The Magos already knew what had transpired. His sensors that were attached to every skiitari and his techpriest aboard the hulk already informed him. He knew what he needed to do. He would not hesitate, and for the first time in nearly three years he removed himself from his seat, and placed himself upon a mobile chassis, brought to him by a team of servitors. The process lasted no longer than an hour, and he was en-route to secure himself transport. Unfortunately, he calculated the time it would take for their company to notice his movement would be within a quarter of a single solar hour, and that was if the engagements had already occurred aboard the Hulk. Likely, the Tyranids had been incapable of burrowing into the sacred ship, and now only stirred that its doors opened. The twisted intelligence that drove them was cautious, strategic and clearly sought whatever remained inside. Or perhaps, these were but those disconnected from their ravenous hive, and simply desired to feast upon the bio-mass which existed within the derelict.
In either case, it mattered not. No, he had to seek his prize. Something he calculated with 99.99999999999876% certainty that would yield him far more returns than he originally estimated. Unfortunately, given the approximate size and presumed age of the hulk, there was likely nearly a million or so Tyranid bio-forms which now inhabited its reaches. While the forces present would be more than capable to hold out for a time, the probability was that extraction would be impossible if they did not recover what they sought within the solar week. They as a military force would cease to function as a usable resource again. Such was unfortunate, and an outcome wholly undesirable. Particularly because he himself would be joining those numbers aboard the ship. While he would not have been begrudged to leave those aboard to their fate in any other circumstance, this was not one of them.
His prediction was correct in the former Inquisitors response, brought to his attention through the personal vox installed into his brain functions. The image of the former Inquisitor, imprinted before his right auspex. She was not pleased.
"Well, Magos, it seems that this has escalated, hasn't it?"
The Magos grunted, annoyed that he had to comply with this line of questioning.
"Certainly, former Inquisitor. But, I believe you now as I that it is neither of our interests to contact anyone else."
Viola wasn't foolish. While she and Reginald watched the mission from their command room, she thought about all of this, and of what was to come. She knew very well what the Magos meant. She already left the Inquisition for as much as she cared. From here on, it was about what was best for her and those she aligned herself with. While she would not forgo the Emperor, she was done with the Imperium's infuriating incompetence. To think she would finally admit now, how she viewed her Inquisitorial position. She would have been shot by herself if she was but five or so years younger. Ha. No, what she contacted the Magos for was to ensure he understood this, and that henceforth whatever came of this new development, stayed purely between these forces that existed here and now.
"You should already know where my allegiance lies. Calculate what I am going to ask yet?"
The Magos shifted through several tight corridors, his servitors surrounding him to ensure his mechanisms were at proper function. He was intrigued by her words, not that he hadn't anticipated such. He already ran thousands of simulations through his primary computer. This was the most beneficial option, for all of them. They would all be branded heretics and traitors, undoubtedly, if they were ever discovered to hide their findings. But he had already crossed that line in the eyes of the Mechanicum which ousted him. No, the moment he was banished from his original forge world and into the frontier, he knew they all but expected him to be snuffed out. Simply because his brethren wished not to eliminate him by more direct means. It was all but their loss.
Ha. Such would be funny, cause to laugh if he still maintained the functions. For their ascended state, many of his formor brethren were fools, stuck in their lust for power and acclimation. They believed he would be driven mad away from the resources of his forgeworld. Given nothing but the most minimal of forces, and cast away with a false mission. That was what they had believed, but their variables were wrong. He thrived here. Unimpeded by the tyrannical forces of those above. He fashioned his own Imperium here in the frontier, made powerful allegiances and discoveries. If what was promised to him aboard that ship, he nor his allies would ever need fear anything again. This woman, this now former inquisitor, Viola, was an asset. An asset he would outlive by thousands, and one that was of the upmost importance in the establishment of communication between his sect and House Valor. He already ran all the numbers, all the situations he could, and it was clear. She would not betray him, and House Valor would follow through. He already allied his Dark Anvil sect with those of the Faceless Legion, and they already proved to be more than formidable together. The inclusion of not only a Knight House but also a former Inquisitor would only prove to strengthen that. Their sector would be immeasurably powerful with such allies by his side, and once his personal forge world had been completed, their little Imperium would be complete. Then, away from the prying eyes of the greater Imperium, the true work would begin. It had been far too long of a pause however, nearly an entire second before he responded to Viola. Blast his tendency to lose himself to thought.
