Domus Discordia Chapter 26

Through the dark and dank tunnels the scouts moved, eagerly probing the darkness ahead. They dashed from cover to cover, alert for danger and checking the angles as they had been taught. So far they had encountered no resistance but they did not relax, enemies could be anywhere and there was no telling when they would next encounter a foe.

Many of the scout-novices bore wounds and even those that did not were harried, their implant sockets still raw and their armour chipped and gouged. Despite that they were eager for the fray, they had been blooded and had seen the betrayal of the True Believers first hand. They were determined to claim a recompense in blood and none doubted that they would acquit themselves well.

Trailing along behind them came a group of far more heavily armed warriors, the First Company veterans along with Nimodes and Memnos. The Apothecary had insisted that they wait for the youths to rest, a debate of no little acrimony, but now they were ready and on the move. Memnos was checking his medical supplies, which were starting to run low and he commented, "I could really use stopping at an Apothecarion."

Besides him Nimodes muttered, "Not bloody likely, we need to keep heading west."

Memnos thought about it and said, "Do you think we will find somebody?"

Nimodes glanced over and said, "This was your idea, it's too late to have second thoughts. Besides you were right, we can't win this alone. We need to join forces with anybody who is fighting back, only then do we stand a chance."

Memnos knew it was true yet still said, "Speaking of which, what do you think of our new allies?"

Nimodes glanced over to the warriors of the First, then said, "Redoubtable, we will be glad of their presence when the fighting starts."

Memnos dared to say, "You don't find them a bit… arrogant?"

Nimodes stated firmly, "They have good reason to be arrogant; their litany of victories is unmatched. With them on our side we might just win this war."

Suddenly a scout-novice came running from ahead and he cried, "Contact ahead!"

Nimodes instantly reacted by calling, "Everybody spread out, overlapping crossfires, be prepared for anything, we don't know if this is friend or foe!"

The scout-novices responded crisply, moving into the surrounding tunnels with practised ease. While the youths prepared for battle Memnos followed Nimodes right up to the front. They were followed by the Honour Guard and the First Company warriors, it was hardly subtle or stealthy to be bringing Terminators forward but they weren't technically under Nimodes' command so there was nothing to be done.

Together the group headed down the dank tunnel and soon they found a group of scouts, crouching at a sharp turn in the tunnel. Memnos saw Nimodes creep up to them and communicate via hand signals, "Contact?"

"Ahead," the Scout leader signed back, "No visual, many unknowns."

Nimodes sank back in thought and Memnos could practically see the ideas turning over in his mind. These could be the allies they were looking for but they could equally be enemies. They needed to establish facts first but their options were limited, the tunnels hemmed them in and the dark obscured visual observation. Apart from standing up and walking right at them there was no way to see who it was.

Nimodes raised a hand and began making signals to fall back but at that exact moment there was a cry of, "Enemies ahead!" followed by a thunder of bolt rounds. Memnos instantly pressed himself into the wall as the corner exploded under a barrage of mass-reactives, stone chips flying off to nick and score at his armour. The scout-novices suffered cuts and grazes to their exposed arms and but none took a dangerous wound.

Nimodes pulled back and shouted, "We have to fall-back, get to a more controllable position!"

Memnos was about to agree but then he heard a distant cry from their attackers, "Primarch's Own!"

Memnos started, he recognised that cry and he yelled, "No, it's the Third, this is who we have been looking for!"

Nimodes accepted this without question and leaned nearer the corner to shout, "Cease-fire, we are not your enemies!"

However the only response was another flurry of bolt-rounds, smashing into the walls with miniature detonations erupting a second later. Cries of rage rang down the tunnel but Nimodes barked again, "Cease-fire! Cease-Fire!"

Suddenly from behind them a deep voice rumbled, "Oh for Throne's sake, let me do it."

There was a heavy clomp of boots and then the massive form of Sergeant Orath lumbered past, the Terminator stepping past them into the open. Orath raised his storm shield before him as he emerged from cover, only to be greeted by a hail of bolt-rounds. The incoming fire instantly focussed upon him, inundating him in flying metal and explosions, yet the Terminator was undaunted. His storm shield rang as rounds deflected off it, battered aside by the thick armour and inbuilt force field. The violence of the salvo was staggering; enough to bowl over a warrior in power armour but Orath didn't even sway as the rounds battered him. He stood resolute in the face of the carnage, no more troubled than a man walking through the lightest rain.

The incoming fire slacked off, leaving Orath barely scratched and then a voice called, "Who goes there?!"

"At last," Nimodes spat, "We are the survivors of the First and the Tenth, we seek Toran, Captain of the Third!"

The voice called back, "Prove it!"

Suddenly the Honour Guard stepped around the corner and he called, "Do you recognise me?"

The voice replied, "You?! You're back, it must be true. Step out then, we will hold our fire."

Nimodes whispered a few instructions to a waiting Scout-novice, who dashed off back to the waiting squads, then he stepped out. Memnos followed him and together with the warriors of the First they approached the waiting Astartes. As they closed Memnos could pick out their heraldry and he saw it was a group from the Third, an Assault squad led by a Sergeant with twin lightning claws.

Nimodes marched up to them and said, "Sergeant, firstly greetings to a Brother in arms. Secondly I require a word in private."

