Ice Angels - Book 3 - page 64

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**IceAngel**

The door closed behind Shu-Takii after he exited the vehicle. Techmarine Philosir was standing by the pillar in the center of the room. He was staring down at the pillar; his heavy flamer and missile launcher were aiming straight ahead. The pilot light on the flamer emitted a soft blue glow.

Inushi had backed himself into a corner; one of the doors was to his right, the other directly across from him. For several minutes he had stood ready for action but silently wondered what he would be asked to do next.

Without ceremony or warning the pillar unleashed two dull gray data crystals. Philosir removed one and held it up while putting the other in a belt compartment.

Philosir looked to the crystal then to Inushi. He put the crystal in another belt pouch but didn’t take his gaze off of Inushi. The pillar melted back into the floor.

“Was it worth it?” Inushi asked as the pillar finished sliding back into the floor.

“It is rare when the gathering of knowledge is not” Philosir said as he stepped past where the pillar had been. “Had we not we would have had to search the entire Kota system.”

The lights suddenly went out inside MOAT. The outer door opened and Philosir motioned to exit the vehicle. Inushi didn’t hesitate. He always preferred the wilds over the small interior spaces of ships and tanks. Upon exiting he saw that dawn was approaching. The rain had finally stopped but the cloud cover was still in thick patches above them.

“Where exactly are we, any ways?” Inushi asked while a low raven flew over and began its landing sequence further to their left.

“The third planet in the Kota system, Glossinai” Philosir said while leading Inushi away from MOAT towards the descending raven. Inushi couldn’t see where it had landed, it was several tiers above them and behind another crumbling wall.

“In the local dialect it means, the cage.” Philosir continued as one of the patrolling ravens swooped over head, a white drop pod still hung from beneath its tail.

Inushi followed Philosir for several minutes as they followed up a road that was cut into the tiers. When they arrived on the top most tier Inushi saw the skeletal remains of several large buildings ahead of him. The walls were thick but large swathes of mortar had been blown away. Two roofless hangers sat occupied with Ice Angel vessels to Inushi’s right while in the distance to his left he could make out several units of Ice Angels surrounding a large tunnel entrance that was built into the crater wall.

The tunnel caught Inushi’s attention but before he could look at it again the sounds of approaching steps brought him back to the situation at hand. In front of Philosir strode Captain Razzik, Vetov, and a seven man unit of Ice Angels. The marines held standard white bolters, two of them held larger heavy bolters. They had spread out examining the local area while Razzik strode up to Philosir. Vetov stood several paces behind Razzik, his powerfist and shield casually held at his sides.

“Here is everything I gathered from the Imperial Outpost.” Philosir said while handing out a lone gray data crystal.

Razzik held out his hand and accepted the data crystal. He slid it into a port on his belt. Inushi watched closely as the captain regarded the tech marine once again.

“Why here Philosir” Razzik asked?

“I highlighted several sec..” Philosir began.

“I’m sure you did, but I’d rather you tell me.” Razzik demanded. I hint of annoyance in his voice.

Philosir seemed to stiffen at the strong words before he began to speak.

“This out post was owned by the Coalition of Mineral Brokers, or COMB, as they advertised. This post was created to mine out the ore under this dormant volcano, but mining here proved to be treacherous. The number of lost workers would have shut down the facility but a cavern of ancient design was breached during one of the last scheduled days of production.”

“In response COMB sent in a team of experts along with nearly a hundred soldiers.” Philosir paused.

“The last report said they had located xenos artifacts but no further report was ever sent. The facility had gone dark. A week later a single unit of COMB’s elite was dispatched to investigate. When they arrived they found the facility was heavily damaged. All 578 employees were gone and there were no bodies only blood splatter”

“The planetary defense force was notified immediately and the report slowly crept through the chain of command until the report reached the Kota Imperial Governor. He however didn’t get a chance to read it because the orks had assaulted the system and the station that housed the governor was over taken by Master Warlord Gazzbat Boomfoot. Meanwhile Commodore Warlord Gitsplitta da Great was heading here to Glossani.”

“What happened to the investigation unit?” Razzik asked after a moment of contemplation.

“Unknown.” Philosir quickly responded.

“Did you locate any information in regards to the gaseous anomaly between Kota three and four?” Razzik prodded.