"I already know, Lady Viola. Do not fret. Be certain. As long as you remain loyal members of our allegiance, everything we find will be kept within our sector. Of course, I will ask you help me ensure that such secrets never escape our grasp."
Viola smiled, sat on Reginald's lap, as they both listened to the vox.
"Very well then. I simply wished to be certain. Just, do me a favor. Don't disclose what you find to anyone. Not even me. I'm sure that is the best path forward, correct?"
The Magos finally arrived to the hanger bay where a single breacher-class missile was already prepared for him. Without hesitation he proceeded to begin the loading protocols for his massive frame. All the while maintaining his conversation.
"Already with seeking a further grasp, are you? That is good. I look forward to inducting you and House Valor into my alliance. But I am sure you already know of it."
Viola gave him a nod.
"Because you gave us the path to find it in that data your techpriest installed."
Reginald agreed.
"We expect this alliance to be fruitful for all of us."
The Magos entered the missile, followed by the holy hymns of the crew behind him. The door shut over him as the harmonic voices echoed into his secondary vox.
"As do I. I am glad, I did not have to do anything drastic."
They all remained in silence, and knew that what they hoped to achieve with this conversation was accomplished. Thus the vox was turned off, and Viola immediately shifted to contact Emile and the others. Emile was quick to answer, huddled with his forces against the right wall of the sanctum.
"Yes, Viola? I am sure you have already contacted the Magos?"
Viola took a deep breath.
"Yes. In fact he's on his way down to the hulk. If you would, meet up with him for me."
Emile was silent for only a moment, expecting no less from her.
"I presume you've struck another deal, have you?"
Viola leaned herself back into Reginald.
"Of course."
Emile assumed as much. The dealing Viola made were always numerous and complex. Though, the further this operation went, the more he felt that this was the largest she had ever made while he's been in her service. A calculated gamble with stakes he was not fully aware of. But, it mattered not. He would listen, and do as was asked of him. He trusted in her, and so he would follow through.
He turned to Brother Eli and those under his command who anxiously stood beside him.
"It seems we have a new mission."
Richell saluted him with a hand to the chest. Her two soldiers and Ervin followed after. Though Ervin shook in his very cloths, terrified of the howls and roars that echoed along the halls. All of the Stormtroopers behind them all but silent as they held onto their weapons and listened.
Richell lowered her hand and pulled on the plasma-gun strapped to her side.
"Very well then, liege. What is our objective?"
More roars interrupted them as the walls themselves seemed to scratch all around them. Eli tapped the side of his bolter, anxious for the coming battle. The others as steadfast as they could be, Ervin barely able to stand much longer, his body struck by fear. But, he already resigned himself to this. He was already doomed, but if he was to go, at the very least he could make Richell proud.
Emile looked at the coordinates presented to him on his visor. It was only a thousand feet to the west sector of the hulk, that the approximate landing zone of the Magos was set. With luck it would be accurate enough to land within a few hundred of that location.
"We are going to head back into the hulk and wait for the arrival of the Magos."
Almost as if on que the infuriating techpriest from before, Argo, approached them. A small group of skiitari and a host of Imperial Guard behind him. He must have overheard. He waved a hand accusingly toward Emile.
"Are you now? The Magos is currently of the upmost priority alongside the protection of this holy sight. I will send my forces to find him. You, will remain here, where my forces can watch you."
