I don't think he intends to murder him. I think it's part of a plan...

 Knightley wrote:
Ho Ho Ho, an inquisitor thinks he can stop a mantis warrior with a heavy bolter strapped to his arm.... my thinks it wont be so easy.

Building and building, I like the way your bringing this together Ice

I think you may have missed the part where Nefas waits to have the conversation until after the heavy bolter was removed.

hahah i thought it was still strapped to his arm too hahaha

“Because I have to kill you Inushi.”

Time slowed to a crawl as Inushi felt the weight of the words.

“Because I have to kill you Inushi.” The phrase echoed in his mind. What could he do? What could he say?

“Because I have to kill you Inushi.” It echoed again. How was he going to do it? Could he stop Nefas in time?

That was when he felt a cold barrel at the back of his head. Nelson. The servitor had a small arm that carried a melta pistol. The slight touch from the weapon sent a shiver through Inushi’s spine, he had been carrying the means to his own demise almost the entire time. How could he have been so blind?

The cold barrel tip began to warm up when Nefas raised an eye brow, “Unless you join me,” he hissed.

Inushi’s mind reeled at the thought, how could he join Nefas? Working for the Inquisition in any way was something he had never even considered. The possibility wasn’t even something he believed was possible given his chapters history. Then again, what would he have to do to become an agent? What had Jaska and the others given up to work for the Inquisition?

More importantly, what kind of people had they become? In a split second he saw all of the destruction they had caused and thought about all of the people that had died. Inushi tightened his jaw and stood tall before Nefas.

“You fight without honor, using deception and lies. You can not even trust your own soldiers with their own memories. I have seen you use questionable technology and now I learn you have been bartering with xenos.” Inushi narrowed his gaze. ”You have truly strayed far from the Emperor’s light Nefas.” He slowly shook his head, “I want nothing to do you with and your men, and if that means death.”

Inushi leaned his head back onto the now steaming pistol. His skin began to boil as hair burned away. “So be it,” he spat through gritted teeth.

The red eyes of Nefas stared back at him in silence. The smell of burnt flesh and hair began to linger, yet Inushi didn’t move.

“Why can’t you see what I am trying to do here? We saved an entire planet from an invasion that would have captured a planets worth of humans for that xenos filth and you think I am the dishonorable one?” Nefas flashed anger in his eyes, his red eyes bore into Inushi. There was a tone in Nefas’ voice that Inushi had never heard before, as quickly as he noticed it Nefas huffed. “You will never understand what it takes,” he trailed off. A glazed look over took his gaunt features.

“How will any one understand when everything you do is shrouded and hidden?” Inushi retorted.

“No one will and no one can, some knowledge is too dangerous.” Nefas hissed absentmindedly.

Inushi slowly shook his head, “Emperor have mercy on your soul Inquisitor,” he added.

Nefas refocused his attention to Inushi before he slowly stepped forward and grabbed Inushi’s head in both hands. His red eyes stared deep into Inushi’s and narrowed. In his last seconds Inushi felt pity for Nefas.

“Good bye Inushi,” was the last thing he heard.

Pleaded?

Pleaded??

Reasoned perhaps... I don't see a combat tested marine pleading over anything... even his imminent demise.

I think he would plea, not because he is afraid, because marines can not be. He is angry that he is about to be killed by an ally. He doesn't think it is right to be punished for simply having more information then he should. He is pleading because his death will not be an honorable one.

Then he is compounding his situation... pleading would be a dishonorable action for a marine. Plead for a the life of a brother, or an innocent perhaps. For themselves... never.

....NELSON??? IT WAS FREAKING NELSON???

Master Azalle you make me laugh.

To Gits point, I think most marines would not plead. Ideally they would all be honorable and stoic individuals but they are still humans each with their own faults. Inushi had some faults that had he lived, he may have had to deal with. His mouth got him into trouble before, maybe it may have done it again.

But Death By Melta to the Dome Piece??

You sir, are disturbed individual. But I love your writing and can't wait for moar.

Thanks Azalle.

I have continued to think about the word choice. Several of my non dakka readers have weighed in as well. I think there may be a better word choice out there. Plead is so often used with an uncontrollable emotional response that I dont want you, as my reader, to associate with this situation.

A hunt for an alternative has begone.

It's not just the choice of word Ice, it's everything Inushi did in that last scene. None of his actions suggest that he's a space marine. In scene after scene we've seen him analyze a battle situation in fractions of a second and cooly calculate his best options... but not here. He's undergone years, perhaps decades if rigorous indoctrination and religious education to the point of zealotry or beyond... but there's no hint he gives to slightest thought to his God-emperor, his chapter, even his brothers-in-arms. Is he defiant? Nope. He panics, and his one and only response is to try and weasel his way out of the situation by selling his soul to the enemy...

If this scene truly reveals the faults in his character... he's better off dead, because all he can do is bring shame to his chapter and his Emperor by his cowardice and betrayal.

Let me share something with you guys. When I am writing a pivotal or emotional scene, I try to take a great suggestion that Dan Abnett himself told me when I met him at Adepticon. Later on I had heard that Tolken did this too. One of the things that he has done is instead of editing a scene. He will simply write it again from scratch. Tolken apparently did this with entire books. He would write it, read it, and then start all over making the next version better and more detailed then the last. So I want to share with you another version that I had already written for this scene. I was very on the fence with it so as you can see I went another route with my posted version. I wanted to stress some flaws within Inushi. Cold analytical space marines are characters that are hard to get behind because of their lack of emotion. That is why so many great 40k books have non space marine characters as protagonists. I think I've been reading to many 40k novels because all of my favorite space marine characters are always the broken ones and I wanted to make Inushi a little more broken I guess.

Before I ramble to much further, here it is. I didn't edit this one as much, don't judge that aspect please.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

This portion was removed to prevent future confusion on my story. Thanks for reading!

Thats really interesting about Dan and Tolkien and I guess not being a writer I wouldnt have thought to do that. It actally gives me a bit more reason to go back and revisit my fluff. Not right now mind you to much to paint.

On to the scene. I felt the way it was written gave more credence to being a loyal marine and one who sticks up for his religious beliefs (the Emperor)

I personally feel it was better than the other ending.

Well, given the choice of: Inushi betrays everything he's supposed to stand for, or he stands up for everything he's supposed to stand for... my preference isn't going to surprise anyone. That being said, it's your character to do with as you need to move the story along. Odd as it sounds, I wasn't mad at you for writing it... I was mad at him for doing it.

Perhaps I need a shrink...

That being said... what you first posted is much less of a flaw and more of a complete betrayal. Flawed characters are more interesting, but to have one come out of no-where and go against all the character development you've done so far is not probably what Abnett was talking about.

Good feedback guys. I really appreciate the comments. I think I will go back and do some further editing on the second posted scene and then use it instead of the original. My good friend Gubble raised a good point after he read them both. My first scene gives you more insight about the sick demented mind of Nefas, where as the second concentrates on Inushi being a good guy. I want to keep Inushi painted in that positive light but I think I need a little more Nefas being sleazy in there.

I have a couple days off again so I should have an update for you guys soon.

Okay, I think I finally agreed on a final rendition. I guess it is always subject to change but I feel like over the weekend I was spinning my wheels more then getting anything accomplish. I removed the original post and my second version and in its place I posted the one that I will be keeping. Please review and let me know.

THEN, we will be moving on. Time to change gears for a bit. Thanks again for reading and responding.

I wonder if Nefas remembered to remove his head from in front of Inushi's before the Melta gun went off? That would be a bit awkward.... OK, let's face it.. funny as hell.




Thank you for considering my point-of-view Ice. I do appreciate all the time and effort you've put into this. I also like the fact that it does show that Inushi is flawed (as you wished) by not being able to look at the big picture... but was true to his honor and his belief's at the end.

Yeah I like that passage, no complaints from me... of course other than Inushi dying of course

LOVE the new rendition. Very well done Ice!

It is good to hear that you are all enjoying the newest version and thanks for being my "editors". This epic fluff wouldn't have gotten here with out all of your help and support. Work continues on the next section but I have to say, I have had to go back and do a lot of research and rereading of my own stuff. It has been too long since I dealt with Mortifex, Razzik, and Tsabo.

*cough* and Micus *cough*

Thanks to Knightley's recommendation, I find another good piece of fluff worth reading.

Welcome BNG1991. Enjoy the fluff and please comment on what you like. I always like the feedback.

Thanks Knightley for the recommendation.

Mortifex shook his head repeatedly before slamming his fist onto the make shift table. The other marines instantly stopped their arguing while the echo of the impact ricocheted around the room and down the hall. Slowly Mortifex sat back on the metal beam he was using as a seat. He closed his eyes and took a moment to collect himself.

While his eyes were shut he realized how much he preferred traveling in silence with Micus and Xerin. When Mortifex opened his eyes he exhaled and looked at each of his marines in turn.

To his left was Xerin, the perfect line trooper. He never questioned any one of higher rank. He was excellent with his shield and power sword. He was the kind of warrior he was honored to fight beside. Mortifex could trust him with his life but he had no desire to spend any more time with the laughless marine of the Ouroboros Chapter. He could not understand how any marine could so literal when it came to commands and rules.

Next to Xerin lounged the technological master of the squad, Bonamire. The Salvage Angel was always tinkering with something and his skill with his plasmagun was astounding, too bad his lax attitude and lack of respect frustrated Mortifex to no end.

Off in the shadows with his head down was Micus, the mentally unhinged marine was slowly bobbing his head while chanting an unknown prayer. Mortifex had never seen or heard of a marine with any sort of mental affliction. Nefas never told him how he got it, but Mortifex never asked. He truly was not sure he wanted to know what had happened to the marine or why he had not been locked up along time ago.

On the other side of the table, flipping his combat blade absentmindedly through the air was Tek’Ar. The scout of the squad was the only one that seemed to understand Mortifex on any social level. He was known to keep information to himself unless explicitly asked. He knew him to be reliable and incredible at what he does, too bad he disregarded most of the creeds that Mortifex held so dear and typically followed his own commands over any Mortifex ever issued.

Standing right behind Tek’Ar was Saddicus, their apothecary. Priest, was the term he called himself, but Mortifex preferred apothecary. The yellow armored Lamenter had to be one of the dourest marines in the entire Empire. Mortifex often wondered if Saddicus was banished from the Lamenter chapter for taking their name sake too far. His high pitched voice did not aid to the fact that he was incredibly annoying.

The blue and white armored marine adjacent to Saddicus was Deklyn. The hairy marine was from the Storm Warden Chapter. They clearly did not have any servitors or serfs that helped with hygiene. The filthy stinky marine could strangle orks with his odor. It was something that Mortifex still did not understand. He could also not understand how an astartes could be overweight. Deklyn had an appetite that would cause small cities to go hungry if they chose to feed him instead.

Mortifex mentally shook his thoughts of annoyance when he met the gaze of his last squad mate. Directly to his right, leaning on the damaged table, stood a stern looking marine in gleaming armor. Olivero of the Twin Sabres chapter had many many names. In fact Mortifex was not sure he had even heard all of the names that he claimed to have. Typically he referred to himself as the Celestial Unicorn. According to Olivero, it was an esteemed position within his chapter. If any one asked Mortifex, it meant that he was an incredibly outspoken nitwit. That being said, no one wields blades better then him. Olivero had on multiple occasions defeated the rest of the squad single handedly, as long as no ranged weapons were involved. Come to think of it Mortifex had seen Olivero fire his wrist mounted bolt pistol on only a few occasions in the all the years they have spent arguing with one another.

“Emperor save me, I do not like any of you!” Mortifex thought to himself. A plummeting piece of space debris crashing into this spire and killing them would not be a bad thing right now, he briefly envisioned.

“Olivero,” he pointed at the marine that was on the edge of speaking, “stay quite for a moment while I recap what I have just heard.” Mortifex took a deep breath and gathered his thoughts.

Mortifex continued to point to Olivero, “You believe, without a doubt, that the traitor is a human that is surprising everyone in a local tournament of sport.” He then pointed to Bonamire, “You believe that the traitor has to lie within the local Mechanicum.” Morifex rolled his eyes at that thought.

“Saddicus, you think we are all wasting our time per usual, and Tek’Ar, you think that there is something awry in deep in the bowls of this Spire.”

Mortifex held his arms out wide, “We have spent two years on this planet searching for clues and scouring every major city, and and and….. We Have Nothing!”

Olivero, at this point, could not keep to himself any longer. “How dare you speak down to the Celestial Unicorn and push aside His wisdom?! You shall know the taste of my blades before the night is through.”

Six sets of eyes rolled at the empty threat from Olivero before the room began to fill with arguments and chatter. Mortifex sat back and sighed. He wanted nothing more then to be away from this planet and these marines.

I like this.

It put a lot of differences and what seems like a lot of tension into a group of super human killers.

I feel like at any given moment, this team could implode on each other.... oh the joys of management eh?

I rather liked it as well.


You know what it really reminded me of... Like in those 80's combat action films where youve got the crack team of misfits. Youve got the straight man in charge of them all, the fat guy, the knife guy, the arrogant guy... All around, excellent introductions to the group!!

Im very much looking forward to seeing more of them

Your story is excellent in terms of character depiction and plot continuation.

For character depiction, your original characters are distinguishable. For example, you have successfully shows Mortifex's struggling with the team's situation. The interactions only strengthen the characteristics of Mortifex as the leader.

For plot continuation, no suddenly twist and senseless scenes were spotted.

~

By the way, if my submissions to GW could meet the English standard they require, I wouldn't be watching this excellence piece of work and licking my wound. I have a lot to learn to improve my English...

I don't mind sharing my works in PM if you wish.

I like it. But the whole group needs to be virus bombed.

...

Just sayin'.

Some one sounds salty because of Inushi

To be fair I will be as well when Micus dies.

I am glad you all liked it!

Knightley, the joys of management, comment made me laugh. Maybe that is why I can relate to Mortifex so well.
BNG thanks for the break down, I am glad you are enjoying the fluff. You are more then welcome to send me some of your works, just be aware it may take me some time to read and respond.

Ramos and Gits, I think you guys have got the idea. I kind of picture these guys as the misfits that have been displaced and collected by Nefas over the years. I was reading a christmas book to my three year old the other day and it was the Rudolph book where he discovers the island of misfit toys. It really reminded me of this group. I got a good chuckle at the thought.

Actually, they remind me of the "Dirty Dozen"... but there are less of them. You've got the nutball (Telli Sevalis), the leader (Lee Marvin)... assign the rest as you like

*watches sands of time trickle by*

But... but... what about the ICE ANGELS??

The Ice Angels have not been forgotten, I have just been a bit distracted by holidays and kids, etc. There will be an update soon though. Thanks for not forgetting about me.

The arguing continued while Mortifex thought to himself. He watched the dynamics between the marines and paid attention to what each of them seemed to believe in. He listened to what they said while developing the next steps of their mission. When the arguments began to circle back to where they started he raised a hand to silence them. To his surprise, they all obeyed.

Mortifex momentarily stared at the back of his gauntlet, it was filthy. He shook away the thought.

“We clearly need more information before we decide who needs to be the target of the Emperors Wrath.” Mortifex began. “Our next satellite check in is in four days. In four days I will be sending a message to Nefas to pick us up off of this rock, which means we are completing this mission this week.” Mortifex glared around the room as his words built up momentum. “Tek’Ar, Xerin, and Deklyn, you will split up and explore the underground levels of the spire. If there are things hiding I want to know about it. Bonamire, if you believe the mechanicum are involved with this, get a closer look at the nearest cult in the mountain ridge and prove it. We have a speeder that you can take to get there faster. Olivero, Saddicus, and I will infiltrate the local tournament to learn more about this competitor.” Finally Mortifex turned to Micus, the unhinged marine didn’t need supervision but Mortifex had kept him active for a long time, he needed to meditate for a few days to reorient himself. The tree incident was a reminder of what the marine was capable of. “Micus, we will leave you here to get some rest and alone time.” Before any questions or complaints could be voiced Mortifex turned to Bonamire, “any chance of the locals or mechanicum could catch any vox chatter if we opened a line?”

Bonamire shook his head, “we are out of range from the Mechanicum unless we used our boosted lines. The locals have some advanced tech but it is ancient. I believe we have little to fear from them catching or even deciphering our occasional communications.”

“Excellent, vox line Kappa Beta Nine. Six hour check ins. We either find our suspect, or we missed him somewhere else on the planet.” Mortifex took one more look around the room. He could tell they were anxious to get moving. “Emperor guide us all.”

Marines stood up while gear was stowed. Helmets were locked into place and weapons were put back together and holstered. Mortifex watched the quiet activity. For a moment he had the bizarre sensation of their mission coming to an end, and then his pessimism returned. “We have been here for two years and have nothing. Maybe the lead Nefas had, was false and all of this was just a waste of our time.” He thought to himself as he watched his squad.

One by one they got up and began to march out. Olivero and Saddicus waited near the exit for Mortifex, only Bonamire was left in the room. The Salvage Angel was reattaching his unique lightning claw, instead of the typical four bladed versions; it had a wide lone blade that came out of the powered fist. It crackled with energy as the power connections met. The blade extended to its full length before he retracted it as far as he could. Once completed Bonamire gingerly picked up his sacred plasma gun and attached to his back over his right shoulder.

Mortifex stood up the same moment that Bonamire did. They both paused. “What makes you think there could be a traitor amongst the mechanicum?”

“The cults on this planet are mostly automated systems with only a handful of cognitive functioning members. It is feasible that a tech minded person or team could take out only a handful of individuals and then have an entire mechanicum facility at their disposal. It would not be easy but our enemy is cunning. The various cults typically do not communicate with one another as long as the output of servitors doesn’t slow.” Bonamire explained.

“Why the cult in this region then?” Mortifex asked.

“This cult is the only one that has changed,” Bonamire smiled as he put on his helmet. “The local population has expressed their outrage at the mechanicums raiding, which is not part of their original agreement.”

“It is not unusual for the Red Robes to take drastic measures to meet quotas,” Mortifex retorted.

“True, but they have never fallen below the quotas, they have broken planetary laws and begun to capture locals outside of their own jurisdiction for seemingly, no reason,” Bonamire began to walk towards the exit.

Mortifex could understand the logic but it still didn’t seem likely that a xenos created being could take over a mechanicum facility. He shook his head as Bonamire walked away.

Saddicus and Olivero waited nearby and before Mortifex could enjoy the silence Olivero spoke. Mortifex rolled his eyes before the words reached him.

“Have no fear brother, the Celestial Unicorn does not need proof. He knows who the traitor is.” Olivero said dramatically with unnecessary hand gestures.

Mortifex stared at the orange and red quartered marine and sighed very loudly. He opened his mouth to speak then shook his head and walked out of the room, “how could the Emperor permit marines like Olivero to exist?” He thought to himself.

Instant gratification! Ice, you are too kind sir!

And what an installment! The build up is well done!

My only edit would be 6th paragraph down, end of the 2nd line, "waste of 'their' time" should it be "waste of 'our' time"

Good installment!

Yes, Gearing up for a split, perhaps even some multi action about to hit, all following a smiliar theme. Imagine that, Having the fights almost work exactly the same jumping between them all, it would be a storytellers masterpiece if he could pull it off

I have faith Knightley

Thanks guys! Good call on the edit there. I will correct next time I'm on my computer. Editing from my phone sucks.

An extra thanks to Azalle as well. I like the idea of someone having some faith in my writing. It is a bit humbling, to be honest.

The candle lit tent was full of gifts, flowers, and trinkets. The last clan dignitary had departed just moments ago. A calm silence had finally returned to the multi-chamber tent, only the distant sounds of parties and celebrations occasional wafted in.

In the large center room, a figure sat facing the entry way. Adorned in ceremonial armor with bright oranges and teal, the figure waited patiently. Weapons were racked behind the figure. The ceremonial armor had a black helmet with a reflective black metal plate that covered the figures face. A demonic visage covered the rest of the helm. Ribbons dangled from the two rows of horns that crested the helm. Braids and other meticulous rope work hung from the figures armored shoulders.

In one of the side rooms sat the figures Bushini, or squire depending on what clan you came from. The Bushini waited until any signal was given to speak, or too act. Patience was something he had been improving upon, but all of the excitement of being at the Games and seeing all of the other contestants had worried him. He knew he should not fear but this contest was more then anything he had seen thus far.

How was his Sahmree going to survive? How was his master going to defeat the clan champions without any other alliances support?

He began to stand up when his master casually looked at him. His Sahmree motioned towards the tent entrance. The Bushini quickly got up and walked over to the entrance. Waiting on the other side was someone he was shocked to see. Gorehzingus the Champion of Clan Batterhorn filled the tent entrance. He was not in his ceremonial armor or even wearing his clan colors, he came wearing the gray of the working class or neutral parties.

“Your exalted champion, I am Kaihiro, please enter and…” the Bushini began.

“Please,” he raised a hand, “your pleasantries are appreciated and noted but my time is short.” He stepped into the tent and closed it behind him. Kaihiro stepped back several steps and almost tripped over some out of place gifts. Gorehzingus was one of the largest Ogryns he had seen and his demeanor demanded respect. He did not move like a beast of burden but like a well trained predator. The Bushini smiled at the clever comparison and swore that he would tell his Sahmree about it after Gorehzingus had left.

Gorehzingus took two long strides and stood over the still seated armored figure. With a well practiced motion he sat cross legged. Once properly seated, he bowed forward. His face almost touched the tent floor. The armored figure then reciprocated. An armored glove motioned to the Bushini.

Within seconds a set of tea was placed between them. Gorehzingus shook his head. “I do not mean any disrespect Reticence, but it is not easy for me to escape my own clan’s holdings to come and meet with you.”

Kaihiro mentally smiled at the name his master had acquired. Reticence, Silence, Faceless One, and many others had been given during his master’s quick ascension up the ranks in order to be allowed into the Games.

Reticence straightened up and seemed to relax.

“Eighteen clan champions and you, the first ever clanless to make it into the Games, will be in that sacred grove tomorrow. You are aware of the rules and the process. I am required to strike down all who do not swear before me. If I do not then it is a sign of weakness.”

Reticence did not move or make a sound. Gorehzingus continued.

“I know who will be joining me and who I will need to fight. You on the other hand,” he quizzically pointed,” are an unknown. I have not seen any other clan present gifts to you. I have not heard of any alliances and from what I can gather, you do not have any holdings or supporters. If that is the case then you would have to cut down all eighteen clan champions tomorrow.”

He let that linger. Kaihiro took a deep breath. He knew what his Sahmree must do but when it was spoken out loud it sounded impossible.

“I have seen you master every challenge given. I have seen videos of your fights. You fight with honor and I do not doubt your capabilities as a warrior but if you did cut down all eighteen champions, you would be given the keys and ruling authority over all the clans, clans that would be without their champions. This is what concerns me. I do not know what you fight for. Please tell me before we meet again on the battlefield.”

Kaihiro stepped forward as he has many times before, “My master fights for the people of this planet and for the Emperor.”

Gorehzingus sighed and leaned back. He shook his head, disappointed with the canned response. “If you will continue your silence then may I ask one favor from you?”

Reticence slowly nodded.

“The Champions that are swearing to me are wise men with exceptional skills in combat and in diplomacy. After I deal with the others, if we must fight I would like it to be simply between you and me. The others will not interfere. If you defeat me, they will follow you.”

Kaihiro watched his master for a sign, after a moment Reticence gave the slightest nod in acquiescence.

Gorehzingus stood up, his towering figure looked as if he could crush Reticence with only the slightest effort. He looked down upon the still seated armored figure.

“I must say Reticence; you are causing quite the up roar. You are nothing like the Games have ever seen. No one knows where you came from. No one knows what your agenda is. No one knows what you will do if you were to win. I think that is the biggest problem. That fear of the unknown.”

Gorehzingus turned to leave, he took two steps and stopped. He lowered his head, “My mind tells me that I must strike you down tomorrow. My gut tells me that I must strike you down tomorrow. However my heart,” he turned back to look at the armored figure one last time. “my heart tells me that you and I will need one another and that I think………. that scares me most of all.”

With that the sixteen foot tall ogryn champion left the tent. Kaihiro secured the tent entrance so that no others could enter. He then returned and stood before his Sahmree.

Slowly the armored figure began to take off the blank faced demonic helmet. An atmospheric hiss escaped when the helmet seals unlocked. Kaihiro took the helmet from his master.

“Thank you Kai,” she said.

Kaihiro bowed as he took her helmet and began to process of taking of the rest of her armor pieces. For several minutes he carefully took off a piece and gingerly placed it in its specific spot within the tent. He lit a candle next to each piece. He spoke a specific chant with each one.

He could not help but notice that she was watching him intently. When he returned to take one of the last pieces he met her gaze briefly. Her thin eyes were a jungle green.

“What are your thoughts on Gore?” She asked Kaihiro.

He thought for a moment as he undid several clasps and straps. “I think his intentions are good and his actions are honorable.” He said after a moment of hesitation. Her questions typically turned into lessons and he concentrated on every one of the few words she spoke.

She stared off into the distance, “I agree.”

“Will you still kill him tomorrow then?” he asked shyly.

Reticence continued to stare, “I must have those keys and I will stop at nothing to get them. If that means I must kill him, then I must kill him.” A small smile brushed her lips. “Kai, you have been with me ever since I began this journey. You are now six years old and I could not have asked for a better Bushini. Tomorrow will be the end of our journey. I hope you are prepared for any outcome.”

Kaihiro looked down and dwelled on her words. He was honored with her words yet he felt confused.

“What will happen to me when you win the keys?” He whispered.

She quietly stood up and walked over to him. She was thin and agile. Her skin was alabaster, only the occasional metal contact point broke her skin. She was just over five feet tall and he was already taller then her despite being so young.

“Kai, you must choose your own destiny. Once I have the keys things will become complicated, but if you choose, you will always have a place by my side.” She said while holding his shoulders and looking into his eyes.

He beamed with the idea of being elevated along with her to higher status. He bowed his head quickly while he smiled, “I could never leave your side while you still need me Sahmree.”

She smiled and kissed the top of his head. “Rest Kai, tomorrow will be a day we shall never forget.”

Ogryns! Combat! an inquisitor perhaps of the female variety I want to know more, who is she and how much ass is she going to kick!

That is one amazingly eloquent ogryn...

I never thought that Ogryns could be that good in terms of intelligent...

Eloquent ogryns you say? Unlikely you say? There may be a reason for these things. We must wait and see what happens. I am dying to know more.

YES!! SOOO MUCH YES!!!

And 16 feet is large haha even for an orgyn. I would have to think he is something much more.

Great passage, one of your best written Ice.

Can't wait for more!

The ship violently shook one last time. Klaxons were blaring and red light continued to bathe the bridge. Razzik watched with frustrated concern. He looked at several members of the bridge staff and then a monitor. The count down zeroed out and the ship quickly broke warp back into real space. The last day of travel had been turbulent. Every hour they closed on their destination it seemed to worsen, he wondered if they were still on course.

The main view port was covered by the warp shields and systems were shutting down as others were coming online. The scanners were sending out signals, the engines were coming online. Shield generators were switching from warp to real space. Nearly every one of the ships systems were being rebooted or turned on, all simultaneously. It was a nervous time to be sitting blind while everything came online.

“Captain Razzik, we successfully translated out of the warp. Our Navigator has failed to explain why the currents were so aggressive. Scanners will give us our precise whereabouts in moments.” Captain Pith calmly stated as he reviewed the bank of monitors in front of his throne.

“Can we open the warp shields?” Razzik asked. He shifted his helmet from under his right arm to his left.

“We can, but it is ill advised until the Alabaster Reflection has all of its systems up and functioning.” The elderly man said.

Razzik gave a side glance to the ships captain. Captain Pith had commanded the ship for hundreds of years. He was known for always succeeding in his missions and his chest of accolades was proof.

“Captain, we are receiving a transmission.” A servitor stated. Pith leaned forward, the cables coming from his back pulled taught.

The communications officer spoke next, “There are several. None are complete. They are all Mechanicum in origin.”

Monitors began to clear up as information began to stream.

“Emperors Throne! All ahead. Get me those shields!” Captain Pith shouted. His fingers twitched and the room suddenly erupted into motion. “Helmsmen, get me to sector twenty seven. Defense fire pattern Omicron Delta as soon as the system allows it.”

Razzik looked at the monitors but still did not have a good concept of what was happening. Pith could see everything before the monitors explained the situation. When icons showed up and their location was revealed, Razzik narrowed his eyes.

“Captain,” Pith said as he gave Razzik a stern look “get to the drop decks.”

“Incoming lance fire!” the Starboard deck chief shouted.
“Incoming scatter missiles,” the Port side deck chief echoed.

Just then the main view monitor lit up for everyone to see. The moon over Mortimon Secondus dominated the view port, with the planet right behind it. Smooth angled ships were all around them. Razzik did not need to wait for the icons to show up to know they were of Eldar design. In the distance Razzik could see broken weapons platforms and lifeless Imperial craft. They had arrived too close and they were too late.

“Get to pod decks Captain.” Pith said again, “If the Emperor wills it, I’ll get your company onto the surface before we follow as a debris cloud.” Pith said before shouting further commands.

Razzik had already put on his helmet and was marching off the deck.

“Matten, find me this Mortifex and get me drop coordinates. Hodge, alert all naval security.” At this point Pith was a whirlwind of commands both spoken and not. He paused just for a moment to review the number of incoming ships and their trajectories. There were all around him. They had arrived in the middle of a xenos fleet. The enemy had already begun to fire. The first rounds would hit before their shields were even online. He knew the outcome before his ship had even taken damage.

Pith flipped open a panel on his throne. The last time it had been open was when the throne was installed.

“Warden Officer Tsabo, get all personal into the upper vault immediately. By the Emperor’s Grace I will get you on the planet right behind 10th Company.” Pith listened to Tsabo’s response before reviewing the updated list of incoming ships. “Tsabo, I do not have time to argue, we are already dead! My only goal now is get as many as I can onto the surface of that planet. Separating the vault is the best option. Now go!” Pith primed the switch in his throne. Clamps and inner workings began to thunder in the distance. The Alabaster Reflection was going to drop its cargo one last time.

The first defense weapons battery came online. The rumble of distant protective fire was like a tickle on the back of his arms. He smiled as he began to hear the defiant growl of the ships spirit. He shivered in agreement. “We will get them there,” he growled back.

* * * * * * *

Love that Ice.... like a good old sea epic!

YES YES YES Just want I wanted on a monday!

BUT NOOOO not the ship!

Ice, great job, i have goosebumps. I can't wait for the next installment!

In a world where death comes easy, one man has a job, that job is to deliver his cargo to its destination. It's all very cinematic and would fit right in as an opening scene to a big budget AAA movie.

Top work!

Awesome! Thanks guys. The sea epic will continue here shortly.

The darkness was all encompassing. It pressed down on him from all sides. To many it would seem unnerving but to Tek’Ar, it was comforting. He knelt on a beam waiting. The sound was faint yet sharp. He had slowed his breathing down and entered a meditative trance, even his twin hearts had slowed to a crawl.

Snip

He focused on the sound. Amplified it in his head and waited for the echoes to die down. He opened his eyes and began to retrace the sound through the collection of stone, metal, and ancient halls.

Once satisfied he had his next bearing he moved out. Tek’Ar silently lowered himself onto the scaffolding beneath him. For hours now he had descended into the bowels of the broken spire. He understood standard spire design and was aware that it could easily reach down to the planets core. There had to be something going on in the dark depths. The hum of power lines was his first clue. The occasional spire quake was another. Now this new sound intrigued him.

