Imperial Orphan. White shield Chronicles.
Disclaimer:
The ownership and rights to warhammer 40K is owned by gamesworkshop and the story that inspired this one is owned by MA7 along with the oc main character of MA7's story
Chapter one. The introduction of Franklin and The great chase.
(Franklin's pov)
Life as the son of Heretics is harder than anyone could ever think.
Everyday was just a fight for survival. Against your enemies and the people your fighting to protect in fear of bringing the pestilence of demons upon them.
My home world of Argus was attacked first by orks and the fighting was horrific. Argus is a large and very successful agri-world. And supplies the most important food stuffs and medicine ingredients for the entire sector so it was top priority to protect it. After the numbers of the imperial guard had begin to dangerously dwindle the commisars in charge of the war began drafting every able bodied Man Woman and Child who could hold a weapon.
We were taken from the orphanage of Strict chastisement along with the nuns and many of the sisters of battle to aid in the war. I was six at the time I was drafted into service. My drill instructor was a giant brute of a man who could easily be mistaken for an astartes in stature.
Drill Sargent Arnold Reiger of the Catachan 2nd company was a man of few words and many killing methods and he went on to teach all who fell under his duty to train everything he knew in the arts of brutal murder and trust me Drill sargent Reiger was no gentle or merciful man there are only two human beings stronger than him and they are Colonel Stracken and the legendary Catachan soldier Sly marbo with this in mind I paid attention as hard as I could. Six weeks into my training I could clean maintain and field strip my weapon in under sixty seconds. I also learned how to knife fight Catachan style. I was praised for my skill and discipline when I was asked where I came from I answered.
I said I was from Argus I was an orphan who lived in the orphanage of Strict chastisement. And was drafted when the war got worse. After boot camp we were deployed my squad was assigned supply runner and security detail for the field hospital/supply depot.
We also reloaded the auto turrets and manned the heavy stubbers from time to time I myself racked up a large kill count through laying landmines and traps. It was the end days of the war when the Ordos Xenos had come up with a fungicide designed to kill ork spores and to prevent them from ever being a problem again and it weakened the orks that were still alive. After the poison was used kill teams went in to finish off the stragglers.
The war lasted for eight years before it ended in humanity's favour and we orphans were allowed to go home. Sadly a lot of orphans didn't make it home I mourned the loss of my friends but at least the nuns survived they had been working in the hospital for the entire war while the adeptus sororitas served on the front lines. I was happy I was going home having my life return to normal.
Just as we were about to depart Drill sargent Reiger pulled me aside. "You did well Private you served your duty and you killed a lot of orks for someone your age". Said Reiger.
"Thank you sir it was an honour to be in the emperor's service!". I said in a military style.
"At ease private I came to see you off. And to give you this". Said Reiger as he pulled out a large custom made combat knife and a red bandana with a skull on the front.
"With this I recognise your skill in war and make you an honorary member of the Catachan 2nd company the Catachan fang is a weapon that kills silently and brutally. And the bandana is proof of your blood oath keep them with you always soldier and may the emperor be with you private Franklin". Said Reiger giving me a salute.
I saluted back and placed the bandana on my head and the knife on my belt and went to board the bus taking the survivor orphans back to the orphanage I looked back and saw the only father figure I ever had disappear into the distance and was resolved to not let him down.
(Franklin's POV end)
The bus had arrived at the orphanage and the surviving orphans and the nuns disembarked. Returning to normal life. Franklin looked at the orphanage smiled for the first time in eight years.
"It's not much but there's no place like home and I thank the emperor for the roof over my head". Said Franklin as he said a little prayer in thanks.
Sister Mary looked on at Franklin and smiled. It was the first time she had seen him smile since being drafted to fight in the war. Life was returning to normal and Sister Mary was hoping she could convince the mother superior to go easy on the children now.
(Later that night at the nun's supper table)
"All I'm saying is that we needn't be so strict with them anymore. Look at what they had accomplished they help gain a victory for mankind in the emperor's name they are good boys who can't be corrupted I mean they fought against the green skins and survived that is proof that the emperor favours them". Said Sister Mary hoping she wouldn't have to hurt these children anymore.
War with orks is a brutal bloody and violent matter. Many people died some fighting others unable to and could only flee for their lives. To call that bloody tragedy a war is an understatement it was a massacre for the guard and for the Orks it was sport. These brave young boys had seen things no child should have seen.
