Sons of the Cobra

[Janitor101]

**This story uses my DIY Chapter, the Sons of Wadjet.**

 

7143639.M40, Ultima Segmentum, Subsector Zirkai, Zirkai, 748 kilometers northwest of the Dağları Tanrıların.

 

Part I, Chapter I.

 

The sand warmed quickly as the twin suns of Zirkai rose slowly over the east horizon, the sand stretching endlessly into the distance, broken only by occasional rock outcroppings. Hidden in the shadow of one of these outcroppings is a small village, called home to no more than 200 people.

 

Forgemaster Aqil Siraj stood at the top of the dune, sand swirled around his armored greaves, he used the zoom function in his ancient heresy pattern helmet to observe the village, which was one of the sites the Chapter visited every five years to perform initial recruit testing. Already the locals and recently arrived nomads were starting their games, which involved many aggressive sports in the attempt to catch the Space Marines attention, so that they might be chosen to undergo the testing.

 

He could see the youth riding their Tyiwarv's attempting to knock the other youths off their mounts with their metal clubs or shields, some of the youths were writhing around on the ground cradling broken limbs, their reptilian mounts scurrying out of the the way of the other contestants while trying to keep close to their injured masters.

 

There were a hundred or more nomad tents set up in the shade of the rocky outcropping, just outside the village, Aqil could see people moving between the tents, small fires and their Tyiwarv paddocks.

 

 

Brother Aqil turned and stepped onto the ramp of the Rhino he had requisitioned for the recruitment, his other seven battle brothers sat in the Rhino, while Brother Scout Sergeant Aasad rode a Tyiwarv, it's scaly tail swishing from side to side in impatience.

"They are gathered." Aqil noted as he moved to the drivers position in the Rhino, his Servo Arms folded tightly to his back as he moved through the overloaded vehicle, the boarding ramp closing behind him.

 

Brother Sergeant Wasaam nodded, he turned his head to Librarian Khayri, who wore pitch black robes over his Power Armor.

The psyker nodded in turn, and pounded his armored fist on the Rhino's hull, letting Brother Sergeant Aasad know that the locals were sufficiently gathered for them to proceed.

The lizard-like mount screeched as Sergeant Bahadur Aasad kicked his heels back and the two-legged reptile tore off down the dune, the Veteran Space Marine leaning low over his mount's neck, the Rhino was not far behind.

 

The arrival of the khaki and yellow trimmed vehicle and it's mounted escort caused the local's game to end abruptly, they stopped to watch the treaded vehicle roar towards them, the Scout Sergeant riding beside it.

One of the older men in the crowd shouted.

"Qarai graa! Qaru Akahi het Wajjat oliq graazai!!"

Soon the entire encampment of nomads was shouting the same thing, 'They come! The Sons of Wadjet are coming!!'

 

 

Part II, Chapter I. ( 3 hours after arrival )

 

 

Aqil stood at the entrance of the large tent that Sergeant Wasaam and his squad had set up in very short order, a large crowd of the locals stood ten feet away from Aqil, some were groveling, others stood and watched silently.

 

Aqil knew that to the people he and Librarian Karimi were feared by the deep desert people, seen as demons.

He recalled during his Techmarine training he'd been lectured time and time again, that the deep desert peoples feared the Sons of Wadjet's Techmarines, due to the servo arms and mechindrites they used.

Aqil was told that they saw them as 'metal demons', springing forth from their backs, which was why his Servo Arms were tucked neatly behind and under his power unit on his back and his mechindrites hung unpowered. And the reason for the Zirkari to fear Karimi was quite obvious, he had the ability to use the warp as a tool, they saw him as a sorcerer, they parted before him and his brother Librarians in obvious fear.

 

Aqil was broken from his revery by a little boy, no older than 5 years of age, darting forward and touching Aqil's left kneepad, before turning and running back to the crowd at top speed, expecting the giant in rust red armor to come thundering after him.

