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After Rephosus dropped the commissar Neor ran over and helped him up.
"Goddamnit Reph, this man is a perfectly respectable soldier! Just because none of the men from the Red Planet wanted to live on this damn rock doesn't mean you can slaughter the best Imperial Army officer I've ever seen." Nero growled, only protecting the man because of his Cthonian blood.
"Thank you milord, please allow me to introduce you. This is the Catachan 223rd Regiment, currently waiting for anything to do." Dornian said and the men shifted uncomfortably.
"We are the first Space Marines they've seen aren't we?" Nero asked.
"For most of them yes. A few of the older veterans had the honor of fighting alongside the White Scars legion, but other than that they are unaccustomed to your kind." Dornian replied.
"Which Legion did you fight beside Ser Lupus?" Nero asked.
"I was at Ullanor milord." Dornian replied. The Reavers dropped to their knees at the mention of the name.
"Then you should come with us, wherever our destination may be. Ser Lupus, will you accompany us across the galaxy to Davin and beyond, to look upon the radiance of the Warmaster again?" Sedairae asked.
"It would be my honor to go with you milords." Dornian said.
"We are no lords of you Ser Lupus, you fought at Ullanor." Cerberus replied.

"Greetings, Catachan Soldiers. Could you show me to the commanding Officer?"

A gap appeared in the line of Catachans, and a tall, striking figure strode out to the marines. He wore a Beret on his head, and a striking plasma burn ran down the side of his face.

"My lord."

He knelt on one knee.

"Stand, trooper. We are but mortals too."

The officer rose.

"I am Officer Drax Carvio. What is to be done?"

Dreph pointed out to the horizons, where a great cloud of smoke hung in the air.

"That is where our ship crashed, Carvio. All systems are functional, but a greater menace prevents us from our travels. Everliving men made of metal have stowed in the workings of the hull, and have attacked many Marines in the ship. Several of these creatures still remain, and we cannot embark our ship without assistance. Will your men aid our plight?"

The Officer agreed, and the two went into the Command Bunker.

Hectoris awoke. He was in a baracks of some kind, yet he remembered not how he got there. He got up and storde to the makeshift washing basin. He looked in the mirror, at.the.point where Scarspite had branded him. Sure enough, Khorne's symbol was upon his sternum. He stepped back and armoured himself. When he was dressed.his checked his reflection again.

The mark wasn't all that had changed. He looked up at his face and cried out in fear as the Daemon stared back. He cried out as the Daemon in the.mirror struck, its blade passing through the pane and into his chest. His armour shattered and he saw his flesh. Blood red, hard as brass, scaly. He wore a long coat of skulls, and carried a Hellblade. The Daemon inside the mirror was gone. Instead he saw himself as he was. He had become Scarspite and it had become him. Hectoris, now in Scarspite's form, turned to the.mirror, looked himself in the eye, and shattered it.

______________________


Hectoris woke up, truly awake. He was in the baracks but he was himself, no mark upon his chest, though he could still feel it there. He thought back to the dream. He was dreaming, he told himself. Dreams are a load of nonsense.

I walked off after i made the camp a couple of hundred metres away. I decided that i should go back in my mind again.
I found a secluded space where i sat down and entered a trance.
I saw M'gash again. I said to him. ''So what have you found? Have you decided something?''
He looked up to me with a confused face and said. ''what is the matter with you? You seem different.''
I smiled up at him and without warning said to him. ''Mind if i enslave you?''
He screamed out of anger and shouted. ''You belong to me remember. Or do i need to teach you a lesson?'' He said while spreading his wings.
I lifted up my fists and rushed towards him. He spewed flames but i evaded them. I send a magical bolt towards him it blasted one of his wing's. He fell to the ground but before he reached it he transformed into a flaming tornado and rushed towards me. I was too late and i got hit. But luckily i was able to save myself with my magical ward.
I opened my organic eye and with a spell i tried to lift him up and smack him to the ground. But his psychic powers where to great. He got very close to me and tried to bite my head of. But just before he succeeded i used my laser eye and i wounded him.
I walked up to him and said. ''I have won the psychic battle you will listen and serve me now! I will use your power to serve the emperor and my captain and the primarch!''
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I woke up again i felt stronger and completely in control. I walked to a open space and i felt a rush going through me as fiery wings sprouted from my back. I could fly up high in the sky and soared through the air. I felt the new power i felt the submission of M'gash. I soared through the air and landed 20 metres from the base. I walked towards the command bunker deciding that i should speak with captain dreph about what happened.

