Blood Strike

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

The Void Walker looked inside the life pod that held the remains of the Techmarine. The chamber seal had been compromised at some point during the long journey through warp space. The Techmarine's face had shrunk back into the skull, the nose had rotted off leaving only the hollow nasal cavities staring up. His eyes had long since rolled up and sunk deep inside their sockets. Of all the Blood Saints to meet an untimely demise it was the one most needed now. The Chaplain trained his mind remembering the basic training he had been instructed upon while as a lowly scout. He gripped the stiff lever with his ancient power fist and slowly pulled it down resetting the launch mechanism. The planet below would be their place. There was no other course left to follow. One by one each life pod sunk into the floor of the bay then were spat out through the launch tubes firing them down below. Each pod was the equivalent of a miniature drop pod. They would be scattered about randomly as they bounced through the planet's dense atmosphere. It was better than the alternative though which was a sure death if they had remained trapped inside the burning wreck of the strike cruiser. The Void Walker muttered a brief prayer then righted himself as he made his way to his life pod. Hell waited for him below now.

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The lone pod came crashing down strking the beach with a gigantic explosion. Clouds of sand filled the air blotting out the burning sun above. The hatch then exploded out showering the beach with a metal frag storm. The slow moving crab like creatures scuttling along the wet sand were obliterated instantaneously by the tremendous blast. A huge black power fist erupted from the hatch as the Chaplain pulled himself loose from the pod. More of the crabs were coasting in within the waves crashing upon the shore. The Void Walker shook his head then stepped down the descending gang plank training his combi bolter ahead. Looking at holo screen displayed within his helmet he saw that his final destination was at least a two day march. There were no active icons showing the location of the other life pods and for all he knew they could all be resting under the immediate sea. There was no sign of any sentinient activity - hopefully the pod had come in unobserved. His heavy boots sunk deep into the mucking sand as he trudged up the beach. The crabs immediately struck out with their pincers but glanced harmlessly off the thick admantium shell.

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+++

 

Another life pod crashed to the earth furrowing a deep burning track into the ground as it skid to a halt. There was a great big rent in the canopy of tall trees above where the pod had torn through the jungle. The hatch exploded fragmenting into a metal storm clearing out the thick tangle of twisted underbrush. There was a long period of silence and the nearest creatures within the jungle held still then there came an intense psychic scream from within the pod as the Blood Saint within awoke from his deep slumber in a near state of death. The scream sounded like a chorus of wailing banshees and it echoed through the foliage killing all the were unfortunate enough to hear the sickening shriek. A deep cerulean gauntlet lifted out slowly and grasped the boundary of the opening. Brother Mercury lifted his golden stormshield from the depths of the pod then tumbled to the ground. The terminator crawled away willing his body to exercise the his limbs. The pod then erupted in a huge blast. A great ball of fire shot up through the torn opening in the trees setting the brush on fire. Mercury rolled into a ditch of fetid liquid then passed out from his exertion.

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A jungle predator slunk through the brush towards the crash site. It's hardened outer skin was a thick coat of bony exoskeleton that made it impervious to the raging fire that had engulfed the flora. The spiny sensors were open absorbing the hidden smell of the intruder. The burning bodies of dead animals littered the open ground as the beast carefully made it's way towards the blast zone. It sensed the presence of the invader and recognized that the intruder was laying inert, immersed within the lipid stream. Slowly the predator crawled low to the ground barring it's many rows of sharp fangs that erupted from it's long pointed snout. The heat from the conflagaration was the most intense as the beast entered the center of the destruction. It drew back it's long razor edged claws cutting through the thick gnarled roots of a fallen tree then there came the sound of a slight moan as the invader awoke.

