Forgotten Few

[Captain_Roane]

Chapter One - Emergence

 

Parry, return, adjust, strike

parry, return, adjust, strike

parry, return, adjust, strike

 

The mantra repeated in Roane's mind as he fought the 3 combat servitors. Each servitor had 6 bladed arms which swung in random paths with no specific order, the blades which were usually blunted to stop serious injury were sharpened to a keen shine. He was a space marine of the White Templars chapter, and was decreed that he should know no fear, and he didn't. Stripped to the waist of his terminator armor he was still a fearsome sight to behold. His broad back was ripe with detailed muscles that forced the servitors back. His arms were wrapped with muscles that had the power to snap bones or save the lives of the Imperium.

 

Parry, return, adjust, strike

parry, return, adjust, strike

 

Each strike resulted in the shut-down pad in on the servitors chest to be pressed, which put them out of action for a few seconds. He stepped into the guard of one servitor and in a flurry of strikes shut the servitor down and had it hurling across the room. He didn't take a moments respite before rolling backwards and sweeping his leg around when he stopped, throwing a servitor to the ground which he leapt upon bringing his elbow into the pad with a screech of metal. The first servitor now back in motion along with the third began to renew their attack. Roane crouched down and then sprung upwards grabbing the servitors head and wrenching it from it socket before throwing it at the other servitor, striking the pad. He wrenched two arms off the broken servitor and began striking back and the reactivated second.

 

"Deactivate" a soft voice called out from the darkness, and the servitors shut down

"Who dares stop my training?" Roane roared back

"Inquisitor Lugar" replied the voice

"My apologies Inquisitor, I need the realistic training if I am to keep with my oath" Roane replied laying the servitor's arms on the ground

"No need for apologies, I have urgent news from my Lord that I’m sure you would want to hear" Lugar replied

"What news for the team?" Roane asked

"A Massive Space Hulk has emerged from the warp near Lihian III" Lugar replied

"The Ordo Xenos asks us to clear it?" Roane asked

"One group of many, but that is not the reason I wanted to tell you" Lugar said stepped out of the shadows

 

Somewhere in the inquisitors career he had lost a leg, and his metallic limb let out a dull sound as it hit the metal deck.

 

"Then what is the reason?" Roane asked preparing to equip the rest of his terminator armor

"There is a Space marine Battle Barge in the formation of ships that make the hulk, a White Templar battle barge" Lugar said turning and leaving "Assemble your team in post haste"

 

The realization of finding the 1st company's lost battle barge hit Roane fully. During a great battle against the forces of chaos, the First company's battle barge was pulled into the warp by foul sorcery which resulted in the loss of their Chapter Master and the entire First company. Roane was formerly the Captain of the Second company before taking on his Holy Oath to join the Deathwatch to fulfill his Quest to become the Chapter Master. It was written of only the greatest of Captains could become the Chapter Master so each Captain took and Oath to make themselves better, A few never returned, like Roane himself getting wrapped up attempting to complete it. The chapter is being led by Chief Librarian Abradax, an extremely powerful psycher who regretted having to send Roane off. Both Roane and Abradax joined the chapter at the same time and became close friends, which is why Roane was the likely candidate to succeed former master Lucas Benedict.

 

The Ordo Xenos quickly picked up Roane for their personal marine units, The Deathwatch. Roane quickly said a prayer to each piece of the armor's machine spirit as he put it on. Captain Roane nearly stood 4 meters tall when fully encased in his terminator armor. Its pitch blackness a subtle contrast to the billowing red cape on his back. The cape was given to him after completing the Right of the White Cross. On it featured 30 silver skulls, each one a marking to a significant enemy he had dispatched, and many would have to be added when he returned to the chapter. Each of his hands were encased in a power fist that he had yet to activate, the left fist had a wrist mounted bolter, it ammo capacity sat empty till the final preps before a mission.

 

Roane walked into the Kill Team's barrack room which was spartan compared to the Storm troopers they shared the ship with.

 

"Team make ready for a mission, we have a massive space hulk that has entered the Emperor's holy space and it disturbs him greatly, Our job is to see it cleansed" Roane said

 

A chorus of "aye, sir" came back at him as the team readily blessed their armor and donned it on. His deathwatch team wasn't made up of the the supremely famous astrates chapters that most of the Imperium knows about. There was just 6 in all: a White Templar - himself, a Star Dragon - Arevius the team's psychic firepower, a Knights of the Raven - Lo 'ir the team's lone scout, a Lion Warrior - Hox the team's assault specialist, a Sable Swords - Leviden the other terminator of the team, and Joil're the last recorded surviving Black Consuls marine after the Siege of Goddeth Hive. The inquisitor lord of the region must have some sway over the Black Consul because his service in the Deathwatch has been for many more years than normal marines serve.

 

"Brother-Captain, what on this space hulk will be our objective" asked Lo 'ir

"There is none so far other than to cleanse it of whatever xenos filth that may be on board" Roane replied

"Good, I need a few new trophies for my collection" roared Hox

"In time brother" Roane said as the team assembled in full wargear

 

The team quickly made their way to the hangar where Inquisitor Lugar waited for them.

 

The inquisitor was dressed in his full splendid wargear. A semi-charged set black diamonds made up his tabard, they were rumored to be able to stop a bolter round. Beneath that his armor looked more like a black body suit with winding cables were a normal man's muscles would have been, when charged the body suit would give him strength near that of an Astrates. At his left side was his ornate melta-pistol which held many kill markings on it, and on his right was a heavy looking bolt pistol. At his waist in the bac were two power sword sheathed in the scabbards in the shape of an "x".

 

"I take it your men are ready Brother-Captain?" Lugar asked

"Always ready Inquisitor" Roane replied

"Good, have them in the pods, pattern beta if you will" Lugar said not as a question but as an order

"You heard the Inquisitor, Lo 'ir and Leviden with me, Arevius your in charge of team two if the inquisitor is to fall" Roane said giving him a slight nod

"I'm glad your so confident in my skills Brother-Captain" Lugar said with a smirk

 

It was known that the Inquisitor was the only one capable of besting Roane in a unarmed combat match, i was also known that if you could call it that, the had a very strong friendship.

 

"No offenses meant Inquisitor, merely policy" Roane said "Now to your boarding stations"

"Roane take your team to the teleportation relay" Lugar said as he sat in the boarding chair.

"We are to be teleported on board?" Lo 'ir asked clearly realizing what everyone else was thinking

"Yes, and you will be teleported back off the hulk when the mission is accomplished" Lugar replied

"Quickly team, lets make haste, the longer that hulk upsets the emperor, the longer I'm going to make us work off the insult to him" Roane replied as his helmet came down and locked in place.

 

Arevius understood what the White Templar meant by the verbal message, but what they didn't get was the psychic messages being relayed between the two during the whole engagement. It was only known to him, and maybe the Inquisitor that Roane was a psychic rod essentially. He could receive signals and someone could channel their powers through him, but he had none of his own except how to focus his his skill for the better of the other member. Roane had asked him to make sure that the Battle Barge was found. Despite what the Inquisitor wanted to do, that is what his brother Astrates wanted of him.

 

Lugar sat with his eyes closed, like most biomancers in the Imperium with his eyes shut he could see right through them, the bulky figures of the Astrates in front of him radiated red and gold, red lines snaking inside their grey outline representing their veins and bulbous gold shapes for their organs. He could see what made the Astrates just so "god-like", their bodies still couldn't stand up to the onslaught he could unleash upon them though, a single thought and the veins around their chest could contract and crush the two hearts and 3 lungs and dozens of other organs in an instant. Or he could hyper-activate their adrenal organs making these already unnaturally fast war machine all but impossible to stop. He looked over towards the Star Dragon, this other psycher amongst his group.

