Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So awesome, it's like jumping the shark, nothing can beat this.

After Sindithaxinum broke the outer crust of the mountain, it paused, partially exposed to the cool mountainous air. Inigo and Jaska both pulled themselves up so they could attempt to ascertain their location. Inigo used visual keys and his memory to determine what side of the mountain they had emerged from. Jaska used his highly advanced HUD system, similar to what the Ice Angels used.

A deep calm voice spoke through the vox, “Are you able to take out the road that rings the slopes of the mountain?” Chaplain Cyaxeres asked.

Inigo laughed heartily to Jaska and himself, he then spoke directly to Jaska, “not even a welcome back or what are you riding? These Angels are a bit stiff, aren’t they?”

For a moment Inigo thought he was going to get a chuckle from Jaska but the Marines Chrysemys simply looked back at him and then out at the view. The linnorm had broken out of the mountains earthen hold about seventy yards up its side. The sun was setting and dusk was already upon them. The valley was laid out before them in the dimming light. Greenskin landers and wreckage were randomly strewn about. The hordes of infantry and vehicles were moving at various speeds towards the small access road that spiraled around the mountain off to Inigo’s right.

The linnorm was sniffing the air. Its tongues rapidly sampling the particles in the valleys cool air. One head turned towards the nearest concentration of greenskins heading towards the road. The other pointed towards a giant squiggoth that stood motionless amongst the waves of xenos. A fortress was strapped on to its back, turrets and what looked like a trebuchet dotted the bricked platform.

“Chaplain Cyaxeres, I’m not sure our companion here can be controlled, but I’ll try.” Inigo eventually responded.

“Sin?” Inigo started, unsure if the linnorm minded a nickname, “do you think you can take out that road over there to help protect our compatriots at the top of the mountain?” One of the heads casually gave him a one eyed glance as Inigo pointed to the road. Phlegm drizzled out of its mouth and struck the ground, melting through a boulder.

The other head shot a pillar of flame into the darkening sky. The six legs propelled the linnorm out its newly created tunnel. Inigo and Jaska held on to the bony ramparts as the behemoth ran down the side of the mountain. In seconds it had covered the seventy yards, crashing through scraggly trees and knocking boulders out of its way. A mild landslide followed it down the hill.

As they reached the valley floor, Inigo could still see the thousands of lights from ork vehicles and the mobs of greenskins streaming to his right. Inigo couldn’t see the base of the road any more but he knew where it was.

Both heads were now closer to the ground as the linnorm continued to move. The heads were both pointing them towards the giant squiggoth. Guns started to light up from dozens of vehicles as they fired and tested their range against the linnorms moving position. “Not going to take out the road is he?” Jaska asked when the first set of shells erupted nearby. Dirt and rocks were flung into the air.

“Nope,” Inigo responded to Cyaxeres and Jaska as the linnorm reached the first group of orks, eating pairs of them with each bite while the other head melted off the front of a battlewagon from twenty yards away.

The battle cries of the greenskins as they charged the massive two headed linnorm were soon replaced by screams of panic. Sindithaxinum hardly slowed down as he cleared a flaming path through hordes of orks and vehicles that didn’t get out of its way fast enough.

The giant squiggoth slowly turned its massive horned head towards the oncoming linnorm. It bellowed a deep tone as it began to move towards the linnorm. The gun emplacements on its back opened fire. Inigo and Jaska ducked down behind the bony ridges as several shells hit the linnorm. The rocky plating that covered its back cracked and buckled. The linnorm gave a grunt after the impact but didn’t slow down.

As the distance closed the linnorm increased in speed. Within thirty feet the squiggoth lowered its head to swing up its heavily spiked horns. The linnorm didn’t give it a chance. One head spat forth its lava phlegm while the other bit at the squiggoths neck with surprising quickness. At close range the guns on the squiggoths back were all but useless except for the forward mounted short range cannon. Inigo saw the barrel being lowered. He could almost hear the orks shouting to adjust the gun faster. A split second before the gun fired the linnorm belched another round of lava directly at the cannon, the resulting explosion blew off the front of the platform.

With its face melting and its neck shredded on one side, the squiggoth gave a gurgled gasp before beginning a slow collapse onto its side. Orks jumped off the platform many of which were then crushed by the falling creature or the tumbling fortress.