The Sergeant stepped forward, and the rest of the squad made themselves scare as he growled, "What is it?"

"Lorath," Nimodes spat, "Of course, who else would shoot at an unidentified target? Rash and ill-considered as ever, you should assign penance to your whole squad for their poor display."

Lorath snorted, "That's Chaplaincy talk, maybe you weren't paying attention but they've turned on us. We don't need that sort of thinking any more."

Suddenly the Honour Guard stepped up and declared, "Your squad's target-recognition is abysmal and your fire-discipline is sorely lacking, the scout-novices show better judgement. You ought to be mortified by your slovenly standards, Chaplains or not, you should all subject yourselves to self-flagellation as contrition."

Lorath gulped at being addressed so, by no less than an Honour Guard, and bowed hastily saying, "You are right, I offer no excuses. We must not let the current conflict erode our standards; we will atone for our mistake. Let me escort you to the Captain immediately."

Hurriedly Lorath led the group onwards, heading deeper into the tunnels. Before too long they emerged into a wider concourse, a transit hub for cargo and heavy freight. The ground was crossed by thick rail lines and there were a couple of empty cabs sitting upon them, their servitor drivers blankly staring ahead. Approaching between them was a knot of Astartes, the blessedly welcome sight of Captain Toran and his Command squad. Memnos was glad to see his comrades but was surprised to see the form of Captain Maxitio walking with them.

The two groups approached each other and Nimodes saluted with the sign of the Aquila saying, "Brother-Captain, it is good to see you."

Toran pulled up short and said, "Nimodes, what are you doing here?"

That was a surprisingly short greeting from the normally level-headed Captain but Nimodes responded smoothly, "We were looking for you."

Toran reach up and took off his helm then inquired, "Judio?"

Nimodes shook his head sadly and Maxitio who said, "Damnation, Judio was a stubborn one but he would have been most welcome at our side."

Toran's eye travelled over the group and he said, "I see you bring friends, Terminators no less and our friend the Honour Guard and… wait, is that Apothecary Memnos? What the hell is he doing here?!"

Memnos didn't flinch but he was surprised at the angry tone. Thankfully Nimodes hurriedly stepped between them saying, "I vouch for Memnos, he has been with us every step of the way, we wouldn't have survived without him. The True Believers want him dead more than anyone else."

Toran was gripping his sword's hilt tightly and his one organic eye was narrowed as he growled, "Explain how one Apothecary out of a whole order manages to not betray us."

Memnos blinked at the harsh demand, the Captain sounded irate indeed, but he explained, "I stumbled upon evidence of a conspiracy in the Apothecarion. I have seen proof that Gorgall's death was plotted by none other than Lessall himself. They seek to silence me, they can't let me tell what I know."

Maxitio suddenly blurted out, "You have this proof with you?"

"Alas no," Memnos answered, "But I know where it is, it can be accessed from the Primus-Apothecarion."

Maxitio turned to Toran and said, "Proof exists that you did not murder Gorgall, this is monumental. We can show everybody the truth."

Toran shook his head saying, "We have already engaged with the True Believers, I don't think it will make a difference now."

Maxitio pressed "But if Lessall is indeed guilty then we could show the True Believers that they are fighting for a lie. It would cripple their morale and shatter their fighting spirit if they learned that they, not we, serve a murderer."

"And then what?" interjected Orath, "Will they lay down their weapons and repent their folly? Blood has been shed, it is too late to turn back now. The lines are drawn and nobody will turn aside now."

"He's right," Toran said, "We have been betrayed and they had slain our Brothers. I will not divert now, we will seek them out and crush them under our boots. Nothing can be allowed to divert us from this course."

Memnos was surprised to head the anger in Toran's voice and he said, "Captain, we have a chance to undermine our foe's whole cause, to rip the zeal from their hearts. What is it that drives you so?"

Toran glared angrily and spat, "Brothers have died, Bylan among them.."

Memnos gasped and looked about, seeing who was missing from the line-up. It was a glaring omission, Bylan, always so hopeful and trusting was entirely missing. Suddenly Toran's grim fury made sense, the smouldering rage and determination to hunt down their foes. It was an anger that could break worlds and shatter armies but it could equally see men charge into unbeatable odds, ignoring sense in the need to close with the foe.

Memnos swallowed and said, "Captain, I share your grief and desire vengeance as much as you, yet I must urge cool consideration. We should not be rash."

Toran fixed him with a glare and looked like he wanted to shout but he bit back his retort and said, "I assure you, even though I burn for retribution, my head is not ruled by my heart. This is a matter of tactical priorities, we have the True Believers on the run. We can crush half their strength at a stroke and tip the odds of this war in our favour. Once that is done, then we may have time to think about other matters."

Memnos wanted to protest again but the decision was the Captain's and none could gainsay him. It was Nimodes who stepped up to say, "Could you use a few more guns?"

Toran's anger simmered down and he said, "We would welcome any who are willing to stand up for the truth."

Orath awkwardly clanged his Storm Shield on his thigh and said, "Don't forget us; we have a debt to collect ourselves, one that can only be repaid in blood."

Toran accepted this and declared, "So be it, we will fall upon these True Believers with fire and steel and make them rue their betrayals."

Everybody cheered at that save Memnos, who had a sinking feeling that this was going to prove far from easy.