Chapter 1

Thanos Campaign,

Siege of Basilica Hereticus,

"This is a bloody joke!" That was all Hakon could say at the way the enemy fought. They fired useless auto gun rounds at them, they were foolish enough to believe the shells could penetrate Armaplas carapace, such is the mind of a Heretic. The bastard Traitors fought like wounded dogs cornered, they charged the Erathians in droves, but were shot down by disciplined volleys of the 17th Erathian Company. "Forward, Strikers!" he ordered.

Sergeant Halvorn led his platoon into a trench line crashing amongst the wood and bodies reinforcing Sergeant Kastor's Platoon, the traitors were cut down without mercy, Hakon jumped down and joined them.

"Halvorn, Kastor with me we need those guns out!".

The sergeants nodded in acknowledgment, Hakon retrieved a Bolt clip and slammed it into his Bolt Pistol, a gift from Marshal Graf, his most treasured instrument of war. Hakon raised his chain sword and and bellowed the Rally cry.

Yelling "Thervani Arthum!", he charged from the trench into the enemy gun line, checking his flanks to see that his comrades were beside him firing and advancing, the heretic shots were wide and ineffective bouncing off the forged armours of the Erathians. Within a few seconds they were within the gun line chopping, hacking and shooting.

A massive heretic spear man lunged at Hakon, who side stepped and swung down his chain blade slicing through the shaft of the spear, the heretic tried to use the broken spear and stabbed it at Hakon's chest, the weak wood splintered as it met the hardened Carapace, but Hakon was thrown back by its force, using the momentum Hakon bought up his gun and shot the heretic in the head, the limp body fell down joining the carpet of dead heretics. Three warriors charged past him and shot heretics point blank, all around him men hacked at the bastard heretics and Hakon joined in the massacre, blood ran through the gutter mixing with drain water and urine. Hakon had already spotted the rest of the company and proceeded yo rally them. The Charge had succeeded and the Erathian Banner flew triumphantly.

The Lieutenant took relieve from the carnage as the vox-bead beeped into life "Sir, there is a traitor Rhino heading to your left, they are covering the retreat of the heretic right wing. Over".

Hakon considered his options "Thank you, Harth. Hakon Out." replied Hakon, he turned to the men beside him,

"Trooper Kashin, Trooper Ulas get me your rockets." He turned pointed at the running enemy "Rest of you, Strikers, kill those bastards!".

Suddenly a Rhino burst into view, Red Armoured warriors exited the vehicle as they began pouring fire into the trenches which Erathians held, Hakon watched the enemy and to his horror recognized the heraldry.

"Word Bearers!" cursed Hakon under his breath.

To the left he spotted the Banner of the 14th Thorian Guard charge at the enemy, they were mercilessly cut down by enemy fire. He had to support them.

"Troopers Kashin and Ulas, hit that!" ordered Lieutenant Hakon as he chopped his hand toward the enemy Rhino.

Two bright rockets shot from his right and the comets smashed into the rhino hull, the Rhino and the surrounding area was wreathed in a ball of fire as the Chaos Marines where thrown to the ground. "Do or Die, Troopers!" yelled the Lieutenant as they charged at the surviving Word Bearers. To his surprise the Thorians were already upon them hacking the Traitors, he spotted a few more of the Chaos Marines move into a Bunker nearby, they proceeded to shoot at the advancing 14th Thorian.

"Kastor, get some flamers on that block!" yelled Hakon nodding at a bunker as he wiped the blood from his visor, "I want those bitches nice and crisp!" he ordered.

Three Erathian Guardsmen lugging on Heavy Flamers ran past him training the weapons at the bunker slits, the flamers blocked the slits and poured fire through the Bunkers innards, as the temperature rose to ridiculous amounts the ammunition began cooking off. Like a pressure cooker the bunker's plascrete roof blasted off high and with it went the bodies of the Word Bearer Chaos Marines who held the bunker, Lieutenant Hakon smiled as he walked past a ruined husk of a heretic Rhino. Sergeant Helvorn fell in step with him, he produced a data-slate and gave it to Hakon.

