[AKAAD]

here it is folks, the final version. hope it was worth the wait and many, many thanks to boots for the use of the shadowhawks.
enjoy!

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The once majestic city of New Haven lay in ruins, devastated by the chaos attack. The streets were lined with rotting corpses and collapsed buildings, dogs scavenged when they could sometimes being preyed upon themselves by the starving citizens. The chaos forces had battered the city for three weeks before actually entering the city. The Dark Angels had entered this conflict only four days before. With the Imperial Fists fighting alongside them they had managed to push the traitors back. The Dark Angel captain ran towards his men’s position. The marines had been dug in and exchanging fire with the Iron warriors for over an hour now. “Status report sergeant”,

“The heretics have us pinned in position sir and we have tried to move to a more favourable position but their fire lines are too well set”, Master Sheol looking to the right saw the bodies of three dark angels laying in the rubble. Only one of the marines’ life monitors was registering any vital signs and even they were very weak. The sergeant continued his brief, our plasma cannon is out of fuel cells and we are running low on bolter ammunition too, the enem…..” he was suddenly interrupted by a huge explosion from the traitor position which showered body parts and rubble all over the street. The Dark Angels stared at each other totally dumbstruck by what had just happened.

“SIR!”, a shout from one of the marines in the squad who was pointing the shadows of what was once the city’s main banking facility drew the squad’s attention to five shapes shifting in the shadows and suddenly disappearing.

“Be alert brothers, we may have another foe to contend with.”

Five minutes passed when the marines heard rubble shift and slide behind them, snapping round the marines were greeted with the sight of a scout squad coming down the slope towards them. The sergeant approached master Sheol and snapped a salute, as did his squad.

“My apologies for the scare brother captain but we had to sweep the area to make sure we had destroyed the entire traitor patrol.”

“Your timely intervention is most appreciated sergeant, have you another objective to meet?”

“Yes sir. We have to demolish the main bridge leading out of the city. The traitors are using it to re-supply their forces. Permission to return to our duties?”

“Permission granted sergeant.”

The apothecary moved to the wounded marine who was barely alive and set about saving his life, looking over to their company commander he nodded, the battle brother would survive, their joy was short lived as the medic began to remove the geneseed from the other marines who were not so lucky. Distant explosions reminded the angels of death there was more to be done.

+++CHAPLIAN CAMALES TO MASTER SHEOL+++

+++SHEOL RECEIVING BROTHER CHAPLAIN+++

+++MYSELF AND THE DEATHWING ARE IN POSITION. PROCEEDING WITH PRIMARY OBJECTIVE. LIBRARIAN AMARELL HAS INFORMED US THAT A CHAOS SORCERER MAY BE IN THE AREA SO BE VIGILANT. THE EMPEROR PROTECTS+++

+++UNDERSTOOD BROTHER CHAPLAIN. MAY THE LION WATCH OVER YOU+++

Chaplain Camales and his terminators had entered the sewers from the city processing plant gaining a fix on their target almost immediately. Librarian Amarell had been assigned to the Deathwing detachment as a precaution against psykers. The tunnel the squad was walking down was dimly lit; rats scuttled to and fro running when caught in the searchlights of the huge suits. Water dripped from cracks in the concrete and the musty smell was only just bearable. The water in the tunnel was only a few inches deep but the splashing was echoed around the walls making it sound like there was twice as many marines as there actually were. The marines had been following their in-helmet holo-maps for almost twenty minutes when their librarian issued a warning,

+++BE WARY DEATHWING. I SENSE PSYKER ACTIVITY+++

Two minutes later the auto senses flared into life. The marines were surrounded. Forming into a defensive circle the Deathwing prepared to meet the attack from their as yet unknown assailants. Gunfire tore through the air towards the marines and the terminators returned fire, only lasgun shots so far nothing to worry about. Camales returned fire with his plasma bolter and soon screams of the dying were mixed with the gunfire, rushing the terminators to overwhelm them with weight of numbers only served the marines better. Of the thirty terminators present six were armed with lightning claws, adding to that the corridors were very thin the rebels could only bring a few men at a time to the fore. Swords and chainswords was no match for marines with power weapons. Soon the rebel leaders were surrounded by the massive marines and were face to face with Camales.

“Are you ready to die you pathetic heretic??” as the huge space marine approached the man he became even more scared and tried to back away, the wall blocking his attempted escape.

