Nothing But a List of Names to Mark his Ascension

Chapter 9: Nothing but an under strength Battle Company

Note: I do not own Warhammer 40,000 or Dawn of War, I am simply writing a different perspective to the events portrayed.


The Vorga system was a peaceful area of space in a galaxy full of war. The Tau had brought their philosophy of the Greater Good to a population of slavers and beggars, not worth the time and attention of the Imperium. Their Governor idled away in his space station, ignoring the famine and warfare below. At the hands of the Tau, it flourished. Under Shas'O Tau'n Kais Pah're , the system had been transformed into the ideal Tau society. The earth caste set up infrastructure for the poverty stricken system, the air caste allowed for fast transportation between sites of government. The Fire Caste disposed of the Governor in a most permanent fashion. In less than ten years, the Tau had created a society that rivaled that of the First Sphere of Expansion. All citizens, alien and human alike, embraced a doctrine that protected against suffering and want.


Then the Blood Ravens came.


On trails of fire, the Astartes fleet entered the system, led by the battle barge Litany of Fury. Within days, the Tau fleet, minimal due to the relative peace in the area, had been completely destroyed. The Blood Ravens deployed to the outer worlds in the system first. They crushed the governments and hierarchies, and left death and destruction in their wake. Two months later, the Blood Ravens deployed onto the capital planet of the system and in less than ten days, had isolated the capital city from all outside aid.

The capital city of Beroph, or Tau'n Nei'Va, was a warzone, the massed forces of the Fire Caste combating the Blood Raven elements pushing into the city from the ground. Pinpoint lance and bombardment cannon strikes had destroyed the air defenses, but Captain Angelos wanted to be sure. He wanted to see the dead Shas'O personally. Sergeant Corallis viewed the battle from aboard his land speeder typhoon. He was at the helm, with his steadfast Brother Arkian as gunner.

He dove low, over the curved white buildings so evidently of xenos manufacture. The roar of the speeder, as well as the air rushing past, was deafening. However, Corallis' autosenses lowered the cacophony to a whisper. Seeing movement in a building ahead, still so far away, he said to Arkian "Brother, missile in the third floor window". Arkian simply nodded, and pressed a button on the panel in front of him. His missile struck true, Corallis seeing the explosion as the land speeder swooped past, readying for another pass over the city.

"Armored spearhead under attack from xenos heavy weapons!" The vox crackled in Corallis' ear. Checking his position in relation to the battlefield, he banked right, the roar of the engines mixing with the ambient sounds of battle. The red craft dove towards the area of the fiercest fighting. The Gue'la district was just as it was named, the home for all humans in the city. Their buildings were more human in nature as well, lacking the round edges and blinding white color that was common in tau structures. This was where Angelos had decided the armored spearhead would press through. Even now, Corallis could see the forces arrayed against them. Angelos' land raider, as well as multiple predators and razorbacks, against a horde of battle suits, piranhas and hammerheads.

It would have been impossible… if Angelos had no support. Swooping down from the heavens, Corallis' land speeder typhoon strafed a line of broadsides, heavy bolter ammo and missiles finding even the tiniest weaknesses in their armor. Corallis climbed and weaved to escape enemy plasmafire, before Arkian turned his heavy bolter on group of fire warriors deploying into a wide thoroughfare. The large caliber explosive ammunition made short work of any hit.

As other land speeders joined the fight, it became just as much a battle of air supremacy as it was a ground war. Tau piranhas gracefully and silently dueled space marine land speeders. Both equally fragile, it was down to the pilot's skill to determine life or death. Corallis rolled to the right as a squadron flew in, hoping to be blotted out by the light of the sun. Useful on most foes, this tactic was worthless against a warrior with such advanced eyesight as a space marine. The squadron overshot Corallis' speeder, and the Sergeant quickly pulled it into a daring flip. Now behind the tau, Arkian had a small window of opportunity. The tau vehicles were much faster than those of Imperial manufacture. In the three seconds he had, Arkian managed to down two of the piranhas. Their burning hulls smashed into white buildings below, the smoke of their ruin joining the haze that covered the entire city, the flames from the crash unnoticed in the conflagration that was the capital city.

