Path 2
Dark Reaper
The Destroyer Part 2
The sky was wrong. It was the first thing Yaidev noticed as she looked about, carrying the helmet under her arm. The clouds were of a strange purple hue, dark and ominous, the sky beyond of a red even darker than blood. Night approached, thunder rumbled somewhere in the distance and she could feel the coming storm in the heavy air. The few conifers growing in the mountains moved and creaked in the warm wind as the eldar forces gathered, more and more warriors emerging from the great disk of light, the arch that contained it merged with the grey stone, only visible to those truly searching for it.
The portal was located in a ravine, three mountains surrounding it, keeping this place barely accessible and well hidden. The stone walls had been formed to natural terraces by the weather over the millennia, squadrons of red Jetbikes and Vypers having taken position on them, waiting for the rest of their army. Yaidev saw the banners of different clans, at least a dozen, streaming wildly in the wind, even the intertwined snakes of the Stormriders. Hopefully most would survive the coming battle.
Having spoken with Cadaith on their way to Avenio, Yaidev knew that there would be no time for subtly or tricks; the enemy needed to be stopped before the greater daemon was summoned to this world. It was perhaps unusual, but given the circumstances there would be a direct attack, after the vanguard of Warp Spiders, Rangers and Striking Scorpions had weakened the outer defences and the way to the city was open. It was fortunate that their enemy's main force was far away, fighting the imperials.
The shrine of the Singing Scythe had already gathered at a Saim-Hannian Falcon, watching the hosts of Iybraesil and their own craftworld arriving, hundreds having already. Each craftworld was gathering at another side of the ravine, Yaidev seeing a significant number of Howling Banshees among the Iybraesili forces, their vehicles in the same grey-blue as the robes of Farseer Illanweh.
As a matter of fact, both sides had brought a great number of crafts to this world; different classes of Falcon grav tanks, Fire Prisms and a few massive, almost spear tip-shaped Cobras and Scorpions, which weapons could easily slice through even the thickest armour. Next came squads of War Walkers, bipedal combat walkers, each manned by a Guardian, assisted by another soul within a spirit stone.
As the deployment continued, Yaidev walked up the Falcon's hatch to her Exarch, who was watching same as her, though he had already put on his skull-faced helmet. "Most of our forces have reached the planet." He told her. "You should take your seat."
"Exarch; how many clans have agreed to join this host?"
"I am not aware of the exact number, though I've heard that most have decided to fight here with us today. Autarch Cerandil of the Blades of Azure will lead the host and I know that chief Nuadhu is eager to have his Blades of Khaine to be the first within the city."
"The Fireheart?" She chuckled amused, shaking her head a little. "Tis something he would do."
Cadaith nodded. "Indeed; and such recklessness might cost him his life one day."
She had heard numerous stories about him; Nuadhu was known to every eldar of Saim-Hann and to some even beyond, many admiring him, while others were more critical of his reckless nature. None however questioned his bravery, especially after his five yearslong campaign against cultists and daemons of She-Who-Thirsts, culminating in his battle against the daemon prince Lilesh, in which he'd defeated and banished it with the legendary Celestial Lance. It was not surprising that he was here today as well.
"Ah."
Yaidev had been about to step into the Falcon, when she heard her Exarch and suddenly a warming fire spread through her body, as if her blood was suddenly heated up. It was invigorating. She turned around and saw Saim-Hann's Avatar emerge from the disk of light, his fiery eyes looking across the ravine, the warriors of both craftworlds lifting their weapons to greet him. Hot blood dripped from his left hand upon the stone, as he raised his spear to return their greeting, his fanged mouth opening, flames licking over the sharp teeth. Even the stone beneath his feet began to glow orange, as his fire began to melt it.
"And so it begins." Her Exarch spoke, looking upon the metallic titan same as her. Even with the helmet on, he sounded pleased. "Come, our pilot will soon take to the air."
Yaidev nodded quietly without taking her gaze from Khaine's Avatar. It was still such a magnificent sight and a small part of her noticed her fingers twitching, the corners of her mouth pulled up for a smile.
As the Avatar began to march, Yaidev finally turned around and took her seat next to Felanwé, strapping herself in. The Falcon's hatch closed and the last thing she saw before it was shut were Saim-Hannian Jetbikes passing by. Inside it was dark, what little light there was dim and blue.
