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Lord Governor Hannibal Pavus sat at his desk reading the various replies from all those who would join him on his expedition to Nemessa, while not all would join with him he had enough Emperor willing they would find the answers they seek. Pavus looked over his shoulder to his scribe servitor. He spoke briskly at the mostly mindless machine, “You take this down.”

“To all those who should join me on my quest to Nemesa. I will not lie to you; we risk much plunging into Hybrid space. Where we go, we will find no honor, no glory, no riches we go to secure the Imperium’s place in this hostile galaxy, we go to find what the beast calls its master and we go to slay it. We will be the unsung heroes of humanity. We will be the flame to purge this sickness from this sector. While we may not have the express permission of High command, know that we have the approval of our holy God Emperor. To all the bold I salute you. Gather your forces around the ruins of Kagrenz. Ave the Emperor.”

Pavus held his hand up to the servitor to signal him to halt his recording, “Take this to Astral Choir, have it sent to those whom it concerns.” The servitor croaked “Aye, Aye.” And hobbled out the room on its piston legs. Ruck spoke behind the governor “That was a beautiful speech boss, I didn’t understand all the words but it was beautiful.” The Hound spoke “That’s sure to win some over who were on the fence.” Pavus spoke “If brutes like you two can be moved hopefully it won’t be lost on the other commanders, perhaps they will finally rethink who should lead this crusade”

"Erh, boss, Sir! Ya beddah come 'n' 'ave a look-see!" Said a flyboy in command of the Gitfinda. The old Flyboss Kaptin Koggle Rushskul strode quickly to the station. "Wha' iz id ya Yella Git?!" he shouted to the inferior.

"Uhm! Iz uh, iz dis fing in urbit! Iz 'UGE!! Sir!" stumbled the flyboy in fear and respect. "Lemme look ad id..." forced Kaptin Rushskul into the flyboys stool, putting his face deep in the Gitfinda's green glow, his eyes widening "Zog id!!" He shouted "Zog id ALL ta da warp!! Da 'umies must 'ave a baddle barge er somefin'!"

"A what? Sir?" retorted the flyboy in curiousity, adding 'sir' in sudden panic that he might have misspoke to the Kaptin.

"A battle barge?!" Shouted a lowly wire-grot "Oh, no!! We iz gonna die oud 'ere!!"

"SHUT ID, YA STUPID ZOGGIN' GROTS!" roared Moganog, who just entered to hear the conversation, fear and panic gripping the crew of the bridge. Moganog heaved in rage. "We ain't gonna die ta no Humies, ya got id!? We iz gonna go to Echison seven, We iz gonna krump some Pinkiez, AND WE IZ NOT EVER GONNA SQUEAL LIKE LIL' GROTS AGAIN! Ya got id?!" There was silence. Finally Kaptin Rushskul spoke in a hushed tone "Ain't got no idear what a 'Baddle Barge' iz, huh?"

"What was dat?" asked Moganog, gritting his teeth.

"Doez ya got ANY idear what a 'Baddle Barge' iz?!" He said more boldly.

Moganog was fully expected to kill old Rushskul then and there, but instead; "...Why doezn't ya 'Unlighten' me den?" he said impatiently. Rushskul went into a horrifying tale of death and pointlessness, centered entirely around his chance encounter with a Battle Barge. After he was done, silence once again filled the air. But Moganog was merely amused at the old Ork's ravings. But before he could speak, Zombaz' monotone voice chimed in "We iz not going to Echison. We iz going to da next planet." Moganog was speechless. Rushskul smiled. "Plot da course, boys, to... uh... Whatz da next world's called?" he asked, and a flyboy responded, checking a stolen human database of the region "Uh... 'Trisburg', sir!"

Contacting the Reforged Sovereign...
Contacting...
Contact made.

Is this thing on? Hello?

Hello?

I swear they need to make this damn machine clearer to operate. Marcus, what do you think?

I think you should tell Marcus that you need to flip that switchy thing there.

Marcus, flip that switchy thing?

I already did, what do you think I was doing?

I don't know, I thought you were playing with THAT dial.

...Oh yes, silly me! I must get Marcus to adjust my monocle. Okay, what does Marcus think we should do?

For jek's sake, do you think I'm an errand boy? Aren't you going to ask me what I think?

Okay, Marcus, what do you think?

See that red light, just there?

No.

Irrelevant. I think we're on.

Oh.

Oh.

Yes. Do you have the speech prepared?

I thought you had it?

No, Marcus had it?

Marcus? You had it?

Ah, sorry! I had it here! **clears throat**

"Dear Reforged Soveriegn, this is Marcus, Planetary Governor of Trisburg, esteemed lord of" yada-yada-yada... Skip a few pages here... Who wrote this drivel?

That was Marcus. Not me.

I thought that bit was rather nice. Very flowery.

"...three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was part of him — and I didn’t know how potent that part might be — that thirsted for my blood."? What the jek?

It's so poetic, and it's-

Marcus, it's jekking terrible. And there's at least ten pages of this jek.

Okay, fine, just skip to the last page then...

"...we welcome you to Trisburg, land of the free, and I will give you, out of my own bottomless generosity, a single squad, Squad Yurim. They are totally not informants. Much loyal. Such good. Very noble. We eagerly await your arrival, Mister Fairfax. Good day."

I think that last bit was alright. Marcus, what do you think?

Yes, very good. I think my bit in the middle was better though.

Hey, Marcus? How do we turn this thing off?

For jek's sake, hand me that candlestick...

**frantic smashing and hammering**

**crunching sound**

Doctor Marcus, give me the chainaxe.

**sound of chainblades**

**screaming metal being cut into**

Now, hand me that frag grenade. Yes, the one in my trousers. Not those trousers, the ones I'm wearing. No, deeper.

**sound of pin being pulled**

Transmission ceased.

The fight was going so well. Da fight against da Squig Burna's tribe had started as a massacre. Da Warboss had put up little resistance against Narlug's dual power claws. His bigga nobz were met and overwhelmed by Narlug's. It looked as if the tribe would be won in less than an hour. That is the moment Narlug was faced with the truth. The Warboss and Nobz lying dead on the ground weren't actually da leaders. As Narlug decapitated the lesser Warboss, an ork of massive proportions even to him leapt out of a nearby building. A dozen Nobz burst out with him. The fight turned into a battle for survival. Fights were breaking out everywhere and Narlug's Nobz were outnumbered two to one, although their Nobz were smaller. Narlug, however, was too busy concentrating on dodging da new Warboss's choppa. Narlug, again had the advantage of dual melee weapons while da other Warboss had a bolter and a choppa. Narlug was careful to stay within a few feet to avoid getting creamed by the bolter. They bounced back and forth in a battle of agility and raw strength. They traded blows many times, but as time went on, Narlug gained the advantage. With a final cry of pain, the giant Warboss fell crashing to the ground crushing two of his own nobz as he went. While that fight went on, massive casualties on both sides appeared. A few of Narlug's main Nobz survived the onslaught, and Narlug was proclaimed the new boss. Although there had been many casualties, Narlug ended up with about the same amount of orks. The main thing Narlug did get though, was a place for his stronghold. From here, he would continue to gather his forces and prepare to take on da humies.

Vorhees stood before the group of astartes and men in front of him. They were not the finest soldiers, but they would have to do. Most of the marines were vat born, and Vorhees despised their hybrid geneseed; a mixture of Iron Warrior and Imperial Fist geneseed. If it came to it, they were all expendable to him. Without giving any speech, he marched his ragtag army towards the waiting chimeras. Their first destination was an outlying mine installment. Vorhees would need it up and running so Fahren's promethium production would remain stable.

The ride to the mines was far from comfortable, as Vorhees had to constantly check for any ambushes from the hybrids. Fortunately, none came and they were able to reach the mines. They disembarked in short order, and Vorhees directed the Flesh to lead them into the mines. It is better to lose Flesh than astartes, no matter how much of a disgrace they were. It was obvious no one enjoyed what would come next, but once they had been chosen for this assignment, they had no choice but to follow Vorhees' orders.

Vorhees refused to allow anyone to turn on their luminators, as it would only ruin the astartes' night vision and give the hybrids more of a warning upon their approach. If it lead to the Flesh dying, then so be it.

The first warning they had was the faint sound of scuttling limbs followed swiftly by the cries of pain as hybrids fell onto the vanguard from the ceiling. "Open fire!" Vorhees yelled, while firing his own flamer at the falling creatures. Flesh, astartes, and hybrid died alike as the invasion force erupted into chaos. Hybrids poured in from every corner, and a tide of chitin rushed forwards from the depths of the mine.

Vorhees jump packed forwards, firing his flamer at the hybrids as he flew. Several Flesh were caught in the blast, but he also downed a mockery of a genestealer in the shot. It didn't take long for Vorhees to see that it was a losing battle. Normally casualties did not concern him, but Archarus would not be happy to see his army slaughtered because of reckless suicide charges. The raptor was among the first to make his way free of the hybrids, and he ordered his own men to follow suit. Another benefit of the Flesh leading the charge was that it allowed them to cover the astartes' retreat.

The chimeras had been left running, and as Vorhees sprinted towards the first one, he took enough time to fire off several bursts of fire at the hybrids as they reached the surface as well. At this point, few Flesh yet lived, and many astartes were boarding the chimeras to fall back. As Vorhees himself gotten into a chimera, he detonated a charge he had planted, collapsing the mines on the hybrids and ensuring that none would come from that way again.

Again, the raptor did not like the results of the hybrids' attacks, and worried about what the Warsmith would do upon his arrival. For now, he would have to continue this war and hope for a breakthrough. Perhaps unleash Archarus' pets, those unholy daemons, and cleanse the world of the tyrannic mutants.

Waiting. It was something the scions of the 85th were used to. Infiltration was an art that required the utmost patience, for a regiment of their size could not afford to waste lives by acting in haste. Still, Tempestor Secundus Maris couldn’t smother the doubts that the operation was being enacted to soon. The platoon under his command had been entrusted to their Tallarn allies for the reconnaissance expertise that they provided, but Colonel Amir seemed to care little for intelligence gathering. Maris recognised Amir’s style all too well; the type of general to send his men to die in their dozens, casualties be damned so long as he got a nice medal and a pat on the back for his excellent leadership at the end of it. That was all well and good for his own regiment, but Gallus wouldn’t tolerate unnecessary losses, and if the mission went awry, there would no doubt be friction between the tempestus and the guard. “Best not get ourselves killed then,” he thought, and allowed himself to smile a little behind his helm. His trail of thought was cut off by the ringing static of his comms-bead.
“All units in position and awaiting your order, sir.”
“And the Tallarn?”
“They’re ready to ride, sir.”
“Then give them the order to charge. We’re going in.” How many xenos, he mused, could the scions kill in the time it took the rough riders to reach the tau encampment?
The ground shook with the sound of coordinated melta bomb detonations throughout the outpost. The tau were in disarray from the initial strike, and although the xenos’ long-range firepower was rightly feared, the scions’ equipment and training gave the the edge in the close-range firefights that broke out across the camp. But it was almost too easy; the resistance was weaker than anticipated. Maris ducked behind the rubble of a demolished bastion wall and flicked on his comms. “Tempestor Hund, report.”
“They’re on to us,” came the reply. “They’ve spotted the approaching cavalry, and are focussing the bulk of their forces on the Tallarn.”
“All units, eliminate the xenos targeting the Tallarn. We need those frakkers to get here alive!”

Amir was surrounded by the screams of falling riders. His troops were being thinned out all too fast, the prospect of a successful charge becoming bleaker with every flash of pulse fire. When the inevitable collision came, it barely fractured the xenos’ defence, hitting with a fraction of the force they had hoped for, the glorious stampede reduced to a disorganised rabble. The ensuing combat proved bloody for the Tallarn, their martial prowess doing little to turn the tide against the superior numbers of the tau. From a distance Amir spotted the tempestus troops. Evidently they were faring better in the conflict than the 97th. He heard Tempestor Secundus Maris address him over the comms.
“Colonel, we’re pulling out. I’ve called for backup. They’ll cover us while we-”
“No retreat,” growled Amir. “We fight until the last breath is drawn!”
“But the charge was a failure,” Maris responded in a condescendingly patient tone. “We’re wasting our efforts here. No point in sustaining further casualties.”
“Run if you want, coward! The Tallarn do not cease until the Emperor’s foes are slain!” said Amir, the statement punctuated by the cut and thrust of his blade through tau hide. Before Maris could argue the point further there came a roar of enormous jets, as a battlesuit descended upon the battlefield, not unlike the one Amir had encountered on his first night on Julla, but larger, possibly thrice the height of an space marine in full power armour. With a savage cry Amir charged recklessly towards the monstrosity, prepared to demonstrate to the scion upstarts how a Tallarn warrior fought. Yet he never reached his target; his steed was shot out from beneath him, and he was thrown into the dirt as the great black mare collapsed with an agonising shriek. Before passing out Amir heard the sound of Valkyries overhead, and caught a glimpse of Maris’s head being torn from his neck by the unholy strength of the battlesuit commander.

