My apologies for the delay, battle-brothers! The foul Nurgle struck me down with illnesses for two days, though I managed to endure with the help of the Iron Knights, and remain a servant of the Emperor.
Jouaint - We shall have to wait and see!
bazagal - Myus, it should be very entertaining.
Guest - Alright, you win on that account, however I doubt lasguns will be used for awhile, if at all, in the story.
Sergeant Blyes noticed a distinct change as the artillery stopped shelling his position. He glanced at his fellow soldiers about him, wearing the same confused expression as he was. The Republic hadn't bombed Drelliad that much was certain. He hadn't received any word that reinforcements were arriving, other than the downed transport carrying two members of Havoc Squad. So, what had caused the sudden silence? Blyes motioned for his men to fan out and search the village. The squad of Republic soldiers made their way towards the southwest entrance.
Almost immediately, they found cut down bodies of the separatists. They had been torn to utter shreds by blaster fire, only…
"What kind of blaster does that?" One of the soldiers asked, gesturing to the corpses. "They look like they've been shredded by shrapnel."
"Sergeant," Another one of his men beckoned him over and Blyes hurried over to him. "This one's been shredded by some sort of sharp weaponry. Looks like a manka cat, or something of the like." The Twi'lek's blood was a mess where his body lay, clear indication of the deadly work of the claws.
"Whatever they are, they aren't friendly to the Seps." Blyes deduced. But are they friendly to us? He wondered.
"Proceed with caution, men. We don't know what we're up against." His squad nodded in agreement, weapons at ready, as they proceeded cautiously and slowly. One glanced around the corner, then immediately ducked back behind it, mouthing a curse. Blyes moved to his position, as he whispered in a low voice, "What is it?"
"S-See for yourself, s-sir," The recruit managed to gasp, pure fear in his eyes. Blyes glanced past the corner, expecting to see more blood and gore than previously present.
He did not expect the seven foot thing in armour.
Blyes swore under his breath, as he glanced back at the recruit. Did the Separatists invent some new droid, gone rogue? It would explain the masses of bodies, and the gruesome way they were killed. Blyes shuddered, at the image of going to toe to toe with the being. Whatever it was, it'd have to be dealt with one way or another.
Despite the fact that they had tried to quickly hide themselves, Ferias had seen them. Brother-Captain Aedrus had kept Ferias, Erstan, and Ceres at the sight of the massacre, in case more hostiles had decided to show themselves. The rest of the Astartes had returned to the Thunderhawk, sans Xerxes who was fascinated with the technology of these strange inhabitants. Erstan, too, was interested in the inhabitants, though the interest was more in the inhabitants themselves. He had given particular study to several xenos species, utmost focus on each specimen. Ferias had noted Ceres was on edge. Being a newer recruit in the Iron Knights, he could understand his panic at suddenly being thrust into the Warp, cut off from the rest of the Chapter, who were on other systems or cleaning up the mess Aedrus had left on the Daemon World.
Ferias raised his hand to the Vox bead in his helmet as he spoke into it. "Inhabitants of unknown intent in the vicinity. Any action we should take, Brother-Captain?"
Ceres raised his bolter upon hearing that, pointing it in the general direction Ferias had noted. Ferias motioned for Ceres to lower his weapon. "We do not know if they are hostile yet, brother. Keep your weapon at the ready, though."
Ceres nodded, as Ferias reached out with his psychic abilities to subtly probe the minds of the potential hostiles. After a few moments, he ceased. "They're not hostile, at least, so long as we don't startle them. They are part of an organization known as the 'Galactic Republic', and we appear to be on the planet known as Ord Mantell. Did you get all of that, Brother-Captain?" Ferias relayed.
"Loud and clear, Ferias. Very well, see if you can negotiate with them. It seems that we are, for a certainty, not in the Imperium anymore."
"It would appear so, Brother-Captain. Ferias, out." Ferias switched the Vox off, as he nodded to Ceres. "Stay here and guard Erstan and Xerxes."
"Of course, Brother-Librarian," Ceres replied as he hefted his bolter. Ferias strode forth towards the squad of soldiers.
