++ Chapter 3 ++
Another marine slammed into the ground, blood trickling from his nose. Rax lifted his fists and laughed. The training sphere echoed with the cheers and whoops of two dozen marines as the challenger was pulled to his feet.
With the celebrations of their past victory over the II Legion had begun transit, and as such training was the first thing on most of their minds.
Avaro stood at the edge of the cage and watched as another of Rax' warriors stepped forward to challenge his Captain. Rax was bare chested, showing off his huge physique to the crowd, slabs of solid muscle covered his arms and chest. He was larger than most Space Marines, about half a foot taller than Avaro. When in terminator armour Rax resembled nothing less than a giant. The new challenger rubbed his hands together as he circled the seemingly prone Captain. The man leapt forward and swung his fist at the back of Rax's head. A split second before impact, Rax turned and caught the blow in his huge hand. He twisted it sharply before booting his opponent in the diaphragm, winding him. In that moment of weakness, Rax administered a hail of hammer like blows, knocking the Astartes to the ground. With gritted teeth the warrior forced himself upright. Then Rax struck him with a solid punch to the face. Avaro folded his arms across his chest. Orion had worked his way through the crowd so was standing closer to the front, cheering and clapping as another challenger was carted off.
"Has the Second no warriors left? Who's next?" Rax opened his arms and addressed the crowd "c'mon!"
"Avaro" Orion turned around, a big grin plastered across his face "you'll take him won't you Captain." Rax was looking at him now, hands on hips and smirking.
"I'd rather not" Avaro shook his head
"Come now Captain, how often do the men get to see two Captains spar?" The mob of marines were all looking at him now, the pressure seemed to manifest, he could feel it bearing down on him. He shook his head and began walking towards the cage door. A cheer rose up and the crowd parted to allow Avaro into the ring. He stopped in front of Orion to remove his shirt and ram it into his friend's chest.
"Go get him Captain" Orion smirked
"Bastard" Avaro grinned. He stepped forwards into the cage and lifted his fists. Rax grinned and ran his tongue along his teeth. The two warriors circled each other, their eyes locked, their fists up. Avaro swung first a. Rax intercepted and slammed an open palm into his chest. He stumbled back, having just enough time to recover before Rax' fist hit him in the face. He hit the ground hard. But climbed to his feet, and lifted his fists again,
"Nice swing." Rax raised an eyebrow and took a firmer footing. Avaro managed to read Rax' movements and moved just in time. Rax' meteor like fist missed his face by mere millimetres. In a blur of motion Avaro seized Rax' wrist and swept his legs out from under him, he twisted sharply, forcing Rax's arm behind his back as he landed. As Rax hit the ground, the crowd fell silent, before erupting in a clamour of shouting and whooping. But Rax wasn't done. He yanked his arm free of Avaro's grip and got to his feet, Avaro managed to stand before Rax delivered his retort, rapidly alternating between his left and right fists. Each impact forced Avaro to step backwards. He finally came to his senses and lifted his guard. Rax lowered his attacks and grabbed Avaro's waist, hoisting him into the air, before trying to slam him down. As Avaro fell, he twisted and rammed both his palms into the back of Rax' head. The Third Captain fell to his hands and knees. Avaro gave him a firm boot in the side, Rax grabbed it and pulled hard. Again Avaro hit the ground, this time Rax was upon him, laying into him with both fists. As Avaro raised his guard he tasted blood. He had no chance of winning while he lay on his back. Rax' blows slowed for a second and Avaro seized his chance. His fist came up between Rax' arms and hit him under the chin, the attacks faltered and Avaro scrambled to his feet. Rax too was up fists raised. They circled one another, panting slightly. Rax rolled his shoulders
"You're good, pup" he smirked
"Thanks" Avaro grinned and swung a right hook. It struck Rax' jaw and he took a step back before returning the favour. As the two exchanged punches the crowd grew more and more silent, it seemed as though the two were evenly matched. Rax lifted his foot and booted Avaro in the stomach, he fell forwards onto his hands and knees. The foot returned and hit his face. He flipped over onto his back. Rax towered over him and looked down
"You done?" he cocked his head to one side. Avaro hauled himself up and spat, blood splattered the ground at Rax' feet, Avaro winked and raised his fists "son of a bitch" Rax breathed.
"Another round?"
"Why not?" Rax darted forwards and began throwing punches. Avaro blocked each and retaliated accordingly. They continued, blow for blow for several minutes. As they became wise to each other's style, the attacks flew quicker and more brutal. Avaro broke the chain with a sharp uppercut. Rax' head jerked backwards. Avaro jumped and planted both feet into Rax' chest. They both fell to the ground. They got up and locked eyes. Neither willing to back down. Then Rax bolted forwards and landed a solid blow on Avaro's chest. The strike lifted him into the air and sent him careening into the cage wall before crashing down on the ground. He looked up. Rax was standing over him, offering a hand. Avaro smiled and took it.