Corallis jolted, before turning to see a formation of hammerheads advancing perpendicular to the Astartes spearhead, followed by groups of Crisis Battlesuits, the grace with which they leapt across the roofs belying their bulky forms. Three presses of a trigger, and Arkian had sent six krak missiles down, tearing through the light armor of the hammerheads. The Crisis suits scattered, looking up before pouring blue plasma fire at the swift land speeder. Distracted, they were caught off guard by the fast moving Astartes assault squads that were following the armored spearhead. Under threat from power weapons that rendered even their thick armor useless, they withdrew further into the city, towards the Fire Caste headquarters, a large walled complex.

Inside the land raider at the head of the assault, a space marine Captain plotted his entrance into the tau stronghold ahead. Gabriel Angelos sat with his command squad, hunched over the holographic display of the battlefield. His marines were working perfectly together. They had suffered less than twenty casualties since the campaign in the Vorga system had begun. The Tau however, seemed very unorganized. Angelos suspected it was because they had yet to encounter a Crisis command suit or the like. No tau leader, Fire or Ethereal caste, had been identified. Without their leaders, the Tau were functioning on their own, on a squad by squad basis. As true in all warfare, when command and control are severed, the fighting force as a whole is crippled.

"Brace for impact!" The driver of the land raider shouted, snapping Angelos from his thoughts. The land raider shook with tremendous force.

"Driver, what was that?" questioned Angelos.

"Railgun, we were lucky Brother-Captain. If it had hit a foot to the right, it would have pierced straight through. Our left lascannon is not going to function however".

"Understood. Delegate a predator annihilator to those heavy weapons and keep pressing forward." He opened up a link to all Blood Raven forces. "Brothers, my spearhead is nearing the outer wall. All land speeders target point K7.35 on grid 37. For the Great Father and the Emperor!"

With that he cut the link, checking the map in front of him. The swarm of speeders above the battlefield was grouping like gnats, each craft unleashing their ordinance on a point in the white outer wall of the Fire Caste stronghold. By the time Angelos' land raider reached it, it would be rubble. He looked across the aisle of the large transport at his librarian aides. Brother Libarian Ourous clutched his force staff in both hands, his eyes closed, his mouth moving just barely. His gaunt face had never changed from a near translucent paleness. Some believed it was the strain of his powers that give him such a sickly look for an Astartes. A powerful telepath and divinatory, it was his task to warn the Blood Raven forces of clear and present dangers, often without the Astartes even knowing they were being spoken to. Although he didn't know it, it was Ourous who had warned Corallis of the hammerheads' flanking maneuver.

Next to Ourous was Librarian Hallevelt, an exemplary pyromancer. His force weapon was a great axe, constantly wreathed with blue flame. He was built like an ox, seemingly bursting out of his blue and bone colored power armor. His psychic hood clamped tightly on his head and from his pauldrons draped multiple sheets of parchment, detailing his achievements in combat.

Finally, Librarian Jonah Orion waited patiently near the assault ramp of the land raider. His grip on his force sword and bolt pistol was loose and steady. From under his psychic hood, his dark skinned and wrinkled face showed no signs of stress. Where Hallevelt was eager, Orion was prepared. The telekine was tapping into Ourous' psychic links to examine the tau strategies.

After passing his glance over each of the librarians, Gabriel looked at the other Astartes in the transport area of the Land Raider. The command squad of five was prepared. Sergeant Tanthius had joined the squad to carry the banner of the Company, a great honor. It now sat between his legs, ready to be carried into glorious combat.

Apothecary Cargenie checked over his tools before donning his helmet. Brothers Leonid and Eraston checked their bolters and undid the safety catch. Angelos himself, the fifth member, gripped the haft of his great daemon hammer, God-Splitter, which slew the daemon prince Sindri Myr. Inquisitor Toth had gifted him this weapon after the Tartarus Campaign, and he would not dishonor it.

A clipped statement from the driver informed Angelos that they would cross the ruined wall in ten seconds. The Land Speeders had done their task well. Angelos spoke to the Astartes. "Brothers… Brothers, this is what we have fought for. Today, the Blood Ravens 3rd Company will claim the head of the xenos leader that believes he can corrupt the proud masses of humanity. At my side, we shall destroy that which the Emperor has condemned."

