Speculum Enigmate Chapter 27
"Get out of the way!" Persion roared at the panicking crowd. Civilians were everywhere, packing the streets as they ran in all directions. The thronging people were filled with fear and dread mixed with the mindless frenzy of a herd of startled grox. They filled the streets and boulevards, pouring out of their homes and workplaces in a desperate attempt to flee destruction.
The reason for their flight was obvious. All across Pasdem city explosions rang, flames illuminating the towering columns of smoke that covered the red sun. The daylight was fading into a twilight haze, lit by raging fires while screams carried over the buildings, a vision of hell made real. Far away the sound of gunfire rang, signs that the Genestealer cult was attacking. Persion could hear the guns and count their numbers with exact precision, but he couldn't get near them. The Space Marines were bogged down, trying to force a path through the teary civilians, not an easy task without killing them.
Persion shoved aside a desperate man whose arms were packed with loaves of bread. He fell down and scattered his wares to the ground, only to be instantly set upon by hordes of people, fighting over scraps of food. Why they would worry about starvation when there was a more pressing danger at hand baffled Persion but he paid it no mind as he forced a step forward. Everywhere he looked people were looting and stealing, breaking shop windows and jumping inside to grab whatever they could take. Men ran with bundles of clothes and stolen coins, useless gewgaws that would not help were they caught by stray gunfire. An old woman was beset by a gang of youths, threatening her with knives for her tiny purse. They were cruelly surprised when she pulled out a pistol and shot two of them down. The rest ran for their lives, not having expected their prey to fight back.
Persion had never seen a riot like it, the mass panic and the way social order collapsed at the first hint of calamity. It was every man for himself and the people were doing far more damage to themselves than the Genestealers ever could. The city was tearing itself apart before his eyes and there was nothing the Space Marine could do to stop it, he was forged for war, not crowd control. The teeming scrum was stopping the thirty Astartes getting where they needed to be and forcing them to step aside was chewing away at the scant time they had left.
A wild-eyed woman forced herself into Persion's path and held up a wailing baby as she cried, "Take my child with you!"
Persion tried to force her aside without snapping her bones as he growled, "We're not here for that!"
"Save my baby!" the woman bawled.
"Get out of my way you shrew!" Persion snapped, "We march to battle not to safety."
The woman didn't seem to be listening, her reason lost in terror and dread. She was going to hurt herself, or someone else and Persion had no idea how to get her to relent. He didn't know how to make any of these mad mortals stop harassing the Space Marines. Thankfully another intervened, Jediah, who lifted his pistol over the head of the crowd and fired a single shot. The bang of the bolt pistol cut through the wails of the crowd, the deadly noise drawing all eyes and shutting mouths in stunned disbelief. Jediah lowered his aim and his Reivers followed suit, levelling pistols into the crowd as he roared into the sudden silence, "The next shot won't miss, who wants to die first?!"
The people instantly fled, their frail courage breaking at the prospect of facing Astartes. They turned their backs and ran, clearing the street in moments. The woman with the child snatched the babe to her breast and sprinted away, disappearing into a dark alleyway. The Astartes' path suddenly became clear and Persion breathed in relief, "Nicely done."
"You were taking too long," Jediah grumbled.
Persion rolled his eyes under his helm and said, "Still, it was a convincing bluff."
"Bluff?" Jediah sneered, "I never bluff."
Persion let the matter drop as they advanced, moving at a fast jog now the crowds were scattered. Ahead the noise of battle grew more pronounced, showing that somebody was fighting back. Persion was eager to engage but knew the Astartes' supplies were growing scant, their battles in the depths having drained their ammunition severely. Persion hurriedly activated his enhanced vox-pack and sent a signal to orbit, "Lieutenant Persion to Eternal Fidelity, come in."
The vox crackled as a mortal replied, "… hear you. Shipmaster Jant here, this better be quick."
Persion was perplexed by the response and questioned, "What's going on up there?"
Jant replied, "A full-scale insurrection has erupted in every major orbital facility. The crews have risen up against their officers and tried to seize control of the orbital defence grid. Several stations have already fallen and they have turned their guns on the other facilities and us. Fighting rages everywhere and civilian shipping is running for deep space."