“We were told we were attacking Imperial fists not dark angels by the chaos marine leader, we were tricked.” Those were to be the man’s last words, raising his gun Camales spoke his reply,

“That, you wretch, is the way of chaos”, pulling the trigger the man disappeared in a flash of plasma. Turning to his men the chaplain nodded silently signalling for the marines to return to their assigned task. On surface the Imperial Fist forces had secured the main spaceport and were meeting fierce resistance form the traitor forces on the outlying landing pads. The iron warriors had dug in with their usual expertise in full force and it looked like the loyalists were about to fall into a trap when the dark angels arrived to reinforce them. Captain Marcus had finished giving his report to the dark angel commander when Sheol turned, glaring at him:

“Your plan is flawed brother. You would have us attack two separate Iron Warrior positions at once splitting our forces straight down the middle, if the enemy counterattack we would be forced onto the defensive and if the enemy do indeed outnumber us valuable battle brothers would be needlessly slaughtered. Even if we call in reinforcements from the other objective the iron warriors would counter-attack and re-take the first position. I’ve seen this before. You can guarantee that both positions are very heavily fortified. I will not allow my men to be slaughtered.” The fists' captain was visibly furious for being spoken down to by someone of equal rank and from a chapter renowned for it’s aloof behaviour. He had no choice to comply though the dark angel was in charge of this operation and he was second in command. Marching off after the dark angel he snapped at his counterpart,

“And how do you propose we assault the enemy positions?!”

“The iron warriors have taken great pains to show us how heavily defended the crystal gate spaceport is whereas the eternity road spaceport is relatively undefended. It’s a rouse to get us where they want us so they can trap us and destroy us on their terms. In a siege war, it’s the way they conduct their campaigns, you of all people should know that. They want us to believe that the least defended is the most vulnerable, I’d say that is not the case. In fact I’d say it’s the most heavily defended”, at that the fist commander looked very uncomfortable with what had just been said, a point Sheol didn’t waste any time in picking up on. But before he could voice what he was thinking the comnet exploded into life.

+++SERGEANT MAXIMILLIAN TO BROTHER MARCUS+++

+++MARCUS ONLINE. GO+++

+++BROTHER CAPTAIN WE ARE UNDER HEAVY ATACK THE TRAITOR FORCES AT ETERNITY ROAD ARE VASTLY SUOPERIOR TO WHAT WAS ANTICIPATED WE CANNOT HO………the comment went dead with a hiss of static as the two captains stood opposite each other for what seemed like an eternity. Sheol held back both physically and verbally but finally began yelling at his counterpart, “IDIOT! I TOLD YOU NOT TO ATTACK! NOW THE TRAITORS KNOW WE’LL ATTACK THE SECOND SPACEPORT” tapping his comm rune Sheol addressed his men,

+++SHEOL TO ORDITAL RESERVES DEEP STRIKE STRAIGHT TO THE CRYSTAL GATE SPACEPORT MY MEN WILL REINFORCE WITH ALL HASTE+++

+++BROTHER BELIAL TO BROTHER SHEOL. THIRD COMPANY DEPLOYING AS REQUESTED. RAVENWING FORCES ALSO ENROUTE. WE INTERCEPTED THE IMPERIAL FISTS TRANSMISSION AND UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION. DEATHWING FORCES ALREADY ON SITE+++

CAPTAIN MARCUS BEGAN TO MARSHALL HIS MEN TO JOIN THE ASSAULT WHEN SHEOL TURNED ON HIM YET AGAIN,

“Your men will act as a reserve and a reserve only, stay out of our way”

At the spaceport Camales and his men had been fighting a running battle with the iron warriors for twenty or so minutes, the new weapons fits techmarine Balarus had worked for them, was making all the difference. The traitors were being cut to shreds by the heavy bolters and they had already claimed one traitor dreadnought and a landraider with the multimelta. The Deathwing were definitely living up to the reputation they had earned over the millennia. The marines were suddenly raked with autocannon and assault cannon fire from the traitors but their ancient and massive armor held. Lumbering through the traitor forces towards the Deathwing came two obliterators, guns blazing. Camales led the charge on the warped man/machines and the Deathwing with lightning claws tore into the lumbering giants carving huge gouges in their armour. One of the obliterators fell to the ground the deathwing still slicing at the abomination, the other two were still fighting it out with their assailants, brother Michael was sent flying when one of the traitorous machines caught him in the swing of it’s powerfist, the screech of metal was unbearable as it morphed another meltagun and tried to finish him off. Brother Adonai blocked the path of it’s weapon arm and Camales smashed his crozius down on it’s head sending it stumbling back, skull smashed to a pulp, the third was being finished off by the squad multimelta and roared as it’s chest exploded in the superheated air. Seeing their creations falling only enraged the iron warriors further, who unleashed a torrent of heavy fire as they rushed the dark angels. Calmly Camales turned to face the enemy yelling into the commnet,

+++ANGELS! ATTACK PATTERN OMEGA TWO+++ the marines formed into a v formation with Camels at the head of the spearhead gun blazing at the heretical marines, “FEEL MY HATERED AND THE JUSTICE OF THE LION” as the combatants closed on each other the wall exploded as a bone white landraider smashed through, careening up over the rubble and smashing down onto of the traitors drowning their screams in the roar of it’s engines, dark angels flooded into the room wiping out the remainder of the traitors who were attempting to escape. Master Sheol walked to greet Camales and his men the two greeting each other with a warrior’s grip.

