'Are we in range?'
'Not yet, in two more hours we will be close enough,' replied the Master of the vessel.
'Two long hours, even after eight decades of battles I've fought, I am still not used to the waiting.'
'By the Lion, exercise patience Brother Sergeant. Even with the war-spirit of this vessel aroused, we can only go so fast within a planetary system.'
Sergeant Haken stood next to the command throne of the Infractus Gladius. His terminator armor whirring lightly as it constantly adjusted itself to the subtle shifts of the Sergeant inside. The Master beside him was clad in the typical dark green power armor but his shoulder pads were both painted to match the bone-colored armor of the Deathwing. His Power Armor was plugged into the command throne to complete the link between the Master and his ship. Similar to the Princeps in the Titan Legions, Master Galmon saw and felt everything that the Death Blade saw and felt.
Sergeant Haken looked at the vid-screen showing the station; soon his squad and Squad Rampel will be launched aboard a pair of boarding torpedoes. Their mission was to capture any renegade marines and bring them in for interrogation. Any one of them could be one of the Fallen or lead them toward one of the two leads they had.
The strike cruiser bearing the Third Company would not be in range for another day. Until that time, the two Terminator squads were the only ones capable of massing any kind of a response. Pushing their engines to their limits, the Hunter class destroyer pushed through the void to close upon the station.
Leviticus had boarded the station a little while ago and had his men in place. Vehuiah had the rest of the squad's armor placed on station that the marines grabbed and donned once they were aboard station. Leaving off their helmets, they did not raise any additional attention on the station. Vehuiah had his men suit up to assist the loading of the stores and they had their weapons nearby. Only Leliel's small squad was the only other squad armored.
Each marine in Leviticus's squad was in visual and vox contact. Uwala was also given their vox frequency should his senses detect the attack. However, the mental strain of the approaching Dark Angel Librarians was beginning to overwhelm even his defenses.
Keeping a quiet vigil, the marines mulled around slowly in their areas. Each marine performed little rituals while they waited for battle. Leviticus found his hand wrapped around the hilt of the chainsword several times and had to force his hand free to maintain the appearance that nothing was amiss.
Leliel was in heated talks with his contact; apparently, it was not going at all the way he wanted. Leviticus really did not care. He did not like the idea of fighting for pay. He had done well on the planet he left and it did not interfere with the flow of the Imperium. Now he was here, called by some unknown force, but it has not provided any directions as of late. His meditations had also proved to be fruitless as to why he needed to don his armor and tempt fate. Leviticus pondered it until he got an urgent warning in his earpiece.
'Uwala to Squad Leviticus, Sensor augurs report a fast moving vessel entering weapons range of the station. They bear Dark Angels markings. We are going to have company!'
'Squads Haken and Rampel are loaded and ready! Waiting for your command Lord!' The crew chief sounded through the internal vox to the Marine stationed at the firing controls. Relaying the information to his superiors, he waited for the command to fire. He had the station targeted and just needed to get word before firing the two boarding torpedoes. The word came a moment later. 'Deploy when ready.' Thumbing a rune Deathwing Squad Haken was launched out of the destroyer's forward torpedo tubes. Adjusting the site to target a different portion of the station, the marine pressed the rune again and Deathwing Squad Rampel was launched into the void.
'May the Lion bring you victory honored warriors,' the marine said to the two little stars burning toward the station. 'Chief, Ready a salvo of torpedoes.'
Klaxons sounded immediately throughout the station, the level of panic rising like a firestorm. The corridor erupted into a fury of activity as everyone raced to ships or defensive positions. Leviticus and his squad remained calm and at their posts. Epistolary Uwala relayed the information that two torpedoes were inbound toward the station.
Leliel was in shocked amazement. How can this be happening? Likewise, his contact was also frozen in horror. Leliel regained his wits, hauled the man by his shoulder, and forced him out into the corridor. A quick glance around saw the place in pandemonium, pushing through the mob was difficult but his armor allowed him to make a path. All the injuries he caused were instantly forgotten as people pushed each other to get clear. The short contact hung on Leliel's cloak so closely that they could almost be one. Leliel's face contorted in disgust at the little creature.
His squad reacted with a look and the little man was ripped from his hiding spot.
'Please help me! Don't leave me here!'
'It will cost you double the contract fee.'
'Anything, just get me out of here!'
'I'll hold you to your word. Alright, take him with us.'
'Yes, Lord Leliel' came four replies.
A tremor moved through the station as one of the torpedoes struck. A quick moment of relief went out through the station as a second tremor was felt. Two strikes with no explosions.
Leviticus whipped up his weapons, 'Boarding Torpedoes! Get ready! Epistolary, we're going to need your talents very soon!'