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Brother Mercury came too and felt the stabbing pain from the jolting reawakening. Every inch of his hardened body throbbed and his head pounded like a drum with every slow beat of his two hearts. His vision was clouded by a frothing crimson sea of pain. The Epistolary tried to focus his thoughts but the sharp migraine headache centered within the dense cortex of overly large brain kept interrupting his silent attempt at the binding mantra. He sensed the raging fire burning all around him and the dulled presence of something stalking him. The predator seemed to be slowly circling in closer and closer.

 

Only his bionic arm could function and he willed the metal fingers of the robotic hand to form the sacred shape of the eldritch of the circular Mho symbol. His fingers stopped spasming for a brief moment as he willed them to crook into the tightened ancient symbol generating a small measure of numbness that blocked out some of the terrible hurt racking his body with a electric series of unbinding spasms. The Mho was so old that no one in his chapter seemed to remember from whence it had originated. His chapter's first Grand Master had brought this arcane symbol back from his return after having first passed through the Infinity Gate. Only brothers in the higher orders were taught how to form the hand gesture which had been passed down from one generation of Blood Saints to the next.

 

The Epistolary guessed that the symbol dated back even beyond the second dark age of man. Maybe some small cadre of holy monks had stumbled upon the Mho during a period of highly enlightened research during by way of a long bout of the group astrally projecting into another dimension devoid of any real shape or form. He could only imagine the lost truth - it was nothing more than his best guess at something utterly unknown. Only the Grand Master had known of it's true origins and he had kept the secret to himself, Imrik like the Void Walker had been a Marine of very few words.

 

Mercury closed his eyelids shutting out his immediate surroundings and let the calm slither deep inside his body.

 

The Epistolary was large even by the standards of a Space Marine and he had towered above his battle brothers. There was a vial of warm blood inside his armor infused with a few drops from their first Chapter Master Imrik. Mercury let his mind drift past the buffeting waves of pain. Slowly his focus began to return again. The Blood Saint activated a rune within his gauntlet and then gasped in silence as the vial unleashed it's potent crimson cocktail. The thick crimson fluid injected into a hidden artery from the sharp little dispenser. Slowly the ancient blood began to sooth his stiff muscles and he felt his body relax.

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Brother Mercury felt a cold sweat break out upon his brow. His blood grew very warm and his fangs sharpened as he ran his tongue over the points. His vision cleared suddenly as if a thick fog had just evaporated. The Blood Saint slowly stood up and channeled the prenatural force of the conflaguration within his mind. Everything was on fire. Hot embers covered the ground like a pile of blazing rubies. The fire was raging now like a wild storm. Burning trees toppled and crashed upon the ground. Again Mercury sensed the predator stalking him. He willed the flames to burn even brighter flushing out the stalker from behind a huge burning clump of brush. The Librarian raised his bionic arm pointing one finger at the xenos. It's exoskeleton began to cook searing it's insides. Mercury stomped his foot and the slight quake knocked over the burnt husk then it disintegrated into a pile of black ash.

 

There came the staccato sound of bolters firing through the wall of flames. Mercury turned to see the harsh shapes of ancient power armor marching through the roaring fire. A small vanguard of Chaos Space Marines had come to find him. Their armor was bright red and covered in many garish black skulls. The bolter shells pattered Harmlessly off his terminator armor like drops of rain falling against a fortress. Mercury felt himself involuntarily grinning then quickly tightened his mien into a steel mask of doom. Again the Epistolary channeled the wild fire within his mind's eye. The red armor began to glow then the paint melted away leaving only the charred skulls. One by one each Chaos Space Marine fell over as their insides cooked within the blistering heat trapped within their burning armor. Mercury stepped over them heading into the heart of the storm.

[Seva]

Your story is so good. I love when there is a new update. Keep up the good work Black Orange Author. I NEED to know what happens next!

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

Thanks mate. :)

 

G :cuss

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

The Chaos Warlord watched the vast scene of carnage staring into the large crystal ball floating above the portal in his chamber. The entire jungle had burnt to the ground. Nothing was left except for a big black scar that stretched in every direction as far as the eye could see. The Warlord grunted as he ran the spiked tips of his iron gauntlet through his close cropped blonde beard. "What could have done this?" he asked coldly.

