This story is an unofficial story based, without permission, on the Warhammer/Warhammer 40,000 intellectual property owned by Games Workshop Ltd.
Syakotus stood alone, covered in a blanket of darkness. The soft sound of a gently humming wind echoed. Slowly, he walked through the darkness that surrounded him. In one hand he clenched his fingers tightly around the handle of his power sword. The further he walked the louder the humming became. He stopped at the sight of a glowing green light in the far distance. Come, come to me, called out a soft voice.
"Show yourself," he called.
The glowing green light began to change, different shades of green morphing from bright green to an luminous green. Cautiously, Syakotus began to approach the light. The closer he got the more he could see its shape. Come, come to me, Syakotus, come.
"Who are you?" the Captain called.
You know my name.
He took hold of his power sword with both hands while still approaching the green light, which was now in the form of a sphere.
"What are you?" he asked.
You know my name, it called.
Syakotus stopped the moment he reached the sphere, his armour reflected luminous green into the surrounding darkness. Raising both his hands high above his head, still clenching his power sword, he prepared to destroy the sphere, until he realised his power sword was gone.
You will be forgiven.
"Captain, Captain."
Syakotus opened his eyes to the sight of Len Ruo shrugging his ash covered shoulders.
"Praise be to the Emperor, you are alive," Len Ruo said, stepping back.
Syakotus sat up from the sludge of the sewers he'd been laid in.
"What happened?" he asked, regaining his conscious whilst rubbing the ash from his long hair.
"Those rockets hit the gas mains causing a compulsive row of explosions, tearing the ground from our feet," xxplained Len Ruo, helping him up from the sludgy water.
Syakotus stood to his feet, picking his power sword from the sludge.
"And the others?" he asked.
Len Ruo removed his helmet, revealing his bold head before rubbing it.
"Only you, I, Cuoson and Redeka were lucky enough to survive. The others were crushed from the fall by the buildings."
Syakotus engaged the vox unit in his throat "Korde…Korde, respond…Gevedin. Syakotus to Gevedin…"
"No good, Captain, we've tried. We just cannot get a signal down here," Cuoson said, walking to his side.
"We cannot stay here. Our brothers may be in need of our help for sure, as I assume by now they think we are lost to them," Syakotus explained whilst checking his wrist mounted storm bolter for damage. "Cuoson, I want you following up the rear, Redeka take point," he ordered, cocking his storm bolter whilst wiping the ash from his arm.
Redeka cocked his bolter ready for immediate dispersal, as did Cuoson.
Len Ruo readied his flamer, training it forwards of him.
The four of them began their long journey down the grim, and dark sludge covered sewer tunnels, trudging their feet through the ankle high murky water.
Korde and Phanus were the first to enter the cemetery, ducking down behind the nearest gravestone, followed through by Linnix and Frieh, creeping past them to the next gravestone. Korde and Phanus moved off again, further for cover behind another gravestone. Bealon and Horton took up cover from the gravestone behind them. Linnix moved from cover to reach another gravestone, but was brought to a sudden halt, a plasma beam missing him by inches, cutting into the soil forward of his feet.
"We've been seen, brothers!" yelled Korde. Moments later he rose to his feet, letting out a plasma blast from his combi-weapon at the firing Night Lord in the clock tower. The beam smashed into the wall, slightly lower than his firing position.
The two Night Lords on sentry duty by the tall entrance doors went down on one knee, letting out a roar of heavy stubber gun fire followed by the deafening sound echoing across the cathedral grounds. Korde ducked back down, merely dodging the spraying bullets that rippin into the gravestones, knocking chunks of stone off.
"It would seem that we are pinned down, brothers," Korde yelled over the deafening sound of gun fire.
Linnix threw himself over to his closest gravestone for cover, whilst Frieh stood to his feet once the firing had stopped, letting the Night Lords reload. He moved forward, firing his bolter off at their position whilst trying to dodge another plasma beam from the clock tower. The gun fire from the heavy stubbers started up again, giving him time to duck behind another grave.
Korde crawled on his belly across to some nearby bushes, followed by Phanus, giving Niven, and Judson chance to take cover from their position. Again the stubber fire stopped. Korde picked himself up from the bushes, running towards another grave, firing a full burst of bolter shells from his combi. One of the shells strayed out across the cemetery like a laser beam before it thudded into one of the sentry guards' neck. A lucky killing shot, moments before the other had reloaded, letting out another round.