His squad nodded. A sliver of light entered the transport as the assault ramp lowered. The land raider slowed to a halt as the ramp slammed into the ground, kicking up clouds of dust from the dried, brown earth. Angelos was the first out of the transport and was immediately enveloped in the sounds of combat. Forgoing a helmet, he preferred to show his face to the enemy. If they could see him, they would fear him personally.

He leapt off the ramp, his squad following seconds behind. The cracks of bolter fire and the whine of pulse weapons filled the air. Ten feet from the foot of the ramp, a fire warrior was rising to his feet. He had been thrown off balance when the outer wall had fallen. Just now rising, he fell again when God-Splitter crushed his ribs with a brutal strike to the chest. Angelos pointed to the command center five hundred yards away. It was the tau rally point. The fire warriors were falling back, hoping to set up a defense line. Broadside battlesuits began to lay down fire, reducing two razorbacks and a predator to burning wrecks. It was too late however; the Astartes were moving on foot.

The red clad space marines charged across the open field, tearing through the retreating tau. The disorganized withdrawal was cut down by bolter and chainsword. The dry soil's thirst was quenched with the purple blood of the Tau. Led by Angelos, little could stand against them. Gabriel's enhanced legs pumped him faster. Ahead, the first line was a simple redoubt make from rockcrete. The fire warriors were laying down withering fire, and many of his company were attempting to find cover rather than charge through the tempest. Already six marines had fallen, the plasma weaponry melting glowing holes in their power armor. With screams of defiance, disappointment and hate, they fell to the ground, dead or awaiting medical treatment. Gabriel paid it no heed. His artificer armor would more than stand up to the pulse weapons. At his side was Jonah Orion, the telekine minutely adjusting the trails of plasma fire to move around him.

Twenty feet away, Angelos caught a particularly nasty group of shots. His armor would have surely been penetrated, but a blue field of energy flashed, seemingly dissipating the deadly bolts. His iron halo glowed from its position on his backpack. Unlike other iron halos, Angelos' was made to activate only when the marine wearing it was in mortal danger. Reaching the redoubt, he swung God-Splitte and the rockcrete barrier shattered as if it was glass. The twenty tau positioned on it fell from their perches. Before they could rise, Angelos and Orion were upon them. Force sword and daemon hammer painted the rockrete purple with the blood of the Tau. The rest of the Astartes now advanced, no longer under pulse fire.

As they passed the redoubt, a dozen space marines fell. The Tau counterattacked with the last of their might. Six Crisis suits descended from the heavens, along with numerous fire warriors charging across open ground. The Crisis suits' heavy weapons made short work of Astartes power armor. In their center was a smaller XV22 battlesuit, its sleek grey form bearing multiple weapons. Librarian Ourous dropped to his knees behind cover, communicating to the space marines as a whole as Hallevelt charged forwards. He leapt up, a pillar of blue flame carrying him into the air. His force axe embedded itself in the neck joint of one of the crisis suits. With a sweep of its arm, he was tossed like a rag. He rolled along the ground to evade its subsequent shots, warned by Ourous. The crisis suits advanced, not concerned with the bolts that exploded all across their forms. To them, Death had arrived. They were now attempted to take Death with them. One fell, a meltagun reducing the pilot's compartment to sludge. Its killer and his whole squad were targeted, the burst cannons felling four more space marines. Apothecary Cargenie moved as fast as he could between the wounded, but he would never be able to reach them all in time.

Gabriel knew his target. Only a Shas'O would wear an XV22. He pressed forwards through the fire. The first Crisis suit in his way lost a leg to God-Splitter, the hammer shattering the heathen metals that composed it. It crashed to the ground and was consumed in flames conjured by Hallevelt. The Shas'O saw Angelos' advance and concentrated his fire. Missiles, pulse rounds, and pure flame poured towards Angelos, but nothing would stop the advancing Captain. Ten feet away, a pulse blast tore clear through his torso. The Shas'O paused as Angelos dropped to his knee. The Gue'la was dead, he thought. Before he could react, Angelos was on his feet again. The wound, to the shock of the Shas'O, had clotted already.

