Name: Ice Angel Chapter
Home world: Shattermantle
Founding: Third generation successor chapter from the Blood Angel line
Current Leader: Chapter Master Librarian Duggon
Specialties: hive warfare, close quarter specialists, zero gravity warfare
Campaigns: Cleansing of Lynx system, Third Black Crusade, Hive Fleet Leviathan
Status: At full strength, currently assisting Death Spectres in the Ghost Star System
- PURGED FROM RECORD***
- Inquisitor Xandel: Ice Angel Chapter under suspicion of using xenos technology and consistently dodging inquisitorial visits. They have impressive history of victories, but their methods have lead to several investigations. ****
- Ultramarine Company Captain Sicarius: Ice Angel chapter close combat ferocity and rapid deployment of assault troops in the defense of Kruggar IV saved the battle. However, company organization does not comply with the sacred Codex Astartes. I recommend an inquiry to their commander for an explanation. *****
Background record 797-38=JL41:
Information from Mentor Chapter records, compiled from Brother Matticus
The planet of Shattermantle was a mining planet, located furthest from the sun in the Artaxerex system. The entire population lived in underground hive cities, mining highly valuable minerals near the core of the planet. Extreme cold and intense storms make the surface inhospitable, only several gate cities dotted the surface. A single moon circled Shattermantle called Xibyran, covered in industrial complexes and expansive space ports.
Many centuries ago, shortly after the Ice Angel chapter returned from Abaddon’s Third Black Crusade, the chapter returned to the Arcadia system. During their approach to Shattermantle an unknown space hulk appeared out of warp on a collision course with Shattermantle. The space hulk, which equaled the size of their home world, smashed into Shattermantle right before their eyes. The astronomical impact pushed the hulk planet out of its regular orbit and deeper into space. More than half of the planet’s population was dead within minutes of impact. The Ice Angels soon learned the space hulk had been occupied by several xenos races; a large chaos cult to Slaaneesh, a group of Dark Eldar pirates, and a large war band of Orks called BludNnuklez Bandeetz.
Nearly every Ice Angel ship and all imperial vessels in the system docked with the planet or hulk and began searching for pockets of survivors and creating new defenses against the hulk’s ferocious denizens.
Shattermantle was now half planet / half conglomeration of space ships and debris. The Ice Angels quickly had their civilians protected. During the fighting that followed, the chapter discovered an entire company of Imperial Guard in the space hulk along with a company of Mantis Warriors, ***** PURGED FROM RECORD *****, ***** PURGED FROM RECORD *****, ***** PURGED FROM RECORD *****, and a squad of Deathwatch marines. These other regiments had been sent to investigate the space hulk when it had previously appeared in Imperial Space.
Shattermantle was floating in space for several weeks before it once again disappeared into the warp, leaving behind the moon of Xibyran and a handful of confused imperial vessels. After several hundred years the moon settled into a new orbit around the fourth planet in the system. Xibyran continues to be an industrial moon for the system and now, due to its closer relationship to the sun, has developed an atmosphere that can sustain life.
While in the warp, the Ice Angels and Imperial Guard forces combined to cleanse the hulk and rebuild their cities. According to the Ice Angels, the Chaos Cult was using ****RECORD EDITED BY UNKNOWN USER**** to move through the warp. The cleansing of the hulk took nearly 36 years, but when they declared it purged of heretics and xenos, the Ice Angels possessed one of Imperium’s largest warp bound vessels. Per Ice Angel records, they floated in the warp for a span of 386 years. However, upon re-entering real space they discovered they had only been gone 10 years per Imperial Calendar.
- Master Kargerplakk of Mars Mechanicum: This is one of the longest recorded time shifts in Imperium history. It is a well-known fact that traveling through the warp is through space AND time, but few reports have a discrepancy of this magnitude. Upon hearing of this hulk and warp travel, a contingent of Mechanicum was sent to investigate this technology, however upon arrival at the hulk Shattermantle we were told the warp technology was lost during re-entry into real time.******
*end transmission*
- opening imperial record**
subject – Artaxerex system – record 797-38=YI73
System Information – 4 planets circle one class B star, Agade
1) Zadlin is the closest planet, barren and uninhabited
2) Kassite is the second planet, a gas giant
3) Naram and Sippar are the two furthest planets. Both have been successfully terraformed to sustain life.
4) Floating in between Naram and Sippar is a massive asteroid belt, the Shatt-el-Hai
5) Shattermantle was the fifth planet before merging with a hulk, see 797-38=JL41
- close record**
- opening imperial record***
subject – Shatt-el-Hai
17th largest known in-system asteroid belt, located in Artaxerex system
The Artaxerex Imperial Fleet station is in the belt along with several mechanicum solar forges and 3 major mining facilities. The Ice Angel chapter has one of their space fortresses in the belt as well. However, the Shatt-el-Hai asteroid belt is home to several species of abyssal drakes. This belt contains the highest concentration of abyssal drakes in the Imperium.
Nearly 90 percent of the belt is deemed unsafe for imperials due to drake infestation. However, four human tribes inhabit the belt outside imperial safe zones living off the drakes and trading with the system planets.
Once every 7.3 years, Imperial calendar (10 years system calendar), the four tribes gather for the Assiblyo-Qua. A hunting game that originally determined which tribe can claim certain territorial rights. Now, there is also a hunt for those who wish to become an Ice Angel.
Chapter 1 - Patience
Of all of his close battle brothers, Brother Miqit was the most patient.
Through numerous campaigns his patience has been one of his greatest strengths. He first discovered the importance of patience as an Ice Angel scout in the Siptik Wars, silently waiting in ship debris for the rebellious Howling Bat Brigade ships to inspect. Then as they did, the scouts would fire tracker beacons, timed bombs, or other various devices onto the unsuspecting ships before launching surprise assaults. After all, space warfare is what the Ice Angels were known for.
Nearly 9 decades have past since Brother Miqit has become a full battle brother, now one more trial is testing his patience. The veteran Squad Uttuakki had its own trial and he was determined to pass it. Step one was simple, be allowed to participate in the trial through heroic deeds. Step two was a bit more interesting.
In the asteroid belt of Shatt-el-Hai, Abyssal Drakes by the millions live and feed. There are dozens of different species all of which have different strengths and weaknesses, but at this time Brother Miqit was only looking for one kind. The dreaded Ice Dangler Drake.
