Chapter 2: Plague Wars: Part one

Ash rained down everywhere as men in blackened uniforms prowled the ground. The ash was so thick that it truly did taint everything leaving the question if the masked men were wearing black uniforms or if the ash had covered it up in the grey black form it took on currently.

The men if you would dare call them moved with an efficiency of servitors in their efforts to stack piles of bodies like cord wood and light them aflame with little to no reaction. After it was sufficiently stacked another pair would walk up carrying a flamer and light it without a second thought or regard how close the flames would be.

Every single person wore a uniform of some sort. The uniforms they once wore were now blackened by flame or grey from the endless ash. The clothes were odd. The knees down was black while above the knees they would slowly turn into a grey ash with little dots of black. All had something covering their faces. The leaders wore contraptions one could only assume were rudimentary gas masks. The others wore rags around their faces. With all of them, one could only see dark pits created by shadows for eyes. Heads were covered with hoods or with another cloth object formed to cover their hair or scalp from human ash.

There was only one way to tell they were human. The workers would occasionally stumble or need to halt in their work. The moment they did people would check them for a furious few seconds. If they were found wanting a lasround would be found inside their skulls before joining the very stacks they were stacking.

This was ongoing taking all day, yet a task without an end it would feel. After who knew how long every single tainted body was put under the flame or was apart of the very ash that choked the world. From a distance one would think the ash to be the product of a far away factory churning out one of a plethora of products. No one in a hundred miles would dare get too close to collect these "products"

The few that did try to collect a "product" claiming it belong to their family were either deterred and told to leave or were shot after adequate reasoning and they too would join the endless piles. Eventually these people gained a name. "Hell's Guard" these were the soldiers that saved their planet from a planet called Tarth, but what was written in history would always claim the Hell's Guard, and the shining guard that came with the Chapter Master were two separate guard units. What few knew was they were one of the same. A coin of two terribly contrasting sides. They did their duty despite the terrible sins they wrought upon their souls. Days earlier these soldiers stood with pride now the ash clung to their skin as a constant reminder of what they did.


The soldiers had little in the ways of war

A lasgun and flak jacket

The leaders begged for armament

There was none to be had

-The Historian

"Two weeks!" I repeated back in surprise. Captain Klein nodded he too was disheartened. A war hero who served in the guard prior to becoming the original 700 colonists here. He reenlisted and found his way rightful up the officer chain and leader of first company. He had no hair a result as a gory reminder from a plasma burn and had a mechanical leg he hid behind the carapace armor all officers had. His uniform was the standard PDF uniform with a black beret and his left hand was missing two fellows. I had a sneaking suspicion this old man had undergone rejuvenation treatment multiple times as he was able to still meet the physical standards of the guard with practiced ease.

I wouldn't be shocked if he was a storm trooper too. He had various tattoos that were old and worn. They had various numbers and letters. A few odd animals here and there, but then again they weren't that different than the traditional Toujin tattoos for those who came to age. Speaking of which, I should ask Raken if he wanted the traditional Toujin tattoo or if he wanted the barcode of the Helikians. It really was a serious tradition I had overlooked. A boy becomes a man only once and after this war he would be of age if I remembered properly.

"That's the word son. Inquisitors always come when the going gets soft" Captain Klein's voice was deep and hoarse from yelling over the noise of combat and his habit of smoking. He currently was chewing on a but that was a stimulant for emperor knew what.

"We'll can you provide me with what I need? Stubbers, mortars, flamers and grenades?"

"Son you Helikian boys keep complaining about stubbers. You just need a good old lasgun from Cadia. The other war gear..." the old war eagle spat before continuing. "We'll the forge world is having enough trouble as it is. We ain't gettin none of that. We gotta make do with what we have."

"We won't survive! I haven't even trained as a company element since the war games!"

"I know. It's a damn shame. if had just two more months why I bet we'd lose only a portion of a company."

"What's the rumors on the casualties?"

"I reckon 47% if the PDF can lend a hand. The main problem is them hives. You read up on 'em?"

Guilt bubbled up in my chest as I avoided the question. "We're in for a rough one as it is" the old man nodded before waving me off. "I held you up for too long. Why don't you take a week off? the civilians are loading up everything. Enjoy Tarth before we get swallowed up by those there hives" I politely saluted before leaving.

I went to go inspect my own soldiers who were endlessly drilling to perfection. I'd be damned if Alpha would be the weakest link. I found those at the firing range hitting targets easily at the required 400 meters. Those doing PT were on field exercises. They dug endless trench networks to only fill them back up or were moving large pieces of rubble and rock to create a quick wall. I eventually found my way to Alpha's assembly area. A large open space in which 100 soldiers could easily form two platoons and its command element in a perfect ceremony if need be.

