A/N: Well…that was a rather long 'week'. Apologies, and [insert excuses here]. .

=][= Imperial Thought for the Day: Even a man who has nothing can still offer his life. =][=

Strike Cruiser Shield of Damocles

Captain Lucius Seravius ducked beneath a humming power sword, gritting his teeth as he attempted to regain his footing. The metal deck beneath him was stained with blood and rust, marred with scratches and furrows and sullied with the boots of a thousand men. Around him and his opponent in a circle were his legionnaires, their lasguns at ease at their sides.

Feinting to the right, Lucius quickly did a shoulder roll to the left of his counterpart. He winced as the deck touched an especially tender bruise, but regained his balance and swung his blade around experimentally. The silver weapon hummed as it split the air, its monomolecular edge seemingly slicing apart the thick light coming from the half-dozen glow orbs hanging from the ceiling. His enemy grinned, prompting Lucius to chuckle a little before launching into a furious assault.

His sword dancing in the air, the two blades clashed time and time again. Lucius took a step forward, then another, forcing the man back and off balance. He struck high, catching himself just a second before impact and thrusting low. His off-kilter foe attempted to smack the point aside, his blade meeting only empty air as the Captain stepped into a slash. Once again trying to block the blow, the two swords crossed momentarily before Lucius hooked the guard of his adversary's saber and flicked upwards.

"Er…I do believe that is your point, my friend." Captain Johnathan Arasmus nervously eyed the blunted swordpoint that just grazed his neck. Lucius smiled for a moment before lowering his weapon and saluting gracefully.

"Aaannddd…match! Victory to Captain Seravius of Epsilon Company!"

The circle of guardsmen erupted into cheers, recorded vids of the sparring match most likely spreading throughout the regiment even as the two Captains bowed to each other.

"Well, that was entertaining. Despite the…situation, the men's morale seems to have improved greatly."

Lucius grunted in agreement, his lungs still attempting to mutiny after that duel. The two slowly walked over to the exit, grabbing their grey dress tunics off of a chair. Epsilon Company had already left, jogging over to the mess hall for celebratory drinks.

The majority of the two Corbulo regiments had by now heard of the Xenos empire that they had found themselves in, although the specifics of their situation was still mostly hidden from the men. Nonetheless, the prospects of a fight had raised the spirits of the troops, along with some awkward questions directed towards the command staff.

"Attention, attention, for the Emperor's voice speaks through many. We have entered the Warp, and although it is much calmer in this Galaxy, I urge you all to remain on your guard against daemons and servants of the Ruinous Powers. The Emperor Protects. Bondsman-Captain Cypress out."

MEANWHILE

ISD Subjugator

In Hyperspace transit to Imperial Fortress World FW-C3D (Designation Sentinel)

Grand Admiral Thrawn paced the bridge, murmuring the faintest of orders to his subordinates before turning his attention back to his datapad. The defenses of the 'spacedock', and it was in the vaguest of senses, were considered second only to Bastion, and was currently replenishing the remainder of Vermillion Broadsword's Bantha Squadron. A few dozen Star Destroyers, no matter how puny in comparison to this ship of the 'Imperium', ought to at least give Westwynter second thoughts, and with luck thirds.

"Fel! Tell me. How well trained are our Stormtroopers? Does this ship carry any AT-ATs and Juggernauts?" The captain bowed deeply before answering nervously, his profuse sweating as always visible even as took a deep breath.

"W-we have a full assault contingent of 20 AT-ATs onboard every ship within the command, Lord Admiral. A-a-as for Juggernauts, I do believe that the fleet's Super Star Destroyer has a complement of a h-h-hundred in reserve, along with the parts and maintenance crew required. The two 501st companies that have been assigned to us are the elite of the elite, although the 252nd Regiment stationed on Ko-ruvva is nonetheless capable of holding its own against almost any enemy." Sydar stuttered, but managed to somehow put enough emphasis on the 'almost' that even Thrawn hesitated for a moment.

"That is…acceptable, Captain. I have a rather unfortunate feeling that we may be forced to implement rather…aggressive negotiations with these so-called Space Marines."

=][= Imperial Thought for the Day: Burn the Heretic. Kill the Mutant. Purge the Unclean. =][=

Battle Barge Axios

In Warp Transit to Imperial Drydock

The gilded bulk of the Axios glided through the rather calm warp currents towards its destination, flanked by its Strike Cruiser escorts. Within was a frantic hive of activity, with guardsmen and Astartes alike practicing their skills for the upcoming invasion. The astropathic choir having given up trying to reach Corbulo, the psykers were instead training to handle lasguns without blowing their heads off. The navigator, however, was managing just as normal, despite the lack of signal from the Astronomicon back on Terra.

"There seems to be a large nexus of warp energy near the galactic centre, although it is too concentrated to be a warp storm. Nonetheless, I am able to use it as a beacon to triangulate our position in regards to our target, along with the fact that said destination seems to have a slightly weaker beacon of its own."

Lucian put his hands to his temples in an attempt to understand a word of what the Navis noble was saying, then gave up in disgust.

