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Warhammer 40,000: Chains of Fear

Epilogue

Tomina was burning.

Like the hydra borne upon their shoulder-pads, the Chaos Marines struck from all directions. Like the hydra, they tore into their foes, fangs unswayed, gaze unwavering. Like the hydra, if any one of their 'heads' fell, two more would take its place.

Maledic knew this. The reports given to him by his warriors had confirmed it as such, that the hydra was devouring its prey. So as he led his fellows into Humara, the forge world's capital, he was reminded of one other little detail. There was one core head to this hydra. For all the heads striking at this planet, his was the one that directed them. His was the one that had planned the assault. His was the one that would not grow back if chopped off. But of course, he told himself, that wouldn't happen. So many of Tomina's forces had departed for Starkan. They wouldn't arrive in time to save what hadn't been burnt or pillaged.

"Move into the city," he said into his helmet's vox. "Kill them all. Let them be corpses, like their emperor."

"For the emperor," came the response of his sub-commanders, causing Maledic to grin. 'For the emperor.' So common a battle cry for the soldiers of the corpse that resided on Terra. So much delight to be gained by the Alpha Legion as they mocked his acolytes, before sending their souls into the Warp. So much joy as he clove a guardsman in two with his armour's power claw, as he shredded the body of another with his bolter. They'd breached the city's walls an hour ago, and now, his forces cut their way through the streets, overcoming any firebase the Imperial Guard had set up. So much death, so much destruction.

He sighed, as he lobbed a final round into another follower of the Imperium. Lies and deception. The Alpha Legion excelled in these things. The plan to divert forces away to Starkan had worked so perfectly that he couldn't even find joy in this charade, this slaughter, rather than a battle. He-

He grunted, feeling residual heat of laser burn reach his face as the guardsman desperately tried to down him. He rose his bolter, ready to slay them, only to see their bodies torn apart by a surge of lightning. He smiled. Maybe there was joy to be found in seeing the human body be revealed in all its disgusting glory, before their entrails were scattered to the four winds. Tomina had little remaining native life, but he'd heard of the carrion eaters called diglipurs that prowled its cities. Maybe they'd at least get something out of all this.

You don't seem very enthused.

The words were sent straight into his mind. He remained in place, even as the Chaos Space Marines of the Alpha Legion drove forward into Humara. He watched as Sorcerer Ramnagar walked over towards him. Shorter, thinner, louder, boisterous. Not a usual combination, but the Alpha Legion had never conformed to the expectations of the Imperium. They weren't about to do so now.

"Are you bothered?" his friend asked.

Maledic shrugged, his suit's armour moving like a poorly maintained machine. "I can't complain."

"I'd think we'd rejoice."

"Rejoice once Tomina burns, and we depart this rock. Until then, we fight."

"But you're not fighting. We're talking."

"No," Maledic said. He smiled. "Why fight once I've already won the battle?"

"I won it," Ramnagar answered.

Yes, Maledic reflected. I suppose you did. He gestured to his subordinate as they walked through the ruins of the capital. Fires raged around them, rubble covered the bodies of the fallen. He watched as his warriors granted the Emperor's lackeys the mercy of a quick death. Not what the Dark Eldar would have done, he reflected. If they'd even come at all.

"I suppose you deserve some credit," the Chaos lord said. "Pilgrim's Pride, Rogue Traders…Starkan bought it as surely as they listen to their priesthood's lies."

"The Imperium fears the threats of within, without, and beyond," Ramnagar said. "They have good reason to fear those who dwell in the twilight between realms. Fear the alien, is that not what their priesthood orders? They move the chains, we follow, and we remain puppet masters."

Maledic nodded. It had worked perfectly. Starkan had believed that the Dark Eldar were coming. Had summoned reinforcements in the belief that they could head off the aliens when they arrived, getting a quick victory. Tomina itself had provided reinforcements, and the Alpha Legion had swept in for the kill. Some of their fellow legions might scoff at their use of deception. But let them, Maledic had decided. They were here. Their brethren who called the Eye of Terror home were not.

"Resistance is crushed," came the voice of one of his brothers over the vox. "The palace is taken."

"So soon?" Maledic asked. He didn't wait for an answer. "Well, no matter. To the victor go the spoils." He looked at Ramnagar. "I remember my promise to you, that I'd ensure you'd get your share of the spoils."

Ramnagar smiled, baring his teeth like a hungry demon. "You wouldn't betray me, would you?"

"The hydra doesn't devour its own heads."

"No," Ramnagar said. "It doesn't."

Was it a threat, Maledic wondered? Well, if so, what of it? He was the leader of this warband. He was the head of the hydra. He'd taken Tomina, and it was his name that the Imperium would curse, when…or rather if, they ever discovered it.

But no matter. He had a planet to loot. To plunger, to pillage, to pursue. All made possible by the chains of the Imperium's war machine – the same war machine they now called their own. All made possible by the chains of fear worn by every Imperial subject.

For after all, he reflected, did not all fear the alien?

The End

A/N

So, that's that. One of the reviewers hit on the overall theme of the story, but the proof is in the pudding I guess in regards to final verdicts.

So, far as shameless plugs go, I do have one other Warhammer 40,000 story on my 'to write' list, namely Islands in a Sea of Stars, which is based on pre-Dark Age of Technology space colonization. But, that's a way away. Right now, writing a My Little Pony story titled Sunset's Shimmer. And if you think it's a big leap to jump from the 41st millennium to Equestria, eh, well, that's how I roll. The Emperor protects.