Armorum Fidei Chapter 17
The noise of gunfire battered her Autosenses, a continuous pounding on her helm as defenders streamed ordnance into the sky. Guns thundered, warcries rose, energy blasts crackled and through it all loudhailers played hymnals and psalms, making the battle a sermon of fury and spite. For hours Currens Ecclesia had stood ready for an attack, ever since word came that the Psybrid fleet had been spotted. Sisters took up arms and manned defence posts on the Walking Church, waiting for the first sign of aliens. Almost they thought the attack wouldn't come, but then the sky split open and hordes of aliens streamed forth, trying to drown the Sisters in bodies.
Justini swung her polearm wide as she confronted a Borlac. It had dropped from above, straight onto a Hydra battery, killing the operators with sheer bulk but had got no further before being confronted by the Celestians. Justini thrust the crackling point of her weapon at the Xeno and the tip scored deep, but the filth seemed not to notice. A meaty paw nearly took her head off, its arms matching her shaft for reach. Only a desperate backpedal saved her life and she stabbed low, trying to take its knees off. The Borlac was layered in waddles of blubber, a natural armour that prevented her reaching vital bones and tendons, leaving only a weeping scar in the skin. It didn't cry out, that was odd, such a wound must be painful but the alien had no mind to register such slights, its soul dominated by another breed, one far more dangerous.
The Borlac lowered its head and prepared to charge and Justini knew it would roll over her without the slightest trouble. She lowered her polearm and readied herself for the charge, but then a spinning bolt round shot over her shoulder and took it in the eye. Its head deformed as the round pressed deep within, then exploded, spraying gore everywhere. Justini stepped back as the Xeno's body fell to the deck with a thud and she looked about, seeing Resita calmly reloading her stalker bolter as she looked for fresh targets.
Elsewhere the battle raged on, Sisters against Xenos filth, faith and courage versus mindless fury and despicable hunger. Human and alien bodies lay upon the deck, but she could spare no time to mourn, for her squad was beset. Lexia held the Triptych high as her pistol blazed, incinerating a darting Q'uorl from bug-eyed cranium to clawed toe. Praxi by comparison swept her Storm Bolter in blazing arcs, the juddering weapon blasting torrents of rounds into the air. Her aim was terrible but such a weapon was not designed for accuracy, instead putting out enough short-ranged death to chew a pair of Gykon to shreds. Here and there ground troops fell to the deck but Heleyna met them with furious charges, her shield and mace wreaking havoc. She ploughed through resistance like an enraged Grox, smashing down anything that stood in her way. Violence and fury oozed out of every motion, her raw soul lending frenzied energy in the midst of battle.
Blood and guts painted the floor below their feet but amid that carnage Phantea stood proud. The Canoness' sword was a smear of light, dicing anything that came near and making a red ruin of the enemy. She sang as she fought, an ancient battle hymnal of the Order, stirring the heart and steeling the spines of all who heard. Justini joined her, they all did, singing aloud as they hacked and stabbed and shot the foe.
Justini saw a trio of Tallestrians closing, the snouted dog-soldiers sneaking between two thundering Hydra batteries. They moved with a stiffness that seemed odd, but that did not lessen the speed of their advance, nor the sharpness of their blades. Justini reacted on instinct, throwing herself at the trio. They saw her coming and raised the serrated blades in their clawed hands but she had the advantage of reach and drove her tip through the first's chest, penetrating the heart and killing it easily. The other two did not seem dismayed by their comrades' death and darted in, trying to sink knives into her joints. Justini reacted smoothly, swinging her haft left to knock one back, but the other dove in and scraped a dagger over her lumbar spine.
Justini gave silent thanks for her armour's protection even as she pivoted, bringing her polearm's head about in a broad sweep. Her weapon's advantage was reach but in close confines that length worked against her. The pair darted in close, too close for her weapon to be effective and the long shaft banged off one's shoulder harmlessly. Justini was left vulnerable, too tight to defend herself, but her salvation came in the fact she was not alone.