“A timely intervention young master,”

“By the looks of things brother chaplain you didn’t need us”, looking past the huge form of the chaplain the company master gestured with a nod to the pile of dead traitors, his face turning to horror Camales turned round to see one of the huge obliterators standing up and morphing weapons on both arms, with a his and a flash of blinding light the twin barrels of the landraider lascannonns cut through the air punching through the hideous man/machine’s chest and tearing it’s right arm off at the shoulder. Spraying blood the obliterator spasmed on the ground as the commander’s hatch on the landraider opened up and the red helmet of the fourth company techmarine appeared,

“Those things are an abomination, what were the traitors thinking?” walking over he begun to prod and scan the huge carcass but walked back to his tank locking his helmet in place. “He’ll never take one alive” said Camales before turning to his men. Turning back he gestured for the young master to follow him, “I hear the Imperial fists are not fully co-operating with our actions?

“No chaplain, they are not. Their commander completely disregarded my advice for re-taking the spaceports and now it may delay the action for weeks. The ravenwing have already reported the traitor defences have been augmented twice.” Camales sighed and shook his head,

“Their hatred for the traitors is blinding them to the risk at which they place us all during any further frontal assault on their positions. DAMN THEM!! I will speak with their captain, this..”

“Brother captain Marcus”

“Hmm Marcus. He has placed us all in greater risk and possibly extended the campaign and has certainly introduced the possibility of raising our losses.” Bowing his head master Sheol answered the chaplain,

“The thought had occurred to me also brother that the losses on both sides will be higher than necessary. His arrogance is unbelievable, he’s convinced he can win this without us.”

“Agreed brother captain. I will speak with this “captain” now and I hope for his sake he keeps a civil tongue..” Camales almost managed a smile; “otherwise a cracked skull will be his payment..”

Bolt rounds flew in all directions as the fierce exchange from the iron warriors was answered round for round by the imperial fists. The mass reactive rounds exploded as they embedded in the dirt and the walls of the street, the fists being their usual selves took no notice of the cover afforded by the rubble and their losses were beginning to mount. Camales then noticed that captain Marcus was standing out in the open with his men blasting away at the traitors in cover. It was obvious that the traitors using cover, which was in stark contrast to what the fists combat doctrine taught enraged him. Camales shook his head at what he was witnessing, no matter how many times he saw the fists in action it always disgusted him the way they threw themselves into an assault with no regard for cover or the lives it could save. A lascannon shot blasted a fist to pieces, the traitors then raked the street with autocannon fire to follow up the lascannon fire. Still the fists moved in. He had to admire their determination though to reach the dug in ironwarriors, if a brother fell another helped him to his feet and they would advance together, in the end they reached the iron warriors and the fight was close and vicious, even more fists fell but the iron warriors were slaughtered to man. Most of the battle was obscured from view but the occasional glimpse of what was going on was easily seen, never before had Camales seen the iron warriors fight to viciously and with such single mindedness old scars do indeed run deep. As Camales walked towards the Imperial fist captain he could see he was badly wounded on the right side of his face but thanks to his enhanced body it was already closing. Looking up the captain spoke to the chaplain before he could speak,

“See chaplain, see how a space marine should fight! Without fear or cowering behind cover hiding from his enemies and giving all faith to him on earth.” Camales looked around him, he counted seven dead and four seriously wounded out of an attacking force of twenty marines.

“All I see captain are the wasted lives of valuable marines. The way you lead your men during that assault was abhorrent. Were you a dark angel I would have shot you myself. Reckless bravado and good leadership never go hand in hand and it is because of your actions our losses will be a lot heavier than we originally anticipated. You will be responsible for the deaths of dark angels as well as your own men. I fail to see how such an idiot could possibly have been elevated to the rank of captain. In fact it’s a wonder your chapter still survives. Your complete lack of disregard for the advice from captain Sheol I find intolerable. What do you have to say for yourself?”

“Firstly chaplain I do not answer to anyone not of my chapter especially when they speak to me as you just have. What you consider a waste I consider a glorious sacrifice for humanity. If you bemoan your losses then it shows a lack of heart on your part to win this fight! Your terminator suit would shield you from most of the fire that felled my brothers but at least they died with honour. We shall talk of the assault on the spaceport when it comes now I do not have anything else to say to you.” Turning his back on the chaplain Marcus felt himself being grabbed by the shoulder and before he could react he was laying on his back with a sore jaw, Camales glaring down at him,

“My men will not take part in an orchestrated slaughter and I will be filing a full report with my chapter master on this incident we will conduct the campaign as we see fit.” Turning, Camales walked away leaving Marcus to mull over their exchange. A beep signalled an incoming message.