Horton trained his plasma gun up at the clock tower. Pulling his finger back on the trigger, he managed to kill the Night Lord and then watched his plasma gun drop from the tower to the ground. The entrance doors opened only for more Night Lord Space Marines to pour out, all armed with bolters and firing off round after round.
Within seconds the cemetery became a deafening battle ground, filling the air with a layer of gunfire smoke, bringing down the smell of burning metal as the stray bullets thudded into the trees and screeched off into the distance. The Crimson Fists were slowly advancing forwards, ducking down to reload then springing up from behind the gravestone to fire off a round or two.
From the cliffs edge, Commissar Fenerson watched Gevedin's Crimson Fists advance away from the bridge.
"Lieutenant Tyde, have we got all the civilians from Volcane across the bridge?" he asked.
Tyde looked back down to the entrance where the Cadian Kasrkin stood poised, ready, then back at the Imperial gun ships loading the civilians in.
"It would appear so, Commissar."
"Then we should prepare to take our leave of this place while we still draw breath," Fenerson said, stroking his white hair.
Tyde looked up at him. "What about the Crimson Fists?"
Behind him Quornas stepped up, followed by five more Crimson Fists, holding a tight grip on his bolt pistol. "Yes, Commissar, what about the Crimson Fists?" he asked, repeating Tyde's question.
"I'm not prepared to risk the lives of my men in an endless battle that we cannot win," the Commissar said, looking back at the city of Volcane.
"What you mean, Commissar, is your life?" Quornas questioned.
"Your Captain and his men don't stand a chance. They are but mortal men like myself and lieutenant Tyde here."
"You insult me," Quornas yelled, letting the soft wind carry his words in a loud echo.
Turning his gaze upon Lieutenant Tyde, Quornas pointed to the Karskin standing poised by the bridge. "Send them across the bridge to take up a defensive position, Lieutenant," Quornas ordered.
Tyde smiled at the Chaplain. "Of course."
"Damn you, Tyde, belay that order. For if you do not I will be forced to have you shot for disobeying my orders. Is that clear?"
Quornas returned his gaze at Fenerson. "If you attempt to runaway like the coward you are, little man, I will personally take your life." Quornas said, in a firm, steadfast tone, pointing his bolt pistol into Fenersons face.
"You cannot talk to me in this manner," Fenerson retorted.
"Do not make the mistake of thinking I am answerable to your, Commissariat. If you insult me a second time it will be the last time you do. Am I clear?"
Fenerson dared not look into the reds of Quornas's eyes with their fixed gaze from his sculpted skull of a helmet. Instead he turned his panic stricken face at Tyde's. "Do as he asks."
The tunnels were long, dark, and gloomy. Everything was beginning to decay. Syakotus sheathed his power sword, taking in a breath of the vomit stricken sewage air. Redeka signalled, his hand up to stop.
"What is Redeka?" asked Syakotus.
"Someone laid half up from the sewage, Captain. I'm not sure, but it looks like another Marine."
Syakotus trudged across to Redeka.
"Let me take a look," he said, passing Redeka's position.
Syakotus walked over to the injured looking Marine, and knelt beside him. His armour was a light green with the pattern of a lizard's head on his shoulder. The Marine's bare face was badly bruised, cut and covered in dried blood.
"I recognise his armour, he's a Salamander," Syakotus said, gently rocking him.
The Salamander opened his bruised eyes slowly, groaning in pain.
"Brother, you live. Take a moment to regain your thoughts."
Redeka clenching his bolter, carried on forward, checking the seemingly endless tunnel and keeping close to the slime ridden walls in case of intrusion. The Salamander groaned some more, before looking into Syakotus's face. Syakotus helped the injured Marine sit upwards.
"What is your name, brother?" he asked.
The Salamander coughed up blood that had filled up in his mouth. "Vexe," he answered, coughing out more blood.
"Do you remember what happened to you?"
