Well, it is once again time for me to put out another chapter, I'm kinda happy with how this turned out, I'v had it done for a few days, but I'v been going over it and making small changes. Doing, some things a little different, some experimentation I suppose. Then again im doing that with the next chapter too. O well. enjoy.
Hours later, when the wounded had been gathered and fresh soldiers set to see after the defenses, the Clans gathered together away from the battlefield. Standing in an open patch of land close to where the Serfs where setting up tents for the night.
Drake and I stood in front of the others, each covered in blood and damage that showed in their armor. The symbols of our Chapter, once pristine on pauldrons was now caked in dirt and mud. Besides the state of one of our own wounded, each of us where in high spirits. But that low murmur of conversation cease the moment our Chapter Master started to speak, all eyes snapping forward.
"We have won the first battle, bloodied the faces of those who would defy the Emperor's will. But the war is only beginning, and more sacrifice will be asked for before its end." He took a moment to pull his helmet off his head, old eyes taking in each of his students.
"I couldn't be more proud of each of you. Many years ago I set out to create a Chapter of Space Marines, grown from the actions of my own hands and the help of a few. Today I stand here at the day that I can truly say I have succeeded. I took you in as little more than children, but it is men I see before me now." Pride swelled in our hearts. Praise from Drake was far and in between, making it all the more precious.
"We will recover and prepare for the next conflict for now, I'm sure Aragorn has a few words to say to you all." I couldn't help but stare a bit as he turned and walked away into the camp and away from the eyes of those present. Those same eyes turned towards me, waiting direction. A moment passed before I spoke.
"I know I have been gone for some time, and on the Light I didn't get the chance to speak with many of you. But I will echo his words. Each of you did well today, each of you should be proud to call yourselves Iron Drakes." The words didn't mean as much. But from those who I had grown up with I received a few nods that set my unease aside.
The gathering of soldiers broke formation and walked off in groups of two's and three's. Many headed towards the area where Mortis and Bran where setting up a place for repairs. We had all been taught how to do minor work to our arsenal, patching ceramite and maintaining our weapons.
Thorak made his way up to me after saying a few words to his Clan, standing beside me and looking out towards the battlefield for a few moments before speaking.
"We've seen our fair share of fights over the years, even fought Orks before, but nothing compares to that." I found my eyes drawn to the battlefield, the smoke that still curled from destroyed vehicles and the bodies of enemies slain.
"To be honest Thorak, that's nothing compared to what is to come." His eyes flashed open in a moment of surprise, I continued after a pause.
"The last mission I did with the Inquisitor there was a complication, it lead to millions of people being culled because they learned of Chaos, a deamon found itself in broadcasted over most of a hive. An entire city, purged because one man wanted to bring us down with him." My friend muttered a curse next to me before speaking.
"How could you forgive him? For doing something like that?" I could only shake my head in defeat.
"Because it was the only way. Better to kill a million than have an entire planet consumed by Chaos when a cult grows strong enough to summon creatures of the Warp." Thorak's lips curled back in distaste.
"There has to be a better way. Each of us were taught to protect humanity Aragorn. It's the cause we are sworn to." I looked at my friend in that moment and realized that perhaps my experiences in the years away had changed me more than I had realized.
I had seen colonies emptied by raiders and ships filled with corpses by the time they returned to realspace. We had been taught about the Great Enemy, warned of its corruption and influence. But nothing could compare to seeing it yourself.
"There was no better way Thorak, I know it is horrid, I watched it, lived it. But the alternative is worse." I closed my eyes for a moment as images of bloodied halls and disfigured corpse flashed across my vision. When I opened them again, my childhood friends face was in a deep frown.
"I trust you Aragorn, I always have, since we were kids you have yet to let me down it's just. If you say it is so then I believe you. But." He shook his head, hands curled into fists at his sides.
"Drake had told us of the state of Imperium, he warned us of the darkness that seeps into its very core." He sighed, eyes drawn up to where the sun shined above us, starting its descend towards darkness.
"I guess over the years and we only saw how Tarth was, we forgot about the rest of the galaxy. It's difficult to hear that millions of the people we fight for are killed just for knowledge of our greatest enemy." He shook his head, turning away.
"I'm sure Drake will call us together in the morning. Sleep well Aragorn" I watched him walk with a measure of sadness, knowing that his thoughts would keep him up tonight. I started towards where my own tent was set up. It was tall and large, several meters in length and width. I pushed back the fabric and strode inside. It was largely spartan, a Marine sized cot set up in a corner, a rack to place my armor on and a small table to set things on.
Near the back a chest sat, made from wood and iron, it was something that each marine would store a number of things with them that the Serfs would bring down for us. I opened the lid, hinges freshly oiled and took out one of the datapads that I had stored there. An idea had been in my mind since after the battle, and it was one that I found myself eager to start on.
Cybernetics where a commonplace thing in the Imperium, from replacement eyes and limbs to organs, if it was once flesh, there was a way to make it machine. But these varied in quality, from something only a Inquisitor could get his hands on, to the rusted and halfworking limb that a hive ganger would have stuck on his arm.
I sat back in my chair some time later and sighed, eyeing the diagram in front of me, thinking of the materials and time it would take to make an arm that would be a fitting replacement for one of my sons. I knew the Iron Hands had great knowledge in the making of such cybernetics, but I could't very well ask them to give us such secrets, not to mention having to travel to their Fortress-Monastery to speak to their Chapter Master about such things.
No, I would have to create my own, from the ground up, while Octavian could help me with such a thing for a human scale, an Astarte arm was different from a humans. Not to mention he was back on Tarth, overseeing the forges.
Marcus had trained all us in weapons smithing and the crafting of armor, but the makings of more intricate things had been largely left to Bran and Mortis, as they had been chosen to train as Techmarines. It was with a sigh that I picked up the tablet and started the walk towards their tent, knowing I wouldn't hear the end of this for some time.
Ignis opened a single eye as I exited my tent, a unspoken question in his eyes. A pile of meat sat next to him, every now and then his barbed tongue would slide out and hook one, bringing it back to be swallowed.
"I have to go see Bran about an idea of mine, I'll be back soon." A low rumble was my response, his eyes closing once again.
The camp was a bustle of activity as I strode though it, the low moan of the wounded ever present alongside the boisterous of the victorious. Guardsmen and PDF intermingled during this down time, while the defenses remained maned, it had been lessened, those that had fought given respite.
