Volgon, Champion of the Black Guard

[Volgon]

Volgon looked around, taking stock of the other Marines boarded in the drop pod. Their bright blue armor, indicating that they belonged to the revered Honor Guard, was bathed in red light, signaling the final decent of the pod. Volgon knew every quirk of Captain Hakkon’s Honor Guard. He knew that Brother Mortiik would be polishing his power sword, ensuring that every inch of it was pristine. He knew that Brother Kragan, the most pious of the Guard, would be reciting lines from Throne-knows-what book. He knew that the Captain himself would be preparing himself quietly, unconsciously flexing his lightning claws. The Captain noticed Volgon’s inquisitive eyes and nodded.

 

“Black Champion, are you prepared to revel in today’s slaughter?” questioned Hakkon.

 

Volgon revealed an impish smile. “But of course. I eagerly await the death throes of the treasonous commander as I gut him myself!”

 

The Captain let loose a hearty laugh. “Don’t get ahead of yourself Champion! It is I who will claim that honor today!”

 

Still smiling, Volgon nodded at the Captain and closed his eyes, letting his memories wash over him. “Black Champion,” thought Volgon. The Black Champion was what a codex chapter would call their Chapter Champion, but Volgon was much more than that. He was the face of his Chapter, known as the Black Guard. He had power, he had glory. He had personally slain hundreds of enemy leaders, dueling and besting them in single combat. He was beloved by the entire Chapter; the singular representation of what being a Black Guard meant.

 

Volgon remembered when he had been promoted to Black Champion. He had single-handedly slain the orc warboss Skarlug after watching the head of his predecessor roll to his feet. The Chapter Master had ordained him after the tale of his fury was told. Since then, Volgon had honorably declined every promotion offered. After all, how could he give up such a position? Any mere mortal could annihilate the xenos or the traitors. A Space Marine Captain could lead his company headlong into battle, claiming victories through the brute force of Astartes. A Chapter Master could bring the entire might of a Chapter to bear on an enemy. But none, sans the Black Champion, could prove his true might in single combat.

 

The warning klaxon sounded. “30 seconds until impact,” droned a mechanical voice over the drop pod speaker.

 

Volgon made a final overview of the Black Guard force. He was part of the “Deathblow Attachment” as they called it. Half a company’s worth of Marines, acting as a scalpel, sent to decapitate an army’s command before the battle even began. Cold and fast, exactly how Volgon liked it. A chance to test his skills against the most fearsome opponents the universe could produce.

 

“Only light anti-aircraft fire and no losses yet; to be expected,” thought Volgon. After all, the forces of Khorne much preferred hand-to-hand combat over artillery.

 

“If it’s melee they want, it’s melee they will get,” muttered Volgon, only a moment before the drop pod made planetfall.