886.M37
Planet Saratogas, in Segmentum Ultima

“Space furries…” Brother-Captain Gaius Palma’s breath came out as a whisper.
Standing in the cockpit of the Thunderhawk Furioso with the 1st company veteran was the venerated Grand Master Lautus, Hero of the Grey Knights.
“Aye, Brother Palma. Space furries. It will be no easy task to bring our former brother Astartes to salvation.”
The planet Saratogas grew larger in the viewscreen as two figured approached from behind. Justicars Decius and Vibius snapped off salutes and stood at attention.
Lautus turned and brought his gaze to bear on the two squad leaders. “Are Squads Primarus and Secundus ready?”
“We stand ready to visit purgation on the heretics. Their deviation from the Codex Astartes will be met with the cleansing power of our bolters and incinerators! Also, an old one joins us today in his Dreadnought armor. The heretics will feel our wrath this day, and their brethren shall fear it evermore. With your permission, Grand Master, we will see to the final preparations.”
“Very well. The Emperor protects.” Lautus turned back to face the swiftly growing terrain of Saratogas. “Space furries…”
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“Listen well, men. Our mission today is to capture strategic points – here,” Palma gestured at the map with the unpowered tip of his sword, “and here.” The two key points lit on the auspex were at opposite ends of a field of hills and valleys, with outcroppings of rock and ruined buildings littering the plains.
“Squad Primaris will deploy here,” he pointed to a dense forest nested on a low rise in the terrain, “and Secundus here. You will take and hold our first key point, located in these ruins. The heretics will likely come at you in force, so I’m detailing venerable brother Ignatious and his Dreadnought to watch over you. My Terminator brothers and I shall teleport in to where the enemy is strongest and take the fight to them with our thunder hammers. The Grand Master will deploy near you, Decious, and your Squad Primarus. It will fall to you to take the second key point, and he will assist. Make good use of the holy incinerators in your squad. If we can take these two areas and hold them, we will be in a key position to disrupt planetwide communications and supply lines.”
Lautus stepped forward. “Thank you for the briefing, Palma.” He turned towards the gathered troops and raised his Nemesis sword in the air. “Now go, and make your preparations. Recite the Litanies of Hate, and The Canticle of Absolution. We are the Grey Knights! We are the Emperor’s chosen, and his vengeance! We are mankind’s divine blade! Et Imperator Invocato Diablus Daemonica Exorcism!”
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Vibius cursed himself a fool. His holy storm bolter was as dear to him as could be, but he couldn’t help thinking that a heavier weapon might have been wise. The number of heretics facing him from across the field was grim. “Damn! What I wouldn’t give for a Purgation squad right now.” He craned his neck around to address the men following his loping stride towards the ruins. “We’ll hole up here! Novius, get up to that second floor and find a good position. The rest of you, find cover down below. In the name of the Immortal God-Emperor, open fire!” The roar of bolter fire blanketed out all else. Vibius grinned as two startled space furries fell to the rain of fire. Maybe this would be easier then he thought.

Decius was glad to have the Grand Master, Hero of the Grey Knights nearby. Command of Squad Primaris had come recently, after a short but impressive position with Second Company Purgation squad at Vogel Passionata. His first command was beginning to look grim. The enemy had fielded not one but two Dreadnoughts and a pair of Predator tanks. He prayed that the machine spirits would be kind to Brother-Captain Palma and his teleporting Terminators. Without their firepower, enemy armor might overwhelm the expedition. His mind snapped back to the task at hand as Lautus began the charge towards the enemy armor. Impacts showered his ornate tactical dreadnought armor in sparks as he headed straight into the barrel of the enemy Predator.

“Decius! I’ve got things down over here!” The vox in Decius’ helmet buzzed to life. “Take your squad and your incinerators and go help Vibius with some of those marines, then regroup with me when he gives you the go-ahead!”
Squad Primaris advanced alongside Venerable Brother Ignatious, firing at several of the vile furries. Many staggered under the onslaught, but only one fell to the fury of the advancing Grey Knights. The profane energies of his powerfist fizzled out as his headless body hit the ground.

The furry marines began their advance across the field towards the ruins at a blistering pace. The shots of squads Primaris and Secundus rang out clear against the grey sky, felling furries left and right. Vibius decided he’d had enough of hiding. They were outnumbered 3 to 1, but squad Primaris was on its way, and clearly any Grey Knight was the match of 10 traitor marines. He gave the order, and Secundus joined the charge across the muddy field. Nemesis force weapons hissed and hummed with power as they were drawn from sheaths. Vibius leaped at the first of the traitors, power sword crashing against a chainsword and barely missing its mark. The chainsword sputtered and died in his hand, and he spat blasphemous curses as he worked to restart it. Cries of fury were heard from all sides as Secundus fought against desperate odds.

“We have a fix on your target location, and the astropaths stand ready to aid you.” Brother-Captain Palma nodded tightly, his eyes focused tightly on the auspex in front of him. He turned slowly, facing his squad. “The time has come. We will strike them hard, and fast. The enemy armor is our target - prepare for teleport. The Emperor protects.” The terminators stepped forward as one, forming a tight circle. Seconds later, they flashed out of existence in a cloud of ozone.

Grand Master Lautus lowered his head as another hail of autocannon fire shattered a tree to his left. “Just 20 more meters...” The Predator loomed high over the towering frame of the Grey Knight. He pulled his Nemesis force sword from its sheath and concentrated, activating the deadly psyker weapon. He brought it to bear and made a mighty swing. The warp-born energies writhing across the sword spread like wildfire over the Predator as Lautus made contact. “Die, heathen scum! I shall bring the light of the Emperor to you all!” The Predator ground to a halt as precious parts within the engine and ammo stores of the autocannon fused to themselves, immobilizing the vehicle and disabling the turret. Stepping back to admire his handiwork, Lautus saw a flash in the distance.

“Captain Palma reporting in, sir. We’ll head for the second Predator. Palma out.” The terminators began to run towards the Predator, thumbing their thunder hammers into activation. As they ran, the heavy bolters from the disabled Predator raked over their armor. Two unlucky members of 1st company’s terminator squad fell to the corrupted bolts as they advanced.