It was built just a little bit past the barracks and was frequently used to find other soldiers. A common area as it was the only place Robert had allowed any interaction with his soldiers and civilians. That of course included family as Robert found them a distraction for newlyweds or the younger enlisted trying to sneak in their "sister" for post training recreation or buying illicit items strictly banned from the living quarters.

Even here on such a planet, the trash of society still managed to create a good portion of the guard units. Robert of course an experienced NCO before being an officer was easily able to see through their lies and implemented harsh, unfair but ruthlessly efficient standing orders to crack down on discipline. He would relax on discipline once they were deployed or bloodied but until then females would not be….. Helping Tarth increase the population.

"DETAIL ATTENTION! Good afternoon sir" Robert gave a quick salute to the nameless soldier. He didn't wear a one hundred patch nor did he have any irregularities only Helikians had, so he didn't warrant a second look. "At ease private" The five soldiers standing next to the private quickly ended their brief stand at standing at attention while the one who saluted breathed a sigh in relief. Robert just nodded to himself before locking himself and preparing himself for war. This one wasn't going to be a pretty one he could already tell


But did it truly matter

The blood sweat and tears

We we're sent to die

We we're sent to save

-The Historian

"Our objective is a little piss hole called Rivia hooah?" soldiers cracked smiled after repeating hoo ah back to their PL Moonsun. "Some dumb civies thought life was unfair and decided to rebel... They think they have a rough life." every guardsman chuckled at that with one hollering. "They ain't nevah been on a ruck march sarge!"

"Shut up private! The Chapter Master himself said we get to go down and teach them a lesson hooah!" the soldiers echoed my hoo ah and prepared their gear and soon thereafter the ramp lowered allowing us to spill out, fan out and secure the perimeter.

We were roughly a mile away from the Hive city if you could just fly to it. On the ground it was a different story. We were on a hill that overlooked multiple other smaller hills that while they weren't tall would force conventional movement to flow around it as if you would pour water down past a series of stones. I was informed that our foes held little in the ways of ranged weapons, so we would be perfectly safe from such a short distance away. The best part was the hill we were at was large and flat enough at the top we could easily base all of us here, and we had a great view of the siege lines.

"Lieutenant!" a voice boomed. My leg started to tremble as I rushed to the Chapter Master and rendered a crisp salute. "Take your men and scout ahead. A transport should be in route towards our position" I gave another salute before scurrying away not trusting the lump in my throat to give a response to the god. I quickly found my soldiers and gave them the orders.

"Alright it's from The Drake Lord himself. We go in a platoon column fire team wedge. We get there on that hill over there-" I pointed to one of the few lower hills down below. "Set up and act as a forward OP. Any questions?" All I got were heads going east west. Nodding, I did the final orders and we got ready.

In quick order I got my platoon formed up in a platoon column firetrap wedge and made quick efficient movement. It took little time to find a worn path and the hill. We quickly ascended before we got 360 security and I took stock of our situation. We we're on a dirt path and all around us was grass without any trees. We we're on what I believe a savanna was. A large open field with grass.

"Sarge!" glancing over my RTO handed me a pair of binos* before pointing in the distance. I peered into them and saw the rough outline of a vehicle making quick progress towards us. "Is the vox up Raken?"

"Roger sarge. I got Hilko on comms when ready." Raken patted his heavy vox absent mindedly. I chuckled thinking about how he spent hours cleaning and working on the damn thing. I swore the forge world was giving us second hand shit.

"Go ahead and call it in. Even an idiot like Hilko will know what to do." Raken nodded before working the radio.

"Hunter Actual this is Alpha 1. Confirmed sighting on the VIP over"

"Alright I'll report it" I glared at the vox and the obvious lack of radio discipline Hilko used. We we're not ready for this war. It was easy to say that the 3,000 guardsmen we're ready to fight, but it was such an exaggeration of our abilities. I just placed my hope in the Chapter Master and prayed to the bloodied angel that the space marine would carry the day. In hindsight we should've never survived.

We had left tall and proud to this world with all the arrogance only youth marching to war could give you. Only the Helikian's looked at this mission with nervous tension while those that followed Raken's ramblings trembled in excitement to fight for the lord who ascended the throne. Robert tried to find the best placement of men and ordinance but in the end he knew it mattered little. Hundreds of his men he painstakingly trained would die like the numbers they were always viewed as.

We received orders to watch the fortifications below preparing to besiege the area. We were to be used as a quick reaction force to help the PDF if the infected were to try and escape. The Chapter Master left for an unknown reason, but I was too used to it to bother with the rumors of a rescue mission.

Instead, I enjoyed the foxhole I had someone dig and slept when I could or watched Raken draw the siege lines and comment here and there to either bother him or in true speculation of a few errors he purposely drew to create a sense of drama in his sketch.

