Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Warhammer 40K games, books or movies. They belong to their creators and/or copyright owners. I make no money from this story. It is not for sale or rent.

AN: This part was betaed by Seylerius on the sufficient velocity forums. Thank you very much for the time and effort you put in cleaning up this story!

A Tale of Blood and Steel

=ATBS=

Chapter 1: Welcome to the Inquisition

Part 8

Stonecutter village

Deimos Peninsula

Kronus

The search squads found a few similar sites, where people had barricaded themselves, to no avail. Neither prayer, stubbs or the few ruined lasguns we found had helped the poor bastards.

"Sir, General Alexander requested that we investigate further, while we search for the Lord Inquisitor." Leftenant Pickos said after coming out of the command Chimera.

"That's a given." I sighed. As if we didn't have enough problems already.

"There's another village at the other end of the valley. The main route to the plateau passes through it." I jumped, hearing a deep voice behind me. I whirled around, with an angry retort on the tip of my tongue and then froze.

The Librarian was towering over me, casually leaning on his warhammer. How the hell did someone so big and clad in at least half a ton of armor move so quietly, damn it?

"You need to keep better situational awareness." Anteas chided me. He was amused at my reactions, the cheeky bastard.

Why the hell did I have to land myself the only Space Marine with a sense of humor?!

"I'll keep that in mind, My Lord."

"Good. It would be a pity if you got yourself killed because you didn't pay attention. As I was saying, there's another settlement on our way. It might be our best bet for gathering some useful information." If there was anyone still alive there was left unsaid.

"It's not like we have much of a choice." I muttered.

"No sir. The Tau are mounting a major offensive to regain the plains leading to Victory Bay. General Alexander can't spare any more units right now."

"The same is true for the Blood Ravens. A large Ork horde is approaching our main base of operations. Unless we hit something very nasty, we won't be getting any support, perhaps even then depending on the situation on the ground. There are three squads ready for orbital insertion though the frontline has priority."

"Even a single Astartes squad should be more than enough to deal with whatever we find." The Leftenant perked up.

I face-palmed. "You had to say that!" I groaned.

Anteas just stared at the Lt and shook his head.

"What? It's Astartes we're talking about! People like him!" She pointed at the Librarian.

"That's it. We're all dead." I moaned.

"We still might get lucky. At least a few of us." Anteas nodded sagely. "Few days after the last time I heard such a thing, we were neck deep in Orks."

"We've checked the whole village, right?"

"Alpha and Beta squads are checking a few houses on the outskirts and we're done." The LT nodded.

"Unless they find something of note, we're leaving when they finish."

"Yes. I feel that our time is running out." Anteas stated.

That wasn't what I wanted or needed to hear.

"Any news about unexplained disappearances or settlements out of contact without a reasonable explanation?" I asked.

"A lot of people had vanished near the desert further in the mainland, though that may be due to the Tau or Ork bands. We've lost contact with more than a few towns and villages there, though with all the Xeno activity in the region, that didn't raise an eyebrow back at HQ. It might be the usual suspects." Pickos shrugged.

"Until we can send an unit there to check all we've got is guesses. We need to find the Inquisitor and end this nonsense. We have more than enough problems without killing each other!" I snapped.

"That's why I'm here." Anteus sighed. "Unfortunately most of my company would rather follow our orders and purge everyone off this planet."

=ATBS=

Jenova Town

Deimos Peninsula

Kronus

At least the region wasn't completely deserted. About ten kilometers from the village, we started seeing people tending the fields surrounding the road. It was reassuring after the bloodbath we found. Even better, there were no accidents or anything else to slow us down.

We reached the town about a hour after sunset.

This place was a stark contrast to Stonecutter. Jenova was lit up so we could see it long before we actually approached. The town was much bigger than the small settlement that got massacred and perhaps that's what saved. Or it was simply a matter of distance from the base of whatever did the slaughtering.

Jenova had its inhabitants present too. We could see small groups of the locals clustered on street corners, talking or simply minding their own business. They were staring and pointing at us, especially once they saw our Space Marine.

The sight should have brought us a measure of relief. Instead...

That's where the veneer of business as usual ended. I could see the faces and eyes of some of the people, those staying close enough to street lights.

They weren't happy to see us, or even concerned. No. A lot of them were plain terrified. That starter ringing alarm bells in my head. If they were out of contact with a nearby settlements and had people vanishing, something that was likely, they should have been overjoyed or at least relieved by our arrival.

With the citizenry being anything but, well... that was problematic. I had the sneaking suspicion that we just found the nest of Heretics Requista had been searching for.

"Look alive people, this smells like trouble." I spoke.

Santos, who had been watching the sights nodded and Voxed a warning to the rest of the platoon just in case if they hadn't noticed.

Despite the irregular behavior of the locals we drove through the outskirts, heading for the town's center where the local arbiters and administration buildings were located.

