Nothing But a List of Names to Mark His Ascension
Chapter 21: Dust in the Wind
Note: I do not own Warhammer 40,000 or Dawn of War, I am simply writing a different perspective to the events portrayed.
"Commander," scolded Martellus, "You should take better care of your armor. These cracks could be bad for the lasting integrity of the ceramite."
"You have warned me before Techmarine Martellus." Replied Aramus. He sat on a metal bench inside Martellus' workshop in the Armageddon, wearing a bone colored robe. He leaned back against the cool plasteel wall, looking across the room at Martellus. The red armored Techmarine paced slowly around Aramus' suit of power armor, which was standing in the middle of the room. The red and bone colored armor was covered in nicks and cracks, especially on the greaves.
"I know I have Commander, and yet you do not listen. How did these cracks occur anyway?"
"I jumped out of a Thunderhawk, onto a carnifex." Aramus said, his voice neutral.
"What." Said Martellus. It wasn't a question, simply a statement of incredulity. What Astartes in his right mind would jump out of a Thunderhawk, onto one of the most dangerous xenos in the Galaxy? Other than a Space Wolf, of course.
"Pardon me?" asked Aramus.
"Pay it no heed, Commander. I understand that you must lead the others into battle, so I will quickly patch up your armor."
"I thank you, Techmarine." Said Aramus, standing. He slapped Martellus on the shoulder and walked out, heading towards the bridge.
Martellus sighed. It was becoming a habit. The Commander was far too reckless, especially with the tools of the Machine God. How could Martellus be expected to fix his armor if this happened more than once? Martellus reached out his servo arm and grabbed a tube of repair cement. He could fix it quickly, but it wasn't going to look good.
The bridge of the Armageddon was quiet. The majority of the human crew had retired to their quarters. Apothecary Gordian sat in the command chair. Mounted on a dais, he could see every corner of the bridge. Sitting on the steps on the right that lead up to his chair were Thaddeus and Cyrus. They had come to speak with Gordian immediately, if only out of habit.
"And so," asked Thaddeus, "what happened to the Tyranid vessel? Did it manage to escape?"
"No" replied Gordian. He removed his helmet and shook his black hair around. "The cruiser is no more. Our last salvo shattered it into thousands of pieces."
"I see." Said Cyrus. "And still the Hive Ship remains undiscovered."
"If there is one." Suggested Thaddeus, nodding his head hopefully.
"There must be one. A single ship the size of that cannot create such a shadow in the warp." Cyrus said adamantly.
"Yes." Said Gordian, "I do not believe that ship would survive alone in deep space, especially if it is as alive as you say it is Cyrus."
"Those cruisers depend on the Hive Ship for food. It cannot be far away."
"Where is Tarkus?" asked Gordian.
"Tarkus decided to stay onsite at Angel Gate for the cleanup operations. His squad returned here however." Said Cyrus.
"Indeed." Confirmed Thaddeus, "Tarkus believed the ork's movements suggested of a plan in the works. They were attempting to open the Gate. Tarkus believes that they have an ulterior motive."
They heard soft footsteps and turned to the entrance to see Aramus, dressed in his robe. He walked up to stand next to Gordian, who nodded at him with respect.
"Apothecary, I trust the battle went well?"
"Yes, Commander. Little to no losses." Replied Gordian.
"You do the Emperor honor, Apothecary." As he spoke, the communications officer stood and walked over, a slip of paper in his hand.
"My lords, we are receiving communication from a. . . Administrator Derosa." He stared carefully at the paper as he pronounced the name. "Should I patch him through?"
"Summon Sergeant Avitus, and then do so."
Moments later, with all the present Sergeants at his side, Aramus allowed the video link to Derosa to be opened. The picture was small and graining. Derosa sat at a steel folding desk with a young arbitrator at her side. In the background, soldiers and civilians bustled around. The ambient noise crackled over the vox and made the sound quality painful for the ears.
"Commander," said an amused Derosa, "I did not think you capable of removing your armor."
"There is no time for trivialities Administrator. Where is our access to Angel Forge?"
"Commander, Blood Ravens. I must confess something. I have indeed secured your access to Angel Forge. But not with the Governor's permission."
"What?" asked Thaddeus in shock. This was treason.
"I have not been entirely truthful with you Commander. Governor Vandis has been ordering me to delay you for the entire time you have been on Meridian. You must understand I attempted to get you the access. However, when I pressed him last, he did not answer at all. Only a few hours ago did I manage to learn the truth. Governor Vandis has fled the system, indeed, the entire sector. He and his House Soldiers are all but gone from Meridian."
"Coward. I knew it from the first time I saw him." Said Avitus. At his side, Cyrus wondered if Avitus had ever actually met the Governor.
"Indeed Avitus." Said Aramus, "Perhaps it is good that Vandis fled. This way he could possibly escape my wrath."
"Regardless," said Cyrus, "You took a great risk. You could be hanged if he should return."
"Vandis was a coward that fled the system, Sergeant Cyrus. Commander Aramus stands ready to fight in the name of the Emperor. If anything, it took me far too long to discover where my loyalties belonged. I will remain on standby here, coordinating refugee and PDF movements."
"You do the Emperor proud, Administrator." Said Aramus. "With this access, we will be able to strike back against the Hive Fleet."
"My Lords," shouted the Comm officer, "transmission from Sergeant Tarkus. He reports that the orks are on the move outside of Angel Gate!"
The Sergeants tensed, prepared to move. Aramus nodded slightly. "And we shall aid him!" he shouted. Gordian pressed a button on his console as the Sergeants filed out, cutting the link with Derosa. He opened up the ship's vox com and spoke, his authoritarian voice echoing across the entire craft, "Adeptus Astartes, prepare for immediate combat. All Astartes to the drop pods. The Emperor protects. Let none find us wanting."