After a few hours or untold hours the soldier I placed on watch I saw his face as he pointed to what he was looking at. Here he was watching from a hilltop observing his worst fears, I watched a wall of flesh met a wall of fortifications and Las blasts. The tide was for a mere second halted. For a second, I thought the men would hold. I thought the sheer volume of firepower would be enough. I learned in this very moment it wasn't enough.

I swore the tide became alive. The mob of creatures was like... water or a moving hand... a moving unholy spell of doom that seemed to swallow those men up whole. It started slowly gently creating pockets of defenders before it surrounded them and slowly consumed them. There were a few pockets of resistance that started to flee before being eaten like cattle. Those who stood their ground we're eaten piecemeal. The mob was a gaping maw consuming what little stood in it's way.

I would never forget the vox chatter. The pleads, the screams and worse of all the moans of the unloving. Raken vomited all over himself no doubt taking in one of the thousands of scenes where a human was eaten alive. It was vile, ugly and atrocious. A terrible sun that must be punished, yet I knew in my heart it would be foolish to save those soldiers already damned. I needed to act before my men choked.

Before I could say anything an order from our vox muffled out our orders. "Lieutenant! get back here ASAP we're doing a full withdrawal! Forget those soldiers down below they're buying us time!"

My men looked at me almost afraid I'd say no we're going back to save one of the many squads begging for help as they ran to us. "You heard him back to base! No platoon formation! stay with your squads and move!" "What about the men running to us!?" "They aren't our men! leave them!" With that we ran. How could I leave those soldiers to such a terrible fate and not feel guilt?

You must be an idiot to question my decision. First we were only 100 strong against a tide of enemies. Secondly, they weren't us. Those soldiers I never met, meaning, it was easy to just walk away. After the battle I tried to find it within myself to find a reason to stay for the massacre. I couldn't find one reason*. All I felt was relief as we flew away to the sight of soldiers falling to their knees in defeat. I lived and they didn't. It wasn't fair, but I would take this deal any day was all I thought as we loaded up into the ships that would take us to safety aboard the strike cruiser. There was a solemn silence as everyone was a lost for words.

Eventually one of the newer privates spokes up. "What the…. -What was that?!" Robert had no clue and the horrors that he just witnessed. All of the other guardsmen looked at Robert for direction at a loss at what happened. They just saw what would belong in an old lady's horror story to keep the children in their beds rather than an actual enemy wreaking havoc on friendly lines of local PDF strategic bottlenecks and dead man zones. I looked at all of the questioning faces of the soldiers I trained all those months ago all searching my face to answer the impossible. "The Chapter Master will tell us all we need to know" I deflected on the higher authority as I always had done when words couldn't reach my own understandings.

It was a quiet ride back up to the ship with soldiers unloading. I saw dozens of thunderhawks disembarking their stunned cargo with only a few soldiers unaffected or shrugging it off as I was. The predators among wolves. The real soldiers. On Helik only those who survived two tours could remain active as they proved battle didn't warp their minds. These people of Tarth were of a weaker breed I thought as I saw a few surround another who spewed his guts out and tried to comfort him.

I was proud of my own soldiers forcing their bowels to stay put. I knew a few were a little having a hard time. A thunderhawk I noticed well from the fresher paint job than other thunderhawks arrived. The pilot's who I gotten his name wrong multiple times David landed no doubt with the Chapter Master in tow. I saw the Chapter Master slightly duck and touch the top of the landing ramp as he got off as the ramp went down. His armor was slick with blood and gore. The signs of battle evident as I saw a piece of flesh wedged between the teeth of his chainblade. If I didn't know better I would've thought this angel of death had come to collect the souls of the damned within this room. He looked up as he seemed to notice all of us standing in his holy presence. A bolt shell could be dropped on the bridge and be heard as we all waited for anything the Astarte could say or offer. A deep baritone voice answered the unspoken call.

"What has happened today is a tragedy, the lives of those guardsmen below us lost because of the incompetence of their commanders they were unread and ill prepared to deal with such a mass of enemies we will not make the same mistake.. Rest now, and harden your hearts, this is only the beginning." with that he went off no doubt to the bridge as I witnessed a crowd of soldiers harass the pilot for what happened to the Chapter Master.

I just looked at my men who all gave me the look of horror I usually associated with extra latrine duty and kitchen patrol. They didn't look like they wanted to clean the world out. I didn't blame them, but within my heart I had no fear because I knew the chapter master was here. "You heard the Chapter Master we're taking this planet back." The soldiers nodded a sense of duty restored to overpower the feeling of helplessness.

*Records hold that a few soldier's from the local PDF were within rifle range of the retreating soldiers. There's also a record of 17 lasrounds expended without a recorded reason.


