eyes, and orange-red hair neatly combed.

But sitting beside her, her own hands playing delicately upon a lyre, was the "Flower of Callidon." Katerina had her eyes closed, playing a beautiful tune, her ethereal voice singing along. She was now known all over the galaxy, and was a famed singer and poet. Like her sister, she too looked lean and beautiful. Unlike her, she was the embodiment of a goddess: her crimson tresses done neatly in curls and lined with gems, her pale skin gleaming like alabaster, her pale blue eyes shining like diamonds. She too looked young, almost 28, though she was eighty years old chronologically speaking. But despite her beauty, she was also a fighter, having learned how to fight from her sister and Thorbenus, who taught them both.
Men loved her, Ultramarines admired her all the more, for she was one of the few mortals to have ever met their primarch....and literally astound him.

Guilliman had never heard such an angelic voice, and he praised her music, calling her "the Rose of Ultramar." So was she known throughout the Five Hundred Worlds. Thorbenus smiled; he had been there when he heard his primarch laud her. All because of me, he thought.

He cleared his throat, getting their attention. Helene rose gracefully and walked slowly to him, while Katerina squealed in delight and jumped up, running over and embracing his wide frame.

"Thorbenus!" she cried out. He laughed at her enthusiasm. It was a far cry from when she once feared him. He kneeled and gave her a hug. "Katerina. The primarch did not lie. You look like a rose."
"Thank you." she said, then parting for her sister. Helene nodded in greeting and shook his hand. "Thorbenus, it is good to see you again."
"Likewise, Helene." he said, and the three stayed for a long time, talking.

"So, what are your plans for the future?" he asked them a while later. Both sisters told him.
"I think it's time we settled down." said Helene. "We've been thinking of living in Iax, your home planet."
"Really?" he said.
"Of course." said Katerina. "It's such a beautiful world. I was amazed at seeing so much beauty. I'd love to live there."
Thorbenus chuckled. "You're more than welcome to."

These three friends would remain friends for a very long time...................

A new character, though he will not be in my current story. Thorbenus Alcander, Company Champion of the 75th Company of the Ultramarines.

I wanted to create a warrior who fought like Calgar and Gulliman: with their fists. So his trademark weapons are two large Power Fists, and a longsword made especially to fit into his huge gauntlets, being as long as a Space Marine!

But I also wanted to create two other characters, mortals. This is because Space Marines are generally viewed with shock, awe, or fear by most mortals. I wanted to create a friendship between a mortal and a Space Marine. Hence, two women whose lives he saved, both of them sisters. Helene and Katerina Evandre.

Enjoy.