The linnorm began feasting before the body had settled. With brutal efficiency the linnorm consumed the body of the giant squiggoth. Inigo was disgusted and impressed by the sight but he didn’t have time to ponder the rhino sized bites before screaming engines erupted around him.

Jaska fired his plasma pistol into the air as ork boys on crude jump packs landed in droves on the back of the linnorm. Inigo removed his hammer and smiled as the familiar weapon hummed with life. In seconds the two marines were in hand to hand combat with a mob of greenskins. They came at them with short barreled guns that made more noise then damage, sharpened blades of all designs, and even the occasional powered tool.

“Explosives!” Jaska shouted as he shoved a dying greenskin off his gore covered chainsword.

Inigo crushed the skull of another greenskin before getting the opportunity to see the orks clamping a pair of demolition charges onto the linnorms back. There were too many orks between the astartes and the charges and neither Jaska nor Inigo had any grenades or anything useful to stop them.

Three more orks charged at him. With his back against the bony ridge he could do nothing but bat aside there attacks and counter with his humming thunder hammer. Images of the charges tearing through the linnorm’s backside filled Inigo’s head.

He shouted the linnorms name, “SINDITHAXINUM!”

The dim light of the valley was then brightened as twin jets of burning death spat a cross pattern across the linnorms back. The two heads were flanking Jaska and Inigo and they were shooting their molten flames at chest height. As quickly as they arrived the orks were knocked off.

Jaska ran forward at the flames. Inigo stood in shock but the linnorm adjusted to miss the red armored marine. A lone ork was laying down on the linnorms back, grasping onto one of the plates and attempting to set off the charge. With a low swipe Jaska carved the orks skull in half as he slid into range.

Casually he walked back towards Inigo while he wiped off his chainsword. “It seems Sindithaxinum is not immune to its own breath.” Jaska stated. The twin heads turned back towards their meal.

A loud crunch echoed from behind them as the linnorm tore a leg off the squiggoth. Inigo ignored the sound as he pondered Jaska’s words.

Jaska put his chainsword away and checked his plasma pistol as he looked out at the dimming valley. Orks were now in a panic as they ran in various directions. The largest were attempting to regain control but for a moment the linnorm was free to consume.

With a side glance Jaska sighed, “If the linnorm was immune to its own breath it would have spat its death all down its own back to cleanse it of the orks. Instead it shot at a level that would allow it to hit them but not its own hide.”

Jaska then squared up to Inigo and grasped the bony ridge with his right hand, “More importantly, it is listening to you. Your warning probably saved its life.”

Inigo grunted in agreement to all of Jaska’s statements before turning to regard the twin heads at their meal. What remained of the squiggoth was a bloody stain on the ground, some iron covered horns, and a melted face.

The heads once again sniffed the air. Inigo braced for the sudden movement he now knew would follow.

“How long until the Frozen Rage arrives?” Inigo asked.

Jaska held his hand to his helm as the linnorm took off towards a smaller group of giant squigs and their handlers. Ork guns were beginning to fire again as some control was regained in a corner of the valley.

“Around twenty seven hours,” he responded before grabbing onto the ridge with both hands. Riding the linnorm was proving to be much more treacherous in the open valley.

Inigo responded with his standard chuckle, “Perfect! Plenty of time to eat some more greenskins, eh?”

OOh that was awesome, and shows that many marines can think objectively about things that had just happened.

Small grammar check"
"impressed by the site but he didn’t"
should be
"impressed by the sight but he didn’t"

Good catch. Thanks Knightley.

All through the night and the following day Sindithaxinum rampaged and feasted. Inigo grew more accustomed to the movement patterns of the linnorm and by the following dusk he was able to predict the linnorms movements by watching the twin heads bob and weave. Meanwhile, Jaska concentrated on the battle atop the mountain. Throughout the day he relayed the information to Inigo.

The Ice Angels had secured an ork land train that had a void shield generator. They were using it to protect the ground forces. The Ice Angel air force had strategically with drawn in mass. Their return would coincide with the arrival of the Frozen Rage.

As the sun began to touch the mountains in the horizon the linnorm took a long pause. It found an area that was getting hit directly with the suns rays and sprawled out. Both of its heads faced directly into the sunlight.