The engines came to life, sounding almost like the rustling of wind and the craft vibrated subtly as it lifted off. Only now did Yaidev put on her helmet, the red display coming to life, presenting her different runes, the faint crosshairs appearing at the very side, indicating where her weapon was currently aiming at, another indicating the focus of her eyes. With the smile still on her lips, the young Reaper leaned back as the host moved in on the human city, her heart beating soundly in her chest.
The journey from the portal was a quiet one undisturbed by their enemy, who likely didn't even know of the two hosts, which would soon swoop down on them like Kurnous' hawks.
Certainly the vanguard had already begun their assault, though they were clearly not yet finished with this task. It was why the Falcon was once again waiting, waiting like most of the host for the initial defences to be destroyed.
For a long while, at least to Yaidev it felt like a small eternity, the Reapers remained silent. Ilthaldir checked his weapon again, while Cadaith remained motionless in his seat. Yaidev was not certain how he managed this, as her own body seemed determined to make her move. It almost was as if the fires of Khaine were running through her nerves, rather than her own thoughts, stimulating her muscles. Even in here the Avatar's influence was still strong, but her war-mask and the lessons of her training kept her focused.
It was Felanwé who broke the silence. "You told us that their defences would be undermined, allowing us to cut through the city without much resistance." He began and even Ilthaldir turned his attention away from his launcher. "But what of other enemy's forces? The Chaos worshippers have taken over most of the planet and certainly have troops in every city they've conquered. Surely they will react to our attack."
Exarch Cadaith, who was sitting opposite of them leaned forth in his seat. "According to Ranger reports most of the Mon'Keigh are caught up in battle north of the city, fighting imperial forces, trying to reclaim their world. We should be able to fulfil our task before they can redirect their army properly to face us."
"And if they manage?" Yaidev could imagine very well the frown on Maldorahn's face as he asked.
And so it was for the sinister smile on Cadaith's lips when he answered. "Then I shall see how well you all have paid attention to my lessons."
They heard Ilthaldir chuckle amused; as always he was in good spirits. For a moment Yaidev wondered if he was this joyfully as a civilian as well, but her thoughts were interrupted when the Falcon started to move again.
"I have just received news." Their Exarch spoke, his voice once again stern. "Most enemy positions on our way have been rooted out, but those around the plaza itself are too heavily fortified for our vanguard to remove on their own. The hosts are moving in before our enemy can receive reinforcements from their army."
"Is it reasonable to assume that this ride could become uncomfortable?" Ilthaldir questioned.
"If the enemy opens fire at us?" Felanwé answered him dryly. "Yes, I believe it could be."
Yaidev raised her eyebrow. "This is a war after all, is it not?" She replied, her two brothers turning their heads to her. "I don't think we should be expecting anything less."
None of her brothers argued with her assessment, only Maldorahn nodded quietly, almost passively, as if his thoughts were someplace else. The silence however did not last long. They could feel how the Falcon picked up speed and swayed from time to time. Then came the explosions.
Something was firing at them, shells exploding nearby and Yaidev could hear them shattering stone outside. The Falcon continued to evade, its movements becoming abrupt. One detonation was so close that it threw the light tank for its course; if the Reapers hadn't been sitting, they certainly would have been thrown off their feet. Suddenly the craft was almost on its side, Yaidev now lying practically on her back.
"Perhaps we should not have spoken of this possibility." Ilthaldir noted calmly between a few explosions. "We seemed to have invited our misfortune."
Maldorahn shrugged. "As was to be expected."
"Fret not brothers; worse could befall us." There was another explosion, the Falcon shook violently and Yaidev's head got slammed against the wall behind her, making her snarl. For a moment her senses were dull, but they returned quickly and she noticed that their craft was in a rather steep descent towards the ground. All Reapers turned to Felanwé, who sighed. "If it appeases you, I shall remain silent for the foreseeable future."
"Brace yourselves." Cadaith told them before anyone could reply.
Yaidev instinctively closed her eyes, her heart beating faster, one hand gripping her seat, the other holding on to her Reaper Launcher. With her teeth clenched she awaited the impact, the craft trembling terribly, their 'descent' anything but stable. Khaine, it could not end this way. A new anger flickered within her now, as thanks to her war-mask there was no true fear for her. Only ire; no, she could not die this way.
