Zeal and Damnation
1
Orixo clambered out of bed, his head thumping. Blood had dried on his lips and chin, blood that sealed a promise, a pact. He knew what had to be done soon, he was ready. The mistress had shared her secrets with him and had shared his bed, she was gone now but her smell lingered, coppery blood scent, cinnamon...cold, aching, death. He loved her and he would serve. He would make her dreams come true, as She had for him.
Nearby She moved silently, lithely, hungrily, She had left him sleeping, dreaming of promises foretold...he mattered little to her, nothing mattered except herself, all else was naught but pieces on a board.
And the board was set, the message sent, the messenger was dead and devoured, his parting gift to the World of Lepidus III a false message, his last thought a futile hope, his last breath a scream.
Delicious soul, the astropath, she would torment him forever, a reminder that her glory was inevitable, her ascension unstoppable, her power to be unimaginable.
Chaos would consume this midden of a planet and her god would reward her for its demise.
Blinking stars fell gracefully on Lepidus Prime. An endless trail of lights marked dozens of Tau Orcas descending from the orbiting Tau fleet and deploying thousands of the alien warriors in the Manufactorum districts to the West. Arch-Deacon Uthaniel Vamis gripped the haft of his ceremonial staff, raging inside at his inability to prevent the alien onslaught. His shaved head was beaded with droplets of sweat, a testament to the heat of the summer nights on Lepidus III. Long white ceremonial robes, edged in Ivory trim clung to his massively muscled body, damp with perspiration.
Cardinal Wenden stood beside Vamis , leaning heavily on the ornately carved ferrocrete railing of the balcony where the pair stood. Vamis dwarfed his superior; a withered and slow moving prune of a man wearing the vestments of Lepidus III's commanding ecclesiastical representative.
"One hundred and fifteen years." stated the Cardinal bitterly.
Vamis turned to him with a scowl, without asking the obvious question.
"One hundred and fifteen years boy, that's how long I have lived on this world, how long I have held this office. Not once...not once have aliens broken our orbital defences until now." Wenden lamented, his lips quivering pathetically.
Vamis turned back to the destructive display, his scowl widening at his superior's apparent show of distress, at the Cardinal's obvious inability to take command of the situation.
"Then why, your Grace, are they able to smite our defences so?" snarled Vamis, his rage taking hold. "Why do they now stand at our threshold, waiting for us to capitulate to false promises of peace, of Greater Good, the ashes of slavery dressed up as the summer fruits of prosperity?"
"You young fool." growled Wenden, rounding on Vamis with his eyes flashing dangerously. "Your fire and brimstone speeches serve no purpose now. We have been abandoned by our guardians. The Ultramarines have somehow been led away by the Tau forward fleet, our PDF was sleeping, the sensor stations were compromised by traitors and so now we have been left like a babe in the fields, to be devoured by grass jackals." he cleared his throat. "This entire planet will effectively be under the aliens control already, this city is the only point of resistance."
The Cardinal's already wrinkled visage scrunched further, his small black eyes glinting from under his wild snowy eyebrows. He peered into the smoky haze that drifted over the square and bit back a curse.
"See that boy? their assassins are already here to put our heads on spikes."
Vamis tried to see what the old man had noticed but could not make out any shapes in the gloom. A hiss of propellant gas was the only warning he received as an indistinct figure leapt the three stories from the square below and landed beside him on the balcony, knocking chunks of masonry from the railing. The light shifted around the space where the assassin had landed, cloaked in a technological mirage. Faster than a tomb viper Cardinal Wenden thrust out with his hand, the flesh of his palm splitting like a ripe blood plum as a long hidden implant weapon fired a sizzling bolt of energy into the apparition. Uthaniel stumbled away in shock as the killer's cloaking field sputtered out and the Tau was revealed in all its heretical glory, its tri-barrelled burst cannon cycled up to fire, to end them. Wenden lunged forward with brutal speed, his short, wiry frame suddenly charged with energy. He drove his still crackling fist into the chest of the Tau, the air filled with the stench of burning synth-skin as the Cardinal's false flesh burned away to reveal the metal workings of his bionic arm. Driving his steel fingers through the armour plating he gouged at the stealth suit wearer's fleshy chest. The Tau writhed in pain as the arcing electricity destroyed his internal organs, spitting sparks like a hive-slum cat.
"Die abomination!" hissed the Cardinal as the Tau assassin fell backwards in death, toppling over the balcony and onto the grey stone below, landing heavily on its back and lying still as blood seeped through its shattered armour.
It was over in less than ten seconds. Brutal destruction is a short lived thing.
Vamis looked on in shock, never had he seen his superior in wrath, never had he guessed at the destructive power hidden so well in an otherwise pathetic frame.
"The Emperor protects boy." spat Cardinal Wenden, flicking his still sparking bionic hand free of the seared gore and frying blood of the Tau warrior and then straightening his robes as he turned to Uthaniel. "I earned my position here you useless excuse for an altar boy, one hundred and fifteen years ago on the front line against the ork hordes of Nazdreg. Do not think that I know not the ways of battle, nor that I do not notice the disrespect you feel for your...weak superior."
His scorn unmasked, Uthaniel blushed in shame. He managed to force out a spluttered apology.
"I am sorry your grace, I shall do what I can to seek your forgiveness in the eyes of the Emperor."
Cardinal Wenden smiled nastily and cracked his vulture like neck with a flick of his chin. "By the Emperor, I will see that you do Arch-Deacon Uthaniel Vamis. I will see that you do."
The old buzzard turned back and gestured at the city with his still smoking cybernetichand. "But first let us see what we can do about this debacle. It is time for your burning silver tongue to work its magic on the masses. If we are to hold this city long enough for help to arrive from the Imperium, it will be through the faith of our people and their righteous anger."
Uthaniel nodded dumbly, then murmured a hurried. "Yes, your Grace." his rugged face blushed instantly, and he truly felt like an obsequious altar boy once again. Vamis took a last look at the descending Tau drop ships and followed after the Cardinal, today's lesson in deference complete.
The audience hall of the Adeptus Ministorum Cathedral was packed with the upper echelons of the city's populace. They clamoured for attention from behind the wall of Adeptus Arbites brandishing power mauls and suppression shields. Some of the well to do shouted angrily, others moaned in displeasure at the loss of profits the invasion would cause, one bellowed like a wounded grox about missing a long planned game of yulf with a visiting rogue trader. Around each of the spoilt, mewling nobles were gaggles of hired muscle, shoving each other with barely restrained violence, itching for a chance to kill something, a chance that the quiet life of Lepidus III rarely offered.
A squad of five Sister Soritas marched into the room and took positions in front of the pulpit, heralding the approach of Cardinal Wenden. The sister's bolters were loose in their hands, ready to fire upon any who dared to threaten his Grace, regardless of nobility of wealth.
An antechamber door opened and slowly, painfully, the Cardinal hobbled to the altar with exaggerated drama, looking two hundred years older and hiding the physical power that Vamis had witnessed a short time before.
The cardinal had changed his robe and made sure his recently revealed bionic arm was hidden by cloth and supple suede gloves. As he walked he leaned heavily on "Purity", the great flange headed power maul that served as his official rod of office. He raised a hand above his head for silence and the assembled throng capitulated, moving back from the vigilant line of black armoured Arbites.
The Cardinal's voice was amplified and distorted by the vox unit clasped to his throat, his mouth hidden by the device, but the power of the words could not be denied.
"Loyal subjects of the God Emperor of Mankind, a great calamity has befallen us." confessed the Cardinal, his voice thick with emotion. "Our blessed planet has come under attack from the loathsome xenos which call themselves Tau."
Cries of anger rose from the mob; several shook their fists angrily and cursed the Tau passionately.
The Cardinal stumbled at the pulpit, drawing gasps of shock from the captivated audience but he caught himself and struggled to stand tall.
"Although their cowardly deception has left us without the protection of the Ultramarines we should not lose hope my children." He paused then couched his great mace and made the sign of the Aquilla, stood tall and straight and shouted proudly.
"The Emperor protects!"
The crowd roared in agreement, surging forward against the wall of suppression shields in rapturous delight. The arbites shoved back with the shields but did not strike with their batons.
"Calmly my flock." commanded the Cardinal, "Do not waste your efforts, your righteous wrath, within these hallowed walls, nay, take up arms, call forth your servants, your bondsmen. Make war upon the filthy aliens that desecrate this planet with their very presence!"
The crowd roared in agreement again.
