Devastation

[UltimateJake]

Chapter 1: Landing

 

"Captain. We are orbitting the ork fortress. Ground forces are experiencing heavy resistance. Your orders?" The chapter-serf said nervously.

 

The space marine before him was nearly four times his size. To make things worse the captain seemed to be taller than his fellow marines around him. In all essence he looked like the Emperor himself. But, he was merely an angel, one of the Emperor's chosen. By the Emperor if his angels looked this magnificent then the Emperor must be...he snapped his attention away from these thoughts as the Captain spoke. His voice sounded strangely machine-like coming from the inside of his helmet. It was cold, pristine, and precise. It sent shudders down his spine with each word.

 

"Prepare the drop pods. We are going in," the Captain said boldly.

 

"Yes, sir. But, Imperial Commanders on the ground have ordered me to note that the ork anti-aircraft guns have yet to fall," The serf replied still weak in the knees.

 

"Their is danger in all things, Macorum. But, remember. The Emperor protects," Captain Exevus stated boldly.

 

If the chapter serf, Macorum, hadn't known better he thought he could since kindness in the voice. But, it wasn't a marine's job to be kind. They needed to be ruthless and battle-hardened and fight in the Emperor's name for a near eternity. Macorum's place wasn't to watch, it was to serve. It was to serve his masters until he died forever embracing their ideas and remembering each word they said. He was a devoted servant and he would give his life for the Captain.

 

Captain Exevus was a brave man, braver than any he ever knew. He had stood against everything and out of all others it was his Company, the legendary 3rd Company, that was constantly deployed on the farthest reaches of the sector. He was selfless, devoted to protecting the Imperium and mankind above all things. The 3rd Company was the farthest company away from the sacred homeworld, Rynn's World. The beautiful homeworld and it's glimmering cities would have to wait though. At the strict orders of the Chaptermaster himself they would not leave the world until every ork was dead.

 

The world...Tanturis V was it's name, but a better name for it would've been slaughter. Slaughter was what the guardsmen had called it ever since the cursed orks landed. No matter how many men died, no matter how many orks died, the battle would always continue. They had literally been fighting for over thirty years with the orks only being conisdered a problem, never had they successfully taken a Hive City. But, they came in overwhelming numbers. Almost over night they had left a single continent devoid of any population making it their eternal battleground.

 

A battleground that would get even bloodier upon the legendary arrival of the Angels of Death. They would kill in the name of the Emperor. They would fight where others faultered. They would not die until the world itself was slick with the blood of hundreds of thousands of their foe. They would not stray from the light of the Emperor, they would be his hammer, smashing judgement upon the heretic xenos. They were space marines and in all his life as a serf, Macorum, had never seen one die without use. For every ten thousand guard that the Imperium sent to a campaign they sent one space marine. Each had matched the ten thousand guard in both devotion and skill. They were the Emperor's Chosen, his sons, and his greatest creations.

 

"Malcorum. I want you to take charge of the ship," Captain Exevus said sternly.

 

"Yes my master. I will rain death from the skies at your orders," Malcorum said honored beyond all means.

 

"Good luck, friend," Captain Exevus said.

 

"Emperor protect you," Malcorum whispered watching the massive marine exit.

 

******

 

Captain Exevus was a juggernaught amongst his men. He towered nearly a head over each of them and his buky armor only added to this. Slung across his belt was a might power-sword he had wielded for nearly a hundred years since his inception to the rank of sergeant in a Devastator Squad. He was used to leading, having led for decades. In the name of the Emperor he had fought and he had won. Yes, this was no different then any other battle.

 

"The drop pods are ready sir. Recent messages from High Command say that the Imperial Guard are almost completely surrounded," Sergeant Huevos said stepping forward.

 

His armor was decorated highly marking him as a Veteran Sergeant. However, he just wasn't any Veteran Sergeant, he was the leader of the Company's Command Squad. He was a great warrior and leader. He served the Crimson Fists well for many years. Painted upon his left shoulder was the number ninety two, it was in blood. Huevos had made it clear that they stood for the number of orks he had killed in the campaign and he constantly boasted amongst the lower ranks and new initiates.

 

"Last time I checked they had the ork fortress surrounded," Captain Exevus stated confused.