…
The Falcon met the ground at a pile of debris, all what remained of what once used to be a wall. The front of the craft had touched the ground first and was now utterly shattered, the pilot dead. Ilthaldir was currently recovering his Spirit Stone, as it was impossible to tell if there would be an opportunity to retrieve it at a later point of time. In the meantime the other Reapers remained in cover behind the debris.
At first the crash had knocked Yaidev's senses into disarray, if only for moments, a minute maybe; frankly she remembered little other than the loud sound as the wraithbone collided with the stone and the feeling of her head getting tossed once more against the wall behind her. When her head had cleared, Cadaith was at her side to help her up. The Reapers had been fortunate that the compartment itself had absorbed the damage and so while it was utterly destroyed with cracks and holes having almost torn it completely apart, the eldar themselves had remained largely unharmed. So far it seemed that a few bruises were the worst they had suffered.
Yaidev kept her back pressed against the rock and looked about. The human city was unlike anything she'd seen before, the buildings simple, cuboid-shaped blocks of stone, with countless windows and nothing resembling elegance. If one was generous it could perhaps be call 'functional'. One after the other lined the street they were at, varying only in number of storeys; how humans could live in such places was beyond her. Such a dismal place.
Over their heads the host was still flying towards the city's centre, various vehicles speeding past. Very carefully and slowly Yaidev moved her body up to look over their cover, as continuing fire brought low a pair of Jetbikes, letting the wrecks tumble down to the street.
It was then that for the first time the young Reaper saw their enemy. The street continued on, apparently going straight to the plaza, yet between the two buildings bordering it, the Mon'Keigh had set up their defences. Barricades blocked the way for any troops on the ground and though they posed no hindrance for the airborne host of Saim-Hann, the cannons and tanks kept them at bay. From the holograms she recognized at least two so-called Predators. The eldar squadrons used a crossing to split up and evade the enemy fire, likely circling around the plaza to either seek a weak spot or simply climb over the rooftops.
Four blocks separated the Dark Reapers from the enemy's defences. Somehow they needed to get there by foot and up one of those buildings to a rooftop. Just before Yaidev hid her slightly exposed head again, she saw sky-blue flashes appear at the Predators' position and she knew that they had been created by the Warp Spiders' Warp Jump Generators. There was bolter fire and more blue flashes as the Spiders disappeared again into thin air.
What followed a mere second later where several explosions, the enemy's tanks, cannons and blockade disappearing in the blue fire of eldar plasma charges. Certainly not all were destroyed, but the damage had to be significant. Yaidev smiled wickedly, feeling satisfaction at the cruel deaths of the Chaos worshippers.
A Fire Prism appeared from behind her and released a high energy shot, making sure that nothing had survived, more Wild Riders following it. "It is time we depart." Cadaith suddenly spoke and Yaidev lowered herself again. "We must reach a suitable position if we are to be of any use this day. Follow me swiftly and keep your heads down."
His students only replied with silent nods and Cadaith stepped over the debris into the ruined building next to them, apparently guiding them to another, hopefully less occupied street. The rooms they went through were as ruined as the exterior of the block, walls showing the black shadows left by a fire, bullets having pierced through some of them. Here and there, one could see specks of long dried blood, what furniture had once been was now mostly shattered; tables, chairs, beds and more. Even pieces of the ceiling were missing in some rooms.
They had almost made it through the building to the other side, when their Exarch suddenly stopped, signalling his students with a quick gesture to take position. Something was here with them. The Dark Reapers were currently in what appeared to have been a dining room and a kitchen, the wall that had separated the two now all but gone.
Yaidev and Ilthaldir stopped behind the remains of a large wooden table, Maldorahn and Felanwé on the opposite side of it. Cadaith stepped cautiously further and looked through a hole in the ceiling that likely had broken off along with the collapsed wall beneath it.
She listened, still hearing the battle raging outside, but her Exarch was right. There were new sounds, steps, breathing. Scratching?
Suddenly Cadaith jumped back, away from the hole. "Take aim!"
His words were answered by snarls and animalistic howls, gore-red shades appearing from above. They leaped from the upper story, humanoid creatures with bestial faces and elongated heads, which were crowned by long horns. Serpentine tongues licked over sharp fangs and each carried a two-handed swords covered with daemonic iconography. Bloodletters; lesser daemons of Khorne, the Blood God.