But Aqil stood absolutely motionless, almost smiling at the little boy, who looked very confused at the lack of motion or life from the Techmarine. Aqil could tell the boy was considering running forward again, but Aqil turned slightly to the left and strode away, he had duties to attend, as amusing as the little boy was, Aqil had to go and make sure the town's limited technology was in working order, as he had been instructed.

 

Aqil dug through the inner workings of the town's water purification system, he found several rusted out pipes and sprockets, digging into the case of parts he'd brought, he turned at the sound of shouting.

He saw a middle aged man, maybe 34 years old come bolting down the street, leading a much younger boy who was maybe 8 or 9. There were three other people chasing the older man, Aqil guessed them to be younger then the man, but older then the child.

They failed to see Aqil standing in the deep shadows of the machine he had been previously elbow deep in, Aqil was about to turn away when one of the younger men's sand colored robes parted, showing an Imperial Guard Lasgun which had been cut down to Carbine size.

 

Aqil stopped moving, watching the older man leading the child dart into an alleyway, the three young men followed, shouting threats.

Once the three men were well down the alleyway, Aqil followed them, silent as he could be, which was quite quiet considering he was wearing power armor.

 

 

 

 

Jabir Tanju led his son through the maze of alleys, he knew the men were still following him, trying to kill him, he took a sharp left leading into a... dead end.

Jabir swore and turned to run out of the alley, but the first of the three men was already rounding the corner, his autopistol drawn. Jabir backed away slowly, keeping himself between them and his son.

 

"I don't have what your master wants!! Please let me and my son go!"

He begged the armed men who were strutting down the alley.

One of the younger thugs laughed and brandished his lascarbine threateningly, the third thug hung back and watched, Jabir could tell that this man was an offworlder, he had very pale skin and his hair was a fine yellow color.

The one with the autopistol strode forward, bringing his pistol to level with Jabir's eyes.

 

 

 

Renult stood behind his two friends, his employer was readying his autopistol, when he heard a metallic clanking sound behind him, he started to turn, bringing his shotgun up as he did, but he never saw his attacker, due to the fact that his head was crushed to pulp a second later.

 

 

 

Haider stopped, his autopistol right in front of the old man's eyes, he smiled and prepared to pull the trigger, he was stopped by a horrified scream from behind him, he whirled in time to see a gigantic figure clad in red armor throw the headless corpse of the off-world lackey he'd hired through a wall.

 

The young idiot his boss had saddled him with screamed in terror again, raising his Las-carbine. Haider stood speechless as the young man fired his stolen weapon at the Space Marine standing six feet away. The shots deflected from the power armor the Space Marine wore, who stepped forward, servo arms unfolding and snakelike mechindrites coming alive.

The young man shrieked in terror at the sight of the metal demons coming around from the giant's back, one of the arms reached for him. The man screamed again as the arm clamped down on his shoulder and was lifted off the ground, he helplessly beat his stolen lascarbine on the metal apparatus, which tightened and crushed the upper portion of his rib cage.

 

The giant turned to face Haider, it dropped the dying man as Haider started to reach for the man he'd been chasing, his fingers grasped the fabric of the man's clothes just before the giant raised it’s bolt pistol and blew Haider’s right arm off.

 

 

 

Aqil inclined his helmeted head politely to the man and child who’s lives he’d saved.

“Are you alright?” He asked in high gothic.

“Yes...” The older man breathed as he clutched his son, who had been silent throughout the whole fight.

 

Aqil nodded and strode forward, his servo arms and mechindrites folding undernearth his power unit, he grasped the whimpering criminal and hauled him to his feet, ignoring the blood spurting from his shoulder.

“We have questions for you filth.” Aqil said without remorse, as he turned to leave he made eye contact with the child, who was staring at him.

Aqil was surprised to see striking emerald green eyes staring him down, immediately the image of a green robed figure flashed before Aqil’s eyes, Aqil shook his head and turned away dragging the injured criminal’s feet in the sand behind him