Ocella Lyon usually found himself in the chapel after combat. This time was no different, and after a few moments speaking with the always pleasant Automemos, Lyon was deep in prayer. He knelt behind a pew in the darkened chapel, the silence only broken by his muttered prayers and the crackle of candles on the walls. He prayed, "Emperor, hear my humble words. Take to your sides your blessed people, that have died scared and alone this night. And bless those who fight in your name. Bless the guardsmen, the PDF, the Arbitrators and the enforcers. Bless as well th-"
"A good prayer, Brother Lyon." A voice said, interrupting the speech. Lyon stood and faced the intruder. Like Lyon, the man was an Astartes, in full power armor save a helmet. His grim, pale face and bleached hair was only half illuminated by the lighting.
"Brother Draco." Said Ocella Lyon, clenching his fists. "I thought our business was finished the last time we spoke."
"I fear it is not, Brother Lyon." Draco said humorlessly. His jaw was clenched tight and his eyes were devoid of all amusement.
"Speak quickly. You are no friend of mine, Draco."
"Such hostility." Draco replied. "I mean for the best. Brother Augustine has gone too far this time."
"I have heard enough of your conspiracies Brother Draco. I will not tolerate such talk about my sworn battle-brother, and yours as well."
"Hear me out at least, Brother Lyon." Requested Draco. Lyon sighed, it seemed that Draco wouldn't leave without giving voice to his theories.
"As you wish. Speak your case, Brother." Lyon allowed.
"Yes. When our squad and the Commander were searching for the Governor's command bunker Augustine to-"
Before he could finish, he was cut off by a blaring voice over the ship's vox com, "Adeptus Astartes, prepare for immediate combat. All Astartes to the drop pods. The Emperor protects. Let none find us wanting."
"Yes?" asked Lyon after the announcement had ended. "Finish your accusation Draco."
"No. Battle calls." Replied Draco.
"Yes. Perhaps it is good that we do not finish this discussion." Nodded Lyon.
"We will finish. We meet here after the battle." Said Draco as he turned to leave. "May the Emperor protect you, Brother Lyon, until then."
"And you as well. Let none find us wanting." Lyon said, but Draco was already gone. Lyon bowed his head for a moment, and finished his truncated prayer before quietly exiting the chapel.
"What's all the fuss about?" asked Vornas.
"Something about ork movement a couple miles north of the Gate." Replied Alek. He had his vox caster between his legs and was fiddling with the dials, trying to get a proper signal.
"Whatever. We're safe here." Said Sergeant Major Merrick. It was true. After the battle of Angel Gate, his squad had been relocated. The six men, seven actually, were having a nice rest on the second defense line of Angel Forge, west side. Basically that meant that the squad was halfway between the entrance to Angel Forge and the monolithic Angel Gate. They were on the left side of the central road, positioned on one of the raised bastions on the area that lined the road, which was dug into the ground. They had a two hundred and seventy degree field of vision, only their rear was unprotected. From the position, they could fire on the Gate, the road, and the Forge entrance. It was an unparalleled defensive position.
"Yes, sir." Said Vornas. He sat up and looked towards Angel Gate. He had a bad feeling, but he couldn't place it. Everything seemed normal. Hurst was ragging on Remer for not putting his full plate on, and Alek had just pinched his finger in the vox caster's mechanism like the unlucky bastard he was. But still, something was wrong.
From atop the roof of a bombed out warehouse, Drochasal Draoi could see the streaks of the mon-keigh assault pods. They would touch down in minutes. He reached out with his mind and touched the mind of his Farseer, his oldest friend, Lantillifieth Idranel. They come.
Thank you Drochasal. He was shocked to hear her call him by name. He rarely had that pleasure. The time that they had once used each other's given names had long passed. Seconds later, her voice touched his mind again. My kin. The mon-keigh have taken the bait. Our time has come. With what I have learned, I can destroy their forge. Victory will be ours.
Aramus was greeted by Tarkus mere moments after exiting his drop pod, which had landed in front of Angel Gate. The entire Strike Force stood behind him, even Brochus, who was now fitted with a crude augmetic leg at his insistence. Though it would be painful and slow, Brochus did not want to miss any more combat. Harkon, who had come as well, had promised to give him a more intricate leg as soon as they reboarded the Armageddon.
Tarkus made the sign of the Aquila, and then unslung his boltgun. "Commander, the orks are moving towards a cluster of storehouses to the north of here."
"Very good Sergeant Tarkus, your guess about an ulterior motive was correct. Let us move out and kill the xenos."
"Let none find us wanting Commander. Squad, rally on me. Follow the Commander's advance."
Aramus broke into a run with Cyrus quickly catching him to run at his side. Brother Xanthis had finally returned to combat, the surgery on his knee finished. Aramus was glad that so many of his Brothers had returned to the fight. Even Automemos, the venerable chaplain had come. Perhaps he had felt this battle was especially important, or perhaps he had misunderstood when he had heard Gordian say "all Astartes". Either way, Aramus was glad to have him.
In less than ten minutes at their pace, they reached the storehouses. Over two hundred orks were pouring into the complex, which was made up of a walled perimeter and a group of armored buildings made to resist orbital bombardment. The orks had brought down the walls and were now bashing their way into one of the buildings, led by a large ork with a power klaw.
The Astartes hit the orks on their right flank at the rear. Led by Aramus, the Blood Ravens caught the orks completely by surprise. Aramus cut down orks by the dozens, Thaddeus' squad and Automemos at his side, while Avitus brought down ranged orks with his squad. Tarkus and Cyrus circled around and caught the orks on the other flank, trapping them in a pincer movement. The ork with the power klaw died to Linus, a krak missile impacting its face. Brother Nikephoros burned more than twenty with this flamer and killed a multitude of others with his boltgun, its shots tearing through the heaviest armor the orks could place in between them. The last ork died six minutes after the Blood Ravens commenced their flank attack, with one Blood Raven casualty. Brother Brochus took a choppa to the chest after his leg failed him. He would recover, but he would miss more combat, much to his chagrin.