The fire within Yaidev flared up at the sight, her crosshairs marking the targets already. Their movements were swift, some sort of flaming aura surrounding them, making it more difficult to track these daemons. Despite her excitement for battle, the young Reaper felt that she was more tense than during her confrontations with the orks. It almost was as if her very soul bristled at their very presence. Given what happened to unprotected eldar souls, it was not surprising to her.
Khaine's fire and the war-mask however encouraged her, keeping at bay any form of fear that could have tried to dig its talons into her.
The Reapers' small missiles tore through the unnatural flesh of the daemons approaching them, tearing off limbs, slowing some down, while those slain burst into flame and ash. The first dozen died before they could even make it to the Aspect Warriors, though the next two reached Cadaith, who dodged as quickly as his armour allowed, practically jumping backwards.
A crimson Hellblade just barely missed his head, the other however slit along the Exarch's right shoulder, cutting through the wraithbone armour into flesh with surprisingly little difficulty. Maldorahn reacted quickly and readjusted his weapon, swiftly tearing apart the two daemons before they could attack once again. The other three eldar were kept occupied by the other monsters approaching, the bloodletters now joined by dog-like creatures.
They were flesh hounds, Khorne's very own dogs of war with heavy-jawed heads, their crimson skin leathery and scaly looking at the same time. Horns grew from both their heads and along their spines, crests of thin, leathery skin that was spreading between bony spikes, grew behind each of their ears. Swiftly these daemons moved between the bloodletters, eager to make it first to the eldar, but the enclosed environment aloud the Reapers to cover the holes in both wall and ceiling despite their lacking number.
Yaidev however did not believe that they could hold this position indefinitely. At some point a few would make it through like the last two and if one tried to approach them from a different direction, the Reapers would likely not be able to adjust quickly enough. Why were these daemons here in the first place? The true battle was currently raging at the borders of the plaza.
She looked briefly to the hole in the ceiling and saw that the majority of those monsters was ignoring it and instead passed it without even looking at what was happening on the ground-floor. Were they moving around their position to strike from the back?
From above Yaidev suddenly heard blades clashing and the hissing of daemons, obviously having found their equals in whoever was engaging them. Still she kept firing at the bloodletters and flesh hounds, more coming from the ground-floor and through the kitchen. How fortunate that the holes were so narrow.
"Ilthaldir, Yaidev; cover the kitchen area! Let none pass through the wall! Maldorahn, Felanwé; keep your focus on the ceiling! Only bodies shall reach the ground!" Exarch Cadaith shouted, his own rounds tearing apart a bloodletter, letting blood spray before it disintegrated into fire and ash.
It was then that part of said ceiling collapsed onto the table between the Reapers, the wooden construct breaking, a wave of dust washing over them all and filling the room. Without their helmets the Reapers would have been blind in the brown-grey cloud.
From the corner of her eye Yaidev saw another daemon, but a warrior in bone-coloured armour and with flaming hair had pinned it to the ground, a shimmer glaive in its chest, an Executioner .The Howling Banshee twisted the weapon, the bloodletter screamed and burst into ash, flames licking briefly over the female eldar. She lifted her blood-dripping spear, her loud and clear voice almost drowning out the sounds of battle around her. "Sisters, to me! Banish these creatures back into the sea of souls!"
As soon as the words were spoken, the Banshee Exarch leaped forth, meeting the blade of a daemon that had managed to avoid the Reapers' rounds. She blocked its strike with the staff, swirled her weapon around to push the sword aside and cut into the beast's neck with the same move. A handful of her students appeared, their blades already dripping blood, though Yaidev could hear that even more were still on the storey above.
One was swiftly tackled to the ground by a flesh hound, the creature pinning her arms down with its claws. Immediately its teeth went into her throat, moments before Ilthaldir tore it apart, his missiles hitting the hound's flank, tossing its body against a wall, where it nebulise into ash. But it had been too late to save the Banshee.
With a kick the Exarch pushed a bloodletter away from her, the remaining four Banshees to her left and right. As the next wave came, they did not attack as Yaidev had expected; no, instead they screamed.
