Tooth And Claw
ANGELS
"Hold on," Sergeant Ariston yelled, as he strapped himself into the final seat.
The shockwave of the two imploding vessels pummeled the Blood Angel's drop pod hard enough to knock out it's guidance system. Though lucky to be alive, now the challenge was to stay that way through the atmosphere descent. Lights flickered as loud thuds pounded the outside hull.
"What are we hitting in the upper atmosphere, Sergeant," Silvantos asked.
"Not sure. We are flying blind. It is not anti aircraft rounds, the fast scan of the planet showed no advanced tech. Once we lost the Gellar field, we had to leave the warp," Arturo said.
"We will find out when we make planetfall, " Sergeant Ariston said.
A few moments later, the whole pod shuttered as the damaged retro thrusters fought gravity. The little craft came crashed to a halt. Two of the seats ripped free and the Blood Angel's in them rattled around the inside. Once the vehicle stopped, four of the five doors exploded open. The marines that remained strapped in held onto the battle brothers chairs until they could escape their bindings.
The pod had crash landed on the side of a huge temple structure. Tilted forty five degrees to the side, the Angels blew their bindings and climbed to the top of the huge ziggurat.
"Do you think any of the boarding traitors made it out in time," Arturo asked.
"We barely did, so highly doubtful," The Sergeant replied.
"By the Emperor! I know what we were hitting…," Silvantos said pointing to the sky.
All five battle brothers stared up into the atmosphere as gigantic gas-filled spore pods floated overhead.
Instinctively, Phane aimed his bolter to fire upon them, but Sergeant Ariston held his hand out. "Hold fire, Phane. We need to assess the area. We do not now what your bolter fire sound would bring onto us."
Silvantos pointed off to the horizon. A large hormagaunt brood slipped through one shrub line and dove into another.
A loud screeching noise broke the silence as a thunderclap erupted over the area. Another drop pod had escaped the explosion. The battle brothers threw their fists in the air to salute the other survivors. The second Blood Angel pod left a thick smoke tail all the way down. Two of the retro thrusters on the bottom of the pod were apparently damaged. The spiraling pod slammed hard onto a dead tyranid spire, knocking the top off, in a cloud of spores.
"Let us move, Brothers," Silvantos said.
"Wait till the doors blow. We need to make sure they survived that fall before we give up our position," Sergeant Ariston said.
The doors exploded off all sides and eight World Eaters all fell three stories to the ground.
"World Eaters! They stole one of our pods, dooming more of our brethren," Aurturo shouted.
Of the eight that made planet fall, only six survived the crash. Those six quickly rose and performed a weapons check. One of the Khorne Berzerkers swung his weapons wildly in the air, before being torn in half by an invisible creature. The remaining five jumped on top of the translucent beast, cutting it to shreds before it retreated. Each covered in purple ichor, they moved to higher ground at a nearby hill.
EATERS
Skullkeeper removed his left vambrace as it sizzled in overcast daylight. Acrid fumes pierced the champion's nose as the foul purple fluid ate through the crimson ceramite. He tore the bottom jaw and inner mouth off the decapitated lictor before attaching it to his waist. He had dealings with The Great Devourer's children before and knew better than to ever believe one was truly dead. Skullkeeper knew they were spending borrowed time. His choice was clear: collect as many skulls for the Blood God before falling to the xenos' numbers. Would he go for numbers or most challenging?
A Carnifex head would make quite an offering for the Lord of Rage. Keeping his group calm long enough to perform such a feat, that would be the trial. Considering one of them was Kraggar the Bloodbather, it might prove impossible. His arms remained chained for the moment, despite his occasional writhing. This lost berserker was found on a prison planet in the Devlar sector. The only survivor. When they found him, he was resting on a three story pile of skulls, unconscious from exhaustion, having killed all two hundred thousand inhabitants of the planet.
Syrakus stomped toward Skullkeeper, his terminator armor an impervious, yet noisy relic.
"Movement on the left flank, slow, steady, massive numbers." The modulated voice seeped from the tusked helmut.
"Be ready for countercharge, Brothers," The Champion said, activating his power halberd.
The unit all faced the tall shrubs, waiting for the attack. Rustling noises were heard from different parts of the filage. Kraggar shifted wildly in his adamantium chains, muffled screams escaped his gag while Skullkeeper kept his thumb on the release rune on his belt. Verrik drug the lost berserker away from the battle line.