Two fire warriors stepped in front of their commander to protect him. They were smashed aside with a single wide swing of Angelos' hammer. The Captain pressed on and the Tau commander backpedalled in a panic as the Captain swung again. The alien commander ducked to the right, the crackling hammer barely passing over his white helmet, tearing his missile packs from his shoulders. He activated his jet pack, launching into the air while firing at Angelos desperately. Before he could do any real damage, he was under fire from the rest of the Blood Ravens, the last of the Crisis suits dealt with through pinpoint heavy weapons fire. Bolter fire enveloped him. His armor was strong, most rounds deflected entirely or exploding harmlessly. One struck true, and the commander fell forty yards to the ground.

The sounds of battle were diminishing. The tau counter attack had been short lived for there were so few to bolster their numbers. The standing Blood Ravens moved across the field, executing any they found. Angelos knelt on the bloodstained ground, God-Splitter laid down in front of him. His prayer to the Emperor and the Primarch was unheard by any of his battle-brothers. The Shas'O was dead. A lucky shot had torn out his neck and exploded his jetpack at the same time. His lifeblood had formed a large pool around him. His corpse would lay there to rot. To the Blood Ravens, Tau were not even worth burning.

Angelos stood and looked over what was left of his forces. Only forty marines were standing. He estimated that his 3rd Company was at an effective level of 60 marines. The Tau were worse foes than most, their firepower was a deadly threat and his Company had paid the price. As had he, looking down at the ragged hole in his chest, he vowed to have Apothecary Cargenie examine him when back aboard the Battle Barge. Sergeant Tanthius planted his banner next to the fallen Tau commander. In the eyes of all assembled save Angelos, this alone showed the true victory had been won.

Angelos' vox piece began beeping; the three coded beeping signaling a direct threat to the chapter. He raised a finger to his ear and pressed the stud, saying "Angelos here, status?"

"Brother-Captain, urgent news." Responded the watch officer on the Litany of Fury.

"Proceed officer," ordered Angelos.

"We have an urgent astropathic message meant for you. No one else is authorized to open it."

"Very well. We will return to the Litany of Fury before nightfall. Dispatch Thunderhawks for extraction. Apothecaries will also be necessary."

"Of course, Captain Angelos."


Angelos stood before the astropath inside the Captain's own private quarters. The blind man wore long, purple robes, crested with the emblems of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica. His frail fingers compulsively fiddled with an Aquila necklace.

Angelos spoke, "I do not have a century, astropath. Relive the message if you will."

"Of course, my Lord," the psyker replied. He swallowed audibly, and clenched his fingers tighter around the necklace. The temperature in the room dropped around 5 degrees and when the astropath spoke again, his voice had changed.

"Gabriel. It is I, Azariah Kyras, Chapter Master and Chief Librarian of the Blood Ravens. You are hereby ordered to return to Subsector Aurelia." Angelos would never be accustomed to the inherent unpleasantness of his Chapter Master's voice. It had a menace to it that even the vilest Dark Eldar Haemonculus would beggar himself to obtain. Angelos could not be sure if he had always sounded like that, or if something had happened to him. The astropath continued, "An ork WAAAAGH is poised to strike at the heart of our great chapter. A newly promoted Force Commander from the 5th Company has been dispatched, but you are the closest separate task force. Prepare your forces for battle, our recruiting worlds must not fall… no matter the cost."

The astropath shivered as the power left him. A cold sweat had covered him and he clutched his Aquila necklace with even greater conviction than before. Footfalls informed him that Angelos had already left the room. He looked around at his bare chamber, a shrine to the Emperor on one side and a bed on the other, and once again began to pray.

Jonah Orion was a trusted member of the Blood Ravens 3rd Company. He was currently sitting with the other psykers on the bridge of the Litany of Fury. They had the entire port-bow quarter of the bridge to themselves. The lights were dim, but Jonah knew that they were preparing to make a warp jump. Ourous had been talking about it for the past ten minutes. He was sitting next to Jonah, his eyes fluttering as he relayed thoughts between the psykers of the ship, giving orders to the people who needed them. Ourous raised his head, and turn to look at the entrance of the bridge just before Gabriel Angelos stepped inside and sat on the command chair. He was wearing full armor minus a helmet, and his regal red cape trimmed with black draped from his backpack to its hem a little above the ankle. The entire bridge had turned to look at him, awaiting orders.