 

Strange, I see nothing, just a grey outline, I've been able to see other psychers before, but not this Astrates

 

The boarding pod slammed shut and the passengers onboard could feel it rotate around to port to face the hulk, their pod was one of many being launched from this ship and many others. While most of the other pods were filled with Inquisitorial storm troopers, a few held other Deathwatch members. Though they could only hope that what ever was onboard, it was just simple Xenos.

 

Roane's massive terminator bulk took up a full pad, he had his arms wrapped around his chest to make sure when he teleported he wouldn't be missing a finger. Leviden was having similar problems but lacked the bulk of two powerfists. In his right hand was a Thunder Hammer, it head blunt but the back end more of a sharp blade making it resemble a shooting star skimming the atmosphere leaving a tail. His left hand was empty and lacked the storm shield normally outfitted on a assault terminator, but instead had a wrist mounted flamer, an ancient archaic piece of wargear from the chapters first leaders, its pilot light was off but could be turned on an trigger a wash of flames in the blink of an eye. Lo 'ir had the simplest time because of his small frame, while still a full battle-brother he chose to stay in the tenth company to teach the new recruits. His load out was a simple bolter with two bolt pistols attached to each thigh, which his sniper rifle slung over his back, even though they had insisted there would be no need for it in the tight confines of the space hulk, he never left without it.

 

"Brother-Captain are you ready to be transported?" Ask the deck officer

"The Emperor's finest are always ready, not matter the circumstance" Roane replied, his helmet making his voice deep and grating

"Then prepare for relocation" the deck officer said not able to hide his fear

"Leviden lead us in prayer brother" Roane asked

 

It was known that when Leviden got back to the Sable swords he was a likely candidate for the Chapter Master's personal Chaplain

 

"Brothers we stand on the top of a mountain, a mountain surrounded by darkness, only the spots we stand upon, and the footprints we have left glow golden with the Emperor's life, it is our duty to return that golden light to the rest of the mountain, the wicked filth of Xenos, the tainted forms of our past brethren, and haunched shape of the hidden heretics stand between us and the bottom, through the flame of our bolters and the grace of our blades shall we clear a path pure enough for the Emperor himself to walk, and until then my brothers, we shall not die" Leviden finished right as the blue light began to engulf them.

 

"Inquisitor, team one has been teleported on board just like you requested" the deck officer spoke into the mike

"Good, good, keep tabs on their locations" Lugar replied, his head piece fitting awkwardly with the mask he wore

"Will do lord, do you require anything else?" the deck officer asked

"Have the fleet activate all lance batteries, and load one salvo of torpedoes, if we can't handle whats in this rock I want it vaporized, there will be a com check every hour to report our status, if we miss one have the captain fire at will" Lugar said as the gravity seats activated in the torpedo

"Will do sir, best of hunting with you" The deck officer said as he depressed the launch button

 

The torpedo slide out of the port side of the ship, much like a cannon round would during a broadside, and not wanting to risk any automated systems that may be active on the hulk the ships launching them were a good distance off, meaning the ride inside would be long and wrack on the nerves off all, except the Astrates.

 

Roane could taste copper in his mouth, and a liquid warmth on the side of his face, something had gone wrong with the teleportation that much he knew was a fact. Even though his sense returned faster than a normal mans after something like this every second he couldn't identify his surrounding could offer and enemy an advantage. The pure blackness of his eye-sight was slowly turning grey as it began to comeback, he listened to his suit as it hummed.

 

"What happened" Leviden asked clearly picking himself up off the floor

"Teleportation technology was never reliable" Lo 'ir said "Can one of you two tell me if I still have hands I can't feel them, just numbness"

"Don't worry, you still have your hands, they are just in some kind of water" Leviden said

 

Roane's vision returned in a flash suddenly and his surrounding shocked him, they seemed to be standing at the bottom of a hallway. The ship they were on must have been melded into the hulk like and arrow sticking in the ground causing all of its long hallways to be massive pits. They must be in part of the black holds, all the ways were covered in a kind of slime, and they were knee deep in sludge.

 

"Team, regroup" Roane said

 

Quickly Leviden took the rear as Lo 'ir stood between the two massive warriors. They began walking along one of the walls that had now become a floor to them. All the while the sludge seemed to be moving around their feet. Finally the ship parted way into what seemed to be a highly furnished rouge trading craft. The walls were slightly covered with the same slime as it tried to grow into this ship from the last but for the most part it was still robust. Roane's helmet picked up a slight creak coming from a corner and in a flash his team had their weapons trained on the sound source.

 

"Don't shoot human warrior" came a voice of a figure still stepping out of the shadow, or the shadow stepping away from the figure it was hard to tell

"You have 5 seconds to prove you are not a threat our your existence will end before you can move" Roane said as his wrist mounted bolter loaded the first round.

"No worries, I am unarmed, but i am still a great threat" said the figure

"Dark Eldar" Spat Leviden

"Listen warriors, what I have to say is important and could determine your survival" The dark eldar spoke

"Lies, its all the eldar were born to make, your kind is just tainted by chaos" Roane said as he stepped forward

"This hulk is not what you think, there are many factions on board this vessel and none of them are in control of it" the eldar said matching the marines stride

"What else is on this ship?" Lo 'ir asked

"Orks, Tau, my brethren and chaos itself" The being spoke turning his attention to the scout

 

Roane lunged forward, having heard all he wanted from this creature, he closed his powerfist were it just was but it simply vaulted to the side, but it didn't manage to dodge the left leg that he swung, which landed with bone cracking success against the eldar's hip. The eldar's pelvic bones turned to jelly and it collapsed on the floor.

 

"You do not know what you are getting yourself into human" The dark eldar said smiling

"Then by the Emperor's light I will find my way in this darkness" Roane said bringing his boot down on the eldar's head

"Are you sure that was smart brother?" Lo 'ir asked

"If you wanted to consort with that foul xenos then you should have spoken up like a proper heretic" Roane said turning around

"Behind you brother" Leviden shouted wielding his thunder hammer with both hands

 

Roane managed to get a glimpse of a purple portal before hundreds of translucent hands pulled him through.

 

"Inquisitor Lugar, one of the members of team one just vanished" the desk officer said, unable to hide his anxiety

"Vanished, vanished how? Is he down? are you out of signal range?" Lugar asked

"No sir, the other members were right next to him and then... his signal just vanished" replied the deck officer

"Do you know which member? Can you raise them on the com?" Lugar asked

"Negative sir, the hulk's mass is playing on our coms relay strength, anything that far will be all but impossible" the deck officer replied

"Then how will I report our status so you don't slag that rock while I'm on it?" Lugar asked clearly agitated

"A psychic link will be formed between you and our astropath as soon as possible" the deck officer began "and the captain doesn't believe that this war group has enough firepower to even dent that hulk"

"Then he will ram his ships into it if he has to, this travesty in the emperor's sight will go on no longer" Lugar replied as the red light in the pod came on "team two brace for boarding locks and decompression"

 

The three marines readied themselves as the pod locked with what seemed to be an imperial listening station that was jutting from the side of the hulk. The cutting laser at the head of the torpedo cut through the outer bulkheads of the station and then opened the doorway for its occupants. Brother Librarian Arevius was the first out of the pod, his force axe alight with red energy. He was two steps out of the pod before the first round slammed into his shoulder guard. Hox came charging out of the pod, his lightning claws activated, next was Joil're he had a standard bolter in his hands but the magazine was taped silver at the bottom, mag-locked to either of his boots where two short power swords, his bolter belched flames once and the round sliced through the air and ignited their shooter. Orks. Arevius turned and faced his opponents and raised his left hand at them, a blast of telekinetic energy blew down the hall crushing orks against walls or each other. Arevius brought his axe in a down stroke and took an ork's arm off, before blasting him back with his psychic powers.