Tek’Ar had been one of the first marines to arrive; his preliminary exploring had given him invaluable information. Briefly he thought about Xerin and Deklyn. He had directed them to search other areas of interest. Xerin argued about a systematic approach while Deklyn simply nodded his head and took Tek’Ar’s advice. Mortifex never thought anything of Deklyn but Tek’Ar was fascinated by him, outside of Micus, little was known of Deklyn other then his chapter and specialty. He had many terrible social habits but Tek’Ar new there was something mysterious about him. For that reason alone, Tek’Ar liked him.

Carefully and quietly he padded down the hall to another opening. A service ladder led up to another floor while a broken platform ended over a shallow pit of rubble. He looked down through the metal mesh floor, the dark vision his armor granted him allowed him to see the rubble strewn path. Across from the broken platform was another hall and the other half of the platform he could probably worm his way through the rubble and debris to the other side.

Suddenly without warning the screech of metal on metal screamed through the hall. Across from the broken platform a light beamed downwards. A metal box haphazardly fell and screeched to a halt.

Tek’Ar was hidden behind a broken beam and rubble before the box opened. With one eye peaking around the corner of the beam, he peered down the hall. The elevator opened and more light poured into the dark area.

Deklyn and Xerin stepped out with bolt pistols drawn. Xerin moved left and Deklyn right. After a moment of scanning Xerin motioned to follow and Deklyn fell right behind. Tek’Ar shook his head. He watched them leave and then decided to follow them. He had no idea how they found a working anything down here but his options of moving forward were now the same as his squad mates. He decided to follow in silence to see how alert the other two were.

The two did not go far before they stood behind a crooked door, sometime ago the frame had bent and put immense pressure on the solid metal slab. Tek’Ar was as close as he could get when the sound came again.

Snip

Deklyn and Xerin heard it as well. They both paused instantly as the sound echoed past them. Xerin was the first to move. He scanned the door and the surrounding area. Deklyn turned around to watch their rear and to Tek’Ar’s surprise. Their gazes met. The short barrel of a bolt pistol was already pointing at him. Deklyn gave off no sign of surprise, instead he waited before slowly lowering his gray pistol.

Tek’Ar padded around the corner. Deklyn stood motionless. The two stared at one another. Deklyn was bigger in every aspect and even without looking at the medals and honor badges, Tek’Ar knew that Deklyn was a veteran marine. He seemed uncaring and always thinking of something other then the moment. Tek’Ar was familiar with that gaze and wondered what sort of terrible deeds Deklyn had witnessed.

The sound of liquid splattering softly took their attentions. Deklyn turned and Tek’Ar stepped next to him. Xerin was examining the ceiling. He did not react to the newest sound.

“Deklyn we should be able to move this beam and then push the door enough for us to pass,” Xerin whispered before he looked back down to see Tek’Ar stepping within striking distance.

They exchanged a dissatisfied look. “I take it you did not find anything of use?” Xerin began.

“I disagree,” Tek’Ar responded, “I found Deklyn.”

A disappointed look was his only response before Xerin jumped straight up into the air to grab a broken beam. He pulled his armored form into the rafters of the room. After several minutes of positioning he got to a metal beam that was propping up several other pieces.

“Be ready to open the door,” Xerin added.

Deklyn and Tek’Ar stepped up the door and prepared themselves to push it ajar.

A grunt was all the warning they had. Beams moved, rubble shifted, walls tilted.

Deklyn slammed into the door and Tek’Ar stepped through.

Bright light blinded them both.

Tek’Ar stepped forward and rolled right, up into a kneeling position. His drum fed storm bolter was drawn and scanning. Deklyn slowly entered behind him. Rubble was falling from the ceiling behind them. Xerin dropped from the rafters and darted in when the shifting metal and ancient debris tumbled down into the hall behind them. In a matter of seconds the rafters had begun to collapse. The entire pathway behind them was soon impassible.

The three marines looked around the vast chamber they had stumbled into.

Banks of lights filled the room with warm amber sunlight. Rows of fruit trees lined the vaulted room in both directions. A thirty foot tall tripedal servitor slowly trod between the two nearest trees. A long shear trimmed the nearest tree.

Snip

The sound echoed through the still room. The servitor then watered the tree with an underarm water cannon. Tek’Ar watched as the servitor turned to regard the marines. It paused as if to ponder what to do. The small human head tilted and gave them a perplexing look. It shivered and blurted a binary response before returning to its task.

“Apparently we were not deemed to be a weed,” Tek’Ar remarked.

Xerin gave him a venomous look. He turned as if to say something when Deklyn stepped between them, he pointed with his pistol to a banner hanging from the ceiling at the far end of the room.

“I don’t recognize it,” Tek’Ar.

Xerin lowered his weapon and shook his head, “did you not implant any of the information about this mission?”

Tek’Ar shook his head at the thought.

“Did you read anything about this mission?” Xerin spat.

“No. None of it. I would rather not be implanted with possible false information, why would we trust anything Nefas gave us?”

A look of disappointment crossed Xerin’s face. “That is the banner of Clan Oshiashi, one of the founding clans of the Mortimon System. If this is one of their holdings then this ancient vault would be thousands of years old.”

“How is that helpful?” Tek’Ar shrugged.

Xerin stormed off towards the arch under the banner. The amount of disgust coming from Xerin made Tek’Ar smile.

Deklyn followed and Tek’Ar marched beside him. “Is that helpful?” He leaned next to Deklyn as they moved.

The deep voice of Deklyn spoke, “perhaps. Oshiashi was one of the eight clans that founded the system. They were here when the Spires were built and before the mechanicum took over. Legend has it that each original clan had a large warrior knight cast that protected the system. If we could find a knight, that would prove to be useful.”

A simple grunting approval was Tek’Ar’s response.

Ho Ho Ho, now I have a knight titan. Well soon anyway, well I hope soon anyway.

Good passage, and again, I want more!!!

Warden Officer Tsabo urged the next group of people into the vault. Another impact knocked many of them to their feet. Chaplain Gonatzu stood in the door way, his presence alone kept the people from panicking.

At each entrance a space marine or two monitored the progress. When the command was given the doors would close and the next phase of the process would begin. Tsabin Tsabo knew his son was on board but he also knew they would have to shut the doors well before everyone else could make it inside.

He watched as Gonatzu swept his glance over to him.

“Warden Officer,” he boomed.

Tsabin hurried over. Standing next to Gonatzu was another Warden Officer and Lieutenant Jillex, the highest ranking guard on the ship. “Yes Chaplain,” Tsabin said with a bowed head.

“We are closing the vault, see that your men are prepared for immediate deployment upon landing,” Gonatzu commanded.


“but there are still more coming Chaplain.” Tsabin began as he looked at the people still trying to run to the vault. Crew and civilians were still hurrying towards the vault and armed soldiers waited by the door.

Gonatzu looked down at him. His red eye lens made him regret he had spoken.

Suddenly the room shook with another impact. Tsabin and every human around him fell over or grabbed a wall for support. Gonatzu was still standing when the distant wall began to peel back with a horrible screech. Instantly the void began to claim victims. Tsabin was pulled with irresistible force before Gonatzu grabbed him by the arm. The other officers along with Jillex were swept away screaming into the void. People around them flew towards the gaping hole in the far wall. The other marines grabbed whoever they could.

Two steps to the door panel and Gonatzu was at the controls. A split second later and the door slammed shut.

“Void breach at main entrance. Seal all others and get everyone strapped in for drop. We must be prepared to launch.” He commanded.

Gonatzu then looked down at Tsabin again. The room around them was now nearly empty of people, only a few soldiers and crew had managed to grab onto anything before the door had shut.

“Go see to your men Lieutenant,” Gonatzu said.

Tsabin turned then paused. The vision of his screaming superior officer was already a distant thought. He was now the highest ranking guard on the ship. He looked back to Gonatzu when he opened his vox line to all guard staff. “This is Tsabin Tsabo, we just lost Lieutenant Jillex and several others, I am now in command.”

Lieutenant Tsabin looked around at the soldiers, his soldiers. He took a deep breath and gave his first command as Lieutenant. “Seal the vault, get everyone strapped in. Prepare for immediately deployment when we land,” he took a deep breath. “Warden Officers, give me a head count of both crew and armed staff,” he commanded.

The skull faced chaplain nodded his approval before walking past.

Tough choices have to be made, it what makes the difference between good leadership and great leadership.

I really enjoy how things are going bad here, does this make me a sufferer of schadenfreude?

Great passage ice. I agree, the moment had come, now it's time to see how they handle the hell they are about to enter

~ Azalle

Knightley wrote:Tough choices have to be made, it what makes the difference between good leadership and great leadership.

I really enjoy how things are going bad here, does this make me a sufferer of schadenfreude?

I think it does Knightley.

Master Azalle wrote:Great passage ice. I agree, the moment had come, now it's time to see how they handle the hell they are about to enter

~ Azalle

Oh yes, the hell they are about to enter is going to awesome!

The ship rumbled as it took another round of fire. Captain Pith was absorbing information and subconsciously organizing all of it into levels of importance. The outer levels of his ship had been torn apart. The skillful level of piloting of his crew was the only reason the engines were still firing and moving them forward but it was not about dodging fire. It was all about controlling the damage.

Captain Pith felt a hint of concern as his ship plowed on. He understood his skills but he was a realistic man, they were not trying to destroy them and he knew it shortly after they began to move. The enemy was faster and more maneuverable, even the boosted engines of the Alabaster Reflection did not compare to eldar raiders.

“Thirty seven seconds to next impact,”
“Captain, I have a response from the squad planet side!”
“We just voided levels fifty eight through sixty three, starboard side.”
“Aft Delta gun batteries are down.”
“Engine seven is loosing power.”
“Captain, shields are too damaged to begin recharge.”

Crew members continued to shout but Captain Pith did not hear them. He understood their words in digital form through his mental interface; some habits were hard to stop. He did not mind the chaos around him. It provided a nice background noise.

“Coordinates ensign!” He spoke as he sent a mental request to plot landing patterns for the pods and the Vault.

“Seventeen seconds to impact,” a servitor added.

Coordinates arrived and he grimaced at the distance he still needed to cover around the globe below them. A thought then pierced his grim visage.

“Helmsman, upon impact begin barrel roll, adjust to aft side nine degrees, downward four point three.”

“Five seconds,” the servitor continued.

The room shook, Captain Pith monitored their progress as they began their roll.

With a mental thought the engines flickered and shut down, emergency lights flooded the bridge.

“Captain, our engines have died. The core is coming offline. I do not know why but….”

“Calm yourself my friend, I deactivated the engines. It is time for the prey to prepare one final strike,” Captain Pith said as he noticed the immediate adjustment in weapons fire. The Eldar ships were closing in. Smaller craft were being launched. Pith smiled and allowed himself a chuckle.

“Captain Razzik, we will launch everything in four minutes. The vault will be right behind you,” Pith leaned back in his chair and allowed himself to take a deep breath.

“The sages will sing praises of your skill Captain Pith. I will chisel your name in the Ice myself,” Razzik spoke.

Pith looked up at the closing ships. The dark space around them was crawling with them, like a carpet of insects waiting on the edges of the light. As far as his scanners could see, dark eldar vessels hovered above the planet. The invasion had yet to reach the planets surface.

“Razzik, can you do one more thing for me?” Pith added as he activated charges around the ship and finished up the deployment pattern.

“What is that you wish, Captain Pith?” The space marine captain questioned.

“I fully expect my name, my full name, chiseled in the ice. I also expect you to save my crew,” Pith paused, “but most importantly Razzik, do not let the vault fall into enemy hands.”

“Of course Captain Pith,” Razzik responded at the last request with a hint of confusion.

A private line suddenly breached Razzik’s HUD, “you do not understand Razzik, the vault holds much more then the White within its frozen chambers, and it is more important then the curse your chapter wishes to hide.” Pith quickly spoke.

Hearing a non-astartes speak of their flaw caught Razzik off guard. “What could be more important then that?” Razzik responded.

“You must believe me Razzik, DO NOT let the enemy take the vault,”

“Thirty seconds until we reach the drop coordinates Captain,” one of the bridge staff added.
“Incoming boarding parties, two minutes out.” Another added.

Pith shut down the private line as Razzik started to speak, he addressed his crew one last time. “Crew of the Alabaster Reflection! I could have not asked for a better crew. You should all be proud of the missions we have completed and remember the accolades that fill the halls of this ship. They are there because of each of you.” He took a deep breathe,” I only ask one final thing, “ with a flick of a finger every drop pod launched and all of the 10th company ships flew out of the hangers speeding towards the planet as fast as possible. “when you stand before the Emperor, you look him in the eyes and you tell him what ship you were on. You tell him how we lived and how we died! Fighting till the end and doing our duty.” He could feel the pride swell in the crew around him. He felt the ancient spirit of the ship shiver with anticipation for what was to come. “And when the time comes, I will be there by your side and we will ride the afterlife in a ship of gold.”

Pith closed his eyes one last time and gave his final command.

As the ship was being surrounded by boarding vessels the ship rippled with explosions that sent a shockwave into space tearing through xenos ships and filling the space with destruction and death. In the cover of the explosion the Vault shot towards the planet. Guidance systems controlled its decent as a fortress fell from the sky.

Feth that was epic! I am also very impressed with the amount of story your pumping out at such a quick rate.

Die xenos, Die!

Thanks Knightley. I have felt inspired lately and the writing has been easy to produce. Its hard to say when more will arrive but I am mentally prepared to write it. Now to find the time.

That was very well written Ice. Really exciting, really dramatic... very grim-dark! Bravo!

By the Golden Throne Ice! I had goosebumps at the end of that one!

Well done sir! Well done!

Excellent! A goosebump worthy post is typically what I shoot for.

@Gits - It is nice to hear that my work is still grim darky. Typical 40k novels have various levels and sometimes I think my stuff is on the lighter side. More of a gray dark sort of level.

You're good. More grim, less gray. Inushi took a melta from his own servitor to the back of the head... that's pretty grim dark.

This one was definitely grim dark. I particularly like how the captain cut the power to the engines to draw in the enemy assault / boarding craft and how you described the ships machine spirit getting ready for the self destruction! Truly vivid and tangible

The center of the arena was a serene well kept grassy knoll. Several small trees were dropping white blossoms. A small brook gurgled through the arena. It was as if the arena was built around the perfect concept of natural calm. Small birds tweeted in the trees and flowers were open towards the bright blue sky.

Under a crooked tree sat two individuals, Reticence and Gorehzingas. Behind the larger of the two sat seven other clan champions. Scattered around the arena, lay the bodies of ten other clan champions slowly bleeding onto the pure white grasses.

Between the two champions were their Bushini, each was creating their own ideal versions of tea, they would then be shared with one another, per tradition. The sound of tea being poured into cups could be heard throughout the arena despite eighty thousand people watching from the crowded stands.

When the Bushini were finished, they placed their teas on wooden trays, knelt down, and touched their heads to the ground. With their heads bowed, they then backed away and left the arena via gates on opposite ends.

Gorehzingus picked up his bowl of tea in both hands. He closely examined the bowl. It had a scene of ships landing and joyous celebration between brothers. As he turned the bowl he saw the two such brothers fighting in bitter struggle on the other side.

The tea was one he had never smelled before. It was a subtle white tea with a hint of fruits yet it was not clear, cream had been added to give it a milky swirl. When he was completed he looked up at the Silent One.

Before she grasped the bowl in front of her she slowly unhooked her helm and removed it. A barely contained gasp followed by intense whispers, ran laps around the arena when they saw she was a woman.

The Judicator, high in the stands, gently tapped his sceptum. It echoed through the arena and by the third tap silence had returned.

She mimicked Gorehzingus and examined the bowl of Clan Batterhorn. Victories and images of successful campaigns rimmed the bowl. She took a deep breath of the strong broth. She looked up at Gorehzingus and as one they both drank the entire contents of their bowls.

As the creamy liquid dissipated from the bowl Gorehzingus held he saw an icon on the bottom of his bowl. The shock of the image made him choke on the liquid.

Seeing the giant clan champion cough startled the champions behind him. They all stood with weapons drawn. “Poison!” One of them shouted.

The arena exploded in raucous anger before Gorehzingus held up a hand.

Everyone paused before he had several smaller coughs, clearing his throat.

Reticence did not move or seem in the least bit concerned.

“Please be calm. Everyone! There is no poison. I was merely surprised at the amazing tea in which I have just imbibed,” he smoothly stated.

The sound of people sitting back down and weapons being sheathed quickly followed as the masses settled back down.

“It appeals to me that you did so enjoy my tea, it was difficult to find the necessary components,” the Silent One finally spoke. Her voice was full of confidence and authority yet, it was quiet. Gorehzingus realized how similar it was to her tea.

“I meant no disrespect by my manners, but there is a standard within your bowl that I have not seen in,” he paused to take a deep breath. The scent of the tea filled his lungs. He felt refreshed by its aroma. “I have not seen it except in story books when I was a child.” He looked down into the bowl to see a horned bird with its talons wrapped around a planet.

“Which story book would that have been?” She asked while her thin jungle green eyes studied his response.

Gorehzingus gingerly placed the bowl back on its tray. “All of us have heard the stories of how this planet was founded 10,000 years ago.” He looked around at the enthralled stands before continuing. “The Great Eight Clans of the Mortimon system, Moz, Oscillix, Roundem, Tig’nagu, Issum, Mhumrif, Oshiashi, and Neva. You have the image of the Great Ashi within your bowl. Where did you find it?”

She carefully set the Batterhorn bowl back on its tray before she addressed Gorehzingas. “I found it right where my father left it,” she reached for her helmet.

Gorehzingas narrowed his eyes, “and who was your father?”

“Xan Oshiashi, First of the White Mist, defender of the TriSpire and Governor of Mortimon Secondus,” she stated before she placed her helmet on her head.

The Clan Champion of Batterhorn shook his head and laughed. “That is not possible. He lived eight thousand years ago and died when the greenskins first invaded our system.”

Reticence slowly stood up. Her armored form was not even close to being as tall as the sitting giant before her.

She looked up at him once more before addressing the crowd for the first time. “My name is Xanshi Oshiashi, second born of the White Mist and Clan Champion of the Oshiashi. I fought beside my father when the greenskins invaded. I skewered their warlord with my chainfist.” She hesitated before taking on a forlorn look. “I have been asleep for seven thousand years and have now awoken to find my planet in disarray. My Spires tumbled into ruin. And my people,” she waved at the crowd. “My people are nothing like I remember,” she examined Gorehzingus once again. “I have returned to take back my families rightful claim and defend Mortimon Secondus against the oncoming threat.”

“That is truly a marvelous tale Xanshi, or whoever you are, but there is no threat. Our planet has been at peace for hundreds of years. There has not been a call to arms during any of our life times. The Red Robes of the Machines protect us now,” Gorehzingus exclaimed.

“Then why,” Xanshi began as the people of the crowd began to shout and point.

Up in the sky dozens of objects were rapidly falling in a scattered formation. Ships flew amidst them and behind them all was a massive castle plummeting through the air. The ships flew outwards while the drop pods crashed down into the city around them. One pod plummeted right into the arena crushing a thousand year old tree not twenty yards away from the champions.

Before the debris had even settled to the ground ten black armored space marines stood in a circle around the pod, white weapons pointed at the crowd. One shield wielding marine stepped forward towards the champions. The ornate black and blue shield had a skull in its center and his right hand was an oversized white fist crackling with power.

“Citizens! My name is Razzik, Captain of the 10th company of the Ice Angel Chapter. Mortimon Secondus is under assault by a xenos force that has come to capture all of us. It is time to seek shelter and prepare for war. Who here is in charge!?” He shouted for all to hear.

Xanshi gave a side glance to Gorehzingus who grimly looked back at her.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

" 'yo butts belong to US now..."

I can think of less formal ways to announce they are under attack "Hide yo Kids! Hide yo Wife!" comes to mind.

I actually thought the female was an inquisitor, I would have put money on it. I'm glad I didn't as I would have lost that money.

I look forward to the next installment.

Ohhhhh...

I agree Knightley, wasn't expecting her to be Ancient, or the planet to be the one Razzik was unceremoniously crashing into.

Well played Ice, well played.

*crickets chirp*

*dust blows*

*Azalle is still staring at his computer screen*

Thoughts running through his head...."but, Ice... I want to know.... I NEED to know what happens next!!!"

HA! That made me laugh.

Sorry, story is still in progress, please feel free to talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic.

Favorite kill in the Ice Angel fluff thus far. Xenos or not. GO!

For me would have to be Inushi in the Ork crawler, just going mental smashing orks left right and centre, then using the melta bomb (IIRC it was Inushi, but the scene was badass) followed closely by the Dark Eldar ripping the Captain to bits through speed.

Wow, i never would have guessed either one of those Knightley. Thanks for sharing.

I think my favorite would be Cyaxeres showing the Emperor's mercy to Desai or Fybblywhyp being killed by the Ice Angel Psyker with the snow flake.

The energy level in the arena had drastically changed. The peaceful anticipation had turned into anxious fear. Calls were being made and messages were being sent out. In the center of it all, stood Captain Razzik and the Clan Champions. The Judicator and other members of leadership were having heated debates high up in the stands.

Mortifex stayed hidden with Olivero and Saddicus. They were in the arena in a sub level, watching from a ground level window.

“Nefas had to have sent them. It is too unlikely that they would have arrived on their own,” Mortifex mused out loud. He was closest to the window examining the Ice Angels and the further conversations.

“Perhaps the Emperor wishes to punish them as well. He sent them here to join us in a miserable death,” Saddicus spat in his high pitched tone.

Mortifex ignored the remark from behind him. “Had Nefas sent them we would have received some warning or message,” an idea sparked his thoughts. “We should check in with,” he began as he turned around. He froze mid motion, “oh no. Where is he?”

“CAPTAIN RAZZIK!” a shout echoed from outside. Mortifex was already running towards the door.

In the center of the arena the crowed turned to see the brightly colored form of Olivero confidently walking onto the white grasses in the arena. Sabers were casually held in his hands.

Razzik looked at the champions and the same look of confusion covered their faces.

“Sergeant Mortifex, I presume,” Razzik began.

“You presume incorrectly, the one that stands before you, you may address as the Celestial Unicorn.” Olivero continued his march across the field.

Razzik opened his mouth to speak again but Olivero cut him off, “be wary Captain Razzik, that woman before you is a traitor to this planet, her lies are already tainting the air around us. She is the cause of the woes on this planet and I have been sent do dispatch her.”

The black helm of Captain Razzik turned to her and his white powerfist raised in her direction. The clicking of ammo feeds echoed through the suddenly silent arena.

“HALT!” another voice boomed.

Sergeant Mortifex came running into the arena.

Looks from the Ice Angels and every one in the arena passed between all of the new comers.

“I am Sergeant Mortifex, please lower your weapon Captain,”
“but she IS the traitor,” Olivero stomped.
“Explain yourselves! We have no time for these distractions,” Razzik shouted in annoyance.
“She is a xenos mutated vile woman,”Olivero began.
“Shut your idiotic mouth,” Mortifex commanded.
“How dare you?!” Oliver stepped back stunned by the words.

“Captain, I apologize but I assume you know why we are here. She is one of our suspects we are investigating but nothing has been confirmed.” Mortifex smoothly added.

Xanshi was taken back by the sudden turn of events. The champions were even more suspicious of her now and the arrival of the mythical space marines certainly changed everything.

Captain Razzik turned back to Xanshi and one again raised the white fist, the four barrels on the back of his hand were glaring at her ready to spit destruction. “Explain yourself, NOW!”

The power behind his words was sudden and impressive. Xanshi somehow managed to stay calm. She looked up at Captain Razzik, “I can argue who I am too all of you, but something tells me now would not be the time. Let me show you. If we all head to the remains of the TriSpire, we can hide in my family’s catacombs deep beneath it.”

“Those are a myth,” Gorehzingus rolled his eyes. “Countless have tried to find them and none have ever returned from the depths of that shattered pit.”

“It is well hidden and still vast. The entire cities population could survive there for quite some time. We must hurry though if we need to get everyone there.”

The clan champions began to shout about staying protected within the city and how she is a liar. Gorehzingus remained quite. Razzik kept his weapon leveled with her before he spoke. His tone silenced those around him.

“Mortifex, I do not have enough information to ascertain the truth or lies behind what she speaks. I leave this decision up to you.” Razzik spoke.

“Let me send her to the Emperor. Let HIM decide,” Olivero said while sliding his two blades against one another.

“Xanshi, I have trouble believing your claims thus far. Before I pass judgment, tell me why you joined these games. How will winning this aid you in protecting the people? There must have been alternatives involving less subterfuge,” Mortifex questioned while stepping between her and Olivero.

She looked down for a moment before looking up to where the Judicator and the planets governing body sat. She pointed to them. “The winner is allowed to adorn his armor with the Mortimon Brooch. I need it,”

Up in the stands, next to the Judicator, on a pedestal, sat the brilliant jaded Brooch.

“What could that piece of jewelry be needed for, it is merely a ceremonial piece?” Gorehzingus remarked while pointing to a replica one that he wore.

“The original one will allow me to wake up my knights and possibly the others across the planet if any others remain,” Xanshi said while continuing to stare up at the distant jewels.

For a moment Razzik lowered his weapon, “Clarify what you mean by a knight?”

Xanshi turned back to him and looked up at his black helmet.

Sudden vox static distracted Mortifex. It was the voice of Tek’Ar, “you won’t believe what we found down here.”

Oh Yes!

That was charged with anticipation. I expect the Ogryns might have something to say about this however

I find it amusing that Azalle complains about me not writing and then when I do he doesn't say anything.

Shame on you Azalle, lol.

*slowly wakes up and drags himself off the floor*

I'm sorry, I had an Overdoes of Out-fething-Standingness

And I must say, You did an amazing job of tying all three of the separate stories lines together. Your writing has improved significantly since the start of your story. Truly enjoyable

And I have been suitably shamed... I'll go wait in the corner... quietly... and not speak until spoken to - or at least till you post again

"wake up my knights"??

LOL!

The ceremonial hall was lined with lights and countless wall sconces but only a handful were on. The dim light illuminated the arching support beams and flying buttresses. The floor had a main walkway down the center, lined with green tiles. Side paths led to statues that were set deep within the dark marble walls. Banners stood around the room. Ancient gothic script was written on the cloth and etched into golden floor tiles. Several sculptures of metal and rock depicted scenes of walking machines defeating monsters and xenos alike. Smaller stone statues, twenty feet tall, stood in groups of four in set distances around the room. The art was amazing and the room was pristine. There was no dust, no dirt, even the banners looked as if they had been laundered and rehung.

In the center of it all was a sixty foot statue of a knight fighting a winged two headed bird demon. The knight held up the creature with a chainfist that was buried into the birds chest. Its other arm was firing into the birds two heads. Swarming over the knight were bizarre creatures that were spitting fire from oddly position heads and arms that ended in mouths.

“She is what? Did you say a company of Ice Angels? Never mind all of that, you said that planet is being invaded?” Tek’Ar questioned in quick succession. The Discordant Chapter marine sat on a stone block that lined the main pathway. Behind him was a gangly metal statue with shoulder mounted heavy stubbers, a collection of lengthy tentacle arms, and a pair of pincers that looked like the beaks on the Imperial Eagle. The statue was poised to strike an unseen enemy with claws and tentacles alike.

Deklyn watched Tek’Ar for a moment before wandering off. Xerin was standing tall as always. His posture was the complete opposite of the lounging Tek’Ar.

“Okay, we will locate.” Tek’Ar added before he stood up. “Omicron Eighty Eight,” he mumbled. “Apparently the only thing sentient in this compound is a tech priest.”

Xerin systematically looked around the room before speaking up, “I suggest we split up.”

“I agree,” Tek’Ar began, “I’ll head back and look through the eastern chambers. Xerin, check the western chambers. Deklyn, full sweep of this one?” He asked, as the Storm Warden wandered back and stood before Tek’Ar.

The deep voice of Deklyn boomed. “No need,” the heavy set marine said as he slowly pointed to the gangly statue behind Tek’Ar.

At the motion the statue burst into action. The tentacles twitched, the claws snapped, and the whole thing moved with surprising speed. It came to attention and looked down at the three of them. The machine did not have a head but an octagon shaped sensor array mounted on its thin shoulders.

Xerin looked over his shoulder at the twenty foot tall machine that could have easily snapped him in half a moment ago. He grunted and noticed the designation across its chest. Omicron Eighty Eight was etched in a gold recess in a small font, unlike the other statues it was sparsely decorated.

“Greetings,” a female’s voice came from the machine,”please follow me.” The machine turned and marched off with long strides. The marines glanced at one another before jogging after it.

The three of them ran behind the machine as it quietly stepped through the cavernous halls. After nearly fifteen minutes of silent running, they reached an intersection between seven different paths. The center of the room was a circular pit. Seven beams lined the pit and reach up to the ceiling. Omicron’s upper torso spun around with surprising speed.

“Before we continue on I believe you have questions we however do not have the time for further chat so I will forfeit information to create a mutual relationship as I already know more about you then you know about me.” The female machine rapidly stated.

“Deklyn, Tek’Ar, and Xerin, we must increase power to the catacombs, activate the lifts, and organize the arrival of refugees from the local populace. The most efficient method to do so will involve us splitting up. Will you comply?” She added while a series of clicks and whirrs echoed from her upper torso.

Deklyn nodded his head in approval. Tek’Ar tilted his head in fascination. Xerin held a defensive stance unflinching at the machine.

One final click from the machine and the torso opened up to reveal a person within, or what remained of a person. A black robed woman propelled herself out of the machine. Her upper torso was attached to a grav engine that allowed her to hover well above their heads. Her bronze face mask was angelic yet her helmet was a demonic visage that appeared to be consuming the angelic face. Countless wires and appendages dangled from the back of her helmet while her robe covered the rest of her body.

“I surmise your silence as an affirmation of my prior question. Deklyn and Xerin, my field repair unit will carry you to the bottom levels to increase power output to needed levels. Tek’Ar I will need you to open the needed power conduits.” She pointed to one of the hallways. “I have already accessed your vox channel. I will give you further commands once you arrive at your destinations.”

Deklyn stepped forward and the larger machine picked him up with several metal tentacles.

“Come on Xerin,” he motioned.

Reluctantly Xerin stepped forwards, but he kept his shield and weapon out. He was picked up in a similar fashion. No further words were spoken before the long legged machine used all of its remaining appendages to scale the side of the pit and descend into its unlit depths.

The hum of an antigrav engine increased and the tech priest began to quickly rise up to the ceiling.

Tek’Ar watched her depart and listened to the methodical clanks from the descending machine that carried his squad mates. He looked over to his designated hall way and sighed.

“Given that you can hear us and we are in transit, can you explain what this place is and why its here?” Tek’Ar asked as he began to jog down his hall.

“I can, but I will not. I do not see the need to divulge that information,” the feminine voice retorted.

Tek’Ar thought for a moment before responding, “It would make me feel better if I knew a little more about our situation.”

“We are about to be invaded by a xenos force of the eldar variety. The local populace is being sent here for shelter. You will aid me, per your superior officer’s command, and then you will go to the surface to assist in the defense of the entrances. The requested information will not add any strategic value therefore it will not be dispensed as it would only lead to further questions.” Omicron rattled off.