+++INTERROGATOR CHAPLAIN. THIS IS SERGEANT AKAAD WE HAVE SOMETHING WE THINK YOU SHOULD SEE+++

+++THIS IS A SECURE CHANNEL BROTHER, YOU MAY SPEAK SERGEANT+++

+++NOT SECURE ENOUGH BROTHER CHAPLAIN+++

+++STATE YOUR LOCATION SERGEANT AND I WILL JOIN YOU PROMPTLY+++

+++COMMAND COMPOUND BROTHER. OPS ROOM+++

+++ON MY WAY+++ the doors of the landraider swung closed as the last of the squad embarked. The engines roared as the driver turned the tank a full ninety degrees in the street to get off the rubble. Grinding off down the avenue the landraider carried the dark angels away, dumbstruck the fists watched as their captain hefted himself to his feet and smashed his fist into a wall sending brickwork in all directions.
The command room was a hive of activity when Camales entered, before he could speak the deathwing sergeant shook his head and ordered the guardsmen out the room which was then sealed, the techmarine placed a suppressor on the table and activating it. A curt nod signalled the room was now secure.

“Sergeant you may begin.”

“Yes chaplain. We secured this security footage from the cameras in the armorium approximately an hour ago. I linked you as soon as I saw it. All necessary precautions have been taken.”

“’Precautions’, sergeant?”

“Yes sir. The guard colonel who brought the footage to our attention will meet the emperor with good grace.” Nodding to the techmarine who waved his hand over the control panel, the footage on the view screen blurred into life. Camales scratched his chin, thirty-seven seconds of film passed before silence was broken, “once the timer hits fifty seconds watch the service door on the north wall and the service gantry above. As soon as the timer clicked to forty the door ion the wall opened and a marine in black armour emerged clutching a wounded arm and staggering to the main exit, above he was being persued by five marines in camouflaged armour their sergeant carrying a power axe. The marines leapt on the lone escapee and tied him with chains and cuffs before dragging him away. Camales glanced over at the sergeant who gestured to the techmarine. The red armoured marine punched a series of red and green buttons, which took the film to the initial appearance of the wounded marine. A small yellow box isolated the image and a small blue line paced up and down the image clearing it. Camales could scarce believe his eyes. The wounded marine bore the markings of a dark angel overlaid with the icons of chaos undivided. A fallen. Before his chaplain could speak Akaad added to brief, “the area is secure but there are no signs of the fallen or his captors. The rage in the chaplain’s eyes was unmistakable, smashing his fist into the desk Camales turned on his heel, speaking into the commnet,

+++ALL DEATHWING PERSONNELL RENDEVOUS AT THE COORDINATES BEING TRANSMITTED TO YOU NOW. CAMALES OUT+++ thirty minutes later in the glow of floodlit assembly yard the huge chaplain stood with all twenty terminators and their transports towering above them. The lights suddenly went out, as a bombard shell struck further up the street, severing a powerline and prompting the backup generators to kick into life. Their search had turned up nothing at all. The battle brothers of the third company secured the area allowing the deathwing to proceed with searching the rest of the plant. Standing on the gantry the chaplain was supervising the search when a loud clack beside his head prompted him to turn to his left. Beside him stood a marine in mark seven power armour painted grey, white and black that the matched cityscape. The marine had no imperial markings on his armour, or chaos for that matter. The armour was also devoid of any markings as to rank or chapter or even squad type. The man’s face was devoid of all emotion, with a nod the chaplain heard the sound of bolters being readied and the rest of the squad made it’s presence known. The stranger was the first to speak;

“From my observations I’d say you’re the one in overall command”

“Before I answer may I ask what the lion’s name you think you are doing pointing that pistol at me?!”

“A mere precaution chaplain, I know why you’re here, you’re here to find the deserter aren’t you?

“Deserter??”

“Don’t take me for an idiot. We have a deserter, you know we have him you want him back. Simple enough I’d say. Now I don’t know if this is sinking in chaplain, you look smart enough to me. I’d say your man spent too much time around the chaos forces on this world and broke. If I take this pistol away from your head you’ll be good enough not to try anything. Two of my men have melta guns at your back, I think we can strike a deal.”

“You wear no insignia I see. Not even the holy badge of the astartes. Why is this?” camales noticed the exp​ression on the marine’s face change to one of anger:

“My name is Klast, we do not serve those that would not believe us and those that would call us traitor. We served the emperor loyally and our reward was betrayal at the hands of the inquisition. So the answer to your question chaplain is we are of the shadowhawks chapter.” Camales listened intently as the sergaent told the story of the betrayal. He’d heard the tale of the this chapter before, especially since the dark angels kept careful tabs on the inquisition and the imperial establishment, more so since their successor chapter the angels of wrath had been destroyed because of their refusal to accept imperial preachers in replacement of their chaplains.

