Simple Soldier: Ollanius Persson

Anyone who has even remotely heard about Warhammer 40K universe has heard or read about epic duel between Emperor and his beloved (turned traitor) Horus. It was written by William King, and originally published in WHITE DWARF #131 dated November 1990. The description of this epic duel however has changed from edition to edition and as if its reflected in million broken mirror shards has been repeated and twisted in the lore. In it core it still retain pretty simple structure:

The Emperor is fighting Horus, who just managed to mortally wound Sanguinius and slaughter dozen or more marines. In a short conversation disrupted by sporadic fighting Horus is almost triumphant.  (As it it well known true evil is obliged to have a profound monologue before finishing off the good guy.) In this case the final monologue of evil incarnate is postponed by intervention loyal Emperor's soldier, who death finally forces Emperor to kill his beloved Warmaster Horus (finally). The more detailed description of this battle could be found http://www.inisfail.com/archives/emperor-vs-horus.html or in Horus Heresy books. 

I deliberately keep description of this epic event as short as possible in order to pay tribute to that unnamed soldier and how his role and description has changed. First of all he is almost never identified, he has no name, no belonging except his reckless bravery in the face of Horus. Or is it?

The Horus Heresy as pivotal point in Imperium's history was not conceived until 4th edition of the rules and i believe early 90's. According to interview of 40K "fathers" Alan Merret, Jervis Jonson and John Blanche in White Dwarf of February 2012, it was Rick Priestly who "wrote a throwaway passage of text about a civil war that had happened a ten thousand years ago. Rick has put it to simply make the background more mythic in tone, to add a texture to these great passages of time."  So the idea of what happened and who saved the sorry butt life of the Emperor have been made and remade quite often in last 12 years.  

I'm not going into great details of all the books on the subject, i'll simply name the incarnations of this heroic soldier: 

Adeptus Cutosdian, 

Marine in power armor, 

Legion Astartes Terminator, 

Marine in Terminator armor, 

unidentified bodyguard who served with Emperor for several hundreds years and saved his life on numerous occasions (Emperor cannot remember his name, oddly enough) 

and finally an Imperial Army (or Imperial Guardsman in older books) soldier - 

Ollanius Pius or Ollanius Persson. 

The name of Ollanius pops up in two version: Imperial Guard saint and Perpetual (apparently something or someone everlasting). First one is likely to be a iteration of latter, as Imperial Saints are known for their death resisting qualities. Ollanius may be a variation of the same silent soldier who gives Emperor a second of breathing space. 

During this unintended research i have decided to re-tell old story of Emperor's battle and ultimate sacrifice of his soldier. 

As the battle for Imperial palace grew desperate and bloody, as the casualties mounted on the both sides, as rage of assaulting Chaos spread on Terra the Emperor finally saw the opportunity to end the bloodshed before it was too late. As Horus clearly saw that with each passing day of Imperial Palace resistance rallied the loyalist and bought time for the reinforcements to get closer to Terra, he spread the wave of destruction upon every human soul, every piece of knowledge, on everything so dear to the heart of the Emperor.  Though in doing so he left void shields of his flagship Vengeful Spirit down. Willingly or not we may never know. What is known that the Emperor took this chance and gathered the forces he could muster to face the traitor. Primarch's Regal Dorn and Sanguinius, force of Terminators and combined force of Adeptus Custodes and loyal Army cadre followed him as they always did, to the death and beyond.

Amidst the whispering darkness of the ship Emperor and his men were scattered, fighting for the survival instead of delivering a killing blow to the enemy.    

Finally the Emperor and his few remaining men breached into the bridge of the vessel, firing and charging in. They were met by a sole, dark figure reeking with warp-twisted hatred and arrogance. Horus. He turned to face them and lazily stepped over body of an angel. Sanguinius lay dead on the floor, defeated but still defiant to the will of Chaos. I one silent gesture Emperor commanded his men to cease firing and wait for his orders.