Emile towered over the diminutive figure as he stepped up to him.
"I assure you, if you wish for this plan to succeed, I suggest leaving as many forces here as possible. Do not split yourselves for the beasts to devour one by one."
Argo grunted loudly for all to hear.
"The Magos deserves nothing but the upmost of protection!"
Emile interrupted him, no time to waste with his pride.
"And that is why myself and Brother Eli, of the Emperors chosen, will go find him. Do not ever think yourself my superior again. The forces behind me more than enough to accomplish this task. So I suggest you do as your Magos no doubt instructed you, and hold this location. Understood?"
Argo gritted his teeth, turned away and looked to the mass of movement that surrounded them. All of the Mechanicus and Guard forces in a buzz as they set about defending the gaping entrance to the holy site before them. He would never forgive this pompous space marine lest any harm fell upon the Magos. But, even he was not foolish enough to defy his Magos words and start conflict with the space marine or his forces. But, for his sanctity, he would not let them go completely alone.
"Fine. But I will insist that a squad of Skiitari follow you. To ensure, you succeed."
Emile voiced no objection, and only held a hand to prevent Eli from voicing those he was about to voice. With that and nothing else he turned away and began his walk towards the designated exit point. Where they would once again reenter the unknown realm of the hulk. His forces followed behind without objection either, and after them a small four man squad of skiitari who marched in unison. When they had reached far enough distance, away from the livid Argo, Eli spoke up to his brother.
"Emile, why would you allow that techpriest to talk to you in such a way?"
Emile shook his head, ever vigilant as he watched the upcoming hallway.
"It is not our place to argue with them, Eli. He backed down, despite his disdain and pride. He knew his place. That is enough. Focus on the task at hand."
Eli understood.
"Very well then, Emile."
Behind them, Richell and her soldiers were nervous for the coming venture. Richell hardened herself, one hand gripped onto the handle of her plasma gun, and the other pressed tightly over the imperial sigil on her uniforms chest. May the emperor guide them through this.
Ervin all but terrified once more, as if the bravery that he attained before vanished. His shoulders weighed down by both the weight of the mobile vox unit on his back and the despair that wanted to grasp his mind. The lasgun in his hands weighed down his arms as well, heavier than before. He breathed in deep, long breathes as he tried to calm his beating heart, but it rebelled. The roars and the scratching of the walls all but a specter that seemed to be right behind him. Yet he did not voice this, not a word. Richell at first scared him, but now, all he wanted to do was show her that he could be useful. She took the time to talk with him, despite the warnings and threats of death she had previously given, and he understood she cared about those under her. Though, equally, he knew she had to be as dire and as strict as she was, if she hoped any of them to come out alive. He only hoped he could stand up to that. So he swallowed the vomit that tried to escape his churning stomach, straightened himself out and pushed ahead, despite the tremors that shook his body. Even though all those with him could see through this façade, they all respected him the more for his persistence.
They soon entered the darkened maw, a hallway of twisted metal before them that stretched on for what seemed eternity, littered by debris and wires. An assortment of ships and whatever else, mashed together into a dark, grim world before them. There was no noise, there was no hesitation, they merely walked through, and then onward. Ushered by the skiitari that followed behind, their visors clicking and glowing with each step, as they relayed everything back to their techpriest.
The light that illuminated the sanctum they left faded into nothing but pitch darkness as they found themselves climb a set of stairs into some place above. The dark only shattered by the lights of the hot-shot las-gun's that the Stormtroopers carried. Shifting as they moved along. The tears and scratches of the walls around them everywhere they went.
Scratching and banging.
Banging and echoes.
Echoes and howls.
Howls and scratching.
It never ended, and they all knew it. They knew that they were watched. They were preyed upon and taunted. The swarm merely bided its time, for some reason no one could fathom. Yet they marched on. On and on, up the steps before them and into another hallway, one bathed in the light of the thousands of stars outside, through the glass that covered this sections of hallway. Compressed and unknowably thick, somehow they managed to survive being a part of the hulk altogether. An eerie sight indeed.