"You did good boy" Rax said. Avaro nodded,
"You too… not bad for an older man" Rax smirked and the two walked to the cage door. The crowd was still silent. Avaro turned and placed a hand on the third Captain's shoulder, Rax frowned. Avaro grinned before spinning, pulling Rax onto his hip and flipping him into the ground. A gasp echoed from the arranged Astartes, Avaro's smile dropped as he realised he may have taken things too far. Rax looked up at him, murder in his eyes. He opened his mouth but instead of bellowing an enraged warcry, he started laughing, a harsh booming bark. He got to his feet and slapped the young Captain on the back.
"Not bad" he repeated. Avaro nodded
"Thanks for the lesson." The two exited the cages and Orion handed back his Captain's shirt. Rax rolled his shoulders, a heavily scarred warrior trudged over to Rax and smirked
"Not bad Captain, but then again, unarmed combat was never your strong suit" Rax chuckled wryly
"I'm more than happy to pick up my axe Vulf" he replied. Avaro and Orion looked on as the two exchanged their little light hearted barbs.
"As much as I'd like the practice, the First Captain has sent for you" Vulf grunted. Rax nodded
"Probably to make sure I'll be presentable for the Primarch's war council" he rumbled "I take it Skraal will meet us aboard"
"Aye sir" Rax turned to the two Astartes of the Second
"Looks like we'll have to save our rematch for later pup" he grinned, nodding curtly before striding across the room and out of the access portal, Vulf in his wake.
Skraal and Vulf Avaro knew by reputation, two of Rax' closest sergeants, his right and left hands respectively, both renowned for their ferocity, even if it was eclipsed by that of their Captain.
Orion let out a low whistle
"So that was Vulf, not quite as aggressive as I expected." Avaro chuckled
"That's because he's among friends" he replied pulling his robe like fatigue over his head and walking towards the exit portal.
Epoch looked up and smiled as he saw Avaro. The first Captain's armour was polished to a glimmering sheen, the silver of his Aquila matching his Mark IV helmet. The crest of which had been brushed. He walked over and cuffed his brother Captain on the shoulder. Avaro smiled
"Glad you decided to join us" he grinned. Rax' plate had also been cleaned; Avaro almost didn't recognise him not splattered with mud and blood. Thorn was there too, without his cumbersome jump pack. He nodded curtly before walking over to join them
"Good to see you" he said. Avaro wasn't sure if the comment was sincere. "I'm sorry not to have spoken to you sooner" Thorn said, the hint of a smile appearing on his face "I don't believe I've fought beside you yet, save for the events on Seventy three- sixteen"
"No, I've never had the honour" Avaro smiled. Thorn cocked his head
"You flatter me Captain" Avaro shrugged.
The other Captain Avaro recognised as Rogann, master of the sixth company. They had spoken a little on planetfall. No doubt they would speak more over the coming battles. The doors to the Primarch's court opened and Epoch turned.
"It's time" he said "follow my lead" he winked and the Astartes formed ranks before marching through into the chamber.
The room was a huge and circular, a beautifully crafted wooden table formed a circle in the room's centre, above them, a large balcony leading to the Primarch's chambers, silver railings ran along the balcony's edge and down the staircase that circled the wall, terminating beside the table. The room was elegant but in keeping with the simplistic and humble nature of the Legion's origins banners representing the Legion's companies hung from the walls. The Primarch was stood atop the staircase clad in full battle plate. The heavy segments of reinforced ceramite polished to a shine, his plumed knights helm held in the crook of one arm, after a few moments he began to descend walking down the staircase, in slow calculated steps. The gathered Captains dropped to one knee and placed their fists to their chests
"Hail, Primarch of the II Legion" the all shouted in unison. Rival walked around the table and seated himself in a throne at the tables head
"Please be seated" he requested, gesturing to the chairs arranged around the table, all angled so that they could see the holopict projector in the centre of the table. Avaro took his place between Epoch and Rax and waited for the Primarch to speak. The dark form of Dreyphus Pyke stood at the edge of the room, silently observing the meeting. Rival manipulated the data slate in the arm of his throne and the lights dimmed, the holopicter lit up and a glowing image of their destination loomed overhead
"Vermire" the Primarch stated "originally brought to compliance by the Word Bearers, it resides at the edge of Imperial Space and remains one of the furthest colonised worlds from Terra that we control. For whatever reason, the Orks indigenous to the planet have returned, through a possible fault of the Word bearers" the Primarch tapped data slate and the image stopped rotating, three areas became highlighted in orange "our primary objective is the securing the settlements still under construction, and in that respect the 8th Company will take charge, fortifying what they can, but I will be relying on the First Second and Third Companies will clear the Orks from the Area, and launch precision strikes in areas with higher Ork concentrations outside the city limits" Rival turned his eye to Epoch "find the Ork Warlords and slaughter them, that will make the forces within the city and assailing it lose composure and make them easier to repel."