Even with the helmet, which protected her from the worst, she gritted her teeth at the sound. Yaidev could hardly imagine how indescribably painful it had to be for unprotected ears, though she had heard of what it could do to mortal enemies. The effect it had on the daemons however was plain in front of her. They had keen senses, perfect to react quickly in a fight and to track down their victims, but it proved a disadvantage here.
With great satisfaction Yaidev watched them become slower, hissing in pain, some covering their ears with their claws. One could hardly ask for more perfect targets. The daemons were slaughtered as swiftly as they had appeared and the young Reaper felt her heart beating wildly, this time with elation.
And then suddenly it became silent once more.
The Banshee Exarch and her students turned their attention now towards the Dark Reapers for the first time. More swiftly joined them, until there was a dozen of them, several injured, though only one needed the support of her sisters to walk, her right leg in an unhealthy angle to the rest of her body.
On their knees, Yaidev saw the world-rune of Iybraesil, the hand of the goddess Morai-Heg, the only indication she saw of their craftworld, as the colours of Aspects were universal.
"Well met, sister." Cadaith spoke, stepping forth. "I expected not to find Iybraesili forces so far east."
The Banshee nodded her head respectfully. "We were separated from our host and driven further east by the Mon'Keigh and their daemonic allies. Fortunate for you as it would seem." The young Reaper's eyes narrowed at her words. Had the daemons in truth perhaps searched for these Banshees? Yaidev regarded them, their bone-coloured armour covered with blood, some of it already dried.
Her Exarch too regarded the female warriors. "I'm certain we would have prevailed on our own, but your further assistance would be appreciated. We are to reach one of the buildings surrounding the plaza, but our Falcon was shot down."
The Banshee looked at Cadaith and then his students, before she replied, her voice ever reaming cool and somewhat harsh; the ever present rage and desire for battle was far more noticeable with her than with Yaidev's Exarch. "The next street is hardly defended, as our hosts have chosen other paths to the centre. Merely a single barricade is still defended by our enemies, though their numbers have already suffered. Perhaps if you 'occupied' the Mon'Keigh, me and my sisters could dispose of them and clear your way." While she spoke the last sentence, she let one of her hands run meaningfully over the blade of her glaive, leaving lines in the blood.
"Your suggestion is sound, Menshad Korum." The Dark Reaper noted calmly and his head turned to the injured woman. "I further suggest that we look after you wounded until we go our separate paths again. You cannot take her with you in a fight."
The other Exarch turned her head as well and for a moment considered his words. "This would perhaps be preferable, if her life is to be preserved for the time being." She finally conceded, though she did not sound too pleased.
"You have my word that the Singing Scythe will protect her."
The Menshad Korum of the Banshees turned back to him, now sounding more earnest. "And I believe you, brother, for you are both Fian Ann and of Saim-Hann; you would not stain your honour by breaking your word." It almost sounded like a challenge and Yaidev admitted to herself that she disliked the daughters of Khaine; there was an air of arrogance and open aggressiveness about them compared to Cadaith calm and more factual nature, his emotions far better concealed, which she found quite agreeable. Though that made him perhaps more unpredictable and dangerous, for the same lust for battle and blood lingered within him as well. Still, the Aspect Warriors certainly had decided correctly the day she had entered the Temple of Khaine for the first time. The teachings and nature of Maugan Ra's disciples suited her well. "You have our blades, brother. Let me lead the way and I promise you that this obstacle will soon be gone."
"So it shall be."
With a few quick gestures the Banshee gave her students their orders and they moved on, the Dark Reapers following as swiftly as their heavier armour and weapons allowed. The Iybraesili warriors led them through the building to the other side and the next street. The Exarch lifted her hand and with another gesture 'asked' the Singing Scythe to join her.
The five dark warriors moved up through the Banshees until the two Exarchs stood side by side, Yaidev looking over Cadaith's shoulder. The street was indeed mostly empty, with a few craters and a number wrecks, which once had been human vehicles. The Banshee pointed at something to the north. "There is the barricade of which I spoke. Keep them supressed and I will lead my Banshees through the buildings to the crossing and flank their position."
"A simple enough task." Cadaith confirmed. "We will wait a few moments before we begin our assault; I do not wish to give them too much time to retaliate."
"The decision is yours, but I will only attack once I deem the Mon'Keigh sufficiently occupied."
"Very well. Go now, for we have squandered too much time already."
