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@Gitsplitta - Good, I did too!

@Mynameisalie - Oh yes, Razzik will get to use his white powerfist soon enough!

@Knightley - You're always asking questions that I'm not going to answer, it makes me laugh.

@Bobakos - I really liked your comment. I'm glad you were creeped out. It's always good when my writing can elicit any kind of emotion.

@Knightley - That is a good point, but after reading about dreadnoughts and their "pilots" you have to wonder if any of them are right in the head any more. You live out a warriors life then essentially get killed only to be brought back in a machine and awakened only to fight. It always sounded like its own kind of death sentence.

@Knightley - I did not mean that dude he is broken beyond repair. I meant Inushi!!!

 Bobakos wrote:
@Knightley - I did not mean that dude he is broken beyond repair. I meant Inushi!!!

I think he'd just be pissed off, I've never heard of a stealthy dreadnought.

A stealthy dreadnought would be cool.

Razzik knelt and stared at the marine in the floor while focusing on his HUD display waiting for any sign of an enemy. The tortured astartes was frantically looking around as if his tormentors would materialize around him at any second.

“Why have they kept you alive?” Razzik quietly asked, more to himself then to the marine. The marine’s one good eye regarded Razzik as if he had just noticed him for the first time.

“She likes books,” he responded before fidgeting and looking around once again.

“Who is she?” Razzik prodded after a long pause.

“The Mistress,” all of this is hers. “Don’t touch it or she’ll be ANGRY!” he shouted. His lips quivered and he shut his eyes as if he were about to be beaten.

Razzik stood up and looked around. “Squad Rimsin, Brother Nefas, have any of you seen any books?”

The marine giggled maniacally for a moment as the five members of squad Rimsin all sent a negative symbol across his HUD. Nefas shook his head without removing his glare from the giggling marine. Razzik took one final look around before he slowly brought his gaze back to the floor. He took several steps backwards and sat on one of the benches. It was too small for his bulky form but he sat on it any ways, the stone bench cracked under his weight.

From his sitting position he couldn’t see anything below the marine’s eye, the bionics in his head encompassed not only his other eye but a good portion of his skull. “So Book, why does she like you?” Razzik asked to the marine. The marine glared back at him, a plethora of emotions rotated across his face before he ended on sorrow. He looked down at the small tube he was stuck in, his shouts replaced by a calm aged voice and with a whisper he explained.

“She tells me of her conquests, the death of the Imperium. She tells me of the corruption she incites, the self inflicted destruction she causes amongst the Empire. All of the terrible deeds she has done that no one knows of.” He tried to look away, “No one but me.”

“All I fought for……..NO!” He snapped up, hatred poured out of his face, “This is another trick. I’ll tell you nothing!” The next few sentences were filled with growls and incoherent shouts.

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

The darkness in the expansive room was thick, even his mechanically granted dark vision seemed to struggle with the blackness that engulfed them. Inigo held his hammer high in both hands ready to strike, slowly he crept back towards the door way. Sounds of a shouting marine floated out of the door way, Inigo caught only a handful of the words. He wondered what was going on.

Jaska was at his side, his plasma pistol at the ready. The Ice Angels were in positions near the door all facing the gallery of monsters that still stood or hovered in their motionless state.

A sound tickled at the edge of his hearing. It sounded like a deep breath that didn’t end. Inigo couldn’t locate it. Several other Ice Angels perked their heads up as well; they must have heard it too.

In the distance, to their right there was a slight metal scrape. It was a slow high pitched metal on metal sound, images of swords being rubbed against one another filled Inigo’s mind.

A growl gurgled from their left, another distant scrape echoed from the right, a heavy step ahead of them demanded their attention. Inigo struggled to locate where the sounds were all coming from when he began to see movement. Distant helmets of various designs and sizes could be seen, red light oozing out of their eye slits. In between statues, next to a broken tank, he caught a glimpse of the closest one. It was a hovering creature designed for nothing but death, its face covered in a slotted mask, both of its arms ending in spiked chains, like spines, that twitched along the floor. Scars and vials covered its bulky form.

All around him other, similar, creatures stood but they still waited unmoving, their masks still dark. Inigo and the other marines continuously monitored them as they waited for the active giants to get closer. The combat leader of Squad Kujara, Brother Balathu, was first to break the silence amongst the marines, “Captain, we have multiple contacts, possibly three to five of them are now awake.”

