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Theos was kneeling at the top of the ridge, observing what was unfolding. It had been two hours since he had begun to head towards Navoc. He had reached the outer ring of Navoc's defense and was now at the top of a tree filled ridge, which sloped gently down into a clearing. According to the auspex on his helmet, the nearest bunker, a dome with firing slits on three sides and a rear exit, was a hundred and two units from the bottom of the ridge. Another bunker was fifty units further from the ridge and beyond that bunker was another gentle sloping ridge. The third bunker was in between these two and situated fifty point four seven units away from both - able to cover a retreat from either of the front two bunkers. Behind that bunker, the two ridges narrowed towards each other. All of this was absorbed in a second as Theos both heard and saw the Chaos Rhino, rotting flesh in colour, enter the clearing. A missile streaked from the closest bunker to Theos, but sailed clear over the top of the cursed hull. Silently, Theos unslung the multi-melta he had been carrying all the while. It had belonged to Brother Peth of alpha squad, before he had taken a heavy bolter volley in the face. Now it could continue serving the Emperor.

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

"Load!" Luic yelled, never taking his eyes from the sight of his missile launcher.

"Adjust fire, low!" Sergeant Malik yelled. "Second squad, firing positions!"

Trooper Arem swallowed nervously as he switched the safety off his lasgun.

"Loaded!" Kane tapped Luic twice on the shoulder.

"Clear!"

From the corner of his eye, Luic saw a bright beam shoot out of the ridge on his left. It penetrated the Rhino's hull as though it were made of paper. The Chaos vehicle slumped to a halt.

"What was that?!"

"From our left, it came from our left!"

The hatches of the Rhino crashed to the grassy floor.

"Incoming infantry! Incoming infantry!" Sergeant Malik shouted. "Whatever that was, it's on our side, so shut up and open up second squad!"

The first two cultists to exit the Rhino were shredded by a volley of las fire. One brave cultist came through the firing hatch and sprayed the pintle-mounted storm bolter across the bunker of second squad. At that moment, another missile, this time from first squad in the furthest bunker, flew into the Rhino. The explosion finished off the remaining cultists.

"Looks like first and third decided to get in the war" Deret muttered sweeping his lasgun left and right.

"More incoming armour!" Trooper Hana yelled, never taking her eyes off from her sight. "Two...Three Rhinos! And..."

"Holy Emperor, that's a Predator! That's a shikking Chaos Predator...!"

"Trooper Brin, unless you want to be thrown out of this bunker with a krak grenade shoved up your arse, get ahold of yourself!" Sergeant Malik hissed. "Trooper Luic, target priority on lead vehicle! Let's hope first and third know what they're doing. Second squad! As soon as the transport is destroyed, eliminate enemy infantry!"

"Loaded!" Kane tapped Luic twice again.

Another sharp beam came from the woods. The lead Chaos Rhino lurched to the side before erupting in flames. Screaming cultists poured from its hatches, only to be cut down by las fire. The second Rhino attempted to maneuver around the flaming wreck, only to have two krak missiles slam into its side, knocking out its tracks.

"Looks like you're out of a job, Luic!" Trooper Rale called as he sighted before letting off a volley of shots. Beside him, Trooper Danen let out a whoop as his target toppled to the ground.

"What the heck is out there?"

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

Grimly satisfied, Theos could see that the remaining Rhino and Predator were trapped behind a wall of flaming Chaos vehicles. Brother Peth would've been proud. With a screech, the Predator began to ram the closest wreck to make a path for itself. The Rhino stopped and opened its hatches. More cultists, brandishing looted lasguns and serrated blades poured out along with....

Theos' eyes narrowed.

Armour sickly green, decorated with blasphemous runes, a Chaos space marine emerged from the dark interior of the Rhino. The cultists let excited garblings and began to focus their fire on the furthest bunker. The Predator had succeeded in ramming the ruined Rhino out of its way. As it moved into the clearing its turret spun around ....

Theos dove to the ground as autocannon shells impacted into the trees around him. Deftly, he rolled amidst the falling branches to avoid a tree that came crashing down onto the ridge. After a few seconds, the Predator stopped firing and spun its turret around again, satisfied at having suppressed its dangerous targets. It focused its fire into the closest bunker.

