PROLOUGE
"Tactical Squad Zeta, begin pre-insertion equipment checks!" Lt. Grapplit yelled into his com-receiver. The once peaceful planet of Lemnos in the Gothic Sector was in the middle of a full-scale war against the traitorous invaders known as the Thousand Sons Chaos Space Marines. The Dark Angles Space Marine Chapter was preparing for a counter strike against the Thousand Sons.
A hundred marines loaded themselves onto the Rhino transports waiting for them.
"Grapplit, sir! All troops are ready, we will advance on your command" came a voice from Grapplit's com-receiver. Grapplit lifted the com- receiver to his mouth and gave the command. Almost immediately, the Rhinos pulled away from the landing zone, the earth shaking under the mechanical advance.
Lt. Grapplit looked at his fellow warriors. The bio-genetically altered super humans showed no sign of any emotion. Silent protectors of the Emperor. One marine was inscribing the words "Repent! For tomorrow you die!" on the barrel of his bolter. Another marine made last minute checks for any defect in his almost flawless green power armor.
Without warning, a deafening explosion rocked the Rhino, nearly tipping it. In a startled voice, Lt. Grapplit shouted to the driver, "Open the hatch!" The sounds of gears and latches moving filled the air, followed by the sound of air escaping through the newly opened entrance. The noon sun poured light into the transport, as the marines Photoreceptors instantly adjusted to the new amount of light.
Within seconds, the marines were running towards the cover of a nearby forest. Lt. Grapplit took a quick glance over at the burning wreckage of the once powerful Rhino transport. He said a quick prayer for the brave warriors of the Emperor before ducking down behind a bush.
"Pinsi! Shcrim!" Grapplit shouted at two marines taking cover in a ditch. "I want a full perimeter scan! Now!" The two marines jumped out of the ditch without a second of hesitation and ran quickly out of sight.
Bolter rounds being unloaded and the cries of the wounded were all that could be heard. Grapplit's squad was preparing to move out of the forest when a shout came from the forest. A marine staggered into view from behind a tree, sparks flying from a jagged hole in his armor right above his left breast.
"Sir! Chaos...marines...took out Shcrim...we need...help!" the marine gasped.
"Pinsi!" Grapplit said, as the marine fell to the ground, dead. "Apothecary!!" Grapplit shouted in a booming voice. In mere moments a marine covered in white armor strode into the forest, stooping down over the marine.
"Sorry sir, but there's nothing you can do for him." The apothecary said. "You are needed on the battle field, I'll take ove-"
The apothecary's speech was stopped dead as bolts flew into the forest, shattering the apothecary's helmet. Three blue and yellow clad chaos marines sprang forth from the bushes, one cleaving a nearby marine in two with his chain sword. The marines exchanged fire with the traitors, quickly eliminating the three chaos marines, but not without suffering another loss.
Lt. Grapplit stood still, clenching his hand into a fist. He murmured a small prayer for him and the 2 marines left in his squad. From the silence on the com-receiver, he could tell that the battle was already lost.
Grapplit strode out from the forest, letting loose hails of bolter fire into the unsuspecting ranks of chaos marines already celebrating their victory. Hiding in the havoc, a tall chaos marine with extravagant armor and a glowing sword maneuvered himself into an open patch of dead grass. Lifting his free hand to his head, he concentrated on Grapplit, worming into his mind. Suddenly, the chaos marine sent out a blast of mind power, and Grapplit crumples, and falls to the floor.
The day is lost.
"Tactical Squad Zeta, begin pre-insertion equipment checks!" Lt. Grapplit yelled into his com-receiver. The once peaceful planet of Lemnos in the Gothic Sector was in the middle of a full-scale war against the traitorous invaders known as the Thousand Sons Chaos Space Marines. The Dark Angles Space Marine Chapter was preparing for a counter strike against the Thousand Sons.
A hundred marines loaded themselves onto the Rhino transports waiting for them.
"Grapplit, sir! All troops are ready, we will advance on your command" came a voice from Grapplit's com-receiver. Grapplit lifted the com- receiver to his mouth and gave the command. Almost immediately, the Rhinos pulled away from the landing zone, the earth shaking under the mechanical advance.
Lt. Grapplit looked at his fellow warriors. The bio-genetically altered super humans showed no sign of any emotion. Silent protectors of the Emperor. One marine was inscribing the words "Repent! For tomorrow you die!" on the barrel of his bolter. Another marine made last minute checks for any defect in his almost flawless green power armor.
Without warning, a deafening explosion rocked the Rhino, nearly tipping it. In a startled voice, Lt. Grapplit shouted to the driver, "Open the hatch!" The sounds of gears and latches moving filled the air, followed by the sound of air escaping through the newly opened entrance. The noon sun poured light into the transport, as the marines Photoreceptors instantly adjusted to the new amount of light.
Within seconds, the marines were running towards the cover of a nearby forest. Lt. Grapplit took a quick glance over at the burning wreckage of the once powerful Rhino transport. He said a quick prayer for the brave warriors of the Emperor before ducking down behind a bush.
"Pinsi! Shcrim!" Grapplit shouted at two marines taking cover in a ditch. "I want a full perimeter scan! Now!" The two marines jumped out of the ditch without a second of hesitation and ran quickly out of sight.
Bolter rounds being unloaded and the cries of the wounded were all that could be heard. Grapplit's squad was preparing to move out of the forest when a shout came from the forest. A marine staggered into view from behind a tree, sparks flying from a jagged hole in his armor right above his left breast.
"Sir! Chaos...marines...took out Shcrim...we need...help!" the marine gasped.
"Pinsi!" Grapplit said, as the marine fell to the ground, dead. "Apothecary!!" Grapplit shouted in a booming voice. In mere moments a marine covered in white armor strode into the forest, stooping down over the marine.
"Sorry sir, but there's nothing you can do for him." The apothecary said. "You are needed on the battle field, I'll take ove-"
The apothecary's speech was stopped dead as bolts flew into the forest, shattering the apothecary's helmet. Three blue and yellow clad chaos marines sprang forth from the bushes, one cleaving a nearby marine in two with his chain sword. The marines exchanged fire with the traitors, quickly eliminating the three chaos marines, but not without suffering another loss.
Lt. Grapplit stood still, clenching his hand into a fist. He murmured a small prayer for him and the 2 marines left in his squad. From the silence on the com-receiver, he could tell that the battle was already lost.
Grapplit strode out from the forest, letting loose hails of bolter fire into the unsuspecting ranks of chaos marines already celebrating their victory. Hiding in the havoc, a tall chaos marine with extravagant armor and a glowing sword maneuvered himself into an open patch of dead grass. Lifting his free hand to his head, he concentrated on Grapplit, worming into his mind. Suddenly, the chaos marine sent out a blast of mind power, and Grapplit crumples, and falls to the floor.
The day is lost.