Standing side by side it was easy to see just how different the quality of gear was, all of our units down to Sargents had Carapace armor, while plans for distributing it among the entire army was in motion. Producing that many sets of armor took its time, but as soon as it was available, it would be given to every unit. My mind trailed down another set of ideas about the manufacturing of such things as I walked, my musing passing the time it took to get to the Techmarines quarters, a number of Drakes standing outside, some talking while others removed pieces of armor and setting it on a table to be start repairs
Inside the tent Mortis and Bran where hard at work patching and replacing ruined parts. They gave me as nod as I walked in, giving back the pauldron of a Marine.
"Come to give us a hand? We could use it with all the little repairs this lot is bringing us, next thing you know they will want us repainting it for them too!" Mortis laughed and placed down his tools, turning to face me.
"So how can we be of assistance Aragorn? As much as we might like it, I doubt you came to help with this lot." I nodded, placing a dataslate down on the table. He raised an eyebrow and picked it up, brow turning to a frown in concentration as he looked over the design.
"This is, interesting, is this something you would like to have us do?" I nodded, Bran coming over and plucking the device from his hands, placing it on the table once again.
"We can work on it after we finish, I'm sure that it can wait." Mortis rolled his eyes.
"It's a new arm for Dran." Bran stopped, walking back over and picking up the slate again. Eyes roaming over its contents.
"Well then. I think we should be able to start on this in a few days, its a design alright, but a highly intricate one." I could only shrug.
"I didn't want to go halfway. With more time I'm sure I could have done better, but that will do for now." The two of stared for a moment before sighing.
"He doesn't even realize does he? It's madness." Bran could only shrug.
"Let him hold onto is ignorance brother, don't go popping that head of his just yet." I waved the two of them off and started outside.
"I'm going to go visit the Apothecary, see what you can do about the arm." The waved goodbye before returning to work, a short trip through the camp had me entering the medical tent.
Inside Malachi sat at a desk, cogitator in front of him, hooked up to the multitude of machines connected to the wounded Marine.
"How is he." The Apothecary only took his eyes of the cogitator for a moment, just enough to give me a nod.
"He should be waking up soon, his body is currently in a healing trance, one of his hearts had a piece of bone inside of it and his intestines where almost mush, but he will be on his feet soon enough, the arm however." I nodded, looking down at the covered wound. No blood seeped from the vains, a bandage placed over it all the same.
"He's tough, one armed or not he will find a way to help." Malachi smiled and stood up, taking the bandage off and throwing it away. Under it the bone was sticking out, ripped from the elbow. The two of us looked down at the injury for a few moments before our Apothecary sighed.
"Were going to have to cut off the bone if it's to be replaced properly." I winced but nodded.
"I have Mortis and Bran working on a replacement for him, but if they can make it with the resources on the Light, I don't know." Malachi smiled.
"I'm sure he will be grateful for the opportunity to get even with the Greenskins. I know I wouldn't be very pleased if I lost my arm in the first battle." I couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped my lips.
"That's very true, hopefully he will get that opportunity. I'm sure when he would charge into battle one armed or not." Malachi smiled and tapped his hands on the table.
"I don't tell him about the arm when he wakes up, least he goes and bugs them about it incessantly."
"I have no doubt that he would But I'm sure you have other work to do, I'll leave you be." He waved as I walked out. Going back to my tent I spent a bit of time cleaning my own weapons and armor before a Serf knocked on the tent poll, voice coming from outside.
"My lord, the Chapter Master has returned, he is asking for you at the command tent." I took a moment to replace a part of my bolter and answered.
"I will be there in a moment, thank you for the message." I could hear their footsteps fading away and by the time I was outside I couldn't tell who had given the message amongst the dozens who were currently working. When I walked inside Thorak and Thudin where already there, Drake speaking when I gave him a nod.
"As expected, the Governor called me to speak to him inside his palace, we talked for a time on what action to take. His PDF will be overseeing the evacuation of the civilians in this city to one of the other continents. From here on our priority will be saving each city and ensuring future evacuations are successful." We all nodded, the saving of human life was our highest priority. I was aware of how Thorak's eyes flickered to mine for a moment but I didn't meet his eyes.
"Our intelligence on Ork movement and numbers is still abysmal at best, our first goal is to obtain more information on the enemy we are fighting." A map of the area was placed onto the table that sat in the center of the room.
"Thankfully the lands of the continent are well mapped, and we can select the areas where we meet our enemy. Sentinel squads will be deploying for recon tonight." Each of us nodded, knowing that using Marines for scouting like this was unwise. His eyes went to Thorak.
"Your taking your men and deploying to the city farther to the north as soon as your ready, the Ork threat there is fairly small and you should be able to route them if you can ensure the PDF don't run. But just in case your taking the Third Regiment with you." He nodded, and Drake continued.
"Many of their horde's are in the wilderness between towns, when they attack a location or we have actual intelligence on there movements, we will deploy to counter them." Father stood up from where he had leaned on the table.
"If all goes well, we will be able to pick off the leadership and disrupt any camps they have, causing infighting. When their numbers are low enough, we will surround them and crush them." Thorak and Thudin pounded their chests and left, giving Drake and I the room.
"How did the meeting with the Governor go?" Drake sighed, shaking his head.
"The man is good hearted, and I thank the Emperor for that, but he has no idea how to lead armies or make choices fit for war. He has this, adviser, but the man is spineless, isn't fit to lead troops." I frowned, drumming my fingers on the table.
"Are you planning on bringing this world under our banner?" My father nodded.
"Even if its many light years away every planet we gain will bolster our power, extra manpower for our armies and wealth from trade. Tarth has grown a lot since you left, I know you didn't get the chance to see it before you returned, but she has grown." I smiled, a memory of the planet coming to my mind.
"The others filled me in a bit during our journey here, your suited for governing, thought about doing it when you retire?" Drake raised a single eyebrow at me before he shook his head.
"Space Marines don't retire Aragorn, you know this." A smile made its way onto his face.
"Besides, who would lead the Iron Drakes if I retired? Your still to young to even think about commanding." I chuckled and started to make my way out of the tent. A sense of ease filling me that I hadn't felt in years.
"I'll see you in the morning father." He slammed a single fist into his breastplate in response and I echod it, letting the fabric fall away from my fingers as I turned and started to my tent.
Ignis gave me a rumbling greeting as I passed him, the pile of meat that had sat next to him now gone.
"We get to go hunting soon, more Orks for us to kill." Black smoke started to curl around his nostrils and I smiled.