Dreph studied maps and charts as Carvio showed him the planet.

"This is Catachan, a Death World that is covered by Jungle. We are the 223rd Regiment of Catachan Jungle Fighters. My men specialize in the art of hit and run warfare, utilizing Sentinels, Flamers and Camouflage to their full advantage. We pride ourselves on mobility."

Dreph turned to see a squad of 4 Jungle Fighters.

"Would you like to meet my Command Squad?"

I entered the command bunker i walked up to captrain dreph and said. ''Captain dreph i need to talk to you right now!''
He looked up to me with a confused face and said. ''Sorry rephosus but i don't have the time right now.''
I looked around and saw a group of those guardsman standing before him. One of them adorned some medals i guessed he was the new commander.
I walked up to him and said. ''So you are the new commander of these army soldiers? Here.'' I gave him one of my own master crafted plasma pistols and said ''Consider it a gift and a sign of our collaboration.''

Aloysus and his squad entered the camp and Marius hurried to the Command Bunker.

Entering he saw Captain Dreph in discussion with a scarred commander of one of the local regiments. "What is the situation, Captain, and who is this?"

"Marines, may I introduce you to Officer Drax Carvio."

The commander bowed down.

"He was explaining the area around us. We're on the planet of Catachan. As the Commissar told you, this is the 223rd Regiment of Catachan Jungle Fighters."

Dreph walked over to the command squad. As each soldier introduced himself, Dreph asked whether he could see them train.

Aloysus liked the look of Drax Carvio. He appeared to be a hard and capable man, and his men seemed very loyal to him. He watched the Catachan regiment train, noting the professional manner in which they moved, noting how their combat style was uniquely adapted to fighting on their harsh planet. They seemed to melt into and out of their jungle surrounds. These were a hard men, and were clearly capable fighters.

He noticed another marine observing the Catachan's training. It was an assault marine, although Marius did not recognise his armour. There was a huge hole in the front of it, right over the marine's primary heart. Aloysus walked over to him. "Brother, do you require medical attention?" he called as he approached the assault marine. The marine glanced at him and shook his head, before igniting his jump pack and leaping away into the forest. "Captain" Marius voxed "Did any of our assault marines survive the battle on Pyrona?"

I walked off to the mech bays seeing some of their mechanics working on their sentinels. I decided that i should find some prospective tech-priests. I found one especially capable man he was welding a plasma cannon on one of the sentinels plasma cannons where extremely hazardous. So only the most capable could weld those with ease. I walked up to them when i suddenly heard a explosion i looked around and saw 5 guardsman throwing some explosives to what seemed to be targets. When i turned around again the guardsman was gone i decided that i would find this prospective techpriest. I walked off to the training ground relaxing while watching the soldiers train.

"I believe a single squadron managed to escape. The rest were destroyed."

Dreph watched the training. The soldiers were clearly masters of Hit and Run. They sprang in between trees, keeping a stable aim on the targets. Sentinels sprinted through the area, obliterating the paper templates in a hail of flames and autocannon shells.

However he felt uneasy. As they trained, he saw a set of glowing green staring into the camp.

"We need to go into the armoury and prepare our weapons, Carvio."

"Ok, it's just over..."

"No, we all need to get ready."

Segari's shell remained still. Inside he was in a meditative trance, pondering his inner memories... or what was left of them. He was not alone in his thoughts. Whispers penetrated his mind pulling at his already feeble sanity. He opened his eyes just in time, the whispers retreating, fading into echoes.

His captain knocked on one of his legs, making a loud clanging that vibrated throughout the tank.
"Awake Apollus we have work to do!"
He activated his suit with a simple thought, power coursed its way through his metal limbs and a great engine burst to life.
"Yes... brother-captain, I am ready to serve... again".
He wished to activate his weaponary but he was still famaliarising himself with his new arms. His old sword, "Steel Faith", which he had lovingly crafted had been attached to his left arm, now crackling with bright blue power. To accompany his melee weapon was a chainsaw with the teeth taken from a Tokrok was underslung on his wrist. In his right arm's arsenal was a power fist. He also bore an assualt cannon that was attached to his right breast plate. No enemy would stand before him.