 

"Inquisitor it isn't safe here, take Joil're and find an alternate route" Arevius said as he brought his knee into an ork's jaw, it was like hitting ceramite

 

Joil're holstered his bolter and bent down to wield his power swords, both activated at the depression of his thumbs. He rushed passed Arevius before the librarian could realize it and was a whirlwind of motion. His blades lashed out at every angle and target that presented it, when the blade sliced a limb came off. Soon ork bodies still bleeding to death but unable to move or comprehend what was happening were piled in a semi-circle around his feet. Hox was down the corridor to their right rending ork bodies of heads and stomachs. The claws hissed as each one melted through what armor the orks had and then bit through flesh and bone until coming out the other side. Lugar realized something was amiss that when he shut his eyes that some of the orks weren't giving off signals, just like Arevius.

 

"Brother-Librarian, they have psychers!" Lugar shouted

 

Arevius began to feel his skin prickle at the barely controllable psychic energy boiling around the well dressed ork if you could call it that. The bells around the ork's neck began to rattle as his whole body began to shake. The ork's head dropped down and his eyes were solid white, it was as if the jaw was dropping in slow motion, in fact all the orks for all their strength seemed to be moving incredibly slow. He looked back at Joil're who was moving faster than before, his arms becoming simply a blur. Finally the inquisitor stepped up next to him, his eye glowing a subtle yellow and an aura of energy wafted off of him.

 

"Though the orks see us moving in blinding speed, all I have done is enhance your bodies abilities to send and receive messages throughout" Lugar said

"You are a biomancer then?" Arevius said testing his bodies speed as he landed a series of blows on an orks head, it had even realized it had been struck yet

"Yes but it won't last much longer, I can't get close enough to that ork 'warphead' librarian, so i must ask you to do what i can not" Lugar said un-holstering his melta pistol.

"Of course Inquisitor" Arevius said pushing his way through the ork tide in front of him

"Best hunting with you" Lugar said

 

Arevius reached the warphead as Lugar's power began loosing its effect, the orks speed was returning back. The warphead's jaw dropped and a green glow began to emit from its open maw, Arevius realized he would not get there in time to use his axe. He focused his mind on projecting a field of pure energy around the ork's head, he could see the faint grey outline of his telekinetic powers as the were closing the bubble. Suddenly the green energy in the ork's mouth burst outward contacting the telekinetic bubble around it head. Arevius struggled under the sheer strength of the psychic attack and fought to close the bubble. In a thunderous clap the energy from the blast was forced out of the hole where the bubble could not connect, it struck the wall behind the ork and bounced down the hall into a few other orks who simply ceased to exist after that. The warphead was no longer living, it was missing the upper half of its head and the body around the neck had been burnt black. The other orks seeing their mob leader dead began to whoop and shout as they fled down the halls.

 

"Brother Librarian I am glad you still walk among us" Lugar said stepping over and ork's severed head

"The Emperor's work still requires me" Arevius said lifting himself from his knees, he didn't realize how close he had come to loosing control of the ork

"Good, he will require much of us in the coming hours" Lugar said

"Orks a plenty dead down that hall Inquisitor" Hox said as he joined his brother, he had been to far away to benefit from Lugar's powers and had killed the orks with his own martial abilities.

"We have to head downwards" Joil're said

 

It was the first time they had heard his voice since he had joined the team with the Inquisitor, to everyone else he seemed perfectly content in keeping to himself and listening to the orders given. His voice was almost like wind rasping through metal, very cold, very stern. He sheathed his two power swords and reloaded his bolter before indicating with a nod of his head which direction they should go. There was an audible click as the receiver in his bolter slammed shut.

 

Lo 'ir stood rock still as Roane was dragged through the portal, he wouldn't have been able to move fast enough if he wanted to, even with the captain just being 3 feet away. As quickly as it had appeared it had vanished taking along their captain with it, Leviden quickly took charge as the searched their way deeper into the hulk looking for any of the other Inquisitorial forces on board. They surmised that they were supposed to be much higher up and that the schematics for the hulk were wrong when they thought they were teleporting them on board a stable ship, if they had arrive much higher up the hallway the fall to the bottom would have crushed them. While the terminator walked in front of the scout, the scout kept the auspex out and checked for any signs of life or movement. It would occasionally show a blip, but when they would turn or look in that direction there was nothing but a ripple in the water. Lo 'ir constantly made sure his bolter was read to fire at a moments notice, and Leviden just traversed his left arm left and right, the pilot light of the flamer creating a light blue semi circle.

 

"Reading again brother" Lo 'ir spoke up, the first of either of them to speak since the portal

"Get in front of me" Leviden said stepping to the side of the hall

 

As he did the wall gave away and collapsed revealing a connecting tunnel to what appeared to be a fighter bay of some Imperial Carrier. Lo 'ir turned and looked back the tunnel they had just come from and gave it one last look before stepping over the prone form of Leviden as he tried to right himself. The fighter bay still held a few of it's fighters in their spot while most where smashed together against the far wall. The auspex beeped once more indicating that something was alive in the fighter bay.

 

Perfect, a big open area Lo 'ir thought to himself as he put his bolter in its holster and un-slung his sniper rifle

 

He panned the big scope around looking for signs of movement till he caught what look like a faint ripple in the metal of the floor, almost as if it was a carefully made cover. He watched it a little longer till the low growl of Leviden forced his attention away.

 

Where was it, I could swear by the Emperor it was right there under that Thunderhawk Lo 'ir thought and then his face showed the signs of what hit him next Thunderhawk?

 

"What do you see brother?" Leviden said as he stepped up next to the scout

"An Astrates transport ship" Lo 'ir said, his voice little more than a whisper

"A blessed Thunderhawk? Leviden said astonished

 

Before Lo 'ir could reply the auspex began beeping over and over, something was moving out there, and headed towards them.

 

"Quick brother back into other ship" Lo 'ir said as he turned and headed towards the hole in the wall.

"Run? Was Roane so right that you are such a heretic that you would run?" Leviden asked activating his thunder hammer

"No brother, but what we face out there is in much greater numbers than we could hope to face in this open area, these hallways will force their numbers to approach packed behind one another, much easier to kill" Lo 'ir said adopting a crouch and pulling his rifle up.

 

What he saw looked much like feral dogs seen on some hive worlds, but their heads were avian, much like the great owls on his fortress world. Kroot, the though came to him, he had been briefed on them during a brief Tau invasion before he was seconded to the Deathwatch, and here he learned a great deal more about them. They were mainly a cannibalistic species believing that the warrior spirit lived on inside of them after they ate the body of its previous host, their biology changes depending on the type of food they eat as they absorb the DNA of the creature eaten. Many of these Kroots were massively muscled and held odd shapes of metal beaten into bladed edges. He sighted in on the first one and fired, the bolter round lashed out and right before impact exploded showering the creature in hundreds of sharp metal fragments like the round was designed to do.

 

"Brother are we not moving back into the hall?" Leviden asked as his thunder hammer let out an electric pop showing its distaste of running from the enemy

"Yes, I just wanted to test their resiliency" Lo 'ir said stepping back into the hallway and into the 3 feet of muck that clawed at him as he tried to wade through it.

 

The duo made good time despite the slickness of the floor and a few falls, the kroot had made no sign of following them once they had left the hangar which gave them a small amount of comfort. The last thing they wanted to happen was a firefight in one of the halls and find out the substance around their feet was flammable.

 

Arevius walked closely behind the black consul, after he had spoken all Arevius could think about was the sense of unease in the voice of the marine. It wasn't that he didn't trust his brother for in the deathwatch secrets couldn't be kept as most of the time lives depended on them. The marine had great skill with weaponry, easily outmatching the group of orks before with his short swords and his one round vaporizing the orks head whom none of them could see. He walked with a sense of purpose that he hid well from everyone and even though Arevius was a gifted psycher he could not get into the mind of this marine.