"Just try not to eat anymore of them, I don't want you getting sick." Another rumble from his chest, shorter this time and louder, a slight narrowing of his eyes. I smirked and went inside, laying down on the makeshift bed and placing my helmet beside my head. It wasn't at all comfortable, and after a few moments I stood up and was going back outside and laying with my back on Ignis's side. A single eye stared at me for a while but it shut again, the realm of dreams soon claiming us both.
I haven't dreamt much since my time with Michael, if I did at all they were often just random bits of memory or thoughts, but every now and then I would have some that I know where more powerful that, that held meaning.
I stood on top a mountain, a thunderstorm raging around me. Lighting illuminated the sky and rain that flooded the world poured down. The stone under me groaned as the wind howled, thunderclaps shaking the very earth.
Two forces battled in the darkness, the glint of steel when the lighting struck. Both where massive beings, taller than a Knight they trampled the earth and broke mighty stone pillars that rose up around them, an arena for there clash. Again and again they clashed, swords cutting the air and adding to the cyclone around the mountain.
I attempted to walk forward, almost brought to my knees as the ground shook and the warriors howled as they fought. It was then I noticed something at their feet, a small pedestal, a necklace laid upon it. Its stones filled with an unearthly light.
As I struggled against the wind and drew closer, it started to glow brighter, illuminating the entire arena. A third figure appeared in the darkness, smaller than the others and clad in flowing robes. It dashed forward, escaping the stomping feet of the giants and snatched the necklace away. The figures eyes blazed with power as they raised the item high, the glow becoming like a sun as it blinded those present. With one last massive crash of lightning that descended from the heavens the thief was gone, my eyes opening into the light of the morning a cold sweat covering my skin. Ignis's eyes were open and on me when I looked to the side, a curious growl rolling through the ground.
"It was nothing, just a dream." His head moved back and rested on the ground, the sun starting to coming over the mountains, the sky painted purple. Footsteps from Ignis's other side had me rising, Zane walking into view, armor fully repaired and repainted.
"Drake has called all the Clan leaders together, I guess the recon squads found something faster than we expected." I finished standing and slipped my helmet on, power coming through once I twisted it closed, systems coming to life in front of my eyes.
"Gather the others, I'll let them know what is going on as soon as I can." He nodded and walked away, myself making my way back to the command tent. Thorak and Thudin stood inside as I pulled back the fabric and entered, Drake speaking as soon it closed.
"The Orks we routed yesterday have disappeared into the mountains, the scout squads have only found traces of where they could have gone. " He smiled as the three of us shared looks.
"This is part of war, the waiting and information gathering, you cannot fight the enemy if you do not know where they are. We waited for a time on the Light, a while longer won't hurt you." Thorak spoke up, his armor repaired and once again gleaming in the light that came through the fabric.
"All of my men are healed and ready Drake, may I deploy today? The Third is ready as well, their Colonel had them prepare last night at my request." Drake looked at the map for a few seconds before nodding.
"If you are prepared then you may, the defenses of the northern city are holding, but I'm sure they will appreciate the assistance." He gave us a nod before walking out. My fingers tapped the side of my leg, metal on metal filling the tent for a moment until Thudin stared at me out of the corner of his eye.
"If you don't need anything else Chapter Master, I will be with my men." He turned and left, a slight scowl on his face. I only needed tilt my head before Drake spoke.
"He's, not happy that Thorak is being deployed instead of him. A part of him still thinks your all children, his feud with your friend hasn't faded in recent years, its tamer now, but it still burns." I frowned and through back to the early years, of needless competition and insults between us.
"It was childish, but we couldn't expect all of us to get along. Time will mellow their behavior, now that they aren't near one another all the time, as it did me." Drake nodded, our conversation momentarily halted as a Serf bowed as he entered, handing him a report and departing. Father looked it over for a moment and added it to a pile.
"Communication with some of the scout squads is sparse at best, the long ranged Vox can be tricky, even if Octavian was making strides to make them into something usable." He motioned to the growing pile of paper.
"These have been coming in all morning, and will continue to as the sentinels continue to spread over the area. So far only ruined town and dig sights have also been found." Drake sighed and rested his hands back on the table.
"Take the next few days and get to know your Clan. During our time on the Light I kept all of you busy, I should have allowed you more time to get to know your sons." I shrugged.
"If you had given me those from my year it wouldn't have been a problem." He shook his head.
"I did that on purpose, those younger than you see you as a Genesire, not as a father. This can be good in its own way, but it won't do you to alienate yourself from them. They are your sons, just as Thorak or Bran are. Get to know them, let them know you care." I frowned, crossing my arms over my breastplate.
"Of course I care, even if I don't know them personally, I knew each of their names." Drake gave me a short nod.
"Good, but they don't know that, they don't know much of anything about you besides what the others have told them, and you had been gone for a long time before that. I'll let you know when something comes up." I took the light dismissal and pounded my chestplate once before turning away and leaving the tent, the sun having climbed, the sky turning a light blue.
The camp was a bustle of activity, the clamor of men and machines. A ways away Valkyries of the Third where taking off next to the Thunderhawk assigned to Thorak. I didn't fear failure for him, he was a good swordsman and leader.
As requested, Zane had gathered the others, several faces that I had fought with and trained alongside but hardly knew. Drake had a point, and it was time to rectify it.
"While scouts are obtaining information we are on standby. I don't need to tell you that we could be called to action at any moment." I paused for a moment, long enough for them to share looks between themselves before I continued.
"If, any of you have questions about my time away from the Fortress-Monastery, feel free to ask, I'd be happy to answer any of your questions." Almost immediately Erik spoke up.
"Did you visit Terra?" I was a bit taken back by the question but shook my head.
"No, my work with the Inquisitor didn't take me anywhere near the Sol system." Not even a moment passed before he asked another question.
"What as the strangest world you ever saw?" I shrugged.
"I visited many during my time, but there was one where there were living crystals that the wealthy would carve out to make their homes in. The larger the crystal the older the family, bloodlines where increasingly important there."
"What was the strangest ali-" Erik was stopped by a fist over the back of his head, belonging to Olok.
"My apologies for my brother, Primarch. He can't seem to keep his mouth shut." I shook my head as I chuckled.
"Its fine, I asked for questions and got them, there is no problem. Olok hesitated for a moment before nodding, Erik rubbing the back of his head.
"You always hit me in the same spot, one of these days your going to do damage." Olok rolled his eyes.