We made ready for war after a few hours when the Chapter Master negotiated with a hive city. Rumor had it he caused a regime change, but I didn't get paid enough to care one way or the other. We came down on thunderhawks and joined the labor for a final defense to protect the civilians. A full evacuation of a duty was underway. Why? It's better to have 3,000 guardsmen become zombies than hundreds of thousands civilians. It was a numbers game. Before we went to our deaths. I exerted all the favors I had gained from the previous voyages with the crew to sit my men down for a final meal granted the final speech helped.

I didn't need to state it as such every man knew it. We sat in an empty room large enough to seat us on various boxes and such and eat a slice of grox meat, half a loaf of bread, canned fruit and a stiff drink of questionable origins. The most expensive favor was getting a large mass of off duty navy personnel to come. I wanted a light environment to try and hide what was potentially a last meal feeling in the air as the moral was on a knife point edge I didn't want torn apart. I watched from a distance unwilling to have a final conversation with someone. Maybe that's why I didn't socialize, I just know from previous engagements that talking to someone before they die tend to haunt you more than anything else.

I saw Raken showing a few drawing he made. They were beautiful sketches of sunsets and forests back on Helik. Darius was having a fierce game of naming exotic flowers and what they did. A couple guardsmen and crew members gathered in a circle to talk about things irrelevant to the war. A few soldiers and navy crew did slink off to have a cheap encounter, yet the atmosphere seemed to favor a quiet party of fear and anxiety. A dangerous game to ask about the upcoming battle without actually stating anything.

Soon a serf came, who walked over to me and told me it was time to go. I realized after a few seconds that this serf was the very same one that spoke to us when the Chapter Master was leaving the ship for Tarth all those months ago. Robert took notice by the missing chip in his left ear. Robert turned to see all his troopers looking at him with a mix of anxiety and fear. Cups were held a little tighter and the smiles had a little less light going into their eyes. What do you say? They watched a PDF force larger than us get destroyed in hours unable to even reach us a few miles away. For Helikians, these…. Things were what we prayed and tried to appease to keep away from us in desperate situations.

I of course couldn't show my fear nor tell them anything else. I was worried my own voice would betray what I thought about the deployment. With a silent look I spoke gently, I don't know how, but my voice carried over the large cargo room to every trooper under my command. "I know we didn't sign up to fight these…. Things." a few troopers let out a few self pitying grins in agreement. "What we did sign up for was to protect those we know and care about…. I don't know much about strategy, but I do know logic. We stay on the ship the disease will spread like any other one. Then it'll eventually you know spread from this planet to another…. Then another…. Soon it'll go to Helik and Tarth." The troopers eyes were still dead all seemed to care little. "We have a space marine those things have numbers." I searched my memory all the way back to my father. A captain gone priest after a terrible battle. "No world will be beyond his wrath, nor will he abandon those who carry it out"

I paraphrased what little I could recollect. The soldiers nodded in grim determination all probably believing the quote to be true. I never felt like I pushed them to their duty if anything I felt like I was buying time before we went onto those dreaded thunderhawks before we went down into the ring of steel called a hive. A trooper or two started walking to the hanger and soon a flood of people were going. Raken was ever present finding his way to my side his hands shaking somewhat as he tried to smile.

I noticed he had hastily showed his artwork into a pouch on his hip. I gently pulled the papers out to get a better glance. A saw what he always drew. A beautiful landscape and a few more of than landscape turning into a beautiful hive city with lights and a sky to match.

I carefully folded it and placed it back into his pouch and looked into his eyes. "Raken don't worry. I will make sure you live I swear." Raken nodded in quick jerking motions no doubt adrenaline flowing through his body.

"Rob!" his eyes lit up realizing he shouted instead of speaking. A few curious looks were given to Raken as the last few people looked at him as they left the cargo room. The door being blocked due to the large crowd leaving.

"Rob that was a quote from Uncle Darr" I nodded surprised Raken knew my father's nickname as a priest. We still haven't talked about how exactly we were related. I assumed Raken was just an orphan like me adopted by the jolly old priest. "Yes it is. We'll talk about this once we win this war." I smiled with all the false confidence I could muster. Raken just nodded before following me out.

We needed flamers and stubbers to just fire the volume of ammunition needed to just slow the horde. Mortars would be useless honestly, but I still wouldn't mind a few dozen. I had carapace armor while the average trooper didn't. I looked at Raken wearing a flak jacket and that was it. In a decision that would have gotten me in serious trouble if another officer noticed I tore off my carapace armor and told Raken to switch with me. I wouldn't lose my only family member to a one of those undead things. I didn't say a word as I strapped on Raken's flak jacket and started to walk to the deployment zone despite Raken's pleads to wear the armor I gave him.

In my mind's eye I saw the end of my life already down below. A deadly premonition that I always felt before battle an ingrained fear inside well everyone if I had to hazard a guess. A fear of the unknown and the unknown factor of how badly it would affect a future yet to be determined. It was also a question of the past. How much longer until Robert could return to his wife in death? Soon was all he heard in his head.


