Day of the Veteran

[mega_marines]

Day of the Veteran

 

The very air rippled as the bright blue Thunderhawk tore through the sky. It’s cargo inside consisting of only one. The warrior inside stood motionless despite the rumble of the cargo bay, one gauntlet hooked over the massive flyers tow hook. His head was aimed towards the floor as he listened in over his vox network, the faint hiss and crackle of it emanating throughout his resplendent armor and the floor of which he stood upon. Even in the red half life the blue warriors heraldry was gorgeous. White trim upon blue armor, and the Lightning Claw made from a ferocious Tyrannic Beasts claws. On his powerpack was its upper skull, a constant reminder to everyone, including himself, that he was an Ultramarine Tyrannic War Veteran, a legendary warrior of hundreds, if not thousands of battles in which he honed his skills in the name of the Glorious Emperor. His name was Veteran-Sergeant Kharnax Rutal, and his craft was death…

 

The Thunderhawk ripped its way through the airspace, and more messages spilled into Kharnax’s system. The Drop Sequence of the 2nd Companies Drop Pods was about to commence, and it was his duty to ensure their safety. Captain Sicarius had requested it of him, and he was more than pleased to do so. The Ultramarine took a ponderous thought to the Captain as to how his Operation was going on the other side of the planet. From what Kharnax had heard, Operation Tranquility was going just as planned against the Tyranid menace; the very same race in which Kharnax had been best-trained to kill. It was exactly why he was leading this part of the Operation, his expertise against the Great Devourer much warranted by Cato Sicarius in this time of need. The vox system in his throat and ears rumbled slightly as Sergeant Manorian sent his unusually charismatic sit-rep. “Brother Kharnax, the assault is to commence once we hit the surface. Operation Delta-Omego commencing in three….two….one…We are away!” Kharnax stood in the troop bay of the Thunderhawk as it rumbled, pleased to hear the Drop Pods successful launch. Within moments of the thoughts filling his mind, the roar of the Thunderhawks Heavy Bolters filled the cramped space. The Tyranids had begun their attack, and the Ultramarines had even made it to the ground yet.

 

Sergeant Manorian’s voice filtered into Kharnax’s ear once more. “Course Correction by the Machine Spirit in order to guide to safety. Course landing is now W15 Z12.” Kharnax’s eyes widened as he heard this. It was his current course, and the ground beneath his flyer was a moving mass of bodies. They would be slaughtered if they landed there. His throat microphone rumbled, “Sergeant Manaorian, correct course to I42 S23 for safe landing.” A now almost worried voice of youthful Sergeant Vandar keyed in to the network, “Brother, our Drop Pods can’t correct course now, to close to the surface now, and hostile air fire is preventing other location drops.” Kharnax nodded solemnly rand almost growled the word “Acknowledged, prepare for heavy amounts of fire the moment you land.” With that, he cut the com and checked the runes of his armor. Everything was in perfect working order as always, and it reassured him of what he was about to do. This particular area of land was lead by a single Hive Creature. A massive Harridan. Kharnax had to kill the bio-monstrosity quick, lest the Ultramarines he commanded were to be slaughtered. This was it, now or never…

 

The quick dash to the gunships cockpit had last only a moment, but felt like an eternity. Already the pilot had changed course to intercept the Harridan and its massive wave of Gargoyle flyers guarding it. Kharnax felt his dual hearts beat like hammers in the Chapter Forgery, and the air was tense with battle. The Tyrannic veteran rested a gauntlet on the pilots shoulder and spoke passionately, “Brother, I ask a dangerous thing of you. Fly me above the Harridan while giving me cover fire. I will take it from there.” The pilot simply looked at Kharnax for a moment and nodded and his lips formed the words, “I would gladly give my life to destroy the Tyranid Menace, you need not ask to put me in danger.” Kharnax nodded and felt the Thunderhawk lurch violently as it accelerated the beasts location. By the time he finished pacing to the main assault ramp, the red light of the bay flickered to green, acknowledging it was time to open up the Assault Ramp. Kharnax felt the shudder and whine of the servos and the wind rippled into his helmets grill. The first thing the Ultramarine glimpsed was a rapidly approaching beast, in which was looked to be a swarm of angry bee’s surrounding it. But, the closer he got, he noticed they were indeed Gargoyles, the Tyrranic Menace’s form of death from the sky. The Veteran felt a shiver run down his spine at the sheer number of them,, but quickly brought a grin to his face as the Thunderhawks Heavy Bolters roared to life once more and began to tear great chunks from the swarm. The flyer was even closer now, and the creatures retaliated in kind to so much of their dead. Bioplasma screeched through the air, most missed the hull of the ship, but other shots hit the surface and sizzled the paint and a faint layer of metal off it. Kharnax closed his eyes for a moment and took a breath, then opened them once more. He was now directly over the creature and it was time to fight in the name of the Emperor. With a running jump, the Ultramarine hurled himself through the whipping air to the Harridan.