 

"It seems the orks duped them. They sallied out of the secret tunnels and managed to outflank them with superior numbers. Right now, it is a killing field down their," Huevos answered, his voice displaying no emotion, however he said it hurriedly. He was nervous or at least eager for battle.

 

"Get me thunderhawk support. Tell the pilots I want them to fly by us and kill anything that tries to hit us while we're vulnerable," Captain Exevus ordered.

 

"Sir, drop pods aren't the most accurate vessels in case you haven't noticed. Flying a thunderhawk even close to one would be suicide," Huevos replied quickly.

 

"Who dares wins," Captain Exevus said sternly.

 

"I will do it immediatly, sir. The rest of the squad are awaiting you in the drop pod. I while join you once the pilots have been alerted," Huevos said.

 

"With haste my friend. We are the only chance they have down there," Captain Exevus said sighing.

 

******

 

The interior the drop pod was dark and crowded. Only his HUD lit it up and showed him his fellow Battle-Brothers. Huevos had arrived swiftly, taking seat beside the sword wielding Champion, Volderas. Also thrown together in the drop pod was Brother Jaques and Brother Cortez. At the end was Brother Kelthior with his revered melta-gun strapped safely to the wall above him. All their equipment was strapped down, prepared for the hellish descent they would soon begin. They were all formidable warriors, with armor near identical, the only thing marking them apart were numerous scratches recieved throughout numerous other campaigns.

At the advice of the Company Chaplain they had taken to reciting the Litany of Hate and the Litany of Battle. Save for their chanting the drop pod was quiet as the doors slammed shut. The descent was going to begin. Quickly they halted eying each other through their helmets nervously or simply eager for the battle to begin. Captain Exevus flipped on his comlink eager to hear reports from High Command and the other drop pods.

 

"All thunderhawk pilots stay close to the drop pods. Provide support and try to get some damned greenskins off the Guard," Captain Exevus ordered into the comlink.

 

"Copy that," answered the pilots.

 

"Emperor protect you all," he said as the drop pod began to shudder.

 

It had begun its descent into orbit. It was slowly picking up and Exevus watched as the others gripped their straps and seats uneasily. The descent was speeding up, faster and faster. Only the red lights flashing in the drop pod illuminated them. They weren't their yet. They were closing in fast though.

 

"Fire and damnation! We just lost Omega Squad and Thunderhawk Vengeance!" One of the pilots screamed through the comlink channels.

 

"Strike Cruiser Redemptor! Hammer those ork gun emplacements in the city!" Captain Exevus ordered into the comlink.

 

"Copy that sir. But, it won't do much good," the weakened and nervous voice of Malcorum answered.

 

"It'll keep these xenos scum down for a while though while we land," Exevus replied confidently.

 

"Captain Exevus! Thunderhawk support is taking heavy losses. Valkyrie gunships of the Imperial Guard are taking over. I repeat Valkyrie Gunships of the Imperial Guard will be supporting you now," the pilots said.

 

"Negative. Negative. Keep on-" Exevus was smashed into the wall heavily as the entire drop pod was knocked off course.

 

The rattling was horrendous. His head was spinning and the comlink itself was offering nothing but static. The red light itself was off, the drop pod had lost all power to some lucky hit it had recieved from the enemy guns. They were spiralling out of control even faster.

 

"Pedro's beard, we're going down!" Huevos exclaimed.

 

"HOLD ON!" Exevus screamed his entire body jarred by another massive hit.

 

The drop pod itself was crumbling dents appearing in its heaviest armor. Their was a grinding sound as something scraped against the outside. It was horrible and their was nothing he could do. The comlink was down and his HUD malfuctioning. A massive gaping hole smashed through the top of the drop pod. Flames and shrapnel showered them all. Save for a few dents they were all safe. Save for Volderas's protective straps...

 

"By the Emperor!" Volderas screamed as he was thrown into the air along with his straps and other protections designed to keep him safe. His sword went with him out into the sky. He was doomed.

 

Exevus snarled a series of curses. He got a clear picture through the massive rents tore into the drop pod and managed to see valkyries swarming around damaged and heavily engaged in fire fights with gun batteries below. Their was a sound like thunder as one of them smashed into the side of the drop.

Then darkness...