 

The Sorcerer answered "I sense the presence of an alpha level pyrokine." His voice was shrill and annoying.

 

"Alpha level..." the Warlord pushed aside the crystal ball and stood up rising from his iron throne. "That's a fairy tale told by lackeys of the Imperium to instill fear in the hearts of those who know no better." His eyes were like deep red orbs cast from molten ore. The pupils were like a serpent's and ran like quicksilver. "Whatever came here detonated their nuclear warheads in the far reaches of the upper atmosphere to disrupt our planetary surveillance systems... Apparently it worked!" The Warlord grinned showing his razor sharp filed teeth capped with a silvery filigree. "What did the search party discover? They've been gone long enough now."

 

The Sorcerer wheezed then answered "We not not heard back from them yet." He frowned as he twisted his gnarled wooden staff.

 

"Oh Woden what good are you if your infernal powers cannot better answer my questions? Maybe this pyrokine of yours is here in search of hire." The Warlord stopped grinning. "I need answers now!" he thundered.

 

Woden stepped back. "I need time Lord Kane. It's obvious whomever it is has a wicked streak. Keep the towers on watch. They'll show themselves soon enough."

 

"Yes you are right. The intruder must be most wicked, that or very foolish indeed. So be it. Summons my cadre. I'll lead a search party of my own." said the Warlord.

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A black landraider crawled forth through the remnants of the once lush jungle. Embers still burned in the thick black soot that covered the ground. A hot wind blew stirring up dust devils of swirling ash. The tank came to a grinding halt then the front hatch popped open crashing to the ground. The Warlord stepped out with a pair of terminators on either side. Kane lifted his mask and sniffed. "Something here smells familiar. I can't quite place it but I know it." He then lifted a pair of magnoculars from his belt and began to scan the horizon.

 

"Here my Lord." said one of the terminators pointing at the ground. There was a large boot print left in the soot. "Imperial it is."

 

"Indeed!" said Kane as he bent down on one knee to examine the print. "We have been invaded by Space Marines." The warlord ran his finger over the grooves then tossed a lump of smoldering ash. "I wonder what brings them here. Let's see where these tracks lead shall we."

 

They began to march along through the ruins as the landraider lurched behind them bellowing out big clouds of black smoke through it's exhaust pipes.

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

Brother Mercury could hear the sound of the landraider and it was headed his way. His path and taken him over a step of hills which hid him from the trailing Chaos Space Marines. He found himself on the very edge of the jungle. A stream of brackish water formed a boundary between the carnage and what lay ahead. Quickly he stepped through the stream over to the other side. The Epistolary had no way of knowing how big was the force in his pursuit. He looked around and spied a small cavern sunken into a rocky breach that jutted through the soil. His full strength had returned but there was a slight ache inside his head. Something or someone was attempting to scry him. Mercury felt the psychic dampers with his hood grow icy cold as he cast of ward of deception. The dull ache began to ebb away as he stepped inside the cave. Deep within he could see flames of a small fire.

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Brother Mercury came upon the fire to see its source was a small pile coals laying within a shallow pit. Pieces of broken bone littered the ground flashing as sparks jumped from the hearth. The Blood Saint could sense the presence of another but the mental image within his mind was hazy. A path made of tiled stone lead deeper into the cavern. Relying upon his auto senses Brother Mercury stepped onto the flagging and started down the tunnel.

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There was complete silence within the cavern except for the dim crackle of the fire which faded out as Mercury made his way deeper down into the tunnel. There were primitive murals painted upon the tunnel walls depicting two tribes fighting each other. One of the tribes was composed of short stocky warriors clad in plated armor while the other fought with long spears. There was the sudden sound of a hard crunch... The Blood Saint looked down to see that he had stepped on a skull. It was pitch black inside now, only his acute auto senses could perceive his immediate surroundings. The tunnel began to open up and terminated into a large underground chamber. There were piles of broken spears and pieces of plate armor scattered on the stony ground. A large chest fashioned from hard wood sat in the center of the chamber. Mercury could see that the big iron lock had been pried open hanging loosely from the metallic clasp.