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

“Prepare to blow the charges and ready for immediate departure” Razzik commanded to Balathu. The marine in the floor was still babbling about not upsetting the mistress. “Shu-Takii how quickly can he be removed?”

“NO!” the marine in the floor shouted before his demeanor shifted once again. Shu-Takii shook his head, “not fast enough Captain, “he responded.

The voice of the marine in the floor quietly whispered, this time it was full of pity and sorrow, “please get me out of here” he added, his one eye briefly connecting with Razzik’s gaze. The sight of a pleading marine disgusted him.

Razzik waited for several heart beats before he flashed an icon to the sergeant of squad Rimsin. “You have done your duty marine,” Razzik said to the marine in the floor. Shar-Takazz knelt opposite Razzik behind the marine. Curved twin lightning blades surged with power as Shar-Takazz got closer. “It is time for your final journey,” Razzik continued with a slight nod.

The small glimpse of the sane side of the tortured marine vanished and the shouting returned. Shar-Takazz grasped the top of the marines head with his right hand and then sawed through the marines neck and bionics with his lightning claw. The motion was swift, but the shouts of the dead astartes lingered well after Shar-Takazz stood, head in hand.

“Shu-Takii, secure the head. Protect it at all costs.” Captain Razzik took a final look at the corpse in the floor. Signals were sent to the members of squad Plafwu back at the wall that they were returning with their objective in hand.

A sudden crash was heard in the room with them. Captain Razzik spun around and saw the form of Vetov picking himself up off the floor. The quartered marine had a massive banner draped over his shoulder and a collapsed shelf to his left, several space marine helmets were strewn across the isle. A bare spot in the patch work of banners showed a red light quickly fading to black.

Captain Razzik gritted his teeth in anger and stormed down the isle towards him. The other marines followed him towards the exit.

* * * * * * * * * *

Inigo heard a crash from behind him in the room with the Captain. He was about to turn to determine what happened when the nearest giant began a low growl. It wasn’t moving, but Inigo knew it soon would. The growling began to get louder, several bucket sized vials of lime green liquid emptied into the giant’s chest. A red eerie light began to ooze out of its helmet. Slowly, as if it were attracted to him, the giant turned its head over then down to stare directly at Inigo. Behind the giant the menacing red lights of others slowly turned to locate their prey. The growling began to grow the death machines were activated. Inigo found the weakest spot on the giant and prepared to strike.

“Captain, I suggest an immediate departure” Brother Balathu hastily said through the vox. “More are awakening. In fact, all of them are awakening.”

* * * * * * * * * * *

Ooooh, man you're good at this.

One small grammar mistake

Should “It is time for your finally journey,” be “It is time for your final journey.” ?

And I did not expect them to take that marines head... wow talk about a shock what does potential have in store for Brother Micus?

Death approaches and I for one welcome the bloodshed

I wonder what (edit: ) other surprises does the "museum" hold for Razzik and his angels...

Indeed! What surprises still wait for Razzik and the 2nd company?

Thanks for the grammar catch. I don't know how I missed that one.

The writing of this section did bring up an interesting conversation between a friend of mine and me. AI's are banned in the Imperium. Computers have been replaced by servitors. What kind of info would they be able to retrieve from a dead man's cybernetic implants? Everything? Nothing? Where would brain implants become too mechanical for the Empire?

Interesting thoughts... can't wait to find out!

I'd be loaded into his memory ram you could just connect up the chip to any Windows 689 tablet and get all the data

http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Legio_Cybernetica

We're still kicking around.

“YOU FOOL! Do you know what you’ve done?!” Razzik shouted as he shoved Vetov towards the door. The Emperor’s Tear stumbled back, oblivious to anything other then the banner in his hands that he had recently torn down.

Ice Angels slowed behind Razzik waiting for orders as the Captain watched Vetov. The marine held up the banner and finally met the stern gaze of Razzik. “Do you know what this is?”

“I DON’T CARE what it is; you woke up the entire facility!” Razzik began to respond as he got closer to Vetov, his temper quickly dissipating.