A moment later, a massive brood of hormagaunts burst out from the shrubs. Smaller than a marine but faster than a Rhino at full speed, bounding on their powerful hind limbs. An unending sea of razor teeth and wicked scythes were unleashed on impact.
Every swing of the Champion's halberd brought down multiple beasts, momentarily calming the searing ache in his skull. Syrakus punched the approaching gaunts, shattering their chitin into chunky sludge with his powerful ceramite fists. He saved his lightning claws for more worthy foes. Mulok waded into the melee with his twin chain axes, bisecting neck after neck as he spun deeper into the swarm. Knalid saw a hormagaunt leap into the air, aiming for Mulok's back. He shoulder blocked the creature- mid air, crushing it's throat with his knee. On the landing, he decapitated the gaunt with a chain axe and threw it into his growing pile.
ANGELS
Sergeant Ariston's breathing intensified as he watched the swirling melee. He studied how the blood cultists struck and moved.
The traitors still used strategy?
"They are not fighting like the enraged lunatics we have seen before," Silvantos said.
"No. They, for the most part, are still measured. Still able to comprise plans," Sergeant Ariston said.
"Just let me know when it is our turn, our fallen brothers need retribution," Phane said stabbing his combat knife into the ground.
"In due time. For now we watch. There is no advantage in fighting xenos and the traitors simultaneously. They are faring poorly against just the xenos," Sergeant Ariston said pointing to the Chaos terminator collapsing under the wall of gaunts. "And put your helmet on Phane!"
Kheldon, crouched and read his auspex. "There is a faint energy signature forty clicks in that direction, Sir. I think we could-"
A sudden beep rang out on his auspex. Kheldon rolled to the right and sweep kicked behind himself. The near invisible lictor fell onto its back. It recovered instantly, spun to it's side and spat vicious hooks from it's chest into Kheldon, pulling him closer. Kheldon scrambled for his flamer while the huge lictor kicked, struggling to it's hooved feet. It's camouflaged chitin vibrantly changing colors as it struggled.
Phane tackled the lictor off the side of the ziggurat, dragging the attached Kheldon with them. Phane stabbed the beast over and over as they rolled. The lictor struck the marine's ceramite with its scything talons. This close, the creature's barbed scythes didn't have the leverage to pierce the armor, and Phane's head proved too difficult a target for the wounded beast's aim. Kheldon rose to his feet and aimed his flamer, but couldn't hit the lictor without killing his helmetless battle brother. He grunted and threw down his flamer, drew his bolt pistol, and charged in. Now closer, he put two rounds into the larger beast's flank. The lictor shimmered clear, stepped back and stabbed his long mantis-like claw through Phane's chest. Keldon blasted more bolter rounds at the translucent outline. His last round hit the creature, spraying ichor, revealing more of the lictor's form. It snatched Kheldon, lifted him in the air with it's rending claws, both finding holds to grip.
A massive stream of prometheum fire blasted the Tyranid off the temple, and sent the charred pieces raining down the stone steps. Phane laid on the stairs, breathing heavily, flamer in one hand, the other trying to wrench the broken mantis-like talon from his chest.
Kheldon broke the charred clawed hands from his armor and rushed to Phane, "Rest Brother."
Phane coughed up blood. "I am fine. It is just a lung, and maybe a heart."
"Be quiet," Kheldon said, digging out the claw from the marines chest with a combat knife.
Phane whinced in pain while the other marines ran down the stairs.
"Will he live?" Sergeant Ariston asked.
"Now that the claw is out, the poison sacs will not continue flooding his system, I am no apothecary, but he should be fine."
"Brothers, bring him to the top and secure it. And put this marine's helmet on. Weld it on, if you must."
EATERS
The gaunt horde dwindled down to more manageable numbers as the blood cult's chainaxes clogged with chitin and gore. Skullkeeper had collected twenty three for his pile when he remembered something an Iron Warrior told him about when he fought the hive creatures…
"They seem random, but they never are. Not while a brain 'Nid is nearby."
Skullkeeper scanned the area, in their bloodlust, had they scouted the area for potential traps?
He saw two large shadows moving just behind the shrubline and trees.
"Fire into those trees, now!"
The Khornate champion got no response. His men were doing what their god commanded. Skullkeeper was outranked. He spun his Halberd, activated it and charged toward the small forest, just as the two huge shadows burst out of hiding.