Scarall was nothing but a minor thief. He only stole what he could carry. He would steal important documents or some noblewoman's jewelry. He never hurt anybody and did not think he would ever be punished for his crimes for there was always a worse criminal to go after. Never in his wildest dreams did he ever think of being in trouble. However, when the klaxons sounded the impending attack, he panicked and broke into someone's quarters to hide.
With a million thoughts whizzing through his head, he was taken completely by surprise when the quarters erupted all around him. After the room settled down once again and Scarall's bladder emptied, he rose from his hiding place. The tip of a torpedo started back at him. A dud, I have always been lucky. He thought.
When the end of the torpedo exploded outward and five white forms stepped out, Scarall barely got a look at the mammoth forms before his body was shredded by the rounds of an Assault Cannon.
Aboard the Ira Leoninus, the eyes of several Librarians snapped open simultaneously. Epistolary Euchey sitting at the head of the group nodded to the other Librarians and left the sanctum.
Grand Master Camael was one the bridge and watching the battle beginning to unfold on the situation. The Grand Master noticed the Epistolary's presence and pardoned himself from the situation table. 'What is it Epistolary?'
'The veil that has been blocking us has dropped. There is not a couple of Fallen on that station, there is a small group of Fallen banded together. The Librarian with them is very powerful, probably an Epistolary of old. He could rival Ezekiel in psychic contact.'
'Master Techmarine, I need all power to the engines! Give me everything you have: weapons, life support, anything! The Brothers of the First Company need us, NOW!'
'For the Lion, it will be done Grand Master.'
'When will we be in range to assist?'
'Initial estimates indicate three more hours.'
'Not good enough! Get us there now!'
Sergeant Rampel marched slowly through the corridors of the station. His squad of Terminators was mercilessly killing anything within the range. Every round from his storm bolter exploded several criminals at once. The floor was already covered with the shredded bodies of hundreds of criminals. Even through the thick armor, Rampel could feel bones crushing under his boot.
So far, they had not encountered anything closely resembling a renegade marine. Typical cowards! Thought Rampel as he scouted the carnage they were unleashing for signs of their quarry. Everything else was pacification.
Leviticus and his squad of five marines held a line on the wide concourse. Scared people ran a wide ring around each marine in search for a solid shelter or an escape route. Paschar's helmet took on the sickly green glow emanating from the coils of his plasma gun. The squad stood still as stone watching the bend in the concourse for the first sign of the Deathwing. The Terminators were approaching at a moderate pace by the cacophony of sounds growing louder in the concourse. Where the second squad was, they did not know.
Vehuiah and Assiel were finishing loading the supplies when the attack happened. Before Assiel had a chance to turn around, Vehuiah was already out of the Apothecarium. When Vehuiah donned his armor, Assiel did not know. The Apothecary wished the marine luck and then began to prepare himself for the inevitable casualties.
Squad Rampel marched in-line down the concourse. The Assault cannons on each side of the Sergeant unleashed controlled bursts of hot death upon the masses of criminals in front of them as those Terminators with Storm Bolters picked the targets posing a threat to the squad. Continuing their inexorable march, they left nothing behind but destruction and carnage.
'Remember there is a Fallen Librarian somewhere. He must be subdued immediately!'
'Acknowledged' replied the squad.
Brother Gurid caught the quick flash of a bolt ricochet before hunkering low in the shadows. Being on the far edge of the line, he would be the first to encounter the Deathwing. Shortly thereafter, the hulking form of a terminator walked around the curve of the concourse. Still Gurid held his fire. Sergeant Leviticus gave the first shot to Brother Paschar and his plasma gun. The terminators continued to slaughter the humans fleeing before them. Paschar finally had his shot and a ball of incandescent energy flew into the helmet of the first terminator. Gurid and the rest of the squad fired with their weapons at the first Terminator in the attempt to knock it down before the rest came around the corner.
Gurid saw the Assault cannon come around the corner and quickly adjusted his fire. Aiming low and left, he pattered a few shots off the thick armor of the terminator but with little effect before the assault cannon replied. Rounds crashed into his position as well as his own armor. Paschar fired at the terminator armed with the assault cannon. The squad rejoiced at the rare sight of seeing a terminator die. One down four to go.
The terminator that took the first fusillade of rounds had recovered from the numerous hits and attempted to rejoin the fight. He raised his storm bolter only to find his hand a ruined mess. Reporting his condition, he filed in behind his brethren. While unable to shoot, he can still fight hand-to-hand.
Leviticus sorely regretted his decision to leave his power sword behind. Even after millennia, he was still intimidated by those suits of Tactical Dreadnought Armor. With nothing but a chainsword, he really had no chance in combat with any member of the Deathwing. Looking over at Gurid, his right shoulder pad was pockmarked with the multiple hits from the Assault cannon. It was good that the whole squad had found solid cover, but without help, they would all die soon.