“An interesting tale sergeant, however, I fail to see why I should co-operate with you especially given your circumstances” the chaplain gestured to the courtyard below him. A devastator squad had deployed with their lascannons locked onto the nameless marines. The deathwing moved into position at each end of the gantry to cover any possible escape.

“I’ve given strict instructions to my men that should anything happen to myself or my squad your friend will be turned over to the imperial fists and given their standing with the imperial authorities I’d say you’d be looking at a full inquisitorial investigation. Now will you listen to my proposal?” Camales waited for a while before answering,

“A very valid strategy Klast, what is it you propose?”

“The traitor forces have seized a thunderhawk and it’s crew belonging to us. We want it and it’s crew back. Simple. In return we’ll give you back your turncoat and the matter will be done with. The chaos forces are holding what we want in their central compound. The area in question used to be the main spaceport for the planet. We do not have the manpower to re-take either. That’s the deal, take it or leave it.”

“How do I know I can trust you? I understand why you didn’t approach the fists. I need to know why I should trust you.” At that Klast lowered his pistol and his men copied the gesture.

“Had I wanted you dead chaplain I wouldn’t have approached you I would have had you blown away from a distance. You have my word and honour as a marine.”

“My instincts tell me that your intentions are honourable, count yourself lucky I’m as well informed as you gave me credit for” Camales raised his hand and the dark angels lowered their weapons.

“No one can know of this encounter, it would be fatal to the dark angels.”

“Agreed chaplain, I will forget this meeting as soon as we conclude our business.”

+++CAPTAIN SHEOL TO BROTHER CHAPLAIN CAMALES+++

+++SPEAK BROTHER CAPTAIN+++

+++WHAT IS YOUR STATUS?+++

+++THE SITUATION IS UNDER CONTROL BROTHER, THERE IS NO THREAT TO MY SAFETY+++

+++VERY WELL BROTHER. WE WILL BE CONDUCTING A BRIEFING IN TEN MINUTES WITH REGARDS TO THE RECAPTURE OF THE PLANETARY ARMOURY+++

+++CONFIRMED AND RECEIVED BROTHER I AM ON MY WAY+++

“Forgive my departure sergeant Klast but I have a briefing to attend” turning to walk away klast had one last thing to say,

“Chaplain, you may find this will save some of your men’s lives, it contains the internal maps and marked positions of all the enemey gun emplacements and patrol routes as of twenty-three hundred last night. Four of my men were severely wounded gaining this Intel I hope it will be of use to you.” Klast extended his hand and camales did likewise, dropping the crystal into the chaplain’s palm klast and his men slunk into the shadows as quickly as he had arrived.

The Parade ground at the planetary defence headquarters was filled with rows of dark angels and behind them the PDF troops who had remained loyal at the start of the rebellion. Camales and Sheol had been conducting the briefing for approximately an hour and captain Sheol had outlined they had no inteligence on enemy strengths or deployment when camales intervened.

“Brothers we have just received the info we desperately required,” placing the crystal into the reader the map was overlaid with the information supplied by klast. “I suggest we assault the through the sewer system since the traitors have placed only minimal defences there. As you can see the patrol route completely bypasses the entrance to the power room service hatch.” Pointing his laser guider onto the map the highlighted area was illuminated and expanded to a three dimensional image with blue dots representing guards and defensive positions, “the scout squads will have no problem gaining access because we believe that there are only rebel guardsmen in the area one we gain control of the power room we can cut all defensive power allowing deepstrike and ravenwing access. However we do have to face the task of taking out the secondary generator which will be taken on by the deathwing and myself. Both generators must be taken out to ensure complete success in this assault. We can expect few iron warriors to be present due to the reinforcing of the spaceports due to the failed assault by the imperial fists. If there are no further questions we can proceed”. No hands were raised or voices, “Very well, we move at dusk”.

The twin moons began to set behind the huge forest covered mountain range as the dark angels moved into position the sight would have been breathtaking had you the time for such trivial things, the dark angels had a job to do and the sunset was just the mark to get ready for the assault.

+++SCOUT SERGEANT MICHAEL TO BROTHER CAMALES THE CHARGES ARE IN PLACE AND READY+++

+++VERY WELL BROTHER DETONATE AT THE ALLOTED TIME+++

Nineteen hundred hours was marked by the huge explosion of the generator room as the rubble and debris flew in all directions and the shields fizzled out. The techmarines on board the dark angel battlebarge were about to transport the deathwing and their chaplain when a second energy spike was noted at the co-ordinates the terminators were going to. Balarus walked over to Camales a puzzled look on his face.

