This story is an unofficial story based, without permission, on the Warhammer/Warhammer 40,000 intellectual property owned by Games Workshop Ltd.
Syakotus stood at the edge of the woods in the raging blizzard. Although he wore silver tinted goggles over his eyes to protect them from the fast and violent snowfall that felt like razor blades slashing his face open on impact, his vision was still impaired by the violence of the storm. It didnt stop him from watching as the Inquisitors gun cutter came into view from the dull grey of the sky, rocking from side to side as it battled for control against the wild and violent winds. The belly thrusters kept igniting trying to level its bulk, but as soon as it became level it was blown aside again.
Why has the Inquisitor come down? We dont need his presence, Sergeant Korde said from behind.
Syakotus turned to the remaining units waiting in the trees behind them. As the wind raged all about them they were using each other as a shield against the ever-morphing blizzard.
Probably because he wants to personally make sure the Necrosphere is destroyed.
I dont trust Inquisitors of any kind, where they tread, death always follows, Korde said, grimacing behind the blue of his helmet.
Remember Korde that Chapter Master Kantar believes in the Inquisition and thus so will we, Syakotus reminded his veteran Sergeant. Get the men to their feet Sergeant, ordered Syakotus as he turned to face Korde who simply nodded in compliance. Syakotus stepped out of the woods, battling each step in defiance against the storm. His long hair flapped about his face as he came to a stand still. With a loud thud, the gun cutter smashed down into the deep snow, splashing large chunks of ice into the air and crashing back down as it thudded across the swaying snow, some of it, rolling into large balls as it landed. Within seconds, the top of the rusty red gun cutter was covered in a thick layer of ice and snow.
As the ramp opened and slammed hard into the snow, light spilled out into the foggy blizzard that surrounded, before dying out with the thrusters. Syakotus walked over to greet the Inquisitor, Nathan Salvanfor, but instead, was greeted by one of the Death Watch Marines, Sergeant lykran. Syakotus looked him up and down through his silver goggles. And you are? He asked the Sergeant stepping onto the ramp before him.
Sergeant Lykran, of the Death Watch Captain, Syakotus noticed the insignia of Imperial Fists on his right shoulder pad, from the Imperial Fists, he added, staring up the ramp. The Inquisitor requests you come aboard to discuss your strategy with him. Syakotus nodded in acknowledgment as he followed Lykran into the gun cutter. Once inside, it was hard to miss the smell of tobacco as it flooded over him, followed by the smoke evaporating in the air as he looked down the very narrow corridor at the glowing red eyes from within the darkness that surrounded them.
Have you located their base my good Captain? came a voice from within the darkness.
That I have, Syakotus said, as he stepped past the glowing red eyes of the remaining two Death Watch. Inquisitor Salvanfor stepped from the darkness into the dim light.
The sergeant said you wanted to discuss my strategy. Simple, using your gun cutter for air support, we will storm their front gates. Their numbers are small. Syakotus turned away as he finished and walked back out to the raging storm outside.
Salvanfor opened a cabinet from behind where Prill stood. As he reached in, he slipped on two, black stained chain mail gloves and his muzzle so he could breathe outside in the storm. Prill bent over the side of the co-pilots seat and picked up a large combat shot gun, accompanied by a box of shells and handed them with the gun over to Salvanfor, who hung the gun across his back as he slipped the shells into a small bag he threw across his shoulder. Shall we? he asked, ushering out the Death Watch. Prill, remain on board with Hayler, he said as he followed the Marines out into the blizzard. Once outside, the cold started to bite at the flesh of his face and ears,God damn thats cold! Salvanfor muttered as he stepped off the ramp, to see Syakotuss men step out of the woods before him, followed by sergeant Korde.
The storm was beginning to slow with the sudden nightfall, but the atmosphere remained freezing and harsh on the naked skin of Syakotus face as he removed his goggles to look down on the small square complex that stood at the bottom of the hill the Spectre Knights had built to defend themselves. Salvanfor walked across to stand with Syakotus.