Tek’Ar shook his head at the response before closing his end of the vox line, “why does no one care about my feelings?”

* * * * * * * * * *

great Installment! I can't wait to see how all this plays out.

And who's her master??

Well done ice

I am left scratching my head... which isn't a bad thing.

Indeed! More questions must be asked before answers will be given. CONTINUE!

Sorry for the delay chaps, but I have been writing titan stories so I can win a titan or two. How cool would that be?

That would be very cool. Gotta have your priorities after all! Good luck!

Just put in my order, since I'm tired of waiting on plasma gun.

Waiting on plasma gun?

We've been waiting on this thing:



Thats why i havent had much Titan painting going on xD One of my missions at AC is to see if FW is selling this at their booth.




Anyways... I know I dont pop in here often enough, but I still really enjoy the stories, Ice. Thanks for sharing them

I can see why you would wait. That thing is super cool. Thanks for trolling my story. I'm glad you guys continue to read it and enjoy it.

The dense jungle was even thicker near the entrance to the Mechanicum lair. Doors and gates were scattered along the sheer rock face at various levels. Platforms were higher up along the ridge. The scale of the facility was impossible to determine but judging the distance between gates and platforms it must fill the wide mountain and the neighboring rock faces.

The main gate was a monstrous four panel door of black and silver. Flanking it were smaller gates that were over grown by vegetation and lack of use. Only the massive quad panel gate was cleared of vines and underbrush. Within the center panel a pair of smaller doors was open. Red light bathed the creatures that marched out in parallel lines.

Outside the gate stood rows of servitors in groups of ten. Every minute or so another group would exit and form up next to a previous one. They were servitors created from the local population, much larger then the typical servitors. One or more weapons were attached to their bodies usually replacing an arm or mounted over their shoulders.

Bonamire studied them through his enhanced optics that he had plugged into his helmet. He hid in dense foliage completely motionless at the base of a tree. A gnarled root was covering a boulder that was as tall as he was. Between the trunk and the top of the boulder in the slight depression rested the optical unit. Ten feet away he waited.

Dark clouds were cresting the mountain as more servitors departed the building. Finally a tech priest strode out. He was hunched over and easily the smallest figure there. A trio of hovering servitors quickly followed. The trio were created by using the upper torso’s of children. Their arms had been replaced with wicked maniples or bolters. They twitched and moved suddenly as if floating still was against their programming. They looked around and scanned, jutted and contorted.

In front of the storm came a squadron of ships along with smaller escorts. Bonamire expected immediate action by the Mechanicum but they continued their vigil. The dark eldar ships were sleek and slender transports. The escorts were jet bikes that looked hardly more then engines attached to a bladed seat.

The lead vessel spun around and hovered near the ground. A handful of scantily clad women leapt off of the sides of the vessel right before black armored warriors stepped off. Their large blades were held with both hands.

Following behind them all was a figure that must have been their commander. Trophies and artfully crafted blades adorned his simple armor.

The tech priest moved forward and bowed before the dark eldar. The motion disgusted Bonamire. He had found the traitor and he had been right but witnessing it first hand disturbed him to no end. He wanted nothing more then to take out the priest after demanding an explanation. The hair on his neck stood up as his ire grew. He found himself breathing heavier and shaking his head. The single bladed lightning claw purred in response, the weapons ancient spirit was impatient and ached to be used.

The calculating side of his conscious finally reasserted itself. He was here for reconnaissance. He needed to report back his findings. A needless death would accomplish nothing but give the enemy the upper hand. He reached up to recoil the wire on his optical unit when he paused.

Something was wrong.

In a single swift motion he slashed right while his blade erupted with purple energy. A crackle of dissipating energy followed the sharp retort of his blade deflecting another blade. Before the motion had ended he dove forward onto his chest away from the tree. He didn’t need to see the enemy to know it was there.

He launched himself up with his arms while his legs pumped. His optical unit, that was still resting on the rock, flew off the rock through the air as the wire recoiled that connected it to his helmet. The unit picked up a glimpse of an armored upright serpent standing next to his previous position.

Within seconds Bonamire was barreling through undergrowth and vines. He opened his vox line and received nothing but overwhelming feedback. He was being jammed.

He had to get to his speeder and away from the Mechanicum. He had too warn the others.

So much yes! Awesome to see who the traitor final is! .... but at the same time.... a resounding

Thanks MA.

All of my titan entry stuff has been completed. Now back to the Ice Angel stuff. Things are about to get thick and I can not wait to share it with all of you.

Awesome, here's hoping its visceral bloody and detailed

Hey IceAngel, do you know Black Library already started another submission period? You could try your luck as the main theme is "The Imperium of Man"

I think they are almost always looking for new authors and writers now. I should try again but I don't really have the motivation right now. Thanks for the heads up though. I do appreciate it. Once I have book two finished I may try creating some side stories before continuing on to book three in the Ice Angel trilogy.

Lieutenant Tsabin held onto the arm rest of his chair with white knuckles. He forced himself to take deep slow breaths. His mind knew what was happening but he could not get his body to cooperate. The Vault, the centermost piece of the Alabaster Reflection, was plummeting through the atmosphere. His body was held in place by a five point harness. He once again wondered if the crew, more importantly his son, had made it to the necessary rooms and seats before the ship had exploded around them and sent them shooting towards the planet.

He tried to fill his head with questions but they turned into dark thoughts about how painful his death would become when they crashed. He began to recite litanies, starting with the Litany of the Defender. Turbulence shook him out of his train of thought so he switched to the Litany of Ice, one of the mantras of the Ice Angel Chapter.

A monotone voice soon interrupted him.

“Lieutenant, when were the Rites of Slumber last preformed on the auxiliary engines?” The Techmarine, Philosir, filled a good portion of the small command room. His servo arms were holding him in place so he had his hands free to manipulate the array of screens before him. The three crewmen in the room were some of the remaining naval officers from the Alabaster Reflection. Tsabin had not even been aware of the other crewman rattling off status reports as the massive fortress vault past into the lower atmosphere.

Tsabin stammered for a moment trying to focus. “Twenty eight cycles ago,” he blurted as the information came to the forefront of his thoughts.

Two of the crew were talking to each other when the dull roar of reentry was replaced with the bellow of engines turning on and slowing their descent.

“When were offerings last given to the machine spirit of the inner sanctum?” He asked immediately.

“They are given daily via the auxiliary naval tech priests and their servitors,” Tsabin quickly responded.

“Who is responsible for purifying and blessing the holy fuel within the retro burners?”

Air evacuated the lungs of Lieutenant Tsabin as a specific memory came to him. It was holiday on the ship and some of his men had brewed the best batch of Gut Check he had ever tasted. Only months later did he find out that the alcoholic drink had been created from the thousand year old holy fuel that at one time filled the retro burners.

“This’ll be the death of me,” he remembered saying that evening before passing out.

“By the Emperor’s Graces,” he mumbled when one of the crewmen spoke up.

“Retro burn in 3,2,1.”

Five feet away from Tsabin Tsabo, a naval officer switched a small silver piece of metal to the on position. Tsabin stared as time slowed to a stop. The switch sounded like thunder as it clicked into position and echoed throughout his mind. Chills ran down his spine as his eyes grew wide.

Time punched him in the face as the chamber began to spin and the crew were slammed into the right sides of their seats.

The vault was thrown into a barrel roll when only half of the retro engines had fired.

Techmarine Philosir was unphased by the sudden plummeting spiral the entire vessel was thrown into.

After a few blinding seconds of screaming, the vessel hit something and came to a screeching halt. Tsabin was panting and covered in sweat. When he finally opened his eyes he noticed that the other crew were in just as much pain. To his surprise they had still landed right side up. The room felt as it was still moving but he knew they had finally stopped.

The mechanical arms of Philosir disengaged. The Ice Angel turned to look down at Tsabin.

Tsabin uncurled his fingers as he finally let go of the arm rests. He had trouble meeting the cold gaze of Philosir.

“You knew didn’t you?” Tsabin asked.

“Affirmative,” the Techmarine quietly added.

“Why did you ask me then?”

“The lives of everyone here are dependent on our future actions AND the actions of our past. Had I not been here and timed the retro thrust with our course and trajectory, many lives would have been lost. I think you know whose fault that would have been,” Philosir added.

“Get your men in position along the battlements. Deploy all of the anti air weapons but leave the wall mounts and roof cannons covered.” He commanded before squeezing through the small doorway.

From the hall way he paused, he looked back over his shoulder at the still seated Lieutenant.

“Yes sir,” Tsabin nodded.

The Techmarine marched away.

Tsabin, for the first time in what seemed like an eternity, relaxed in his seat as regret infected his mind.

Oooh the follies of the past come back to haunt the present, I like the idea behind that. I wonder if the idea will play more in the future.

Well written!! And Philosir entering Boss mode. Great installment

Knightley wrote:Oooh the follies of the past come back to haunt the present, I like the idea behind that. I wonder if the idea will play more in the future.

Thanks bud. It certainly may. I think the follies of the past has been a big theme within 40k. I mine as well apply that in my story too.

Master Azalle wrote:Well written!! And Philosir entering Boss mode. Great installment

Thanks Azalle. I hate to say it but I kind of forgot Philosir was around in book two. I think he played such a huge role in book one that I want him to be a bit more of a background guy in book two. I do really like him though. He is such a rich character with a nice balance of mystery about him. I don't know how I ended up with that but he is one of my favorites.

Wait until he gets into battle mode! Philosir is going to handle some business......

or is he............. mwahahahaha

Nice installment Ice. Philosir is BACK baby!

Branches broke and bushes were knocked aside as Bonamire plowed through the underbrush. Speed was his best option and he was not allowing the jungle to get in his way. Rain was now pouring down on and around him. The force in which the rain was pummeling the ground was creating a deafening roar. The entire jungle was quaking from the impact of heavy rain drops. Bonamire assumed he was being pursued but he did not take the opportunity to confirm that suspicion. Instead he continued on as fast as his genetically enhanced form would propel him.

A collection of large stones signified he was almost to his speeder. With a thought the case on his shoulder opened and revealed his plasma gun. He ran up a gradual incline to the top of a jutting stone, leapt onto a massive low branch before jumping through a wall of leaves. He reached over his shoulder and grabbed his beloved weapon, Belligerence, as his body broke branches mid air.

His speeder was parked between some of the large stones on the other side. A pair of dark eldar in turquoise armor were on the speeder while a third was perched on one of the boulders behind it. All three were turning and grabbing for weapons when Bonamire blew off the face of the eldar on the boulder.

Bonamire slid down the side of a boulder when he fired a second time. The dark eldar near the controls of the speeder had his chest disintegrated by a ball of glowing plasma. The remaining dark eldar fired a trio of explosive shards that ricocheted off Bonamires wet armor while stepping side ways down the length of the small craft.

In response Bonamire took the last few running steps onto the deck of the simple speeder. He lowered a shoulder to knock the xenos off the ship but the tall creature was already jumping off the side.

The slick deck of the ship rocked as the weight of a space marine shifted from one side to the other. The xenos crashed onto the ground from an awkward landing. Bonamire fired a hissing bolt of plasma through the armored foe.

Four seconds later the speeder was rising up out of its hidden position within the rocks. He got above the underbrush level when he began to push forward with the speeder. The explosion of crystalline shards on the prow of his speeder heralded the arrival of his next quarry. Behind him in the distance weaving through the trees were a swarm xenos speeders. Through the haze caused by the heavy rain he could not make out details but judging by the size, reavers and venoms were heading his direction.

You're boned dude.

Speeders can be pretty quick, but Dark Eldar Jetbikes are quicker. Heres hoping a saviour is near by, like a knight or something?

totally gaked

His speeder had just reached full speed when the reavers were around him. They shouted and screamed with excitement as they easily out maneuvered his larger speeder. Bonamire responded with plasma fire. The first shot took out the lead driver that then collided into another. His second shot hit the side of a zooming jet bike and sent the small craft spiraling into a tree.

Alerts from Belligerence were forcing him to wait before he could fire again. He attempted to bash into a reaver on his right but the skilled driver flew higher up. The reaver then juked left and one of the short wings on the jet bike hit Bonamire in his shoulder guard with agonizing force.

The blow knocked the power armored marine off the speeder. The sounds of his speeder crashing against a tree and then splashing into water came moments before he landed ungracefully in thick vegetation on his back. He stayed motionless in the vegetation looking up at the thick rain droplets that still bombarded the jungle. He knew he was hurt but the autoinjected pain meds were doing their job. He heard the reavers hovering nearby; their bikes were like sick birds screeching in the storm. He heard their cackles as they looked around for him.

His vox suddenly crackled with dull static. He must be on the edge of the jamming signal. If he could just get a little further he may able to warn the others.

“……….mire, do you…..” the voice of Mortifex was trying to reach him.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Bonamire, do you copy?” Mortifex repeated. A feeling of unease continued to linger as he tried the vox line again. He shook his head at the black armored Captain Razzik. Razziks response was to step aside to once again look out at the jungle from the top of the city wall they stood upon. A caravan of vessels was below them heading toward the ruins. Speeders and six legged walkers moved through the wide jungle path, each was brimming with supplies and people. The majority of the clans left the city as quickly as they were able. Unfortunately several of the clans decided to stay behind, still untrusting of the new comer claiming to be of the ancient house.

Mortifex stopped speaking and once again regarded Captain Razzik. The Ice Angel Captain had asked a series of questions and without hesitating split up his company. Three of his squads and the majority of his air force stayed around the city. The rest went to the ruins or to guard the path there.


Mortifex did not like any of those decisions but he had no better idea given the situation and the long list of unknowns.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ha! I knew he's get caught, didn't expect him to hit those bikers though, I always viewed Eldar jetbikers as xenos who's attunement to their vehicles was like an extension of their bodies and were freakishly nimble. Still we're getting action and I will never complain about that!

And a little boy waits

HA!

Patience Knightley......

I'd say I'm waiting... but I think I'm still supposed to be in the corned last time I asked for moar...

You can always ask. I do have some time off in a few weeks. My plan is to get this next section finished then.

Ice....

Sir...

Can we please have some moar?

The downpour of rain intensified. The large broad leaves around Bonamire violently shook from the aquatic assault. The sound of the hovering jet bikes was muffled in the torrential rain. Bonamire was still lying on his back unmoving in the undergrowth. Water and mud surrounded him, more then half of him was submersed.

He knew he could not hide from them forever. He knew he had to move before more arrived. He slowly rose up to a crouch to see if he could ascertain which direction his speeder had crashed. He recalled the sound of it splashing into water. If he could cross the river he should be far enough to get a vox message out.

“Emperor be my shield,” he whispered to himself. He looked to his right and saw a gap in the canopy. It had to be the river. He caught glimpses of bikes floating in between the trunks. They were spread out, looking down at the jungle floor. One fired several rounds from his splinter cannon.

Bonamire did not see what he was shooting at but he took the opportunity to move. He stayed low and tried to stay in the thicker vegetation. He moved and then paused. He attached his optical unit onto Belligerence and used it as an extra set of eyes. He continued his tactic of moving from vegetation and then waiting.

The river was closer then he realized and he was soon watching the bulging river bank rush past him. Plants stretched from the river banks trying to reach sun light that normally bathed the area. Now they were drooping low and some were caught in the fast flowing current.

He crept closer and felt exposed. He mag locked his plasma gun, got down on his stomach, and crawled to the edge. Leaves, larger then his chest, shook up and down. In between their waving he examined the river. It was probably thirty meters wide but not very deep. It was littered with smooth rocks of various sizes.

Run across the rocks or crawl across the river, he began to think when a ship lazily hovered down the river. A second ship hovered not far behind. The Raiders bristled with Dark Eldar all scanning the river and the banks.

Bonamire pushed himself back away from the edge of the river when one of the largest leaves in front of him was knocked aside from water cascading down from a higher group of leaves. In that instance lightning flashed and his eyes locked with a scantily clad wych that stood on the second raider.

The leaf bounced back into place but moved slightly passed its original position; briefly he could once again see the deck of the floating vessel. This time the Wych was mid air, leaping off the platform down onto one of the rocks in the river.

The screams of hovering jet bikes was approaching. He knew his options were very limited. He slid back and stood up. He took several quick steps to come around the other side of the trunk he was closest too. While stepping around he came face to face with the Wych. She held two jagged daggers and a wicked grin.

Her mouth opened to release a soft laugh. Bonamire raised his plasma gun but she was already moving. The ball of plasma passed by here and into the river. She side stepped and leapt. Daggers flashed and were met by the lone blade that protruded out of his gauntlet. With his other hand he attempted to bash her with the side of Belligerence. She rolled away from the attack and some how cart wheeled back at him. He side slashed with his blade but caught only air. He took several steps away from her towards the river.

Lightning flashed as she pressed the attack. He jumped back away from her with his back towards the river. He fired another shot at her that she narrowly avoided. Her grin grew wider as the ends of her hair smoked.

Bonamire took several steps and found himself a third of the way across the river as he splashed into the rushing water. It came up to the middle of his thighs. She stood at the edge of the river watching. The jet bikes were now hovering over head. The two raiders were flanking him. Dozens of dark eldar had weapons leveled at him.

The Wych paused and he noticed her give a momentary look to one of the raiders. He risked a glance of his own. The masked Eldar from earlier was on the raider surrounded by his white masked guards. He cocked his head and Bonamire heard the laughter of the wych over the storm.

Bonamire grasped his favored plasma gun in both hands, he flipped a switch and spoke through his vox. “Mortifex, the Mechanicum are the traitors, do not trust them. I repeat, do not trust any of them. I have witnessed their betrayal.”

He held up his plasma gun above his head as plasma began to vent. The Dark Eldar paused, the Wych sneered. He threw the weapon into the river. It was carried away by the current.

The sneer on the Wych changed into a smile as she screamed with excitement. Bonamire pulled a bolt pistol and turned. He fired at the masked leader on the raider. The first round ricocheted off an invisible protective shield. The second round exploded next to the leaders shoulder. Bonamire took a step and continued to fire. The third round took off the face of one of the guards that was getting in the way. The fourth plunged through the chest of another.

The Dark Eldar all around him opened fire. He got eight more rounds off and ended the lives of four more xenos before his armor and body was eviscerated by enemy fire.

When the enemy fire ceased the rain ended with it. The Wych was still screaming, but this time in anger.

In the distance, high up in the trees a grey armored figure watched. His chanting momentarily stopped. “Journey safe Sergio Bonamire of the Salvage Angels, may the Emperor grant your light a second chance,” Brother Micus whispered as he watched the plasma gun tumble away in the river.

Awesome, I'm glad I've waited for this. He knew he was fethed, but still went out swinging.

Top notch.

Very nice passage. Needs a bit of editing... probably typos mostly... but that doesn't change the impact of the piece. Well done my friend.

Thanks guys. I have to admit, that last post was probably the most challenging one I have written in a long time. It may not seem like it but I did not like anything I was writing in that scene for the longest time. This was f course the best version, but because of the multiple rewrites that it took before I got here I did not take my usual time to edit. I got to the point were I said, "F it, i am posting this now"

Thanks for bearing with me. I am hoping that I can now move forward with less down time between posts.

Loved it Ice. Well done sir

The lifeless body of the space marine was partially submerged in the water before her. Savra stared at it with daggers in her hands. The urge to stab it and dismember the corpse was incredibly strong. Her opportunity to fight, to inflict pain on others had been stolen from her and it infuriated her.

She was gifted the first victim and the victim, the now water logged corpse, had turned her excitement into fuming hatred. She squeezed the hilts of her daggers until her knuckles were white, she wanted to scream. The last few seconds before her victim was eviscerated by weapons fire replayed in her thoughts.

The sound of an approaching ship pulled her back to reality. The sound was coming from behind her. She looked away from the corpse and was about to turn around when her eyes met the hard gaze of her master.

He was on the edge of his transport staring at her. His mask hid any facial expressions but his eyes told her everything she needed. One of the flesh crafters, the Ancient Haemonculus Villimule, was tending the wounds that had just been inflicted upon his newly regenerated body. The suturing and injections did not keep her master from staring at her.

There was a strong possibility her corpse would be the next one floating in the river. She averted her eyes to look upon the approaching ship. Savra new by the sound it was not an Eldar vehicle.

The bulky hovering craft lowered itself from above the tree line to an area just up river from their position. The vessel bristled with weapons of Imperial design. The Machine Priest was standing at the prow. A trio of small child like creatures flittered about with unceasing movement.

Savra’s master finally spoke, “Take your troops and that corpse to the city. Warn them of our imminent attack. Aid in the defense of the city tonight. When we arrive tomorrow, we will send you a signal, then together we will make them pay!” He snarled.

The priest blurted out some bizarre sounds that released some half man half machines to retrieve the body. He then quietly spoke, “As you wish, Master.”

Savra took another hateful glance at the body before jumping across stones to get back onto one of the transports. She half heard commands being sent to ships in orbit. The tormenting would begin at nightfall.

Those bloody mechanicus!

What I like about this passage is it sets up the homunculus as a real badass with out having him do anything, its all reputation. It actually reminds me of the movie "John Wick" where you get all the understanding of how much of a badass he is by how people react to his name and when he is around. Nice work!

I really liked John Wick. Thank you for the great reference.

Time for a story update!

It's almost ready.........

Gah, you did it again!

I got SUPER excited, now.... well now I am excited, but not SUPER excited, just Excited now.

Heat was emanating from the craft all around him. A bustle of activity was behind him. The Wardens of the Vault and the surviving naval security were disengaging panels and preparing for the defense of the ship. The whirr of ancient servos could be heard as anti air batteries were slowly raising up. Barricades and fortifications were being assembled all across the dark iron steaming hull.

Philosir stood on the edge of the craft 100 feet from the ground, surveying his surroundings. His red armor was a stark contrast against the gun metal gray of the vault. He had already sent images of the grounds to the company command and to all of the sergeants. Entrances were labeled and check points marked so everyone would have an instant understanding of what was around them. His array of sensors had gathered a depth of information about the jungle within seconds of his departure from the confines of the craft, but before he felt satisfied, he removed his helmet. He looked with his own eyes and used his own nose.

He looked at the dark clouds hanging low over the jungle. Heavy rain was headed towards them. He could already smell the moisture in the air. He felt the strong wind on the upper half of his face. He took a deep breath through his nose one more time before putting his helmet back on.

Intel flooded his sight once again, air temp, air quality, moisture levels, arrival time of incoming rain, and a long list of other environmental information. He sent a message to the vault command to begin issuing vaccines against some of the air born viruses to help prevent some of the native diseases.

Philosir looked down at the wrecked jungle before them. The vast rectangular ship had barreled through a lot of jungle before hitting the ground. It made for an excellent kill zone, but next to the path was dense jungle. If they were assaulted it would be close and fast. He turned to look at the side of the craft. Their slide across the ground had been halted by the ruins of one of the ancient spires. It gave them excellent cover and protection from one flank but it also took away any chance of escape or a place to fall back.

He sent a request to have several squads do a quick visual scan through the ruins for possible rear movements or if an escape route could be made. He viewed an overhead image from one of their thunderhawks when an alert changed his focus.

A pair of fast xenos scout ships were heading their direction. The anti air weapons around him would not be ready in time. The Ice Angel air force was mostly by the city and none of his fighters would be by in time.
“Sergeant Makurii, those incoming are yours,” the monotone voice of Philosir stated. He stepped away from the edge of the ship and went back to planning the defense.

An agile marine, Makurii was known for deploying fast and hitting hard. His devastators were often found right behind the assault marines laying punishing cover fire. His missile launcher marine, Shu-Lumivaxi moved up into the shade of an unopened side compartment. A second marine stood next to him with a flakk missile in hand.

The ships screamed overhead at high speeds. No shots were fired by either side. The pair then rounded the spire and slowed dramatically, just as Philosir had expected. They came back and began a second pass.

The first missile shot out and hit the underside of the first cockpit. The second missile was a second behind. The lightning fast reflexes of the dark eldar pilot jerked the jet away just in time.

Before another missile was loaded the ship was screaming away over the jungle. None of the marines said anything. Shu-Lumivaxi shook his head in disappointment.

Philosir watched as the ship disappeared and the other plummeted into the jungle. His preparation time was running thin. He sent out commands to nearly every available squad. He expected the attack at nightfall.

Very cool passage, there is a serious build up to tension here and I can just imagine the reprimand Shu-Lumivaxi will get for missing.... twice.

 Knightley wrote:
Very cool passage, there is a serious build up to tension here and I can just imagine the reprimand Shu-Lumivaxi will get for missing.... twice.

He hit the first time and took out the flier. The second shot was dodged by the enemy.

He isn't that bad, jeez.

Ah I misread, my understanding was the missile hit bit didn't kill. Re-reading it again is a bit more clear.

Kaihiro stood atop a rolling fortress holding onto the battlements. The monstrous vehicle rumbled through the jungle clearing a wide path towards the shattered spires. His glazed eyes stared out into the tree tops. He heard the whine of speeders around them. He heard the shouts of the people below them. All of it was distant, like a lingering dream that would not fade away. His face was blank as his mind whirled. He stood on the legendary battle barge of Clan Batterhorn, the Mountainbreaker. He had spoken with their clan champion, Gorehzingus. Then he saw……

A slight turn of his head and he saw the back of the space marine once again. The armored marine was bulky and gave off an aura of immeasurable power. Kaihiro did not notice his mouth fall open. His breath came in short bursts. He attempted to calm his breath. He looked away to view the jungle canopy that was close enough to reach. He forced himself to think of anything else.

He closed his eyes, felt the moisture in the air, smelled the freshly crushed vegetation and recently burned fuel. He felt the iron of the battlements in his hands. He concentrated on the feeling.

“This is real,” the words slipped out of his mouth after a few minutes of concentration.

“It is, isn’t it?” a soft feminine voice questioned.

Kaihiro looked to his left to see his Samhree. She was still in her armor and did not seem in the least bit concerned with the day’s turn of events. The Mortimon Brooch dangled over her armored breast like a shining beacon. Light sparkled amongst its gems and reflective metal. He had seen its pictures thousands of times but seeing it up close was mesmerizing.

The sound of thunder in the distance made him look to the ominous clouds. The tumbling mass rolled across the sky like a wave smothering the beach. It will be upon them soon.

A large black boxy ship flew low overhead. Kaihiro caught sight of the winged ice shard on its hull before it was out of sight once again.

“What will happen next?” He whispered.

“Do not be afraid Kai,” she spoke clearly. “We will take these people into the vaults so that they will be protected. I will use the brooch to waken my knights and other brethren. We will walk to war and fight.” She turned to look up at him.

“In the name of the Emperor, we will win.” She added.

A snort came from behind them both. Kaihiro turned to see a glaring space marine. His armor was bright and multi-colored with orange and purple. Gleaming blades hung at both hips. His left shoulder pad was dark green with a glistening white unicorn head. He would have looked regal, even elegant, had his face not been sneering at them both. His eyes were aflame with hatred. He looked at Reticence with a level of disgust that made him hard to interact with.

“Be careful how you use HIS name, traitor” he spat. His hands rested casually on the hilts of his blades. He looked like a trap ready to release death at the slightest motion.

Kai held himself as still as he could while wondering how someone could have that much anger at another person. He discovered it was hard to think straight around this space marine. He called himself the Celestial Unicorn but his face was anything but celestial.

“I would prefer you not call me that,” Reticence politely asked while cocking her head slightly.

The Celestial Unicorns eyes widened before narrowing. He then looked over to one of the other marines on the rooftop battlements. The yellow armored marine was closely watching the scene. With a grunt the Unicorn turned and stalked away.

Kai exhaled sharply, he hadn’t realized he had been holding his breath the entire. A shadow fell over them both as the massive form of Gorehzingus approached. A pair of Clan Batterhorn guards stood nearby.

The giant of a man stood in a set of battle plate with swooping lines of deep greens over shades of brown. He appeared to be weaponless unlike the guards behind him. His eyes studied Reticence. The woman returned the stare.

Kaihiro stood perfectly still between the two, unsure of what proper etiquette was at this time. His eyes shifted between the two before he decided to bow and step backwards.

The thunder in the distance was approaching quickly. Kaihiro watched the storm roll towards them when Gorehzingus opened his mouth to speak. Reticence lifted her hand to stop him.

She spoke quickly and quietly, “thank you for supporting in the arena. I do not think I would have walked out of there with the brooch without your words of wisdom.”

Gorehzingus digested the words before responding, “I do not understand why I did. But….” his gaze fell away and got lost in the jungle,” when the Elders began to argue and bicker, a thought came to me.” He blinked before taking a short breath, “you were the first one there whose primary concern was truly about protecting the people.” His look quickly changed to disgust, “even on the eve of a battle their politics determine their actions.”

She gave a curt smile before his face hardened, “then again, leaving the city with my people fails to make any tactical sense either. I am putting a lot of faith in you as is everyone that follows me. I find that unsettling, Xanshi.” He said her name with extra emphasis. His eyes suddenly narrowed and he pointed at her with a finger that was as thick as her wrist. “If my faith has been misplaced, I…..” he hesitated. He look over to the space marines. The Celestial Unicorn had his arms crossed across his barrel chest.

Xanshi spoke without following the gaze of Gorehzingus, “I will already be dead, but your faith has not been misplaced. Even now the path is being opened.”

She turned to the ruins of the Spires ahead of them. The gaping maw of the shattered outer wall stood taller then the Mountainbreaker. Vehicles of all design were streaming through the broken wall towards the largest entrance in the base of the Spire. In the road directing vehicles was a pair of astartes. A blue armored marine with a white pointed helmet was sending vehicles one direction while a dark brown armored marine was talking with the driver of a large wheeled supply vehicle.

Thunder rumbled even closer. Seeing the vehicles bottleneck at the entrance made their vehicle slow. Gorehzingus moved towards the marines on the deck. Xanshi look to Kaihiro, “we need to get in their as quickly as we can. Go collect our things,” she commanded.
The surprisingly high pitched voice of the other astartes spoke to her, “allow us to aid you madame.”

“To your death,” the unicorn added.

The yellow armored marine, Saddicus, ignored the comment, “My squadmates have already activated the main lift and they have met your Mechanicum cohort. If you can reactivate the knights, then time is running short.” He looked back to the Unicorn, “the lives of us all may depend on it.”

Great installment my friend, good to see you back at it.

Thanks Gits. I have been away with other hobbies but I can't leave my story untold. I need to get back into it so I can finish up book two.

Looking forward to it!

Me too. I appreciate you coming back to read more.

If any one else is still reading, please let me know. It helps motivate me.

I'm thoroughly enjoying your latest installment, actually got me in the mood for writing

Eagerly looking forward to more

You have no idea how much I missed this tale, I was tempted to post a when will the next instalment be posted, but as you are an artist and storyteller, It'll come when it comes.

Oh Ice... How I have missed your tales of your Angels.

Love the last two installments. Philosir is definitely a favorite, love how you portray him.

Can't wait for the next installment brother!

Kharne the Befriender wrote:I'm thoroughly enjoying your latest installment, actually got me in the mood for writing
Eagerly looking forward to more

Knightley wrote:You have no idea how much I missed this tale, I was tempted to post a when will the next instalment be posted, but as you are an artist and storyteller, It'll come when it comes.

Master Azalle wrote:Oh Ice... How I have missed your tales of your Angels.
Love the last two installments. Philosir is definitely a favorite, love how you portray him.
Can't wait for the next installment brother!

Thanks guys! I appreciate the love. Philosir has turned into one of my favorites. I think Philosir, Nefas, and Aquilum are some of my top characters. Who else have you guys liked?