At the edge of a large conglomeration of ice shards, Brother Miqit waited. Ice Danglers were known to lay in wait in similar locales. They hide in the outskirts of the ice fields and surrounded themselves with some of the rock shards using their tentacles to hold them in place making them nearly invisible. Finally they grab an ice shard or a dead smaller drake and hold it next to their rocky forms using it as bait for drakes.
Brother Miqit had taken nearly 18 hours just to find a good ice field. For the past 46 hours he has been waiting trying to locate one of these Ice Danglers, hoping to see one strike at one of the lesser drakes. Right now there appears to be 4 smaller species of drakes in the ice field feeding off minerals in the ice or each other.
After taking a look at his chronometer in his HUD he began to recite his liturgies while checking over his gear. First he examined his bolt pistol, the white body just as clean as the day he had received it. He holstered the pistol before pulling out his combat knife. The ornate hilt was formed to resemble feathered wings while the handle ended in a light blue ice shard. Next he moved onto his 4 meter magna spear. To heavy and large to use in any atmosphere the spear was perfect for piercing the armored sides of the large drakes in space. Finally he reexamined the tip of the spear making sure the thermal charge was still ready to deliver its death blow.
As he completed his check a shadow came over his position. A 14 meter Cobalt Drake glided over propelled by its own gaseous discharge, the Cobalt Drake was known for its speed and ferocity. As the smaller drakes began to hide or flee the Cobalt Drake expelled a burst of gas so powerfully that Miqit’s asteroid began to rotate. Miqit waited for his rock to fully come around before moving. As the ice field came back into view he saw that the Cobalt Drake had a firm grasp on a smaller Speckled Dust Drake. The dust drake was already dead from the Cobalts metallic talons. Through several smaller bursts the Cobalt Drake stopped itself on the edge of the ice field and began to tear off the tough outer shell of the dust drake.
While holding his magna spear in both hands he watched, this is what he was waiting for. As the Cobalt Drake concentrated on its meal, an asteroid began to move from below the ice field. As the form got closer it began to shed its rocky shell to reveal its monstrous bulbous form. Tentacles unfurled, its solar wings expanded blocking out the star light from below.
For reasons unknown, Miqit hesitated. He never hesitated. The central orb of the drake was 20 meters in diameter but the wings were at least another 25 meters wide. The sheer size of the Ice Dangler was staggering. The eye stalks on the Ice Dangler Drake were all focused on the Cobalt Drake. He had to make his move. He had to intercept the Dangler at the moment the drakes met.
Using his jump pack he launched off his asteroid. Both hands on his spear he began to line up his thrust. He only had one chance. Even though he was moving quickly through space it seemed like a silent eternity before he reached the drakes. The Ice Dangler Drake let out a psychic screech of anticipation just as he got into range of the Cobalt Drake. The Cobalt attempted to burst away but two of the Danglers tentacles were hold fast. Regardless, the burst was enough to change the drakes trajectory. Brother Miqit refired his pack to adjust but it was too late. As he thrust his spear at the Dangler instead of a deep piercing attack it became a glancing blow. The thermal charge went off destroying the end of the spear along with one of the Danglers wings.
The psychic screech turned into a scream of pain. Miqit’s head throbbed immediately. The Cobalt Drake took this opportunity to slash and burst out of the grasp of the Dangler, but the Danglers Tongue spear pierced the cobalts body and began to reel him in. The Ice Dangler Drake began to look around its bulk with its tentacles trying to locate Miqit. Once it had, it began to rotate to bring about its tentacles. Knowing that his best chance to kill the beast had passed, he patiently waited once again for the right opportunity to strike. Pulling out his pistol and knife he recited a prayer to the Emperor and Sanguinius. The remaining solar wing of the beast blocked out the suns light, leaving Miqit to stare down the beast in the dark.
The Dangler had too many eyes to fire at and too tough a hide to shoot at with his pistol. Bringing an inferno pistol would have been too easy. Seeing that the Dangler had already used his tongue spear on the cobalt drake, the Dangler reached out with one of its eyed tentacles to grasp Miqit. The Dangler was beginning to crack the cobalts shell with its jaws when Miqit lined up his attack. The inside of the Danglers mouth was its weakest point. As the eyed tentacle pulled him in he stabbed the eye with his knife and fired a full clip into the beasts’ mouth. The screech returned and Miqit reloaded with his pistol with angelic speed. The Dangler shoved Miqit into its mouth and tried to crush him with renewed vigor, but the bulk of the Cobalt body was keeping giving Miqit enough room to avoid the majority of the crushing teeth but he had merely moments before both him and cobalt drake were crushed into mush.
Miqit stuck his blade into the side of the beasts’ mouth and began to fire every bullet in his remaining clip into the beast. Chunks of flesh and gore began to fill the mouth. The pressure built and he felt the metal of his jump pack begin to buckle. When he had expended the clip he realized the pressure from the jaws had stopped. The beast wasn’t moving any more and neither were the eye tentacles that he could still see in space.
Once again Miqit prayed to Sanguinius and thanked his blessed bolt pistol. After several minutes he extracted himself from the body of the Ice Dangler. Removing his jump pack he examined the damage and discovered that one jet was still functional. After putting the jump pack on he grabbed the remaining wing of the Ice Dangler and began to jet through space dragging the Dangler behind him.
When he returned to Shattermantle he would gift the Ice Dangler to Muttabriqu and if found worthy Muttabriqu would share a cup of the Danglers ice cold blood with Miqit making him part of the veteran unit.
Chapter 2 – Squad Uttuakki
“How are you enjoying your first mission as an Uttuakki?” Bel Uri shouted from his crouched position. Miqit peaked around the back of the hemorrhaging tanker he was using as cover, the smell of some sort of sweet liquid seeping through his filtered helmet. “hmph! It certainly has been interesting” he managed to say before firing his meltagun at an incoming Ork Burna Boy incinerating the top half of its body.
“OH, come on Miqit! At least let ONE get here!” Bel Uri said while clenching his powerfist. The ork shots were bouncing all over the scrap pile he was using as cover.
“The Emperor gave us blessed bolt pistols; you should put yours to work.” Miqit replied as he moved back behind cover. The arms fire from the other side of the hanger was still heavy and keeping them from pushing forward.