He briefly read over its content, "Why the hell aren't the Cadians here yet?" asked a iron voice interrupting his thought, Hakon turned around to see, the 14th Thorian Guard Captain Nathaniel Arius walk towards him.

"I have suffered heavy casualties, Hakon and in need of medical support." Hakon saluted the Captain, "I can be of assistance..." he suggested, the Captain looked angry and dismayed as he nodded.

Hakon looked toward the Sergeants afar. "Delvin get the men to clear the wounded."

The Sergeant nodded in reply, "Kastor get up some field tents over there." Hakon yelled.

He pointed toward the Imperial Bunkers. The Captain shook his head "Someone's gonna pay for this!" he growled, he was angry and at loss, Hakon knew, but so was he.

Bloody Cadians, he thought to himself. Damn them, Emperor's Finest my arse.

"Where they hell could they be?" he roared again.

Hakon removed his helm and strapped it onto his Carapace Chest-Plate. "Let's find out, eh? Captain" he replied as he tapped his ear and activated his vox bead.

"Vox-Officer Harth, get me a secure line to Commander Orvan, Now!".

"Yes, Sir!" came the sweet instant reply and a long moment of static and beping followed as the Vox-Comm mode was adjusted and the lines secured and connected and the silent beep confirmed a recognized access, without wasting time he clicked on his comm.

"Commander Yarvin Orvan, this is Lieutenant Hakon of the 17th Erathian Heavy Infantry Company. Do you Copy?."

The vox-comm crackled as the reply came "This is Commander Orvan! Proceed!"

Hakon smirked at the tone of his voice, "Smug Bastard, eh?" joked Helvorn, the men around started laughing,Hakon bought his hand up for silence, Captain Arius stood there annoyed, more than ever.

"Where is my so called promised "reinforcements" Commander. My Company and the 14th Thorians can't hold a siege sections ourselves?" he asked in an annoyed tone.

"Lieutenant...Hakon is it? Look I promised you nothing. The 24th Cadian Armour will be arriving within Seventy-Two Standard Minutes." came a disgruntled and Hierarchic reply.

"And Soldier Hakon. Don't Ever Question my command...Ever!" Orvan hissed on the vox-net as the comm bleeped off and the channel cut.

Hakon turned to his men there was fire in his eyes and his fists were balled in anger, he reflected the Captain's felling toward the Cadians, he just growled and walked away thanking the Lieutenant and his Sergeants.

"Poor, dog. Must've lost atleast half his men." remarked Sergeant Belvin returning from his duty.

Hakon inhaled a lungful of air and exhaled, with it went his anger.

"Was I right sir? Isn't Ovran a Smug bastard." teased Halvorn, changing the subject.

"No, my friend, he's just a little ass-wipe."

A roar of laughter spread throughout the mustering Company as soldiers clapped their beloved Lieutenant on his back and shoulder.

They all laughed and sung that night, they drunk and ate, tomorrow they were back to the grim business of War.

The capture of the Carnus Trenches and the Bunkers 7 and 8 had significantly reduced the heretic numbers to the besiegers right flank and was secured from further sorties as the Basilica was now fully surrounded. It was all thanks to the 17th Erathians and the 14th Thorian Guards and their relentless assault. Clad in heavy Carapace Armour forged from Armaplas and Ceramite and armed with the Assault Las rifles, the Strike Teams led by Lieutenant Werath Hakon and Captain Nathaniel Arius smashed through the Heretic lines in a surprise dawn attack. Hakon's Company, nicknamed the Strikers, were one of the most decorated and most experienced Company to ever come out of the Erathian System, commended personally by Lord Marshal Graf Harazhaan of the Vostroyan First-Born at the Battle of Ghelmas III for their efforts at single handedly destroying an Ork Armoured Column and trapping well over Fifteen Hundred Ork reinforcements who were subsequently destroyed by a Combined Erathian and Firstborn assault. Also to their commendations and the most notable was the rescue of an Inquisitor General Amadis from the clutches of a Heretical Eldar Farseer.