Inigo and Jaska looked around for orks or any sign of a threat before they too took a moment to relax. They had been on this planet for more then thirty six hours now and hadn’t rested or eaten.

Jaska instinctively cleaned his plasma pistol while consuming a nutrient enriched wafer, his red helmet was mag locked to his thigh. Inigo slowly walked around Sindithaxinum. He examined the linnorms armored form and saw all of the damage it had taken throughout the night. Cracked armored plating, several deep gashes, and wounds that oozed a bright orange fluid, adorned its body.

Despite all of the wounds the linnorm received, it hadn’t slowed down or given any signs of pain. As Inigo passed under one of the necks he saw another deep gash, but this one had a piece of metal stuck into it. Inigo reached out to grasp a metal spike that was painted red. It looked like it was from the front of a tank.

Using both hands Inigo pulled the arm sized metal piece out from between two pieces of carapace. One of the heads gave a slight hiss but showed no other sign of discomfort.

“Inigo, “Jaska began, “Cyaxeres requests we join up with them on the mountain. I’ve sent for a pick up.” Inigo didn’t respond but continued his tour of the linnorms massive form.

Jaska watched the Son of Hades marine for a few minutes before going back to his diligent weapon cleaning. His chainsword needed some new teeth and the handle was bent. After seven minutes of adjusting he revved up the chainsword once again. It was better but far from perfect.

In the sunlight he could see a bizarre triple winged plane. The Emperor’s Coinpurse was heading his direction. Jaska paused as he watched the plane approach. As it neared it effortlessly spun around and opened its rear hatch only a foot off the ground. Jaska stood on the back of the linnorm and put away his weapons.

“Shall we?” he asked as he took twenty steps and leapt off the back of the linnorm.

“I think I’ll let you go alone this time Jaska.” Inigo said. The words seemed distant and Inigo’s voice seemed confused.

Jaska halted his approach to the waiting ship. He didn’t turn back to regard the marine, “are you positive?” He asked over his shoulder, hoping for a different response.

Inigo chuckled, “positive? No, but Sindithaxinum is. We have work to do here on Glossinai.”

After several breaths Jaska took the final steps towards the yellow and pink quartered vessel. As he stepped into the vessel it lifted off once again. Jaska turned to look at Inigo one final time. The Son of Hades marine was standing by the linnorms flank, staring off into the distance.

“Honored Brother Inigo, it has been a pleasure,” Jaska said as the door closed.

Inigo didn’t respond he merely nodded his head. Deep down inside he knew he had made the right decision yet a part of him still wanted to leave with Jaska.

His thoughts wandered around the visions he had seen and the decision he had made when dusk ended and night fall settled in. Inigo could hear the roar of thunderhawks and the weapons fire from orks chasing after them.

A flash of light from up above made him look up. Sindithaxinum did the same. A previously unseen ork space vessel erupted and split in two. The pieces slowly tumbled into the atmosphere and plummeted into the distance. Inigo stared into the night sky trying to spot the Frozen Rage, or gleam any sort of insight to the battle in space but a dark cloud was hanging over the mountain top before him. Flashes of lightning danced throughout the billowing mass.

“That’s no normal cloud,” Inigo murmured to himself.

As the sections of the cloud gave away, a black vessel could be seen entering the atmosphere at a slow descent. The atmospheric disruption gave it a misty veil and an eerie glow, but as it ceased its decent it held its position above the crater toped mountain.

In the moon lit darkness Inigo could see the magnificent Ice Angel vessel. It was wider then the mountain top and had a smooth long prow. The entire top half of the vessel was adorned with gun towers, landing platforms, observation decks, and other countless buildings. The sides of the ship were smooth and only broken by shallow turbines each the size of a landing bay and parallel to the ground. The underside of the vessel was a jungle of weapons platforms all streaming fire down around the mountain top.

The floating city held still amongst the clouds as the Ice Angels retreated from the mountain top into its many holding bays. In between flashes of light Inigo could make out giant cords lifting up damaged vessels, land raiders, and other heavy equipment the Angels had brought to the planet. For fifteen minutes he stared at the city amongst the clouds.

Another flash from space heralded another falling ork vessel. This one was much slower in its descent but Inigo could only smile as gravity won its tug of war versus the space faring ship. The graceful destruction was peaceful from this distance. The explosions were silent and the plumes of fire were various shades of blues and oranges. For many minutes the ship cascaded into the atmosphere, a tumbling jumble of ever growing debris.