At the very top, Emile heard a different sound than those prior. A closer sound, as if something brushed along the wall. So they finally came. He held up his bolter, and with a single round fired into the darkness of a vent beside him, followed by the screeching death throes of the monster inside. It took no more than an instant later, and they were beset on all sides. Large, raptor like monsters with blades for hands, their bodies covered in thick scales, and eyes that glowed red. They charged from all directions, uncaring of what they bumped into and what they had to cross. Even if it meant trampling over their own brethren.
Immediately the Stormtroopers opened fire, and those with flamethrowers lit the air ablaze. Fire consumed all around illuminating the entire corridor in a radiant orange glow, but even this was not enough to stop the horde. The hot flames increasing the temperature around them by nearly twenty degrees. Emile stepped to the center of the group, beside his brother Eli as he fired into the swirling mass around them. Small worm like variants dropped from the ceiling, one at a time as they tried to catch them all unaware. Emile blasted as many as he could before they could even touch the ground. Using his combat knife he caught another out of the air before it reached his helmet. Eli followed in his example, as precise as his brother in every burst of his bolter. Richell and her guardsmen huddled against one another, side by side with Ervin who held out his las rifle and fired. Richell let out several bolts of plasma into the first creature that came near, its face melted away as it continued its charge. Only dying mere inches before it reached them. The sound of everyone drowned out in the cascade of violence which they found themselves within. The screeching cries of the monsters echoing off the walls and into the very bowels of the ship.
They moved along, a step at a time as the horde pushed around them. One by one, Stormtroopers were dragged away from the group and torn into nothing but pieces. Yet they did not mourn, they did not falter, and even those in death continued to fire their weapons. One Stormtrooper found himself struck by one of the scythes, and before he was pulled away, untucked the Melta bombs on his belt, and pulled the pin of the first. Within moments he was dead, a scythe through his mask and mutilating his brain. But he had done his duty, and at the very heart of the swarm the bombs he took with him exploded, eviscerating all in its radius. The shockwave sent the beasts reeling, the body parts not disintegrated flew in all directions. A spray of blood like a fine mist filling the air as it fell upon everything in the area. It was successful and the horde that had attacked them was thinned to nothing but two members now, their bodies riddled with scratches and wounds. But they did not give up, they did not turn away, they continued their charge like the mindless abominations they were. One straight for Ervin, who held up his las rifle in reflex to block the creatures scythe-like hands. Barely had he managed to avoid the blades edge, but even then his strength was not enough to resist it. He flew back, the weight of the vox on his back dragging him down to the ground. Yet still he held the las rifle in hand, though his wrist was bruised and twisted, and pushed away.
The creature only knocked off by the bolter round which hit the side of its body. It was just enough time for Ervin to back away along the ground and pull up his rifle. With a single, un-aimed shot, he pulled the trigger and a red laser shot through the creature's eye and ended it with an explosion of flesh and gore. Limp as it finally stopped its movement. The other creature already killed by Eli, who was pounced upon, and had to forcefully break the creature's neck with his bare hands. His bolter tossed to the ground from the surprise attack.
Then there was silence once more, not that anyone was set at ease by it. Richell and her soldiers survived, and thankfully not even had a scratch on them. Much to the thanks of the Stormtroopers around her. Nearly ten of them were killed in that confrontation, that she was certain of. Those that remained all around, their armaments still held up and ready in case anything else was to come. Ervin over the body of the dead tyranid he had killed as he kicked its head.
"I survived. Hah… Hah! I did it…"
He turned to the side as if to hurl but stopped himself. He sweated profusely as he felt sick, his temperature hot as his body seemed to boil. He was tense, his heart the only thing he could hear. But, seeing that everything went silent, it calmed, if only slightly. Richell stepped beside him, and held a hand on his shoulder.