Through all this Hakon still itched for a promotion for himself and his comrades, but of course there was General Uilarch Damos, he had hated Hakon's father for marrying the woman he loved and being promoted to Colonel and receiving a Regiment before himself, this led to utter jealousy and in a flash the bastard burnt down young Werath's house with his parents and his siblings within. The Bastard was granted his Regiment and became a General, and ever since Hakon had joined the Erathian Imperial Guard he was hounded by that bastard and his military sanctions, limiting him to a position of Lieutenant by the Decree of Thule. By the Emperor he had sworn to avenge all his lives losses, and by Terra he will see the Bastard Damos killed by his own hands.

This whole conflict on Thanos IV was thanks to the mad Saint Marius the Marked and his iron grip on the once Loyal world's populace, the bastard had sacrficed millions of children, new born and young children to the maws of Chaos, a sick twisted "Saint" who bought ruin to the world and had armed the citizens to face the Emperor's Retribution. The entire PDF and the Heretic Guardsmen were readied and Marshalled for war and behind them all stringing the puppets were the mystical Chaos Legion of the Word Bearers, under the Superstitious Apostle Khulnath. It was he who swore the World to its Death, it was he who will bring real Chaos to this world, it will be him who will ascend to Daemon hood and sit by the Daemon Prince Lorgar.

The Strikers were preparing their beloved gear for the next assault, the consolidation of the trenches was handed over to the late 24th Cadians as the Two-Hundred and Fifty Strong 17th Erathian advanced toward Wall Section 18, they were to link up with the rest of their Regiment, the 42nd Erathian Troopers and reinforce the assault force of the 402nd Cadian Troopers. The Artillery of the 24th was to create a breach in the section to start the assault, the plan was simple, they were to secure the breach, overpower the forces around the area, fortify their position until Armour of the 24th come in for support advance to the Westfield Plaza and await the Astartes of the Imperial Fists to lead an all out assault at the Basilica and the Inner Fortress. Easier said than Done.

The Morning started with the usual prayer ritual and the cleaning of weapons and preparing for the assault. The rest of the 42nd Erathian were massing near the wall near its foot trenches, the 7th Company had already dug in sappers and had set charges to coincide with the Initial Bombardment. Hakon was already looking over the battle plans relayed to him by Colonel Erkhan Badur, a veteran of Thirteen years who had seen the best and worst of wars.

Always a perfectionist Hakon needed his Company ready for combat, he strode over to the camp lectern and switched on the camp vox.

"Halvorn, Delvin, Kastor get your Platoons ready and move out to Way point 6 alpha, Dorman and Gerston get your platoons to follow with the Heavy Weapons!".

The Company streamed out and started assembling into their respective Platoons, Hakon was happy to see all the bright faces, there was Trooper Mig with his witty jokes aimed at their big Sergeant Delvin, and here close to him was Trooper Jolan a young cadet who had just passed from the Erathian Military Academy, he was pleased to note that none of his Company were killed or wounded ever since they came to this blasted world, The God-Emperor truly did smile upon them, a creased smile crept across his lips.

"Lieutenant, Sir!" saluted Halvorn, his most trusted companion, he produced a Data-Card and held it out, "One of the Subaedars from 3rd Squad told me he was assigned with this to be given to you."

Hakon looked suspiciously at the thing and took it from Halvorn and inserted it onto the Data-Slate he held," Where did he get it from? Who gave it to him?" asked a curious Hakon as he read the contents.

"Uhhhh, oh. Subaedar Landar, yes, he was hurt when his squad was clearing a bunker, that little baby had to go boo-boo stitching at the field hospital." Helvorn smiled as the thought occurred to him.

Hakon stroked his chin as he read the slate, "Was it bad?" he inquired. The big sergeant laughed and nodded his head "A shrapnel struck his thigh, flesh wound." Hakon smiled "Cry-Baby." he agreed "So where is he?".

