Chapter II: Descent
Lady Rubyn stood at the prow of the Raider, taking in the scenery below her. They we're headed to a forest, which lost more and more density the further you went towards hostile territory. The Haemonculus Zalmon approached his commander, bowed down and then looked at the landscape as well. "Interesting...do you see those trees my lady? I didn't think they would leave any standing..." he wondered.
Rubyn whirled around in fury, her hand outstretched, ready to slap her second-in-command. "Some day, Zalmon, some day I will lose my patience with you! You can count yourself lucky I haven't sped up your decent a bit. There are trees because this is territory those filthy things do not yet have under control. Did you believe we would land straight at the centre of the infestation? How do you think are we supposed to get in and out without alarming the whole planet?!"
Karrex, who was steering the Raider, noticed the rage in his mistress and he knew, that the whole operation would be a lot more exhausting if it started with the Lady enraged. "M'lady, two minutes until we hit ground." He also knew, that somehow his discipline and focus on the mission always calmed her down, at least as long as Lord Zalmon was the object of her fury. Probably, it reminded her, that not the whole squad was as inept as the Haemonculus.
Turning towards the soldier, Rubyn said: "Get us down quick and quiet. We do not want to attract any unwanted attention." Looking around once more, she reflected why they'd come here in the first place and under such secrecy. Rubyn was an independent individual, not belonging to a Kabal or Wych Cult. The same went for her small strike team, with the exception of Lord Zalmon. Still, they were in service to Asdrubael Vect, overlord of Commoragh. Well, only in service to him. The job was neither easy nor did it pay well, not even in slaves, but the first thing you learn in the Dark City is not to cross Vect, at least if you want to enjoy your life.
"Listen up," she started, turning towards her men, "I know the odds aren't exactly in our favour. There's an infinite number of enemies out there, whereas this squad consists of merely five members. That's the reason for all this caution. That's the reason we tricked the Imperial Guard. That's the reason we released the Mandrakes. Still, those are hardly more than diversions. But, do you really believe we need them? We are Dark Eldar! Nothing strikes faster, nothing has more grace, nothing is superior! We are sons and daughters of Commoragh. That's the reason why we're here. That's the reason why we have no fear. That's the reason why we will prevail. Now, move out!"
During her furious speech, the Raider had finished it's decent and landed on a glade, hidden from sight. Rubyn's feet were the first to touch the ground, sped up by her fury and her leading position. Vork, the only vat-grown member of her team, stood beside her, Splinter Rifle in hand and cautiously eyeing the edges of the clearing. Karrex was still on-board configuring the auto-pilot, so the Raider would return to the "Unseen Strike". Once done, he also jumped off the craft mimicking Vork's stance, the only difference being the weapon, as Karrex carried a Dark Lance.
Still, there were only four pairs of feet on the ground, the fifth belonged to Tarsyr. He was standing on his Skyboard, which was hovering a few feet above ground. Without a single word, he took off and disappeared among the treetops. The rest of the team formed a triangle around Zalmon, as he was more of a scientist, than a warrior. He was the one responsible for their experimental warfare and he wouldn't even let anyone else near it. Haemonculi were obsessed with harmful technologies.
Rubyn stood there, Demiklaives in hand – trophies from an Incubus, who stood in her way – and waited for Tarsyr's return. After a few minutes the low hum of the Skyboard returned, signalling that they had not yet been noticed and could move on. Tarsyr himself stayed out of sight, partly because he was the lookout and partly as strategic move. Should they be attacked, the sudden appearance of Tarsyr on his Skyboard, wielding his Hellglaive, would have a much stronger impact on the enemy's morale than it could have, if he'd been there from the beginning.
Thus, they set out into the forest, leaving the safety of the clearing.