Two large bulbous brains floating with tiny withered bodies. Knalid turned and roared, charging next to Skullkeeper. One of the zoanthropes slowly lowered his head and shuttered. A powerful pink blast of psychic energy singed the air and blasted Knalid. The berserker's head and chest evaporated into a red mist as his limbs flopped onto the ground. Skullkeeper paid no heed. He leaped over Knalid and toward the creature. The second Zoanthrope blasted Skullkeeper at close range, halting his charge.
Skullkeeper fell to his knees. Black smoke trailed off his charred armor. His body slumped over itself. The hive creatures floated closer. Skullkeeper's head rose making eye contact with the xenos. Lines of blood leaked from his eyes and nose. He smiled and rose to his feet as his black iron collar burned psychic defiance onto his neck. He lunged forward, hacking the Tyranid psyker into wriggling mush. The other Zoanthrope moved to retreat. Skullkeeper smiled. He hefted his halberd and threw it into the beast's skull. The beast thrashed wildly. The Champion dashed up, and wrenched his power weapon down through the fragile creatures innards. Skullkeeper chucked the two huge heads onto his pile, a vulpine grin painted on his face.
Verrik pulled Syrakus to his feet.
"My pile is the greatest, He bellowed," Mulik screamed beating his chest.
"In quantity, yes. In quality, no," Skullkeeper hissed pointing to the two giant heads on his pile.
Mulik took offense to this and roared to the sky. All the cultists froze when the roar was answered with a louder one off in the distance.
ANGELS
At the top of the temple, Sergeant Ariston wrestled with his anger. Part of him wanted to charge down the hill and annihilate the traitor legion for the loss of his Captain's ship and all his brothers. The other half knew they needed to get off the planet and warn the Imperium of the xenos and chaos filth in this sector or other ships would fall.
"Sir, the area is secure. The traitors did not hear the bolter fire over their skirmish. We still hold the element f surprise," Silvantos said.
"Before the xenos attacked us, I got a power reading ten clicks North, sir," Kheldon said.
"What kind of power reading? Biological," Ariston asked.
"No, sir. This is a fusion core. It is powering something big. If it is a ship..."
"Pull the rounds from the drop pod's storm bolter, we need the ammo. Be ready to leave," Ariston commanded.
The Blood Angels had everything stripped and packed to move when they heard a roar in the distance, followed by slight tremors in the ground. The Angels charged down the side of the temple. Using cover, they moved past the World Eaters. Despite protests from his men, Sergeant Ariston wanted to secure the power source before killing the traitors. The marines moved in an arrow formation with the wounded Phane in front. Reading his auspex to show them the quickest route to the power source.
After a six clicks, Phane stopped and adjusted the auspex's sensitivity.
"Problem, Brother," Silvantos asked.
"Something is moving nearby."
"Another Lictor? Kheldon, ready your flamer!"
"No, sir, it is under us."
The ground shifted slightly as the marines braced. Cracks formed in the rocky ground around them with more rumblings.
The ground tore open. Serpentine beats with long razor scythes for arms leaped out of the pit into melee.
Silvantros immediately fired his plasma pistol into the first beast, evaporating the chest, leaving the rest writing around on the ground until it bled out.
Arturo fired his bolt pistol multiple times at the second creature but missed. The creature pounced on the marine, plunging it's rows of talons into him. Over and over the blades mutilated the battle brother's body. Arturo raised his powerfist, but it was too late. He fell into a heap as the creature bit into his flesh.
Phane screamed and leaped onto the creature's back slamming his chainsword into the serpent's neck until it's head came off.
Sergeant pulled his powersword from his kills chest, cutting it lengthwise in two from its waist. He knew that scream too well and sighed. The Black Rage was bubbling over in Phane. The assault marine had shown signs in the past, but without a chaplain, the sergeant feared he may have to administer the Emperor's Peace.
Another Ravner locked blades with Silvantros, the two hacked and slashed at each other in a furious dance, when Phane charged in. He spun in with a chainsword in one hand and a poweraxe in the other, removing limbs in each swipe. Silvantros stepped back and looked at Ariston. Phane's eyes were wide and his breathing ragged as he slashed and chopped at the raven's dead body.
Kheldon threw perfectly timed prometheum bursts down the burrow, killing any stragglers that attempted the climb.
Phane fell to his hands and knees coughing blood as it also leaked from his chest wound.
Silvantos walked over and leveled his plasma pistol at the marine and looked to the Sergeant.