Our destination turned out to be a cross between a moderately sized plaza for a town of this caliber, crossed with a park. There were a few ten story buildings to our right – the administrative and law enforcement centers for the whole peninsula were situated here even if the biggest populated centers were fifty or so kilometers south of here, build over the far end of the plateau.

When we arrived we found a welcome committee waiting for us. There were two men in the robes of the Admisnistratum and a single cog-head clad in the customary red, who had six mechatendrils waving gently behind his back. Each of the artificial limbs ended into either a weapon or tool.

A few steps behind the trio we could see two rows of a dozen Arbiters each. A couple of PDF squads were marching towards the waiting people from the left side of the plaza. From here it looked like they had flak vests and Lasguns.

"I hope we would avoid a few hours of speeches and posturing." Santos muttered.

"We'll just have to sick the Librarian on them." I spoke cheerfully, though I couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom. "It's time to face the music."

I stood up and straightened up my clothes, though it didn't do much for my appearance under the carapace armor. I made sure that my Sigil was visible around my left wrist and pressed the button opening the ramp.

The rest of the platoon was already disembarking. The squads were taking defensive positions around the Chimeras, not even trying to pretend that they were doing otherwise.

The apparent leader of the trio ready to meet us, just smiled at our blatant display of distrust and paranoia.

It wasn't a nice smile either.

I walked towards them, flanked by the Stormtroopers. A few seconds later Pickos joined us, shadowed by a squad of her men. Anteus finished up our procession when he took the right flank after retrieving his warhammer.

The Librarian's very presence should have been enough to insure that any pissing match came to a rather abrupt and embarassing end if the locals were dumb enough to try.

Instead they were smiling at us as if they knew something we didn't.

"Sir, look right." Santos muttered.

My head snapped in that direction. There were a lot of civilians moving through the park and heading our way. Scores of them at least.

"It's same here." Pickos whispered from my left.

That wasn't sinister at all. Nope.

My hands fell over my weapons, ready to draw them at a moment's notice. It appeared that we found our Heretics.

I whispered a prayer and touched the Warp, letting its energies course through me. I could feel the blazing presence of Anteus next to me as he did the same.

"You're supposed to run this little excursion, Veil. Let's see how you're going to play this." I could hear the Librarian's voice in my head. While there was a bit of amusement in his tone, it couldn't hide the grim determination that practically oozed from the man.

Then my perception washed over the waiting party.

Their presence was wrong. I could feel the touch of the Warp on their souls and it felt revolting, like a festering wound and spilled blood.

Yep. We found our heretics all right.

I smiled at the bastards and took a step in front of my companions.

"Inquisitor Requista. Where is he?" I wasted no time with pointless pleasantries. There was only one way this was going to end. The only question was if they would let slip what I needed to know before the fun started.

"He's waiting for you." The Admisnistratum flunky apparently in charge inclined his head to the Arbiters building.

"In what condition?" I growled.

"He's been enjoying our hospitality for the past few days. You understand, right? We only did what we had to in order to prevent the red harvest." The man's smile sent cold shivers down my spine.

"The red Harvest?" Anteus asked, making them flinch.

"Yes. The soulless ones had risen and only our new patrons can protect us. You're too late to stop it. Just as predicted." The other flunky added. He had a shit eating grin on his face. "We thought that an Inquisitor would made a splendid gift, but you're even better."

"Gift to whom?" I asked in as hard voice as I could manage.

"Our salvation and your doom. The ritual is already in progress. You're too late." The leader beamed at us.

"I want that one alive." Anteus ordered. His warhammer shone with energy as he activated its generator.

I opened myself further to the Warp and drew my weapons. The stench of sheer wrongness and corruption was increasing by the second.

The waiting was over. Before anyone but Anteus could react, I pointed my pistol and shot the expendable Admisnistratum official. In the same time, the Librarian charged forward and did his best to take out the cog-head, who in turn jumped back, revealing that under his robes he had six spideresque metal legs.

Then all hell broke loose.

=ATBS=

Part 9

Jenova Town

Deimos Peninsula

Kronus

Two more shots and the remaining Admisnistratum flunky collapsed on the ground, screaming, with his kneecaps blown off.

That left the Arbiters as immediate threat– all two dozen of them.

Behind me, the platoon opened fire, which was drowned a moment later by the sharp bark of auto canons. With any luck and the Emperor's blessing, they would be able to handle the mob.

The LT and her group were fanning out and joined the Stormtroopers in keeping my rear safe and providing much needed fire support.

That didn't even slow down the heretical Arbiters. They acted like automatons – with stiff, precise movements – the traitors unslung their riot shotguns form their backs and chambered rounds.

At least the maniacs didn't rush us. Instead they simply moved in so they wouldn't shoot their friends. Their actions gave me plenty of time to shoot two of them in the head. The Arbiter's faceplate proved to be insufficient barrier for my laspistol. The front of my targets heads turned into red mist and they crumpled on the ground.