 

The Librarian knew little about the planet, only that his kill team's intended target resided here. There was no information in regards to what other races had existed prior to their long arrival. With the destruction of their spaceship whatever information the sensory system had been able to acquire all had been lost. All he had was the recorded message from the Void Walker describing the brief series of events leading up to the launch of the life pods. As such the Blood Saint was accutely aware that if he could find any useful information it would greatly aid him to succeed in their task. He stepped over towards the chest and flipped the top open.

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Mercury stared in disbelief and a slight tremor ran up his long spine. A pure gold sigil from the Knights of Blood lay in the bottom of the empty chest.

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Mercury watched as the pronounced relief of the skull grinned for the briefest of moments then there was the sound akin to a thunder clap inside. Stalagtites broke loose from the low ceiling showering Mercury in a pelt of broken rock then the old chest exploded. There stood a trio of gigantic terminators clad in bright chrome. Their armor shone so bright it lit up the cave like daylight. Their paldrons were bright crimson with huge white skulls and crossbones embossed upon the surface.

 

"Aye cousin." drawled the Knight of Blood standing in the center. His head was bare and he had long flaxen blonde hair erupting in a mane from the top of his skull and a pointed beard upon his chin. His eyes blazed blue like a pair of diamonds. "My name is Roshon, my two brothers are Ardwin and Sam."

 

Mercury glimpsed their names chiseled into their chestplates in high gothic relief. Ardwin had dark skin and close cropped black hair, his eyes were dark as coal. Sam was an albino.

 

"We are travelers of both time and space such as yourself." said Roshon and he grinned from ear to ear revealing a long pair of sharp pointed fangs. "It is fate indeed itself you pried open this old devil of a crypt. It called to us three like a shining beacon in the blackest night."

 

Mercury felt a surge of relief coursing through his veins. "I have heard much of your chapter. High greetings to you all."

 

Again Roshon smiled. The Captain then held up his chrome vanbrace as he pulled back the stiff rack on the combi bolter mounted to the metal. "I smell ancient blood and it is tainted."

 

"It is." said the Blood Saint. "It is indeed."

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+++

 

The Warlord stood by the running water on the edge of the charred ground. "The trail ends here. Let's loose the hounds!"

 

The forward ramp of the black landraider fell open with a jarring boom. The sound of snarling came from within the darkness. A large Chaos Space Marine erupted from the hatch holding several huge flesh hounds bound by brass leashes. One of the terminators bent over unleashing one daemonic hound after another until they were all free. The big red beasts leapt over the brook sniffing at the ground then they all took off headed towards the far away hills. Kane gave a signal then he and his retinue embarked into the landraider. The hatch lifted shut and the tank then crossed the stream following the hounds.

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Brother Mercury took a closer look at the three Knights. He then noticed that for a brief moment the albino's face was covered in deep gouged scars and pock marks erupted across his brow... then the blemishes were gone and his alabaster face was smooth as silk. "What's wrong with that one?" he asked.

 

Ardwin spoke for the first time to answer. "Sam was doused long ago with the rot by a Deathguard sorcerer but he holds the filthy cancer in check by sheer force of will. We three are psykers just as yourself." The dark Knight's voice was deep and garbled. "Sam is also deaf, dumb and mute. He sees the world around him by sense of smell and fickle vibrations."

 

The Blood Saint looked intently upon the white mein. The albino's eyes were pure white and covered in a thick film of cartaracs. Sam then grunted. "I am their Captain. They answer to me." The voice of the albino spoke like a lilted whisper within Mercury's mind. It made his head ache again for just a slight moment. "It is I who first sensed your urgent distress and brought us here to aid you." The albino then lifted his long halberd and pointed back towards the direction from whence came Brother Mercury.