“Affirmative. The region was routinely avoided after several major ship malfunctions occurred as they passed through the anomaly. However, despite routine investigations nothing could pin point the…………..” His monotone voice suddenly stopped when Razzik waived his powerfist to stop.

“Our best lead is an unanswered report from a non Imperial sanctioned coalition?” he questioned.

“Captain, of all the information given this seemed the most logical place to begin our search.” Philosir stated.

Inushi monitored the exchange with great interest. The Ice Angel unit had surrounded the pair in a defensive circle while Vetov had always stayed a few feet behind Razzik. The ever vigilant Commander Vetov of the Emperor’s Tears looked fearsome. His bionic eye gave him a condescending look. For a moment Inushi wondered what Vetov was feeling right now. Inushi had often wanted to ask the commander what it was like being the last of a chapter that is believed to have been destroyed.

The pause in the conversation hung in the air uncomfortably before Razzik spoke again.

“Very well Philosir, I trust your judgment.” Razzik said with forced commitment. “Let us not waste any more time,” Razzik added before he turned towards the waiting squads by the tunnel entrance.

**Gitsplitta**

"Commodore Warlord Gitsplitta da Great"

A properly trumped up and pompous title.

Nice installment. Interesting interplay between Razzik and Philosir. Makes me kind of wonder what Inushi's thoughts must be about the who he's actually serving & where his loyalties will lie. Not that he'd disobey a direct order... but it's clear there are plans within plans, wheels within wheels. Could land Inushi in a difficult position some day.

**Knightley**

What I like about this passage is that Philosir got put into his place. I got a build up in my mind that Philosir was above reprieve so seeing him put in his place by Capt Razzik left me smirking in a good way.

On top of that not handing over the second crystal continues to build that perhaps we shouldn't be trusting Philosir and that there is something else happening that we're not being told. I'm considering that perhaps Philosir is a bad guy and not one of the good guys, despite some of his more 'human' actions.

Time and Ice's writing will tell

**IceAngel**

Rubs hands together maniacally,

"goooooood goooooood"

said in deep evil voice.

**Bobakos**

Man, saying that this story is getting better and better and more intriguing with each installment is simply an understatement.

Don't even consider of not giving us an update...SOON!!!

**IceAngel**

Captain Razzik had only taken a few steps before an icon on his HUD flashed with an incoming message. He continued to march as he accessed the icon.

“Captain, ork convoy spotted on a pass southwest of your position.” Raven six, known as the Ebon Shard, chimed in over the vox.

In Razzik’s HUD the sixth raven’s icon flashed while he spoke.

“Likely attack vector?” Razzik asked.

“Initial surveys only reveal a single path up the mountain which leads around to the north side of the crater. Should have an ETA after we make another pass,” The Ebon Shard responded.

“Send report to myself and Raven five once done, Razzik out.” With several blink clicks he pulled up Raven five and Sergeant Bandik, “Sergeant send combat B to Raven five. Raven five once report from Raven six has been received drop them off at a look out point between us and the convoy. We need eyes on the targets.”

Captain Razzik immediately received two affirmative blips. He rearranged several other units in the crater over the course of the next several paces.

“Philosir, take Inushi to the north side. Fortify and set up some charges on the pass.” Razzik commanded.

Inushi gave a quick salute that Razzik didn’t turn to see. Philosir stopped and watched as the Captain, Vetov, and the other marines continued on their way. Without further comment the tech marine marched off down the tiers towards the north end of the crater. Inushi fell into step behind him.

**Gitsplitta**

I smell a battle coming...

**IceAngel**

Desai witnessed the departing tech marine along with the Mantis Warrior. He observed the marines around him stoically waiting for the moment to act. Yet as he studied the approaching Captain and his retinue, a sudden flash of heat slammed into Desai. He nearly fumbled his chainsword. Cyaxeres watched him intently. The grim chaplain still held onto the ritualistic blue bolt pistol. For several seconds Desai fought an internal struggle that left him breathless once again. He closed his eyes tight as if it would help stop the madness. His chest pounded as flashes of battles of epic proportion commandeered his senses. He could hear the screams of the dying, he could smell the rotting flesh, and his own skin felt as if it were oozing off his body. A sense of grief hammered at his soul as the images flashed before him each one worse then the last. The mental battles slowly morphed and turned into images of war torn fields. Nothing remained but death. Countless bodies filled his thoughts, the bodies of enemies, the bodies of civilians, the bodies of friends, every where he looked he only saw death. Desai looked down at himself as he stood upon edge of the crater. He was covered in the blood of everyone he had fought for and against.