 

"Brother-Librarian is something wrong?" Joil're asked catching Arevius off guard

"No brother, why?" Arevius asked, his hand hovering over his force axe

"You are following me awfully close, and even though I am no psycher, your emotions betray your words, why else would you be prepared to arm yourself against me" Joil're replied not even looking back

"It is your skills brother, they seem un-natural, and your voice... it is very disturbing" Arevius said

"I am the last of my chapter that I know of, every since that day at Goddeth Hive I have trained so that one day I may meet my brothers with honor that the last of us died not in vain" Joil're said, his voice losing its harshness

 

Arevius said nothing as they walked down the hall, the Inquisitor and Hox were a few meters behind him and he doubted that they had heard the conversation at all. It was only when Joil're stopped did they stop, he stood staring at a wall.

 

"What do you see Joil're?" Hox said, his ability to state the obvious was somewhat of a barracks joke among the storm troopers, though none would say it around him

"On the other side of this bulkhead is another ship, their corridors are connected" Joil're replied as he pulled a melta charge from his satchel

"An what is on this ship that we need to find?" Lugar asked stepping back to avoid the blowback from the charge

"Team one is below us, and this ship leads down to them" Joil're said facing them with his back to the charge, he pushed the detonator and for a second, his armor seemed to absorb the flames giving him a demonic look.

 

As they stepped through the hole the first thing they saw was a white eight-pointed cross crosslet, the symbol of the White Templars.

[Roguemarine]

excellent piece here, can't wait to see the next chapter.

[Captain_Roane]

Thank you, I don't want to break the story up around posts so I am just going to edit it to add chapters, so people will just have to check back here from time to time to see if anything has been added, btw chapter two is up.

[Roguemarine]

great addition...nice flow, leaves me craving more so you are definatley doing a great job

[Captain_Roane]

Again thank you, its rather tedious running between this site and the lexicanum and games workshop to makes sure all the fluff is right, but its well worth it, I like to learn.

[Roguemarine]

just remember, this story is your version of events, it doesn't matter what anything else says....within reason...this story is yours.

[Captain_Roane]

Its one reason i chose those chapters without all the background, gives me a lot of leverage in the writing, i can make up their history, what they are like. But other than that I want to keep it close to the actual universe without making super soldiers more super. Chapter 3 is up.

[Brother Cambrius]

Nicely done. I'm looking forward to the second chapter. <_<

 

Cambrius

[Captain_Roane]

I'm glad you enjoyed it, and right now all the chapters are in that one post, they are rather short, and if this story every gets really long I will probably meld them all into bigger chapters.

 

ps. anyone who reads this, if you notice a grammar error, or spelling error or something doesn't seem right please point it out to me, I type rather fast and I'm very prone to making mistakes when I get caught up in the writing.

[Roguemarine]

coming together very nicely...i feel as though you are rushing to the action sometimes. I think that since they are on a space hulk you could raise the anticipation level with danger being right around the corner....for instance as they move down a corridor they hear chittering or scraping on metal...it adds a bit of ambiance to an already dark story. as much as you are telling a great story you have a great painting there waiting for you to apply the brush...keep it up brother you are almost there.

[Captain_Roane]

I should have probably gone into more detail about the hulk itself, i can't begin to describe how big it is without it sounding corny, but i picture it in my head like a small moon or such, i should go back and edit the beginning so it states that. I know most hulks are inhabited by tryanids and i may throw them on the hulk but i want to change it up as the factions fighting have just recently had their ships, or roks melded into this rock and somehow survived this action. With the action, the pods are landing all over it with no designated "safe zone" just yet so they just happened to land in an ork corridor, I'm thinking too far ahead of the story and trying to connect the dots. But I plan on there being more things clawing at their senses than actually fighting them.

[Roguemarine]

sounds like some great ideas, can't wait to see you put them into action.

[Captain_Roane]

Again though, getting the ideas from my head onto the screen is an entire different matter within itself, i'm awful at connecting dots, but i can make the dots themselves easily. Like i have plans for Roane, and Joil're as they are more of the two main people... but getting to those points will be the fun part for me

[Captain_Roane]

Chapter Two: Lost Brother

 

Roane's mind was whirling, just like all the teleportations he has ever been through this one was no different. Except that he had been pulled through, that was the big difference, so whatever was on the other side was likely waiting for him. He wouldn't give them a second thought on abducting a space marine.

 

"He is coming around lord" a voice called off from a distance

Dark Eldar Roane thought

 

"Human, I told you, you didn't understand what your where doing" the other voice replied

 

Roane tried to fight back, to move, shout anything to show defiance to this creature. He found himself restrained with thick metal cuffs around his wrists and slim black pins shoved through joints in his armor or bare flesh. His throat had two needles on either side of his larynx effectively shutting out his voice.

 

"You will find that my... torturers have had a very long time to learn their skills, even on such warriors as yourself" a new voice rang out, this time it had a feminine quality to it "Remove the neck spikes so he can speak to me" it finished

 

Roane slowly felt the spikes being pulled from his throat, the blood barely let out two drops before his enhanced physiology staunched the two holes.

 

"Now what do you have to say" the voice said getting closer

 

Roane twisted his arms backwards to allow him to get away from the wall and clamped his teeth around the wynch's neck, her flesh parting before his teeth. He ripped away tearing a large chuck out of her, the wound spit out a dark purple liquid he took for its blood. Even though Roane could tell she was in extreme pain, he noticed she was enjoying it just as much. The perverse emotions that the dark eldar felt made him sick.

 

"Mistress are you ok?" a dark eldar came running up to her

"I am fine, I will enjoy watching this one die in my arena" the wynch said

"Yes your mistress I will see he is taken to the blood decks" the eldar warrior said stepping forward

 

It was the same one that Roane had crushed. Roane felt himself being moved, but as much as he tried the pins in his arms and legs completely removed all use to his muscles and left him vulnerable. He cursed himself for being vulnerable. He wonder where the rest of his team was and if they shared a same fate.

 

"If you're wondering about you men, they are not here to help you, you are entirely alone in this dark place, far from the emperor's eyes" the warrior said

"The Emperor can see me, I am a Captain of the White Templars, part of his armor rest in my crux, your dark places are nothing compared to the places I will send you" Roane said gaining the strength to fight back.

"Your can try warrior, you can try" the dark eldar said as they brought the slab he was bound to into a dark cell.

 

Roane felt them removing the pins in his arms and legs and wanted nothing more than to rip the heads off of them, but even when the pins were removed the lactic acid that had built up in his muscles stopped his movement, their demise would have to wait. He heard rustling and turned his head to look above him.

 

"Don't worry astrates, we are allies here" the voice called back

"Just what are you?" Roane asked

"Gunnery Sergeant Charles Smith, 909th Corila Light Recon

 

Roane didn't know quite what to think about such a statement, he knew of the planet Corila, he even remembered back to when he was just starting out as an unproven scout whe the 10th company had gone there to do their training. It was halfway across the galaxy from where the hulk was, but then again he wasn't on the hulk anymore he realized. The ship itself could be anywhere, and it felt alive, the floor beneath him seemed to part away from his steps as if he was a plague they wished no part to contract.

 

"I overheard you talking with the lord on board, where are you from Astrates?" Smith asked

"I was onboard a massive space hulk when he talked to me and my team on board" Roane replied

"What happened then" Smith demanded more than asked

"I crushed him, and then was pulled through a portal into this ship" Roane said staring deeply at the gaurdsman

 

In all his years of existence, he had only met a single guardsman who had not been awed by an Astrates, and a terminator at that. Roane's piercing blue eyes looked over every detail of the man, his armor was ragged, he had a cruved blade strapped to his thigh, and a laspistol in its holster. His hair was unkempt and his beard was unshaven for some time.