"Go now and be as the fist of the Emperor himself! Smite those who stand against you. Suffer not the xenos to live, eradicate their presence so that we may live, once again, with the blessing of the Holy God Emperor! The Imperial way!"
The nobility assembled in the room went rabid with fervour at Cardinal Wenden's speech, they pushed back out towards the doors, eager to assemble their guards and indentured servants and slaughter the filthy aliens.
Still standing on the dais Cardinal Wenden looked over towards Arch-Deacon Vamis and smiled wryly. He stepped down and made his way back to the antechamber, Vamis falling in step behind him.
"Good effort Vamis, you might be an insufferable prig at times but you can certainly turn a trick with that reptilian tongue of yours." stated the Cardinal, the closest thing to a compliment he had ever given to Uthaniel.
"Thank you, your grace." replied Uthaniel with forced humility as he disengaged the vox transmitter at his own throat and handed it to a Cathedral orderly, sick to death of providing the fuel with which the Cardinal lit the righteous anger of the populace. The old man had all the oratory ability of a pregnant ruminant but his superior position meant that he had the right to address the people in times of crisis. Uthaniel on the other hand, was regarded by most of the ruling class as nothing more than a data-pusher, an accountant who tallied the tithes and checked inventory on the Cardinal's behalf, his talents at turning words into weapons was a well kept secret and one which he wished was let out.
"We need to see to the defences ourselves now Arch-Deacon." said Wenden imperiously. "Meet me in the War room in forty minutes, and summon the Cannoness and the Captain of the city's defence forces. Get that freak of an astropath down there too, may as well send for help."
The Cardinal continued to mutter directives as he shuffled down the hall, Vamis' fingers tapped the instructions on his data-slate with perfection but his mind was filled with frustration at his lack of true power. His holy fury would be wasted organising details while glory would be captured by the bakers and factory workers of the planet. This was no reward for a true servant of the God Emperor, this was no justice. The Cardinal had stopped speaking and was looking at Uthaniel with growing impatience.
"Don't just stand there you imbecile, get on with it!" shrieked Wenden, his spittle lashing the Arch Deacon's face.
Uthaniel Vamis felt his jaw drop involuntarily in shock; he bowed his head, turned around and hurried back the way he had come, getting away from the tyrannical little Cardinal as quickly as possible.
Cannoness Leanne De Sade was already in the War room with PDF Commander Weets when the Cardinal arrived. That sycophantic cretin Vamis had summoned her but had not arrived himself. 'Typical data-punching bureaucrat.' she thought as her annoyance mounted.
The Cardinal was followed by a plain faced orderly in white robes waited behind him silently, her eyes downcast and he was flanked by two sisters in the colours of The order of the Righteous Rose, scarlet and black.. De Sade herself was also of the order but her ornately detailed armour had the colour scheme reversed and a thick ermine lined cloak was draped around her shoulders. A flock of quiet functionaries hovered in the alcoves, waiting to receive the orders of the Cardinal and Cannoness.
Leanne bowed deferentially to the cranky old man; he nodded in return and waved her closer to him to study the holographic city map together.
"No point in waiting for the Arch-Deacon, he's probably powdering his nose." quipped the nasty old lecher as he ogled her, Leanne agreed with Wenden's appraisal of the Arch Deacon but ignored his unsubtle appraisal of her lithe body and concentrated on the map instead.
The Cardinal pointed at the holographic projection with gloved hand.
"The xenos have established a landing site, here, in the loading docks of the manufactory district. A clever decision as it allows them to organise defences quickly using our own heavy machinery." Cardinal Wenden cleared his throat, paused to think briefly and then continued. "We can mount a counter attack through the effluent tunnels that run through the area. It is possible if we strike fast enough, that we can destroy their command structure here on the ground and allow us time to annihilate the forward elements of their forces that are advancing through the city. This should force them back to their initial landing site in the civilian spaceport. "
Cannoness De Sade interjected. "My sisters have reported that one of the Tau leaders, an Ethereal I believe they are called, has been seen directing the efforts at the forward landing zone. Past experiences have shown us that the eradication of such an individual will likely have a catastrophic effect on the morale of the xenos forces."
Cardinal Wenden stroked his knobbly little chin thoughtfully. "It seems too good to be true. We must proceed cautiously though, as the Tau are renowned as being despicably cunning, it could be a cowardly trap."
"The old man is actually enjoying this." thought Leanne, but her grim expression remained unchanged.
The Lepidus III defence force commander had been standing silent until now. He was recently arrived at his post and the fiery old Cardinal intimidated him terribly, sensing a chance to gain some favour he spoke up, removing his peaked grey cap from his head as he did.
"I am happy to volunteer the first and second brigades for this duty your Grace, I..."
"Did I ask you to speak Commander Wiche? Who is in charge here?" barked Wenden.
"It's Weets, your grace." Stammered the Commander, "I only thought to..."
Again Wenden interjected viciously. "You might have the pretty badge on your uniform Commander whatever your damned name is, not that I care, but this city is under the control of the Ecclesiarch and I am his representative. Your thinking has no bearing on what happens here."
Weets wiped his black gloved hand across his sweat soaked bow and gulped audibly. His mouth made a move to speak but the Cardinal's widening eyes forced it shut and he stepped back from the table.
The Cardinal sneered at him, his contempt boring holes through the pressed grey jacket of the Commanders uniform.
"Your Grace, the PDF is the city's strongest military force with five hundred armed troopers, chimeras and three leman russ battle tanks. I will have your respect as befits my rank." stammered Weets, his anger making him brave.
"You are a complete moron Commander and your rabble of fat boys and old men are hardly what can be called a military force. The Cannoness' twenty sisters are more effective than you or yours could ever be. You will guard the western walls, where you might be of use." Wenden commanded. "If you refuse I will have you burned as a rebel and heretic."
Cannoness De Sade wanted to sigh at the theatrics but instead she touched the com-bead in her ear as she received a message from a soritas scout and she cleared her throat to get the Cardinal's attention. "Your grace, I am afraid we must prepare for battle, it appears that the Tau have orchestrated a strike against these grounds. My sisters are holding them for now but are being sorely pressed. I request that we sally forth and deal the miserable aliens a stiff blow."
"Damnable scum!" roared the Cardinal, "Very well, if the Tau wish to taste the Emperor's vengeance so soon, taste it they shall. We muster in the great hall in fifteen minutes. All able bodied faithful will collect arms and meet there. Where in the Imperium is that Astropath?"
The functionaries looked around sheepishly but said nothing.
He turned back to Commander Weets who was flushed red in impotent fury. The Cardinal pointed a metal finger on his bionic hand menacingly.
"Except you fool, play boy soldiers where I told you to."
Orders were passed on by the scriveners and aides who waited around the hall the Cardinal stormed towards the main doors and flung them open violently to knock Vamis sprawling as he arrived on the other side, spilling the refreshments the Cardinal had ordered. The Cardinal glared at him but did not pause, leaving him shocked on the floor. Cannoness De Sade looked down at Uthaniel and offered him a gauntleted hand. "Your efforts thus far are lacking Arch-Deacon, I hope for your sake that your spine finds itself properly aligned in short order for we may be going to meet our judgement."
Vamis felt shame burn across his ruggedly handsome face; such a public belittling was fit for a scrivener or chapel steward but to be chastised when holding the rank of Arch-Deacon was outrageous. Still, in the two years that Uthaniel had held his post there was very little that he could be proud of, despite the countless hours of training, drilling and imagining, Uthaniel Vamis had never fired a shot in anger, never swung a weapon in battle. Many in the Imperium would think that was a blessing, a sign of fortune and peace unheard of. For Uthaniel Vamis, forty-third son of a Terran born noble, it was a curse that had haunted every year, every tedious day, in his thirty eight years of life.
The charcoal black Marauder flew low over the smouldering defence towers and ruined barrack domes that had been gutted by Tau orbital bombardment only hours ago. The flyers only ornamentation was a large stylized iron "I" on its nose plate. The passengers crammed into the modified hold were likewise clad entirely in charcoal black. Fatigues, carapace combat armour and full face tactical helmets covered the twelve men inside the passenger section from head to toe. The soldiers were armed to the teeth; each carried a compact las carbine, a side arm, a bandolier of shock grenades and an assortment of knives and other combat blades. One of the men stood out for the noticeable Iron "I", in the same style as the Marauder's on his chest and the oversized gauntlet on his right arm. A thick ribbed cable connected the powerfist to a gently humming generator on his back.
A voice crackled over the onboard intercom.
"My lord, we are approaching the landing site you requested. It is currently clear of xenos forces but a large armed mob of locals is amassing in the area. Setting down there will result in fatalities. Should we continue?"
