Alright then, I claim no ownership of any 40k stuff or Games-Workshop stuff here. This is the third part in the Hunt for the Traitors, so enjoy! N. Kage
"When will my soul be like thrice forged steel?" shouted Mepesto as he and his command squad hurtled to the earth in a shaking, bucking drop-pod. They had deployed to the Sicarus sector with the Third Company and prepared a drop-assault. Right now, a score and ten other drop-pods were shooting towards the ground, containing the bulk of the ground troops and Dreadnoughts of the two companies. After the drop-pods had landed, and a perimeter established, Thunderhawks would ferry in the Predators and Rhinos. Then, the real battle would begin, as the Warhawks fought to eradicate the taint upon their Chapter.
"In the heat of Battle!" came the reply from the nine men of the command squad. One of them, Reiata, was carrying the Banner of the 1st Company, next to him sat Apothecary Servenus, who was present at the Lange Fields massacre. To Mepesto's left was Veteran Sergeant Olav, a hero during the last battle with the traitors. Next to Olav, sat Gunner Hemitez, his bulky multi-melta making the drop-pod seem even smaller. Next to Hermitez sat Gunner Iuta, the glow from his plasma-gun casting eerie shadows. Then, there was the Company Champion, Mikal. Clad in incredibly ornate power armor, his combat shield was propped on his leg. The last three were new veterans, the losses of the last weeks making even the most novice Marines experienced killers. They were Lioa, Naaman and Uriel.
"When does your duty end?" again shouted Mepesto. Sicarus had an unusually thick atmosphere, and the drop-assault would be taking an extra twenty seconds to reach the ground. Even though Mepesto had been in a dozen such assaults, the sheer amount of extra time was making him nervous. Enemy fighters or air defense guns could wipe out the companies before they had set foot on the unholy soil. But, so far, there was no ground fire. Maybe they were still too far above the ground to be hit, or maybe they still had the element of surprise. However, they had seen the taint Chaos had left on the planet, so they knew Bjorn was there, somewhere.
"In deaths cold embrace!" came the reply. The 1st Company at this point was comprised of about one hundred Space Marines, only at two-thirds strength for Warhawks Companies. The Third Company was at full strength, one-hundred and fifty Marines. Bjorn was said to have about one-hundred and thirty or so Traitor Marines, as well as un-numbered cultists and daemons at his disposal. It would be a hard battle, one that would be remembered forever by the Chapter, whether as another terrible tragedy, or as a day to be celebrated, was yet to be seen.
"What will be your reward?" Mepesto called again. The drop-pod was shaking violently now, the atmosphere getting thicker as they neared the ground. He could hear ground fire, shell-bursts and bullets whizzing past. Occasionally, a close shell-burst would throw the drop-pod violently, and then it would rock again as the machine-spirit fought to keep the pod on course.
"The Knowledge I have done my duty!" the squad replied again. Brother Servenus was checking his narthecium and reductor one last time. He would need them in the coming battle more than ever. The other squad members were checking their weapons too, cycling chain-swords, or making sure their knives did not stick in their sheathes. The only one who was calm and still was Mikal. His face was rarely seen, he preferred to remain a steadfast beacon of courage and determination, rather than be thought of as a mere mortal.
"What will be your battle-cry?" Mepesto called again, his voice a clarion call over the shell bursts that were more frequent now, the drop-pods shaking almost constantly now. A moment ago, the red light came on, signaling that the drop-pod was one-hundred meters till impact. Calmly, Mepesto racked a round into his bolter and flipped on his lighting claw.
"Death Comes for You!" shouted the squad as the drop-pod hit the ground with a bone-jarring crash. As soon as the pod was on the ground, automated storm-bolters opened fire, hopefully killing anyone foolish enough to be near it. Then, the pod split open, and the restraints holding them in popped open. Instantly, they were under fire from an autocannon emplacement, sending chains of fire into the assembling Marines. "Brother-Sergeant Greavus, take the cannon!" An acknowledgement rune winked on his helmet-screen and the Tactical squad stormed forward. Spying a trench complex, Mepesto raised his arm and signaled a general advance. To his right, he could see Captain Loras, of the second company, following his part of the plan.
Sprinting forward and firing from the hip, Mepesto was at the fore of the advance, Brother Reiata at his side, the Standard held high. Greavus had taken the cannon by now; his squad turning it around and was firing it into the trenches, the cultists scrambling out to try and find shelter, only to be mowed down by the advanced Marines. With their own autocannon sending so many to their deaths, and an unstoppable advance to their fore, the cultists broke and ran. Calmly, Mepesto jumped over the trench and continued after the now retreating cultists. If Kylan and Loras finished their parts, the cultists would be broken and they could go after Bjorn.
