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The over-eager cultists rushed about with the Sorcerer barking orders to them and the Marines. The Lictor's chameleon skin aided it in melting into the window as they rushed by with some of the Chaos marines. The 'Nid still had to move as the forces moved by and even into neighboring structures. I had to switch viewings as most of the marines blew past and across the main roadway where they hid amongst the buildings there.

"This is an ambush, plain and simple."

Up the road, North where the convoy of vehicles was blazing towards the town. Came with a distinct red-colored, tank-treaded transports of Rhinos, spaced just another vehicle length apart. That color plus these vehicles were commonly used by Space Marines had me easily ascertaining they were Blood Ravens. Obviously, they were the only loyalist Space Marines here. Even before all three passed the Lictor laying in the brush. They stopped as soon as the lead Rhino reached the center of town, the road could have accommodated them driving side by side so there was plenty of room. The troops within disembarked and from the back of the rear vehicle came out the relatively thin figures of Scouts. At least six of them with one standing slightly taller and wielding a long-barreled rifle and cloak.

"Must be a Sargeant."

It was a bit hard to catch a look from the backs of the other transport. But a distance glance at the middle Rhino showed there was a similarly sized ground with their own cloaked Sargeant. Said Sargeant began spouting their orders out, there were no full-blown marines though. And all three groups split off from one another and I was starting to think this was some sort of training exercise.

"The Blood Ravens were still hurting for new guys after Boreale's blunder and the Tyranid invasion."

All I wanted to do was get down here and gather the Hybrids for their own safety. Yet even after so many trips with landing Tyranid Warriors and Lictors to scout out the area and receive that psychic signal from the ground... Well, past experience had failed to teach me that any straight forwards looking issue is merely a trap by something in this hellish universe to lure me in. Here I was now, in a fairly large and spaced out town, with Black Legion marines and cultists spread out. While a convey of Blood Raven's scouts fanning out into groups for what I am certain was some sort of training exercise for recruits.

They didn't know I was here but if a fight broke out the space I could remain hidden in would get significantly smaller. Especially with myself and the Tyranid Warrior, the space we were taking in the warp would be noticed by the Chaos Sorcerer.

"I think the only reason he hasn't yet was that the guy was too focused on those scouts."

I needed to get outta here before the shots went off and I get caught in the crossfire. That one fire team of Guardsmen I killed off was because I caught them off guard. Was too fast for them to react and generally there weren't many of them to cause a significant problem. They got one shot off on my back because I zoned out for a moment. That wasn't gonna happen twice here but these were Space Marines, not a fire team of Guardsmen. Even if those scouts are new recruits they were still dangerous, especially with their bolt guns. Whatever was happening here I wanted no part of it but felt trapped here, if I left towards the road it was the same one the Rhinos were on. I didn't fancy my chances of slipping by even by myself. If I fell back east it would mean going back the way I came towards and towards any Imperial Guard search parties. Or try and sneak through town and down the road said transports came from. Which meant heading down a path scouting had revealed civilization as there to pass by. Plus what happens if these scouts retreat down the same path or a new convoy comes up it looking for the scouts lost here?

I didn't have to run immediately though. When the fighting started everyone could be too focused on trying to shoot at one another to notice me. I could wait for the proper moment then slip out south and fleet further into the canyon's south. That would mean crossing into the open road with a twelve-foot-tall Tyranid Warrior

"Is just waiting this battle out completely an option?"

As soon as I thought this the ratatatat of bolt guns and other projectiles rang out in the distance. It wasn't far so the hail of fire had me jolting up like a Jackrabbit sensing a threat.

I tried to remain as calm as I could in a situation like this. On the bright side, this might serve to throw the Gaurd off my back. When they showed up from tracking my movements here they'd be too busy calling in the mess they found. All this business with Chaos would take up all their time, I'll have enough to split from the area and better disappear before they have a chance to resume the search. Or just ruin their ability to pick up my trail in general.