Time moved sluggishly – or at least my enhanced reflexes made me perceive it so. That gave me a great view of the remaining Arbiters as they raised their weapons and aimed them in my general direction. Pickos and her guards were picking them off one after another, yet the death of their buddies didn't faze the rest.

I let my laspistol go and drew as much of the warp's raging energies as I dared. Purple lighting surrounded me like a cloak as I let the excess power bleed of my body. My nerves lit up with pain as they were kissed by that corrupting caress of the warp and I channeled all the energy dancing within and around me through my free hand, using the latter as a guide for its path. I waved in front of me and unleashed a stream of eldritch energy at the remaining Arbiters.

Those of them, who were touched by the raw warp energy had the flesh stripped from their bones within moments and the rest were thrown like rag-dolls from the concussion wave.

I stumbled back as I cut off my attack and dropped the amount of power I was channeling. My lips drew in a bloodthirsty smile as I surveyed my handiwork. At least ten of the bastards were turned into twisted, smoldering skeletons. The remaining Arbiters were dazzled and most of them had lost hold of the riot-shotguns.

I didn't let them recover and charged, holding my trusty chainsword in a two-handed grip. I gave a wordless battle cry and slammed my weapon into a heretic's neck, then pushed down. The adamantium teeth cut through armor, flesh and bone as if it was made of butter, spraying me with blood and gore.

It all felt glorious! The shouts of the men fighting around me were music to my ears. The agonized screams of the dying – it made me laugh as I cut down another heretic. Then there was the warm blood splashed over my face and mouth… it tasted like the best wine I'd ever tried!

I slammed my sword into the gut of an Arbiter, who was just finding his footing and cut him in two, spilling his guts on the ground, when something blasted me off my feet and broke my concentration, making me let go of the Warp. That in turn drove me out of the blood-crazed haze I had fallen in.

I just lay there for a few moments, staring at the blurry figures fighting in front of me. A giant clad in red armor was swinging a warhammer at a mechanical spider, while the machine was responding with laser beams and cutting torches. The former struck the larger combatant again and again, for no visible effect, while the latter were evaded with startling ease.

A familiar bearded face appeared in front of my eyes, cutting the view of the battle.

"Veil! Are you all right?!" Valencia mouthed off and I barely heard him.

Huh. My ears were ringing and I was noticing it just now.

A strong hand grabbed my shoulder and shook me and when that didn't remove the fog drifting through my mind, the Stormrooper slapped me with his armored glove.

That bloody hurt.

"Valencia! The fuck?" I groaned and shook my head.

He pulled me up and I looked around. Ah. Yeah. Fucking heretics were trying to sacrifice us to the Chaos Gods.

Most of those in the immediate vicinity were either dead or busy dying, courtesy to Pickos and her troopers. Only the corrupted cog-head was still standing and he was locked in combat with Anteus.

That wasn't something I wanted to get in between, but we didn't have time to let the Librarian have fun.

"Shoot the cog-head!" I rasped. Damn, my chest hurt like a mule had kicked me in the side.

I glanced down. My carapace armor was dented – no mean feat. Whatever those shotguns were loaded with, it wasn't standard ammo.

I glanced beyond the immediate area. The Guardsmen were pouring all they could into a crowd of crazed people, who were simply stumbling over their dead and coming closer and closer to us. That wasn't helped by the presence of a local PDF squad, who had taken cover behind a nearby statue and was doing their best to suppress the platoon.

Then they vanished in a flash of light as an auto canon hit them with a frag round.

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

I returned my attention to the Astartes just in time to see him catch the traitorous tech-priest in the side with his power weapon. The warhammer's head nearly cut the cyborg in half, before it threw him nearly ten meters away. A moment later, the heretic was followed by a frag grenade, which landed next to his head and blew up, shredding what little flesh he had left.

"Santos, shoot him some more, just in case!" I ordered. The Stormtrooper wasted no time in complying and unleashed a hail of laser bolts at the cyborg, slagging parts of its chassis.

Anteus gave me a curt nod and turned around, then charged at the crowd, which was coming uncomfortably close to the Chimeras, despite the torrent of fire that was scything their ranks. The Librarian enhanced his attack with warp energy and when he hit the heretics, it was unleashed. At least fifteen mangled corpses were sent flying into the air when he hit the crowd. The Astartes waged into the maddened civilians and started smashing through them with his warhammer.

"The left flank!" Pickos shouted, making me tear my eyes from the bloody spectacle. I looked in that direction and winced. Despite the best efforts of the Guardsmen, the heretics were almost in arms-reach of our people.

The LT sprinted that way, followed by her retinue and the Stormtroopers.

I grit my teeth, opened myself to the warp and followed suit.

It was time to paint the ground red.