*Cough* Micus *Cough* but I am bias.

Philosir has always been one of my favorites.

The dark clouds loomed over the edges of the cities vast walls. Alarm klaxons were wailing around the city. City guards were activating ancient weapon systems. Blast doors were closing on major structures. The call to shut all gates had been issued. Captain Razzik stood atop one of the command towers in silence. He ignored all the commotion around him.

Unblinking, his gaze wandered across the horizon. Approaching storm clouds flashed with inner turmoil. The jungle canopy reached above the city walls and every other flash contained more then waving branches. His HUD exploded with action as enemy contacts were spotted. Anti-air weapons roared to life as the first wave of sleek fighters screamed across the sky.

Razzik took a slow breath as the first round of bombs exploded sporadically around the city.

It may be small, but its piqued my interest!

 Knightley wrote:
It may be small, but its piqued my interest!

Thats what she said!

ICE! Give us more brother! More!

I will my friend. I am currently running three nights of pathfinder games a week. All of them are about to complete. The games are all intertwined and the epic conclusion is nearing. After that there will be no pathfinder for quite some time. That should free up creative juices for my writing.

At least that's the plan.

*waiting patiently*

You and me both buddy!

Me too! I can not wait to see what happens next.

To think, its been a while since we got to hear more from this tale.

*knocks the dust off* *wipes away cob webs*

I SAW SOMEONE POSTED

Knightly... you're killing me

ICE! You're cruel and unusual... and that's not allowed in America

Oh, i knew i was forgetting something. I can't believe I never posted the rest of book 2. It is all finished and around here some where...........

^ this is exciting, I will be bumping this post in 2 weeks

The child wailed and cried in short bursts. He watched through blurry eyes as the tiny quivering mass was passed to him. The cries slowed as he held close the bundle of miniature human and clothe. Warm tears streaked as he stared at the wrinkled forehead of his own son.

“Lieutenant” a voice whispered.

He took a moment to look away from his child to his exhausted wife. She was pale from effort and the slightest smile crossed her face as her gaze met his. Tsabin sniffled as the slightest whimper came from his son and he returned his attention to his first and only child.

“Lieutenant” a voice echoed from beside him.

A moment later warning klaxons began to wail. He instinctively held tight as he looked up. Medical staff and servitors flew into action. Quickly he was ushered back away from his wife. His mouth dropped open as he noticed that her eyes were closed and her body limp.

“LIEUTENANT!” the voice boomed as a slap cracked his head to the side.

Tsabin Tsabo shuddered and took in a deep breath as he looked around at the personnel crowded in the command him. Vid screens and klaxons were lighting up with weapons fire. In the darkness around the Vault, shapes were emerging from the thick jungle. Ice Angels and Wardens were firing from the battlements.

He tore his view from the action for a moment to nod at the naval officer that had slapped him. The wiry man had a piercing stare and a sharp nose. Tsabin cleared his throat.

“Notify all units of attack points. Confirm lock down of all access ports. Send an updated report to Captain Razzik.” He turned to the clipboard next to his armrest, “Ensign, how are we with communications to this Sergeant Mortifex?”

Responses and acknowledgements flooded back and forth. In a matter of minutes everything was settled and now they went back to waiting. Background noise rose to a higher volume until Tsabin found himself once again lost in his thoughts. He could not stop thinking about his son and his wife, now lost over 5 years ago. He steepled his fingers and held them up to his nose, the gesture brought the faintest of smiles. Memories of his son, as an infant, failing to mimic that same gesture.

“Sir, final numbers of survivors have just arrived,” one naval officer began to recite the larger bullet points of staff and injuries. Tsabin heard none of it, he leapt to his feet to grab the parchment that was printing from one of the mounted servitors. The first section was naval staff followed by warden staff. Lastly was the civilians. Tsabin scanned every name while his heart pounded. Sounds of the room slid back away from his senses, he was not sure he was even breathing any more. His eyes widened as the names spat out in apparently no order what so ever. He silently damned the machine spirit of the servitor for writing so slow when his warm sensation coursed across his soul.

Seven feet into the scroll was his son's name.

Gravilax Tsabo - wounds none.

The scroll continued to spill around him before stopping with a whir and a collection of clicks. Lietenant Tsabin ripped the scroll around his son's name. He crushed it in his hand and held it to his chest. A distant explosion sounded outside on the wall of the vault.

“Gravilax, I will not let you down.” He whispered to himself, “Emperor grant me strength and wisdom to deliver us from this place.”

Knowledge of his sons survival was filed away. Tsabin fully returned to the task at hand as his feeling of resolve filled him with purpose. He tucked the piece of scroll into a pocket. Fresh reports came in. A second wave was assaulting from another angle.

Good to see you back in action my friend.

 Gitsplitta wrote:
Good to see you back in action my friend.

Thanks! We will see how back I can be. I need to knock the dust off of my writing skills and get back into shape, so to speak.

SWEET MOTHER OF GULLIMAN - THERES MOAR STORY!

That was actually a very touching addition to the story, having a kid myself I can really sympathise with the panic that your offspring could be in danger, so much so that everything else dissapears into the back ground.

Top work and I'm happy I kick started this again

I appreciate you helping remind me of my obligations. I'm glad you enjoyed that little section. I have some good plans for the Tsabo family in the long term and I thought a little dash of back story would help us relate to what he was going through. Next up we will bring back Kaihiro and Xanshi, or Reticence, or whatever you want to call her. When I planned out this story, I really did not intend to have this many story arcs. I guess this is the downside to writing in order and only loosely planning things out.

Kaihiro stood on the quickly descending platform a step away from his Bushini. He looked down at her diminutive form. Her armor was gleaming from the beams of the assembled vehicles. Ribbons adorning her shoulders and belt rustled in the whirling air of the shaft. She held onto the Mortimon Brooch in her small hands, studying it intently.

Slowly Kaihiro let his eyes leave Xanshi to pass over those around them. A unit of five massive men had formed a protective circle around Xanshi and himself. The unit was made up of men from Clan Batterhorn, all armored and armed with long hafted blades and short barreled blasters that hit hard but not far. Gorehzingus had sent them along when the astartes had all stayed up on the service to help guide and protect.

The sounds of the arguing space marines still seemed so odd to Kaihiro. The one that called himself the Celestial Unicorn was practically restrained by other marines when Sergeant Mortifex had ordered him elsewhere.

Several heavy coughs seemed to grab at his attention. Kaihiro looked past his immediate wall of men to see the tight crowd of vehicles and civilians. Nearly a dozen trucks were packed tight on the platform and every space on and around them was filled with people. Refugees all fleeing the coming attack.

Without warning the sound of screaming brakes ripped through his skull. It was painfully loud and the cries of children and startled people soon followed. Despite the sound the platform slowed to a halt in a chamber with several tunnels and massive doors.

Only one set of doors was open and only the bottom third was open. Kaihiro looked up to admire the hundred foot tall door. The top two thirds were still connected via a massive clockwork mechanism and the bottom led into a dim lit corridor. Directly in front of them floated a, thing. Kaihiro was not sure what it was exactly. It wore a black robe and hovered above them. A bronze face mask with an angelic face looked back at them. Kai was not sure if he should be running away or happy to see the thing.

Suddenly the form bowed before speaking. “Welcome home Champion Oshiashi.”

The feminine voice seemed very out of place to Kai. He could not tell if there was any woman in that machine but the thought quickly left him. Movement behind her grabbed his attention as three space marines walked out of the shadows flanked by stone machines that stood twenty feet tall.

“Omicron Eighty Eight, please organize the refugees and send this platform back to the surface with all haste,” Xanshi ordered as she stepped off the platform towards the tunnel. People quickly followed as the vehicles fired up their engines to rumble along behind.

The stone machines stepped aside to let them pass. The space marines flanked the crowd.

Kaihiro took long strides to keep up with Xanshi, he was in awe as he passed through dark tunnels with ornate carvings and ceilings that were so far up he could not see them. Omicron floated above them all. Wires dangled and twitched underneath her floating mass.

Kai was so distracted by everything around him that he had not noticed Xanshi send the crowd of people and vehicles down a side tunnel with Omicron. He had lost all sense of time. How long had they been walking? Had it been minutes or hours, his head was swimming with thoughts and sights. The rumbling of the distant vehicles diminished and the tunnel grew darker before a cavern opened up before them. Lights adorning the walls and ceiling began to illuminate more and more of the immense hall.

“Bushini, what is this place?” he found himself thinking out loud.

She slowed down before stopping at the entrance to the biggest cavern Kai had ever seen before. Statues were everywhere, banners hung from the ceiling, more massive doors lined both walls. Everything was so big that he felt like a bug looking up at the limbs of a massive tree. Lights continued to bathe the vaulted room revealing the majesty of the ancient room. Xanshi whispered a command in the high speech of old and the remaining lights flickered on. Fires in several vast pits roared to life shooting gouts of flames thirty feet into the air.

“This is my families catacombs. This is where we have been sleeping all this time. Our knights our behind those doors. With this brooch I should be able to wake up the old systems and bring everyone back. House Oshiashi will walk to battle and once again protect the people of this planet.” She paused and looked at the statue in the center of the chamber. It was several hundred yards away but Kai could make out a two legged machine defeating a double headed demon of equal size.

“I have thought of this moment for years, ever since I woke. Countless times have I wondered how many of my relatives are slumbering here. I had a large family…” her voice trailed off.

Kai wanted to say something but he did not know what. He himself did not know anything of his own family. He often wondered what it was like to have kin.

“Come Kai, let us ascend to the throne room to see what will wake.” she added with new determination.

Outstanding addition Ice

Oh yes, there is certain build up here which is just awesome.

A couple of points/questions if I may.

- I like the name Omicron, however my first instinct was to think of Unicron from the transformer movie and thats what I now think of for that character.
- The lighting in the cavern they stepped into, is there anyway to elaborate on that, as in my head cannon anything that deep underground would be shrouded in darkness the higher up the cavern extended, but the way they they could see things indicated otherwise?

Thanks guys.

Questions are always welcome. There is not much I can do about the name thing, but I can elaborate on the lighting situation. I will do a little rework. Thanks for the comments guys!

Okay, give it a reread. Is that better?

P.S. Somebody post something so that I can post more story too. I don't want it to auto merge with this one. THanks!

Omicron 88, surprisingly catchy! Great additions

The path to the throne room was a surprisingly difficult affair. It started with a floating platform that Xanshi went directly too but was unadorned and unmarked. With another whispered command a piece of floor simply floated upwards carrying the two of them towards a balcony. After that there were hidden levers, disguised stairs, scans of body parts, and still more unknown commands spoken in the long forgotten Mortimon High Speech.

Kai had once again lost track of where exactly they were or how they had gotten there. Xanshi had not muttered a word to him during their trip and he was starting to wonder if she had forgotten he was behind her. This deep into her family's lair, the signs of age were everywhere. A thick layer of dust coated every surface except a small path. The air had not circulated in ages and every breath tasted like a forgotten time.

At last they entered an area full of exquisite furniture, amazing art, and ancient tomes. Every one of them was sealed in cases on the wall or standing in specialized domed glass. Kai wanted to stare and study every one but he did not dare fall behind the still hurrying armored woman.

Here and there he noticed disturbances in the dust. He could see the small footsteps of Xanshi, she must have been here before. He wanted to ask her countless questions. The sudden urge to stop her and make her explain more filled him for the briefest moment but dissipated like a flock of birds startled in a field.

Xanshi had stopped. Her hands hovered above a circular door. It was not much taller than him but a perfect circle. The hinges were massive metal columns, one on each side at chest height. She took a deep breath and placed both of her hands on the door, one on each side. A red line appeared deep in the metal and scanned her hands while a blue light came down on her from the ceiling. For a moment nothing happened and the silence was deafening.

The red lights stopped and the overhead illumination vanished. A click resounded within the door before it soundlessly swung open.

Kaihiro looked over Xanshi into the dark room. Red lights gave off a shallow glow that gave him the faintest outline of the hards lines of chairs, monitors, and tables. One overhead light shone down on a throne. It loomed near the end of the massive metal table that dominated the center of the room. His eyes were fixed on that seat.

It was unlike anything he had ever seen. Pins, wires, vidscreens, straps, even several weapon holsters were built into the throne. To his untrained eye it looked more like a torture device than any chair a person ought to sit in.

“This is it,” she whispered. The sound was quiet but it crashed against his thoughts like a meteor hitting the rough seas of his mind. He focused on it and forced himself to blink. This whole day was becoming too much for him. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. He realized he had a headache and that he was really hungry but instead of dwelling on that he stepped up beside her. The need for him to speak up finally arrived. He knew it. Deep inside of him his honor, his code, was forcing him to act.

He tapped his heels together, bowed, and held his head in respect.

“I am honored to have been allowed to see all of this, but” he paused seeking for the right words, “I am lost. All of this is,” he slowly shook his head as his words ran from him.

“Kaihiro, I am honored to have you here with me. There is nothing you can do now but pray.” She touched the side of his face with her hands and forced him to look at her. She smiled a parental smile and slowly turned towards the lit chair. Before sitting she opened a panel in the chair and another on the table. Kai could not see what she was doing but he could hear buttons being pressed and switches being flipped. New lights began to bathe the room but everything else was still quiet and dark.

Kai slowly strode through the room, careful not to touch anything. He noticed that each throne was unique. Names were engraved on gold placards and were built into the head rest. On the back of each metal machine a collection of them hung. He paused next to one as he read the name.

“Xanshini the Graceful,” he turned to look back at Xanshi. She had stopped and was staring at him. He felt awkward and internally hoped she would say something. When that never happened he cleared his throat. He opened his mouth but she thankfully intervened.

Xanshi had turned back to her task. The Mortimon Brooch was in her hand.

“When I woke up, one of the first things I did was come here. Every throne in this room represents one of my families knights. While I was sleeping it looks like my family had grown in power and number, but something went wrong.” She shook her head and her hand trembled slightly.

“I don’t even know what happened to my children,” she whispered and stared off into space.

Kai looked back at the engraved name on the chair next to him.

With a sniff she tightened her jaw and placed the jeweled device into a purple lit slot in the table.

Oooh is this remote controlled Knights? who knows but I want to know more.

Knightly, I bet they all do a drop into the knight, kind of like in Pacific Rim

Ooh that would be sick, something like Voltron!

Remote control knights? I do l like that idea but Azalle has already given up my secrets.

How was Pacific Rim any ways?

Deep in the shadows Captain Razzik stood. He stared forward out into the downpour. Flashes of light crackled through the sky as lightning danced in the dark blanket of cloud cover. In that flash he saw his target.

A black winged ship banked hard and came around for another pass across the city. It was a sliver in the darkness. Its wingmen were in a loose formation behind him. He could not make out the markings but he knew the ship designs. He had seen the destruction its kind had already taken out on the city. The street war was proceeding better than expected by his initial thoughts, but the minimal anti air systems had already been taken out in the first strikes.

Time was dwindling and he could not let these craft continue their destructive rampage.

“Go” he whispered into his vox as he sprinted from the darkness to the edge of the high rise he had been waiting on.

In six steps he was at a full sprint and at the edge of the downward sloping rooftop. He leapt and his jump pack aided him in launching him into the sky. Ice Angels from other rooftops did the same.

The Dark Eldar ships did not see any of them coming when they slammed onto the wings of the squadron. Many of the Ice Angels did not get a grip before falling off the slick wings of the ships as they twisted and rocked. Razzik on the other hand had punched into the metal next to the cockpit of the Vampire Raider and held onto to a beam. He was jostled up and down before he could release his krak grenade into one of the engines at the rear of the vessel.

He pushed off as the explosion took the ship out of the sky.

He fell and while correcting his trajectory he reviewed the combat around the city. His tactical squad was holding several city gates while his assault squads were descending and heading to new points where fighting was heaviest. The rest of his company was at the Spire and the Vault.

“Captain, Clan Belithralith has lost its gate and the Warrens are being invaded by skimmers and armored Eldar.”

“Affirmative Sergeant,” Razzik landed and took a moment to align himself before beginning another series of jumps. He paused to watch a Nightshade Interceptor crash into a building and out the otherside. The munitions went off in a chain reaction before it hit the ground. The bright explosion illuminated an Ice Angel leaping off the damaged building towards him.

“Salandria, form up at sector 8,” Razzik commanded while setting a waypoint on the city map. Eight minutes for him, most likely more for many of Squad Salandria. He gave a quiet prayer as the entire squad responded with affirmatives. Every one of them had survived their aerial attack.

He made out the forms of leaping marines from buildings and streets before he too began to leap.

That was like something out of a comic book, I imagined it all in black and white, rain plinking off the armour while waiting for their prey.

Very nice section!

Thanks Knightley! I am glad you approve. It feels nice to move this forward again. There will be a slight lull as I am traveling for thanksgiving but more will be here soon enough.

A buzzing sound like an approaching swarm of angry insects grew from beneath the floor. Distant clanks and thunderous booms echoed from all around. Kai held onto the table with both hands expecting the room to collapse or shake, but the room only filled with sound. A series of lights began to glow on Xanshi’s seat. She closed her eyes and sat back, deep in the embrace of the metal throne.

She took in a sharp breath as cold metal surrounded her hands, legs, head, and lastly her face. She whimpered and moaned as wires reconnect with her spinal and cranial ports. Blood trickled out of her nose and ears, but Kai saw none of it. More and more of her was being covered as the throne morphed into a cocoon. A distant screech of metal cut through the sounds before there was a terrifying moment of silence.

Kai stood, mouth open in astonishment and fear. A single click cut the stillness and the throne disappeared into the floor. Before Kai could move metal plates filled the vacant spot where it once stood.

Alone, he leaned heavily on the table unsure of what he should do. He tried to recall the path he had taken to get here but he could not concentrate. He rubbed his face with his right hand trying to get his mind right. He slowly looked around at the plethora of monitors showing icons and measurements that were steadily growing. The table began to illuminate from within revealing countless images of rooms, halls, and more. One in particular caught his eye.

A dark brown armored space marine was standing in a circular doorway in front of a long table with………..

Kai gasped and spun on his heels. The space marine was a few strides away from him. Reflexively he recoiled. The space marine silently tilted his head.

“Hello Kai,” he said with a chuckle of amusement.

“How do you know my name,” Kai asked without thinking.

“I have been following you and Reticience since you arrived. You can learn a lot by listening,” he answered as he entered the room. His armor made no noise as he moved. It was like watching a shadow suddenly come to life.

“Honor would demand that I know your name,” Kai dared to ask. He felt a rising sense of annoyance at being followed and eavesdropped on.

“Honor? In a galaxy full of xenos and traitors, you feel that your honor has some power to force me to answer your questions?” the space marine chuckled again as he test several buttons on one of the larger screens within the table.

Kai watched as the space marine took a few moments to acquaint himself with the set up before it began to filter out the static screens and leave only the functioning ones. In minutes the table had several score of active screens showing everything from darkened tunnels to a pair of cameras mounted somewhere at the top of the elevator shaft.

Kai took several steps closer to look at a group of monitors showing the grand chamber that held the stone statues and massive iron doors. He scanned the thresholds for activity hoping to see Xanshi step out but there was nothing.

An armored gauntlet rested on his shoulder. Kai shook from the surprising touch. He looked over to where the space marine had been standing before taking a quivering breath trying to steady himself.

“It will take a few more minutes before she emerges. A slumbering knight does not wake quickly.” The space marine spoke briefly before continuing past him to the end of the table.

He studied images and then continued his orbit around the room.

Kai watched him in fascination. The marine had a stout double barreled weapon on one hip and a smaller pistol on the other. A mace clung to the small of his back. The entire armored form of the marine was dark brown. A doubleheaded aquila adorned his chest armor and it too was brown.

The marine stopped across the table from Kai and met his gaze.

“Tek’Ar. That is my name,” the space marine added before looking back down at the table.

“Thank you Tek’Ar,” Kai responded with a smile. He followed Tek’Ar’s gaze to a group of screens where the floating mechanicum woman was working. A row of stone covered machines were being activated, each strode over to pick up a heavy weapon in turn before slowly walking out of the room.

So Tek'ar was uploaded to your Gallery in June 2012 and has made his appearance now (unless he did so in a previous book, I don't recall if he did or not)

That is one heck of a build up for Chemical Cutthroat's marine! I did enjoy this passage, from a marine who has no idea on whats going on to the complete opposite of a marine who does, duality!

Although I can't help but think a super soldier marine would be able to process stimulus quickly and apart from the initial shock he would be ready for what could happen next (But thats just me)

Can't wait for the next passage!

Tek'Ar has been around. He is part of Mortifex's squad. He has shown up in several sections before today, it may have just been awhile. When Mortifex first arrives at the ruined Spire he is met by Tek'Ar. Right before the full squad is revealed.

I may have to edit a bit, Kai was the one in shock, not Tek'Ar. BRB.

Hahah I guess he was first introduced 5th November 2014 and last heard from 29th Feburary 2016, it slipped my mind. This should teach all those folks to regularly do refresh reads of this amazing tale!

Very nice updated Ice. I just liked it. Sometimes the calmer, more intimate interactions between people appeal to me even more than a good action scene.

Loved it brother. Can't wait to see what Knight Steps out!
Loved the description of her bonding with her command throne, graphic and visceral. Well done!

Knightley wrote:Hahah I guess he was first introduced 5th November 2014 and last heard from 29th Feburary 2016, it slipped my mind. This should teach all those folks to regularly do refresh reads of this amazing tale!

Knightley, thank you for the research. I think you are now the offical Ice Angel Historian. As i have started back up, I've gone back and read my own fluff as refresher. I'm ashamed at how much I'd forgotten. It doesn't seem like its been that many years since i started this.

Gitsplitta wrote:Very nice updated Ice. I just liked it. Sometimes the calmer, more intimate interactions between people appeal to me even more than a good action scene.

I completely agree. The cold calculation of my Ice Angels has made my focus almost more so on the nonangels.

Master Azalle wrote:Loved it brother. Can't wait to see what Knight Steps out!
Loved the description of her bonding with her command throne, graphic and visceral. Well done!

Me too! Thanks Azalle. I am trying to be a little more descriptive. I'm glad you approve

The trip from the throne room into the knight was not smooth like she had remembered but that was the least of her concerns. The feeling of immersion with her throne was painful and bizarre. It was not anything like she could recall. The throne was hers, she was sure of it, but everything else was alien.

“How long had it been? When had she last jacked in?” the questions jostled around her conscience just like her body was being tossed around. When the drop finally ended she heard whines, whistles, and clicks. She shut her eyes tight as the throne connected with her knight.

The expectation of an immediate jolt, never arrived. Instead she heard or felt a distant emotion. Her body tingled as her feelings melded with her more powerful metallic form.

But it wasn’t her knight. The weapon layout, the stance, the entire body, it was not hers.

“No, no, no,” a moment of panic began to creep in as she spoke. She was startled at her own emotions, then a thought smashed into her. Was that emotion hers?

The thought solidified so many things in her mind. With a mental force of will the metal covering her face turned transparent so she could see her cockpit. She examined her surroundings and noticed a blinking light for the first time. The symbol of her house was engraved into its soft blue plastic.

She reached out and flicked the cover off of the button and gently pressed it. A hologram materialized in her lap. It was the bust of a hooded woman. Hands came into view and pulled back the hood. She was old and matronly, but authority was in her eyes. Lines graced her face when she, for the briefest of instances, smiled.

“Hello grandmother,” the hologram spoke.

Reticience watched in silence, suppressing the emotions that waged war inside her.

“I hope the Emperor has granted you the opportunity to see this. I prayed countless times, seeking for some other option. I wish I could have woken you sooner. I longed to hear your voice, the voice of legend to see if you could save us all but,” she shook her head and held her chin up before blinking and shaking her head once again. “What you need to know is that house warfare destroyed the ruling class. We tore each other apart, knight to knight, clan to clan. We discovered too late that it had all been set up and created by agents within the houses themselves from an outside force.” The elderly woman had tears in her eyes as she continued, “my mother….” she paused. “your daughter, sacrificed herself to give me this opportunity. We had to take down our own house in order to save the people and give us the chance to hide what we could. We struck a deal with the machine cult and the civil war ended but the old clans…” she paused and let the thought linger to gather her thoughts.

“The few remaining knights have left to crusade with the Empire or have hidden themselves in endless slumber in other tombs such as this. I wish I could leave you with the coordinates for the other vaults, but I can not.”

She paused and the hologram flickered for a moment, “you must be in Vlivaledew Djamaur in order to be watching this. She is the newest model we have and, she was to be mine. She is now yours. Do what you must. Bring back honor to our name Grandmother,” the hologram looked right into Reticinces eyes. No words were spoken but Xanshi could see all the turmoil inside of her grand daughter. The hologram gave a sniffle before suddenly reaching to some unseen item and deactivating the hologram.

Xanshi was once again alone. She forced herself to relax.

The distance emotions coming on from the connection with Vlivaledew slithered into her swifter now. It felt like she was entering a dream by skipping the sleep. She allowed her metal visor to return to the exterior display. The metal shifted from the cockpit view to the area in front of her knight. It was a connection stronger than any she had had before. She moved her right arm and looked at her hand. The metal hand had dexterous fingers that she moved one at a time. Her left hand was the same. She studied her overly armored forearms.

An instinct in the back of her mind kicked in and she acknowledged it. She smiled as each forearm opened up revealing chainblades that within seconds had slid down the back her hand and into her metal grip. They were the equivalent of daggers to her size but each was as long as a transport vehicle.

She saw that each forearm contained several such blades. Her view shifted from her blades to her surroundings. She was in some sort of hanger. She realized that she was sitting. The weight of her was supported by a structure that caressed her entire form. For the first time she looked ahead of her and saw the hangar door. It could only be opened by a knight and from the inside.

The mechanism built into the door and frame seemed to unravel in her thoughts. Xanshi knew where to apply pressure and the sequence she would activate the levers holding the door in place. She thought about standing up and the room rumbled. Servos began to move. Her seat lifted her and in a few minutes she stood up. She felt ancient. Her body ached from lack of activity.

She attempted to move forward but the knight refused. Things were still in motion. A weight sat onto her back and shoulders. She was unsure of what it was but when the last connection fell loose she nearly fell back over. It took a moment for her to gain her balance and feel her body as the knight she was melded with.

A hesitant step forward then another and she was in front of the door. She pulled a lever which unlocked the crossbar. She stepped on a panel that lowered the metal clamps holding the floor and ceiling portion of the door. Her two metallic hands grabbed the crossbar and spun it to the vertical position.

She leaned into the door and it swung open painfully slow. She expected it to open to statue chamber but instead, she walked into an armory and another identical door. The room was six strides deep. Chambers built for servitors and human crew alike adorned one wall. Workstations and machines covered the other wall. Next to the narrow path were two massive rectangles with handles on top, sized for her knight to pick up.

A surge of thoughts and emotions swept through her like an incoming tide. She allowed the knight to take over and she found herself stepping forward between the rectangles. She stepped on another foot pad and power surged from wall units into the rectangle on her right. While Xanshi watched, it began to glow. The amount of energy crackled and leapt. She felt her skin crawl as it touched her metal legs.

She stepped forward and grasped the handle. Her arm twisted in a way that human arms could not and the rectangle attached itself to her lower back. She then turned towards the other handle protruding from a massive box of metal. She hesitantly lifted it but interrupted the machines flow. She held it up and closely examined it instead of putting it away. This one did not have an overwhelming surge of power. It was completely inert.

Lowering the box, it attached itself next to the first at the small of her back. The heavy objects balanced her form and she finally felt complete. Vlivaledew Djamaur took its final steps toward the door. It was time to protect her people.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Holy moly that was epic, such an interesting passage relating to how a knight pilot would interface with a Knight. Great stuff!

I agree with Knightly, the interface with the Knight was a fantasitic read. Also, you message from her grand daughter adds sooo much more. Spot on Ice

Thanks guys. I spent some extra time trying to make that connection a bit more relatable. I always loved the idea of direct interfacing with a machine like that and I wanted my version of that connection to be a bit more detailed. I hope it worked.

The city district where she ran was full of ear splitting gunfire, roaring engines, and screaming humans. The buildings were built on top of one another in tight clusters each with a winding street deep within. All of that, was now behind her. She stood at the edge of the next district. The line was easy to notice. An ancient wall of stone was built up and up, each layer a different color than the one beneath. This wall was more formidable than the first. A gate was open wide, inviting her to continue her rampage of destruction.

She yearned to run forward. She needed to feel the spray of blood on her nearly naked body. Even now the screams of fear and panic were like a powerful energy revitalizing her entire being. She shivered with the pleasure of it all, but she held her ground.

The women around her were equally enjoying the sensations coursing through the air, but it was fading with every moment of inactivity. She did not look at any of them to know what they were thinking. To stop a coven of wyches mid murder was a terribly risky endeavor, but she knew something was wrong. The small, miniscule, logical, part of her brain was throwing a fit.

Thankfully they did not have to wait long. A trio of lumbering raiders came hovering up the road. They were burdened with warriors screaming in excitement. Behind the raiders were scores of other warriors running to keep up. They all wore yellow helmets and carried all manner of long rifles and toxic blades.

“The Mandibles Pinch,” she whispered as she recognized the male standing on the prow of the lead raider. “I never liked those whelps.” She mumbled to no one.

“You do not like anyone,” the nearest wych added while licking blood from her blade.

“Shut up hluukythimm,” she spat.

Savra watched as the trio of raiders entered the gate. Dark forms fell from the inside of the gates onto the open topped vehicles. The sound of chainswords and dying warriors soon followed.

There was a surge of energy around her. Wyches stepped forward, ready to run up the street at the space marines.

“NO,” she snarled. “We go elsewhere. Let these space marines clean out the impure of our kind. Send word of a high value target at this gate. We head north.”

Before she had finished the sentence she was running. The wyches quickly followed. The act of moving brought screams of excitement from those around her and once again the coven soon found humans to slaughter and blood to taste. She steared them away from the gate and kept the pace at a run. She had to get away from this place.

Tsabo watched the battle from his command throne. He always thought he would like the safety of sitting inside a fortress telling others where to shoot, but as he watched, he felt the opposite. He hated it. He loathed every second of it.

The feeling of relief that his son was onboard had passed soon after the gunfire outside had turned into a real firefight. Watching his men, his friends, die one by one was like living a nightmare. The space marines seemed to be impervious to the fact that his men were dying. He had seen the Ice Angels, alongside his men, stop every attempt to reach the vault but each one was another loss of life and supplies. The waves of battle had ebbed and flowed like a thunderstorm. One moment the gunfire shook the walls, other times he could hear the soft steps and chair adjustments of those around him.

He had lost track of how many times he had gotten up and paced the room. He kept coming back to the chair, to resume his staring at the wall of monitors. A tray of food sat in the middle of the room. No one had touched it. The thought of eating seemed alien to him at the time. He looked away but just for a moment.

A new sound made him look at the doorway. Techmarine Philosir stood with a green weapon case in his hand. The red armored half machine marched over and looked down at him. He wordlessly held out the case.

Tsabo looked down at the simple green case. It appeared to be worn wood with simple brass clasps. There was an unusual lack of elegance or artistry in the case. It seemed so out of place in the red hands of the Tech Marine.

“It is customary for a Lieutenant to be gifted a side arm upon reaching the rank. I apologize for the lack of ceremony but I have a weapon that I believe will serve you well.” Philosir held out the case and it silently opened without any visible assistance from the Ice Angel.