Subaedar Landar was the Squad leader of the 3rd Squad within the 17th Company, fairly professional and approachable unlike Subaedar "Bugger"Farokh of the 8th Squad. Squad was readying for the assault when Hakon walked into the arming area followed by Halvorn, he was met with a stern salutes and whooping, he smiled to them and waved his hand as the cheering died down, it was one thing to be respected through power, but quite something else to be respected through brotherhood. He approached the Subaedar, a well built Erathian standing at least Six Foot from the ground wide on the shoulder and well muscled, he was assembling his Assault Las when Hakon approached him, the Subaedar reverently put aside the gun and stood at attention in a perfect motion.

"At Ease, Subaedar Landar." he said saluting back and retreiving the data-card, "Who gave this to you?",Hakon asked tossing it at Landar who caught it and looked at it, recognition flashed across his face.

"A Commissar approached me and told me to...'pass the message' to you,Sir!." answered the Subaedar in a gruff but honest voice.

Hakon looked suspiciously at him, "What was his name?", Landar scratched his head in thought,

"Commissar...Ra...something...oh, Sir!".

Halvorn smirked in anger, "What's wrong with you boy, can't you bloody remember a name?" Halvorn turned to Hakon, "He was probably too busy ogling all the pretty medicae nurses. Horny Bastard. I'll beat it out of him, Sir!".

The Subaedar's face went sour at the remark. Hakon surprised at the old Sergeant's anger placed his hand on his armoured shoulder,

"Calm down man. No need for threats of discipline...yet." , he turned to Landar "Was it Commissar Cesar? Think carefully."

Landar cradled his head in his palm in thought, suddenly a smile crept in his face "Commissar Ivan Rashid, Sir!" he answered, Hakon's face twisted in anger at the mention of the name, he swiftly turned and proceeded to walk out.

"Thank You. Trooper. Look to your duties. Do or Die Strikers!" he said without turning, the entire room saluted "Do or Die!" echoed the Troopers.

Halvorn caught up with the fuming Hakon "What is it, Hak?" he asked concerned.

Hakon nodded in anger, "He was lying."

Halvorn looked surprised "What now? What about Landar?" he asked.

"I...we need to root out this problem." replied Hakon.

"So do you want him whacked! Hak?" a grin crossed his face.

"Not, yet, Hal, not yet. We will do it after our obligation to the Emperor." replied Hakon.

They stopped next to the newly erected Command Tent. Hakon nodded to the Erathian Guards already on sentry duty, as he and Halvorn entered the Tent

"Now, what?" asked Halvorn stroking his chin

"To war!" said Hakon.

Wassup! This is my new fiction, I hated how Blood Of the Fallen went, I am discontinuing it unless you people want me to. This is a spin-off of the Prelude I wrote forThe Lone Hunter for his Battlegrounds:Canitcar Crusade. I loved the Character of Hakon and his Sarge and also the ever calm Commissar Rashid. This is set a few years prior to the Canticar Crusade.

There maybe two things in the tale you don't recognize apart from the terrible battles.

Subaedar : Is a Squad Leader, I got the name from the Indian Army appointing their Sergeants as Subaedars. The Sergeants are in turn Platoon Leaders. I just got lazy and never identified if they were senior sergeants so I used Subaedars instead.

Assault-Las: Is a advanced variation of the M-Galaxy Pattern Las Rifle, it is somewhere in between a Las Rifle and a Hellgun. It is a derivative of cutting lasers used in mining and was adapted by the Erathians as a weapon. It has a standard bulky frame fires 30 charged shots before energy cell replacement, easy to repair and maintain but costly to produce. Erathians carry a small Las Charger packs on their backs for easy recharging their las cells and recycling makes them very effective. They have all this due to the STC recovered on Erathia and were gifted with the inventions above by the Mechanicum and the Munitorium.

We must Instigate Plan B.

You mean...

Yes! Kill all towels in a Thousand Mile Radius!

Repensum Est Canicula.