EATERS
"That was bolter fire, my lord. I heard it for certain that time," Verrik said.
"I heard it too. We aren't alone. Good," The Champion smiled. "Grab Kraggar, lets move."
The small warband dashed toward the noise's direction. Four clicks later they stopped at a large tunnel. Around the hole laid carcasses of dead tyranid shock troops, some still jerked.
The World Eaters inspected the area. They found a few bolt casings and rocks soaked in non-purple blood. Skullkeeper leaned down and wiped some onto his hand. Sniffed it and then licked his finger.
"Deep Arterial blood. Augmented. Definitely Astartes," The Champion said.
"World Eater or Blood Angel," Syrakus amplified voice asked.
"Hard to say, but one of them is dead or dying from the looks of this red soaked ground."
The Traitors began to move doubletime North following tracks the astartes left behind.
Reaching the top of a raised hill, they slowed, dropping Kraggar. He still fought the losing struggle with his chains. Skullkeeper howled into the sky. The sight of the small unit of Blood Angels enraged him. One by one, the nails in each World Eater sent pain surges into their brains, reducing them to foaming madmen. The Angels heard the scream and lined up for the counter-charge. When all present felt tremors pounding under them again. The Blood Angels scanned the area quickly and saw nothing. The Chaos marines continued their full speed run at the astartes.
A nearby hill exploded into the air. Three massive Tyranid Warriors, eight Genestealers, and a Giant war-worn Carnifex moved into the area.
The Genestealers moved with lightning-like bounds toward the Khornate warriors. Mulik charged in lost to the madness of the Blood God. He waded into the stealers dropping two before being torn to shreds by vicious rending claws. Skullkeeper shoved Verrik aside and hit the activation rune on his halberd. The chains withdrew from the Bloodbather. He made a straight run for Skullkeeper. When the Champion spoke, "Me or Genestealers, Kraggar?"
Kraggar spit acid onto the ground in front of Skullkeeper, before charging the Genestealer brood. Skullkeeper and Verrik ran to the fight, while Syrakus pushed his ancient tactical dreadnought armor to it's speed limits.
Kraggar ducked two claw swipes from one of the stealers and decapitated it while punching his combat knife into the pink skull of another creature. Verrik slammed one of the tyranids with his two handed ax, splitting it in two. Another one leaped onto his back, tearing his helmet off. Verrik rolled onto the ground to dislodge the monster, but another one pounced on him.
Skullkeeper ran through one of the genestealers chests in a burst of purple gore. He spun his weapon around removing the head of one of the last two genestealers. Verrik kicked the last one off and stood up. He was bleeding profusely where the tyranid tore his arm off.
Syrakus plunged his right lightning claw through the Tyranid, destroying it.
Skullkeeper pushed the burning blade of his halberd against the ruined shoulder of Verrik, searing the wound shut. The berzerker screamed as the smell of burned flesh filled the air.
ANGELS
Silvantos pointed his plasma pistol at the unsuspecting Phane. Sergeant Ariston gave the fateful nod. This was the third time he had to kill a battle brother because of The Black Rage. Every time it pushed his limits of depression. He lined up the shot and felt the microvibrations build into the superheated plasma bolt, when a nearby explosion forced his shot wide into a miss. Tyranid monsters poured out of a nearby mound and moved to attack both them and the traitors. The three leader beasts moved on the Blood Angels.
Phane roared and charged into battle against the creatures twice his size.
Silvantos smiled. Better for him to die on his feet fighting than shot by a brother astartes.
Kheldon threw flamer blasts at the largest of the three, keeping his close combat bioweapons at bay.
Phane dodged a blast from the warriors deathspitter, the rock melting where the spatter landed. He landed a blow on the creature's ranged weapon with his power axe, ruining it. The warrior hisses and drove both its long talons into Phane's chest, dropping the marine. He swung his chainsword cutting into one of the talons. The other emptied its venom from huge poison sacs at the claws base. Phane's mouth filled with blood, as he drowned and spasmed. A plasma bolt exploded the warrior's head and the rest of the smoking body fell over kicking a few times before dying.