"Well you aren't dead yet. Good job, Ervin. Might make a guardman yet."
He smiled, though he could not say anything. That he was alive was all the reason he needed. That he was praised at all was an amazement in this situation. And how everyone seemed to maintain their calm only made him uneasy. The terrors that Richell must have seen all but terrified him, and if she could recover after seeing this, then he only wondered what worse. But he survived. He made it.
Richells lieutenants gave him a nod, a smudge of respect for the voidsman garnered in this battle. Perhaps, if any of them made it out, and in what pieces, they would invite him for a drink. He would likely need it after all.
Emile looked on.
"Status report. What are our casualties?"
One of the Stormtroopers answered almost immediately, having already compiled his report.
"Ten of our number are dead. The skiitari that had come with us are nowhere to be seen. We will take what supplies we can from the dead, and shall continue."
Emile gave him a nod to acknowledge him, and then contemplated their current situation. The skiitari were gone. Likely they were removed first, being those at the back. Damn. But, he and his forces managed to make it through one group of the Tyranids. Yet it was a hollow victory at best, for that was likely nothing but a scouting force. The next time they were attacked there was sure to be more than double what they fought here. And if they dispatched those, then triple the next. But, that they eliminated the skiitari first, revealed a sort of intelligence that showed some higher thinking among them. If they were just ravenous and out of control, there would have been no end to them and they would have not attempted an ambush. No, there was a Tyranid bio-form that lead them. One of the larger of the species, but which he did not know, and in truth with the tyranids one could never know.
He looked to his brother Eli who cleaned his bolter of the blood that stained it. His armor acquired a new scratch, along his right shoulder plate. He was calm, at ease thankfully. It was after all, neither his nor Elis first time meeting these foul creatures.
"Eli, you are unharmed?"
Eli nodded.
"Yes. But, unfortunately one managed to get a jump on me. I'll be sure to be more careful in the future."
Emile grunted.
"I hope so, Eli. Remember, stay focused, and stay stalwart. The next wave will likely be much larger."
Eli looked down the corridor.
"True, brother. But, when is the more appropriate answer."
Eli looked at the coordinates given to him once more. The Magos was expected to arrive in less than a solar hour, and with their current predicament, it was possible he would arrive before they got there. They had to move forward.
"We are nearly there to the designated point. We will make haste and arrive as soon as possible, and then, we will barricade ourselves in a defensive location until we are able to locate the Magos."
Richell beat her chest.
"Of course, liege. All forces, you heard him. And watch those fucking vents!"
Emile looked to the stormtroopers.
"As insurance, use the meltabombs left on the dead to blow the corridor opposite us. It will not stop any more advances, but may buy us some time."
Several stortroopers ransacked the bodies of their dead and acquired what Emile ahd asked. Then they placed them along the walls of the opposite corridor. A single stormtrooper with a flamethrower lit the area on fire with promethium, and soon it exploded as the walls melted and crumbled in so that the corridor was blocked off by the debris that followed. That done, there was nothing left to do while remaining here, and so they all began their march again. Off into the bowls of the hulk, and further into the realm of the beasts they had narrowly just defeated.
In silence Emile and his forces slowly moved along the straight corridor before them. The glass panes still on their left as the dim light of the stars poured inside. They watched their surroundings carefully, and were suspect of every little sound. Richell and her men were just as paranoid as the Stormtroopers as they peered anxiously along the other side. Every time they came to another split in the corridor, it was all that many of them could focus on. Even when they passed by, it was unsettling for they knew it was all but another point by which the tyranids could surround them. Emile and Eli were at the front, their bolters held to their chests as they led the group along.
Within a private vox, Eli spoke to Emile.
"How many do you think will survive? Will we survive?"
Emile knew that the losses they had already incurred would weigh on his young brothers mind.