"Your a fool, if I managed to change your personality it would be for the better." A few of the others chuckled as Erik glared, but soon laughed along with them. I looked to Zane who shrugged, and I continued to answer questions for the better part of half an hour, some simple while others were ones I couldn't answer, mostly about Michael. Eventually the questions started to wane, and I took the opportunity.
"All of you are dismissed for now, if anything new comes up I will call us together." They saluted and walked away, Zane walking up to me.
"You did well, they were all nervous in having you as their leader. I think you put some of their unease to rest." I smiled slightly even as I shook my head.
"I don't know how to speak to them Zane, they might be my sons but I don't know them like I do any of you." Zane could only shrug.
"You will learn, it will take time for you to get to know them, don't bother rushing it. We will all be fighting together soon enough, there is no place to learn about somebody when your life's on the line with them." Perhaps he was right, that didn't stop me from wondering all the same.
Over the next few days I made multiple attempts to speak to them, some went well, and hours spent in conversation, others, did not. Thankfully a part of this downtime was spent with Bran and Mortis, pouring over the arm design and helping repairs around the camp. It was not time wasted, but as news of Thorak's victory came to us, we grew more restless.
Thankfully Thudin and I where called to the command tent once more, Drake moving pieces on the map. He didn't look up as he started to speak.
"There is an Ork horde moving to our south, if it means to attack us or if it's simply going to a different target we don't know, but we have an opportunity." A small tile with an Ork symbol was placed on the map, on the edge of the massive mountain range the seemed to dominate the center of the continent. He placed another tile at the nearer to the same edge, where there was a single valley that lead in and out.
"There is a fortress constructed at this location. The Orks are going to roll right though it, unless we stop them." He looked up from the map.
"Aragorn, Thudin, you two will be heading to this location alongside the Fourth Regiment to beat back their army. The guard is already mobilizing, get your men ready to leave by the end of the day. I'm also sending Solomon with you." Next to me I saw Thudin's face frown for just a moment, but didn't comment. We both nodded before I followed my brother out, a tense air between us as we voxed our men and told them to meet us. I spoke up, attempting to cut the tension between us.
"What do you assume the state of this fort is?" He turned and looked at me for a few seconds before responding, eyes guarded.
"I'm sure it's in disrepair, we can only hope it's not crumbling." I couldn't help but look at the scar that went over his eye. I trailed over it for a second to long and he frowned.
"Hopefully it will be in good enough state that we can accomplish our mission, if not we will have to improvise." He made a noise of agreement but didn't respond, the silence returning until nineteen marines walked into view.
I gave them a rundown of the operation and answered a few questions, a few hours later saw us loading into Jon's thunderhawk, coordinates for the drop given and the engines primed. As the door closed lights flickered on, valkyries of the guard loaded up in the dozens and taking off beside us. Drake had ordered them to prepare over the last few days in the expectation of a deployment.
Our aircraft casted quick moving shadows over the land as we speed over it, the ground passing in a blur of motion. Little was said during the flight, a few short conversations that filled the air. I looked down at the bolter in my hands, made years ago during my time with Michael. It was perfectly maintained, each piece oiled before being put back together.
Besides its larger appearance, it used the same ammunition that a normal boltgun would use. I had found it more bothersome than it was worth to craft custom rounds every time I was close to running out, and heavy bolter ammo was not in large enough supply when I had crafted it for me to use it as the main type.
Perhaps with more time and the availability of larger ammunition I would remake them once we returned to Erebor. I leaned back, mind awhirl with the designs of a new weapon when a call comes over the coms inside the transport.
"Five minutes to drop." Everybody inside checks their weapons one more time, our craft starting to slow and we move in our seats. The front door opened to a landing pad, the thunderhawk landing on one of several that dotted the fortress. A kilometer of stone ran the length of the gap between jagged peaks. Behind us the land opened up, giving way to flatlands and ease of travel.
In front of us laid a crooked and narrow path, barely two hundred meters of the bottom of the valley would allow for vehicles or large movement of troops, the rest was cliff like or far too steep to walk normally. It was a perfect funnel, a location built to deny access to the coast and the lands beyond the mountains. Almost all of the cities on this continent where built on the outer ring of flatland outside the peaks, but a few dotted the tops of mountains.
I shook myself from these unimportant thoughts and continued our observations on the state of our defence, the walls a solid ten meters of stone and metal, the top covered in battlements that would provide protection from small arms fire. I looked over the edge, four different staircases leading down from the top of the walls. It was almost fifty meters to the bottom.
Smaller staircases lead down into rooms inside the wall itself, old crates and barrels of rotted food thrown out and replaced with rations and ammunition of our own. One of these rooms was converted into our command area, a few pieces of tech brought in to aid us with the coming battle. Sentinel squads would vox in from time to time, their reports written down by those manning the station and brought to our attention. One such soldier stood before me now. His armor was clean and his uniform showing only slight signs of use.
"My lord Aragorn, this is the newest report." I nodded my thanks and read it, the Ork horde we faced was growing closer, being here in a day, day and a half if we were lucky. I handed it back to him.
"Take this to Thudin and head back to your station." He nodded and ran off, moving through the multitude of soldiers that were currently on the top of the wall alongside us. They set up heavy weapon and moved supplies from the still landing valkyries. My sons dotted the walls alongside them, some helping move the heaviest of weapons while others patrolled, bolters held at the ready and eyes peeled along the valley bottom.
I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride fill me for a moment, of all that my father had accomplished and done over the last sixteen years. My attention was drawn when Zane made his way towards me, a look of agitation of his face.
"You need to do something about Thudin." I frowned, prompting him to continue.
"He's, ordering around some of the soldiers in a manner that is unfit for an Iron Drake. I can handle being direct. But he's scorning some of them for things they cannot help, he's being arrogant and brash. It's not good for moral, I've seen the way some of the troops are starting to look at him, and us." I looked down the wall to where he stood, just able to make him out of the sea of uniforms.
"I'll speak to him. But I cannot reprimand him for being rude, are you sure its worth confronting him over?" Zane nodded and I sighed, wondering what had brought this on. He had never acted this way before, at least. I stopped for a moment, wondering how closely I had truly watched his interactions with humans before. I knew the answer.
But I couldn't speak to him in the open, doing so would wound his pride and make him even less open to a suggestion. I would have to pick a quiet moment to confront him, away from prying eyes. Zane's sigh broke me out of my thoughts.
"I'll do my best to balance out the scale until you can knock some sense into him, but just don't take too long." I nodded and took a few steps to the side to avoid a soldier coming through with a crate. He stared for a moment and murmed a thanks before continuing his precarious walk.