From nowhere Heleyna emerged, crackling energy mace swinging wild to stove one alien's head in. The other spun about to confront her but the Sister slammed her shield into its snout, knocking it to the floor. Her mace rose high then struck like a thunderbolt, spraying brains everywhere, but Heleyna was not done. Furiously she struck again and again, smiting the bleeding corpse with reckless frenzy and she cried, "Die filth, die! You won't touch this world, you won't touch us! Die!"
Justini hastily stepped up and barked, "Heleyna, control yourself!"
Heleyna's head snapped about and she growled, "They…"
"Are dead," Justini snarled, "Save your fury for living foes of the God-Emperor."
"I…" Heleyna grunted, "I obey, for His name."
The pair straightened up and looked for fresh foes, but there were none to be found. The aliens were broken, their number decimated and the few survivors falling to the blades and bolts of the Sisters of Battle. The last knots of defiance were cut down swiftly and at last the guns went silent. Justini looked about with wariness, convinced that something was amiss, yet to her surprise the sky was clear, the alien menace cut down to nothing with no hint of more portals opening overhead. Long barrelled turrets continued to sweep the heavens and gun crews hastily reloaded but there were no targets left to fire at. Currens Ecclesia was free of danger for now.
"Did we win?" Lexia gasped.
"I think we may have," Praxi breathed in awe.
"Don't be so quick to lower your guard," Resita hissed, "They could come back at any time."
"Wise words!" the harsh voice of Phantea cut in, "We must stand vigilant for the next wave, clear these bodies and bring up healers for the wounded. Summons ammunition bearers and replace the destroyed guns. Make Currens Ecclesia ready for the next assault."
Her words sent the Sisters into a flurry of activity. Squads moved to check the dead and calls rang out as wounded Sororitas were tended by their comrades. Alien bodies were shifted and checked for signs of life, any that yet stirred were swiftly dealt with, making sure no surprises remained to threaten them. To the dead sisters great reverence was shown, their hands laid over chests and eyes closed as prayers were said, entreaties for the God-Emperor to look upon these servants with mercy and accept their souls to His side.
Justini joined the Celestians in trying to heave a Borlac over the side of the walking church. It wasn't easy, the loathsome alien was bloated and heavy, even in power armour lifting such bulk over the low wall was hard. Justini reversed her polearm and tried to use it as leverage, pushing the bulky Xeno up against the wall as the others got their hands under it and strained to lift.
As they worked Praxi asked, "What do you think this all means?"
"An alien invasion," Heleyna spat, "Blood and horror and death."
"I meant for us," Praxi retorted, "If we defeat these Xenos perhaps we will be recognised for our worth and recalled back to the Order."
"It's a bit…" Justini puffed as she heaved, "A bit early to be planning victory parades."
Resita agreed, "The God-Emperor's domains are defiled, the filthy Xenos pollute sacred ground. We must annihilate them utterly, this is a righteous cause."
"Indeed," Justini concurred, "This may be why He placed us on Suna, we should accept our role humbly and with gratitude."
Suddenly the Borlac's bulk got over the lintel and the weight pulled it away. Justini jerked forward as the alien toppled out of sight, tumbling away to hit the ground moving below. She nearly overbalanced but was caught by Praxi's armoured hand and a cry of, "Woah, falling over the side like a buffoon is not a good way to die."
"My thanks," Justini said as she righted herself, "That would have been a foolish end to my tale."
Praxi thumped her on the shoulder but then Lexia moaned, "Oh, no. What's he doing here?"
Justini turned her helm to look and saw Friar Tyreck moving towards them. The ruler of Currens Ecclesia had spent the battle locked in the safety of the Templum, hiding with his bottles of rotgut. He was clearly drunk, moving with a faint sway to his tread and a sotten look to the eye. He moved past teams of Sisters struggling to toss aliens over the walls, moving without consideration for their losses. Yet he made a beeline straight for the Celestians, or more precisely Phantea.
The Canoness faced him squarely and the Celestians moved to join her as their leader said, "Friar, what are you doing out here?"
Tyreck stopped before them and replied, "Where else would I be? The foul alien sullies our Templum and I should see the damage for myself."
"It is not safe out here," Phantea retorted, "Another attack could come at any moment. A man of your lofty station should remain safe in the basilica at all times."
