Leviticus opened his eyes to a darkened room. Where am I? What happened? The last thing I recall was that I was charging a Deathwing terminator and then nothing.
'Ah, Sergeant, you are awake finally.'
Leviticus attempted to sit up but was quickly overwhelmed with pain.
'Don't try to sit up, you have pretty extensive injuries. It will take a while to heal.' Assiel stood over him and began an examination.
'How bad is it Apothecary?'
'Three rounds cracked your ribcage. Many of the muscles in your arms and legs are ruptured and torn. Plus, you were found impaled on a steel table post. Not to mention the multiple bumps and bruises but those should pass in another day or two. Were it not for your marine physiology, you would be dead by now.'
'The rest of my squad, how did they fare?'
'Brother Nakriel has lost his leg as well as taking a bolt to the chest that ruptured his multi-lung, a primary lung, and damaged his secondary heart. It will be several more days before I will know if he will recover from those critical wounds. Brother Gurid may lose his right arm. The assault cannon chewed his right shoulder down to the bone and his right eye and face were ruined. Brother Xaphan is fabricating his bionics now. Brother Paschar's plasmagun melted down in his hands severely burning him. He also took multiple bolt wounds; so many that Xaphan cannot save the suit of armor. Brother Madan was the least wounded with only a few bolt wounds.'
'What happened?'
'You attempted to fight off five Deathwing Terminators one-on-one. Heroic, but not tactically sound,' replied the Apothecary.
Leviticus let out a small chuckle before being racked with a fit of coughing. The pain was excruciating, but Leviticus pressed on. 'How did we get back here?'
'Oh, I wouldn't know you'll have to ask your squad leader. He's the one who pulled you out.'
'Vehuiah, where is he?'
'Right here, Brother Sergeant.' he announced from above Leviticus's head
Assiel turned back around, 'Brother Vehuiah has kept a constant vigil for the last three days. Now that you are awake, he can break his fasting and get some rest.'
'I will do that later, I can see Leviticus has questions.'
'I have many questions.'
'Well let me start with your first one...'
Vehuiah raced out the airlock of the Angelis Conturbo, racking the slide of his bolter as he went. The transfer pylon was relatively empty before the klaxons went off. Xaphan and the rest of squad Leviticus were loading storage containers into the cargo bay when the marines spotted Vehuiah. The marines all retrieved their bolters and began to move toward the concourse containing Leviticus and Leliel. They were stopped short by Epistolary Uwala.
'There are two squads of Deathwing on that station. You'll need something stronger than a bolter to defeat them.'
Xaphan overheard and called over to the assembled marines. 'I think a pair of missile launchers with krak missiles and a pair of lascannons should be enough to defeat some terminators.'
The squad followed the Techmarine for a hot swap of gear. Vehuiah looked back to find that Uwala had disappeared.
In the armory, Xaphan quickly said a blessing to the machine spirit of each weapon before handing it to the awaiting marine. Vehuiah was glad that these marines were recently in the Devastator squad. He had not carried a heavy weapon since the Great Crusade. He turned to lead them back out before Xaphan stopped him.
'Take these. They are melta bombs. A newer weapon than what we are used to but very effective against tank armor. They should make short work of Terminator armor as well.'
Grabbing the large devices, Vehuiah took off after the four marines. With practiced precision, they had already mounted the weapons onto their armor and backpacks. Now it was a rush to get to Leviticus before the terminators captured or killed them.
It did not take them long to pick up the terminators' trail of destruction. Moving quickly to catch up with their quarry it was not too long before they were behind the terminators. Vehuiah glanced around the corner. One terminator was down and one was wounded. The other three were mercilessly pounding the five Fallen Angels. Two Angels were out of the fight and the wounded terminator was already moving toward the beleaguered squad.
'Four targets, four shots, make them all count,' ordered Vehuiah
A quick group of nods from the assembled marines and Vehuiah withdrew one of the melta bombs. It was heavy but it was still possible to toss it amongst the terminators. He primed the fuse for two seconds and then motioned that he would initiate the attack.