 

"I know my appearence looks like I may be tainted but I assure you I am not" Smith said staring back at him

"Guardsman-" Roane started

"Gunnery Sergeant, that is my title, I worked hard for it and have seen to many die under it to ever forget it, I ask if you call me by it" Smith said turning and guiding the marine to follow

"Such demands are not made of an Astrates by a humble servant of the guard, but I will grant you that honor Gunnery Sergeant" Roane said stepping after the man

"Thank you, though I'm not sure what to call you, I know I am not a member of your chapter so therefore not your brother, but you are a captain correct?" Smith asked

"That is right, and it is wrong, I was a Captain of the White Templars 2nd company, but I have been seconded to the Ordo Xenos" Roane stated with pride

"Ah, with those pesky Inquisitor folk?" Smith said tapping on a door

"The Inquisitor is the emperor's left hand, such speak against them is heretic" Roane said unable to bare his anger

"It is because of one of those 'left hand's' that me and my men ended up onboard this hell ship, it is his fault that I am all that is left, it is his fault that he is now the lord's personal pain slave" Smith retorted

"I am sorry I offended you Gunnery Sergeant" Roane said remorsefully knowing full well how it felt to lose those under your command

"None taken, with you here we now have two great astrates, both in that massive armor of yours" Smith said as the door opened

 

Inside, Roane was greeted by a few guardsmen, each of the uniforms different from the others and all of them as unkempt as Smith. What really caught his eye was the hulking figure in terminator armor that turned to face him as he walked in. His armor was black as the night sky with green shinguards and front torso and shoulder pads, it was hard to distinguish where he was standing as his armor seemed to drink the darkness around him, on his right should was his chapter symbol: A white lion standing on its hind legs holding a sword, the whole symbol was outlined in light green.

 

"Greeting brother, though I wish we could have met on better circumstances" The hulking terminator said standing up

"I feel the same way, your chapter heraldry is unkown to me, from where do you hail?" Roane asked

"I am Berlius, master of the elite order the Flaming Blade in my chapter, The Disciples of Caliban" Berlius

"Descendant of the Dark Anges?" Roane asked

"The same" Berlius said

"How did you come to be on this ship then" Roane asked

"Most likely the same way as you, I was pulled through a portal while my company was fighting" Berlius said

"Almost the same, I crushed this so called 'lord' on board this ship and then a portal opened behind me and I was brought here to do the emperor's justice" Roane said

"The emperor's justice is impossible on board this ship, the more we kill the more they revel in it, and if we stand and die, it is unglorious for an astrates" Berlius replied

"Then I will escape and slay those on board this ship" Roane said through a sneer

"Brother you must understand that we have lived by killing, and by killing we give these Dark Eldar exactly what they want, they want to hear screams, they want to see blood" Berlius said

"Then I will show them their own blood and fill their ears with the last scream they will ever make" Roane said

"I remember when I first arrived on this ship, I was so much like you but you must understand, it won't work that way the arena is protected by witchery stopping any of our weapons from reaching the audience" Berlius said retrieving his weapon.

 

It was a long pole-arm, the blade at the end wasn't short like a normal blade but long like a power sword that a sergeant would weild, and it was massive standing twice as tall as Roane, a small box attached to the blade showed him it was equipped with an exterminator.

 

"A fine weapon, isn't it?" Berlius said

"Very fine indeed, how did you come by it?" Roane asked

"It is called The fang of the Lion, and it was given to me when our chapter was created from the Dark Angels, my personal brother gave it to me" Berlius said

"Who is your brother?" Roane asked

"Belial, and last I checked he was the current Master of the Deathwing" Berlius said clearly lost in memories

"Tell me about the weapon if you will" Roane asked studying it

"It was forged by the Chapter Master of the Dark Angels before our split, the blade is one of the few Heavenfall blades, and the exterminator is from before the dark age of technology, it wreaths the blade in flames but goes no farther" Berlius said clearly showing his pride in the weapon

"It is remarkable" Roane said

"Sorry great warriors but those Dark Eldar think we have had enough time to chat, they usher us to the arena as we speak" Smith said

"How does the Arena work?" Roane asked as they started to walk

"It is divided into three parts, so that no-one can help the other contestants in their fight" Smith said clearly saddened by some memory

"Can we not break these walls?" Roane asked

"Nothing we have done so far has seemed to work" Berlius said "So just be ready to fight and to win if you wish to do the emperors duty"

 

Roane noticed how the other three guardsman crowded around Smith, he was their ad hoc leader. He stood his ground as the arena door opened, a draft of hot air blasted at them and with it came a known scent. Blood.

 

Smith and his squad stepped into the left portion of the arena while Berlius stepped into the right, that left Roane with the center. As they each took up their spots massive metal spears slid out of the floor seperating them all, they didn't look like they could stop his power fists, on the far side of the arena their opponents entered. Facing off against Smith and his group would be a single individual holding two slighly curved blades, it looked to Roane that the persone was a death cult assassian like the kind he had seen while in the Ordo but he couldn't be sure from this distance. Across from Berlius was clearly a demon, its upper body looked like a massively muscled human torso sporting an extra pair of arms, while its legs had been replaced with what appeared to be a snake like appendage alowing it to move rapidly and change direction quickly, each of its hands held massive cleavers. Roane stared at the door across from him and watched what entered.

 

Lo 'ir sighted down the length of his bolter and squeezed the trigger, the three round burst stitched up the body of to rapidly approaching Ork, one of the rounds entered right beneath the eye exiting the skull in a red shower. He knew that for every one that he killed another would be there in a moment and his ammo was rapidly depleteing. He saw Leviden standing down the hall in front of him his thunder hammer gripped in both hands, turning the hammer horizontal he presented his flamer to the orks and squeezed the ignition, a bright orange sheet of flame lurched towards the oncoming orks and wreathed them in fire.

 

"Quick, while they are distracted down the hall" Lo 'ir said

"Never will I turn my back on an Ork" Leviden said, despite the odds against him, he wanted to stay and fight

"Brother, there are simply to many, this isn't a matter of pride or honor" Lo 'ir had to scream to be heard over the random gun shots

"It has nothing to do to that, I had one moment of weakness and our Brother-Captain is gone, I shall have no more" Leviden roared as he charged through the flames and into the ork mob.

 

Leviden crashed into an ork boy and run him under the hammer fall of his boots, there was a scream as the orks neck was crushed. Leviden slammed a first into the head of another ork and brought the pommel of his hammer down into the knee of another ork, all around him was a whirlwind of screams and hoots as the orks closed in. His field of vision was limited to the ork face that would flash by in one instant and be under his hammer in the next, something hit his legs. Hard. Suddenly he felt himself being lifted off the floor by his foot. He looked around and came face to face with what he assumed was the warboss.

 

"Agh, Boyz whatz we'z gotz ere?" The warboss bellowed with laughter, his warband joined in

"You have the emperor's hatred greenskin" Leviden said as he brought his hammer up into the orks rib cage

 

The massive ork threw it's head back and roared, clearly enraged. And just as fast as it had grabbed Leviden it threw a punch, it contacted Leviden's shoulder plate but the force of the blow made him slide down the hall. Leviden brought his hammer up into a two handed grip and charged the ork, the ork did like wise with its masive claw hand and custom gun. Rounds bounced off the bulkheads and Leviden's armor alike and each one ignited elsewhere down the hall near Lo 'ir. Leviden's hammer met the orks massive claw in a flash of sparks, his armor began to whine when the ork's inhuman strength forced him down to one knee.

 

"Brothers! Suffer not to let the Alien live" Arevius said as he through a ball of pure psychic energy at the ork warboss.

 

Joil're stepped up next to Lo 'ir and pulled his bolter up and aimed down the sight sending off a short burts of rounds. An ork nob trying to get around the chieftan was caught by the shots, two slammed into it's thick head and one blew its arm off at the elbow, Lo 'ir began adding his own firepower to the fray realizing victory was once again in their grasp. With renewed vigor Leviden brought his hammer in a tight arc slamming it into the side of an orks head, the power field combined with the kinetic energy pulped the head into little more than a blood splatter on the wall.