 

"Hounds of the Blood God come our way and their masters are close behind." said Roshon."Prepare to engage now."

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[Brother Nathan]

lovin it. finding it harder to find potential flaws. so therefore your wrting has improved! good job! interested what your gonna do with the kinghts!

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

There came the sound of brass hooves crashing on the stone tiles. An eerie red glow erupted from the far end of the tunnel as a quarrel of gigantic flesh hounds poured out. The beasts were covered in glowing scale of molten armor and large brass collars with long spikes wrapped tight around their muscled necks. One beast had two heads, it kept at the rear of the formation gnashing it's sharp fangs. The rest of the hounds came to a sudden stop upon sighting the terminators then they crouched low and began to work their way forward staying shoulder to shoulder. The albino stepped forward to meet the enemy pulling a pair of short swords from their iron scabbards. He grunted and sniffed at the air then stepped closer. His mouth moved as a silent cruel laugh came to his thin lips. Sam's brow took on a paler shade then a cloud of rot erupted from his mouth enveloping the closest hound. The beast barked as the black cancerous rot quickly consumed it leaving only a skeleton picked clean and it's armor crashed to the ground. The albino used his psychic attack as a quick diversion leaping headlong amongst the rest of the pack. His swords chopped down with blinding speed beheading the first two flesh hounds to engage him. The rest of the pack then leapt upon him but the albino was faster driving his twin swords into their underbellies gutting them like fish. One beast jumped snapping at his neck. Sam dropped his head down butting back the beast with his bare skull. He then spit out a piece of it's ear and speared the tip of one of his swords through it's eye punching straight through the brain pan. The double headed monster then launched it's attack using the maw of one head to bite into Sam's leg while the other bit into one of his arms pinning it to his side. The albino drove his sword down in a lightning stroke severing the spine of the head attached to his leg. The big ugly maw rolled to the side lifeless. Dropping his swords to the ground Sam grasped the beast by it's dead head and slammed it's body hard into the cavern wall. He released his grip and let the hound fall dead to the ground. His face was wet with sweat as he bent over to retreive his swords.

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

@ Nathan - Thanks bro !! :lol:

 

G

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

There came the sound of a hardened voice from the end of the tunnel. It sounded like a mad train rolling upon steel tracks. "I sense the presence of sons of Sanguinius, yes indeed!" The Warlord stooped over to pass through the narrow entrance. He was a giant amongst Space Marines towering even over brother Mercury. "Look upon me and despair!" Kane lifted the faceplate on his helm revealing his ignoble face cast as if cut from pure granite. His skin shone like polished bronze and the red orbs cut deep into eye sockets glowed with evil intent. "Welcome to my abode, this is the very heart of evil empire. Here in this very cave I came to realize my full power so long ago. You are all doomed to Hades!"

 

Brother Mercury immediately recognized the face. It was once that of Caine, a former Flesh Tearer now fallen. It was the one he had been sent to destroy. "It is you who are doomed." said the Epistolary in a dry deadpan tone. "You drank the blood of the Archfiend. You are the very antithesis to all things held most sacred to our noble chapters."

 

Kane laughed then spat out a thick wad of sticky phlegm. "You are most deluded you old fool. That one tiny drop of blood has granted me fell powers beyond your limited imagination. Horus' blood unlocked my full potential and much more... much more indeed as you will soon see when I crush you all into infinite oblivion. Don't delude yourself either. Others much more powerful than yourself or these scoundrels with you have come to lay claim on my head. This cave is paved with their very bones as will your own!"

 

Mercury and the Knights of Blood all hissed simultaneously at the mention of the Archfiend's name. Visions of their Primarch's death began to blossom within their minds. Mercury beat down the Rage by maintaining his focus but he could sense the impending madness quickly growing within his three companions like a deadly plague. Kane lowered his faceplate and strode forth into the dark pit.