"I'll do the same, keeping up moral in the coming day will be important, if the numbers we are to face is any indication." Zane winced.
"Yea, I heard the scouts say something about upwards of twenty thousand? With some heavy machines added into the mix." I walked to the side and rested my hands on the battlements, leaning over the side as the stone grated under my gauntlets.
"I hope that they are overestimating the numbers, or we may just have to call for help, and that would be embarrassing to say the least. But we have a great number of heavy weapons for us to use." I looked up and down the line, heavy stub and bolters, lascannons and rocket launchers. Zane joined me, leaning on the side and looking out towards the mountains, the sun was starting go down, settling behind the teeth of the world.
"We will hold, we have twenty marines and enough ammunition to drown a Drake, we won't have a problem beating them back." I nodded, thinking about Ignis, back at camp. I knew that he wouldn't be able to fight on the top of the wall, and made him stay behind. He hadn't been happy, but had listened none the less.
"Your right. I have no doubts about our combat ability, more so about the casualties that are sure to come." I paused and looked to my left, Olok standing ridged and strait.
"Primarch, we were wondering if you want all of us on top the wall tonight." I thought about it for a moment before shaking my head.
"Have Invictus and Zyron on the wall tonight, there will be a few squads of guardsmen to watch alongside them, we won't be getting snuck up on." I couldn't see his reaction with his helmet on, but he gave a single nod and pounded his chest plate before turning and away. I turned towards Zane, who could only shrug.
"He's always been like that since his group got the Implants. I don't mind it all that much to be honest. Some of us have to be serious, unlike Erik or Turgon." I could only offer a shrug in response. We stood in silence for a while until Zane sighed and pushed off the wall.
"Well, I'm going to go and help with moving the last of the supplies around," He stopped for a moment and looked down the wall. "Don't forget to speak to Thudin, he's setting a precedent for those under him, and that's the last thing we need."
"I won't." He seemed satisfied with that and moved away to help, leaving me to my thoughts once again. Time passed, reports came in with increasing frequency. The numbers of vehicles, the rough estimate of Nobz that came with the Warboss. I finished reading the latest and looked up out into the night sky, stars uncounting staring back at me in endless dance.
Invictus and Zyron stood behind me, bolters held at the ready and peering out into the valley below. They had joined me half an hour previous but had said little since then. I had spoken to them both a small amount during out time in the camp, but it had been smalltalk at best. I turned and faced both of them.
"You two are friends right?" I had seen them together far more than with others. They both nodded. Zyron answering.
"We were aspirants of the same year, trained together and got along well. We became friends before the first Implants." Invictus suddenly speaking.
"If I may ask, why does your father place the worship of the Emperor on Tarth the way it is?" I was slightly taken back by the sharpness of his question. But all I could do was shrug.
"I can't be sure, we have never discussed it at length, I can only guess that he doesn't want the Cult getting too much of a foothold on our planet." Invictus went to speak again but Zyron cut him off.
"That's not something to speak to him about, keep it to yourself." Invictus' helmet turned to stare it his friend for just a moment before he nodded. I frowned, but didn't press the issue as we descended back into silence. From the slight movement of their helmets I could assume the two of them were holding a private conversation, Invictus' hands clenching his bolter from time to time.
I let them have it, knowing that if it was a personal problem they didn't need to come to me with it, not when we hardly knew one another. Silence crept back over us as the night passed, only the wind to that would blow through the battlements disturbed us. Several groups of guardsmen patrolled along with us, seven different squads that walked the wall. Each of them would pass us at different intervals, their conversations lax and easy.
When there was a disturbance in the pattern I frowned, looking down the wall to where a group should have been emerging from the darkness, but nothing came. I voxed each of the squad leads, but only six of them responded.
I turned and started to walk down the stone path, my two sons falling into step behind me without question. As we grew closer to where the wall meet the mountain, I became aware of the smell of blood. I pulled my sword from its sheath as Invictus and Zyron raised their bolters from behind.
We continued like this for another forty meters before we found the bodies, the unresponsive squad laid butchered and thrown in a pile at the base of the stairs that lead deeper into the wall. I opened a line to Thudin and his voice came through a moment later.
"What is it."
"The Orks, they sent ahead a party to probe out defences, one of the squads got wiped out, get everybody up." The line went dead moments later and I forced down the irritation that came from it, knowing I needed to focus. Moving past the bodies we followed a trail of blood deeper into the walls, down the interior staircases. It was here we heard voices, low and guttural.
"'Da boss wants us ta place 'da 'plosives ere ta weaken 'da wall, den 'da unsneaky Boyz will kome an' smash it" We turned the corner to see several Orks. Each only had on light armor, a vest of some kind and a multitude of different ammo and knives strapped to their persons. Each of them carried large box shaped bits of scrap that carried the distinct smell of gunpowder, covered in yellow paint. The nearest Ork turned and confusion filled his eyes before his head went flying from his body.
The sound of it hitting the floor got the others attention, dropping their explosives and grabbing their choppas'. Two explosion came from behind me, bolter rounds ripping into the chests of the nearest Ork. I advanced, catching a wild slash in one hand while bringing my sword into a horizontal swing. The Ork refuses to believe his legs had gone for a few moments, his other arm pulling at my shoulder until he finally slumped, I threw the corpse at the remaining three Orks, their yellow teeth turning up in snarls.
I didn't have to do anything more, Invictus and Zyron's bolters roared again and ended our fight. The stone behind the Orks was broken and damaged, but nothing that would harm the integrity of the structure. I turned as feet pounded on the stone, three Marines turning the corner, each from Thudin's Clan.
"We heard bolterfire, did you get them Aragorn?" I recognized the voice as Hakeal, perhaps the one person that Thudin could call a true friend. I nodded, turning off my sword and placing it back into the sheath.
"We did, a few Ork Kommandos that almost planted some bombs. Knowing them, it may have done actual damage." Hakeal moved farther into the room, kneeling next to one of the yellow boxes.
"But why at the top of the wall?" I could only shrug, the ways of Orks were unknown to man.
"It doesn't matter, they failed, lets get them out of here and throw them away, we don't know if they are timed or not." That got a round of nods and they were picked up and soon after thrown over the side of the wall, the fall broke them into pieces, never to be used again. For the rest of the night we stood vigil. But no more attacks came from our enemy.