A black holster held a light blue hilt. It was sized for a human and with a slight head nod from Philosir, Tsabo reached out and gingerly removed the holstered pistol. He unsnapped the clasp that held it in place. He grasped the cold metal grip and withdrew it.

His eyes widened as the magnificent laspistol shined in the dim light of the room. The barrel was polished to a near mirror finish and the body was the same ice blue as the hilt. A scope adorned the top that looked like an abyssal drake screaming in flight. Everywhere he looked Tsabo saw drake iconography and expertly crafted details. He carefully turned the weapon over before his gaze stopped on a matte black plate above the battery release.

The plate was blank.

“Did you craft this piece?” Tsabo asked.

Philosir nodded slowly and looked past Tsabo, “I made it a long time ago.”

Tsabo looked back at the gun and slowly put it back in the holster, “does it have a name?”

“Its first owner,” Philosir paused for a moment. His monotone voice was a surprising gap of silence. “She died a long time ago and never had the opportunity to give it a name.”

“May I ask what her name was?” Tsabo asked after a short break while reviewing a monitor that had a sudden burst of activity.

Philosir turned to leave but paused at the door. “She was known in the chapter as Ven.”

Tsabo strapped on the weapon while watching Philosir. “Thank you sir. I am honored by your gift.” Before he was finished the techmarine was already marching away. Tsabo could hear the charging of systems within the techmarines armor. Servo arms were handing Philosir a shield and weapons were spreading out from the wide backpack above his shoulders.

Tsabo looked down at the weapon now on his left hip. “Ven,” he whispered the name and let his left hand rest on the hilt.

Whenever Philosir is around... something cool happens.

Great installments ice. I've never been much for DE but running with the witches is very cool. You did a really nice job with that.

“And what is to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek The Emperor unencumbered? Only then will you drink from the river of silence and shall you indeed sing.” Mortifex recited as he watched.

High upon the battlements of the Mountainbreaker he spoke loudly as if giving a sermon to the rain. The heavy down power hammered against his armor cleansing the filth and dirt revealing the white of his Star Phantom livery.

He stood on the railing of the vast machine. He did not think upon the words as he spoke but simply allowed them to flow. He knew the humans around him were nervous. He knew that the battle was approaching. He knew that the procession of vehicles and people was not moving fast enough. He knew that dark beings watched from the jungle before him.

And he knew, he could do little but watch.

There position was where the ruins and the jungle met. Behind the Mountainbreaker was a large gaping maw that tore into the side of the shattered spire. Vehicles and people were streaming into the safety of the vault deep within, but as far he could see, more were still approaching. The clan warriors and military vehicles had formed a perimeter with the large armored Mountainbreaker at its peak. The river of civilians was then breaking through the perimeter to pass along both sides of the behemoth.

Lightning crackled and thunder boomed. In at that moment of brightness Mortifex saw the first acts of aggression. Vehicles were expertly immobilized along the procession stopping the entire column. Dark Eldar darted forward to pollute the river of civilians. People were murdered and slain, but more were captured and taken away to never be seen again.

Mortifex thanked the Emperor as the thunder continued. Only the heightened senses of an astartes would be able to hear the screams that were quickly filling the jungle ahead of them.

He paused and changed his cant, “only in death does duty end,” he whispered and grabbed the rifle on his back. The grav gun hummed and sang as it went through its powering sequence. He peered down at the ground where most of his squad were waiting. They had seen it too and were preparing to hold the point of the perimeter.

“But Emperor, do not let my duty end today. I still have books to read,” Mortifex leapt off the edge of the Mountainbreaker to lead his squad into battle.

Thumbs-up baby!

Thanks Gitsplitta! I'm hoping to add more over the holiday. I geek like im finally on the home stretch with this book. You may not feel it yet but in my head things are picking up.

Sorry for the late post here, you know a really support your writing efforts and it is remiss of me not to comment

So I love the small section on the wyches, I liked the inter-clan rivalry between them as well as knowing their place, marines are hard to kill and wont yield as much pain and suffering, however the squishy humans are the opposite, very cool passage.

I have to agree with Gits, when ever the mysterious Philo is on the page you know some really cool and intricate things are going down, a master crafter las pistol wont do much against a marine, but again against a squishy human is the opposite!

And finally I get excited when morti is on scene as well as my all time favorite* Micus should be soon behind


*bias as I painted that mini

Indeed! Micus will return soon. It will be amazing.

The battle around the city gate started as a handful of intense skirmishes. The Ice Angels led the charge while the city guard and clansmen held the wall, windows, and rooftops, in support. A handful of skimmers along with their dark eldar passengers were dealt with quickly, but it was not long before the next group attacked.

Captain Razzik noticed that each wave seemed to be made up of different groups of xenos. Black and yellow armored warriors were first, then a group of purple robed screaming slaves being led by weird multiarmed Eldar. Tormented beasts being whipped by slavers and then another batch of black armored warriors with red feathers in their cloaks.

In turn they were defeated. The vehicles were being pushed by a chimera to help create a gauntlet for the xenos to run through. By the time Razzik’s second squad of assault marines arrived he had also acquired several hundred human soldiers along with a handful of open topped tanks. The local channels were screaming for support but Razzik held his gate and waited. Having a strong rallying point was drawing up the locals and creating a defensible position.

He knew it would draw in the aggressors as well. Sergeant Tock-Phonixi was giving commands to a guardsmen with a vox unit. He was laying out a second line of defense two blocks back. Support vehicles were bringing in supplies before retreating to clean the roads of unnecessary vehicles and debris. Razzik knew what Tock-Phonixi was working towards and he agreed.

Captain Razzik took another look at the nonastartes around him. The people of Mortimon Secondus were big, unnaturally big. Their blades were long and thin with a slight curve. They each carried autoguns but they were built bigger than the standard issue. He had witnessed the larger rounds rip through the Dark Eldar with surprising efficiency. The heavy slugs punched through armor and even the buildings in the warrens below them were being shredded by the fire. In fact, they were more often hitting buildings than the enemy.

In close combat however their strength was a huge boon. In one particular rush of crazed attackers, the call to cease fire and meet at arms was called. Razzik and three of his brothers soon found an entire unit of guardsman at their sides who were holding much better than the average imperial unit.

Tock-Phonixi was speaking with a newcomer when the next attack arrived. A multitude of screaming engines pierced the light rain. The men on the wall began to fire. Razzik and his assault marines did the same once they closed on the range. Three score of eldar on hoverboards came racing through the streets and over the wall. They attacked and sped by. They were lightning fast and in their midst within seconds. A few seconds more and they were behind their flanks doing all manner of aerial acrobatics before coming back around.

Shots filled the air in both directions when a huge wave of xenos on foot burst from the warrens. Further away raiders floated up above the buildings laying fire support. In its midst a heavy armored tantalus floated up. Its twin hulls and large triangular sail were ominous in the dark rain. Its vicious weapons prepared to create more openings in their wall. A new scream came from further down the wall. A swarm of venoms and jetbikes were moving to flank.

Captain Razzik gauged the timing of it all before spitting commands.

“Squad Salandria hold here. Squad Arshaka jump the wall.” Using his HUD he targeted the tantalus. It needed to be removed from the equation.

Razzik and ten assault marines blasted over the wall but only enough to clear it and get into cover. They landed amongst enemies but jumped again before they could react. Chainswords sliced, grenades ripped through flesh. Several jumps later and they were under the heavier floating death platforms.

A pulse of subatomic matter destroyed two Ice Angels to his left while a third was taken out mid air by a well placed shot from the deck of a raider. One marine landed amongst some warriors and did not jump out in time. When they had covered the necessary ground Razzik only had six marines left. The twin hulled tantalus had sped up to try and dodge the assault but the Ice Angels knew their craft. They launched from several directions at once and soon the deck of the vehicle held Razzik and six Ice Angels.

“WHERE TOO?” Sergeant Ramagi shouted after punching an Eldar right off the vehicle. He had then taken the controls. Razzik smiled at the idea before taking cover from incoming fire. The vehicle slew to starboard and raced towards a ravager that was now shooting at them. Ramagi did not bother dodging the fire, he charged right through it. The larger tantalus was plunged into the Ravager and they both erupted with black chemical fires.

Razzik and his angels were jumping towards a courtyard in the warrens when it happened. A pair of inferno pistols melted the head of a pain engine that was floating down the street.

“Let’s get back to the gate. Stay together,” with a quick glance at his HUD they ran off. This time they kept their feet on the ground. Razzik slammed into Eldar along the way using his bulk and speed as his ally. His powerfist crushed some and chainswords behind him finished the others.

They turned a corner just in time to see the wall along with most of the gate go up in a massive explosion. The explosion was followed by four others. Razzik could hardly make out the engine sounds of departing bombers.

Icons from squad Salandria flicked out. In one awful moment he had lost eight men in that squad. A ninth went out shortly there after.

He tried to find the last member, Brother Klivvik but he could not locate him in his system. “Klivvik, where are you?”

There was no response but Razzik finally located his icon. He was on this side of the wall and moving. Razzik changed his direction and his squad followed. He turned into a street to see that thirty dark eldar warriors were running past their side street.

Razzik leaned forward and used his jump pack to fly across the street fist first. He screamed as he tore a bloody path through his enemies. His squad followed close behind doing the same. Frag grenades detonated behind them as they moved on.

He landed back on his feet and jumped over the next building. With this many enemies he had to keep moving. Passing over the roof he saw just how many Eldar were still crossing the Warrens. There were hundreds. They were crawling over every roof. Vehicles were hovering amongst them, many were picking up captured humans. He could see people caught in dangling spiked chains. Woman and children were tied to the hulls of several of them. That was when he saw him.

The limp form of Klivvik was being pulled up in a chain to a raider. Dark Eldar were crying in triumph.

Anger flared inside Razzik but he responded by plotting his next few moves. His angels did likewise. They spread out across the roof right after landing and sprinted towards their brother.

Klivvik reached the side of the vehicle and was being pulled over the railing. Four Eldar were holding him and cackling at one another when Sergeant Ramagi bowled them over with his body. Razzik let gravity pull him towards the ground as he landed on one of the fallen Eldar. He crushed the pelvis of the xenos who screamed in pain, Razzik then used the bottom edge of his storm shield to sever his head from his body. When he looked around him, the deck was clear of living eldar. Rain was washing the blood off the vehicle and spilling out into the Warrens below.

One of the squad got the raider moving while Razzik checked on the fallen brother with Ramagi. A few seconds passed when Klivvik suddenly shot up.

“What happened,” he asked groggily, “where’s my,” he looked around as the jolt of stims leveled out and he realized his squad was gone.

He nodded his head in thanks to Ramagi who was kneeling over him. Klivvik assessed his weaponry before attempting to stand. Ramagi motioned for him to stay seated for a moment. Klivviks jump pack was damaged beyond repair a button press and it separated from his armor. His blade and pistol were missing as well but his plasmagun was still maglocked to his back.

The rain began to lighten up as gunfire peppered their hull. They were moving up and over the wall when a vehicle, Razzik could not tell what, hit their main thruster. Their raider pitched to one side but made it over the wall with its momentum before speeding towards the side of a building. Sergeant Ramagi and another Angel grabbed Klivvik before they all leapt off the ship.

Men were falling back all around them. Smoking Eldar vehicles and human corpses were all around them as they landed. Razzik could see the fall back position. He motioned to get his angels there. The guard were in disarray and he knew the mere sight of a space marine would give many of them the resolve they needed to get back into the fight.

“Why? Why would they bomb their own? The courtyard was overrun with Eldar,” a guardsman was mumbling to himself and walking in circles. “I don’t understand,” he continued. He absentmindedly rubbed his head and looked at the blood on his hand.

Razzik moved passed him but slowed down. The sight of the arriving Ice Angels stopped the mumbling and the confused man moved to follow.

Others did likewise as they arrived. The second line of defense was around a red building. A multitiered parking structure was on their side of the building. Razzik could see vehicles on every floor some of which were military ones. Men and woman held the area around it while a pair of leman russes sat by the entrance. Their battle cannons fired at the oncoming eldar that were now rushing over the bombed out gate and wall.

“Look! Over there!” Several cries screamed between the gunfire.

Razzik assumed they were speaking about him and his angels but he noticed that they were pointing to the warrens. When they reached the defensive position he saw the tracer fire shooting up into the sky. Their must have been two dozen rows of light flickering into the sky. Anti air fire was blazing in short bursts. He watched as two separate vehicles fell from the sky, one went into a building the other careened into the jungle.

The rush of Dark Eldar soon slowed. The position was held, but Razzik did not let the guard or clansmen rest. He found several men of rank and bellowed orders. Ramagi and his men went forward to the bombed out gate trying to find other survivors. Debris was moved and the position was further fortified. They had no idea when the next attack would arrive.

Holy moly that was action packed, not a moment to breathe, such damage and carnage.

I LOVE IT!

Thanks Knightley. Carnage and damage is certainly only the beginning!

Slowly, the thunderous booms of metal banging against metal grew in volume. Finally, the last massive door shuddered. The ancient mechanism within the door was being worked. Tek’Ar and Kai stood in the vast chamber watching. They had made their way down through the maze of elevators and shafts. The trip had been in relative silence.

Kai was impressed at the lack of sound the bulky armored astartes made. The sounds of footfalls within the dimly lit halls were usually Kai’s. The sniffles and coughs were also his. The space marine was substantially bigger then he was, Tek’Ar carried an array of weapons, and gear, yet he felt as if he was walking alone had he not been able to see the marine in front of him. Kai found himself marveling at the astartes. His mind wandered to the old stories and tales he had heard of these super soldiers but they did not do any justice.

When they finally arrived in the banner filled chamber, he did not notice Omicron Eighty Eight hovering around the stone statues. He failed to see the newly lowered ceiling cannons nor did he realize that they were forced to walk around several raised battlements.

When the doors sighed and finally fell forward, Kai stopped thinking about the marine next to him and looked up and marveled. He had only ever seen knights in stone statues and ancient texts. One had not walked on Mortimon Secondus in his lifetime or that of anyone he knew. When the metallic figure stepped forward and out of the vault, he was shocked with the majesty of the warmachine.

The moment did not last long before Tek’Ar burst into raucous laughter. He slapped his knee as Omicron Eighty Eight floated closer.

“Why are you laughing?” Kai asked disapprovingly.

He pointed at the knight. “Vlivaledew Djamaur,” he chuckled, “a pink knight?” he shook his head before looking at Kai.

Kai looked puzzled, black, red, and pink were often associated with the ancient house of Oshiashi. He watched the amusement depart Tek’Ar’s expression.

“Do you know what Vlivaledew Djamaur means?” Tek’Ar asked.

Before he could think about attempting to translate from the ancient version of high gothic Omicron interrupted.

“The daughter of royalty who vanquished enemies of the people,” she smoothly said.

Tek’Ar gave her a side glance, “I was going to say the Princess of Death.” He gave her a blank stare, “yeah, I am going to stick with Princess of Death.” He pointed up at the knight that seemed to be testing its stance and testing its own poise.

“Vlivaledew Djamaur was the most advanced war machine we had made, the alloys within her faulds is…..” she continued as Tek’Ar looked over at Kai.

“Skirt, she is wearing a skirt.” Tek’Ar whispered.

Omicron Eighty Eight stopped mid sentence and scoffed. “I am merely trying to explain that your mockery is disrespectful and unnecessary. When you see her in action you will wish there were more pink skirted knights in the Imperium. I assure you!”

She then floated up in be at eye level with the knight. Tek’Ar grinned at Kai and looked up at the knight before a sudden conversation whipped out of his vox. Tek’Ar stepped aside to discuss.

Kai stood alone staring at the black and pink machine. He took a deep breath and looked at the artistry on every armored panel. He admired the craftsmanship. Every time he altered his sight he found more amazing details.

His eyes kept wandering the form of Vlivaledew Djamaur but his mind left the machine. He thought back to the stories of when entire households of these machines marched to war across the landscape of his planet. What scale those battles would have been left him speechless.

He continued to stare as more machines woke up around the room. Stone covered servitors began to line up in defensive formations. Hovering shield servitors lowered from their ceiling compartments. When Vlivaledew Djamaur finished her preparation, an entire host of other machines went with. None were as big or as imposing but nevertheless Kai was amazed, excited, and most importantly, afraid.

Levity, not often you get it within a 40k setting such as this, with DE at the gates. I do like the absurdity, lets see this pink skirt wearing knight take some names!!

The men and women were lined up around the ruins. Small teams of the largest were helping to move metal and debris into a better defensive wall. Civilian vehicles shuffled around trying to get in the gaping tunnel that bore into the ruined spire. Mortifex heard it as a distant white noise. His mind was organizing the sounds but he never once turned back. He kept his unwavering gaze forward.

Brothers Xerin and Saddicus were to his left. Brothers Deklyn and Olivero were to his right. Tek’Ar was still down below but on his way. Micus and Bonamire were nowhere to be found.
The surge of Dark Eldar began to turn towards the defended position as the remaining convoy vehicles deeper in the jungle were torn apart and the people taken or slaughtered. Mortifex saw what appeared to be three separate cabals at work. Purple clad warriors carrying heavier weapons alongside the dancing wyches. Black and dark green warriors that blended in well with the jungle were zooming around on hoverboards and a collection of larger hovering vehicles. The last was a dirty yellow group that brought a gibbering hoard of wracks and tortured animals and beasts.

Without any command from Mortifex the Mountainbreaker began to open fire into the jungle around the chaotic mass of people and xenos. The others all followed suite. Trees were torn apart by the heavier fire while smaller vegetation was torn through and laid low. Mortifex saw a group of humans break through the turmoil and run towards them. They were huge armored men and women carrying long hafted blades and curved swords. An aquatic looking clawed crustacean adorned their orange livery. A trio in the middle carried whirling multi-barreled guns.

Mortifex watched as the heavy weapons took turns moving and stopping, each laying down fire for the others. They moved with precision and practice. A shout from behind him made him turn around, the leader of Clan Batterhorn was pointing to the moving forces right.

A horde of ape like monsters were bounding at them. Plates were screwed into their flesh. Vials and tubes covered their muscular hunched forms. A squad of dark eldar handlers whipped at them from hoverboards.
Mortifex ran forward with his squad behind him. With their superior speed they should be able to arrive the same moment the two forces met. Mortifex was in the lead but only for a moment as the faster Celestial Unicorn ran past him. Saddicus was singing in his high pitched whine to Sanguinius right behind him. Deklyn and Xerin stayed closer to Mortifex as they ran.

The twin blades of Olivero were first to draw blood. The orange and red figure dove and rolled, slashed and stabbed. He was a tornado of death amongst the bulky beasts. Mortifex and Deklyn fired at the whip driving dark eldar. Mortifex’s grav gun took out one hoverboard after another. The tumbling eldar were soon being pulverized by their own beasts.

The human clansmen fought the beasts that reached them but otherwise kept running at the command of a barrel chested woman in the center of their formation. Mortifex saw one the clansmen underestimate the beasts strength as his arm was ripped off. The man froze in horror giving the beast the time it needed to crush in the poor clansman’s skull.

The beast did not get any further though as Olivero appeared behind him driving both sabres into the back of its neck severing its head from its body. The quick space marine danced away to his next target before the body hit the ground.

“Fall back and cover,” Mortifex commanded when the last of the small pack was past. Xerin was at his side with his tall shield. Deklyn was near as well using his bolter at add some much needed longer range to the group. Olivero made one last kill before sprinting back.

When they got back to their line, the defenders had slowed down their fire. Other than the occasional loose beast, the attack seemed to have halted. The woman from the group came over to say something to Mortifex. She was as tall as he was and her arms were as big as his armored arms. She opened her mouth to speak when he held up his hand.

“Save your words, prepare your men to defend that position,” he said while pointing to a weaker spot along the ruined line. She closed her mouth and to his surprise, nodded and jogged that direction.
He briefly watched her go. He had often wondered how the people of this planet had come to grow to be so big. It was unnatural. He thought back to the hundreds of books he had read about the planet. He pondered the history of the planet, the ork invasion, the imperial reports about other xenos species that had had small incursions over the centuries. Maybe it was the planet itself or maybe it was something to do with the mechanicum that were constantly taking the locals and turning them into servitors for the great Imperial War Machine.

His thoughts were quickly interrupted as the shriek of engines turned into a blaring cacophony. A force of reavers came rushing down the road high up in the trees. Blasters and heat lance fire pelted the ground around him and the hull of the Mountainbreaker. He dove to the side as the scores of vehicles flew over their position and past them.
They dove low to the ground slashing at people with pole arms and vicious hooks or barbed blades.

Mortifex jumped up expecting another pass when the drizzling rain stopped. The constant shuffling and rumble of rain smashing into leaves died down with it. The rumble of engines from the Mountainbreaker and other Imperial forces seemed to quite in response.

A high pitched whistling came next. “INCOMING!” Mortifex shouted. He knew that the others would not hear that sound register. People dove for cover wherever it could be found, but for many it did not matter.
Explosions erupted in the jungle, around their position, and on the ruined spire itself. People were maimed and tossed aside. Mortifex watched as one explosion landed amongst a crowd of people. To his surprise many of them survived, but they were in extreme pain. The sounds of suffering and pain floated up. Cries for medical help quickly followed.

Skimming the canopy came a dark shape, like a storm cloud limping over the top of the trees. The real storm clouds were blowing past leaving a wide platform that ever so slowly approached.

Mortifex shouted some commands to the humans around him as he saw a sense of dread come over the other defenders. His squad spread out and slowly backed up hoping to motivate the humans that seemed frozen with fear.
Morning must have arrived sometime during all of the fighting in the rain and the dim early light was outlining the terrible form that approached. Silent ground facing cannons hung beneath the small town sized platform along with gantries and walkways. The platform was pierced by engines that kept it aloft along with jagged tears where countless dark eldar looked down.

The shadow of the platform crept over their position when a new kind of screaming began. Out of the jagged tears in the platform people were being discarded like unwanted trash. The severely wounded and the elderly that had already been captured were being used one last time. Their screaming forms tumbled through the air and landed with sickening thuds in the mud, on the ruins, the tanks, and the defenders. One particular form caught his attention and he watched as a child tumbled through the air, crying and screaming along the way. The child had a abdomen wound that would have likely killed him in a few hours. For the briefest moment he met the child’s eyes. Then the form collided with a thick tree branch and fell out of his view.

Mortifex had seen this kind of psychological attack and knew what profound affect it would have on the humans around him. He also knew that he had to get these people out from under the platform. He ran to get to higher ground on a defend wall to his left, he gave orders, and did his best to get people moving, then the hissing began.

Amongst the falling bodies, gas canisters were letting out a fog of toxins that were billowing out over their defenses. Mortifex found himself with his four space marines, surrounded by the coughing, crying, and the dying.

BRUTAL!

Holy moly that was awesome, you've really captured the way I believe DE would wage a physiological war. Intense read.

Thanks Knightley for both comments. I felt like doing something a little off and amusing with the knight and Tek'Ar especially with all of the fighting and death everyone else is surrounded by. The attack on Mortifex was a lot of fun to think about and envision. That is only going to get better. I can not wait for you to read the next one!

That attack by the DE, you really managed to capture their cruelty. Well done brother, well done!

Thanks bro. I am glad you approved.

Btw, are you going to Adepticon this year?

The next wave of attacks was nothing like Mortifex had expected. While he pushed people back and threw the canisters into the jungle, the lingering cloud of toxins swirled in the air and began to change color. Purples and reds, oranges and yellows, the colors mingled and seemed to chase one another.

An old soldier was sobbing while kneeling on the ground. His gun was in his lap. Next to him were two women that were splayed on the ground unconscious. The deformed body of an elderly man lay not far away partially submerged from his fall from above. The sounds of the crying and dying still lingered but as the gases took affect, more and more of them began to settle down. An eerie silence crept over the muddy ruins.
Mortifex’s senses began to tingle. He drew his bolt pistol. He heard his marines do the same but he could no longer see them. He only knew their location by the sounds they made as they drew weapons. They then fell silent, waiting.

The laughing began as a chuckle in the distance. First from the left then another from a different side. He quietly moved to the sobbing soldier and hoisted him up. The soldier blinked and was startled at the sight of the marine he had been standing by nearly all night. The man grabbed his weapon, Mortifex shook his head and pointed to the women. The man slung his weapon and picked one of them up. He stumbled towards the rear of the Mountainbreaker.
The cackles continued. The sounds of rustling leaves and footfalls echoed around the fog. The subtle sounds of swinging chains and distant hover engines lingered above them. The whistle of a blade tumbling through the air was the first true attack. It was surprisingly fast but Mortifex deflected it out of the air. Another came, then a third. Mortifex could not make out his attackers but he held his ground. Shapes were coming towards him and he pointed his bolt pistol and fired. The first form fell back out of view.

“DON’T SHOOT!” a shout came from another form. As the figure came into view Mortifex saw a human with chained arms and legs walking through the fog. His eyes widened as he realized what he had just shot.
The next weapon to fire was not one of his. A shard of some hissing metal took him in the shoulder but did not penetrate his armor. Behind the humans, further in the fog were the Dark Eldar. The first of the chained humans was sobbing. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” He kept saying.

When Mortifex reached for him to free his bonds, the man was jerked back to the ground. Faster than he imagined, the human was pulled back into the fog out of sight. Screaming the whole way.
Other weapons fire began to pick up. Xenos weapons fired into their positions where defenders held ground. Sounds of struggles erupted in various places even behind him. Sounds of frustration from his marines soon followed.
Mortifex stepped back next to the woman on the ground. She was beginning to stir. He realized that the gases was already beginning to wear off.
“Tighten up,” he spoke into his vox. “We need to buy these people time.”
A collection of forms approached once again and the moment they were discernible they broke into a sprint. A group of wyches with jagged pole arms came bounding at him. Mortifex took out two with precise head shots while drawing out his combat blade.

They attacked and kept him at bay but he parried and feigned the first two attacks while firing back at them. One back flipped away and was impaled by the powered sword of Xerin that walked out of the fog towards them. The Sons of Ouroborus marine shield bashed another as they changed their focus. That short reprieve was all Mortifex needed to take out the other two wyches.
He heard a click from his bolt pistol, notifying him he had loaded his last bullet in the magazine. He heard more swords clashing and then the heavier bark of Deklyns bolter. A louder cackling approached and a wall of Dark Eldar came through the fog. Mingled within them were human slaves. Chained and bound. The laughing Eldar spat some command and scores of pistols and rifles were raised.
A shiver tickled his spine and it was followed by a cool breeze. The fog in front of him was pushed aside the moment the Eldar fired. Mortifex did not blink but instead lowered his weapon as the bullets embedded themselves deep into a clear wall of ice that now stood between the two groups.

Confusion over took the Dark Eldar, right as black armored marines materialized before them and attacked. Mortifex surveyed the scene as the marines silently went about their work. They were incredible fast. Impossibly fast. Everyone of them used a power sword and a combat blade that stabbed and sliced. They zipped in and out of the formation sometimes seeming to disappear out of thin air to reappear elsewhere. Wisps of cold energy seemed to linger in the air where they moved.

When the last of the Dark Eldar fell over, the marines cut chains and ushered them towards the Mountainbreaker. An archway within the ice wall appeared and everyone moved through. The recently freed were crying with joy and fear. Defenders came up to help them.

“Mortifex,” a voice boomed. He turned and looked up into the face of a terminator. His armor was dark blue unlike the other marines. His eyes were solid orbs of ice and his voice was of absolute authority. “Get everyone in the Spire, organize the defense of this entrance. We will hold them here while you do.”

Without waiting for a response he held up his double headed force axe and a cold wintry gail blew across the ruins. The fog was pushed aside and the cold seemed to waken everyone from their stupor. “EVERYONE INSIDE, NOW!” He shouted.

Mortifex found himself moving right past a squad of Ice Angel Terminators, that stayed near the librarian. He glanced back to see the ice wall become a battlement. The cold twenty foot wall steamed against the hot jungle air. He was then past the Mountainbreaker and nearly to the metal strewn spire entrance when the murder platform above them began to once again rain death, this time, they were bullets and bombs.

Ohhhhh Such and Epic Installment.

LOVE your description of the Ice Angel Terminator Librarian. That's just fantastic brother.

Yes! I'll be back at adepticon

Loved the last series of entries Ice. Very well done.

He ran through the halls. People, even astartes, scattered before him. He had to see this with his own optic units. He had to understand. How could this have happened? The landing was rough but within tolerable limits. The Vault had sustained structural damage but nothing that had crippled any other system.

The questions compounded within his mental facilities but he kept returning to the same thought. His mind was repeating the same message.

“We must evacuate the Vault,”

Chaplain Gonatzu had sent it three hundred and fifty seven seconds ago. “The frozen core is losing stability and time is limited,” was his second sentence.

In response Techmarine Philosir ran. All of his gyro systems were aiding him along with the traction control and tilt modifiers. He ran on walls, vaulted over civilians, and even used his thundershield to roll over a cargo container from the Alabaster Reflection.

When at last he crossed the last large room he met the stern look of Chaplain Gonatzu. The solid black armored Chaplain wore his skull helmet and spoke with a pair of Ice Angels. Upon seeing Philosir he broke his conversation with a wave and motioned Philosir to follow.

Lights were flashing all around the room. The frozen room seemed to be leaking steam and a fog was rolling around everything. Tech Priests and scores of servitors were working all around the room at a variety of tasks.
Philosir, not wanting to burden himself with speech, loudly blurted out binary commands to the room. Responses were immediate. Tech Priests added in their binary thoughts and suggestions. Within seconds an entire conversation had occured, decisions had been made, and Philosir was recalculating every strategic element around the crashed fortress.
Chaplain Gonatzu hefted his crozius and pointed the blunt weapon to one of the White that was coming out of thaw. Behind him several white dreadnoughts were belching smoke while sarcophagi were being loaded.
“I have alre…” he began when Philosir cut him off.

“I agree and you are wise in your decision. I will alert the Captain and suggest our next move.” Philosir impetuously interrupted.
Gontazu changed his stance in near surprise then regarded paused. “Are the Priests correct?”

Philosir turned to leave, “Yes, we do not have enough information to even attempt to fix the archeotech within the frozen core. That device predates our chapter and was said to have been a gift to Sanguineous himself. In fact it would most likely worsen our situation if we did anything other then leave. The Priests have done well to vent and attempt to slow the progress but we have to move everyone out before you can release the White. All of which must be done before the core overloads and freezes everyone in the ship to death.”

Chaplain Gonatzu grasped the wrist of the departing Philosir, “perhaps the Emperor wanted this. Could we use this to perhaps take out some xenos with it?”

Philosir froze in place. His mind and processors worked as fast as they ever had, ideas exploded in his thoughts while ratios and probabilities worked out tables to maximize results while minimizing resources lost. He slowly looked back at Gonatzu. The chaplain furrowed his brow at the techmarine but Philosir had a gleam in his eyes that Gonatzu could not help but grin at.

A bizarre monotone hissing sound left the techmarines grill. The closest thing to a laugh he had. Binary blurts exploded from him as he departed with haste. A private conversation request came across his HUD, the topic, “INSTANT FREEZE DEATH TRAP”

Well thats a spanner in the works, lets see how their trap works

Yassssssss

INSTANT FREEZE DEATH TRAP

Indeed. I think you will all greatly enjoy how that turns out.