Bel Uri was peaking over the top of his scrap metal pile when a side door about 60 feet from his flank flew off its hinges. Both Bel Uri and Miqit turned just in time to see a wave of Orks pouring out of the door. The lead ork was moving full speed towards them, his cleavers waving above his head.
“FOR SANGUINIUS!” Bel Uri shouted as he leapt up from his crouch to meet the Ork charge. Miqit adjusted and tried to keep some cover between himself and the orks with guns, but he realized that he would soon be surrounded. With a prayer on his lips he charged in Bel Uri’s wake, quickly coming to his brother’s aid.
Bel Uri was a blizzard of death, his chainsword parrying and deflecting blows while his powerfist destroyed everything he punched. Bel Uri was far from the largest marine in the Ice Angel chapter, but the speed in which his chainsword and powerfist worked made him one of the best close combat specialists in the chapter.
Miqit stood back to back with Bel Uri firing his meltagun and bolt pistol at anything approaching from their flank. After a few seconds of close quarter fighting a dozen orks had fallen to the Ice Angel assault and the remaining orks were turning to flee, even the orks with guns were fleeing. Bel Uri begun to chuckle as he surveyed his handy work, Miqit immediately took cover behind the nearest piece of machinery searching for targets.
Bel Uri gave a quick look around before saying, “Be calm brother, these orks are no match for the Astartes, especially the Ice Angel Chapter. This would be so much more entertaining if this Rokk hadn’t dropped all of its Orks on the planet surface already” Revving his chainsword to remove some of the gore that had accumulated on its blade, Bel Uri turned towards the first door they were attempting to breach.
“Come Miqit, let us see if we can’t find our way through this cursed pile of space debris.”
Bel Uri jogged over to the door with Miqit right behind him. The lights in the space vessel turned off leaving them in darkness. A light blue light turned on in both of their helmets, objective two had been completed. Sarabda, Tirid, and Idiptu had destroyed the generator system that was powering this section of the Rokk. As Bel Uri and Miqit began to silently move forward in the darkness the power suddenly came back online. Lights turned back on and the sound of several thousand engines kicked back on. The light blue light in their helmets turned back off. The objective wasn’t as completed as they thought.
As silently as snowflakes landing on ice, the two black armored figures moved through the halls attempting to reach their objective. Somewhere in this sector was a large hanger that they intended to open.
Bel Uri rounded a corner and dispatched a running snotling with his knee before pausing to look down three tunnels. Miqit came up to Bel Uri and confirmed that nothing was behind him.
“Which way Brother Uri?” Miqit said while trying to read some of the ork graffiti.
Bel Uri pointed to the right with his chainsword as Miqit pointed to the path in front of them. Bel Uri cocked his head trying to determine why the middle path was chosen. That’s when he saw it. In orange paint on a piece of rusted metal was “DA HNGER” Bel Uri took one step towards the center path when a large explosion erupted from their left. The hallway shuddered from the shock wave the explosion created. The explosion was followed by what must have been cannon fire. The rapid booms were soon turned into what sounded like a building crashing. Yellow flashing lights appeared in the bottom left of their HUD. Bel Uri and Miqit were immediately running full speed down the hall way towards the cannon fire.
“Bel Uri….. Miqit…. come in” a voice in their helmet sounded.
“Muttabriqu we are in bound, what in the Emperors throne is firing?!” Bel Uri asked.
A short pause in the cannon fire was interrupted by what sounded like someone tearing steel, the screaming metal soon turned into a loud plang.
“According to Umru you should be coming up right behind it, disable target immediately Rabishu is pinned and Bennu is MIA.”
Within seconds Bel Uri and Miqit rounded a corner and found themselves over looking an extremely large hanger. The hanger was hundreds of different floors and levels with cranes and equipment stretching in every direction. They couldn’t even see it all; it seemed to expand all the way around the Rokk. Across from them the closed hanger door appeared to be an extremely large metal mouth. Below them and to their right was what appeared to be the top half of a 7 story mechanical ork. It’s right arm a large pitch fork and its left arm was 5 cannons strapped together. It had its back to them; the cannons in its left arm were being reloaded by about 20 grots using all sorts of cranes and machines. As the rage in Bel Uri began to well, Miqit held his brothers shoulder and pointed over to what appeared to be an ork space bomber waiting to be reloaded.
Without further hesitation they ran along the wall towards the bomber as fast as they could. According to the shouts the cannons were almost done being reloaded. Bel Uri and Miqit jumped down two stories onto another walk way. They were now on the same level as the bomber. Bel Uri burst onto the landing and bull rushed an unsuspecting ork who gave a loud grunt before being punched by a powerfist. Miqit went straight towards the metal brace holding the bomber in place and fired his meltagun. The shot disintegrated the metal and left only an orange glow. Bel Uri was searching for something else to kill when Miqit shouted “URI USE THE TRUCK!”
Pushing the anger aside, Bel Uri concentrated on figuring out how to start the truck. A hissing sound came from below them and Miqit saw the pitched fork arm of the mounted stompa course with energy. Looking further down the hanger up against a destroyed section of wall he witnessed three black armored marines scattering. The energy of the fork was building, its pitch almost reaching a level that he couldn’t hear.
A rumble behind him soon turned into a roar that shook the floor. Bel Uri was sitting behind the large truck. With a change in grumble he got the truck moving, it went about 30 feet before crashing into the back of the bomber. Using all the trucks power Bel Uri pushed the bomber over the edge of the docking bay towards the unsuspecting stompa. The plane crashed into the stompas head and the resulting explosion ignited the cannons unused shells. Bel Uri stopped the truck on the edge of the hanger and not feeling that his job was done, got out and pushed the ork truck over the edge as well for good measure.
“Perfect timing Brothers!” Muttabriqu said into the vox. “Proceed to way point Phi”
A new way point appeared in their HUD. Leaving the hanger Miqit and Bel Uri began to move towards it. Killing a handful of grots as they passed, they descended several levels; the two Ice Angels left the normal metal hallways and were soon in a stone passage.
“This must be the asteroid center of the rokk.” Miqit stated “It may limit our communication range.”