“Brother chaplain camales there will be no need to teleport you to the secondary power room.”

“Why is this brother?”

“The secondary power room is no longer there brother. We detected a second power spike in the area which was the generators detonating. We have no explanation. In actual fact there was an energy spike identical to a teleporter signature three point six seconds after the initial discharge.” Camales knew exactly what it was. It was Klast and his men, they knew exactly where to strike and he did promise the Intel would save dark angel lives and it had.

“So what is the status of the objective?”

“The entire site brother chaplain has been secured and a full sweep conducted. The traitor guards have capitulated and master Sheol has requested your presence on the surface. We have surmised the rebels attempted to destroy the base rather let it fall into our hands and be taken as prisoners.

“Activate the beam brother techmarine. I will proceed as planned.” The room hummed and sparked with the arcs of energy leaping form marine to marine and with a blinding flash the marines were gone.

The rebel guardsmen were lined up gagged and bound with a dark angel behind each one, thirty survivors in all. The two dark angel commanders were awaiting the results of the psy probe from their librarian before proceeding. Looking over the librarian shook his head to indicate they were all clear of chaotic influence. A rumbling of landraider engines signalled the arrival of the Imperial Fist command squad and Marcus approached Sheol and Camales,

“Excellent work brothers! Though somewhat tardy in your methods very efficient nonetheless.” Looking around him the captain could see the dark angels holding some of the rebel guardsmen in chains, “I trust you shall be administering proper punishment Camales? The Dark Angel chaplain could barely contain his rage at the captain’s tone of voice.

“I may not be of your chapter but you still watch your tone when you speak to me or I will have absoloutly no problem with striking you again” nodding to the tactical squad their sergeant manhandled the prisoners out of view. The Imperial Fist captain could hardly believe the Dark Angels were sparing the traitors when he heard the gunfire from behind the wall. Satisfied he walked away. As Camales stood beside his landraider a familiar voice spoke to him from behind,

“I assume the assault on the space port is tomorrow chaplain?”

“Yes sergeant klast it is. Why?”

“You should be wary of the Imperial Fists, they talk too much. One of my men had to ‘dispose’ shall we say of some tactical marines after he overheard them discussing the assault. My man could’ve been anyone, so their deaths were necessary to cover our plans.”

"How did your man come to hear the fists conversing in the first place?!"

"He was hunting down iron warriors who had infiltrated the encampment and after dealing with your 'rodent' problem shall we say, he was within earshot of their converstion and could not allow it to continue. one of the infiltrators was datacording the whole conversation. the crystal has been destroyed."

“It is indeed sad you had to kill them but be careful Klast. you are on dangerous ground as it is. lax as they were they were still loyal servants of the emperor. heed my advice and be wary shadowhawk. Although as you say your man could’ve been a traitor scout. I trust your men will be engaging the enemy tomorrow also klast?”

“Yes we will, and you will know us but your men won’t. ‘Til tomorrow interrogator chaplain.” Before Camales could answer the shadowhawk was gone again. The chaplain couldn’t help but dwell on the fact this man had more respect for his office than a full rank captain from one of the first founding chapters. It was indeed a shame this man had to be branded a traitor. A beep in his ear signalled the commlink opening,

+++BROTHER CHAPLIAN THE Imperial Fists HAVE DISACOVERED SOME OF THEIR MEN DEAD WITHIN THE COMPOUND. BE alert. THERE MAY BE INFILTRATORS AMONGST US. SHEOL OUT+++

+++RECEIVED AND UNDERSTOOD. CAMALES OUT+++

The Iron Warriors had bolstered the defences of the spaceport significantly since the failed assault by the Imperial Fists. Handing the view goggles to Captain Marcus Camales voiced his disgust at the officer’s inept command skills.

“The traitors are well prepared and waiting for us. If you had waited and attacked as advised by captain Sheol this problem would not have arisen. So much blood will be spilt needlessly this day, not just fists but angels too. I hope you can live with this knowledge.”

“My men are not scared to die and will not shy from the coming fight with the traitors chaplain nor should yours.” Marcus nodded to the imperial guard commander who spoke into a hand held comm-pack, Camales turned to him with an enraged look on his face,

“What’s do you think you are playing at?!”

“I know how to deal with these scum camales, we have done from the end of the great rebellion.” Chaplain Camales was about to shout for the guard commander to stop the bombardment but it was too late. Seconds later the artillery shells began to scream towards the spaceport. The Iron Warriors answered with their own fire, which decimated the guard, position knocking most of the heavy guns out of action. Speaking again into his commlink the commissar ordered his tanks forwards. Dozens of chimeras baneblades and leman Russ tanks rumbled forwards.

