Battle of Talko Prime

[Luy22]

(I know there are Tau in first chapter, but the marines wont come until later, don't worry)

 

1

 

One year after the Medusa V conflict...

 

Shas'O Taka stood on the bridge of the Hammer, a massive weapon of great destruction. They had to test it out somewhere, so they chose an Imperial world. Talko Prime was a heavily-populated planet, and home to the Blazing Fox marine chapter. The Tau fleet went ahead, clearing a path through the PDF. First they destroyed the capitol planet of the sector, then they destroyed Talko Prime itself, and the entire chapter with it.

 

The entire system was conquered by the Tau empire.

 

* * *

 

Three years later...

 

Now the Hammer was destroyed in a battle between Tau and Imperial forces on the edge of their Empire. Now O'Taka and his ethereal have escaped to an Air caste space station over the ruined planet of Talko Prime. He was a changed Tau, O'Taka. He had made deals with Eldar, and they fitted him with their technology and even made him stronger in hand-to-hand combat. He wasn't what he had been during the fight for Medusa V, however.

 

Ethereal T'oi walked in, catching Taka staring out at the world below. "What are you staring at?" T'oi asked. Taka turned to him.

 

"Nothing... How are you today, my lord?"

 

"I am fine... The Imperials are coming to retake this system. Your scouts have just returned. A fleet is on its way."

 

"Good. I'll ready my gear and prepare for the attack. Get to a safe place, my lord." He said. The ethereal left, and Taka walked into his personal armory.

 

He sensed vengeance in the air... The Imperial gue'la would rather die than let one sector leave it's command. "What a greedy emperor..." He whispered to himself, walking into his armory.

 

* * *

 

Evao Bonas, an Iron Fox, and a member of the Legio, walked down into the assault boat decks where marines of the Scimitar Knights chapter were loading themselves up. They had picked him up from an escort mission, and he heard they were on their way to Talko. He did not realize Talko was gone. He had been away so long. He was a mere battle brother when he was chosen for the Legio. And now he learned his entire chapter was gone. He balled a gauntleted fist, and followed the other marines into the boats.

 

* * *

 

Inquisitor Septim of the Ordo Xenos stood at the helm of the ship angel of lights. Beside him was a servo skull. He stared at the Tau defense fleet coming to meet them. He grinned. "Send the boats."

[Luy22]

2

 

The Imperial fleet met the Tau fleet and battle commenced. Salvos of missiles and lascannons fired from the ports of the ships into the Tau fleet. Until finally, there was a gap wide enough for the Angel to shoot the assault boats through. She fired.

 

The assault boats blasted through space towards the Tau space station. The defense cannons came online and began to open fire. Out of the fifty boats fired, only 30 made it, smashing through the metallic skin of the hull. The space marines within blasted their way into the station and met the xenos defenders with hailfire from their bolters.

 

Evao ran down the corridor, drawing his knife. A single fire warrior aimed at him. he threw his knife and the blade hit the Tau in the neck, felling him. Evao ripped the knife free and sheathed it. He looked up, through the window he saw his homeworld. Talko Prime was black. It's once-vibrant jungles and bamboo forests torched. He wondered how the Krak tribes were doing. He cursed under his breath. These damned xeno-scum would pay for what they did. He checked the ammo in his bolt pistol, and walked down the hall further. He came to an elevator shaft. He grinned, grabbing the cable within and using it, he scaled the shaft, and came out three floors higher just as the elevator itself shivered and fell due to power failure. He watched as whatever Tau were on it descended to their deaths as the elevator crashed far below.

 

He could hear the sounds of battle as the Tau forces met the astartes. Evao stood, and walked down the corridor. He would find their leader, and kill them himself.

[Nacho Wolf]

Very good, its about time we had a 'marine revenge' story, shall keep looking with interest

[Luy22]

Brother-captain Victor of the Scimitar Knights stepped through the smoking gap, blasting away at Fire Warriors coming to defend their space station. Behind him several devastators opened fire with their heavy bolters. Smoke cleared and marines began walking into the station. He put his fingers to his ear-vox. "Command. This is captain Victor. You can start sending a second wave of men, we have taken out their defenses. Begin dropping troops to the planet, they wont be harmed."