Peering through the eyes of the bush-hidden Lictor didn't help, as they didn't have a good angle. Not could they get one without exposing themselves, but the rest was also prevented from moving for similar reasons. Turning to the Tyranid Warrior and judging that getting an idea of what was going on would be a decent enough idea. I had the one Lictor present get into its arms and have itself hoisted up just for its head to stick over the roof. It was odd to watch the two killing machines shuffle for a moment trying to get a good grip and stabilize themselves for me to get a good picture of events.

It was bad for the Blood Ravens.

The scouts were probably new guys here to run some drills. They were all scattering about now, taking cover amongst the Rhinos and buildings. Wait Rhino's had no weaponry, never understood that, so the drivers of each tried maneuvering their transports tight together. Bolter fire on the tank treads stopped each in the attempt though. It appears they took out the Sargeants first because there seemed to be no sense of organization in their movements. Oh, they moved with a purpose and fired back in good order, their shots towards the traitor Astartes and their cultist cannon fodder giving them something to think about.

But they were still raw recruits. Even if that meant they were essentially the best of the sub-sector in becoming Astartes initiates. They were up against real traitor Marines with a lot more combat experience them they had. Three marines came out the back of the vehicles and tried unleashing their own Boltguns but three more didn't matter much and one was even cut down by the sheer volume of fire. The remaining two fell back to find a cover with the scouts and support them. Still, I felt like this was the best moment to slip away and flee south. That was until a horde of screaming cultists rushed in from behind the scouts. It wasn't an issue though, bolt guns, fists, and combat knives met and caved heads, slashed necks, and took off or broke limbs. There was a distortion in the air just ahead of the Rhino column. The being causing it materialized a second later as the Chaos Sorcerer teleported in, his back first visible to the Lictor.

Warp magic flew out in the form of a large bright blue fireball. I could just tell it rammed into one of the remaining true Marines. Mainly by the voice crying out in pain sounded like it was filtered through a helmet's vox speaker. As if there wasn't a chance in hell those scouts were going to survive this mess...

There was also something nagging in my mind now... A mission I played in Dawn of War 2 Chaos Rising. One where the commander and co received a distress message and went Caldaris to support initiates there. They too were in the middle of a training exercise when the Black Legion ambushed them and kidnapped multiple scouts to feed Ulkar.

"But this isn't that mission, surely the location is off and I have been traveling for a long ass time. But what's the likelihood of yet another group of scouts being ambushed out here and-"

While considering this firefight and the mission from the game. A bit of information was dredged up from the deep library of my mind. One detail about this particular planet came up and was tossed at me. Related to the recruitment procedure of the Blood Ravens, something I recalled briefly seeing on a Wikipedia page for the game.

Caldaris is not just a feudal world that exists in this sub-sector... It's the primary recruiting world for the Blood Ravens... And the first company didn't just come here they have a rather permit presence on this world and are even more so active as a result of the Black Legion raids. Even Kyras, the traitor that he is, has a facade of being loyal to maintain at this point. So he has to be seen taking some form of action planet side. Which would mean the entirety of the first company planet side to also keep them from letting the sub-sector fall to anarchy. Not to mention a lot of Librarians planetside and there are Chaos sorcerers roaming about to capture scouts for Ulkar... My blunder was made all too abundant.

"I'm finding those Hybrids now. I need to get off this dust bowl before Lady Luck decided one or both groups of Space Marines would do well to find me next."

Oh God, I need to somehow hijack transport from a planet with a heavy Blood Raven's prescience. The Lictors around would have to find their own ways out as I made to slip with the Tyranid Warrior and one Lictor present. Adjusting the lasgun on my back and ensuring the Lictor was clutching the Spirit Sones tightly to its chest. Fleeing with all haste south to find some friendly company in the form of vicious beasts forged to kill, unsure if things could get better from this point on as the sounds of bolter fire echoed out from the town behind us.


I was grateful for lacking the need for sleep down here. Sure I hated it when I was lounging on the ship with little to do at times, but planetside it meant fleeing from the skirmish was a lot easier. I had hopped on the back of the Tyranid Warrior as we fled south. The darkness and chill of the night engulfed the three of us, yet neither was too much of a problem really. My body either maintained warmth better or I just wasn't all that affected by it. Plus my blood-red pupils allowed me to see better in the dark. Even more so than before. It was full on night vision as we traversed the increasingly widening canyons. It wasn't for the next few hours of the synapse creature charging at breakneck speeds did I realize the maze that was this region of Caldaris. Sure my scouting parties across this second of the planet did inform me that the desert world was mainly canyons with oases and various sizes of islands made of plant life.

