Finis Fide Chapter 5

The sun was a blazing orb in a cloudless sky but under the treetop canopy it was cool and shadowy. Through that twilight world a group of men marched. Taking point were the native guides led by Kalos and behind came IXth squad and Inquisitor Canesh. It had taken three days of marching to reach the native's camp, a distance the Space Marines could have covered in a few hours but their companions were only mortal. The natives scanned for dangers as they walked, as did Canesh, but their efforts were redundant, the Space Marines would sense any threats long before the mortals could hope to detect it.

Toran had kept a sharp eye on the Inquisitor but learned little of her. She had been quiet and withdrawn, saying little but watching everything in turn. Toran would have been content to focus solely upon the mission but this woman was not only here to liberate an occupied planet, she was also judging the Storm Heralds. Toran couldn't tell if her silence boded for good or ill, but he suspected she was leaning towards the latter.

For hours a change had been coming over them as they walked. Through gaps in the canopy could be seen a line of grey cliff faces, rising from the forest like an iceberg. The guides were growing more animated, talking among themselves and from their conversation they were nearing their goal. Suddenly Daite held up a clenched fist, the squad paused and raised their combi-meltas as Daite examined his auspex and said, "Intruders ahead, multiple life-forms, coming straight towards us."

Kalos turned his back and called "Don't worry we were expecting this, it is just Nattius' patrol coming to meet us."

Inquisitor Canesh gave him a stern look and said, "You have had no opportunity to transmit our arrival and they certainly did not signal you... How did you know who is coming?"

Kalos shrugged dismissively, "We grew up in these woods, you develop a knack for these things."

Toran scanned ahead and his augemtic eye easily picked out a half dozen figures creeping closer, trying to be stealthy. He held still, making no aggressive movements until they were close enough to see the party. Kalos stepped forwards and met a dishevelled man at the head of the new group and they shook hands with broad grins. The newcomers eyed the giant Space Marines with a mix of awe and suspicion. They engaged in a swift conversation in their lyrical dialect, some form of pigeon low-Gothic, pointing and gesturing while they talked. No doubt they thought their local tongue would be impenetrable to outsiders but Toran's enhanced mind effortlessly deconstructed their language and within only a few sentences understood every word they said. Nothing he heard concerned him, just arguments about protocol and whether they should let outsiders into the camp but in a few minutes they relented and waved the group past.

Toran scanned the woods and soon saw a line of wooden pillars stuck into the ground, a rough palisade set against the base of the cliff. It was enough to deter animals, but would offer no resistance to a determined and well-armed enemy. In his first glance he identified a dozen weak spots and obstructed lines of sight in the defence and his estimation of the locals fell at their sloppy defence. He estimated the Storm Heralds wouldn't even need to use their weapons to breach this palisade; their gauntlets alone could tear it apart. The party walked through a gate unopposed and Toran saw rows of timber shanties, covered in lichen and ivy that must have taken years to grow up. People wandered to and fro seemingly oblivious to the newcomers and the sound of children playing rang out at random. The smells of cooking mixed with washing and rudimentary forges while rough clothing dripped on washing lines. Knots of people stood around talking and gossiping and there was the scent of alcohol fermenting on the wind. The town had a busy energy to it that spoke of a simple life lived to the fullest and a people who weren't afraid of the danger that loomed all around. Was it confidence or naivety, Toran couldn't tell.

One side of the camp was pressed up against the bare cliff face, into which were sunk old mine shafts, cordoned off and clearly long out of use. Kalos looked around the little township and said, "Here it is, base camp. All that's left of Odiosis, one old mining town that dug for Radium."

Toran frowned as he asked, "Radium?"

Kalos nodded and said "I'm not surprised you have never heard of it, it's really rare stuff. As far as I know this is the only mine in the Sector, the Tech-Priests were once willing to pay a Governor's ransom for an ounce of the stuff. Sky-Emperor alone knows what they wanted it for."

Daite butted in to say, "The Auspex is detecting low level energy traces, the machine Spirit is troubled. Are you aware this ore is leaking Rad-energy?"

Kalos scratched his neck as he said, "We know it's pretty nasty stuff. The first generation of miners lived short painful lives, they said every year in the mines took five off a man's life. Still the credits were just too damned good; many thought a couple of years down below was worth it for a comfortable retirement. Thank the Sky-Emperor after a few generations the people of the town above built up a tolerance, now we barely notice it: in fact it was our salvation."

Canesh gave him a sharp look of judgement but Kalos held up his hands and said, "All I meant was it messes up the Psybrids' mind-control, that's why we all carry pieces of it with us to ward them off. Double bonus, it also blocks scans so they haven't just levelled the town from the air."

"And from here you strike back?" asked Toran.

"Well… that's what we tell ourselves," said Kalos sadly, "Truth be told we have never manged to do more than harass a few convoys and raid isolated outposts for supplies. We've never really been more than a nuisance to the Xenos, I suspect that's why they've never launched a mass ground offensive to wipe us out."

As they walked they saw a gaggle of elderly figures heading their way, Kalos swallowed and said, "Oh this look bad... perhaps you better wait here and I will sort this out." The party ground to a halt while Kalos ran ahead and intercepted the coming delegation. A fierce debate quickly sprang up with lots of raised voices on all sides and furious gesturing. Toran effortlessly followed the back and forth as arguments were put forth and objections were raised, meanwhile passing people were pausing in their routines to look at the gigantic Space Marines. Grown men either stood slack jawed or clenched their fists at the sight, while a gang of young boys huddled together, daring each other to try and touch the Astartes' sacred armour. A low-growl from Jediah was enough to break their courage and send them running crying for their mothers as he muttered, "Pathetic weaklings, I could take this town apart single-handed."

"Stay your wrath," Furion countered, "Save your righteous anger for the Xenos."

Ignoring the crowds Toran remarked, "Strange, that delegation formed fast, it is almost like they knew we were coming."

"Indeed," growled Canesh glaring at the gathering crowds who were completely ignoring her Inquisitorial emblems to gawp at the Astartes, a situation she was not accustomed to at all.

After a few minutes Kalos walked back to them with a grim face and said, "Well it's not good news but not bad either, the community is divided on whether to help you or not."

Canesh replied scornfully, "I shall speak to your commanding officer; he must provide me with your full force of fighting men."

Yet Kalos snorted, "It doesn't work like that, we are a community, not an army. There's no commander here, only folk, our patrols and raids form from volunteers. Give me a couple of hours to talk to people and we will see if we can bring folk around."

Canesh drew herself up archly and said "I am a holy agent of the Ordo Xenos, I have the right and authority to command your obedience."

Behind her Phelps snorted and said, "I would like to see you try."

Kalos gave him a stern glare that shut him up and replied, "I never said we'd refuse to help you, but we have been isolated for a long time, the Inquisition and the Imperium are just names to us now. We all want Odiosis liberated, but impressive as you fellows are there's only eight of you, many here don't think you can do it."

Toran knew he would treasure the memory of the expression on Canesh's face at her skills being dismissed so, as Kalos continued, "Trust is in short supply with us, we just need a little time is all."

Canesh expression grew furious but before she could say anything damning Toran cut in and said, "Trust is earned. What is needed is a practical demonstration of our power, to prove our worth."

IXth squad hefted their weapons as Toran declared, "Select a target and you shall see the power of the Emperors Finest for yourselves."