 

++ Yes, brother captain ++ Came the reply of the techmarine. Victor sheathed his sword, looking at the corpses of the Tau. He spat upon a dying alien, and shot it in the face point-blank.

 

* * *

 

Evao continued down the empty hall. He saw escape pods launching and falling to the planet below. He walked into the command chamber and slew whatever air caste were within. He saw the Tau commander, in his battlesuit, waiting for him. "My lord, get to the pod." Said the alien in a calm voice. The robed xenos behind him dashed into the other room, the battlesuit opened fire with its burst-cannon, a few shots hitting Evao's shoulderpad before he dove behind a console for cover. The commander turned tail and boarded the pod, and launched it to the planet. Evao grabbed the only remaining pod, and sent himself down to the planet.

 

* * *

 

Captain Toshiro of the Iron Foxes wiped the Kroot blood from his sword. He stood on the causeway of the fortress Hellion's gate. The fortress was nestled in between two mountains, and snow was falling lightly. He was sweating. They were only two companies left. And most lacked bolters or any kind of gun, most relied on their swords to defend. The Kroot had been attacking them for the past year, and they had been left for dead by the Imperium they had once protected. He gazed at the horizon, constantly growing grimmer and grimmer by the day. The forests burnt. The ground shook, and took their fortress monastery when the first bombs hit.

 

They had next to nothing. Nothing but their own swords. They had run out of ammunition months ago. A group of Kroot charged from the foothills up the causeway. "BROTHERS!" Cried out Toshiro. "ANOTHER WAVE COMES!" He took his blade in both hands, followed by three other marines, and they charged into the aliens, taking heads, stabbing and killing the avian-like creatures. He wiped his forehead, flicked the blood from his blade, and watched the skies as pods of all shapes and sizes began to bleed from the skies. He recognized drop pods. They were saved.

 

Fire warriors charged from the trees at the base of the causeway and opened fire. One marine fell, wounded. Toshiro grabbed his arm and dragged him back. "RETREAT, THEIR FIREPOWER IS TOO STRONG. PREPARE TO CLOSE THE GATES." He screamed, the marines running back into the mouth of the fortress and closing the gates. Toshiro dropped the wounded marine as an apothecary approached.

 

"Did you see the pods?" Asked the apothecary.

 

"Aye. I did. Finally at last..." Toshiro said, exhaling. "The Emperor has saved us." He grinned at the apothecary.

 

"They probably think us all have died..."

 

"Is there any way to communicate with them?"

 

"No. They would have to find us on their own."

 

"Dammit..." Then the gates burst open and two Tau battlesuits stood erect, opening fire. "TAKE COVER!" Screamed Toshiro, drawing his sword and running into cover. A sword. Not even a powersword. Just an ordinary steel blade. It would not be enough. He hoped the other marines would reach them soon...

[Nacho Wolf]

Very nice! One small problem though, I just think after 2 years of fighting with nothing but swords a chapter would have less than 2 companies left

[Luy22]

Very nice! One small problem though, I just think after 2 years of fighting with nothing but swords a chapter would have less than 2 companies left

 

They've shut themselves up tight. And some still have bolters, they're just a rare sight.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Very nice! One small problem though, I just think after 2 years of fighting with nothing but swords a chapter would have less than 2 companies left

They've shut themselves up tight. And some still have bolters, they're just a rare sight.

Considering they "had run out of ammunition months ago," the bolters will be little better than clubs or spears (if they have bayonets attached). I'm surprised the Marines aren't using weapons captured from the Tau or Kroots. Considering the desperate straits the Marines are in, I think even they will judge using xeno weapons until it runs out of the xeno equivalent of ammo, to be the lesser of two evils (the other being defeat at xenos hands, of course).