 

"Auk, boyz back to the krooza!" the warboss yelled picking up what remained of its gun and retreating, most of the orks ran back with him, a few were locked in combat and couldn't retreat.

 

"Brothers do not let them escape!" Leviden shouted as he rushed the retreating orks.

"Stay your ground Astrates" Lugar said as he stepped passed Joil're

"Inquisitor, we must give chase" Leviden started to protest

"No, we must find out what happened to the Brother-Captain" Lugar said holding back none of the spite

"The Captain was taken by Dark Eldar" Lo 'ir stated in Leviden's defence

"Dark Eldar? Here?" Lugar asked cleary intrigued

"Yes, a minor lord I would presume by his after taste" Arevius said

"Taste?" Leviden asked

"He used the warp here, I can taste it" Arevius replied "We must make haste, it won't be long before there is no-way to get him back"

"It is to late to bring him back" Joil're said "He must either steel himself against the darkness around him or he will never return to the emperor's light"

 

Roane was stunned, whatever had come out of that far gate had hit him with such force that he was thrown into his gate's door. He remembered seeing a flash of red, but that was it. He looked around Smith's group wasn't dealing very well with the assassain, one of the men was dead and the other ws missing his legs from the knees down, he won't be alive much long. Berlius was faring much better against his demon opponent, one of the creatures hand was spewing purple ichor all over his terminator armor and a gastly wound from it chest was bleeding into the arena floor. All around Roane the dark eldar were cheering.

 

Roane looked up and above him loomed a khorne juggernaut, its rider was nowhere to be seen. It reared on its hind legs to smash it front legs into Roane's armor, he didn't let it happen. Roane picked himself up off the ground and swung a mild left hook and missed but it was a blind punch, his right punch was aimed and struck with full force, it's power field ripping into the metal skin of the beast emitting a horrible screech. The beast rammed Roane with it's head and threw him back against the wall with such force his helmet seals detatched. It began to stomp it front leg on the ground in anticipation of charging him.

 

Smith threw his head back in the smallest amount of time and the blade passed an inch from his neck, she had already killed Lorenzo, and Murian was bleeding out as he thought about it. Hiro was still fighting with him but he didn't have a weapon anymore, she had bisectd his lasrifle in two at the start of the fight. Smith had given him his combat knife but that was laying somewhere in the arena floor. So be it Smith thought as he parried her next strike with his sword, he hoped that the Tallarn who had given it to him kept the blade in such good care as he did. The two swords met in a clash of sparks, neither blade wanting to part from the other. With a grunt of effort smith threw the assassian back, she graciously did a back flip and landed a few pces away. Hiro charged at her with nothing more that pure zeal as his weapon, it stood no chance to the womans slender blade which lashed off the top half of his skull. Smith quickly stretched his shoulders as he prepared for her next attack, she didn't wast time and was in a headlong dive towards him in a flash. He sidestepped her and brought his sword around which cut into her shoulder. She landed on her hand and spun on them kicking out with her legs, Smith caught a booted foot in the jaw, hard. His head snapped back and then his body followed with the force of the blow. He slid across the arena floor and his vision was blurry, that woman has some legs he thought as he heard her approach.

 

"Its over guardsman" She whispered

"That Gunnery Segeant Charles Smith to you, wench" Smith said as he swung his leg up behind her and landed a kick to the base of her skull

 

She staggered for a moment unsure of what was going on and Smith siezed the moment and impaled her on his sword.

 

"909th Corila Light Recon" Smith finished as he brough the blade out of her side, nearly cutting her in two.

 

Roane braced himself and caught the beast's head in the charge, he could feel as his boots were loosing traction and he was beginning to slide backward. He began to tighten his grip on it's head, intent on crushing the skull but the beast's head seemed to be made of a material impervious to pure strength. He let go with his right hand and pulled back for a punch. The beast lurched to it's right and threw Roane off balance, he still swung his fist outward and smashed its front left leg. The beast swung its horned head back at him and the horn cut into the inquisition symbol on his shoulder pad, Roane slammed his knee into its neck and sent the beast into the air briefly.

 

"Foul creature" Roane yelled as he level his wrist mounted strom bolter at it

 

Roane depressed the firined stud in his palm and sent a stream of rounds into the creature at point blank, even the beast's armor couldn't withstand the onslaught for long. It's armor-skin began to moan and buckle under the repeated impacts, the gun clicked empty and before the reature could move Roane slammed his fist ito the wounded area burying his arm up to his elbown inside of it. The juggernaut let out a death scream as Roane squeezed whatever he could get his hands onto and smashing it within his powerfist. He ripped his arm and and planted his foot on the creatures side and pushed it over.

 

"Back to the warp" Roane said as the crowd went wild

 

Roane turned to see how Berlius was doing with his fight. Berlius was standing stock still and had the blade on the polearm pointed down the the pole itself slowing going up. The massive creature was still wielding three cleavers against him but where it had brute strength, Berlius had strength and finesse. The top arms' brought both of their cleavers in a x shaped slash, Berlius caught the left cleaver with his blade and with a quick twist the blade turned the cleaver to present the head of the beast.

-Ignite- Berlius sent the command mentally to the blade and watched as it wreathed itself in flames. He drew the pole up and stopped the other cleaver and then leapt into the air and landed on top of the third cleaver pinning it to the ground. Berlius stabbed forward with the blade and it bit into the creature's vast neck, blood failed to come out as the fire casturized the wound. It couldn't even scream as the blade was sticking out the back of the neck, transfixing the larynx the creature had. Berlius twisted his torso and with the enhanced muscle strength provided by he armor hacked the head clean from the shoulders.

 

Just as the creature fell to the deck a wave of gore blasted from the stump of the neck and produced another head, this one featured a long slender neck like a snake the had a massive jaw full of teeth. The missing hand exploed out of the stump of a wrist and instead of a hand holding a cleaver was just a mass of bone in a cone shape.

 

"Just when I thought the Emperor would never deliver, he gives me a worth opponent" Berlius said smiling behind his helmet

[Roguemarine]

oooo sounds interesting, in a "Gladiator" kind of way, keep it up, amazing cliff hanger i might add

[Captain_Roane]

That is exactly what I wanted, I was reading an found the dark eldar have these "arena" like places where they take those they capture to fight for their pleasure and decided that Roane was going to go there to do what space marine's do best. But now that he is there things are just going to get more interesting for him.

 

ps. I was watching gladiator when I wrote that

[calgar101]

Very good so far and i look forward to reading more :)

[Captain_Roane]

Thank you, and I have just added more, even if it is just alot of talking

[Swarffy]

I have no idea where this is going, and i like that. It keeps me on edge. Seems like they are gonna be jumping around the galaxy. So far its a good read. Also i really like this Charles guy. Wonder whats gonna happen to him.

[Captain_Roane]

Eventually I will quit ending the addition with twists, but only when I figure out what i'm going to do with the story. Added more to chapter 2.

[Captain_Roane]

I'm needing a name for the snake like creature Berlius is fighting, any ideas?

 

ps. In my head it looks sorta like the body given to fulgrim when he became a demon prince

 

pss. New addition in chapter 2

[Captain_Roane]

Sorry it's a short addition, more will be added later, but something came up while I was typing, C&C appreciated.

 

Chapter 3: Freedom

 

The cone slammed into his Crux Terminatus showering him in broken bits of ceramite and sparks. Berlius slammed the butt end of the polearm into the creatures mid-riff and ducked the couter swipe of one of the arms, he brought the butt down into the pinned arm's wrist and shattered what bones were beneathe the thick grey skin. The cone came at him again but he was ready this time an twisted his torso to dodge the blow, to late did he realize the feint and soon felt the massive tail slam into his back, the arena spun around him as he went cartwheeling through the air. He quickly righted himself but the beast was already upon him, it's head snapping down on his right shoulder in a sickening crunch. Berlius let out a brief scream of pain but quickly blocked it out. With his right arm immobile and still holding the spear he let go of it with is left hand and balled it into a fist. It slammed into the side of the neck, but aside from a wet impact it seemed no damage was done, and he could feel the teeth slowly biting into his flesh now.

