Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Very nice indeed Ice! Though I don't know I think I expected the end a bit more heroic. You know a pile of corpses a Warboss a duel and then death. But who says that Inushi is dead??? Mmmmm....

Thanks bobakos. I try to write away from any expectations. It makes things more interesting.

Outstanding entry Ice. Very well written and nicely handled. I like the fact that Philsoir took the time to acknowledge Inushi's accomplishment before leaving him to whatever fate the Emperor decreed. Nice soldier-to-soldier touch.

Thank you sir!

Cautiously he stood. Inigo looked ahead and began to move. The pulse that he had felt before passed once again. He felt the pulse pass through him as if he had an extra heart in his chest pumping out of rhythm. He quickly scanned around trying to find some clue as to what it could be but only broken artifacts and statues surrounded him. His step quickened as he searched for some clue as to what was causing it. He came to stand before another statue of a naked dark eldar slaying some unknown xenos.

The pulse passed again. He looked to his right. There was a clearing surrounded by the floating muscular death machines. Without hesitating he moved towards it. He grasped his hammer in both hands as he approached.

Dozens of the xenos creations floated around a recess in the floor. His pace slowed as he neared the edge to fully see what lay below. He stopped within arms reach of two massive motionless creatures. They were as twisted as all the others he had seen but he ignored them completely as he focused on what slumbered in the pit.

“It can’t be….” He mumbled as he lowered his hammer in awe.

Words crackled through his vox, the distant voice of Razzik requested a status update that he didn’t register. Inigo couldn’t take his eyes off the beast before him.

Forty feet below him at the base of a tiered pit lay a slumbering behemoth as big as a Thunderhawk. It was a two headed lizard like creature with six legs. A long thick spiked tail curled along its right side. Dark red spines lined its back, each taller then a space marine. The two heads were laying side by side, curved teeth jutted up from its expansive jaws.

“Dark and deadly like the pits of Hades,” Inigo recited the phrase common on his home world. “It can’t be,” he said once again. The beast was exactly like the ancient linnorms from his home world. Images and artwork filled his mind as he thought back to everything he had heard about these ancient and revered monsters, but the last was said to have been slain thousands of years ago.

As he examined the creature he noticed the extensive tubing and wiring embedded into the creature’s chest and neck. The pulse passed through him once more as his vox crackled. Inigo ignored the private request from Jaska.

Without taking his eyes off the creature he climbed down the tiers. After only a few tiers he began to feel the heat radiating off the beast. It was said their touch could melt stone and as he approached he began to wonder if it truly could.

As he got closer, the warmth intensified to a point that his MK VI armor cooling systems activated. When he stepped down do the final level a part of him noticed the elaborate metal flooring that the linnorm laid on, another part of him noticed the bank of machines behind him, built into the bottom tier. His main focus though couldn’t tear itself away from the monster.

Taking the few final steps, he approached one of the heads. Its teeth were as tall as he was. Its lips were as thick as his legs. Its eyes were bigger then his chest. Inigo was mesmerized by the sheer size of such a creature. He slowly reached out with his left hand and touched the beasts long jagged snout.

His mind reeled from the touch as images tore through his consciousness like a hurricane. He frantically tried to catch any of the blurred thoughts as they scattered through his brain. Melting stone, intense heat, falling darkness, valleys of green death, a flying city, a human rebellion, a fallen gargant, the images flittered so fast he forgot many of them after he saw them, but they continued unabated. A mental flood gate had been released and he was drowning in the currents.

Suddenly the pulse, the heart beat of the creature he was touching, surged through his body and forced him to relinquish his connection to the beast. A final image lingered and faded, like a falling snow flake it drifted from focus. Inigo took a sharp intake as his body tingled, the image disappeared but like a bright flash the after glow lingered and in it he saw himself. He saw himself dying on field of red clay surrounded by metal skeletons.

Salamander as a conduit for prophecy... I like!

Oooh, I did like that passage, seeing something from legend would no doubt cause awe in anyone!

Now.

What if that thing wakes up....

Excellent! I was wondering what reaction that section would get me.

"Again canned food..." thought the Salamander as it begun eating the marines...



Have i ever told you how much I love your descriptions??? If not, the I am saying this now

Thanks Bobakos. Which description made you decide to speak about your feelings this time?

But of course the way you portrayed the drago....erm salamander

“Inigo can take care of himself if he is so inclined to leave the unit!” Razzik quickly spat. Nefas began to speak before Razzik interrupted.

“This discussion is over.” Captain Razzik said with a finality that silenced both Nefas and Jaska. The Marine Chrysemys and Sinner exchanged glances as Razzik turned to Vetov before returning his gaze to the door. He took several steps up to it and reached out his hand.

“Vetov, Nefas, and Rimsin with me,” Razzik commanded as he grasped the one of the door handles. “If anything moves….. kill it,” he added as he pulled open the door.

