Chapter Three: The Palace

Heriati was Captain of the 3rd company of the White Scars legion; so far the invasion had gone like clockwork. Massive concentration of force had destroyed the forces surrounding the capitol with few casualties. The strike cruisers had taken damage from the defending laser and missile batteries but nothing the techmarines couldn't handle. The defending reinforcements were too slow to be able to affect the outcome of the battle. In fact by the time they arrived his marines would have taken up position on the city walls and would have dug in around the city.

Glancing at the holo map in his command rhino, he barked orders to his men.

"Viper Squadron, enemy reforming behind you, strike now, Jade Squadron your target has been changed to contact Beta-Charlie. Hawk Squadron assist Viper Squadron they are taking too long to clear the tanks, Horoto, send your assault marines against the walls, I want the gate and walls taken intact, no demolition, I repeat, no demolition! When the gate is taken, clear the walls and assume a defensive perimeter, then await my arrival."

Other captains from his fellow legions used land raiders as their command vehicles, but not Heriati, like the other White Scar captains he felt they were too slow. Instead they tank hunted with Predators, and used Rhinos to transport and command there troops. For the same reason, the first company refused to use terminators. Speed and power was what made his chapter invincible, not armour.

"Meri, drive us to the gate. Tsunami squadron follow us in, assume a staggered wedge."

The command rhino leapt forward, tracks clawing deep into the ground and sending up a plume of ripped and torn turf. Explosions dug into the earth around them, splattering mud across the windscreen and knocking the customised rhino from side to side, a gunner on the top fired his storm bolter around trying somehow managing to maintain a steady aim. Behind them the rhinos that comprised Tsunami squadron drove through the storm of explosives. They were tossed around like child's toys in an ocean storm but still continued forward oblivious to the artillery fire. A rhino took a direct hit and was surrounded by gouts of flame; he frowned until he saw the Rhino fly forwards, hull breached but still functional. The marines inside took full advantage of the new aperture by firing upon the enemy. The squadron emerged unscathed from the inferno.

He quickly checked his display and keyed in a counter suppression request and was pleased to see the strike cruiser 'Wrath of Khan's' response. The icons representing the artillery winked out of existence. Looking up he could see the palace's gates grow larger as they rapidly approached it; explosions still rocked the top of the rear walls as the gates loomed in front of them. The gates slowly swung open, and with calm anticipation, he checked his weapons were properly holstered and then drew one each of his bolt pistols and power swords.

As the Rhino passed the gates, and approached the palace, he bellowed "It is time! Blow the inner door!" As he finished his sentence a hunter killer missile left his rhino and smashed open the main doors. Gritting his teeth he prepared to attack.

"And… release the shadow guard."

Then time slowed down. He left his rhino at a run, barely seeing his comrades as they flanked him but instinctively knowing they would be there, bolts spewing from their pistols. The defending soldiers were being mown down like wheat. Heriati leapt to the ground and rolled forward as a torrent of laser fire streaked past his head. He jumped back up onto his feet just in time to see a barrage of krak grenades destroy the defending emplacement.

Then, they were inside the building.

The Shadow guard automatically split up as they entered, following the attack plan dictated by Jaghati Khan himself. Several entered the buildings air vents whilst more continued down the corridors. The internal defence had crumbled before the onslaught. Heriati ran past prepared fallback positions, now empty. He sprinted past the bodies of soldiers caught by surprise by the Shadow guards determined assault, there world a morass of scattered limbs and lingering pain.

As he continued down the corridor his genetically enhanced senses picked up something. Slowing to a pause he saw a door to his right begin to open, a flash of colour appearing behind it. Shoving his bolt pistol into the gap with one hand he sprayed bolt shells causing screams to bellow forth from behind it. With his other hand he sheathed his blade and pulled out a frag, activating it he booted open the door and hurled the grenade into the now exposed corridor. The dying soldiers looked up. Limbs were scattered from the devastating volley he had just delivered and the walls were painted with blood, gore and the entrails of men whose death came swift. Those who had survived were in agony, but the grenade soon put them out of their misery. Leaping out of sight and sprinting back down his original corridor, he vaguely noticed reinforcements coming into the corridor, expressions of shock and horror on their faces. A smile crossed his face as he heard the frag go off right in the midst of them obliterating his pursuing foes. He swiftly ejected his empty clip and reloaded the bolt pistol.

He knew without checking his wrist comp that he was nearing the inner sanctum, the route had been memorised from scans performed on the flagship during the initial approach. Glancing at the floor he saw a dead Shadow Warrior, eyes narrowing he vaulted over it as he approached the open door. He was instantly aware that this was the objective, the door led to the throne room. Rolling past the beams of fire that erupted from a bank of turrets encircling the room, he watched them explode into flames as volleys of bolt fire and krak grenades flew from the rest of the Shadow Warriors who had begun to converge behind him. Directly in front of him was the main entrance to the throne room, the room rapidly filling with guards who supplemented a contingent of huge robotic constructs. All at once the enemy opened fire, deadly accurate weapons fire hosing into the advancing Shadow Guard. Leaping up into the air and drawing his second pistol he unloaded his clips into the ranks of guards and then before he had even hit the ground he discarded his pistols and drew twin power swords, their thin shimmering blades sliced through armour and skin like paper. Sweat dripped from inside his armour, instantly absorbed by the complex machinery inside. As his body whirled through the enemy, limbs fell at his feet. Ducking under a soldier's rifle he thrust up with his blade. As he rolled to the ground his swords flickering in a shimmering wave of death through his opponents he threw himself towards the entrance. He formed a fighting wedge with his brothers. The screams of the dying proved a fitting introduction for the Coalition's leaders who lurked behind the door. The Shadow Warriors armour, normally jet-black was covered in the vibrant, crimson blood of the freshly slain. Exultation filled them as they can closer to there main objective.

"For the Emperor and Jaghati Khan!" Burst from his lips as he led the charge against the last of the defenders, a dozen voices answered his cry and they struck against their foes with the speed of the cobra.


TheIronWarrior – Thanks for the feedback, it is good to know that people are enjoying my work. You are correct, the white marines are White Scars.