As the ship broke into countless pieces Inigo looked back to the floating city. The cords were being recalled into the vessel and the gun fire was intensifying. The scene was eerily familiar.

After many more minutes Inigo finally took his eyes off the action in the air. The linnorm had ceased watching some time ago and was now observing Inigo.

“Sin, I don’t know what I’m doing here, but something tells me you do. There is nothing in regards to giant ancient lizards in the Codex Astartes so I hope the Emperor sanctions the use of linnorms.” Inigo said. He laughed at his own comment but was slightly disappointed when the linnorm slowly turned away to regards the floating city without any sign of amusement.

Inigo chuckled to himself once more before sitting back behind the two heads. He looked down at his damaged armor and his faithful thunder hammer. He had no remaining grenades and only a single clip in his hardly used bolt pistol.

Without any other words the linnorm slowly picked itself up and turned around. From Inigo’s sitting position he witnessed the last glimpses of the flying city as it left the atmosphere. With methodical steps the six legged linnorm continued its slow pace around the mountain. Inigo thought on the Ice Angels he had fought with as he stared up into space. He remembered each of the marines that had fallen, but most of all he thought of the fleeting images his mind couldn’t hold onto. For the briefest of moments he thought he could hear the cries of the weak and the prayers of the faithful. The sound of shackles echoed in his mind.

With the sounds lingering in his thoughts, Sindithaxinum sped up its pace and burrowed into the ground.

Hi everyone! Casey recently asked me to send him a copy of my fluff in pdf form. Would any one else be interested?

I know it had been awhile since I last posted but does any one still read this?

I hope so, I've only got a little more to do before I finish book one.

I think I'll wait until you've finished this "book"... THEN I'll want the PDF.

I'm with Gits, and I didn't catch your last installment but have caught up on it now.

The passage certainly feels like the end of a chapter in a normal book was that how it was supposed to be interpreted?

@Gitsplitta - Fair enough. When this is all done, do you think I should include some of the random writings at the beginning of this thread or actually just have a pdf with the actual story?

@Knightley - Yes indeed Knightley. It was meant to be the end of a chapter. Next is to finish off with Razziks little adventure, then complete the book.

I think you should do a preface as with a proper novel. I've read some that are quite long... just say what you need to in order to explain the project.

 Gitsplitta wrote:
I think you should do a preface as with a proper novel. I've read some that are quite long... just say what you need to in order to explain the project.

I apologize for missing your comment Git, but I like your suggestion. That does make a lot of sense. I could even have two copies, one with my story as I now see it in my head and the other as my actual writing project with the preface. First things first though, I need to finish my story. As soon as I can pull myself away from all of my modeling projects I'll produce the next section.

All things in good time my friend. Enjoy the process.

The captain’s quarters were cluttered with piles of books, star charts, xeno’s trinkets, and dirty laundry. An unmade bed was built into the corner of the room. A lone blue light illuminated its empty sheets. Several dusty weapons hung in a wall mount not far from a giant wooden desk. The dark wood of the desk had a deep sheen with purple hues. A dozen drawers of various sizes perched on each side of a simple wooden chair.

On that chair a man sat.

In one hand was a mechanical device no larger then his palm. Its screen was dominated by the current time in a greenish light. In his other hand he held a pic screen. The frame was well worn and chipped but the glass was meticulously clean. On the screen a five second image played, over and over. A beautiful woman was flanked by two giggling children. A swaddled infant was in her left arm. At the three second mark she leaned over to kiss a handsome man with tiered red facial hair and a sly grin.

At the five second mark the man smiled and gave her a side glance.

The image then reset and the giggling children began again.

The man in the chair stared at the picture. His thoughts were jumbled and confused. His emotions were lost and distant. The morning was always the hardest.

The device that glowed with the time switched to read five o’clock. For a split millisecond it rang, but the man in the chair was prepared and had his thumb on the button to halt its morning audio attack. He took several deep breaths to focus his attention to his morning rituals.

He sighed as other devices in the room activated and began their morning rituals. Lights in the room began to slowly brighten. He set down the timing device and gingerly placed the pic screen back on his desk. With both hands he then grasped one more frame. This one contained a still picture, old style, as his crew called it.