Through gritted teeth he removed his helmet and dropped it onto the ground next to him.

“Desai,” Cyaxeres said.

The Sky Warden didn’t hear him. The coolness of the early morning air massaged his face as he took a deep breath. He realized that death was here as well. He opened his eyes to gaze upon the dark crater before him.

“DESAI” Cyaxeres said again as he stiffened. Over thirty Ice Angels were now watching the Chaplain and the white armored Sky Warden.

Despite the shouting chaplain though, Desai heard nothing. The crater before him was filled with the bodies of the fallen. Without warning Desai crouched down, he didn’t know what he was doing but something in that crater was calling to him. Something in that crater needed him. Something in that crater needed to be killed.

Cyaxeres lunged at Desai, but the Sky Warden leapt into the air while igniting his jump pack.

**1-i**

Wow, looks like Space Marines are not immune to the effects of 'bath salts'. I kid of course unless someone starts eat at another, and jet pack-fu in the near future I dare say Im geting giddie with excitment.

**Asherian Command**

Really liking where this is going

**Bobakos**

This is great

Black Rage into battle

"Hi my name is Desai, and this is my chainsword! Now die!"

Hehe

**Toast36**

More! I NEED MORE!

**IceAngel**

Inigo stood staring down into the pit before him. He held the floor of the building above his head, but the sneaking feeling that something was watching him wouldn’t depart.

“Inigo, lets go.” Nefas casually requested. Inigo looked over his right shoulder and noticed that the other marines had moved down the street past the next building. As he turned back towards the pit, a glimpse of red flashed in his peripheral vision. He focused on the spot where he thought it had been. It was almost as if he could make out a shape. Was it a loose rock, or a piece of metal, he couldn’t determine what it was. Nevertheless, he adjusted his grip so that he could begin to lower the heavy floor slab.

He had just begun to lower it when a white marine slammed onto the floor above him. The sudden weight took the floor right out of his hands. It slammed down back into place. A deep resonating crash echoed from all around them almost as if the mountain itself was issuing a warning.

* * * * * * * * *

Inushi stood perfectly still as the deep boom echoed from beneath his feet. All around him he could hear the sound escaping from cracks and crags in the ground. He gazed at Philosir and the surrounding piles of rubble while slowly drawing his katana and plasma pistol.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Razzik turned towards the tunnel before him as the boom seemed to linger about the gaping darkness. Unlike the marines around him, he looked towards the tunnel with intrigue. Without comment or command he strode towards the entrance.

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

Inigo was knocked back by the dropping floor and as he looked up from his prone position he saw Brother Desai. The Sky warden was helmet less. His black hair was pulled back tight against his skull. His pale skin was tight over his face as he gritted his teeth and stared down at Inigo. His stare was not one of camaraderie; but one of hatred.

The realization that Desai may not be himself made Inigo weary of his situation. He reached for his hammer but Desai darted forward. His speed was stunning, yet when the blow should have landed Inigo witnessed a flash of light as Desai’s chainsword met a speeding bullet that deflected his swing.

Unphased by the failed attacked Desai swung again but this time his chainsword met the shocking end of Cyaxeres’s crozius. The Chaplain had landed right over Inigo’s head and was shouting in some language he didn’t understand. The possessed strength of Desai began to push the crozius towards Inigo’s face but the Chaplain cross punched Desai in the side of his head. Desai seemed to shake his head in disbelief, blood spilled out of fresh wounds for an instant before they healed. The crazed look dissipated from his face.

Inigo quickly got up as Desai stepped back in shock of what he had done. He looked at the chainsword and bolt pistol in his hands. He promptly threw both of them aside. Cyaxeres kept speaking in the foreign tongue, but his tone was quieter. Inigo could tell he was trying to calm the troubled Sky Warden.

For several intense moments Cyaxeres held out his weapons in a nonoffensive stance. Desai had continued stepping backwards until he was on the floor slab once again. He was mumbling something beneath his breath and slowly shaking his head.

As suddenly as he had landed he stopped moving or speaking. Desai looked up and tilted his head as if listening intently to the area in front of him.

With a whisper of a voice he spoke, this time Inigo understood him.

“Do you hear it my brothers?” he slowly looked around meeting the gaze of the marines in the area.