The second Tyranid warrior rushed through the fire and slashed Kheldon's armor. The marine staggered away from the creature and fell onto his back. He quickly inspected his armor. It was breached in a few places, and he bled, but his body had already started sealing the lacerations. Kheldon saw the creature stomp over to his and level its symbiotic weapon at him. He reached onto his belt and pulled the pins from his three frag grenades, jumped to his feet and threw them into the Tyranids face. The creature took a step back and fired its weapon at the marine before the explosion rocketed it backwards. The concussive force threw Kheldon back as well. His ears were ringing and his body ached as he stood up. Then he felt it. Various parts of his body started to itch and then he felt the wormlike monsters tear through his skin and muscle. He screamed in agony before turning his flamer on himself.
The charred warrior righted itself onto it's knees. It was blind and deaf, so it couldn't see or hear the fight. A chainsword bit into its throat and it struggled as it's head was torn off by Silvantros.
Sergeant Ariston threw his power sword's glowing blade against the Tyranid warrior's bone sword's static field again and again. One the near epitome of artificer's craftsmanship the other a billion years worth of tooth and claw evolution and genetic manipulation. The sergeant had to parry the sword, while staying far enough away from its short range claws and dodging its lash whip. It took all of the Astarte's concentration to keep the melee rhythm from killing him. Sparks flashed as the two blades tested each other. The barbed whip swept under and the Sergeant jumped over it and rolled over to his feet in time to parry another blow, from the fierce bonesword.
One missed parry by either meant death.
Silvantos charged in, "For Sanguinus!"
The creature was large enough, that Silvantos could fire his plasma pistol without fear of hitting his sergeant. Two bolt rounds pounded the creature's rock hard chitin. The first destroying one of the warrior's rending claws the second evaporating it's lash whip. The creature hiss in pain and smashed its large tail into the sergeant, sending him reeling. Silvantos began to pull a Krak grenade from his belt when the Warrior brought down it's sword. Reflexively, The marine parried with his chainsword, but only momentarily, as the tyranid sword was charged with enough psychic energy it shattered the chainsword and bit deep into Silvantos' side.
Sergeant Ariston had heard many horrible death screams in his day, it went with the job.
Silvantro used all his primarch's fury to endure the pain of having his soul obliterated, and made no sound as he fell.
Black spots formed over the sergeant's eyes as he blacked out momentarily. When he woke, the Warrior's head was in his lap, it's body torn asunder. The sergeant rolled to his side and puked up a stomach's worth of purple ichor he had drank after killing the beast.
EATERS
All of the Genestealers were dead, but there was no time to collect skulls. The Blood Good would have to wait if he wanted the main prize. A Carnifex skull. The Carnifex was a living engine of death and destruction. Living whole tank battalions in it's wake. As it lumbered forward, heavy chitinous plates rubbed together furiously making a distinct screaming sound, once it was close, it lobbed it bioplasma attack toward the warband. All dodged except, Syrakus. Taking the full force, threw him backwards and slammed him down. The dull grey terminator rose to his feet, the attack melting all the World Eater Crimson off. Syrakus, did a quick systems check, and popped his lightning claws before making the long run towards the behemoth.
Verrik ran full bore at the beast, leaped into the air and brought down his, now, one handed axe, smashed the beast's head chitin. The Carnifex shook his head and snatched up Verrik in it's giant crushing claw and squeezed the bezerker to death. Kraggar became a whirlwind of attacks. He slashed the Carnifex's right claw, it's head, tearing out a eye, it's chest, crushing it exoskeleton, and breaking one of its scything talons in half. The beast stumbled back. Skullkeeper climbed onto the creature's back and rammed his Halberd through it's back. The beast fell flat on it's face. Skullkeeper jumped down to take the beast's head, but he was knocked off balance by Kraggar and missed.
"Back off Kraggar, I don't want to kill you," Skullkeeper said.
"My kill," Kraggar said.
Skullkeeper didn't know Kraggar could speak.
Just then One of the crushing claws smashed Kraggar and sent him flying into Skullkeeper. The two spun head over feet in the air, landing hard twenty feet away. Skullkeeper lifted his head to see the wound Kraggar had done to the creature's eye closed and looked like it never happened.
Skullkeeper shook his head, "Xenos filth. Get off me!" He said pushing Kraggar to the side.
Syrakus plunged his lightning claw into the Carnifex's side. The beast roared as the terminator hit it with the other claw. The beast spun around preternaturally fast, hitting Syrakus with its heavy bone club tail. The terminator armor shattered in the front, and the claws flickered and went cold. The Huge beast dashed over to the berzerker in the broken armor, and stomped him twice, killing him.
