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Chapter 1

Heroes of Xarn

Veteran Marine Ezekiel of the Harbingers Second Company's Special Operations Squad sat on his helmet atop a small hill. Pain shot throughout his body, but he sat perfectly still as the squad's apothecary tended to the most serious of his injuries, a bolter wound in his right shoulder.

He had a thing for catching bullets just below the shoulder pad of his mighty space marine power armour.

"Blasted Orks…" he said out loud as he surveyed the corpse-ridden battlefield.

Two of his marine brothers had fallen, protecting this useless pillar. What use was it to the Imperium anyways?

They had withstood an entire wave of those blasted Xenos, but even though the kill ratio was more than a hundred to one, they were still far too great losses to the already struggling chapter.

A green plague was spreading throughout this planet and even with the help of two of the mighty Space Marine Chapters, it was apparent that this was a war that couldn't be won.

"The Ultramarines have already cleared this sector and evacuated the survivors. Why do we linger while battle rages on the neighbouring continents?"

He was talking to himself, but the apothecary silently nodded. It seemed that only the two leaders of the Second Company actually knew what was going on.

Ezekiel frowned as a whole platoon of Imperial Guard soldiers marched in.

"And where were they when the battle was on?" his look darkened. "Typical, as unreliable as orks…" The apothecary looked up and had he not been wearing his white helmet, Ezekiel would be sure to see a smile on his face.

He glanced over towards the pillar and noticed Icarus, the company's Librarian, studying it intently. Perhaps it held vital information for their struggle against Chaos, but then again, it could be just one more of the numerous scams he had encountered in his days as a space marine.

As much as he admired the psychics and their abilities, this was taking too long. He could feel it deep down inside and apparently, so could Captain Daniel Maxims, who was standing nearby. He looked almost nervous, and that was a frightening notion…

He could see it in the great war-hero's posture. He was impatient and his arm was dangerously close to his Nova Storm Plasma pistol. Apart from the general sense of unease in the air, Ezekiel wondered what it was that bothered the Captain so.

The apothecary finished his treatment and Ezekiel nodded him a silent 'thanks'. In a few hours, the wound will be but a memory and then even that will eventually fade into the ranks of countless other forgotten injuries.

Ezekiel was one of the nine marines that made up the Special Operations Squad of the Second Company. Their sergeant stood a few meters away, next to one of the two predators that had joined in the assault. He was probably negotiating transport to the next checkpoint, but he was obviously thoroughly displeased about something. His fists were clenched and teeth gritted as he stood in silence, listening to a marine spell something out of a vox communicator.

Ezekiel picked up his melta rifle and traced a bolter-score on its right side. It was a rare model and it would be a great shame if it were destroyed by another stray orkish bullet. He reminded himself to inform the tech-marine as soon as possible. "For now, it will have to do… and guide me Emperor if it jams in battle." He thought while a drop pod landed just behind a nearby predator tank.

The Second Company was the smallest in the chapter, mainly comprised of specialist squads and tactical assault units that paved the way for the bulk of the Harbingers force.

Besides special operations, Ezekiel's squad also had its designated task in the assault operations of the Third Company. Sergeant Nicholas and his squad, being very versatile with all-round training, were responsible for deep-strike missions and breaking enemy morale.

Ezekiel himself had single-handedly destroyed an Ork Leman Russ only a few hours earlier. He had no joy or satisfaction from the act though, four marines had fallen and that was far too great a loss at a time when the Harbingers struggled to stay in High Council-allowed limits. Marine replacements were hard to come by, while the orks' numbers were limitless. What pained him the most was the loss of one of his longest-serving squad-brothers. He had trained and fought with Brother Matthias for many years, ever since they were rookie marines and the loss of such an experienced warrior was a harsh blow not only to the special operations squad, but the entire undermanned Chapter.

'I wonder how long the squad will remain down a man…' Ezekiel thought, little did he know that his untold question would soon be answered.

He walked towards his sergeant and noticed that his anger went beyond clenched fists and gritted teeth; his face was almost skewed in anger.

"Outrageous!" he roared as the vox communicator crackled and the connection closed, "two hours… not more…" he continued.

Ezekiel looked at him questioningly, but only when a very young marine emerged from the drop-pod, did he understand what was going on.

Meanwhile, the sergeant continued: "His body hasn't even settled into the ground yet and already… a replacement," he said with disgust. "No respect…"

Sergeant Nicholas was known for great tactical expertise and leadership and was rumoured to be the first replacement, were something to happen to the captain, but they were moments like these that showed he still wasn't ready for greater command. Pride and the inability to let go and 'retreat', were his major downfalls.

"Brother Mathias' loss will not be forgotten," a familiar voice said from behind, "but now we have to focus on the task at hand."

It was Captain Maxims, and even though he was still troubled by the losses himself, he was thoroughly displeased at Nicholas' emotional outburst. A moment seemed to pass between the two men and soon the mood lightened.

The recently promoted scout watched as probably the two most respected men of the entire Second Company exchanged a few looks and then smiled. Nothing more had to be said, the matter was settled. He admired the strength of the honour and simplicity within the Space Marine ranks, something he was very proud to be a part of.

Captain Maxims turned to the other sergeant that had gathered on a nearby hill beside the Librarian Icarus.