After hearing the order to gear up i returned to my camp.
I gathered my men and returned to captain dreph. I formed my men up in a strict line with me at the head in my knight. Behind me the 4 tribunes walked. After that the tech-priests and the cybernetica robots. And lastly the Hyspasists and Sagitarii. I deployed a vanguard of Cataphractii to sweep the area for enemies.
I arrived at the camp i found the captain standing in front of the remaining marines. I walked towards him and said. ''Captain i have gathered my forces i have 4 platoons of 50 skitarii ready for battle what are your orders?''

The remaining Basilisks gathered around Aloysus. "The flora and fauna of this planet is incredibly deadly. There are plants and animals here that can threaten even a Space Marine. I want you at your most vigilant. Listen to the Catachans and respect their knowledge. We can ill afford more casualties, we are few enough as things stand, and I am the closest thing to an Apothecary that we have remaining."

He voxed the Captain. "My Basilisks are ready to move. We await your orders."

The Captain stormed into the Armoury, grabbing a Power Sword and Storm Shield.

Segari made his way through the encampment buzzing with activity as men scuttled around him trying not to be crushed by his powerful steps. The ominous glow in the distance had now become brighter bathing everything in a green shadow. A line of defences on the outskirts of the camp were being filled with troops and weaponry.

Apollus made his way into the communication trench which was wide enough to fit vehicles such as himself. Scanners and vox were being prepared in the many dugouts trying to pinpoint the enemy and recieve intel from scout units who had already been engaged.

I deployed my forces in reserve and walked towards the captain. I said. ''Captain dreph i think we should make a strategy so we have a plan. I advice we gather the inner circle allong with the imperial guard commander and begin planning.''

Aloysus led his squad into position on the front line. There was a strange weight to the air, and a feeling of tension. The troopers nearby looked at the Space Marines in awe, and stood taller in their presence. They would not run in the face of the enemy this day, Aloysus could tell. The Emperor's Children watched them, and they would not be found wanting.

Dreph pushed aside Rephosus.

"You are to listen to the Catachans. If anybody knows how to fight here, it's them."

Dreph joined the Command Squad, priming his Storm Shield for the initial assault.

"Vox all squads. They are to hide and ambush. Aim to get in combat. The Emperor's Children have provided us with intel. The enemy is slow, but their weapons are incredibly powerful. They regenerate, so you must sever them completely."

Hectoris stalked through the underbrush. Imperial Soldiers were climbing up trees to get scouting views. Hectoris wasn't willing to wait. He removed his gauntlets, revealing inch long fingernails, daggerlike, with as hard as stone. He was really enjoying his new powers. He took a running start and lept, straining his super enhanced legs straining their limit to propel his bulk and armour into the air. He gripped into the wood with his talons and smashed his toes into the trunk, just as a burst of Lightning struck the tree. He heard guardsmen scream in agony. "Should've been careful," he said aloud. He lept out agai, jumping backwards onto the trunk behind him. As he was about to leap back the original trunk, he heard another scream, and caught a glance of a Catachan soldier falling from the treeline, lightning crackling from his body. Something was wrong. He lept another few length of the tree. Hd was exhausted. His armour was too heavy. He activated the emergeancy switch, a new function to the suits, that caused all.of his armour to decouple, and drop to the ground. He wasn't concerned about the armour or the soldiers below. In fact, he chuckled a little as one cried out in pain, and was answered by cries of "What the... a boot? Where the feth did that come from?"

Hectoris, now clutching his sword in his teeth, lept up and found a branch thick.enough to support him. He gripped his sword hilt, and stalked up the branches towards a man he recognised as a Sergeant. As he approached he lept back as a bolt of electricity his the soldier and hurled him off the tree. Hectoris bolted towards where the human.had just been.