The other Exarch gave no verbal reply, merely ordered her students to leave their wounded sister with the Reapers. They sat her down with her back against a wall, the woman hissing sharply when her leg touched the ground, briefly having to support her weight.
The Iybraesili shrine left quickly, disappearing into another room, their footsteps making no more sound then raindrops would and soon not even Yaidev's keen ears could hear them anymore. Only once they were gone did Cadaith whisper to them, pointing at the burned out hulls on the street. "Reaper, take position along those wrecks. Once I give the signal you open fire on the Mon'Keigh's position and suppress them; you'll only stop if the Banshees enter your line of fire."
All four nodded and moved toward to the vehicles, crouching as they moved through the remains of a broad doorway, slow and carefully, lest they were noticed before they had reached cover. Though it was only a few meters it took what felt like several minutes, but finally Yaidev pressed her body against a blackened hull, her barrel between two vehicles. Her brothers took similar positions, Maldorahn being fortunate to find cover behind some rocks as well.
And then they waited. Yaidev used this time to take her first good look at her enemies, the first humans she ever saw in her life. Her helmet allowed her to zoom in and her eyes first rested on the cultists, the normal Cresistauead. They were undeniable similarities, though they were somewhat unrefined with more rugged features and stockier build, when compared to her kin. Most of them wore what she knew to be Guardsmen uniforms in simple shades of brown, many now covered with dark symbols, apparently crudely cut into their armours with knives. Some had even adored their skin with such motifs, drawn with colour or blood, others having made deliberate scars.
But the cultists were not alone. Chaos Space Marines were with them, taller than the humans around them, their heavy, bulky armour making them stand out even more. Their primary colour was red with black trim, while black flames covered the left side. On a right shoulder pauldron, Yaidev saw their badge, a red arrow pointing upwards and encircled by another black flame. So this was the Company of Misery.
While the young Reaper did not feel intimidated, or frightened by them, she just felt a touch more tense at their sight, knowing fully well that they were not to be underestimated. She knew stories of how Space Marines, who regardless of allegiance had slayed the best of her kin in battle in the past, even brought destruction to entire craftworlds. Of course other enemies had been capable of such tasks in the past as well, but these ones were aligned with the horrors of the warp themselves.
If possible they needed to be taken out first and even though there were only three of them in total, from this angle two were rather well hidden behind cover, large pieces of debris that had been torn out of the bombed out building behind the barricades.
Already Yaidev was marking all targets in sight and briefly she looked over to Cadaith at her right; only a little longer, until the Banshees were closer to the crossing. Finally she saw him steady is stance even more, his own weapon moving into the optimal position. His words came quietly through the earpiece of her helmet; only one having dealt death countless times could give such an order with this calmness. "Harvest their lives, Reapers."
As one the Reapers suddenly opened fire upon the enemy position, several cultists slain before they'd even realized what was happening. The rest quickly hid themselves behind the barricades of debris, wrecks and barbwire.
A few missiles, though Yaidev could not tell whose, tore into a Chaos Space Marines abdomen, where the bulky armour was somewhat weaker to allow better mobility. It did not shred his body like the cultists, though the explosion obliterated his abdominal region entirely, almost severing him in two.
But the other two fell not that easily. One of them was a Havoc and his heavy bolter replied to the launchers in kind, large rounds hammering into the Reapers' cover. And many found their way through the wrecks of the human vehicles.
Yaidev snarled, when one grazed her shoulder, bits of wraithbone torn off her armour. It was fortunate that the Havoc's weapon was inaccurate over such distances and the pain soon faded, though she felt blood running from her shoulder, the spot seeming to pulsate.
Nonetheless she kept firing along with her brothers and her Menshad Korum, forcing both Marines into cover now as well. The cultist tried to fire over the debris, but they did so blindly, their rounds, both las and ballistic, hitting the street or the buildings' walls more often than anything close to the Dark Reapers. Those foolish enough to risk a glance found only death.
Merely the two Chaos Space Marines managed rather precise shots at the Aspect Warriors' position, though no bullet could do more than scratch their heavy armour.
The Banshees meanwhile had begun their final advance, emerging only now from a house a couple of meters away from the barricades.
A few shots were fired at them, but most of the Mon'Keigh were too occupied with the Reapers to notice the daughters of Khaine and Morai-Heg approaching until it was too late. When they were close enough the Havoc took his chance to rain fire upon the female warriors.