The man with the powerfist gave a haughty "Harrumph!" and then answered; his voice imperious, nasal and grating.
"Affirmative. The local citizenry do not have authorisation to be gathering in that area. Therefore they are disobeying Imperial law. Logic dictates that they must be criminal elements. Criminals shall be shown no mercy. Eliminate them so we may be assured a safe landing."
"Yes, my lord." came the calm unemotional reply from the cockpit.
A rocket pod slung under the aircraft's nose spat out half a dozen projectiles that cork-screwed through the drifting smoke and hot summer night air and exploded among the unsuspecting citizenry, sending shattered limbs and bloodied torsos spinning in gory arcs across the parade ground. The Bomber oozed in closer and opened fire with its wing mounted cannons, obliterating the wounded that lay screaming on the ground and sending the few lucky survivors to run for cover, frantic in the strobe lit darkness.
The Marauder landed with the grace of a vulture claiming a grox carcass, it landing gears pulping the remains of the militia inspired by the Cardinal and Arch Deacon less than an hour before. The side ramp opened and the black clad troops of Lord Inquisitor Benjamin De Sade marched forth in all their brutal glory, followed by their master.
Survivors of the landing peeked out from behind cover at the grim cohort that stood to attention in the shadow of the bomber and awaited the Lord Inquisitor's pleasure. A cargo bay hatch hissed open and a trio of oversized combat servitors festooned with bionics and implanted heavy weapons lurched out to take their places next to the silent Inquisitorial guardsmen. The flashing red and blue landing lights of the Marauder splashed the body guards and cast lurid flickering shadows that only added to the dread of the few shaken onlookers.
The inquisitor lifted his helmet visor to address his soldiers, pacing up and down the parade line with black narrow eyes searching for doubt, for weakness, in the faces of those sworn to protect him. Explosions boomed in the night and the lights from the Tau dropships still rose and fell as they ferried troops.
"My loyal soldiers, guardsmen of the Inquisition." began Benjamin DeSade with regal verbosity, "We have arrived on this planet at a time when the Imperium is at a cross roads. These Tau have encroached on the sanctity of a holy world, have attacked a place that is a crucible for pious worship and yet there are none here to defend against them."
The guardsmen stood silently, bolt upright at attention.
"Yet, here we are, a few against a veritable tide of xenos filth and we may find that it us and our great deeds that swing the tide of villainy away and carry the day for the Imperium of Man and the Holy God Emperor." declared DeSade as he punched the humming powerfist into the air. The guardsmen continued standing silently, but managed to draw themselves taller, pride sneaking into their posture.
"It will not be simply though force of arms that the Imperium will triumph over this heinous foe, but through strategy, finesse and tactical genius!" He grinned lopsidedly at his own dramatics, and then tittered girlishly.
One of the guardsmen twitched, almost unnoticeably, but not unnoticed.
DeSade stormed over to the man, his noble features colouring in anger.
"Do you doubt me you worm?" he shrieked, "DO YOU DOUBT ME?"
The guardsman had no time to reply as DeSade smashed him to the ground with his powerfist, the deadly gauntlet blossoming with a corona of energy and a crackling boom as it caved in the guardsman's chest.
"No one doubts me!" hissed DeSade, his black eyes wide in fury. "I am a Lord Inquisitor and I act in the God Emperor's name, I am not to be questioned, my commands are not to be doubted, I will be obeyed on pain of death." He stomped the dead guardsman's face with a polished black leather boot, once, twice, three times. Once more for good measure, then he straightened and turned back the still silent line of guardsmen. A malignant sneer of perfect white teeth gleamed in between his thin lips and jet black goatee.
"Now that we have removed any doubts, let us go and find my bitch of a sister."
Novice Milissa rushed into the armoury where Leanne was preparing for battle and gushed breathlessly "A small craft bearing the mark of the inquisition has landed in the cathedral's outer parade grounds and has fired on the frateris militia forces that were mustering to attack the Tau Cannoness."
Leanne frowned. The inquisition arriving here would undoubtedly mean that there was more to the fight than a simple Tau expansion phase, in addition the fact that they had fired upon loyal citizens without apparent provocation meant that they were either in a great hurry or were being commanded by a heartless maniac. Leanne closed her eyes and sighed. She already knew that the likelihood of the inquisition being in a rush to make any move was low, logically that would mean that the Inquisitor was indeed a maniac and she was almost sure that she would find her estranged brother to be the maniac in question. It had been thirty five years since they had last seen one another, last fought together, but it had not ended well. Benjamin was brilliant, insightful and devoted to humanity but he was also callous, paranoid and wrathful; happy to use hundreds, thousands, or even millions of lives as the currency to fight against the enemies of mankind. Benjamin would not have hesitated to fire on civilians if he thought he had the right, and Benjamin DeSade always thought he was in the right. His elder sister did not share that opinion.
"God Emperor help us all if it is him." murmured Leanne to herself as she waved the Novice out of the room and tapped her com-bead to issue orders.
"Communications? Prepare a welcome party for the Inquisitor and his body guards. Do not fire upon them under any circumstances. Inform the Cardinal's forces of the Inquisitors arrival and pass on my wishes that he be escorted to meet with me and his Grace as soon as possible." Leanne ordered.
"Yes, Cannoness, it will be done." replied the communications tower operative crisply.
Cannoness Leanne DeSade returned to her battle preparations and tried to imagine what would bring her brother here.
2
Uthaniel was shaking with anticipation of the battle to come, this battle, this time, was Archdeacon Uthaniel Vamis' time to shine like a beacon of pure wrathful light. He hefted the brutal Eviscerator he had appropriated from the armoury and ran his armoured fingers across it cruelly hooked chain teeth. Tiny inscribed catechisms and prayers covered every polished metal surface of those savagely sharp blades, promising to bring the Holy Emperor's wrath upon his enemies. Vamis checked that the promethium tank was filled and the flame igniter sparked then made an experimental swing with the oversized chainsaw weapon. By the Emperor it was heavy, a man smaller than Arch Deacon Uthaniel Vamis might not even be able to lift it. But as faith was his guide and salvation his reward Uthaniel knew that he would not succumb to fatigue or weakness while he smote the Tau with this blessed weapon.
Around him the other members of the church were preparing for battle. Confessor Arok was loading the combat shotgun he had chosen for this coming test of faith. Brother Zenthis still carried his faithful shock maul and a snub nosed pistol. From a curtained off ante-chamber came the curses and threats of Cardinal Wenden as he apparently struggled with getting into his armour. Vamis had already donned his blood red set of carapace armour but had not worn the helmet that went with it, choosing instead to wear a great peaked hood in the style of the Redemptionist Crusade. He knew that the faithful would see him as a beacon of righteous vengeance and flock to him, the beastly little Cardinal would have to admit his courage and leadership after their inevitable victory. Uthaniel caught sight of himself in a mirror, by the Emperor he looked a fine sight. Surely nothing could strike a better representation of the power of humanity, the vigour of faith in the Emperor.
With another muttered curse Cardinal Wenden tore aside the curtain and stomped into the main preparation chamber like a drunken juggernaut. His jet and silver artificer armour gleamed like a harvest night moon. One ornate gauntlet clutched Purity, the other a lovingly wrought melta-gun inscribed with line upon line of tiny prayers to The Emperor. The backpack power-plant for the armour resembled an open silver chased cage topped by a banner pole resplendent with the Imperial Aquilla. The suit added a full foot to the Cardinal's height and made him seem four times as mighty as Uthaniel. If not for the weasel like face between the oversized shoulder plates the Cardinal could be mistaken for one of the Adeptus Astartes.
Arch-Deacon Uthaniel Vamis felt his heart sink in his chest as the Cardinal sneered at him in contempt.
"An eviscerator eh boy? I guess that it suits, a brutal artless weapon for an artless brute of a man."
Vamis said nothing and turned away, his gaze lowered
Cardinal Wenden called after him. "I will see you in battle Arch-Deacon, at the front where the fighting is thickest no doubt."
The words sparked a tiny fire of hope in Vamis that he might yet have a chance to prove his worth but it was crushed by the mocking chuckle that Wenden followed it with, and the final words before Vamis left the room.
"You can count the coins that fall from the hands of xenos filth Arch-Deacon; it is after all, what you are best at."
