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'Twas the night of invasion

'Twas the night of invasion, and across the whole world,
The Regiments readied themselves, their banners unfurled;

The Guardsmen were dug in round the Hive city with care,
In hopes that Sigurd Claws soon would be there;

The civilians were hiding, deep under their beds,
While visions of dismemberment danced in their heads;

And Marbo in his bandana, and the Commissar in his cap,
Were discussing the best way, 'Nid necks to snap,

When out in the courtyard there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my trench to see what was the matter.

Away to the bunker I flew like a flash,
Looked though the views-slits and my mouth went to ash.

The Sporepods were dropping on the new-fallen snow
Releasing Tyranids onto the city below,

When, what to my wondering eyes join the fray,
But an open topped speeder, and eight wolves of gray,

The driver's shoulderpads displayed great wolf paws,
I knew in a moment it must be Sigurd Claws.

More rapid than Vypers his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, Dagfinner ! now, Dagr! now, Bjorg and Vilhjalmr!
On, Ivarr! on Ingvarr! on, Alviss and Yngvarr!

To the top of the building! to the top of the wall!
Now charge away! charge away! charge away all!"

As dry leaves that before the Gargoyles fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the city top they flew,
With the speeder full of weapons, and Sigurd Claws too.

And heading straight into the 'Nids midst
With the constant hum of his great Powered Fist.

As I ducked flying Rippers, and was turning around,
Through a breach Sigurd Claws came with a leap and a bound.

He was dressed all in ceramite from his head to his foot,
And his armor was all tarnished with ichor and soot;

A bundle of weapons he had strapped on his back,
And he chopped off a 'Stealer's head with a whack.

His plasmagun fired in a sound oh so merry!
It's barrel tracked 'Nids, it's barrel glowed like a cherry!

His Fist struck a Warrior with one mighty blow,
And Tyranid blood splashed across the new fallen snow;

The Gaunts tried to kill him with their claws and their teeth,
And the smoke from his pistol encircled his head like a wreath;

He took off his helmet and gave me a glare,
His ice blue eyes locked mine with his stare.

He was grizzled and scarred with a long white beard,
And as we looked upon him, the squad stood and cheered;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And killed all the 'Nids; then turned with a jerk,

And scratching his beard and with nary a sound,
And giving a nod, he crossed the blood spattered ground;

He sprang to his speeder, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight...
The Emperor's Blessing to all and to all a good night!


Adapted from “Twas the night before Christmas” by Fedral
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