Another group of nods and Vehuiah activated the timer and threw the heavy bomb at the terminators. Simultaneously, the four marines snapped out of cover into a firing line, aiming at their respective terminator.
Vehuiah looked back and to his horror, he saw Leviticus attempt to charge the terminators. He got in about three paces before the melta bomb went off. The explosion was far larger than they all expected. The Deathwing sergeant and another terminator were vaporized by the blast but the remaining two toppled over but they were still alive.
Regaining their balance and aiming at their targets. The four devastators fired upon the two remaining terminators before they could stand back up. One of the terminators died under the onslaught. The last one to the amazement of Vehuiah got up under that fusillade and turned to face the new threat. The ominous assault cannon positioned toward them. He saw the terminator thumb the rune, but instead of flames and bolts, they heard a grinding noise. The terminator noticed it as well and looked down at his weapon. The gearbox had been damaged and activating the weapon had stripped the gears. The weapon was irrevocably damaged. Screaming curses, the terminator charged the group of marines.
Vehuiah did not let the behemoth close the gap. 'Fire!'
Two missiles and two large bolts of energy launched themselves at the hulking form bearing down on them. The lascannon bolts struck the terminator squarely in the torso followed up by the two krak missiles. The terminator cleared the explosions, the armor damaged but not enough to stop it. Vehuiah's team walked backward taking aim yet again.
No time for another shot.
Vehuiah girded himself for the possibility of also having to face a terminator in close combat. He raised his hand to order when he caught black movement. A second later, Madan appeared beside the terminator with a chainsword and took a savage swing at the terminator. The chainsword embedded itself in the armor of the terminator. In return, Madan was backhanded with the inactive power glove.
Seizing the opportunity, the four heavy weapons fired again. This time the member of the Deathwing toppled over and did not get back up.
'Thank the Emperor. I was beginning to believe he was invulnerable,' replied Vehuiah. 'Let's get the rest of the squad and get out of here.' Leviticus and Nakriel were carried out and the rest were able to move under their own power.
Moving back toward the ship, the squad felt another series of shudders. Within moments, a gale force wind had picked up. 'Hull breach! Get your helmets on and get moving!' Vehuiah ordered. The squad pushed on through the wind. Only their physically enhanced strength and their power armor allowed them to press on. Clearing a blast door, the marines manually closed the door, the wind dying with it. Double timing back to the ship they got back in time to see Jehuel's squad clear the moorings and enter the airlock.
'Frag! Move it before we are forgotten!' Vehuiah yelled.
The marines all ran to the airlock. It was sealed. To their right the cargo doors were already halfway closed. Wasting no time, the squad of marines threw themselves through the bay door. As the seal engaged, Vehuiah got up to get an accounting of the men. Leviticus and Nakriel had been unceremoniously dumped on the deck and both Gurid and Paschar had fallen unconscious after the ordeal. Looking around, Vehuiah saw Xaphan standing before them.
'There was no need for the dramatics, brother. I stopped the door as soon as I heard you coming.'
'Thank you Brother. Now let's get these men to the Apothecarium.'
Leviticus closed his eyes, going over Vehuiah's accounting of events. It was difficult to fathom, but here he was in the Apothecarium. However, during this entire telling of the tale, not once did Leviticus sense that the ship was in battle stations. Now, he vocalized his questions.
'The Dark Angels, how did we get away from them?'
'That, I do not know. All I know is that Xaphan took my four marines and I was sent to get Assiel.'
'You let someone usurp your command?'
Vehuiah stood mute. His face betrayed the shock of Leviticus's question. Leviticus held the stare. Finally, he dropped his head, 'Yes, Sergeant.'
'Never leave your men. Without a bond linking you to your men, your squad will not fight efficiently. They will not be able to anticipate your actions and know your expectations. They will only do what is ordered without taking the initiative and that can be fatal on the battlefield.'
'Yes, Sergeant.'
'Where are your men know?'
'Resting'
'Then you should join them. Learn to think and act as one unit, but do not smother them with your presence. That breeds resentment and we all know what happens when resentments fester.'
'Does this mean that you are going to follow Leliel now?'
Now it was Leviticus's turn to be stunned. 'No, Honor and Duty are involved in that schism. They must be satiated first.'