Shas'ui Kal O'thur scanned the fortified Imperial palace with his stealth suit's sensors. The Ethereal has said that this was where the battle for the city, indeed the planet would be won or lost. The humans did not seem to understand the value of strategic retreat. This building, although fortified, was not like those Kal had encountered when fighting against the Imperial Guard, these ones were ornate...almost beautiful. True the gargoyles, minarets and embellishments were garish and overdone but there seemed to be a great devotion to detail here. Kal thought of his own home and the sleek sided domes lit with neon green and blue. Tau cities were elegant, functional, everything served a purpose. Maybe, he reflected, the human cities were a mirror of their own overly complicated and labyrinth thought processes. A mirror of the psychosis and paranoia that seemed to be the embodiment of the human psyche. Ah, why should he waste his time thinking about such things? These humans here in this place were among the worst, hateful fanatics to their yet unseen Emperor. Kai wondered if this Emperor was like an Ethereal, a spiritual leader. Some humans the Shas'ui had met insisted that the Emperor was actually a god and that he had the ability to even guide the humans through the un-reality of the great voids behind the stars.
Shas'ui Kal O'thur knew little of such things; his lot was not to philosophise but to act, for Tau, for the greater good.
Considering how important this place of worship should be there was remarkably little defence. Scans had revealed large numbers of life forms inside the grounds but intelligence stated that for the most part they would be under armed, poorly disciplined and unable to deal with even the lightest of Tau armour. The area had only a few of the fanatical Sisters of Battle that Kal had fought before, something he was glad of and he had been further assured that their efforts would be directed elsewhere. The most important priority was to take control of the cathedral while inflicting as little collateral damage as possible. Naturally he had ensured that a division of Hammerheads was waiting behind these front lines if they were surprised with heavy armour, but most of the heavy support under his command had moved to the Western walls to subjugate the militia. For a planetary assault this invasion was remarkably bloodless so far.
The palace gates were opening. Shas'ui Kal signalled his battalion to stand ready, the lurid red of Lepidus III's dawn set Martyrs Square aglow, beckoning the bloodshed to begin.
"Insufferable, self-righteous grox of a woman!" growled Benjamin and kicked over the small wooden stool that the Novice sister had brought to the audience chamber. The Novice's mouth dropped open in shock at the tantrum, but she quickly recovered and said to the Inquisitor calmly.
"I am sorry if our furnishings are not of the comfort you are accustomed to my lord, the Cannoness will be here shortly to interview you."
"Interview me?" spluttered the Inquisitor, appalled. "It seems that the universe has turned upon its head this evening. I, a lord Inquisitor am to be interviewed by an introspective scared little lamb, who has clung to the safety of the church since she was a babe while her brother searched the ocean of stars for ways to better our species?"
Novice Milissa's mouth dropped open again at the tirade; the venom in the Inquisitor's words frightened her. What cause did he have to be so viperous before he had even spoken to the Cannoness?
"You may cease the dramatics now Lord Inquisitor." said Cannoness Leanne DeSade as she stepped into the spartanly furnished room through a side chamber door. "You may leave Milissa, the Inquisitor may like to speak privately with me."
Milissa nodded and hurried from the room.
"Well big sister, I see that the cloistered life seems to agree with you, is that some puppy fat I see bulging under your armoured waist?" queried Benjamin with all the pleasantness of a ripper swarm.
Leanne ignored the entirely inaccurate jibe.
"Why are you here Benjamin? We are under attack and it is my task to see to the defence of this world against the xenos." She said, already losing her patience.
"That is exactly why I am here dear sister, you see I have certain information that leads me to believe that the Tau attack on Lepidus...what is it Lepidus III? I can never be bothered remembering." He paused to remember what he was saying. "Yes, the Tau attack on you seems to be part of a more insidious plot to divert protection away from the more serious threat of a Chaos incursion." He smiled thinly and let Leanne digest the information.
"Chaos?" questioned Leanne, deeply shocked and becoming angry. "My research indicates that the Tau have never been allied with heretics or daemons. You must show me proof of this heresy."
Benjamin spread his arms wide and cocked his head with a slimy grin. "It appears that I was correct in my assumption that you spend your time navel gazing while information and secrets float by you like jellies in a tide. That being said it is not an inquisitor's prerogative to provide information but to seek it. While I waste my time talking with you here the agents of the Dark Gods have undoubtedly already set about their search for an artefact buried below the very ground on which we stand, or near enough in any case."
He stroked his goatee as if thinking, although his eyes never left his sisters.
"I will require twenty of your best warriors to pursue them through the catacombs below the manufactorium district, to locate this chaos artefact and to eliminate the threat that it poses to the future of the Imperium. You may not contact them until the mission is completed, they will be entirely under my command, and this is not a negotiable request. "
"As a Lord Inquisitor I will supply you with the troops you need brother; however what you have requested tests us sorely. This world has no such artefact or it would be as fortified as Holy Terra itself. I feel that this is one of your spun schemes coming to fruition. I must inform the Cardinal of your presence and what you ask. No doubt he will not be pleased to have troops diverted from their current tasks."
"An unfortunate side effect of the pill taken to cure the greater ill, Cannoness." Benjamin seemed to mock the title as he said it. "As with many of the greatest ills we must be sure to eradicate the infection at the source, not simply treat the symptoms. I have no doubt that these Tau filth have arrived here after being manipulated by some agent of the Great Enemy, they are merely pawns in play. Like any game of regicide they should not become the focus of the longer game...they are...expendable."
Leanne felt her lip curl as she guessed the other pawns that Benjamin was referring to, the sisters he would requisition to root out the Chaos agents. It made her sick knowing that by allowing them to go with her brother she may as well be signing their death warrant. However; her brother carried the seal of the Inquisition and even the Sister Soritas were not above their scrutiny or the tortures that accompanied it. She sighed helplessly.
"Fine, Novice Milissa will see to your needs, I must see to our defences immediately. If the palace stands after the battle brother, perhaps we shall speak again." Leanne scowled as anger threatened to overtake her composure.
Benjamin raised one plucked eyebrow and threw her a lopsided wolfish grin.
"I have no doubt you will survive my dearest sister, fate has a much greater part for you in this little play. Hasten to your troops and enjoy the righteous slaughter."
Fuming with anger, Leanne DeSade was already half-way to the door, her hand shaking as she touched her com-bead and ordered her Sisters to prepare for their journey to the catacombs. Twenty sisters was all that she had under her command besides her personal attendants. Her brother had thrown a chainsword into the engines with his demands. She feared the worst of it all but had little choice but to follow his commands as an inquisitorial agent of Terra.
The light of the new day heralded the reaping of the misguided human militia. The fire warriors formed two steady lines, the front row kneeling, and poured fire into the screaming psychotic horde of poorly disciplined fanatics. Where they had come from Shas'ui Kal O'thur did not know but it seemed like they erupted into the square from every alley and boiled up from every sewerage vent. Most were armed with the unsophisticated laser pistols that humans seemed to love; others had projectile slug throwers as primitive as those of the Kroot. Most disturbingly almost every one of the screaming barbarians was waving some sort of club, blade, machete or bludgeon.
"How distasteful." murmured Kal.
"Say again Shas'ui, I did not copy" came the reply from Squad leader Oun.
"It is nothing my friend, I was just commenting on the human proclivity to seek out the most brutal option and clasp it gleefully."
"Indeed Shas'ui" replied Oun "Oun out."
The Tau lines continued firing into the seething mob that was surging toward them. Although the initial volleys had cut down dozens of the frantic humans they were becoming more organised. Crude shields and palisades made of vehicle doors and sheet metal had been passed to those at the front and the humans were advancing behind them, firing blindly like whip-stinger shellfish in a sand pool. A fire warrior was hit in the neck by a lucky shot, he fell backwards clutching his throat. A medi-drone immediately buzzed over to him to deliver aid.
Even one Tau life was worth more than this horde of savages, it was time to end this engagement.
"Dispersal grenades." instructed Kal calmly.
A dozen drones that had waited behind the two hundred odd fire warriors bobbed up and over the Tau lines. Compact launchers slung under their white plate like bodies coughed out a hail of small egg shaped grenades. With a crump of explosive force the grenades detonated, concussive force hurling the humans head over heads in all directions. The fire warriors continued firing at the now hopelessly disorganised throng, reaping a heavy toll. Despite Kal's general dislike of bloody violence this was about as close to regulation sedation exercises as possible when dealing with humans. He was glad that the human knights, the grotesque space marines, had been lured away before the main fleet had arrived and that the fanatical Sisters of Battle were not strongly in evidence. It was yet another indicator that the only place for humanity was within the Tau Empire as part of the Greater Good. If the humans could not rely on their own leadership to provide guidance, what chance did they really have?
