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The classified orders were simple, or at least they were to Sergeant Miles' comprehension. All he knew was that intelligence had been discovered indicating that a higher up was planning on defecting to the Tau, Miles' squad of veterans had been assigned to locate the target and, if necessary, to eliminate the target. Officially, his squad was on a recon mission; the Tau were doing enough damage across the cluttered ruins of the city, the effect on morale would be devastating if this news was allowed to spread. He raised a fist in the air and his squad came to a silent halt against a sombre wall of a hab building. In the background, the krump of artillery could be heard.

"The warp freaks back at HQ say the target is in the temple on the other side of these ruins. Fire team two will crawl through this hab building until they are directly covering the main entrance of the temple. Fire team one will wait for two's signal before advancing. Team one will then storm the temple, while team two advances from cover as reinforcements. All right, Harker, go."

Fire team two slipped into the building, led by Corporal Harker. Miles' counted tensely in his head. Fire team one shifted up closer to their sergeant, waiting for the signal.

"Two in position, all yours, sarge."

"Go."

Miles sprinted low across the road into the low stone wall bordering the temple.

"Jerik, do it!"

The hefty trooper raised the melta gun to his shoulder and fired. The doors to the temple disintegrated in a smoky explosion.

"Inside!" Miles' shouted.

Pushing himself over the wall, the sergeant ran towards the gaping entrance, leaping over the last steps. Miles' half-slid into a wooden pew and in one smooth motion, raised himself over so that his laspistol was aimed directly at the altar. Fire team one took up various positions along the pews and a few seconds later, the clumps of team two's boots echoed across the sanctuary as they took up positions along the back wall. All weapons were aimed at the lone figure, who had his back to the veteran squad. From his robes, his right hand appeared. In his left was a long, metallic staff. At the top of this staff was an icon of an eye, and on top of that was the Imperial eagle, only the wings had been hewn off.

"Drop your staff and put your hands in the air!"

The figure did not move.

"Drop your staff or we will fire!"

"Sarge..."

Corporal Harker had moved from the wall. He had propped his lasgun over the pew, but his hands were shaking now.

"Isn't that...a force weapon?"

Miles' eyes jumped to the long staff.

"Holy throne, they sent us after a Psyker...?!"

Harker didn't have time to acknowledge his sergeant's realization. The figure on the altar had suddenly spun around, his right arm extended towards the veteran squad.

"WITNESS YOUR DOOM!"

"SQUAD, FIRE AT....!"

Miles' squad never got a chance to pull their triggers. Arcs of thin blue lightning shot out from the Psyker's fingers. Neas, Marshim, and Luc were fried before falling to the stone floor, twitching. A lightning bolt punched through Hewt's face, slamming the melta gunner into the back wall. With a roar, Jerik fired his melta gun at the figure, only to have the beam bounce off what seemed to be the air in front of the Psyker, then a blue bolt tore through his chest. The rest of the squad were firing their lasguns towards the Psyker, but he was already on them. Drawing his chainsword, Miles' yelled at his squad.

"SQUAD, FALL BACK!"

It was too late. With a swing of his force weapon, the Psyker sent Nooc and Kalan crumpling to the ground while his laspistol put a bolt through Meral's fore head. Miles' swung his chainsword down, only to have it parried by the staff. Spinning, the Psyker fired again with his las pistol, causing Miles' to duck. On his right, Harker charged at the Psyker, with his bayonet. The Psyker stabbed his force weapon at the Corporal, causing him to fly through the air. Harker's head clipped the side of the entrance as he was thrown into the courtyard of the temple. Miles' raised his laspistol at the Psyker.

"FOR THE EMPER...!"

The Psyker was quicker. Barely registering hole through his chest, Miles' fell to the ground. He couldn't breathe. Gasping, he felt around for a weapon as he heard the Psyker advance. His fingers grasped around his chainsword before the Psyker kicked it away. With his free hand, the Psyker tilted Miles' head up. Miles couldn't see the Psyker's face under his hood, but saw where the lasbolt had pierced his flak armour, straight through the Imperial eagle.

"Tell General Ogdal that Primaris Psyker Tohar no longer serves a corpse."

That was the last thing Miles' heard before he blacked out.

very nice! More!!!!