The Captain stood at the bridge of his Emperor Class Battleship. He would once again lead the charge against the Xenos. A Tau invasion force has swept into Segmentum Ultima to try and take Agrellan. A Hive World, which featured some vegetation that remained. A barely surviving woodlands faltering to the progress of the Imperium.

'We have the Astra Militarum holding their own, we should be pulling out of warp in a few hours.' The Navigator declared to me.

'Ensure our detachment is ready, we must eliminate this enemy leader as soon as we can.' The Captain declared.

'I am surprised you volunteered for this mission. We could have just sent any decent space marine chapter to do the job, why bother yourself, brother?' Brother Custodisi inquired.

'. . . I fought this "Commander Shadowsun" myself. I have seen her tactics and capabilities firsthand. I will not let her escape.' The Captain explained, hoping that would be the end of it.

'Hrmm, very well.' The Brother accepted his answer, standing there. . . shuffling uncomfortably where he stood, 'I must admit, it has been quite some time since I wore this old thing. It feels strange. . .'

He looked to the Captain, trying to get a response. . . the Captain couldn't help but look out the viewport on the bridge, awaiting their arrival.


As soon as they arrived, the Custodes were met by an onslaught of mechanised warriors. They would not back down. The Custodes fought furiously, tearing through these warriors and securing the Hive Capital City, but at that point the battle had become a Siege. The City was faced with constant barrages of plasma fire and alien stealth attacks. As the Siege had progressed, the Captain ordered a change of plans. Brother Custodisi would maintain the defences, as well as coordinate the battle across the planet, while the Captain had begun the Hunt.

He had tracked the Commander to a Tau outpost overlooking the battle. He had done the task of decimating the outpost, forcing the remaining xenos to flee. They would not find salvation in the woods of which they fled. . .

The Captain stalked the fire team, but he noticed as the Commander appeared to them, ordering them to run away. She was ensuring. . . that she was alone.

The Captain approached her carefully, stepping into this possible trap. As the rain started to fall, he was certain that they were obscured. Between the rain, the trees around them and the state of everything, they faced each other alone. . . They were once again, forced into this position. . . Adversaries.

He revealed himself to her, taking up a stance with his Guardian Spear in hand. She was ready, both plasma canons ready and focused. They were both in a position to fight. . . they were both battle ready. . .

'. . . No. . .' The Captain said, lowering his weapon.

'. . . W-what?' she asked.

'When I heard of the battle, the tactics. . . I knew it was you.'

'. . . You came for me?' she asked.

'Yes.' He said, taking off his helm with one hand, planting his spear in the dirt with the other.

'I came to. . .' he began, but hesitating as he went on.

'To. . . what?' she asked, 'No riddles, no games. . . please. . . tell me why?'

Shadowsun was struggling herself. She made herself known in this battle. She made it like a beacon. She was hoping he would come. . . and now he was here, she was struggling even more. . . she was fighting the tears.

'I c-came. . . I came. . . to take you. . .' he finally said, and she couldn't help but tense up, readying her canons.

'And. . . it would be heresy. . . it would be dishonourable. . .' he held out his armoured hand to her, 'But. . . I could walk away. . .'

'Y-you. . . would do that?' she asked, lowering her weapons.

'We could leave. . . we could. . . follow this feeling. . . we could see where it goes. . .' he explained, '. . . I would even leave my lord, if you would join me. . .'

She reached. . . but hesitated. . . She wanted to follow this, to see what this was. She had never felt like this before. . . She wanted to be with him. . . but, as she inched forward to grab his hand. . .

'I. . . I can't. . .' she retracted her hand, preparing her weapons once more.

'. . . Why?' The Captain asked, 'Why. . . do you do this to me, Shadowsun?'

'I'm so sorry but, we cant be. . . this. . . cannot. . . be. . .'

'But. . . why? I thought-'

'I know!' She cried, 'B-but. . . My heart. . . it. . . aches. . . I'm torn. . . between my family. . . my race. . . and, I. . . I can't. . . give all that up. . . even for you. . . We cannot be together. . .'

She was prepared to fight. Taking a stance, weapons ready, her purpose clear.

He couldn't bare it. . . he would have gone so far for this chance. . . but this was the path they were on. . .

He placed on his helm, took up his weapon and made his stance.

They would shed no tears at this time, only blood as fate had chosen. . .


The battle was over. . .

The Custodes were recalled back to Terra, and the Tau had secured the planet. The Captain would return to confess all that had occurred to Lock Warden. He would understand to some extent, but would also remind him of what duties he had. The Captain would return to his office afterwards, to sit and examine the one thing he had returned with. It was a device he took from the Commander; a holographic-projector of some kind.

He activated it, to find the only thing on it was a still image; the Commander, dressed in what seemed to be robes of some kind.

He couldn't help but choose to believe that he didn't take it form her, but rather she let him.


She had returned to her Caste, overseeing the preparations of the XV104 Battlesuits, which had won their previous battle. By the time she had retired to her quarters, she would engage the Holo-projector. She would see the image she took of the Captain before their fight, offering his hand to her.

She had let him take the projector she held that day, and she would hope that maybe they would cross paths again. Maybe on that day, the humans wouldn't strive for her kinds extinction.

Maybe that day, he would take her hand. . . and they would follow wherever fate would take them.

The End. . . ?