[Luy22]

Very nice! One small problem though, I just think after 2 years of fighting with nothing but swords a chapter would have less than 2 companies left

They've shut themselves up tight. And some still have bolters, they're just a rare sight.

Considering they "had run out of ammunition months ago," the bolters will be little better than clubs or spears (if they have bayonets attached). I'm surprised the Marines aren't using weapons captured from the Tau or Kroots. Considering the desperate straits the Marines are in, I think even they will judge using xeno weapons until it runs out of the xeno equivalent of ammo, to be the lesser of two evils (the other being defeat at xenos hands, of course).

 

And this is why I don't write that late at night. Thanks for showing me that.

[Luy22]

2

 

Evao stepped from his pod. From the ground things looked worse. The once vibrant jungles and plains of his homeworld were now black and barren. The earth had buckled and there were cracks and black mountains everywhere. The Tau had butchered his homeworld. He had landed near the site of the Fortress Monastery, of which was in ruins. Half of it had fallen into a newly-opened chasm. The marine fell to his knees. "Mercy..." He whispered, staring at the ruins. Standing, he went to take a closer look. The entrance gate had split. He walked in. Robed skeletons were fused to the walls and ground. The floor itself was broken, dirt showing through. The armory was gone. The librarium was gone. The barracks were gone. The landing bay was gone.

 

Outside he heard chattering. Through a hole in the wall he spotted avian aliens walking into the old courtyard. One of them was riding a large, uglier parody of the smaller monsters. Hounds gathered around the feet, sniffing the ground. Evao pulled out his bolt pistols. He breathed deeply. Then a drop pod smashed into the courtyard, and released several Scimitar Knights. The Knights opened fire on the aliens and ran to take cover in the ruins. Evao ran around the wall to a gap and opened fire, taking out one of the beasts. Its skull snapped back as the bolt impacted with its face, and it dropped its primitive rifle and fell to the ground.

 

The Scimitar Knights sergeant raised his chainsword. "CHARGE MY BROTHERS!" He called out, leaping over the rubble. His men followed, firing form the hip, taking out a few more. The Kroot yelped, running to the bushes for cover, and one opened fire, getting a lucky shot with a marine's neck and killing one. The other marines drew scimitar blades, and charged into the melee, chopping down the monsters. The large beast reared back, the kroot riding its back fell from its perch onto its back. The large beast was stabbed by two scimitars at the same time, and fell forward, blood gurgling from its beaked maw.

 

Evao ran out, sword-drawn, and struck at the creature that had fallen. It died spitting out some strange clicks and finally wailed before it met death. He pulled his weapon free. The marines were cleaning off their blades. The sergeant looked at him. "Who are you?" He asked curiously.

 

"My name is Evao Bonas. I am an Iron Fox... Probably the last alive." He sighed, flicking the blood from his sword and then sheathing it. The sergeant looked over the ruins of the fortress monastery, and put a hand on Evao's shoulder.

 

"I am sorry, my brother. We are all of the Emperor's divine blood. Join us, and bring the fight to these filthy beasts." Evao nodded.

 

"Thank you..."

 

"Aye." The sergeant smiled. "My name is Phineas. Now, come, brother Evao. Purge this bastardized world with us." The Iron Fox nodded, pulling out his bolt pistols. The group gathered their gear from the drop pod, and left the ruined fortress monastery in the shadows, heading towards the mountain fortress Hellion, led by Evao, to get a better hold of the planet.

[calgar101]

It is an alright story so far and has some potential, one thing lengthen your sentences; it's like a car with kangaroo petrol, stopping and starting all the time. It really does prevent the story from flowing.

[Luy22]

The burst cannons of the crisis battlesuits spun quickly, sending a hail of blue plasma at the defending marines. Toshiro was knelt behind a stone wall. Apothecary Nevis and the three other marines in the room took cover further down the hall, behind some crates. One marine fell, his back full of holes and his pack smoking and sizzling before it made a small explosion, and blood splattered the walls.

