secrets and lies

[Regem Nox]

Secrets and lies

 

The omicron drifted in low orbit, it’s void shields refracting the light of the stars. The battle barge dated back more than 10,000 years, back when the imperium of man was a brighter place. The scars of two hundred years of warfare was etched into it’s turquoise hull, although these only served to make the ship more fearsome. More fearsome though, was it’s cargo. The venerable warship was home to the 15th company of the alpha legion. A war band that had fought the imperium for one hundred years, yet one that the imperium had no record of. Led by to krymmeno ploiarchos, translated into high gothic it meant the hidden master. This legionnaire, responsible for the deaths of thousands of people was known only by this mysterious title. Likewise, his entire company had no names on imperial record, only their titles.

 

Ploiarchos stalked the red lit deck of his ship, he stood proud and tall, and yet he kept to the shadows, even in his own ship. Force of Habit, he would say whenever he was asked, which was rarely. A long-bladed dagger was sheathed at his belt, with his left fist encased in a fist of crackling talons. He was walking to the bridge and With a hiss the door slid open, inside a massive, red lit chamber was crowded with green clad servants and turquoise clad giants, his brothers.

“greetings commander,” growled spathi, his second in command, “how fares you’re day?”

“well,” ploiarchos replied, “I have studied the charts and consulted the magos and the exodite world of shyar-fey seems like a ripe target.”

“good, make for the shyar system shipmaster,” purred spathi

“aye sir, all ahead full,” replied the shipmaster “exiting warp in 14 hours, brothers prepare yourself, war is coming.”

 

With a burst of light a tear in the fabric of reality unfolded in the centre of the system. indefinable, maddening colours spilled out of the wound and a spear of turquoise shot out from the centre.

“we are now in real space, gentleman prepare for battle,” commanded ploiarchos over the on ship vox system.

 

The eldar race was almost extinct, but that did not mean that it wasn’t powerful. Sleek as an eel an eldar void stalker class battle ship slipped from orbit and headed straight towards the omicron.

 

“all hands to battle stations!” bellowed the shipmaster “enemy ship inbound, let’s blow it out of the water boys! ”

As deadly as the eldar ship, but in a different way the omicron closed the gap, it’s bombardment cannons spitting death. Few hit though as the eldar ship weaved around the cumbersome projectiles and returned fire.

to be continued...........

[Regem Nox]

"turn to port!"bellowed ploiarchos

"aye sir, turning to port"

the old battle barge performed a surprisingly quick turn, dodging the enemy fire.

The eldar void stalker now found itself facing the might of the omicrons broadside.

"all stations, fire on my mark," ploiarchos announced calmly over the vox,"three,two,one, fire!"

The full power of the omicrons broadside was unleashed on the eldar vessel.

although powerful, it's shields could not withstand the thunderous barrage and melted away, leaving the warship unprotected.

the second salvo tore into the lightly armored hull and the ship literally disintegrated, it's armored skin being flayed away, exposing it's contents to the void.

"victory is sweet,"mused spathi.

"yes, but our coming victory will be sweeter, just you wait and see," ploiarchos said sinisterly.

 

to be continued....

[Regem Nox]

a single green speck detached itself from the belly of the orbiting battleship. Equipped with unholy technology, the thunderhawk was invisible to sensors and as it swooped towards the red ringed planet it turned them on. Immediately, contact was lost with the battle barge and all non-critical systems-such as lights-were shut down.

"eimaste alpharius,"intoned ploiarchos

"kai férnoume to thánato," intoned the rest of the elite stealth squad.

due to the nature of the mission the 120 other brothers of 15th company had been left on the ship and ploiarchos had set off with only his elite effrit stealth squad.

 

"enemy spotted my leige,"announced the pilot, "they are gathered at the foot of a large temple complex."

"good, just as expected, bring us in on an overhead pass and drop the ramp, we'll take it from there,"smiled ploiarchos, "oh and blitz them with missiles, just in case."

 

The ramp dropped, and as one the entire ten man squad ran and dove off the edge, into the night sky.

"beginning attack run now, lord,"the pilot spoke into ploiarchos's earpiece.

"return to the omicron afterwards and good hunting!"ploiarchos bellowed over the wind.

spinning in his drop, ploiarchos watched a group of missiles detach themselves from the gunships wings and hurl themselves straight at the eldar heavy vehicles and all three grav-tanks exploded in a whoosh of flame.

"effrit, fire you're engines and attack the central dias in pattern delta-epsilon 467,"commanded ploiarchos

silently the squad proceeded on the attack pattern. from out of the tree line, the rest of the masters plan fell into place, with a cry on their lips, two-hundred cultist sprinted from the tree's, firing as they ran. the guardian squads at the base of the structure returned fire.

'perfect' thought ploiarchos.

 

On top of the dais was a squad of striking scorpions, and it was these that the squad landed on.

six striking scorpions were crushed instantly, with four more being decapitated by dagger and sword strokes.

ploiarchos landed next to the exarch and with a roar, leapt into combat with him.

The exarch's screaming chainsword was deflected by ploiarcho's dagger, with his head being taken off by the masters talons.

drawing his storm bolter, ploiarchos pumped round after round into the body of a nearby scorpion, it's body being blown into bloody chunks.

A gap had appeared in the melee, and through it, ploiarchos could spy the farseer. His target.

Firing his jump pack, he leapt straight in front of the seer.

"Greetings, give me the book or die!"bellowed the master.

"it is you who shall die wretch,"snarled the farseer.

"oh we shall see,"ploiarchos whispered, he lunged, his dagger missing the eldars twisting torso by centimeters.

The farseer responded with a burst of lightening, bursting against the legionares armour.

it had little effect. ploiarchos stalked through the lightening and with his claw, grabbed the eldar's skinny waist and lifted him up.

"thank you, i shall be having that,"said the master as he ripped a small book from the seers belt,

"and now, as promised, you die!" and with that ploiarchos plunged his dagger deep into the brain of the eldar seer.

finally the prophecies of malek was within his grasp, and now nothing could stop him.