Inigo heard nothing as he concentrated on his hearing. He didn’t take his eyes off of Desai, but the back of his neck tingled. A dull rumble began to grow beneath his feet.

“It’s coming for us.” Desai said louder, the crazed look crept across his face. Cyaxeres raised his bolt pistol and took aim at the white armored marine.

The rumble intensified and came from all around them. Every crack in the ground, every hole in the street, and every gap in the rubble emitted a sound. Rocks began to shift and several precarious walls tumbled over as the mountain itself began to vibrate.

“DEATH!” Desai shouted as he held his hands above his head and looked to the sky. The sun was peaking out from amongst the mountainous sky line. “IS HERE!”

All around the marines in the crater, winged creatures flew out of the holes in the ground. They formed long columns of black that poured out of the holes like smoke. One such creature clipped Inigo’s shoulder and drew a deep gash across the ceramite armor. Inigo was shocked at the damage the small creature had done, but he didn’t dwell on it because the rumbling in the ground was growing louder still.

His gaze swept from the clouds of creatures to Desai who was shrouded by the creatures for a moment before he was flung into the sky like a rock over a geyser. A gigantic creature had flung the floor aside and catapulted the marine away. Inigo was astounded at the beast’s immensity. It continued to pour out of the hole with frightening speed as if the ground had been its prison it desired to escape.

The armored worm seemed to have no end, but when it finally stopped exiting the ground, Inigo found himself looking up at a toothed maw that could consume a land raider in a single gulp. Countless rows of armor piercing teeth lined the four triangular parts of its open mouth. In the span of only a few seconds several hundred feet of plated worm had exited the hole, swaying in the wind like a carnivorous plant preparing to strike.

Without thought Inigo fell into a side stance, hammer held behind him, looking up at the beast. An unseen smile crossed his covered face, “Let the avenging,” he spoke to himself as the hammer head crackled with energy, “begin.”

**Gitsplitta**

Last PPH, "Without thought Inigo feel into a side stance". I think you mean "fell".

Cool. Nids or death world critters of some sort?

**Knightley**

Ooh action.

Small item that might be something

blood spilled out of fresh wounds for an instance before they healed.

Would it not be

blood spilled out of fresh wounds for an instant before they healed.

Might I also add I am loving the fact you're doing so many updates!

**IceAngel**

Both have been corrected. Thanks for the heads up.

@Knightley - It is amazing how productive I am when my wife is out if town. I am not sure when I'll have another update though. I need to finish up some painting.

**Gitsplitta**

The updates have been fantastic Ice. We'll take them whenever we can get them!

**IceAngel**

Thanks Gits! I appreciate you not being as demanding as some of my other readers, *cough* toast36 *cough*

lol

**Bobakos**

Just read the updates. As always Ice excellent job

Now...where is the next part?

**dorantana**

IceAngel wrote:“waaaaaaaaAAAAAAAA” splat was repeated several times behind Inushi as he advanced away from the spiraling staircase room. It seemed that quite a few orks thought they to could fall four stories, land on their feet, and not hurt themselves. Even the marines hurt themselves, but it was a mere inconvenience that now their legs and backs had a dull ache.

Inushi rounded the first corner behind Aquilum when he noticed Hunzuu kneeling a few feet away. The Ice Angel had pulled out his remaining grenades along with the few that were still attached to Shar-drasha. He was meticulously lining them along the wall. Aquilum had stopped near Hunzuu with his storm bolter drawn. He gave Inushi a long stare. Inushi knew he had questions about his delay. He met the stare of the Emperor’s Fool briefly but instead of responding he turned back to peer around the corner.

He couldn’t see them yet, but he could hear them. It was only a matter of seconds before a horde of greenskins poured down those steps towards their position.

“Why have we stopped?” Inushi asked.

“We need to slow them down.” Hunzuu responded as if annoyed by the discussion.

Inushi decided against further speaking. Instead he leaned against the corner, only one eye peaking down the hall. He watched the shadows grow in the staircase room. A few grenades will hardly slow this mass down. The sounds continued to crescendo when the massive automatic doors slid closed. Inushi could still hear the orks but he didn’t take his eyes off the door when he was tapped twice on the shoulder.