“DON’T CARE?! This is the banner of my chapter, the banner of the first company! It is more valuable........” Vetov retorted.

“Then my MEN?! NO, it is not!” Razzik responded while approaching him once again.

Vetov pointed at Razzik with the banner draped over his shoulder. Before he could speak, Razzik punched him in the chest with his powerfist. No power was behind it but it shoved Vetov further back towards the open double doors.

Razzik quaked with anger as he took a deep breath, he paused a few steps away from Vetov who was beginning to return the furious glares. “We are leaving Vetov and you will not take that cursed banner with you.” The growling from outside the room was getting louder. A score of high pitched claps went off as the installed grenades went off. Falling body parts echoed through the room for a brief moment, but the growling continued to crescendo. Razzik knew that they were quickly running out of time.

“You don’t command me Captain,” Vetov spat “The Emperor brought me here. The Emperor knew I would find my banner. He knew I would return it and my chapter back to their former glory. You don’t understand, Captain. You have no faith!” Vetov began to step back towards the door arms spread wide looking up to the ceiling. He halted a few steps from the threshold and gave a final glare back to Razzik over his shoulder, “You will not separate me from this Razzik. I will not let this banner out of my sight, not again. This is a sign.”

Vetov then turned towards the door. Razzik quickly stepped after him, his temper lost at the disrespect Vetov was showing him. Razzik reached out to grab him as Vetov reached the threshold. As he did a sharp crack echoed through the wall as long spears pierced the ceiling downwards at incredible speeds. A blinding flash tossed Razzik backwards off his feet. A split second later he was on his back looking up at Nefas and Zaduga. The two marines assisted Razzik up into a sitting position where he stopped them. The flash was from the iron halo fused into his helmet, the protective field shunting him away from danger.

The door way and surrounding area ahead of him were now a jungle of spiked bars that stretched from ceiling down into the floor. Vetov was pinned down in the center of it all, one bar pierced his collar bone and passed though his torso while several others went through his arm and oddly bent leg. He was motionless in an unnatural near squat position.

Razzik shook off the marines trying to help him and looked at the mortally wounded Emperor’s Tear. Vetov was held in place by the bars, his body unable to cope with the damage and quickly shutting down. Razzik expected to hear some final words, some grunt of defiance, perhaps even a prayer, but instead he heard only a final wheeze from his shredded lungs. Vetov stared at his bloody banner willing his one functioning eye to stay open even as death came for him.

“Looks like you got what you wanted, Vetov.”

Oooh.... good installment!

Oh my...

Aaaand another one bites the dust.

Tee hee hee.....

You know, I really liked the Vetov character and I had really good ideas for him but as I looked back at my fluff Vetov was hardly ever mentioned. I didn't really do a lot with him. I feel like he only became the character I wanted him to be after they landed in the crater topped mountain. For a character with such an important role originally, he turned out very different in the long run. I don't know how you guys feel but I was almost surprised when I killed him in that last scene.

Well... it's kind of a Catch .22 situation. If no marines die, then there's no realism or suspense, it's just a dungeon bash. By the same token though, when you kill off a character, you lose whatever that character was from the mix. Unless you want to do the Start Trek thing and bring in a bunch of disposable red shirts... you're kind of forced to lose a character once in a while.

IceAngel wrote: He was motionless in an unnatural near squat position.

That's a nice bit of description there. Really captures what happened to him. Very realistic, too; better than having him spread-eagled with spikes through every limb. Very nice... in a grim and somewhat disturbing way.

Do you have a list of the characters you have killed yet?

@ Git - You sir are correct. In all reality I basically have a collection of "red shirts" in the form of the Ice Angels. I don't plan on killing them off each week but it does happen from time to time.

@ Yellowbeard - Thanks YB! I strive to not use the same descriptions or the stereotypical results. It just seems to add so much more when you attempt to keep it as real as possible.

@ Asherian Command - I in fact do have a list of all of the dead marines. I keep a Word document with all of my characters to help me keep track of everything. It contains the names of all of my Ice Angels, their equipment, previously mentioned features, and vehicles, the names of all of the Marine swaps I've done along with all of the PM's I've received in regards to those marine swaps. If you look back to page one of this long thread you'll see a list of many of the characters in my story. If you look back at them you'll notice many names that are now deceased. I don't really want to post that any where though just in case someone knew comes along and they happen across the later post. I don't plan on posting any spoilers!