Vehuiah nodded before leaving the Apothecarium. Assiel watched the Sergeant lying in his ward. 'I see why Uwala favored you. You don't show the traits that has befallen the rest of the Fallen.'
'How do you reason that argument?'
'Leliel, Xaphan, even Uwala thought of themselves first before all others. You think of others. That is your strength and perhaps your biggest weakness. Now rest and let your body recover. You will need your strength soon.'
Leviticus closed his eyes and within minutes, he was asleep.
Leliel was both incensed and overjoyed. Incensed that his orders were blatantly disregarded and yet he was ecstatic that he was rid of that troublesome Uwala permanently. The traitors that joined Leviticus have for the most part been mauled. One was still in critical condition with little chance to survive the next few days. The losses will severely hurt Leliel's plans, but the removal of dissidents within the ranks would improve the disposition of the forces.
Free now to pursue his interests, he rounded on the human accompanying him in the quiet chamber.
'I have fulfilled my part of the bargain. Now, it is your turn.'
The man spoke quietly, knowing that he was in no position to negotiate. 'Yes, my Lord.'
Leliel grinned. 'So what was it you wanted us to retrieve?'
'What I know is that an object crashed on near an urban area on the planet of Lucaris III. The object did not register on the sensor augurs, which suggest that it is comprised of an uncommon material. It is possible it is a remnant of the Tyranid Hive Fleet Kraken, though there are also guesses that it is of Necron or Eldar construction.'
Xenos construction. Leliel flinched inside at the though of having to retrieve such a vile thing. However, he needed to provide for the ship and the men under him. He had traded all of the spare resources to gain the supplies he needed. Some of those supplies were abandoned on the outpost. 'I will take this destination over to our Navigator and we will begin immediate preparations to transit into the warp.'
Leliel turned and left the room. His guest wanted to follow but Leliel stopped just past the door blocking it until it had closed. With a quick flick of his head, one of his marines touched a rune that secured the door before taking up a guard position. Leliel walked over to the cella navigare that was the control room of the Navigator while the ships sailed through the Immaterium. The Navigator already sat naked in the cradle plugged with numerous wires that linked him with the ship. He had already made numerous warp jumps to throw off the Dark Angels and just waited for Leliel to give them their final destination.
'Take us to Lucaris III. Best speed, we've already delayed too much.'
'Yes Lord Leliel,' replied the Navigator. With a thought, the whole room darkened and dots of white light began to materialize in the air surrounding the Navigator. A white line stood out among them. Feeling that this was a psychic trick of the Navigators, Leliel quickly withdrew from the chamber. The Navigator smiled at the marine's display of ignorance before turning back to the duty of plotting the ship's course.
Before too long, the klaxon sounded that the Navigator was ready and to prepare the ship for transition into the Immaterium. Assiel rushed about trying to prepare his charges for the transition. While the Gellar Field protects the ship from the inhabitants of the Warp, It does not stop mortals from parting with their soul during the transition if they are not strong enough to survive. Assiel challenged himself to save every warrior in his Apothecarium.
Brothers Madan and Gurid were released from the Assiel's care. Xaphan was working with Gurid to fine-tune his bionic arm and eye. Paschar and Leviticus were both healing well, though they still needed time to recover fully. Nakriel was still in danger of dying.
Assiel was able to use the Progenoid glands of the dead Angels to culture a very small supply of organs. The multi-lung and secondary heart was accepted, but one of Gurid's original lungs had to be removed. Gurid would never be a full marine again with only one lung, but that would be a battle for another day. The fight for Gurid's soul was still ongoing.
The klaxon sounded that the vessel was ready to enter the Immaterium.
Assiel watched the prostate for of Nakriel as the hum of the engines increased. As the vessel punched into the Immaterium, Nakriel was racked with pain and both Leviticus and Paschar were instantly nauseous. For a split second Assiel could have swore that he saw the souls of Nakriel and Uwala fighting off others that were trying to claim him. A single tear revealed any sign of emotion on Assiel's face. Quickly wiping it away with his gauntlet, he returned to his charge knowing that the marine was fighting still.