Many of the survivors had suffered from bad cases of PTSD a few just gave up the will to live and died back in the field hospital, seeing all those children that She helped raise from newborn babes die like that broke Sister mary's heart into a thousand pieces.
"I'm sorry Sister Mary but I cannot allow it if we lax in our efforts to keep these children pure we could risk them falling to the ruinous powers of chaos and I refuse to allow that. Starting tomorrow we begin where we left off before the war began". Said Mother superior not allowing for any further argument.
The next day came and the children's chastisement and prayer began again. But after Chastisement Franklin would go to his bunk take out his U90 autogun clean it oil it and maintain it then put it back in it's case. The military life never left him being ingrained into his very being over the eight years he served in the conscripted militia. Knowing that something terrible was coming his way and when it arrived it planned to do terrible things.
(Aboard the nightmare asylum five months later)
"Mistress We have located Franklin he's on planet Argus". Said a bridge slut.
"Finally at last my baby will come home". Wendy wept happily.
A massive form appeared behind Wendy. "It is time for the long lost Sevenson to return to the fold. Augusta ready your squad you leave to retrieve your brother as soon as we reach Argus". Said the massive being to the person behind him.
"Yes father at once". Said Augusta as he disappeared into the darkness to prepare for the mission ahead.
(back on Argus)
Sister Mary looked at franklin who was in the scourging rack barely conscious it had been raining and the rain had been cold it felt like ice daggers smashing against his skin. But he made no sound or expression of pain he had been through worse.
But the cold finally got the best of him causing Franklin to pass out in the rain. Sister Mary quickly took Franklin to the infirmary listening to him babble in his unconsciousness reliving the horrors he experienced in that hellish nightmare of a war.
He tossed and he turned until later that night he woke up. He had gotten out of bed and was running into the forest behind the orphanage completely under control of an outside force. Just then there was a flash of light, a sound of thunder then the earth violently quaked. His body stopped when he came to a clearing in the forest.
Franklin looked to see a man in the clearing a tall man in golden armour he was beautiful, majestic and powerful like he was the apex of human evolution. He looked down at Franklin and smiled gesturing to him to take his hand Franklin silently made his way to the majestic man and and laid his tiny hand in his massive one and suddenly his sight was blasted with light.
He then passed out Franklin was found the next morning and brought to the Mother superior.
"Why did you break curfew young man". The mother superior asked with a no nonsense tone in her voice.
"I heard something outside that shouldn't have been on the grounds mother superior. I went out armed to see who or what it was fearing for my fellow orphans and the honourable nuns safety. I can't tell why but I just had a really bad feeling Ma'am". Said franklin in military manner.
"You should have reported it young man we found you unconscious near the site of what looked like a crash landing of some kind. Next time bring it to the facility's security forces and never break curfew again now go to the scourging rack for morning chastisement". The mother superior scolded.
Franklin bowed and left.
The day went on and many of the children went back to their boot camp days. Running drills doing exercises to keep in fighting condition they just trained and trained and trained between prayers and chastisements.
Leading the boys through drill and exercise was Franklin. Many of the orphans looked up to Franklin and respected him as he had the highest kill count of them all. A total of Three hundred kills both while running resupply missions to and from the front lines and protecting the field hospital and supply depot from enemy attack.
The whiteshields of his regiment began calling him nicknames such as the green death and Orksbane. He killed in ways that were far to brutal to be thought up by a child. Franklin was special that's why Sargent major Arnold Reiger took keen interest in him. Many others except the fellow children from his orphanage were green with envy Franklin saved his regiment time and time again and his squad was tough they survived the longest in the war out of all the other child soldiers. But sadly all good things came to an end Franklin lost his squad to a grot ambush but did he give in to rage no he got back up blew the crap out of the runty greenskins and protected those that survived.
Franklin had a no man's left behind attitude and it was for this trait he gained respect from his peers. Franklin saw things for how they were. He knew the imperium and it's government wasn't perfect. But they were the only thing keeping Humanity off the extinct species list. He had seen violence and death for eight long years and he never wanted to see such devastation again.
Whenever anyone asked Franklin about his opinion on the war he would say it was an internecine conflict both sides suffered terribly and so much was damaged. If there was a time humanity badly needed their Emperor it was now because as he saw it humanity was well and truly fucked.
Later that night a massive thunderstorm rumbled in the sky making everyone uneasy. At the first crack of thunder Franklin opened up his foot locker and loaded his weapons getting them prepared. The others that served with him did the same. Lights out came and everyone went to bed Sister Martha when she saw the door leading to the exercise yard was open letting the rain and storm in. on the floor she saw fresh huge wet muddy footprints leading into the facility.