Bel Uri flashed a HUD symbol for a halt before a handful of orks rounded the bend firing their guns. Rounds exploded off the walls and armor of the Ice Angels, unphased Miqit took aim and fired his meltagun at the closest ork, melting its stomach along with its gun. Bel Uri charged “FOR THE ICE!” he shouted as he met an ork in melee. Miqit moved up and with his left hand pulled out his bolt pistol and fired once taking out the light above Bel Uri’s head. Bathing the orks and marines in darkness the orks began to panic and fire sporadically. More orks were dieing from friendly fire then from Miqit or Bel Uri. The sound of dieing orks was soon replaced by the sound of running ones.
Bel Uri began to pursue when static filled his vox.
“repeat…… Muttabriqu repeat.” Bel Uri stated.
“Brot……s Bennu” the static filled voice said.
“Bennu! What is your position and status?!” Bel Uri asked with urgency in his voice.
Only static filled his vox but a new way point was on his HUD. Somewhere below him was Brother Bennu. Miqit and Bel Uri were once again moving but this time not towards way point Phi. Coming up to a shaft it seemed they were right above Bennu. A smokey haze was making visibility tough, a stench was also seeping through their rebreathers. Looking around Miqit and Bel Uri determined they will have to climb down the rocky shaft.
“Bennu, report!” Bel Uri once again asked but this time using the outside speaker in his helm.
A cough from below was all the response they needed before both Miqit and Bel Uri were climbing down the shaft. In a matter of minutes they were down the shaft and looking down into a larger cavern. A pile of refuse filled the cavern nearly to the top and off to one side was the form of a crushed and damaged Ice Angel. Surrounding the armored form were nearly two dozen bodies of squigs.
“What happen to you Bennu, you look like a space wolf?” Miqit asked.
Bennu chuckled and then coughed, “The Emperor protects! However, I seemed to have fallen in a pit. Did you destroy that stompa?”
“Bel Uri dropped a bomber on it” Miqit stated. Bennu tilted his head quizzically.
“Status Bennu?” Bel Uri said while bending down to inspect his brother. Bennu had squig gore all over his hands up to his elbows. His leg was twisted at a horrible angle and most likely would have to be replaced. However his worst wound was his left side that was severely burnt and melted from arm pit to thigh.
“Broken leg, most of my left side is heavily damaged; I also am out of bolt pistol magazines and missing my chain sword.” Bennu stated manner of factly.
Bel Uri nodded, handed over his bolt pistol ammo, and began to pick up Bennu. Miqit stepped away looking for Bennus chainsword and an exit. Climbing to the top of the refuse mound he saw what looked like a chainsword hilt. He pulled it out from the refuse and was taken back by what he found. The chainsword was built for a space marine, but not for an Ice Angel. The bottom half was all that remained and its quartered coloring suggested another chapter. After wiping away some of the filth he saw a phrase etched into the blade. “The Tears from the Emperor will cleanse t….” The remainder of the phrase was missing along with the remainder of the blade.
Attaching it to his belt he moved away looking for a path. He saw several tunnels but only one looked clear enough to let them pass. Hearing his two brothers moving towards him he hoisted up his meltagun and moved towards the tunnel entrance. Bel Uri followed behind all while supporting Brother Bennu.
The tunnel was dark and after only a few bends no ambient light reached the walls. Miqit moved forward through the unfinished walls once again reciting a litany of patience. His steady breathing and steps only interrupted by the occasional crunch of garbage under his feet.
After a few more minutes of winding tunnels they were heading deeper into the rokk. The garbage under there feet was soon replaced with solid stone and the tunnel began to get thinner. Soon the three Ice Angels were moving sideways down the tunnel. Miqit, leading with his meltagun, turned one final tight corner before arriving in a chamber slightly larger then the hallway, with one sturdy looking dusty door.
Shoulder to shoulder the Marines stood. The door wasn’t quiet as tall as they were but wide enough for them to get through. Bel Uri got ready to open the door, Miqit prepared to move in, Bennu whispered a prayer to the Emperor. Bel Uri put some pressure on the door, realized it was locked, and then punched it with his powerfist. The old door exploded from the impact and before the shards had even reached the floor Miqit was in the room moving down the left side seeking a target. Bel Uri was in the door way holding Bennu up who was also seeking targets with his orange bolt pistol.
There may not have been any Orks to kill or maim but what they did find made the rage in all three marines begin to boil. All three chanted a prayer to the Emperor. The room was a stone room with a tall vaulted ceiling. Across from them was another door, much sturdier then the one they bashed with some sort of bulky locking mechanism. Chains dangled from the ceiling and the room was dominated by some sort of machine with a handful of claw arms. On the center dais in the room was a mangled space marine, one of the claw arms was pinning him to the floor. There were a total of 7 pits in the room; each one had the remains of a human or ork prisoner.
For several seconds, Miqit stood perfectly still wondering how any space marine could be captured by an Ork. Bel Uri was beginning to tremble with anger. Bennu began to chant the litany of inner piece. Realizing that Bennu was trying to help out Bel Uri, Miqit added his voice to the chant. The inner turmoil in Bel Uri began to subside and soon he was also chanting. After finishing the final verse, Bel Uri took a deep breath. He looked at Bennu. Nothing was said and even though their helmets were on, Miqit could tell that his two battle brothers were having a silent conversation.
*****
Bel Uri took a deep breath and assisted Bennu across the room towards the sturdy door. Miqit cautiously approached the marine under the claw. The naked space marine looked rather pale and was without any of his armor. Very precise cuts and wounds were all over his body. Every single Imperial tattoo on his body was scarred over from various kinds of wounds and burns. It looked like he had a lot of broken ribs and one of his legs was broken in several places. His dark hair was matted with moisture and upon closer inspection he appeared to have several odd pins in his spine. The claw that was pinning him to the floor looked like it was meant to shear lumber; instead it had all sorts of rods and metal welded to it. One pincer had pierced the marine’s good thigh while the other pincer was mashing the marine’s arm to the floor.
Bel Uri sat Bennu down on some sort of engine block and turned, “Can you tell what chapter he is from Miqit?” he asked.
Miqit tried to gain some information from the tattoos but they were too destroyed to read. “No, he is too scarred and doesn’t seem to have any legible markings on him besides the aquila that I can make out. “ He leaned closer and examined the marine’s face. His one eye that wasn’t swollen seemed to be moving behind his eye lid. “Brothers! He still lives.”
“Leave no brother behind, “Bel Uri responded, “Can you carry him out of here Miqit?”