"Commander." Said Cyrus. "I recognize this symbol." He pointed at a coat of arms on the wall of one of the storehouses. "It is the insignia of House Vandis."
"You do not think that the scum has hidden weapons here?" asked Avitus. The devastator had taken up position outside the compound, panning his heavy bolter across the streets and ruined buildings to see if any targets would present themselves.
"There is only one way to find out." Said Thaddeus, walking up to the door. "Permission to use krak grenade Commander?"
"Granted." Said Aramus. He, along with the other marines moved away from the armored door as Thaddeus planted the grenade. With a loud crack, as per the name, the door imploded on itself. Tarkus stepped into the darkened room before letting out a growl.
"Commander. These are relics of the Chapter. Weapons and armor from our history that we thought lost."
"Not only is he a traitor." Spat Avitus. "He is a thief as well."
"This type is an example of all that is wrong with Meridian. Without men like this…" Thaddeus seemed disappointed. Perhaps he had come to expect this from leaders of Hive Worlds. He shook his head sadly.
Aramus stepped inside the building. It certainly was a treasure trove of Blood Raven artifacts. Back banners hung on the walls and there were at least three full suits of power armor. He could even see a suit of Terminator armor in the back. He reached out and picked up a weapon, a mighty thunder hammer. He gripped the haft of the weapon, and inspected the iconography on the hammer faces. The side of the hammer had a depiction of the death of Horus, with the Emperor striking him down with a lance of pure light. The hammer faces were covered in names, each a hero of the chapter. There were still spaces left open. This hammer was known as Remembrance, he remembered it from his lessons in his induction. It had been lost more than two hundred years before. If a hero of the chapter killed a mighty foe, truly legendary, with this weapon, his name would be carved into one of the faces of the hammer. Though he was no great hero of the Chapter, Aramus could not leave this weapon here.
His vox beeped and when he answered, the monotone voice of Martellus spoke. "Commander, Angel Gate is under heavy attack. The Eldar have returned with a vengeance. Reports are scarce, but the xenos may have breached the Gate itself."
"We must respond," said Aramus, "however, we have discovered dozens of Chapter relics in one of Vandis' warehouses. We cannot afford to leave them behind without protection."
"Chapter relics!" Martellus nearly shouted. "I will dispatch combat servitors and tarantula turrets. In fact, I am moving to the drop pods now. I will be on site momentarily."
The link cut before Aramus could say anything else. No matter, with Martellus personally coming to oversee the recovery, the relics were safe. He took Remembrance with him. Tarkus grabbed a plasma gun, checking the load to make sure it was fresh. His bolter hung at his side. All the Astartes present had heard the news of the Eldar attack when Martellus had opened the link. They would need all the firepower they could get.
"Frak! Frak! FRAK FRAKING FRAK!" shouted Merrick. "Where did they come from?" He fired his hellgun towards Angel Gate on full auto, the orange rounds doing little to suppress the Eldar that were pouring over the battlements. Winged humanoids flew overhead, pouring laser fire into helpless guardsmen below. There was a flash, and Merrick was thrown from his feet by a massive shockwave. When Merrick stood again, he saw pieces of Angel Gate landing all around him, some large and others small, around the size of a man. A gaping hole was left in the wall, filled with two Eldar skimmer tanks.
"Sergeant Major! The Gate's gone!" Shouted Kippler as he pulled Merrick to his feet.
"Frak you Kippler! I can see that!" Merrick began shooting at the dozens of Eldar that were running through the Gate. He was so glad that his squad was so far away. The guardsmen were being torn to pieces, and any that retreated were cut down before they could take ten paces. Merrick could barely hit any of the black armored Eldar, and the light blue ones flying above weren't even worth the ammo to try. The numbers were far higher than anything Command had predicted. Too much armor too. Merrick saw a section of the wall crack, and a large humanoid construct climbed on top of it. It had one arm filed down to a point, and another normal one. On the arm that was whole, the construct had multiple ranged weapons. It fired bursts of shuriken fire as well as plasma bolts from a shoulder mounted weapon into the dozens of guardsmen around the Gate.
The skimmer tanks charged up their strange crystal cannons, and fired again. Merrick ducked as the beams fired, even though he knew that if they were aimed his way, there was no hope of survival. One of the pink beams passed overhead, impacting near the Forge and melting a large hole in the plasteel building that it hit. Vornas stood shakily and began pumping frag grenades towards Angel Gate at a high launch angle, dropping them like mortars. Next to him, Alek fired frantically. The squad was fighting back against impossible odds. From atop the building behind them, Cost shot and killed two of the black armored Eldar. It didn't matter though. The Eldar would be there soon enough. They'd be overrun like the others.
"Alright squad, fall back to the west. This position will be flanked if we stay here!"
"You heard the Sergeant Major!" shouted Hurst. "Move west!" He fired his underbarrel grenade launcher and began jogging west. Merrick fired another shot before grabbing Vornas and dragging the Daredevil with him. The crazy son of a bitch wanted to keep fighting. Last to follow was Alek, hefting his vox caster. His hands clenched his hellgun tightly. Even the tyranids hadn't pressed them this hard. Alek prayed the Astartes would save them again.
Draoi supported Idranel. Her bleeding had only now stopped after her encounter with the zoanthrope. She was in no position to fight and as her bodyguard; it was Draoi's job to protect her. Four of the humans' primitive lasers came their way, and with a single thought, an invisible barrier deflected them, sending the beams harmlessly into the ground. He heard a crash to his left and looked as he walked with Idranel. Aerelth dropped to street level amongst dozens of fleeing guardsmen. He dragged his good arm around, pumping out thousands of shuriken. Any guardsmen hit by the bursts exploded into puffs of blood, with little but chunks left to bury. As he killed, Aerelth projected across the entire battlefield.
Fear nothing. Your ancestors are here. You are our children. Dead though we are, we shall not abandon you.