The door quietly opened. Razzik stepped in as Vetov pulled opened the other door. The servitor hovered through the opening. Nefas was right behind Razzik with the members of Rimsin quickly moving in and panning out.

Beyond the door was a crowded room that widened the further back it went. Bright clinical light emanated from scores of floating glow orbs. Long isles led through the room that was lined with displays and weapon racks. Banners were strung together in the low ceiling like a near endless ribbon.

The members of squad Rimsin had taken positions at the beginning of each isle awaiting further instructions. Captain Razzik had lowered his shield and paused in front of a pristine suit of Mark II power armor that stood like a guard at an Imperial palace. Nefas and Vetov were by his side examining the nearest objects and banners.

“It appears we have located the Imperial section of the museum,” Nefas quietly hissed, intrigue oozing from each of his words.

Vetov stepped between two Ice Angels to look at the first display in the long line. A Mark IV back pack hung from the top of wooden case and a dark green velvet cloak draped underneath. The cloak covered a small ledge on which laid a phobos pattern bolter. Lions roared across the body of the weapon and ancient gothic writing decorated its magazine.

“These, these are relics,” Vetov began “displayed in a xenos trophy room.” He stepped past to look at the next item in the row, a rack that held a sniper rifle. The next was a black templar tabard. The next display was a commissar’s hat with a pair of auto pistols. “We must reclaim them for the Imperium,” he added with a look of disgust.

Razzik stepped past the suit of armor and began to wander down the next isle over. A terminator chainfist that had clearly been ripped off the terminator hung in an open rack. Underneath it on a separate shelf was a needle pistol of exquisite design; a small box of needles sat opened aside it.

Nefas began to follow Captain Razzik. “I disagree with Commander Vetov.”

Captain Razzik paused to look back at the Sinner marine.

“What? Nefas, your chapter must have revered artifacts. Items that have been in your chapter’s armory of countless ages,” Vetov retorted.

The Sinner marine didn’t take his eyes of off Razzik but responded to the comment, “we do, yes.”

“If one of those items is lost, it can break the spirit of the chapter. Can in not?” Vetov questioned, but continued before waiting on a response. “Entire crusades have been started just to reclaim lost banners or ancient items.” Vetov continued, “Imagine what allies we could make if we returned some of these to their rightful owners!”

Razzik took his gaze from Nefas before looking over the isle at Vetov who was now standing by a wide rack of shoulder pads, each from a different chapter. “We first locate the beacon some where in this room, then, we’ll discuss moving the relics.”

With a simply blink command the Ice Angels moved down the isles, quietly traversing the room like darkness chasing the setting sun. Captain Razzik fell into the formation with Nefas at his heels, only Vetov held his position.

Vetov looked at the collection of shoulder pads. He took a few steps and closely examined a black grenade hovering in a crystal case. An inner argument raged in his mind, but the voices in his head were rendered mute when he looked up and saw a ragged banner strung in the patchwork ceiling. The black and blue quartered fabric was dominated by a golden eye. A lone golden tear drop fell from its inner edge.

“The banner of the first…..” he whispered.

Brilliant Ice!!!Just brilliant!

That's really good Ice.

Ooooh I was hoping they might kit themselves out with some legendary wargear.

Relic's for the relic god!

Cool! As always I appreciate the praise.

Legendary weapons it is! Oh man, I think you'll guys get a huge kick out of what I have in store. Per usual though, I'm always up for any suggestions if any of you have any legendary weapon ideas.

A plasma gun that does not overheat 1 out of 6 times... stupid weapon design.

 Gitsplitta wrote:
A plasma gun that does not overheat 1 out of 6 times... stupid weapon design.

Good call! That ALWAYS bugged me. Hundreds of thousands of years in the future and they haven't created a cool cooling system. Actually I'm not sure if that's what really bugged me the most though, it may have been the fact that the Emperor's super soldiers would actually still use a weapon that was so volatile.

You could make it something that a rogue tech priest was fiddling with... or perhaps some eldar tech looked at it and thought... "this is stupid... if we just re-wire this little bit here, add a wraith bone recalibration conduit here... ah, that does it!" Rapid fire plasma gun!

That mark II power armour looks like a good catch, but who's going to haul it out, especially when the guards wake up.

Power armour incorporating multiple hidden weapon systems (stormbolters, power swords and gak)?

@Nobody - very good point. Some mark II armor would be a nice touch for a character though.
@Alie - Your suggestion may have already been included in the next section. Good call!

By the way, one of my plans for 2013 includes finishing book one of my Ice Angel fluff. I hope you all will help me stay on track to completing this project. Happy New Year everybody.

Looking forward to it! Have you thought about e-publishing?

I don't think I could publish this without getting permission from GW or Black Library first.

