The white Thunderhawk streaked through the black atmosphere of Theis. Captain Rein Torgald of the Guardians 5th company stood in the cockpit as the small rivers of toxic water formed on the window, the visibility cut to almost nothing.

'We should be arriving over the capital hive now,' the pilot reported, a quick glace to the nav console confirmed it.

'How long until we get good visibility?'

'Not long now'

Torgald nodded at returned to the troop bay. Sergeant's Yuni and Intolp snapped to attention. They led his companies assault squads, the rest of his company being deployed several systems distant.

'Prepare for combat sergeants.'

The Thunderhawk banked hard to the left indicating their presence had been discovered by the cultists manning the defense complex below them. It mattered little, they were here to cut out the heart of the uprising and only a focused barrage could defeat a Guardians pilot. He took a grip on a handhold as the gunship continued to avoid enemy fire.

'Landing in 10 seconds'

Torgald thumbed his power axe to life as the assault ramp dropped open. Torgald charged out dropping three mutants with is bolt pistol before cutting a fourth in half. Sergeant Intolp reduced another mutant into ragged strips with his lightning claws before leaping into a big mutant, which roared its challenge in response. Solid slugs raked Torgald's right pauldron and he turned to see a band of renegade militia. Kicking aside a mutant he starting charging towards the militia. Some of them turned to flee but Torgald was amongst them quicker than they expected, swinging his axe in huge arcs that reduced the band to corpses in seconds. He rolled to his right just as a power maul smashed into the ground where he stood seconds before. He swung his axe in return but it was parried aside by a blade that trailed green flames. The renegade sorcerer towered above him and aimed at Torgald's head again with the maul. Torgald dropped low and tackled his opponent. He brought his bolt pistol up and emptied the clip into the sorcerer's chest plate. Crashing to the ground they attempted to overpower each other as they couldn't get their weapons in to strike. The sorcerer started striking Torgald with his fists, unleashing his vile powers to burn him with green fire. The heat grew in intensity quickly and the sorcerer threw him off. Torgald quickly got to his feet and pulled off his helm, the fire continuing to burn his flesh black. Raging Torgald focused his fury at his foe and clapped his palms together, as if he knew what would happen. The sorcerer imploded, his armour crumpling as massive forces liquefied his body. As their leader's body fell, his army broke and fled back into the catacombs of the hive. Moments later Thunderhawk Atreyus returned to the plaza to extract Torgald and his assault squads.

Watching from the other side of the plaza, concealed by the shadow of a broken had building, Inquisitor Chiran saw it all. He furrowed his brow in concentration.