As soon as the tanks were in range the Iron Warriors opened fire, the cramped streets had been laced with delayed reaction thermocharges. Destroying the front and rear tanks in each column the Iron Warriors pinned the guardsmen in and blew each tank apart at leisure then moving in to gun down the survivors. Landraiders moved in on the guardsmen’s flanks tearing apart surviving vehicles with their high-powered lascannons and gunning down survivors with their heavy bolters and autocannon. Roaring with rage the traitor’s ancient dreadnoughts tore the guardsmen limb from limb spraying gore all over their comrades and their vehicles, the slaughter was absolute.

Bravely their commissar tried to rally his men before the traitor commander sliced him from shoulder to mid riff with his power sword. It was almost as if he knew the marines were watching them, he lifted the commissar’s head and held it in the direction of the marines, then dropped it. Camales continued to watch as the traitor commander grabbed one of the survivors and handed him something, harrying him out of the plaza and putting him on a captured imperial fist bike. Five minutes later the terrified man was handing a data crystal to the fist commander. The crystal contained one line, “welcome to your own iron cage captain Marcus”. When he finished reading it he flew into a rage and demanded he be allowed to attack immediately, calmly turning to him Camales had his reply ready,

“The note from the traitor had exactly the effect it was meant to. Attack now and be wiped out.”

“I will have my revenge on this traitor!!” turning to his men captain Marcus assembled his company and headed off to the spaceport to attack, Camales had no choice but to follow his fellow commander or risk the two armies being cut to pieces at the iron warriors’ leisure. The vanguard of the fists met with fierce resistance, their bright yellow landraiders tearing through the docking platforms, blowing defences apart before being met by their lost brethren. The fists’ terminators battled through the ironwarriors flanking their captain as he strove to meet the warsmith.

Iron warrior dreadnoughts thundered into the landraiders destroying one for the loss of two of their number. The battle company marines fought fiercely to stop themselves being flanked but to no avail. As the traitors set up in position the walls around them exploded as the form of a bone white land raider smashed in on them crushing them where they stood, the massive tank slew to a halt disgorging camales and his body guard. Plasma weapons erupted at point blank range melting every traitor with the machine god’s wrath. Other landraiders followed suit flanked by ravenwing attack bikes and lanspeeder giving air support.

The sheer weight of the dark angel counter attack threw the ironwarriors off who began to retreat. They had not expected the dark angel’s assault to be so heavy. Camales and his men charged the traitors cutting their way through, the chaplain looked up in time to see a huge boot before it struck him in the chest. The traitor terminator raised his power axe, aiming for the chaplain’s head when a bolt of plasma engulfed the heretic’s head. Shaking his head to clear the haze from his eyes as he regained his footing the chaplain was greeted with the sight of a dark angel with a yellow band on his shoulder paldron. It was klast.

“Careful chaplain, you may not live to see our agreement fulfilled, I do believe I’ve just saved your life, but you now owe me a favour!” running off with his men blasting and hacking their way to the thunder hawk klast and his men had their three wounded comrades with them. The dark angels fought with fury to surround their chaplain until he re-gained his footing, taking the opportunity to look around him during a lull in the fighting camales saw Murcus being held by two iron warrior terminators as the war smith smashed his skull into bloody pulp with his powerfist, the two terminators let his body slump to the ground as they ploughed into the yellow armoured marines. The commlink crackled to life as sergeant Michaelas spoke to his chaplain,

+++BROTHER CHAPLAIN FALL BACK TWENTY METRES AND HOLD. I WILL SOFTEN UP THE TRAITOR’S LINES+++ not wanting to argue with the dreadnought camales complied as streams of plasma cut the heretics to pieces. The huge armoured form of the ancient battle brother waded into the traitors as his terminator honour guard followed suit. The imperial fists were not so lucky they were being butchered to a man trying to retrieve their captain’s body. Their dreadnought was leading a fierce counter-strike when he was hit by lsacannon blasts from an obliterator sending him sprawling with showers of sparks spewing form the sarcophagus.

The iron warriors were few in numbers now with fewer heavy weapons but were very heavily dug in with what heavy weapons they had left taking a terrible toll through solid controlled fire. A roar of jet engines heralded the arrival of Sheol and his assault squad straight into the middle of the surviving traitors. Cutting two of them in half with his powersword he was soon toe to toe with the warsmith as his bodyguard kept the others at bay. The warsmith swung his servo arm missing Sheol but catching his jump pack, swinging him round and down the angels of death landed with a huge thump in the mud. Firing his bolt pistol the round impacted onto the traitor’s faceplate tearing half his helmet off. Roaring with pain the traitor staggered back and giving Sheol the chance to take another shot.