"Yes, I remember now." He coughed up more phlegm and blood. "My brothers and I tried to withdraw after our Chaplain was slain by their Lord Cravex." He paused to cough out more blood. "We were only one squad against many more. The Sarge was slain by Cravex, trying to blow the power plant. The Night Lords took the lives of my brothers. I barely managed to escape the torment of those bastards…"
"How?;" interrupted Syakotus.
"Inside the power plant the drains lead down here into the sewers."
"Do you know the way back to the power plant from here?" Syakotus asked.
Vexe tried to stand, but slipped back into the murky sludge. "The way is simple, Crimson Fist, this tunnel is two miles from the plant, it's merely a straight walk. If that is your destination, keep your path with this tunnel it will lead you directly under the compound."
Syakotus rose to his feet. "Redeka take Vexe back to the Guardsmen holding the bridge."
Redeka came to stand by Syakotus, nodding in compliance and then bending down to help Vexe to his feet.
"Len Ruo, you have point," Syakotus ordered.
Vexe draped his arm around Redekas neck. Just before they began heading back to the bridge, he turned to Syakotus.
"Captain, the people who built this city used the volcano beneath it for the main source of power. It's like a vortex at the ground level of the plant in the main hall. If you survive long enough to reach it," he paused whilst he began coughing out more blood. spitting it down his chest, "you will find the charges have already been set. You will just need to detonate them," he finished, holding his hand out to give Cuoson the detonator. "I wish you the God-Emperor's speed, Crimson Fists."
Korde was the closest of his squad nearing the entrance, still bobbing up to fire off a shot from his combi before bobbing back down. In turn, the remaining Night Lords would reload and fire a full burst on auto in the direction of the advancing Crimson Fists. Bullets flew through the air as if slicing through water, leaving a trace from where they came, to where their destination would end, lighting up the place in an array of a deafening white noise.
Phanus took up the rear from Korde, with Frieh taking up his rear, leaving Moref covering Frieh's back.
The moment the remaining Night Lords defending the cathedral doors would reload their bolters, all ten of Kordes squad would rise up from behind the gravestones taking a shot at the reloading Night Lords. Then they would advance slowly to the next gravestone, dropping back down behind it for cover. The entire cathedral was lit up in an array of yellow sparks from the roaring gun fire.
Glancing back at the sound of growling motors, Korde looked to watch the first Rhino tear through the front wall in a waterfall of shattered marble and bricks, riding high on a wave of rubble and plunging into the cemetery with a growling vengeance. Standing up to full height with his Thunder Hammer vibrating in one hand, his combi in the other, he let out a roar of his own "CHARGE!"
The Crimson Fists all rose from cover and began charging their way towards the main entrance, whilst gunning down the Night Lords, who were still shocked from the oncoming Rhinos. Korde jumped over the last of the gravestones, charging into the approaching Night Lord, revving its chain sword. The Night Lord jumped into Korde, knocking him off balance before kicking him in his stomach, knocking him back again. The Night Lord raised his bolt pistol up too shoot Kordes face off, yet the chamber clicked empty.
Looking through the reds of his eyes at Korde, he dropped his bolt pistol to the ground, revving up his chain sword. The blades rattled loudly the moment he swung it down to cut through Kordes chest, yet Korde anticipated the attack, blocking the sword with his Thunder Hammer. Confusing the Night Lord, he spun around, bringing the Thunder Hammer to bear. Pausing slightly to take one last look at his victim, he plunged the hammer into his face, shattering his winged helmet open then splitting his skull.
Phanus kicked the cathedral doors open, charging in with his bolter blazing on full auto, clenching it tightly with both hands. Dropping from the marble pillows above, a Night Lord Champion, Tallis, landed behind the over eager Crimson Fist. Phanus spun round, clicking, his bolter on empty, meeting the over sized power sword clenched within Tallis' hand.
Phanus dropped to his knees in a pool of his own blood; he hadn't even seen the blade slice through his upper torso. Releasing his bolter from his grip, Phanus slumped onto the marble floor in two halves. Korde stood in the doorway, horrified at the death of his brother Crimson Fist.
"You'll pay for that," he said, dropping his combi to the floor and gripping his Thunder Hammer with both hands. He took a swing at Tallisr, who merely jumped back then jumped up onto the benches.
