Editing Rogerius Merrill (section)

===The Great Crusade===

After a term of education at Terra and another under the tutelage of [[Hektor Cincinnatus]] Merrill was granted control of the XX Legion which he proceeded to name the Iron Rangers. He brought them all to Profi Tiroedd, his home planet and the new center of recruitment and training for the Legion. They were assembled in simple clothes and their combat knives at the base of the Hollow Mountain and given one set of instructions: meet their Primarch at the top. Those who were unsuccessful perished in the maze of the former hive. Those who succeeded joined their Primarch in the reformation of their Legion. Merrill chose a more training-centric model for his men, with a chain of command that allowed both easier control and greater autonomy within the ranks.

With a Legion under his command, Merrill went forth. Throughout the Crusade, he led the 732nd Expeditionary Fleet (The 733rd through 738th also belonged to the Iron Rangers), and conquered numerous planets and systems in the name of the Emperor. His methods were considered slow by some, but they were efficient and effective. Merrill's banners brought more worlds into full compliance while utilizing less resources than most other fleets. He did this by reforming his legion into a large hunting tribe. To Merrill, any opponent was just a large creature to be hunted. And as such, you never hunted an animal into its own den. Even with superior intellect and arms the prey knew the area too well and would fight with a bestial desperation which could surprise and kill even the most experienced hunter. He knew that the best way was to lure it into your territory. There you would systematically eliminate its methods to harm you until it was defenseless. Only then would you take the prey outright. When dealing with an army, this meant destroying its middle command, logistics, and communications first. The army would still be capable of fighting limited fights, but would not be able to effectively mount any form of attack or defense. Once weakened to the point of uselessness, the killing blow would strike its leadership.

He began his Crusading as dour and nihilistic as ever. Yet for the first time in his life, Merrill had found purpose. He had a calling and a reason to pursue it. He no longer hunted just to survive. He hunted that which had plagued mankind for its history, his spear finding itself home within the corpses of false gods and xenos kings. The greatest monsters mankind had ever known fell before him- often before they even knew he was there. But something was wrong: Though he did not care of his brothers opinions, the words spoken behind closed doors and cups filled him with rage. More than once whispers that Merrill had been taken out of the jungle, but the jungle had not left him had reached his ears. Each time it burned anew. The Emperor, his own so-called father, looked upon Merrill as little more than a tool to be used until it was no longer needed. Merrill knew that look well. For each slight he threw himself at the enemies with renewed furor and vengeance. Each expedition he forced himself and his men to be more cunning and capable. Yet each new world conquered did nothing to salve his anger. And each world invigorated his critics. 

Ultimately, Merrill found himself on the world of Diastram VI. As always, he dismantled his foes and struck down the planetary rulers without mercy or remorse. This world was unique. It was not rare to find a world made up of warring tribes vying for planetary supremacy. Or a world made up of a variety of geographically bound nations tied in their own political machinations. These were the tedious rule, rather than the exception. Sometimes the people would unite in favor or against unification. More often they would split into factions as some accepted Enlightenment while others preferred to remain in the dark or would attempt to leverage better terms. Diastram VI, however, did neither. They fought themselves even as they unanimously fought Merrill's men. Merrill stood over the last ruler's corpse as his life leaked over the stone floor of his castle. The pitiful creature pulled out a pagan holy book in its last breaths and read from it. Undoubtedly attempting to gain some level of comfort from his blasphemies before death. Merrill stood over the body as it made its last ragged breath. Curiosity was rarely a crime Merrill could be accused of, but something about this world and these people moved him. He knew they were still fighting across the planet. It would likely have to be sterilized. But this book pulled at him. Though his mind railed against his body, he picked the book up and began to read from it. Something changed deep within his mind, and he searched for and found many similar tomes. Once collected, his men returned to their ships and the world was brought to compliance through eradication of the populace. A new, wholly loyal population would be planted here shortly.

Few would ever accuse Merril of being a social butterfly. He much preferred his solitude. But as time passed after Diastram, he spent more and more time locked in his own personal chambers. His ventures to command and lead his men slowly reduced until he would only be seen when planning a new campaign and when his mission on a planet happened to align with those of others. Whispers began among not only his fellow Primarchs, but other Legions as well. Even the Iron Rangers themselves began to talk in hushed tones as to the nature of their Primarch's retreat. The truth was more insidious than the rumors: Something in the books from Diastram awoke deeply seeded doubts and concerns within the Primarch. Many of his brothers were brutes or idiots with no understanding of how the universe worked. Others were fops or dandies suckling at The Emperor's teat. Most of them had grown in luxury and comfort and did not truly comprehend the struggle that is life. At that, what right did man have to conquer the galaxy? Many others had been here longer. Other species were stronger, faster, or more cunning. Man was a weak, defenseless creature struggling to survive in a dark, hospitable and uncaring universe. If humanity were to succeed, the species needed to earn the right to do so. And only an all-encompassing conflict of unknowable proportions would be able to do so.

The Victory of Ullanor changed things. After spending much time in private discussion with Hektor, Aubrey, and Uriel, Rogerius Merrill returned to normal. He brushed aside the whispers and insults and attacked his prey with renewed vigor. He maintained communications with his subordinates and attended the minutiae of his Legion. Privately, he confided his concerns and ideas with many of his commanders and advisors. The final mission of the XX Legion before the onset of the Heresy seemed simple and raised eyebrows as to why it would require an entire Legion. A simple planet dealing with an unknown xenos threat required assistance. This menace however proved to be far more crafty and deadly than any other Primarch would have thought, as less than half of the Legion returned from the conflict.