Chapter 4

Hi, im back now with another chapter.

If you are wondering why it took me so long then i will have to admitt that i had no idea of how i wanted to write this chapter, or the whole battle to take out the orbital defence lasers in general. I spent quite some time rewriting different parts and settled on how it turned out in the end.

Hope you like it!

After the pod left the ship the rattling compartment became dead quiet. The signal lights basked the whole interior in a red glow. Aged white plates as well as countless different cables ran along the interior walls and wear and tear could be seen on every panel and on every surface. Every chip and scratch standing testimony to the crafts long and venerable service with the 2nd company.

Inside of their harnesses stood 10 armored figures. Their Armour painted black and their pauldrons left in unpainted silver. The chapter badge was displayed on the left pauldron. The angel clad in a dark robe wielding a great blade stood in a red circle. "The first Angel" as the chaplains named him. They where the marines of assault squad Leonas of the 2nd company of the steel angels chapter.

As the seconds ticked by they checked their weapons one last time. Making sure that the bolt pistols and chainswords wouldn't fail them before signaling back to Brother Leonas , his golden faceplate marking him out as the squad sergeant. One after the other their signals popped up on his display. They where all ready.

A counter popped up before his eyes, counting down the seconds till impact. He blinked it away and closed his eyes, muttering a final prayer to the Emperor and going over the plan once more in his head before it would be to late. They would be dropped directly onto the laser silo, avoiding the surrounding defensive lines and unnecessary casualties in the process. Once deployed they where to enter the complex and use melta charges to destroy the firing mechanism of the laser battery and kill everybody inside to render it inoperable.

It was a good plan Leonas thought, though he did quite like the idea of fighting through the surrounding defenses. But the captain had decided that it would take to much time to go through the defenses as they already had a limited time frame to act on before they would depart.

After a short while the vibrations in his feet became worse and he was dragged back from his internal thoughts as the whole pod stated to rattle and shake violently. His heads up display informing him that they had entered the atmosphere.

He felt the vibrations carry over to his legs and up his body until he as well was rattling in his harness. The shaking grew more and more intense as the seconds till impact trickled by. The explosions from incoming AA fire barely audible over the roaring descent of the pod.

The counter popped up again. 10, 9, 8… He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. 3, 2, 1. The whole pod jerked to a violent stop as a loud thud was heard from outside.

The force behind the sudden stop would have completely crushed any normal humans internal organs and shattered all the bones in their legs. But they where no normal humans, they where Astartes.

As the harnesses opened up and released them and the light inside the pod turned green the bolts holding the large doors closed exploded. The large hatches fell with a loud clank allowing the marines to move out of the compartment. The floor plating trembled under the heavy footfalls of the space marines as they rushed out into the dust clouds that had been kicked up by the violent landing.

The helmets scanners of Leonas had already penetrated the whirling dust as he exited and marked out all enemy troops hidden behind the smoke screen as red outlines that appeared before his eyes. He didn't even have to aim at the disoriented soldiers as the Armour locked on to them automatically as he brought the bolt pistol up. The only thing left for him to do was to pull the trigger.

The bolt pistol barked and kicked in his grip as round after round flew out of the dust and soldier after solder simply exploded into a shower of gore.

Leonas thumbed the activation rune on the handle of his blade as he leapt out of the cloud and in amongst the terrified solder. The engine roared to life as he hit the ground and the teeth began to spin, hungry for blood. The troopers in front of him stumbled away from him, desperate to get away from the hulking behemoth that had landed in amongst them.

His lips curled up into a predatory grin as he lunged forward and started to cut the soldiers to pieces.

The roaring engine growling like a beast as it's teeth chewed the squishy bodies of humans to bits. If not for his bulky Armour then the brutal slaughter could have been considered an elegant dance. His armours servos wined as he whirled around with blade in hand and bolt pistol barking at point blank range. Bodies ripped to bloody pieces fell all around him.

He started to look for more victims in sight the moment the last soldier fell but as more and more drop pods smashed down and disgorged their cargo onto the fortress walls or behind them there was no need to. Instead he turned back to to the rest of his squad, spread out over the walkways and ramparts and covered in the guts of the bodies that lay at their feets.