 

An Astrates does not know fear, it was laid down that they shall not by the Emperor himself, Berlius told himself he would teach this creature fear. One of the clevers slashed out as his legs but just bounced of the shin guards. The creature's jaws released his arm and reared back for another stike, one that wouldn't come. Berlius left hand caught the creature's slender throat in its grip and began to squeeze, even if the creature was aquatic as it looked it would have to inhale sometime, he would deny it that ability. He slid his right hand up the polearm till the hilt of the blade rested on his hand and then stabbed forward with his arm like a piston, the blade sliced cleanly into the torso and again no blood came forth, he let go of the polearm and caught an incoming blade with his hand, by sheer strength the blade could cut into his armor, he thanked the emperor this creature did not know power weapons, with a slight amount of pressure and a twist the blade bent in his hand. It was then that the cone slammed into his chest, the tip of it splitting the ceramite revealing the black carapace beneath it.

 

Berlius let go with both of his hands and dropped away from the creature, with a quick side step to avoid a downward stroke of the clevers he grabbed his polearm with both hand and brought the blade out the creature's side splittin the vertebrae in two. The behemoth just stood there on its tail while it's brain tried to register the trauma that was just inflicted. It had been a wild guess, and a lot of faith in the Emperor that the bisecting the spine would stop the creature, and Berlius had been correct, with its nerve bundle split, it could no longer regenerate and with the loss of its tail to propel it across the arena floor, the battle was over. Berlius leapt to the air and drawing the polearm back with a twist of his back he brought the blade down into the back of the skull, the blade bit through skin, bone and muscle alike, it even scored a clean cut in the arena floor, which Berlius noted quickly.

 

"Good job brother" Roane called out

"It has only just begun" Berlius replied while the arena doors opened once more

 

This time Dark Eldar warriors walked out, their rifles raised as the lord of the ship walked into the arena.

 

"That was a grand fight indeed warriors" He called out to them from across the arena

"Do you wish to challenge me aswell" Roane roared over the crowd

"No, but I have someone who does" The lord said as heavy footsteps echoed from behind him

 

With his enhanced eye-sight he could pick out of the gloom, two massive figures each in power armor, one was coated in a dull grey and gold while the other was a dark green.

 

An Iron Warrior sneered Roane in his mind, the hated enemy of his progenitor Rogal Dorn, he would make him pay. It was the other that caught his attention, The figure stood in dark green power armor with a grey shield above his let armpit, it's right shoulder showed its chapter heraldry, a white sword surrounded by white wings. Dark Angel Roane thought.

 

"Traitorious Angel" Berlius yelled as he came to stand beside Roane

"Traitor, brother, he is a Dark Angel, your parent chapter" Roane said

"He is no brother of mine" Berlius said in a low whisper

"You must be mistaken, he wears the mark of an Angel" Roane replied

"I am not the one mistaken here" Berlius said almost growling

"Brother or no brother, you will have to fight" Smith said as he stood next to the astrates, his body was pitifully small compared to them

"Fear not warriors of the light, the battle will be in the next sun cycle, you will need the rest" The dark eldar lord said

"I give no rest when the foes of the Emperor are so close" Roane said

"Sit down warrior of the corpse god, you stand no chance against anything in your condition" the Iron warrior said with a laugh

 

Roane was about to step forward when Berlius's hand rested on his battleplate.

 

"We will rest, and when they dare challenge us, the might of the Emperor will show them their error" Berlius said

"How can you rest, a traitor of the Emperor himself stands there next to the foul xenos I swore to kill" Roane asked

"Listen great warriors, wether he is a traitor brother or wether he sides with xenos I could care less, we need time to plan" Smith said

"Guardsman you test my patience everytime you speak" Roane said

"He is right though brother-captain, I have information that may aid in our escape" Berlius replied

"I will concede with you then brother" Roane said picking up his helmet

"So how will the battles be contended then?" asked the Dark Eldar

"I will take that whelp son of Dorn" the Iron warrior said

"Then it is decided, The sons of the Lion will roar against each other" The dark eldar said as the trio of them walked off

 

Roane, Berlius and Smith all walked back down the path to their gate, and gave quick nods and prayers for the next batch of warriors moving up to replace them. It was a sorry lot, mainly composed of farmers who had no weapons but what they could pick up, one man was holding a metal plate with white fingers. Roane would have gladly taken their place, any threat, any challenge it was the way the White Templars were trained. They life of a single citizen of the Imperium was not to be written off unless the full might of the company could not save it, though this battle principle made casualties high at times the citizens of their sector were always grateful.

 

"This is cruel and unjust, the xenos will pay for every faithful soul lost here" Roane muttered to himself

"You will have to remove that thought fast, no faithful souls onboard this ship live long, and it is better to ensure your survival before theirs" Smith said

"You took and oath similar to mine, that you would protect the Imperium" Roane said

"Yes, the Imperium, not the people of it" Smith said looking down at his boots

"The people are the Imperium, and I will not relieve myself of the duty to protect them, a greater foe than me will have to remove it from my cold dead body" Roane said

"And many will try" Berlius said adding in

"And you, what did you meen by traitor brother?" Roane asked

"That..." Berlius said clearly debating with himself "Is an explanation for a different time"

"Secrets lead to our destruction" Roane said

"Some secrets have to be kept" Berlius said as they entered the waiting room

 

It was an open space filled with warriors from all across the galaxy, all manner of creature filled the room, most of them normal people of the Imperium but a few other races were visible. A few large orks sat to themselves and a small contingent of Eldar warriors stood patiently. Roane watched a few men box back and to back as other men tried to assault them. It brought back a fond memory of when Roane was the Emperor's Champion for the second grand crusade of his chapter. It began when the orks of Waagh Ugruntz entered the system surrounding the Forge World Murius, which was known for is massive factory cities that built the weapons that the System's guard regiments were supplied with. A call of assistance was sent through the warp in hopes that help would arrive, but it wasn't recieved until it was to late, the Imperial Navy even with the help of the Mechanicus ships in system the ork's crude ships and rocks still managed to land on the planet. The signal was finally picked up by the White Templars a month after it was sent and with great haste a crusade was launched, which drew six of the remaining companies of the chapter into battle.

 

"Brother-Chaplain, I fear my mind plays tricks on me, but I had a vision of the Emperor" Roane said kneeling before a Grand Chaplain

"The mind does many things, and for many reasons, but I feel the presence of the Emperor in you, tell me of this dream" Grand Chaplian Orso spoke

 

The Grand Chaplain's armor was a deep mid-night black like all of his order, but on his knee cap was a black cross outlined in white, the symbol of the Black Templars. Orso had been asked to leave the chapter to lead this new chapter in its spiritual faith, he had gladly accepted the honor, which was delivered by the High Marshal himself. Dozens of purity scrolls studded his armor, his crozius was strapped to his hip unpowered and his storm bolter was on the table next to him. A series of words were written on both of his vembraces, each one was a prayer he had personally written for the chapter.