"I am not sure, Eli. With our current circumstances, I would say our chances are slim. And without the Skiitrari that the techpriest sent with us, I am afraid we may very well be alone in this for now."
Eli gripped the handle of his bolter.
"Tyranids are such foul creatures, Emile. And to think they waited this long to appear."
Emile nodded.
"Certainly. But there is something behind them here, something smart. A brood lord, perhaps. Then again, I did not see any genestealers. Like those we had encountered while we were on that hulk."
Eli thought back to those days. They managed to survive for nearly a solar week alone, using the equipment and resources available to them aboard that hulk. None of the tyranids they had encountered here were like those, the genestealers. Six armed with claws sharp enough to tear through the frames of even terminators. The ability to convert others into thralls to spread themselves. Resembled in a mockery of the human form. That they had not seen any here was very fortunate. Not that he would dismiss the idea that perhaps they would make an appearance. Still, Emile was correct. Something was strange about this hulk.
"True. What variant are they then?"
Emile recalled the scythe like appendages that the tyranids had. He had encountered such on a single occasion beforehand. They were the most basic combat form, aside from the small ones which attempted to fall from above. It was during his first combat, in defense of a world that was being evacuated. The splinter of a hive ship lodged into the planets side, and from it, an endless wave of the vicious monstrosities.
"They are the more standard variant. How they came to be on this ship however is a mystery that I am sure we will not want to discover."
Eli took a deep breath to process the possibilities.
"Perhaps we won't have to, if we are lucky."
Emile looked at the coordinates once more. They were nearly to the general area the Magos was supposed to land.
"Very true, Eli."
Behind them, Richell walked in front of the stormtroopers, as she watched Ervin ahead of her. She was glad he didn't get himself killed in that last excursion. In some ways, perhaps she became fond of him. It always happened this way with her soldiers. She hoped he would survive, regardless of how foolish it was. She never wanted to accept that those under her command would die, and often in painful ways. But it was her job as commander to see the mission through, one way or another. To order them to death if it was necessary. She could only hope that the Emperor would protect, and if not, carry their souls away from this hell when dead.
Her lieutenants were silent ahead of her, one in front of and one behind Ervin. Lt. Jimmy started to despise the odd silence they found themselves in, and so he slowed his walk to be beside Ervin.
"Well there bud, how you like your first bit of combat?"
Ervin shook his head, his hands clamped ever tighter on his las gun.
"I survived. That's all the matters."
Lt. Jimmy patted him in the back.
"Yep… we survived. You look like crap though. Sure you'll push on?"
Ervin gave a nod, not wanting to talk. Not right now, when he had to focus.
"Yeah…"
Lt. Jimmy rolled his eyes. He wouldn't get anywhere with him. Not that he blamed the sorry sod. A guardsman's life was always short, and never easy. Ha! He walked ahead to the other lieutenant. Ervin left to himself as he thought. He would survive. He would survive. He already killed one of those things, even if it was a fluke. He would do it again if he had to. He would survive.
The group started to walk past another split off of the corridor. Covered in shadow as one peered along it, covered by debris and wires that nearly sealed it off. But Ervin payed no mind as those in front had not.
He would survive. He would survive. He would make it back. He wouldn't die here like this. He took several more steps, almost towards the center of the split.
He smiled to himself as he thought about it. He would survive. He already killed one of those things. He could do it again. He wouldn't die here. He made it to the center of the split.
No one was prepared for what came next.
A pair of red glowing eyes shattered the darkness behind the mess of wire and debris. A scythe shined in the light, and before anyone could react, it swung right through the wires and busted through. Eli was the first to fire, having turned around just in time, knocking the creatures aim off course. But Ervin was not spared the blow, he fell forward as both of his legs, from the knee downward, flew off of his body and into the air around him with a stream of blood. Lt. John Roe, turning around just in time for the creature's second strike, sending his head flying off into the glass pane beside him.