First, we need to take out that Thunderhawk, Syakotus said as he pointed at the Spectre Knights only ship sitting on the landing platform at the far edge of the complex. Have your cutter blow the gates wide open and destroy that Thunderhawk before it can become airborne. If it does, we have lost before we begin, Syakotus said looking on at the gate.
So be it. Let the terror begin. Salvanfor motioned, flipping the COM on his vox. Hayler we need a search and destroy on the docked Thunderhawk.
Affirmative, came her soft reply.
Syakotus looked over at Lykran standing with his fellow Death Watch. You will lead squad Teaxon with the second assault.
As you command.
Korde, lead your squad in. Syakotus motioned pointing his storm bolter downhill.
As Korde charge downhill with his squad, the loud roar of engines blocked out the sound of their jump packs as the gun cutter roared overhead, firing its forward lascannons at the entry gates and blasting them wide open in a ball of flames as the mesh arced upwards with a gush of smoke. Charge! he bellowed, pointing his power sword forward. It only took the Assault squad a minute before they stormed past the burning gates and into the complex. The Spectre in the watchtower above them started blasting at them with his mounted heavy bolter. The bullets flung through the air and thudded across the snow with a loud roar. Korde threw himself at the tower using his power sword to hack at the closest of the legs; Judson did the same with his chain sword at the opposite side. The tower fell with a loud crash as it smashed hard through the thick snow, flinging the Spectre forward as the heavy bolter smashed head on into his face. Korde spun round to see Judson still standing as the smoke evaporated from around him.
Syakotus charged into the complex followed by the rest of his Marines to watch the Spectres Thunderhawk covered over by smoke from the blasts from the gun cutter. Suddenly, Spectres flooded out at them from the nearest bunker. Hendo rushed forward as his flamer ignited and spewing a gush of flames at the oncoming attackers. Without warning the Spectres threw grenades high in the air. Impact! bellowed Syakotus, as the explosions all about them began. All of squad Gustus went down on their knees, firing their bolters and cutting down the first wave of attacking Spectres. The sound was deafening from explosions and gun fire and yet also like a firework display, with the chattering of each gun firing across the battlefield, ricocheting off the bunkers with all kinds of sparks. Syakotus saw Salvanfor, followed by two of the Death Watch; head off across to the bunker next to the smoke covered landing platform. Where is he going? The Necrosphere must be inside there, he thought, but his attention was distracted with the sharp pain of razor blades as he saw his attacker jam a chain sword at his rib cage. Feeling the blood spill through his armour he rammed his storm bolter at the Spectres chest, trashing the armour with a burst at full auto, killing him instantly; kicking the dead corpse aside to engage the next. Sergeant Lykran led Assault squad Teaxon into the nearest bunker, probably the armoury… Once inside, the squad split up. Lykran stepped into a small hallway re-cocking his bolter, the click was loud enough to disturb the Spectre at the end of the hallway and though the bunker had a low red glow throughout the Spectres eyes still seemed somewhat silver Shi… was all Lykran could muster from his lips as a force threw him hard against the wall behind him. As he managed to stagger back to his feet another force blast threw him back again, this time through the door and back into the snow outside.
Coburn charged his chain sword at the Spectre stepping into the hallway Librarian! he screamed. Just before his head popped and splattered the walls with bits of skull and brain. Lykran pulled himself up and charged back through the door just as the Librarian turned to gaze upon him again, giving Phanus a chance to take a shot from his plasma pistol, killing the Librarian with an accurate shot of hot plasma.Sweep the rest of the bunker, he ordered, turning back outside.
Syakotus was leading the rest of squad Gustus at the far end bunker but was cut short by heavy las fire. Gruber fell backwards crashing through the snow as his leg was blown away with the first blast. Down, down! bellowed Syakotus, dropping to his chest in time to see the rest follow suit. Hendo jumped up with a blast of flames from his flamer, aimed at the Spectre from the smoke ridden landing platform. Syakotus pulled himself up from out the snow to see the Spectre drop his las cannon and fall back through the smoke, engulfed in flames Good work brother Hendo, He praised.