Cannoness DeSade and her body guard of Sisters met Cardinal Wenden beside the gates of the Cathedral. The frateris militia had already attacked the Tau lines but were being annihilated by the need to run across open ground into the Tau firing lanes. The Arch Deacon looked frustrated, the veins on his neck throbbed and Leanne could almost hear his pulse over the sound of pulse rifles and the cries of dying faithful. Cardinal Wenden looked on at the battle with squinting eyes.
"See the gap between the two groups of Tau warriors Cannoness?" He asked, calm and collected without any of his usual venom.
"Yes, Cardinal, what do you make of it?" she replied.
"Earlier this evening Vamis and I were attacked by a Tau using stealth technology. I have been reading reports on their tactics and the Tau usually place their commander in a central position. That space is empty but I suspect we should fire there and see what turns up. What do you have available?"
Leanne thought for a moment. "Initial Tau airstrikes severely compromised our ability to launch a vehicular assault but one of the exorcist launchers is still capable of firing, it is not mobile however."
"Get a spotter and fire on that location Cannoness." murmured the Cardinal coolly. "I am sure we shall not be disappointed with the result."
Leanne complied with a nod.
Kal estimated that this particular battle would only last another few moments before the humans were broken. Many had already taken to hiding behind the piling corpses of their misguided comrades. A few still attempted to charge forward but their momentum had been broken and even now Kal prepared to unleash the Kroot and wipe out the resistance completely. He hailed the Kroot shaper Gek'hen. "Shaper Gek'hen, are your warriors prepared to finish this engagement?" he asked.
The harsh croaking voice of Gek'hen crackled through the com-link. "Yes, Shas'ui, we shall attack on your command."
"Very well Shaper, wait for my..." Shas'ui Kal O'thur looked up and saw the contrails of twelve rockets that stabbed through the sky toward him.
"Squad leader Oun, assume com..."
Shas'ui Kai O'thur was incinerated in the firestorm of a dozen holy warheads.
Looking down at the fire fight from the relative safety of the Cathedrals security towers Benjamin smiled in amusement at the destruction and pandemonium. The Tau leader had apparently been hiding in plain sight with his stealth suit but had somehow been obliterated by a rocket strike from Emperor knew where. The Tau were now falling back and the maniac frateris militia had surged forward like ravenous dogs, beating the fire warriors to death with clubs and crude blades. Doubling his amusement Benjamin could see the rapidly approaching Kroot bounding through the streets towards the melee. He knew that although the Tau themselves were pathetic melee fighters their gangly allies would butcher the shop keepers and workers of Lepidus III in short order. The devastation of the cities working classes would ruin the economy of Lepidus III for years to come, plunging it into a cycle of riots and famines as the people struggled to make ends meet under the yoke of an uncaring Ecclesia. The deprivation would lead to a series of uprisings and eventually the Ecclesia and the stagnation it promoted would be stripped away. A new dawn of enterprise would occur. The people of Lepidus III would become an icon for the renaissance of human mastery of the galaxy and the Tau, the orks, the rotten hordes of chaos would be swept away in a wave of glorious expansion. Benjamin DeSade closed his eyes and marvelled at his foresight. His grand plan was taking shape and all that remained was to remove the few pieces on the board that could hinder its inevitable conclusion.
The clank of armoured boots on the steel plate floor disturbed his day dreams. That Novice of his sister's had arrived with a carafe of honeyed wine, not the amasec Benjamin had hoped for but something nonetheless. He ran his gaze over the Novice, examined her large fluid blue eyes like a hawk examining a young hare, gauging weakness, tasting fear. Milissa broke eye contact and looked down at the ground, mumbling.
"The wine you requested, mi'lord."
Benjamin laughed mockingly at her discomfort, unable to help himself. "Thank you little one, you may leave it on the counter. What are your duties now?"
Milissa looked up, confused at his meaning. "M'lord?"
"Your duties girl, what has my sister instructed you to do?"
"I...I am to await your pleasure m'lord. Cannoness said that I was to cater to your needs and she would send me further instructions when she was able." Milissa stammered, a dozen fearful thoughts scraping at her mind like rusted nails.
"My every need." teased Benjamin. "And by the Emperor's grace Novice of the Order of the Righteous Rose, what do you think my needs would be?"
Milissa blushed red as she guessed what the Inquisitor Lord alluded to but she remained silent.
"I see that your order has provided some information on the requirements of men of substance..." Benjamin said silkily, he ran his bare fingers across Milissa's delicate porcelain cheek, brushing her earlobe. "Would you care to accompany me to my private quarters?"
Milissa stepped back in shock at the suggestion. Her eyes flashed with anger. "I am sworn to chastity Lord Inquisitor, I must not break my oath to the order. It is an oath in the Emperor's name!" she verily spat the words as her indignation kindled.
Benjamin's backhand sent her spinning to the ground. The blow split open her delicate lips.
"I speak in the name of the Emperor girl, I am his voice and I am his hand. You shall submit to my will or you will be reduced to ashes at the questioning stake!" he roared.
Milissa tried to crawl away from the vengeful inquisitor, blood pouring from her smashed lips and broken nose; already her eye had begun to swell.
"Look at you crawl, like a worm, a maggot; hoping that you can escape me, escape your fate. Nothing escapes from me girl, nothing!" Benjamin spat manically.
The doors to the chamber were flung open and a pair of fully armoured sisters rushed in, pointing bolt guns menacingly at the inquisitor.
"Cease your aggression m'lord or we will be forced to execute you." commanded the sister on the left.
Benjamin sneered derisively. "So it has come to this? The petty lap dogs of my jelly brained sister think they can point weapons at me. Think that they can cow me? Think that their actions will go unpunished?"
As he spoke three looming shadows stirred in the unlit alcoves of the room. Benjamin's grotesque servitors moved forward, monstrous weapons aimed to fire at the pair of sisters.
"Release the Novice and you will be unharmed." said the second sister, her voice betraying her nerves.
"Honestly, who do you think you are?" queried Benjamin as his hand drifted towards his holster. "I am here as the Emperor's representative, as a guest of your Cannoness and yet you deny me something that I require as part of my investigation? Point weapons at me? That ladies...is treason."
"You assaulted a Novice of our order M'lord, regardless of your authority you must cease your aggression and submit to due process." ordered the first sister, her faith in her righteousness fuelling her confidence.
"Due process?" snorted Benjamin, "Do you mean the blathering questions of that decrepit old Cardinal of yours? A withered man in a pointy hat is not what I consider due process." he paused and chuckled softly. "I am process. I am the law." He nodded slightly, but the servitors understood.
Benjamin and his mind wiped minions fired as one, beams of super heated air converged where the sisters stood and for a fraction of a second Benjamin relished the impossible agony on their faces before their bodies, armour and weapons were vaporised with the loud crack of obliterated matter.
The back wash of heat made Benjamin wince, his discomfort was minor however compared to Milissa's who writhed howling on the floor, her robes cooked off and her skin blistering. Yet she lived, such resilience was commendable. It was such resilience that had prompted Benjamin to reward his three most devoted warriors with the opportunity to continue guarding him as servitors after they disobeyed him once. The labotomization process had been a complete success, maybe this little Novice was deserving of another chance.
"Take her with us" said Benjamin to the servitors with a smirk on his face. "It is time for us to leave."
The comlink to Sister Freya had gone dead. Leanne feared the worst for her, Sister Lexia and also Novice Milissa. She had been attempting to push forward and reinforce the faltering attack when Freya had reported disturbances in the security towers. Benjamin was there and Leanne knew that any threats would provoke him to violence. Still, she could not leave her duty here, the damnable Kroot has counter attacked the militia at the moment of victory and it was only the quick thinking of the Cardinal that had prevented a rout.
The old man himself had led a charge of Adeptus Arbite reserve and to his credit the Arch-Deacon had joined him, entering the fray with vigour Leanne had not expected. Leanne and a trio of Sisters had been separated from the Cardinal and Arch-Deacon during the reckless melee, four others were commanding the Northern flank but it looked like it would crumble. Clerics and sisters lay dead and dying on the blood stained rockcrete square. Truly now Martyrs' Square was earning its name. Leanne lay about with her shrieking chain sword; her Sisters did likewise, hacking left and right. This was no time for sword play. The Kroot were too brutal to duel, too fast to play with. A clearing among the swirling combat opened in front of Leanne and she took the opportunity to capitalize.
"Bolters my Sisters. Clear a path!"