“Certainly, unarmored he shouldn’t even slow me down.” Miqi responded before further examining the claw. Following his gaze Bel Uri saw the controls for the claw weren’t far to his right. He moved over and saw that the panel looked a lot like it was at one time an auspex unit for a chimera. Over all of the buttons ork glyphs were drawn in blue ink. He pushed several and nothing happened, finally he found an unmarked switch that actually fired up the engine that Bennu was sitting on.
“By the Emperor!” Bennu said before hastily getting up off the quaking engine onto his good leg and hoping over by the door.
Now that the engine was on several of the buttons lit up, he quickly moved the claw up a few feet out of the marine’s body. As the claw exited his leg, Miqit examined the body once again before picking him up and throwing him over his shoulder. Miqi had the naked figure over his left shoulder and pulled his meltagun back out with his right arm.
“I think it is time we left this rokk, only a few more hours before the Frozen Rage returns.” Bel Uri said while moving back Bennu.
Chapter 3 - Silence
In the silence he closed his eyes. He concentrated on the feeling of the harness holding him in place. He felt his brothers around him. He moved his right hand over to feel the meltagun Kwu-akki in its lock down position. He was honored to be wielding such an ancient and revered weapon. This was his first mission in the veteran Squad Uttuakki, he had been training with the Squad for months during warp travel but he still felt a hint of excitement from the thought of warring with his new unit.
Miqit opened his eyes and looked up. Like all Ice Angel vehicles, the drop pod he was in was bathed in a blue light. To his right was Bel Uri, one of the oldest members of the unit. His right hand was encased in a powerfist that had slain thousands of various aliens. To Miqit’s left and across from him were three other members of the unit Tirid, Idiptu, and Sarabda. Per unit tradition, instead of white weapons all of theirs were orange and each member had painted simple runes or designs on their helmets. Sarabda, who wielded the squad’s other meltagun, looked up from his reverie and caught the gaze of Miqit. Sarabda was the biggest marine in the squad but also the quietest. Even though they were all wearing their helmets Miqit could almost feel the gaze coming from Sarabda. Miqit gave a slight nod and Sarabda returned the gesture.
The boisterous Bel Uri took a deep breathe before beginning his mission checks. After a few seconds of system checks a prayer was given by Idiptu. The moment the prayer was finished the soft blue light of the pod was interrupted by a flashing yellow light. They had entered the fire path of the rokk they were about to infiltrate.
Five drop pods were approaching the rokk while their ship, the Frozen Rage, was attacking from range onto the other side. By the time the stealth drop pods were sited by the Orks the first was already adjusting its trajectory to land. The first pod hit the rokk and exploded sending out an EMP wave to temporarly disrupt all electronics. The next two pods landed, further away from the first, opened and began to spew forth explosive rounds into the nearby ork structures. Meanwhile the last two pods landed by the first pod and rapidly deployed the 10 man squad.
Miqit, Bel-Uri, Tirid, Idiptu, and Sarabda headed towards the nearest Ork tower, light was still pouring out from under its wrecked form. Rabishu, Umru, Sidana, Bennu, and Muttabriqu headed in the other direction towards the great Rokk hanger. Over the vox the sergeant Muttabriqu chimed in, “Brothers! Resistance appears to be light, let us show this xenos filth what mistake they have made by letting Ice Angels on their Rokk!”
The squad responded with shouts and grunts. Upon reaching the tower Miqit and Sarabda further opened up their entrance with some melta charges. Several ork bodies floated out into the void of space before the five marines pushed themselves through their new entrance. Once through a nearby air lock Bel Uri and Miqit split off towards the hanger while the other three marines went towards the generators. Squad Uttuakki progress through much of the outer rokk before the intruder siren in the rokk was even turned on.
*****
“AAAAAAHHHHHH” was all the warning Bel-Uri needed. Sidestepping with super human speed he dodged the diving ork. Surprised at his speed the ork jammed his big choppa into the floor where Bel-Uri was moments ago. Before the ork could pull the choppa out of the metal floor Bel-Uri was running him through with his chainsword. The orange tip of the blade hit the floor before being pulled back out.
Three shots rang out from Bennu’s bolt pistol. An ork fell off the balcony above and landed not far from Bel-Uri’s latest victim. The long hallway was oddly shaped with several floors of balconies above, both walls looked to be exterior hulls of imperial vessels with balconies and passageways cut in. A dozen or so ork bodies now decorated the floor.
“I’m out” Bennu stated while scanning the balconies.
Miqit slid out of cover, crossed the hallway, and handed him his last clip. Bennu reloaded as Bel-Uri returned. “We must move on, now that we have signals again we should be able to reach waypoint Phi shortly.”
Miqit went back to his side of the hall and picked up the naked unconscious marine. His bolt pistol was in his hand with only a few rounds left in it. Bel-Uri, with Bennu, began to move down the hall as fast as they could manage when a distant explosion was heard. The lights in the hall dimmed and the light blue light in their HUD flashed on again.
Bel-Uri approached the corner to a hallway when a large garage door at the end of the hall opened. Before the door was even half way open Miqit holstered his pistol and threw his last frag grenade into opening. The four marines were heading down the side hallway when the small explosion went off. The sound of screaming orks immediately followed.
At the next intersection, Miqit took up the lead. Bel-Uri was still assisting the wounded Bennu but they were setting a quick pace. They went through several blast doors before entering a large room. The hexagon shaped room had four entrances and was tiered down two meters in the center of the room; some sort of control panel was dormant in the center. All around the perimeter were short metal walls that were welded to the floor. 30 maybe 40 ork bodies littered the room; most had been bashed or crushed by what looked to be powerfist attacks. To their right Muttabriqu stood.
Muttabriqu had been squad leader for nearly 150 years. His armor was covered with purity seals and his pointy helmet had a large wavy orange line painted vertically over his left eye. His powerfist crackled and his plasma pistol still smoked from its most recent use.
“Welcome brothers” he said. His smooth voice sounded calm and confident as always.
“We must move to our exit immediately, the orks are finally beginning to organize their counter assault. “
He paused “Who are you carrying Brother Miqit?” he said quizzically.
“We found this prisoner after we located Brother Bennu, he has not spoken but is still alive.” Miqit responded.
