+++Chapter 6+++
Xyath opened his eyes, stirring from his deep meditation. With a wave of his hand the lithe Xeno opened his bone cocoon and stepped out into the dimly lit apex. The Farseer paced the length of the room before turning to the myriad of soul stones adorning the far wall
"Ulwin" he called out. One of the stones began to glow and within a few moments the whisps of ethereal energy manifested into the form of a tall woman, her red hair tied in an intricate pattern. She observed Xyath silently, through her large brown eyes
"You seek guidance?" she asked. The Eldar nodded
"The visions are occurring more frequently" he stated, beginning to pace again. Ulwin's expression became more troubled
"Then the time of divergence is close at hand, soon all the pieces shall be in motion."
"But there are too many variations" Xyath snapped "it's impossible to know which of them will ring true" Ulwin nodded
"Because the first decision has yet to be made. Any of your visions could be true, it all depends on him. Be patient." Xyath ceased pacing and pinched the bridge of his nose between a thumb and forefinger
"If he makes the wrong decision…" the Eldar trailed off. Ulwin steepled her fingers, considering her words carefully
"You must resist interfering in this affair young one" she reminded him "He is unlikely to hear you, no matter how you try to approach him." Xyath sighed and began to walk across the chamber constructed from bone, to return to his meditation. The cocoon opened to grant him entry and the Eldar seated himself, crossing his legs and placing his hands in his lap. The cocoon closed and he was once more lost within the webway.
The rumbling forms of the Tank regiments appeared on the horizon just prior to sundown, Predators and Vindicators at the head of the convoy, with the Legion's Basilisks bringing up the rear. Most of the tanks had some form of artillery platform tethered to them, and were dragging large thud guns and mortars behind them through the sun bleached sand.
"About bloody time" Rax growled, invoking a disapproving glare form the First Captain
"They're here as soon as they need to be Dominus" his expressions softened "you could always walk." Avaro chuckled around his cigar, walking in Terminator plate was hard enough, walking for miles in the hot sun across sand was no meagre feet. It always impressed Rival how the Third Company could charge around without much hindrance in such bulky plate, the main reason that the First Company were not armed with it, an anomaly among the Legions as Avaro had so aptly discovered, when fighting beside their brothers from the Luna wolves or Iron hands. Additional companies were being ferried down to Vermire's surface, the amassed Astartes force now numbering over two thousand Legionnaires. No chances were being taken with the Orks, this would be a campaign to remember. The battle plans had been drawn up for the second stage of the assault. The Shadow Knight forces were to divide into three large war bands, each one bearing roughly six companies, each force would be allocated a particular hive to assault and hold, whilst splinter forces tracked down Ork settlements and destroyed them. The primary force, led by the Primarch were bound for the largest of the three hives, the trek there estimated to take little over two months provided the force kept pace.
Shielding his face form the relentless suns, Avaro surveyed the amassed Legion, each Company designated by their own individual markings, despite being part of the same fleet, Avaro recognised few of the other Companies, save by reputation. The Primarch's voice crackled over the vox. A frequency addressing all Shadow Knights on the planet's surface.
"Sons of Rival" the Primarchs words sounded over the chatter of warriors and the rumbling of engines "let us show the Warmaster how to deal with an Ork invasion" the roar of approval seemed to shake the air itself as fists were raised in an informal salute. Avaro grinned and rested his chainsword on his shoulder
"Let's get to work" Epoch and Rax nodded in approval, and the three returned to the convoy of the Primary strike force.
The journey across the rolling desert was not an easy one. Vermire's three suns seemed to assail the Marching Astartes in unison. The combined heat seemed to flay the paint off of the tanks as they crawled over the bleached sand. Had it not been for their enhanced genetics the Shadow knight would have slowed down, some may even have fallen.
Terraforming procedures had begun on Vermire, prior to the arrival of the Orks. Focussing on stimulating rain and providing water for the hives as they were constructed and expanded upon. The result had been that the area around each hive was predominantly stone and mud, whilst the desert reigned for the rest of the continent's surface. After a week of relentless marching, the Primary force came across an Ork encampment, most of the area had been burned to the ground by the advanced scouts and the corpses disposed of.
Rival crouched to inspect the bodies of the greenskins, the rest of the force holding position, awaiting his orders. The Primarch straightened up. Separating from the rest of the force, Avaro jogged over to where the Rival stood, as if waiting.
"My lord?" The Primarch remained motionless, staring intently at the corpses at his feet. The Second Captain moved a step closer "Primarch?" as if awoken from a dream, Rival turned
"Move out" he turned and strode back towards his personal Spartan. Avaro lingered for a few moments, trying to trace what had attracted the attention of his liege lord. Something glinted amidst the scorched bodies. Crouching to get a better look, Avaro made out a faint design, carved into the flesh of one of the green skins. It was shaped similar to a crescent moon, with one of the ends tapering off. A malignant eye resided in the symbol's centre, almost glaring up at him. It didn't resemble any Ork symbols Avaro had come across before, it seemed too, intricate compared to most of the Orks crude symbol language. Pushing the image to the back of his mind, he trudged back across the sand to where a Rhino APC was awaiting him.