 

Toshiro cursed. One marine with a boltgun charged down the hall, ripping his helmet off and tossing it at the machine. He screamed at the armored alien, firing bolts out of his gun like a madman. As soon as he was out of ammo, he tossed the weapon at the machine, drew his sword, and continued charging. This is when the machine opened fire, the shots missing the marine. The space marine jumped, hugging the leg and began whacking at it with his blade. He lodged the sword into the machine's leg, causing it to fall. It fired its weapons, but instead of hitting any marines it hit its fellow soldier, the other battlesuit exploding in bright blue flames. The rest of the marines charged around the surviving machine. Toshiro ripped the hatch off, dragging the alien out. The mad marine who had attacked him screamed, and punched the alien in the face. "XENO SCUM! SO MANY OF MY BROTHERS ARE DEAD. YOUR LIFE ISN'T WORTH A NORMAL MAN!" He went mad there, and began punching the alien more and more. Toshiro grabbed his arm.

 

"Brother Finn. You must relax. We will take him in for questioning..." He waved a gauntleted hand and two marines dragged him off. Finn scowled.

 

"I wasted what was left of my ammo on that filth..." Finn spat. Toshiro shook his head.

 

"Nevertheless... The main force of the enemy has landed on the planet. Before it was just the kroot... Now the entire army has landed. Finn, help me repair the gates." He spoke as Techmarine Mandrin approached, ready to aid in the repair. Before they finished, they saw space marines exit the dead trees at the base of the causeway. Finn smiled, running out and waving them up. The Scimitar Knights began to walk up as a group of Fire Warriors ambushed them, hailing them with plasma. The Scimitar Knights scattered, one tossing two frag grenades in the direction of the fire warriors. The two grenades landed. One warrior picked one up and tossed it at the marines, of which they scattered from and it exploded, sending shrapnel at the marines and scratched up their armor, the other sent xenos body parts in every direction. The Scimitar Knights, winded from their journey, approached the marines at the fortress.

 

"I am sergeant Phineas, of the Scimitar Knights... We have something that belongs to you." He presented Evao to the marines. He was the one who threw the grenades. Toshiro and Evao smiled at one another, and then embraced.

 

"I thought you all dead!" Evao said happily.

 

"We are not defenseless... Though, without the help of the Imperium, we are gravely wounded. Now come within, we have much to discuss of your travels beyond the sector." Toshiro waved them on inside the fortress. Phineas nodded his own men in before putting his finger to the vox-bead in his ear.

 

"This is sergeant Phineas. All squads on me, we have found surviving Iron Foxes. We are at a fortress within the eastern mountains, I am activating a beacon. Inquisitor, we have cleared a landing zone and are awaiting your arrival."

 

++This is Inquisitor Septim. I am glad to hear of this, and will be arriving by thunderhawk shortly. All troops get to that fortress.++

 

Phineas then himself entered the fortress just as Mandrin finished fixing the gates.

[Nacho Wolf]

Very nice, am I right in guessing that Evao has 2 bolt pistols. HOpe so, nothing says baddass like shooting 2 guns at once

[Luy22]

Very nice, am I right in guessing that Evao has 2 bolt pistols. HOpe so, nothing says baddass like shooting 2 guns at once

 

Hell to the yes. :) Gonna take a break from writing from now, as the Kitsunes are currently going through a massive fluffy overhaul and I gotta work on them, and brainstorm the rest of this story.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

The two grenades landed. One warrior picked one up and tossed it at the marines, the other exploded, sending xenos body parts in every direction.

Emphasis mine. I'm assuming it was a Fire warrior who tried "returning" the frag grenade to Evao. What happened to this grenade? I noticed the Scimitar Knights didn't take cover when the grenade was thrown back. Was it a dud?

[Luy22]

The two grenades landed. One warrior picked one up and tossed it at the marines, the other exploded, sending xenos body parts in every direction.

Emphasis mine. I'm assuming it was a Fire warrior who tried "returning" the frag grenade to Evao. What happened to this grenade? I noticed the Scimitar Knights didn't take cover when the grenade was thrown back. Was it a dud?