Unfortunately when the sun rose and casted light across the land, it came with grim tidings. At the edge of my vision I could see movement, a horde that trampled the ground and left dust in its wake. They came down the valley like a carpet of green, vehicles and tanks dotted here and there, a single massive walker that stomped the ground from behind them. The walls were lined with men by now, weapons held at the ready was we waited for battle.
Vultures flew in from overhead, missiles streaking through the air and autocannons firing into the masses below. Anti-air of the Orks was quick to respond, shells filling the sky and forcing the gunships to evade, not all of them managed to. Explosions rippled across the line as some went down, bombs detonating with them.
Even while death rained down among them, still the Orks continued their march, if anything the death and carnage around them only seemed to excite them farther, turning their march into a run as they screamed for blood and carnage. All along the wall, heavy weapons fired, a sheet of bullets that descended on the rushing Xenos. Hundreds died in the first seconds, lasguns added to the mix as they came closer, laser and bolter shells falling into their host.
"Get down!" I looked to the left, smoke rising from my bolter as an explosion ripped across the battlements, chucks of stone falling around us as the Orks returning fire with their own heavy weapons. Shrapnel from their Deff gunz and Grot manned kannons finally finding its mark.
I raised my weapon once again and fired, round racing towards a Nob who was firing rockets into the defences. His head disappeared in a explosion of blood and brain, falling alongside so many others. By now they under two hundred meters from the wall, fire from both sides growing more accurate and the death toll growing on both sides. Our wounded were carried down the wall and into medical tents while the dead were carried down and placed in piles.
I wished we could have been kinder to those of the deceased, but we couldn't afford the time, and the walls needed to be kept clear of bodies. My bolter roared again, more Orks falling to its might, but it wasn't enough. My eyes widened when a rocket screamed towards me, throwing myself to the right as it impacted the wall. The soldiers manning the heavy weapon next to me hadn't been so lucky, one was missing part of his arm, another had a shard of stone sticking out of his neck. He choked for for a moment, eyes wide and panicked before they faded, his friend screaming as he tried to crawl away. A soldier grabbed him and started to drag him back, leaving the body where it laid.
I forced myself to focus, looking down at the everclosing horde as Trukks broke rank from the mass and rushed towards the wall, painted a bright yellow and red. Manned by Gretchen who were chained to the seats, enough explosives in the back to kill a tank.
"Focus fire on the Trukks!" My call was answered by bolters and missiles raining down on the suicide bombers, several exploding in massive fireballs, others swerving and making it to the stone. The wall shook when they hit, fire and smoke reaching the top and obscuring our vision. The stone was scorched, blackened and weakened, but it still held, more vehicles sent towards a single point. More of our weapons were turned towards the vehicles, allowing the main force to come ever closer. A looted tank opened fire, tearing away another chunk of stone before it was destroyed.
Suddenly and without warning, the horde stopped its advantage and fell back, grabbing their destroyed vehicles and weapons. We fired all the same, killing as many as we could before they fell out of weapon range, the land before us covered in green corpses. I breathed a sigh of relief, loading in one of my last full magazines and throwing the other in a pile. Across the line others did the same, soldiers whooping in relief or exchanging smiles with those next to them. I casted a look to those around me, Invictus and Zyron stood a ways back, already refilling ammo, Zane and Fane where helping move the wounded. It didn't look like any of mine where injured outside of a few dings in their armor, and it was only when I looked farther down the line that I saw Thudin kneeling next to one of his own, the soldiers armor was rent and blackened, sitting against the back battlement.
Thankfully it didn't seem a critical injury, and after a few minutes the Marine was back on his feet, heading down the stairs to get his armor repaired. The next few hours where spent helping the wounded and clearing the top of the wall, rubble and bodies both. After ensuring my own men had orders I made my way to the command room, the Colonel and his second entering the room a few minutes later, each where unwounded, only small amounts of damage to their armor. Thudin following a time after. Already reports of those killed and equipment damaged was coming in, the first estimates of what our defense had costed us.
"The numbers are better than we thought, only a few hundred are wounded or dead, we have replacements for the weapons destroyed. Unfortunately we cannot perform repair work on the wall, we don't have the needed materials." The Colonel finished and looked towards the two Astarte in the room, waiting our response.
"That is good news indeed, your men performed admirably today, please pass along our gratitude." The man nodded and waited a bit more, making me give him a small smile.
"If you could give us the room, we have much to speak about." His eyes flashed in panic and he nodded.
"Yes, of course my lords, please, excuse us." The two mortals fled the room, shutting it as they went. Thudin's helmet was off, his eyes coming to meet mine.
"What is it?" I felt frustration once again crawl up inside of me, his disdain almost touchable.
"How did the battle go for you?" He only shrugged.
"As well as it could have." A moment of silence passed and he started to rise, hand going towards his helmet.
"Sit down." He stared, a moment of defiance before doing as I had ordered.
"I don't care what happened when we were children, but this pettiness you seem to think is acceptable ends today, or your position as Clan lead goes with it." Thudin's eyes widened and his lips turned into a snarl.
"You don't have the authority to do that." I scoffed.
"I'm the Primarch of our Chapter, I can and I will. Zane told me your treating the soldiers as pests, I won't tolerate it Thudin, you know better." He stood up, eyes filled with anger.
"You don't get to order me around Aragorn. Your the one who left us, your the one who abandoned us." He spat at the floor, acid eating away at the stone.
"Your right, I do treat them as pests, because it's us Marines who fight and bleed and die so they can piss and shit everywhere. How many lessons of human pettiness did Drake give us? How many times did we learn that humans fucked things up?" I sat back, surprised by the venom that came from his voice.
"What happened to you Thudin? We never got along as kids but it's been a long time since then, what made you hate those we are supposed to protect?" He breathed in, contemplating for a moment if he was going to tell me or not, his decision was made when his face set into a scowl
"Demote me if you want, but if you think telling me to play nice was going to work your a fool," He picked up his helmet and went towards the door, stopping for a moment to scoff. "More of a fool than when we were kids." I watched him leave, a mixing pot of emotion filling me. Anger, at his actions and disrespect, pity, for whatever had happened to him to turn him so bitter.
I walked over to the door and closed it, then picking up the receiver for the long ranged vox, a prototype of an improved one Octavian had sent with us. Setting the frequency to Drake's personal and waiting for him to accept. He did so after a few moments, the line empty save for a bit of static.
"Thudin is being demoted and Zane will be taking his place for lead of his Clan. Until a time that the has proven he can act in a way befitting an Iron Drake, he will never lead again." The line was silent, a sigh coming through before my father responded.