"Here they come" I looked over at my troopers. I strode confidently as I heard the cry of alarm. Today was a great day to kill and to die. At least that was what I yelled. Inwardly, I wished a regiment of guardsmen would appear out of thin air and join us to hold the line, perhaps a titian or space marine that were always angry and spoiled for a fight. The chances of that were just as great as I would win this war alone. Instead Robert had to settle for an old man who clung to his rifle as if it was a piece of paper about to blow away in the wind. Robert was going to kill the PDF officer in charge that gave his section of the wall the old timers. Luckily, there was a younger officer who tried his best to encourage and strengthen the defenders on the wall.

"GAS GAS GAS!" I spun around to see a soldier making the signal to place gas masks on. A hand covering his mouth and another in a fist going from the top of his head over his other fist. He died. The fool was on the ground screaming as his muscles would tighten until they would cramp up and literally shake him to death. I saw his body move like a snake with its head chopped off hitting others with such violence they would yelp in pain and eventually another would place a merciful shot in his brain.

I already guessed this course of action and had my soldiers have their masks hanging around their waists. It took less than three seconds of panicked practiced motion to get the things on. The troops no doubt were thankful for all the times I did gas attacks on them in the training environment.

"FRAKKING GET THOSE GAKKERS!' An excited soldier yelped as thunderhawks flew overhead dropping pure explosive relief over hostile lines. The destruction blew apart the ground and bodies as if a god of old had punched the ground before us with his clenched fist. Everything shook from the concussive force as I felt the raw unused energy shake my body in a euphoric way a woman never could. "I love explosions" was all I could say as the feeling of invincibility overtook my body as adrenaline filled it also. I turned and saw soldiers hidden under huge rocks and I just smiled. Not in a crazy way, but a relief it wasn't me and a sign that it was true I was a god unable to die.

I turned and grabbed the sobbing mess of a private and pointed at the running screeching horde that would trample over those too slow. "You feel that son?" without waiting for a response I leveled my lasgun and laid down dozens of lasrounds of pure unfiltered rounds of hate tearing into the undead. This was the thrill of battle. My blood boiled at the fight a breach was formed and the undead poured forth. Fortunately, it was big enough for only three or four to run in at a time. We fired aimlessly not needing to waste precious time to exterminate the foes set before us.

"Tossing frag!" a voice yelled before a scurry of movement followed. A loud whooshing sound gave out. The so called grenade was just a bottle with fuel aflame. "Idiot now we're fighting undead on fire!" I hollered out as I continued to fire into the unliving horde. We were able to pour a unholy amount of fire as the foe continued to scale the wall. It took us two minutes before we realized the horde was able to climb the wall faster than before.

"Sir! They're using their own dead as a ladder!" a soldier cried as he reloaded. I didn't say a word as the horde suddenly made a surge towards us. Whatever orders cried out I couldn't decipher. What I saw was the three soldiers in front of me get trampled as the surge roared at me a foot away.

Crazed eyes stared at me with wide open maws that were chipped from biting all manners of things. Behind me was the end of the wall leading to a harsh drop. My left and right were soldiers pointing their rifles at the charging horde, but the constant waves would cause them to eventually lose focus. The PDF commander standing next to me did the bravest thing I ever saw.

With a roar worthy of any…. Soldier, he charged the horde chainsword roaring held in both hands. With practiced ease or perhaps the adrenaline of knowing his ultimate demise his first strike ended the life of two of the undead. Two of the elder PDF soldiers took heart and tore knives from their sheaths and joined the commander yelling out "FOR RIVIA" tackling their own targets screaming in unholy agony as the were bitten and clawed at. Despite this they continued to stab blindly as their eyes were quickly torn out.

"TAKE HEART! MEN!' were the final words of the commander as he defiantly stood at the opening of the wall. His hair slick with blood and guts. His body hunched from exertion and chainsword clutched in a stone hard grip as his left side was covered in blood. From the undead or his own body I knew not. A loose group of PDF survivors surrounded the officer at the hole holding all manners of weapons for the next surge. The rag tag soldiers weren't PDF trainees any longer or retirees. There stood the heroes of humanity standing at the breach of the wall holding back the darkness in grim determination unwilling to leave this world silently.

"Retreat sir, I have three Rivians to my left two good Rivians to my right. We will hold this position until we create an opening and will charge through!" the survivors nodded with a determination that for a second led me to believe that they alone would hold this wall and win the war. Reality hit once I heard the moaning of the dead as they gathered for another surge.

"What is your name sir?" the commanders green eyes met mine before stating in a brave voice. "Caius!* And so are those who stand with me!" a yell of approval met that statement as the soldiers readied themselves.

"Good luck Caius… Once the opening is created I will lead the charge myself to relieve you" it was an empty gesture we both knew the reality. A grim nod was given before he turned his focus back to the opening.