I marched of to one of the few open areas deciding i would meet them in a fair fight.
My platoons marched in strict formation to the clearing. Once there i deployed them in 2 thick lines. With the Cataphractii deployed in reserve to be sure that all flankers would be repelled.
I was at the front i stalked forward with my own preatorian's behind me. I saw them breaking the treeline it was that same necron the one that almost killed me. I roared out and ordered all forces to advance.
I jumped up into the sky as i forced M'gash to allow me to use his wings again the sprouted from the knight's back. 2 huge fiery wings appeared and i soared into the sky. I analyzed his forces and spotted around 200 warriors with some barges i smiled and fired my plasma annihilator at the warriors. Around 40 warriors where consumed by the fiery plasma.
I landed and rushed towards them. My forces almost clashed with the necrons and i wanted to make a hole in their defence for them to rush into. I activated my power lance and clashed with one of their lords he was ripped apart by the lance. I continued rushing. I cut a bloody swathe through their lines. Around that moment i heard the battle screams of the arriving hyspasists and the explosions of the Sagitarii's autocannons and mortars. My praetorians caught up with me and they formed a bodyguard formation around me. Just at that moment a group of lychguard phased in and began attacking me. I ripped 2 of them completely apart when he arrived. Caldrek came i dismounted my knight and said. ''You and i will fight like men! No weapons no help!'' I said as i threw away my plasma pistols and combat sword. I walked up to him and took a fighting stance.

Aloysus and his men opened fire, scything down the first wave of Necrons, to whoops from the guardsmen. The crys of joy turned to mutters of disbelief as nearly three quarters of the fallen Necrons stood up again.

"Stand fast, men of the Imperial Army!" yelled Aloysus, putting some steel in their spines. "They dislike what you do best: massed firepower. Open fire, and lets see you much scrap metal we can make!"

The troopers cheered and opened fire, the sheer volume of firepower ensuring many did not rise again.

Lightning crashed down all around Nero and his squad. He heard fires break out and men screaming. A massive metal scorpion burst from the ground next to the squad and whipped them all with a massive tail swipe. Commissar Lupus burst from the undergrowth and jumped onto its head. It shook and clawed furiously but Lupus held on. He produced a melta bomb from his jacket and jammed it into the beasts eye. He jumped off and started to run, but Nero grabbed him and curled up in a protective ball. The charge turned the beasts important sensors to slag and the whole thing crunched down. Metal men carrying massive blades men came through the foliage only to land on the Reaver's bolt fire. Sedirae danced through them, mulching their heads with his blade. He fired his plasma pistol and melted one that charged him before cutting down its friend. A stray lightning bolt caught Nero in the face and knocked him out. He saw a pantheon with four great thrones surrounding him. One of skulls, one of writhing tentacles, one of multi-colored fire, and one of smog. Shadowed figures sat on top of the thrones, but clearer figures came to him. Each a daemon of the gods. They each talked at length about how many benefits he would come across if he just gave in to their god, but he ignored them. A golden man then descended from the unseen ceiling of the chamber and cut them all apart.
"I am the First Son. I am one in the same with those creatures, but I serve the Emperor. Allow me to possess you and you will be granted with His blessing for the years to come." The man said.
"You may have me." Nero replied and the man disolved into light and flew into Nero.

He woke up and tore off his helm. It clanged to the ground and he stood up.
"FOR HORUS AND THE EMPEROR!" He shouted, crashing into the Necron lines with a new fury and skill.

Dreph stood stalwart, waiting for the metal creatures.

A green glow grew in the background. A faint whine could be heard.

"Prepare your men for the ambush."

The glow strengthened as Jungle Fighters began to take their positions.

The whine became louder.

A gleaming metal sliver shone.

"Go! Go! Go!"

Brave Soldiers threw themselves at the Destroyers, bringing 2 down in a hail of flame.

As this happened, Dreph noticed a strange silhouette jumping between the trees.

"Stand and fight!"

The Captain climbed up a tree and chased the eerie figure through the thick canopy.

Caldrek silently cursed himself for being so stupid as to remove his helmet to talk to Nemesor Tokarn. Rephosus had recognised him and requested a duel, with fists. Caldrek phased out and let his Power Armour fall away, re-entering reality with both his Gravity Displacement Pack on his back and his own weapons back in thier sheaths, where they should be.