Leliel forced his contact on board the ship and made their way to the command center. It was a bustle of activity as Xaphan was already deep in the invocation for departure. Leliel stood behind the command throne and watched all the displays around him. The Destroyer was nearby but pointed in the opposite direction. The Strike Cruiser was still barreling in but it was not yet in range. He had a slim chance to escape, but they needed to leave now.
'Sir! We are still moored to the station! We can not break free!'
'Leliel to Leviticus, clear the moorings so we can get out of here!'
'His squad is not on board.'
'Frag their insolence! Jehuel get your men to the docking ports and clear the moorings!'
'Understood my Lord'
'Who else is not aboard?'
Uwala felt the cloud of hatred and moved swiftly toward it. Leviticus was holding the first terminator squad, but the unchecked second squad would overrun Leviticus's position unless something was done.
He was that something.
The five terminators were force-marching to link up with their brethren. Uwala projected a field that hid him from the eyes of the fast approaching terminators and everyone else the looked at him. The squad marched in front of his position before it slowed to a stop. The terminators felt something was amiss but could not determine the source. The sergeant told them to move on but under guard. The Terminators moved slowly and with weapons facing in all directions. The moved cautiously before the sergeant ordered the squad to pick up the pace again.
Redirecting the power of the warp, purple lightning began to arc around him as he stormed out of his hidden location and approached the squad of Deathwing Terminators. One of the Terminators sensed his presence and turned around. Uwala did not wait for the terminator to bring his weapon to bear. Unleashing a torrent of lightning at the Terminator squad, the two rear terminators fell instantly under the onslaught. The others weathered the storm and faced the new threat.
'For the Emperor!' shouted both Uwala and the Deathwing Terminators. Uwala closed the distance with another terminator armed with an assault cannon and kicked the cannon away before turning lashing out with his force staff. The blast of energy dropped the terminator but Uwala saw that the armor had saved the occupant. Keeping the Sergeant between him and the other Terminator with the assault cannon, Uwala charged his staff again with the energies of the Immaterium.
Leviticus was in dire trouble and he knew it. Gurid had finally succumbed to the awesome firepower of the Deathwing's assault cannon. Another marine's leg was gone but still firing his bolter. Leviticus's armor was penetrated in a couple of places but he was seeing through the pain. Aiming his pistol at the second Assault Cannon, he shot at the control linkage that jammed the cannon. The other assault cannon let loose a hail of bolts across the line, dropping Paschar and taking another chunk of armor off Leviticus. By now, Leliel should have departed the station.
Preparing to meet the Deathwing terminators in hand-to-hand combat, Leviticus saluted with the chainsword and then broke from his cover. He got a couple of paces before the deck heaved under a series of explosions throwing back Leviticus.
Uwala was battered and bleeding from several gaping wounds in his armor. Though his Larraman's cells were staunching the flow of blood quickly. The terminators were adding new wounds as quickly as another was healed. The sergeant had fallen when Uwala's staff touched the exposed head and blew the soul into oblivion. The two remaining terminators fell on Uwala with renewed vigor. Breaking Uwala's staff with a strong blow from a Power Fist. The second terminator's chainfist continually damaged sections of Uwala's Armor.
Uwala felt himself succumbing under the terminator's blows, but he was still dangerous. Using his remaining mental strength, he called upon the Warp again. Focusing the power within himself, he continually pulled more and more energy to himself. Eyes aglow, the terminators hesitated in their attack on the Librarian. The air around the Epistolary writhed as if in agony until a vortex erupted where the Librarian had once been. The vortex radiated out so fast that the terminators did not get the chance to run as they were pulled into the warp along with everything else within the event horizon of the vortex.
Chaos erupted on the Ira Leoninus. As Uwala created the vortex, the Dark Angel Librarians had projected their own psychic energy to repress the rogue Epistolary. Three Lexicanium failed to withdraw before their souls were drawn into the warp. However, one denizen of the warp followed the link out and took possession of the vacated body. Quickly turning on those closest to him, the freshly unleashed bloodletter tore into the assembled Librarians.
Within moments, the alarm was raised throughout the ship and every marine in range collapsed on the sanctum. The bloodletter punched its way out into the corridor slaughtering anything within range of its blade. A squad of Devastators moved to block the demon spawn's path. Two marines knelt with their heavy bolters while two more stood with missile launchers on their shoulders. As one, they unleashed a fury of projectiles that punched through the blue armor and through the flesh of the bloodletter. Howling in fury for not being able to attack the Devastators, the demon started to close the gap before succumbing to the firepower unleashed by the Devastators.
Only three Librarians survived the initial onslaught unleashed by the demon. Each bearing horrific wounds was immediately taken to the Apothecarium. One Librarian spoke a brief message to the marine bearing him before falling unconscious. Up on the command deck, Grand Master Camael looked over the damage and casualty reports coming from the station. Camael looked at the scrap of parchment containing the message before crumpling it with his gauntlet.
'Destroy the station and any vessel attempting to leave.'