You never fail to amaze me man! Excellent work!

Razzik closed his eyes for a moment. When he reopened them he took a final look at Vetov and the horde of metal bars. He would never forget the image of the dead marine, despite the anger he held towards the marine. The death of the Emperor’s Tear, as sudden as it was, seemed to instantly calm him and trigger something in his head. Death indicated the battle, which brought back thoughts of his entire predicament. Suddenly the weight of command forced out any lingering emotions, it was time to act.

A report blinked in his HUD from squad Plafwu, they were under attack. “Status” he demanded.

“Captain, I don’t know what triggered them but all of the bodies hanging from the ceiling woke up and began attacking us.” Sergeant Maranu quickly responded, gunfire could be heard behind his words. Within seconds Razzik also heard gun fire from the other side of the bars.

“Hold your position. We are headed to you with haste.” Razzik responded to Sergeant Maranu, he closed the line before waiting for a response.

Razzik stepped to the nearest bar. He tested its strength with his powerfist. The bizarre metal didn’t move or react despite his strength. He then charged up his fist and punched it. He’d carved through tanks with similar punches but the bars simply sparked their defiance. Not enough time, he thought to himself. Nefas was at his side trying to move another bar while Shu-Takii stood near with the head in a light metallic box.

The growling from the other side turned into incomprehensible roaring. He could see Inigo engaging one of the giants. It was slow and cumbersome but its razor claws carved through the floor as if it were clothe. Other marines were behind muscular corpses attempting the slowly awakening murder of giants that approached from three sides.

“Brother Balathu I need you,” he said as he reached over to Shu-Takii and the box. Shu-Takii handed over the small metal case without question. Razzik held it in his left hand testing its balance. On the other side of the bars Brother Balathu approached stopping inches from the bars.

Captain Razzik took a few steps to his left. There were twelve feet of evenly spaced bars between him and Balathu. With a prayer to the Emperor he lobbed the box through the vertical bars. It flipped end over end centimeters from bars on both sides before being easily being caught in Balathu’s waiting hand. Razzik switched to a private channel with him. “That is our salvation Brother Balathu. Do not stop until command has it.” Razzik switched to an open channel so that all the marines including those at the wall could hear him. “Squad Kujara, Inigo and Jaska, move to extraction point as fast as possible. NOW!” The marines instantly broke into a run, guns firing only to slow down enemies in their path. Inigo and Jaska led the way.

Razzik watched them depart as he continued to speak, “Balathu carries the information we need. It must make it out of this cursed labyrinth at all costs. Squad Plafwu, bring in Rah-Apsu for support and notify Cyaxeres. Hold the wall as long as possible. Squad Rimsin and I must find an alternative route.” Razzik turned towards the six marines in the room with him before speaking to everyone one final time. “If you are overrun at the wall,” he paused, “close the curtain.”

Ominous installment my friend. I eagerly anticipate the next section!

This

 Gitsplitta wrote:
Ominous installment my friend. I eagerly anticipate the next section!

I would like to have more now please.

Thanks guys, but you'll unfortunately have to wait a bit for the next update. Don't you worry though, it will be posted as soon as it is ready for your reading pleasure.

The gaze of the captain passed over each of the marines before he spoke, “These bars are going to take more than the two krak grenades we have between the seven of us, but according to Vetov, the Emperor lead us here.” His gaze went down the isle before him, “perhaps we can find something useful. Look for anything we can use to get through these bars and while you’re at it stow whatever relics you can carry without encumbering yourself. “

The marines split up down the isles. He watched them quickly analyze weapons and items. He witnessed Nefas pause in front of a very wide weapon rack. Razzik moved over to the end of that same isle to see what he was examining. On the rack were scores of bolters, each one a master piece in its own right. Nefas knelt down with a large chest open before him. Razzik was intrigued but blinking icons in his HUD tugged at his attention.

He switched his focus when he realized that the servo skulls that were still exploring the vast complex were beginning to die off. The alertness of the compound was total and even the far off servo skulls were being picked off by traps, waking beasts, and tormented people. In the span of a few seconds the number of skulls was cut in half.