Before Sister Martha could panic a massive hand lashed out from the darkness grabbing her by the neck. "I'm here for my brother". Whispered a scary voice in the dark before the hand around Sister Martha's neck tightened it's grip until a brutal and horrific snap was heard and the nuns struggling kicking legs just went still. The intruder then cut open the nuns belly then hung her from the rafters with her own entrails while writing something on the wall in the nun's blood.
"He is here I can smell him spread out and watch your fire if any harm comes to my brother I'll kill you myself. Half of you will take the west wing of the facility while the rest of you come with me to the east wing the killermanjaro are to search this building try to take as many alive as possible we can always use more slaves now move out!". Augusta ordered.
(With Franklin)
Franklin woke up to the smell of blood as the others did not liking the situation the boys armed up and hid under their beds locked and loaded and ready to fight for their lives.
(with Sister Mary)
Sister Mary walked the halls and saw that something had entered the facility. In a panic she ran until she came across a fellow nun.
"Oh Sister thank the emperor I think something has entered the... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!". Sister Mary screamed her lungs out when she saw the state of sister Martha.
Brutalised and disembowelled hanging from the rafters from her own intestines it was a horrible sight to behold Sister Mary's screams could be heard throughout the entire dorm. Attracting the other nuns to see what was wrong.
(Back with Franklin)
The moment the boys heard the screaming they ran out to investigate with weapons primed. They finally came across the nuns both living and dead. Sister mary looked to see Franklin leading the boys.
"What are you boys doing out of bed". Asked Sister Mary still teary eyed.
"We heard screaming". One of the boys replied. Franklin looked at the nun who was strung up.
"Oh my god... it's sister Martha". Said Franklin before looking to the far wall the words on the wall made Franklin's face as pale as a sheet.
They read. 'FRANKLIN YOUR FAMILY HAS COME' written in Sister Martha's blood.
"Listen up this is a code red situation extreme we've got hostiles in the facility break up into teams of three and recon the area under no circumstance are you to engage the enemy if you find them learn what you can and then come back here. If you come under attack defend yourselves and try to raise the alarm now move out!". Franklin ordered.
The other boys nodded and did as ordered. Franklin went to see if the nuns were okay.
"Sisters we need to move like right now trust me on this we don't want to be around when whatever did this to sister Martha comes back". Said Franklin.
The nuns agreed and Franklin and his white shield comrades escorted the nuns out of the hall way when they heard hooting hollering and snarling at the end of the hall way. They looked and there was a mob of people there charging at them.
"CONTACT!". Franklin bellowed and the boys opened fire.
Blasting the oncoming intruders violently to pieces. And they didn't stop firing until there was nothing but lifeless chunks.
"Damn Franklin couldn't you have picked a louder gun". Said one of the boys.
"Hey that's what I love about the U90 Autogun boys it's like firing a miniature autocannon it's big, it's loud and it takes no crap and puts down assholes like a champion. You want to complain about noise you should wait until you hear my hand cannons go off". Franklin smirked.
"Now come on we need to leave all that gunfire would have alerted their friends". Said Franklin.
They ran down the corridor until they come face to face with a big squad of night lords lead by Franklin's older brother himself. Franklin saw the alarm button on the wall and smashed it with all his might setting off the security alarm before taking cover while opening fire on the night lords.
Some night lords Fired back only to be punched out by Augusta.
"Hold your fire you idiots we're here to take him alive!". Augusta Snarled.
"Franklin Sevenson! My name is Augusta Sevenson I have only come here to talk". Said Augusta.
"And what could a traitor space marine want to talk to me about". Franklin shouted from behind cover.
"I have come for you little brother it's time to come home to see your mother she at this very moment waits for your arrival with extreme anticipation and anxiety. I have been sent down to retrieve you to save you from this horrible place". Said Augusta.
"I don't trust a word you saying throw down your weapons and lets talk face to face but I swear on the golden throne you try anything you'll be blown to bits for your stupidity". Said Franklin secretly hanging his autogun on his back and drew his hand cannons taking the large wide barrelled pistols off safety making sure they were ready to fire.
Franklin heard a weapon drop to the floor.
"There brother I am unarmed. Let us talk". Said Augusta.
Franklin came out and shot the roof above Augusta bringing it down on top of him.