 

 

Doof. I feel silly now. lol

[Luy22]

3

 

By nightfall, the entire force of Scimitar Knights had made it to Hellion fortress. Turrets were deployed by the causeway, along with some predator tanks. Marines stood vigilant at the ramparts of the fortress, forever watching the dead trees for any enemy activity. At the landing pad on the eastern side of the fortress, Toshiro and Evao had walked up to greet the inquisitor as two thunderhawk gunships came in for a landing. Suddenly, out of nowhere, three wedge-shaped craft flew in from the north, gunning down the second gunship and sending it spiraling down to the forest. The first ship landed, and five marines and Captain Victor walked from the assault ramp. Victor sighed at the sight of the two marines before him. "Inquisitor Septim was on that craft. We have to go rescue him." He put his finger to his ear. "Sergeant Phineas, go check the crash sight for survivors."

 

"I will go too." Evao said, turning on his heel and walking down the ramp to the fortress, and met Phineas outside.

 

* * *

 

The thunderhawk burned in its crater. Servitors lay dead everywhere. Inquisitor Luke Septim dragged his wounded body from the wreckage, his face covered in soot. He coughed, and rolled over onto his back as the fuel tanks exploded, sending shrapnel in all directions. One piece of which stuck into his leg, and he screamed. His sword lay not far away, and he crawled over to it, wrapping his fingers around the sheath. In the shadows of the forest he saw shapes move, along with bird-like noises echoing through the trees. A clawed foot stepped on his hand. He gazed up to see a kroot with blue quills and blue warpaint smeared on its face. It squawked as it pulled out a knife. Septim tried to pull away, but he could not. The beast's claw dug into his hand and it stepped over him, and began to cut into his leg and bite it. It was eating him. "Cannibalistic monster!" Septim barley felt any pain as adrenaline rushed his system. He then lost all feeling as it pulled his leg away. Before he passed out due to blood loss, he saw several arrows fly into the monsters neck, felling it. Then, he blacked out.

 

 

 

* * *

 

When he awoke, he was in a quiet damp, dark room, and had a bionic leg. An apothecary stepped in. "Greetings Lord Septim. You were the only survivor of the crash. It is good to see you are recovering." Septim was quiet. He looked into a mirror to his left. Scars covered his face. "We tried to fix you up the best we can."

 

"I need to get out of here... I need to slay that bloody Tau... How did I get out?" He tried to get up, but stumbled back into the cot.

 

"My lord, you are in no condition. It will take two days at least for most of your wounds to heal. You were brought to us by a local tribe of the Krak people, they had some resistance. It seems the woodland are full of Kroot."

 

"Fine..." He said, sighing, then continued. "Bring the leaders in, we are going to have an emergency meeting... The aliens are better equipped than I thought..."

 

"Yes my lord." The apothecary turned, going out the door. Septim stared at his new limb. He saw that his sword was in the corner. He got up, trying to get used to the new leg, and picked up and unsheathed his sword. It was a powersword, the blade made from the scythe-like claw of a Tyranid hormagaunt he had killed when he was young and new to the Ordo Xenos. He set the blade down, and laid back down on his cot, closed his eyes, and waited.

[Luy22]

The meeting was held in the tank garage of Hellion fortress the next day. Captain Victor and Toshiro stood with several of their marines, including Evao. Septim stood in the center. "Adeptus astartes. I am Inquisitor Luke Septim. For three years I have been hunting a Tau monster known as O'T'au'Taka. He is no normal alien. Reports tell he was aided by the Eldar, his bones are covered in the Eldarite material known as Wraithbone. He is obsessed with close-combat, unlike the majority of Tau creatures." He allowed this to soak in for a few minutes before continuing. "The monster, as it so happens, is here, on this world right now. We are going to arrange a kill team of Scimitar Knights and strike at him in his camp." He turned to Victor. "Choose your best men and get them equipped and ready, they will leave by thunderhawk tonight." Victor nodded, and turned on his heel and walked off. "I shall lead the kill team. I have personal matters with the alien. Is there anyone else who wishes to-"

 

"Me." Evao said, stepping forward. Septim nodded.

