The Astral Guardian

[Phatsquirre1]

Archon Kharrass stepped into the chamber and flexed his shoulders.

 

The subject was barely breathing, and only the occasional shallow rise of his broad chest gave proof that he was still alive.

 

Kharrass sighed in frustration. This one had been the last of 6 of his kind in the ships' hold. all had been tough, but by the muses, this one was unbelievably strong. he had broken free 3 times and killed more than 10 of his kabalite guard. That made getting revenge even more important. Kharrass swore he would make him suffer. Not because he had killed so many, but because he was stubborn enough to resist his haemonculi.

 

Kharrass picked up the syringe on the table and injected its contents into the Human. There was an intense scream of pain and rage, and the Man awoke, his head frothing and shaking from side to side. Gradually he calmed down and the Eldar Lord watched with interest as his head dropped. he stopped breathing and for a moment Kharrass thought the human was dead.

 

"Hello, scum." Boomed the man.

 

The volume surprised the Dark Eldar in the room. The Kabalite guard, already on edge from the thought of the giant breaking loose again, visibly flinched.

 

Kharrass smiled evilly. "Hello Brother-Captain."

 

Brother-Captain Erik spat on the floor. "Missed me?"

 

Part of the Astral Guard Chapter, Erik was a perfect example of what a marine should be, a shining paragon of all that was good in the Imperium. He was known to his brothers as a heroic leader, brilliant tactician, and to normal men he was warm and his sense of humor had always served him well in diplomatic events. A legend even said he had beaten multiple space wolves at drinking contests.

 

Unfortunately, none of that helped him now.

 

Kharrass grinned inside his helmet. He admitted, his daily verbal match against this prisoner was interesting. He actually enjoyed it. He stepped back a few meters and motioned the haemonculi to begin. The haemonculi began to cut into the Marines body.

 

Kharrass watched Erik wince in pain. He started to grin, then chuckle, then he began to laugh heartily. The Haemonculi stepped back, unsure of what was going on.

 

Kharrass was the first to talk.

"What? is something funny?" Even though his tone was serious, Kharrass couldn't help but smile wryly.

 

"Oh, no, I just think your Pet just messed with my nervous system. Sloppy work. You should really replace him."

 

"Oh, and miss all of this fun? I think i may have use for him a bit longer. But, I will consider your offer." Kharrass glanced over at the Haemonculus, who hissed in fear at the thought of what would happen, which would undoubtedly involve some form of vicious alien life form and a horrifying end. The gleam of Kharass' lenses didn't help to reassure the Haemonculus either. Kharrass chuckled. Suddenly his inbuilt comms pinged him. It seemed the Bridge had picked up something. He turned his back on the Marine.

"I apologize for leaving so soon, but other matters call for my attention. I'll return soon for another round."

 

The Lord left the room. The Haemonculus and guards followed him.

 

The Brother captain deactivated the bionics in his head. He had activated them earlier in the hope that his bretheren could track his implants' signal. He knew they were close.

 

"Oh, I'm sure that won't be happening." replied the Captain with a smile, his pearl white teeth gleaming in the gathering darkness.

[Phatsquirre1]

++++

 

Acting Captain Garrett paced on the bridge of the Thunderous Might, Captain Erik's Strike Cruiser. He had been tracking the Captain since his capture by the sadistic Dark Eldar a year ago. H e wondered how his Captain was doing. Garrett knew that Erik WAS alive, due to the frequent clues dropped by the captain. But that didn't ascertain his Commander's status.

 

Was we nothing but a shadow of what he had once been?

 

Garrett pushed such thoughts from his mind and refocussed on the task at hand. They had picked up a weak bionic signature from the Captain somewhere in the Artemis Delphi system, and were about to drop out from warp travel.

 

The Ship's Deck Officer called out.

 

"Drop Out in 10 seconds!"

 

Garrett activated his comms, his voice loud and sharp on the vox.

 

"All marines on the Might, strap in and prepare for drop out. Once we are out, prepare yourselves for immeadiate boarding. Get to your Assault ships and hope the any enemies out there are unaware that we are leaving the immaterium. In his name, brothers."

 

The Deck Officer signaled the drop out in

3 seconds...The ship began to shake and groan.

2...The Might seemed to stretch longer.

1...everything began to shake violently

0...Quiet.

 

They were through. Garrett walked over to the Viewscreens. There was nothing currently in the area...but Garrett knew that looks could be deceiving.

"Full active scan of the surrounding area. and Dark Patches are what we are looking for. Power up Shields and disengage safeties on the torpedos and lances."

 

The Bridge crew responded immeadiately. "Aye Sir."