Spinning on his heels he turned and ran to the next corner. Aquilum and Hunzuu were in front of him. Thirty yards ahead and around the next corner Pyrox had rigged a similar set up. Inushi looked down at the grenades as he quickly passed. They appeared to be standard issue fragmentation grenades with an elaborate cap with several switches and some sort of port.

Pyrox jumped up from his position and noticed Inushi’s look. “Not your typical frags Inushi.” He spat quietly. “Nothing these angels use is standard.”

The words sat in Inushi’s thoughts. The tone from Pyrox indicated he didn’t approve. Inushi mentally filed that comment away. Inushi was creating a list of things to discuss once this mission was over.

He and Inushi ran down a long hall passing a handful of ork bodies and closed doors when they came upon a similar arch way they had defended before. Inside sat another filthy octagonal room, a purple squig larger then a marine lay bleeding out in the center of the room. Reven was wiping gore off his gauntlet. Philosir was on the opposite side of the room plugged into a large circuit panel.

KACRACK, the sound echoed down the hall.

All except Philosir turned towards the hall way. Aquilum peaked back down the hall. The quiet voice of Philosir gave them all something else to focus on. “The moment this door opens we go in. If the orks get past the second blast before the door opens, do not let them see you and DO NOT FIRE.”

Inushi holstered his plasma pistol. He slowly walked across the room. To his left he examined Reven. The Blood Angel stood proud, his red armor showing minor battle damage, mostly blood splatter. He gave a small nod as their gazes met.

Next he passed Pyrox. The gray armored Fire Angel knelt behind the large squig, his head was down. Inushi knew Pyrox was in lost in prayer. Unlike Reven, Pyrox’s armor was heavily scratched, torn, and dented. The Fire Angel had several minor wounds but nothing that would slow him down.

After several more steps he stood before Philosir and Hunzuu. The tech marine held the sleek weapon vertically across his back with two of his servo arms. His other hands manipulated what appeared to be a melta bomb. Hunzuu stood opposite the relatively small closed door, the partial form of Shar-drasha carefully sat on the floor. Hunzuu was combining two nearly empty hand flamer canisters.

KACRACK

The second explosion sounded twice as loud as the first. The screams of greenskins made him smile slightly. Hunzuu placed the two canisters back into their protected compartments just behind his left arm pit, when the wall behind him seemed to rumble.

The sounds of orks down the hall grew. Inushi could hear them pounding on doors and slamming open others. The voices were quickly multiplying.

Philosir turned and strode over to the squig as the door opened. The door was no larger then a fully armored marine. It revealed a small room that Hunzuu was already moving into with Shar-drasha.

Inushi moved to the door and stood sentinel as Reven and Pyrox silently moved passed him. The sounds of orks shouting grew closer. Aquilum passed Inushi and into the room. Philosir took his modified melta bomb and placed it in the fresh wound that Reven had created in it, only a thin black cord dangled out of the squigs flesh. With little sound he turned back towards Inushi and towards the room. His servo arms passed the weapon over his head and into his waiting hands. The tech marine stood before Inushi and nodded with his head to move into the room.

Silently Inushi stepped into the room with Philosir right behind him. The door rumbled shut making more noise then any of the marines had made in the past minute. Shoulder to shoulder they stood, Philosir had his servo arms at odd angles above him and the sleek weapon leaned in the corner. The tech marine pivoted and Inushi could hear some switches move when the entire room rumbled up.

Directly in front of Inushi was Aquilum. The half pink half yellow helmet of the Emperor’s Fool was turning left and right. Inushi could tell he was going to speak any second. “Up?” he questioned.

“Yes.” Philosir responded. The room seemed to pick up speed.

KABOOM

The room vibrated slightly from the explosion but continued its journey up.

Despite the explosion Inushi could tell the simple response was bothering Aquilum. He looked around the tight room at the other marines before rolling his head back to Philosir.

“What’s next, more stairs going down?” Aquilum added.

Without hesitation Philosir responded. “Negative. The ship that we’ll be taking is located near the top of the space station.” He paused for a moment. “The ork commanders ship.”

As the last words left Philosir, Aquilum met Inushi’s gaze once more. Despite the helmet on his head, Inushi knew Aquilum was grinning. It seemed the worse Inushi felt the more Aquilum enjoyed himself.

So much Tech Heresy! so much. I am surprised they are actually allowed to exist.
I am currently reading through the whole of the story so far. Truly great work.
This is where i am so far. I will give a better bit of praise once i have finished!