He turned towards brother Sehkien who stood closest to him "Brother, Place the beacon so that we can move on".The marine nodded and crouched down behind him before taking out a metal device that had been magnetically locked to his back.

"The Thunderhawks should be arriving about now as well so with this all forces should be successfully deployed" As if on cue the roars of engines could be heard from the skies as his brother placed down the beacon.

Turning his head upwards he could, through the magnifying view of the helmet lenses, see a number of black shapes breaking out of the clouds and diving towards them. Smoke trails raced ahead from under the gunships wings towards the surface and exploded as they struck enemy emplacements in the distance. The sight of enemy bunkers and trenshes being turned into fiery infernos was a sight of true beauty to him as he curled his lips into a grin.

The surprise of the sudden appearance of the gunships was obvious as the soldiers manning the walls scrambled to turn their weapons up to the sky in an attempt to intercept the new arrivals. But with doing so they forgot about the marines that they shared the walls with who immediately took the opportunity and rushed at the now defenses solders.

Leonas is watched as the crew of a flak turret only managed to scream as they realized their mistake and where ripped apart by his squad mates.

"Brother! The beacon is set and transmitting." He turned his head back at sehkien as he got up and moved away from the transmitting teleport homer.

The device started to emit beeping sounds as warning lights turned on. Shortly after, their visions where filled by a blinding white light followed by a hissing sound and the creaking of metal plates shortly after.

As the light faded as quickly as it had appeared it left behind five new shapes that had previously not been there. The hulking forms of the Captain and his retinue all clad in their golden Terminator armor had evidently been to heavy for the platform they stood on an had created buckles under their feet.

Leonas quickly bowed down as the captain turned towards him, the rest of his squad quickly followed suit and went down on their knees as well. "My lord, all of our forces have successfully deployed and no casualties have been reported." He reported the situation to the captain as the Thunderhawks also opened their front ramps and disgorged their passengers as they passed by overhead.

"Continue as planed and move in to the interior of the facility after you have cleared out the enemies outside. I and my retinue shall move on directly to the interior and lead the charge from now on." As he finished talking the captain turned away and started moving on to the gates to the interior of the silo. The metal plating on the floor shook with his each lumbering step of the terminators.

They quickly got up again as the captain had turned away and immediately set of down the ramparts and towards the gates. Racing over the open with great strides as enemy weapons fire ricocheted of their thick plate.

The intensity of the enemy fire increased as the marines closed in on the huge steel gate. Pillboxes to the left and right of the gate spewing forth a hail of heavy bolter and autocannon fire in a desperate attempt to fend them of as sentinels armed with missile launchers tried to target them.

Leonas shoulder got pushed back as a round from a autocannon hit him, it felt like being struck by a sledge hammer and made him nearly lose balance in the middle of a stride.

Reacting in a split second he immediately regained his balance and continued on. Gritting his teeth he decided to avoid more fire from the autocannon as he didn't want to push his luck to much.

Shortly after, a rocket shot by his shoulder, nearly missing him and instead hitting another marine behind him who was sent flying with a big hole in his chest and an arm missing.

Leonas immediately locked on to the sentinel that had fired the missile with bloodshot eyes. A desire to avenge his fallen brother washing over him as he bared his teeth underneath the helmet in a snarl of anger.

The poor pilot didn't even have a chance to react as Leonas leapt up to the chassis of the walker in a mad fury before ripping the hatch open with his bare hands. The pilot shot a horrified glance at him as his blade lunged forward and cut the head of the pilot of.

The walker collapsed behind him as he jumped down, the head of the pilot still in his hand as he held it up in a triumphant gesture. "For the Emperor!" The vox speakers turned his shout into an angry snarl.

By now the small defensive perimeter around the gate had completely collapsed as the few surviving soldiers stumbled backwards pleading for their lives. The pill boxes had also stoped firing as two terminators stomped up to them before shattering the permacrete structures with a few swings from their powerfists. The cries of wounded men came from the ruble as permacrete fragments had showered and ripped into the flesh of the men inside.

The surviving soldier also got taken care of as marines came forward and grabbed them by their throats before relieving their heads from their shoulders with their blades. Limp bodies hitting the floor as the marines fastened the heads to their armor as trophies to the emperor.