He awoke in a medical tent back at the Tallarn camp, mind hazed by anaesthetic and defeat. Despite the drugs pumped through his system his body ached all over, except for his right leg, which was completely numb. Three figures stood by the side of his bed, and after a moment of painful focus Amir was able to make out their faces. The first was First Lieutenant Nasira, one of the youngest officers in the regiment and Amir’s second-in-command. Despite her age the girl showed great promise as a leader, and he was glad to know she had survived. Beside her was a medical officer and Tempestor Hund of the 85th. The scion was the first to speak.
“Feeling better, sunshine?” he said bitterly.
“Was the charge… a success?” Amir asked, the scion’s words barely registering to him.
“A success! What do you bloody think? It was a massacre! You sent your men to their deaths,” the sergeant spat. “Why didn’t you order the retreat? What were you trying to prove?”
A thought occurred to Amir, a memory from the battle. “The xenos commander. The one in the armour. It was the one your men are looking for.” At this news Hund’s expression became serious. “Voidspider? Are you sure?”
“Yes… the armour matched the description. I’m certain that was your quarry.” The sergeant nodded. “I’ll deliver this news to Gallus. I wish you a swift recovery, Colonel,” he said, with a glance at the injured man’s leg, then left without further formality. It was the medic’s turn to address Amir next. “Sir, I’m afraid there’s no easy way to tell you this, but you’ve suffered severe nerve damage to your right leg. We can operate, but there’s only so much we can do here, and it’s possible you may never fully regain the feeling in your leg.” He waited for this to sink in, and the realisation snapped Amir out of his drug-addled stupor. The medic continued. “The good news is, we have the capabilities to attach a bionic limb, but obviously we’d have to amputate the dead limb first.” Amir winced at the idea. “I am no servitor, I will not have my body defiled with false limbs. A true warrior wears his scars with pride.”
“With all due respect, sir,” interjected Nasira, “the regiment needs you. You must lead us, and that means we need you on your feet, metal or otherwise.” The Colonel said nothing, but sat brooding like a storm on the horizon. “I’ll leave you to think about it,” said the medic, and went over to another bed.
“How many dead?” asked the colonel sombrely.
“We’ve taken heavy losses. The scions casualties were much lighter than ours, but they will no doubt tell us that each of their men lost are worth more than ours,” Nasira said with a hint of resentment.
“Nasira, I need you to take my place, until I am able to return to the front lines. I trust you with this. You must keep the regiment alive until I can fight again.” Nasira nodded. “I will not let you down, sir,” she said, saluted, and walked out of the tent while trying to hide her smile.

Finally, the position she had coveted for so long was hers. Of course, it was only until Amir recovered, but that was assuming that he ever did. There were all sorts of awful things that could befall him; malfunctioning medical equipment, or administration of the wrong drug… and then there was the matter of the amputation and fitting of the bionic limb. Anything could go wrong in a complex operation like that. She just needed to keep eyes off her, and it would seem to all intents and purposes as an unfortunate accident. After all, in the turmoil of a system-spanning crusade, who would give a second thought to a simple medical mishap? Just another body on the funeral pyre. Amir was a fool, and his reckless naivety was killing the Tallarn 97th. Since their deployment on Julla over half the regiment had been killed in suicidal charges. They deserved better leadership and she knew she could provide it, but first she needed to get Amir out of the way. Until then, as far as anyone else was concerned, her position was temporary.
Nasira pondered. Acting Colonel Nasira. It had a nice ring to it.

[18 Hours Earlier]

The Navy Admiral sat drinking his mug of recaff, while lazily staring at the pict display in front of him. He nearly choked on his drink when he saw a flash displaying massive amounts of warp energy being discharged, and a literal storm of enemy markers flashing across the screen with it.

"Battle stations! Enemy contact sighted! Move! Move! Move!" The Admiral roared. Crew were scrambling everywhere, and guns were being loaded and sighted upon the ork pods already racing towards Novus Regulus. Some turrets had already been prepared, as the Histans did not want a repeat of the actions of the Knife.

What started as a handful of rounds being tossed at the swarm of pods turned into a torrent of bullets, and pod after pod detonated in a bright blast. Confusingly, the orks did not return fire, but simply continued on with their death charge towards the planet below. As such, it was a killing grounds for the orks. A killing ground that no man was willing to turn away from.

Isos watched from a window port, and it gave him a grim satisfaction to see the orks being killed en masse. Vayden stood next to him, quietly chewing on an apple he had scrounged from somewhere, but also took in the view before them, and had a burning passion to be there, fighting the orks and avenging his comrades. Adalen hadn't survived their fight, and Vayden still blamed himself in part for his death.

Corporal Falkon walked up to the pair, and nodded to both when they noticed his arrival. Vayden nearly slapped himself as he remembered his oath to the man, back when he was still tallied among the dead. "Falkon," he began, and drew the corporal's knife. "When you were still with the rogue trader, and we all thought you dead, I took this for myself, and was determined to have it see battle again."

Falkon took the knife from Vayden, saying "Say no more, Vayden. Say no more." Vayden nodded, and their attention was brought back to the battle upon Isos' remark of "that was a big frakking boom over there."

Warboss Narlug stared in dismay as he saw the battle around him. He was sent a message by a weak grot a few hours ago to come and meet the nearby tribes. They said that they wanted to submit to him and greaten the waaagh. Narlug decided that today he would gain substantial recognition among the nearby tribes. He came to the meeting point between the forces with the resources to sustain a small force for enough time to talk. Upon setting up, Narlug prepared to see the small tribes of ork warbosses with their nobz. What he wasn't prepared for, was the combined armies of all the nearby tribes in full force bearing down upon his small warband. Narlug is completely taken off guard, and doesn't know what to do. His forces begin to panic and prepare to face the enemy in small groups as they wake from their sleep from the shouting. Narlug continues to stand with his Nob squad at his side, astonished at what is taking place. The ork tribes quickly mop up what little resistance is left of Narlug's boyz he brought with him and begin to loot all the resources meant to keep his boyz fed, along with all their wartrukks. As Narlug and his retinue fled from this massacre, he recognized that this would set his plans back quite a lot.

Big Mek Galagod sat back admiring his work. He had spent so long constructing his beautiful gargant with his mekboyz. They had scavenged as much material as possible to make this dream real. There was only one problem. It didn't move. For some reason, Galagod could not figure out how to make his machine move. He expressed this anger physically by reaching out to a poor nearby gretchin and killing him. He was going to need some help to make it work. He would have to send a message some time in the near future. For now, it could devastate anything that walked in a specific spot, in a specific distance, in a specific direction. Galagod hoped someone would be foolish enough to walk there. With that thought, Galagod smiled and walked away to try and figure out how to break the news to the boss.

Edward looked at his brother. Fairfax looked at Edward. They both looked at the vox speaker.
"Well." Edward ventured.
"Yes." Fairfax agreed.
"Quite."

"I think we send a couple of shuttles down in the morning. One of us in each, in case of any peculiarity." the lord captain spoke quietly.
Edward knew that his brother was being pragmatic, but the thought chilled him.
"Get that squad of his up here on the return shuttle." he replied.
"Aye, before one of those Marcuses changes their mind." Fairfax raised an eyebrow.
Edward yawned and covered his mouth, "If you'll excuse me, I need to rest. I never sleep well away from home. I need to see the envoys off first, though."
"Goodnight, Eddie." Fairfax smiled.
"Lord Captain."

Watching his brother leave, Reynard stared back at the vox set, perplexed. Eccentric nobles were his day to day fare, but usually they were not in position to cause any real harm. Marcus was one to watch, and watch carefully.

He set off toward his own cabin, he too was weary, but not for the same reasons as his brother.

*

“Ordos Chronos.”
Fairfax paused in the corridor, his hand on the cold metal doorknob of his chamber. He was sure that the corridor had been empty only moments before. his brain caught up with the words, “I’m sorry, what?”

Selka continued, “Ordos Chronos. An obscure, old branch of the Inquisition, set up to deal with warp perils, time distortion, and the issues caused by both. It is said that they even recruited those affected by time displacement to join their ranks. Their reach was endless because it navigated time as well as space.”
The Lord captain turned on the spot to face Selka, his hand still gripping the brass handle.
“And then, just like that,” the commissar snapped his fingers, “they vanished. Never to be seen or heard from by anybody. Covering their tracks as though they never existed.”
“I know who they are, what of them, Garth?”

“Tell me that isn’t who you port around on the Guinea.” the commissar stepped forward, his eyes shaded by the peak of his cap.
“If you wish,” Fairfax shrugged, “have you spoken of this to Edward?”
“Not yet.” Garth furrowed his brow, hidden by the dark.
“And you will not.”

“A threat, Lord Captain?” Selka stepped closer yet, his eyes slightly narrowed, until he was less than a metre from Fairfax.
“No Garth, a fact. You believe that you have nothing to lose, that there is no leverage against you; your family and 'past' untouchable, shielded by time. Yet to these with the right connections, adequate resources, nobody is out of reach,” a small smile crept onto Fairfax’s face, “you have a fingerprint, even if you don’t think it so. A slight regional accent, contaminants in your blood localised to certain regions, particular immunisation combinations, even the wood of that small flask you carry around... and of course serial numbers on your weaponry and ID, even yet unissued, narrow it down to a single planet. Lorindech. From there, you were too arrogant to even hide your family name, thinking yourself and your life safe.”

Selka murmured, “So you would threaten my family instead.”
“Threaten? I do not need to threaten anyone, Garth. I don’t even need to harm anyone. The funny thing about family trees, the smallest nudge, the most incidental of events, and suddenly a whole branch changes, disappears. Replaced by a new one entirely,” Fairfax tilted his head and looked at the commissar, studying his expression, “I wonder, Garth, what that would be like to observe? Would it hurt, suddenly never having been born?”
Selka’s eyes involuntarily widened, as his stomach fell through the floor.

“Or would you and everything you have achieved simply cease to be? Everyone you’ve ever met, loved, forget that you even existed?” Fairfax’s expression was unreadable, “you are not yet a ghost, Garth. No, not even a ghost. A man who was never born cannot possess a soul.”
As ice filled his veins, Selka found himself unable to speak.

“Good night, Commissar.” without looking back, Fairfax turned and stepped through the door into his room, closing it behind him. In the dark, he closed his eyes and lowered his his head, shivering and hating himself for every word he’d just laid upon a man who trusted him.

Outside the door, Garth stumbled unseeing down the corridor, numbed and unable to judge where he was headed. He settled for vomiting the ice in his stomach into a corner. Then, leaning his back on the nearby wall, slid down it until his knees touched his chest, and shook.

“Garth?”
An eternity later, the commissar slowly raised his head, to look up into the face of Captain Dekkal, his young face wrought with concern.
“Garth, are you okay?” he lowered himself and pulled Selka to his feet, carefully, “You look awful.”
“Something disagreed with me.” mumbled Selka.
“I can see that,” Dekkal wrinkled his nose slightly at the nearby mess, “where were you headed?”
“Where are we?” Selka rubbed his eyes.
“H deck, third section, between the private quarters and the canteen.”
“Then that is where I was headed. I’ll be fine.” Garth pulled his arm free of the support Dekkal provided.
Eamon sighed, “For once in your life, stop with the Cat Who Walks By Himself grox dung, and let me see you home at least. Don’t worry, you needn’t talk to me.”

Selka exhaled through his nose, and said nothing, taking Dekkal's upper arm as a support, he allowed himself to be led back toward the barracks.
"Would you rather go to your room, or..?" Eamon asked quietly.
Garth turned his head and furrowed his brow, not following the question.
"I thought you may wish to meet with Seneschal Fairfax, he's due back at any time." the captain prompted gently.
"What're you getting at, lad?" the commissar muttered.
"That I'd rather not leave you on your own like this, and you'd at least listen to him, you stubborn mutt." sighed Dekkal.
"Fine."

*

"Back from taking the strays to their owner? Didn't fancy staying with them, then."
Edward didn't need to look up to see who the unapologetically gruff statement came from. Selka was in the corner of his cabin, programming the small drinks machine for a pair of porcelain recaff mugs. The sight was welcome, if unexpected. Edward had not managed to sleep much on the return journey, his head buzzing with concern for his brother and companions aboard the Sovereign. Finding things calm and mostly unchanged was allowing him to slowly relax.

The seneschal crossed the room and rested his head on the commissar's shoulder from behind, his arm draped lightly over the other, "You'd miss me too much." he purred softly into Garth's ear.
It was worth the loss of two mugs shattered on the floor, to briefly render Selka entirely incapable of speech. There was a near audible sound of his mental gears grinding to a halt.

Edward stepped away, grinning like a cat, and fell back into a soft couch.
"...If anyone else did that, I'd shiv them with these." Garth regained his senses, and bent down to pick up the sharp pieces of porcelain.
"If anyone else did that, I'd encourage you to," Edward tilted his head and continued the mercurial grin, "aren't you going to ask how it went?"
"Assumed you'd fill me in." Selka replied simply. It was a far easier time having a conversation aboard the Sovereign than the double speak and politics he had weathered in the Astra Militarum.
Edward nodded, despite only having a view of Garth's back, "Went well. They hadn't expected survivors. Thought we'd appeared to trade with them!" he laughed softly, "You probably understand better than I do about how much it meant to them to be reunited with their family."
Garth stiffened, visibly, his back still turned, "What makes you say that?"
"Well you've served with at least two regiments."
The commissar stood up, and tossed the gathered pieces into the waste basket, "Commissars are not considered part of the family, Ed." he replied quietly.

"Oh," Edward's grin faded, "I never thought."
"You see me able to speak freely with our lot because they are not true Imperial Guard, they've never had to deal with Commissariat," Selka explained patiently, "and the Histans were pleasant to me because they were grateful to be alive and safe. You'll see how any seasoned troops react down there. Resentful, fearful, sometimes they just pretend I don't exist. That if they don't speak or look at me, I can't see them." He paused, "And that is in many ways better than open hostility, so I go along with it."
"That's dreadful. And it's the case for all Commissariat?" Edward looked up at Garth with a mixture of sympathy and horror.
"Most of us," Selka dropped into the seat next to Edward, "I'm sure there are exceptions." he reached into his jacket and pulled out his carved wooden flask, offering it to Edward.