Persion grimaced as he realised the calamity had spread to orbit. Whether these rebels were tainted Hybrids or witless dupes mattered not, for the cult had laid their plans well. Persion barked, "Can you help stop the uprising?"
Jant replied, "We shot down a few boarding pods launched from captured stations but then the rebels focused on us. We are being targeted by three gun-platforms. We'll fight to the last but we're not a strike cruiser, we won't withstand another barrage."
"Negative," Persion snapped, "Your orders are to send us a munitions drop via Thunderhawk, then break for deep space and stay out of gunnery range."
"Master, we can't leave you," Jant protested.
"I don't need you Dead, I need you to sound the alert," Persion commanded, "Get out of here and send an Astropathic warning to the Chapter. Tell them Genestealers have subverted Pascum."
Silence stretched out for long seconds then Jant stated, "Orders received and understood. Emperor be with you master."
Persion let the link die without reply for they were approaching a junction of two major roadways, where a battle raged. Around the periphery of the nexus tainted Hybrids lurked, using ground-cabs and cargo-8's for cover. They laid down fire with lasrifles, autopistols and stubbers, creating a crossfire across the road. Trapped in the middle of that circle were a knot of men in heavy carapace gear. They were huddled around an overturned Rhino, which looked to have been thrown upside down by an explosion. The men carried hefty riot shields and black-visored helms and returned fire with shotgun blasts. The Imperial Aquila was prominent on all of them, for they were Adeptus Arbites, the Emperor's law-keepers and enforcers.
Zeax looked upon the fight and announced, "The filthy Xenos close in all around us."
"Let us greet them with fire," Yones declared as he readied his bolt rifle.
"What are our orders?" Memnos asked as he hefted a flamer.
Persion saw the law-men were outnumbered and outgunned and would not last much longer. Yet his lips drew back in eagerness. At last a straight-up battle, no more intrigue or diplomacy. A fight he could understand. The Lieutenant drew in a breath and ordered, "Let the purgation begin. Codex pattern gamma-seven. Zeax set up here, Yones go left and sweep the flank. Jediah take your Reivers right and leave none alive."
Instantly the squads broke into their formations, assaulting the Hybrids with a precision only Space Marines could achieve. Yones' Intercessors advanced around burning ground-cabs in staggered pairs, each Marine laying down covering fire for his Brother to advance then exchanging roles. In moments they had pushed deep into the right flank, mowing down Hybrids with precisions shots. Return fire pattered off their armour but the Primaris advanced with complete confidence in their blessed armour, blasting any Hybrid who dared show his face with their long Mark II rifles.
On the left the Reivers threw themselves at the foe, favouring a vicious close-quarters battle. They struck with knives and bolt-pistols, tearing the enemy apart in a bloody melee. The Hybrids tried to bring their firepower to bear but the Reivers were in amongst them and their knives were sharp, killing and dismembering with a speed and ferocity the tainted curs could not match. Jediah was at their head and somehow he had attached a circular fan-blade to his wrist, using its razor-sharp edge as much as his short-sword to tear out throats and disembowel foes. Persion thought he was enjoying himself.
In moments the battle had turned, the Hybrids falling back before the counter-assault, but then the Devastators finished setting up and opened fire. The air erupted with peals of thunder as four Heavy Bolters blazed, laying down fusillades of firepower. They were aided by their Brothers with regular bolters, picking off those the Fire Support troopers missed. Scores of hybrids were decimated by the onslaught, blown apart by scything bolt-rounds and falling like wheat before a threshing machine.
Persion was elated by the sight, knowing the battle was moments from being won, but the enemy was not finished yet. From the far side of the junction came a mechanical roar as a heavy machine rolled into view. A slab-sided mining machine that hurtled forward on fat tyres. A Goliath transporter, one with a tainted Hybrid sticking out of the roof, swinging a heavy stubber about as bolt rounds glanced off its reinforced front.
"Ware!" Persion shouted as it barrelled towards them, "Take it down!"
Memnos was by his side and shouted, "We don't have any anti-armour weapons!"
Persion saw it was true, the Goliath was about to slam into them and crush the Devastators. But at the last moment Sergeant Zeax bellowed, "Shoot the tires!"