Captain Razzik strode past bizarre blades, unique guns, and an amazing conglomeration of gear, but his focus was solely on the servitor that slowly traversed the room. The human floating skull silently hovered through the room scanning the contents with only the basics of analysis. Its last command, to locate the source of the signal, consumed all of its limited mental capabilities.

The skull slowly passed a reaper auto cannon that leaned on a shelf before it dropped in altitude. It circled around an open area at the rear of the room. There were several benches in a wide circle and the skull made several rounds before holding its position inches above the floor in the center of the floor.

Razzik stood sentinel as he watched the servo skull finish its passes and stop. Unlike the rest of the room the floor was metallic and unclean. Dried stains surrounded a round panel that the servo skull hovered over.

“Shu-Takii, is the signal coming from the floor?” Razzik questioned as he noticed the tactical marine examining his auspex.

“Affirmative, the distress beacon is under that panel.” Shu-Takii adjusted several side dials before continuing, “that panel should lif……” he paused mid sentence. “Captain, there’s an astartes under there.”

“Get it open,” Razzik commanded without a shred of emotion. Shu-Takii stepped forward and knelt before the panel while Zaduga moved to assist. Shar-Takazz approached with his plasma pistol to cover the panel as they worked. The servo skull hovered up to observe.

Shu-Takii began to get out various tools to inspect the panel before Razzik stepped forward, “We don’t have time marine, just open it.”

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

Vetov witnessed the Ice Angels move throughout the room, each taking up a strategic position or moving down the various isles with the captain. As they spread out he stared up at the banner once more. He studied the manner in which they were strung up. If he climbed the nearest shelf he could reach it and break it free from its fastenings, so he hoped. With that in mind he examined the nearest shelves determining which would better hold his weight.

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

Inigo casually strode around a partially destroyed contemptor dreadnought when he came in view of an Ice Angel. The marine had his bolter trained on him instantly. After a slight nod he continued his watch.

Several more steps took Inigo away from the dreadnought and closer to a hovering hulk. A krak grenade was stashed between its shoulder and neck. The grenade made him think back to the pack of charges he had left else where in the museum.

Three more Ice Angels came into view before he saw Jaska and the wide open double doors under the Imperial Aquila. The red armored Marine Chrysemys approached the moment he saw him. He stood a few paces away, took a side glance at a nearby motionless giant, and then back to Inigo.

“What took so long?” Jaska promptly asked.

Inigo began to answer but paused, he didn’t know where to start.

* * * * * * * * * *

“Okay, ready” Shu-Takii stated before issuing a yellow icon by his name in the Ice Angel’s HUD’s. All the nearest Ice Angels raised weapons and prepared. The icon blinked three times, then twice, then once before it dissipated and he pulled up the panel.

It didn’t move far before the screaming began and the panel stopped only partially open. The triple lungs of an astartes bellowed in pain. The smell of blood, bile, and suffering wafted up from the cracked open panel.

“Zaduga,” Shu-Takii calmly requested. The other marine grabbed the other side of the panel and the two of them wrenched it open with all their might. A wet crunch echoed through the room moments before the panel jammed itself at 90 degrees, like the top hatch on a rhino. The hole in the floor contained an unarmored astartes who was tightly held in place, only the top of his shoulders and his head could be seen, the heavy mechanical augmentation on his skull and shoulder easily visible. His screaming stopped only to be replaced by a racking cough that spat out blood. Blades from the underside of the panel were dug deep into his neck and upper shoulders.

The bloody astartes quaked slightly before looking up at the Angels around him. Razzik saw the utter despair in his remaining eye, this marine was broken and beyond repair, he thought to himself. The mechanical arm and side of his face were heavily damaged. Razzik could see where a lot of the mechanics were melted and fused to the side of the hole he was in.

With visible effort the marine let out a faint whisper. “You should not have come here.”

The lights in the room then suddenly went out, the museum went dark. Reports from the tactical marines back at the black curtain indicated that the entire complex had done the same.

The marines around Razzik silently adjusted their stances and switched to night fighting modes before the marine in the floor spoke again, “they are coming.” The inevitability in his voice weighed on Razzik like thick smog but with a single defiant grunt it dissipated before he could dwell on it. “Let them come, I have a fist to show them,” he snarled.

Love it!

And that fist will be planted directly into the face of whatever tries to kill them...

Oh wow, the atmosphere in that scene was amazing, there was a real sense of "things are about to go from weird to bad in 3, 2, 1...."

Amazing and its a shame we have to wait for your next installment.

Who is that marine in the chamber?

Whoever he is, Knightley, he must be mentally and physically broken beyond any chance of salvation. Can you imagine being tortured for the heck of it near the brink of death for years like this poor sod ? Gives me the creeps...

*Sudden realization* Contemptor dreadnought you said? Do we know any heavily injured/near death/almost dead marine that could use a dreadnought??? That would be fun times I think...

Yeah, although if his mind has been as broken as we're led to believe I would perhaps think twice before giving a huge death machine to the mentally unstable...