 

Garrett frowned. Something wasn't right. The signal had come from here and remained here for a long time. He knew the Captain was here...but where? His eyes scanned the darkness.

 

There.

 

A small patch of pure darkness interrupted the randomness of the stars. Garrett knew this was what he had been looking for for a year now. His Captain was aboard that ship...and it was time to get him back.

 

"Commander Vair, please overlay that shape in quadrant Theta 4-9i. Then move in a standardized Patrol pattern towards that area...but make it seem like we have no idea we're there. Target the Engines while we're moving. At my command, launch torpedos and fire lances."

 

"aye Lord. The shilhouette matches the ship we're looking for. and I agree...wouldn't want to spook them now would we?" Replied Vair with a wink.

 

Garrett opened the vox to his Marines again. "Marines, all squads to the Caestus Rams. The Captain is whithin reach. We will find him, rescue him and avenge our fallen brothers."

 

A choruses of ayes came from the Squads. Additionally, Sergeant Reath asked the question that all the sergeants were temted to ask. "Brother, what if our Captain is Dead?"

 

Garrett replied coldy. His voice sounded like steel and was full of conviction. "Then we will make the Bastards that killed him pay. Now to your ships. Its time to end this chase."

 

++++

 

Kharrass rolled his eyes. If this was another false alarm, he would feed the captain of the cruiser to the Khymerae in the lower holds.

 

He strode onto the deck and his attitude changed as he saw the expressions on the Crew's faces. He approached the Captain.

 

""What now? I was busy."

 

The Captain fidgeted nervously, obviously uncomfortable with the information he had discovered.

 

"Well, Lord Archon, a Marine Strike Cruiser just dropped out of the Warp...It bears the livery of the Astral Guard."

 

Kharrass' temper flared. He could feel the blood pounding in his veins and he knew his huskblade would end this fool quickly. but he needed a Captain right now.

 

"So what have you done about it?"

 

"The ship is simply on a search pattern. its not going to notice us until we're in a position to either cripple it or escape. There's nothing to worried about my Archon." Replied the Captain, much more relieved now that he had said his decision and the Archon hadn't killed him.

 

Kharrass roared.

 

"You Imbecile! Gunners, charge the weapons, and bring our shields online!"

 

Kharrass gave the crew credit. Despite the fact that they were confused, they respected him enough to act without hesitation.

Unfortunately, the Captain wasn't as smart.

 

"Why? They have no clue that we're here!"

 

"They've been coming closer slowly! Check their weapons, and i garauntee that they will be charged." Kharrass' voice was now a sibilant hiss.

 

"Lords, the Archon is right. Their shields are charged and their weapons at full power. we're still pretty much powered down. In fact, we're dead in the water.

 

++++

 

Garrett smiled grimly.

 

"Weapons in range and primed, Lord. We may fire upon your command."

 

"Cripple them, Captain Vair. Marines, begin assault on the enemy."

 

Garrett left the deck and joined his warriors. The 3 Assault rams launched at the Eldar vessel.

Then, the Thunderous Might opened fire.

 

++++

 

Kharrass unsheathed his blade and stepped towards the Captain.

 

"Get us out of here, or you will die a slow and painful death."

 

"Do as the Archon says!" The Captain was wide-eyed and terrified.

 

"Lords...Its too late. They've fired weapons. Impact in 3...2...1...Brace!"

 

The ship Shook. Kharrass' kabalites were thrown across the deck. one landed in a pile at the other end of the deck, his neck obviously snapped. A few others had broken limbs. One extremely unlucky one had been impaled on a spike protruding from a pillar.

 

Kharrass' growled. "Evacuate the Ship. Make a webway jump by Void Dragon Transport onto the closest planet."

Then the Archon turned and impaled the Captain with a snarl.

"You are no longer needed."

 

The Captain died with a scream of pain.

 

Kharrass left the Bridge and headed to his Razorwing jetfighter. Once aboard, he abandoned ship along with 5 Void Dragons full of his best Kabalites. His ships left a small trail as he jumped into the expanding webway portal ahead of them.

No one else noticed his group leave.

 

++++

 

Garrett's ship was buffeted by the meagre return fire from the Eldar ship. The countdown on his clock dropped to 20 seconds. This close in, he was glad they had crippled the enemy ship before his Caestus rams had gotten in range of the eldar vessel. He felt the Melta Cannons charge. A second later the ship shuddered as they blew a hole into the eldar ship. he felt the prongs of the assault ram smash into the ship and buckle the eldar metal. Suddenly the Caestus Ram came to an abrupt stop. Frag charges blew out any xenos in the area. Garrett looked up at the pilot, who gave him a thumbs up and hit the stud to drop the ramps.