I turned to my own men all battered but all present. 100 assigned 43 standing 45 dead and 12 wounded and on the way already to the rear. "Withdrawal to the secondary defenses!" My soldiers nodded and handed the six Rivians additional ammo and such as I turned to leave Darius grabbed me.

"We can't just leave good soldiers behind. They're better used at the secondary li-"

"Don't deny these men a honorable death protecting their homes" and with that I walked past Darius. I never did learn their fate on the official record. I know that after the war a memorial was created for those brave defenders. Although, I also heard it was void of any names outside the nobles who died.

*Caius the name of a local hero who protected his town from demons for three days and nights a popular children's tale in Rivia.


The withdrawal was quick efficient and at the back of my mind and vox messages it was due to brave PDF group's holding their ground with an unstoppable strength. A message even claimed a civilians in hiding ran to the aid of the defenders on a section of the wall with an assortment of arms and were able to push the horde back onto the wall before dying. I had yet to hear reports about Astartes dropping planet side.

We quickly got into preset positions. What I would give for a heavy bolter or a good old belt fed stubber. I saw the Chapter Master charge the gate and barely get in before the gate would've made him into paste if the gate keepers were of weaker stuff and closed the gate prematurely.

"Ready lads 'ere they come!" hollered one of the soldier's in my company. I really hated their accents. The first 'wave' consisted of a few dozen runners. They were target practice. Then came the bulk by the fifth wave. The last one I ordered fixed bayonets. I forced a few undead down the pile of undead that was being created just like the last one in order to scale our walls.

Then we had a respite. Nothing came. "Darius where the hell is Raken?" I asked as he reported that we were down to a third of our effective combat strength. "I heard he's off the line you would have better luck asking first plat second squad." I nodded before doing as he suggested.

I went to where someone said Raken was. I inwardly frowned at the display. Raken was sitting on the ground alone with the lasgun barrel under his chin. That itself wasn't an odd sight. After so many hours in combat soldiers got lazy or didn't fear their weapons as much. What was worrisome was his eyes vacantly staring at the sky. I had one chance to save Raken from the looks of it. One Helik, this was a very common sight. After a soldier saw war in it's ugliest color he would find himself questioning his own life and sanity.

I never there's a point but I saw dozens of friends I called brothers take their own life. I did what I thought was best. I walked over to Raken took a knee moved so I could look into his eyes and asked him "You alright?" a numb shake of the head was all I got. I hugged him before devolving into gentle whispers and coaxing a response out of him. The second I saw a little bit of light return to his eyes I quickly said.

"Well suck it the fuck up Raken! This isn't a game! This is a war! Now get off your ass and report to your squad leader! If you wanna sit there like a bitch! kill yourself and save us the time and effort!" I screamed into his face with all the anger and passion I could. I abruptly stood up and left. I counted to three. one... two... thr- I heard motion and the sound of Raken getting up. It wasn't much better than putting a band aide on a terrible wound. This tactic only lasted one numb hour before the victim would implode more or less.

I turned and saw Raken shaking in fear. He touched his face twice. On the second time I realized he was crying. He was deadly scared of going onto that wall again. Who was I to demand a fifteen year old to return where people twice his age fought for children Raken's own age. How could I justify sending my own blood up to the hell hole I fought in to protect them from. When I was his age, I was still carefree on a farm. Raken briefly spoke about his life with his part of the family. He talked about joining at 13 before finding his way to me at 14. He didn't have a childhood like other kids, yet here he was killing just as efficiently as a war vet... Technically he would be one after this war. His innocence was lost at the age most worry over the girl from across the hab.

Audible crying was heard, Raken was bawling before he looked at me in puffy red eyes. "I can't! I can't Rob" he tried to say something before he choked and devolved into a sobbing mess. I felt a heap of guilt as I saw a boy dressed up as a soldier weep. I suddenly notice the oversized uniform on his small frame and the acne on his face and the hair or two that would pass as facial hair. It was different than the photos they show you of kids in war. A child crying at the wreckage of her home. instead, I was watching a man who was what I wanted every guardsman to be slowly become what I ignored. A fifteen year old who had responsibilities he shouldn't have at his age.

I took a step towards him, and he flinched no doubt he saw me hit one of the soldiers from earlier. I cursed at the world. Why did we have to come here. clenching my fist, I grabbed Raken by his neck and manhandled him next to me. At this point he was screaming and shouting not to return to the wall. I didn't travel far before a crowd followed us with their eyes as I walked to the thunder hawks.

There was a huge mass of people. Thousands gathered to escape the doomed planet. I tried to push my way past for people to quickly plug the hole I tried to create. Verbally speaking to them all I got was angered remarks asking for me to return to the front lines. It was hard trying to insure my cousin didn't find a way out of my grasp a he silently clawed and punched my flak armor.

