Chapter 1
Araclese watched, silently praying for the Astropath's soul as he went through his last throes of death. This was the first of two Librarians that had been killed by the Tyranid Hive Mind. Once the man was silent, the Brother-Captain walked towards the open bulkhead.
He stopped when he got just outside of the chamber. "How long before we are able to destroy any Tyranid scum?" A gray armored Apothecary stepped out to his side. "Four more hours at best, Captain. Depending on how hard the Xenos attempt to keep us from arriving, of course."
A grim smile spread across Araclese's face, "There is only one Astropath left. And he has begun to experience the same horrors as the others. Will he be able to live through this journey?"
"If it takes us any longer than a day to break through the Xenos blockade of the Warp, he will not survive."
Araclese nodded, and walked off down the corridor.
Senior Scout Aduran stared out the plexiglass viewport. It was all he could do, since one of the Initiates in his squad was holding him in a sleeper hold. He had been testing the Initiate to see how strong his hold was. So far, it had stayed lock-tight around his neck. It had been five minutes and sixteen seconds since the Initiate had finally gotten him in the hold, and he was determined to keep Aduran there.
He secretly readied himself for a countermove, not tensing or moving anything that was in his field of vision, or would he be able to feel it coming. Although he did know that it was coming, as that was inevitable, he did not know when or what weak spot Aduran would hit first, second, or third. Or if he would go for the weak spots at all.
Aduran felt the Initiate's grip relax, but only slightly, and he thrust himself up and forward. Once they were both on the ground, Aduran rolled on top of him, thrusting both of his elbows backward into his kidneys.
After several seconds of merciless assaults, the Initiate's grip relaxed enough for Aduran to slip his head out of the hold. He sprang up to his feet and dropped a knee into the soon-to-be warrior's chest, simultaneously striking him on the bridge of his nose with a fist.
To make sure the Initiate remembered this lesson, Aduran slammed his fist into his temple. It was also so he would not get up for a while, but that was Aduran's secret.
"That, my initiates, is how you escape from a sleeper hold. I doubt that your enemy will try anything like that without gutting you first, but I guess Aduran is a little bit more merciful towards his allies."
None of the Initiate's rose to the bait. So Aduran smiled as he stepped away from the writhing man.
Dellith stared at him, seemingly without emotion. But Aduran knew that it contained a fury that was only supposed to be unleashed upon his enemies.
"Help the Initiate up." Two other Initiates went to the aid of the groggy one. Aduran returned to Dellith's side and waited for him to be called for another demonstration of a Space Marine Scout's abilities.
"Initiates! You're dismissed." Aduran took a deep breath and stayed where he was, as he knew Dellith was going to unleash the rage that he was unable to keep pent up inside. Dellith turned and looked at him. "Leave, before my good heart listens to the dark words my thoughts are whispering to it."
Duran nodded, turned around sharply on his heel and walked away, out of the sparring chamber. Several Initiates were in the corridor, walking toward the mess hall. That was not his destination. He turned in the opposite direction toward a secluded area of the battle barge.
Where there was sure to be no Initiates in sight. Soon he came upon a dark chamber, which quickly became lighter due to his augmented vision. Two Sergeants and a Veteran Assault Marine were standing or sitting in different spots around the room.
"You're late."
"I know this. I had to perform demonstrations."
"Trying to pin the blame on Dellith?"
"No. I am the one who volunteered. He did not order me."
"Good."
"If you were a fully fledged Battle-Brother, you would never have to worry about the fate of the Initiates."
"Until they fell under your command."
"True. But that would not be for a while."
Aduran shook his head, "The future of the chapter should always be at the forefront of your worries."
"As should the next battle."
"We may not be of much use against the Tyranids."
"There are always harder to kill foes in the background, Aduran. That is our purpose, and so we will never fall out of disuse."
Aduran's gaze fell to the deck. "Do not worry. You are an irreplaceable part of our squad. As is everyone here." He locked eyes with Sergeant Mattenaeus.
"That is not my doubt Sergeant. I doubt that no matter how many of their leading caste we kill, there will always be ten more to take its place. I fear that our small four Marine squad will not be enough for the tasks we are given."
The Veteran jumped away from the crate he had been leaning against, his face contorted in rage. "Are you saying that we are not strong enough? That we will not be able to perform our duty to the Emperor?"
"No. Our duty to the Emperor will be fulfilled just by dying in battle, Brother Helian. I am saying that there will always be a limit to a Space Marine's powers."
"So you say that the Emperor did not have unlimited powers? As we all carry a gene-seed from the Emperor himself."
"Enough! This is no time to begin doubting our abilities. We will prevail in all tasks set forth by the Captain. No matter how high the climb may be, we will reach the top of the mountain."
The friction between Mattenaeus, Helian, and Aduran created a heat that felt like no other. It was almost as though one of them was a psyker, and his rage was boiling the air around him.
"Still your rage, and hold it for the Tyranid scum."
Aduran took a deep breath, and the air cooled. The Sergeant studied the man. There was something that even he didn't know about the scout. About his past. But this was no time to dwell on speculations and wonders.
"We will be in the first pod down, along with the Captain and the Apothecary. As always we will not have any reinforcements until a foothold has been established and the Captain deems us in need of help."
Everyone seemed to have calmed down considerably now that they knew they were going to be of the first to kill the Xenos.
"And so when shall we be dropping?"
"Within a day or more." The four turned to see the Captain and an Apothecary standing just within the bulkhead. It was thankfully closed to prying eyes or ears.
"The Tyranids will never know what has killed them until after they find that they are dead."
"And the same can be said when our ends come."
Colian looked at the Scout and frowned. "Are you so set upon death that you wish it come for us all?"
"No." Aduran dared not go any further with his words in front of the Captain.
"Sergeant. Everything is prepared for battle?"
"All wargear is ready and waiting to be used, lord."
The Captain took one last look about the four men, his gaze lingering upon Aduran for a second longer than the others, then turned and walked away. The Apothecary stayed only for a moment longer, then the four men were alone with themselves again.
"Aduran. Are you sure that you have said all that you would like to say now?"
"Of course not. But I will not curse your ears with my hate-filled voice."
And, with that, the Scout was following the Captain and Apothecary's paths.
"Do you feel something about him that causes doubts?" Helian's voice had the slightest bit of a concerned tone in it.
"Yes. But we should hope that the Emperor and Sanguinius may help him along his path, and erase that which ails him."
"Let us not dwell on this. Things will come to pass, one way or another."
"Aye. And so shall the blood of a thousand of the Tyranids, before any other of our brethren set foot upon that world."
Grim smiles spread across all of their faces, but behind those facades, in their minds, they each held the same doubts that Aduran had voiced.