 

The Restraints holding each marine disengaged.

 

The Ramps dropped.

 

Garrett and Tactical Squad Theros charged into the smoke filled breach.

 

++++

 

Captain Vair studied the damage done to the Dark eldar vessel. His crew was precise and had done exactly what he had asked. Now it was the Marines turn.

 

He sat back and poured himself a good measure of Amasec. He had done a fine job indeed.

 

++++

 

Garrett roared in anger. The kabalites in his way were smashed by his Thunder Hammer. Their attacks blocked by his Storm Shield. He called out Theros' name.

 

"Theros! Leave 2 Marines to guard the Assault Ram. Then head towards the Bridge and link up with Sergeant Reath and his Veterans. I'll take Brothers Sammal and Xavier and seek out the Brother Captain. Sergeant Durone's Marines will assault the Reactor."

 

"Aye Lord! By His Will!" responded Theros. "Furian, Voss, Guard the ram! the rest of you, with me!" He set off towards Sanguinary Veterans of Reath's squad.

 

Garrett turned. "Come brothers. The Captain awaits."

 

++++

 

Erik groaned. His head was foggy. He shook it to clear it and realized where he was with a curse.

 

A sudden shake alerted the Captain to the fact that the ship was under attack. He smiled and struggled with his bonds. He had been wearing them loose over the last few days and now, with a sudden effort that required all his strength, they snapped. He dropped to the floor, tired from the effort required to break the bonds. He slowly rose to his feet. He walked over to the door and waited to see if anyone was outside. When he had gauged that no one was, he opened the door.

 

He was greeted by an empty corridor. He stalked towards the armory, going by what he had memorized when he had been dragged half conscious from the hangars to the armory, where his armor and weapons were, to the cell where he had been for almost 12 months.

 

He had almost reached the armory when he heard running. quickly jumping into the shadows, he watched a lone kabalite run by, obviously startled by something. Erik noted the direction he had come from and proceeded to the armory.

 

There, in the center of the room, was his armor and weapons, on a rack. He quickly put on his armor and activate his Power sword. He then slid a fresh magazine into his bolt pistol. He left the room. He knew the main barracks was only a few meters away from the armory. He primed a grenade from his belt and threw it into the armory before closing the doors. The blast echoed all along the corridor. Erik heard the warriors from the Barracks run down the corridor. He chuckled and threw 2 more grenades down the hallway. He saw eldar flying in many directions and charged in, his power sword flashing. his first stroke decapitated a kabalite, his second cutiing through a warriors rifle before he smashed his boltpistol into the warriors helmet and fired point blank. The Back of the eldar's head exploded, showering its companions in gore. Erik fired 2 more times into the melee, each shot finding its target. His power sword leapt up to parry a strike from another kabalite. he pushed and rammed the blade up to its hilt into the eldar. A blow to Eriks arm caused him to drop the blade and punch the offending xenos in the chest, sending him flying back and breaking his ribs and destroying his organs. Erik retreived his blade and spun on his heel, disembowelling a kabalite who had been trying to sneak up on him. Erik reversed his grip on the blade and slammed it back into another eldar. Erik turned and roared. Today was a good day.

 

++++

 

Garrett paused as he heard a roar coming from down the hall. He couldn't tell what had made that sound but he knew whatever it was, it was close. He pressed on, his thunder hammer smashing Eldar time and again. Sammal had drawn his combat knife and had his bolter in one hand, blasting Kabalites off their feet. Xavier was laughing, burning Eldar by the dozens as he swept his flamer back and forth. eventually, the 3 Marines reached a corridor covered in blood. It tasted of cordite and Garrett knew that someone had been fighting here. He waved his bretheren forward. Sammal coughed in surprise. "Throne....I haven't seen this kind of carnage in a long time."

 

"That's because I was gone, you fool." said a voice that Garrett hadn't heard in 12 months.

 

A figure stepped from the smoke. He was covered in blood, his armor dented and scorched. The figure stopped and embraced Garrett before removing his helmet. He grinned and his smile displayed his perfect white teeth. He punched Sammal on the Pauldron playfully and gripped Xaviers' wrist in a warriors Handshake.

 

"Damn, but I missed you guys."

 

"Brother Captain! We thought you were dead!" Exclaimed Garrett.

 

"Oh, a few Eldar aren't enough for me. Besides, if I died, our brother Skjarl of the Space Wolves would need a new drinking partner, which i'm sure he would have trouble finding. But come brothers. It is time we returned to the Might. Have the other squads completed their objectives?"

 

Garrett checked with the other Squads. They had, and it was time to go. "Yes Brother Captain. Everyone is waiting at their Caestus Rams for you to give the order to return."

 

"The order is given."