The second bolt slammed into the warsmith’s chest plate forcing him to stagger further back. A sudden thump from behind signalled a traitor marine grabbing Sheol’s jump pack. Sheol fired up the jumppack and when takeoff pressure was met he jettisoned the pack hurling the traitor out into the mass of imperial marines. When he turned back the warsmith was almost on top of him, rolling to the side he came up to the traitor’s right, ducking a backhand blow he sliced the barrel from the warsmith’s combi-melta. Throwing the weapon to the ground the smith charged at the captain knocking him to the ground the warsmith rolled to the side as the dark angels’ powersword sliced through his shoulder severing his arm. Standing at the same time the smith was the slightly faster of the two, grabbing Sheol by the arm and lifting him with the servo-arm. A sudden eruption of gore spattered over the dark angel and he slumped to the ground, free of the crushing prosthetic, protruding from the traitor’s chest was a chainfist blade teeth still whirring before it was pulled free. The deathwing trooper nonchalantly saluted before tearing through another traitor marine, the remaining twelve traitors were left to the remaining imperial fists. Camales approached the dark angel captain and helped him to his feet,

“It is done my captain.”

“For now master chaplain, for now. But there are more traitor strong holds on this world.” Camales nodded and as he looked across to where intra system craft would be parked and the thunderhawk, klast was fighting his was towards was gone. Walking towards where the gunship was parked the chaplain noticed movement in the shadows, moving closer still he saw a bound and gagged dark angel in black armour with chaos iconography over his armour. Seeing the approaching terminator chaplain he began to scream but his gag muffled him and his chains hindered his escape. Camales noticed something hanging from the traitor’s neck and snapped it free of it’s chain. Pressing the red activation rune on the holo cube a small marine in power armour was displayed and the message from klast was played,

+++GREETINGS CHAPLAIN CAMALES. I’VE KEPT MY END OF OUR BARGAIN AS YOU CAN SEE AND THE FACT THE THUNDERHAWK IS GONE SHOWS YOU DID ALSO. WE ARE MUCH ALIKE YOU AND I WE ARE OUR OWN MEN AND CARE ONLY FOR DUTY AND THOSE UNDER OUR CHARGE. I’M A GOOD JUDGE OF CHARACTER CHAPLAIN AND KNEW I COULD TRUST YOU WHEN I SFIST SAW YOU. I REALISE NEXT TIME WE MEET THINGS MAY NOT BE SO CORDIAL. I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR HELP DARK ANGEL. BY THE WAY THE ARMOUR COLOUR SCHEME WAS ONLY PAINT. YOUR DEAD WERE UNTOUCHED BY MY MEN AND YOU WILL FIND THEIR BODIES AT REST ON YOUR STAGING AREA. FAREWELL CAMALES. TILL NEXT TIME.+++

Letting go of the activation switch the normally stern camales found himself smile for the first time in weeks.

=========================================================

TYPOS REMOVED!!

This post has been edited by AKAAD: 28 March 2003 - 12:47 PM

[Chaplain Lazarus]

it was worth waiting for this AKAAD. i like the story very much.

there's only one thing that bugs me

Quote

?You should be wary of the Imperial Fists, they talk too much. One of my men had to ?dispose? shall we say of some tactical marines after he overheard them discussing the assault. My man could?ve been anyone, so their deaths were necessary to cover our plans.?

that somehow just doesn't seem "Adeptus Astartes" to me. i dunno, it just bugs me

keep it up man

[AKAAD]

i wrote that bit because the shadowhawks don't beahve like normal marines. i can change it if you think it needs it?

[Chaplain Lazarus]

to me it sounds a bit like an' than wez runs up to there an' giv'em all much shooty death kill when the IF talk about the assault and the SH killing them cause of that. it must be like they've discussed the whole plan or so hat the SH took such drastic measures. i mean, they are in the IF's base and camp security should be pretty good in a SM camp ( but not good enough to keep a Shadowhawk out, eh? )

[AKAAD]

pretty much!!

[Bootae]

Great action packed fun as always my friend! Only a couple of criticisms, constructive of course!!

I'd agree about that bit Lazarus mentions, just a bit of rephrasing to make it clear the IF's bravado presented a real threat. Perhaps have Klast saying how Shadowhawks were hunting down some IW infiltrators and they came within ear shot of the IF boasting about their attack plan, so the Hawks killed them all... or something like that.

I'd also slightly tweak Camales reaction to these deaths, despite his rivalry with the IF he wouldn't be best pleased at the death of Imperials I think anyway. Perhaps with a narrowing of the eyes and grimly saying something like "I understand your men had no choice in this matter, but be wary Shadowhawk, be wary..."

And break that last battle in to paragraphs a bit more

Quality stuff mate!

[AKAAD]

Done Bootae!!

[Chaplain Lazarus]

mucho better now AKAAD

[AKAAD]

glad you liked it!