**IceAngel**

Tech Heresy, good term! I may use that. Thanks for checking out my fluff.

**dorantana**

Yeah, just to define it a bit more.
Tech Heresy is the modification any Astartes or Imperial Technology.

A good example is this.

A Deathwatch killteam is helping the Guard forces on a planet.
The team notices that on many of the Armored vehicles instead of a Stubber there is a Twin linked Las Gun. This is not Tech Heresy as to make this weapon would be to put two Las Guns side by Side. However, the unit also notices that on some of the vehicles the have been modifications to create what would be a Platform to allow for an extra number of men to be carried on top.
THAT IS TECH HERESY!!!

The Grenade Modifications, The use of the Ork Vehicles or Xenos in general, and ESPECIALLY the use of the Beam Weapon you described the Tech Priest using.

The offenses committed by the Ice Angels in this single chapter alone are enough to deem the Chapter as Heretic.

Loving every second of what i read!

**cormadepanda**

This is good stuff. I liked the read thanks!

**IceAngel**

@dorantana = Thanks for the break down. Something that I've eluded to throughout the story is the problems the Ice Angels have had with the Inquisition. I haven't gone into detail yet, but Tech Heresy is at the heart of the problem. More on that later.

And thanks again for the great comments.

@cormadepanda = Thanks Cormadepanda. Did you recently go through and read it all? If so, how was it one single go? Once I've completed book one in the series I'll be going back and doing some serious editing. I'm curious to see how it feels reading it as is.

**dorantana**

I read it in 2 days. I have to say it was amazing. Some places need to be cleaned up towards the beginning in terms of flow, but it really started to flow in the page 10 and on parts. I was hooked. It takes a lot to keep me hooked into a story. Especially when i have to sift through a forum lol.

Is a new installment coming soon? I'm in withdrawals!!!

**IceAngel**

Captain Razzik heard the screeching swarms and the rumble of worms bursting out of the ground. A torrent of gun fire responded with its own roar. Battle cannons, demolishers, hundreds of bolters, and grenades of all kinds rocked the crater. Reports piled in to Razzik, his incoming report feed quickly blinking red as the queue began to over flow. Amongst the carnage he could even hear the howl of engines firing up. The various planes were leaving their parked positions in order to avoid the colossal armored worms.

Razzik was fully aware yet he knew, without a doubt, that the second company knew what needed to be done. Instead he continued his march towards the tunnel before him. High up on the craters edge the swarms and worms hadn’t reached them. He hadn’t given any commands to the units around him and several marines seemed tense without orders. Razzik noticed the hesitation in the back of his mind but when a new sound began to echo from the bowels of the tunnel he pushed it aside and issued a formation order. All the marines around him took position.

He was flanked by two units on each side, the front row of marines knelt so the back could shoot over them. They were in a loose formation with room in between for the rear units to rush in with blades.

The sounds from the tunnel intensified, instead of the reverberated jumble of noise, the echoes coalesced into whoops and sharp trills. From the depths of the tunnel came a murder of giant creatures of various colors and sizes. They were all quadruped in form and larger then the marines. Initial visuals gave Razzik the thought they were from an avian genetic line. They were wingless and ran on long legs. Curved blade like beaks snapped with anticipation. Dull muted colors of all kinds could be seen amongst the different creatures. Each had two pairs of beady red eyes staring lustfully at the marines.

Razzik and the marines around him disregarded the wall of sound or the growing number of enemies before them. Each marine only saw their targets, weak points at joints, eyes, or throats. After only a few seconds of assessing, the marines opened fire and the first wave faltered under their explosive rounds. Most of the front row fell but to Razzik’s surprise they struggled to continue on instead of lying down and dying. They seemed to disregard their wounds, only the head shots truly stopped them.

A missile streaked past Razzik and exploded through the chest of one particularly large creature, but the creature managed to take several more steps towards the marines gurgling its anger before falling to the ground.

Annoyed by the extra effort the monsters were taking Razzik charged forward with Vetov on his heals. The waiting marines matched his charge.

**Gitsplitta**

Nasty critters... go team Razzik!

**1-i**

Arachnids from Starship Troppers?

**IceAngel**

Cyaxeres leapt away as Inigo kept his eyes on the towering worm before him. The screams and bellows of alien creatures were filling the air when the marines all around the crater opened fire.