"Rey told me that you and Eamon briefed the troops, do you think they took it on board?" Edward sipped lightly and returned the drink.
"I think the closer to home they stay, the more alert they'll be. I expect nothing but the best from security detail up here," Garth paused to drink, "but the first sight of sky and skirt, and those on the ground lose their wits entirely."
Edward chuckled, "Ye of little faith."
Selka smiled, "My faith is about the only part of me I'm sure of. It's been a long day. And to cap it off, your brother keeps asking my opinion about trading in toadstools."
"Mushrooms." murmured Edward, resting his head against Selka's shoulder sleepily.
"Not you as well!"
The seneschal shrugged, "It entertains his mind. I think he's fractious to get moving."
"Aren't we all." Garth tipped the flask and drank again, before pocketing it gently.
"Dunno, I've done enough moving for today," Edward closed his eyes, "staying here is pretty nice."
The commissar turned his gaze to look at the seneschal falling asleep against his side and nodded, the ice in his stomach gradually fading. Patting Edward's head gently, he conceded, "Yeah. This is alright," he allowed his own tired eyes to close, "this, I can live with."

------ Julla's surface, in some random overheated patch of desert ------

Flavion ducked back being the dune. They had found a Tau installation, the very one they were tasked to observe, well at least THAT intel was good, the Tallarns had been busy. Scion Flavia ran up to him.

'' Tempestor, we got news, apparently the Tallarns are going to attack this position, and they'll be supported by our boys ''

'' Uh, and since the Tempestor Prime is going to commit troops to this, he'll want more than a section to observe this position, however, they shouldn't be there before a while, or well, they wouldn't if it our ops, but according to the Prime, the Tallarn colonel is really on 'bout this, he's going to press on the assault, I think we'll be the only ones really ''in'' it before whatever it is they send arrives ''

'' Very well, keep two Scions on overwatch, I suppose the volley rifles will have to do, too bad we didn't bring hellshots, the rest will split into two teams of four, we'll circle the base, look for whatever weaknesses either us or the assault force can exploit, we'll do some sabotage if possible, furthermore, keep your monoscopes clear, we'll review the records afterwards and check if there's anything that can help figure out where that commander of them is ''

His squad nodded and split accordingly, every team quickly moved towards their objectives. On their way there, Flavion couldn't help but notice the amount of drones surrounding the facility, something was different about this facility. Flavion ordered his team to an halt and they quickly disapeared behind terrain. Flavion looked for anything that could control such an amount of drones, there were none of the so called Harbinger tanks the Tau would use to control vast amount of drones, no they had to be using something more static, and from what little thing Flavion knew about the Tau, static wasn't really in their tactics. This was all very strange, and very suspicious. He voxed this and quickly got an answer back from the other team, there was another structure with extra equipement attached to it.

'' Vox us your coords, we'll meet you there and form a plan, overwatch, that includes you, things might get hot in there ''

'' Tempestor, we spotted a large suit, quite possibly their commander ''

Flavion swore, he's have to split his team and wouldn't have the optimal firepower. But he couldn't just ignore the fact that his main objective might be right there.

'' Fine, change of plan, Zain, you're a Tallarn, your people have a legendary reputation when it comes to moving around in the desert without being seen, you will move to the overwatch team, and keep track of the Tau commander, stick you m-scope on him at all time, gather as much data as possible ''

'' I will Temepstor ''

And so Section 9 men and women shuffled and regrouped.

'' Oh hey there Tempestor '' opened Flavia

'' Flavia '' Flavion quite enjoyed her company, or maybe the similarity in their name piqued his curiosity '' What can you tell me about this complex ?''

'' Its rather small, it was heavily guarded ''

'' Was? ''

'' Mhmm, 'bout twenty or so of e'm, footsoldiers, and a suit, there's about 6 armed and armored Tau left, no idea what we'll find inside, I am guessing our guardsmen friends were spotted ''

'' Wouldn't suprise me, did you make a comm check with HQ recently? ''

'' Yes, I also reported the sighting of the suit, as well as this, the Tempestor Prime gave us the go if we can figure out a way to do it without being seen ''

'' I suppose this was all fortunate, then '' Flavion turned to his squad '' We'll use stub-shots to kill the guards, hellguns will be too troublesome, too obvious, however as soon as we breach the complex, we'll need them to clear the place as quick as possible, I will place the melta charge myself and detonate once we're far enough, Flavia, try and keep a link with the Prime, if we can detonate the bomb when the Tallarns get there, the Tau might get confused ''

The Scions maglocked their guns on their packs and switched to their stub-shots, heavy caliber silenced pistols, Flavion wasn't sure they could punch through a Tau chestplate, but headshots and joints shots should end up with dead Tau's, at that's what the few tests they could run showerd. The 6 Scions quickly split and took their own path and moved within range of their own targets. Flavia stood behind, as much as the 85th was good at infiltration, the bulky vox clarion would hinder her too much at such close range.

Flavion heard five distinct clicks and six bullets found their mark in the head of six unlucky firewarriors, the six armored shapes quickly stacked at the door. Flavion ordered one of his men to put a small roll of explosive on the door and they quickly breached it. The inside of the Tau building was a little dark compared to the bright sun shinning on the desert. This wasn't much of an issue for the Scions, whose masks would adjust well to the light difference. For the Earth caste workers, it was a different thing altogether, they turned their faces when the door blew in and less than a second after, the blinding light made one of the worker fumble and he struggled to unholster his pulse pistol, a green lasbolt pierced his neck from side to side and he slumped on his chair, one of colleague was riddled with overcharged las-shots setting his clothing on fire, the last one was shot in the back as he tried to rush in another room for help.

'' Two access point, Temepestor '' said the pointman

'' Go get the dead guards outside, drop their corpses in there, no guards is better than corpses, and don't drag e'm, for Emperor's sake '' Flavion tapped his point man shoulder '' You watch the left door, I'll watch the right ''

With the corpses hidden inside the complex, the Scion offensive could resume, the next door didn't really need any explosives, but the Scions threw in nine-bangs, flashbangs that would detonate nine times, before storming in and killing the hapless Earth caste Tau. The assault was swift and brutal, none of the workers were spared. Flavion planted his melta charge on the biggest computer cluster he could find, and ordered his men to put secondary krak grenades on other systems, to ensure complete destruction of the complex. The team quick made its way back to the rest of the section, when a Scion called out on a squad of Fire warriors making its way back to the building they just cleared.

'' Too many of them now, I'll detonate the charge, it'll be to early to sow real confusion in the Tau lines, but knocking out their drone support should do the trick ''

He pressed on the detonator button and the AI bank went up in flames, and in pieces. With that act of sabotage done, the section rejoined Zain and they carried on tracking the movement of the possible Tau commander.


------ Julla's surface, Tallarn lines ------

Gallus had gotten a small report from one of his Tempestor, so far so good, possible location of the Tau leader, disabled AI support, and all of this happened on the base that they were about to assault. He answered back with good news of his own, infiltrated teams of Scions had been able to out run the Tallarns and position themselves favorably in the Tau, disarray was sought, and most of the Tau firepower was aimed at the riders. Gallus didn't exactly enjoy the losses the guardsmen took, better them than Tempestus Scions. Gallus followed the reports he could, things went from bad to worse for the guardsmen, and the Scions had to pull out before they'd get overwhelmed and surrounded.

Losses were light so far, if it wasn't for the failure of the guards, they might've even been able to strike at the high ranked Tau officer his infiltrated squad spotted. He followed the flow of battle from his Taurox Prime, following the green bolts of his men cutting down the Tau as they made their way back to the Valkyries. A Scion jumped in the Taurox and started talking to Gallus, but he interrupted him with a movement of the hand, and points at his vox clarion, the Scion nodded and sat in the passenger compartement, waiting for his turn.

'' Tempestor Prime, this Scion Flavia, 9th section, I have the regret to announce you that Tempestor Secundus Maris is dead, the tau we flagged litteraly ripped his head off ''

'' Acknowledged '' said Gallus and he turned to the Scion

'' Sir, I've come to report that Tempestor Secundus Maris ha- ''

'' Been killed in battle '' Gallus tapped his communication gear '' I know, do you know if he had family back on the ship? ''

'' None that I know sir ''

'' Well at least I won't have to deal with that unpleasantness ''

Another message went through the vox net, apparently, the Colonel of the Tallarn 97th was also wounded, and rather badly, the guardsmen were pulling back as well

'' Well at least for now, we're in agreement, go back to your squad, Scion, driver, move out ''


----- Julla's surface, another random overheated patch of desert ------

'' They're pulling out, ser- Tempestor, sorry '' said Zain, the recently qualified Scion struggled a bit with the newer ranks, most of them did, after all, switching to an entire new rank structure could only cause confusion.

'' They are, so are we, we'll rotate ops to keep an eye on the commander, the rest of us will transmit what our monoscopes recorded today to the chain of command, they'll want as much information as well possible, Zain, you're the first off duty, you probably have the most intel and the recording of Maris death, too '' Flayion pointed at two men in his squad '' You're first, six hours shifts, I need both of you awake, try and get different angles, too, the rest of you, move out ''

For the Last three days Nox and his replacement Honork guard rode furiously looking for any trace of Eldar swine. Much to the ork’s dismay they had come up empty, they didn’t find the slightest trace of their prey anywhere. The non-stop riding without anything to kill began to takes its toll on the orks, so Nox elected to stop near a burned out building.

TukGrin on of Nox’s new elite spoke “Boss we’ve been searching for knife ears fer dayz now, you sure dat it wuz Eldar dat jumped you and yer ladz.” Nox growled “It were Eldar just ask Krusha.” TukGrin looked over to the dok “You see any Eldar?” The dok spoke quickly “Yes, well technically no, but if da boss says it were Eldar, than it were Eldar.” TukGrin spat “So you didn’t see no Eldar, and none of da other gitz dat were with you dat day say dey saw any Eldar.” Nox growled “I’m telling you it wuz Eldar, and it aint yer place to tell me what did or didn’t appen.” The defiant ork growled “I fink it iz my place, your only warboss cuz you got dat nice shiny bike of yers, well If I had dem wheelz den I would be da new WarRida!” Dok Krusha shouted at TukGrin “Shut yer dirty zoggin Gob, don’t nobody speak to my Boss like dat.” TukGrin punched the painboy and three of his fellow nobz moved to restrain him, but Nox spoke “No, don’t he thinks he can be boss, let him try.”

The Nobz released TukGrin and the rebellious ork laughed as he drew his choppa “Yer gonna zoggin regret dat.” Nox drew his glaive and growled “I only regret I let a two faced Butt Squig like yerself into my Honork guard.” The two charged at one and other. Blade met blade, sparks flew blows were blocked dodged and parried. The duel lasted for near twenty minutes before Nox gained the advantage when he deflected the rebel’s strike and with the butt of his spear stunned his foe. With the head of the bladed staff Nox ran the ork through. Nox spun behind the ork grabbed hid weapon and pulled it through the ork as he fell over dead.

Nox look to those who should be his most loyal and barked “I AM NOX, DA GREAT AND MIGHTY WARP-RIDA. AND DON’T FINK FER A ZOGGIN SECOND DAT ANY OF YOU CAN STEP TO ME.” Nox looked to his stunned guard Dok Krusha spoke up “We’re wif you Boss.” Nox growled “Good, now mount up, we got some Eldar to find.”

Gadnuk stood over the corpse of the former Noise Marine. He had been one of the dozen that was ruler of the planet. Gadnuk wiped a bead of blood from his brow. Gadnuk was haggered he spent the last three days hunting gitz that called themselves champions of Slaanesh. Gadnuk looked over to Bleeda and spoke “How many more we got left.” Bleeda spoke “Wif diz git Hemlock, we only got seven more gitz to go.” Gadnuk groaned exhausted, the last few days had indeed been exciting, but they were strenuous, while an ork can not tire from battle, he can feel its fatigue “Feelz like I’ve killed every every purple git on dis world.” Bleeda laughed “Iz dat a complaint from da great Gadnuk Eadwoppa?” The nob laughed “I reckon it iz, next thing you know I’ll be whining more den Squeeza.” The orks laughed but were cut short by a blast of green smoke.

The Doof appeared before the commando mob and shouted startling the commandos, “We gotta go now!” Gadnuk punched the doof instinctually, “Zog me Doof, you can’t just come popping up like dat.”Bleeda helped the Shaman to his feet, the doof spoke ignoring his bloody nose “We gotta get off world like yesterday, where’s Nox?” Gadnuk spoke with confusion “He’s out hunting Eldar, why?!” The ork shouted “No time to explain.” The ork plucked at his guitar and all the orks were teleported out of the room.

Julius stood silently on the hill overlooking the valley. The meeting with the nobility had not gone well. Not at all. While Julius had not been there for the beginning part of the meeting, being otherwise engaged in checking in on his wounded brethren, but the nobles had been most reluctant to provide any information to the Imperial forces, citing the disastrous landing on the planet as cause enough to doubt their skill at arms. The very thought of that made Julius' blood boil. Far too many good men had died already on this planet, both Astartes and human, and for those puffed up arrogant nobles to refuse to aid His servants was bordering on treason. Julius had forced himself to take a long breath as the memory threatened to overwhelm him. The nobles hadn't been much more helpful after Julius' arrival, only one of them was enough in control of himself in the presence of an Astartes to offer any information at all, and what little information they did receive had turned out to be useless. And more of his brothers had fallen thanks to that. This time it was some of the company's newest members, their scouts. The pict-captures received of the Orks maiming and killing his young brothers had burned itself into his memory. After he had received that report Julius had been very tempted to march back into the noble's palace and execute them all for treason against the Emperor, and only the council of Colonel Detta had stayed his hand. He would get justice for his fallen brothers, but now was not the time to take his vengeance. If any of the accused were Astartes it would be a relatively simple matter, an honour duel to determine who was in the right. But since they were not Astartes, but humans, Julius could do little more than stew for some time.