A shapely woman in a gray flight suit stood smiling. Her red hair was tight in a bun atop her head and the slightest crack at a smile dotted the corners of her mouth. A single medal adorned her simple flight suit, a red circle with a blue diagonal line.

The man smiled at the picture and then rubbed his thumbs across the raised writing on the frame, “Captain, My Captain” it said.

Gently he placed the picture down next to the pic screen and several others. He leaned back in his chair as a cup of Trinian Kik hovered across the room towards the desk. The smell of warm fortified grits wafted through the air as a wall panel slid open to reveal his piping hot breakfast.

He sipped his Kik as he retrieved the grits. The large wooden desk lit up with internal lights as his morning report arrived. A red circle with a blue diagonal line dominated the first screen as it waited to be activated.

“Captain Fybblywhyp Quip – passcode – IhatetheImperium1.”

A confirmation blip flashed on the screen before a plethora of charts, space maps, inventory checklists, and crew vitals popped up all over the top of the wooden desk. From the captains seat they seemed to float above the table. He glanced across them as he shoveled the bland grits into his mouth. After he finished he gave several hand gestures too slide aside the nonessential information. What were left were the star maps and a list of messages from his crew.

“Right on schedule,” he said to himself as he examined the map.

With a smile he stood from the desk, the screens sank back into the top of the dark wood. He didn’t stay to watch the system go into hibernation; instead he walked across his quarters to pull out some clothes.

He grabbed a pair of gray slacks, a black belt, and a well worn shirt. After he donned his apparel he opened up a taller wall locker. He grabbed several items to stow in his pockets. As he grabbed a time piece on a chain he paused. Hanging in the locker was his dress suit, a royal blue dress coat with matching pants. He reached out and felt the end of a sleeve, memories flashed across his mind.

He turned his head to look into a small mirror attached to the back side of the locker door. For a moment he saw the man he once was, spiked red hair, exotic facial hair, sharp chin, and sly grin. As he chuckled at the mental images of how he once was, he blinked and he saw an old man staring back at him. The red in his hair was fading and his sharp grin was now hidden under a bushy beard that reached the top of his chest.

“Oh Fybblywhyp,” he said as he looked back to his captains dress suit, “it’s our last mission before retirement. I think we need should finish this like we started.”

God I giggled at his password. interesting passage, definitley the start to a new chapter.

Who is this man, will he die in the next chapter, he could be like Lt. Murtaugh, 1 day before retirement and I'm to old for this gak.

Ah, a new beginning... new character, new setting. Like a sweet spring breeze through a comfortable old house.

How do you pronounce "Fybblywhyp"?

 Mr Nobody wrote:
How do you pronounce "Fybblywhyp"?

With great difficulty.

@Knightley, I actually laughed while writing that password. All of those are great questions, some of them will be answered soon enough. STAY TUNED!

@Gitsplitta - enticing isn't it. Sometimes writing about marines all the time gets a bit stale so I decided to create somebody new to talk about.

Mr Nobody wrote:How do you pronounce "Fybblywhyp"?

I pronounce it as Fibble(like dribble)whip. For whatever reason I just replaced the vowels with y's. I think it looks more amusing that way. It also rolls off the tongue. Fybblywhyp Quip. Captain Quip. Good name indeed!

@avatar 720 - Let me know if my pronunciation guide helps, lol.

With the 'y's sounding like 'i's, I thought it'd be pronounced 'Fib-bully-whip', which sounds just as silly.

 Avatar 720 wrote:
With the 'y's sounding like 'i's, I thought it'd be pronounced 'Fib-bully-whip', which sounds just as silly.

Ah, i see what you did there. Good thing we got that cleared up. Your way is much more difficult to say.

Radio silence was something Razzik often appreciated but as he traversed the downward slope of the tunnel he wished there was some other noise to distract him. Ahead of him the tunnel flattened out and a soft glow illuminated the jagged rocks. Razzik couldn’t see the marines that were hidden ahead of him but the combination of their response and the radio silence had set him on edge.

Nefas and the others felt it to. No commands were necessary when this level of dread dominated everyone’s attention. They weren’t afraid, that emotion was robbed from them along time ago, but the sense of danger was hovering thick in these sharp rocks.