 

Even with the extended jump, Kharnax flew through the air like a brick. On his way down to the Harridan, he slammed into five or so Gargoyles, their forms tearing apart and giving way to massive bulk, his power armor more than enough for them. It almost looked like he was running through the air when he landed upon the feel beast, his boots crunching into it’s massive backside. Truly the thing was monstrous, as its wingspan was more than five time the length of the Space Marine. It hadn’t even noticed that Kharnax had landed upon it. The Gargoyles did though, and began to fire in earnest at him. Many shots missed, just as they did at the Thunderhawk, but few hit him, merely sizzling against his ornate armor. Thankfully the armor was of spectacular quality, and it withered the feel creature’s attacks. Kharnax placed one foot in front of the other as he walked along its backside, swatting away Gargoyles with his Lightning Claw. The beasts were relentless, and on more than one occasion of moving forward did the Veteran feel he was going to be overrun. Multiple times did their rake down his armor and he howled in protest as he fired his Bolter at them, his Claw swinging wildly at the masses, ripping many to shreds in single swipes. Even with the aide of the above Thunderhawk, he was being beaten. As a Gargoyle drove its claw forward, Kharnax smashed it aside angrily, tearing the limb free and sending the beast hurtling down to the earth far below. The Veteran was running out of time now, the Drop Pods about to make landfall in under twenty seconds or so. He had to kill the Hive Beast now. The Ultramarine sprinted across now, throwing himself on top of its neck with a roar and drove his Lightning Claw deep into the Harridans meaty neck. It howled with agonized fury and swung about, trying to get the Veteran loosed. As soon as the creature began, Kharnax pressed his Bolter to its neck as well, depressing the trigger and letting loose horrendous amounts of poisoned Hellfire Rounds into the beasts neck. He could hear it groan vividly, as if in anger now, and it rolled about, doing a barrel roll and almost sending the age old Veteran to his death. But he miraculously held on and pressed forward, the Lightning Claw crackling furiously as it tore great chunks from the Tyranids back. Within moments of his blind fury did Kharnax strike its spine, and the creatures eyes widened in shock and helplessness as it went into a form of paralysis. It seized violently as its body tried to compensate for its lack of mobility and it plummeted downwards towards the ever onrushing swarm.

 

Kharnax prayed to the Emperor for his aide in his time of need as the wind raced past him. His claw still embedded in the dying Harridans neck, he held on tight as its wings fluttered spontaneously and the swarms about it driving mad with confusion as its telepathic waves began to die out. Thankfully for the Veteran, his plan was working. Drop Pods began slamming into the planets surface and the Ultramarines 2nd Company engaged the Tyranid Menace. From the distance, Kharnax could even make out the forms of the Dreadnoughts Brother Agnathio and Brother Ultracius as they ripped into the confused wave of Gaunts. Even as the Veteran Sergeant came about, he heard cheers erupt over the Vox at the fall of the Harridan. The Ultramarines were going to have this day as a mark of victory, Kharnax had insured it. He still had to land though…

 

The hissing Harridan was just about dead as neared the ground, the field littered with bug-like corpses. The Ultramarine felt the ground pulling closer and he tucked himself the back of the creature. One wrong move, and Kharnax would be crushed and ripped to shreds should the beast land incorrectly. He pulled his weight back and felt the meat of the Harridans neck almost give way to his grip. With that, the Harridan careened forward, its body tearing into the ground and loosening Kharnax even more. He was thrown forward, and the snap of his claw told him he would be thrown free. The 1st Company Ultramarine sailed through the air, watching the Harridan become shreds of meat as it grinded to a bloody halt. With grim satisfaction and a smile behind his faceplate, Kharnax was thrown into a wave of Hormagaunts, tearing apart half a dozen or so as he landed, he violently blacked out as he snapped against a few of them, the G-Forces to much for him.

 

He awoke within moments and sprang upward from his crater he had created. Immediately he was assaulted by the horrors that were Tyranids and he knew he was about to die a warriors death. Kharnax rushed to meet his death, but was cut off by the report of Bolters firing, and the deafening roar of an Assault Cannon. By his luck, he was rescued by his battle brothers, and Dreadnought Brother Ultracius strode forward, greeting him with a roar of approval even as he tore into the enemy horde. “Welcome to the fight, Brother! Seems you have saved us all!” Even as the mighty Dreadnought spoke, it rotated on its mighty axis and swept it’s Power Claw about, tearing into the swarm cheerfully. His brother Ultramarines jogged past him, firing at the swarm, clapping the Veteran Sergeant on the shoulder. He really had assured the victory of the 2nd Company. Today would be a glorious day, the day the Ultramarines took back what was rightfully theirs.

 

 

-Matt :RTBBB:

[deathjezter6]

wow that was really pretty good, almost got me to like the ultramarines :D

[mega_marines]

wow that was really pretty good, almost got me to like the ultramarines :P

 

 

Almost? That be heresy! One must love them! ;)