I fired my lasgun into the air twice to grant me entry after brute force did nothing. I don't know how I did it but I got the two of us to the thunder hawks while Raken kicked, screamed and worse of all would just collapse and dig in his heels while the crowd hurled insults, fists and legs into us. The crowd was in a mania as they saw what they saw as people stealing their hope.

I saw the pilot and co pilot standing there. I recognized the pilot from who knows where from my time on the ship. "Hey! I got a priority 1 casualty!" The pilot rushed to me and scanned Raken with expert fingers probing for any additional injury. After a second or two she looked up at me and shook her head. "I'm sorry sarge! We can't take him even if he was missing a limb! Civilians are first ones out before anyone else!" I swore and turned to the side to see the people already loaded on grab onto their seats tighter or glare at me.

"Please..."

"Warrant Officer Vera-"

"He's my only family. He's only fifteen!" the pilot looked guilty as she turned and saw several older gentlemen look away and ignore the youth that was currently punching the chest plate of my armor in a silent dying sob.

"Look unless someone is willing to give up his seat, your friend needs to return to the wall and protect the LZ" to my anger I heard many agree to that sentiment. I jabbed my finger into the pilot's flight suit with all of the anger I felt.

"Listen here bitch-"

"-there's no need to get violent son" I looked up I saw an older man. He honestly was probably my age. He slowly stood up and walked out of the thunderhawk. Turning to Raken he touched him as a calming measure. Raken fell limp and the man grunted before grinning from underneath his filthy robes. He slowly removed the hood to reveal a face with a graceful array of tribal tattoos I knew too well from Toujin witch doctors.

"That boy right there. He missed his destiny... He was born a year too late... He walks a tortured path. I would ask you as an old man to protect one of our sons" the man spoke as if he was describing a dream he had. Unable to connect his words or look at us. "He would've made a great adept of the stars. Take my seat go"

With that the man placed his hood back on before literally disappearing. He took three steps towards the crowd before I couldn't see his distinct figure. "Load him up!" I turned to see the pilot who didn't seemed bothered or aware of what happened. I looked and saw Raken wasn't limp able to leave my grasp before getting into his seat on his own no longer tormented. Without the ability to ask more questions as the crew started to get in place I just walked away back towards the wall unable to really understand why the man did what he did, or if I just read too much into it. By the time he made it to the wall the memory of that was erased and replaced with a memory of an old man claiming he wanted to die in his own hive than live in another hive. If one could look closely and past the web of the warp they'd see that robbed man create a black mirror before walking through it.* It didn't take long before the city fell. I couldn't tell you what happened as I spent my time saving Raken. All I know was I broke an unkeepable promise to that commander on the wall. I wonder how long he held them off.

*An unreliable source shared this info and should be placed under great scrutiny. Previous Historians believe this was an illusion created by battle fatigue


The ride back up was silent. Robert looked at his men. Once they took up three thunder hawks. Now, his thunder hawk held his company and a good bit of bravos. A few of them were in post combat shock a few of the younger soldiers spat, cried or poured water into their hands and scrubbed them in a desperate attempt to cleanse them. The older veterans, those Helikians and other veterans, sat in silence thinking about something else or made light talk about topics far removed from what transpired down below. Robert himself was thinking about his wife's hair. He couldn't quite remember the smell of it. It smelled like a fruit the Toujin people grew. Robert wouldn't be shocked if Raken was familiar with the fruit.

Raken... Robert was glad he got him out of the battle after the gate was destroyed. Many soldiers were lost. A few Helikians also at least five from the battlefield news or rumors floating around. All five battle hardened from the annual Helikian wargames. Robert heard only a third of the guard survived since the PDF was absorbing 99% casualties as many refused to leave. Out of those men how many were like Raken and mentally broken from the flood of the undying horde that sought to eat anyone alive to fuel those foul beasts.

This was a terrible battle. A total defeat in Robert's opinion. Robert was lucky he got his survivors out first. Ironically, it was due to the fact only a dozen of them were alive and Captain Klein threw them in the next thunderhawk instead of taking the wounded out first. What gratefulness would usually be present we didn't feel it. Battles normally exhilarated me. The toll of my duty now oppressed me. Over 80 soldiers would lose it all or more than they should in the line of duty. The worst part was I couldn't deploy them as they would be effective. Undead beings didn't have supply lines or simulated victory conditions.

"Sir" Darius spoke up. "Captain Klein says he wants a full muster in armory…. 5 Alpha…" I nodded lost in the past now focused on my wife. What color were her eyes again? "He wants Raken there too." I turned to Darius and felt the thunderhawk slam into the deck. "Helikians take care of their own" I spat out and unbuckled in search of Klein. It didn't take long as he was waiting for us in the hanger with Raken who was standing next to the captain head bowed in ultimate shame and defeat.

