DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING WITHIN THE WARHAMMER UNIVERSE.
"Traitorous Filth!" the slur boomed from the black armored legionnaire's helm followed by the rhytmatic beat of Bolter fire. Hayden shared his fellow warrior's sentiments. These men. This scum were no kin of his. How dare they commit such a heinous act. How dare they turn their back upon the Imperium and the other loyalist legions. How dare they spill the blood of fellow Astartes! He would see to it that each and every one of them bled for this. He would make sure they suffered for each of his brothers lost in the conflict. Hayden felt the anger swelling within him as he recounted the events of past.
They had come to Isstvan legions strong with one goal. To quell a rebellion. He gritted his teeth as he gunned down an approaching Night Lord. If only they had known that which was truly going to transpire They had been betrayed. The Raven Guard had come here in their full glory, the entire legion amassed. They had been joined by others. The Salamanders, Iron Hands, Death Guard, World Eaters, and Night Lords, and Iron Warriors. This was a sight to behold indeed. Seven Full legions fighting as one. Or so they thought. The true loyalist, comprised of his own legion, the Salamanders and Iron Hands, had been the vanguard, leading the assault. They were to be supplemented by a second wave consisting of the other four legions. However, when the second wave had landed, it was not the enemies they fired upon but their allies themselves. Rounds from allies tore into the exposed flanks of the leading legions.
By the time the treachery had been realized, the bulk of the loyalist force had been scattered and decimated by traitorous fire. Trapped within the hold of two waves of opposition the battle had now become a matter of survival. The Shadow Warden had remained alongside their primarch of course, through the most grueling of the battle. The Honour Guard was his shadow, always at his side ever since the days spent within the mines. However, all changed when they entered combat with the Word Bearers. Lorgar had released upon the Raven Guard some foul manner of beast to combat them. These creatures wore the plate of the Word Bearers, crimson in coloration, but were neither man nor astartes. They tore into their ranks with teeth and claws, aimed at attacking their liege. They would not allow it. They fought back with the same ferocity.
As they did so Corax carved his own bloody path through the beast towards Lorgar. He had been separated during the fight, along with some of his brothers of the Guard. As they fought their way back to their lord's side, the troop had been assaulted by a horde of Night Lord's led by the Night Haunter himself. This was now where they found themselves. Hayden could still see his lord, locked in glorious combat with Konrad Curze. This was a sight to behold indeed. A battle between two god like beings. He could not help but marvel at the intensity of the battle. Regardless of this, he had his own duty. He needed to get back to Corax side, so that none would be able to interrupt him as he battled. He fought with renewed vigor.
His sleek black Mark VI Corvus pattern armor was sleeked in blood and gore. From the midst of battle, a frenzied World Eater charged him, consumed in a bloody rage. He knew not where he came from but he cared not. The warrior wielded a chainaxe, still clogged with flesh and bone fragments. He swung the weapon at the Raven Guard. Hayden raised his left greave, allowing the thickest of the armored forearm to take the blow. The chainaxe howled, it's teeth biting into the ceramite, nickingat the flesh protected below as the World Eater began to rev the weapon. Hayden wasted no time, bringing his bolter to bear, firing at point blank range at the world eater's exposed helm. His head exploded into a splatter of cermaite and brain matter. His body fell to the ground, a new addition to the corpses which adorned the battlefield.
Hayden knew they would not last if things continued the way they were. They needed to retreat. Regroup and conjure up a plan of escape. They were too few and the enemy had the advantage in numbers. However, the Shadow Wardens, the Raven Guard whom fought alongside them would not leave unless their primarch willed it. So they fought on. Hayden felt his bolter run dry, the last of his magazines spent, as a dreaded click resounded as he pulled the trigger. This came at the worst possible moment as a Night Lord charged him, chainsword raised, bolt pistol aimed at him. The warrior fired off a barrage of rounds, a few nicking his armored hide but none fatal enough to fell him.
The Night Lord closed in, swinging his weapon as the Raven Guard drew his knife. He sidestepped the blow, thrusting his knife forward into the traitor's gorget. The blade pierced, tearing into the flesh below, blood spurting out from the wound. Hayden fell onto him, his full weight pressed onto the legionnaire as he pushed farther down. He made sure the life pooled from the traitor's body before he got back up. Hayden wrenched the chainblade from his dead hands, revving the weapon allowing the teeth to whirr.
He noticed a Shadow Warden beside him doing the same. He knew the warrior as Gherith Arendi. Another who had fought alongside him during their liberation. Corax was surrounded, still battling. But he was wounded. His movements slowed. He passed Loyalist and Traitor alike, passing over head his sons. Many of the Raven Guard were still trapped in death locks with enemy forces and could not break off less they wished to be killed the moment they did. Hayden wasted no time, aiming to be back at his leader's side, now joined by others whom had witnessed their father's departure. However, as he neared, a stray rocket fired at his position, detonating near him. His world consumed by a fiery haze then darkness.
As he stumbled in and out of consciousness, his senses still reestablishing themselves he heard much. Pained screams of brothers as they were slain. Curses spat towards traitors, and even his own primarch for leaving them behind. He then felt arms grab him, dragging him from beneath the mound of corpses. He expected his fellow Raven Guard, or perhaps other survivors of the loyalist force. His hope soon shifted into dread. His so called saviors were not allies but the opposite instead. Word Bearers. Two warriors now held him down, garbed in gray colored Mark III plate. They wrenched off his damaged helm, tossing it to the side. He then heard a voice. Majestic and powerful. Hayden froze as it spoke.
"Come now son of the Raven. Cousin of my seed. You need not suffer any longer." Said the voice. The words smoothly flowing from the lips, coiling around his very being. This was no ordinary legionary. This was a primarch. He could feel it in his very soul. He risked a lance up, to be greeted by the face of Lorgar Aurelian. He who leads the Word Bearers. Not only that but the individuals who surrounded him wore not only the grey plate of the Word Bearers but warriors adorned in armour of his own legion as well. There was a plethora of various Raven Guard at his side. "Many of your brothers have already found their enlightenment. Solace in my words. Why not join them once more, fighting underneath a different banner. That of the Warmaster's own?" said Lorgar.
Hayden, as Lorgar was speaking, had gathered up a glob of blood and acidic spittle in his mouth. When Lorgar finished, he spat, allowing the glob to land on the primarch's left boot. "How dare you!" roared a voice as he felt a blow connect with his temple, drawing blood. Once more his vision become a haze. "Shame..I wished to save you from the horrors that awaits those who refuse…" said Lorgar as he turned away, off to find another of his legion to try and bring over. Before he was knocked out, Hayden caught sight of one of his traitorous brothers. Nathian. He knew the face well. He growled, attempting to make eye contact and yell before all faded to black once more.
END
Hoped you all liked this chapter. It actually is going to tie into my own personal story in the making. This one will span the Great Crusade all the way into the Indomitus crusade. For that i'm asking for ideas for legions. So if you have a space marine you would want featured, be them loyalist or traitor alike. Though it will mainly revolve around the Raven Guard I can find ways to work your creations in. They can be for any era.