Early morning light was breaking the jungle tops and highlighting the tops of the buildings around the war torn city. Captain Razzik watched the guardsmen and clansmen reorganize and fortify around the blasted gate. Word of Mechanicum reinforcements had rushed up and he had taken the opportunity to send some of the guard to other needed areas in the city. The dark sleek shapes overhead had greatly subsided due to the arrival of the Mechanicum.
A lull in the battle was something these people needed, but reports from around the city did not seem promising. Ice Angel air support was returning to help flush out some of the heavier defended still held by xenos forces but it seemed the majority of the enemy had fallen back into the jungle. They had taken a lot of people with them.

Far off in the distance, platforms could be seen breaching the atmosphere. A near endless train of ships were coming down from space while a smaller train was taking prisoners back. The real fighting would come later that day or evening. Razzik prayed for their souls and for those that still remained to fight.

A contingent of Mechanicum hovered over the ruined warrens and over the cratered remains of the gate. Captain Razzik moved forward to meet them. The six members of Squad Arshaka were not far from his left with Brother Klivvik of squad Salandria. An Ice Angel thunderhawk was lowering into the street not far away.

Sergeant Ramagi jogged over to stand next to him as the bulky hovering transport lowered down ahead of them. A trio of child like servitors flitted out from the top while a gray robbed figure came out the front behind a pair of armored servitors. The servitors were bigger then a space marine and each of their arms had been replaced with double barreled heavy bolters. Belts connected to drums on their backs. Their dead eyes were unblinking within heavy helms.
The gray robbed figure stepped forward and bowed at the waist, the motion reminded Razzik of a well oiled ramp swinging down and back up again.

“Greetings Captain, I am Nulliphant Syke of the Ordos Mechanicum,” the figure recited and continued before Razzik interrupted with a gesture. Another servitor was carrying an armored body from the hover vehicle.
Nulliphant paused and turned to follow his gaze. “Ah, straight to business I see. I should have concluded that speaking with an astartes would be without conversational introductions. We found these remains in the jungle on our way here. We defeated those that assaulted him but we were too late to resuscitate or prevent his death. Is he one of yours?”

“No,” Razzik began, “but he is an ally. Thank you for bringing him. We will take him with us.” He turned his gaze to the ranks of servitors coming up from the warrens. There were very few vehicles but the servitors themselves carried a massive array of weapons. One unit had long barreled autoguns attached to their backs and pointing up to the sky. Their legs had been replaced with a tripod like stand that granted them better stability while they shot into the air.
The overly large eyes of the tech priest slowly blinked. One eye at a time, then he spoke again. “Where are you going?”

“With your aid, the city can withstand the next wave while we try to get more survivors out to the safety of the Spire,” Razzik responded.
“You have not answered my question Captain,” the priest quipped.

Razzik raised an unseen eye brow. Facial expressions would not warrant much help when having a conversation but he could not help but pause. After a moment he began “we are heading to our own position outside the city at the base of the Spire. Lend your forces to the city defense while we continue to get people out.”

“What safety do you think there will be in those ruins?” He shook his head and to Razzik’s surprise, only his head moved. No part of his shoulders or upper body even twitched. The flying servitors dipped and danced with agitation. “No, you should stay here and bring all of your allies here as well. The city would last substantially longer with your full aid.”

Captain Razzik and Nulliphant Syke stared at one another for a moment. Neither spoke or moved. Two of squad Arshaka came and picked up the broken body of Brother Bonamire. They took him over to the Ice Angel thunderhawk.
“Your suggestion is noted Nulliphant,” Razzik turned and walked away. Sergeant Ramagi walked by his side.

Nulliphant did not respond. He watched as the handful of Ice Angels got into their thunderhawk and flew away. Several other small craft flew alongside it. Without any audible order, he commanded his servitors into positions at several key points around the city. He boarded his transport once again. Once they started moving again he pulled out the small xenos communication device, “my lord, the astartes are heading to the Spire. They are not cooperating as planned.”

PLOT TWIST, holy moly!

PLOT TWIST

The deluge of fire from the floating platform screamed with anger as it fell upon the Ice Angel position. Mortifex and his squad had gotten inside some of the ancient infrastructure of a Spire Gate to witness the attack. The Mountainbreaker was slowly backing up towards the entrance like a rolling rock face, it trundled backwards over corpses and smaller vehicles without slowing. Deklyn and Saddicus were organizing the fire from a trio of tanks that could support the Ice Angels but they were several hundred yards away from the ice wall and they could only fire around one side of the moving Mountainbreaker.

The weapons fire from above ceased and it signaled the next advance. Mortifex could not see the attack but he could hear it. Instead he focused on what needed to be done. The civilian vehicles were now out of sight down the winding road within the mountainous ruins of the Spire. Military transports and tanks were moving back to another position. Mortifex needed to organize the stage first defense within the wide gaping remains of the gate. Once the Mountainbreaker was in position they would hold for the Ice Angels then fall back one intersection at a time making the Dark Eldar pay for every section of debris filled tunnel. The massive vehicle was too large to make it all the way to the elevator but they would move it in until it could not move any further.

A sudden high pitched wave of war cries came from the battlefield. Mortifex turned with grav gun pulled to his shoulder. A wall of Dark Eldar were spilling out of a gap in the ruins to his right. They were in between the Mountainbreaker and the safety of the thick gate walls. Humans around him fired and the tanks adjusted their aim before adding their heavier fire.

Mortifex fired three times before the enemy was upon him. The Celestial Unicorn and Xerin were side by side, to his left, holding them back while Deklyn and Saddicus fought to get to their sides. The human soldiers had little cover except for their vehicles to hide next too. The Mountainbreaker continued to backup and the Dark Eldar attacked the doors and placed charges all around its rear flank.

Mortifex could do nothing but watch over the din of the assault as the charges took out several rear doors and one portion of the lumbering behemoths tracks. It ground to a halt and the Dark Eldar were swarming inside. The weight of the assault was pushing his men back. They could not get to the Mountainbreaker to aid them. Frustration tore at Mortifex as he thought of alternatives all while fighting a swirling close combat melee. Olivero lunged forward as a taller Dark Eldar figure stepped up, his tall headdress was topped with human skulls and long tufts of black hair.

A whip unfurled from the dark eldar’s hand and before it had even finished he was lashing it at Olivero. The whip coiled around Olivero’s wrist and the strange whip began to tear through his ceramite power armor. Olivero lunged forward but was intercepted by two other dark eldar that attacked with their own wicked blades. The Celestial Unicorn parried their attacks and sliced the throat of one while the other sliced long gouges in his armored shoulder.

Mortifex kicked the nearest eldar down and with one hand leveled his gravgun. He squeezed the trigger and the conical helmet of the whip wielding eldar crushed in on itself. The eye lens burst and ichor shot out, twin streams of brain matter spraying the backs of the eldar in front of him.

Olivero attacked with renewed vigor, “it was mine Zhufri!” the unicorn snarled. Mortifex could not help but smile, Olivero only uses his last name when he is really angry. He thought about responding but the battle took an eerie turn.

A wave of nausea passed over him. He felt as if he was about to fall over. His sense of balance was way off for a fraction of a moment. Mortifex noticed that everyone else was having the same problem. Dark Eldar and humans alike were dropping weapons and falling over. He steadied himself with both arms out when he saw a black door way in the center of the xenos horde. Black armored astartes were darting out with powerswords. They sprinted through the gate out of both sides. A terminator stomped out of one side with an ancient reaper autocannon. It fired a continuous staccato that eviscerated the Dark Eldar. Another terminator stepped out the other side with a chainfist that took wide swinging arcs through multiple eldar at a time.

Finally Voxxik stepped through, his head and upper body thrummed with power. Within seconds the vertigo had passed and sixty eldar were dead. A new Ice Wall formed between the rear of the Mountainbreaker and the entrance. The huge clan leader Gorehzingus burst through the rear of the vehicle. He held a dead Dark Eldar in each massive hand. He threw them aside like a child discarding toys.

“The Mountainbreaker is,” he began with a shout.

“Crippled, yes I know. Get everyone into the tunnel.” Voxxik demanded without raising his voice.

Gorehzingus took a look around and bellowed an order into his vox unit. A stream of clan guard and vehicle crew ran out. Civilian survivors also followed. The Mountainbreakers large rear ramp lowered down to let everyone out even faster. Gear was grabbed and weapons were pulled out. A modified chimera rolled down the rear ramp, it was taller than the typical model. Mortifex assumed it was to carry the larger than average humans of this world. He noticed the auto cannons mounted out of the rear compartment instead of the typical lasguns.

The black doorway suddenly closed with a snap, a white marine with a jump pack exited a moment before. A double bladed axe sizzled in his hands and his sweeping gaze appeared to assess everything and everyone with one meticulous pass. He wore ornate armor covered with trinkets and devices. Mortifex spotted the narthecium on his upper arm. All of the marine was splattered with gore and blood.

Mortifex looked around at the other Ice Angels who were already moving towards the gap in the ruins. Dark Eldar were still coming and now assaulting the ice wall or trying to scale it. The terminators were handling them as they leapt or vaulted over the semi transparent barrier.

Several massive explosions rocked the Mountainbreaker from the top and front. The few remaining cannons on the vehicle had fallen silent. Mortifex began to fall back again as the last of the crew departed the vehicle. Now everyone was falling back. The two units of Ice Angels with power swords sheathed them with some unheard command and they pulled out bolters. They fell back in a jagged line with the terminators spread out among them. Voxxik held the center and they quickly fell back as the low thrum of anti grav approached. From the platform above them all, a host of vehicles was being released. The next assault force was approaching and the marines did not have any heavy weapons outside of the autocannon and an assault cannon. The heavier tanks were rolling backwards trying to hide their hulls from whatever was approaching. Gorehzingus and his survivors were already behind the wall of ceramite clad marines.

All of them fell back into the shelter of the broken Spire gate. The heavy thick walls of the gate still stood but all around them were ruins and rubble hidden deep under thick vines and vegetation.

Mortifex slowed his withdrawal and realized the Dark Eldar were hesitating. The vehicles should have hovered into view but they were still unseen now that he was further into the tunnel. No more Eldar were running through the gap. A damn of corpses had filled that path. The ice wall was quickly melting as Voxxik no longer fed it power to keep it in existence. In the humid heat of the morning massive chunks were cracking and sliding off onto the trampled earth.

Thunder boomed in the distance and that made Mortifex pause. The thunder did not stop but instead grew. Other tones joined in with it creating a low rumble like a diseased choir warming up with throat exercises.

A form fell from out of the air and landed with a heavy thud. A horrific amalgamation of machine and flesh stood hunched over. Mechanical claws, each bigger than a marine, dug into the earth from its top most pair of limbs. Countless other arms snapped and whirled and twitched. The monstrosity was twice or even three times the height of any dreadnought. When it stood Mortifex could see that its entire chest and abdomen were filled with the tortured faces of people and xenos all wired together in glass tombs. There had to be scores of beings within each cavity.

Then a second one dropped and a third next to it. Four more arrived behind them.

DAMN SON.

Really enjoyed that installment. The expert and smooth performance of the Ice Angels Veterans was very well crafted. Definitely gave the impression smooth perfection.

Oh wow, you weren't kidding I had no idea that was coming!

Also small spelling mistake

"but they were a sevearl hundred yards away"

Thank you for the spot Knightley. I'm glad you guys liked that part. I have been enjoying this section of the book quite a bit. It is nice to finally get to some real fighting after so much time with sneaking and talking etc. You need both in a book to make it good but I felt like I had been saving a lot of this good stuff for the end.

Is it just me or does it feel like FOREVER ago when I was writing about Inushi and Nefas? I miss those guys.

... and WHOSE FAULT is THAT???



Really wonderful work Ice. I'm really, really enjoying this.

Thanks Gitsplitta. I am glad you are still reading and enjoying this. After all of these years I can't thank all you guys enough for continuing to read this fluff of mine. It keeps me motivated to chug along.

“SUU SHARPA MOHR” Voxxik shouted.

The Ice Angels each stomped a foot and opened fire. Mortifex and his squad followed their lead along with every gun wielding human and available tank. Shields flared and brightened around the Eldar things. Bullets exploded and ricocheted off the alien metal that adorned the cobbled together behemoths. The chorus of growls did not abate or change even when the lead monster fell over from the weight of fire. Limbs still thrashed about and the thing dragged itself forward despite half of it being blown off.

Mortifex paused in his fire to study their effectiveness. The energy shields shrugged off the small arms fire and they greatly dulled the effect of the battle cannons, but the worst part is that when something did get through it had such a minimal effect. A lost leg would be replaced by other limbs, chunks of flesh and metal did not slow their advance. They did not seem to have any single head or control center. Power systems could not be located from the front.

Voxxik seemed to have come up with the same conclusion. A mental commune painfully interrupted Mortifex’s thoughts.

“Lead the others back to a choke point. We will have to engage in hand to hand to slow this advance.”

Mortifex responded by commanding the humans nearby and his squad to fall back.

Voxxik held out his storm shield and a pillar of ice grew down from the large shield to hold itself in place before him in the ground. He took both hands and grasped his double headed force axe. With a sudden overhead toss he threw it end over end towards the nearest monster. One of the large claw like hands from the creature reached out to bat the axe aside but the weapon disappeared mid air and reappeared within the shield of the monster.

The axe slammed into the top most coffin. Glass shattered and fell away in a fountain of ichor and blood. The monster staggered back and a third of its limbs fell limp. Frost oozed out from the axe like a frozen cancer, spreading across and cracking the flesh it touched. The behemoth behind it stepped on top of the wounded thing and continued to advance, oblivious of the others peril. By this time the Dark Eldar mutilations had crossed half the distance and only two of them were incapacitated. They were now within the gate tunnel opening.

One squad of Ice Angels mag locked their bolters and stood very close to Voxxik. The Librarian stood behind his shield and wisps of cold air lingered around him and connected with the squad of angels. They drew their swords and charged at the nearest monster.

Mortifex did not wait to see the results, he shouted commands and watched as Gorehzingus followed his lead. The humans began to fall back in waves. Every other unit breaking from their positions to run backwards.

A new set of sounds pierced through their massive tunnel. Raiders and other floating vehicles were hovering in from behind the monsters. The Eldar on their decks were shooting at the fleeing humans and unengaged marines.

Mortifex saw Saddicus lose his leg to a black blob of nothingness that streaked through his leg into the ground. His leg simply vanished along with the armor that encased it. Saddicus grunted from the immediate fall. Xerin was at his side using his shield to protect them both.

Deklyn was standing on a leman russ firing his bolter at the onslaught when the entire tank exploded from underneath him. Mortifex gave a prayer to his fallen brethren when he turned back to his task. He caught a glimpse of Olivero sprinting to stand next to Voxxik. Mortifex saw him yell at the Librarian. He could not see or hear the response but he did see Olivero open his mouth with glee as wisps of cold passed over him.

Mortifex marched backwards trying to shield some of the fleeing men as he attempted to follow the orange and red armored marine. The Unicorn darted and seemed to pass in and out of reality. He was amongst the other hastened Ice Angels but he was a blinking brighter and seemingly faster than the rest.

His form jumped and lashed from one monster to the next. Mortifex realized that each one of them would slow and attempt to fight their assailant but Olivero was never around long enough for them to finish their counter attack.

The Ice Angels began to follow his lead. Olivero clambered up the back of one and flipped onto another, his blades slashing at tubes, flesh, and metal alike. He would then dart over to another to attack a leg or take off an arm. Blinks of blackness did the same and quickly the advance of the monsters was slowed to a halt as they slashed and hacked at the speedy forms of marines.

Another explosion rocked the tunnel floor. A blast of white hot fury blinded everyone that was looking in that direction. Mortifex’s eyes quickly adjusted thanks to his superhuman physique but the position where Voxxik had stood had been replaced with a crater. The terminators nearby had been knocked from their feet much of their ancient black armor was now warped and bare gray. The wisps of cold that hung in the air dissipated.

Then everything changed. The quick moving Ice Angels were caught mid strike and without their speed they could not evade all of the limbs and attacks of the monsters that they were dancing around. Mortifex watched as an entire squad of Ice Angels was ripped and shredded in seconds. The other squad of Angels began to fall back while helping to get the terminators back on their feet. The priest desperately looked around for the remains of the librarian, but there was nothing. No body, no geneseed, nothing to harvest. Mortifex could sense the despair in the white armored Ice Angel.

Something tugged at Mortifex, he turned to see Tek’Ar grabbing at him. “Get back. Get everyone back. NOW!”

Mortifex relayed the message and the marines fell back. The Ice Angels helped one another and any wounded they could carry while others attempted to provide cover fire. A silent beam illuminated the ruined tunnel gate. Mortifex’s had to turn away at the brilliance of it all. When he looked back the center support that held the two curving arches of the gate had vanished in a violent explosion. Without that support the two halves collapsed in on one another. The entire section of the ruined Spire above the gate came down with it. The back row of monsters and every one of the dark eldar ships was taken down and crushed. Muffled explosions could be heard under the avalanche of debris.

Light still shone in the tunnel from cracks above him but it was much darker now that the massive entrance was gone. Lights flicked on from the various vehicles and armor mounted devices. A battery of lights turned on behind Mortifex and Tek’Ar, and for the first time Mortifex saw the knight. She stood carrying a long barreled weapon in both hands. Steamed streamed out of the end of the smooth barrel. He could hear the crackle of energy that resonated out of the energy pack at the small of her back. Carefully she stepped between the survivors and vehicles. One metal step after another, making sure that no one was caught underfoot.

The barrel of the weapon shrank down with a loud click and collapsed in on itself while the trigger mechanism folded over. The knight stowed the two pieces of the weapon and pulled out two chain blades from forearm mounts. They were as large as transports but looked like daggers in the knights hands. Two of the monstrous behemoths were attempting to escape the tidal wave of debris that had pulled them to the ground. She eviscerated both of them before they could get into a kneeling position. They twiched and spasmed before the jungle of limbs all fell limp and their awful chorus finally came to an end.

Outstanding entry Ice! Love the way it portrays the power of a knight...

Noooooo Inushi.....

I liked him :(

And damn Ice! I like the librarian

That Knight took some names!

I see you all liked the knight. How was the stuff up until the knight?

Wait... there was stuff *before* the knight??!!!

“Yes Captain.” The sergeant began. His slight Shattermantle accent dotted the s sounds of his words. “Unfortunately there is no body. We will meet you at the rendezvous with the remains of Sergeant Mortifex’s unit. Priest Shu-Korvi was able to harvest the geneseed from all of the other fallen once we dug them out. Squad Suu has already departed.” There was a pause. “May the Ice show clear.”

The line went silent.

“Captain, ground transports are full and departing as we speak.” The next voice was smooth and quick. Yet there was a slight momentary pause between sentences. Razzik envisioned the sergeant monitoring a dozen things all while giving his report. “The rest are forming a column behind with the naval security force and three quarters of the Vault security detail. On foot with this many people through the ruins and jungle, it should take us most of the day to get to the rendezvous. I have split up my unit Swonsho style. We will proceed at once. Emperor Protects, Captain.”

The line went silent.

“Captain, we have located a hidden landing bay high up in the central Spire. It is heavily damaged but contains a large bay deep within that will hold our ships. As long as we have time to prepare we could easily mount a defense or seal it entirely with charges. I have already sent our two gunships there to secure. They are at critical ammunition levels after last nights encounters. They will set up additional comms once in place.” The entire report was given with a slight hint of aggravation. Razzik could feel the frustration in the pilots voice. This situation was not ideal and the best course of action was not what he desired.

The line went silent.

“Razzik, long range sensors are picking up a massive amount of atmospheric congestion. Numbers are imprecise but my estimates place the next wave of enemy vessels near thirty six hundred. Fastest of the ships will arrive in the next three point four hours if they maintain velocity.” the monotone voice cut out for a moment. “Short range is picking up a gathering of ground forces. Proximity is suggesting they are mounting a strike against our position. City defense is adding that raiding has picked up again on the opposite side of the city. Walls have been breached and the city has been infiltrated in several positions. The Mechanicum is requesting our aid.”

The line went silent.

The next voice was unfamiliar and full of pomp. “Captain of the Angels in Black and Blue, I am councilor Kwithguo of Cla….”

The line went silent as Razzik ended the communique. There was no time to listen or wait for their pleas.

After a handful of deep breaths Razzik opened his eyes. In front of him were the two pilots of the Thunderhawk and the two weapon specialist. The four of them diligently and silently went about their tasks. None spoke to Captain Razzik or to each other. A monitor to Razzik’s left reflected the long range information that Philosir had mentioned. Icons moved around their position. Two dozen Ice Angel icons, a large blob of Imperial icons around the city, and clouds of others all calmly blinking as they moved.

He forced another long breath. A voice deep down inside him wanted to jump out of the Thunderhawk and attack. He yearned to feel the thrill of killing every single xenos that landed on his planet. Another voice told him it was his duty to protect the citizens of the city. He should return and help defend the walls. The loudest voice told him to stop and think. He had many duties, to the Imperium of Man, his chapter, his company, his brothers, his people. The cold voice over powered the rest but the murmurs of other thoughts was never truly silenced. His anger and bloodlust he squelched beneath his logic but he could never truly banish the emotion. During these calm times it stayed buried deep within like a predator lying in wait. He wondered if he was getting better at pushing it aside or if it was getting better at choosing its moment to strike.

With several eye blinks he pulled up his company roster. Losses were an inevitability but nothing pained him more then to see the grayed icons in that roster. He paused and said a small prayer out loud to those that had been lost. The quiet room seemed to edge deeper, as if the weight of his words silenced the minute sounds of buttons being pressed. He prayed to each of the fallen and thought of everyone in turn. Each one of his men, each one of his brothers, he remembered and would not forget.

The ship turned and cut speed. Captain Razzik knew what that meant. He undid his locks and stood. He looked at each one of the men in the cockpit before ending his gaze at the pilot.

“Once we are off, head to the Spire and find this hidden bay. Once all air force is inside, seal it. Begin vox silence until further notice. We need to weather this storm,” he commanded and turned. When he entered into the hold he saw his remaining assault marines. Klivvik had a new jump pack on and they stood in two rows. Razzik walked down the middle as the forward ramp opened and without any further words, jumped out.

Nice way to bring everything into perspective Ice.

The air was thick with moisture and it made his uniform stick to his skin. Many of his men had already altered their uniforms by tearing off sleeves and removing their hoods. Tasbo had not. His entire body was drenched in sweat but he wanted to look the part. As Lieutenant he was technically in charge of this excursion but when a priest, a techmarine, and an entire unit of Ice Angels were along, he did not feel like he was truly in charge. That however, did not bother him. The unit of Ice Angels was among the train of refugees and they were led by Sergeant Dapinu of Squad Samsu. The Priest was at the front with the Sergeant while the techmarine marched next to Tsabo.

The marines of Squad Samsu were split into pairs and were a constant vigilant group of sentries as the train of people hustled through the ruins and jungle. Every few minutes a pair would be seen running from the back of the line up to the front. Every time they did Tsabo would marvel at their physique and power. Squad Samsu had four members that carried massive plasma cannons and they did not seem to be slowed by the extra weight of gun or pack.

Tsabo was in the center of the formation. They followed a path that had been crushed by some rhino’s and a land raider that had departed earlier in the morning. Those that would slow down the progress had been jammed inside or held on top of the vehicles as they hurried ahead to drop their passengers and then return to support the larger group.

They walked in the vehicles wake without speaking. The Ice Angels had requested they move at a quick pace while making as little noise as possible. On several occasions there had been murmurs that the dark eldar were about to strike but it never came. Bizarre sounds and dark forms did move in the jungle but he had not once heard a weapon fire or an Ice Angel act any more alert.

With that in mind, he could not help but feel uneasy. The jungle pressed in on them and hung over them like it was reaching for them. The plants themselves looked as if they wanted to consume them. The ruins they traversed were overrun with vines and thick vegetation and even the mountain sized spire to their left looked as if it was being consumed by a mouth that was the jungle itself. Throughout the trip they passed under ancient gates and remains of walls that were hundreds if not thousands of feet tall, but it was all ruins. It was a constant reminder of the failures of their past.

Smack

Tsabo hit himself for the hundredth time. He looked at the newest corpse in his palm. The bug was the size of his thumb nail and even flattened out it looked menacing. He wiped it across a nearby leaf as he walked past. He noticed that he had not been the first as the leaf had a collection of similar smears. After he was done he looked back at the endless line of faces.

Concern, fear, loss, the emotions were easy to see on the faces of the crew of the ship that exploded not that long ago. Among his men he could see some of the same but he also saw the determination in their eyes. His men all felt the danger and the responsibility they had. His men had to get these people to the interior of the Spire.

“All we need to do is to get there,” he whispered to himself. “Emperor please allow it,” he finished.

He calmed his face as best he could and jogged forward to climb a nearby outcropping of stone masonry. He stood atop it and looked ahead and behind. He could not see as much as he was hoping but he could see he nearest hundred or so people marching past. He nodded at those he knew and paid close attention to his men. He saw one of his favorite chefs from the mess hall. He saw one of the tech priests that maintained the armory on the Alabaster Reflection. An entire naval gun team ambled past and nodded. He saw the wife of one of his men as she approached, she looked up with tears in her eyes.

She made her way through the crowd so she was near the edge of the procession as she walked past. She opened her mouth to speak, but Tsabo knelt down and dismissed her words.

“He is alive and with the vanguard. Do not fear Mel’issadril and do not delay,” he gave his last words some weight of command. Her tears doubled up but a wave of gratitude and sudden willingness flooded into her. She mouthed the words thank you before hustling forward. He watched her weave her way through the long line.

A stern voice came across his ear piece. He was unused to wearing one and it nearly made him slide off his rock.

“Come Lieutenant, we most maintain our optimal position near the center of our formation.” His techmarine guide stated. Tsabo got down and ran ahead to catch up to the black and red armored marine. The bulky figure stood several heads taller than Tsabo and looked more like a tank then a person in armor.

Techmarine Shu-Takii had cermite armor that looked as if it was built from various other kinds and slapped together in a hurry. Some were red, others were black, all of it was trimmed in ice blue. Nearby a large cannon that Tsabo did not recognize floated on its own suspensors. It followed Shu-Takii like a pet on a leash.

Tsabo had never met Shu-Takii or even heard of the marine but he was intrigued by the way he moved and the intricate pieces of tech he wore. Some looked like mere pieces of junk but other glowed or hummed.

“Pardon me sir, but may I ask you a question?” Tsabo asked.

“You already have Lieutenant,” Shu-Takii responded without looking his direction.

Tsabo chuckled awkwardly when he caught sight of his son up ahead in the long line. They both walked in silence for a moment. Tsabo was lost in thoughts thinking of his son. He was afraid for him but ultimately very proud. When the vehicles were being filled with women and children he had volunteered to stay behind and even helped organize the other students into their training squads. He was a natural leader and it made him smile.

“I think it is my turn for a question Lieutenant Tsabin Tsabo.” Shu-Takii added while taking a glance at Tsabo. “Do you think having a child is more of a weakness then a strength?”

The question hit Tsabo like the end of a wet towel. The initial shock had him fumbling for words but after a second of two he stopped and pondered.

“Strength of course,” he finally decided how to explain. “anything you care about can of course be a source of pain or weakness, but I do not think humans are at their full potential until they have their own children. Something, changes in a person when they do.”

“Are you saying that we astartes, who are incapable of having our own children, in a traditional sense, will never be at our fullest potential?” Shu-Takii countered.

Tsabo took that in for a moment before responding, “I think you have been altered in a profound way that I can not relate too, but the Emperor had sons, which in turned had sons. It may not have been as natural as my own, but I think they reached a higher understanding by having that relationship.” Before Shu-Takii could retorted, Tsabo continued, “does your bond of brotherhood not give you strength? You will outlive any of us and your relationships will last lifetimes, is that bond more of a strength then a weakness?”

Shu-Takii did not speak but gave a subtle grunt in thought.

The two continued on in silence once again. If anyone around them heard the conversation none acted or responded in any way. They approached an area full of ruins and open to the sky. The metal and stone was so piled up that the trees had still not taken root even after the years, but the vines and smaller plants had covered the mound with broad dark leaves and flowers of azure and lavender. The smell was potent and there was a haze of bugs flying from flower to flower.

They came around the base of the mound, their path an uneven trail of rubble where the heavier vehicles had mashed down several rows of vegetation.

“Do you remember much before your induction into the ranks of the Angels?” Tsabo dared to ask as he looked up at the armored figure next to him. He found himself emboldened by his conversation. He had never thought he would ever have any conversation other then some commands from the elite that he had spent his life serving. They were gods among men and he was asking him personal questions. Tsabo wondered if he had breached some protocol, but he had already spoken.

They walked around a pile of rusted cables when a pair of Ice Angels from Squad Samsu rushed past. They were heading up to the front of the line. Tsabo paid them little attention, he had begun to once again scan the trees and rubble around them as they moved. He hefted his lasgun and once again checked the power levels. He felt the weight of the pistol on his hip. He hoped he would not have to use it any time soon.

“There are some things that I can recall, but they are fragmented. It is like recalling a dream that you have not had in a long time. But there are times when something sparks them back to life. I can't picture anything of my family or home, but……” He looked around at the rubble ahead. Tsabo did as well, but Shu-Takii soon began again. “Have you ever visited the Shoow Guo’Rho District in Shattermantle?”

Tsabo thought back to years before when he was on leave once. “I was there once, all I can remember is the great noodle houses.”

Shu-Takii shook his head in agreeance. “Something about that place, the smell of it, the noise of the activity. The gravity and feel of pressure from the buildings. It reminds of my life, before my life as an astartes.” The words lingered quietly between the two of them. “That is all I can recall Lieutenant.”

They wound up an incline and were on top of a section of wall that was closer to the canopy level. It was a short time at that height before they dove back down into the ruins. For a minute or so they could see the long line of people ahead and behind. Tsabo caught glimpse of his son once again and this time he had turned back to look at him. They exchanged a smile.

“My son, Gravilax, wants nothing more then to become an Ice Angel but a part of me doesn’t want him too. I could never forget him, but he would forget about me. I would be proud beyond imagine but empty all at the same time.” Tsabo felt the heaviness of those words as they began their decent. It was steep enough to where he jogged down the side.

“Has he had his tests?” Shu-Takii asked as they reached the bottom.

“Yes and he was devastated that he was not accepted into the Vliawatha’ven.” Tsabo could feel the sobs of his son when he had been told. The smell of his tears, the feel of his son shaking with disappointment. “He missed it by one point,” Tsabo absentmindedly added.

They continued to walk in silence. A few minutes later they reached another ruined gateway and a relatively clear path. A pair of Angels stood on both sides of the path looking outward with bolters raised. They were halfway there.

Holy moly that was a touching peice. All the war, all the battles. After the fact they only have there thoughts to keep them company.

This was really good!

Thanks Knightley!

I have managed to find a few opportunities to have good non battle segments. After having so much time to think about the ending of this book I have almost over booked my ideas. I have to jam them all in! I hope they continue to impress you guys.

I have to agree with Knightly! What a great human piece to add to that. Well done Ice well done!

As usual, these private bits are my favorites. Nicely done Ice. Very well played.

“Why do they hesitate?” Razzik asked in frustration.

“I believe,” Philosir began while Razzik whipped a glare at the red armored techmarine. Philosir did not look back nor did he complete his statement. For some unknown reason Razzik had found himself increasingly agitated. He did not like how he reacted at times but he often spoke or reacted much faster then he could control. He found himself reliving conversations he had had in the past about his temperment when it came to dealing with difficult situations.