He had been jolted out of his reverie when the vox network suddenly crackled to life. The fleet in orbit had contacts approaching the planet! At first the reports were garbled and confused, with many of the captains in orbit all vying for attention on the network. But after some time the truth had come out. More Orks were on their way to Novus Regulus, and this was no small WAAAAAGH that was coming. The Ork vessel had launched crude drop pods by the hundreds towards the planet, and although many had been destroyed by lethally accurate fire from the navy vessels in orbit, there had been far too many to stop, and long-range patrols had indicated that the new Warboss on the planet was already in the process of bringing the feral Orks under his rule. It was too late to stop the Orks from landing, but Julius would be damned if he let the Orks take this world from him, despite it's faults, it was an Imperial world, and the Ultramarines would not back down. Not this time.

For what felt like endless hours, Zombaz crew waited for the sun blasta to arrive at it's destination. "A thouvand mer 'ourz. Or so." said Kaptin Rushskul. There was infighting, death, mutiny, coups, more infighting, drunken brawls, and then there were the difficult Orks! About half way through the voyage they almost ran out of foodstuffs, and everyone was put on half rations, much to their chagrin. Luckily all the killing had released the spores for new squigs to be born, unfortunately Zombaz waaagh! went from ~8,000 orks to a mere ~7,500. This made the Wierdboss uncharacteristically strict. But the biggest event of their voyage happened nearer to the end; it might have been the start to one of Zombaz bigger adventures.

Zombaz Ug and Snivvle kept an eye on the bridge. Well, Zombaz did, Snivvle was just their to make sure Zombaz didn't go into a trance their in front of his underlings, intending to drag Zombaz out if it seemed he was about to.

"OW!!" moaned Zombaz, clutching his head and wobbling his knees. "What? What iz id?!" cried Snivvle, concerned about his boss. Kaptin Rushskul and the bridge crew turned to the wierdboss to see what was the matter. Zombaz just winced. "Boss, whatz goin' on?!" Snivvle pressed.

"-Dere 'ere." gasped Zombaz, out of breath. "Derez somefin' on da ship. Kaptin, sound da alarm 'n' bring up da inturior gitfinda's." He ordered. Rushskul did, and indeed, the interior Gitfinda maps showed hundreds upon hundreds of intruders storming every corner of the Sun Blasta. "Chaof ladz! Id can only be!" cried Rushskul. Emergency alarms fired and Boys went to arms on all portions of the ship. Turning around, Zombaz saw them, galloping down the tubular hall into the bridge; dozens of massive, inconceivably horrifying warp monstrosities, Like unholy animals welded together into savage beasts. The Orks cried Waaagh! and Zombaz unleashed the energy of the room into a rushing force magnetized to the heads - if you can call them that - of the enemy. They would explode into bursts of other-worldly energy as the Orks fired their shootas into the monsters. But the beasts did not stop to mere bullets. Snivvle ran to the back of the room in cowardice as Rushskul released a tankbusta bomb into one of the foaming, gibbering mouths of the daemons, vaporizing it.

But it was not enough. Five, ten, fifteen more warp-things entered the room. Bullets barely slowed them. Grenades they barely had. and Zombaz could never kill them fast enough. Zombaz backed up off the edge of the entrance platform unto the exposed wires. Knowing his efforts were pointless, he just lied their watching his boys literally having the limbs torn off, but not being slain. No, Killing them quickly was far too easy a way to go. The beasts grabbed the Orks, and torn them to pieces, firing burning needles into them until they then die.

All was lost. The Waaagh was ending. But then, the brightest light filled the room. Blindingly powerful lights streamed into the bridge and the beasts burst into white flames and melted. When the daemons were gone, Moganog stood over the ledge, peering down at Zombaz, a wide maniacal grin spread across his face, and he was surrounded by Snazz-gun wielding Flashgits. "Come on boss, We'ze gots more o' dem Chaof fingies ta fry! ...boss?" Zombaz stood and came up to the entrance, where Moganog, many flashgits, and a wierdboy stood. Zombaz ordered the wierdboy and one of the flashgits to stay on the bridge and protect it. Then he and Moganog and his boys went out hunting for Warp-fiends.

But they found more than they bargained for.

"Dis is da last corridor, we'z almost got 'em all!" Moganog said excitedly. "See, boss? dis was good, weren't id?" nursed Snivvle to Zombaz, who showed no signs of enjoyment from the fight, a depressing effect of his illness. Fingering the control panel and pulling a lever, Moganog opened the blast doors to the Launch bay corridor of the ship. It was all too silent. "Dere id nuffin' 'ere." stated Zombaz. "Dat'z funny, Dere's atleast one er two in 'ere..." said moganog, who was frustrated and creeped out. This is the point in all the Runtherd stories that the monster jumps out and eats you. The silence was broken by laughter, not the cackle most creatures in this galaxy bare, but a soft, disconcertingly conforting giggle like that of a young mother. "Idz a Humie!" Cried Snivvle, as they charged down the hall and turned a corner.

Before them was, not a human, but a woman-bodied Warp-daemon, made out of impossibly pure diamond-like crystal. She stood taller then any warboss, and held two giant weapons in her hands; a Battleaxe and a Broadsword, also made out of the crystal material.

Zombaz tried to harness the waagh energy in the air, But something was wrong; the Room was still. No energy filled it. And when Zombaz looked over, he saw why; The others were hopelessly entranced with the she-creature. While Orks do not possess reproductive instincts, but they can become attached to things.

The creature spoke, in a smooth, silk-like voice; "They are not going to attack me, Ork. No one ever does. And yet, You seemed to have no problem with it, and I can see why..."

"What doez ya mean?"

"I see what's wrong with you. You can't feel emotions, and perhaps fall into spells where you do not even think, for a reason." she paused "You should not attack me, though, your soldiers will kill you."

"Doez you wants us to?!" Cried Snivvle. "No, not yet. It's rude to kill before the conversation is over." she taunted "Since you can't kill me, but I could easily kill you, I think it's in your best interest to put aside you petty differences with me, and make a deal. You do me a favor, and I tell you how to be cured."

Moganog gushed, drooling a bit "You iz so nice, boss!" Zombaz responded; "I iz not say nuffin'." which what met with an immediate punch in the face. "I WAS GOB'N' TA HER, YA ZOG!" Moganog cried. the creature put forth her hand, and Moganog was serene again.

"What do you say? Truce?" she asked Zombaz, whose mind was racing, realizing how bad his situation was. "Yes. What da favor?" was his final, though belaboured, response.

the She-chaos then explained the favor "I had a ...husband, you could say. We are enulling our contract, and he hasn't taken it well. The humans call him 'The Ifrit', and he has taken to hiding from me in your dimension. I need you to kill him for me, sending him back to the warp, where I will deal with him. Once you do this, I will find you and tell you how to cure your illness. Deal?"

"...Deal." Zombaz responded, and finally she introduced herself. "I am Ezsyrene, by the way, It's good to meet you, Ork." At that, she disappeared.

Sylus stood before Ryus in his observatory with Annala flanking on the right. They were called to the observatory before they could remove their Hassassin garb. Ryus had not been pleased with the fact that Sylus had sent that girl into combat, especially into a leadership position. Does he not know the ancient teaching of Kattifrakk? There is a reason the Auxilia are all male. He shook his head.

"Sylus, why did you send this priestess into battle with my Hassassins?" Ryus inquired, his voice laced with agitation.

"Field training, my Lord. After the incident on Julla-" Sylus began before Ryus held up his hand for silence.

"Which incident, Sylus? The one where you had forbidden relations with this girl or the incident where your tactical blunder ended in the loss of her legs?"

"My Lord, I-," Sylus started before he was cut off again.

"Girl? I am hardly a girl, Chapter Master," Annala interjected, clearly annoyed by Ryus' choice of words.

"State your age in Terran standard."

"Thirty four years in one month, Chapter Master. What is your age in Terran standard?"

"That information is classified-" Ryus began before Sylus cut him off. Ryus made a mental note to amend debate rules to exclude arbitrary interjections.

"He is 189 years Terran Standard, but that has nothing to do with this conversation. I suggest you state your purpose, Chapter Master."

"I am saying that it is against our teachings to have her go into battle. She is not an Astartes or an Auxilia, nor can she be either."

"The Hassassins commended her on her leadership, Ryus. She is perfect apt to lead."

Ryus slammed his fist into the arm on his throne, "It is against the New Order to have her in combat! We never send the Sororitas into battle, they don't complain."

"I have talked with the other Judges in a private panel. All of them agree the ancient laws of Kattifrakk are somewhat outdated. Annala has shown herself worthy of combat and thus it is not unlikely more can do what she can."

Ryus rubbed his temples and turned his throne to face the void. His eyes idly locked onto the doomed world of Gondorf's Passage. Order to the Chaos, he murmured, Order to the Chaos so that others may see the Truth. The Truth is their Light. Their Light comes from the Stars for the Moon wanes in its Light. We are the Stars...

"Fine, you have your wish, Ajax. You may train one regiment of women for the Auxilia. Annala shall command the regiment. I care not what they specialize in," Ryus said, agitation still evident.

"My Lord, I said nothing about a regiment-"

"You didn't say it, no. I did and now that is your duty... Know that I only considered this because your experience goes far beyond my own."

"Indeed it does, Chapter Master," Sylus said, turning to the door. Annala stood for a moment trying to grasp exactly what the Chapter Master just detailed her to before following Sylus out the door. They were hit by a blast of hot air and both undid their head wraps to keep themselves from overheating. Sylus looked over at Annala, who was clearly distraught by the meeting. Annala looked at the ground for a while then started down the hallway. Sylus started after her and gently grabbed her arm. She shook it loose and kept walking. Sylus followed at a distance until they got to Sylus' temporary quarters. She slipped inside like a mouse. Sylus approached the door, but decided not to enter. He sat next to the door and waited. It didn't take long before his serf came out to check on what he was doing. Seeing he was in deep thought, the serf sat next to him and waited patiently. After a few hours, Sylus opened up.

"Did she say anything to you?"

The serf shrugged, "She was upset that she was being put into a indefinitely permanent combat role. You should go talk to her."

"As if I had emotion? Its hard to connect with her when she is upset..."

"Sometimes I forget you were heartless, my Lord, but in all honesty, she needs emotional support and you are the only one she can get it from."

Sylus stared at the serf for a moment to reassure himself that she was not toying with him. Seeing no belligerence in her demeanor, he stood up and walked inside. His room was far from the spartan lifestyle his brothers lived in. A stack of ancient texts sat atop a table in the middle of the room along with various dataslates of mission briefings. Sharp, smokey incense burned beneath a small effigy of the God-Emperor on one wall and a great mural decorated another. He moved into the adjacent room where his bed was located. Annala was curled in a fetal position beneath the covers.

"I never wanted to fight..." she said in a half whimper, half sob. Sylus walked over and sat next to her and put his hand on her head.

"None of us do, but the God-Emperor have called us to do it and we must listen. To ignore him is a disgrace upon the chapter."

"You heard the Chapter Master. He said I am to command a brand new regiment. I am not ready for that kind of responsibility."

"Not ready? You are a priest of the God-Emperor and a natural born leader. There is no soul better equipped than you."

"You really mean that?" Annala asked, wiping her eyes.

"Yes, I am not lying," Sylus responded softly, drawing the priestess closer.

Annala put her head in his lap and closed her eyes. Sylus sat there for a few moments before Annala rolled over to look up at him.

"You know. You never said how old you were..." she stated matter-of-factly. She held a hand up to touch his bearded face. "My guess would be 100 years if I know Astartes ages right..."

"I am 400 years, give or take a decade or two," he chuckled. His laughter only stopped when he realized Annala had fainted.

Archarus' mood was lifted to see the large array of guards standing around the shuttle as it slid open. Obviously they didn't want the orks coming back for a second helping of froststeel. The Warsmith bit back on his bloodlust, and let his crew carry on with the plan. For now, they would play along and act like the original crew would have.

One man, Mordrey, if Archarus' memory served him correctly, was speaking to the guards, and pointing to some data slate he had looted off of the command center. "We need to relocate the froststeel. It is not safe here."

The captain of the guard laughed. "Not safe here? Where can you possibly move it to be safer than here? Tell me, fly boy."

"That- that is classified. Only the command know. Crusade orders." Mordrey quickly said, trying to come up with an excuse to shut the man up. The captain wasn't having any of it, and shoved passed the man, his suspicion ruling out any other feeling. Several other guards formed up on him without a word, and he lead them onto the shuttle.

Archarus waited for them to be within arms' reach before stepping out from behind his cover and grabbing the captain by the throat. In his other hand, he fired his storm bolter into the rest of his squad, gunning them down while they still cried out in fright. The Warsmith crushed the captain's throat, and threw his body across the room, and it landed with a thump behind several crates.

The rest of the guards opened fire, and several shots made Mordrey cry out and fall to the ground. Archarus stepped outside of the shuttle, while still firing at the guards. The rest of his own astartes also stepped from where they hid, and the remaining loyalists stood no chance at the sudden onslaught against them.

As the last body keeled over, Archarus gave the order and everyone fanned out, hauling as many crates and packages of froststeel onto the ship as they could. Before long a second squad of guardsmen, this one much more prepared, arrived to check in on their expired comrades. By then they had already stocked up on a large amount of froststeel, and the Warsmith didn't see the need for sticking around much longer. However, he deemed it necessary to give the Cadians one last parting gift, as a reminder to Captain Grey.