Quickly he switched them from their exploration mode to their hidden surveillance setting. Servo skulls still died and disappeared off his HUD becoming only distant way points as they looked for hiding spots in dark areas or recessed ceilings.

Razzik altered and zoomed out of his maps view. He adjusted the settings with practiced blink clicks and attempted once again to gain a better feel for the complex. The numbers of rooms and halls was staggering. The sheer angles and lines of the construction tore out the idea of any ship he had ever seen or heard of. If it were some building he had no concept of how it would support itself. He firmly believed they were underground some where. The number of servo skulls continued to dwindle from his HUD and soon only two were left in addition to the one inside the room with him.

He zoomed back in to look for alternative routes to the curtain when a blade slamming on metal broke the constant growling behind him. Slowly he turned to see one of the giants on the opposite side of the metal bars. It nearly filled the door way. Its helm gave off a faint red glow. Drool or some other ichors dangled from the base of the helm.

The giants hands had been replaced by wide blades, each as long as Razzik’s arm. He watched as the giant hit the bars several more times, sparks illuminating the darkness that surrounded them. The growling grew louder as the bars continued their defiance.

“Captain, “Nefas spoke from directly behind him.

Razzik turned away from the giant even as others crowded behind the first attempting to get closer to the astartes on the other side of the bars. Nefas stood only a few feet away, a bolt pistol was on each hip and a bolter was attached atop his back pack. In his hands he held the unusual custom bolter he always carried.

“How far did your servo skulls explore? I may be able to assist in locating another route, if you would share your information.” Nefas hissed in his quiet voice. Razzik listened to the marine as he happened to glance behind Nefas. The wide weapon rack was void of every single bolter.

Nefas’ question lingered in Razzik’s mind yet his curiosity about the rack tickled the back of his head. “Where did your chest go?” he absently asked, as a chill passed over him.

“Captain, the servo maps?” Nefas asked again, ignoring Razzik’s question.

“Yes of course,” Razzik responded as if in a daze. Seven blink clicks later a copy of the elaborate maps were sent to Nefas. The Sinner stepped aside as Shar-Takazz walked up from the next isle over with a large spiked grenade in his hand.

A smile crossed his face as Razzik took a closer look at the ornate explosive and forgot about his conversation with Nefas.

Shar-Takazz offered over the grenade as he spoke, “Captain, I believe this may be of use.”

“Excellent work Sergeant,” Razzik said in awe as he gently took the artifact. “Rimsin, finish reclaiming your items and move to the back of the room.” He watched as the marines finished stowing their items with care. He saw an ornate glaive, thick cloaks, a half dozen blades, and a pair of volkite cannons Shu-Takii held in each hand. They then swiftly took positions at the end of isles furthest from the bars leaving Razzik momentarily alone.

The blade handed giant was still attacking the bars as other giants crowded in trying to bash, clamp, and drill through the door frame and wall to get to the marines. The attacks from the giant were increasing in tempo. Clearly they were still waking from their slumber.

Razzik looked down at the grenade. He had never actually held a vortex grenade before. In fact his knowledge of how they worked was very limited, only the ancient texts spoke of their uses. As he studied the grenade he recalled the stories told of the simple and total destruction the vortex weapons were capable of. He located the activation switch as he squared up his feet. With a prayer on his lips he looked at the giants once more, their chorus of growling and moaning was intensifying as they returned his vengeful gaze.

Now THIS... I'm excited about seeing!! (reading) Seeing in my mind's eye anyway.

oooooooooomg, vortex grenade....


If its anything like the ones I've used it'll bounce back and land at his feet

It's a good thing I control the outcome of things such as grenades in my writing much more then I do in the actual game. Something I do wish they'd bring back, would be a bit more of that randomness. Any one ever play orks in second edition? Hilarious and a ton of fun to play because you didn't know when you'd kill yourself on accident.

Very nice Ice. now I am intrigued about Nefas as well

Btw you have a couple of spelling mistakes:

These bars are going to take more then the two krak grenades we have between the seven of us,

I think you meant to say :

These bars are going to take more than the two krak grenades we have between the seven of us,

And also

Quickly he switched them from their exploration mode too their hidden surveillance setting.

To

Quickly he switched them from their exploration mode to their hidden surveillance setting.