"We must press forward, Drochasal." Said Idranel. She shrugged off his arm and stood up straight, flexing her grip on her singing spear. "We cannot tarry long. The Space Marines will return soon enough." She ran forwards, leaving Draoi behind. Soon she was joined by Exarch Tyrea and the Howling Banshees of Ulthwé. The one of Biel-Tan, Arcadia, was not in sight.
Draoi projected his own voice across the battlefield now. Eldar, our advance is unstoppable, but the Space Marines will be here soon. Prepare to hold them while the Farseer performs her task.
Lasgun fire from the right. He turned and sprinted towards the interlopers, moving like the wind. The guardsmen did not even see the thing that killed them. Draoi shook the blood from his witchblade and looked back to the Gate. More Eldar were moving in. The Farseer had committed every Eldar on Meridian to this fight. It would be enough. It had to be enough.
The Eldar had tricked them. Aramus was furious. The Strike Force had been on the move from the second the first turrets had landed. Aramus sprinted, heedless of formation. Remembrance was in his right hand and his bolt pistol in his left. His power sword remained sheathed. Thaddeus' squad was constantly jumping, aware that they would need to return to Angel Forge as soon as possible. He could see the Gate ahead, a thousand yards away across the desolation that was Angel Spire. It was shattered by Eldar firepower, the same as the wall around it. He spat, cursing the Eldar and their trickery. His vox beeped and he answered with a curt, "Aramus."
"Commander." It was Derosa. How had she gotten his personal vox? "Angel Forge is under attack. Many of the guardsmen there have retreated, and we believe the Eldar have reached the Forge itself."
"I am well aware Administrator." Aramus replied angrily. "I am about to rectify that situation."
"We are also reading some strange readings from the Forge itself. I believe the Eldar are using their ethereal powers to overload the Forge."
"And that means?" asked Aramus. He had no time for this.
"It would result in the destruction of the entire world. The guardsmen are rallying as we speak, but your help is required. Reach Angel Forge and kill the Eldar. I beg you."
"Aye. The witches will die. Meridian is safe."
The Astartes closed on the Gate. The few Eldar remaining there turned to engage. Too few, and stretched too thin, thought Aramus. He shot two, and the rest were cut down by Thaddeus' squad as they crashed into the ground. The Astartes pressed into the gateway, underfire from three dozen guardians. Though the fire was fierce, only Brother Hypion was wounded, his right arm torn to shreds. No matter how intense the fire, the Blood Ravens advanced. Thaddeus' squad jumped, landing amongst the guardians. In close combat, no guardian could match a space marine in anything but speed. They died like flies up close.
Aramus swung Remembrance one handed, smashing a guardian off its feet. He stomped on the alien's head to finish it. A krak missile flew overhead, striking an Eldar skimmer tank before it had even had the chance to fire. Aramus grinned. Though the Eldar were deadly on the attack, defensively they were weak, especially when trying to hold a fixed position. Down the central road, he could see storm clouds coalescing over the Entrance to Angel Forge, which was sunk deep into the plasteel.
"Brothers, advance. We must reach the Forge's entrance, at any cost!" He jogged ahead on the central road, firing his bolt pistol. Thaddeus' squad advanced with him along with Cyrus' and Avitus', Tarkus took the rear, firing his plasma gun at any targets that presented themselves. Nikephoros and Ocella Lyon fired their bolters. The Eldar were launching hit and run attacks on the advancing column of Space Marines. What they lacked in toughness, they made up for with elusiveness. Even the guardians, the civilian-soldiers, took many rounds to actually hit. Lyon felt a rush of pride every time he saw the burst of dark red blood from a direct hit. A group of Eldar appeared on their right, but were gunned down by a fusillade of lasfire. Lyon was happy to see two dozen green armored soldiers advancing in from the west, with more following them. If the world was truly at stake, there was no point in retreating.
"Massed Eldar, left flank!" shouted Cyrus. His squad stopped and opened fire, though the enemy melted away as soon as they had arrived. Cyrus heard a crack, and easily recognized the sound of an Eldar sniper round. "Sniper! Eyes open brothers." Xanthis leaned against him, holding Cyrus' arm tightly. Cyrus looked at him in shock. The scout was bleeding from a wound in his chest. His grip loosened, and Xanthis slumped to the ground. Before he could check to see if his Brother was alive, his vox opened without his command.
"Nemerian was the best of us, humans. And now he is avenged." Eldar in the vox. It was the one from Typhon, Cyrus was sure of it. He grabbed Xanthis and dragged him back towards Harkon, who was treating a mobile Hypion. From what he could see, Xanthis was still breathing. He may live yet.
"Commander." Said Cyrus. "Eldar ranger, right flank I believe. Permission to pursue?"
"Kill him Cyrus." Ordered Aramus, who was crouched behind the roadblock that stood halfway between Angel Forge and the Gate. Cyrus wordlessly rallied his scout and they pushed right, into the sector that housed the elite workers of Angel Forge. He would kill that ranger, not only for Xanthis, but because he failed to do the same on Typhon.
Though their numbers were lessened with Cyrus' departure, Aramus did not delay. He advanced again, after only a moment's pause for Harkon to stabilize Xanthis. The scout would live. He charged forward, slamming Remembrance into a guardian that strayed too close. By now, the numbers of the guardsmen pouring in were reaching into the hundreds, and the numbers of the Eldar were thinning. As skilled as they were, they could not kill everything. Suddenly the Space Marines were under fire from the air. Laserfire stabbed down at them, striking multiple marines and killing a group of guardsmen. Though it was accurate, the shots were no better than Imperial lasguns. Despite what the Eldar thought, humans could match them occasionally in firepower.