Franklin ran back to his nuns and fellow child soldiers. "Now while their digging that guy out lets make a quick and hasty tactical retreat". Said Franklin.
"So run away screaming with our arms flailing in the air?". Said one of the orphan boys.
And Franklin nodded. "Yep".
"RUN AWAY!". Franklin yelled frantically as they all booked it out of there.
One of the sisters while running asked. "weren't you some big tough soldier in the war so why are you running away". She said wondering.
"Yes I served in the Argusion war. But most of the time my enemies were grots and orks stupid green skins who couldn't think past Shoot, stab, chop, stomp, repeat. These are space marines and chaos space marines who are very smartat that the only way we survive is to fight Smart". Said Franklin while running.
They ran until they were on the other side of the facility. The alarm blaring but no one was turning up to answer the alarm. They ran to the security house only to see the security guards murdered in a most hideous way.
"By the throne that is sick they killed everyone here we need to move on". Said Franklin.
"KILL THE IMPERIALS!". A squad of cultists flooded into the security house guns blazing in the ensuing firefight three of the boys with Franklin were killed which led to franklin to respond the only way he knew.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRG!"
BADA-BADA-BADA-BADA-BADA-BADA-BADA-BADA-BADA-BADA-BADA-BADA!
The gunfire drowned all other sounds out. The cultist squad was wiped out by Franklin in a fit of rage and gun violence. Had killed them all chopped them all to bits.
Only to find that three of the seven boys were also dead.
"Damn it all there are so few of us left already... why did they have to die". Franklin cried softly mourning his friends.
Sister Mary looked at Franklin and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm so sorry franklin but we cannot stay here. The night lords are hunting us down we need to go". Said Sister Mary along with the other boys that survived comforting him in his loss.
Franklin wiped his tears and nodded reloading his autogun and took charge he and the boys lead the nuns to the barracks of the sisters of battle when they arrived the sight that greeted them turned their blood to ice.
The doors had been ripped off from their hinges the beheaded bodies of the sisters of battle filled the barracks and written all over the walls was the same thing over and over and over again.
'SEVENSON!'
The nuns screamed at the sight.
Franklin and the other four boys said a silent prayer for them hoping they were in paradise now. "Search the area for anything useful weapons ammo food and First aid supplies go". Franklin ordered.
The boys looked for weapons on the sisters of battle only to find out their bodies had been completely looted the entire barracks along with the dead sisters of battle had been completely sacked not a weapon or round of ammunition to be seen.
"Mother superior the whole barracks has been completely cleaned out. There is nothing here but we have found an armoured bus in the vehicle bay". Franklin reported.
The remaining boys franklin included escorted the nuns to the bus Franklin opened the door and went to sit down in the driver's seat when the mother superior stopped him and sat down in it herself.
"It needs someone who knows how to drive it". She said in a strained voice.
(With Augusta)
The night lords had regrouped and Augusta was looking at the security house. Looking for any survivors.
"Augusta I've found him!". Said one of the night lords.
The night lord dragged the cultist squad leader before Augusta.
"I thought I told you we were to take Franklin alive weren't you listening!". Shouted Augusta as he blew the cultist away.
"Augusta we've looked among the bodies we found three young boys dead but none of them were franklin he's still alive". Said Sherman.
"Move out lets get my brother and then off this planet before more bolter bitches show up". Augusta snarled in frustration.
(Back with franklin.)
everyone was on the bus heading for the front gate when loud demonic howls of rage permeated the air.
The mother superior slammed her foot on the gas pedal and the bus flew down the road at full speed.
Franklin also hearing the howls and battle cries looked about the bus.
'lets see... An old rations tin, assortment of nuts and bolts, broken glass shards an oil can half full'. Thought Franklin as he frantically snatched up the items in question.
Franklin went to work. "Alright boys propellant now give me your current clips". Said Franklin.
The boys did as ordered and franklin drew his knife and removed the bullets from the casings threw in the oil the bullets and the propellant powder along with the assorted nuts and bolts and then put the cap on it. He then ripped his skivvies off in one deft move and then tied the entire rig together.
Pulling out a lighter and he waited just as the night lords descended and touched down on the road. Franklin lit the homemade fuse to his IED and threw it out the back of the bus watching the crude explosive go off just as the Night lords got close to it.
'It wasn't enough to kill them but maybe it might just slow them down or at the very least confuse them enough to let us get away'. Thought Franklin as the nearest checkpoint was over 200 miles away as the bus drove on at full speed.