I know this is short but it's just the prologue. Constructive criticism welcome. Later chapters will be longer. Also for anyone who has played Dawn of War Dark Crusade, at this stage Shas'o Kais has normal amour and no battle suit. Enjoy! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Prologue

Shas'o Kais looked of the narrow viewing slit in the barricade made out of the remains of the barracuda his cadre had flew in on. As soon as they were in scanning distance they had been pelted by a lucky lascannon shot, which punched a hole through the middle of the ship eviscerating six of his men and splitting the ship in half. One part of it had spiralled off in to the ork horde's piece of land where the survivors would be found and put to death. The men were told to hold for two days, and by that time hammerhead gunships would have been dropped. Now at two weeks past the designated time, rumours started to spread that the vehicle-carrying -barracudas had been shot down as well. He took a tin box out of his pack and started sharing his last rations between his men. They all looked the same to him except for the remaining kroot. Most of the kroot had been on the other half of the barracuda. He had soon gotten used to the continuous sound of the Imperial guardsmen wasting their ammo on the barricade. They heard a scream from above them. Shas'la Kaieel fell from the second story with a soft groan. The barracuda had smashed into the front of a manufactorum, blocking the ground floor. Shas'o Kais stared at his corpse noticing the war torn sky reflected in his glistening sightless eyes. "Goran take his rail rifle and get up there" Kais said. He felt as if he had fitted a noose around Goran's neck. The troopers were all silent. Shas'ui Goran had been the heart and morale of the cadre. Goran did not look back as he climbed the stairs. There was a soft metallic swish followed by a lot of shouting behind Kais. He turned and grabbed the offending trooper in a deadly arm lock twisting it up his back until the trooper dropped his knife. "What is this about?" asked Kais. "Vordan was disrespecting Kaieel sir," answered the trooper. Kais recognized him as Kaleel, Kaieel's birth-brother. While they shared bonds birth-brothers were never as close as Ta'lissera brothers. "That didn't give you the right to draw a knife on him Kaleel. And you Vordan" he said turning "One more thing about Kaieel and you'll be the one on the ground dismissed". Kais was one of the few who knew about their difficult relationship. When Vordan had decided to become his brother through the ritual of the Ta'lissera and Kaieel had refused they had become bitter rivals. Kaleel picked up his brothers body and carried it to the back of the building. Seventeen lay dead already and only forty four were left. Three kroot lay dead as well. Not killed by the imperials but killed by the tau themselves. The three kroot had tried feeding off the bodies and had been caught. There had been thirteen dead Tau before that fight. All in all things looked gloomy. "Fix-bayonets" the call came from across the battlefield. "Prepare yourselves men." Kais said. "Fight and Die for The Greater Good!"