The atmosphere around them became quiet as the shouting and the gunfire died down in the distance as well. "Brothers prepare yourselves for the next phase in the mission. We don't know what is behind these gates, it could be anything from a few scared mortals to an open hangar filled with overlapping fields of heavy weapons fire. Move with the speed of the Great Angel once you enter."

As the captain finished talking over the vox, one Terminator from his retinue moved up to the gate. The engine of his chainfist roaring to life and the teeth began to spin as he started to grind a hole into the metal plates of the gate. The sparks flying in every direction where so bright that his Armour had to tone down the lenses to se normally.

Leonas tightened his grip on the handle of his chainsword and started to mumble litanies under his breath. "Move with the swiftness of the angel for he guides us. Strike the enemy down as once the Emperor struck the arch-traitor Horus. Purge the enemy with your blade for only through his demise can your soul be cleansed of sin. Have faith in the Emperor for he is the one true god of mankind."

He stopped reciting the litanies as the grinding noise from the chainfist died down. The Terminator was finished with cutting the hole into the metal. Shifting his stance to be ready to enter immediately once the hole was open he watched as the terminator moved to the side to let another step forward. This one armed with a storm shield and a thunderhammer. He took one final breath and tensed up, muscles ready to explode into motion, as the Terminator swung the hammer at the cut out piece of the gate and sent it flying into the interior with one blow.

The second the gate had been breached and the first Terminator had entered a new hail of gun fire came raining down. The illuminating flashes of gunfire lit the whole hall behind the gates up in an orange light.

Luckily for Leonas and the rest of the marines outside the Terminators entered first and took all of the enemy gunfire head on. They would simply have been shot to pieces by the absurd hail of high caliber shells, even in their power armor, but the Terminator Armor was able to absorb even this punishment and keep on going.

The second the last of the terminators had entered Leonas jumped at the whole to get in as quickly as possible. As he entered his eye lenses adjusted to the light and he could make out the scene behind the gate. It was a massive corridor leading deep into the silos interior. The walls where lined with gray plates and lines of Illuminators in each corner of the corridor lit up the hallway.

Further down the corridor in front of the lumbering terminators his eye lenses zoomed in to show a makeshift barricade that had been set up out of overturned tables and other improvised materials.

Behind the barricade lined up stood a number of heavy weapons of all types. Stubbers, Heavy bolters, autocannons and even a lascannon all lined the barricade and behind them stood determined though undisciplined looking soldiers shouting orders or firing their weapons.

As he charged up along the corridor in great thundering strides he looked back over his shoulder to see that the rest of the marines the where outside now also had entered and where charging up alongside him.

The terminators where blocking most of the incoming fire but still, the torrent of fire that slipped by the wall of terminators was still tough for the marines behind.

One extremely lucky lascannon shot went by the terminators and struck Leonas right in the elbow joint of the arm holding the bolt pistol, cutting it of completely. His face distorted into a painfull grin at the sudden loss of a limb.

The Armor reacting immediately and started to inject drugs to lessen the pain. He shot out a grunt of pain before feeling the cold needles entering under his skin. ahkrtly after, the pain lessened.

Leonas bit down to ignore the throbbing sensation that the wound left in his arm. But even with the loss of an arm, he didn't stop for one second. His enhanced body and his armor propelling him to superhuman deeds as he continued on down the corridor and pushing through the pain to get to his targets.

The soldiers by now where panicking as their weapons fire seemed to be unable to slow the incoming hulking shapes of the terminators and the assault marines behind them. Their pale faces and wide open eyes combined with their cries of terror filled Leonas with satisfaction.

He took one last step past the Terminators and leapt forward and was in amongst the enemy soldiers. The teeth of his chainsword screamed as they spun and the engine roared.

Ignoring the other soldiers, he had his eyes set for the one who had fired the shot that took his arm. The others would be taken care of by his brothers but this one was his to kill.

The soldier in question must have realized his intent as he stumbled away and set of in a mad dash down the corridors whilst pushing other soldiers in behind him. Without breaking a sweat Leonas cut the unfortunate souls apart that the fleeing soldier had pushed in the way in a futile attempt to slow him down.

Finding amusement in the panicked state that his target was in he decided to toy with him for a moment longer and not catch up to him immediately. Letting him run for his life a little more before taking one lunge ahead and catching up to the soldier in one leap.