 

"I was standing in a barren field, the landscape was as beautiful as it was vibrating with life, and then suddenly the field turned to ash, and mud formed from the blood of fallen soldiers made the dirt beneath me squealch with every step, and as suddenly as it had been destroyed it was created again, a golden aura eminated from behind me, so I turned and before my very eyes the Emperor stood, but not dressed for war, but in simple robes" Roane explained

 

"Was there anyone else in the field with him? Or others around the landscape?" Orso asked

 

"No Grand Chaplain, just myself and the Emperor, he turned to me and smiled, instantly my entire body felt renewed with great strength I never though I possessed, he told me that here on that very field the fight for the planet would be ended, and that a terrible tragedy would befall the Imperium if we did not win, he asked me, personally to see to it that we would win, made me swear an oath to accept any challenge, no matter what the odds were, and I did so" Roane said looking down and feeling foolish for such thoughts

 

"I believe that the Emperor is working through you Brother Roane, though my vote alone can not lead you to be what I believe you to be, we must bring the Chapter Master and the Chief Librarian into a meeting and you must tell them exactly what you told me" Orso state "For I believe the Emperor has chosen you to be his Champion"

 

Pride swelled in Roane's chest at the thought that the Emperor had chosen him to champion his cause against the orks, he hoped that the other leaders of his chapter would see the same way that Orso did for he wished nothing more than to take the fight to the enemy with the fury of the Emperor behind his movements. The meeting with the Chapter Master and the Chief Librarian commenced within a few hours and Roane retold his dream word for word, and the whole time the eye's of the chapter master never left his face, when the tale was done he was asked to step out of the room.

 

"Brother Pernatus, did you feel any taint in the boy when he told you his story?" Chapter Master Lucius the Pure asked

"None so ever Lord, I felt a great pride within him, and could tell that he will do great things for this chapter" Pernatus said

"So, the boy's dream was the power of the Emperor making itself known?" Orso asked

"I believe so, I take great pride in the fact that I am a great judge of character and the boy did not lie" Lucius said

"And his faith is only stronger from this occurance" Pernatus said

"Then he shall be our Champion, this Chapter could use a great warrior to lead us" Lucius said "Its about time this Chapter had a Champion"

 

Behind his skull visage, Orso let a small smile creep across his face. The door into the hallway opened and Roane instantly rose to his feet and faced the three highest ranking members of his chapter.

 

"Brother Roane" Lucius and Pernatus said at the same time

"Yes lords?" Roane asked with a slight bow

"We have come to the conclusion, that the Emperor of Mankind and our Holy father has shown his intentions through you, and will show his hand through your actions" Orso said offering out his hand

 

Roane grabbed his forearm and they gave a warrior's shake, it was all Roane could do to focus over the roar of blood in his ears.

 

"From now until we deem otherwise, you are hereby the Emperor's Champion of the White Templars, Go forth and prepare for battle brother" Lucius said

"Come now boy, you get to use the better weapons" Orso said turning and walking off

 

Roane quickly caught up with the Chaplain as they walked through the long cold halls of their fortress monestary. The few windows showed the landscape about it, a grand blue ocean to the north and grasslands like a green sea stretched out for miles around the monestary. Roane detected that they had gone down a floor without every walking down steps and could hear the dull cland and wump as a forge hammer slammed into burning metal.

 

"Master Smith Arcaid will make you the best armor you will ever wear, and smith the best steel you will ever feel in your hands" Orso said as he knocked on the door

"Enter" a cold metallic voice called out from the other side

"Master Arcaid, a Champion has been chosen, the Emperor requires a splended suit of armor to show his glory and a great weapon to sow fear into his enemies" Orso said with pride

"A Champion? Finally?" Arcaid said finally looking up from his anvil "That young one?"

"I am Brother Sergeant Roane of Captain Bavald's Second Company" Roane stated

"No longer are you that" Orso said

"That one is to be our Champion though? I would have thought he would have been at least a veteran" Arcaid said

"Despite my youth, I will show the enemies of the Imperium fear" Roane said

"Of that I have no doubt, and neither does Lucius the Pure and Chief Librarian Pernatus" Orso said

"Well, I will help the boy with the forge, but the best weapon for oneself, must by forged by themselves" Arcaid said

"His armor then?" Orso asked

"I have known this moment would come, and already crafted a suit of armor for one such as himself" Arcaid said and with a gesture of his mechanical arm showed the direction of the armor.

 

Roane waited for Orso to take the lead but was suprised to find the Grand Chaplain waiting for him. As quickly as he legs would allow it, he crossed the forge room and came upon a large closet, he pried the doors open with his hand and was greated with a grand sight. A suit of splendid white armor, with golden trim stood inside, the kneecaps each painted gold like the elbows, a small golden shield sat over the left armpit, the symbol of the chapter painted on it. A golden helmet sat cradled under the right arm, a white eagle formed the lower jaw of the helmet and the eye glowed a dull red.

 

"This is better than I could have hoped for" Roane said

"I'm glad you like it, it only took me a service stud to make it, and then three more for it to ever have a use" Arcaid said

"I will let the two of you start on the weapon" Orso said "The Crusade launches in one week"

 

For a week straight, Roane never left that room, he slept on the floor and ate what meals were brought to him by the chapter's serf's, Arcaid gave him instructions of the proper technique of the forge and within a short span of time, Roane's blade began to form. When it was finally cooled and the wetstone had been taken too it Arcaid to the weapon and began the process of turning it into a power weapon. When he returned the day before the launch, the sword was finished and with its polished sheen shone like a bright white light.

 

"It is finished, and you are ready to enter the chapter's honor roll" Arcaid said opening his vox channel

"Grand Chaplain Orso, your subject is ready" Arcaid spoke into it

"Have him suited up and equipped with the best wargear we can offer" Orso said "I'm on my way"

"Well boy, best to get you in that armor before he gets here" Arcaid said

 

The armor fit his body to what he seemed a perfect combination, not a single piece was wrong. Arcaid offered him his sword and sheath which he clipped to his belt at his side. Arcaid explained all the small features of his armor, and the big ones. Like how the small shield above his armpit had a built in rosarius. Just as Roane slipped the helmet over his head, Orso walked in.

 

"He is ready for war?" Orso asked

"As ready as he could ever be, its now only up to the Emperor" Arcaid said

"Good, it is time to renew our vows" Orso said as he gesture for Roane to follow

 

The pair walked out of the monestary, the whole way neither of them spoke, each was thinking of what would happen in the coming days. As they walked into the bright sun and the rows upon rows of white armored warriors snapped to attention. Each Company Captain rendered salutes, Even the Chapter Master and his Honor Company had their glove against their chest.

 

"Tell them what they want to hear" Orso whispered into Roane's ear

"I don't know what exactly that is" Roane said

"Just let the Emperor do the talking" Orso said with a smile

 

Roane stood infront of the congregation of warriors and let the silience settle.

 

"Brothers" Roane started suddenly at loss for words

"The horrid greenskins have launched a massive Waagh against a forgeworld of the Imperium, a world that supplies the fighting guard of our system and neighboring systems of weapons"

"The Emperor came to me in a dream, and showed me where the final fight would take place, showed me the before and after effects of the greenskins horde, showed the world turned to black ash and maroon mud from the blood of fallen heroes"

"He had me pledge my oath to him, then and there that No matter the Challenge, I would accept it, and no matter the Odds, I would overcome them"

"I ask that here and now that you will make that same oath to me, to the Emperor" Roane said

 

What followed shocked him more than anything, Every marine assembled their slapped their hands against the battleplate they wore and kneeled, it sounded like a thunderclap, even the Chapter Master and Grand Chaplain kneeled, and then all their voices rang out together.

 

"We swear that no matter the Challenge, we will accept it and no matter the Odds, we will overcome them" 600 voices rang

 

And with that, the Crusade began.

[KEEPER]

Very much reminds me of the GK book. Great read keep it up!

[Captain_Roane]

Thank you for the comment, yes I have read the GK novels, and Hammer of Demons has been on my mind for awhile now.

And based by you sig, and avatar I assume you are either actively serving wether active or reserves or have served in the marines and thank you for your service. I had planned on enlisting but I got accepted into college and its been payed for without the military having to pay for it, but i may well still try and get a spot at PLC or OCS if possible at my school (It is in army country)

[KEEPER]

Not a problem. I am a Marine, and still currently serving. I wish you best of luck in your endeavors, especially if they lead you to PLC, or OCS. Just remember to listen to your enlisted advisers, learn what you can.