Even from this distance and despite all the noise, Yaidev heard his laughter as his heavy bolter cut two Banshees down.
It died however when they screamed once more and suddenly all enemy fire stopped. Yaidev heard cries of pain from the cultists and to her surprise she saw some climbing over the barricades, just to escape the Banshees' scream, uncaring for the barbwire scratching their flesh or the Dark Reapers greeting them properly once the targeting systems had locked on.
They bled from their ears, the potent sonic attack wreaking havoc with the soft tissue; the rest was probably paralysed, as it also damaged the central nervous system of all who heard it. The Banshees took their chance and simply leaped over the obstacles in their way, moving as swift, bone-coloured silhouettes.
The first three reached the Havoc, who was still recovering from the scream and lunged at him like rabid wolves. He managed to keep one at bay, though could not kill her, but another stabbed her blade into his abdomen, cutting it wide open, while the third dug hers deeply into his arm. No longer able to hold the first at bay in such condition, his defence buckled and she brought her own sword down, the helmet cracked and it went straight through his skull.
The other Chaos Space Marine, who only now turned his attention to the female warriors, fared no better and though his bolter wounded a Banshee, a few more had already approached him from different directions and cut him down. Yaidev saw not what happened to him, but the fresh blood on the Banshees' armours as they moved on to new victims told enough.
Immediately the Reapers stopped firing, before their rounds accidently hit one of their sisters. They no longer required their assistance now anyhow. Cultist after cultist met his doom, until no human was left alive and the only sounds once again were those of the battle raging in the other streets and the plaza beyond the barricade and the building behind it.
"Maldorahn, Felanwé; you support the Banshee."
The two nodded and stepped back into the house, returning soon again with the female Aspect Warrior between them to make sure she would not collapse. Her injured leg was sometimes grazing over the ground and though it had to hurt horribly she made no sound. In fact she'd made none since her sisters had sat her down.
Slowed somewhat by her, the Dark Reapers approached the barricades, Cadaith in front, Ilthaldir and Yaidev covering their flanks. The Banshee Exarch greeted them at the first obstacles after ordering a student of hers to take over for Maldorahn and Felanwé. Only then did she address Cadaith and the Singing Scythe. "You've done well." She noted factually. "But this is where our ways part."
"Indeed. Will you head for your host or the plaza?"
"Our host will have reached it by now; we shall move west and re-join them there. If fortune has not abandoned us, we will be with the final assault on the portal." She truly seemed to long for this opportunity and Yaidev was thankful that the helmet concealed her frown. "May Khaine keep your aim true, Dark Reapers."
"And you blades sharp, sisters."
The Banshee Exarch nodded once respectfully to her fellow Exarch and departed with her students into the streets. Yaidev could not help but believe that her shrine would be greatly diminished by the time this battle was ended. Still, given her current state of mind, she could not even truly feel pity; it was more a simple assessment.
Cadaith meanwhile looked about, clearly searching for a suitable building for them to take position on. Soon he decided for the one to their left, next to the bombed out house directly behind the barricades. "We move to that building; if Morai-Heg is merciful, we will find no daemons within it."
Cadaith wasted no more time and lead them to their new destination. As they walked passed the slain, Yaidev regarded the Mon'Keigh more closely. Or at least what was left of them. Many were missing limbs or head, which were probably close by, but escaped her gaze as she was moving on. It was an end they deserved and their masters would soon suffer the same fate. This world would not fall to Chaos; not today.
They entered through the front door, the Reapers following their Exarch to the dark staircase within its heart, moving it up as swiftly as armour and architecture allowed. They had lost enough time already and the roof was still many storeys above them.
Eldar Language
Menshad Korum= Exarch (Eldar)
Fian Ann= Aspect Warrior (Eldar)
Author's Note: Originally this chapter include quite a bit more; it was planned to have the main battle at the plaza and a part taking place on Saim-Hann afterwards. The latter I moved early on into a new chapter and when I was finished with writing, the battle itself had a little over 12.000words and so I split it anew. This way it might be easier to read and the next chapter, as it only needs to be edited now, will come out within the next two weeks.
I hope to see you there or with my short-story "From Oblivion", which was another submission for Black Library this January. I've extended it into a few chapters and it will come out in July as well, next week if possible, among others featuring Yaidev as a Pathfinder.