Tarkus aimed up with his plasma gun. Blue armored Eldar soared above the Blood Ravens. On their backs were glittering white wings of wraithbone. They flew in intricate patterns, firing down at the immobile marines. The shock of the attack was lost soon, and return fire began to take its toll. Lyon shot one out of the air, his boltgun bursting the alien's ribcage. Tarkus saw another with even more exotic armor, wielding a specialized version of the laser weapons the rest carried. He quickly aimed his plasma gun and fired. The blue orb of plasma struck the Eldar on the wing, sending him tumbling into the ground. Aramus charged forward as the alien shakily stood, drawing a single edged sword. Hammer and sword clashed and the Eldar stumbled back, losing his grip on his weapon. Aramus swung again and threw the Eldar from his feet. Then he aimed his bolt pistol at the fallen Eldar and fired once, killing it. It takes a thousand years to train an Eldar warrior; it takes only a second to kill them.
"Charge!" shouted a Commissar, brandishing his chainsword. All around the Space Marines, guardsmen were pushed into the fray by their officers. Merrick was reluctantly among them. As they had retreated west, the squad had met up with a large group of rallying guardsmen. Now Merrick and the rest of his grenadiers grudgingly attacked. All around him, the regiment was being cut down by shuriken fire. But for every few guardsmen that fell, an Eldar died, its armor either burst by an Astartes bolter, or torn to pieces by a ludicrous number of las shots.
"Let's go!" shouted Vornas as he fired towards a group of guardians with his grenade launcher. Two of the three Eldar escaped the blast, only to be mowed down seconds later. "Let's see em fight all of us!" The Eldar pulled away from the massed guardsmen, laying down suppressive fire that did no good. The Commissar's weren't going to allow the guardsmen to be pinned.
"Huelan is dead, Farseer." Said Draoi. Under his helmet, his eyes were shut in sadnesss. He had known the Exarch for many years, and yet he had died without even a single Space Marine kill to his name. Something was wrong, they were dying too easily.
"Yes. My wound… I cannot concentrate my powers and watch the threads of Fate at once." Idranel floated above the ground, her entire body glowing. The songs of the storm echoed through her head and dark clouds formed above her. She would use the power generated to destroy this Forge, and the world with it. Then the tyranids would have nothing to feed on, no reason to attack these worlds.
"Idranel, will you make it in time?" Draoi was worried. The Astartes were not even being slowed. Without Idranel's sight, they were blind to the attacks of the enemy. Dozens of Eldar had already died, and more were charging into the fray, all to protect Idranel, for if she died, their reason for being here died as well.
"Hold them back for me, Drochasal." Asked the Farseer.
"As you order, Lantillifieth." He replied.
"Warp spiders to the left!" shouted Aramus before diving behind a tank trap. Soon the air was filled with monofilament shot. Dozens of guardsmen disappeared, sliced into slabs of meat. Tarkus fell back, clutching his head. A deep gouge had been torn above his eye. He tore off his helmet, and began returning fire. The bulky warp spiders pulled back into the ruined buildings.
"Thaddeus!" ordered Aramus, "Kill them!"
"As you order." Replied the Assault Sergeant as the squad activated their jump packs. They landed heavily, throwing up dust all around. The warp spiders had not jumped yet, and Augustine didn't know why. One stumbled into view, and Augustine's chainsword removed its head. The body fell with a clatter.
"Spread out and kill them all!" shouted Thaddeus. Augustine pressed northeast, towards the Gate. The buildings here had been shattered by heavy Eldar firepower, and rockcrete chunks littered the ground. He encountered guardians in ones and two, and chopped them down with ease. He walked down a small flight of stairs and stood in an octagonal area around fifty yards wide. In the center was an elevator into the Forge, but it had been shattered by artillery days before.
Augustine advanced with bolt pistol raised. He felt that he was being watched. He slowly turned. Behind him was an Eldar dressed head to toe in bone colored armor. Its shoulder was marked with a green insignia, one that Augustine did not recognize. The Eldar, female he noticed, had a power sword unsheathed in her left hand. She had a bag hanging on her belt, which seemed to be glowing.
"Thief." Spat the Eldar in accented Low Gothic. Then it attacked. Augustine's first thought was the bolt pistol. The Eldar slid forward and kicked it out of his grip, sending it into the shadows. He swung Thanatos, missing entirely. He ducked back, barely dodging her return stroke. The Eldar pressed the attacked swinging multiple times. He dodged twice, and blocked a third with the side of his chainsword as Thaddeus had taught him, letting the power weapon slide off without damaging his weapon. She spun and attacked again, slashing horizontally. He dodged, but not quickly enough. The blade cut a line across his chest, marking the ceramite. The Eldar dodged his counter attacked and back flipped out of reach.
Augustine concentrated his powers, his right hand bursting into flame. He charged towards the alien female, alternating swinging his hand and Thanatos. She dodged again, and Augustine got the feeling she was toying with him. He received a slash on his right arm, not crippling, but painful. Now he was sure that she wanted him to die a death of a thousand cuts.
"Stop this nonsense alien!" He shouted.
"You will suffer for taking the stone from the fallen!" the Eldar shrieked. Augustine stepped back, extinguishing the flames on his arm. Before he could move any more, the Eldar was upon him again. He suffered four more superficial cuts to the chest and legs. He rolled away, his blood clotting quickly. Then he realized what she was talking about. He panted and reached down to his belt, opening a pouch and removing the glowing red stone he had taken a few hours before.
"This?" he asked. The Eldar raised her blade, but paused before attacking again. "It was no trophy of mine. Take it if you wish." He placed it on the ground and stepped back five paces.
"What?" asked the Eldar.
"Our Chapter knows of your situation regarding death."
"So you took it?" Arcadia could not believe her ears. How could an animal understand this?
"If a tyranid had broken it, the dead one's soul would have been forfeit, correct?" Augustine asked.
"Yes," the Banshee replied. She did not believe he was lying. If he truly took it as a trophy, he would not give it up so easily.
"You are my enemy, but your deaths suffice for me. I have no urge to strengthen the Ruinous Powers." Arcadia quickly ran forward and recovered the soulstone. She silently placed it in the bag with the others and looked back at the Space Marine. He was tense, waiting to see if she would attack him again.
"I do not trust you any more than you trust me mon-keigh. I wish your death as well, but it is possible you acted with pure intentions. Let us part on neutral terms."
