The Shadows of Vethrin

[flameseeker574]

The Shadows of Vethrin

 

 

++++ EXTRACT FROM MUNITORUM FILE REGARDING DISTRESS CALL FROM PLANET “VETHRIN VII” ++++

 

++++ FILE ACCESSED BY INQUISITOR ANTHONY VAILEN ++++

 

++++ “Hello, hello? Emperor they’re still coming! Hey you get a barricade against that door, anything you can find! You two get your lasguns ready, full auto! Dammit is this thing working *a soild thumping sound is heard* If anybody can hear me this is Lieutenant ….…..* static*……Vethrin PDF we had contact with an enemy….. *static*….. unknown origin. They cut through us fast ….. *static*….. we are in hive 258 primary Vox ….. *static*….. Requesting immediate aid! ….. *static*….. Hey Johnson did you hear that” *another voice is heard* “What is it LT?” “ I don’t know” * A loud banging sound is heard along with the screech of a claw on metal* “EMPEROR THEY’RE GETTING THROUGH!!!” ….. *static*….. * A roar is head echoing unnaturally* ….. *static*….. * Lasguns basting away on full auto and the distinct sound a chainsword rending through flesh* ….. *static*….. *screams, followed by bestial snarls and the sound of ripping flesh

 

….. *static*….

 

….. *static*…..

 

….. *static*…..

 

….. *static*…..

 

….. *static*…..

 

….. *static*…..

 

“Emperor save us”

….. *static*…..

 

 

++++ EXTRACT ENDS ++++

 

 

Chapter 1

 

Valdon took up a position on the ridge line right behind sergeant Mathis, bringing his sniper rifle to bear slowly. Around him the rest of the scout squad tried their best to blend in to the terrain using the techniques they had been taught back on Vilanus during training. Valdon peered down his scope to inspect the scene in the small valley below. The valley was typical of the planet, it was small and was covered with small shrubs and the occasional tree, but what interested the astrates squad was the group of people in the center.

 

Standing around a stolen PDF chimera were a group of chaos cultists. Each cultist wore a drab robe of tattered fabric and had numerous tattoos and scars covering their faces. There were about seven or eight of them in total and the leader, a particularly nasty looking fellow wearing a loose fitting suit of carapace armor over his rags sat next to a portable vox unit that was set up next to him.

 

Sergeant Mathis began “Scouts, this one of the enemies’ perimeter teams, intel says that they vox back to base every 15 minutes to give the HQ a status update. We will wait for them to vox then we take them out and infiltrate the base.”

“Sir yes sir!” replied the scout squad.

 

15 minutes later Sergeant Mathis whispered;

 

“Mark.”

 

Valdon took a deep breath and exhaled as he began squeezing the trigger, evenly applying pressure until just before the threshold he waited for his heartbeat. *Lub* a small bead of sweat formed on his forehead; if he missed one of the cultists could radio HQ and alert them to the squads presence. *Dub* the moment of apprehension passed as quickly as it had come and Valdon was perfectly still. A muffed thump came from his sniper rifle as it recoiled, the bullet soaring to its target. The bullet connected with the lead cultist just above the collar bone, ripping through the target’s throat. The cultist tried to cry out but all that came was a rasping gasp. Back on the ridge Valdon worked the bolt of his rifle, pulling back the handle to eject the spent cartridge and pushing it forward to chamber the next.

 

"Scouts we’ve got fifften minutes until they know we are here,and we’re moving out.” Said the Sergeant, his camoline cloak flapping as he sprinted down the ridge towards the enemy encampment. Behind him the rest of the squad followed, the space marine neophytes navigating through the brush will speed that belied their overly muscled stature.

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After a few minutes of running the squad had reached the enemy HQ. The headquarters was a relatively small building, a converted administraum building by looks of it. On the front of the building the aquilla was crudely defaced, replaced by an eight pointed star. Beside the building were a group of cultists each holding a lasgun or an autorifle.

 

“How many of them do you reckon are there?” asked Kruger, the squad’s newest and most inexperienced member.

 

“No more than two squads worth” replied Mathis “, but there will be more inside the building for sure.” he added unnecessarily.

 

“Scouts, draw a bead on your targets and fire on my mark, after that fire at will.” commanded the Sergeant. The rest of the squad eagerly obeyed using the bipods on their snipers to steady the shots.

 

“Mark!” barked the Sergeant and as one the neophyte squad fired dropping the first squad of cultists easily, the second group cried out in surprise and turned to face the scouts, lasguns blazing away at full auto. The fact the scouts were in cover at the edge of the treeline near the base, combined with the lack of accuracy from the heretics saved the scouts from taking any casualties from the enemies’ return fire. One by one the cultists were brought down by the pinpoint accuracy of the young space marines.

Seconds after the skirmish had ended Kruger started,“ Sergeant shouldn’t the heretics have sent reinforcements out by now we made enough noise for people on the other side of the sector to hear us.”

 

“Your right” replied Valdon, who was looking at Mathis for guidance.

The Sergeant shrugged, his carapace armor shifting as he did so. “I don’t understand the tactical thinking of heretics, and besides most of them are insane anyway.”

The squad moved up the hill towards the HQ cautiously many of the scouts aiming his rifle towards the door of the building, which had been left slightly ajar.

 

“Scouts get ready for close combat” said the sergeant, not bothering to lower his voice. The scouts slung their snipers on their backs and drew out a variety of CQB weapons. Valdon drew a long combat blade from his backpack and unholstered his bolt pistol, beside him Kruger swapped his sniper for the shotgun he had been carrying.

 

“Kruger your on point with the lawbringer” said Mathis. The younger marine obeyed without question and moved to the front of the squad, and pushed the iron wrought door open all the way. Behind him the squad filled into the reception area of the building, Valdon closing the door behind him with a forceful push of his boot.

 

Mathis glanced at his auspex, “ I picking up life signs in that direction.” He said indicating a small green door on the other side of the room. The scouts crossed the room, cautiously scanning for any sign of danger. Suddenly Kruger called out “Hold up! There is something here, looks like a wire or something.” Mathis pushed he was through the scouts and stopped next the youth, taking a knee as he did so. His enhanced sight allowed him to see the wire, where as if he and his squad had lacked augmentation they wouldn’t have seen it until it was too late. Mathis drew his combat knife and few a few quick swipes he had disarmed the potentially deadly trap. “It’s clear, you can move on.” uttered the veteran. The squad advanced quickly, Kruger kicking down the door without breaking stride.

 

Beyond it was a long hallway with doors on the right and left and a single, larger one straight ahead. The door had a glowing light around it and as the squad entered the corridor and the door shut behind them. Kruger advanced slowly; obviously anxious, halfway across the corridor an eerie ethereal wind started to buffet the squad with each step they took increasing the strength of the sorceress gale. “Warp spawned filth!” bellowed Mathis, fighting to keep his balance. Ahead of him Kruger fired a pair down the hall, propelled by the warp fueled tempest. Most of the squad managed to avoid the obstacle but Brackus, reacted to slowly, the door slamming into him with a sickening crunch and threw him off his feet, the gale propelling down the hall and threw him like a rag doll at the wall behind the squad.

 

“For Brackus, for the chapter, for Sanguninius!” screamed Mathis over the clamor of the wind, the rest of the squad surging forward with renewed purpose and resolve.