Kraggar stood up and said, "This beast is mine," and ran off to fight it again.
Skullkeeper was recovering, so was inclined to let him have it. The champion watched as the Carnifex would attack and miss, and Kraggar would do normally fatal blows to the behemoth and the wounds would heal back up.
"It's a damned stalemate," The Champion said rubbing his head and picking himself up.
He suddenly remembered the Blood Angels and ran past the two warriors, locked in permabattle.
He looked and saw the Blood Angel running toward a ship in the distance. So he picked up his pace.
LAST ANGEL
The Valkyrie sat on the edge of the cliff. The damage was mostly superficial to the craft. Dried blood stains coated the inside. The sergeant inspected the craft's engine's and air seals. As far as he could tell the ship would work. With some modifications. Unfortunately, The crew compartment was sized for one of the Astra Militarum, not an Astartes.
Using his power sword, the marine cut through the back of the crew compartment and removed the pilot seat, allowing him access to the pilot controls. He tossed the seat next to the bag of wargear Silvantos had collected from his fallen brethren. If he could get off planet, piloting in space would be easier. The engine whined and chugged as it started up. Black smoke belched from the exhaust at first, but then turned to a more desirable grey. The vehicle's hull shuttered as it raised up in the air. Ariston set the craft to hover so he could check the inside without any further Tyranid interruptions.
The faint red emergency lighting was enough for the marine's enhanced vision to see the inside of the ship. He wanted to pull out all the extra unneeded supplies and throw them out the side doors. The lighter the craft the better.
A loud pop followed by a familiar humming sound echoed from the front of the craft. Ariston turned to see Skullkeeper standing in the doorway, his power halberd glowing. The Marine reached for his bolt pistol, and found it missing. He looked up toward the front of the cabin and saw Skullkeeper kick it out the door along with other wargear the marine had saved.
"It's just us now, Blood Angel. Soon...it will be just me. Your head will please the Blood God," The Champion said with a fanged smile.
The Sergeant pulled out his combat knife and pointed it at the traitor, "It will never be- just you, coward."
The World Eater charged, as his kind always does. Ariston juked at the last second ramming his combat knife into the Champions side as he stepped behind him. The traitors halberd pierced the back of the cabin and stuck into the wall, as the chaos marine reached for the knife.
The Blood Angel slipped his arms under the Champion's in a hug. The traitor yanked the blade from his side and stabbed it at the marine's eye. Ariston arched his whole body back onto itself reverse slamming the Champion onto his head and shoulder's. The Blood Angel recovered first and stood over the dazed Berserker. A barrage of gargoyle bioplasmic fire pelted the side of the craft causing it to shift and rock. The Traitor kicked Ariston's feet out from under him and he rolled out of the side door. Snatching a service cable on the way out. With a heavy tug, the Blood Angel hung from the cable.
He looked down in time to see hormagaunts and genestealers leaping up at him from below. Each animal getting closer with every attempt. Ariston climbed up to the top of the cable in time to see the Berzerker pull his weapon out of the hull. He walked over and smiled, lifting the halberd. Ear piercing screeches filled the air as a second wave of gargoyles attacked the hovering ship. The Champion turned in time to catch one as it flew into him, spraying bioplasm all over his face. The Berzerker threw the creature out of the door behind him, as his eyelids melted closed. He screamed as his hands reached for an area to grab onto.
"Now, it's just me," The Blood Angel sergeant yelled as he uppercut the Khorne worshipper out of the vehicle and into the pile of razon toothed death that awaited him below. The Marine bent down and tossed the tainted halbert out of the craft, closed the doors and piloted the Valkyrie through the clouds. As the Transport broke atmo, the marine heard multiple hissing sounds and knew that the integrity of the vehicle had been compromised.
The marine slumped to the ground. Without his helmet, he would not survive the journey. He needed it for hibernation.
All for nothing.
The Sergeant sat in the near darkness coming to grips with his inevitable fate when he saw a small bit of crimson visible from underneath some duffel bags. The Blood Angel reached under and pulled out the object.
The Marine sighed and shook his head at Phane's helmet before putting it on.
AFTERWARD: Thank you for reading my story, please leave a review. Also I would love to hear things you would have liked to see or different endings, etc. Note: There have been some readers that brought up the question of the Valkyrie leaving the planet. According to Forge world fluff- it can't do this. According to White Dwarf fluff- it can. So I went with what fit the story.