Yet it wasn't until I was actually down here was I truly able to appreciate the scale and complexity of the landscape. This was a good place for a group to hide out in. Without the synaptic signals and scouting, we would have gotten lost in the wide twists and turns. We wouldn't have to worry about many human settlements, they were out there but much like the one we just left. This was essentially a region of ghost towns, a year passing since the Tyranids must still be a shock to the feudal worlders. No one had noted much actual human life taking refuge in most of them. Oh, there were a lot of Orks roaming the canyons in scattered disorganized mobs on foot in very few ramshackle vehicles. They passed all over and it was something for me to look into after uniting with other scouting parties and speaking of which.

We were making good time while I linked with other synaptic leaders on Caldaris. Ordering them to give me anything they had on military installations, the last known sighting of the Genestealer cult, or even mechanized Ork tribes.

"Hell, I'll even settle for an unmechanized one. Once I'm with the cult and have Genestealers I can implant a few Orks, specifically mechboyz, and have them make a ship."

If I can find the scrap for them to do so or even the Orks with the know-how to build one. It was likely I'd need more. I'm not even sure if I've got time for any of that. Or if I'm even on a timetable at this point. If that was not forthcoming I could always look around for airbases or just landing craft in general. Sure Caldaris is a feudal world, and my scouts haven't exactly been reporting any major locations that could house aircraft. Nor much shipping off the planet but maybe the Cultists would know better? Then I could kidnap some pilots and implant them as what are the odds the Genestealer Cult is gonna have those with them... I groaned against the Tyranid Warrior's neck. It was a defeated, exhausted sound as the year's events seemed to finally catch up with me. How long has it been since all I had to worry about was my cat waking me up, and needing to keep up with college?

"Now I'm in one of the most horrific settings in fiction thinking about the possibility of raiding an airbase. Then subjecting pilots to implantation because I need someone to fly aircraft to get the Hybrids off-world."

I just wanted to help those Hybrids on the planet but it feels like this is too complicated to really try...

No there was no going back on this decision anyway, I was here and so were they. It was a miracle that cult was- Okay considering this planet is mostly canyons I guess I can see how they managed to survive with all the other threats distracting the Imperium. This wouldn't be easy but I had to keep in mind the necessity of the situation. It's not as if I was actively gunning for civilians here and I'm looking to rile up the Orks here. So it being the center for Blood Raven's recruitment and already under harassment by the Black Legion just means my diversion shall be a really good one. I will try the Ork idea of having them build me some ships before I start raiding bases and implanting Hybrids.

"Yeah exhaust every possible option before the messed up one... Why do I feel as if this could become a flimsy excuse later?"

My gaze cranked up to the stars, each glowing bright with possible malevolence. Wondering to myself just what problems or threats could possibly be coming for me next...


The finely crafted wraithbone boots of Farseer Tuirin left the most subtle imprints upon the sands of the world the Mon-keigh referred to as Caldaris. That one could be forgiven for thinking that the slightest indentations were merely a trick of the eye before a minor gust of wind blew over to conceal them. He marched a short distance through the desert world towards the emissary of Alaitoc. They wanted to meet in person. As soon as his forces exited the webway gates upon this world his kin were alerted. It was a risk to open across this world so quickly with the Space Marines clashing with the forces of the great enemy. To deploy so many small teams and have them rapidly advance across the planet would attract attention from every primate upon this begotten world. It had gotten the attention of the Eldar already operating in this sub-sector after all.

Yet Tuirin had seen the Devourer's spawn taking his tainted form here and would not waste time attempting to track it down tactfully. To slay it quickly was the best course of action. As he had to leave the creature unmolested in the void for weeks on end. Now, through the strings of fate, he could already feel its power had grown immensely. Who knew if further exponential growth was headed for the near future or not? Tuirin didn't and that was cause for concern in and over itself. Not knowing where the beast would going from, it could mean the presence of the warp here made his farsight difficult.