The four sisters immediately clamped their blades to mag-locks on their waists, raised their bolt guns and opened up into the next line of Kroot. The mass reactive bolts burst among the closely packed xenos, blowing them apart and sending arcing gouts of gore sailing through the swirling melee. More Kroot were arriving at the scene and of the thousands of faithful who had begun the attack at dawn only hundreds remained. In the smoke wreathed sky, back lit by the rising sun came a new terror, a trio of Tau air-craft, piranhas, accelerating with noses down. They were heading towards where the Cardinal and Arch-deacon fought desperately against the Kroot leader and a frenzied pack of its warriors. Leanne redoubled her efforts to push forward, the Cardinal represented the earthly strength that faith in the Emperor could bring, and he would not perish, not on her watch.
The boy was doing well by the Emperor; Cardinal Wenden felt a small flush of pride as he watched Vamis carve a bloody swathe around him with that roaring eviscerator of his.
Wenden felt his heart beating too fast, the powered armour he wore loaned him strength but the ravages of years could only be held back for so long. His strength was flagging, soon he would make a mistake and the Kroot would pounce. Damn they were wily opponents. Wenden bashed off a Kroot's beaky face with the business end of Purity, the power field liquefying the xenos' skull. It took him a moment to recover, the shaper was fighting Vamis but it shouted a command to proclaim the opportunity. Another Kroot stepped in front of the inexperienced Vamis, arms wide and inviting. Wenden started to shout a warning not to fall for the ruse but he was gulping air, damn he was tired. Vamis greedily stepped forward to strike a killing blow, ignoring the Shaper for the briefest of moments. It rolled past and came up to Wenden's left. The Cardinal struggled to bring his mace around but it was too late. Using the momentum of its roll the Shaper hammered it's pick like blade into Wenden's side, it eased through the armour, into his flesh, into his organs. The Shaper twisted the blade inside, snaring intestines, tearing his guts.
Wenden sighed, the sigh of a man who is ready to accept death. Purity fell from his hands.
Uthaniel roared like a wounded ogryn as he wildly lashed out at the xenos, the counter rotating blades sawed through the Kroot in front of him and carried into the next. The Shaper bounded away, clearing two of its fellows with a backward somersault. Vamis lunged forward but took a blow to his unprotected head from the butt of a Kroot rifle, the hooked stock blade scything past his face like a raptors talon. Arch Deacon Uthaniel Vamis took a step back then swung upward mightily ripping the Kroot into bloody halves with a gurgling howl of rage.
Wenden slowly fell to the ground, onto his knees, then forward onto his hands. Blood seeped from the wound on his side, dribbled from his strangely smiling mouth. His eyes were not filled with anger, just peace, just acceptance.
"The Emperor's judgement calls for your crimes xenos!" screamed Vamis. "I will have every one of your ugly beaked heads spiked on the towers of the cathedral!"
Wenden's sight was getting misty, the light was getting dim. So proud of the boy, he was ready now, ready to lead the people. All the hard lessons, the charade of judging the boy as being unfit, it had all been worth it. By the Emperor he had proven himself today. Wenden simply wished he had the opportunity to tell Uthaniel he was proud, but now...the air, his breath was gone. He was on the ground and the battle was sideways. Uthaniel was like the Emperor's wrath embodied. So proud...so very proud.
The wretched old man was dead. Uthaniel Vamis, son of a Terran noble would now be the representative of the Holy Church of Terra on Lepidus III, he would lead the people in a righteous crusade to annihilate the Tau on this planet and the legend of his deeds would spread throughout the galaxy.
He felt like he had lost an old friend.
Not a tormenting old buzzard, who had prodded, nagged, Taunted and bullied him for the past five years. Not a crack brained, doddering old fool who had occasionally drooled when he talked. Not an angry, spiteful nightmare that had cruelly prevented Uthaniel from being what he could be.
He felt alone.
It made him fearful
It made him angry.
The anger made him strong.
"DIEEEEEEEE!" howled Vamis with animal ferocity, his eyes rolling and spit rolling down his chin in his zealous fury.
Blood flowed from a split on his forehead but around him were piled the corpses of the savage xenos he had slain, he could not believe how easily some were beaten. One had not even attempted a defence against Uthaniel's mighty wrath and had been split from crotch to neck as a reward. Uthaniel had not seen the xenos that struck the fatal blow against the Cardinal, these Kroot all the looked the same, clones unfit for personal identity, animals, savages.
Meat for the Imperium's grinder.
Uthaniel Vamis was a butcher, the Emperor's holy butcher and today he was carving a glorious spread for the Imperium's table.
And then around him there was space, the Kroot had fallen back and were wary, Uthaniel basked in the pure radiance of the mid morning sun as it struck him through drifting smoke. This was the glory he had dreamed of.
The drone of the Tau Piranhas as they took aim with ready burst cannons dragged the blissful smile from his bloody face like Kroot talons dragged down a bulkhead door. He was going to die in a blaze of glory.
The remaining Kroot held back. Some laughed, sounding like crows at a feast of corpses. The skimmers could finish this battle, no need to lose their own to stray shots as the Tau scythed through the human defenders.
The lead Piranha's pilot's head erupted as a bolt shell exploded inside it. Uthaniel saw Cannoness Leanne DeSade standing on the half shattered plinth of a blasted Imperial Aquila statue. Two sisters stood with her and they fired at the other two Piranha pilots but their aim was not as true. One struck a pilot's dash and he was enveloped in a burst of sparks and flame, the other missed by a hair's breadth, the pilot swinging the nose mounted cannon toward the new threat.
The first Piranha sank to the ground, its engines protesting and whining, the second corkscrewed into the Kroot, crushing several to pulp before the skimmer caught fire. The Kroot fled, bounding from the scene with chirrups and squawks of panic. The exhausted militia gave a weary cheer but were too battered to pursue and stood around like grox herded to a slaughter house.
Her shot had flown true and one of the Tau skimmer pilots was eliminated, her sisters had not been as successful with Lysia hitting the vehicle itself and Nillia missing completely. If they survived this battle Leanne would be forced to pronounce penance on her long time friend for her failure.
The surviving Tau turned his Pirahna toward them looking for vengeance. The burst cannon in its nose cycled and unleashed a torrent of shrieking projectiles. Nillia made eye contact with Leanne, her eyes telling tomes of guilt at her failure and she stepped between the Piranha and Leanne to protect her companions.
Her armour resisted the fusillade for almost two seconds; her faith kept her standing for another three. Nillia's body began to fly apart as she soaked up firepower like a sponge soaks blood. Lysia and Leanne drove behind the plinth for cover as Nillia finally could resist no more. She exploded into fist sized chunks. She had died for the Emperor. She had atoned for her failure.
"We will remember you." whispered Leanne.
The Piranha was still blasting away at the plinth; the rockcrete was splintering and spinning away under the wrath of the Tau pilot. It jinked the skimmer sideways to get a better angle and finish off the threat of the sisters.
Leanne knew the remaining frateris militia were no threat to it with their auto pistols and stub guns, bullets pattered harmlessly off the skimmers bottom and sides.
Then, the Piranha was engulfed in flames as Arch Deacon Uthaniel Vamis triggered the exterminator unit of his eviscerator. The clinging sticky promethium burned brightly as it washed over the hull bottom and crept into vents. The pilot had forgotten about his original prey and now he would pay the price. Klaxxons buzzed on the skimmer as its engines overheated and caught fire. The pilot desperately tried to move the skimmer away but it was too late. The Piranha fell to the ground in a flaming heap, the pilot trying to climb clear of the wreck before he was incinerated but Uthaniel was upon him like a starving beast on carrion. The hungry sawing teeth of the eviscerator bit through armour and gutted the Tau. Flames leapt around the Arch Deacon but he paid them no heed as he took his butcher's due. With a ragged laugh he leapt away from his kill beating down the flames that sought to consume his smouldering vestments.
From behind the plinth Leanne watched him in awe; truly she had misjudged his holy zeal, his ability as a true warrior of the Emperor of man.
"To me, my faithful." called the Arch Deacon, his arms wide, his voice deep and commanding.
The heroic assault by the Arch Deacon galvanised the remaining humans, they cheered wildly as they surged forward around him, their vigour renewed by his deeds. The people crowded around him, some cried in joy, some whispered his name. All were in awe of his awesome might, the Emperor's weapon.
Uthaniel raised his hands for quiet. Only the crackle of burning vehicles and the moans of the dying broke the stillness.
"Today my brothers and sisters, today we have triumphed. Our faith has defeated the foul xenos scum. Our belief has been our shield. You have been the sword of the Imperium of man!"
The mob screamed their adoration; they loved him now, united in a compulsion to serve.