"It was a difficult choice to send him with you, knowing that this is the outcome his actions would cause, but I'm glad you choose right." I stared at the machine for a moment, surprised.
"You, meant for this to happen?"
"I did, command isn't always just on the battlefield or knowing your troops, its making the hard choices the difficult decisions. We as Iron Drakes protect the innocent, we value life, something, happened on Tarth while you were away to make him hate them, he needs to let go of that anger, before he lets it consume him."
"Many Chapters of Adeptus Astarte see humans more as a burden than as our charge. Some only care for killing the enemies of the Imperium, giving no assistance to evacuations. Some care so little that they will use them as decoys to lure out an enemy. Some, like the Salamanders and the Wolves, do what they can to protect humanity, is is their actions we will help echo, as protectors and defenders, not just slaughters of our enemy." I was silent for a time before sighing.
"I understand, I'll do my best to get through to him." A knock came to the door, metal wrapping on wood. Drake heard it.
"I'll let you go, do your best Aragorn, I know you will succeed." I ended the call just as Hakeal came into the room, his helmet on his belt and a frown covering his eyes.
"Aragorn please, don't demote Thudin, I'v been helping him change his actions, he just-" I help up a hand, ending his plea.
"What's decided is decided, and my mind won't be changed." My sons eyes closed for a moment before he nodded and sighed.
"I understand Primarch. shall I gather the others?" I shook my head.
"No, having a new Clan lead in the middle of this defensive would only help the Orks, right now we need to be unified in our front. I will make it official after the battle is over," Hakeal turned away, and my words stopped him. "If Thudin can prove to me that he can change over the course of this campaign I will change my mind, but actions have to have consequences Hakeal, or there is no order."
He nodded once before walking the door, a sigh coming from my lips before I followed him. Upstares weapons barrels were being replaced and new armaments set up for a second wave. Behind the wall our camp stretch, tents for medical purposes where already filled. The bodies that had been piles were being separated and placed into bags to be carried away, the remains placed into the transports and taken back to the Emperor's Light.
It was our policy to bring the bodies of the fallen back to Tarth, so that the family may grieve, but we knew that in the future different option would be used, perhaps cremation of some kind.
I looked out over the valley, the Orks where building up something from what I could hear, the smash of metal on metal was just audible from this distance. Even with a chunk of their forces dead, it was the increase in vehicles and heavy weapons I feared, Orks would never scale the walls, any ladders they used would be knocked off and larger machines could be disabled. But if they decided to bombard for a few days before they attacked...
The wall couldn't stand up to such a batterment, it had some metal in its construction, but the stone would crumble under pressure. I frowned as I stared out into the barren rock, mind whirling with ideas on how to counter such an attack. Using the valkyries to destroy any such guns would work, but losing them would set us back. My brainstorming was halted when I Solomon walked up beside me, helmet on and a staff in his hands, a drake head of carved metal sat on its top.
I had seen him on the line during the battle, but he hadn't used his power at all. He didn't say much for a time, simply standing beside me as the sun traveled overhead.
"The others haven't told you what happened have they?" I turned my head to look at him, his helmet was off, eyes far away.
"While you were away there was, an incident, where I almost lost control. I tried to use too much power at one time, it was only thanks to Cotus that I didn't fully lose myself. Since then, the others haven't been able to trust me fully." I was a bit taken back, knowing that before I had left our Librarian had been one of the most respected of our group.
"I'm sure that trust will return with time, you are respected by those who know you Solomon, the others will see that in time." He didn't respond for a time, looking out into the valley once again.
"I hope you are right, but, Aragorn, but, promise me that if I ever lose myself, you will kill me before I can do any harm." I stared into his eyes for a long time, weighting the request before I nodded.
"It won't come to that Solomon, your stronger than before, I place my trust in your abilities." He took in a deep breath and released it slowly, some, weight seemingly leaving his shoulders.
"Thank you Aragorn, it means a great deal to me that you trust me as much as you do." I smiled and slapped his shoulder, making him stumble slightly.
"Good, I fully expect to see you killing Orks tomorrow." He nodded and walked away, moving through the sea of uniforms. I let a deep sigh flow through me, almost preferring the chaos of the battlefield to dealing with the problems that came off of it. But now wasn't the time to be idle.
I walked down the stairs for the first time since we had landed, passing soldiers on the narrow stone. Many would nod or attempt a gesture of respect, I would return those that I could. At the base of the wall I turned left, towards a small area coordinated off for the sentinel squads. Several where there, some almost ready to depart again while others climbed off their machines with stiff legs. All there snapped to attention as I drew close, the officer in command of them all bowing slightly.
"How may we be of service my lord?" I returned his bow with a nod of my own, taking off my helm.
"The Orks won't be satisfied with the battle so far, only after the warboss has fallen will they truly retreat, how many men do you have watching their camp?" The Sergeant brought up his hand to his chin, rubbing it slightly before answering.
"Right now, two squads, one on each side, but I haven't heard back from them for a while, but the vox can be tricky sometimes, I was about to ride out myself and check on them." I mulled over that for a few seconds before nodding to myself.
"I'll join you, getting a look at this camp will help me decide what do next." The Sargent was surprised, blinking a few times before shaking his head.
"Please my lord, leave such actions to us, it's not your job to do something as commonplace as scouting." I raised an eyebrow and shrugged.
"Scouting is incredibly important to any war effort Sargent, while normally I would agree with you, right now I feel that getting a look at this camp myself would prove valuable, so that is what I am going to do." The soldier nodded, unwilling to argue further. He turned towards his men and started issuing orders while I contacted Zane and told him what was happening, leaving him in command.
By the time I was done the machines had been coaxed to life, six rumbling as the pilots eased them around in preparation. A few small trails went into the hills, enough for the sentinels to make use of over the rough terrain. Soon we were heading up the mountain, stone crunching under metal feet. I followed behind the others, watching as they traveled the path up.
Little was said between us during our journey, the sun getting in their eyes as it started to set. I kept my own turned towards the valley below, wary for another attack while I was away. The sound of breaking rock turning my head forward, some stone under the sentinel in front of me had given way, the machine pitching into the forty meter drop below. I didn't hesitate to lunge ahead, grasping the side of the machine and digging my hands into the metal as it leaned over the side.
The pilot inside wasted no time in unhooking their harness and leaping out, landing hard into the dirt. It was to shocked faces that I lifted the machine and placed it back onto the path, the soldier stunned for a second before carefully getting back in, voice shaky as he spoke.