Behind Korde Frieh, Linnix and Horton, stepped up. bolters poised in their hands, trained forwards. At the far side of the hall, Cravex stepped aside from the lectern with a bemused look dressed upon his white face. Seconds later, the stain glass windows at either side of the cathedral's hall smashed simultaneously. Gevedin's assault squad jumped through the shower of coloured glass, armed with bolt pistols and chain swords. The broken glass shattered across the benches, like water spilling onto the marble floor, forcing Tallis to duck down between the benches for cover. The Assault Marines landed with their feet face down on top of the benches' back rests.
Cravex stepped forwards slightly, watching the whole spectacle in amusement.
"Oh, please." he clapped. "Is this the best you have for me?" he said, laughing louder this time.
Two of the Assault Marines jumped down from the benches, then charged at him with their chain swords rattling an echo through out the dimly lit corridor. Cravex unsheathed his mighty daemon sword from the scabbard strapped on his back over his fur cloak, then jumped down from the lectern's stand. The swiftness of his actions was more than a match for the two.
Ducking down at their charge, using the full skill of his actions, he cut into the two Crimson Fists, slicing them in half with a spill of blood, that showered across the chains that hung from his chest and down to his feet. Both Marines dropped to their deaths.
Licking his lips, Cravex smiled once more. "Anymore takers?"
All the Crimson Fists stood looking at their dead brothers in sheer shock. By his swift actions, Korde realised that this was no normal Chaos Space Marine but was, in fact, a Chaos Space Marine Lord.
Tallis rose up from behind the benches, lashing out at Gevedin, swiping his power sword at his feet, trying to knock the Sergeant off balance. Gevedin was flung from his feet and landed hard on his back between the benches. Three of the Assault Marines who were stood at his side all jumped down, swinging their rattling chain swords in to Tallis's armour. Although Tallis knew he was finished, he still managed to plunge his power sword's blade into one of his attackers whilst the other two took his life from him.
Korde knew that if he were to engage the Chaos Lord he would face certain death, yet he chose to charge at Cravex, swinging his Thunder Hammer from side to side. His Thunder Hammer vibrated gently in his hand, its power field eager to get to Craxe's face.
"Aaarrrgh," he bellowed.
Cravex watched the desperate veteran sergeant come at him, raising his hand up, holding his palm out flat. He waited for Korde to reach him then, like a fly, he then swatted him off his balance. Korde landed on his side, rolling over into the benches, knocking himself out cold. Cravex put one foot on Kordes' chest, un-holstering his plasma pistol and pointing it at the two Assault Marines that stood over the corpse of Tallis.
"He was one of my favoured champions," he said, squeezing the trigger back moments before killing them from the plasma bolts.
Gevedin stood to his feet, aiming his plasma pistol at Cravex's face. "It pleases me that we have angered you," he said regaining his breath.
Cravex looked on at him. "Does it?"
Frieh, Linnix, Judson, Horton and Moref were all poised, ready to fire their bolters at Cravex. Frieh looked at Korde, not knowing if their Sergeant was dead or not.
"Fire!" he bellowed.
The four of them let out a roar of bolter fire from their guns, watching the tracer bullets head towards Cravex. Cravex saw the rain of bullets head towards him, raising his arm, still gripping his plasma pistol. A grapple came out of his wrist, shooting up to the pillars, taking him with it.
The bullets missed their target, moments before he was thrust up to the ceiling. He fired his plasma pistol into the roof's side, blasting a hole big enough for him to slip through, whilst managing to use his weight to swing his legs through the hole he'd just made, disappearing into the darkness.
Korde groaned out before pulling himself up off the marble floor. Gevedin stood over him, ready to help him to his feet.
"What now?" he asked?
Korde stood to his feet, feeling bruised, and removed his helmet. Taking in a breath of air, he looked to Gevedin.
"He'll proberly retreat to the power plant, to the bulk of where his traitorous scum will be."
"What are we to do in the mean time Sarge?" Frieh asked, handing Korde his Thunder Hammer.
Korde stroked his white hair whilst taking his Thunder Hammer from Frieh.
"Exactly as the Captain ordered. We will hold the cathedral. At least Gevedin will, while I have assumed command of the mission. I will take my squad to the power plant, unless we make contact with the Captain and he orders us otherwise."
Hive World Terra