A billowing column of the dark winged creatures swarmed around Inigo. He swung his hammer in wide arcs felling them in twos and threes yet their sheer numbers got to him. He felt their scratches and bites as they tried to find a weakness in his armor. He felt surprising pressure as they flew into him. His super human strength alone kept him upright as a near continuous stream of furry winged creatures rammed into him.

He rolled back to his side and when he came up he found himself across the street from Kvothe. Kvothe’s meltagun repeatedly fired into a similar column of creatures. Each round of melta passed through a dozen of the creatures leaving twitching remains scatter about the broken street. The column momentarily dissipated from the repeated fire.

“KVOTHE LOOK OUT!” Jaska shouted.

Inigo watched as the towering armored worm came down head first into the ground over top of Kvothe. It struck the ground as hard a crashing thunderhawk. The ground shook like it had been hit by an artillery shell. Chunks of road buckled and a nearby wall toppled. Inigo took two steps and swung at the side of the worms’ mouth with all his might. With a roar he connected just behind the outer jaw of the worm. It felt like he was hitting solid rock, not a living creature. Nevertheless the impact sent deep cracks across the side of the creature; small bits of its hide fell off onto the street.

Inigo stepped back, disappointed with his attack, but with a grin he swung again as the worm continued its grinding into the street. A pair of the flying creatures flew by digging deep gashes in his back pack as he shielded himself. He prepared for another massive swing as the worm lifted itself back up with surprising speed. The creature had left a deep crater in its wake. All that remained of Kvothe was pulverized flesh and shredded bits of armor.

“Inigo, get to the hole! Hit it there!” Nefas shouted as Jaska moved up firing his plasma pistol at the base of the worm.

Inigo peered over to Nefas further down the street before he moved up. The Sinner marine was kneeling in the street over a chest. It was the chest he had seen in his room full of ammo. “Where did that come from?” Inigo thought to himself before turning and running towards the worm.

Jaska’s plasma fire was melting the worms armor and when Inigo took his swing, the exoskeleton of the worm exploded outwards from the impact. The worm shuddered in the air and thrashed about momentarily before adjusting to attack where Inigo was standing.

The worm began to swivel in the hole so that its wound wasn’t facing the Sons of Hades marine. Jaska continued to fire at different points as the worm did. Inigo focused on the weaker plasma hits as he struck the worm again and again.

The worm shuddered and began to sink back down into the hole when Inigo was showered with bits of armor and flesh. One particularly large chunk smashed into his helm and shoulder forcing him to lean on a waist high pile of rubble to avoid falling. From his leaning position he gazed up at the worm and saw that the top end had been blown off. The worm fell over onto its side away from Inigo, crashing down onto the ruins of several ruined warehouses.

A rising thunderhawk had appeared several streets over and its battle cannon was swiveling away from the fallen worm. Its defensive weapons were firing in every direction. There was a near constant flow of falling flesh underneath the ship as the flying creatures were hit by hurricane and heavy bolter rounds.

Another swarm of flying black winged beasts flew at Inigo as he witnessed the Thunderhawks ascent. Inigo swung his hammer cleanly connecting with one of the small beasts as globs of super heated plasma shot past him. The handful of remaining winged beasts flew up and away.

Jaska approached, scanning the skies for another wave. Inigo did the same. Dawn was now fully illuminating the crater. Above the ruins of the structures worms thrashed about and the flying swarms coalesced around ships and dove down at marines. There had to be a dozen of the colossal worms, lashing out from the ground. Some were to far away to attack any of the Angels or their vessels but others were smashing themselves onto the unfortunate raven or unit of marines.

With a side glance Inigo looked over to Nefas once again. The marine’s bolter was in a unique configuration with a second grip at the end of the stock before the short barrel. Several sights were mounted on the top and other side.

The chest Nefas had opened a moment before was no where to be seen. Inigo watched as the Sinner stepped down into the broken ground to the remains of Kvothe. He knelt over the largest conglomeration of the marine and dipped two of his fingers in the bloody pulp.

A nearby thrashing worm made Inigo turn towards the enemy and when he looked back Nefas was approaching. Blood was smeared on his white helmet from ventilator to left ear.

“Follow me.” He commanded as he began to run past the bulk of the dead worm nearby. Jaska didn’t hesitate to follow. Inigo took one last side glance at the remains of Kvothe before following behind.

**Gitsplitta**

Outstanding entry Ice!