 

"Get your gear, marine. Meet us on the roof landing pad in no less than two hours... Anyone else who wishes to go may join us. Get prepared... The rest of Victor's men, and what ever can fight of the Iron Foxes, will create a diversion attack on the eastern gates."

 

* * *

 

Hours later...

 

The thunderhawk jolted as it moved over the treetops. Phineas looked to Septim. "Inquisitor, where is his base?"

 

"He has built it into the ancient capitol city of the planet, constructing oevr the once beautiful Imperial buildings. We will land just outside the city, and enter through the north gate while Victor's forces engage the Tau to the east."

 

"Right." Phineas checked his bolter, along with the rest of the team. Evao sat in the corner. He wanted to avenge the world that was taken. He would avenge it.

 

The thunderhawk glided silently onwards. Below, the adeptus astartes armies crossed over the landscape, fully equipped, and when Septim gave the word, would open up everything on the Tau. Septim held onto the rail with his right hand, his left hand on the pommel of his sword.

 

They came out of the cloud cover, and brought the ship down just in the foothills outside of the city. Septim grabbed the vox.

 

"Attack." He spoke.

 

 

++ Yes Inquisitor. ++ Came Victor's voice.

 

 

* * *

 

Toshiro drew his sword, followed by his men, now equipped with new bolters, charging under the hailfire of whirlwind tanks as they attacked the eastern side of the city. Insecttoid creatures flew over and landed before them. Toshiro cut the leader down, his men blasting down the rest. The Scimitar Knights were rolling into the city, engaging the fire warriors.

 

He jumped over the wreckage of a Tau tank, and stabbed into the torso of a fire warrior as they marched into the city gates. He growled, running into the fighting.

[Lord Melvin]

Excellent work so far. You do a great job of capturing the multifaceted face of war, as opposed to focusing on one particular event. I do have a couple of critiques.

 

 

He got up, trying to get used to the new leg, and picked up and unsheathed his sword. It was a powersword, the blade made from the scythe-like claw of a Tyranid hormagaunt he had killed when he was young and new to the Ordo Xenos. He set the blade down, and laid back down on his cot, closed his eyes, and waited.

 

If this guy is an Inquisitor, he's not going to be using xeno tech, especially Tyranid bits. The Ordo Xeno is an entire division of the Inquisition dedicated to hunting aliens and I doubt they'd be to happy knowing that one of their colleagues was running around with a sword made of a Tyranid's claw. The Imperial forces are very particular about the weapons they use, and it only gets more stringent the higher in rank you go. You can make the sword a super special power sword hand crafted by artisans somewhere, but make it Imperial issue.

 

Also, bionic implants take a while to install. First you need to stabilize the person, then cut the wound back and insert a plug to attach to the neurons and prepare the limb to accept the replacement part and THEN you need to wait for the wound to heal and the neurons to bind to the plug and THEN you can graft an implant. That would take at least a few months, if not more. Not only that, but anyone with an amputation would be pulled from front-line combat duty immediately, as they would end up being more of a liability than helpful.

 

 

Other than that, great job so far.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

He got up, trying to get used to the new leg, and picked up and unsheathed his sword. It was a powersword, the blade made from the scythe-like claw of a Tyranid hormagaunt he had killed when he was young and new to the Ordo Xenos. He set the blade down, and laid back down on his cot, closed his eyes, and waited.

 

If this guy is an Inquisitor, he's not going to be using xeno tech, especially Tyranid bits. The Ordo Xeno is an entire division of the Inquisition dedicated to hunting aliens and I doubt they'd be to happy knowing that one of their colleagues was running around with a sword made of a Tyranid's claw.