He tried to focus himself. He needed action to give his mind a new target. Deep in the jungle he could see what he needed. The Dark Eldar force was amassing. They were in range of his largest cannons but he waited. He wanted to lure them in not push them back.

“How much time do we have?” Razzik asked again.

“It is at critical levels as we speak. Any moment it may collapse.” the monotone voice answered.

Razzik knew the answer before it was spoken. It was the same answer he had been given a few minutes ago. The unknowns frustrated him but he felt inclined to ask.

He looked out over the uneven ground. To his right, burnt jungle, and mud ravines were between his elevated position on the Vault and the tree line a hundred yards away. To his left, the scar of their impact on the planet was a rubble strewn trail dotted with pooling water and metal fragments.

He stood atop the battlements. Gun emplacements bristled the fortress. They had been exposed in a hurry, their protective shells not fully put away just opened enough so they could be used. The rooftop was now void of every Imperial soldier except for himself, Philosir, and the six remaining members of his assault squads.

A sharp click sound alerted Razzik to motion. Klivvik had spotted something. He looked to his left. Breaking through the jungle he could see Imperial bulk transports hovering out of the jungle.

“What?” Razzik asked. “Why are the mechanicum here? They should be” he growled in frustration. He attempted to hail them with his vox but something was jamming the signal.

“Philosir with me.” Razzik commanded and launched himself into the air. His jump pack easily shot him up and over the edge. Without any command, he landed on a large rock and jumped again and again. He covered the ground quickly and within a handful of seconds landed before the front most transport.

A moment later the rubble shook as the heavier form of Philosir pounded onto the same flattened rock. Razzik glanced over at him. Philosir had dawned his jump pack and it was unlike any he had seen. It had six lift units instead of two and it had four smaller units to adjust his trajectory. It came up over his head and further down his back then a typical jump pack. It also has a pair of barrels protruding out the center directly above his head. The entire thing was matte gray and unsightly.

“It must be a work in progress,” Razzik thought to himself. His mind began to bring up the things he had seen Philosir create but the lead transport slowed before them and he quickly lost that train of thought.

The gray robes of Nulliphant Syke were the first out of the door. The Mechanicum Priest strode out with his hulking servitor guards. The three flying child things flitted about.

“Captain, they are nearly here. We have come to give aid. Where ca” the Priest stammered.

“NO, why have you left the city?” Razzik shouted. His frustration bubbled up into his voice. He practically snarled at the priest.

Taken aback, the priest seemed shocked and alarmed.

Before he could answer, the servitors charged weapons and pointed into the jungle. Syke pivoted his head like a bird that heard prey. Everyone looked to Razzik’s left. “There were no Dark Eldar over there,” Razzik thought as he too scanned the tree line.

A space marine was running towards them. He wore a filthy bland gray robe that trailed behind him. He sprinted over rocks and the deep puddles. He carried a large sword and had a storm bolter mounted on his forearm.

Everyone froze at the sight. The marine leapt over a wide stretch of mud and landed with a sickening splat not far from them. When he stood up straight he strode forward and pulled back his hood. He wore no helm and his eyes were set with determination.

Philosir was the first to speak, “Greetings, I believe you are Brother Micus. I am Philosir of the Ice Angel Chapter.”

Micus reach over his shoulder and grabbed a maglocked plasmagun. He held the weapon out to Philosir. Belligerence, as the decorative plate stated, was ornate and magnificent. It gleamed in the sunlight. Philosir reached out to take it and reverently took it in both hands. Before he pulled it too close Brother Micus reached over and tapped a input jack hidden in the side of the weapon.

Philosir tilted his head and looked up at Micus. A metal snake like appendage came out of Philosirs chest and connected with the weapon. As data began to flow, Micus leapt backwards and spun in the air. He grasped his sword with both hands and it flooded with white light. With a primal growl, he jammed it into the waiting form of Nulliphant Syke as he landed. It passed into the Mechanicum agent up the hilt.

Razzik was stunned and unsure of how to react.

Micus hissed something that no one heard but Syke. The Priests body spasmed and twitched then erupted in an explosion of tubing, metal, and gore. The three cherub servitors seemed to panic and scream before plummeting to the mud where they thrashed about. Every other servitor stood sentinel and continued to disembark as they were previously ordered.

Brother Micus finally lowered his sword. The inner glow dulled and was once again a mere weapon of metal. The marine seemed to take a deep breath and a faint smile crossed his face. He then looked up and noticed Razzik and Philosir for the first time. He cocked his head to one side and without a single word began to wander off into the mud, back the way he had come.

Razzik and Philosir slowly looked at one another. Razzik opened his mouth to speak when their position became under fire by countless Dark Eldar weapons. More than once, Razzik’s iron halo flared into existence to deflect a shot from the xenos. They were out of range from every weapon except their heavier varieties but judging by the explosions, they had brought a lot of them.

“Attack!” Razzik commanded to the servitors. They ignored his command and instead merely stood or fell from the incoming fire. Philosir jumped away heading to the vault. A wave of Eldar ran out of the jungle to intercept. The vault answered by firing its heavier cannons and spinning up its close range assault cannons.

One final growl was all Razzik had said before he too leapt after Philosir. He shook his head as he flew through the air.

“Why did he give you the plasmagun,” he asked in his vox.

“One of Mortifex’s squad, Brother Bonamire, had saved a message in it. He had witnessed their betrayal from the Mechanicum. Nulliphant was the traitor here and had been working with the Dark Eldar. The utter failure of the orbital defences, the exact location of the positions on the surface. Nulliphant must have done it.” Philosir spoke before making his final leap back atop the vault.

Razzik paid little attention to the hordes of Eldar running, flying, leaping, and slithering across the field towards the vault. Explosions tore at the armored side of their position. “Prepare to” Razzik began to say.

“Too late Captain. Angels, up and out!” Philosir commanded.

They had been waiting for that signal. It was not as well timed as he had hoped but it was done. The jump packed marines leapt off the opposite side of the Vault. They climbed up the Spire ruins heading as high up as quickly as they could. Shots peppered them at first but the fire quickly ebbed.

When they reached their first designated rally point, they stopped and regarded the Vault below them. The Imperial fortress had ceased firing. The Eldar had reached the outer walls and were running inside. Out of the opened windows and doors, even out of the cracks from enemy fire, steam escaped at blinding speed. The center walls began to freeze and crack. Where the steam touched, everything froze in the unnatural force.

Razzik watched in awe at the bizarre sight. The confines of the Vault slowed down the initial expansion but as it got outside it expanded in circular waves washing over the assaulting force. Everything turned white. Out of the top of the Vault the steam continued to move upward into the Spire. Metal and jungle alike froze white. Cracking sounds replaced the gunfire. The Dark Eldar reacted quickly and fell back but the steam was faster. It washed over and outward.

Jet bikes, flying scourges, and even raiders fell as they froze and their systems turned to brittle ice. The expansion continued unrelenting as it hit the edge of the jungle. The silent assault had covered hundreds of yards and killed countless xenos. It was also still moving upwards but not nearly at the same speed.

“You were right in your assumption Philosir. It does not expand up nearly as fast as outward.” He moved closer to the edge of the platform they stood on. Metal was crackling and the sounds were growing.

“Second position,” Philosir spoke. They all jumped again as the side of the Spire cracked and fell apart. An avalanche of frozen metal slid down onto the Vault beneath them like a iceberg leading a charge. Razzik did not watch. He focused on his leap.

A misshapen flying beast glided into the cavern. Savra narrowed her eyes at the thing. She could not help but curl her lip in disgust at the unsightly abomination. It landed onto the arm of one of the beast masters. The three eyed thing did not blink as its red beady eyes looked in multiple directions at once. She resisted the urge to break it in two.

The beastmaster nodded his head to her. She did not respond but instead turned towards her coven. Her glare was all they needed to see to know it was time. She could not wait to feel the spray of blood on her face. The rush of energy from the fear she created. She approached the edge of the metal cavern they were crammed into. Her coven along with fifty warriors of the Blackened Tongue were there. The Death Cups were in position across from their position and the Beasts of Xu’luth were ahead of the procession.

She smiled as she thought about the other three cabals she had given incorrect information too. They were all meeting on the wrong side of the Spire to find nothing there to fight except each other. They will not disrespect her again. Her curled lip returned as she remembered the slights they had shown her.

She edged closer to the lip as silent as a beast of night. She did not look down at the passing group of monkeigh. She instead looked across at the final group in their trap. Above the Death Cups hid the Cabal of the Crumbled Eternity. Vonsokah was there. She looked forward to the verbal sparring and the physical connection they shared, but…..

Nothing was stronger than her lust for the fight. Without any noise she broke into a sprint and dove out of cavern. She grasped her blades mid flight and landed amongst the filthy “humans”. She spoke the disgusting word as she slit the throats of two soldiers she landed between.

Screams and gunfire immediately erupted all around her. It was delicious. Her head swam with the sudden swell of emotions. She began her dance, weaving and slicing, ducking and stabbing. Others were landing around her. She stabbed one warrior from the Death Cups that got in her way as she lunged for another kill. Her kills were not to be ruined by anyone! She spat and took three quick steps forward as she somersaulted over a soldier to kill the unsuspecting one behind him.

Three wyches from her coven that were trailing her suddenly melted from cannon fire. She hissed and gritted her teeth. “How DARE someone kill my wyches!” she spat in her smooth xenos language. She spun to see a space marine expertly firing his large barreled weapon. Another marine stood next to him firing with his gun and stabbing with a large bladed knife. She licked her lips at the challenge.

She saw the heavy weapon point her direction. She tumbled to her right amongst a group of unarmed monkeigh. She sliced the legs of several of them before changing direction to run at the pair of marines.

The loud bark of the smaller gun took out two warriors to her left. The larger weapon went off and she felt the glowing ball of plasma melt most of her hair off as she dove forward onto her stomach. She cursed and sprang forward, her momentum not slowing. She parried the blade of the marine and flipped one of her blades over so that the point was down. She reversed her strike and plunged it into the inner elbow of his blade wielding arm. The marines blade tumbled out of the hand. A fist from the other marine came at her face as she spun and bent over. Her body fit perfectly between the two marines. When she finished her spin she knelt down and paused just a moment. The faster marine swung across with his gun using it as a club. She darted forward after the swing and jammed the thin knife under the helmet, just beneath his chin.

She did not wait to see the results before dropping limp. The other marine had pivoted and brought the heavier weapon to point at her. She expected it to fire over her but it did not. She rolled onto her side to see the marine was unmoving. He slowly tipped to his side and fell over. The back of his head was caved in and a crystalline projectile gleamed and shimmered in the sunlight.

A scream left her lips as she saw the leader of the Black Cups smiling under his obnoxious red hair. He held his rifle up in a mock salute. She gripped her blades firmly and took a step towards him but she did not have to get any closer. His body was hit by a sizzling glob of glowing liquid. When it made contact his entire body was engulfed in white flames that consumed him and those nearby that it splashed on.

A quick snap of her head and she saw the marine while her ally screamed in agony. He stood with a floating weapon hovering above him. A pair of marines and a contingent of soldiers had a position around him. They had formed a semicircle with their backs up against a tower of metal. A doorway was behind them and people were running inside to take cover. She began to run that direction when a demanding voice pierced the din of battle.

Vonsokah ran towards the marines. His Inubi were right behind. They pushed aside the unarmed and rushed forward. Savra could see the lust in their eyes. She shivered with excitement but she dared not approach. She would have to hunt elsewhere.

Guess who has two thumbs and is a happy little boy.

This guy, thats who.

Mother Fething Micus!

You knew it was what I needed and you gave it to me in the exact way I wanted it!

Gushing is what I am now, off to read the passage again.

Ha! I am very happy that you liked it. How excited were you while reading that section?

I envisioned you clapping your hands and jumping while reading.

So I started reading it at my desk in a heavily reclined position.

Get to the section where you describe a bland grey robe with a big sword and a storm bolter, I now am sitting 90 degress from where I was before, my heart starts beating faster.

Get to the name and I'm now leaning as far forward to the screen as I can without going crossed eyed.

On to "The Skewering" as I now officially call it and I'm all "this guy is a bad ass"

And he just walks away, explosions right behind him.

I went back to sitting normally after this, looking for a cigarette to calm my nerves

That is fantastic Knightley. Thank you for sharing. I am still laughing at that comment.

Damn Ice. Loved seeing Micus show up, hand over a plasma gun to Philosir and then proceeding to wreck face. Nicely done.

As much as I hate to see your boys in black get ripped a part, nicely done section from the Dark Eldar's perspective. Well done. Makes me hate them more

Lieutenant Tsabin Tsabo ordered and lined up those he could. His soldiers flocked to his position but so many were being cut down. The ambush of the enemy had been well executed and even the Ice Angels were caught unaware. There had been no warning. They were quietly talking and then it was raining Dark Eldar. To his right Shu-Takii fired with his floating cannon one direction while firing his bolt pistol in another. To Tsabin’s left an Ice Angel with a plasma cannon fired at the positions above them that fired down at them. Another marine stood between the two carefully aiming his bolter. Dark Eldar were above them in the ruins and amongst the people all along the procession.

People were running and screaming. Death was all around them. Tsabin shouted orders and some assemblance of a defensible position came into being when a dozen of his men formed up before them. He was glad for their years of training.

A loud creak came behind him. Warden Officer Belvo shouldered a rusted door way that was set deep into a massive bulkhead. It fell open and he peered inside flicking on his light. He nodded to Tsabin and ushered some of the civilians inside. With the door open the people ran in. Tsabin shouted again and the people ran at them.

He almost regretted the command as a surge of panicked individuals ran into them. He fell backwards and was pushed aside as people ran into the opened doorway seeking any kind of safety. He rolled to his side and got up when a familiar voice broke through the din of battle.

“Father,” the voice said. He looked up to see his son holding out his hand to help him up.

When had he gotten so tall. He looked so young and yet here he was in a battle helping him. There was no fear in his face and that calm startled him. Tsabin reached out and took his sons hand. He stood and gave him a quick hug. He then pushed his son behind him towards the door. He squeezed his hand before letting go and bring up his lasgun.

Tsabin saw a pair of Ice Angels ahead in the procession fall to the blades of a wych. He heard Shu-Takii curse and continue his firing. A piercing shout seemed to halt many of the Dark Eldar in the immediate area. Shu-Takii smoothly turned his head and his hovering gun did the same. It began to fire as did the other two marines at the one that had shouted.

“Wardens, full charge!” Tsabin commanded. He heard the high pitch whine from the power packs of those around him. The lasguns fired less frequently but they were more damaging and he needed to do everything he could to stop the white helmed Dark Eldar that stalked closer. Each of them carried a long blade with multiple grips at the base and along one side. They curved twisted, each weapon an individual weapon fit to its wielder.

The Wardens hardly fired more than twice before the enemy was on them. Tsabin did not see the Ice Angels fall but the attack was brutal and quick. The lithe Eldar jumped higher then he was tall and their blades struck in large swooping arcs. Their dance was beautiful and awful all at the same time.

The devastator marine took out three before his body was sliced into pieces by the large two handed blades. The other marine engaged the only Eldar not wearing a helm. He parried the marines combat blade and in a blur stabbed his jagged blade into the marines chest. The sickening sound accompanied the attack and the Eldar left the blade in the marines chest. He parried the marines next attack with his now free hand. The xenos smiled as he held the marines arm with surprising strength. He used his other blade to repeatedly jab into the marines stomach. The thin blade easily cut through the power armor of the marine.

Tsabin watch as the Eldar continue to punish the marines body. His eyes were alight with joy as the marine suffered and gasped in pain.

A glob from Shu-Takii connected with one of the Eldar guards that moved passed the gruesome scene. The white helmed guard screamed and melted into a bubbling pile of filth.

The attack pulled the Dark Eldar off of the dying marine. He stalked forward as the other humans around them were mercilessly cut down by the long blades of his guard. Shu-Takii fired his bolt pistol but the Eldar was too fast. In a flash he was in Shu-Takii’s space. Blades pierced armor in a half dozen places in the first flashes of combat. The cord connected to the floating weapon was severed and the weapon slowly floated away, down to the ground like a snowflake being pulled by gravity.

Tsabo had to help but they were so entwined in their battle. He fired his lasgun at one of the nearest guards. The well placed shot took him in the side of the helmet. The xenos fell over with a smoking hole in the side of his head. Tsabo subconsciously counted the seconds before he could fire again, his gun began to charge up, but not fast enough.

He watched in horror as Shu-Takii was stabbed repeatedly. The techmarine soundlessly fell to the ground. Tsabo wanted to keep watching but another guard approached with a quick leap. Tsabo fired even though he knew it was not fully charged. It scorched the Dark Eldars shoulder armor.

Without slowing the Dark Eldar came up and sliced his large blade in a horizontal strike. Tsabo redirected it with the body of his lasgun while jumping backwards. He felt the weapon jolt and hiss. He risked a glance. Half of his lasgun had been sheared off by the attack.

He felt an impact in his back. He looked down to see a long blade protruding from the middle of his torso. Blood, his blood, covered the thin metal implement of death. It slowly pulled back the way it had come and he collapsed backwards. There was not any pain but a soundless bliss.

He lay there looking out at the people being slaughtered all around them. He saw his son. “When had he gotten so tall?” he thought slowly once again.

Gravilax ran over to him screaming. The guard paid him little attention. Gravilax grabbed the ornate pistol on Tsabo’s hip.

“that was a gift from an Angel. I was going to give that to you, son” Tsabo said, the words fumbled out of his mouth.

Gravilax did not respond, instead he gripped the pistol with both hands turned and fired at the guard. A beam of dark violet came out. It passed through the guard and into the next. Both of them fell over with sizzling holes as large as a man's fist.

Tsabo looked puzzled at the weapon, but more so at his son. His son, was fighting. He just killed…… He was trying to protect. The thoughts were coming slower now. Tsabo coughed and Gravilax returned to his side. The leader of the Eldar stopped torturing Shu-Takii, leapt over the bodies of the fallen, and batted the weapon out of Gravilax’s hand. Vonsokah picked him up by the neck.

A surge of clarity hit him at the sight of his son in danger. Gravilax kicked at the Eldar, but the creature laughed. The Dark Eldar warlord spoke in his sick tongue and the guards began to move towards the door behind Tsabo.

Tears streamed down his face as he felt himself weakening once again. There was nothing he could do. He closed his eyes and looked up, a prayer to the Emperor on his lips. He knew death was coming for him. He blinked when he saw hazy motion in the sky. Figures in white were falling all around him. Their armor was bright white. Ice blue trim and silver, sparkled in the light of the day. One skull helmed figure in black landed behind the Dark Eldar leader. His crozius swung down but the Eldar deftly spun away dropping Gravilax in the process. The xenos vaulted onto a beam of metal and leapt away with a snarl and uncanny speed. White armored Death Company marines landed around the black armored marine, each engaging the xenos with brutal efficiency.

Chaplain Gonatzu stood tall and looked around. The red eyes in the skull helm first scanned the downed marines. Gravilax had fallen backwards but quickly returned to Tsabo. Gonatzu approached them both a moment later.

Gravilax laid his head on Tsabo’s chest sobbing. Gonatzu looked down and met Tsabins gaze. “The Emperor will be proud to meet you Lieutenant Tsabin Tsabo,” the Chaplains voice rumbled. White armored marines and white armored dreadnoughts rampaged amongst the Eldar. Gonatzu turned and carefully watched the Death Company. A black and white dreadnought thundered down a slope bellowing ancient threats, it carried its own crozuis but it was a monument compared to Gonatzu’s. The weapon was taller than the dreadnought and lightning arced out in sporadic bursts.

“I’m so proud of you son,” Tsabin whispered as he felt the pressure of his son now holding him. To Tsabin the swirling battle had faded into a distant murmur. His world was shrinking and it now only contained his son.

“Don’t go,” Gravilax whimpered in between tears and quiet shudders.

A grunt came to their right. Shu-Takii rolled over and Gonatzu rushed to his side. Blood caked his armor in several areas and he could only move one arm. Shu-Takii propped himself up on his good arm. “Brother,” the techmarine coughed.

“I can not get any readings on your vitals brother Shu-Takii,” Gonatzu quickly stated.

“I will survive,” he turned his head slightly, “because of him.” Shu-Takii pointed to Gravilax.

The skull helm turned to regard the boy. Shu-Takii lowered his hand and went still. Gonatzu looked back at the limp tech marine. He picked up the downed marine and carried him to the doorway. Survivors and soldiers were packed into the cramped space. They made space for the Ice Angel. Gonatzu set the techmarine just inside before turning back to the boy.

“Go. Stay with Shu-Takii. We will finish these creatures and keep you safe. To NOT come back out of that doorway until I say otherwise” his deep voice spoke softly, but firmly.

Gravilax was shocked by the burly marine that addressed him. He quickly nodded his head but paused. Without thinking he turned back to his father. Lieutenant Tsabo was still. His unblinking eyes gazed up into the heavens.

* * * * * * * * * *

YASSSSSS GRAVILAX WILL BE MADE THE MOST EPIC OF ICE ANGELS

Man that was some heart wrenching writing.

Brought a tear to my eye it did!

Ice, for the record, I'm going to end up making an Ice Angel, and It will probably be one of your Tech Marines... because I love them

The metal canyon was buzzing with life. Flowers opened up to grasp at the sun. Insects darted around from flower to flower. The draping purple blossoms hung down off the metal walls in long bunches. The largest was bigger than an astartes shoulder pad. The breeze occasionally wafted down from above to bring scents of countless kinds of vegetation.

Mortifex hated it. He was hunkered down laying on his stomach under some large leaves and a broken column. A mess of purple flowers had fallen on him covering his body. Millennia old plastics still hung limp from the column occasionally shifting in the wind.

He did not move. He dare not move. Not a single part of him adjusted from his awkward dive. He stared down the canyon. He could not tell how many had been hit but the image of the Ice Angels head exploding still lingered like an after image burned into his eyes. The corpse was to his right.

Calmly he breathed. He searched the trees and rubble outside. “damn it they are good,” he thought to himself.

Near the edge of the canyon, right where the metal ruins battled with the jungle, a large group of Wardens from the Ice Angel ship were pinned behind a boulder. The piece had been a part of a larger sculpture. It resembled a wing jutting out from the rubble covered ground. They were completely concealed from the jungle but were stuck. One had attempted to flee but was gunned down by the hidden snipers in the jungle.

A yellow insect flew down at the huddled men. It was as large as his own head and had bright colorful wings that flitted in two pairs. It suddenly stopped moving its wings and dropped with hooked barbed feet onto one of the men. A long thin tongue stabbed at the mans thick clothing seeking flesh to penetrate. The man panicked but one of his calmer friends stabbed the bug with his knife.

They coughed and reeled in agony at the stench that spread out from the dying bug as it hemorrhaged bright yellow ichor. The man that had stabbed the bug leaned out to one side to try to wipe his weapon clean. A silent shot flew through the air and passed through the mans head.

Mortifex did not watch the body drop. The Warden had stayed behind cover. “they must be in the trees high above to obtain that angle,” he thought to himself. He once again scanned the thick limbs of the massive trees. He found nothing and it aggravated him to no end.

He did, however, see another yellow bug as it flew sporadically through the canopy. It suddenly dropped down onto a branch. It landed awkwardly then plummeted from the tree.

“wait,” Mortifex concentrated on the landing spot from the bug. The branch, right where it connected with the trunk, had a well hidden Eldar on it. Face painted and covered in a heavy coat. The sniper blended in with the tree perfectly.

“One sniper is in the tree,” he spoke in his vox. He continued to describe as much as he could. Soon other astartes and even a Warden spotted others, but they did nothing. They waited.

The foliage rustled as a wave of wracks ran at the canyon. They mumbled and screamed their own pained warcry. Mortifex wanted to leap up and fire but he stayed motionless. He could not risk giving up his position. The wracks poured forward rushing over rocks and through the fairly flat central path the vehicles had taken earlier.

He had to move up to protect the Wardens, but…. he hesitated.

Movement from his right came as Xerin leapt down from his position and charged with his shield raised. A crystalline bullet ricocheted off the metal combat shield. A lascannon from behind fired into the tree. The snipers began to open fire giving up their positions. Imperials returned fire. Mortifex took the opportunity to jump to his feet and charge forward. The wracks were falling on the first line of defenders that still hunkered behind rubble and foliage. Rubble fell and tumbled as he raced over from his position in the canyon wall down to where the others fought a losing battle.

Xerin arrived first and was able to plow into several wracks and cause a disturbance long enough for several Wardens to take precise shots at the pain crazed people. Mortifex arrived next and leveled his grav gun at the more armored attackers. Shots flew passed him and he caught glimpses of return fire from the Ice Angel devastators that were further down the canyon. The trees were being fired upon but it was hard to tell how effective they were being.

A brown and tan armored Eldar warrior leapt from out of nowhere at Mortifex. He had not seen his approach and almost took a blade to the neck. He stumbled backwards. In a flash Xerin was at his side but the action put Xerin at risk. A trio of other warriors were right behind him and Mortifex watched the arcing sword of Xerin parry and deflect attacks with precision. Mortifex fired his gravgun into the melee warping the armor of one of the dancing warriors. The Eldar screamed as his own armor crushed the life out of him. Xerin shield bashed one back into another with a swift two step forward. He took several hits in the process but they did not have the angle or strength to pass through his power armor.

Xerin kept his momentum moving forward when Mortifex lost his footing on some loose ground. He fell forward and felt an explosion on his back. He lay there a moment when a strong arm flipped him over. Xerin, backlit by the sun, looked down at him.

“Sir,” Xerin said quickly. Mortifex noticed that bits of his own backpack were shattered around him. That would prove problematic in the long run.

Thunk

The sound was strange and alone. There was no explosion, merely a hole in Xerins chest. They both looked at the hole simultaneously.

Mortifex reached out and grabbed Xerin as the next shot passed through his shoulder. Mortifex quickly threw him behind a nearby outcropping of metal. Mortifex pushed him down. He fired his grav gun at another charging warrior.

“Curse these sneaky xenos,” he began but stopped as Xerin weakly coughed.

“This would be one time I would like Saddicus to be here,” Xerin added.

Mortifex could hardly hear him as he fended off several warriors that came running around the metal cover they were behind.

A brillant light passed from higher up the Spire. It passed through several trees at the jungle edge. Toppling them onto one another. The sound was thunderous as the largest of near trees crashed down back into the jungle. The sniper fire stopped but the infantry assault did not.

Ice Angels were now nearby holding the line. A veteran squad that carried a collection of handflamers were putting them to good work. Mortifex called for the Ice Angel priest that had accompanied the squad.

“Let us hope these Ice Angels have nicer apothecaries then the one we employ,” Mortifex said. He had always disliked Saddicus but not once had Saddicus failed Mortifexes squad.

Xerin blinked at the statement as Mortifex quickly surveyed the combat. With the snipers out of the picture they were quickly gaining the advantage. The damaged terminators had moved up with their heavier cannons. From higher up above the Spire the knight gleamed in the light as another brilliant beam shot down from above. A distant floating vessel crashed before it even got close to the combat.

Taking his mind off the battle for a moment he looked up at the knight higher up the mountainous Spire behind him. She was mostly hidden behind a wall. The long barrel of her cannon pointed down at the jungle. Bright beams silently lanced out as he watched. She quickly stood up and moved to her left as missiles and return fire blasted her position. With uncanny mobility she continued to fire while moving between pillars and shattered remains of what was probably a gothic cathedral. She hesitated and looked down before running forward and leaping. The knight fell as more fire came at her from further in the jungle. Mortifex could not see her landing but it sounded like a crashing building. A moment later the knight bound over another wall and slid down the side of the mountain like a skier. In moments she was standing above the tunnel opening they were using as their fall back position.

The Ice Angel Priest jumped over and landed next to Mortifex and looming over Xerin. A glance was all the priest gave him.

“He has fallen into his healing coma. He will most likely survive. Take him back to the elevator” the priest commanded without giving Mortifex any sort of notice.

“Another can take him, I will stay to help aid in defense.” Mortifex said while focusing once again on the battle.

The Ice Angels had pushed back and were easily holding the position. The Wardens had all fallen back and had taken all of the wounded they could. Mortifex moved to look further when the Priest placed a firm ice blue hand on his shoulder.

“No. You will take him. Everyone must fall back,” the Priest firmly added.

Mortifex furrowed his brow and looked around once again. The knight climbed down into the canyon of metal before she began to move into the tunnel. She turned her back and was quickly swallowed by the darkness. Mortifex noticed that the Ice Angels were all that now remained and many of them were watching him. A terminator with an ancient reaper autocannon stood nearby, even burned and damaged the massive suit of armor was imposing.

“What of the survivors marching here?” Mortifex asked.

“If any remain, we will wait for them,” the priest quickly added while adjusting his stance. His large axe slid down through his hand so that it was in the proper grip for swinging the distance between him and Mortifex. “I will not ask you again Sergeant Mortifex.” he paused before speaking again softly. “Please Brother, do not dwell here any longer.” his voice was a whisper, nearly a plee.

That caught Mortifex off guard. It sounded reluctant with a hint of sorrow. He responded by reaching down and picking up Xerin. The Priest gathered the marines weapons and attached them to Mortifex. He did not understand why he was being pushed back, more importantly why even the knight was asked to retreat.

For a moment they met each other's gaze but without comment Mortifex turned and hurried down the canyon into the tunnel. Behind him the Ice Angels marched backwards. When the expansive tunnel began its long bend he glanced over his shoulder. The Ice Angels had all fallen back as well but at the edge of the jungle he thought he saw white armored marines smashing through the jungle.

Ice, I think I'd try and tackle Shu-Takii - his description is epic. My bits bin is probably deep enough to do him justice.

One question... what's his cannon that floats beside him?

Hell I might make Shu-Takii and Scout Gravilax... Ya know... for reasons...

And I agree with you on needing other emotion. I think Graham McNiel did a fantastic job with Uriel Ventris in his Ultramarine novels and who ever wrote the Soul Drinkers anthology, one of the reasons I love the Soul Drinkers is because of the wide range of emotions - Sarpedon is one of my favorite characters in the Black Library Cannon, especially with his co-hort of specialists

Ice, I think I'd try and tackle Shu-Takii - his description is epic. My bits bin is probably deep enough to do him justice. I love the description of his armor.

One question... what's his cannon that floats beside him?

Hell I might make Shu-Takii and Scout Gravilax... Ya know... for reasons...

And I agree with you on needing other emotion. I think Graham McNiel did a fantastic job with Uriel Ventris in his Ultramarine novels and who ever wrote the Soul Drinkers anthology, one of the reasons I love the Soul Drinkers is because of the wide range of emotions - Sarpedon is one of my favorite characters in the Black Library Cannon, especially with his co-hort of specialists

I like Sarpedon too, but he is not my favorite. You MUST read the night lord trilogy. It is probably my favorite 40k series. Talos is such a deep character. Read it before Adepticon. We can then discuss.

Shu-Takii has a Volkite Caliver. I look forward to seeing you recreate him.

Oh, there's a reason why I have a small fledgling night lords 30k force. Love Talos. I also love how for them, the heresy was like... yesterday...

Such a great look at the difference between Marines and Legionaries and how Robute completely changed that indoctrination process by standardizing it, and ritualizing it versus the more traditional recruitment and training we saw in the Hersey Novels.

