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Bringing light into dark places

Aqui

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Aqui Venerable Brother

Aqui

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And here it is! I think I may of gotten back the horse with this one. For those who haven't read any of my other stuff, there are events and Characters hinted at or out and out stated in this one from "A Valorous Heart, A Dauntless Spirit" (which desperately needs an update soon! :sad.: ), but hopefully, it won't detract from this part too much.

 

In any case, enjoy! :happy.:

 

Chapter 4, part 3

 

Prime Hive Aspirtus.

 

The Scouts approaching its perimeter had never seen a Hive before, their homeworld devoid of such structures. Sergeant Eztli had seen many in his life and knew the sight would give the Scouts pause for thought, a moment where the unknown would confound them. From a rocky alcove, he allowed his charges a first look at their objective, a time to get past the shock of the unknown, the unfamiliar becoming familiar. It also allowed them to observe troop movements, to seek out weak points in the impossibly huge structure. It also allowed Eztli to see his charges true character. Who would take the lead? Who would knuckle down and see what this ominous structure for what it is?

 

Redemption. For one scout, that word meant more to him than the others.

 

"So," Eztli pondered "What do you see?"

 

Brun'El pointed to a particularly twisted spire to the east. "That is a manufactorum."

 

Whilst Eztli knew of Brun'El's background and increasingly affinity towards machines, he still wanted to hear what he had to say. "And?"

 

"It's a large one. Pollution is heavy there. The exhaust vents are thick with dirt from ore refining. If you look directly below, you can see a large opening. There are transports entering and exiting. I've counted over twenty in the last five minutes."

 

Eztli paused. Brun'El wanted to continue, but the large scout was more reserved than the others, and it often took a little coaxing for him to reveal all of his thoughts.

 

"The area will be guarded, heavily."

 

"How do you know that?" Burrom asked, his sarcastic tone coming to the fore. He had taken to spending more time with the other scouts than his companions on the way back to the Citadel of Light. No one knew why. No one asked either.

 

"The output. The rate in which vehicles are entering and exiting. Whatever they are moving, it is valuable. They would be incredibly stupid not to guard it. The area would be my choice of ingress as well."

 

"Into a heavily guarded area?" Burrom sneered "You've taken too many beatings from Varagol."

 

Brun'El's simple face flushed red. He was a powerful, warrior and confident. But Varagol was one opponent he could not beat. No matter how hard he tried. Varagol was the scout most close to him short of Eh'Tor, but the fact smarted even so.

 

"The area is guarded, as I said," he continued, his tone low and warning. "But, therein lies the problem. I doubt there would be any sensor grids in place. Too many targets to track, the air down there is full of particles, the heat would render sensors unable to detect intruders. The light even here is dull. With careful planning, and the use of our camo cloaks, I think we'd stand a better chance getting in that way, than say the method you'd use. Knocking on the door..."

 

Now Burrom went red with anger, but was silenced before uttering a word, Eztli's gaze brooking no argument. Varagol was staring at the area pointed out by Brun'El, his own eyes trying to see what his Brother could. It made no sense to him at all. Turning to G'Urg, he could see that he made no eye contact with anyone. Every detonation in the distance made him jump, his neck craning to see what was out there. Despite himself, Varagol felt a pang of pity.

 

Only a pang, however. Whilst it was a poorly kept secret, the fact that he was tortured in the most horrific way didn't give him a pass for everything else he was responsible for. He would simply have to earn the respect of everyone back over time. If it was possible. Varagol wasn't sure that he ever truly trust him, but to this point he had not given him cause for too much concern.

 

"G'Urg? You opinion?" Eztli could see the behaviour exhibited by him too. If G'Urg didn't find a way to attain balance again, he would never make it to full Astartes status. He may never leave this planet alive.

 

"I..."

 

"Who cares what that cripple thinks," Burrom snarled "He's brain blasted. I'm surprised he can fasten the buckles on his boots."

 

G'Urg didn't say anything, his head turning again to another sound that only he could hear, it seemed. Eztli shook his head slightly, and made a decision.

 

"Okay. I've spent as much time as you trying to find a way in, and Brun'El's seems to offer the best chance. Not much of one, but a chance nevertheless. We take it. Brun'El, you and I are going to get closer, see if there is anything that could increase our chances. The rest of you stay here, out of sight. Do not leave this area. You will hold. Any enemy that encounters you will die, or kill you where you stand. Understood?