"He's coming towards us, sir," One of the recruits whispered, with utter terror in his voice.
"He?" Well, he wasn't a droid. That much was known.
"Yes, sir. Potential hostile identified as male, sir."
"Right, don't fire until I give the coma-…" Blyes trailed off as he suddenly noticed some sort of presence in his mind.
What the-? He thought, confused at this sudden occupation of his mind. Were they dealing with a Jedi or Sith?
I do not know what a Jedi or Sith are, but I am not one of them. Please, do not be frightened. The Warp allows me to converse with people in thought.
I don't even know what that is, or what you are either. Did you do all of this to the Seps?
Myself and my battle-brothers. Mostly the work of Brother Daerid and Brother Talius. The Warp is the pandemonium that houses Chaos. It is also our primary source of transport and the Astronomican guides us through it, by the will of the God-Emperor. As for my name, I am Brother Ferias, of the Iron Knights Chapter, Seventh Company. Are you saying you have never heard of the Warp or an Astartes?
You're really making no sense. I don't know what all this Chaos is, or an Astronomican, or a God-Emperor.
A violent tremor passed through Blyes' head, possibly an emotion. I… see. You do not know of Him on Holy Terra? Though you do not know of Chaos either, so you are not a heretic. Perhaps you could guide us to wherever it is you receive commands? We require answers, and I have received limited solutions from your mind.
How do I know you're not with the enemy? Why should I do any of this, anyway?
You do not know an Astartes. We are the sons of the Emperor, and it is likely we could break your men, as we did with these 'separatist' heretics. I would recommend a change of attitude, Sergeant. Myself and my brothers mean you no harm, so long as you do not provide it to us first.
Fine, fine, I can understand that. But we both are going to get some answers when we get to Fort Garnik, believe me, 'Brother Ferias'.
Oh, I am counting on it, Sergeant. In fact, I look forward to it. I will inform my Brother-Captain of your decision.
And like that, the link was severed, as Ferias murmured something into his helmet, some sort of comlink. Blyes rubbed his forehead, still disturbed by the events that went on in his mind.
"What in the seven Corellian hells?"
Ferias whipped about, as Blyes glanced behind him to find a woman with goldenrod hair colour, and in a brown jacket, with an undershirt. Beside her was a soldier with tan skin and black hair, assault rifle aimed at Ferias. Blyes recognized him as the new recruit in Havoc Squad. So, at least one of them had survived. "Sergeant, lower your weapon. Ma'am, I don't believe we've made an acquaintance."
The sergeant looked surprised at this, but did as he was ordered by Blyes. The woman, however, still had some steely resolve. Blyes noted the blaster pistol holstered to her belt. "My ship just got jacked, there's a guy seven feet tall right next to you, and we're supposed to talk pleasantries?" She snorted at this before continuing. "Name's Jelara. I docked at the spaceport northwest of here, to deliver supplies to your boys at Garnik. Then this sergeant tags along with me, saying he has orders to go to the village, and blow something up. Well, turns out, I had to blow something to pieces as well. Only we see explosions over here, and next thing I know, that snake Skavak has my ship." She frowned as she folded her arms across her chest. "Somehow, I don't think pleasantries are going to work, Sarge."
Blyes was taken aback by this, though Ferias appeared to be even more so. Muttering something under his breath, he turned about and left.
Ferias had no words for the confusion he was experiencing. These inhabitants had no idea who the Emperor even was, and even that was outright heresy. When Aedrus had been informed of all that transpired, he frowned. "We'll just have to work with them, Brother Ferias. For now, we must respect their ignorance, and enlighten them later. We have no idea what their technological abilities are, and the Righteous Flame is hovering right by several ships with advanced weaponry. I do not want to provoke these people."
"As you say, Brother-Captain." Ferias turned about and strode out of the Thunderhawk. Like it or not, they were going to Fort Garnik. And maybe I can get some answers.
Woo! The Smuggler and Trooper characters are introduced to the story (I hope you guys don't mind my putting the eight main classes from SW:TOR into the story, do you?). That's all for today. The Emperor protects, and may the Force be with you!