Sadly, the group I was traveling with is no longer able to go. we've had to cancel Adepticon this year :( pretty bummed about it.

Chapter 10

The ship gave one final growl before the rattling stopped and the silence arrived. It felt as if the entire ship was sighing in relief before its engines fired. Other systems were not online yet. Reports had not arrived, but the engines were firing. Inquisitorial Captain Nefas smiled as he stood on the bridge. He did not know where they had arrived. He did not know what direction they faced, but the engines fired any ways. He prayed to the Emperor for guidance, but it felt hollow. He KNEW he had arrived in the right place. He KNEW he had arrived on time. He gripped a metal railing next to the captain's chair. His excitement was palpable and a small part of him wanted to scream.

But he did not. He would not. His face was gaunt and silent. He wiped the smile off his face. He narrowed his eyes as information began to flood. The holo display popped up and a planet was to their left. Dots of all kinds filled the space. Tags and icons began to fill in.

To Nefas they meant little. One thing mattered. Where was the mirror ship? Where was the Ceaseless End?

Information continued to flood in. The Ice Angel fleet had arrived and was in perfect formation. Not a single ship had been lost in the warp. They pushed forward en mass towards the bulk of the Dark Eldar formation on the opposite side of the planet. The quicker xenos ships were rearranging their formations and forming up between the Imperial ships and……

“There it is,” he hissed.

A tight formation of craft hung in space around the mirror ship. They were alone and between the two fleets that moved to engage one another.

The pull of gravity began to assert itself more and more. The engines were now at a full burn. Sacred purified fuel burned at an alarming rate. Everything was being given to the engines. They were building up speed faster then any Imperial craft he had ever been on before. That in combination with them using the gravity of the planet to pull them around was moving them at a staggering pace.

He licked his lips at the trajectory. It was being fine tuned by the pilot crew until the trajectory met with the current position of the mirror ship.

“Captain,” Jaska spoke calmly into his private vox.

Nefas instantly checked several other reports while sneering at the reminder from Jaska. Nefas was so focused he had failed to review several other important pieces that had arrived moments before.

“Fire the pods. Notify the Ice Angels. Prepare the armaments. Begin launch sequence.” He commanded in swift succession. The bridge crew responded with affirmatives, only one spoke up.

The weapons officer, a tall thin man from Kavadesh. “How many shall be primed Inquisitorial Captain?”

Nefas spun to glare at the question and the man. His red eyes burned, “all of them” he hissed.

Ohhhhhhh that dank ass Nefas has made a return.

Ice, earlier he was an Inquistorial Captain. Are you ret-coning it for him to be a full blown Inquisitor? Or was this to be the “Big Reveal”? If so - holy gak he was never Actualy a space marine... which would make him
Killing The Mantis Bro waaaaay more interaesting but by the throne is he a sly fox

That aside, great installment. I think it would fit Nefas better if, instead of all caps it was - All Of Them - more of a smoulder than an angry snap

Good catch Azalle. He is a Inquisitorial Captain. I will fix it.

I like your caps suggestion. The more i think about it, Nefas never did show much emotion, perhaps he would not have spoken in that manner.

Yeah he was always cold, and soft spoken / whisper. Maybe even the sneering portion approve could be revisited.

Okay faithful readers. I have discovered I have made a mistake. I would like to discuss my options. I recently discovered that I skipped a section that for some reason I imagined I had already written and posted. That may sound odd but its the truth. There is a section that should have been after the Tsabo section and before the Nefas section. The timing is rather important in this case which is where I have my dilemma.

Once I finish this section should I
A) replace the Nefas section with the new one and then repost the Nefas section so that my thread stays in the correct order.
B) Post the new section and hope that all of my readers are paying attention to the nonstory posts and are aware of the fact that they should be switched?

Replace the Nefas section and repost in the correct order Brother

Fair enough. I will do so.

*hurriedly goes back to work on section*


EDIT: I have moved the previous post to beneath this one. The newest "update" is at the bottom of page 58.

Lieutenant Tsabin Tsabo ordered and lined up those he could. His soldiers flocked to his position but so many were being cut down. The ambush of the enemy had been well executed and even the Ice Angels were caught unaware. There had been no warning. They were quietly talking and then it was raining Dark Eldar. To his right Shu-Takii fired with his floating cannon one direction while firing his bolt pistol in another. To Tsabin’s left an Ice Angel with a plasma cannon fired at the positions above them that fired down at them. Another marine stood between the two carefully aiming his bolter. Dark Eldar were above them in the ruins and amongst the people all along the procession.

People were running and screaming. Death was all around them. Tsabin shouted orders and some assemblance of a defensible position came into being when a dozen of his men formed up before them. He was glad for their years of training.

A loud creak came behind him. Warden Officer Belvo shouldered a rusted door way that was set deep into a massive bulkhead. It fell open and he peered inside flicking on his light. He nodded to Tsabin and ushered some of the civilians inside. With the door open the people ran in. Tsabin shouted again and the people ran at them.

He almost regretted the command as a surge of panicked individuals ran into them. He fell backwards and was pushed aside as people ran into the opened doorway seeking any kind of safety. He rolled to his side and got up when a familiar voice broke through the din of battle.

“Father,” the voice said. He looked up to see his son holding out his hand to help him up.

When had he gotten so tall. He looked so young and yet here he was in a battle helping him. There was no fear in his face and that calm startled him. Tsabin reached out and took his sons hand. He stood and gave him a quick hug. He then pushed his son behind him towards the door. He squeezed his hand before letting go and bring up his lasgun.

Tsabin saw a pair of Ice Angels ahead in the procession fall to the blades of a wych. He heard Shu-Takii curse and continue his firing. A piercing shout seemed to halt many of the Dark Eldar in the immediate area. Shu-Takii smoothly turned his head and his hovering gun did the same. It began to fire as did the other two marines at the one that had shouted.

“Wardens, full charge!” Tsabin commanded. He heard the high pitch whine from the power packs of those around him. The lasguns fired less frequently but they were more damaging and he needed to do everything he could to stop the white helmed Dark Eldar that stalked closer. Each of them carried a long blade with multiple grips at the base and along one side. They curved twisted, each weapon an individual weapon fit to its wielder.

The Wardens hardly fired more than twice before the enemy was on them. Tsabin did not see the Ice Angels fall but the attack was brutal and quick. The lithe Eldar jumped higher then he was tall and their blades struck in large swooping arcs. Their dance was beautiful and awful all at the same time.

The devastator marine took out three before his body was sliced into pieces by the large two handed blades. The other marine engaged the only Eldar not wearing a helm. He parried the marines combat blade and in a blur stabbed his jagged blade into the marines chest. The sickening sound accompanied the attack and the Eldar left the blade in the marines chest. He parried the marines next attack with his now free hand. The xenos smiled as he held the marines arm with surprising strength. He used his other blade to repeatedly jab into the marines stomach. The thin blade easily cut through the power armor of the marine.

Tsabin watch as the Eldar continue to punish the marines body. His eyes were alight with joy as the marine suffered and gasped in pain.

A glob from Shu-Takii connected with one of the Eldar guards that moved passed the gruesome scene. The white helmed guard screamed and melted into a bubbling pile of filth.

The attack pulled the Dark Eldar off of the dying marine. He stalked forward as the other humans around them were mercilessly cut down by the long blades of his guard. Shu-Takii fired his bolt pistol but the Eldar was too fast. In a flash he was in Shu-Takii’s space. Blades pierced armor in a half dozen places in the first flashes of combat. The cord connected to the floating weapon was severed and the weapon slowly floated away, down to the ground like a snowflake being pulled by gravity.

Tsabo had to help but they were so entwined in their battle. He fired his lasgun at one of the nearest guards. The well placed shot took him in the side of the helmet. The xenos fell over with a smoking hole in the side of his head. Tsabo subconsciously counted the seconds before he could fire again, his gun began to charge up, but not fast enough.

He watched in horror as Shu-Takii was stabbed repeatedly. The techmarine soundlessly fell to the ground. Tsabo wanted to keep watching but another guard approached with a quick leap. Tsabo fired even though he knew it was not fully charged. It scorched the Dark Eldars shoulder armor.

Without slowing the Dark Eldar came up and sliced his large blade in a horizontal strike. Tsabo redirected it with the body of his lasgun while jumping backwards. He felt the weapon jolt and hiss. He risked a glance. Half of his lasgun had been sheared off by the attack.

He felt an impact in his back. He looked down to see a long blade protruding from the middle of his torso. Blood, his blood, covered the thin metal implement of death. It slowly pulled back the way it had come and he collapsed backwards. There was not any pain but a soundless bliss.

He lay there looking out at the people being slaughtered all around them. He saw his son. “When had he gotten so tall?” he thought slowly once again.

Gravilax ran over to him screaming. The guard paid him little attention. Gravilax grabbed the ornate pistol on Tsabo’s hip.

“that was a gift from an Angel. I was going to give that to you, son” Tsabo said, the words fumbled out of his mouth.

Gravilax did not respond, instead he gripped the pistol with both hands turned and fired at the guard. A beam of dark violet came out. It passed through the guard and into the next. Both of them fell over with sizzling holes as large as a man's fist.

Tsabo looked puzzled at the weapon, but more so at his son. His son, was fighting. He just killed…… He was trying to protect. The thoughts were coming slower now. Tsabo coughed and Gravilax returned to his side. The leader of the Eldar stopped torturing Shu-Takii, leapt over the bodies of the fallen, and batted the weapon out of Gravilax’s hand. Vonsokah picked him up by the neck.

A surge of clarity hit him at the sight of his son in danger. Gravilax kicked at the Eldar, but the creature laughed. The Dark Eldar warlord spoke in his sick tongue and the guards began to move towards the door behind Tsabo.

Tears streamed down his face as he felt himself weakening once again. There was nothing he could do. He closed his eyes and looked up, a prayer to the Emperor on his lips. He knew death was coming for him. He blinked when he saw hazy motion in the sky. Figures in white were falling all around him. Their armor was bright white. Ice blue trim and silver, sparkled in the light of the day. One figure in black landed behind the Dark Eldar leader. His crozius connected with the head of the Eldar and the blunt instrument passed all the way through the figures torso only stopping when it hit the ground under him. A loud PANG seemed to demand everyones attention. White armored Death Company landed around the marine, each engaging the xenos with brutal efficiency.

Chaplain Gonatzu stood tall and looked around. The red eyes in the skull helm first scanned the downed marines. Gravilax had fallen backwards but quickly returned to Tsabo. Gonatzu approached them both a moment later.

Gravilax laid his head on Tsabo’s chest sobbing. Gonatzu looked down and met Tsabins gaze. “The Emperor will be proud to meet you Lieutenant Tsabin Tsabo,” the Chaplains voice rumbled. White armored marines and white armored dreadnoughts rampaged amongst the Eldar. Gonatzu turned and carefully watched the Death Company. A black and white dreadnought thundered down a slope bellowing ancient threats, it carried its own crozuis but it was a monument compared to Gonatzu’s. The weapon was taller than the dreadnought and lightning arced out in sporadic bursts.

“I’m so proud of you son,” Tsabin whispered as he felt the pressure of his son now holding him. To Tsabin the swirling battle had faded into a distant murmur. His world was shrinking and it now only contained his son.

“Don’t go,” Gravilax whimpered in between tears and quiet shudders.

A grunt came to their right. Shu-Takii rolled over and Gonatzu rushed to his side. Blood caked his armor in several areas and he could only move one arm. Shu-Takii propped himself up on his good arm. “Brother,” the techmarine coughed.

“I can not get any readings on your vitals brother Shu-Takii,” Gonatzu quickly stated.

“I will survive,” he turned his head slightly, “because of him.” Shu-Takii pointed to Gravilax.

The skull helm turned to regard the boy. Shu-Takii lowered his hand and went still. Gonatzu looked back at the limp tech marine. He picked up the downed marine and carried him to the doorway. Survivors and soldiers were packed into the cramped space. They made space for the Ice Angel. Gonatzu set the techmarine just inside before turning back to the boy.

“Go. Stay with Shu-Takii. We will finish these creatures and keep you safe. To NOT come back out of that doorway until I say otherwise” his deep voice spoke softly, but firmly.

Gravilax was shocked by the burly marine that addressed him. He quickly nodded his head but paused. Without thinking he turned back to his father. Lieutenant Tsabo was still. His unblinking eyes gazed up into the heavens.

Ohhhh Ice, I am so glad you caught that you missed a section. That addition is just fantastic!

I love the sorrow in the voice of the Priest as he knows the Death Company are coming

I'm so glad you feel that way. When I started this project and created this massive death company, I wanted to have this super destructive force. But as the story created itself, I ended up not having a good method to use them or have first hand of what they did. Most of my protagonists are not ice angels. They shouldn't live to see them. I think you'll enjoy them even more as the next few posts give more information about what they are capable of.

The sleek dark eldar were spread out in separate clusters, each grouped by cabal or alliance. They were unloading troops and uploading slaves and supplies. The ships were spread out all around the Mortimon System, Secondus was surrounded but every other planet had their own xenos force laying waste to the other outposts throughout the system. The number of ships was staggering and they owned Mortimon space.

Unsure of where the enemy would be located, the Imperial fleet arrived in a tight formation so they would arrive defensively. They broke the warp barrier in a sparkle of colored flashes. Surprise and coordination was their ally. The Ice Angel fleet commander took in the scene and with several curt commands, the dance began. Speed was set, smaller formations within the greater setting quickly took shape. The upcoming battle became a multistep process of timing and trajectories.

Sergeant Shar-Takazz sat in silence up in a balcony. He absently listened to the commands and reports that crescendoed in the cavernous room. He understood everything being said but he had complete faith in the crews of this ship and the others that soared nearby. If the Emperor willed it, they would handle their part. He had to focus on his.

He forgot about the countless hours they had spent in the warp. He disregarded the cold warnings that Nefas had told them as they sped through the warp. Shar-Takazz disliked Inquisitorial Captain Nefas but he could not help but admire this plan. He remembered the command Captain Razzik had given Shar-Takazz to run the fleet in his absence. He agreed with the decision, but he would have preferred to have been at Razziks side.

He paused to look up from his balcony. In a glance he saw the position of the Benevolent Aberration on the other side of the planet. They were moving faster than any Ice Angel ship. Shar-Takazz shook his head and looked back at his monitor. “All of this for a chance to strike at a Dark Eldar Archon and his ship,” he thought to himself as he saw the icon that represented Nefas’ target.

A pair of servitors protruded from the wall, each had one metal arm pecking at buttons placed all around them. The monitor sat between the two partial remains of women.

The first report came in. That is what he was waiting for. The Alabaster Reflection was nowhere to be found in or around Mortimon Secondus. The second report came in a moment later. The vault was located on the planet.

He pulled out a data slate and zoomed in on the area of where the vault had landed. His information showed the topographical area taken several years ago, he saw the ruined spires and the dense jungle. In seconds he had memorized the area within hundreds of miles around the ruined Spire.

The third report began to arrive. He wanted to look but he found himself hesitating. Judging by the number of Dark Eldar ships around the planet, the invasion force would have been……. He stopped that line of thought.

“They are there,” he spoke to himself before he focused on the third report. No beacons. The first sweep did not locate any response from Ice Angels on the planet. Other sweeps followed. Shar-Takazz began to run through other channels for codes that his chapter had used. While the battle raged in space, he began his study.

Non-astartes reports were compiling on a different monitor. He turned to regard the earliest one. It was a request for aid repeating from a servitor satellite around Mortimons largest moon. Its first request had begun nearly a month ago.

I really like that missing section, it does add more to the death company and what the rage reduces their family to.
Looking forward to the next bits!

I am glad you liked it. What about the other new section I posted today?

I love BFG and ship based narratives. You set up the scene very well ICE.

Been lurking here for way too long; excellent work!

How could I have not commented on the latest post, how remiss.

I want to know whats on that fething moon, gosh darn it.

 CommissarKhaine wrote:
Been lurking here for way too long; excellent work!

KHAINE! Thanks for commenting. Please speak up and let me know how you feel.

Knightley, dont dwell on the moon. That just happens to be where the servitor was.

Thanks Azalle, there will be more space stuff soon enough.

Any other lurkers willing to speak? I know you're there.

The ship was quaking with the force that was being pushed upon it. It had not been tested or prepared for the punishment Nefas demanded it. Dark Eldar ships altered their positions to prepare to block their approach. Nefas narrowed his eyes to slits.

“Shields to the bow. Forward tubes one two three, prepare to fire, line strike, split second detonation” Nefas hissed. Parts of the bridge were rattling.

“Inquisitorial Captain, one should suffice, shall we waste th,” the gunnery officer began through the straining pressure.

“Fully aware,” he interrupted through aggravated teeth. “Do as I command.” Nefas sneered as he pulled out his bolter and held it casually in his hand. An uncomfortable silence smashed into the room.

“Fire” he whispered.

The Eldar ship was many times the size of the Aberration, its sleek sails hung like curtains darkening the void of space. It looked like a creature from the deep darkness of the sea, tentacles splayed open and patterned lights along its irregular form. It was beginning to fire when the experimental armament blinked through the void to reappear within the hull of the ship. There was no explosion, no grand display of force. Three spheres, each larger than the Aberration, blinked out of the center of the ship creating a tunnel through the core of the ship. Power died off instantly and debris floated out from the space where parts of the ships had once been. The Dark Eldar vessel was utterly useless now that its core and the majority of its crew had been forced into the warp.

The Dark Eldar ships nearby did not respond. Nefas watched and grinned as the Aberration did not slow. A moment later it flew through the tunnel of the Dark Eldar ship rolling slightly to fit the tunnel. The Ceaseless End was on the other side. He was going to make it.

Nefas did not pay any attention to the xenos now floating in space before them. The void of space pulled debris and flailing Eldar into space. They were then smashed into by the hurtling Benevolent Aberration. His focus was directly ahead of them. He did not hear Jaska speak. He did not notice the Captain of the ship mention to the helmsman about preparing to fire thrusters to cut their speed.

A small ship, the Mirror Ship, was just ahead of them. He had seen them before. He had destroyed them before. It held aloft a gleaming crystal on a long arm. Around the crystal a shimmering field stretched out into space. The field that he was going to penetrate. This time he would make it. The Ceaseless End was on the other side and he yearned to break it. He had splintered information about the vessel but he knew the power it contained. It threatened the entirety of the galaxy and he was not going to allow it to plague his Empire any longer. His master had willed it. Nefas did not realize his mouth was open, he licked his lips absentmindedly.

As the Aberration exited the wound on the Dark Eldar ship, he continued. He saw other ships trying to alter their course. Off in the distance he could see the Ice Angel fleet holding off the majority of the Dark Eldar. Smaller ships were exiting through the shimmering field, each one passing into an inky blackness that swallowed them up. He paid them no attention.

He grinned as a they approached that inky wall at bone rattling speed. His red eyes were now wide. Blood trickled out of the corners. He held his breath in anticipation. The arsenal on his ship was going to devastate everything on the other side of this mirror. He leaned forward preparing to unleash all of it. He care not for his own survival. He was going to kill them. All of them. They would pay for what they had done. They would pay.

THEY

WOULD

PAY

It was gone. The red icon of the Benevolent Aberration had blinked out.

Sergeant Shar-Takazz did not know exactly what that meant but it was clear that the Dark Eldar did. The bridge went into a frenzy as it seemed that every ship in the immediate vicinity altered course. Ships that were on approach changed their trajectory. Ships that were coming around for attack runs veered off. He watched in fascination for several minutes. A ship was about to broadside an Ice Angel destroyer when it dipped low and turned to depart. He still did not know what had happened with Nefas or his ship but he seemed to have had destroyed a large ship on its way. The small but well defended mirror ship was now pivoting to move away, its guard ships were motioning to follow. The scanning systems throughout the fleet were beginning to pick up Dark Eldar vessels as they prepared to leave the planetside. They were normally very hard to locate until they were preparing to depart. It appeared that a mass exodus was beginning.

He pondered the implications before he went back to his reports. Everything had come up negative. Everything had come up frustratingly empty. He closed his eyes and leaned back before putting his armored hands on his knees. He had to go down there. He had to see for himself. He stood up. For a moment he thought about removing his helmet and rubbing his eyes. That was a habit that he had stopped decades ago, why had the urge returned? He thought to himself about the Ice Angel rules of engagement. One of the earliest codes was to never remove your helmet in a combat zone.

He recited the Remembrance of Shel-Von, one of his favorite ballads, as he exited the bridge. He sent out messages to his squad while he hummed. He used his HUD to notify the transport ships, mechanicum reclamation units, and the entire complement of troops spread across the fleet. He would bring them all. They would secure the landing zone and begin their hunt. If none were alive, he would find their armor, weapons, and everything he could bring back. He would record all that he saw. He would also make sure that the planet was cleansed of any remaining xenos. He stopped in his tracks. His humming stopped. Why had he not thought about that first.

“One must control a strong landing area before the ground fighting can truly regain lost land,” a snippet of tactical teachings made him nod. His humming returned.

He may have missed the battle, but any Eldar he met would feel his wrath. He may have lost a company of his brothers and the notion was stirring up emotions. That thought fueled the anger deep within but instead of letting that cloud his judgement he calculated, in hard figures, how many he would have to kill before he would feel like that debt would be paid.

He stepped onto one of the magtrams within the massive command ship. It silently whisked him towards one of the many hanger levels. Even with the speedy device it was nearly twenty minutes of travel time to go from the command district to the Ice Angel hangers. He pulled out his large data slate and reviewed the maps. New dotted lines were blinking. Landing zones were highlighted in faded red circles notating the potential landing zones of drop pods that the Aberration had shot. Shar-Takazz wondered what Nefas had dropped. Why was he notified now? What did he jettison before blazing through space towards his destination?

The plot thickens... Well written

Thank you very much Khaine. Stay tuned for the next post. It's almost ready and I think Knightley may break something.

Edge of my seat in anticipation!

I really liked the imagery of a hollowed out DE ship starting to slowly turn in space and a Imperial ship just barrels through the central hole, complete with commander wanting to kill everything on the other side.

Great imagery!

Pressure. A dull throbbing thumped in his head. The throbbing had a subtle pattern. No. Wait. It was not pressure it was something else. He tried to focus on it, trying to sift through the muddling miasma in his brain. He wanted to open his eyes but he could not. Yet he could see, dull red lights. What is that sound? His thoughts were jumbled. The throbbing repeated itself. No. Wait. He felt warm, not uncomfortable but warm. He also felt wet and slimy. Why was he slimy? The throbbing started over again. No. Wait. Other feelings were pushed aside and as the throbbing started over, he realized it was not pressure in his head, it was a message. Or a thought or a dream. He nearly lost it before he caught the tail end. “Your service under me has been fulfilled. Go and fight.” Fight? Service? Who is speaking? A spark of agitation turned to anger. He shouted and the voice seemed alien. It sounded off, like it was a different version of himself. He thought about opening his mouth but his mouth did not respond, yet his voice did. A new surge of startling realization hit him.

“I’m dead.” he thought. Flashes took over and he remembered the pain. Glimpses of the procedure. The change.

When it was over something tripped in his thoughts. It was as if he had finally agreed with his mind that he was no longer dreaming. Systems within his suit came online and his brain began to comprehend and communicate with his new body. He was suddenly aware, almost overly aware of his surroundings. He inhaled, but he did not breath in. “Aquilum,” the message began again, “you have been a valuable asset to my cause but you can no longer follow where I must go. Ice Angels should arrive soon and they will give you whatever aid you ask. Your service under me has been fulfilled. Go and Fight. Fight for the Emperor.” The voice of Nefas stopped speaking.

Aquilum was crammed into a drop pod. Distantly he felt the bone jarring descent. Did he have any bones? Yes, he had to have a least some. Didn’t he? He was unsure and could not remember. His focus seemed to ebb and flow. He needed something to concentrate on. Red lights around him blinked faster. The drop pod shuddered. Thrusters exploded and the descent rapidly changed from freefall to rumbling chaos. Moments later he slammed into the ground. The pod doors exploded outward on specialized charges and the hot jungle air crashed through the pod, at least that is what his environmental system told him. Clamps along his form released and he reached forward with one massive clamp like arm. It was pink. His other arm was yellow. He pulled himself out of the drop pod and looked around.

The jungle was thick but in wounded patches. Sun light came down from the burnt path through the canopy. Dark Eldar bodies were strewn about, many of them looked like they had been partially eaten by local wildlife. A ruined mountainous Spire loomed in the distance. A handful of Drop pods thudded nearby in the dense jungle, but he saw no one else exit from them after the doors opened. Aquilum stood still at the edge of his pod. He felt so much yet, nothing.

“I am dead,” he thought again. “Why do I still live?” he spoke to no one. The jungle responded with a plethora of sounds as the wildlife returned to its normal routines. Chirping, clicking, hissing, rustling leaves, and a groaning space marine.

Aquilum slowly pivoted, his upper torso turning 180 degrees around. Behind where he had been clamped, a green armored marine undid the clamps holding him in. He stumbled forward after they released him. He did not move swiftly and dragged his feet while he continued to moan. He held his head as if in extreme pain.

“Mantis, are you well?” Aquilum asked.

Inushi swooned and leaned against one of the drop pod arched supports. He gingerly removed his helmet and dropped it onto the ground. He was pale and thin. His eyes were sunken and he was blinking his eyes and looking around as if he could not focus them properly. Finally he regarded the dreadnought.

“I feel awful.” Inushi complained. “I feel like a hypnotherapy went very very wrong. Did you step on me?” He lurched forward as if he was about to vomit.

“You look awful,” Aquilum added with a laugh. He was unsure of why he found it amusing.

The Mantis Warrior stopped heaving and calmed himself with slow deep breaths. “Where are we?” Inushi whispered as he slumped down to the ground at the edge of the drop pod.

The question hung in the air. Aquilum realized that he did not have the answer. The last thing he remembered was stomping into a room full of equipment along with members of the Mechanicum. He remembered an odd sensation.

A proximity alert chimed and he quickly spun back to see a form moving through the jungle. He changed his stance and without realizing it his shoulder mounted weapon prepared to fire. The meltagun in his pink palm primed itself and he lifted it to aim.

A gray robed astartes stood before them. He was quietly mumbling to himself. He cocked his head three times to the left and seemed to shudder. His glazed eyes shot up to Aquilum and focused. He gave the oddest smile Aquilum had ever seen on a space marine.

Oooh, I like this piece, not specifically because you teased me with Micus at the end, but the dreadnaught consciousnesses, what would a marine think when awoke in a Dread, I always figured there would be a Techmarine to lead them into the whole thing, however Nefas was always a bastard and this seems to be his M.O.

Bring it one Ice, my body is ready!


Edit: grammar or me not getting it:
Is it "Aquilum was cramped into a drop pod."
of "Aquilum was crammed into a drop pod."
I'm terrible at English so you could ignore this.

WAIT HES ALIVE! ICE YOU DOG YOU

I think the hardest part of keeping Inushi alive was keeping my mouth shut as we all talked about it. Especially with those of my local friends that read this.

Knightley, thank you for the grammar spot. It has been fixed. I am very excited about your remarks.

The gray robed astartes pulled back his hood. His head was an unkept mop of silver hair. His beard was scraggly and wild. His armor was damaged and his pouches were torn and ripped. A weapon mount on his wrist was empty and he no longer carried the customary powerpack on his back. His muddy brown eyes regarded Aquilum and Inushi and then the pod behind them.

He continued to scan them and their drop pod before turning his head to regard the next pod to his right. He walked over to it while quietly singing a prayer.

Aquilum was unsure of what to do. He was already confused. Seeing a vagabond looking space marine had not helped his mental clarity.

“Master Aquilum, are you awake?” a voice over his vox boomed.

The words startled him. He had not realized how tense he had been while watching the marine. Quietly Inushi moaned and chuckled to himself for an unknown reason.

The woman's firm voice repeated. “Master Aquilum.”

“Yes, I am awake. Who is this?” He barked in annoyance.

“Nefas had sent me to aid and assist with,” she began.

“I asked, who is this?” Aquilum interrupted, immediately annoyed with her.

“Sergeant Savannah, sir. We are on our way to your location. Our transports were shot down and we have encountered Dark Eldar resistance. Please stay there and we will be there in several,”

She droned on and Aquilum responded by deactivating his vox. He did not like her tone. The gray armored marine was now rummaging through the next drop pod. He removed equipment and rearmed himself. A new powerpack, a new gauntlet, blades, ammo, and a bolter. When he was done he grabbed a crate that was packed with ammo and grenades. Inushi had stopped moaning and Aquilum noticed that he had activated several stimms from his armor to help ease his suffering. The green armored mantis warrior zoned out for a minute and closed his eyes taking deep controlled breaths.

Eventually the gray figure stomped through the jungle to stand directly before them. He was chomping down on a nutritional bar of a dark green matter. Aquilum watched, still unsure of what was happening, as the marine finished it and then opened another. Before them he ate a second bar followed quickly by a third. The marine seemed very happy with himself. He mumbled to himself.

Chomp chomp chomp “trees” chomp chomp “femur” chomp “time is short!” He dropped his bar and looked to his left. For a moment he froze in place. “Effervescent crystals of dimensional clamping piercing our reality.” He blinked three times rapidly and looked down at the bar he had dropped.

“CAKE!” he excitedly reached down and grabbed it. He jammed the entire thing into his mouth.

When he was done he glazed over for a moment and stood up straight, “come with me my friends, we are needed, bring as much as you can carry, be swift, we must save him, we must save all of them, the Emperor wills it.” The words flowed out of him quickly and in one breath.

He blinked several times and regarded them, seemingly for the first time, “I am Brother Micus, we need to go. Please follow me,” Micus then picked up his crate and turned.

The name triggered something in Aquilum’s thoughts. He had heard it before. Where had he heard that name? He was connected to Nefas some how. Aquilum was agitated that he did could not instantly recall the name.

The towering dreadnought watched before turning his bulk to regard Inushi. The Mantis Warrior seemed much more cognitive then before. Inushi watched Micus depart before slowly standing up. The green armored marine donned his helm before turning back into the drop pod to grab extra supplies.

“Are we following him?” Aquilum asked as he watched Inushi mag lock several crates to Aquilums thighs and back.

Inushi inhaled sharply and looked up into the pink and yellow Contemptor helmet. “Brother, I do not know what is going on. I don’t know where we are. I don’t know what year it is. I can not remember putting my armor on or what exactly I did last. My head feels like a warlord titan is jumping on it. The only person that has given me any sort of meaningful direction,” he nodded his head towards Micus before groaning in pain at the gesture, “is Micus.”

He leaned on the dreadnought for a moment before looking at the ork banner that hung as a cape upside down over the dreadnoughts massive left shoulder. He chuckled to himself, “do you have a reason why we shouldn’t?”

Aquilum rolled the question around in his thoughts. His mind led him in so many directions but he found himself coming back to Inushi. The Mantis Warrior covered himself in gear before removing his power katana from its wall mount inside the pod. He reverently pulled the blade out of its sheath just far enough to see the gleaming metal. When he was done he paused and met the gaze of the dreadnought.

“Thank you Tano Inushi,” Aquilum said.

Inushi hesitated.

“For what?” he asked.

Aquilum laughed. It felt good to do so. It was odd but it was him. Something in that moment changed. He laughed again before turning to march through the jungle.

“Are you going to answer me?” Inushi asked after him.

“If you can’t remember then I will need time to fabricate a worthy story.” Aquilum chuckled.

Inushi gently shook his head and followed.