 

"Varagol will take command until I return. I expect him to comport himself accordingly, and for you two," looking at Burrom and G'Urg directly, "To act like you're a scout of the Legio Spectra, not a pair of babbling baboons!"

 

Watching the pair go, Burrom muttered to himself "What the slag is a baboon anyway?"

 

"Who knows?" Varagol replied. "Let's just get dug in, eh?"

 

"Aye, Brother-Captain Varagol!" Burrom mocked, not realising how prophetic those words would eventually be...

 

+++

 

It was a difficult thing to see your own troops leave for battle and not be with them in the very midst of fighting, but this was one occasion where he had to be resolute. Brother-Captain Necalli reminded himself that far more was at stake than his own wounded pride. The reputation of his Chapter, it's very survival was on the line. Would this campaign be enough to wipe clean the slate? Or would the Inquisitor, Lapidis keep a leash that got tighter and tighter?

 

The Command bridge was busy, the indentured crew monitoring almost every aspect of the planet below. It seemed nothing went unnoticed. There was no much time left until the main assault, but without the scouts intervention, any attempt to land would be a slaughter, most of the landing craft destroyed before breaking cloud cover. Necalli watched the main screen, trying to ascertain the disposition of the enemy. The main portion seemed to be waiting. They would not have to wait for much longer.

 

"Brother-Captain."

 

Necalli turned to face the Canoness, Lady Eliza Cho of the Order of the Valorous Heart. Wearing her bespoke armour, she was almost as tall as he was. Behind her, she had three younger Battle Sisters. One had a replacement arm, similar to G'Urg, her face scarred, especially around the throat implying she had had it torn open. The Sister next to her was by far the shortest of the group, but had a demeanour of strength in her bearing. The third was very unusual. Her red hair made her stand out from her Sisters, most of whom had blonde, black or brown locks. It made her look as if aflame, her fierce eyes were a piercing shade of glacial blue. She was fidgeting slightly, as if his presence offended her. He knew who she was after all...

 

"My Lady. Sisters." He bowed to show respect, but not as deeply as protocol dictated. Cho's face ticked briefly, but let it pass. She had no wish to carry out her orders. She was fully briefed on what had happened to this Chapter and had a measure of sympathy. Her small Order had a similar experience not that long ago after all...

 

"I am curious as to why you chose that particular squad as part of the initial assault." Cho's question was asked in even tones, but whilst the portion of the sentence had no inflection at all, there was one and they both knew it.

 

"All of my Scouts need to prove themselves to become full Astartes. The time is crucial. It is a final test, to prove themselves both to the Chapter as a whole and to the Inti. It has been done for ten millennia and will do so for all time."

 

"That word again. Inti."

 

Necalli answered the question unspoken, "It is Pochuteccan for the Emperor. It's literal meaning is 'The Sun'."

 

"I see. Such a primitive description. Some might even say it borders on Heresy..."

 

"Is it though?" The Brother-Captain made no attempt to hide the irritation from his voice. "To compare the God-Emperor of All to a celestial body? To infer that it is Him on Earth who illuminates all from above? To scour the universe from darkness? To offer light to those who would accept him as the supreme being in this galaxy? The universe? To deny this, that is Heresy."

 

The Canoness shrunk back from the Captain, his fervour putting her jibe in its place. Trying to save face, she tried another.

 

"Yet, you sent one Scout down there in particular. He may have been deemed pure by the Lord Inquisitor, but walls have ears. They speak of other less honourable behaviour. Hardly fitting for the Imperium's finest!"

 

The Astarte stepped forward, his looming form shrouding the Sisters in shadow.

 

"With all due respect, I have also heard things. Rumours abound of a Sister who allowed herself to be possessed by something abominable. Of another Sister who took that Sisters life, but hesitated to do so when she should have been resolute and did her duty."

 

The Canoness was shocked to her core. She had taken great pains to keep those events secret. That Lapidis knew was only due to another confiding in him. How? How did he know?!

 

Taking great satisfaction in the look on their faces, the look of pure hate on one in particular , he passed one further comment.

 

"Remember one thing, Lady Canoness. The hearing of an Astartes is far superior to a mere mortal. More than enough, to have no need to rely on walls to whisper in ones ear."

 

Taking his leave, the Brother-Captain made his way to the Chapter's quarters to oversee his troops. He could almost feel the burning hatred of the flame haired Sister on the back of his head.