Augustine smiled. Suddenly, bolt fire engulfed the area. Arcadia jumped back behind cover, but the rounds were not tracing her. The bolt rounds followed Augustine, who dove behind a cluster of barrels. The metal did little to stop the rounds, and a piece of shrapnel lodged itself in his leg. Augustine cursed his losing of his own bolt pistol.
"TRAITOR!" shouted a voice. Augustine heard the sound of a jump pack and the subsequent crash of landing. He rolled out of cover, and barely managed to stop the first slash of the chainsword.
"Draco!" yelled Augustine. "Stay your blade!"
"Never!" He swung towards Augustine's head, who brought up Thanatos to block. Draco was much bigger than Augustine, who was the shortest one in the Assault squad. Augustine ducked the next slash and moved back, limping from the shrapnel in his leg. Draco attacked twice more in quick succession. Augustine blocked one, but took a deep cut on his right leg from Draco's roaring chainsword.
He had had enough. Augustine concentrated and brought the flame to his palm again. He attacked with all his might, launching every manageable attack he had against Draco. Though he was only misguided, Augustine would not allow himself to be killed by a Brother, even if that meant killing his Brother himself. He swung his fist towards Draco, only to have the flames bounce harmlessly off his armor. Changing his tactic, he reached up, gripping Draco's face. The other marine screamed and slammed the pommel of his chainsword into Augustine's temple. Augustine stepped backward, readying his blade once again. Draco's helmet had a dark burn mark, the gray ceramite showing from where the paint had burned off. Augustine attacked once more and Draco casually blocked and swung back. Augustine ducked and slashed Draco's waist, cutting him lightly. The larger marine responded by kneeing Augustine in the helmet as hard as he could. Augustine fell back, unconscious, even with the protection his helmet provided. The impact had cracked his faceplate and vox grille. Draco raised his chainsword for the killing blow. "Those that allow the alien to live shall share the crime of their existence." He muttered as he brought his weapon down.
Augustine was only out for ten seconds. His HUD showed only static, and he quickly removed his helmet. He looked up at Draco. The marine's chainsword had been cut in two, and a deep slash was in his chest. Behind Draco, facing away from Augustine, was the Eldar, her blade unsheathed. With a sigh, Draco fell to his knees; even his enhanced cells could not stop the bleeding. He slowly removed his helmet and looked at Augustine. His eyes fell to gaze at his shaking hands, covered in blood, then slumped forward onto the ground, eyes dull.
Augustine did not know what to feel. His life was saved, but his Brother was dead. His savior stood before him, but she was an abominable alien that had killed a sworn Brother of his. He opened his mouth to speak, but the Eldar began first.
"He is dead. A life saved for a life saved. We will finish our duel another time."
"Wait," growled Augustine. "You have killed my Brother. I cannot allow you to leave."
"He attempted to murder you, and you now seek to avenge him?" She let loose a quick statement under her breath, in a tongue Augustine could not understand. "You cannot defeat me in a duel, you must have realized this."
"Perhaps I cannot beat you, but raise your blade nonetheless." Ordered Augustine, rising to his feet with Thanatos ready.
"No." Arcadia replied bluntly. "I will not kill a wounded animal. Pray to your Emperor that we meet again. Then you can have your revenge."
"Nathaniel Augustine is my name." he said. "Live in dread, knowing the name of your killer."
"I am shaking in my armor." replied the Eldar. "I am Arcadia. I am not so arrogant to say that I am your killer, but remember my name regardless."
"I have no choice in that matter." Said Augustine. The Eldar cocked her head, as if she was chuckling. She turned her back to Augustine, and in a blur was gone. She could have certainly killed me, thought Augustine, with speed like that. He retrieved his bolt pistol from the shadows, and then opened up a link to the rest of the Strike Force. "Nathaniel Augustine reporting. A Battle-Brother has fallen; do not let his sacrifice be in vain."
Sergeant Wadden Hurst advanced up the central road, side by side with Sergeant Major Merrick. It seemed that the 85th Vendoland had deployed in their entirety. Nearly a thousand guardsmen clogged the street, charging towards the entrance to Angel Forge. The amount of Eldar in their way paled in comparison. The black armored warriors fought well, each killing five or more guardsmen, but it was not enough. The road behind Hurst was marked with burning vehicles, destroyed by the remaining Eldar skimmer tank before one of the space marines had affixed a melta bomb to its hull. Hurst aimed at a group of black armed Eldar setting up a heavy weapon, and fired. As he thought, his shots missed, and the Eldar attempted to relocate. One fell as they withdrew, dozens of las shots finally finding a weakness in its armor. To Hurst's right, Merrick and Private Alek cornered and killed another guardian.
"How many kills was that Private?" asked Merrick.
"Four today sir."
"Very good lad." Merrick finished. The squad continued forward, pushed by the masses behind them. Merrick could see that the space marines had almost reached their objective.
Aramus charged up the final stairway that separated him from his objective. Only Tarkus' squad was still with him. Cyrus was hunting the Ranger, Thaddeus was regrouping, and Avitus was holding off a flank attack launched by a group of howling banshees. The guardians in the way died as quickly as usual. They had far too many targets to deal with, due to the amount of guardsmen that continued to arrive. They also didn't seem to be as decisive as Aramus was used to. He swung Remembrace, throwing a guardian off the railing that it stood before. Directly ahead was an area sunken into the floor of the level. It was the entrance to Angel Gate. Floating in the middle of the area was a glowing Eldar, lightning crackling between her and the storm clouds above. The electricity flowed from her into the ground, pouring into the power circuits of the Forge. Next to her was a black robed warlock, a witchblade in his hand.
Aramus ran down the stairs that led to the entrance. Tarkus' squad fired at the glowing Eldar, but some sort of shield protected her. Guardians appeared from the flanks, counterattacking and forcing Tarkus to shift his attentions, leaving Aramus to fight alone.