- This fool of yours, made a wrong choice, - grunted Horus with power that shook the very reality, - he could have been my brother in the new world order. In my order! He could have been worshiped like god and truly become one.

- Horus! - replied Emperor, his voice heavy with sadness, - he was your Brother! The one who shared you victories and heritage...

- Be silent, - spat Horus, - your puny rule is over! I command the power which will lead humanity into a new era! I command the very Chaos itself! 

- You command only your delusion, my friend, - replied Emperor and single tear escaped from his eye as he finally realized how deeply fallen his son is, how hopelessly entangled in the puppet web of Chaos he is, - Stand down before it's too late, Horus, thou your are a pawn, not a master.

Horus laughed in return with echo filled with will-bending darkness.  

- This shall be your last threat, Lord of Humankind!,- roared Lupercal and attacked.                 

The battle of the Emperor and the Traitor became lighting exchange of blows in physical realm and titanic psychic storm in the Warp. Even gene-modified reactions and senses of Astartes were inadequate to capture the movements of those bitter enemies: the Lord of Humankind and Champion of Chaos, for mere conversation between them took a toll on surviving men of Emperor. Some were shattered to pieces by lashes of psychic hatred, some become disorientated and lost from Lupercal's voice domination, few were strong enough to withstand it but hesitated to break last order of the Emperor and enter the fray.

The battle was bending the reality as Lupercal lashed the bolts of daemonic powers and Emperor was throwing his might in swift lunges and parries of the sword. Traitor thruster his lighting claw with battle hardened expertise, Emperor dodged it and lunged a paralysis inflicting bolt into Horus. The room was shattering and crumbling as swing that missed target were carrying enough power to crush the columns and crack steel only by pointing at at.  Though for Emperor's men have passed a mere seconds, for fighters it was eternity as both were charging and fighting on level of gods.

As powerful Emperor was, he realized that he was losing. The unholy daemonic powers of Horus were constantly changing it nature, its resonance becoming more and more difficult to withstand and counter. What is hurting him most, is that he fighting his son, his best general and a close friend. Should he be swallowed by anger and hatred all will be lost, the darkness that possessed Horus will possess the Emperor of Mankind.

Lupercal had no such limitations, for he was consumed and empowered by the Dark Gods.  Their fury and magic gave Lupercal an upper hand, and eventually he managed to land a devastating blow crushing Emperor's armor and sending him flying to the ground.        

As Emperor fell on the shattered ground, Lupercal roared again: 

- So, who is deluded now? Who is a Master of Mankind?, - and he stepped down towards the fallen Emperor intending to prolong his torture before the final blow is struck. As he walked through devastation towards mortally wounded Emperor a single figure appears between them.  

 A figure of soldier carrying lasgun and badge of imperial Aquila on his uniform. 

- You shall not pass!, - at the top of his lungs screams soldier at approaching Traitor. Without even a glance Horus lashes a magical bolt at him as if he was annoying insect. Soldiers figure flashed with bright light and he struggles to stand on his feet, but he remains alive. 

- Strike me down Traitor and ten more will take my place! Kill them - hundreds will deny you! Then thousands and millions of us!, - shouted soldier on approaching monster and squeezed couple of shots from his lasgun.  

- We fight for the Emperor! We die for the Emperor!,- shouted soldier as Lupercal's lighting claw slashed him in half. 

- I am sure you do, - grinned Lupercal and turned to finish the Emperor.

As soldier's body fell the Emperor attacked with the power of billions souls behind him and his every move. The time he gave him enough to gather all his strength and might for one last blow. Horus must be destroyed even if it cost to Emperor his life.

In one single blow, in the one unstoppable attack, the soulwave of Emperor's might combined with billions of human lives relying on him struck Traitor.  Shocked by the unexpected power of this attack Horus fell. No armor, no trickery of Chaos, no hatred or skill would save the Traitor.

When Regal Dorn fought his way into the ships control room he found the Emperor, barely alive. Despite being mortally wounded, Emperor was holding in his arms his beloved Primarch Sanguinius and Ollanius Persson, a simple soldier.