Silently they carefully descended the tunnel. Stones protruded from the floors, ceiling, and walls like jagged teeth. Cover was plentiful but as the tunnel ended and the next cavern began he wished he had more.

Zaduga and Nillahfin were well hidden between boulders and rocky outcroppings. Both were on the shadowy side of their respective rocks and kneeling as low as their super human frames could get. To their left the cavern opened up into unimaginable proportions. The bottom was too deep to see and the distant cavern wall was lost in darkness. Glowing towers that hung from the ceiling could be seen in the gloomy distance. The spires reminded Razzik of the hive worlds he’d seen and fought on countless times.

To their right the smaller cavern opened into a spiky rock garden that ended at a glossy black wall several hundred yards away. The wall was glowing with turquoise runes and dotted with massive circular bladed doors. A handful of them were opened, revealing well lit hangers. The ceiling before the wall was covered with millions of barbed chains. The chains swayed in the casual breeze of the tunnel.

Razzik thought he could make out people in those chains but he didn’t have a chance to further examine them. Zaduga clicked his vox as he spotted an intruder. Everyone melted into cover.

Sixty eight seconds later a ship flew past. With surprising speed and agility it flew towards the wall and into the largest of the walls opened doors. The deep maroon of the ships hull seemed to bleed into the air as it flew. Its six wings each ended in graceful hooks that looked capable of tearing through other vessels. Front hull mounted thrusters kicked in as it disappeared in the wall.

Zaduga crept over from his hiding spot and quietly spoke, “I believe that wall is the outside of the complex we were just in. I’m picking up the faint signal from a skull.”

Razzik switched his attention to his HUD map. He saw it too. The dark unmapped area that showed his current position was now aligned with the distant sensor edge of a servo skull. He blinked clicked the map around to gain some better perspective. One of the lower open doors contained the lone servo skull.

“How is that possible?” He whispered to himself. He zoomed out of the map and let it do some physics recalibrating. The vast complex was now being bent in unnatural ways in order to compensate for the side tunnel he and his marines had taken.

The hand of Nefas reached out and rested on his shoulder, “Captain, this will become much easier if you stop trying to make sense of it all. Not all laws of physics apply in this place,” he hissed.

Razzik looked over at the hand as he thought on Nefas’ words, “This can’t be the warp. We’d all be dead. What other place is capable of ignoring the laws of nature?”

“The webway,” Nefas responded.

Dun-Dun-Dunnnnnnnn!

Oh snap, I totally did not expect that final part... holy crap!

Hmmmmm yes. That is great that you didn't expect it, but more importantly, does it now make more sense? I hope it was like a, "AH HA!" moment, not a "wtf?" moment.

It's very difficult dropping enough hints to give you that right impression without giving it all away. When its all done, you should be able to look back and go, "Oh yeah, I see why he did that or said that."

I guess my reaction was

Ooooooh, this is going to be awesome!

then

Ooooooh, ice you crafty devil, I didn't see that coming.

Hope that helps

It's all coming together now. But with more answers come more questions.

“MOVE” Razzik shouted as another volley of crystals, discs, and black globs of destruction were sent their direction. Shu-Takii’s volkite cannons laid some suppression fire as the six marines broke from cover while the fire lessoned.

Razzik didn’t know how or who had spotted them but before they had even reached the wall, gun fire from above had highlighted their position. Within minutes all manner of Dark Eldar were descending upon them. Razzik had to force out the questions lingering around Nefas’ response as he focused on surviving this situation.

They had entered through a low level hanger door with Nefas and Razzik in the front. A trio of lithe warriors in turquoise ornate armor met them. The front woman twirled mid air and was about to slash with her sickle like blade when Razzik barreled into her. Nefas sent two shots into the chest of a male that held a long barreled rifle that smoked with a purple haze. The third lashed out at Razzik with a long whip as the Captain punched his powerfist through the females face into the floor. The whip coiled over Razzik’s back pack before the tip dipped down and scored the side of the Captain’s helmet. Nefas adjusted his sight as Nillahfin lunged past him with a long shafted power axe. The dark eldar leaned away from the slow attack. There was a loud shunk as the power axe bit deep into the floor. The lithe xenos laughed but before he could send the whip forward again Nillahfin struck with a left hook. The dark eldar collapsed to the floor from the solid hit.

WHOOSH

The sound of Barru’s missile launcher filled the hanger as Nillahfin pried his axe from the floor and then decapitated the injured dark eldar.