"What of air support?" Strom replied, Rival nodded
"That relates to deployment, it won't be enough to land within the cities, and a conventional air drop will likely leave our forces ill prepared, we'll be going in hot. Whatever orbital weapons weren't dismantled may be turned on us on entry, we'll need your best pilots"
"I have a few in mind" Strom replied, a grin materialising on his face.
"Once we are established on the planet we begin the second stage of our attack, we take the fight to the greenskins, march on foot to the heavily populated areas and systematically clear them out. Unfortunately that is all we can plan prior to deployment, the Orks are too unpredictable to put a full battle plan in place, but it's likely the first two stages will consume the best part of three months" the officers looked to one another, Rival noted their unease
"This'll be a good one lads, plenty to kill, a cull plain and simple." Rival ran a finger along the data slate and the room brightened up, the holopict dissipating. The Primarch remained stationary for a few moments "thoughts?" Epoch stroked his chin
"Any information as to numbers?"
"I'm afraid not, we've got no eyes there, we're sending the Eighth to gather intel before the rest of the fleet arrives, they'll gather information on numbers and tell us just what we're dealing with."
"Where's Ulrich?" Rax grunted
"We'll rendezvous with them when we reach Vermire, they're refortifying Seventy three- sixteen, readying it for colonisation." He raised an eyebrow "is that all?" silence was all he got as a reply, he rose to his feet "train your men, with any luck we should have this incursion dealt with in a few months, dismissed." The Astartes rose to their feet, tucking their helmets under their arms. The Primarch remained seated as his Captains filed out.
Rival stood alone in his council chamber, save for the Black Warden in the shadows behind him. Pyke took a few steps forwards, his war ravaged face entering the light
"You disapprove I take it?" Rival smirked. Pyke paced around the table so that he was opposite his liege lord
"No" he said curtly "the plan seems sound, I'm just concerned" Rival lifted an eyebrow
"Concerned? Care to explain Commander?" Pyke didn't falter, he'd been the equerry to the Primarch since he had been recovered by the Emperor on Tadrel.
"I don't like being this far away from the other Legions" Pyke stated
"You think we can't do this alone?" Rival asked, his tone remaining steady
"No, I just don't think it wise, if something were to happen elsewhere we wouldn't be reachable, you've heard the reports from the Astropaths, the Warp is growing increasingly turbulent"
"What would you have me do Dreyphus? The Warmaster himself has chosen to deploy us that far away, and we are to follow his instructions" Rival's temper flared slightly, but his ire quickly died down "I will consult my brother, Dreyphus, but I doubt he will change his mind" Pyke nodded
"I apologise my Lord, I spoke out of term…" Rival lifted his hand
"You spoke your mind, and that is why I count you among my closest friends" he smiled "you tell me when I'm being a stupid bastard, even when no-one else will."
Pyke chuckled
"Few others have the strength" he joked. Rival nodded, still smiling broadly
"I had best send word to the choir, I want to get hold of Horus as soon as possible.
"I shall carry your summons myself" Pyke bowed before exiting the Primarch's war room.
Alone in his Chambers, the Primarch paced, back and forth across the carpeted floor. The room was simple as were his needs for it. It was bare, save for a few trophies, remnants of his days as a militia on Tadrel, fighting in the rebellion, for the liberation of his people. A portrait of his wife hung above the fireplace, which was presently alight with green fire. He paused in his pacing to look up at the painting, at the smiling face looking down at him
"I'll be home soon Serena" he muttered "I promise" a dull knock echoed through the room "enter" he called out. The wizened form of Kybal, the Chamberlin's Astropath pushed open the door, leaning heavily on his staff as he walked towards where the Primarch was standing, he bowed low
"My Lord" he croaked
"Word from my brother?" Rival asked bluntly, the Astropath nodded
"Aye, my Lord. He requests that you continue with deployment as planned" Rival sighed
"How soon can we begin transit? Is the Warp calm enough?"
"All we require is your word my Lord" the Astropath replied, Rival rounded the table, taking a seat
"Consider it given, order the fleet to mobilise"
"Aye sir" the Astropath bowed and exited, as quickly as he had arrived. The Primarch turned to observe the fleet through the vast sheet of reinforced glass behind him
"What are you planning Horus?" he muttered.