Locum Ignotum Chapter 14
On board the Thunderchild a crescendo of noise arose as men ran to and fro, desperately responding to the blaring claxons. The serf crew had been drilled over and over to respond to this alert and they reacted with commendable speed. Reactors were primed, weapons readied and Machine Spirits blessed thrice-fold in preparation for battle.
Hanger bays stirred into life as Thunderhawks, Stormravens and Stormtalons were fuelled and primed, their guns loaded and missiles readied. Predator tanks were tended to by Serf artisans while Land Speeders floated on their anti-gravs, purring hungrily for action. Overseeing all this were the Transhuman giants of the Storm Heralds, ensuring that all was in accordance to the ancient traditions and rituals befitting such noble steeds.
Many among the mortal crew had grumbled at the repeated drills and preparations they had been subjected to, especially as they could see the verdant world outside their viewportals. But now the claxons were wailing they blessed their master's foresight and eagerly bent their backs to the task, grateful for the long hours of practice they had undertaken.
Elsewhere things were quieter but no less tense. Inside a large briefing room the Command Squad waited, displaying their symbols of authority to reinforce the seriousness of the situation. Bylan was stood by the doorway, holding the Company Standard aloft so its proud colours were visible to all. Bylan watched as the various Sergeants of Third Company started to file in, gathering for a situation report. They knew nothing of what had occurred, save for the strange darkness and each and every one of them was eager for news. Tactical, Assault and Devastator Sergeants, all ready to act and keen to be into the fray.
As each one entered they would pause fractionally by Bylan and reach out to touch the cloth of the banner. This was no arcane ritual or ceremonial tradition; it was a simple reaffirmation of their identity and beliefs, a unique bond that set them apart. Third Company claimed a spiritual link to their Gene-father, they spoke in hushed whispers of being the 'Primarch's Own' and felt this bestowed great fortune in war.
It was notable that the Captain and senior officers had repeatedly refuted such claims, Toran in particular was adamant in his secular philosophies. Still, such beliefs were hard to shake and (when the Captain wasn't looking) the Standard had become the centre of such customs. Reverence and belief were hard-wired into Astartes and the company had invested their beliefs into the Standard, it represented all their greatest victories and many held that so long as it flew they could not be defeated.
Ten Sergeants filed in but Bylan blinked when he saw Chaplain Wrethan arrive, he had been unaware the senior officer had returned. With him came Jediah, who looked like he had been in one hell of a fight. His nose was broken, his face was bruised and half his teeth were missing. His gene-implants would fix most of that but his teeth would have to be replaced by vat-grown replacements. Bylan wanted to inquire further but was even more surprised when five more beings arrived. Ganaar in his blank armour, followed by Baruch, Samandriel, Maxivus and Leanyr in plain robes. Bylan hadn't been aware that they were coming but Wrethan didn't say anything and everybody took that as unspoken permission for them to be here.
The group settled into the chamber, spreading out around a large Hololithic projector set in the middle of the room. Bylan noticed that their guests looked uncomfortable and whispered to Persion, who was standing next to him, "+What's wrong with them?+"
Persion replied, "I don't think they like the décor."
Bylan blinked in surprise as he looked around the room. Like all Astartes facilities it was lined with votive candles, small memorials containing busts of fallen Brothers and censers filled with smouldering incense. Servo-skulls flittered about, repeating looped High-Gothic psalms and the far wall was made into a mural, celebrating Him on Terra. This was hardly overblown; the Thunderchild was a relatively new ship and this room was basic by the standards Bylan was used to. Still even these meagre sacraments seemed to be putting their guests on edge, it was like they weren't used to the macabre iconography of the forty-first millennium.
Ganaar snarled as a Servo-skull drifted too close and it flew away with a binaric screech. From the corner Novak called, "Temper your anger, they don't bite."
Ganaar growled, "They might not, but I do!"
Everybody chuckled at that but the laughter was cut short as Captain Toran marched in, followed by Librarian Arvael. Third Company stood straighter and saluted with the sign of the Aquila, which Toran returned and then the Captain said, "Stand easy, there is much to say and not a lot of time to say it."
Wrethan opened the briefing by inquiring, "What triggered the alarm?"
Arvael stepped up and activated the Hololith, which projected a recreation of this strange land. Rivers and towns and mountains were laid out in perfect detail as he elaborated, "Simply put the forces of Chaos have found us, we are facing an invasion."
Bylan started in surprise but it was Baruch who cried, "That is not possible, this is a safe place. No hostile force has ever penetrated the walls."
Arvael replied frankly, "It seems that the situation had changed."
From the crowd a Tactical Sergeant named Matheus called, "What is the Tactical situation?"
Arvael depressed a rune and a black line emerged, engulfing several outlying towns as he said, "We have no orbital surveillance so I attempted to scry the land but I was blocked. The enemy has potent sorcerers amongst them and they are already working against us. However we were able to dispatch high-flying skull-probes to conduct aerial reconnaissance. "
Toran stepped up and said, "The enemy has apparently infiltrated a large army into these lands, they number in the tens of thousands. Mostly cultists and mutants but we spotted Traitor Marines among their ranks, the archenemy is here."
That brought angry growls from all and Bylan felt his twin pulses accelerate at the thought of those vile Heretics. Wrethan declared, "Those nefarious Traitors lost their rebellion, their existence is an affront to the Emperor; they must be eradicated to the last man."