One-hundred meters down the line, Chaplain Kylan was having more trouble. His part was to take two squads and a Dreadnought, flank around and trap as many of the cultists as possible. But, he was not facing ill-disciplined cultists, or even traitor guard, he was facing a moral threat. Daemons were guarding the flank. A score of armored daemons of the foul Blood-God counter-attacked as soon as Kylan's force came into view. Honored-Brother Gaustos had opened fire with his multi-melta and vaporized three before their charge hit home. Then, it was a chaotic fight, the unholy howls of the daemons mixing with prayers to the Emperor. Kylan was to one side, his crozius fizzing and sparking as the foul daemon blood splattered across it. The squads had formed a wedge behind Gaustos and his hydraulic power fist swung down over and over again, crushing daemons like they were children. Then, one jumped on the Dreadnoughts upper chest, his giant blood-stained axe craving great rents in the armor, until a Battle-Brother with a flamer burned the daemon off. Gaustos then immolated the last group with the flamer built under his 'fist. Three marines had died, two badly wounded.
"Press on!" shouted Kylan, gesturing towards their objective, the one hill that was right in the middle of the cultists fall-back corridor. With the cry, "FOR THE EMPEROR," the Marines pressed on. A group of cultists were set on the front slope of the hill, and began firing their las-rifles into the advancing group. The red bolts smacked harmlessly against the Marines power armor, punching tiny dents. One Marine stumbled, a bolt passing through his knee. The Marine stood back up and resumed his advance. The Marines opened fire, punching the cultists off their feet with tight, disciplined fire, leaving none alive. Kylan did not have to direct his Marines any further, setting up half-way up to hill and began waiting.
On Loras's side of the fight, things were not going as planned. He and his company had at first been too eager to try and find the traitors, and had ignored the rules of engagement. Since their initial breakthrough, they had been ambushed by… things. The things looked like Imperial citizens, until they closed with the Marine column. Then, the horror began. They were horrific mutants, with razor claws and acid blood. A dozen good Marines had died instantly, their bodies shredded beyond recognition. Then, one of the mutants exploded in a hail of shrapnel and a Dreadnought was destroyed. Swift, disciplined bolter volleys had driven back the mutants, but the Company had learned their lesson. Now, frag grenades were thrown in every hole or were sealed with krak charges. But, that did not stop the Emperor-forsaken mutants. A hole opened up under the advancing Marines and a hundred attacked from the middle of the column. Two dozen Marines were killed before enough fire could be directed into the horde. Another Dreadnought was destroyed, Honored-Brother Joran. He had stridden into the horde and over-loaded his generator to buy the rest of the Marines enough time. Even with these losses, Loras had finished his part, sealing the noose around the cultists.
"Pour it on, Brothers!" shouted Kylan as the waves of retreating cultists broke against the Marine hard-point. Honored-Brother Guastos was just behind the lines, the barrels on his multi-melta glowing red-hot as he fired shot after shot into the cultists. The bodies were piling up now, the Marines having to fall back up the hill to fire. A dull roar alerted Kylan to the right flank. Three Rhinos and a Predator in Warhawks livery were speeding towards the fight, guns blazing. The Rhinos slewed to a halt, and three Tactical squads poured out. Now, the cultists were caught in a tight cross-fire. With nowhere to fall back to, the cultists died in droves.
After the cultists were wiped out, roving patrols of Scout bikers were immediately set out in every direction, looking for Bjorn, while vials of precious gene-seed were escorted to Battle Barges waiting in orbit and supplies ferried back down. It was an awesome sight. Chapter serfs were brought in to clear roads of dead and dig earthworks. The First Company had lost six Marines, with another dozen wounded, while the Second Company lost thirty-five and another twenty wounded. However, there were still enough Marines at hand to finish Bjorn once and for all.
Mepesto was in council with Loras, discussing possible tactics for eliminating Bjorn. Neither was quite seeing eye to eye.
"Well, why don't we call down an Exterminatus? That would remove the traitors with no further losses." Loras spoke angrily.
"But, he still may get away. If we lose him, all our causalities will be for not.' Snapped Mepesto, 'besides, I want to burn his body and bring his severed head to the council."
"No!' yelled Loras, 'my company took huge losses from those damn mutants and I will not have my company be wiped out pursuing some bloody vendetta!"
"That bloody vendetta you speak of so rudely almost tore the Chapter apart!" Mepesto spat back, his blood rising, 'if you will not press on and finish this once and for all, my company will go on without you. But, you were so eager at first to find him, that's why you took all those losses."
"Yes, and that's why we should call down an Exterminatus, so other foolhardy Captains will not pursue him and lose more Marines!" retorted Loras angrily.
"If we finish him now, no other Marines will be lost to this heresy. If you do not see this, I will kill you for heresy and sedition." Stated Mepesto calmly as he drew his storm-bolter and aimed it at Loras.
"You leave me with no choice." Loras said; a grateful smile on his face. Slowly, Mepesto holstered his bolter and clasped forearms with Loras in a warriors bond. With that, a breathless Scout-Sergeant burst in. "We found them."