The Warsmith bore down on the squad, who despite everything remained in order, and made short work of them in hand to hand combat. Each Cadians' chest had been ripped open, leaving a gory display of their insides, a sick tribute to the slayer of Keb'hal, no matter how temporary of a death it was to the daemon.

As the Warsmith made his way back to the shuttle, a minor army poured through the doors, all firing at the trading ship in the hopes of hitting its crew. One growl from Archarus, and several decently armed soldiers stepped out of the ship, firing grenade launchers and lasguns at the Cadians. They knew it would be better to die for Archarus, than to die by Archarus.

As the Iron Warriors began to take off, his distraction force faced annihilation at the much better trained loyalists pitted against them. As the ship flew clear of the port, Archarus saw several fighter class ships sail towards them, preparing to fire at his vessel. There wasn't enough time for their sluggish ship to do more than lean slightly to avoid the missiles, which came as no surprise when they tore a hole into one compartment of the ship, causing several men and hundreds of pounds of froststeel to plummet out of the gaping wound before a containment breach device kicked in, sealing off the ship's injury.

Luckily for Archarus, his ship was still spaceworthy, and his attackers couldn't leave orbit. Not in their current fighters. So, with several sharply worded threats towards his pilots, they escaped the Imperials' grasp, taking with them a large collection of froststeel, and one of their own ships.

Overall, the losses were outweighed by his new profit. Now it was time for him to return to Fahren, and make sure Vorhees was able to keep the planet running in the Warsmith's extended absence.

The Fleet gathered near the ruins of Kagrenz dozens of ships gathered here making ready to venture out into the pits of hell, where their foe slept and bred.

Pavus stood at the bridge of the Wrath of Faust, the bridge’s main screen held dual images. Pavus was hosting a video conference between himself and the two Astarte commanders. On the left half of the screen was Acting Captain Hadris Aurelius he held his helm at his side and gripped his holstered blade tightly. Aurelius gave Lord Pavus a cold stare and paid him an unfriendly scowl. The Ultramarine detested the man whole heartedly, but he would need to put his bitter hatred aside, the Tyranids had once reeked havoc across his home he would not let them take another world from the Ultramarines not on his watch. On the Right half of the screen was the yellow armored Captain Mercutio Ramius of the 3rd company of Imperial fists. His expression was not as severe as Aurelius’s it resembled something akin to eagerness or cockiness if Astartes were capable of such emotions. His face had an unquestionable roguishness to it. Pavus knew very little of the angel aside from his rank, though he had a reputation of being a tad arrogant. But all astartes are a tad arrogant. Pavus was actually quite surprised the Fists offered to join in the expeditionary forces, but the Lord Governor would not reject the much needed assistance.

Pavus spoke to the video conference attempting to sound humble before the two marines, “My Lords, you humble me with your presence we seem to be the only ones in this crusade wise enough to deal with the Hybrid threat.” Aurelius replied “Make no mistake Pavus we are not here to advance your career. You are a heretic and you will be judged for your actions when the time comes.” Pavus sighed “For the eleventh time I had nothing to do with the attempted murder on Lord General Zonand.” Aurelius growled “Cease your lies cur we have proof you were involved.” Pavus began to anger “You know what I think Acting-Captain, I think you are Kruger’s lap-dog and you made up these supposed xeno assassins in some poor attempt to frame me.” Aurelius gritted his teeth “You dare call a son of Guilliman a liar.” Pavus was about to speak but Captain Mercutio interrupted “While I personally would love to sit here all day and listen to you both, I do believe we have xenos that require killing.” Aurelius calmed “You are right brother we must save this for another day.” Pavus bowed to the fist and spoke “Thank you Lord Ramius, as I was getting to we have the bulk of expeditionary force Righteous Spear assembled. We only wait on a few more late arrivals.” Mercutio asked “Who do we await?” Pavus smiled “I’d prefer to keep that a surprise for now, Regardless we are mobile in forty-eight hours make sure your vessels are combat ready we do not know what resistance we might face. That is all.” Mercutio made the sigh of the Aquilla, Aurelius and Pavus returned the salute. The conference feed was ended.

Pavus looked over to Braddock “accompany me to my quarters.”

Pavus entered his state room and cursed to himself as he poured himself a drink, “Who does that damn blighter Aurelius think he is. This would have been so much simpler if he had just stayed dead.” The Hound stood silently letting his Lord vent. Pavus snarled after a glug of expensive brandy “If that pile of Gak Kassani is wrong about the hybrids I lose all hope of swaying the other commanders.” Captain Braddock spoke reassuringly “The Hybrids will be slain then the others will fall into line.” Pavus threw his glass against a wall “I tire of trying to convince these yokels that I should lead them, they will bow to me or I will make them bow.” The Lord Governor looked out his window and saw the fragments of Kagrenz. “They destroy that which should be mine. I will not have it.”

Captain Mercutio examined the dueling drone’s movement, it dull blade made a slashing move at the captain which he easily blocked, but a second mechanical arm came swooping towards his head forcing him to duck. The initial blade came for another blow but the captain dodged it and with a quick strike severed the machine at its joint. The second arm made another pass at the captain the marine parried the blade deactivating the machine and ending his sparing session. Mercutio heard a familiar voice come from behind him.

“Taking a break from Bolter drills to work on your swordsmanship Marco.” The Captain wiped a bead of sweat away from his brow and laughed as he looked over to apothecary Hector “The codex states we should be equally adept with both bolter and sword, or something to that effect.” The apothecary grinned “don’t say that around an Ultramarine they'll recite the whole damn thing to you.” The two laughed, they had been good friends even before they were inducted into the chapter. Back on Necromunda they were nothing but a pair of scab ridden duct rat kids robbing ganger scum for all they had almost two centuries later they were champions of the immortal god emperor, fate is funny like that. The apothecary tossed the captain a data-pad “Our friend has arrived.” Mercutio grinned as he read the pad “Well I’ll be damned, how did that bastard Pavus manage that.”

The small ship slipped out of warp thousands of miles away from the rest of Strike Force Righteous Spear, its cargo two free blade Imperial Knights.

Pavus stood at the bridge of the Wrath of Faust he eagerly awaited the nearing ship to respond to his hail, and then the image of a man and a woman entered the screen. Pavus smiled “Ahh, you must be knights Alistair and Cassandra. It is nice to put faces to the names.” The woman free blade spoke “Lord Pavus, your offer was most generous. We are grateful for your patronage.” The man spoke “Its an honor my lord.” Pavus spoke “No, the honor is mine I can assure you. Please dock with us so we may speak in person.” Cassandra spoke “Aye lord pavus we are moving into docking pattern.”

Narlug sat there in anger. Nothing has been going to plan. He has tried to unite da orks on this blasted planet, but nothing seemed to work. His gargant fails to move( which would have brought a new big mek leading his mekboyz if Narlug didn't like Galagod as much as he did), the feral orks band up against him, and no boyz wanted to join him. If only the today's idea had worked.

[Earlier that day]

"FIRE DA DAKKA!" Narlug shouted to the Gargant pilots.
The distant sound of movement was heard from within the Gargant. Moments later a massive boom echoed throughout the nearby land. The sound must have been heard for miles. All the nearby orks heard it. Narlug sat there smug while he watched the distant blossom of the round detonating far away.
"What do da nearby klans dink of dat huh!" Narlug asked to nobody in particular.

Narlug waited for his boyz to come back from their patrols of the nearby tribes to see if they would join. The patrols gathered and sent one representative up to tell Narlug the "joyous" news.

"So, what do they dink? Are all da tribes joining?"
"Uh, boss...uh yah see... da nearby tribes... dey uh..." the ork said.
"Well spit it out will ya? I ain't got all day." Narlug responded.
"Da nearby tribes are runnin boss. Dey fear da wrath of Gork and Mork for dat is what dey think dey heard." the ork fearfully replied.
He was right to be fearful. With that said Narlug took out his power claws and chopped the poor lad to pieces. None of the greenskin was left once Narlug finished releasing his rage. The other orks in the patrol all released a sigh of relief once he was done, as it wasn't them there.

With that being done, Narlug proceeded to go to his quarters and think of what to do next. All the tribes leaving had meant he was more vulnerable than he wanted to be. He would have to figure out another way to get the feral orks under him. There had to be a way.

Karak was mildly frustrated, In the end after the assault all the maps, intel and information was worthless gak scribbles for all it mattered. Raving Lunatics the lot of them and there writings where just as sane. "Sgt Tangir, the Captives you said where on the planet caught near the target location, what's the details. "Marshall Chaplain Vargos on the ground reports that they found nothing but where they where, still suspiciously close to the rebels and one was reported as being a mutant. Arm was just not human sir. " Karak growled in reply, "Liquidate them, but quietly and with discretion, add them to the mounds of the pyres at the plantation, people go missing and no one notices. Korpsmen, Keep the PDF out this one. "

Marshall Karak turned back to the viewer, " Gun plot, what was that" The reply was swift "Ork, cruiser class, Breaking off and jumping to warp via emergency drives. " "Damn, they have sense we could of reduced them to scrap in minutes if they got closer, Vector plot, any known direction" "negative Sir, too much interference from the piece of junk engines. " "Inform Vargos, when the jobs done on planet i want him to ready Divine Light and a strike force to deal with them when we locate them. Send Reaper too, he needs a propper war and i only have so many training servitors aboard ship. "

With that Marshall Karak looked down in thought on the world below. It was a tough mushroom to crack, but every world had a weakness, he just needed to find it.

****
On the Mess deck cadet Alenko was sat eating Lunch in the Officers lounge, a new mushroom recipe found on the planet was proving quite the hit with those of Fausteen or Cadian descent but the Catchans and Korps where finding it rather unpalatable. No one could please everyone, not even the Templers serfs. Col Iron tooth prodded the bowl and decided against it. "No, how do you Fausteens eat that stuff?" "How do you eat those steaks with respect sir, the last one might have been eating the chips" Laughing, Col Iron Tooth had seen the cadet gain alot of confidence in recent weeks, "You fausteens serve them like boot leather, Ive already had boot leather, it aint nice stuff" Commisar Shepard walked in and put his hat and coat on the rack as protocol required, "Steak, do you even cook steak Iron Tooth, don't see what your lads dislike, bar maybe cooking meat" "Everyone's a critic today, I have a meeting to chair, Good day gentlemen, il have to show you what real meat next time we go hunting down planet side"

****
In a converted cargo bay Knight Captain Petra was sat watching the Knight do various exercises and horsemanship drills, She was good, very good or the fact she was rushed off Faust after passing only the most basic levels of training for a rank of Knight. No, she would train this one herself, Despite being banned from combat by the medicare she was not one to sit reading and with her feet up all day. "Drill Omega, Delta then Sigma, GO"

She was good, her swordsmanship was slightly sub par but nothing too jarring that could not be rectified and the Lance drill was excellent. "Knight Maria, come over here" "Yes Knight captain, i did not fail you?" Smiling, Petra replied, "Not at all, your skills have some issues but none i cannot fix in time with good training, Im going to train you personally, The rest of the crew think im some form of invalid it seems, but we's show them wrong, " "aye mam, we shall"

Scout Devan observed the Ork fort with a grimace on his face. After learning of these new arrivals Julius had immediately ordered his Scouts to go out into the field to get some information on these Orks. The Ultramarines and their Histan allies were planning a strike on this new Warboss to try and blunt his WAAAAAGH! before it could take off. If they could keep him from working up momentum then his Crusade would die out to infighting. It was a matter of determining where to apply pressure. Devan had been ordered to observe the Ork's base of operations and learn all that he could before reporting back, and as he began another sweep through the fort with his sniper rifle he observed something interesting. Towards the back of the fort there was a flurry of activity surrounding one of the buildings. Interested, Devan continued to train his scope on the scene. Several Ork Meks were yelling at each other and gesturing into the darkness of the building behind them. At first Devan could not see what they were arguing about, but then the massive doors to the building swung open and the Scout saw just what they were fighting over. With a rising horror he observed the Ork Gargant that was under construction. The warmachine was easily as large as a Warhound Titan, if not larger. Thankfully, it was very clear that it wouldn't be going anywhere for a while, as it's leg assembly had been opened up and was currently being tinkered on by some Gretchin. That wasn't what drew the Scout's attention though. He observed as the massive machine raises one of it's weapons and let loose with a barrage of fire that shook the earth for miles around. Devan didn't understand the reason behind the display until he saw a particularly large Ork yelling and gesturing at both the Gargant and a small group of Feral Orks who were currentely cowering away from it. Then it hit the Scout, the new Warboss was still struggling to bring the feral Orks to heel, so he was now trying for a display of might to cow them. It might have been admirable, if it had been anything but an Ork trying to do it. Sighing, the Scout marked the Gargant's location on his data pad and transmitted it back to Command. Just as he finished transmitting the data out of the corner of his eye he detected something large moving in the camp.

Immediately snapping back into combat-readiness Devan raised his sniper rifle once more and trained it on the new arrival. There were no words to describe the Ork other than massive. The new Ork towered above even the largest Nobz that were arrayed around him, and he had a crackling power klaw on each of his hands. The Ork's armor appeared to be a mishmash of plates that were bolted or strapped onto his massive form. A jagged scar on his face completed the hellish visage of the Ork. With a start Devan realized that this must be their Warboss, Narlug. Devan immediately raised Captain Julius on the vox to ask for orders. HE had been ordered merely to observe the Ork encampment and mark important items and locations on it, but if he could shatter the Warboss's power here it could spell the end for the WAAAGH! Immediately after he informed Julius of the situation he received the green light to take a shot at the Ork Warboss. Being sure to control his breathing Devan centered his crosshairs on the back of the Ork's ugly head. Then he pulled the trigger. Much to his surprise, the powerful round was deflected just short of the Ork, and with a grimace Devan realized that Narlug must have had some sort of force field on his person. The kintetic force of the round still made the massive Ork stagger forward as it slammed into his force field. By the time the Warboss whirled around to search for the source of the shot Devan had already disappeared back into the forest. His brothers had to be informed of the situation, they wouldn't have long before the Orks were ready to move out.