"Kill those guardians Brothers." Ordered Aramus. "I will deal with the witch!" He made to move towards the floating one, which he assumed was the farseer, but was met by the warlock, blade raised.
"Human, I admire your tenacity, but I cannot allow you to end the Farseer's plans." His voice was smooth and in unaccented low gothic.
"You are brave to stand against me alien!" boasted Aramus. "Perhaps your kind has courage after all."
"And perhaps yours has skill. You understand the science of war, but not the art." Draoi attacked, slashing his blade at Aramus' throat. He was repelled by a force of invisible energy. Jumping back, only then did Draoi notice the metal crown mounted on the Space Marine's backpack. After the impact, the effect was visible. A flickering blue energy field surrounded Aramus. An iron halo.
Aramus charged, swinging Remembrance. Draoi easily dodged, and attacked back, but no strike could break through the field. Aramus switched Remembrace to his left hand, and drew his power sword with his right. Fighting two handed, Draoi was pushed back. Though the Eldar could launch dozens of attacks at an open Aramus, he did not know if any would get in. Even if Aramus took a hit, the field would recover in time to block the next.
"Haha!" laughed Aramus. "Meet your death!" He swung both his weapons inward. Draoi avoided the sword and stepped back to barely dodge the thunder hammer. He counter attacked, slashing his blade at Aramus from every angle. Two strikes pierced the shield, and dealt Aramus a pair of scratches on his breastplate. Aramus used both weapons simultaneously, but Draoi was quick enough to avoid nearly every blow. Aramus swung low with his power sword. Draoi jumped over the blade but wasn't prepared for Aramus to use the momentum of his swing to spin around, committing to another swing with his hammer. The hammer face struck Draoi on the shoulder and the side of the head. Only a quick application of his powers saved him from certain death. He spun in the air and landed ten feet away, stunned. Aramus moved to Idranel, hefting Remembrance. With all his might, he threw it at her floating form. With a sound like breaking glass, her barrier broke and the hammer struck her.
Idranel fell to the ground, alive but hurt. The impact had been lessened as the hammer had to break the psychic field. She rose to her feet, looking for her singing spear as the human slowly approached her. She felt so weak. Her limbs felt like jelly and her mind was foggy. She pointed her hands at the helmetless human and unleashed her psychic power. It was pathetic. The lightning barely troubled him as he drew his power sword to kill her. Draoi was still recovering from the hit he took. Idranel stumbled back, trying to escape the human. He picked up his pace, and raised his blade to finish her.
A flash of wraithbone.
Draoi looked up to see the human Commander pinned against the wall of the Forge. Holding him by one hand, the great wraithlord Aerelth pressed him into the wall, denting the plasteel.
Draoi. My sight in this world dims. My soulstone, pay it no heed. Save the Farseer.
With that, he threw the human over the railing, back towards the Gate. Following his last request, Draoi grabbed Idranel and ran northwest. They could not go out the Gate, but perhaps there was another way out. He projected out to the force, Eldar, retreat to the webway gates. We have failed. After a few minutes of carrying her, Idranel had regained enough strength to run with him. She was slow however, stumbling occasionally and never reaching her full speed. They just might make it.
Aramus awoke in mid air. He shook his head to clear his mind, and was thrust back into a world of pain as he skidded across the ground. He climbed uneasily to his feet. He looked back towards the entrance of the Forge. With a single leap, the one armed wraithlord landed atop the lip of metal, scattering Tarkus' squad. The thing reached down with its one good arm and lifted up one of the marines, before slamming him with the force of a freight train into the side of the Forge. Dropping the marine, the wraithlord charged towards Aramus, its speed at odds with its size. Aramus aimed his bolt pistol, the only weapon he had, and began firing. The rounds scored the wraithlord as it approached, but did not harm it much. The guard had begun firing as well. Hundreds of last rounds impacted the wraithlord every second. Only one or two found weaknesses in its armor and even that was not enough to stop it. He grabbed Aramus once more, and lifted him high into the air.
Aramus fired his bolt pistol point blank into the "head" of the wraithlord, in reality a long, bulbous piece of wraithbone. The rounds exploded harmlessly, but left small pits in the armor. The wraithlord swung Aramus sideways, scraping him against a building before releasing him. Aramus tumbled painfully. Tarkus ran to his side and helped him up. Aramus' armor protested even such a simple movement. Tarkus shoved something into Aramus' hands. It was Remembrance. The hammer crackled with energy. Aramus hefted it and prepared to counter attack.
Aerelth had to cover the Farseer's escape. After throwing the space marine leader again, he turned his weapons on the regular humans. His shuriken catapults and starcannon obliterated anything they hit, and Aerelth killed dozens in his first volley. Their shots hit him everywhere, but only the most accurate shots could pierce his wraithbone carapace. His right leg buckled, and Aerelth fell to a knee. Behind him, one of the space marines had shot him with a plasma weapon, and the leader had his hammer again. The masses in front were getting close as well. He lashed out with his left arm, filed to a point, tearing through the guardsmen that had nearly reached him. He rose back to his full height and turned to face the space marines. He took one step and a missile struck him from behind. He turned to face the shooter and was hit by a plasma round from behind again. They were cutting him to pieces, but it did not matter. Idranel would be safe.
Linus had landed a good hit, and had distracted the wraithlord long enough for Tarkus to fire another shot. Aramus saw jump packs in the air approaching quickly. Thaddeus squad landed between Aramus and the wraithlord. They scattered to avoid a telegraphed swing of its pointed arm, and Thaddeus tossed something at it. For the second time, Thaddeus' melta bomb destroyed the wraithlord's arm. It stepped forward immediately and backhanded Thaddeus with the other, sending him flying back and falling over the lip of the pit behind Tarkus' squad. Linus, from Avitus' squad fired another krak missile. It impacted the wraithlord's left shoulder, and destroyed the plasma weapon mounted there. Aramus ran forward, Remembrance raised. The wraithlord, overwhelmed by the amount of enemies, turned too late. Aramus' first strike shattered its one remaining hand. As it tried to stand, Remembrance slammed into its knee, wrenching its leg in an unnatural angle. It could do nothing but reach out an arm as Aramus brought the thunder hammer down on its head. It's outstretched armed went limp, and all movement ceased.