“We need to keep moving,” Razzik said as he quickly got up, his powerfist crackled as the gore and blood was fried off the oversized gauntlet.

Zaduga ran past with Shar-Takazz by his side. Nefas and Nillahfin were next. Captain Razzik waited for Barru to finish reloading before they too ran away from the hanger door towards a side hall.

“We’re almost there Captain. Where shall we go once we’re there?” Shu-Takii asked.

Razzik pondered the question as he ran. He glanced at his HUD map at the lone servo skull in this sector that they were approaching. The shouts and whoops from behind them were closing much faster then he would have preferred. Racing against any kind of eldar was always a bad idea.

“Riders incoming, “Barru stated as he turned around and tucked himself up against the wall. His missile launcher fired a frag missile as the first rider flew around the corner. Barru missed but the missile detonated against the door frame and shattered into the next two riders.

The first rider stood on his hover board and sped up as he first made eye contact with the marines. His skill was truly amazing. He managed to jink past the next bolter shots and zoom forward perpendicular to the ground. The rider headed straight towards Captain Razzik. Razzik raised his storm shield and prepared for the imminent impact but the rider less hover board flew over him down the hall. When he lowered his shield he saw Barru wielding his newly acquired hooked glaive. The hook was embedded in the dark eldar’s chest and the xenos was violently shaking as electricity fried every nerve in his body.

The next group of riders was met by the increasingly dangerous fire from Shu-Takii’s cannons. When a rider, board, or wall was hit by the volkite shots, fire would burst forth and shower the surrounding area. Flaming riders screamed as they spun out of control and slammed into the walls of the wide hallway.

The screams continued as Razzik continued his run. They ran up an incline in a loose formation. At the top of the smooth incline they stood in a wide circular tiered room. It looked like a staging area that led to several other hangers. Statues of helmed dark eldar dominated the dimly lit room. Floating, hidden amongst the equipment that lined the ceiling, was the lone servitor.

Razzik wanted to study his map to try and decipher their quickest escape but Dark Eldar were every where and more were coming. He briefly thought of what he had seen as they reentered the complex. Clouds of raiders and even larger vessels were headed towards the glossy compound wall.

Shaking the memory from his mind he concentrated on the task at hand.

The tiered room had over a dozen different entrances, each was larger then a land raider. Two entrances were large enough for warhound titans to march through. Razzik headed towards the nearest statue for some cover as he examined his HUD. Only half of the tunnels had been explored before the alarms had begun and the floating servitors had gone into hiding.

Nillahfin, Zaduga, and Shar-Takazz opened fire at enemies at the bottom of the incline they had entered from.

“Captain, the foot soldiers are arriving in mass. We need to move.” Shar-Takazz said in between his plasma pistol fire.

“Yes thank you Sergeant,” Razzik said through gritted teeth mildly annoyed at the obvious statement. “Hold them off for just a moment. I need to find the nearest portal.”

Barru sent a frag missile at an upper tier entrance as a gaggle of masked screaming humans came pouring forth.

Shu-Takii walked towards a separate side entrance as sounds of more Dark Eldar echoed. He held up his combi-bolter as his volkite cannons hovered above his shoulders. As one the three guns opened fire.

Frantically Razzik studied his HUD map. He panned over and out. He looked for any sign of a similar room or similar design, anything that would give him a hint as to where they needed to go. He thought about just randomly picking a side hall that hadn’t been explored but this complex was simply to vast, too much was at stake.

A cold chill passed through Razzik while weapons fire spattered off the statue he was hiding behind. A flash of light from an explosion made Razzik blink several times before a moment of clarity washed over him. He saw a side door several floors up flanked by the same glass panels. He marked it on his HUD and sent the servitor to scout as the weapons fire around him increased.

Razzik lifted his shield and ran towards the next statue to look up at the exit. A dozen warriors were taking position to the left of the exit.

“BARRU!” Zaduga yelled. Razzik turned to see the heavy weapons marine get showered with crystal shards. He fell to the floor as several punctured his power armor.

“Shu-Takii clear us a path towards that exit,” Razzik commanded as he moved towards the fallen Ice Angel. Barru reached out for his dropped missile launcher as Razzik arrived. Another volley of shards approached but Razzik protected them with his storm shield. Flashes of light burst forth as the force field engaged.