"All Blood Raven forces, prepare for a warp jump. Our chapter calls, and as Blood Ravens, we must answer. Brother-Librarian Ourous will provide the coordinates. The foul race of the orks has descended on subsector Aurelia. They seek to tear the heart out of our Chapter. A few brave initiates under Captain Davian Thule stand to face them. However, the orks are too many. Our Chapter Master Kyras has commissioned a Force Commander to join Captain Thule. It is thought that he shall turn the tide of battle against the orks. Chapter Master Kyras has also, however, ordered us to reinforce Captain Thule. We Blood Ravens never shirk our duty. Let none find us wanting!"

Within minutes, a hole tore in reality, and the Litany of Fury and its escorts were racing towards Subsector Aurelia, a three week journey if the warp tides were on their side. As quickly as they had come, the Blood Ravens had left. The people of Vorga were on their own now. With the alien oppressors dead, the Blood Ravens had no duty to remain. That was Imperial Justice. With every passing day as food grew scarcer and arguments became war, the people of Vorga looked to the skies, praying that the Blue Men would not return. For the people knew, that should they return, the Angels of Death would not remain in heaven for long.


Apothecary Gordian was bored. He had thought it was impossible; there were always wounds to treat, or experiments to devise, but ever since the Navigator had told of the shift in warp tides, the Blood Ravens were on high alert. This basically meant that Gordian was confined to the bridge in case of enemy warp exit. Now he sat in front of a tactical console, switched off for the moment. The bridge lighting was dimmed and the auxiliary lighting left a red glow over everything. The space he could see out of the bridge viewport was empty, save for the glittering of stars and the night side of Calderis. With his chin resting in the palm of his hand, Gordian wondered when Thule would come relieve his position. Yes, he thought, I am the most experienced at ship to ship combat, but there are things I could be doing. A commotion near the entrance brought him from his half-hearted complaints. The Navigator stood panting in the doorway, the mutant's green robes were dripping with sweat and his hand was planted over his bloated forehead.

"They're here!" He shrieked. His bluish skin was paling more every second. Gordian looked at the astropaths, watching for a sign. A pair of them had their heads raised, as if looking towards the ceiling. Suddenly they stopped, and one stood and walked towards Gordian, evidently not mounted to his station like some of the others. Even with a cane, he walked better than a blind man should, though Gordian knew it was some psyker skill that provided a sort of sight. Stopping in front of Gordian, he spoke in a raspy, tired voice. "It would be prudent to fetch the Captain. Though Esteemed Navigator Edric can see the warp tides are about to overflow. We… can hear them my Lord Astartes. They are chanting for blood, calling out to their gods. I pray to the Emperor every moment that we can face them."

"I see. Thank you astropath. Prepare the others, if what you say is true, it is time for battle." Gordian stood, donning his helmet. With a word, he was in contact with Thule.

"Captain Thule," Gordian said.

"The orks are here, are they not?" came the reply.

"In scant moments, Brother-Captain."

"Very well, you are in command of the Armageddon now; cooperate with Martellus to work effectively. Order all squad leaders to the briefing room."

"Yes, Captain. Knowledge is power"

"Guard it well, Gordian." With that, the link was cut, and Gordian set about preparing for battle.


The leaders of the 4th Company stood around the tactical charts in the briefing room. Thule was with them, staring gravely that the icons that represented the predicted ork landings on Calderis. Sergeant Tarkus was the first to speak. His voice was calm but firm. "It will be a ground war. No matter how many ork ships the Armageddon can shoot down, some will make it to the surface."

"You are correct Tarkus," Thule agreed, "However we do not have the numbers to defend the whole planet. We must plan wisely".

Mercutio, head covered as usual, said, "I propose a defense of the capital. Orks congregate to combat; we must draw them to us."

"No." rejected Chaplain Automemos, already carrying his Crozius Arcanum, both a chaplain's weapon and badge of office. "We must draw the orks away from the cities. There we can leave them in the desert and isolate them."

"With all due respect Chaplain," responded Cryus, "my experience in the Deathwatch has taught me much about the ork. First of which, is that they thrive in harsh environments. We must kill them swiftly if we wish to eliminate them all."