 

Oh, yes. I know you, Battle-Sister Saffron Sera...

Aqui Venerable Brother

Aqui

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OOOOOOOoooooooooo Burn That is one for Brother Captain Nehcalli very good read Brother.:thumbsup:

Thank you :smile.: I needed to write this one, as it was starting to become a little bit of a chore :sad.: Now that things are set up more to how I want things, it was quite fun to write this. One of my main aims when I started the three stories was that all of the main Characters (Hubros, Sera, Varagol, Lurweiss, Ambustio etc) would meet the others at least once somehow. Just think of it, the unstoppable force (Sera) versus the immoveable object (Varagol)! :laugh.:
Aqui Venerable Brother

Aqui

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So A Valorous Heart, a Dauntless Spirit is set before Bringing light into dark places  but when is Rayven's feather, Reaver's dagger set compared to the others? and a good read as usual. :biggrin.:

aVH, aDS is set just a little before Bringing Light. Rayven's feather, Reaver's Dagger, is set quite a few years before either of the others.

 

 

The only concern I see is I'am starting to feel bad for "G'Urg.

:devil:

 

I knew it! :laugh.:

 

 

I too am feeling that as he is beginning to be pushed further and further away but still dont really like him yet :wink:

My main intention is that quite a few characters across all of the stories will be put through the wringer and at least once. After all 40K isn't called Grimdark for nothing :wink:

 

Glad you liked it. I'm quite looking forward to the time when Saffron Sera and Varagol meet for the first time...and I haven't introduced the only other "official" Rainbow Warrior yet...

Edited by Aquilanus
Aqui Venerable Brother

Aqui

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RuggedJam, on 24 Jan 2014 - 20:28, said:

i particularly enjoy how it is based on varagol yet shows a wider picture of his world from different characters allowing the reader to embrace the story line .

screw the hh id rather read this.

It was originally going to be from his point of view, as in the reader would "hear" his internal dialogue, but when I realised that there would be times where I'd need to events that he would not know about, I rewrote it again from scratch.

 

Thanks again :smile.:

Aqui Venerable Brother

Aqui

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Something to tide everyone over for a bit. It also acts as a way of re-establishing a connection to the Sisters in "A Valorous Heart", as it's been so long. More to come over the few weeks, so no three plus month gap between parts, I promise :sweat:

 

Chapter 5, part 1:

 

The terrain on the way to the manufactorum sloped downwards and offered little by way of adequate cover. Brother Sergeant Eztli and Brun'El used their camo cloaks to keep themselves hidden, but it was close. Patrols roamed the area in tightly organised routes, with no discernible pattern. Eztli rationalised that that was deliberate. The enemy knew they were about to be invaded and took no chances, but still. If they could manage to get inside the headquarters and do as much damage as they could, it would make the main forces job easier. It was still going to be a monumental task in any case. Intel stated cold facts about orbital bombardment emplacements, most nestled within the Hive itself. Five hours after leaving the rest of the squad and they had managed to get within two hundred metres of the entrance. Brun'El was furiously soaking up as much information of the area as possible, trying to work out a workable way in. The only way possible was aboard one of the transports. Eztli had come to the same conclusion.

 

"Come on. We're going to back track some distance, see if we can't gain control of one the vehicles. Send a static burst to alert the others. We have one chance at this, if we fail, our deaths will be the least of our worries."

 

Brun'El shuddered. He had no wish to learn of the alternative fate in store.

 

++++

 

The waiting was unbearable. The fact that the whole campaign relied on outsiders, supposed allies. Allies who were rumoured to have traitors in their midst in the past. Perhaps even now.

 

Ensconced within their own quarters, the Sisters of the Order of the Valorous Heart tried to go about their routine as best they could, but the gnawing desire to begin the assault upon the planet below was wearing heavily. Many had taken to prayer, some had decided to hone their skills in training. Others had decided to see what the Chapter they were accompanying had been accused of.

 

"This will not go down well with the Canoness."

 

Sister Lyse was right. It would not indeed. Her word was law, her iron will had carried the small Convent far over the last few decades, but events that had transpired not so long ago had removed the edge she once possessed. Formerly a woman of such strength, vitality, and joy to be of service to Him on Earth.

 

No longer.