Or that fate was undecided because he had a chance to kill it here and now. So speed was needed over stealth.

Yet here the Farseer was, stepping away from his Falcon to meet, late in the dunes, with a Warlock of Alaitoc. His kin called and even if Tuirin is of Lyanden. It would be rude not to respond to a request for a meeting with an ally of the Craftworld. They weren't savages that lacked manners after all, even if Tuirin would prefer to stay true to his task.

The emissary Veldoran and his entourage of Guardians met his force of Dire Avengers halfway between their two means of transport. Both were masked but that meant little to Eldar walking the witch path. Who could see intent through their psychic abilities as the accomplished hunter could detect the state of its quarry. Both were relaxed but Veldoran held an air of curiosity. As this force of Lyanden was far from their Craftworld and came unannounced to his world.

"Hail my kin, what strings of fate have woven our paths together?" The Warlock asked sincerely, and Tuirin knew his Farseer, or perhaps Autarch, had sent him here to inquire. He too was wondering as to the purpose of Alaitoc in a Sub-sector of human space that he was told was descending into madness.

"We chase prey spawn from the Great Devourer and fled to ground here. In Lyanden's name we seek its location and utter annihilation so its taint cannot threaten the Eldar of my own or any other Craftworld."

The Warlock paused for a moment as he digested this information before responding. "The Devourer's fleet was broken here, the Mon-keigh removed the threat they pose for now. It is the servants of the Great Enemy that poses the greatest foe to our people-"

Tuirin raised his hand to forestall the inevitable pitch. He could tell what Veldoran would inevitably ask of him to do and he could have no part of it at the moment. "Of that, I shall not doubt you nor your Seer council's judgment on this manner. Although I shall not abandon my task, the Devourer was broken here but in its desperation has birthed something, unlike anything the galaxy has faced from it yet. A being that could tip the scales if left unchecked."

"So you intend to become the balancing piece on those scales?" The inquiry was understandable if not in violation of what Tuirin had stated to be his purpose here.

"I intend to remove it from the board and end the threat before it has the time to manifest properly." He was sure to be firm in his words, to convey this sense of a boulder standing against a storm. Unable to be persuaded to bend nor roll from its current standing, as he wouldn't be.

"If I say that this world contains many of the slumbering dead from a long-buried Craftworld. That they may be damned if we do not act...?" He trailed off and Tuirin knew Veldoran was gauging his response. Then finding no chance for his mind to be reshaped surrendered to the inevitable words flowing from the Farseer.

"Then I wish the forces of Alaitoc good fortune as our paths cross upon this world. I shall take my forces and scour the threat posed by the devourer residing upon this world and the future generations it threatens."

Veldoran nodded, not in acceptance but cool understanding. His body language told that Veldoran himself had to make such decisions before, as all who walk the seer path inevitably do. "Do be aware that your brisk actions upon this world shall not go unnoticed for long... The mon-keigh, corrupt or not, are simple-minded creatures. However, they are not stupid and shall take note of your scattered war host."

"I am aware of this and plan for it." Which really meant, had a lot of Wraithlords to throw at problems in as they appeared.

"Then may fortune favor you and the strings of fate weaver out paths closer together my kin. May the Devourer's spawn not live to see the next rotation." The force Alaitoc has brought here must be large if the Warlock didn't seem all too concerned about his refusal to unite their forces. Tuirin wondered if he should have inquired further and perhaps asked for aid but no. If there was a Craftworld buried here and filled with their kin then they need not divide anything from safeguarding it from the Great enemy. It wasn't as if the Farseer had no warriors to use in anycase.

So he instead nodded graciously then turn and left with his own entourage. As quickly as he could without making it clear he would rather have been doing anything tonight besides this meeting. It would be too rude of course and he might need to call on Alaitoc's support at some point. Even if they would be occupied with the Mon-keigh and their own objective and prophecy at the moment to aid him. Now the Farseer's mind wandered back to the infected human he had to slay for the good of the Aeldari.

"I shall find you, beast and I shall slay you, creature. Without my kin from Alaitoc. That matters little, the lives of myself and warriors mean little but your death shall save millions of Eldar, now and unborn. So for that you shall perish here."