"I will not let you send my cousin back to that hell hole!" I drew and pointed my laspistol at Captain Klein. His face stern no doubt hearing how I sent Raken to the ship earlier than the rest of the unit.

"He's one of the best damn soldiers this company has been blessed with by the emperor himself lieutenant!" the added volume at shouting my rank did little to deter me from arguing against sending my cousin back down. The older father figure now looked more like an old corpse gatherer. He was grabbing soldiers in no condition to fight and was creating a new outfit to act as the last line defenders.

"My cousin is in and will not be in a condition to fight in for this battle!"

"Boy do you understand what's going on down there!" the captains accent was all but gone as he yelled at me face to face. He smelled like blood and shit. Then again we all did from the violent fighting against the walking dead.

"My cousin will stay in that bed and so will all the guardsmen you are desperately trying to send to their deaths!" the captain's face turned red with hate before he grounded out a final threat.

"Lieutenant! if you think I don't know about your illiteracy you are wrong! if you think I don't know about the drugs flowing through your barracks you are wrong! If you think after this war I won't report you and take those bars and your life you... are... WRONG!"

"Is that it?" the captain yelled in anger before snapping his fingers. The boxes that laid around containing whatever the thunderhawks needed revealed a dozen of Captain Kleins soldiers. Rifles raised and pointed at us with more than just a passive intent.

I didn't say a word as my own soldiers raised their own weapons at 'friendly' forces. There was no confusion. What we saw were a dozen soldiers while their uniforms were soiled. They were clean compared to my own survivors.

"Stand down shit heads!" a distinctly feminine voice rang out. It was the pilot that brought Raken up and technically higher rank than the Captain and I due to us being on the deck of a ship. "We are all on the same side here aren't we?!"

I glared at the captain who glared back before he relaxed and motioned his soldiers to stand down. I didn't return the favor instead growling out a affirmation to the warrant officer. Captain Klein turned heel and left as a squad of arms men showed up. He spoke over his shoulder. "Careful Robert I've let you Helikians have your freedom. When we return I will extinguish whatever trace of your glorious Helik I can find!"

"Its Helikia to you SIR!" I growled out. Only to be greeted by a laugh at my anger. "Tarth will swallow you whole son" In that moment I decided on a few things. That accent was fake, and I would not let Helik fall into obscurity.

"Darius… Kill that bastard the next time you can"

"Sir, I thought you two were on good terms-"

"Helikians protect their own. He just threatened Raken's welfare" I turned and left the hanger taking two steps before hearing the rest of the soldiers follow me. Klein would pay. I was going to tear his precious idea of Tarth apart just to spite him. I was also going to kill his family like how he tried to kill mine.


A/N

I'm struggling a bit with balancing video games, college, writing and fixing the paperwork problems with my job. Please by all means share what you like don't like corrections and etc. It'll help improve the quality of the chapter. Normally, I share the chapter with Austan. I didn't with this one as I wanted to just get this out before I sink into a week long period of just rewriting the same content and such. We've also been working on the future of this double featured fanfiction series and I personally didn't want him to stop writing about his chapter 7 and focus on this chapter two.

I tried my best to flesh out Robert, Raken and start bringing in Darius as a character. I feel like Robert is a bit on an odd psychological profile. Meanwhile Raken realizes what he actually signed up for as I don't think a 15 year old no matter what back ground could really cope with seeing people being eaten alive. I always enjoyed the brief mention of the brave commander in chapter 5 of a special founding ,and I wanted him to really stand out as a patriotic soldier. I hope I did him justice. Any thoughts on Darius?

Slothman30: I didn't realize there was confusion in the line breaks. For the most part its pretty linear, but I will try in future chapters to insure that there is no timeline confusion. Thank you for informing me I reread the previous chapter and saw parts where I actually thought I removed to prevent such a confusion. I apologize. I hope this chapter doesn't need such a thing, but if so please tell me and I will create a system and implement it not only in future chapters but also the previous ones. Thank you for the encouragement also it means a lot to me that you reviewed.

Rankorer: Thank you also for the review and encouragement. I don't necessarily understand the part which you said the special founding is a bit mild, and I would like to hear more about it to both bring up with Austan 123 and for brain food as I write. I would like to do this guardmen fanfiction right as I believe this is one of the few stories in which the guard is more fleshed out as an organization rather than a group slash unit as I plan to write about the guard at a crusading level with many unique regiments contained inside.

I don't mean to step on toes with my comments and if you take them as an insult please tell me. I enjoy writing. I don't want to lose a whole FF because I'm being a wise crack.

On a more personal level I would love to hear about regiment ideas or new weapons. Anything even creation of your own character. I can write in my own characters, but I also plan on writing this for years to come and would like to create a FF that you the reader would smile about when you see an update and such.

Anyways next chapter will be well... Read Austan123's FF if you haven't already to get spoilers. I wonder where Robert will be.