As Syakotus reached the bunker, the two Death Watch Marines lay dead. Someone had shot them with a needler. With a strong gush of wind the smoke from the landing platform dispersed revealing the Thunderhawk undamaged. What the hell? muttered Hendo, stepping back to take a better look. The gun cutter must have missed Captain.
Or not… Syakotus pondered as he slipped another two clips into the storm bolter. Cmon time to see what our Inquisitor is up to. The rest of you stand guard, he ordered. Korde, contact the Forge Hand and tell Chaplain Quornas to send down the Thunderhawk and tell him to have Apothecary Lenthos come down, he voxed.
Right on it Captain, Korde replied as his voice crackled with the saddened aggression from the storm.
Syakotus and Hendo entered the bunker, stepping over another dead Spectre to see a second lay sprawled across one of the terminals with wisps of sparks dancing across the keyboards and the other consoles. Salvanfor must have destroyed their coms, noted Hendo, following Syakotus as he stepped into the low hallway. Both men walked silently through the severed cables and wires hanging from above and scattered across the floor through the flickering lights. They stepped out of the hallway and into some sort of science lab where the smell of fresh cigar tobacco drifted towards them. Syakotus stopped a moment and looked around the science lab. The room was large and from the doorway where both men stood there were six rows of long chrome looking tables with canisters and giant glass tubes stood high. Some contained water of a dirty colour; others had small creatures floating in water encased within them. From the continuous flickering of the lights Syakotus could see the dust floating in the air like spores, and the wires spread across the floor like a batch of snakes crawling in and out of each other. Taking a step to the edge of the nearest table through the black and white flickering of the lights, he could see the rust and rotted blood that covered them mixed in with all kinds of slime. Syakotus pointed to the left side of the room for Hendo to explore while he would go through the centre. Hendo slowly walked across to the left to see something move in the flickering shadows. Captain we are not alone, he voxed.
Syakotus bent down on one knee with his storm bolter clenched tightly in both hands, he peered under the tables, but the flickering of the light was almost too blinding for him to see anything. As he rose back to his feet the sound of smashing glass echoed about the room from behind Hendo, is that you? he asked.
Nay… Then, the sound of creeping feet crunching through the glass echoed from behind. Hendo, move back to the door. Slowly, he ordered, voxing him.
Hendo clenched his flamer, aiming it forwards as he crept back to the door. Just as he reached the freshly smashed glass he felt something sharp in his back. The pain dashed sharply to his stomach as he looked down, dropping his flamer with a clang that echoed, to see his intestines spilling onto the floor followed by the lighting claw hand of Commander Bruttin. Hendo turned his head to see the scar across the face of Bruttin, moments before he slid his claws upwards and sliced Hendo into two; spilling the rest of his guts across the floor below. As the light flickered over the two, Syakotus saw Hendos body split and drop to the floor, leaving Bruttin standing over him, covered in Hendos blood. The light flickered again, he saw Bruttin smile as he opened fire on full auto, spraying bullets across the lab, adding more flickering light to the room with the shots. He spun round trying to hit Bruttin, bullets flew around the lab, ricocheting off the walls and smashing into the glass tubes, shattering glass across the tables and splashing onto the floor like water. Bruttin ran round the right of the lab trying to evade the oncoming shower of bolter fire, yet not escaping them totally. Some of the bullets hit him head on in his leg, arm and his side, thudding through his armour. The storm bolter clicked empty, giving Bruttin time to get closer to the far doorway. Syakotus jammed two more clips into the storm bolter and again aiming it level, he fired on full auto letting out another loud roar of screeching bolter shells across the far side of the lab, ricocheting off the walls and into more glass smashing it across the floor. The sound was deafening. One of the stray bullets hit a tall canister at the far doorway. The chemicals inside flared up with a loud explosion adding more light to the flickering illumination. Syakotus was blown back across to the doorway he entered, slamming backwards on the floor into the remains of the mutilated body of Hendo. A back draft of flames engulfed the whole lab into molten flames leaving Syakotus stunned across the floor on his back.