The ships that made up Righteous Spear sailed proudly through star illuminated galactic twilight that was Hybrid space. The hours began to pass by, every crewman on high alert remaining ever vigilant, but the void was quite unnaturally so. The seasoned Voidsmen felt there was an absence, they couldn’t place their finger on what was wrong or what was missing but their voyage felt completely unnatural, most of the captains dismissed this as simple nerves, but they could not deny how bizarrely they all felt.

Pavus stood sat in the Wrath of Faust’s command throne, ordering the ship’s captain to stand. The Governor wore his power armor, not for protection but for the inevitable photos that would be taken when he claimed victory against the foul xenos. At Pavus’s right stood his hound Captain Braddock, at his left his advisor Captain Kassani. Pavus spoke to the bridge navigator “How long before we reach Nemessa?” The man replied “ETA nineteen hours, the Warp is unnaturally calm my lord.” Pavus smiled “A good omen.” Kassani spoke grimly “Perhaps not my lord.” Pavus questioned “Oh why not?” The ship’s astropath answered the question “We know very little about the tyranid’s relationship to the warp my lord, many theorize that they are actually not affected by it and when they amass in great numbers they may actually dampen it. Though this affect is known to occur when they are in close proximity never at this great a range.” The hound spoke astound “A shadow in the Warp.” The psyker spoke concerned “However large we expected this horde to be, it is larger by ten fold.” Pavus forced a smile to lighten the grim news “Fear not our plan will succeed and our foes numbers will be meaningless.”

Acting Captain Aurelius kneeled before a shrine to emperor. The marine rested his forehead against the pommel of his paragon blade his eyes shut he recited quietly “When there was darkness Emperor you gave us light. When there was decay Emperor you gave us life, and when there was death Emperor…” a voice spoke surprising Aurelius “You gave us vengeance.” Aurelius opened his eyes he was no longer in his ship’s cathedral but someplace strange. The walls were a disgusting organic white substance that moved as if it were alive. Aurelius turned behind him and saw nothing. He returned his gaze to its original position to see that all too familiar figure. The Sorcerer spoke approaching the Ultramarine “Its been too long Aurelius.” Aurelius drew his blade and spoke “No, be gone, I want nothing to do with you.” The Sorcerer laughed as he raised his staff the Paragon blade turned to dust in the captain’s hand “Is that any way to greet an old friend.” Aurelius charged the sorcerer striking at him with empty fist “We are not friends, you are foul warp scum.” The Sorcerer easily dodged the blow laughing “Is that fear I smell on you Aurelius.” Aurelius shouted striking at the sorcerer again “I know no fear, for I walk in the Emperor’s light.” The sorcerer again dodged the blow and hit Aurelius with a telekinetic blast sending him to his back. Aurelius attempted to rise to his feet but the sorcerer placed his staff on his plate pinning him to the ground “Lie to yourself if you wish, but please don’t lie to me Captain.” Aurelius shouted “Whatever you want from me I will not give it to you.” The sorcerer spoke “How long will it be before you finally learn that I am trying to help you.” Aurelius struggled to free himself but the sorcerer just put more pressure on the staff causing Aurelius to grunt in pain, the sorcerer spoke “Listen well Aurelius, you are on a path for greatness and the first steps of this journey are already done.” Aurelius spat “ I defy you, and I defy your path.” The sorcerer laughed “You can not refuse destiny Aurelius. Before you can claim your ultimate prize you must complete three labors. You have already completed the first labor at Gallor Prime, for the second labor you must stop The Deep from consuming this sector, and for your last Labor you must put an end to Arachus and his warp incursion.” Aurelius spat “No I won’t do a thing you say.” The Sorcerer laughed “You say that like you have choice in the matter, but I will rephrase it so that you can understand. If you don’t put an end to the deep they will consume everything in this sector, and then they will move to the next sector until they consume both Terra and Macragge, and I can tell you right now if Arachus is successful in his plot everyone in this sector will wish they were eaten by Tyranids.” The sorcerer lifted his staff and began to walk away from Aurelius as he spoke “You see Aurelius you have no choice, you will either do this, or you will forsake all you fight for, and we both know that is no option.” Aurelius watched as the psyker vanished into the darkness of the organic tunnel. Then Aurelius rose to his feet and heard a primal roar at the other end of the tunnel and saw a horde of chitin clad beast charging for him. Scuttling over each other with razor sharp fangs and talons. Then the swarm crashed into Aurelius. Blackness consumed everything. Then the angel of death awoke in his bed soaked in sweat.

Rightous spear stormed into the space around Nemessa The beast was clearly caught off guard as they didn’t have the chance to retaliate. As torpedoes and lances reeked havoc against their organic plate hull. In a matter of minutes what orbital defense Nemessa had was gone.

Pavus grinned as he opened a hail between the other ship captains. Again the twin images of the Imperial Fist and Ultramarine opened as Pavus spoke “My Lords the enemy navy has been vanquished in this region, now we can preform our task with some degree of safety. Our first order of business must be to establish a temporary foot hold, naturally the Imperial fist expertise in this matter will be invaluable, so Lord Mercutio these coordinates on the worlds largest continent will need to be fortified.” Mercutio nodded “Aye. We’ll need some men to reinforce us.” Pavus smiled “I am dispatching Free Blade Alistair to aid you in clearing this location.” Mercutio nodded. Pavus looked over to Aurelius and spoke “Captain, our objective lays in southern continent some eight hundred miles away from our beach head, we picked something up on our scanners. Something big and psychically charged.” Aurelius spoke “You hope this beast will yield some answers.” Pavus nodded “That is the theory. What ever forces I don’t take with us on this hunt I will commit to you Lord Mercutio.” Aurelius scoffed “Us?” Pavus laughed “You didn’t think I’d let you Astartes take all the glory did you.” Aurelius made no further comment. Pavus spoke “We have our tasks, take care, we face a foe unlike any other.”

WAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHH!!!! The ork scouting party shouted in unison as they charged to meet the massive hunger crazed wolves of Novus Regulus. This particular party had chanced upon two packs of wolves in their scouting mission. So far, no ork scouting party had detected any imperial spies, but that didn't mean they weren't there. The orks and wolves clashed together, choppa meeting claw. The wolves of Novus Regulus were not small. They were the same size as the orks, the alpha being even bigger. However, orks are hardy creatures, so these puny wolves were fighting a losing battle. The greenskins began to chop the wolves up. Although there were a few garbled "Waaaghs!" said as a couple of boyz died, mostly to the alpha. They obviously weren't strong enough to be a part of waaaagh! Narlug anyways. As the fight finished up, the orks began to take what they could from the wolves to utilize it somewhere back at the stronghold. The small band continued on their way in search of anything or anybody of value. Their only excitement for that day, however, were those packs of wolves. The same thing was echoed in all the parties sent out nearby in wake of the failed recruitment attempt.

[In an area farther away with a different band of orks sent on a different mission]

"Oi, boss! I think we'z got some'tin over 'ere." an ork said.
"What is it ya found over dere? It betta be good." the nob replied.
"It seems ta be one of dem 'PDF' places." the ork explained.

The nob approached where the ork was pointing at, and sure enough, a PDF legion outpost came into view. It was well defended with troopers manning the walls on alert for any threats. They didn't seem to notice the small scouting party that had stumbled upon the place.

"dere could be plenty of loot in dat!" the nob exclaimed. "Weez betta go report diz to da boss and see what he thinks!"

With that said, the small party fled and returned to camp with all the other search parties. All in all, a few PDF outposts had been spotted, and many wolves had been killed.

Vayden guided his sentinel forwards, knowing the rest of the pilots weren't far behind. Ahead of them he could see smoke, and Vayden knew they were near an ork camp. Still, it didn't hurt to be cautious. So, he switched his sonic amplifiers on, and strained his ears to make out any noise from ahead. It took a bit of time for him to filter out the background noise of various things, not all of them peaceful. Finally, he had managed to get something worth hearing.

"Da gods are mad. Weze made Gork an' Mork mad, now dey will come and stomp on us all." Vayden heard one ork say, and was confused at its tone of voice, until he realized there was fear in it. To think the greenskins knew such a feeling was a surprise, to say the least. Either way, Vayden knew sitting around listening to orkish chatter wasn't going to make his job any easier, so he pushed forwards with his bird.

It wasn't hard to tell who the warboss of the group was, since he had a large banner mounted onto his crude armor, and was twice the size of any other ork in the area. No matter how large an ork was, it wouldn't be able to take several multi-melta rounds to its head, or practically anywhere else, for that matter. As durable as greenskins were, only the toughest and most frightening of their kind could hope to hold out against several shots from weapons designed to punch holes through power armor, tanks, and almost anything else that Vayden could think of. These were no such orks.

The corporal fired the first shot, and a heartbeat later an entire tide of sizzling flashes bursted out towards the orks and their chieftan, downing a boy with every shot, and leaving the warboss a bubbling mess as his body was incinerated where it stood. Before the orks could react, another wave of melta fired down at them, taking out another group with as much ease as the first round.

Not wanting to get stuck in, which is a very bad idea when using vehicles as lightly armored as a sentinel, Vayden ordered for a retreat, and the sentinel squad ghosted back into trees, laughing to themselves at such an easy attack.

The merciless efficiency performed by Vayden and his men was repeated throughout the vast forests and plains of Novus Regulus, and in less than a week, one third of the feral ork tribes found themselves with no leaders, or utterly annihilated all together.

[Prior to the ork scouts being sent out]

"BLAM!" The shot echoed across the stronghold. The impact of the bullet hitting Narlug's kustom force field blasted him to one knee. Narlug was now glad he enjoyed keeping Galagod around, or else he wouldn't be leading this Waaagh! any longer. The day had already gone horribly with the feral boyz around him fleeing, but now he was being shot at! How much worse could it get? Narlug quickly scanned across the nearby hills overlooking the camp. All he could see was a fat lot of nothing. He had no idea where da filthy humie was that shot at him, but he would make sure he got a nice, long death waiting at the end of the road. You don't try and take down Narlug the Warboss unless you want an entire ork Waaaggh! upon you. He would have to show those feral tribes who da real boss is through his strength in combat against da humies.

Narlug grabbed the nearest greenskin milling around in confusion, looking for who was doing the shooting. "Get some more boyz and go lootin'!" He proceeded to shout. He at least wanted one thing to work out today. Just one thing. With that thought, Narlug rampaged around the camp, restoring order from the mayhem the sniper had caused with a few quick whacks and a couple injuries.

37 hours prior to initial planet fall on Nemmessa

Captain Gaspard Vorvan and Captain Tom Reiner sat together in the officer’s bar. The cantina lacked its usual rowdy charm. The men were drinking to calm their nerves to steel themselves for the hell that awaited them. Vorvan looked over to the far table and saw a pair of unfamiliar faces. A man and a woman drinking quietly in the corner of the dim lit cantina. The man was red headed and had a charming youth stuck upon his face. The woman was about the same age, but her deep scars were a distraction to the eye. Vorvan nudged Reiner and whispered “Are those the free blades?” Reiner paid them a quick glance before returning to his mug “Aye, Knights Alistair Took and Cassandra Arezoina, Knights of fortune.” Vorvan asked “So you know them?” Reiner shrugged “Personally no, but I did get my hands on their dossiers.” Vorvan laughed “How did you manage that.” Reiner shrugged “I asked Captain Braddock nicely.” Vorvan questioned “And that worked.” Reiner chuckled “Of course not but I stole a glance anyhow when the Hound wasn’t looking.” Vorvan joked “Stealing and sneaking? Who are you and what have you done with Tom Reiner.” The ruffian smiled “Lets just say command has been doing some less than honorable things recently, only returning the favor.”

Vorvan questioned “So what do you know about them.” Reiner took another glance at the to and spoke lowly. “Well that one Alistair, he’s an exile. Dishonored by his knight house and forced to spend the rest of his days roaming the stars until he either redeems himself or dies fighting. Cassandra was part of some minor house of knights. However, when the taint of chaos came to her world they destroyed her house, as far as she or anyone else knows she is the last of her house. Both kind of tragic in their own ways.” Vorvan asked “What did Alistair do to be exiled?” Reiner shrugged “No clue.” Vorvan spoke “I must say I hope to see one of those beautiful machines in action.” Reiner smiled “Back on Gallor Prime I saw a dozen in the defense of Hive Hasselgrave, though they paled in comparison to when the Templars brought a fething ship down on a Gargant.” “You lucky bastard, I ended up posted inside the hive, so I never got to see it.”