"Then Mercutio is right", rumbled Avitus, "We should draw the alien scum into the ravines and canyons around Argus and slaughter them where they stand!" He glanced around and then added "Where is Thaddeus? He does not seem the type to be absent".

Thule was the one who answered. "I ordered Sergeant Thaddeus to patrol the southern deserts in a bike formation. His squad has slain over fifty orks in the last week alone. There appears to be many stragglers that arrived some time ago. He also reports findings of more dead orks."

Sparking his interest, Tarkus replied, "Captain, my squad never found conclusive proof as to what killed those orks. Possibly Eldar?"

"Nonsense Tarkus," growled Avitus, "Were you never taught not to speculate? Knowledge is power after all! The Eldar have no stake in this, why would they slay orks aimed at us?"

"Indeed. The thought is foolish." Allowed Tarkus.

"Enough. Mercutio and Avitus are correct in this matter. We have no choice but to protect Argus." Thule's order was absolute, and none dared disagree when he used a tone like this. He continued, "Avitus, to the northeast of Argus is a small hamlet. It has little value other than a choke point. You and Cyrus will use it to funnel orks into killing fields. Go now and prepare."

The two sergeants made the sign of the Aquila before exiting the room. Thule looked down at the map again and continued. "The according to these charts, the majority of the orks will land on the east side of Argus. This is unfortunate, due to this here." He pointed at a marking on the map, labeled "locomotive tunnel".

"No doubt the orks will use the tunnel to enter Argus" extrapolated Tarkus.

"We should seal it then" suggested Mercutio.

Thule shook his head. "No, those lines our vital to our own war effort as well. We should defend them if we can. There is a station here," he said as he pointed to another marking. "The orks' numbers will be useless if we defend from there. They will be unable to surround us."

As if a tyranid lictor had appeared in the room, scout sergeant Ariston spoke. "A second defensive line outside the station must be made."

"I see," said Mercutio, "If we were to pull back to there the orks would most likely follow us instead of continuing down the tunnel."

"See to it Ariston," ordered Thule. "Tarkus, you will remain on the Armageddon. Chapter Command has informed me that a newly promoted Force Commander named Aramus is in transit, due to arrive in less than two days. You will meet him and join the battle at his side."

"Orders understood, Captain Thule"

"Chaplain, you will oversee the defense of the city itself. Take Magnus' assault squad and Borian's tactical squad."

"Of course, Captain Thule. The Emperor protects!" The chaplain placed his helmet on his head and left the room.

"Very good, Mercutio, Ariston, with me!" The four Astartes exited, ready to face the orks with everything they had.


The bridge was tense now. Captain Thule had left with the majority of the 4th Company an hour before, and now Gordian was truly in command of the Armageddon. His apprentice Harkon was arming himself with Tarkus. The young Apothecary was impetuous, ready to kill orks with anything he could get his hands on. He had finally settled on a simple bolter and chainsword.

As the chronometer struck 18:32 Terran standard, a klaxon wailed. Gordian was on his feet and in front of the command lectern immediately, putting his helmet on. Looking at the screen in front of him, he could see dozens of red dots representing the ork fleet. More appeared every second.

"Warn Captain Thule," he said calmly, "and warm up the bombardment cannon and forward weapon batteries."

Shouts of acknowledgement accompanied his orders as he looked out the bridge viewport. He almost thought he could see the enemy, but scolded himself knowing that they were far out of eyesight.

A chapter serf shouted from his console "Captain Thule acknowledges!" Another serf shouted, "Bombardment cannon ready in five, Apothecary! Magma shells loaded for armor piercing spread!"

Tense minutes passed as the dots on the console grew closer. In seven minutes they were within maximum range. Slamming his right hand against the lectern and pointing with his left index finger, Gordian shouted, "Fire! Death to the enemies of the Emperor!" The ship shook as the bombardment cannon flared and Gordian watched the red streaks of the Magma shells tear through space, more than ten minutes before they would strike their targets.

And thus the first shots of the Aurelian Crusade were fired, silent in the vacuum of space.


Authors Note: Alright, another one done. You guys can probably start expecting one once a week right now. If my schedule gets worse, once every two weeks. I don't plan on any long absences. Reviews are always appreciated. And no, this will not turn out like Love Can Bloom, as nice as that story is.