The Domain of Chaos.
He looked out over the barren wasteland. Argana Reptan stood at the front of his five man squad. Each one of them held their boltguns ready. Stooping down to the ground, Argana rubbed his hand over the ground, gave a sniff or the air, and growled to himself. Private Daggan suddenly stepped out of the group of soldiers to join Argana at the front.
"What is it, my Lord?" said Daggan, with a hiss, "have we caught their scent?"
"Yes. They were here not that long ago," replied Argana.
"Why do we need to find them, Sir? Does our great Lord believe that they could change the prophecy if they live?"
"That's exactly what he believes. And I know why. Citrus. Belial fears that Citrus will be able to stop Mace from changing."
"Then why do we not hurry. We all want to destroy them. The men want blood."
"And they will get it. I too wish to go to the enemy and slaughter them."
"Then which way do we go?" asked Daggan.
"Follow me," replied Argana, and he began to move with demonic speed off towards the East.
-X-
"Move quicker everyone," called Commander Citrus, his voice rasping "we can't let them catch up with us!"
Himself, Corporal Skree, Captain Mace, Sergeant Carma, Sergeant Torosa Corporal Brom, Corporal Zendra and Corporal Mascoa were being tracked. Since the Crogcrags had been beaten back to their home planet of Corosa, a new enemy had emerged; The Chaos Space Lords. Armour as strong as a Spine Back Scorpion's skin, weapons as powerful as an air strike and their knowledge of the Space Lords themselves was greater than the Scholars around in the days when the Space Lords first originated.
And now they were close to finishing Citrus's squad. Brom had lost his right hand whilst being tortured by the enemy forces, and during a rescue mission to save Brom, Skree had been shot in the leg. All of them were worn out, except Mace – who was still able to go on due to the mechanical systems inside him.
"We can't rest," said Citrus as Torosa collapsed to his knees exhausted, "we're out in the middle of the Xiboe dessert. If the enemy doesn't catch up with us, then we're sure to be finished off by any creature that comes across us out here."
"Set up a teleport beacon for the ship to track, to transport us out of here," said Mace quickly.
"We don't have enough time to set up one. Those soldiers of Chaos will reach us long before its ready," replied Citrus.
"Don't worry about them, just how long do you need," asked Mace.
Citrus looked at his friend, understanding what he was saying.
"As long as you can give us," he asked, "just come back."
"Right, radio me when it's set up and they're ready to beam us up. I'll send you my co-ordinates to be teleported up as well, just don't take long."
"O.K. Mascoa and Zendra keep watch, alert me the second you see movement. Do not let anything pass. I'll set up the beacon, Torosa you can help me, and Carma you sort out Skree and Brom."
"I'll do what I can," said Mace, and he walked off into the dessert from the direction they came, as night began to fall.