"Commander." Said a breathless Tarkus. The Space Marines in the area rallied together. The guardsman, who had recently been charging with the Astartes, now spread out to hunt the remaining Eldar.
"You are well?" he asked.
"Yes. Though Brother Eplis is in dreadful need of an Apothecary."
"And Thaddeus?" Aramus asked nonchalantly.
"Alive, a few broken bones." Came a response on the vox. Thaddeus limped up the stairs from the Forge, still clutching his weapons.
"It seems the witch escaped." Said Tarkus. "Damnable things."
"She cannot have gone far." Aramus opened his vox. They had not been fighting for long, and the witch was slowed due to her wounds. She could not be far. "Cyrus. Eldar Farseer and bodyguard moving west. Eliminate if you can."
"I copy. I will keep an eye out. The ranger eluded us, but there are plenty of other targets."
Idranel sagged in Draoi's grip. Her bodyguard had removed his cracked helmet and looked down at her with those blue eyes, usually so calm. Now they were frantic, though his face wouldn't show it. Her feet didn't want to move, and only with Draoi's help did she manage to walk at all. They were under fire from nearly every direction. Dozens of guardsmen pursued the pair, and las shots traced them with every step they took. However, Draoi had plunged himself into the sea of threads as they ran, unwinding the skeins of Fate while actively avoiding killing shots. He read dozens of threads at once. He knew the moves every guardsman would make before they even thought of it. Draoi and Idranel moved masterfully through cover, untouched by killing shots, only hit by rounds that would glance off their rune armor. Every few minutes he would turn and unleash a roiling blast of energy, killing groups at a time.
As Draoi half-dragged, half-led her, Idranel read the threads as well. Aerelth had saved her, but was now trapped in his shattered body, a prisoner to the wraithbone that once gave him mobility. She dragged her hands through the threads, seeing exactly how much she had failed. They had killed hundreds of humans, but only one of the Space Marines was dead. It was her fault, she realized. She was the one that had forced the Eldar into such a position, by demanding that they defend a fixed point. She sighed inwardly, and then felt a thread that chilled her blood. A human, two hundred yards to her right, lining up a shot. His thread diverged. He had one round in his magazine. He would either shoot Draoi or her. Draoi could not see him; he was distracted with closer threats. His finger was on the trigger. The human had made his decision. Idranel surfaced.
She pushed herself in front of Draoi as the sound of a solid projectile gunshot filled the air. Draoi's expression changed from surprise, to shock, to panic. He quickly dragged her into cover behind a building, out of the line of sight. Guardsmen pursued, but Draoi launched himself at them. He tore through them in a rage, chopping them to pieces. He could see the sniper that had shot Idranel, he was leaving now, moving east his job apparently done, though only one of his targets was dead. Draoi cut down the last screaming guardsman and returned to the Farseer's side in the shadow of a building. The building sat at a gap in the floor in the spire level. Ten feet from them, a wide hole, hundreds of yards in area, provided a view of the levels below. Idranel's chest was bleeding heavily. Her rune armor had slowed the shot, but it had pierced nonetheless. Her dark red blood was pooling under her, and even Draoi, who had no experience in medicine, could see it would be fatal. He crouched next to her and took her hand. It was cold, and her already pale face was turning whiter by the second. She had a small smile on her lips.
"Lantillifieth." He said, sadness filling his voice. "Why?"
"No reason." She replied quietly. "Drochasal. Go from here."
"No, I-" he started. But her eyes closed and her hand went limp. He stood, his sadness giving way to thoughts of revenge. As he drew his witchblade once more, he felt a small tug on his robe. With the last of her strength, Idranel held Draoi by the hem of his robe.
I will not let you die for me.
Draoi let out his breath in anguish, crouching next to her once again. I did not ask for this, Lantillifieth. He cradled her in his arms. After a thousand years of stoicism and solely inward emotion, Draoi allowed himself a few tears. The few tears that stained his eyes soon turned to streams, with nothing holding back years of emotion bottled up. He placed his hand on Idranel's waystone, still dim and unfilled.
Do not hurry to follow me.
No, please do not die here, Lantillifieth. Not in this place. Journey with me back to the Craftworld, to the Dome of Crystal seers. That should be your resting place, at an old age, your days of battle long passed.
I will miss you, I am certain. I regret . . . so much. So many things, so many paths I did not take.
I will avenge you. I swear it.
Do not. I do not want you to die for me.
Lantillifieth. . .
I feel the call of the infinite, Drochasal. It is. . . So . . . Beautiful . . .
Drochasal placed his hand on her waystone. It was glowing red, and giving off a faint heat. Lantillifieth Idranel, his Farseer, his oldest friend, and his unrequited love, died in his arms in the middle of a bright Meridian day. He quietly removed her soulstone, affixing it to his rune armor, before calling his powers to him once more. Flames projected from his open right hand, and engulfed the pale corpse of his Farseer, consuming her. With tears streaming down his face, a lifetime in the making, he mourned her.
When the flames had done their work, he cast the ashes into the air. Lantillifieth Idranel became one with Meridian. As dust in the wind.
Author's Note: Another very long chapter. This is also my favorite mission in the entire Dawn of War 2 Campaign. I always found it odd that so many Eldar died to so few Space Marines, and after originally writing it that way, LD 1449 suggested swarming them with guardsmen, which makes complete sense. If the world is about to explode, there is no reason the Commissar's shouldn't be whipping soldiers into combat. Anyway, I had quite a bit of fun writing this, and I actually attempted to be emotional when I wrote Idranel's death. This is the first time I've tried to write an emotional death, so tell me what you think. The next chapter will end the Meridian arc. I hope you are looking forward to it as much as I am.