The inquisitor can probably get away with using a Tyranid's claw, which is a body part, not a technological artifact. (Using the bio-plasma gun or fleshborer will be using xeno technology.) There's also a precedent: the Space Wolves' frostblades often use kraken teeth for their chainblades, even after someone brought up "Hey, the kraken infesting Fenris' waters- don't they look like Tyranid creatures?"

 

That said, I'm curious why the Eldar would go through the trouble of implanting wraithbone in a Tau, besides the possibility of giving him psyker powers, or of allowing the Eldar to manipulate him as a psyker puppet. There's also the possibility this may open the Tau vulnerable to the influence of the Warp, i.e., Daemonic possession- not something I think the Eldar will risk, with the obvious exception of Dark Eldar.

[Luy22]

Evao Bonas picked his way through the thick vegetation filling the abandoned streets of the ancient city. Ancient indeed. It was constructed in the days of the Great Crusade, but the civilized populace was chased off-world by armies of feral humans some time after the Horus Heresy. The street they were on was full of grass and vines. Lights flashed every now and then from the battle on the other side of the city.

 

The Scimitar Knights, Evao, and Septim cut through tall grass in a blasted-out old hab building, making their way down a back allyway. Two Fire Warriors stood guard before large doors that once belonged to the planetary governor those many years ago. Phineas and brother Tark took aim with their bolters, and each landed a single shot into an enemy skull, the Tau bodies blasted up against the wall, blood filling the street. Phineas nodded to them and they made their way into the building. At the second floor, they could make out the battle on the other side of the city. The bike squadrons of the Iron Foxes roared over the defenses, cutting down any opposition. Phineas watched the battle. He did not see the Tau commander as he silently came up from behind and stabbed the sergeant in the back. Blood gushed out of the marine's mouth and he dropped his gun. Now O'Taka had a shield, which he held out as he opened fire on the others with his burst cannon, before dropping the corpse and running further into the building. "BLAST!" Cursed Tark, running to his sergeant's aid alongside brother Indrick. It was, however, too late.

 

"We have him surrounded." Septim said "By morning the combined Imperial forces here will overrun any Tau opposition. We just have to wait to arrest the monster." Evao scowled.

 

"No, he deserves to die. He killed a planet, and many people."

 

"He will, we all die... I am probably dead due to telling too much... I have let this beast get the best of me. I have been obsessed with O'Taka for years now. I have said too much of him."

 

"Then turn your words to actions." Evao loaded both his bolt pistols and ran down the hallway, followed by the other two marines. Septim drew his blade, and followed. He ran down the halls, following the noises of the power armored boots. Then he came to a large courtyard. The sun was beginning to rise.

 

The four marines and Inquisitor stood before O'Taka, who was now cornered. "Come at me, gue'la. Show me your strength."

 

"FOR THE EMPEROR!" Yelled Tark, his botler barking out bolt after bolt. The heavy armor of the Tau dented and was smashed by the impacts. In retaliation, O'Taka blasted out Tark's face with his burst cannon. Then Indrick charged, but he was beheaded by the Tau's blade.

 

Evao opened fire with his twin pistols, and took cover behind a statue, firing again. Septim ran in and clashed with the Tau. "Abomination..." He growled into the lens of the alien helmet. He heard a laugh and the mighty booted hoof kicked him down, but before he could deliver the finishing blow, bolter fire riddled him, and he fell, dropping his sword. The Scimitar Knights and Iron Foxes had made it. With them they had arrested the Tau ethereal. Evao sheathed his pistols and stepped out of cover as they surrounded the body. Septim nodded, sheathing his sword. "Our work is done." He said as the marines moved to cleanse the rest of the city.

 

The ethereal was brought aboard a thunderhawk preparing to return to the Ordo Xenos headquarters. Luke Septim left on the thunderhawk that day, with the body of the alien in-hand, though his future seemed only darker. The Scimitar Knights would push onwards into Tau territory to retake the stars from the alien empire. left the Iron Foxes to heal their tortured world, and to refill their ranks and rebuild their fortress monastery. It would be a long time for them to heal.

[Nacho Wolf]

nice, bit short thugh, would have liked more