"But we have not triumphed without loss." He said, lowering his voice to calm them. "Today our blessed leader, Cardinal Wenden has fallen." said Vamis sadly.
He raised the eviscerator above his head and the blades roared as he shouted
"He is martyred to our cause!"
The mob went wild, tearing at their own hair and clothes, beating their chests in excitement. Leanne watched from behind them, her emotions a mix of amazement and concern. What had happened to Vamis, was he truly a messiah? Where had this power, this unadulterated charisma come from? How had he been transformed from the mewling lackey to this juggernaut of righteous vengeance?
Her concern must have shown on her face, Lyisa put her hand on Leanne's shoulder.
"Do not worry, Cannoness, the Emperor chooses his warriors as he sees, we are not blessed to understand the reasons why."
Leanne smiled wanly at the older sister's words. Of course Lyisa was right. They had triumphed and it was due to the bravery of this man, raised from behind an administratum desk to a stand atop a pile of the enemies' corpses as a defender of the Imperium.
The sun warmed her face as the people continued to cheer.
3
On the other side of the Cathedral complex, Commander Weets was fighting a losing battle. Although his men were better armed and armoured than the frateris militia they were for the most part as battle green and inexperienced. Most had joined the local PDF because it was easier than being a factory worker or Emperor forbid, a farmer. Girls liked men in uniform too; at least that's what Weets had heard. His own success with women was limited to how much of his salary he had to spend.
His troops were positioned behind cover, good cover truth be told. The wrecks of fifteen chimeras that hadn't had the chance to leave their parking zones were good to hide behind. Those damn Tau had sent one of those invisible battle suits in as the tech priest was saying the final prayers for their success.
Weets had never seen someone evaporate under a fusion gun before; he hoped he would never do so again. After the tech priest had died the stealth suiter had hopped from tank to tank, grilling engines and melting tracks, carefree as a field wren. The PDF troopers had been so shocked at the audacious attack they hadn't even bothered to fire at him at first. Then he was gone in a crackle of energy and a shift of light as he engaged the stealth field again and the first of the Tau warriors had turned up across the tarmac.
"Commander, are we going to die?" called a young trooper fresh out of basic whose name Weets had no idea of.
"It looks like it. Yes, it does." Weets called back honestly as his fear spiralled out of control.
Another young recruit who was hunkered down behind a plasteel cargo crate shouted at the rest of the cowardly company. "Where is your faith in the Emperor? These xenos cannot stand against the might of the Imperium! I'll kill all of them by myself!"
He jumped to his feet and sprayed las blasts towards the Tau lines cackling like a mad man. The barrage of pulse rifle fire stopped for a second and Weets dared to look out from behind the battered chimera he was hiding next to.
A skimmer tank had taken up position across the parking zone, maybe forty metres distant. The young trooper was firing at its impenetrable hull with his quickly overheating weapon. A massive square barrelled cannon on the hammerhead was aimed squarely at the insane soldier but it did not fire. The Tau looked on impassive behind their faceless helms, at the suicidal behaviour of the human.
His rifle barrel had melted; the recruit tossed the weapon aside and marched forward, not running, toward the tank. He drew his bayonet and made slashing motions as he shrieked incoherently at the Tau in front of him. The other human troopers had now raised their heads from cover to witness the madness in front of them. The recruit reached the tank and stabbed his blade at the armoured prow, it glanced off ineffectually. He continued to hack at it as he spat out a tirade of curses against the Tau race.
The closest Tau firewarrior to the recruit adjusted the settings on his weapon and fired a single shot at the human. It struck his forehead with a distinct 'thwap!' The boy fell over backwards, unconscious.
"Human soldiers of Lepidus III, the time for conflict is over." Boomed a strangely accented voice from the hammerhead. "Lay down your weapons and you will not be harmed. You have my promise as Shas'vre of this operation."
Silence descended on the PDF as they exchanged nervous glances.
"No need to die here today commander." whispered a young farmer turned trooper to Weets. "We have to tithe anyway, who cares if it is to the Tau or the Imperium?"
Weets saw the sense in that. He had been a military man for the last ten years, before that a shift operator at the grain plant. There was no sense in throwing his life away for a government far removed from here. What was the Imperium going to do? Send the Space Marines to take a planet of farmers and grain silos? Even if they did, the people could say they were waiting for the right time to mount an effective resistance. Weets had less than a hundred and fifty soldiers with him right now, less than two thousand in the entire city defence force. Most had been off duty and were either dead or by the looks of things more likely captured. This fight was over, time to think of number one.
"I'm coming out, I surrender." Weets called and stood up from behind his cover, laying down his las rifle and putting his hands in the air.
Better a live coward than a dead hero.
Orixo tried not to smile. How could it be so easy? Now he would be rewarded by his mistress , his beautiful mistress, and could live a life of luxury as promised. Of course the contact had said that Weets needed to be killed for the Tau to gain entry into the Cathedral and take control of the city but wasn't this even better? No one had died; even mad Raikon had only been knocked unconscious. If they had been fighting against Arbites they probably would have been beaten to death if they had surrendered. No way, he had made the right choice. The best choice. The only choice. Orixo looked forward to the days to come, big change for good ole' Lepidus III he reckoned, and a change worth having.
The marauder bomber droned through the skies of Lepidus III on its way to the rendezvous point. Benjamin sat on a comfy flight chair and hummed to himself satisfied with how his plan was progressing. By now the Tau should have taken the palace, the idiotic leader of the PDF should be dead and Benjamin's pawns in position and his oh so perfectly righteous sister should be getting devoured by Kroot or at least fleeing for her life. The noxious old Cardinal was sure to be dead. The poisons his agent had placed in the old bastard's food would have caused a heart attack mid battle at the very least, he was sure the Kroot would have disposed of that evidence as well. As for the moronic Arch Deacon Benjamin had heard about, well he would be easily manipulated and once in power and wearing that silly pompous hat he should prove to be quite the asset.
The door to the medicae bay opened and pained groans issued from the IC capsule as an Inquisitorial trooper stepped forth to report.
"The Novice is stable Mi'lord." he stated simply with a crisp salute. "She should survive the return to The Dread Perceptor."
"The Sisters that my sister allowed us?" queried Benjamin.
"They have been taken to the rendezvous point and are awaiting your arrival."
Benjamin smiled pleasantly at the man, "Excellent work, what news from the Tau?"
"A transmission we received said that they had occupied the Cathedral and that resistance has been quashed." reported the man grimly, "The Tau leader is preparing to address the populace using the Cathedral's own vox equipment as we speak. The message should be beamed planet wide on all frequencies."
"Marvellous." beamed Benjamin, genuinely pleased, "Before you go good man. Has there been any word from the agent?"
The trooper's eyes flashed with fear and he hesitated before saying, "No sir, the agent has not contacted us."
Benjamin frowned. The plan hinged on these final few moves and the agent was required to execute them precisely. Nothing could be amiss surely; Benjamin had complete faith in his little asset. Would She betray him? Surely not, they were long time friends, She had helped him understand the secret ways, She was always there for him.
The paranoia ate away at his mind. Contingency plans, retribution and revenge flooded his thoughts at the fear of betrayal. But no, Benjamin DeSade would not be betrayed; if she did she would suffer. They would all suffer, he would pronounce exterminatus and see them all atomised.
Benjamin DeSade would achieve his aims, no matter the cost.
Leanne felt a hole tear in her heart as she heard the booming vox relay play over the Cathedrals own communication system.
"People of Lepidus III, cease your fighting for your freedom is at hand." said a familiar voice, but one she could not readily place.
"Our enslavery at the hands of the wicked Imperium is at an end." there was a brief pause, a faint rustling of paper or parchment could be heard.
"Too long have we toiled under uncaring masters who think only of war, of fear and who torment the common people daily. Too long have we spent our lives feeding the mouths of robber barons and war mongers on distant worlds while we scrape by with the chaff of our fields."
Leanne felt anger begin to fill the hole in her chest. She looked at the Arch Deacon who stood next to the fallen Cardinal. He looked poleaxed with disbelief.
"People of Lepidus III. We have freedom now, in the arms of Tau, for the Greater Good, and the good of all."
Leanne looked around her at the remaining frateris militia, the priests, and the few Adeptus Arbites who had survived the fighting. She saw anger, despair, fear, disbelief. Nothing she saw told her that these faithful were traitors to the Emperor. What could have happened? How had the Tau gained the Cathedral?
The vox relay spoke once more.