"Just get us there, navigator. Damn, I need a drink…"

2 days later…

Battle Barge Axios

In orbit around Imperial Drydock

Klaxons blared as heavily armoured boots thudded onto the plasteel floor, kicking up a small cloud of dust as they advanced. Westwynter ducked his head, barely scraping past a low-hanging pipe before immediately smacking his helm into another. Muttering curses, Lucian strode out of the corridor and into the drop pod bay. Removing his helmet, he slowly faced his assembled command.

"Third Companyyyyyyy….Fall in!"

A hundred and twenty boots lifted and fell in unison, causing the deck to tremble momentarily. A surprised servitor looked up, its blank face betraying nothing as it returned its attention to its duties. Westwynter struggled to contain his pride, and failed. He gazed upon the gleaming white and red-trimmed armour of his battle-brothers and was greeted by a storm of memories and the glory of past battles, drowning out his sorrow at being lost in an alien galaxy.

"Third Companyyyyy….Slope…Arms!"

A hundred bolters and a score of blades were shouldered, reflecting the glare of the Manufactorum-issued lights brightening the bay. Westwynter momentarily cleared his throat, then began.

"Friends, Battle-Brothers, sons of Corbulo all. We stand together here today in honour of the God-Emperor of Mankind. We stand here to prove to these heretics and Xenos that there is only one true Emperor, and that there is only one true Imperium of Mankind. The enemy has dared to defile this alien galaxy for untold millennia, filling it with Xenos filth, heretics, and mutants. Today we shall bring upon them the full fury of the Imperium. Today, we shall cleanse this alien and heretical scum from the face of the universe. Today, we fight for the Imperium. Today, we fight for Humanity!"

A company's worth of shouts erupted from the ranks, making Westwynter smile involuntarily.

"For the Emperor! Third Company! To your drop-pods...Dismissed!"

His men echoing his cry praising the Emperor, the Blood Guardians Third Company of Imperial Space Marines began marching off to their assigned pods, checking their weapons as they did so. Lucian waited a moment, then executed a crisp right turn before ensuring his power sword and plasma pistol were still there. He quickly marched to the Thunderhawk bay, where the Company's Apothecaries, Techmarines, and Dreadnoughts were carefully loading onto the gunships. Westwynter paused momentarily before walking to the Stormraven Gunships, a gift from the Blood Angels, where his own personal detachment of the Blood Guardians Sanguinary Guard awaited.

The Blood Guardians, being a little-known successor chapter to the famed Blood Angels of Baal, had retained its tradition of having an elite force within the chapter known as the Sanguinary Guard. Although the Blood Guardians unit shares the name, the Sanguinary Guard of the chapter eschewed the traditional Glaives Encarmine in favour of a pair of Thunder Claws, although they retained the golden armour and winged jump packs. However, where the Blood Angels used the guard as a unit unto its own, the Blood Guardians had a small detachment of them for each of its companies, excepting the Death Company.

Lucian strode up the Stormraven's ramp, securing his helmet and muttering a quick litany as he did so. The craft's dark grey exterior contrasted with the stark white interior, the better to conceal the occupants within during a night-time raid.

"This is the Bondsman-Captain speaking. The fleet will be exiting Warp Space in 3, 2, 1, exit. Calculating trajectories...Launch all drop pods. We shall meet again at the foot of the Golden Throne. The Emperor Protects."

The ship shuddered as the drop pods containing the Third Company launched towards the planet below, quickly followed by the dropships of the 351st Corbulo Guard regiment. The craft shook under Westwynter as the Thunderhawks and Stormravens were launched last, then the ride grew smoother as the gunship exited Axios' bowels and cruised through the void.

Lucian looked outside for a moment as the Space Marine ships commenced bombardment of enemy positions, lances targeting orbital guns and main batteries turning strongpoints and cities into molten slag. Belatedly, planetary guns began firing back, albeit ineffectively. Inattentive, Lucian failed to brace when the craft entered the planet's atmosphere, causing him to stumble and eliciting a round of laughter from the guard.

Cursing, Lucian unsheathed his sword and disengaged the safety on his plasma pistol, before firing up his jump pack and moving to the door.

"Landing in 3, 2, 1, go go go!"

The ship's lascannons and bolters began filling the air with light and lead as it descended, opening the ramp at the last second and disgorging a squad of shouting Astartes.

"Kill them all in the Emperor's name! Blood Guardians, attack!"

Lucian deflected a ruby-coloured bolt of energy with his blade, roaring before he unleashed the power of a miniature sun into the white-armoured body of an enemy 'stormtrooper'. Kicking up a cloud of dry dirt with every step, took in his surroundings in an instant. He was in a square in the suburbs of a burning city; the flames no doubt the result of the Axios' bombardment.

"This is Westwynter to all Blood Guardians forces. Spread out and consolidate your positions. Once a perimeter has been established, purge these heretics, in the Emperor's name. Westwynter out."

A/N: So there you have it! After quite a long wait (Insert flimsy excuses here), Faith and Fury has finally been updated! Also, as I am terribly unimaginative at coming up with characters, feel free to pm me with ideas for characters. Criteria include:

SW Imperial or 40k Imperial

Guard, Astartes, Stormtrooper, Navy

Personality

Minor anecdotes?

Appearance

Skill with weapons

Anything else I may have missed.

PRAISE THE EMPEROR AND STRIKE DOWN HIS FOES