But Tyreck snapped, "And miss this opportunity!"
Justini was glad of her helm, so she didn't have to smell the booze on his breath. The man's intoxication was clear, his face waxy and nose red. And yet there was unusual energy to his bearing, an eagerness she'd never seen in him before. He looked alive, for the first time since they had arrived, he looked like a man with purpose and drive, a mission to be fulfilled. The fires of battle seemed to stir something within him, a smothered fire revealed not to be as extinguished as the unwary believed.
Phantea sounded suspicious as she probed, "What opportunity?"
Tyreck grinned as he said, "An alien shadow hangs over Suna, deeper and hungrier than any have seen in generations. But in the darkness the light shines brighter than ever. We have a chance, a brief window to achieve our long-denied goals."
Justini dared to say, "You wish to sally forth and confront the Xenos head on?"
Tyreck blinked then scoffed, "Fight them? No, leave such banal matters to the soldiers and Space Marines. We have a greater mission, to properly convert the Train-cities to the Imperial Creed!"
"The alien is upon us and you want us to go preaching?!" Heleyna exclaimed.
"Hold silent!" Phantea snapped, "Tyreck, you seem to be missing the reality. Suna is invaded, disgusting hordes of Xenos are upon our doorstep. The God-Emperor demands we face the threat with our faith and courage and drive them out."
"Are you blind?!" Tyreck snapped, "The aliens are not the issue here, the faith of the people is!"
"I have no time for your drunken ravings," Phantea growled.
But Tyreck barked, "The biggest Xeno incursion in living memory is upon us. The people know this, even now Train-cities across Suna ring with alarm and look to their guns and heathen talismans to protect them. Fear grips this world tight and that terror works to our advantage. Guns cannot stop them, idols will not stop them and the people will see their defences crumbling. In that moment we have a chance, to bring unto them the light of Terra, to shepherd them into the embrace of the Creed. Fear of the alien will break the heathen's stubborn resistance and open their hearts to the God-Emperor."
"And while we preach the aliens will overrun this planet," Phantea retorted.
"The Space Marines will beat off the Psybrids, it's what they're for," Tyreck sniffed, "We were sent here to convert this planet's faith, that is our holy duty. At last we have a chance to fulfil our role, to make a difference. We can matter again, don't you see, we can finally matter!"
Phantea hissed, "This is folly and I will not be a part of it."
"I seem to recall being Eparch," Tyreck retorted, "You can disrespect me, but I know you respect my office. The God-Emperor's Holy authority is vested in me, and I command you to take your sisters out to the people and spread our message to all."
Phantea stiffened and Justini could sense how irate she was, but the man was right, his station bestowed authority to set their strategic goals. A Canoness could devise tactics and lead battles, but it was not given to her to deny the commands of her superiors. Drunk or not Tyreck could and had laid down a sacred charge and they had no option save to accept it.
Phantea tried one last gambit, "If we do as you command, Currens Ecclesia will be left undermanned, should the Xenos return."
"Have faith, Tyreck scoffed, "We will prevail, while you go forth and complete the task for which we were sent here."
With that Tyreck turned and waddled off, humming a hymn of thanksgiving under his breath in an inebriated tone. The Celestians sagged in dismay and Lexia muttered, "Of all the times for him to find his grit."
"I never thought I'd say this, but I preferred him apathetic," Praxi concurred.
"He's blind to the danger," Justini agreed, "He's not seeing the alien threat for what it is, all he sees is a chance to complete his mission and get reassigned off this world."
"That's enough," Phantea growled, "We have a charge and will see it done. Go prepare a Rhino to convey us while I brief the rest of the Squads. I will send half the garrison out and all the missionaries, the rest will stay here to defend this Templum should the aliens return."
Orders given Phantea turned and marched away, already calling out to squads and giving them new directives. Dejected the Celestians were left to make their way to the vehicle garage. Justini trudged along, convinced this was a waste of time, but unable to question their orders. It was not for them to question their superiors, as Sisters of Battle they were expected to obey without qualm or hesitancy. So they went forth to preach, while then alien's grip on Suna grew ever tighter.
