A Story of Death or Victory- Angels of the XIXth Legion, Raven Guard

Chapter 3

 

   I would be told the events that happened after the mission during the debrief with 707th Expeditionary Fleet Commander, Praetor Ya Ksha aboard the Shadow Bird Surat Thani, as we returned to the Fleet from the Planet's atmosphere.  Did I mention that Praetor Ya Ksha, selected me to accompany their mission. Praetor Ya Ksha knew my name. I Remembrancer Landon Mar-Garet, was called out by name to accompany Praetor Ya Ksha, Assault Squad Chai and Seeker Squad Ran on the first mission.  That is also when I learned about who else was in our fleet.  I have been with the fleet for years and I only Interacted with other Remembrancers, the Crew of the Various ships in the fleet and the Warriors of the XIXth Legion.  I was completely unaware that a Small Contingent of Solar Auxilia of the Therion "Velites" Cohorts were attached. Then there was her.

 

   Her was Alyssah Respus, Knight-Centura, Chamber of Oblivion, Anathema Psykana, Sisters of Silence. Remember I have spent years around Adeptus Astartes and I have a healthy fear of them. Knight- Centura Alyssah Respus I was terrified of her. Her armor in gun metal in color, she a had a Purple cloak with a inner cream colored cloak, her skin was a healthy hue of pink, with her bright red hair worn as top knot. Her weapon was almost as tall as she was. She was not large and muscular like the Adeptus Astartes but appeared to be frail but fit, Once you were within a few feet of her you just felt this dread.  Or worse yet when she stared at you and you could feel you soul being ripped apart. I want to learn battle sign so I can speak to her or anyone apart of her order, but according to Chaplain Luang Pu, there is a Novitiate that is with the Sisters of Silence that can translate for me.  Knight-Centura Alyssah Respus was on Surat Thanii, with me. Her novitiate was not. 

 

  Back to the mission....

 

    Running almost completely silently on gravitic Impellers for propulsion, the Kiavahr designed and built Whispercutters are exclusive to the XIXth Legion, allow Assault Squads and Dark Fury Squads to drop from above the targets or drop off elite infiltrating units with its open-topped air-frame. Currently 2 Whispercutters 10 had men from Assault Squad led by Sgt Charn Chai and Praetor Ya Ksha aboard. Once confirmation that their target was in the area, they would drop. As the seconds ticked by, the 11 Jump packed equipped Raven Guard Assault force waited. Once the 5 XIXth Legion Seekers led by Sgt Rom Ran on the ground gave the signal, the Murders in Black would go to work.

 

 

A Story of Death or Victory- Angels of the XIXth Legion, Raven Guard

Chapter 4

 

 “Movement, sir,” whispered Seeker Sgt Rom Ran over the secure vox.

 

    Assault Sgt Charn Chai glanced over at Praetor Ya Ksha. Praetor Ya Ksha gave the Sgt a nod and they all jumped off the Whisper Cutters landing behind some ruins.  

 

   “10 Traitor Tactical Astartes, Rhino, and 5 Astartes designate unkown, unknow designate,” Seeker Sgt Rom Ran signaled his Praetor using Battle sign.

 

   “Be cautious,” Praetor Ya Ksha signaled back.

 

    The 5 unknowns Astartes moved forward on leathery wings. They landed in front of the Seekers and began looking and sniffing around. The Rhino moved forward and the lights illuminating the Word Bearer Daemonic Word Bear Veteran Assault Marines and then the Seekers.

 

   “Engage,” Praetor Ya Ksha yelled!

 

    Seeker Sgt Rom Ran and his team opened with Kraken rounds into the daemonic Veteran Assault Marines. Two of the Warp Corrupted Veterans fell. Assault Sgt Charn Chai and his squad jumped into the remaining Veterans and smashed another two to the ground. Their Sgt Backed away. Then four Assault Marines collapsed armor on fire. The Word Bearer Preator walked out of the Rhino and engaged the Assault Marines in hand to hand dropping another 3 assault marines. The remain Assault marines could not withstand the Word Bearer Praetor and begin to pull their wounded squad mates out of combat. The Seekers gunned down the last daemonic Veteran.

 

   Praetor Ya Ksha jumped pas the Rhino tossing a melt bomb on it severely crippling it, but the Rhino surged forward smoke billowing out it. The Seekers were charged by the Wod Bearer Preator and 4 of them were thrown around the Ruins. Praetor Ya Ksha engaged the Tactical squad before they could get off a shot. They learned when why his units are called the Murders in Black. Not one Word Bearer Tactical member survived.  

 

  Seeker Sgt Rom Ran was set ablaze by the rhino as the Word Bearer Praetor was screaming “Fight me,” at Praetor Ya Ksha.

 

   Praetor Ya Ksha engaged the Praetor and could see the Warp possessing him. But it was to no avail. Praetor Ya Ksha was faster, and he buried his Paired Raven’s Talons into the Word Bearers chest to his knuckles and then bisected him.  With a hiss the Praetor’s body disappeared.

 

  “Whisper Cutters retrieve us. Stormbird Surat Thani, prep for casualties and armor repair. No KIAs. I need to speak to Knight Centura Alyssah Respus, ASAP,” Praetor Ya Ksha said into his vox.