“Where was….” The sound of boots and orks shouting interrupted Muttabriqu’s sentence. Muttabriqu stared down the hall away across from him. “Hanger is behind me, move out.”
Without hesitation the marines moved past Muttabriqu and he quickly followed.
They traveled a short distance before passing through another blast door which led them into some sort of staging area. Nearly every door lining the walls was damaged or had scrap in it. They headed to their right. The hallway they were traversing was large enough for a land raider to fit in but there was little cover besides some random truck or tank parts. In front of them an explosion blew out a door larger then a rhino. The door flew across the hall with a clang. Before the smoke had begun to dissipate Tirid and Idiptu were in the hall looking both directions searching for targets. Their black armor was covered in soot and grease.
“Perfect timing as always” Bel-Uri shouted. Sarabda walked out from the hallway, nearly half a head taller then Tirid and Idiptu, his chest plate was heavily damaged and the barrel of his meltagun was sheared off.
Sarabda was the quietest of Squad Uttuakki but the speed in which he tactically assessed situations was nearly precognizant. He moved towards Bel-Uri and took Bennu in order to let Bel-Uri the use of both hands.
“Muttabriqu, the Frozen Rage is 12 minutes out. We have secured transport but according to my scans they are gathering on the perimeter of the hanger. “Umru said through the vox.
“We are in route Brother Umru, eta six minutes.”Muttabriqu responded.
Without words spoken or commands given, Muttabriqu and his marines ran down the hall. The unencumbered marines moved ahead and peered down any open doors or passageways. Sarabda ran with Bennu in his arms as if he were a child, Bennu wielded two bolt pistols.
As they approached the end of the hall they entered once again into the vast hanger. Smoke now filled the hanger, destroyed weapons and bombed out vehicles were on nearly every platform. The vast mouth that protected the hanger was now open, only the field now protected the hanger from space. Shots rang out to their left and when they looked over they saw a platform above them being peppered with fire. Muttabriqu took point and began to wind a path up the wall crossing empty platforms and rumbling machines.
The marines had covered nearly half the distance when an ork scream came over the speaker system and rang through the hanger. “KILL DA HUMIES! WAAAAAGH” In response hundreds of ork voices bellowed out their rage. Orks began to poor in from doors and openings on nearly every level.
“Up two more, over to the ship, and then down on top. Tirid, Idiptu and Bel-Uri rear guard. Move” Muttabriqu said to his unit over the vox.
After a few more platforms they could see clearly the ship that their fellow brothers had commandeered. It appeared to be a rebuilt thunderhawk. Some of the old paint could still be seen under the bulky metal plates the orks had installed. One wing was entirely scratch built and seemed to be sagging giving the entire ship a sad look. The main turret on top had also been replaced by what looked like a chimera autocannon turret. The entire front end had been replaced and instead of having a front ramp there were two side by side demolisher cannons covered in red paint.
At point, Muttabriqu was dispatching the few orks that got in their way, but most of the action was going on behind them. Bel-Uri was in hand to hand with what looked to be a constant stream of orks coming out of a side tunnel they had just passed. Tirid and Idiptu were killing all of the orks that spilled out around Bel-Uri with bolt pistol or chainswords. Idiptu was beginning to chant a battle hymn, his beautiful voice raising everyone’s spirits.
In front of them and now down a level Rabishu and Sidana were laying down a constant stream of fire from heavy weapons. The ork contraptions they were firing were horribly inaccurate but shot out such large caliber ammo that it had torn up a lot of the surrounding platforms. Rabishu was actually shaking from constant rumble his cannon were causing. They were surrounded but the orks had no easy way to reach the platform with the thunderhawk.
Only one platform away before they were directly above the thunderhawk pad. Miqit was fourth in the row of marines hustling along. Muttabriqu was on the platform over by a recessed ladder urging Sarabda and Bennu to climb down. The platform looked more like a dock stretching straight out into the void of the hanger. It was wide enough for two dreadnoughts to stand side by side.
Sharp whistles sounded below and the explosions that followed shook their platform. The crack of autocannon fire responded. The hanger lit up with a bright light as something exploded on a distant platform. Sarabda and Bennu disappeared down the ladder moving towards the thunderhawk. Miqit was about to move down when the doors on the closest platform next to them opened up. Out walked an ork machine with a large claw arm and some sort of cannon. It fired at Muttabriqu, he put up his fist to protect his helmet. The ammo appeared to be scrap metal with a few stikkbombs in the mix. It stuck in his armor and one particularly large piece tore off part of his back pack. The reloading mechanism on the killa kan was already dumping more “ammo” in the cannon. Muttabriqu was about to launch over when Miqit came running past. Miqit jumped from their platform towards the kan. Kwu-akki was in his hands. His jump sent him flying over the space between the platforms, he leveled his meltagun and waited until the last moment. The claw arm began to reach out to grab him but at the last second Miqit fired the holy Kwu-akki. The shot went into the visor of the kan and out the back. He then crashed right into it knocking the kan over on its back. Miqit stood up and looked back at Muttabriqu who nodded his head in approval when a hail of scrap metal shot and bounced all over the downed kan. Two more kans were hobbling onto the platform from the open garage. Miqit took cover behind the downed kan when Muttabriqu jumped the gap and engaged the closest kan.
By now Sarabda and Bennu had reached the thunderhawk. Tirid had picked up the unconscious marine and carried him down as well. Bel-Uri and Idiptu were still holding off the orks approached from the other side.
Muttabriqu was dancing with the killa kan easily dodging all of the klaw attacks before he slid around the kan out of the klaws reach and began to tear apart exposed wiring and punching with his powerfist into the kans back. Miqit waited until the other kan turned to face Muttabriqu before running up and taking out one of its legs with his meltagun. Kwu-akki sang with a constant hiss as he fired twice more, destroying the cannon arm and finally one in the back of the kan.
Down the hall more orks were approaching. Miqit took up a good firing position when Muttabriqu threw the last of his grenades down the hall. “We must move brother, time is running short.” Muttabriqu stated. The thunderhawk fired up its engines and several heavy bolters on the side began to search for targets before spitting out destruction.
