"Brother Akileus, I've been waiting to speak to you."

The voice of Captain Thule was the first thing to greet Akileus on his way into the Blood Ravens' temporary stronghold on Victory Bay. It was a simple, square building, painted in the Blood Ravens' red, with the stylized raven with a single bloody teardrop in the middle, their Chapter symbol, painted on the drop pod guiding system above. These temporary headquarters were used by nearly every Space Marine Chapter in situations where prolonged campaigns were inevitable, the Blood Ravens being no exception. And although their fight with the Governor-Militant would be over soon, the Chapter still needed to purge Kronus of the real enemy; the Eldar, Tau, Orks, heretics and Necrons on the planet. There was still plenty to do.

"I'm glad to see your faith in the initiates was well-founded, Captain Thule. Five of the basilisks are destroyed, and the sixth is across the valley." Akileus said, upon disengaging the helmet of Terminator Armor. He preferred talking without the voice-distorting effects of the suit's helmet.

"I've heard. The other Scout Squads returned a while back to give a report. Jerosus gives a similar report to you. I've already devised a strategy to remove the basilisk, and perhaps gain us a foothold on the other side of the valley, once we discover what its nature is." The Captain looked slightly concerned as he said this. Something about a vegetation-less valley in the middle of an otherwise dense jungle unnerved him. What unnerved him as much was no doubt that the Imperial Guard did not use it for anything. Something did not sit right with him.

"Captain, I'd like to hear something else from you."

"Ask away, brother Akileus, and I will answe-"

Captain Thule was cut short by a vox-message.

"This is Fourth Company Sergeant Tarkus speaking. I've ill news, Captain Thule."

"Speak, Sergeant." The Captain furrowed his brows, obviously not enticed by the idea of bad news. Something about today's battle, no doubt the unexpected presence of the Governor-Militant's Baneblade gave him mixed feelings about today's victory. Akileus would have to be blind to not see the concern painted on Captain Thule's face.

"We've discovered a heavily fortified Imperial Guard base to the east of the bridge to Victory Bay. It's mostly infantry and light vehicles, but they could stage an attack on our stronghold at any time while we face the traitor Governor. I advise we destroy it as fast as possible." Tarkus' voice was taciturn and stoic. Of all the sergeants serving in the Blood Ravens' active roster, Tarkus was amongst the most calm and tactically sound. Akileus had no doubt that he would be promoted to the First Company soon.

"Very well. I'll have Captain Gaius put together a force for the task. Do you have any recommendations besides your own squad?"

"Devastator Squad Avitus, Captain. I'm sure Avitus would relish the chance to take to the battlefield once again."

"I refer to your judgement, Sergeant. Keep Avitus in check."

Akileus frowned. He did not know how to feel about Avitus. By all accounts, Avitus was the model of a Devastator Marine, equal parts precise and overwhelming in his application of firepower, and his squad had performed well, but his bloodlust and hatred of the Imperial Guard nonetheless made Akileus uneasy.

"Is something the matter, brother Akileus?" Captain Thule had disengaged his vox-link and was once more facing Akileus.

"Nothing, Captain, something about Avitus just makes me uneasy. His bloodlust seems…Excessive, at times."

"Thank the Emperor we're here to point him in the right direction, then." Thule said, a smile on his face. Akileus knew that Captain Thule trusted each of his battle-brothers in the Fourth Company implicitly, a relationship reflected in his Space Marines.

"Of course, Captain. Now, what was your plan to remove that last Basilisk?"

The smile on Captain Thule's face was much more visible now. "Oh, you'll like the plan, I assure you. It involves Vanguard Veterans."

Akileus feigned a groan. When not fighting in a blessed suit of Terminator Armor, he belonged to a Sternguard squad, the half of the First Company dedicated to medium-range firefights. Vanguard Veterans, on the other hand, specialised in the use of melee weapons. There was a friendly rivalry between the two wings of the First Company, and they always competed for glory.

"And what possible reason could you have for not sending in the competent half of the First Company?" he asked, in jest.

"I need those to boost our forces once the Basilisk is removed, as a Sternguard Squad. The bridge is relatively devoid of any cover against any lingering Imperial Guard heavy weapon emplacements, and I'd rather lose as few Marines as possible. I'll have us move across the bridge with Librarians erecting force domes to protect us against the worst of it, but I'd like to be sure those emplacements are removed, so I'll have two Terminator Squads deep-strike in as soon as we have accurate coordinates, one Assault Squad with Lightning Claws, and one squad with an Assault Cannon. The other squad of Vanguard Veterans, along with Captain Gaius, will eliminate the last Basilisk, and the other Sternguard Squad will act as fire support during our attack on the bridge. I want you in the squad teleporting in to eliminate the traitor general's heavy weapon teams."

"As you command, Captain. I do have two questions, however. First, what will the initiates be doing, and where will we attack?"

"I'll have Squad Nicolaus investigate the valley. The others will be issued sniper rifles and will help you remove the heavy weapon teams. We'll attack here, in the western part of the compound. Apparently the regiment there has been having issues with morale. Perhaps if we eliminate their morale officer, we can make them turn on the Governor-Militant. Besides that, there have been reports of enormous amounts of power concentrated in that region. I'd like to know what that is."

Akileus nodded. He saw no reason to interrogate his Captain any more. He had to find his veteran squad and prepare for the operation at hand. This long and unnecessary war against the Imperial Guard would be over soon. The Blood Ravens would rest easy.

And Akileus could rest easily, knowing the secrets of Kronus would die with the ones who had discovered them.


Here we go, the fourth chapter.

I enjoy writing dialogue, in case you hadn't already figured out. Of the three chapters I've written for this fan fic so far, most of them have been dialogue. That's not to say I don't enjoy writing big fights, don't get me wrong, but I've always found dialogue easier to chalk up.

The next chapter will no doubt wrap up this part of the fic. I'm not sure whether I want to go through with this for every one of the six enemy strongholds in Dark Crusade, as really, only three of them really interest me at the moment, the Chaos, Necron and Tau strongholds.

As usual, do feel free to leave critique.