"Thank you, I wouldn't have survived that fall." I smiled, even when I knew they couldn't see it, and gestures down the path.
"I don't plan on letting any of you die tonight, least of all to a fall that I can prevent." The Sargent moved his machine back to ensure his soldier was alright before we continued, eventually dismounting and continued on foot, the sound of metal and yelling echoing off the mountains.
We looked over a ridge and down into the camp, thousands of Orks crouched around fires or sharpened their weapons with rocks found from nearby. The Gorkanaut that I could now make out was parked near a massive tent, Nobz all around that area. Others where busy setting up crude walls or towers, many with anti-air, eliminating the possibility of vulture raids without heavy losses.
Next to me, the Sargent was looking through his binoculars and frantically tapped my arm, pointing to the far side of the camp. There two Orks stood, one being the same Warboss that we had routed days before, the other was of equal size, a massive choppa in his hands.
Behind them both, where the other sentinel squads, strung up and gutted on metal posts. All of them were dead, which was, by the hand motions of the two warbosses, what they were arguing about. It went on for a time when suddenly the one that I had taken the arm off lifted his new Klaw and thrusted its talons into the others side, grabbing its head with the other hand and lifting him up, straining until it the Xenos was ripped apart, blood and intestines covering his screaming form.
For a moment the camp was quiet, until a bloodbath like the kind I had never seen began, Ork turned on Ork, a gluttony of blood that made some of the guardsmen next to me turn away. Gretchins stabbed eyes while squigs ran loose, biting and eating what they could. In the center of it all the blooded Warboss rallied those loyal to him, his free hand now using the choppa of the killed Xenos. From there he waded into the field, smashing and killing all who went against him.
Those Nobz whose master was dead did their best to kill the warboss, but as more time passed more Orks rallied to a new banner, and before two hours had passed, the camp was quiet once again. The now victorious Xenos climbed atop a pile of corpses to speak to his congregation, voice easily reaching us.
"Azgrok iz yer new boss! Follow ma rules or I will krump ya! now, 'oo wants ta br'n 'da fight ta dose 'umiez!" I was sure that the responding yells to that proclamation was heard by my sons on the wall, and I watched as Azgrok organized the building of more machines and weapons. I moved back from the edge and the guardsmen followed me, each of them looked shaken.
"We need to head back to the wall and prepare, they will be coming for us again, and in much greater strength." With hurried steps we went back to the Sentinels, firing them up and taking off down the trail. I stood behind for a moment, drawing my sword and looking up into the rocks. The Sargent stopped and yell back back at me, fear in his voice.
"What are you doing my lord?!" I powered on my weapon and looked towards him.
"Go on, I will return shortly, tell Zane to ready the others." He looked like he wanted to argue farther but nodded. I took a few steps back and took a running leap up into the rocks above us, a number of Kommandos Orks making their way away from the ledge.
"Watching the watchers, I can't say I'm surprised after you caught the last squads." The largest of the Xenos snarled leapt forward, his body falling in halves next to me. It set off the others who launched themselves at me with rage filled howles, their light armor providing no protection.
I cut and spun, one I hadn't seen leaping off the rocks above us and managing to drag his dagger across the side of my helmet. I reached up with a hand and threw him away, stomping on his chest, blood and bits of intestine splattering the ground. Two tried to flee, my bolt pistol catching them in the back. Holstering it again I moved to the leaders corpse and opened a satchel of skin that he had around his waist, the string now cut.
Inside was more dried skin, used as a kind of paper and rough diagram of what appeared to be trails through the mountains and a way behind our wall. I looked back towards the camp and was once again thankful for my hearing, knowing that such an attack would have completely circumvented our defences.
Still, the number of Kommandos I had seen in the past few days worried me, if they were loyal to Azgrok or to the dead boss was unknown to me, but I knew that I would have to make a note of it and ensure the others knew to watch their backs. I piled the corpses together and left, making my way down the trail. Halfway back I heard a burst of static coming through my helmet, the signal growing stronger as I continued on my way. Finally a voice was audible from the noise.
"Aragorn, this is Zane, respond when you can hear us." I frowned, unsure why they would be out here, but I spoke into my helmet all the same.
"I'm here, why are you way from the camp?" Far ahead of me I could just make out the dark gray of their armor, making its way through the stone.
"The Sergeant came back frantic, said you were under attack?"
"A few Orks, dead now, there was no need for you to come." I heard a sigh come through my helmets speakers and chuckled.
"Don't be to hard on him, I bring grim news of what we saw, the same Ork that we defeated at the capital is back, he's taken control of this horde and is prepping a massive assault." I lept down to a different path, one that would put me on a course to meet them.
"The had a set of trails marked that would place them behind our defences, I killed the Kommandos with it, but we have act with the assumption they will attempt to flank us." I came around a massive stone and met them, turning off the vox.
"When we get back to camp we will have to set up defenses around the edges of the camp, increase the amount of sentries watching the rear." He nodded, and I looked at the others that stood behind him.
"I will discuss the plan in full length back at the camp with the others, let's get back." A half hour later we stood with both Clans before me, a number of the guards leadership as well.
"The Orks are preparing under the leadership of a warboss named Azgrok, the same sadistic monster we fought at the capital. From their next assault we can expect a much larger quantity of heavy weapons and vehicles." I turned towards the Colonel.
"The next battle will be much harder, we will need to bring more guns to the fight than we can fit on the wall alone." The man was silent for a moment before his face paled, eyes travelling over the walls edge. I nodded.
"Begin construction of defenses at the base of the wall, heavy weapons and mines for what is to come." He stoned his face and nodded, but I could see that he was fearing for the lives of his men.
"My Clan will stand beside you, while Thudin's takes the top of the wall, we don't abandon those who serve." He looked relieved, looking at each of those present with utter gratitude.
"I thank you my lords, we will stand by you to the last." He left shorty after, the grim faces of those still there turning towards me.
"This will be hard, but we are Space Marines, the sons of the Emperor, we do not flee simply because something is difficult, we face it, head on, always." I received a single pound across our their chests and continued.
"The Orks are fueled by rage and bloodlust, but we have our own hate. It is righteous and pure. Grasp that hate brothers, forge it into a weapon. Through that, we will be victorious."
The next day my words would be tested, blood spent, Death would collect his tally.
So a bit different, some, emotional marines I suppose, I think a part of me is trying to play catchup with all of the different Characters for Aragorn's Clan, considering that they are going to be the main cast? kinda. I don't know, I just muse this shit XD. Hope you enjoyed, have a good one.