Syakotus staggered up to his feet surrounded by flames and no sight of Bruttin, I need back up in here pronto, he voxed, to hear the sound of roaring engines outside.
Captain its the Inquisitors Gu… Was all he heard to the sound of loud explosions outside the sound of lascannons.
Syakotus reached for two more clips to reload but found he had none. Damn. Dropping his storm bolter to the floor, he unsheathed his power sword from his back then flicked the switch with his thumb; the sword began a low hum. Holding in front of himself, he walked through the flames and out the room. At the other side of the doorway, Syakotus began down the stairs leading underground.
Once he reached the bottom the room was large with a bright green glow, the walls and floor also reflected the green. In the centre was a bright green sphere with Inquisitor Salvanfor pulling cables from its belly. Salvanfor, why are you unplugging it? Destroy it now!
Salvanfor looked up at him with the barrel of his shotgun, Captain, he said; seconds before blasting him square in the chest. Syakotus fell back on the ground. Its over for you now Captain, he said pulling the last of the cables out.
Going somewhere traitor? asked Bruttin as he jumped down from the steps. Syakotus looked up to see Prill come from the steps at the other end. Master we are ready.
Good, load this up on the Spectres Thunderhawk, he ordered.
Bruttin flexed his claws out wide, Youre going nowhere!
Syakotus stood back to his feet slamming his power sword into the back of Bruttin. The blood poured down the blade. Neither are you.
Bruttin spun round, You fool you know not what you do, for the sake of Dorn stand aside! He said; slashing his claws into Syakotus, splitting the ceramite protecting his chest.
Syakotus backed off pulling his sword away from Bruttin You have no right to speak Rogal Dorns name! he yelled, swinging his sword into the claws of Bruttins left hand, slicing through them. Bruttin slashed at him with his right hand, splitting his shoulder pad into two. Syakotus brought his sword round for another swipe at Bruttin, this time taking his left hand with a clean cut. Bruttin let out a scream as he stuck the claws from his right hand through the stomach of Syakotus, splashing blood across the room. Syakotus lashed out with his sword into Bruttins upper torso, cutting in deep. He pulled his claws from Syakotus, making another slash this time into his chest. Syakotus felt the intensity of the pain flow through him and with what strength remained, brought his sword up and plunged it into Bruttins neck. He spun around, slicing through, forcing his head to separate from the rest of him.
Syakotus fell to his knees covered in the blood of Bruttin and mortally wounded. You tricked me. he said as he fell backwards, hitting the floor with the back of his head. As he helplessly watched Salvanfor and Prill take the Necrosphere with them, he closed his eyes for what he thought would be the last time as he was overcome with darkness. He saw Rogal Dorn standing at the gates of the Emperors fortress on Terra in all his glory, fighting against the hordes of Horus slaying the traitors as they approached him. Then he saw Rogal Dorn carrying the mortally wounded body of the Emperor. To his surprise he opened his eyes again.
Chaplain Quornas stood over Syakotus Youre awake then.
What happened? he asked, looking up at the long narrow face of Quornas.
We found you in an underground chamber under one of the bunkers, Quornas replied in a dry, gruff voice.
Syakotus sat up from his bedchamber feeling the pain of his battle with Bruttin hammering through his body. What of Inquisitor Salvanfor?
Quornas turned to gaze out the window. That traitorous scum was long gone when Apothecary Lenthos found you. We brought you back and left the planets orbit before the Ordo Hereticus arrived. Quornas paused for a second as he faced Syakotus Chapter Master Pedro Cantor Requests we return to Rynns World for a debriefing.
I failed to destroy the Necrosphere.
That was not your mission. Your mission was the destruction of the Spectre Knights. That you accomplished. Besides, you can kill Inquisitor Salvanfor another day.
No, let the Ordo Hereticus deal with him, hes their problem now, Syakotus said staggering up. Quornas looked at him, mouth open as if to speak. But then again…"
Hive World Terra