 

She spent far more time alone, only Sisters closest to her saw her at all. Not even Squad Lucia, composed of Sisters she had deemed to be the future of the Convent had seen much of her of late. Lyse tried to keep such thoughts from her mind, but as ever, her more...wayward Sister was not to be denied.

 

"Then leave. If you have no stomach for what I am trying to find out, I have no use for you."

 

Lyse looked at her Sister's face. Saffron Sera had a determined expression, one that had never really left her in all of the time she had known her. But today, it was set in stone. The comment from the Space Marine Captain had shaken her. So much so, that her reaction was to be angry. She was haunted by the look of the Sister she had executed. Seraphim Motoko had tried to rationale that Saffron had released her from bondage to a creature as old as the stars. Saffron shrugged her concern away. Motoko hadn't seen the look. Horror, pure fear wracked that noble, arrogant face. Annabelle Chrysanthemum was a Sister who didn't have many friends, but come the end, even Saffron herself lamented her loss.

 

Aethelfleda signed her own concerns to Saffron as well. It was unconscionable to cross her Canoness. It was just as bad to do the same to the Marine Captain, but the Inquisitor himself? She shuddered involuntarily.

 

Please, Saffron. Give this obsession up.

 

Saffron's bloodshot eyes met hers. She hadn't slept well for weeks, her screams recounted that day over and over again. Lyse herself had tried to get her to take a course of medication to help her sleep, but her Sister refused.

 

"I need to know more about this Chapter. I need to know how that self righteous Captain knew about what happened. I also want to know more about what happened on that planet after we left."

 

"What's to tell? The planet was bombarded from orbit, as you well know." The new voice made the Sisters start, reaching for weapons that they didn't have on their person. The Inquisitor had ordered that only his staff would have the privilege of carrying them aboard ship.

 

"Motoko."

 

"Seraphim Superior Motoko, Sister." her tone unusually clipped. Motoko's usual genial demeanour was soured. She knew Saffron would not let things rest, and the additional burden of acting as the senior Sister within this contingent weighed heavily on her. It showed. Her tall, lean form seemed hunched somehow, despite no actual change in her posture. The past was on everyone's mind after all...

 

"I could order you to stand down, but as your Sister, your friend, I ask you. Let this go. If we are destined to find out, we will."

 

Saffron stared at her superior, her glacial blue eyes like chips of ice beneath her fiery red hair. She had taken to wearing it slightly longer than was acceptable, but even the senior Sisters were reluctant to admonish her for it. Finally, she let out a sigh, a long exhalation that underlined her weariness.

 

"Fine. I will comply. This time."

 

Two words, innocent enough. But everyone who knew Saffron Sera knew it just meant that she was biding her time. She would find out, she would act upon what she found.

 

And woe betide those who got in her way.

Edited by Aquilanus
Aqui Venerable Brother

Aqui

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Trouble is brewing,that is not going to bode well.Glade to see an up-date.Now I wish I could accomplish something.

Considering how many mini's you've painted over the last few months, you've been far busier than I have! :blink.: A little time to kick back is deserved I think :smile.:

 

However, a few ebay auction wins will hopefully change that for me over the next week or so :smile.: I've still got a Company of my own to finish after all...

 

As for the story, well, I can't wait to get to the part that I really want to write about :happy.: But to say more will spoil it :laugh.:

Edited by Aquilanus
deathspectersgt7 Venerable Brother

deathspectersgt7

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Oh I can not wait for that part.:yes: But I don't want to kick back, I think that being holed up in doors has alot to do with it:blink.: . The bits I'm waitng on did not show up.:confused: So what did you get?

Edited by deathspectersgt7
Aqui Venerable Brother

Aqui

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Oh I can not wait for that part.:yes: But I don't want to kick back, I think that being holed up in doors has alot to do with it:blink: . The bits I'm waitng on did not show up.:confused:

That's a pity :sad.: Have you thought of doing a bit of writing yourself? I know I'd like to read a little on a certain spectrely Chapter myself :wink:
Aqui Venerable Brother

Aqui

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well what do we have here. a captain who knows more than he should(instant mistrust). also love the addition of the sister's as it opens up the universe more and more. on another note when your done id try and get it published.

Thank you. This story would never get published even if GW was interested. As it's been posted online, it counts as being published (and GW would have no control over who gets access to it). I have seriously considered doing a story that takes place a lot further down the line, but I'm not decided yet on what would occur within it.
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