Loud mummers of agreement arose from all the Storm Heralds and Bylan was among them but Maxivus interjected, "What sort of army did they bring? What is their composition?"
Toran explained, "They seem to be mostly infantry, light armaments only, few if any heavy vehicles and no air support."
From the back a Devastator Sergeant called Zeax spoke out, "No air support, we can rain down fire from on high and obliterate them. Hell, bring out the Thunderchild; a single barrage from her macro-cannons could level a city."
Toran shook his head and said, "The Thunderchild can't manoeuvre far enough away in this strange environment. She's designed to hurl artillery from orbit, at only a few miles distance she will be destroyed in the back blast. We're limited to Thunderhawks and Stormtalons only, thankfully vehicles shouldn't be impeded."
Ganaar snorted, "More than enough, we will wreak havoc."
Bylan noted that he included himself in his assessment but his confidence was shattered as Arvael declared, "There is another matter, the enemy has attacked several Menhirs. They seem to be deliberately targeting them, we can't allow them to do this, we have to stop them. The Menhirs must not be interfered with."
That brought bemused glances and Bylan dared to say, "+You said they sustain this place but surely we can stand to lose a few. What's so important about them?+"
Arvael seemed reluctant to answer and said, "The enemy thinks to draw more power here but they risk more than they know."
Persion pressed, "So what happens if these Menhirs fall?"
"It would," Arvael said as he shared a loaded glance with Samandriel, "Be bad."
Eyes rolled and more than few Marines muttered about the typically elusive nature of Librarians and their cryptic warnings. Baruch however interrupted their objections to say, "You speak only of the enemy, but what of the people? What of the towns that have been attacked?"
Toran shook his head and said, "We can only assume that they are dead."
Baruch seemed irked by that response and said, "You don't know that, some may have survived. You should mount a rescue operation."
Toran glared back and said, "You are a guest here, you do not dictate strategy."
Baruch looked like he was going to argue but Wrethan put a hand on his shoulder and said, "There is nothing to be done. Cast your mind back to the Heresy, remember what the Traitors were like, believe me when I say they have got worse since then. Anyone they have taken is lost already; we can only fight to save those who yet have a chance."
Baruch settled back and Toran took up the briefing, "Now we are badly outnumbered but not outgunned, the Codex Astartes calls for a series of airborne attacks and withdrawals. Hit them here, here and here and we shall break the horde up into manageable chunks, then we can eliminate each one systematically with superior firepower. The Codex estimates victory with no more than fifteen percent casualties… if the enemy has no surprises in store for us."
Wrethan declared, "You can take that as a certainty, the forces of Chaos must never be underestimated. We can assume they have vile Warp Magics at their disposal, we must expect the unexpected."
Bylan gripped the Standard tighter at that, as if it could fend off corruption and blurted out, "+But we have a Librarian with us+"
Arvael said, "I will do what I can but I cannot guarantee success, I am only one and they are many."
Toran eyed him and said, "About that… it seems to me that we have two Librarians here."
Samandriel blinked in surprise but Baruch cut in and said, "No! We have dedicated ourselves to peace; we will not join your war."
Bylan was stunned and noticed that Samandriel, Maxivus and Leanyr didn't seem pleased either however it was Ganaar who growled, "Speak for yourself, I've waited centuries to whet my axe's thirst. You can count on my arm."
Toran nodded and said, "We are grateful for your zeal but surely the rest of you can't stand idly by while battle rages."
Baruch shook his head and said, "We will not join your slaughters, we are done with all that."
Everybody glared at him, unable to understand his position and Bylan muttered, "+Coward+"
Baruch heard that and his eyes snapped up to say, "It is not cowardice to care for the innocents. Your plan leaves our people defenceless, these towns here and here and here are right in the enemy's path. We must protect them."
Toran shook his head and said, "This geography is ill-suited for a defensive battle and the front is too wide for one Company to hold. The Codex Astartes clearly states that this situation calls for an offensive action."
Baruch barked, "I can't believe you fight by a literal book!"
Toran's organic eye narrowed and his red augmetic flared as he said, "Do not insult the Codex Astartes, there is a good reason its teachings have endured ten millennia."
Bylan saw an argument was about to break out but thankfully Wrethan intervened to say, "You are both right, we cannot defend these towns but the people must be protected. They are too spread out and the territory works against us, so we should evacuate these people to a safer position in the shadow of the Thunderchild."
Bylan was surprised to hear Wrethan advocating the protection of mortals but Baruch accepted it and commented, "The people won't understand the danger, they will resist."
Wrethan nodded and said, "That is why your troop should speak to them, to make sure the people listen."
"Very well, we will speak to the people and get them to evacuate," Baruch agreed and then pointed into the Hololith saying, "This town here is closest to the foe, you and I should go there first."
Bylan blinked and said, "+You're going too?+"
Wrethan nodded and said, "If the enemy advances quicker than expected the people will need a rear-guard."
Toran looked troubled and said, "I don't like the idea of you going alone, take reinforcements. I can spare two squads from the plan, no more."
Wrethan said, "Then I will take Matheus and Zeax's squads."
"Then it is decided," Toran declared with finality, "Now the rest of you listen closely, here are your assignments."