"People of Lepidus III, I am Commander Weets of the Planetary Defence Forces. As presiding military officer and representative of the Imperium, I cede control of this planet to Commander Aun Shi Que, of the Ethereal Caste. Do not fight; we now can have peace and prosperity. I fare you all well."
Priests murmured their disbelief; faithful began to raise their voices, shouting "No" and "Heresy". Leanne looked to Arch Deacon Uthaniel Vamis but the fighter in him was gone, he gulped air like a river fish as he struggled to find words. Leanne took action; she strode over to him and whispered menacingly in his ear.
"Arch Deacon Vamis, you are the ranking representative of the Holy Throne here on this world, if you do not fulfil your duty and serve I will remove you from that position by summary execution at a traitor."
The Arch Deacon looked at her wide eyed, childlike in his inability to understand how completely they had lost the city despite their valour.
"I...I..." he stammered.
Leanne looked into his sapphire blue eyes with her fathomless brown and whispered, gently.
"The Emperor and His people need your voice Uthaniel. Now is your time."
Uthaniel blinked, the confusion that clouded his mind being blown away by a hurricane of rising zeal. He looked at the milling crowd of gob smacked faithful, saw their helplessness, their fear. He knelt slowly and lay down his bloody eviscerator then grasped the shaft of Purity as it lay next to the dead Cardinal. He straightened and held it above his head in both hands.
"People of Lepidus III, faithful of the Imperium of Man, we are betrayed!" bellowed Uthaniel.
Cat calls of "No" and "Death to heretics" sounded out from the crowd, most notably from the remaining priests and confessors.
"It is true, today the sun shines brightly on us, but it may be the darkest day in our history. Today is the day when we fight not for our homes, not for our harvest, today is the day on which we fight for the righteousness of faith and the God Emperor himself!"
The crowd cheered at Uthaniel's words, completely under his spell. He climbed onto the wreck of a still smoking Piranha to continue speaking.
"But we cannot fight as we are, the true warriors of the Imperium do not go blindly into the jaws of the filthy xenos, the abominable heretic. We will marshal our strengths, steel our souls and return for vengeance!" he proclaimed.
"To the catacombs my faithful, among the righteous dead will be find our inspiration, they spent their lives serving the God Emperor and so shall we serve." Vamis roared. "Onward!"
Leanne was shocked, what had led the Arch Deacon to order such a move? True it was probably tactically sound. The maze like catacombs that housed the Ecclesiarchy's dead had existed for millennia underneath Lepidus prime, the limestone crust of the planet was riddled with caves and tunnels and a guerrilla army could probably launch attacks indefinitely from the multitude of vents and service ducts that led into the city proper. She must find the reason for his decision, alarm bells were ringing in her head. Benjamin had wanted her to go into those crypts and caverns to find something, something heretical. Uthaniel and the Cardinal had not been told about it though, the attack had prevented that. Was this just coincidence or was there a hidden player in this game? Leanne's instincts were twitching, there was a tangled web cast all around her and she feared the spider was yet to make its move.
Things were moving so fast, only a day ago Uthaniel Vamis had been an undervalued, maligned and despised cog in the bureaucratic wheel of the Ecclesia here on Lepidus III. The attack of the foul xenos had changed all that. Now he was able to prove his worth to the Imperium, indeed he was already doing so. The death of the Cardinal was in some ways unfortunate but it presented new opportunities to the Arch Deacon. Once the Tau were cleansed from the planet he would be free to raise a crusade of wrath and vengeance and to eradicate the threat of xenos from the entire system and beyond. His name would be remembered throughout the eons to come. Statues would be erected on planets in his name and shrines would honour him. But now he had to think like a leader, the faithful were outnumbered and had lost their stronghold to treachery. But the greatest of victories were always snatched from the howling jaws of defeat; they would marshal their strength, rebuild the army of faithful and then deal a blow to the Tau invaders that would send them fleeing back to their home world.
Uthaniel strode onwards through the darkness of the old service ducts. The idea to come here had risen unbidden, at the exact moment that he needed clarity. Was it a vision? He had never been down here before yet every step he took was full of confidence that he was doing the right thing. He was filled with the feeling of great satisfaction, almost a feeling of mirth despite the dire situation he and his band of pilgrims were in. Were they pilgrims? Where had that idea come from? Was this indeed some holy pilgrimage that needed to be undertaken in order for true clarity to be reached? Uthaniel had heard the stories of saints, of true illumination coming only after a truly great undertaking or sacrifice. The Emperor must be guiding him, showing Uthaniel the way.
In a brilliant epiphany, Uthaniel finally realised his fate was to be destined for sainthood, to be an icon of humanities purity and resolve to triumph against the terrors of an uncaring universe. To shine with the Emperor's light to challenge...
"We are under attack." someone screamed.
It was true; something had emerged from a broken pipe behind them and was brutally assaulting the frateris militia. Uthaniel had not heard it approach, no one had. In the gloom of emergency lights and glow sticks he saw the long ropes of entrails being thrown about by some grotesque beastial mockery of human kind. There was a time when Uthaniel Vamis would have stood in shock, would have turned to others for salvation but that time was over. This time Uthaniel Vamis would be the shepherd that protected his flock. He pushed through the panicking crowd and roared a challenge to the monstrosity that was devouring the bloody gobbets of flesh that had once been a man.
It turned and Uthaniel looked into a face of heretical evil.
A mutant: pale, degenerate, cannibalistic and a mockery of humanity.
Hunched shoulders and wicked claws, jagged teeth in a nightmarish pockmarked face.
The world slowed down to a crawl. Wrath rose in his head like a howling, divine storm
"Eradicate the mutant." he murmured, his mind clear with righteous purpose, and struck.
He smote it with purity as the Emperor's own fist.
His strike was too brutal to parry, too fast to avoid. The sweeping blow crushed cheek and mashing jaws, shattered teeth and bulbous nose. The energy field reacted to meat and the head of the beast compacted and broke away as blood, inky black and bilious, boiled away.
The vengeance of the shepherd was swift and final.
Silence descended on the tunnel again. His flock stood silent in reverence of his power, his righteousness. Archdeacon looked at their half lit faces and gave his command.
"Onward, to salvation."
The catacombs awaited.
In the darkness of the tunnel behind the Arch Deacon, Cannoness Leanne DeSade frowned in concern.
She dipped her long, elegant hands into the sacred vessel, crude and chipped from a boulder of black quartz it was lined with cracks, the edges were jagged and sharp like the teeth of daemonic sharks. Rusty black dried blood was caked below the rim like filth under fingernails. The warm blood in the vessel clung to her hands as she removed them and covered her face. The gore soothed her twisted soul, ran down her milky white neck, over the polished black opal stones of her necklace and across her lithe pale skinned naked body to pool on the dank cave floor.
Her work here was too easy.
The minds of men were easily led, the now dead astropath who sent the signal to the Tau, the simple men of the PDF who only needed a gentle push to give in to her desires.
The comlink he had given her was chattering again, she had been ignoring it until now for her work was too important for distractions. Her plaything Inquisitor was a needy creature but not without talents. Benjamin DeSade had saved her from the brink of death, starving and hunted by the Eldar. He and his mindlessly loyal guards had slaughtered the eldar warlock that sought her in their efforts to save a simple seeming girl and she had given herself to him willingly as a reward, he could not have known that the act of passion that followed made him her slave and unknowing pawn for all of eternity.
The minds of men were playthings; this world would soon belong to the Knower of Things.
And she would be its queen.
In the shadows lay the blackened, warped hounds that served as her protectors in this place, they rested while they waited for fleshy victims to near. One hound would be enough to kill most opponents but She had a dozen, she had little to fear in her lair and soon she would have nothing to fear at all.
She heard the faint echoes of movement away in the tunnels, She narrowed her eyes in the darkness and hissed through her teeth. There was to be no disturbances but nothing would stop her this day. She slunk away into the shadows to await her newest victims.
Sister Amiin waited impatiently in the clearing. Cannoness DeSade had given the entire unit over to the command of the Inquisitor for some important duty and they had followed his directions to this place.
But they stood in the middle of nowhere, the pair of Rhinos that had carried them here idled away in readiness for a quick move. Amiin felt uncomfortable and the peaceful surroundings did nothing to ease her tension. They were so far away from the city that the sounds of battle were unheard, of course that may mean there was no longer a battle.
What were they doing here? This was no special mission, the inquisitor had demanded they relinquish their com beads and so could not communicate with the city at all. They could use the vox in the Rhinos of course but that would be a direct contravention of standing orders.
"Squad one, patrol the perimeter." Ordered Amiin, "I smell treachery afoot and by the Emperor it will not catch us without bolters ready.