"Know that no-one is more exalted than those who fight in His name! We may have not left Lystarn and fought amongst the stars but He loves us no less! Do we turn our backs on Him now? Do we let the traitorous, blasphemous lords of Lystarn, deface, denigrate and denounce our God?! I say, NEVER! We were the Lystarn Planetary Defence Force. Now we are the betrayed. Now we are the Emperor's Avengers!"
"But where is he? How can he help us now? We are but few against many!" A faceless voice cried from within the hundred strong mass of frightened people.
"You ask where is He? You are right, Lystarn is far from Terra and the Golden Throne. But I would have you all look at your brothers and sisters standing next to you, ready to enter the crucible and fight and die by your sides. He is within them. He is within your arms, He is the very beat of your heart and every soar of your soul. He will strengthen your weary limbs and steel your faltering hearts. He is the iron fist, the flame of retribution, the sword of vengeance. Where is He? I see him in all of your faces."
The remnants of the loyalist Lystarn PDF, took heart from the great words. Pride and fervour had replaced fear and doom. Lasguns were locked and loaded. Power packs and grenades clipped to the belts of their uniforms. Helmets were donned and gauntlets pulled over hands that no longer shook.
Outside an unchallenged sack of a city continued. The traitorous Lystarn government, fallen to Chaos, had brought death and ruin down on the peaceful God-fearing citizens. Swarms of mutated chaos worshippers now ran disfigured through the once beautiful streets of the capitol Lystre, now scarred by crumbling buildings, mutilated bodies and blood.
In a defensible warehouse, the newly formed Emperor's Avengers, solemnly knew their task. The objective: the Communications Centre. Word must be sent to nearby Imperial outposts. Chaos incursion. Assistance required immediately. It was a perilous mission that would require great sacrifice. Colonel Ardan Holt knew that, as did everyone before him and yet here they still stood. The Astartes had their super-enhanced physiology and blessed wargear, the Imperial Guard had their numbers and tanks, what did PDF's have but their heart, their loyalty and their love for the God-Emperor? In the war ravaged 41st Millennium, it was not a great deal with which to fight the myriad enemies of mankind…but sometimes it was enough.
"The Communications Centre lies three miles south through enemies and mortal danger. Should we falter, should we fall, know that there is no greater honour, fighting for your family and your God. But we leave here not to fall, not to fail, but to call for the Emperor's glorious might, to retake our world. Exaltation awaits us, my friends." Colonel Holt raised his power sword, commandeered from a traitor Lystarn Lord, above his head and shouted…
"FOR THE EMPEROR!"