When Razzik looked up he saw Shu-Takii quickly moving to adjust his heavy weapons. Razzik pulled Barru into cover, he was injured but he’d live. The weapons fire from around the room suddenly ceased.

“Captain, they’re retreating.” Shar-Takazz stated.

“Do we have any targets?” Razzik commanded as he scanned the massive room and its many entrances.

Five negatives blinked across his HUD. Razzik responded by setting a new way point.

Shar-Takazz, Zaduga, Nillahfin, and Shu-Takii ran full speed towards the nearest stairs to begin their ascent to the level that would lead them away. Razzik magnetized his shield to his back and picked up Barru.

He ran after them. The marines took steps three at a time, leapt over bodies, and rubble from a statue. In less than sixty seconds they were up three floors and heading towards the appropriate exit.

That was when the roar started. From nearly every tunnel the sounds of screaming, excited xenos echoed. Razzik risked a glance down below as swarms of dark eldar on hoverboards first entered the massive room. Hordes of foot soldiers came next. Razzik then saw the tunnels on the second floor spew forth warriors and scantily clad women that danced as much as ran.

Ahead of him Nefas arrived at their tunnel first. He dove across the entrance of the exit and sprayed full auto down the tunnel. He slid the rest of the way across the entrance on his side. The return fire was sporadic.

Shar-Takazz and Zaduga didn’t slow as they rounded the corner firing snap shots. Shu-Takii and Nillahfin followed right behind. A few seconds later under a hail of fire from nearly every direction Razzik entered the same tunnel.

The dimly lit path was full of bodies. The tactical unit was still pushing forward cutting down the xenos with precision fire. Twenty feet away, Nefas knelt in the center of the hall way with a closed chest before him.

“Nefas, get up. There isn’t any time for this,” Razzik shouted as he ran. Nefas didn’t respond as he whispered some unknown words.

With a quiet prayer Nefas opened the chest as Razzik approached. “Captain, I will hold them off. I will then be right behind you. Do NOT look back.”

Razzik didn’t dwell on Nefas’ words. Instead he shook his head and ran on as fast as he could. Carrying Barru his heavy foot falls crushed the fallen dark eldar beneath him. At the end of the tunnel he nearly slid in a slick puddle of ichor.

“By the Emperor,” Barru said, his words trailing off as the lights dimmed around him. Razzik noticed that Barru was looking behind him down the hall towards Nefas.

Before Razzik rounded the bend he paused long enough to look back. The Sinner marine stood in the hall with his hands held outwards. All around him scores of bolters hovered in the air as even more hovered out of the open chest on their own accord. As the hall fell into darkness Razzik noticed a faint red glow that connected each of the bolters to the open chest on the floor before Nefas.

Screaming Dark Eldar on hover boards swarmed the entrance like a cloud of flies descending on a corpse. As the first xenos entered the tunnel, the bolters in the pitch black hall opened fire.

No amount of jinking could save the Dark Eldar against the wall of bolter fire. Razzik stood in amazement as the hall way lit up from the hundreds of bolters that now hovered and fired at the incoming xenos. The sound of so many firing weapons engaged his sound dampening system. In near silence he watched bodies, hover boards, and alien devices get torn apart by massed fire.

“I told you not to look back,” Nefas hissed across the vox.

Razzik whipped his head to the side to see Nefas standing a foot away from him in the darkness. His eye lenses were glowing with an inner red light.

The cacophony of bolter fire continued down the hall as the two marines stared at one another. Barru looked back and forth between the two.

“What just happened Nefas?” Razzik began.

“What does it look like?” Nefas retorted as his eyes continued their glowing. He then stormed off after the tactical marines.

“Looks like you’re still full of surprises,” Razzik said to himself. He watched Nefas move down the hall between the corpses. He then looked back at the floating bolters. He exchanged a glance with Barru. The injured marine shrugged his shoulders. Without wasting any more time they followed the other marines. Up ahead, Shar-Takazz and the others were still fighting.

that was an impressive passage.

Although you mention a servitor being in the centre of the area, but in the later passage its mentioned as a servo skull.

I did? I will have to go back and look for that error. It should be servo skull. No servitors were harmed in this passage.

Nice action sequence Ice! Love the slug-fest!