Cassandra sat in the shadows listening to the two Faustian officers speak. Alistair laughed “Quit spying on these lowly Faustians, your ale is getting warm.” Cassandra took a sip of her beverage and spoke “That one over there knows about us.” Alistair laughed “He doesn’t know gak about us.” “He knows you’re an exile.” “Its not that much of a secret, you were able to figure out I was an exile before I said three words to you.” Cassandra shrugged “true.” Alistair asked “What do you think about these lot the Faustians.” Cassandra took a moment to think before speaking “They have an order of knights that they fight alongside.” Alistair raised an eye brow “Knights?” “Not Knights like us, knights like that of old Terra, mounted cavalry who we derive our name from.” The man recoiled in recollection “Oh, now I remember, that was one of the few history lessons I actually liked.” Cassandra spoke “My point is I like that they honor a code, though I’ve not yet had the chance to meet any of them.” Alistair raised his mug “Well than, may we find glory in battle alongside these archaic knights.” Cassandra raised her mug and clinked it against her comrades

------- Surface of Julla, another random patch of overheated wasteland -------

'' Well I am telling you Tempestor, that guy barely moves around, can't hear for gak, but I'd say he's just acting like any Tau would after the attack, moving around and stuff, he migth be giving out orders, but I am not able to confirm if he's really in charge or not, the guys with the suits are usually vets, right? So it would make sense they'd help less experienced fighters to shore up their defences properly ''

'' So we're not making any progress? '' answered Flavion

'' None, are we even sure that's their Commander? ''

'' Well his suit is pretty distinctive, different from all the others, and there's that weird tendency for melee combat that I've only really seen with people of higher ranks ''

'' This ain't much Tempestor, might just be a very motivated 2ic or something similar? ''

Flavion sighed '' I guess, we'll report that to command, as usual, but disrupting Tau activities is good enough for now, even if it isn't Voidspider, killing that guy's gonna be a good thing for us either way, hell it might help the Tallarns not get slaughtered like last time, and we'll get revenge for Maris, too, keep spying on him ''

'' I will ''


------- On one of the convoy ships carrying frosteel -------

Melta charges were locked on the door, two stacks of Scions on each side of the door, ready to overwhelm the defenders and steal the precious metal. The breacher held his hand up, figners up, counting down the time before detonation. Three, two, one, loud bang, two shaped charges went up at the same time, dislodging the heavy metal door preventing Riley's men from entering the ship.

The first two Scions threw their nine-bangers a second after the door was destroyed and they entered the room after the fourth bang. With their sealed helmets, the men were well protected agaisn't their own grenades, while the opposing guardsmen had to bear the full force. This gave both stacks plenty of time to eliminate the guardsmen in the room, bright green beams sliced through stunned men, killing them where they stood. Riley had ordered his men to set their guns to half-charge, flak armor wasn't exactly the best protection you could carry. Some men might've considering it overkill, but you never know when some guardsmen had lucked and got issued carapace armor.

With the room cleared, Riley ordered a few Scions to make sure the room wouldn't fall back in guardsmen hands and moved on to the other room.

'' Scans shows the next room's much bigger, we won't be able to luck out and stun them all with the bangers ''

'' Very well, change the stacks, first two men to enter the room armed with hellguns, the one behind e'm is going to be packing the volley rifle, these two will pin the enemy down while the rest of us pile in and take over the room, the frosteel should be after e'm ''

The man nodded and relayed Riley orders, and the door to the second room was quickly breached, however, the men inside were well prepared, and had a few heavier weapons set up, and out of the first eight men to enter the room, three went down, one which was carrying one of the volley guns. The five survivors quickly found cover and opened up on the guards, forcing some of them to seek cover. This allowed the rest of the detachement to pile in, one of the Scion grabbing the fallen heavy weapon. It was Riley turn to enter the room and as soon as he stepped into cover, he saw one of his men get cut down by heavy bolter fire, the large caliber bolts going through cover and Scion alike. Tracking the origins of the bolts, Riley loaded a krak grenade in his auxiliary grenade launcher and fired it at the emplacement, killing its crew and destroying the weapon.

'' Sir they're well entrenched in there, we can't just barge in like that ''

Riley squeesed off two shots, killing two guardsmen, before being forced back into cover as a lasbolt smashed into his carapace breastsplate.

'' Yeah, I agree, bring a hellshot in there, take out the light, switch your masks to night vision, and then smoke the room, we'll smash e'm from both sides, leave four men with heavy weapons to confuse them ''

'' Aye sir, it'll be done ''

The order was transmitted and quickly executed, less than a minute after that, the room was engulfed in darkness with smoke filling it, the Stormtroopers used that time to cover the opem ground between the two position, with their cover gone, and the lights out, the guardsmen were taken by suprised and quickly executed by the Scions. With the last of the defenders gone, the last door protecting the frosteel was quickly destroyed, and the content of the last room quickly looted.

'' How many men we lost? '' asked the Temepstor Secundus

'' Not sure sir, ten or so, we'll have more information after the debrief ''

Riley nodded ''Let's get to it, them ''


------- In Riley's room, two hours later -------

Riley woke up with no memories of dreaming about capturing a transport.

'' Uh, so you're awake, now '' said Sara

With his mind still clouded Riley could only mumble an answer

'' Mhmm, you talked in your sleep again, something about taking over a ship carrying metal or something ''

'' Uh? Really? I haven't done any of that in such a while, we're been doing planetary missions for the past few years, bah, its just a dream ''

'' Well get dressed, Riley, I've let you sleep in late, but I don't want to spend the whole day in bed ''

Riley nodded and saw that his wife was going towards the locker where he left most of his weapons, she opened it and took out a hellpistol.

''Figured we could spend some time at the range, its been a while since I've had the occasion to shoot, can't forget what you taugh me''

Riley nodded again and smiled, she had her ways with him... '' No... we can't, eh, still packing that old pistol? ''

'' Well it was your gift, remember '' Indeed, how could he forget that, the hellpistol was given to Riley when he received his promotion to Tempestor, all those years ago, but he never got around to use it, prefering his modified hellgun. He had given the pistol to his wife when she mention her interest in weapons, and it had served her well in the few times the Swift Guardian was boarded.

'' I suppose its better than a standard issue laspistol '' said Riley, as put on his uniform.

General Pavus pressed his thumb onto the scanning pad. There was a momentary delay before the bulkhead door lock disengaged, and the general slipped into his private atrium. The fleet action he'd marshalled had taken it's toll on the man. It was only a matter of time before he would need to start accepting rejuvenat implants, or retire from active service. The latter was unacceptable for Hannibal Pavus.

He was in the process of stripping his service medals when he heard it. A faint noise behind him. Gently, he set down the honour brockade, earned over a lifetime of glorious battles, and less glorious subterfuge, and subtly began reaching for his plasma pistol.

"Stop."
Pavus felt a point of cold steel at his neck. He froze. "Take off your holster." The voice was a deep growl, near unrecognisable. Pavus gritted his teeth, and unlatched the masterwork holster. The golden thread glinted in the dim light as it crumpled on the floor. "Face me." The point lifted, and Pavus turned to meet the voice.

"Well well, my friend. I didn't expect you to be here."

"I didn't expect a lot of things, but treason from scum like you is top of that list."

"Is that so? I certainly expected you to be less... naive. Anyway, indulge me: to what do I owe the pleasure of Acting-Captain Aurelius?"

Aurelius sighed, and sheathed his gladius. Even without his artificer armour, the Ultramarine was a good head above the tall general. Pavus noted that this was unusually short for an Astartes.

"I know what you did, General. And I can't forgive you for that. Hiring an assassin team? And taking one of those assassins on in your personal cadre? Be thankful one of our Inquisitors hasn't been informed. But understand this: the only reason your head remains on it's shoulders is that I requested it. Is that clear?"

Pavus grinned. His teeth were canine in the faint starlight.

"Oh, Acting-Captain. You truly are so naive. All you Astartes are. You may have ascended beyond us mere mortals, but you lack humanity. You lack what makes us human: you have forgotten the struggle for immortality, for survival, and the edge to do what is necessary."
Aurelius said nothing.
"You know what else? You have forgotten what mortal ears can hear and mortal eyes can see."
Pavus stepped closer to the Ultramarine, and leered up into his face.
"We know, Aurelius. Your friend, the Sorcerer? We know he haunts your dreams, your every step. Where you succeed, you know that he is watching, and applauding. You truly are safe, Hadris. Safer than you've ever been. Your own guardian Angel of Death. But what will he ask of you? What if you're doing exactly what he wants? What if you enjoy it? What if-"

"Enough."
Aurelius had the gladius up at Pavus' throat, the razor sharp tip just touching the general's Adam's apple. His voice was low and quiet, yet the weight behind it silenced Pavus.

"You know too much. Too much. And I'm well aware of the consequences. But you picked a poor target to bully, General. The sons of Guilliman are not so easily cowed. Did you ever hear about the Kroot mercenary that tried to kill off our dear Lord General?"
Pavus backed away slightly from Aurelius' blade.
"Yes. Of course I did."

"It's name was Nihilus. It told me before I tore it's bastard heart out. Here's the thing: are you familiar with Sothan ceremonial rituals?"

"I can't say I am. Why?"

"I am born of Sotha, a world within the realm of Ultramar. I was recruited aged 13 Terran standard, a late addition. I survived the implantation, although my skeleton did not grow quite as much as many of the brothers I would meet. But I digress. It is traditional amongst Sothan duellists to consume the heart of an honourable adversary. Nihilus was, amongst many things, honourable. Of course, the Sothan ritual links well to the Preomnor implant of the Adeptus Astartes. We can read and store the memories of individuals we consume. I know everything Nihilus knew. I know all the foes he killed before me. I know what he did to be exiled from the Tau Empire. I also know the price at which you hired him."

"But-"

"You know that we don't grant xenos proper funerals? No, Nihilus' dead corpse currently lies in cryogenic stasis aboard my vessel, the 'Valin's Revenge'. Any Astartes could consume his flesh if I offered it. And they would know all that I and Nihilus knew about you. Just food for thought, as they say."

Pavus' stomach felt like it was being sucked out of his breeches. His mouth was ice cold, and his wolfish smile was now covered by flushed red lips.

"What do you want with me, son of Guilliman?"

"Only to remind you that, despite all the evidence and disgust I have against you, I am putting the good of the Crusade above such petty disputes of power. I advise you to do the same."
Aurelius toyed with the gladius in his grip.

"We Ultramarines have pride ourselves on our grasp of the Codex Astartes, General. Even if you may have committed some unsavoury acts, I am duty bound to offer tactical advice for you.
For our joint operation together, I'd be leading a primarily aerial taskforce, no access to my drop pods due to the fog. Earlier on, we'd blow open the Hybrid's ice tunnel network with seismic thermal charges deployed either by my Scouts or your Faustian Veteran Squads and get the beasts in the open air.
Strikeforce Praetoria then deploys via airdrop in their centre with overwhelming force, clearing outwards. A curtain barrage from aircraft bombing runs and locally deployed ordnance units - Basilisks, Wyverns and Whirlwinds - should keep the Hybrids from leaving our kill zone.
The Astartes make enough of a breach for Faustian Sapper and Heavy Weapon Teams to airdrop and set up basic barricades instead something goes wrong and our taskforce needs to pull back.
When my Ultramarines have pushed out enough, the Sappers create another barricade line, now supported by deployed Infantry and Veteran squads, as well as heavy weapon fire from gunners back on the first barricade line. This continues until all Hybrids are systematically wiped out."

Pavus nodded slowly.
"And if we find the beast's leader?"

Aurelius was already halfway out of the bulkhead door.
"I'm sure we can improvise."

He tossed his gladius to Pavus. The general caught it in two hands: it was like a sword in his hands, finely balanced and sharp.

"Good evening, General Pavus."

Julius strode down the hallway towards the impromptu War Room that Colonel Detta had set up in the Ultramarines headquarters. He had requested that Colonel Detta meet him here, because his Scouts had recently returned from their recon of the Ork fortress, and they had uncovered some very interesting information and facts about these new Orks. As he opened the door he saw Detta talking to one of his Sentinel pilots, Vayden if Julius remembered his name right. It was good that Vayden was here to hear what Julius had to report, because he had a feeling that the Sentinel pilots would be crucial in the upcoming war against the Orks. Both men paused in their conversation when Julius strode into the room and Julius nodded to them both before speaking "Vayden, Detta, I've called you both here for a reason." Vayden almost seemed shocked that the Astartes actually knew his name. Julius turned to Detta before continuing, "As you know Colonel I recently dispatched several Scouts out into the surrounding wilderness to bring us some information on the new arrivals, and the information they have uncovered is interesting indeed." Julius placed his data pad down on the War Room table and activated it. The device displayed the data that scout Devan had acquired while out on his patrol. Julius studied Detta as he began scrolling through the pict-captures that Devan had brought back. When the Colonel swiped to the image of the Ork Gargant he let out an audible gasp of surprise, and Julius nodded grimly before taking the data pad back. He turned the device off before speaking again, "Yes, as you saw this 'Narlug' appears to be trying to construct a Gargant, and both of you know just how destructive those things can be." Both men nodded slowly as they took in the implications of that monstrosity being let loose on this feudal planet. Julius continued after a moment, "But that's not all. My Scout was able to determine that it will not be mobile for a long while, the Orks are having great difficulty in getting it mobile, which means we need to act quickly before it is operational." Now both men were nodding, they both knew that if the Orks were able to get it working and moving that it would make the Emperor's work on this planet much more difficult. Julius then handed both men a single photograph, this time of the Ork Warboss, "My Scout was also able to take this photo of the beast that stands against us, and he was also able to take a shot at him before he was forced to retreat. Sadly, the brute is protected by a force field of some sort, so he did not fall, but now we know who we fight." The three continued to talk for hours more about the Ork fort, and potential holes in it's defenses that they could exploit. And as he left the War Room that night, Julius couldn't help but wonder how Brother Aurelius was doing. The two of them hadn't spoken since his brother's "resurrection" from the dead. Julius missed him right now, he could use the older Astarte's advice as to what to do in this situation, and while he was confident in his ability to make war, he couldn't help but feel that he would be tested severely in the upcoming war.

The Imperial deployment on to the world of Nemessa was already underway. Two task forces were readied. In the south a small army the Imperial fist accompanied by many Faustian soldiers and a Free Blade Imperial knight to create a hold for the Imperials. In the North the Hunting party lead by Acting-Captain Aurelius accompanied by an equally great retinue of Faustians and a Free Blade.