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

Trooper Arem didn't need Sergeant Malik to tell them to 'take cover', he had already dove to the ground as the Chaos Predator opened fire. He prayed that he had imagined what he thought he saw advancing on third squad's bunker, though Deret's continual string of expletives dashed that hope. They were now in a fight against a Chaos space marine. Heavy bolter rounds found their way into the bunker, ricocheting and impacting along the walls. Arem felt something wet splatter across his neck and looked behind him to see Trooper Rale slump to the ground, hands clutching his throat.

"Danen's hit! Danen's hit!"

"Tareh's down! I think Waser's dead too!"

"Fall back! Fall back to first squad!" Sergeant Malik crawled to the door and reached up for the release. "Get out of...!"

An autocannon round struck Sergeant Malik in the chest, causing the upper half of his body to explode. Second squad was broken. Luic and Hana raced out the door, bolting towards first squad's bunker. Deret was trying to drag Kane through the door, while Kane had curled up onto the floor, covering his ears and screaming. Deret caught Arem's eyes and pointed Arem through the door, screaming at him. Arem didn't need to be told twice.

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

As Theos saw three guardsmen flee out of the closest bunker, he saw the furthest bunker go up in flames. The Chaos Marine had moved around to the rear entrance to massacre any of the fleeing, flaming survivors. The remaining bunker was unsuccessfully splitting its fire at the Marine and at the advancing waves of cultist. The Predator had stopped firing and was now around the bunker, bringing it closer, and closer to Theos...

With a grunt, Theos rose up, sending branches tumbling off him, and raised the multi-melta to his shoulder. At this range, the Predator had no chance. Sprinting around the flaming wreck, Theos broke cover and headed towards the Chaos Marine with a snarl.

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

Have stumbling out of the bunker, Arem saw flaming figures flailing out of first squad's bunker before being shot down by the towering Chaos Marine. He couldn't take it. Falling to his knees, Arem vomited over his lasgun. Suddenly, a shadow blocked out the red sky. Looking up, Arem saw the towering figure of another Space Marine, its black armour and blue trims, a heavy weapon slung across its shoulder.

"Dear God Emperor there are two of them..."

But then Arem saw the Imperial Aquila stamped across the Marine's broad armour. The Marine raised its bolter to its eye and unleashed a hail of rounds towards the Chaos Space Marine.

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

Theos emptied the bolter clip into the Chaos Space Marine. The wave of cultists had halted in their advance at the sight of an Imperial Space Marine, allowing the remaining bunker to regroup fire into them. Caught between a renewed hail of las bolts and frag missiles and a towering Space Marine, the remaining cultists turned and fled. Knocked back, the Chaos Marine let out a roar of rage and ran towards Theos, through the crossfire of the remaining bunker, boltgun blazing in one hand, the other holding a long chain sword. Theos barely had time to draw out his combat blade before the Marine was on him. Theos grabbed the wrist of the Marine's boltgun hand, pulling it up, while turning to avoid the chainsword slashing down. The blade connected with the heavy weapon on Theos' shoulder, sending it to the ground, broken. Theos' combat blade glanced harmlessly off the Chaos Marine's armour in a quick slash. Snarling, the Chaos Marine turned the sword to slice into Theos' back, but Theos deftly blocked the slash behind his back. The boltgun fell to the ground as the Chaos Marine withdrew its hand, twisting it from Theos' grip. Theos took the opening and rammed his fist into the helmet of the Chaos Marine. It stumbled back.

"Chaos scum!"

Leaping into the air, Theos angled his combat blade down and drove it through the neck of the Chaos Marine. The green armour crumpled to the ground.

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

For a moment, all was silent. Arem was lying on the ground, staring at dead Chaos Marine and the Space Marine who had driven a knife into its neck. From their bunker, Deret and Kane stumbled into the clearing, mouths open. The hatch of first squad's bunker flew open and out poured first squad along with Troopers Luic and Hana. The Space Marine stood, and turned to face the Imperial soldiers. No one moved. Then, one of the guardsmen stepped forward and gave a shaky salute.

"S-Sergeant Trent, first squad, second platoon, eagle company."

Theos gave a slight nod with his helmeted head.

"Brother Theos, fourth company, Colia Knights."

Sergeant Trent saluted again before waving one of his troopers forward.

"Trooper Vael, get on the vox. Lieutenant Vaness is going to want to hear about this..."

Hey nice addition to the story, really pumping now. I'm guessing the guardsmen will be slain.

Good fiction there mate cant wiat for some more

Awesome story. Please post some more I wan't to know what happens to Brother Theos