Night finally fell. The unnaturally long day ended, replaced only by the freezing clutches of the darkness. Avaro's breath exited his helmet grill in a small cloud. Runes flashing across his heads up display revealed the temperature had dropped exponentially. From his vantage point atop the APC he could see the Primarch's command vehicle, leading the way. Its green searchlight casting an eerie glow across the sand ahead. Avaro dropped down from the Rhino's access hatch into the troop compartment.
"As if the heat wasn't enough" Orion chuckled. He Captain sealed the hatch and strapped in again
"This is nothing compared to Seventy three- nine." Orion nodded
"Aye but then again.." the conversation was cut short as a blast from outside shook the vehicle. Avaro was on his feet in moments. With a grunt he slammed his fist against the access hatch controls and the Rhino's doors opened.
Screaming Orks thundered down the sand dunes towards the convoy. The sharp bangs of boltguns echoing through the air, as squads of marines began taking pot shots at the advancing hoarde. Avaro switched his weapon to full auto and crouched before opening fire. Squad Orion formed a suppressive line behind him. The roar of heavy bolters filled the air, drowning out the war cries of the Orks. Streams of glowing bolts cut down waves of them in seconds. A Legionnaire darted forwards and hurled a Phospex bomb. The chemical explosive detonated, wreathing the beasts in green flame as the skin melted from their bones in the intense heat. The Primarch stormed forwards, thunder hammer in hand as he ordered the counter charge. The flames from the Phospex didn't seem to hinder him, leaping through the flames he brought his hammer down in an explosion of Orks and blood. Avaro maglocked his bolter and drew his chainsword
"Second Company!" He bellowed "Charge!" the rest of the company drew their combat blades and surged forwards, following their Primarch. The Tanks adjusted their guns, firing around the charging Legionnaires. The other five companies in the convoy following the example set by the Second.
With a sweep of his hammer Rival smashed another Ork aside, following the strike up with a burst from his Meltafire Cannon. The white hot blast seared through the mob. A surge of energy slammed into his breastplate, slowing him for a few brief moments. The bolts of pale lightening crackled across his armour. Gritting his teeth he crushed another Ork in the grip of his power fist before tracking the shot to its source. Surrounded by a field of electricity the Weirdboy jerked his clenched fist towards, bolts leaping through the air, striking down Legionaires. Taking a firm grip on his hammer, Rival Charged. Orks were smashed aside or crushed underfoot as the Primarch gathered speed. Orks attempted to turn and run, but were quickly laid low by Bolterfire. Flashes of warp energy steaked through the air towards Rival as he crashed through what may have passed as the Weirdboy's bodyguard. The Xenos beast swung its stave, the spiked club at its end rebounding off of the Primarch's battle plate. With a snarl Rival struck the creature a harsh blow to the chest, his power fist causing untold damage to the Ork's internal organs. Flames poured through rents in the Weirdboy's chest, bathing the Primarch in purple flame.
Gore sprayed into the air as Avaro wrenched the spine free from one of the beasts, using it as a makeshift club to intercept another making a lunge for him. Casting the bone weapon aside he caved the creature's skull in with the pommel of his chainsword. He lifted his gaze in time to see the Primarch vanish in a surge of purple energy, pouring from the Weirboy.
"NO!" he roared.
Rival gritted his teeth, forcing the energy surge back with an open palm. He could feel his armour heating up under the strain. The energy flashes from the Weirdboy grew more sporadic as it attempted to stagger away from its titanic assailant. Rival laughed as he observed the beast trying to run
"What's wrong?" he roared "scared?" lifting his hammer aloft he brought the weapon down, bursting the Weirdboy in an explosion of gore. A shockwave of psychic energy bursting from the corpses head, causing nearby Orks to lose their footing or crash to the ground. Rival lifted his thunder hammer to the heavens
"For the Emperor!" he bellowed.
Hearing the Primarch's war cry Avaro cursed himself for feeling that a mere Ork could topple his Legion's father. The mental punishment was cut short however, as the skirmish wasn't done yet,a dn there were plenty of Orks yet to kill.
Dawn saw the final Orks laid low. Avaro shook his blood slicked chainsword, trying to dispel some of the drying gore. The weapon had strained to function towards the end of the battle, the dried blood and sinew clogging the workings. Confirmations had come in of a multitude of Weirdboys being slain by other members of the convoy. It seemed as though the green skin witches had opened some form of rent in the warp, and had teleported forces through in an attempt to slaughter the Shadow Knight war band.
"Probably flushed out by one of our scouts" Epoch grunted, cleaning his Helberd on a ragged piece of cloth, still draped around a dead Ork. Avaro nodded
"No doubt the beast ran into the convoy as it escaped the advanced force, brought in reinforcements to act as a meat shield". Support teams lifted newly refuelled flamers and began to burn the corpses. Audible pops sounded from the bodies as trapped gas within the beasts expanded, causing them to burst. Avaro's nose wrinkled
"They smell worse when they're dead" he grunted. The First Captain laughed
"Plenty more of the stinking bastards yet to kill Nathan, you can count on that."