The soldier spun around and raised his arms in an attempt to shield himself from the swing of the chainsword but the blade simply ripped through those as well as he was cleaved in two. The bones in his arms giving a satisfying snap as they where ripped apart by the spinning teeth. As the mangled corps fell he turned to look back at the scene behind him.

The barricade hadn't lasted a second once his brothers had closed the distance, only serving as a stepping stones from where the marines could launch themselves into the disoriented and panicking ranks of the defenders.

Some officers made their brave last stands amongst the scores of their dying troops. Most of them only managed to swing their swords wildly at the marines whom elegantly dodged the clumsy swipes and answered in kind with their own blade swings.

One though managed to hit his his target with the swing of his chainsword before he in turn was impaled on a lightning claw. The teeth of the chainsword failing to penetrate the armor only left a gouge in the plate.

As the other marines continued on down the corridor Leonas walked up to and opened a vox Chanel to the marine holding the officer impaled on his claws. The office in question was still miraculously clinging to life as he coughed up more and more blood.

"They are pathetic are they not, brother? Mortal humans… such fragile things." Leonas laughed.

He turned his gaze down at the officer whom answered with a defiant look on his pale face. Blood dribbling down from the wound and turning the purple fatigues a sticky red.

"Look what he is doing Brother. He is staining your gauntlet with his blood." The marine turned his head down to see the blood dripping on the elaborate black gauntlet.

"Yes they are brother sergeant." He answered to Leonas's first statement. "But I somehow can't help but respect this ones fighting spirit. Even now he is fighting us in defiance. It may not be with a blade, but his mind is still fighting us fiercely even as I drain him of his life."

The marine the turned towards Leonas and looked down at his arm. "You should have no right to comment about somebody elses gauntlets seeing as your own has been taken." he joked.

"I will let the Apothecary take a look at it once we are finished with this deploymemt. Untill then i will have them pay me back a thousandfold for taking my arm." Leonas answered as he took a closer look at the wound. The molten ceramite from the heat of the lascannon had cooled down and melded toghether with the burnt flesh.

Their attention was drawn away from the arm as the officers body tensed up and fumbled about with something under his uniforms collar.

With one last last breath he drew out a necklace with a golden aquila hanging from it as he mumbled through a blood filled mouth before he went limp.

"F..for the, cough! cough! Emperor!"

They both stood there in silence as the now dead body slid of the claws and fell on the floor in a splat of blood. Leonas only stood there motionless as he looked at he corpse and tried to understand what had just happened.

They had been told that this wold had turned away from the Emperor. Holy Terra itself even had received an astropathic message originating from this world in which they had renounced the Emperor and the imperium. So why was an officer of the renegade forces of this heretical world calling out the Emperors name in such a way?

He found himself realizing something more, all of the soldiers until now had had Aquila stenciled onto their helmets and sown onto their fatigues. Nowhere had he come by any obvious signs of heresy either, no marks or runes inscribed on any parts of the uniforms or vehicles and no desecration of any symbols of the imperial faith either.

He crushed the thought under his iron discipline before it it could trail of into darker places or lead him to question the just cause of their assistance in the campaign.

"It must have been a last ploy from a dying heretic to try to convince us that they in truth where innocent, even as ample proof of their crimes had been presented." He reasoned with himself in an attempt to explain it.

"They truly must be the gravest of blasphemers as to not only denounce the Emperor but to then also try to convince his avenging angels that they in fact are not heretics but instead innocent!" The anger in his chest swelled up as he fired himself up through his trail of thoughts.

"Once we are back on the Ihra dominato ferro we should seek out the chaplains for council, for now we should inform the Captain of what we witnessed." His brother must have had the same trail of thoughts as him, Leonas realized as he found himself agreeing with the words.

Turning around they left the corps of the officer behind as they set of down the corridor in a sprint to catch up with the rest of the force. Hoping that the captain could make light of the matter.

Hoped you liked the chapter as it turned out in the end.

If you have any criticism of the writing then please write a review about how i can improve.

If you have any good ideas of how the comming siege will go down then write those as well. If the idea is good and it doesn't conflict with my own plan then who knows, maybe you will recognize your suggestion in the upcoming events.