The North

Hybrids littered the planet but the bulk of the Hybrids were centralized in the planet’s network of tunnels, networks literally crawling with swarms of the hybrids. This network must be destroyed before any successful operation could take place. Plunging at the beast head first was not an option and orbital barrage impossible due to the unnatural fog. Stealth would be necessary for this to be achieved.

Captain Reiner hated the bitter cold of this world’s frost caverns. With a name like Nemessa the Captain expected to find some nice paradise world, what he found was more akin to a perfect hell. Blankets of ice and frost covered the ground, but clinging to the frozen earth was the fog, the same fogs of Kagrenz. Reiner crawled through the cavern, his hazardous environment gear failing to keep the wetness out. Finally, he reached his spot and set the charge. Reiner opend his vox channel “Charge 18 set.” It was scout Sergeant Nero of the Ultramarines who replied “Copy, move to evac point, we won’t want to be around when these go off.” “Roger.” The captain slowly crawled his way through the caverns, as he turned a corner he saw the rear end of a great carapace beast. The monster nearly touched the cave’s ceiling and was as half as wide as the vary cavern. Reiner quickly scuttled back to cover as the beast turned. The beast examined where the captain was, but made no further examination. Reiner slowly slunk away from the beast and wiped a bead of icy sweat from his brow, fortunately he knew another way out.

Pavus sat atop his massive white war horse, it bore the weight of him and his power armor. He heard the word come in the last of the infiltrators were clear and smiled as Captain Braddock presented him with the detonator. Pavus pressed his iron clad finger to the button and less than a moment latter the mountainside began exploding. Pavus grinned as he turned to hound “Remind them of our fury.” Captain Braddock nodded and proceded to point to the the site of the explosions evoking the signal to his charges. The Hydras, Wyverns, and Basilisks opened their deadly barrage. The detonations battering the rubble and anything that may have survived the initial explosions. Pavus shrugged “I do love a good artillery barrage.”

The South

Captain Mercutio stood over the corpse of a hybrid peon. The beast was foul, the captain had faced tyranids before back when he was but a Neophyte, but these things were different. So pale they were translucent in some regions of the torsos. The Imperial fist spat at the foul corpse and holstered his bolt gun. He looked at the ground that would soon be their out post and was relatively confident he could quickly turn this natural fortress into a proper stronghold worthy of the Imperial fists. Mercutio looked to the sky and couldn’t help but smile at the sight of the proud free blade knight looming in the fog. Its red and grey plates were somewhat masked by the dense of the fog. Librarian Daedalus approached the captain his staff clung to his back “If there ever was a symbol of the emperor’s might it would be the Imperial knights.” Mercutio nodded in simple agreement. Mercutio was unsure what to think of Daedalus, he knew him to be a loyal servant of the emperor and a brother worthy of his respect, however his connection to the warp made him uneasy, the captain had seen all too many times the pearls and taint of the warp, as one of his very own had fallen to the taint of chaos. Still the captain would at the very least attempt to be friendly, it would be unfair to judge one of his brothers on the heresies of that wretched Dezmon. Mercutio replied “Aye it is.” “Captain, I ask for your permission to join the Ultramarines in their hunt for the great beast.” Mercutio laughed “Does defending fortifications from hordes of xenos not sate your thirst for adventure.” The Librarian lacked humor in his response “No, brother I ask as the beast they hunt is said to be of great psychic energy. They have no truly apt psykers only some novice humans the Faustians rounded up. I believe my talents would be of best use with them.” Mercutio nodded “Go with them, help them in what ever capacity you can.” Daedalus saluted and turned to make ready for the expedition when Mercutio called “Daedalus” the librarian turned “Glory to him on Earth.” Daedalus repeated the phrase “Glory to him on Earth.”

The North four days later.

In the foggy dew lines of mounted knights marched proudly atop their steeds, land speeder mounted units scouted the way ahead reporting back to the rest of the convoy regularly, but towering above all the rhinos and chimeras was the black and silver Free blade knight, bearing the heraldry of a fallen house. The Faustians and Ultramarines had been hunting for the source of psychic interference for days, Librarian Daedalus had been invaluable in sensing where precisely the warp was weakened. Then the party reached the mouth of a cave and came to a holt. Daedalus exited Aurelius’s land-raider and spoke looking into the black abys that was the mouth of the cave “Our target lays within.” Aurelius looked to the cavern’s mouth the fog seemed to roll out from it, “We’ll need to lure it out.” Pavus approached the two and asked “I’ve ordered the men into defensive positions when that thing comes out of hiding we’ll rain hell on it.” the Imperial fist looked deeply into the abyss and spoke “I believe I can lure the beast out with a psychic blast, but that will take much from me, I will not be able to participate in the battle.” Aurelius spoke reassuringly “Thank you brother.” Pavus lit a celebratory cigar to mark what he thought to be an inevitable victory “What are we waiting for let’s get this show on the road.”

Daedalus stood 10 feet away from the mouth of the cave, the librarian looked into the blackness and for a moment felt it looking back. The fist hoisted his staff above his head and slammed it into the earth unleashing a blue wave of psionic energy into abyss. The librarian toppled over and an Ultra marine rushed to move him out of harms way. Three seconds of nothingness passed, though the fear that choked upon the guardsmen made those three seconds seem three life times. Then a screech came fourth sounding as if it came from hell itself, the guardsmen covered their ears in pain. Then it came fourth.

A pair of twenty-foot-long talons came jetting out the caves mouth. Then the rest of the pale arachnoid reviled itself, translucent skin reveling its active organs. The beast had six rear legs for scuttling and two massive front claws a greater variety of movements. Knight Cassandra didn’t hesitate to charge the beast. Her massive chain blade met one of the beast claws, but the second claw plunged into her left pauldron where her heavy stubber was hosted. Once the two behemoths were locked in combat the rest of the heavy weapons and small arms began firing. Every vehicle and trooper focused fire on the beast with everything they had, yet still nothing seemed to work.

Aurelius watched as one of the Faustian heavy weapons teams fired a rocket into the beast’s chitin plate. Then Aurelius saw it, the small chink in the beast’s armor. A miniscule crack that most would not notice, but Aurelius saw it and judged it just big enough for his paragon blade. Without a word Aurelius rushed to his land raider and found a jump pack. With the aid of sergeant Nero Aurelius had the jump pack ready to go. While Cassandra struggled with the beast’s talon that had landed a critical blow against her, the second talon struck at one of the nearby Faustian Leman Russ battle tanks impaling it hatch to hull with its talon.

It was then that Aurelius came swooping in like an angel landing atop the beast. Captain Reiner saw the the ultra marine and started shouting “Cease fire!” Captain Kassani growled “Ignore him keep firing Pavus’s orders.” Lord Governor Pavus approached the hound “This is our chance to slay to birds with one stone.” The hound nodded and approached on of the snipers in his first company platoon Pavus’s most eliete. The hound whispered “Make it look like an accident.” The carapace clad sniper nodded in understanding.

Aurelius climbed the creatures plate, his power armored hands grasping at crevices in the organic mail. Aurelius felt a sharp pain strike in his lower ribs, a bullet pierced clear through his armor plate and lodged it self in his ribcage.

The sniper made ready for a second shot at the ultramarine when the Hound stopped him, “Stop, no one will believe he was shot more than once. One should be enough.” The trooper nodded and ceased his firing.

Aurelius felt bullet sting in his side, he had to ignore the pain for now and fight the urge to release his grip on the titan. His target was in sight, the flaw in the beast’s impenetrable plate. The ultramarine drew near to the opening and unsheathed his paragon blade, but the beast shook and the blade feel from Aurelius grasp to the icy floor bellow. Aurelius cursed “Damn”. He looked into the crack in the armor and saw the thin translucent skin, within the crack he could see the beating organs of the beast, one that Aurelius believed to be the monster’s heart. Aurelius plunged his fist into the beast breaking through its skin, the captain proceeded to wrap his hand around on of the arteries that pumped blood through the hybrid’s body. Aurelius ripped this vein out of the beast and ripped it open, coating Aurelius in dark green blood. The bio titan roared in pain as Aurelius struck a critical blow against the massive Hybrid creation.

Free Blade Cassandra saw an opportunity and pressed the advantage, the knight side stepped titan and severed one of its talons. The beast gave one final roar as the Imperial knight raised its heavy stubber and used it as a blunt weapon to smash the beast’s skull open. The hulking killing machine of toppled over face down its green blood seeping into the frost.

Aurelius barely jetted away in time. Aurelius stood he looked behind to the Faustians and Ultra Marines fast approaching him. Aurelius took a step and felt the .55 caliber bullet dig into him. Aurelius rose to his feet and pondered did the Faustians do that on purpose, or was this the incompetent mistake of some untrained conscript? If this was done at Pavus’s order this would be the second time he’s tried to kill him, and Aurelius had no intention of allowing him a third try.

Aurelius looked over to the fallen beast and that only a foot away from the head of the beast lay his Paragon blade. Aurelius retrieved it and looked the beast in its dead eyes and saw nothing, not the slightest trace there was ever a soul there.

Pavus and his honor guard approached Aurelius and shouted with great excitement “The tales of the heroic feats of the ultramarines do not to justice to the legendary ability of your kind Captain.” Pavus saw the captain’s wound and successfully fought off the urge to smile, he spoke with fake concern “Captain you are hurt you require an apothecary.” Aurelius wanted to blame Pavus for his wound, but now was not the time. Scout Sargent Nero came rushing to Aurelius side mounted atop a Land Speeder, the scout spoke with great concern, “Don’t worry brother the Sons of Dorn will be able to heal you.” The scout ushered the wounded captain to the vehicle and assisted him in. Then the hovering vehicle was off in a hurry.

Pavus watched as a team of so called specialist approached to begin the large scale dissection process. Pavus grinned as he lit a fresh cigar, he may not of killed both his birds, but still the death of one bird was worth celebrating.

Captain Aurelius awoke on a medical table, the florescent lights above him humming quietly. Aurelius realized that he was stripped of his armor and left only with a simple pair of trousers. An unfamiliar voice caught the Ultramarine off guard, “Your awake, good.” Aurelius groaned “where am I?” the marine came into the captain’s view, an apothecary of the Imperial fists “Relax Captain, my name is Apothecary Hector, after your battle with the beast your sergeant brought you back to our FOB, do you remember that.” Aurelius sat up ignoring the dizziness “I do.” The Imperial fist continued “You passed out on the way here because the bullet actually pierced your heart, thankfully your secondary heart was undamaged. Still I can’t imagine it feeling to good.” Aurelius felt his back where the bullet hit him, his skin was already healing, but the scar would remain with him for the rest of his life. Hector spoke “I had to implant you with a bionic heart, your fit for duty whenever you feel up to it.” Aurelius spoke with shock ‘You replaced my heart.” Hector laughed “It was that or let you die a slow painful death.” Aurelius spoke “Thank you brother I do not mean to sound ungrateful, how long have I’ve been out.” Hector spoke “Exactly 18.36 hours.” Aurelius leapt to his feet “I owe you Brother.” Hector laughed “No brother tis all of us who are in your debt, had it not been for your action we may not have been able to slay the beast.” Aurelius smiled “Where is my armor?” “Our Tech-marine was seeing to its repair I believed he is finished.”

As Acting-Captain Aurelius exited the Tech-marines impromptu workshop he felt is armor to be good as new. The repairs were done masterfully, the Tech even had access to the correct shade of Macragge Blue so it looked the armor looked as good s the day it was constructed. It was at this moment the gates of the compound swung open allowing the rest of the newly arrived Faustian forces to enter, accompanying them Free Blade Cassandra.

Lord Governor took to a stage to address all those gathered at the fist compound to address all those who would hear him, most of the astartes had no such interest. “Men, we have proven today to the beast the fury that is man. We have shown this foe that blackens the sky what the Emperor’s wrath taste like. Soon we will learn where our foe hides and then we will purge them from this plane of existence. Make ready men, we leave this world come day break tomorrow.” The men cheered and dispersed to rest.

In orbit around Nemessa the fleet that made strike force Righteous Spear. Out of nowhere a horde of hundreds of bio ships came out of Warp and began firing at imperial cruisers and launching countless spore pods. Defensive fields came on and dozens of messages were sent but the message was always the same “The Deep Has Come.”

Captain Mercutio looked to the sky to see the Bio rain of the Hybrids. Mercutio shouted to his men “Defensive positions! Begin escape plan Bravo.”

The Evacuation was slow even with only bringing critical equipment. Priority number one was the Cargo. A retinue of Faustian Elite guard along with Lord Governor Pavus were the first off world, forcing everyone else to wait. The ocean of hybrids crashed against the Fists defenses, turrets made short work of initial invaders, but soon larger beast came, and then even larger still. Ten hours into the assault half of the forces were off world. Then Free Blade Cassandra withdrew, and soon after her comrade Alistair. Reiner fired furiously from the wall watching the hybrids come ever closer. His men were next to evacuate, leaving only the Fist and Ultramarines to defend. Undermanned the Hybrids made it to the walls, but the fist engulfed them in fountains of fire unleashed from their heavy flamers. But soon their stores of Promethium ran dry and the hybrids breached the walls. Librarian Dadelus saw only one option to evade the wrath of the Tyranic horde, the psyker channeled all his psychic energy and slammed his staff to the ground and every Ultramarine and Imperial fist vanished.

The Astartes reappeared aboard the Red Oktubris the Imperial Fist’s strike cruiser. The immediate danger was gone but they were by no means safe. Captain Aurelius spoke into his vox to the ship commanders “This is Aurelius to all ships emergency Warp jump back to Imperial space, all survivors accounted for.”

And with that the fleet of Imperial ships began to retreat to safe space, as the unstoppable deep reclaimed its world.