 

++++

 

 

Erik stood motionless on the bridge of the Might, lost in thought.

 

Captain Vair broke his reverie. "What are your orders, my Brother Captain?"

 

"Destroy that unholy vessel. Then set course for the Fleet. It is time to rejoin the Chapter." He paused. "Also, get me Brother Raeth...I am in need of him."

 

"Yes Brother Captain."

 

Erik watched as the Lances on the Strike Cruiser annihilated the Eldar vessel. The Might then turned and prepared to jump.

Erik strode from the Deck.

 

Raeth would need to know about the Archon and what Erik had seen before he had been captured. It was imperative that they get this information to the Chapter. Otherwise, it could spell the end of the Astral Guard.

 

Their homeworld was under siege.

[Yaj]

Now I haven't read the Astral Guardian's IA (do they have one?) but here are my thoughts.

 

I enjoyed it over all but I do have one question.

 

1. Why didn't a race as advanced as the Dark Eldar notice the distress beacon inside Captain Erik's head when they were torturing him?.

 

Good fight scene, by the way after Erik gets free..die xenos die! but I don't think they would keep the captains wargear in the armoury. It's your story of course but I would have put them in Kharrass personal quarters as trophies.

 

I shall now look forward to the siege and hopefully more Dark Eldar dieing horribly.

[Phatsquirre1]

Good Question. I'd just put it down to typical DE arrogance. The weapons and armor were really just there to give him his weapons and armor. I think the Kharrass would have been bored with a helmet, and i think he wanted Erik's head as a trophy instead :)

 

and thanks ;) good to hear some feedback. It makes me want to write more.

 

as for the DE, they're gone (for now...) and now Tau are on the agenda. But hopefully the next chapters will be just as interesting to you, as its a huge war...for the Astral Guard's homeworld. :lol:

[Phatsquirre1]

Icarus IV sat like a shining jewel in the system. Clouds streaked the planet with white, while blue seas enveloped the globe, broken only by lush green continents and the rugged mountains. Its beauty had awed the visitor before, but today he his mood was sombre.

 

Erick's jaw clenched as he thought of what was occurring on the planet's surface. Of what those damned Tau were doing to his homeworld. He would not allow what had befallen Torissavia to occur on his and his chapter's home.

 

"brothers, today we avenge that which was lost."

 

Erick turned to his assembled bretheren. They stood, Rigid and Immobile, and he felt supremely proud of them all. He knew they would not fail him in the fight to come.

 

"Lord Hadron Himself has given us a task that many would envy. I, however, know this task to be among the toughest challenges to be faced in this campaign. I also know that I WILL NOT shirk from my duties. Will you?"

 

A resounding crash of 100 odd fists on chestplates echoed throughout the ship. A chorus of Denial followed not a second later.

 

" Good. We are to be the first wave in, along with the 3rd and 9th companies. We will assault the Capitol while Captains Cyllus and Zohrain hold off any Tau reinforcement efforts. Once we have successfully breached and entered the main hive, we will proceed to the space port inside and link up with the remainder of the 6th company. They will be exhausted and low on supplies, so we will man their positions while they evacuate any loyalist civilians and supplies. Then they will evacuate leaving us, 3rd, and 9th companies to hold out. This will be the toughest time of all as our only form of resupply will be small arms from the Weapons-pods and anything the 6th can spare from the armories."

 

Silence reigned as the 2nd comapny awaited Ericks conclusion. The Captain felt the unease in some of the newer recruits.

 

"Brothers, this day will go down in the annals in one of 2 ways. Either we will be the saviours of our home, and defenders of our realms, or we will be the ones who failed the Icarian Subsector in its time of need. I have faith in you. Do not disappoint me."

 

At these words, every marine's back straightened. A palpable sense of resolve filled the hall. Erick nodded solemnly and turned to Chaplain Andreas.

 

"Chaplain, If you would?"

 

"Of course, my lord. Brothers-know this. He is watching over you. He is guiding you. Fight well, and you will be forever assured a place at his side. Ave Imperator."

 

100 voices boomed with the reply:

 

"Ave Imperator!"

 

Erick waited and only spoke once Andreas had given him leave to.

 

"Good. Now, my brothers-prepare yourselves. We drop in an hour. any rites should be conducted now and any marine not on the embarkation deck will suffer severe punishment. In other words, he'll have to fight me once we're back." Ericks last statement was accompanied by a smile and he got a good number of laughs in return.

 

"For the Emperor brothers! and remember our creed: Strike Hard!"

 

The marines all yelled the response in unison, all doubt and uneasiness washed away:

 

"Strike Fast!"

 

Erick smiled. His men would make the chapter proud.