Caldrek wasted no time in attacking the marine, boosting forward with his Gravity Pack and punching him in the face, once again breaking his nose. Caldrek swiftly followed up by grabbing the reeling marine and jumping about two hundered feet into the air, As he did, Caldrek released Rephosus and kicked him hard in the abdomen, flipping him upside down. Now in freefall, Caldrek and Rephosus traded blows for a short time. This ended when Rephosus landed a heavy hit in Caldrek's face, breaking his knuckles. Now being only fifty feet from the ground, Caldrek once again noticed the marine's eyes glowing purple. Knowing that his adversary was about to go psychic on him, Caldrek grabbed hold of the marine and spun so that he was higher than his opponant. Once again Caldrek fired his Gravity Pack, and accelerated to triple his speed straight down. The Marine hit the ground first, breaking his back, Caldrek simply phased out to avoid the impact.

After phasing back in, Caldrek just drew his weapons and began carving a bloody path through the Catachanian warriors, trying to regroup with Nemesor Tokarn

Apollus made his way through the smoke and dust towards the impact of the falling marine he had seen from afar. The battle was being waged fiercely with necrons barely being held back by the what seemed to be the necrons distant human counterparts.

It was brutal and calculative warfare watching machine tear apart machine. Scrap metal and transmisson fluids soaked the battlefield. Wild fires had started from flames meeting the chemical soaked dead or decommisioned causing a heat haze and thick smoke to hang over the writhing machines. Shells flew in all directions devastating scores of friend and foe who were packed into a deadly factory line of melee.

Apollus made his way to the fallen marine, crushing the thick layer of dead under him causing a loud crunch wherever he went. He was already covered in oil and green fluid and he had barely reached the frontline of the advancing Cataphractii who were reinforcing the line. Apollus also noticed the Catachan fighters moving into position, looking obviously out of place in the flattened jungle. Flesh would not last long in this battle.

Apollus had reached the crumpled form of Rephosus. His broken body had shattered most of his armour off including his helmet. With pleading eyes Rephosus looked up at his intombed brother. Lifting his arm with great effort he pointed at a path of destruction left by a lone Necron warrior who was steadily making his escape.
"You...shall be avenged... old friend", Apollus said with what little emotion he had left in his deep, booming voice.
"Return him... he must be saved" he said to a group of Catachan who had taken refuge in a crater. They were relieved to be pardoned from the meat grinder of battle and tended to Rephosus.

With all his might Apollus pushed his contemptor into a sprint after the necron who had crippled his brother.

Nero saw the Contemptor run and held back for a second, taking potshots with his bolt pistol. He saw a marine fall, power maul clanging to the ground. He rann and scooped it up, the First Son bristling with excitement as he touched it. A Necon warrior coated with still bleedfing flesh burst out of the under brush. With the first swing, Nero broke its talons, with the second he destroyed its legs.
"They say that a true Son of Horus can do great things normally, but if you give him a mace and a lightning claw, The Emperor himself shudders." Nero said as he bashed in the Necrons skull. Then he chased after the massive dreadnought, providing cover as it charged with reckless abandon.

Dreph leaped from tree to tree, coming closer and closer to the figure. At last, he jumped on it, bringing it down to the forest floor. He drew his power sword and pointed down towards where it's neck would be.

Hectoris rolled over.

"Hectoris?"

The Terminator Sergeant stared at him, his eyes filled with burning hatred. He rose up.

Aloysus saw Rephosus fall. He raced over to his side, assessing his injuries. His face was a bloody ruin, and his back was broken. He would likely need bionic replacements if he was ever to walk again. Aloysus cursed at the damage done to another marine. He had had enough of seeing marines fall never to rise, he had to do something about it.

He opened the vox to Captain Dreph. "Captain, we need a dedicated medicae, and I am the only one with the required medical training. I request the honour of becoming the Brotherhood's Apothecary. Will you grant me permission to don the white?"

Watching the Catachans and Aloysus tending to Rephosus, Antioch stepped out in front of them, with Faberon by his side. He fired shots off at the green eyed, metal forms in front of him, he and the Basilisks cutting down all of the enemy in front of them. He watched as Segari rushed after the warrior who had felled Rephosus. The only Griffin left was Faberon, the rest had been killed. His squad had been shattered, and he didn't know what to do. He thought on this a while, contemplating his future as he fought.