They both ran and jumped towards the ladder platform when the grenades silenced the charging orks. Bel-Uri was already moving down and Idiptu was covering him when they arrived. Idiptu stayed until all of the marines were below him before he climbed down the ladder. The fire onto the thunderhawk gunship had increased and the ship had taken several hits but still held. Idiptu ran onto the downed ramp into the ship before Rabishu and Sidana gave up their firing positions and joined them. The Thunderhawk was now firing in every direction its cannons could. Tirid was actually in an exposed bubble on the top manually firing the autocannon turret at the surrounding orks.
As the ramp closed, several large inner claws clamped over the ramp and held it tight. Two more blast doors separated the marines from the exit now. The inner most room held Bennu, the unconscious marine, Miqit and Sarabda. Umru and Muttabriqu were in the cockpit. The other marines were throughout the ship manning weapon controls.
The thunderhawks engines began to rev up. The lumbering ship picked up off the platform and the landing gear went inside the belly of the ship. The ship began to list to one side before Umru sent the ship forward out into space. Before they crossed the field Umru did send a signal to blow out the remaining charges he had set. The field protecting the hanger then faded and failed. All of the unprotected orks in the hanger were sucked out into space and the vehicle fires went out.
As the hawk sped up away from the Orkk Rokk the ship passed a stream of small missile followed up by one large missile the size of their thunderhawk. The missiles entered the now unprotected hanger and destroyed the hanger. The larger missile went through all the damaged structure and when it exploded the entire rokk was blown into chunks. Debris peppered the fleeing thunderhawk but no serious damage was sustained.
The Squad all cheered for another successful mission and for the Emperors grace. Miqit sat down next to the wounded marine and once again took a moment to examine him.
“Squad Uttuakki, this is Captain Ruusa, excellent work! The Emperor shines his light upon you as always.”
“The Emperor shines his light on all Ice Angels, captain.” Muttabriqu responded.
“Casualties?” the captain asked.
“None, several wounds and we have located a prisoner marine.” He responded.
“Hanger 1 is clear for your landing” one of the ships servitors chimed in.
The Frozen Rage had adjusted itself so that the Thunderhawk wouldn’t need to turn at all but simply glide in and stop. As the Thunderhawk came to a clumsy landing the brothers were gathering in the center room.
Bel-Uri was already weaving a tale of their mission. Tirid and Idiptu were adding in their own flavor as usual. Miqit was about to say something when a scar on the downed marines back caught his eye. The scar was done with a delicate knife and it was no larger then a bolter round. It was a series of three runes that looked alien and not ork. Concentrating for a second, Miqit commited the runes to memory before rejoining the tale his brothers were weaving. Miqit could already see it; tonight in the Hall of Time Bel Uri would be in front of the chapter telling his tale, The Tale of Miqit’s first mission and the fall of the ork rokk.
Chapter 4 – Mi-Luqua Vaz
“Vaz, we’ve got a blip coming through the hatch on your 2. Move to engage, I’ll cover”
The only response he gave was an affirmative blip sent through his hud. Mi-Luqua Vaz turned and moved up towards the hatch. Two of his battle brothers layed down covering fire while he advanced. The metal floor was covered in rust spots and blood, mainly ork blood. Vaz came upon a large exhaust pipe and took cover. The pipe was bent at an odd angle as if the pipe had hit by a vehicle. The black smog was pouring out the end and out of several cracks. The hatch was built into a wall that supported one of the sky platforms docking pads.
Two loud clangs were followed by a bellowing yell. The hatch swung open just as a huge ork burst through. The ork wielded some sort of arm cannon that belched rounds as big as a marine’s fist. Vaz kept his head down and saw the destruction the ork was creating on the Ice Angel position. Several of his squad members had to dive for better cover, Brother Juuk wasn’t quite so lucky and had his foot blown clean off.
The ork stomped forward and walked past the exhaust pipe. Using the smog as cover Vaz rounded the other side of the pipe. No other orks were exiting the wall hatch that he could see. The ork had taken several more thundering steps and was laying a hail of fire towards the tactical squad. Vaz stepped away from the pipe and pulled up his bolter. In a split second he had fully examined the orks heavily modified body armor. The only weakness he could spot was the ammo feeder and some patchs over the orks right shoulder.
Vaz fired two shots into the ammo feeder and two into the patch. The ork lurched forward as the small explosion rocked his body. Vaz lowered his bolter as the ork slowly pivoted around. The orks gun arm was limp on its side and gray smoke was oozing out of the ruined ammo feeder. The orks bionic eye was nothing more then a laser sight but its good eye was glaring at Vaz with a level of hate that displayed how much that gun meant to him.
The Ork’s choppa slid out of a forearm sheath as he leapt at Vaz. Vaz tumbled to his left to avoid the downward chop. The ork bellowed in rage as he landed and followed his next step with a thrust towards Vaz’s black armored stomach. With few options available to him Vaz smacked away the huge hooked blade with his bolter. The blade only scratched his armor but the hooks pulled the bolter out of his hands. The ork chuckled and with a flick sent the bolter flying away from them. Its clatter was only interrupted by the fire fight that was going on behind them. Other orks were moving up to engage the outnumbered tactical squad but to Vaz, his focus was on this huge bionic ork.
Vaz took a glimpse down at his sacred dagger when the ork quick stepped towards him. Vaz side stepped the orks thrust and punched the ork several times in what he thought was thin armor. It turned out to be solid metal. The ork began to laugh and went for an over head chop. Vaz stepped in towards the chop and upper cutted the ork. His fist connected with the orks metal jaw with such force that the implanted jaw tore out on one side and dangled. Letting go of the choppa the ork grabbed at Vaz and got a hold of his back pack. Instead of resisting Vaz let the ork pick him up. The ork was about to toss him towards the edge of the sky platform when Vaz reached out and grabbed the corner of the orks dangling jaw. The orks good eye bulged as his toss almost tore off the rest of his own jaw. Vaz’s feet barely touched the ground before he lept back up into the orks face. This time Vaz punched his fist through the orks unprotected mouth into its brain. The ork had a look of utter shock before his eye rolled back into his head and he fell backwards onto the platform.
Vaz once again looked down at his sacred dagger. He began to remember the nightmare that shamed his honor when ork fire grazed his armor. Mi-Luqua Vaz was once again diving for cover and soon had his bolter and was returning fire. These orks were not worthy of his rage, his blade would have to wait for a more worthy adversary.