The heavy weapons Brothers complied, dropping their aim to target the spinning wheels. No human could have aimed a juddering Heavy bolter with such precision but the Space Marines were not human. Their strength was incredible and their aim unearthly. Screeching bolt-rounds smashed into the front tires and blew them out, causing the Goliath to slam nose-first into the road, crashing to a halt in a spray of Ferroccrete chips.
Persion saw side doors opening and gripped his Friction Axe tightly as he leapt to intercept disembarking foes but he was surprised by what emerged. Barely human figures with twisted claws and gnashing fangs jumped out of the interior, lashing out with three or four arms. They were far more inhuman than the Hybrids he had already seen, their blood mixed with some other inhuman traits and their speed took him by surprise.
The first one through the door slammed into his chest, nearly bowling him over with its mass. Sharp fangs screeched over his eyepieces as it tried to bite his face off and lashing claws tore at his sides. Persion staggered under the weight of it but then his anger surged. He would not be bested by such filth. He grabbed the creature by the back of the neck and heaved it off, holding it at arm's length as it screeched with feral rage. He had not believed such an abomination could be born on an Imperial world but the twisted genes of the alien had soured the purity of mankind, creating a hideous mockery of the blessed human form.
His Friction Axe blazed as he tore the heart out of it, cauterising flesh with the burning edge. Persion dropped the body but was instantly beset by two more, these ones covered in purple scales. Persion didn't know what vile corruption had wrought such travesties but he deflected a taloned hand with his augmetic arm, the backswing of his axe tearing its throat out. The Hybrid collapsed fountaining blood but Persion was left exposed as the other leapt up and stabbed deep into his flank. Ceramite cracked under the blow, parting before the razor-claws and Persion hissed as he felt the talons dig deep into his side. He lashed out with his left arm but the Hybrid ducked with inhuman speed, then it doubled its insult by stabbing him in the lower back. Persion roared with anger, lurching about in an effort to get at his attacker but it clung to him like a burr, hanging at just the angle where he couldn't get at it.
Persion swung wide as he bellowed, "Get off!" The Hybrid merely hissed bestially, its talons digging deep into his flesh, but its triumph was short-lived. A glowing mace came out of nowhere and smote its head, the blow coming from behind where it wasn't looking. The Hybrid went limp as its brains sprayed over Persion's armour and it fell away, claws pulling free with a wet slurp.
Persion winced under his helm as he felt the claws slip free but he turned about saying, "My thanks Zeax…"
He stopped for it wasn't Zeax, instead a grim-faced man in a black helmet stood panting with exhaustion, his mace dripping with viscera. He wore a heavy overcoat over his armour, marked with badges of rank and he lifted his mace in salute as he announced, "I am Marshall Gunnah. May the God-Emperor smile upon you for this righteous victory."
Persion glanced at the Goliath but saw Zeax and Memnos finishing it off, the Apothecary pouring fire into the interior. The rest of the battle died down as the last Hybrids fell and Persion realised they had won. He faced the Marshall and said, "Lieutenant Persion, Storm Heralds."
"Yes," Gunnah replied curtly, "I know who you are."
Persion felt his wounds closing with itching heat as his gene-implants went to work and he said, "Marshal we have no time for niceties, we face a Genestealer infestation."
"Karyl's hairy arse!" Gunnah swore, "It's worse than I thought. I was on the way back to the Precinct from the law-courts when my convoy was attacked. I thought it was a mutant rebellion, but Genestealers… that's a clusterfrak and a half."
Persion nodded as he said, "We must stand united. Where are the rest of your forces?"
"You're looking at all I could pull together," Gunnah growled, "No more than a score of Arbites. My Precinct has fallen, betrayed from within. Damn Genestealers must have had agents in my order's support personnel. I have riot squads across the city but they're all besieged, I can't summon anyone else."
Persion grimaced at the bad news but he declared, "We will link up with more as we go. We're heading towards the PDF headquarters. If we can unite with them then we can turn the tide of battle."
Gunnah drew in a breath as he said, "I pray to the Golden Throne you're right. I there was at the fall of Veltri, I know what Genestealers can do. We're going to need every Emperor-loyal man to stand with us."
"Then let us waste no more time chatting," Persion affirmed, "Form up Brothers, this war isn't over so long as one of us yet draws breath!"