 

A Story of Death or Victory- Angels of the XIXth Legion, Raven Guard

Chapter 5

 

    The 2 XIXth Legion Whispercutters approached the rear of the Stormbird Surat Thani, a Warhawk VI Pattern Stormbird, for a combat high speed extraction. The Warhawk VI Pattern Stormbird is larger than the more common Sokar Pattern and has been serving Praetor Ya Ksha and his clan for multiple decades as part of the Yndonesic Bloc during the Unification Wars on ancient Terra. Surat Thani was performing aerial command and control duties, retrieval, and Med Evac for for the XIXth Legion forces on the ground led by Praetor Ya Ksha and take them back to the fleet in orbit.  The rear landing bay was open and the Whispercutters flew in at speed and landed on the deck in the cargo hold. The injured were being triaged as the rear decks closed. Praetor Ya Ksha looked like a nightmare come true. His Black and white Armor was covered in blood, guts, and ichor, none of it was his own. He waved off an apothecary as XIXth Legion Chaplain Luang Pu and I, Remembrancer Landon Mar-Garet approached him. 

 

"My Lord, Knight-Centra Alyssah Respus, is awaiting you in the ready room, as you have requested," Chaplain Luang Pu. 

 

"Sgt Rom Ran, Sgt. Charn Chai, check on your wounded and meet us in the Ready room," yelled Praetor Ya Ksha.

 

    We entered the room, and I was immediately hit with the nauseousness, I felt in Knight-Centura Alyssah Respus's presence.  If she had the same effect on the Adeptus Astartes with me, they made no gestures that it did. Her armor, was a polished dark metallic in color which stood out against the flat black of the XIXth Legion Armor. Her paragon blade was sheathed across her back, restricting her purple cloak from moving. It was almost as tall as she was. Her red hair and pale skin was always focal point.  She began "speaking" with her hands in battle sign. 

 

"Greetings, Praetor Ya Ksha. I am glad to see the battle did not fell you. I understand that you wish to speak to me about something you saw or witnessed?" translated XIXth Legion Master of Signals Pa El said as Knight-Centura Alyssah Respus signed.

 

"Well met, Knight-Centura. We encountered Traitors from the XVIIth Legion. Sgts and their squads encountered something that is under your prevue, so I will defer that to them. I fought and slayed the enemy warlord and watched as his body disappeared. And then called for retrieval," said Praetor Ya Khsa. 

 

"Remembrancer, please leave us. You will be briefed later," said Praetor Ya Ksha to me. 

 

"Yes my lord," I responded as I left the ready room. I could feel the Surat Thani begin to climb and the force of the acceleration as engines reaching full power. 

 

   It was hours later, when I was summoned to meet Praetor Ya Ksha in the arming chambers on the Shadowed Guardian, an Adeptus Astartes Battle Barge of the XIXth Legion, flagship of the 707th Expeditionary fleet. A Battle Barge is the largest ship in an Adeptus Astartes fleet, and can hold Multiple companies of Adeptus Astartes plus their Support. I have been on Shadow Guardian many times over the past few years now and have not been allowed to fully explore it.  I am assigned to the Blade of Midnight Light Frigate along with the other Remembrancers and that is where my room is. I have a shared sleeping quarters on Shadowed Guardian with the other Remembrancers, I believe there is 6 or 7 of us sharing the space. 

 

 "Remembrancer Landon Mar-Garet of Albia, Terran Born. Novelist" Chaplain Luang Pu said almost introducing me to someone but I did not see anyone I was not aware of. 

 

   Chaplain Luang Pu was in his black training Tunic with the white Raven Guard Logo and XIXth beneath it.  Standing next to him in a semi Circle around him was Seeker Sgt. Rom Ran, Assault Squads Sgt Charn Chai and Veteran Sgt Naksu Mastexr, Centurion Yut Hakon, Master of Signals Pa El, and Brother Ruexbrr Thuk-Naman, an Armored Support tank commander. Praetor Ya Ksha stood in the center of the semi circle. They were all dressed the same.  And then she walked into the room, Knight-Centura Alyssah Respus, fully armored. I felt nauseous again. She looked at me, as if she was staring through me to my soul. I am not a psychic or I do not think I am.  

"Remembrancer, do you know why I specifically chose you to be here," asked Praetor Ya Ksha. 

 

"No, my Lord." I responded as I grimaced in pain. 

 

"You serve 3 purposes to 707th Expeditionary Fleet. First and Foremost, the Emperor wants documentation of the events and as a novelist that is your primary purpose," Chaplain Luang Pu stated as he walked around the training mat.

 

"Second, you have an wealth of knowledge, are a sage, someone that is capable of storing, processing, and accessing vast tracks of information and that could help us in the coming days. What can you tell me about Andratus System," He asked

 

"The Andrastus System, long known as the crucible of law and punishment within the Galcoran Reach, sits wreathed in the glinting, mineral-rich asteroid field known as the "Andrastine Halo". Its two primary worlds embody the system’s dual nature: "Andrastus Prime", a densely fortified hiveworld and seat of the Imperial Provosts, and "Pyrefall", a volcanic furnace world dotted with open-pit mines and the forge-prisons they feed. The Halo itself is a constant harvest of stellar rubble, dragged down through orbital elevators to be refined by the labor of the condemned, " I replied. 

 

"The Primarch would burn this system," responded Centurion Yut Hakon. 

 

 Praetor Ya Ksha raised his hand to silence him. 

 

"You were promised to be told what happened in Dravik Maw's System and that is why you are here, to be briefed. And They need to prepare for the next battle. Time is limited. Master of Signals Pa El and I will stay on Stormbird Surat Thani again performing command and control. Knight-Centura Alyssah Respus will be on board with a few of her Sisters form the Chamber of Oblivion as back up," said Chaplain Luang Pu as a Servitor came in carrying a stack of books and Dataslates. 

 

"You will be given a private room to aboard Shadow Guardian, so you can create your documentation and review these books and dataslates," Chaplain Luang Pu said as he gestured to to the servitor.