Chapter 5 – Brother Frakatazuli
With a hiss and a quite kurr-chunk the sarcophagus sealed itself into the dreadnought frame. Several lights on the wall panels lit up blue and orange while other lights began to blink with increasing speed. Four armored plates covered over the sarcophagus to protect the ancient passenger. Brother Philosir stood behind the dreadnought checking its system. He looked out of place in his red tech priest armor but his servo arms worked the panels with a sense of familiarity.
Half a dozen servitors worked in the room readying the venerable dreadnought suit. Its black armor was oiled and prepared for battle; its hunter killer missile bays were fully loaded. The right arm was a typical dreadnought close combat weapon with built in meltagun but the left arm was still unattached. In the hall across from the dreadnought stood one more marine, his pointed helm in light blue and the zero gravity jump pack strapped across his back. Even though Captain Ruusa was in his armor, fully prepared for battle, he only stood a third as tall as the dreadnought.
Two servitors rolled up to the dreadnought and detached large cables from its rear paneling. As they placed the cables back on the wall Brother Philosir said a prayer to the Emperor. As he completed his prayer he pushed one final key before turning to the dreadnought.
Most of the remaining cables detached themselves from the suit and the dreadnought appeared to take a deep breath. The wide glass slit on the sarcophagus shield began to glow with an eerie blue light.
Brother Philosir stepped in front of the dreadnought and bowed his head. “Brother, I hope your slumber was peaceful. “
The dreadnought flexed its one attached arm and leaned forward to look down at the red armored marine. “Yes, Brother Philosir, the slumber was peaceful. May the Emperor bless your skills and constant vigilance.” The voice that came through the speaker system sounded like it was from an old poet, its Bhaalian accent very thick.
Brother Philosir bowed once again before stepping away to complete his task.
“Brother Frakatuzuli, I am glad to have you with us once again.” Captain Ruusa stated.
“Ah, Captain” the dreadnought said while several small sensors deployed across his back “I take it we’re not at Shattermantle yet?”
“Unfortunantly no, we have woken you for an important mission. We’ve been assisting an Imperial force that has been tasked with preventing the invasion of an Ork Waaaagh. A band of Space Wolves has been cleansing the planet while we’ve been purging space. I’d like you to……”
“Kill and destroy the xenos, yes yes. Since I am still missing an arm I assume I’m using the Anchor?” Frakatuzuli interrupted.
With a short chuckle at the ancient dreadnoughts assessment, Ruusa responded “You’re correct, would you like me to tell you about the mission or surprise you?”
With a hearty laugh the dreadnought shook the room. The last few cables detached and recoiled into the walls. “Fill me in on the ride over, just please tell me what made this mission so important.” He requested.
Captain Ruusa took a few steps back to give the dreadnought some room. “Squad Uttuakki infiltrated one of the medium sized rokks and returned with a wounded space marine from another chapter. He hasn’t woken from his wounds but should survive the ordeal. We think…..”
“AH, you want me to break into another Rokk so we can disable and search.” Frakatuzuli took a step forward. “Excellent idea Ruusa! I agree with you as usual.”
After one more step, the dreadnought suit was out of its docking station and the servitors began to reset the station for the suits eventual return. Brother Philosir walked around the dreadnought suit and gave one final blessing.
As Captain Ruusa watched the blessing he began to think back to the first time he saw Brother Frakatuzuli, more affectionately known in the Ice Angel Chapter as Frank. Back then the Captain was a newly initiated brother who had just joined his first tactical unit. Frakatuzuli was in his dreadnought suit even then and had been for thousands of years. Brother Frakatuzli was the oldest marine in the chapter and the only true Blood Angel left. As memories of battles flashed through his mind Brother Philosir completed the blessing.
Franks first step brought Captain Ruusa back from his reverie. He stepped out of the dreadnoughts path and watched him march towards one of the elevators. Brother Philosir walked up and stopped next to the captain.
“You know captain, “he paused “I have seen star ships obliterate planets, fellow marines cut down thousands of aliens in seconds. I have even seen xenos technology do unexplainable things. None of these compare to watching Brother Frakatuzuli at war.” Captain Ruusa nodded in agreement and responded “I am not sure if it’s his sheer power or the fact that he fought next to our blessed Primarch Sanguinus, but I agree.”
As the two Ice Angels stood in awe Brother Frakatuzuli reached the elevator and stepped in. The doors instantly closed behind him. The elevator moved downwards and then side ways to reach one of the securest parts of the ship. Deep inside the Frozen Rage was a specially designed vault, in it lay one of the Ice Angel’s oldest treasures. As the elevator doors opened Frank turned on his magnetic stabilizers in his legs. This hidden vault had no atmosphere and was home to the Anchor.
The huge dreadnought took several steps down the well worn path towards the center platform. Lights along the wall began to spin as the floor began to shift and open up. Two rings with servo arms came up around Frank as he stopped on the platform. To his left, a door on the floor opened and out came a huge claw like apparatus. In the claw itself was the Mark 0 Magna Grappler, known as the Anchor, the last of its kind.
The claw arm along with the servo arms moved and jostled into position while Frank stood motionless. In front of the massive dreadnought a single light flashed from red to green. The arms instantly went to work attaching the Anchor. Several onboard cameras pivoted to monitor the progress. Frank began to think back to the days when he first used the Anchor. After the Heresy the Blood Angels were split into smaller chapters. He became a member of the Angels Encarmine and after only a hundred years they had a small unit of specialists break off to form the current chapter, the Ice Angels. In one of their earliest wars they came across a sacred STC device. This device created the Mark 1 Magna Grapplers that most chapters now use, at least that’s what they told Mars.
The sacred STC actually created gigantic Magna Grapplers with twice the range and power of the standard issues ones used today. The downside was that they could only be welded by much larger dreadnoughts and even then it was difficult to function unless in a vacuum. The STC created 1 grappler every 7 days, but after 6 months of activity it suddenly died to never again awake. The Ice Angels created the current design and shared it with Mars and other chapters, but they have never been able to recreate the Mark 0 Magna Grapplers.
As the rings began to descend into the floor and the claw arm moved away, Frank ran a diagnostic on the Grappler before opening and closing the huge 5 pronged device. He powered up the built in multi-melta system before checking the chain recoil system.
Satisfied that everything was in working order he returned to the elevator and began his final journey to the dreadnought drop pod bay. It was time to visit an Ork Rokk, called Mekaroid.